Today is the 58th day of my 60 day vacation. This is what I had for breakfast. Naturally it comes courtesy of Trader Joe’s. Do yourself a favor and try their organic, low-fat, plain yogurt at your earliest convenience. Paired with their jarred mangos and some grapenuts it makes for a breakfast of champions. No, I am not their advertising rep. I just play one on my blog.
Later in the afternoon, after a morning of visual journaling and an episode of Monk I took a well–deserved book break. I’m at the can’t-put-it-down stage. That part of the book where you have BECOME the characters and are already missing them even though you still have over a hundred pages left. Oy…….this is a good one.
I have lots of Junk In My Trunk including but not limited to a deluxe captain’s chair, firewood, 2 cans of Cambell’s Chunky chicken noodle soup, toilet paper, shoes, gloves, binoculars, a pinecone, several large rocks, a quarter, underpants, my straw sun-bonnet, heavy duty paper plates, a box of plastic cutlery, blanket, bullhorn, cat food, a case of diet vanilla Pepsi, water, 20 marble composition books that came loose from their Save-on bag 8 months ago, one surge protector,a metal grate for outdoor cooking, blue tarp, socks, plastic wrap from the nursery, a knife with useful tool extension things, breathmints, a screwdriver, and a jacket.
My trunk has a child safety pull-cord on the inside. In case I am being moved to a second location in my own car I need to be able to jump out. Also most carjackers might not be aware of the dual-entry safety feature of my trunk. I can kick out the seat and have the surge protector wrapped around their neck before they can say CAPTAIN’S CHAIR.
In the glove compartment I keep my Worst Case Scenario Survival Handbook. Knowing how to escape from a sinking car, jump from a moving car, treat frostbite, survive when lost in the mountains, break down a door, escape from quicksand, identify a bomb, or use a defibrillator to restore a heartbeat are Important Useful Skills. “Safety First” as my mother would say. She taught me practically everything I know about disaster preparedness. And unlike my sister, when mom dished out her safety strategies I wasn’t horsing around.
Jamie says
I am laughing so hard that I absolutely can not read another entry. I started from the beginning and have tears running down my face.
You must have a pretty large trunk to keep all of that junk in it.
Fiona says
Thank goodness it’s not just me who keeps way too much in the trunk or boot as we Brits call it. I have a snow shovel, assorted kids coats, clothes, toys, books, wrappers etc, recyclable bags for the supermarket that I always forget to use, odd bits of rescued cardboard/paper for art projects waiting to into the house….you get the idea.
patty van dorin says
I used to have a case of soda in the back of my car. One day because of the heat the tops starting exploxing off as I was driving down the freeway. I thought someone was shooting at me, the cars driving beside me must have though I had explosives in my car. I explained to the officer who later pulled me over with weapon drawn, it was just diet pepsi in my trunk. So now I just have bottled water.
Kathy says
Hey there!
I’ve so enjoyed looking through your blog…
and the journal entries are very cool.
I want/need advice to put together a blog w/photos and scans of journal entries and would gladly trade handmade jewelry or other art for advice. Please email me if you are interested.
I’d appreciate it!
Also, just wondering… is the plain yogurt from TJ’s at all sweet? If not, yuk… if so, yummmm!!!
Sister says
I was never horsing around when mom gave out advice – my eyes were spinning in my head like a slot machine as I tried to make sense of the sheer lack of logic at how any of her interventions could possibly work. In the end, the tornado in her brain and the steady stalwart nature of a work horse like me with Portugese peasant feet could not make a connection.
Tessenei says
The book, MaryAnn. The title of the book. How can you tell us how ‘into’ the book you are and then not even tell us the name of it. Or even take a picture so we can figure it our for ourselves.
Waiting with bated breath…..
debra says
Haaa!! Both you and Randi cracked me up today! Unfortunately (don’t tell), I drive (and love, don’t tell!) a minivan so I have no trunk–but I do have lots of junk. Rolling around in the back of the minivan are things that would need a forensic scientist to determine. Except for the french fries. Those things never change, even when they’ve been there for months. I know this to be a fact. I wish I could say all the crayons, papers, trash, cds, books, etc. come from the kids, but that wouldn’t be fair. Oh, hell. How would they know? It is all their fault, the stinkers.
Lisa Hoffman says
Oh Lord. I am SO happy to find a fellow Truck Stuffer. My trunk happens to be empty at the moment so that I can fit in suitcases. Jim always looked shocked/appalled when he opened my truck and saw things like a chandelier. Go figure. I’d just look at him and say: “what…WHAT???”
Can I join you for breakfast? and what ARE you reading?
Your journal page is stunning.
ooxx
L.
Kristen R says
This post is wonderfully written and so funny about your trunk. Although I have a plethora of emergency supplies stored in the back of my SUV I may need to run out and get a surge protector and perhaps a can of soup!
The yougurt from TJ’s is the best tastes like desert doesn’t it!!!!!
XO
Kristen
michelle says
hold on a sec. did i miss the part where you mentioned what book you are reading? come one, DETAILS! i’m busting at the seams hearing about your trunk stash and i’m also feeling very sad and empty as there is NOTHING in mine. hard to have a stash when you drive a mini-van and there really is no trunk but now i’m thinking i need some survival gear. wax at least. i do have lots of caution tape. maybe that?