I've Been Impersonating a Beanbag Chair

Holy Shit. I walked up a hill today and just about pitched back down it. Why? Because I'm arse lazy these days.

I've not been walking too much, nor even jogging. I've been sitting, and lazing. I've been leaned back, eyes glued to a book, a commuter screen, or TV. The book isn't a bad thing, it was a good read! Its been so busy two, most of my post work victory dances have resulted in a make-out session with my pillow with my drooling soars as the theme song.

My Usual Victory Dance

I've never been a gym junky or a addict, but I have lots of energy and I enjoy a healthy body, so I've always been minimally active at some point or another. Even in University, I created a stair work out where I'd climb ever flight of steps on campus I could access. If I wasn't working out, I was working, which often had me on my feet and running about. So panting wildly at this wee hill just broke my heart, nearly literally as it did figuratively.

Since a rather vicious fall ripped both my palms open, I've not done much exercise. I've indulged my Tae Bo videos a couple of times, but not in a manner that would develop into anything. So I plan to start again. My own personal DIY for me!

The plan is 40 minutes of brusque walking every day!

That's it for now. It seems rather less productive then most who realize they've been impersonating a beanbag chair, but you'd be surprised to learn that its a good way to start. If I force myself into that habit, then I can add to it. But if I over load myself, then I'm not going to appreciate and feel bogged down. I can fit in 40 minutes in my sometimes crazy scheduled and with the coming good weather (Good is optimistic for Scotland).

I'm going to add in things like push ups, rowing sit ups and even jogging. I like a good yoga stretch in there as well, to keep my old bones limber rather than like moist crackers.

Its the source too, of a sudden lack of energy. It was dulling my mind and lowering my endurance, which has always been a source of pride. I'm hoping to see some improvements.

I have a trip coming up where I have to walk two hours wearing at least twenty pounds of equipment on my back. Not light. I don't want to be Rocky. I don't need buns of steel or washboard abs. I want to be me, happy and reasonably healthy.

Reusing paper, and my adventure clothes!

Want to walk with me?

The Reading Addiction

15 Days.

Tooth Brush Acquired, but this is not the most important thing of the day. It is the debate of how I will reduce the boredom of my Fart Marination .

Here is my selection of books.

"How the Scots Invented the Modern World", "Knots and Crosses", "The Sisters Brothers", "Black and Blue"
"The Marriage Plot", "The Enchanters End Game" and "Half Asleep in Frog Pajamas"

Now I know what all my fellow travelers are thinking; "Why so many?" or "Why not an Ebook?"

And I know what my fellow book lovers are thinking; "Why so few?" or "I'm glad you're still using books(the ones you see above are not in fact from a cheep e reader)!"

I started out with three books. I've even read one already!

I have been working at a used book store for the last two and a half months. Two things have happened in that time. The first being that since working, I have acquired more books. It happens. Working in a shop of over 100, 000 books, and reading upteen backs of books, one is bound to leap from the shelves (a genuine danger) and claim me as their new audience.

The second thing is I've finished only one of the books I intended in reading during my summer. I've filled half my other time with a toilet roll full of movies I'm supposed to be watching. Again I can hear the book lovers kicking up a fuss, but socks to them because I enjoy narratives of all kinds.

Now the Travelers raise a more important point. The straw figure that I am is meant to carry Bruce around on my back. Adding what amounts to 7 books, (Small portions of tree) to my weight load seems silly. I could do so much with that space! I could fit an extra pair of jeans! Or I could put another coat! Or I could fit another bail of underpants! ... Or... I could just save myself the bloodly back trouble and just bring one.

To be honest, I'm probably only bringing three, and going to have to plow the other four.

Any suggestions on what I should bring or which ones I should read? Comment bellow you wonderful shlubs, I'm off to do some reading.

Marinating in Farts and Fear

First, before I continue I'd like to just say that I love Arc'teryx! What a wonderful company. They are rather pricey, but I really appriciate they're costumer service. I go on and on about Bruce (my Arc'teryx Altra 62), but I think it was one of the best investments, especially if your carrying something like that around and have no idea what you're going to be doing. They replaced both buckles on my bag, which ended up breaking during my trip. The first one was replaced by another company, but I brought up the issue with them and they gladly replaced it.

I've got my list down proper but I'm not going to upload it until about tomorrow. I have a handful things to get before I leave. I didn't know the fun fact about the life span of tooth brushes (3-6 months) and now my teeth just laugh when the bristles run over them.

