Keys locked in car winners - - - TBA!

Due to circumstances, most of them good, I'm behind on my blogging. This evening I leave town for 3 weeks, that is, after I retrieve the dog from the vet's, finish packing, and get the car registered. So stay tuned - - - and the winners will be announced when I get back!

JKJ

Keys Locked in Car Contest!

We've all done it. Most of us more than once. So - - - since I did it just this morning, I thought there would be some great stories out there about people locking their keys in the car.

Some recommendations:

I would not recommend trying to find a locksmith over Memorial Day Weekend. Just can't be done.

Also, I do not recommend leaving two dogs in the car for just one moment, keys in the ignition, motor running, to take 5 steps to the mailbox. Who knew dogs could lock the doors?

Please post your best, worst, funniest stories about locking keys in cars. There will be prizes!
Thanks, Janet

Update: Send in your entries by June 15.

Speeding tickets: what a circus!

Here is an email exchange- just had to share.

Dear Jeff,
I am working on my 2nd novel, making good progress, and yesterday I was writing a scene where a man is pulled over for speeding. He gets a warning instead of a ticket and his son is disappointed that the patrolman didn't give his dad a ticket "for the circus."

You may not remember, but I was pulled over once for speeding (my only speeding ticket ever) when your Grandma Craner was with us, and you three kids were in the back seat. We were in the old Chevy Malibu.
I told you not to say anything about the ticket to your dad - that I wanted to tell him after we got home, a little bit later. Well, you burst into the house and said "Daddy, Daddy, a nice policeman stopped Mommy and gave her tickets to the circus!"

So you are memorialized in that scene. Thanks for inspiring it so many years ago. I guess. (?)

It made me laugh. I hope it makes my readers laugh.

Love, Mommmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Jeff's reply:

It is a lovely memory, and I do indeed remember it. Though, the tickets were not for the circus, they were for the Festival of the American West.

Old west daily shootout at the American West Heritage Center

Baby animal days

Love, Jeff

p.s. I talked to my oldest son today and he remembered my speeding ticket, too! That was 19 years ago, guys! Give your mom a break!

Darling Granddaughter with her Daddy

"I Can't See Clearly Now"

Some time ago I wrote about one of my favorite songs, "I Can See Clearly Now." It was my "fight song" that saw me through some of the tough days in graduate school, and whenever it came on the radio, everyone in my car pool knew they had to be quiet so I could sing along:

. . . gone are the dark clouds that had me down,

It's gonna be a bright, bright, sunshiny day.

I saw the eye doctor recently, and he confirmed what I knew: I can't see clearly now. It's been less than a year since my last exam, and I'm "off" by two rows on the vision chart. That's a lot of change over a short period of time, he tells me. I know the small print has gotten much smaller.

Then he told me that cataracts have begun to grow in both eyes. He'll monitor them and when they're "ripe" enough they can be dealt with surgically. I imagine that will be a few years from now. I know it's a miraculous and highly successful procedure. I just didn't know I had them.

My grandfather had cataracts, and I recall the ordeal of his surgery when I was a child. He had to lie flat for many days, with sandbags on either side of his head to prevent movement. He had limitations after that, I believe--no lifting or heavy exertion. But the happiness of improved vision was worth it all for him.

I also have "redundant eyelids." Excuse me. I'm a writer, and I'm very careful not to be redundant. But it seems that, in visual terms, my eyelids are beginning to droop downward over my eyes and will gradually limit my upper field of vision. There is a simple surgery for that, too, when the time comes.

There was good news: the retinas and optic nerves are intact and healthy, and there's no sign of glaucoma. I can still legally drive without my glasses. It's just the reading - and reading is one of my passions - that's suffered the most.

So for now I'll use the prescription drops for dry eyes and wait for my new bifocals to come back from the lab.

Hey, bifocals were good enough for Ben Franklin. I'm fine with bifocals.

"Do you think you can put new lenses in these frames I have now?" I asked the doctor, and then I said, "now, where did I put them?"

"Uh, you're wearing them," he said.

I walked out of his office feeling like a little old lady.

"Now, where did I park the car?" I wondered.

Okay, I made up that part. It would been a good ending for the story, though.

Describing myself in the 3rd person

(with Chevy, age 16, cocker mix; Molly, deceased, cocker/beagle cross; and Lita, age 8, border collie/Sheltie mix)

I accepted a challenge at another blog to describe myself in the third person, in 100 words or less. Here, in 99 words, is what I wrote:

Her big sister claims Janet was "born wise." She loves classics of all kinds: music, books, drama, furniture, and her husband. She has gracefully executed several memorable practical jokes, has written her own obituary, and is a wuss about her pets. Sometimes, understanding Far Side cartoons can be a challenge. Her favorite Shakespeare quote:

Sweet are the uses of adversity,

Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous,

Wears yet a precious jewel in his head;

And this our life, exempt from public haunt,

Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks,

Sermons in stones, and good in everything.

