Just to Clarify

I think 90% of my readers already know, but I am not teaching seminary this year.

I would like to tell you that I am using the reclaimed time for all the reasons I asked to be released (getting the house in order, exercising, researching, etc.). As soon as I start doing any of that, I'll let you know.

School started here on August 10. I cannot fathom that under different circumstances, I would have already been teaching class every weekday morning at 6:15 for a week.

And this is totally unrelated, but how cool would it be to paper your entire office with Post-it notes?

Never mind. It wouldn't be nearly as cool as papering a car. Where have I been?

Lessons Learned

Four of the year's six planned airplane trips are history. I realize there are plenty of people who travel every week, but four trips in eight months is a lot for a homebody like me. If you're an expert traveler, you'll probably want to skip all the blathering below. If you're more of a homebody than me, or if you're an insomniac searching for a cure, read on.

It took me several post-9/11 trips to realize I could take an empty water bottle through security and fill it at the water fountain, instead of paying highway robbery prices for a new bottle on the secure side. I still can't believe I didn't figure that one out sooner.

On the latest trip, I had another epiphany. This only applies to open seating airline travel, however. If you are unfortunate enough to board late in the game (either you fell asleep and checked in online only 20 hours pre-flight instead of 24 hours, or your connection was shortened by a delayed first leg flight), it's a given on many flights that you'll be sitting in a middle seat, or at least in the last available set in a row. So, as soon as you step into the aisle, keep your eyes peeled for any row with an adult and a child between ages 3 and 12. Unless the child is abnormally obese, you're going to have ample room sitting next to that child, with all the elbow space you desire.

I sat next to a seven-year old on one flight this week, and it was perfect. Yes, he did ask his companion every 30 seconds between taxi and 10,000 feet if he could turn on his Nintendo DS, but that was nothing compared to sitting arm-to-arm, thigh-to-thigh with some random man.
I'm thinking about employing this strategy again, even when I'm not one of the last 20 people to board. If every seat ends up being filled, might as well choose your companions rather than sitting first in a row and leaving yourself wide open to miseAnd hy.

Here's the latest lesson learned: Twist-ties are an easily-obtained tool for securing suitcase zippers. Yes, so is a TSA-approved lock, but I don't feel like spending money on a TSA-approved lock. I secure the locks to keep the bags from opening in transit, not to deter theives (which is why my CHI iron always travels in my carry-on). I used to use cable ties, but they require a knife or scissors to remove, and I can rarely FIND the cable ties when it's time to leave for a trip. The twist-tie is simpler, and if the TSA searches your bag, they'll replace the twist-tie when they're done (They'll also repack your suitcase backwards, so that everything you put on the bottom is on the top when you next open the case. Creepy).

What are your best travel tips?

While I Slept

My friend Jason went out of town and returned to find surprise lilies in his yard.

I went to bed and when I woke up, I had mushrooms growing on the roots of one of the trees in the backyard. By the time I saw them, several had already melted into a smelly, rotting mess. On Saturday, I scraped up the intact organisms (?) so I could mow the area. Now my back room, where I dump my yard shoes when I come inside, smells like mushrooms. Or maybe it's just my imagination.


(I also have surprise lilies in my yard. I prefer them over mushrooms.)

Name That Recipe

I recently started rewatching H:LotS, one of the all-time best television shows (if you don't count season 7). While watching, I've been knitting a bit and tackling my recipe collection. I have three family recipe binders whose pockets are full of other recipes from various places. Some of the most prized recipes (brownies, German pancakes, chocolate sauce) are written on Post-its or scraps of paper.

Here's an image of one scrap I decided to transfer to a full 8.5 x 11 sheet before the wind catches it and it's lost to me. A gold star to the first reader who correctly identifies this recipe.

Priorities

I love visiting in Utah with my mom and aunt (Auntie lives there, Moth visits at the same time I do).

The reasons I love this trip are plentiful, but include my aunt's arctic basement, being able to legitimately listen to all the "adult" talk and being able to ask questions (can't do that when you're an eavesdropping child), perusing the cookbook collection, and doing the crossword puzzle every day (everyone gets her own photocopy).

One of the other reasons the trip is so enjoyable is that these two women have their priorities straight. The agenda above proves my point.

I must mention that the written list is missing several things we did while I was there (root canal, burnt sugar marshmallows, sugared peanuts, See's Candies, Oquirrh Mountain Temple Open House, Sundance, Hires Big H, Rubio's) as well as a few things the other two have done since I left (Julie and Julia, bookclub, Fleming's). But the list gives you the general idea. Can't wait for next year!