Additionally, I need a hair brush. They actually fall apart. Its not a thing that lives forever. The plastic bits fall off and soon your carving ancient mystic symbols into your scull. According to hair dressers I should be combing wet hair with a comb, but really, the brush is quick and tidy, and, while I am concerned about my hair, I don't think my hair is going to up and move if I maintain my use of a brush.

Travel tooth paste. I don't need to explain that really. I'm traveling and its tooth paste. I come off the plane having sat in 5.5 hours marinating in recycled farts, time travel and fear masked with t.v dinners, brushing my teeth is a priority, because then at least my mouth doesn't resemble what the rest of me has been doing.

My feelings towards souvenirs.

Then, the bane of purchasing if your using a backpack, I must acquire souvenirs. I do like the people I'm giving these gifts to, but I have a limited amount of room! There are things I could bring! My lucky piece of horse hair. My batman suit. A wig for special occasions. C'est la vie I suppose.

Tomorrow, the book break down... How I will endure the 6.5 hour flight over a distance that took the vikings 5 years, frost bite and cannibalism, by complaining about small beverages and whining about the video selection.

Essentially 20 Days

Its the final Count down, so now I'm going to give a brief every day update into my ready level. I'll post some pictures to go along at some point. For now its making some more money and drying not to pass out at the cash register. I've got Bruce (My backpack) partially full, but I have to do a lay out and see what I have, make a list and see if I can't reduce. Then again, I am moving for two years. Then again.... I am going to be traveling on the side.

Here though, is a list of resources I've been using for packing as well as for visa application.

www.herpackinglist.com

http://travelfashiongirl.com/

http://www.endlesslychanginghorizon.com/applying-for-the-youth-mobility-scheme/

I'll expand upon all of them but if your doing any moving for long or short periods, these above blogs are so helpful. Keep your eyes out!

We'll see what goes down. Prepare for a proper post tomorrow.

This is me right now.

Meet Bruce: Arc'teryx Altra 62

They say go big or go home...

Well they say that in places like sports stadiums and monster truck rallies. When it comes to backpacking, "go big or go home" is rather frowned upon.

I get the vague impression people think you have some sort of clothing obsession and a sever inability to downsize.

In anycase go big is what I did with my backpack. While not the biggest my Arc'teryx Altra 62, better known as Bruce the Bag. I bought this bag in the late summer/early fall of 2012, though the exact date escapes me now.

Bruce lounging on the floor of my bedroom.

When I purchased the bag, I had no idea what I was really getting into. All I knew is I wanted a female oriented back pack, but I didn't know what size I would need. I didn't know what brands, or models there were, and what features were important. All I knew was I was going to be living out of it for 3 months and that seemed like a very long time. So off we went to the MEC to ask some people who knew things.

Now, the lady who helped me was a mix of usefulness. Perhaps she was having some sort of internal conflict of some kind but I found I had to push her for answers to my questions. It was my mother who ended up being the most help. I don't know what it was, but she was able to ask all the right questions. How will this endure? How much can it fit? How is this suited for Europe travel? and most important - How does it fit? Again and again she asked that.

I have a bad back, it runs in the family so I wanted a bag that would help and not do any damage. I tried on two bags prior, one MEC female bag and one Unisex bag. The Unisex was a flop right off the bat. It didn't settle right on me and with added weight I knew it would lead to some troubles along the line. Not only that but it was 70 +10 liters. The other female one didn't suit either, though I can't recall why. I just remember trying on Bruce. It fit like a glove. snug where it should be and the weight evenly dispersed across my back.

Once I hit the road traveling I was initially nervous about carrying  it around but I had packed lightly. I Germany, it made it easy to distinguish my bag from everyone else. (It is very hard to miss that color of green in a pile of bags) Once I got to Scotland, it was even better. Everyone seemed to travel with backpacks over there! But my Bruce still stood out. When I settled in FW and started to do a bit more camping like trips, it was really beneficial to have it along. I never over filled it and when there was a bit too much stuff, or someone didn't have enough room, there was always Bruce.

I may, one day, get a down sizable bag, for shorter excursions that involve mucho plane travel, but for now there's going to be Bruce.

I love my bag. the perfect size, weight and colour. It was pricy, 400 + dollars but completely worth it in the long run.