I'm already trying to figure out how to pack for two weeks in Great Britain next summer. Normally, I'd go with just some summer-weight clothes, but I'm going to have to bring some layers for Orkney, even in July.

For me, it is the toiletries that get me every time. My hair and skin need special products that you can't necessarily find in any random CVS. it's a pain in the ass.

They were insisting on shoe removal in the Atlanta airport as of an hour ago.

Much surgery~ma to your mother, ita.

We listed our house today. Our realtor has a showing tonight, and one scheduled for this weekend already. Good sign! Buy our house-ma would be appreciated.

The kids had good first days of school and we were invited to and attended a birthday party of a K student immediately after school (they invited the whole class.) This nearly makes up for the fact that the bank ate our new ATM card this morning and I had to steal cash from Casper's allowance to pay for field trips tomorrow.

I'm pretty sure only kids get to keep their shoes on in Security.

I'll be checking a bag for the Hawaii trip, because I have giant tubes of sunscreen and aloe vera. I tend to get to the airport 90 minutes to 2 hours before my flight is scheduled to depart even though I always check in online. I like to have a buffer to check my bag, get through security, and buy some food and water. I'm almost always at my gate early.

I build the buffer into my schedule because it saved my ass the one time I overslept and had to race to the airport and slap some makeup on my face in the airport bathroom before checking a bag, and I still managed to get to my gate with food in hand and 5 minutes to spare before boarding started.

Oh yeah, I haven't checked a bag in yonks (except for when I went out of the country), so that would save significant time, I'm sure.

Can I just say, I made some awesome beef stew for dinner? Even though it's in the 80s out... I'm in Cook Down The Freezer mode. I got the tiny potatoes from Trader Joe's (so profligate! But so cute.), and threw in a bunch of wine and Worcestershire sauce into leftover pot roast pieces. Surprisingly good!

I don't usually post in here (too fast!), but recent discussion put me in mind of this quote I copied into my journal when it came up when my best friend was going through a rough patch:

I suppose a cry does us all good at times, clears the air as other rain does. -Stoker

I'm flying home Thursday and it's the first time I've flown in ages. I'm not checking a bag and not taking any soap or shampoo or lotion.

I'm wondering how knitting is viewed. I have a project on metal circular needles -- should I try to take it or just leave it at home?

They used to get pretty hinky about those. But, as per usual, depends on the airport (insert rant about security theater here.)

Small child in swim lessons had a SERIOUS set of pipes on her. And definitely had the drama gene, I thought the instructor was going to lose her mind. Funniest part? Child was named Patience. AHAHAHA!