Trip Time

Tomorrow I leave the homestead in the heartland for a workshop in Boston.

I have wanted to attend one of these writing courses since I first saw the brochure. I am finally making it happen. Maybe, just maybe, I will write my book one of these days.

So tonight I will pack 3 days worth of clothing in a carry-on bag. And I know my readers are asking, “What will you pack?”

• 2 pairs of dress trousers in wrinkle-resistant blends
• 3 tops
• 1 jacket
• Undies and accessories and other necessities
• PJs

I will wear my best pair of jeans with another top and jacket; the jeans will make the trip home as well. I have a pair of neutral metallic 1.5” wedges, that will serve me well through airports and along city streets, as well as complimenting every outfit in the suitcase.

The usual electronic devices want to come along for the ride: BlackBerry, Netbook, iPod, and Kindle.

It is time to do those things I love, travel and write.

I am so glad I gave myself this trip!

Goodbye Coronado, Hello Home

Today I will leave the San Diego area for uncomfortable airport  seats, and then the colder climes of home. I have survived my 5 day adventure with the contents of my computer tote and a standard roll-aboard suitcase. These included:

• 2 pairs of dress trousers
• 1 pencil skirt
• 4 knit tops
• 2 knit cardigans
• 1 denim jacket
• 2 pairs of shoes (1 worn Tuesday en route)
• 1 pair of jeans (worn Tuesday)
• 1 additional top (worn Tuesday)
• 1 trench coat (worn Tuesday)
• 1 nightshirt
• Assorted cosmetics
• Appropriate undergarments
• Netbook, Kindle, and Blackberry with their chargers

I could easily have packed two more tops to get another day’s wear out of each pair of trousers. So, in theory, I could have gone a week with just the contents of allowable carry-on bags.

That is the art of packing. For other upcoming trips I will not be quite as condensed (mostly because I have already been discussing footwear with other meeting attendees; I have a reputation to uphold, you know).

Photo courtesy of PhotoXpress.

OMG It Is Lovely Here

So I am in the Hotel Del Coronado. Ocean breezes scented with some flower that doesn’t live in Omaha waft through my room.

I will spend all day in a conference room discussing acute kidney injury.

Today’s wardrobe items (photo available via the twitter feed) include a pair of black pants with subtle white and blue pinstripes. A wild-print tee in shades of blue, white, and black is up on top with a black cardigan. My black shoes will finish the outfit; if space had been less of an issue, a pair of cobalt blue patent pumps would finish the look.

The trousers are neutral enough that after 24 hours on a hanger I could wear them again with a different top, extending my carry-on wardrobe another day.

Later today I will discuss the sciencey stuff going on at the meeting. In the meantime, at least I see no dirty snow outside of the window.

And that’s a very good thing.

The Art of Packing

I officially start my 2010 travels today, blogging from Omaha’s Eppley Airfield. When I awoke, Omaha registered 9 degrees; I am heading to the San Diego area where the predicted high for the next 5 days hovers around 70. I will be making a stop in Denver, where I hope my only exposure involves the climate-controlled airport.

I managed to get clothing for this 5-day adventure into a roll-aboard bag and my computer tote. How? Careful planning and experience!

For today, I start with a pair of dark-wash, straight-leg jeans and a black leather belt that will fill all my needs during the trip. To these I add a comfortable, cotton top with elbow-length sleeves. It will be warm enough on the plane, but comfortable at my destination as well. 

My parents dropped me off this morning; had I been parking at the airport, I would have worn a sensible puffer coat and left it in the car. With delivery and pick-up service from family, I could forego that layer and wear a water-resistant gray trench, the perfect weight for windy evenings along the bay.

On my feet are a pair of 3” black patent slingbacks that are incredibly comfortable and easy to take off for security. They will work with most of my outfits, although I did squeeze in one pair of open-toed shoes. I have no idea when enough snow and slush will clear in Omaha to wear them at home.

I only needed 3 days plus the travel days for this meeting. I easily could have done one or two more days with a couple of additional shirts, as I will demonstrate in the days to come. Had this meeting required cold-weather clothes or dressier attire, I might have had to check a garment bag. In that case, my shoe wardrobe would also expand.