(I should post that verse above my computer!)

Look, Ma!

Though the needs prompting my retention as a blog editor were not to extend beyond the scope of a simple, "look ma" video post, I find this to be a unique opportunity to plant a "naughty word" (or two), embarrass "the hell" out of my mother, and write a brief "mother's day" note (which is necessarily belated on account of an infeasible schedule).

Janet K. Jensen is a thief. She quietly embezzled family funds to support my technology habit; for the rest of her life, she must reconcile that, in part, she enabled my furious pursuit of a masters in electrical engineering from Berkeley. Many circuit boards have melted as a direct result of her actions.

As I writer, I encourage her to be more indulgent, even edgier, though it may not agree with social norms. I have little doubt that she will find success, as long as she continues to take the necessary risks.

As a mother, I encourage her to send more oatmeal cookies by mail.

As a person, I encourage her to laugh as often as possible, even if she is the only one laughing, because every once in a while, she'll get ya. You should ask her about how she met my father at Woodstock. (She will exaggerate, however, on the duration for which I was confused.)

Oh, yeah, the "look ma" moment that prompted this whole discussion:



I once poked at Miles that he should join me for my next endeavor, to which he replied that Janet would be a more likely candidate. I could only agree, though only from a standpoint of probability, and not expectation. Of course, Janet is flattered by those who read her blog, and I suspect that, especially in light of Geroge H. Bush's willingness to plunge into the air on several occasions, Janet may be swayed by the masses. She will need a little nudging from her devoted readers. I suggest a friendly e-mail encouraging her to take to the blue skies.

I love you Mom, and happy Mother's Day!

- Jeff

I'm Woodstock!

Just took the Peanuts Quiz at Facebook and I'm Woodstock! Ya gotta love Woodstock!

The test result says: You are Woodstock. You are a loyal to friend to beagles. You don't say much but you love to fly as high as your little wings will take you.

Thinking of Mom

In memory of Lorene Ethel Miller Craner

One of my earliest memories is sitting in my mother’s lap while she read to me. A favorite poem of mine was “Father William” by Lewis Carroll. My mother had a lovely voice and was very expressive. She always said it made me laugh when she read:

“You are old, father William,” the young man said,
“And your hair has become very white.
And yet you incessantly stand on your head;
Do you think, at your age, it is right?”
“In my youth,” father William replied to his son,
“I feared it might injure the brain;
But, now that I'm perfectly sure I have none,
Why, I do it again and again.”

My mother became a librarian and was an insatiable reader all of her life. She worked at the old Salt Lake City Public Library when I was in junior high school, and I would often go to work with her in the evenings. On the top floor of the library was a room where you could choose a record (yes, a vinyl 33 rpm record), sit at a desk, put on earphones, and a member of the library staff would play the record just for you. I completed a lot of homework there, listening to great music and gazing out over the historic old City County Building.

Education was very important to my parents, and they eventually made great sacrifices to finish their college degrees after their three children were born. Before Pearl Harbor and marriage, they each completed about a year and a half of college at Lewis and Clark State Normal school in Lewiston, Idaho, my mother’s hometown. Then my father enlisted in the Navy and became a pilot, stationed in the Pacific.

The remainder of their courtship took place through letters and telegrams, and they decided to marry when my father could arrange a leave. My mother traveled on a bus all the way from Lewiston, Idaho to Jacksonville, Florida, to marry my father. She later admitted to me that when she arrived in Jacksonville, she couldn’t quite remember what her fiance looked like, as she hadn’t seen him for months, so she made sure to be the last one off the bus. There he was, a young man with blond hair, blue eyes and a dazzling smile, looking splendid in his Navy uniform. And, yes, she did remember him after all.

They found a Mormon bishop and were married that afternoon. When the local Mutual Improvement Association (MIA) leaders heard about the wedding, they turned that evening’s activity into an impromptu party for the newlyweds. That was my parents’ wedding reception, celebrated among kind strangers. My father bought a box of chocolates for his new bride, and it was on her honeymoon that she discovered she was allergic to chocolate. Then he had to find a drugstore and buy a bottle of Calamine lotion to dab on her angry red hives.

When my father returned home from the war, a lovely baby girl, my oldest sister, was waiting to meet him. Then two more daughters were born, and my parents joined the ranks of Baby Boomer Parents.

When my oldest sister enrolled in college, my parents decided to go back to school, too. They each held down full time jobs while they attended the University of Utah and finished their Bachelor’s degrees. Our family life changed dramatically at that time, as the next daughter also began her studies at BYU, and I was the only child living at home. The dining room table was covered with books and papers, and someone was always studying or typing a paper on our trusty manual typewriter.

