Packing: Part One

Last time I moved I had several months to accumulate boxes and stash my stuff. This time's a little different. VCS (Vienna Christian School) sends a container every year during the summer that I can send some of my stuff on. Of course a couch and bed might be nice, but a little difficult to get to New Jersey. Since the container doesn't get to Austria until the middle to end of August, I'll arrive there before anything that I send does. So I've been racking my brain trying to thing of what to take that I don't need for the next few weeks. So I've accumulated a few things...winter clothes, scrapbooking materials, books, a few toiletries... Initally the challenge seems to be figure out how to get it all into the boxes.


But apparently it turns out that the real challenge is to keep my gatos out of the clean clothes.

Eventually it's all there...except maybe a few odds and ends I can think to add before I send them off.

Pre Vienna Adventure: Grand Canyon

When my friend Eileen mentioned hiking the Grand Canyon, I thought," Sure, why not." I didn't bother to think of all the details...like how much stuff I'd have to carry on my back...that I'd actually have to bring food and water and clothes and a sleeping bag...I ended up feeling kind of like the many mules we saw on the way up and down. And I had the smallest pack! The other ladies kept congratulating me on my foresight, but I'll have to admit that I was limited by the size of the pack I was borrowing. I would have foolishly packed as much as they did had I had the room.

It was a hard hike...down and up. Going down dropped that pack onto my back quite awkwardly. But I'm glad we went down first...like one of the signs said "Getting to the bottom - OPTIONAL Getting to the top - MANDATORY." It was a grueling hike up, but I'd do it again in a minute. It was really worth it. It's a great feeling to conquer a trail like that.

I had a marvelous time. It was beautiful...how one can look across those miles of color and not just wonder at a God who could create such beauty I'll never know.

Guten Tag!

I totally got this picture from the internet, but blogs must have pictures...especially the first.





So I know I haven't gotten there yet, but I didn't want to have to change the title when I do get there...so here you go...

Introducing ... Mel's Adventures in Vienna.