Betsy Devine: Funny ha-ha and/or funny peculiar

Happy birthday in St. Thomas…

Originally uploaded by betsythedevine.

What I’ve been up to….

Jewelweed

Originally uploaded by betsythedevine.

This beautiful wildflower signals the end of summer in NH.

Sadly, jewelweed is too delicate to put into a vase. If you cut the stem, it wilts almost instantly.

I’m glad memories have so much more staying power!

Via our friends at Annals of Improbable Research, the TSA has new advice to travelers:

We encourage everyone to pack gel-filled bras in their checked baggage.

In other improbable news, tune in later today for the webcast of Atom and Eve, Friday, August 25, 2006, 7:00 pm, Austria time (6:00 pm in London; 1:00 pm in New York; 10 am in Los Angeles; and, to quote (as one so often should) Marc Abrahams, “other times in other places, of course.”

The Meeting of Nobel Laureates in Lindau houses its laureates in nineteenth century summer splendor–lawns, wooded allees, lots of roses, afternoons on the terrace looking out over Lake Constance while women in long skirts bring chilled white wine or Eischocolade.

And meanwhile , at the Hotel Bad-Schachen, in our gauze-curtained room, or on the stone terrace, or under the sycamore tree on its green bench , there were between two and four bars of wifi Internet.

If you plan to visit Lake Constance–it’s in the leisurely fruit-growing “Grüss Gott” part of Germany, tucked up against Austria and Switzerland–and if you are not too wedded to air conditioning, I recommend the lovely Hotel Bad-Schachen, formerly the White Swan Hotel.

This blogpost, formerly 2333 in my old blog, needed a rescue because of bad XML. It was originally posted 7/2/05; 2:51:57 AM. Thanks to the Wayback Machine, which helped me re-find it!

I spent seven hours of Christmas-Eve-Eve-day (today) trying to find our lost suitcase in Logan Airport. I hadn’t been waiting long when three men appeared–not Magi on camels, but young men in silly red hats who carried a trumpet, a trombone, and a big golden French horn. They sat down on folding chairs, rustled sheet music, and started to play, rather softly, “Joy to the World.” They gave it an oompah bass line that was somehow funny and touching at the same time.

The music transformed the way I experienced all the people around me–and the airport was packed with holiday travelers. I saw them as people who wanted to be with their families.

I remembered my brother Mark’s great delight in driving children around to see Christmas lights. I remembered my mother’s pride in her Yorkshire pudding.

Looking for my suitcase today meant I had to bother a whole bunch of busy, tired people. Every one of them treated me with kindness and concern.

Some of the time one of us said “Merry Christmas” to the other and some of the time one we didn’t, and some people say “Happy holidays”
instead, and it amazes me that people who think of themselves as Christian can get angry about “Happy holidays” or because you can’t see baby Jesus in the White House crèche.

Anyway, I didn’t find my suitcase (drat!) but I did find the spirit of Christmas in the kind and caring way people were treating each other, all over that crowded airport.

And also, of course, in the oompah backbeat to “Silent Night.”

Last minute–wear or carry!
Passport, visas, driver’s license, etc.
Tickets
Enough money, credit–travelers checks?
Layered, loose comfortable clothing, inc. shoes.
Earplugs or earphones and inflatable neck pillow

General travel supplies to have ready beforehand
Itinerary list printed out by home computer.
presents for people you’ll visit
camera, maybe binoculars?
guidebooks and maps
notebook and pens
Credit cards and ATM card–check with your bank about fees when you use these abroad.
extra plastic bags for laundry, wet bathing suit, etc.

Clothing–general considerations
How long is the trip?  Or, how long is the interval between being able to wash clothes?
How will clothes be washed — Laundromat, hotel valet, hotel sink, friends’ washing machine?
Special occasions to pack for–Dress-up?  Hiking?  Old clothes?   Shoes for these, too!

Clothing–generic list
walking shoes, dress shoes
trousers with shirts to match
dresses–(simpler and more comfortable than skirts)
sweaters and jackets
underwear including socks and stockings–and long-johns if needed!
outerwear, inc. coat, gloves, boots, etc. if appropriate
bathing suit

Toiletries and meds — generic
If 1) you might need it on board or 2) you can’t replace it easily, pack it as carry-on.
Any prescription (enough for trip), plus Advil, Sudafed, Immodium, Dramamine
pkg. Kleenex, pack 10 Q-tips inside to keep them tidy.
small shampoo, toothpaste, and toothbrush, all tied up in plastic bag to prevent leaks
2 bandaids, tube Lanabiotic ointment, and cough drops to fill up the rest of bandaid box
Don’t bring too much–there are probably drugstores at your destination.

Pack more stuff!
Bring some Cheerios, nuts, dried fruit, etc.
Bring logic puzzles to help you fall asleep.
When these are used up, you have extra space in your luggage to take new things home.

“Language Emergency Kit”–ten rock-bottom minimum sentences for any trip:

1. Where’s the bathroom? (vahr air too-a-lett’-en?)
2. Thank you very much. (tuck saw mewcket)
3. Please. (var so good)
4. Yes. (yah.)
5. No. (nay.)
6. No, thank you. (nay, tuck)
7. I’m sorry. (fur-lawt’ may).
8. My husband is vegetarian. (min man air vegetaree-ansk’.)
9. Without meat? (eutan churt?)
10. Where can I access the Internet? (vahr kun yahg komma in paw internet?)

Two bonus sentences, in case you don’t have a vegetarian husband:

“Can we sit in a non-smoking area?” (kun vee sitta veed boord fur ickeh-rurkareh?)
“That’s beautiful.” (den air vack’-er)

I’ve long been a fan of the Swedish chef school of linguistics, but since I leave for Sweden on Tuesday it may just be time to gather my Swedish language emergency kit.

Those who remember my
quest for instant Czech won’t be surprise to hear that–thanks to the LCS Hockey Association’s website–I now can say things in Swedish that would surprise you:

Han finns de action? – Where is the action?

Har du sedd min kaslonger? – Have you seen my pants?

Langa de vin. – Pass the wine.

Jag var i Cleveland den vecka, officer. – I was in Cleveland that week, officer.

Du ar a illa skona kvinnor. – You are a very beautiful woman.

Skulle du lik att se de hem av a ensam, ensam man? – Would you like to see the home of a lonely, lonely man?

Nej, nej, ej de paprika sprej! – No, no, not the pepper spray!

At least I don’t have to learn Viking-coping phrases like “What a big ax!” and “I have no gold coins, but may I offer you this fine Timex watch?”