Once my parents took a class together. When the professor read their names on the roll, he asked if they were related. “Only by marriage,” quipped my mother. My father took me aside a few weeks later and informed me that in class, my mother was an “apple polisher” (teacher’s pet), and he found that rather irritating. A few days later my mother took me aside and told me that if my father would only follow the instructions in the syllabus and complete the assignments as directed, he would do better in the class. As you might guess, she got an A at the end of the term, and he got a B. I was relieved when they didn’t take any more classes together.

I’m sure everyone remembers the momentous day when their parents sat them down and told them “the facts of life.” My mother, a shy person who could never bring herself to talk about intimacy between husbands and wives, handed me a library book on the subject instead. She did say that I could ask her questions after I read it, but I didn’t have the courage to follow up on her offer. I knew she would be mortified.

My parents each completed a master’s degree—my father’s in History and Political Science at the University of Utah and my mother’s in Library Science at Brigham Young University. This involved significant commitment and frequent commuting for both of them. By that time I was in college, too, breaking with tradition to attend Utah State University in Logan, about ninety miles away from home.

I married my college sweetheart the day after I finished my Bachelor’s Degree, and we honeymooned in Chicago, where he earned his law degree and I obtained my Master’s Degree in Speech-Language Pathology. I worked for many years with people of all ages who had disabilities, to improve their speech and language skills. It was a rewarding career.

My mother always wanted to write a book about her ancestors. The title was going to be The Cardwells of Virginia. An avid genealogist, she acquired boxes of photocopied documents, pictures, and handwritten notes in preparation to write the book. Those boxes live in my basement now; cancer ended her life at age 66, and her book was never written.

My father passed away eight years later from a stroke.I began to pursue a writing career as my husband and I became empty-nesters and our own three sons all left home to attend college. My first book came about when I met writer Shaunda Wenger of Nibley, Utah. She had a splendid proposal for a book: we would pair selections from great literature with original recipes, and then organize the material like a traditional cookbook. The work was intense and challenging, and I often wished I could call my mother for help. She had been a reference librarian, and when I was searching for copyright information, great books that might have passages we could use, or a good recipe, I would close my eyes and think, “Mom, help!” And I did feel her support. I believe both of my parents were cheering me on from the other side.

The Book Lover’s Cookbook: Recipes Inspired by Celebrated Works of Literature, and the Passages that Feature Them, was published in 2003 by Ballantine, a division of Random House. I know my parents would have been proud, as they introduced me to great literature at a young age, proofed every paper I wrote for school assignments, and always encouraged me to discover the joy of reading. Many of the selections in our literary cookbook came from literature I was exposed to while I was growing up. Unknowingly, all my life I was being prepared to write a book about books.

Then I finally completed Don't You Marry the Mormon Boys, a novel published by Cedar Fort in 2007. The title comes from an old folk song my father used to play on the record player. Writing a book demands many different skills, and I am grateful that the seeds of my writing career were planted early by my parents.

As I wrote, I drew from my rich pioneer heritage on my father’s side, weaving family tales and lore I had heard all my life into my story. Many of my characters’ names were significant, as I borrowed them from our ancestors. I’m sure that wherever my parents are, they took a moment to smile when they learned that in my book a clever border collie is named Eliza R. Snow (not an ancestor), after a famous Utah pioneer poet. As I reflected on my heritage, the solid values my parents taught me, and the careers I followed based on the gifts and talents I inherited from my them, I wrote the following dedication in my book: “To my mother, who married a Mormon boy.”

Catching up!

Our "Finnish children" were here for 2 weeks (#2 son and his wife) for a great visit and this week our #1 son has been here with Darling Granddaughter. How we will miss them. Somewhere during that time our DVR died. I have caught up with "Lost" on the internet.

Here are some random thoughts about the last few episodes:

Re: Ben's Judgment Day: Ben got off with a puff of black smoke on
the wrist, if you ask me. He wasn't held accountable for his many other crimes, including The Purge. I would list them but I'm afraid I'd leave some out. OK, how did this get underlined?

I have always thought that "The Monster" or "Smokey" was a silly thing to call whatever it is. The name feels more Flash Gordon-ish to me, not sophisticated sci-fi drama-esque. Surely the writers could have come up with a better name for it.

Finally we learned more about Miles and his connection to the island. For the longest time "I know where dead people are buried" didn't seem like a reason for him to hang around. Then we learned who his daddy was . . . the scenes with the father-son issues that Hurley forced Miles to address were well done. Everything with Hurley is well done.

