Wednesday's World of Possibilities

[BirdbyBird]

Good Morning. The possibilities around here are not too exciting. After nine years I am finally taking the Honda Fit into have the recall on the air bag taken care of. For a long time when I would call they kept telling me that they were out of the replacement parts, then I just didn't stop what I was doing long enough to make an appointment. The Honda has now passed the 99,000 miles mark but I am hoping to get at least another 100,000 miles and another ten years out of her. I try not to think of how may actual miles the body has accumulated rolling down the road following the RV down the highway.

Josef has another dog show this weekend but it is only a couple hours away just east of the Columbus area. Then he will have a couple weeks off. He will go spend about three weeks with his other mother Cindy while I head to Scotland. She hasn't decided whether or not they will enter any shows while I am gone. Josef is moving closer to his retirement but I don't fret about which one of us gets him there.

I am figuring that Scotland weather will be chilling off by October but I remember the temperatures that we got out west this past winter. I survived those chills just fine and am bringing layers and warm clothes. Just not many of them. I am figuring to make everything fit in my carry on and wash out laundry as needed. I want to make Rick Steves proud. There is a benefit of traveling solo. There is no one to comment how many days in a row that they see the same clothes. I will need to purchase two walking poles once I arrive (yes, they are considered weapons but knitting needles are not.) and I am also starting a short list of other things I will purchase there rather take up packing space. There is also the plan to pick up a jar of peanut butter and some snacks to cut down on the need for actual meals. I have gotten pretty good at not just eating because the clock says it is meal time. I am hoping to continue that.

So not much happening around here at the moment. Lark has asked again for me to email her breeder and take her up on the invitation for a private lesson to review the current performance rules. Since it has been over ten years since I have shown in performance events many of the classes and exercises have changed. Lark says she wants to be ready for after Josef retires.

Make it a grand day!

[retiredhappy]

United allowed Melissa and I on our trip last year to Boston, to take our Harry Potter wands. (Mel actually bought two 4" wands to take because she thought it was so funny). Can you take a jar of peanut butter? You know, it might hide explosives.

[BirdbyBird]

I was putting the food items on the list of things easy to pick up once I arrive and less weight and more room in the luggage..... Just as we travel around the US, it is good to remember that other cities and countries have stores, too. Other than medications, international/UK appropriate electrical converters, my electronics, I don't try to make my brain hurt any more than necessary.

I do remember making a drive down to visit Sarah in Huntsville one fall and forgetting to pack any shoes other than the flip flops on my feet driving down...... And then it turned cold!

[bluepinecones]

Just checking in for first time in a while. Nothing new or exciting to report.
Looking forward to reading about your trip Tina.
Anyone else getting notices from Photobucket about new rules limiting off site storage ?

[Cudedog]

I don't use PhotoBucket, but I have noticed that the photos on here of those who do use PhotoBucket, all of their photos have gone so out-of-focus and blurry that I can no longer make them out. The photos now just look like art-deco color blobs.

I'm guessing that the Bucket wants $$ to focus things up again. LOL. I decided to check. For "only" a fast $4.99 - $11.99 per month (ouch!), maybe you too can have in-focus photos that don't look like blobs. Such a deal.

https://photobucket.com/

I say kick the Bucket, if you can.

Anne

[BarbaraRose]

Tina, you can get the box of individual servings of peanut butter. You can take a few with you on the plane for a snack with a mini package of Ritz crackers or similar. Everything comes in snack sizes now which I love! Great for hiking trips!

I don't know of another way to post avatar and signature photos other than with photobucket. Maybe someone can enlighten me to another way?

Off to work soon. I opened most of the windows overnight. It was so windy during the night that it was really blowing on me in my bedroom even with just the one window open. It felt like I was sleeping outside! But was so cool and refreshing!

Have a good day!

[OregonLuvr]

Barbie this is what I use now. Sandi showed me how easy it was and dang if she wasn't right, even I can do it. LOL

http://photoposting.is-great.net/?i=2

[Bethers]

I think most of us use the link Karen provided now. It's easier than Photobucket and pretty much became a necessity when they started blocking photos from appearing and got rid of free usage.

