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I’m traveling for the first time in years. The last trip I was on was actually a failed trip that left me in the city I am aiming for this time.

See I was aiming to visit a friend in San Lois Opisbo, and through scheduling nightmares and plane rerouting I ended up stuck in the airport at LAX overnight. Missed my connecting flight completely and with that happening there was no point in continuing on the next day for what would be a short weekend trip.

So now I’m contemplating my weekend trip to LA, and you would think I’ve never flown before. So many questions running throuhg my mind.

How much do I pack?

How little should I pack?

How should I dress?

How many books should I bring to read?

Can I bring a snack?

Should I bring my laptop?

Should I check luggage?

Should I place it all in carryon?

The TSA website does include handy information. That said I’m keeping my some cash onhand just in case I do get the chance to tip the TSA agent and slip through the shorer line.

Seriously though, the TSA website does have good information and really tells me what i need to know. 3oz, one quart size ziplock bag full is all I get. Thankfully my shampoo is a bar, I’ll have to get a new toothpaste and I think I’m going to be careful with the amount of BPAL I bring back.

Wish me luck, and I’ll give you a recap when i get back.

A friend has just announced the end of a relationship they are in.  It doesnt directly affect me at all but the reaction of those involved afterwards have given me a reason to take a pause.

One of the persons mentioned that now that this was ending they felt that they were going to have to run away back home to live with their family of origin. After all who would accept them now that their relationship ended.

I’ve been there.
In  2004 when my relationship with R ended despite having a fantastic family structure  I thought I was going to have to go away. That the end of my marriage meant I’d have to pack up my cats and move into a tiny studio apartment and live alone eating ramen.

I’m not the only one who feels that  way. When  P and I have talked about her fears she tells me that it manifests in a “I’m going to have to go away and paint nude and live in a tiny studio ”

Why is that?

Why do we fear that the end of a relationship means we have to look for cover? Why do we assume that the support we have in our daily lives will dissipate.  In my case why did I assume that a divorce meant the end of my world.  One of the realizations my divorce gave me was just how much I had tied to being married.

It emphasizes my goal of being independent within my relationships. While I love my family, I see it as a much bigger benefit to all of us if I am happy with who I am and am confident
in not only what happens within the family but within the  my support  group of friends and aquaintances. I really dont.  See while I dont think they tie my worth to the relationships I am in, Apparently with R ll I  tied my worth to the relationship.

I’m feeling much healthier about it all now, but watching a similar reaction in a friend has made me thoughtful about this all.

My family took advantage of the three day weekend and found ourselves in
Seaside / Cannon Beach.

All in all it was a good vacation. We stayed at the Seaside International Hostel, visited Pig and Pancake, Seaside Coffee Roasters, and various Goonie Sites in Astoria. Of course this includes the Goonies house.

It was a great weekend. As much fun as the beach was during the summer, it really was delightful during the off season. fewer people less congestion, and it really let us get a closer look at the city. I look forward to going back.

A coworker J asked recently “How many shots of espresso do you drink a week?”

“4-6″

“Thats all? But you have coffee all the time”

“Usually drip, I’m too cheap to pay for lattes all the time,anyway its not the same, there is more caffeine in shots then in drip”

Of course this sent us scurrying to the web where we discovered that I was wrong. 7oz of drip is aproximatly 100 mg of Caffeine, same as a shot of espresso. Considering I drink about 12-14 oz a drip it does mean the same.

From there it seemed to turn into an intervention.

“Are you ok with the amount of coffee you drink” I knew he was joking but I responded with

“I can give up any time, remember last lent I gave it up? And chocolate too”

“Oh yeah, don’t do that again”

In the end we figured out that my coffee intake is around 2,000-2,500 mg a week, and that I’m a bitch when I give up coffee

Maryland is considering tracking truant kids with GPS.

Back when I first entered Jasmine’s life. Leah and I took the day off to take Jasmine to the Wild Waves Water Park in Federal Way. We worked hard to keep an eye on her, as she was an energetic ball of 9 year old, bouncing off the walls in excitement. During one of our breaks I wondered if perhaps a gps system linking her to my PDA would not be a bad thing. Place the tracker in her earrings or bracelet, and download a map of the park before the trip. Then when you are looking for her you have an idea of where she’s at.

Not that I would suggest sitting on the sidelines and letting her run crazy, but the gps idea would let her go a little further afield without us freaking out over where she might be.