Monday Musings- The long and short of it
I hope you’re having a lovely long weekend. I spent eleven hours behind the wheel on Saturday, and six on Sunday…so we’re now home in California. We are safe but not unscathed. My laptop seems to have taken a nasty hit somewhere along the way home and the screen is unusable so this is being written with my phone. I’m going to Best Buy today to see if the laptop is salvageable.
Checking Out
Our long drive home from Vancouver to California was longer than ever this time. We checked out of our summer rental on the last day of August and had to stay one extra day to tie up some loose ends… so we checked into a hotel. The following morning we loaded up the car and crossed the border. Three hours later the hotel called to let us know we had left four bags in the closet. My suitcases! I flipped out. Yup. Me, not calm.
Much to my husband’s frustration, I got off at the next exit and turned around to get them. He insisted we could have them shipped, but since it was all my stuff, I wouldn’t hear of it. And since I was driving, that was that. That meant six wasted hours on the road and two cranky, exhausted adults. We ended up staying that night in the same hotel, before leaving for home.
How did I screw up so badly? We had so many suitcases and boxes clogging that hotel room, that I had “very tidily put three of my bags into the closet…and closed the door. When the bellman showed up, I was rushed, and unorganized and didn’t notice my bags didn’t make it into the back of the car. The funny thing is, I’d checked under the bed and both bedside tables before we left because I’m neurotic about ensuring I don’t leave things behind. HA!
There is more to this story, but I can’t write it from my phone like this…so stay tuned!
Anti-aging Skincare
I do want to share that I turned down yet another collaboration with a brand that uses the term anti-aging to describe their skin products. I know the SEO is great for the word anti-aging, but at what cost to the women to whom the ads are directed? Does it belittle the aging process? How do you feel about the term? Does it roll off your back? Does it bother you? Let’s peel the onion back on this one, ladies.
I buy a lot of things on Amazon and some turn out to be treasures way better than I expected. What is your best Amazon find? I’d love to hear your favorite.
Hi Jennifer, Thank you for sharing your stories–both the triumphs and pitfalls. I love to read about your traveling adventures and love your fashion tips. I also appreciate when you share challenges, such as weight gain–you always look good, and it encourages me to not be so annoyed with myself when I gain a few pounds on vacation, too. It’s nice to see realistic photos of women that look put together no matter what, and you are so good at identifying and to point out styles of clothing that highlights one’s best features and minimizes areas of concern. I have tried out new styles of clothing, mostly jackets, that ordinarily are not my preference, after seeing how good they look on you. Thank you for your candid appraisals of items that you like and dislike and reasonings for that.
Thank you Sharon. I’m so happy it’s helpful.
We clearly have a society that is fixated on youth and youth alone. Unfortunately, it’s been that way for years. All one has to do is to look at the proliferation of plastic surgery.
If one goes to “Wikipedia” and enters the title, “List of age-related terms with negative connotations” you will find a truckload of ageist words. I’m not adding the URL here as it may/may not be acceptable procedure for this blog. Perhaps someone can add “Dear” to the list!
That story brought a laugh to my morning. I’m sure you and your husband aren’t laughing about it yet! I can only imagine what the mood in our car would have been like if that would have happened to us…..but I would have insisted on going back as you did. But I know my husband would be against it!
I just did the same thing! We went down to the Oregon Coast in May and had a couple stops on the way back to the border. We stayed in Lynnwood to get some shopping in and the weather was so nice there. We didnt even think about our jackets we left in the closet until we got to the Canadian border! My rain jacket was only about a month old but I wasnt about to turn around to get it, so I called the hotel and they were going to ship them. We have never received them, but the hotel said they were sent. Oh well, guess we both get new coats for the fall!
I’d ask for the shipping info. Perhaps they sent your jackets to the wrong address.
I have no problem with the coined phrase “anti aging “. It’s just two words used for a sales pitch..if I like the product I buy it..I don’t expect it to reverse all those “come by honestly wrinkles” but I love any product that makes my skin feel soft and gives it moisture.. even words of endearment don’t bother me..I do like my makeup because it does cover up and even out and it makes me feel good and I always answer the quizz question what item could you not live without and my answer never changes…MASCARA!!
