Ask Alanis

My bought with the Olympics (specifically curling) began two years ago but yesterday was the first time it really felt real.

Well, maybe the day before started hinting at reality. I heard the torch run was passing my new place, so I set out to see it at the time the radio said instead of the time my dad said.

Big. Mistake.

The radio wasn't wrong per se, they just didn't give the full information. The torch passed by my place at 5:30, just like my dad said it would, and reached its destination at seven. The radio gave the 7 pm information and me (using my cursed math skills), figured since it takes 20 minutes to walk from my place to the torch destination, it would pass me at half six.

Well, I don't know what route the torch took but it definitely wasn't the direct one. So, after seeing my fourth kid with red and white balloons trailing behind strollers and parents, I figured the celebration was over and I needed to get over to the destination before the torch did.

I took off running through the busy downtown, and realized after I was about halfway there, that I would have to walk back home later, and boy was it getting chilly out!

In the end I coerced a friend to pick me up so it really wasn't such a big deal, but it was cold. Guess I needed a Torch Run Packing List. Next time.

The next day I went into Vancouver after work to go to my venue training. It was a bit of a disaster/adventure, as all combinations new+math+travel are with me. But I got there as the last group was allowed entrance to the security tight block of plastic white tents.

The reason it was a disaster? I ran into the torch relay. Like, couldn't escape it.

One night I'm running down the street, desperately chasing the torch, and the next I'm driving into the relay when I have to get through the city asap. Irony? Is this an appropriate use of the word?

Just needed a bit of time to warm up

My sister got engaged last night.

She's been dating the same guy for over a year so it's not the weirdest thing in the world, but all the same, I was completely caught off guard.

In fact, when she called to tell me, I was so shocked I couldn't say anything (note to self: bad reaction) and asked to call her back. After I composed myself and was coached on what questions to ask, I did a better job even though I cried.

Then this morning I woke her up to see her ring and talk about everything and I feel pretty excited for her. So, that's good I came around in the end even if it did take a 12-hour warming up period.

Packing List: Multi-Trip Edition

It is hard to know what to say about my recent travels because every bit of it is for work and I have about a five per cent interest in bringing work into my personal blog.

However, I have a 90 per cent interest in writing about travelling so... well, like I said. I don't really know what to say.

The Edmonton trip was planned in 2009, in pencil pretty much since I started working in July. The Dallas trip was a lot less expected. I think I had 10 days notice or something. We have affiliates in Dallas (head office, if you will) and had some meetings to attend. It was all very "whirl-wind" and adventurous. I enjoy random trips just as much as planned trips. However, I really had no idea what to expect.

Especially since the trips were back-to-back and I was encountering not only two very different climates and weather conditions, but three different dressing conditions.

Oh, what to pack!?

Keeping my Robyn-proof Packing List (Golden Rules edition) in mind, I tried to pack to the best of my ability. Unfortunately there were several hiccups including:

• I'm still moving and have stuff spread out and/or packed
• No clear idea of what I need
• Very little time to actually plan/pack

Golden Rules of Roste travel:

Multi-trip Edition Report

1. Always write a packing list. Then share with Celia because she'll remind you to pack underwear

OK, this didn't happen and I have no real reasonable excuse. However, I did send a guilt email later (from Texas) as a passive apology.

2. Write an events list and what kinds of outfits you'll need

OK, well this didn't happen either, but I did ask my boss what the dress code was for each event and had a pretty good idea of what I needed.

3. Leave enough time to pack three times:
   
   1. First pack whimsically, vaguely attending to The Packing List
   2. Second compare to the events list and pilfer items out
   3. Third repeat again, this time making sure items packed are versatile and can be combined more than one way

   True I skipped the first two steps, and really only packed once. But I have a valid excuse! Most of my clothes are still packed so I had to use everything I had. Also, I really did try to pack versatile clothes so I could wear items more than once and in more than one situation.

4. If you're on a long bus/train trip, avoid shirts with sleeves. You won't be able to change/shower and you will smell. It is unavoidable. However, your stench will be seriously lessened if you have no sleeves

Well this is just common sense. One of my original travel rules.

5. Don't bring a sleeping bag, blanket or pillow unless you have a car. Just bring one warm coat/fleece and one sheet—bring your Quillow instead of a sheet if it's not summer

Genius…who wrote this?

6. Divide your toiletries into sections: Stuff you'll need while travelling, stuff you'll need overnight and stuff you'll only need periodically


7. Always use a backpack unless you're staying in hotels. You will never regret this

Used a suitcase, but also stayed in hotels. Unfortunately I must have dragged my suitcase at some point because one of the wheels got a flat side (?) and made this really annoying *klunk-klunk* all over Dallas and Seattle.

8. Only bring books you're willing to ditch when finished reading. If you meet cool people you can trade books

Yeah…I only brought books I needed plus that one monster Robert Jordan one I'm still slogging through.

Overall I'd have to say, I'm an old-pro. I not only wore nearly the clothes I packed, but also had clean (and appropriate) clothes the entire trip(s). I say wearing nearly all the clothes a giant success because I always wanted a backup. Just in case. You know how it is.

So... I'm in Texas

My keyboard and I agreed upon terms and I now have proper punctuation, so I guess you can say Texas is good for everyone.

Tonight I had real American barbecue (I chose chopped beef) with potato salad (with WAY too many pickles), macaroni and cheese, jalapeno corn bread, and make-your-own sundae's. Then I went mall walking and briefly considered buying a iPhone gadget.

Then I remembered I didn't have an iPhone so I didn't.

These are the jokes, people. I'll be here till Thursday.