Where Art Thee, Lost Luggage?

Lost luggage, it happens to nearly every traveler at least once in their lifetime. Hearing the doorbell ring at 3 am after the airline remembers to direct your bag to your final destination isn't all that uncommon. But I am now on day three without any luggage, and what an experience it's been.

Apparently my bag disappeared into some black abyss. Last night I couldn't sleep, asking myself why I had to pack every single one of my favorite articles of clothing in my black duffel bag bound for San Diego. Perhaps I could have chosen to leave my favorite maroon shorts, my best overcoat, or my fanciest sweater and button up set safely behind in my home? But no, I had to take the best of the best to San Diego. And now I wonder why. Even more disturbing, why does a misplaced bag feel like I've lost a runaway child?

I've spent hours on the phone searching for my precious beloved, and nothing seems right without the extra presence. I haven't even had the opportunity to change my underwear.

Fortunately Frontier Airlines allowed me to spend $200 on clothes and they claim they'll compensate for what I spent even when they find my beloved black duffel. (Perhaps it's time to change that underwear.)

But nothing can replace the items carefully tucked away in my duffel bag. I mean, I take pictures of every single item I own before giving it to Good Will or the Salvation Army. Somehow I feel like the photograph can help me remember what I felt and experienced when I wore the clothes I gave away. It works for me, but now we're talking about parting with clothes I haven't photographed or even emotionally distanced myself from.

Of course I'm exaggerating here, and I am quite lucky for many reasons.
1. I made it to San Diego safely. Better my bag than me.
2. None of my friends or relatives have gone missing in the past few days.
3. I'm fortunate to have clothes I like.
4. At least I have my health.

I try to look at the positive in the situation, and I haven't really shown my disappointment to those who surround me.

Even so, oh how I miss my dear lost luggage. No matter where you are, allow my blogging voice to travel toward you at 340.29 meters per second. No matter where you are, you'll get my message eventually. I send you this:

Lost Luggage--

Please find home quickly. Your mother is sighing deeply, waiting for you expectantly. She can't sleep without you, and she hasn't even changed her underwear. Don't get sold in an auction in Alabama. Come home, lost luggage, come home. I'll treasure you like never before.

Love,

Lauren

P.S. If you come back, lost luggage, I'll wear your clothes as I dance around to Ben Lee's new songs from his latest album deemed Ripe.

The Slightly Uncomfortable

In the interest of conforming to the most popular literary style for year end publications, I've chosen to blog today about ten things that make me kind of uncomfortable. Not totally uncomfortable, but the types of things that stir me up just a little (in no particular order).

1. The word "footsie." Even worse, footsie in the plural form, "footsies."
2. Cirque du Soleil. It's amazing what these people can do, but please, spare me the costumes. There's something slightly creepy about that.
3. Buying toilet paper. I know everyone does it but for some reason it embarrasses me just a little.
4. Stretching. This one actually makes me physically uncomfortable though, while the others give me a slightly uncomfortable feeling in my gut.
5. Calling businesses. There's nothing I'd rather do than avoid calling and talking to a stranger, especially if I have to disagree with them or ask a question.
6. Accidentally unzipped flies or UFO's in people's teeth. That's one's self explanatory.
7. Asking for favors or for people to pay you back money they owe you.
8. The action of other people cutting their nails in public. I had one of those in my Spanish class last semester and her nail clippings would fly. Sort of discomforting.
9. Eating with people who eat fast. I like to enjoy my food, and when the waiter takes my friends' plates but not mine, and then I'm left savoring my meal, I feel like an inconvenience to the waiter. Oh well, I'd rather enjoy my food.
10. Wet paper products. Actually this makes me more than "kind of uncomfortable" but what would a list about things that make me feel weird be without my phobia of wet paper products?

As we turn to music, I'd like to talk about an artist that also makes me kind of uncomfortable. His name is Jandek, but he's not really a man. Instead, Jandek is a collective referring to himself/themselves as "Corwood Industries." Jandek is mysterious, and anyone who appears in Jandek's name is simply a representative of Corwood Inustries. He chooses to remain reclusive, depressive, and mysterious and his music sounds similar. It's Daniel Johnston like, and causes infinite unease. But if you're into that type of thing, enjoy Jandek. Below is a 1985 interview between Jandek and SPIN Magazine. It's a nice, compact introduction to the lighter side of Jandek and Corwood Industries. The interview is only audio and the images are typical of Jandek's album covers.

Because Time is Ticking

A few years ago affordable watches used to be all about Fossil. Now it's all about Nixon. If you want to be cutting edge these days it's time to fork up a little more money to show you have style.

My old Fossil has served me well but it's time to upgrade. And since I'm not in the realm of Rolex at this point in my life, I've been obsessively searching for semi-affordable sturdy watches. In my search I stumbled upon Nixon's green and white Rayna, the blingy Player, and the first class Banks. Nixon helps me believe it: time is beautiful.

Of course my search hasn't been limited to Nixon. I've always had an affinity for LED lights so when Thinkgeek emerged with their own LED watches I about fainted. Not only that, but a friend emerged with a Dakota Hybrid watch which isn't too shabby either.

But while we're onto this LED light stuff, let's talk about this new gadget worth drooling over. It's called the Ibiza, and it's hot in an extremely weird and geeky way. Below is a customer action shot. The caption reads, "I asked for the time, not a light show."



To top it off the bottom of Thinkgeek's shopping section reads:

"Never offend people with style when you can offend them with substance."
--Sam Brown

It lights up my life, these watches.

Now I think it's time (no pun intended) for a little music talk. I'm currently listening to "My Best Friend" by Hello Saferide.