Two Backpacks – One’s Not Like the Other

This will be the last post on Management Craft for two-weeks except for an awesome podcast with Brendon Connelly that I have cued up for next Monday. See you after Labor Day!

Caption: Cat Paris considers which backpack would be more fun to to jump into. Pick red.

I was packing for a two-week solo trip to New Mexico and noticed I was packing two backpacks with very diverse things inside. The trip is not really a vacation; I am doing research for a book I am writing about New Mexico. I know - tough job - but someone has to do it!

The first backpack, I will carry onto the plane. It’s my electronics backpack and in it is:

ibook laptop and cord
Cordless mouse
Freshly loaded ipod Nano, holder, cord and DC charger
Digital camera, charger, and cord
M-audio Microtrack Field recorder, mic, 2 cords
External hard drive and cord (to hold all the digital pics and field podcasts!)
Ethernet cord
1 Gig thumb drive
Extra memory card
Cell phone and charger
Moleskine reporter notebook
Pens
Book for the plane (Woman Hollering Creek by Sandra Cisneros)
Three pairs of prescription glasses (regular, reading, sun)
Travel docs
Few extra batteries

Good grief that’s a lot of stuff! I better not lose it.

The second backpack – I will call the fun sack – will be packed inside a larger suitcase with all my clothes and such. In the fun sack, I have:

Guidebooks and map.
Rain gear (it is still monsoon season)
2 Nalgene water bottles.
1 Box of GU – Chocolate Outrage
2 Hiking poles
1 Compass
1 Whistle
1 First Aid Kit
1 Flashlight, with 2 batteries taped to it
1 Hat
1 clippy thing for clipping things (probably more of a fashion statement).
1 Smaller bag that attaches to my waist belt for the camera and field recorder.

The only items that are likely to visit both backpacks are the three pairs of glasses, digital camera, ipod, and field recorder. Perhaps the cell phone, but it’s not likely to going to work anywhere I am going.

There are a few items I will buy once there like mosquito spray, pepper spray, sunscreen, and a case of water.

If I were traveling purely for pleasure, I would try to leave the gadget backpack at home. It’s a good thing I have a big trunk on my rental car!

If you are interested in New Mexico or would like to follow along with me on my trip, subscribe to Chile Pepper High. I will be loading pics using Flickr and posting podcasts using Hipcast.

OK – Here’s something you can use against me one day. As I am writing this, I am in a good mood. Why? Sure, I am going on a great trip. Yep, life is good in general. But what has me particularly bubbly is the music I am listening to from – are you ready – Yanni.

Before you unsubscribe from my feed because you couldn’t possible read a blog from someone who listens to Yanni, hear me out. I challenge you to go to itunes and download the songs, For All Seasons and Nostalgia from the new Yanni Live album, and NOT get a little pumped. Nostalgia (where Yanni’s fingers shine) is my favorite – I love all the crescendos (might be the new Bolero?). Listen to all 12 minutes and 44 seconds and then tell me you aren’t a bit happier. It’s the best therapy 2 bucks can buy. If you don’t feel it, check for a pulse because you might be a Martian.

See ya later – I am going to go get high and full on chile peppers.

Comments

[Craig Huggart]

Lisa:

Have a great trip. I am enjoying "2 Weeks".

By the way: I don't think you are that strange. A couple of days ago I bought Chocolate Outrage. A few days before that the Yanni Live CD came in the mail.

[Lisa Haneberg]

Yeah, that chocolate outrage is good! A perfect alternative to cardboard like energy bars that are either so hard you can't bite into them or so unstable that they melt in your pack. GU is just right.

[Starbucker]

Enjoy your trip Lisa! We'll keep the light on for ya. All the best.

[Astha]

Enjoy the trip Lisa!

[nydia]

Woman Hollering Creek or anything by Sandra Cisneros is GREAT, Lisa. Try Caramelo when you're in for an epic. Beautiful writing. Have a great trip!

[Lisa Haneberg]

Thanks all - I just landed and am in an airport hotel for the first night. Will drive south to the southwest portion of the state tomorrow AM. But NOT before a stop to the Frontier Restaurant for a chile pepper smothered breakfast.

[Stoneseeds]

The camera is that cats friend =)