Today I leave to attend a professional conference and I spent the weekend mulling over packing. There is this dilemma where they don't make suitcases the right size for my needs. They are either just a titch too big or too small. Also, I no longer have a backpack that also carries a laptop, which is a problem when you have to take a laptop on your travels (most of the time I don't). To make this all even more fun, I carry a DSLR camera, which is an item of luggage in and of itself. considering you have to pay to check bags, and half the time you have to pay to carry on bags, and you only get one personal item*, this becomes hard to afford.
Also, between the laptop, camera, purse, luggage, etc., that is just a lot of baggage to haul around. Plus, I think I always over-pack, which doesn't seem like a big deal, but it just adds to the travel clutter. It makes the suitcase more of a disaster, which drives me nuts. So I am very motivated to pack as lightly as possible.
That being said, I am incredibly proud to announce that I have fit everything for one week of travel (including professional clothing for the conference and recreational clothing for afterwards, and shoes to go along with) into one duffel bag, one laptop bag, and one camera backpack (which is mainly the camera). Which seems like a lot of bags, but considering last year I took an enormous suitcase and backpack and the camera, I'm feeling pretty good.
Another bonus: there's not much room left over, which means I don't have a ton of space for souvenirs, which is a good thing.** That will be nice on my budget, which I need to save for my trip next week to Michigan.
Yay, travel!
*I have issues with this. I can easily fit my camera bag and laptop bag under the seat in front of me, so what is the problem?
**Not that I expect to come home with many souvenirs. Last year, I wound up with a squid hat, a snow globe, two books, and a lot of photos. And while I am going to be in Portland, which I hear has a book store so large you need a map to navigate it, I don't anticipate buying many books. I'm trying to cut back. On buying. Not on reading.
Sunday, July 23, 2017
Wednesday, July 19, 2017
Change the channel, please!
A few months ago, they installed two TVs in the break room at work. I'm not sure why, but there they are. Personally, I find them distracting and it seems like I eat there less than before, but that could just be because it's sunny outside, or because I've had a lot of lunch meetings lately, etc. But I can cope with the distraction. The real problem is the channels they have chosen.
One TV is set to ESPN. I don't actually mind that, because half the time, it's actually just people talking about sports, not actual sports. And while I enjoy a good game or match or what have you, I don't follow sports much, so it's not as attention-sucking for me.
But the other TV. The other TV has been set to a 24 hour news channel. There is something terribly depressing about having a perfectly good day ruined at lunch time by finding out the latest absurd thing that has come out of Washington, which is 90% of what is covered on news channels. And I'm really sorry, but the fact that the current POTUS has said two contradictory things in the last 24 hours is NOT breaking news. It isn't. I know you want it to be, but no. Neither is the White House press secretary holding a press briefing. Not breaking news. And why are we taking time in our news coverage to announce that the POTUS is going to make an announcement the next day? That's not news. The announcement is news, but not the announcement of the announcement.
Anyway, there have been occasional efforts to change the channel, but it never lasts more than a day, and we are stuck with the White House Reality Show*. With an occasional break for other actual news, that then gets beaten to death for the next few hours. It's just annoying and so I have one request:
Will someone pass me the remote?
One TV is set to ESPN. I don't actually mind that, because half the time, it's actually just people talking about sports, not actual sports. And while I enjoy a good game or match or what have you, I don't follow sports much, so it's not as attention-sucking for me.
But the other TV. The other TV has been set to a 24 hour news channel. There is something terribly depressing about having a perfectly good day ruined at lunch time by finding out the latest absurd thing that has come out of Washington, which is 90% of what is covered on news channels. And I'm really sorry, but the fact that the current POTUS has said two contradictory things in the last 24 hours is NOT breaking news. It isn't. I know you want it to be, but no. Neither is the White House press secretary holding a press briefing. Not breaking news. And why are we taking time in our news coverage to announce that the POTUS is going to make an announcement the next day? That's not news. The announcement is news, but not the announcement of the announcement.
Anyway, there have been occasional efforts to change the channel, but it never lasts more than a day, and we are stuck with the White House Reality Show*. With an occasional break for other actual news, that then gets beaten to death for the next few hours. It's just annoying and so I have one request:
Will someone pass me the remote?
Sunday, July 16, 2017
Things I need more of
In no particular order:
Hours in a Saturday
Hours for sleeping
Perfect watermelon
World travel
Energy
Time with family
Visits from old friends
Rain storms (rain storms - is that a thing? Thunderstorms are okay, but the main thing is that there be rain)
Comedy
Whimsy
Leftovers from restaurants
Smoothies
Baby elephant videos (why cats when there are elephants?!)
Rainbows to go with those rain storms
British friends
Reasons to use my drill
Certainty
Space, especially in the kitchen
Things to write about on my blog
Hours in a Saturday
Hours for sleeping
Perfect watermelon
World travel
Energy
Time with family
Visits from old friends
Rain storms (rain storms - is that a thing? Thunderstorms are okay, but the main thing is that there be rain)
Comedy
Whimsy
Leftovers from restaurants
Smoothies
Baby elephant videos (why cats when there are elephants?!)