I do like the fact that sometimes our questions are being answered now. Now if we can get some backstory on Richard Alpert! I think he's a fabulous character, and throughout the series we've gotten little teasers about him here and there, but I want to know more! And the actor does not wear eyeliner. He's just got very thick black lashes and gorgeous eyes. And he doesn't dress like an Other or a Hostile. Hmmmm.

When are people going to speak Latin again?

Oh, poor Daniel Faraday! Miserable childhood - - - but what would you expect with those parents? Didn't his mother know that math and music go hand in hand? He could have been brilliant at both. Music would have made him even stronger in math, and vice versa. Tsk, tsk, Mrs. Hawking. And how dreadful that she actually shot Daniel. Maybe with the time shifts he's not "really" dead. You never know. And we learned that he tested one of his theories on Teresa, his college girlfriend -we got a brief glimpse of her in a hospital bed, unconscious, early in the season.

How come Faraday doesn't have a British accent?

And how did Des nearly die - - - I mean, he gave Ben a beating and then a baptism. Next thing we know he's being rushed to the hospital. Guess that half-gallon of milk didn't stop Ben's bullet after all. Interesting that Ben has a weakness for children. His one vulnerability. What a brilliant villain he is, played by a brilliant actor. And to think that I used to be afraid of Darth Vader!

One medical detail has been bothering me . . . John Locke had a compound fracture, a messy one, and it was just below his knee. That would mean a full-leg cast. He's not on the island, where injuries heal so fast . . . he's in a no-frills hospital in Tunisia. Widmore said he'd flown in a specialist "to reset it." That would mean surgery and plates and screws and a full leg cast - not the basic to-the-knee cast John wore. And he'd be in agony. Plus, we never saw him stick a kitchen implement down inside his cast to scratch the itches.

- - - Speaking as one who's had reconstructive ankle surgery. I did like John's blue cast. Mine was black.

Lost: Expect the Unexpected

A storyline on redemption? Just as I was thinking, "Aha! Sayid realizes his purpose in coming back to the Island was to meet young Ben and change the course of Island history!" something very shocking happened. No redemption. Of course it's all a cliff hanger until next week. Sometimes I like to see the best in a character, a defining moment . . . but sadly, this was neither . . .

Our newest pet . . .

Robbie!

"Lost": The Hootenanny's Over

Well, I am having a blast bouncing back and forth between 1974-77 on The Island. Cuz I LIVED the Seventies. In fact, I finished my master's degree in 1973 and then went to work at my my very first real job.

A brief diversion: A few years ago I convinced my youngest son (for about a nanosecond) that his father and I met at Woodstock. For that brief moment he had the coolest parents on the planet and he'd never realized it. I'll never let him forget The Day Mom Pulled One Over on Him.

Meanwhile, back to the Other Island, where Sun whacks Ben over the head with an oar: Good one, Sun! No wonder Ben's in the infirmary.

And poor Sayid's just beginning to realize he's in some kind of

terrible time warp. First, there was Jin in a Dharma

jumpsuit, speaking excellent English, pointing a rifle at him.

Not exactly the "Namaste" welcome. Then there was

bespectacled Sawyer (aka Jim LaFleur) as Head of Security.

And the clincher was meeting Young Ben. That should keep Sayid awake at night for a while.

Benjamin Linus

And speaking of being awake at night, I loved Sawyer's (aka Jim LaFleur) remark that he understood Churchill had read a book a night, even during the blitz. Helped him think. And now that's what Sawyer (aka . . .) says he does: he thinks. I couldn't tell what book he was reading last week or this week, though.

Amy's going to name her new baby . . . Ethan!

Something I didn't understand until I saw one of the recent "enhanced" episodes with subtitles: Michael died when the freighter exploded. How did I miss that? I know the actor is on a new abc show, but still, Des and Jin did get off the freighter. Christian did appear just before the explosion, telling Michael "You can go now," but Christian's presence doesn't always mean somebody's going to die.

The Island is evidently crawling with bright blue Volkswagen Dharma busess. Who knew Juliet was an expert mechanic?

We have finally arrived at the long-anticipated Quadrangle: Juliet, Sawyer (aka Jim LaFleur), Kate and Workman Jack (who evidently had a very low score on his aptitude tests. I laughed out loud at that one, detecting a bit of revenge on Sawyer's part). So now everybody's trying to remember who they should know and who they shouldn't, and play along.

I had to smile at the hair. Hurley, of course, has perfect 70's hair and so does Kate. I guess the producers had Matthew Fox grow his a bit, because it was NOT cool for a guy to sport a short 'do back then. The only boys in my high school who had short hair were the football players. I guess the coaches fed them some line about their helmets fitting better over short hair, so they had regular "buzzing" parties during the season but put away the shears after football was over.

