Sunday Sugar

The Trip

We arrived safely. Nearly every row on the plane had empty seats…except ours and the ones in front of us. Could we move? No. By the time we found out there were places we could have moved, the passenger sitting there had already stretched out. I think the lady who filled out our row was sad she didn’t move when she had the chance, though…9 didn’t stop chatting the whole time.

But we’re here! My clothes, wrapped in bundles, traveled very well. There was minimal wrinkling, and what wrinkling there was fell out after a night hanging in the closet. Wahoo, bundling really works!

9 went to Sister’s house last night, but we drove out this morning for breakfast at Cinnamon Productions. Yummy! NanaKat and I are off to Indy Jones 4 this afternoon.

I started The Lightning Thief on the plane. OMG! This book is fantastic. I tried to keep reading last night, but I was so tired from all the traveling and bad food, I was in bed by 10 o’clock.

The High School Math Debacle

We never heard back from the teacher who made the math change without contacting us. But we did get to the high school to talk with the math teacher who called us back, and the School Y counselor. They had 13 look at the Algebra 2 final and circle the problems he could do.

On the term one material, he couldn’t do anything, but when they got to the term 2 final, he could do everything. And instead of circling the problems he could do…he did them. The teacher finally stopped him, but he said he was having fun and reluctantly handed the test back.

Then we compared the term one test to our math book and realized our math program teaches the material in a different order….a lot of the trigonometry came first, and if he finished the book, he would have been able to do the whole test. So the final verdict: he will stop math for the summer and go into Algebra 2. There is a note attached to his enrollment in the class about keeping the material challenging enough during the second semester, so the School S math teacher, the School Y math teacher and the School Y counselor will work together. The School S math teacher is trying to get an Advance Algebra 2 class started, and if it materializes, he’ll be moved into that class. He’s still with older kids, mostly Sophomores and some Juniors. But they aren’t all Juniors and Seniors, so he should be okay.

Maybe.

Nervous Mommy Moment.

Traveling Light

You guys gave me great stuff to think about when packing. I feel like I overpacked for this trip. I brought 8 shirts…4 short sleeve and 4 longer sleeved…because I wasn’t sure what the weather would be. The forecast changed from day to day, sometimes by as much as 10 degrees. And I have access to a washer and dryer, so doing laundry every few days is okay.

We could have carried everything on (except the golf clubs), but I get caught by the restrictions on liquids. I’ll have to hunt down some place where I can buy the brand of hair stuff I use so I can travel with much less.

Dru and Marianne: layers are a must! I always pack in layers, and travel in layers. A bulky sweat shirt can be tied around the waist and stored on the plane if needed.

Lisa: RWA is one of the places I travel the lightest! I do a lot of mix and match, but I’m all about comfort there–nothing that needs ironing or with binding waist-bands.

Brandy: Setting out outfits beforehands…YES! I always do that for RWA or trips with a specific purpose. It’s these we-might-do-this-or-we-might-do-that type of trips that throw me. How do I know what to pack? What outfits do I need? Hence the slight overpacking this trip.

Melissa said I spent two months in Europe with only an internal frame backpack

and I say, “Bravo!” That is amazing. And a real eye-opener about how much you absolutely NEED when you travel. My lightest trip ever was a trip to Phoenix. For three days I took one of the kids’ school back packs with all my clothes stuffed into it.

Edie said I looked at the bag you want to buy. A little expensive for me, but it does look nice.

I know it is on the spendy side, but I’ve learned that with luggage, you get what you pay for. My experiments with less expensive luggage have resulted in the need to replace suitcases nearly every year. My longest lasting suitcases were Samsonite, which are not easy on the wallet, and it took 15 years before those had to be replaced. And I love the backpack design of the Red Oxx Sky Train. I’ll let you know when I get it, if I feel it was worth the money.

I actually saw a group of 20-somethings with the Sky Trains in the airport. I didn’t get a chance to stop them and ask about their backpacks, though. They sure looked easy to carry. The girl was a wisp and she wasn’t having any trouble carting it around.

Devon said In Scotland, it’s mostly jeans and sweaters with a good dress and maybe a skirt or two.

In Scotland? I want to be you. Totally. We’re saving for a trip to the UK, and I’m planning to spend half the three weeks in Scotland. I will be pestering you for “must do” stuff when it gets closer.

Michelle said I’m moving to Australia in 3 weeks

How exciting! What has prompted this move? I hope you find time to drop by and keep us updated on your move and new home.

Alyson said Have a fun trip – the weather’s been really nice here!

It’s supposed to rain today! 9 and UM might have to cancel their golf plans. Though it does look like the weather will be beautiful by Wednesday. Perhaps they can go out Thursday afternoon.

Keri said I’m deathly afraid of flying

I have panic attacks in confined spaces. One word: Valium.