I am just happy to still be on this side of the grass and considering natural deterioration of my body as I age I am still happy with life
I’m with you on the mascara however eyebrows have become increasingly mandatory.
a few years ago we made a road trip to Mayo Clinic in RochesterMN. We left our hotel and were almost back in Illinois when the hotel called to say they had my husband’s laptop. It had been found on the black asphalt parking lot where my husband had toppled the luggage cart. Guess the black laptop bag must have blended in with the black asphalt. He never told me about the toppling until this came to light. My brother in law in Minnesota drove to the hotel and shipped it to us via FedEX. If I had done this, I would have never heard the end of it. Surprisingly, the laptop was in perfect shape. Glad no one ran over it.
Can’t wait to hear the rest of your story. Horrible to experience this. Glad you’re home with all your belongings!
Wow! You’re so lucky it survived. Mine was inside a protected case and it’s not looking good.
I don’t mind the term anti- aging. What I object to is all the filters and photoshopping of images. If something will help address some of the affects of aging, great! But all these fake images are just lies. I don’t want to be lied to.
I help manage a vacation rental house and am often on hand when guests are checking g out. I remind them to double check various areas of the house for belongings and invariably they find something important or valuable ( like medications or a child’s favorite toy ) they had forgotten. But never bags of luggage. ! What a journey home that was!
So many interesting comments on
“ dear”
For me it’s all about who is saying it and the tone of voice. I don’t mind m’am or madam. I was once “ love-bombed” by a narcissist who cozily called me “Hon “ from day one. I didn’t like it and later realized it was a manipulation.
Most of the time I don’t mind someone like a clerk calling me a friendly term.
It’s all about how it feels. Trust your gut
Just don’t call me Toots or Baby Doll. .
Good point! “Baby doll” would bother me too!
So let’s see, you begin your trip in Vancouver with you bag being stolen from within the car and then cap off the trip by leaving your bags in the hotel. Thank you! You make the rest of us appreciate being normal. Was that part of your plan? Love it! Happy Trails!
Lol, just my real life🤣
I hope with all those border crossings you have a Nexus pass! PS — We once drove from Seattle to Anacortes for our boating vacation only to discover the boat keys were still at home. Sigh.
Ouch! Luckily we do have Nexus.
I must share a story, just not mine. The waitress was given this TIP, no money but this advice: Tip…. Don’t call my husband sweetheart! 😳 Oh my! I know your trip was long but glad for traveling mercies.
lol!!
Reminds me of the time ( way back) that my husband and I went to Bermuda. I posed all over the island for pictures. Got home…., opened camera and NO film.
Lol, we’ve done that too!! Luckily iPhones don’t need film. That’s all we use now.
Glad you got home at last and with your prescriptions! Best thing i ever did was
get an ipad . I have a mac and iphone but i use my ipad for everything at home and traveling .
.it fits inmost purses or totes , the screen-(and text size is adjustable ) is big enough to do everything a laptop does but easier and lighter ! And texting is easier … To carry ! Or not forget !
As for aging terms 😩😩
Also i HATE drs who say “ for your age “ at appts. Always makes me think they are just giving up on keeping us healthy vibrant and active 😩
Hmmm, I think that would bother me if my Dr said that too.
So sorry for the computer and for the luggage that did not get initially lugged. Please don’t worry about this kind of thing. Though I am sure it was very frustrating and tiring, it happens to all of us. Thank you for sharing, however, because it will help us all to be more mindful as we leave a vacation home or hotel room.
I am not particularly bothered by the anti aging label, but what I would really like to know is why is it anti-aging. What’s the magic ingredient etc. That way, I can truly decide if it will help.
Some of your gift giving ideas from Amazon have been big hits in my family. Otherwise, my kindle reads are the favorite.
Sorry meant to say I gave you a lot of credit. There is no way my husband would have turned back so I am very careful checking everything before I leave. My problem is I pack too much but I’m glad you made it back safely as you’re must be exhausted.
I had packed too much too but 3 months seemed like a long time. In the end, there were lots of things that did not get worn.