Poor Sun and Lapidus, though - - turns out they're not even in the Class of 1977. Either that or they were absent on Picture Day, but judging by the state of the compound, 1977 was a long time ago. Speaking of missing classmates, where did Faraday go? We've seen Miles but no sign of the flaky physicist in this episode. When Jack asked about Faraday, Sawyer said he "wasn't around anymore." Hmmm. Looks like Christian's going to take Sun and Lapidus on a long, sentimental journey.

I hope it's accompanied by plenty of Three Dog Night songs - Remember Hurley starting the blue Dharma van in an earlier season, and the song we heard was "Shambala?"

One of the songs we heard this week was "Ride Captain Ride" and I couldn't remember who sang it, if I ever knew in the first place. Turns out it was Blues Image, a group that had a short lifespan. Here are the lyrics, and I'll leave you to find any symbolism you choose (remembering that it could just be a song about 73 men who sailed up from the San Francisco Bay . . .)

Seventy-three men sailed up

From the San Francisco Bay

Rolled off of their ship

And here's what they had to say

We're callin' everyone to ride along

To another shore

We can laugh our lives away

And be free once more

But no one heard them callin'

No one came at all

Cause they were too busy watchin'

Those old raindrops fall

As a storm was blowin'

Out on the peaceful sea

Seventy-three men sailed off

To history

Ride, captain ride

Upon your mystery ship

Be amazed at the friends

You have here on your trip

Ride captain ride

Upon your mystery ship

On your way to a world

That others might have missed . . .

Namaste, Jim!

My feet got hugged!

My big sister sent hugs in the mail - - and they are wonderful! She is a knitter extraordinaire.

Darling Granddaughter

She gets her curly hair from Grammy J

"Lost" . . . brought to you by...?

Locke's ready to make the final sacrifice
Note: now that I've watched the show w/o interruption, corrections are in green! And I have to download this week's show because my DVR doesn't recognize that TWO episodes are shown each Wednesday night, so it only records the first, which is the repeat. I'll wrestle with it again.

Say what, Jacob?

OK, I'll have to watch tonight's episode again, as I got interrupted about 10 times during "Lost ". . . but Jacob (Christian) (nope, my oops, Christian says he's Jacob's spokesman) had a line that seemed to explain it all. everything, from the plane's mechanical malfunctions, the crash to the island to the strange sicknesses, and even Smoky the Monster (truly, I've seen better monsters in my day and I don't know how essential this one has really been to the plot. Oh, sure, he's offed a few characters, but otherwise has no personality to speak of).

Anyway, when John asked how to get off the island and Jacob said something about "windows," well, there you have it. Now, really, wouldn't you expect a more creative solution than that? I wonder if he's referring to XP? I suspect he is, because Vista wouldn't have been out yet, just 90 days after the crash. Or maybe it was available in 2003.

So has this just been a huge four-year buildup for Microsoft's newest operating system?

Say it ain't so, Jacob! OK, OK, really, it just struck me as funny, with the emphasis on the word "windows." I know the producers wouldn't treat us in the uncaring way Microsoft does. And why did Ben move the island if John was supposed to do it?

Rousseau and Friends
But thinking of Microsoft and computer problems did make me wonder if everyone in Rousseau's camp might have been sickened by a virus. Really, it was shocking the way that storyline played out, and it all happened so quickly (French subtitles and all) that the characters weren't even developed before they were corpses.

Soggy violins

I loved the violin being rescued and left to dry on the beach, but what was its significance? We hear a sad violin theme when people die on "Lost" but that happens nearly every episode. So maybe a violin is just a violin.

Miles and his hoodie

On to more pressing matters. I haven't figured out why Miles is essential to the plot. Sure, he "feels dead people" but what's new about that on this island? We have yet to see a real need for his special skills. I find it interesting that he's now the one pulling the hoodie over his head, reminding me of Charlie.

Waiting for Hugo: And I wondered why Kate and Aaron didn't hop in the van with Jack and Sun and Ben. Well, yes, the fact that Kate hates Ben, with good reason, could have been one reason. But everybody hates Ben. Unless somebody left their keys in the car, though, Kate and Aaron are stranded, without any fries and catsup for Aaron. Plus, Kate is wearing THE most impractical shoes for travel, and I don't think Jack had time to pack, either. Sayid's there at the docks, too, so maybe he and Kate are catching up on old times or playing "Go Fish" with Aaron. OK, bad pun, but I'm really tired. We're still waiting for Hugo to get sprung from the slammer to complete the Oceanic Six, so maybe they're hanging around to wait for him?

