Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Packing is sooooo much fun!!

Really,packing is so fun & I am so good at it.. errr....yea, no, not at all. After reading lots of blogs about packing throughout the last year I thought it would work out okay. I read several blogs where it seemed like they were over packing but had enough space and met all the weight limits. I started organizing first- stuff I need now ,stuff I can have people send to me etc. I also packed one bag to use throughout PST and another that I wouldn't need until swear In and I was at my site.My packing gear consits of an Osprey  Kestrel 48 backpack, a rolling duffel my brother found in his closet- I'm guessing its around 36in- those are my checked bags. A JanSport 1830 cu in Kaweah day pack along with a smaller backpack to use as carry on items. I tried packing and got my carry on items and the Osprey packed and moved on to the duffel. I failed miserably on the duffel. I swore it was not big enough and started stressing that I needed something else. After a day of shopping with my Mom I pretty much had my heart set on a huge duffel from REI that another girl from my group recommended. When we got back home my Mom actually dove in head first and packed the rolling duffel (that I swore off) in no time....uhh turns out it was big enough, thanks Mom!! She showed me what was up. She swears tomorrow she is going to unpack and repack the Osprey pack so maybe I can just have one carry on instead of 2.
Here are a few picks or my packing challenge.




I'm not 100% on the weight. We tried using the bathroom scale but it's hard to fit them on and still see the weight. I think the hiking pack is around 25 the rolling duffel is right around 50, give or take 5 pounds. I didn't weight the carry on items but they are heavy, probably around 20 pounds total. That is way over the 11 pound carry on limit they gave us. Do they actually weight carry on items though? I am hoping to bring the duffel down to an exact 50lbs =) No fees, please.

Now lets talk about food. I have been stuffing myself with everything I am going to miss...I really need to stop,my pants feel a little tight. For example, today I had cinnamon toast for breakfast, Chinese for lunch, peanut buttercup ice cream cone, then a home cooked dinner consisting of BBQ burgers, cheesy potatoes and green beans. Oh yea, there is also a chocolate cake in the oven right now =/...probably wont be eating any of that tonight. I am going hiking tomorrow so I don't feel like such a slothy slug! 11 days!!!!

Thursday, September 1, 2011

WHY?? and packing trial runs.

Why? I am tired of answering this question, are you?  I know it's a legit question and everyone who means the most to me knows my many reasons. I'm going to start answering it with "why not"?

I made yet another mini shopping spree at Target today, I think I just about have everything! I am buying my friends netbook in a couple weeks & need an external HD and that's about it...oh I still need host family gifts.
I did a packing trial run on Sunday. I still have a little over a month before leave but packing lightly is a huge struggle for me. The trial run went pretty well. My suitcase weighed about 30 and my backpack was 15 (granted, I was missing a few things), so I have room to work with. Maybe I will succeed at packing 80lbs for 2 years! I plan on making a  packing list along with pics in a few weeks.

Staging info should be arriving in a couple of weeks. I have 3 more weeks left of work...hooray!