"Yeah, Taking out the Shampoo Really Helped"

I really didn't want to get too heavy into pre-trip blogging because that defeats the purpose of the whole "Spain" part of this blog (even though being half-packed has still not made this a complete reality yet; when I think about this week and I look ahead, all I see is this blank space of the unknown). But this is too good to pass up.

First, let me preface this by hearkening back to those days in early August 2005 when I began to pack for Ithaca. Anyone who was there to witness this, including the amount of crap I managed to stow away in that cubicle of a room I had in the East Tower, knows that I brought a tremendous amount of crap to school. Fall semester this year, I did a lot better. "Considering you brought a duffel bag full of underwear alone to college I think you've cut back a lot," said Janelle.

So I had all of my stuff laid out for Spain, figured no biggie, just throw it into the bag. I packed the smaller bag first - even managed to fit my fleece sleeping bag in there - and it weighs in at a comfortable 30 pounds. No problem, I've been working out.

Mondo bag was next. I just kept piling and piling until I realized that crap, I wasn't going to be able to close it. So my mom came up, rearranged some things. Then my dad came to close it, in between gasps of laughter.

When he went to pick it up, I knew I was in trouble - he couldn't even lift it.

My mom and I unpacked it, I took out my shampoo (for all of you people who were deriding me for the toiletries, there you go). That cut out about 4 pounds, plus a couple of ounces for two shirts and some shower gel I removed.

We re-packed it. My mom dragged the scale over to the luggage. I manage to maneuver it onto the scale.

80 pounds.

This is a problem.

I've only got five minutes, that's all I'm allowed before we go back to unload HALF of what I've packed (which if that's any indication, that means I'll be at the weight of the other bag, and all I really have in there is some sweaters, pjs, underwear, socks, and shoes).

Are we there yet?