(OK, so I saw Kate grab Aaron from Sun's car and then I think she drove off in a hurry. Sayid just walked away, didn't want anything to do with the whole "we have to go baaaaaaaack!" idea. The captions they add on repeat episodes - I'm a slow learner- are really helpful, too. Sayid has been assassinating (or at least he thinks this is his mission) people Widmore has been sending to off the Oceanic Six. Since it's been under Ben's direction, I'm sure it's particularly annoying, plus it went against everything Sayid didn't want to be anymore. But now there seems to be more of a reason if he thinks he was protecting his fellow Losties. And is Ben a veterinarian?)

Shouldn't Jack and Des ("See you in another life, brothah") have been surprised to see each other in front of Mrs. Hawking's church? (is her name a tribute to Steven Hawking, or do I have the spelling right?) Speaking of computers, as mine has been giving me fits today, thank you very much, Microsoft, the ones in the basement of her church are ancient, like the ones in . . . the hatches. (And Des has really, really great hair, have you noticed?)

I was happy to see Jin reunited with the gang, who could explain a bit of time travel to him, and also tickled to see Sawyer's genuine joy when he saw Jin. Ben didn't give Sun the wedding ring from Jin (supposedly proof that Jin is alive, although Jin said to tell her it was proof he was dead and buried, just a slight distortion by Ben) until they got to the church. Wonder why he didn't give it to her on the docks?

Korean and Klingon

And I had forgotten that Charlotte spoke Korean (in addition to Klingon). Wonder how that fits in with her background, but I don't know if we're going to see a Charlotte-centric episode or not. Given tonight's events it doesn't seem too likely, unless they to into yet another time warp where she's perfectly healthy.

It's rather amusing how one character will just touch his/her upper lip to politely tell another "You've got a nosebleed." Rather like a formal banquet when you try to let someone know, tactfully, that they have broccoli between their teeth.

Hmmmm, Charlotte seemed to remember Faraday as a crazy old man. Wonder who HER daddy was? And why she can't remember her maiden name (Lewis). She did say that she and her Mum left the island and returned to England, leaving Daddy with the Dharmas.

That was one mean compound fracture Locke had. Christian said he couldn't help him up - is that because Christian's, well, dead?

With those thoughts and questions, I'll say good night. We're heading out of town in the morning, to visit with Our Funny Valentine, our 18 month old granddaughter. Grammy and Poppy love you, PJ (and your parents, too), and we can't wait for those hugs and kisses.

Everything in one (pink) backpack - for one weekend!

#10 in Travel Series

The famous pink backpack

I recently took a weekend trip and packed everything I needed in one backpack. It was my one and only item of baggage, and I was so smug about it! I was on crutches (and I still am), so having only one bag to manage was helpful - - - especially one that fit on my back. Not that I had to lug it; my husband carried it for me, gentleman that he is. But it was the principle of the thing. Next trip I can manage it on my own, if I need to.

I was also determined to bring nothing more than a carry-on bag because most airlines now charge for your first checked bag. Additional bags cost even more, so downsizing can eliminate baggage charges. Oh - and our Delta flight did offer wireless internet - - for a charge. Their "Go-go" internet pass is $9.99. Presumably that is $9.99 per flight.

The secret to my bare-bones packing was that I wore the same pair of wrinkle-free black pants all three days. I wasn’t there to impress anyone with my wardrobe, anyway, and black goes with everything, right? I tucked two knit tops, underwear and socks into my backpack and wore a black wool blazer on the plane. A lightweight jacket that layered over it was rolled up to fit in the backpack. I didn’t bring extra shoes either; the black ones (well, technically I wore only one shoe and a clunky orthopedic boot) were just fine for all three days. So my clothing needs were minimal. I’ve found that rolling clothes tightly is the best use of packing space. Every cosmetic item I needed fit into the required one-quart zip-log bag that's inspected at security.

I only took two paperback books, which did require self-discipline.

But I've ordered a Kindle e-book reader, so very soon that will contain all my reading needs when I'm on the go.

Every cosmetic item I needed fit in the one-quart bag I pulled out for inspection at security.

I brought an empty fanny-pack that fit into one of the pockets of my backpack, and after we passed through security, I put some items in it that I wanted to have with me on the plane, and buckled it around my waist.

What I didn’t Use

We didn’t shop on our trip, so there was nothing extra to bring home. There were two items I packed but didn’t use: one was an extension cord. Many hotel rooms don’t have plugs that are easily accessible; if they are, lamps and other items may already be plugged into them. An extension cord with several plugs allows you to recharge your phone or mp3 player or to use your laptop. On this trip, our room was set up for computer use, so there were plenty of accessible plugs, and I didn’t need the extension cord.

(Be sure when you do travel with your laptop that you always have a spare three-prong adapter with you. They cost about a dollar and they're invaluable when you only have a two-prong outlet.) The other item I didn't use was the extra set of earphones I accidentally packed for my mp3 player.

