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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 15 of 15. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Medusa on October 12, 2003, at 19:11:44
Okay, here's a purely social (antisocial?) topic that people can reply to without getting too personal. Or not, or whatever. (I'm almost 30, btw. Going on 13, as you'll see in the following.)
I have to leave in a little over ten hours for a flight back to the states, and I haven't packed.
I don't know what clothes to bring - I have suits up the wazoo, and this is a personal trip, not a business trip. I'll have several sessions at the dentist, and other than that, will mostly be hanging out with family. Two of my more casual suits go with heels my family would kid me no end about.
I brought my roller-suitcase out of storage, and ironed my pajamas. (I don't have a dryer, and line-dried is stiff. I'm not that uptight!)
I have passport, tickets, car voucher etc on the table next to my shoulder bag. It's really the clothes that have me stuck.
My parents are really, really invested in me looking good. For years, I dressed in slouchwear whenever I visited them. Then I found that when I dress well, they truly behave better and respect boundaries I set much more easily. I dress differently than they would have dressed me, for sure, but well.
I had my eyebrows done yesterday - my mother has always had profound issues with my eyebrows and hair. And glasses, once I got them. She used to keep a "prayer diary", a list of prayer items for each day of the week, monthly, etc. A few years ago, I found one of these notebooks, from when I was 8 or so. My hair rated twice-a-week intercession to the almighty. My brows don't look "done", but they're neat enough to keep her saliva'd thumb off my face.
I guess what I should pack first is hygiene and eyecare and cosmetic stuff, huh?
It's 2:07 a.m. on The Continent. Do you know what your mother's wearing?
Posted by Ayla on October 12, 2003, at 19:46:06
In reply to whaddoo I pack?? chrono regression, posted by Medusa on October 12, 2003, at 19:11:44
Oh my God you are hilarious. I like you. A little note about your eyebrows, if you want them to look really done well just apply a little blob of clear mascara to each of them and shape them with your fingers, it works soooo well. It works in a similar way to hair gel. I don't know but give it a try. I hope you have fun on your trip over here.
Good luck with your family.
Ayla
Posted by Dinah on October 12, 2003, at 20:50:31
In reply to whaddoo I pack?? chrono regression, posted by Medusa on October 12, 2003, at 19:11:44
Wow. I am so impressed.
In DBT words, you're planning on doing what works. I guess it's worth a bit of dressing up to have a smoother visit.
But my word, that must have been tough to grow up with. :(
Posted by kara lynne on October 12, 2003, at 21:44:29
In reply to whaddoo I pack?? chrono regression, posted by Medusa on October 12, 2003, at 19:11:44
As long as you pack your wits (and I do admire yours) you'll be fine. Whew. And I thought my parents were tough!
Posted by Searchlight on October 12, 2003, at 22:38:46
In reply to whaddoo I pack?? chrono regression, posted by Medusa on October 12, 2003, at 19:11:44
Medusa! You are so funny! Great post!
Do you have nice khakis, some nice jeans and button-down blouses like polo-type shirts with a pretty scarf to spruce it up? Just some quick suggestions which I have found don't break the bank and seem timeless. Also nice simple jewelry and clear nail polish is good for looking kempt. I use clear mascara too to tame my brows into place, it really makes one look well-groomed and takes about 10 seconds! I have long blonde 70s-style Marcia Brady hippy hair, have had it for 25+ years and will probably have it for another 10+ years (with the exception of some Big 80s Hair for a couple of periods during that decade).
I am sure you look good just the way you are and your Mom thinks you are beautiful and just wants to show you off (my wonderful Mom is like that)! Have a safe and fun trip.
Searchlight
Posted by Medusa on October 12, 2003, at 22:41:05
In reply to Re: whaddoo I pack?? chrono regression » Medusa, posted by Dinah on October 12, 2003, at 20:50:31
> In DBT words, you're planning on doing what works.
>Oh my, I don't even know which skill this is. It's really time to get back into this. Thanks for pointing out the application of a skill I didn't know I was exercising!
> But my word, that must have been tough to grow up with. :(If we'd been provided with the means to dress as they expected, things might have been less confusing.
And yes, downhill skiing in a skirt and logging in a skirt and whitewater canoeing in a skirt ... was tough.
Posted by Medusa on October 12, 2003, at 22:49:05
In reply to Re: whaddoo I pack?? chrono regression, posted by kara lynne on October 12, 2003, at 21:44:29
> (and I do admire yours)
Thanks, Kara Lynne!
It's easy to be witty when I'm not sitting in my parents' living room. Or scrubbing their microwave or sewing clothes for my younger siblings or emptying trash cans while parental units reproach my substandard appearance.
>
Whew. And I thought my parents were tough!
>I think every set of parents has its own special brand of "tough". Mine provided my very own private hell, but other parents do even more impressively for their offspring.
Posted by fallsfall on October 12, 2003, at 23:22:48
In reply to whaddoo I pack?? chrono regression, posted by Medusa on October 12, 2003, at 19:11:44
Don't forget:
Underwear
Socks
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Floss (wouldn't my dentist be proud!)
