A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The Banter Hall What else would I need?

woooooooow thats a long list!

You're right Penny! I rememeber Mark complaining about the huge suitcase we took to the ocean, plus a few smaller bags. Well when we got there he wanted a certain pair of shorts and started saying I should've packed them! After I packed a TON of other stuff he could wear.

And Christy it IS a long list....good thing my bags have a ton of pockets here and there so I can shove things in! Good thing a lot of the stuff is small stuff too!

Hey I gotta remember to wave to you Jess!

what about a extra bag in case ya bring stuff home??

Yep, that's what I'm doing! Taking 3 bags and packing one.

Actually I could pack all 4....the 4th with snacks and any gifts I might find to take....then by the time we leave WA it would be empty again and ready for me to fill with bring home stuff.

thats a good idea,
thats gonna be soooooo cool takin a train ride all the way there.

Yep you do have to remember to wave to me! You better bring that list on the train with you or you might forget!

Don't mean to butt in Cindy--but are you going to take some deodorant & toothpaste/brush---you might not want to "borrow" those---

And clean undies

I draw the line at sharing my undies with you Cindy! As much as I love you...sorry!

Cindy, Aren't you taking your laptop? We will miss you if you don't. Bill said to bring it 'cause he has WIFI.

loz my friend, I think you are WAY OVER-PACKING! You do NOT need to take every conceiveable item you MIGHT need once out there. For instance, If you get a bug bite, you can pick up what you need locally instead of dragging it clear across the country twice. Streamline all your packing and please remember that trains do not have spacious storage areas around seats. Also, remember to take only very small sizes of toiletries-- what you will actually use in those days. If all your home containers are "super size", put some in smaller containers.

I just do not want you to have your trip sorta spoiled by packing too heavily and being unhappy and weighteddown every step of the way.

Merme

Bug spray from Avon is travel sized.....and the shower gels are small, shampoo will be a 2 in 1 so I don't have to take conditioner. Mark will use it too.

Most of the stuff is really small stuff, like my MP3 player is tiny, and my Gameboy is tiny. A lot of the stuff I can fit in my purse....And Mark is a strong guy, he can carry lots. I will fit all of this in only 3 carry on bags. That's it. I guarantee it will all fit! Addresses, debit card, medical card, jewelry, and needlepoint can easy fit in my purse. MP3 player and Gameboy too, and my chargers for the cell phone and batteries. I know it looks like a lot, but a lot of it I need. I may even be able to fit it all in 2 small suitcases.....I'm a creative packer and I don't want to be bored on the train.

The train has storage overhead....and then once we get to Chicago we can check our bags totally into train storage if we want. The only part we'll have them all with us is on the train from here to Chicago.

Have you checked to see if the size of your bags will fit in the overhead storage units? As I recall, those little doors are small! That isn't a problem if you know your bags will go in, but you might want to doublecheck that detail. I've seen plenty of folks with carry-on bags that are the okay length to go in the small compartments but are too fat to get through the door. Also, keep in mind that one end of the car will have extra floor space for bags. IF you can get a seat there, you'll be GOLDEN! I used to always try to get that seat so Maxi could get down and play.... it made our frequent train trips easier!

Oh, and the reason I wanted to give you a heads up about maybe not packing things you can easily get at destination if needed is because the very first train trip I took with Maxi when he was 3 months old, I packed an ENTIRE CASE OF CANNED FORMULA! I'm telling ya, loz, if my gigantic duffle bag hadn't been on wheels, I never would have made it lugging that thing PLUS Maxi in his little car seat carrier!!

When I arrived, my sister Penny -- far older and wiser than me! -- quipped: "What, did you think they don't sell forumla in Pennsylvania?!"

After that, I'd only bring a few cans in case we were delayed en route as we went down every six weeks for a long time.

Lived and learned!!

Merme

Somebody please call Cindy when she is getting off the plane so she doesn't forget it under the seat.

Cindy put a post it note on the seat ahead of you as soon as you si to remind you of all your bags to retreive! OR Tie a string from the laptop case to your finger!!!!

This time last year I think I was in a bit of a frenzy.....

Yes, Miss Loz ~ That was all so fun and exciting!


Thanks for the memories...


Merme

Yeahhhhhhhh ya were! doesn't seem like a year went past so fast does it!




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I can't believe it's been a year! A whole year!!!!!!

That is SO funny Diane!

cindy, i think you were making it right about now. because it is right about now that i told my boss that i needed the holiday off. we were short staffed, but because of the uniqueness of the trip, i got the time off. same for scott!

As Bill, he might remember-------

I remember how worried you were about leaving Lola, and all the phone calls we had around this time last year talking about the trip(I miss those calls btw).

I remember how nervous I was to get on that train, I mean to travel across the country on a train is a huge thing for me to have done. I'm not real adventurous, or real great being too far from home.

And I remember when we were pulling in at Everett saying to Mark, what if I don't recognize Bill, what if I don't see him? Then I was like, of course I'll recognize Bill---I've saw a gazillion pictures of him. And of course, there he was.....and Shadow was in the car waiting.

And then I was in heaven to get there the first time with Bill, and Shadow and explore CH. Bill had looked at me and said, where do you want to go first? The motel to freshen up, or to CH? I was like, do you really have to ask? Take me to CH.

And it was so great when Jiffy and Scott got there......we had a good little set up. In the mornings I was always lagging behind so we'd meet them over at the little restaurant for breakfast each morning. I was always the last one ready. And usually half asleep. But I don't think either of them minded.

And then Cindy got there(in her xanax and beam induced state ) and it was so great---there we were. All 4 of us....Bill, Cindy, Jiffy, and me. Who would've thought it would ever happen in a million years?

The fireworks were great the night of the 4th.....it was all just so perfect. Like a dream....until we had to all say goodbye, and one by one they all left....and then it was just back to me, Mark, Bill and Shadow again. That was sad having to be the last to leave, seeing everyone go.

Then on the way home our Empire Builder train was almost 6 hours late making our Chicago connection. They sent Amtrak people on the train in Milwaukee and made arrangements with us to get hotel/money vouchers.....we had a wonderful night at Homewood suites in downtown Chicago. A free night of extra vacation. Chicago was a great city, but wow---I don't think I could get used to living there.

Did it really all happen or WAS it a dream?

Now THAT I doubt very much----

and Loz, yes it really happened---I think I was glued to the computer the whole time all of you were there. :wink:

It does seem like it was a long time ago.

As soon as Cindy got there she took my to HH and started kissing me!

(I bet she doesn't remember that too well).

It is hard to believe a whole year has passed already.

By the way Loz....did you forget to pack anything?

I had everything but the kitchen sink.

See, I knew you forgot something

On the way home we had to buy a HUGE adidas bag just to fit all the stuff in it that Bill gave me.....

and i got the pictures to prove it

hey, Jiffy---do you think that perhaps those pictures are "Suitable for Framing"

hmmmm, might be