Where The Heck Have I Been?

I kind of disappeared on you, didn't I?

Now that you know about my clothing issues, let me tell you about another issue of mine: I don't travel well.

A few months back when my parents suggested the kids and I join them on a train trip to visit family in Utah, I said I'd think about it. When they asked again, I said I'd talk to George. After several weeks I finally talked to George, and he said, "Have fun." Yet still I waited until a week before our trip to buy tickets.



Traveling makes me anxious. I've never suffered from wanderlust; there's no gypsy in my blood. I like to stay home. I hate to pack. I sleep best in my own bed. I eat horribly when I go out of town. But when family insists on living hundreds of miles away, travel is sometimes unavoidable; and to tell the truth, once I'm packed and on the way, traveling is not so bad.



Especially when my mom packs her DVD player for the kids; thank goodness because the kids had no interest in the bag of books, art supplies and games I packed. They weren't really crazy about the fruits, vegetables and sandwiches I packed for the trip either, and opted for sodas in the observation car.

Highlights of the trip to Utah include but are not limited to:



- A trip to the children's theater to see my brother play the role of a Muggle-wump in a production of The Twits. I didn't know my brother was a thespian (though I did know he was a monkey).



- Playing at the park in the snow. My how I wish we had packed snow boots.

- Going to my grandma's house. I love that her house hasn't changed much in thirty years. I asked about the cactus plants on her kitchen windowsill and was shocked to find out that my grandfather bought the original plant in 1941, which means my grandma has had the cacti longer than she has had children. This fact absolutely amazes me.

- Spending time with my sister-in-law and getting to know her better.

- Meals in the dining car on the train. Eating cheese ravioli on a plastic plate while traveling across the Nevada desert in the dark is a surreal experience.

Two things I didn't do on vacation: go in a dressing room or check my email. Imagine my surprise upon returning home and reading all your comments on my last post. I'm not alone in the dressing room! What a relief! I'm looking forward to trying some of your suggestions, including sewing my own clothes and reading The Pocket Stylist (thank you Melissa!). I think it's time to determine my real body shape and discover the style of clothes that fit best. Thank you all for your kind and supportive comments.

So while I'm home, I'm not quite back yet. George is on vacation this week, there are bags to unpack and groceries to buy, valentines to make, and a tutorial to write. Come back later this week for some winter berries. See you soon!