Otherwise, I packed only what I needed, and I used everything I packed.

My handy pink backpack also has a padded sleeve for my laptop, but we didn’t need it on this trip, so we didn’t bring it. Our hotel had a free business center with several computers for guests to use, and we were able to print our return-trip boarding passes at no charge, a great convenience. Airlines also require laptops to be carry-on items; they should not be in your checked bags. They must also be taken out of their cases and placed in separate bins at security.

Remember: Nothing valuable should be in checked bags, including medication.

You can learn if your hotel offers these services before you leave, so you’ll know what you need and what you don’t. Usually you can find this information on their website. If not, call the hotel and see what they have on hand for guests. For example, many have hair dryers and can also provide irons if requested.

“Mandy,” my GPS device, stayed home. We visited our son on this trip and he was our able chauffeur and navigator. If we’d been on our own, Mandy would have come, too. She’s invaluable when we’re trying to find an address in an unfamiliar town.

I’ll do it Again
Overall, I’d say I did very well on our trip. In the future, whenever possible, I plan to pack the absolute minimum when I travel. I’ve always said I would do this, but inevitably I’ve packed more than I needed. I used my master list (see last week's post) when I packed. This time, instead of feeling anxious about what I could have brought or didn't bring, I felt just fine about what I did bring.

Pretty in Pink
It’s always wise to have more than one distinctive tag or strap on your luggage. As the airlines remind you, many bags look alike. But very few people are going to mistake my pink backpack (it also has an orange ID tag on it) for theirs. Even my husband has to agree with that. After all, he was the one carrying it. Pink looks good on him.

Travel: What to take, what to leave at home, and other weighty decisions

#9 in travel series

See the following websites mentioned in last week's post for current and helpful

travel information:
http://www.ricksteves.com/home.htm

http://www.onebag.com/
http://airtravel.about.com/od/beforeyougo/u/Docs.htm

http://www.travel.state.gov/

If you have special needs

I've traveled by air recently along with my crutches and wheelchair, so we have used special mobility services and appreciated them. Airlines are very helpful if you have special mobility needs. Some have contracted those services to outside firms, and if you’re assisted by one of their employees, tips are appreciated (and probably expected). Other airlines continue to offer wheelchairs and escorts as part of their regular service. If you do need assistance with mobility, be sure to call in advance so the airline can be prepared to meet your needs. You can request a cart or wheelchair online, as long as you can give them 48 hours notice.

Also contact your airline about special medical devices such as CPAP machines and diabetic supplies. For passengers who need supplemental oxygen, ascertain what the airline provides. If you travel with your own wheelchair, the airline will provide specific requirements that determine whether you must check it at the gate or whether it will fit in the plane's cabin.

Be sure to ask how these items will be screened at security, and when you reach security, tell the agent you are carrying them in your bag. Remember that when your carry-ons are searched by hand, you must stand back from the table or not touch any of your possessions, no matter how tempting it might be to help the agent. You can explain questionable items to them but remember to keep your hands to yourself. Otherwise, your helpful gesture could be construed as a threat, and . . . well, let's just not go there. Suffice it to say, missing your flight would be the least of your worries.

What to Leave Behind

The list: Make a permanent packing list and use it every time you travel. The more you use this list, the more relaxed you will be when you leave home. One excellent way to determine what you'll really need on a trip is to make a list of what you actually used on a previous trip. Do this as you unpack. It will help you to analyze, in black and white, what you need and what you don't really need. If you're a "kitchen-sink (everything but) traveler," the way I used to be, this will help you to make logical decisions, instead of relying on emotional decisions when you pack.

It’s a good idea to empty your wallet of anything you don’t need such as library cards, grocery discount cards, etc. If you should lose your wallet, you wouldn’t have to replace everything you usually carry in it at home. And photocopy all credit cards, your license, passport, visa, etc. and put the photocopies in a different place than the originals. Having the photocopies copies will greatly expedite their replacement. Write down the phone numbers of the credit card companies and other emergency numbers on a small card and laminate it. Again, place this card in another spot than your wallet.

In an earlier column(March 20, 2008,http://janetkayjensen.blogspot.com/2008/03/travel-advice-part-two-carry-on-bags.html) I mentioned the state-issued picture identification cards which you can obtain through your state's Drivers License Department. I travel with my state ID card and leave my driver’s license at home. If I were to lose my license, it would be much more difficult to replace than the state ID card. it's a good idea to obtain state ID cards for all family members. And unless I know I’ll be using it, I leave my temple recommend safely at home.

Handy Items to Bring
It’s a good idea to keep address labels in your wallet. If you want to add more luggage tags to your bags when you check in, simply peel off a label and stick it on the airline’s paper tag. It’s usually more readable than your hurried handwriting. And if you buy something that you want to mail home, the label is perfect for that purpose as well.