Meds
Hairbrush & comb
Shampoo etc.
Hair elastics, barrettes, etc.
Deoderant
Clothes for warm weather
Clothes for cold weather
Your favorite relax to sleep tape or a book that you know will calm you down so you can sleep (last trip I took, I took "In Session")
Shoes for each kind of outfit (don't bring just sneakers if you are bringing suits!)
Socks (I tend to forget these)Your smile
Your patience
Your sense of humor.Have a great time!
P.S. if you need a more detailed list, I have some online that I made for my kids when they were packing for vacations and camp. I could send them to you.
Posted by octopusprime on October 13, 2003, at 0:05:22
In reply to whaddoo I pack?? chrono regression, posted by Medusa on October 12, 2003, at 19:11:44
don't forget:
all medications, toothbrush, etc. go in the carry on. put your clean pjs, a set of clean undies, etc. in there too. along with a book and/or pencil puzzles and some tasty tasty snacks and a bottle of water. that way you won't panic if you lose your luggage. :)
have a fine trip. bring an umbrella. it's raining in the northwest. i hear it's getting chilly in ohio. bring your toque. (maybe only canadians have toques? it's just a warm wooly hat).
ps - bring clothes with elasticized waist bands, the best part of going to the states is eating the tasty american ice cream.
Posted by Medusa on October 13, 2003, at 0:31:43
In reply to Re: whaddoo I pack?? chrono regression » Medusa, posted by fallsfall on October 12, 2003, at 23:22:48
ooooooooooohhhh, thank you so much! Socks, I'll have to buy there, because stbx adopted all of mine. (I had a bunch of men's knee-highs, because it's hard to find women's ones that truly fit size 10, in the quality I prefer. He didn't even like knee-highs. Grrrrr!)
> P.S. if you need a more detailed list
I would love it if you would send me these.
Thanks for the good wishes and concrete ideas!
Posted by Medusa on October 13, 2003, at 0:33:50
In reply to Re: whaddoo I pack?? chrono regression, posted by octopusprime on October 13, 2003, at 0:05:22
> ps - bring clothes with elasticized waist bands,
>Yeah! I have pants that have adjustable elastics - the elastic has buttonholes in it, and you can lengthen or shorten on the inside as you like it.
Thanks for the umbrella tip. I'll have to see what space is like ... at least, I'll check the weather forecast!
Posted by Dinah on October 13, 2003, at 0:36:33
In reply to DBT dressing » Dinah, posted by Medusa on October 12, 2003, at 22:41:05
>
> And yes, downhill skiing in a skirt and logging in a skirt and whitewater canoeing in a skirt ... was tough.ROFL. I think you'll do just fine. :)
Bon voyage, and practice your deep breathing as necessary.
Posted by fallsfall on October 13, 2003, at 1:39:59
In reply to Re: whaddoo I pack?? chrono regression » fallsfall, posted by Medusa on October 13, 2003, at 0:31:43
Darn, I can't find the ones I made that said how many Tshirts and how many longsleeve shirts etc. I did find one my 15 year old did for a trip this summer. In addition to what I already had, hers has:
Tshirts
Longsleeve shirts
Sweaters/sweatshirts
shorts
long pants
bathing suit
sunscreen
glasses/sunglasses
makeup (she wears it, I don't)
Sanitary supplies
Hair drier
CD player
Phone card
Pepsi
Macaroni & Cheese
(I would add Chocolate)
(Hard to pack ice cream - get it there)
$$$
Teddy Bear.Enjoy
Posted by kara lynne on October 13, 2003, at 2:31:02
In reply to mostly packed » kara lynne, posted by Medusa on October 12, 2003, at 22:49:05
Wow, will you sew my clothes? Ok --bad, but I think it's very cool that you can sew.
And did I hear stbx? Can we talk? (speaking of your self-esteem busters...)
I bestow the highest honors on your appearance and wish you a pain free trip.
kara
Posted by Medusa on October 13, 2003, at 3:46:11
In reply to whaddoo I pack?? chrono regression, posted by Medusa on October 12, 2003, at 19:11:44
I ran an errand in what I'd thought would be the perfect travel outfit, and felt as comely as a dusty sack of potatoes.
So I tried a different jacket: Zow! I changed into the pants that go with the different jacket: Welcome back Medusa! With heels, but they're c-o-m-f-o-r-t-a-b-l-e. To tone it down a bit, I switched to a long, solid-color jacket. Now the partners to both items I'm wearing are in my suitcase, no shoving or cramming.
So now I'll get to deal with my mother the way she is when her daughters look _too_ good. Here comes a parade of character digs, ad hominem attacks! >:# Ooooh, and maybe I'll even be invited to a Bible study with her and her friends, now that I'm not embarrassing (I started dressing better there visit before last).
Thanks for the support, suggestions, and shoulder-shoving! I'll be so happy to get onto that plane and sleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep.
This is the end of the thread.
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