I'm Bringing Fanny Packs Back

I just got back from a frantic visit with my parents in their Florida house and a quick two-day trip to Disneyworld. Matt and I slept in today until 11:00, which we haven’t done in years. Vacations are so exhausting. The Disney thing was a mega whirlwind. I am a huge Disney buff, for those who don’t know. Not necessarily the movies, which I do like, but more the places (Disneyworld, Disneyland, EPCOT, etc.). My family has gone many times, and I fall into the Disney fantasy trap every time. So Matt and I only had time for a tiny visit, and it was a bit much. We had to go on ALL of the rides at Magic Kingdom and EPCOT, and we had to do it in two days. The weather was perfect (mid-80s every day and sunny), and we managed to do almost every ride. My faves at Magic Kingdom are Peter Pan and Haunted Mansion. My fave at EPCOT is Test Track. I could talk about Disney all day, but the real reason I wanted to blog was to tell y’all: The fanny pack is back. My sister, Amy, recently decided that she wanted to find a cool fanny pack. I was mortified. I don’t know if I ever carried a fanny pack, but I know they don’t scream “cool.” Amy found a funky pack through LeSportsac. It was surprisingly cute, and I started to think about the practicality. I carry a purse reluctantly when I go places, mainly because I like to be prepared (Kleenex, lip balm, cell phone). I prefer mini-backpacks because then the weight of whatever I’m carrying is distributed evenly. But they aren’t all that popular these days, and the only company that really sells them is Vera Bradley. I have actually owned several mini-backpacks of the Vera Bradley variety, and they are cute, but the only other people I see carrying them are significantly older than me. So I feel a little uncool, which I wish doesn’t matter to me but does. My sister is super stylish, though, and I thought if she wanted a fanny pack then there must be something to it. So I bought one. As you can see, the fabric is way cute. Still, I was really nervous about wearing it. I thought everyone would be laughing at me (I don’t know why I cared so much about the opinions of families at Disneyworld), but I didn’t bring another purse so I had to wear it. And I loved it! It was so convenient and light, and my back didn’t hurt at the end of the day. I could swivel it around, depending on if I was standing, sitting, or eating. When I wore it in the back (which was my usual place for it) I felt a little like Lara Croft, with a tool pack around my waist. I was very pleased with my pack.

I don’t know when I’ll wear my dear fanny again, but I’m not going to give it directly to my mom as I initially planned. I think it will make a great accessory the next time I go to a county fair or swap meet. Any maybe someday I will feel secure enough to wear it someplace I may actually see someone I know.

Idol, Anyone?

Ya know, I watched American Idol back in the days of Kelly Clarkson. I even voted for her (back then you could actually get through on the phone lines). These days, even though Matt and I watch every night, I'm just not that interested. I don't like when the judges are mean, and I don't like when people embarrass themselves. Why do they do that? It's hardly fame to look like an idiot for five seconds on TV. I suppose they deserve to look stupid if they chose to go on TV. Do they?

I was in Seattle over the weekend working on YALSA Selected Audiobooks committee's final list. You can see our choices here:

http://www.ala.org/ala/yalsa/booklistsawards/selectedaudio/07audiobooks.htm

It was really fun working with a group the eight other librarians to come up with this list. I was scared that we would be arguing, and I would be crying, but it was much more pleasant than that. Librarians are so awesome.

Chow Cow

Of course I didn't go to the gym. I am so out of the gym loop. I suck. I hate myself for it. So I eat. I'm eating pretzels now. Butts. My fave instructor at the gym has changed her Monday class to something I think I'll like, so maybe I'll go next Monday. We shall see.

Someone asked where the pic of me with the Pop-tart box is from. Matt and I went to the Kellogg's place in Battle Creek, MI this summer. It was a rip off. You had to pay to get in, and for every other thing, and the tour was a fake. Nothing was even made there. And all they gave us when we left was a mini box of Frosted Flakes. The Spam museum was ay better- and free. How I do love life on the road...

Traveling Blues

I miss Toronto. I think I just miss the freedom of the road. That sounds so cheesy, doesn't it? I look at cars with out of state license plates, and I feel jealous. I do have to admit though that I am getting excited about going back to work. I have some redesigning of the library to do. And I can't wait to see my kids again. Woo woo!

So I've been looking up plane fares. First: Toronto. Cheap! About $200. Perhaps a long weekend in October? Second: Greenville, SC where Matt and I go to visit his family every year. Over $350!!! Whatever! How can that be? And if we want to go from O'Hare to G-ville to my parents' house in Florida, then home again- over $700 a ticket!!! I could go to Europe for that. What is going on? Is it the gas? Supply and demand? Oy.

Today was a mega eating day. I had a taffy apple, which was OK. I couldn't concentrate on it since I was watching TV. I should have savored it. Speaking of TV- how amazing is Roseanne? Definitely my favorite sitcom of all time. I will miss the morning double feature when I have to go back to work.

Degrassi Dreams

I seriously cannot stop thinking about moving to Degrassi Street. Am I psycho? Is it because I am in the weird window between the end of summer and school starting and I need something to fixate on? But I'm already fixated on revising my novel and redecorating the library and... Wait. Maybe I'm not at all fixated on those things, or at least I'm trying hard not to fixate on them, and so I'm fixating on a wonderful fantasy, a la Degrassi Street?

Toronto was so wonderful. Matt and I are already talking about going back. Every restaurant is vegetarian friendly, the transportation is so easy (albeit not cheap), and the cable TV is funny. What more could one ask for in a city?

So who has seen Snakes on a Plane? I would like to see it in the theaters, as I think it will be a nice item to talk about with my students. We'll see if I can convince Matt.

There's No Oprah on Degrassi Street

I’m watching Oprah (which has to do more damage than good), and there are these kids on who hate themselves and the way they look. Some of them are three years old! The whole theory that Oprah’s therapy lady believes is that you automatically pass all of your bullshit through the womb as you have a baby, so the only way not to pass stuff on (like self-hatred, weight issues, etc.) is to get rid of it before you have a baby. Whatever! Who the hell can do that?

In more realistic news, I plan to someday move to Degrassi Street in Toronto. It was so perfect and beautiful and magical. Matt and I already looked up house prices, and we feel that someday we may be able to afford it. Canada, here we come! Maybe.

I have a lot to say about my recent road trip to Toronto, but I have to work on the revisions of my novel before I go back to work (next week!!!). More later!

Oh- and if you’re posting comments (thank you!!!) will you please either sign in with a funny code name so I know who’s posting or just put your name? I feel weird with the “anonymous” thing.

Thanks!