I always pack my own small travel battery-operated alarm clock. I know how to set it, and I often can’t figure out the settings on hotel alarm clocks. Just be sure to adjust the clock for any change in time zones.

About digital cameras
Memory cards are going down in price, so pick up a few extra if you plan to take many pictures. Don't forget a small battery charger and extra rechargeable batteries.

Empty 35mm film canisters (remember the days of film?) are great for holding jewelry, as well as quarters for vending machines or coin-operated washers and dryers. If you have room in your bag, measure some laundry soap into zip-top plastic bags, and, just to be safe, double-bag them. Laundry soap is expensive to purchase in coin-operated laundromats, and you’ll need all your quarters for the washers and dryers anyway.

Identification
Have you ever heard announcements over the PA system for travelers to come back to security and claim items such as cell phones, etc.? I certainly have. Read the security sections in the websites mentioned at the beginning of this article for the best way to identify them. Again, be sure to tuck some kind of ID into your bag. A business card works well, as long as it's your business card. Something larger, such as a full-size bright piece of paper with your name, address and phone number written on it, can simply be the last item you slip in before you close your bag. It will be the first thing someone sees when they're trying to identify the owner. Your bag will be found and returned to you sooner if it's easy to identify.

If it's lost or delayed and you have to file a claim for your missing suitcase, the airline will want you to describe the bag and its contents. "Well, let me see, it's kind of black with wheels, and it has clothes and shoes and . . .” There's not usually much inside or out that distinguishes one bag from another, unless you make sure to include it. Try to put unique tags (several) as well as something bright and distinctive (i.e. luggage strap, yarn pom-pom, etc.) on the outside of your bag, but realize that it could be torn off in handling. It's happened to us. We use brightly striped straps, sometimes more than one, to make our bags stand out from others.

Tag it!
I visited our local pet store and used their automated machine to print small metal pet tags with our name, address and phone number and attached one to my camera strap. These little tags and the rings that come with them are quite sturdy, so consider the many ways you might use them.

Most cell phones have small recessed hooks where decorative chains can be attached; consider slipping a small pet tag there. Call your cell phone company and ask how they suggest you identify your phone, and and how they would recommend you list emergency contact phone numbers in your cell phone's directory. Remember to bring a car/and or wall charger for your cell phone.

Stick address labels or business cards inside small cases (i.e. for glasses or sunglasses) if you don't want to be obvious and label the outsides. We've wondered how many sets of bifocals have piled up at the Amsterdam International Airport since my husband's were left there . . . And another trick: use colors that stand out when you buy eyeglass cases, camera bags, etc. You're less likely to overlook them when you exit a plane or check out of your hotel room. Some experienced travelers suggest that bright colors could be more obvious targets for thieves, so that's something to consider, too. Another wise idea is to travel with inexpensive sunglasses.

I have considered ordering a personalized "Going to Visit Grandma" bag for my granddaughter that has her name embroidered on it, but that could also pose a safety risk. Check with your local child-safety police officer about the wisdom of having a child's name in a highly visible place. If the kids are just piling into the family car for their visit, that's one thing. If they're in a public airport, bus or train station, that's an entirely different security consideration.

Weighty Decisions
It's always a good idea to weigh the bags you plan to check at home, before you leave for the airport. There are usually different weight allowances for domestic vs. international flights. Most airlines will allow you to check heavier bags, but will charge extra for them.

Next week: Everything in one (pink) backpack!

#3 son's Go-Bot

We take a lot of credit for this. His dad and I saw him through YEARS of Pinewood Derby cars. In spite of our mechanical abilities, it took a Scoutmaster's help to actually get his car to roll down the track. But we read The Little Train that Could to him a zillion times, and I'm sure that's what cinched it. He must have inherited a recessive gene that inspired him to design and build the Go-Bot, a project he completed at UC Berkeley, where he recently graduated in Computer Engineering. I've seen the Go-Bot and I'm not exactly sure what it does, or why, but that doesn't keep me from being very proud of its creator. Love ya, Jeff!

#2 son, BJ, has just learned that a paper, of which he is one of 7 co-authors, has been accepted for publication in the European Journal of Applied Physiology.

The lake on the campus of the Unversity of Jyvaskyla in Jyvaskyla, Finland - a great place to take a stroll.

BJ is a graduate student in the Department of Biology of Physical Activity, Neuromuscular Research Center, at the University of Jyvaskyla in Jyvaskyla, Finland. The title of the paper is "Body composition, fitness and metabolic health during strength and endurance training and their combination in middle-aged and older women."

I'm afraid if he does a single-subject study, it may be on Mom!


BJ with his dad following his graduation from Utah State University.