So challenge yourself to carry-on for meetings. Plan your wardrobe carefully (that is what a spreadsheet is for).

Random Thoughts Between Road Trips

I feel a little overwhelmed right now. I just returned from Renal Week 2009, the major US nephrology meeting.

• Work accomplished? Check-
• New ideas generated? Check-
• Good time had? Check-

Back at the homestead in Omaha, one might think I kicked back and relaxed; however, I find myself trapped between my dirty laundry and my empty suitcase. Yup, I head for Boston and the AAMC meeting this Friday.

Of course, distractions presented themselves as well. My new glasses arrived, and yesterday the braces came off a whole 2 months early.

Last night we saw the stage show, Irving Berlin’s White Christmas. I truly believe that all of the world’s ills would be fixed if life were more like a musical. Of course, bursting into song at critical moments will likely get you committed- and those around you rarely join in and dance with you! White Christmas, the movie, does not make a lot of sense (a general retiring on the eve of battle? Give me a freakin’ break!), yet every Thanksgiving it goes in the DVD player while we wash the good dishes. The music swings,you feel warm and fuzzy, and who can resist those dance numbers with Vera-Ellen and Bob Fosse?

The stage version eliminates some of the movie’s problematic elements. General Waverly ships stateside for a war wound, and the minstrel show number is eliminated (though it is more politically correct than the black-face number in Holiday Inn, the flick in which White Christmas, the song, originally debuted). More pieces from the Irving Berlin songbook show up. The result is an evening that not only generates that warm-fuzzy holiday feeling, but leaves you humming and toe-tapping.

This fall I began tap lessons for the first time in my life. I now recognize the steps on the stage, and I have an idea how difficult those production numbers can be. Given the sweating after my hour class in shorts, I cannot imagine how hot those poor cast members are in ski sweaters and lights.

I should probably work now, or at least plan my wardrobe for Boston. A Big Thanks to the touring company of White Christmas- you made my evening! I will keep you in mind while I shuffle-hop-step tonight.

Photocollage created with images from PhotoXpress.

Science of Wardrobe Management II: Excel's Real Use

So you've decided to leave the belly shirts and bustiers at home during EB or other scientific endeavors. Is there a way to get 5 days of clothing in a carry-on bag?

If I said "No," this would be a really short blog, so there must be! The secret is Excel. Yup, packing is the ultimate spread-sheet chore.

First, create something like this for your meeting or event:

There is a column for each day you will travel, a field for notable events on that day, and areas for the outfit, including shoes. The most important way to conserve space is to pack items that work on multiple days. This statement is especially true for shoes which take up a lot of suitcase landscape! In general, a pair that you can sprint through airports in (on your feet) and one other (in the case) can be done in an overhead bin bag. If you need more than those two pair you will likely end up checking a bigger bag. Speaking of airport shoes, be sure you can get them on and off easily! While comfort and movement are important, elaborate shoes that stall the security line may earn you more enemies than a crying baby. Just imagine being behind someone who has to remove mid-thigh lace-up boots. You get the idea now, huh?

Clothing can also multitask. Unless you are a nobel laureate in neurosciences at a really casual meeting (see prior post, Basics), you probably need a suit or some similar wardrobe item. Pair the jacket with coordinating pants or skirt one day and wear the full suit another. It's like 2 different outfits, but only 1 jacket! Be sure all your outfits have a jacket or cardigan planned - no matter what the weather is like outside, the convention center rooms are usually freezing. If not, you can always remove it.

There are a number of strategies for getting stuff in the suitcase. I like to take longer items like trousers and dresses and lay them lengthwise in the case first. Other stuff then gets packed, and the longer items wrap around the other stuff. This prevents creases in things that are longer than the suitcase.

Don't forget to throw in an extra shirt and a pair of jeans. Even if disaster happens in the way of a bloody mary down the suit jacket on it's first wear, at least you will have something to schlep about in while the hotel cleaning service gets your suit done up. It's also our job to stimulate the local economy while we are at a meeting (that's why cities build convention centers). As long as I get there with my presentation and a credit card, I know I can survive!