Rainbows to go with those rain storms
British friends
Reasons to use my drill
Certainty
Space, especially in the kitchen
Things to write about on my blog
Sunday, July 9, 2017
The religion cookie
This week I was listening to a podcast* and one of the comments was about how this person felt religion is fine, but not in public.
Now, I'm not sure what exactly they meant by that and I don't plan on getting into a debate about religion in the public square or anything. I am also assuming that this person had a specific concept in mind when they spoke--maybe it was in regards to legislation, or praying in public, or wearing a headscarf. I don't know because it was just one line with no context around it, so it isn't fair to judge them by that one statement. And I'm willing to bet that they are a decent person, a good neighbor, someone who is trying to do the right thing.
But taking the statement as spoken, as a religious person I couldn't help but wonder how on earth I'm supposed to do that? Maybe it is different for other religious people, but I just don't know where to draw the boundary on my religious actions and my non-religious ones. It would be like telling someone they couldn't be Texan in public. Or like trying to sort out the flour from cookie dough once it's mixed.
I know there is a lot of talk about this topic these days. Especially around legislation. And maybe that's what this person meant--don't bring your religion into public policy? But it's my religion that teaches me not to discriminate and to be kind, and not to steal or lie or kill. It's my religion that teaches me to serve in the community, to pay my taxes (and be honest about it), to help the needy. It's my religion that teaches me that every one has worth and to see them as people who matter. Oh, sure, the law says a lot of that to. But I learned it from my religion first, and I choose to live up to that standard because of my faith, not because of the government. So, you see, it's a bit tricky, because my faith defines my identity and how do I keep that private?
And because my beliefs are so much a part of me, I can understand how someone else's beliefs, religious or not, are equally important to them. And they shouldn't have to hide that part of themselves when they leave the house, either. Not that that gives anyone permission to force their values on anyone else, but we do need to be able to be our whole selves in a way that is respectful and to be able to appropriately express our beliefs in the public square. There's a lot to be gained from doing so.
And when we do, we have to be prepared for some give and take. Sometimes, society will go in a different direction than what my religious beliefs encourage. But in my experience, there is always a way to make that work. We can get along! There's room for all of us and our beliefs! Without anyone going into hiding! It takes respect and kindness, and being willing to not be offended, but it's doable.
It's also our best option, because there's pretty much no good way to get flour out of cookie dough.
*Me and my podcasts. I think I might actually be podcasted out. I need more comedy podcasts, but it's so hard to find clean comedy. Times like this, one resorts to Terry Pratchett audiobooks.
Now, I'm not sure what exactly they meant by that and I don't plan on getting into a debate about religion in the public square or anything. I am also assuming that this person had a specific concept in mind when they spoke--maybe it was in regards to legislation, or praying in public, or wearing a headscarf. I don't know because it was just one line with no context around it, so it isn't fair to judge them by that one statement. And I'm willing to bet that they are a decent person, a good neighbor, someone who is trying to do the right thing.
But taking the statement as spoken, as a religious person I couldn't help but wonder how on earth I'm supposed to do that? Maybe it is different for other religious people, but I just don't know where to draw the boundary on my religious actions and my non-religious ones. It would be like telling someone they couldn't be Texan in public. Or like trying to sort out the flour from cookie dough once it's mixed.
I know there is a lot of talk about this topic these days. Especially around legislation. And maybe that's what this person meant--don't bring your religion into public policy? But it's my religion that teaches me not to discriminate and to be kind, and not to steal or lie or kill. It's my religion that teaches me to serve in the community, to pay my taxes (and be honest about it), to help the needy. It's my religion that teaches me that every one has worth and to see them as people who matter. Oh, sure, the law says a lot of that to. But I learned it from my religion first, and I choose to live up to that standard because of my faith, not because of the government. So, you see, it's a bit tricky, because my faith defines my identity and how do I keep that private?
And because my beliefs are so much a part of me, I can understand how someone else's beliefs, religious or not, are equally important to them. And they shouldn't have to hide that part of themselves when they leave the house, either. Not that that gives anyone permission to force their values on anyone else, but we do need to be able to be our whole selves in a way that is respectful and to be able to appropriately express our beliefs in the public square. There's a lot to be gained from doing so.
And when we do, we have to be prepared for some give and take. Sometimes, society will go in a different direction than what my religious beliefs encourage. But in my experience, there is always a way to make that work. We can get along! There's room for all of us and our beliefs! Without anyone going into hiding! It takes respect and kindness, and being willing to not be offended, but it's doable.
It's also our best option, because there's pretty much no good way to get flour out of cookie dough.
*Me and my podcasts. I think I might actually be podcasted out. I need more comedy podcasts, but it's so hard to find clean comedy. Times like this, one resorts to Terry Pratchett audiobooks.
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