Tina it's fun watching/listening to you prepare for your trip. I love hearing the minimalist principles that I think I'd follow, too.

Barbie, please share that movie link you posted on yesterday's morning coffee closer to that date. I'll watch, too, if reminded.

I made a lot of cookies at the store. Sales were almost non-existent, but one employee convinced nearly every customer to purchase at least one freshly baked cookie. So I kept having to bake more lol. And since I came home I received a message they sold out again. It's pouring rain so they'll have to do without for now.

[mtngal]

Well dang! Very disappointed my profile pic no longer works here as it was my last one left with brunette hair. That was a long time ago! Maybe 12 years?!?

[BirdbyBird]

It has been interesting watching Photobucket keep trying to push us to sign on. I haven't used Photobucket for years except when I have purchased several canvas prints. For those I up loaded prints from my computer that were not even on PB. I even deleted a bunch of my picts. That seemed to work for a while but then I started getting the same messages as everyone else and continued to ignore them. Guess that the watermark didn't change enough minds so they upped it to blurry. I know how to load to to the forum in general but will need to study up how to size the pictures for the other signature and avatar options.

My "down time" today was spent researching luggage. If I wasn't so cheap! Trying to make sure that what I order will actually fit international and small carriers (I have dreams of doing this again and 22-23 inches don't always pass muster. I also have noticed that the actual dimensions are often larger than posted because the marketers leave off the added height of the wheels or spinners. I now have a backpack from Costco that I believe will work as my personal item as long as I pack it "light" and "skinny" on the way over. I can greatly expand it later on the trip home and check it, etc, if I need to.

[JudyJB]

Tina, the UK has some of the best and biggest variety of take-out food anywhere! Just go into the back of a Marks and Spencer or at any of the little shops and you will find packages of very fresh cut up fruit, sandwiches, salads, desserts and more. I seldom wanted to tackle restaurants, so this kind of take out was wonderful. Here is the US, I would not consider buying a prepared sandwich in the equivalent of a 7-11, but there so many working people rely on it that this kind of food is very good. Grocery stores such as Tesco and Sainsbury's also have such packaged stuff. I have many times stopped and bought a chunk of cheese, some crackers, a package of cookies, an apple or other fruit, and something to drink. Once in a freeway fast food area, I bought some baked ham and a fruit cup, plus a sort of pudding with fruit. Very good.

By the way, the Photobucket thing is why I never, ever, ever store anything on the "cloud." I do not trust anyone else with my files and photos and do not want to someday have to pay a ransom to get them back!!!

[Redetotry]

Barbie this is what I use now. Sandi showed me how easy it was and dang if she wasn't right, even I can do it. LOL

http://photoposting.is-great.net/?i=2

That is the one I use, so easy!

[monik7]

I know how to load to to the forum in general but will need to study up how to size the pictures for the other signature and avatar options.

For sizing for your avatar, I used 70 x 90. Depending on your photo, that might have to be adjusted slightly.
Sandi

[BirdbyBird]

Sandi, thanks.

[cnq50b]

Tina, have fun! I'm a big fan of Rick Steves. I should have read his book on France before Gaby got married. His insights into the French people were right on & explained alot of what we've discovered on our own over the last few years with our SIL.

A tip for luggage... I saw a man wheeling a very small carry-on off a flight one day & asked him where he got it - Walmart for about $15! I got one for myself. It is small but perfect since I tend to carry a couple of relatively heavy laptops with me when I travel back & forth to KS. I've had it for about 3 years now & it's still like new. Your backpack idea might work better for you though since this one doesn't hold much.

I need to learn to relax & venture out solo more often. I love my solo road trips but do want to return to Europe & take my time to really get the feel of the different countries/cities & soak in the history & culture. Once the kids move there, I'll be able to venture out from their place. They should be heading over there in about a year so I'm trying to learn French - or at least some basics.

Reset my avatar. Of course, it includes Olivia.