Much Ado About Nothing

So here we are in lovely SANTA BARBARA. I packed too much as usual, and will not wear most of what I brought. Today we are going to the "wine country" in Santa Ynez and environs. We plan to have a relaxing day. Our hotel room looks out over the beach, it is morning, and there are a lot of ambitious athletes out there. They are running, biking, walking, and driving convertables with the tops down. IT'S COLD OUT THERE PEOPLE!!! So the big deal I made about packing was truly "Much Ado About Nothing!"

Packing Stress

     I don't know why the preparation for packing, whether we will be gone for a few days or a few weeks, is so stressful for me.  I'm not talking about the actual act of putting things in the suitcase, I find that to be an enjoyable challenge.   I'm talking about what I'm going to take, whether the clothes need washing or cleaning, the button I have to sew on the jacket, ironing the orange linen shirt, packing the toiletries for myself (and the things Howard might need that he doesn't bother to pack).  Howard's theory is that he is not traveling into the Amazon.  There are stores all over and if he forgets something important he can always buy it.  My theory is, "why waste the time going to the drug store when I can have it all in my little bag?"
     What results is a few days, maybe a week, of pressure to get everything done amidst the ordinary vicissitudes of daily life, like doctor's appointments, hair cut, phone calls, emails, vet shots for Webber (he goes to a fancy pet hotel), and numerous other stuff.  Now YOU all travel.  Do you go through such stress?  Howard has threatened to cancel trips because I make him "crazy."  I do have a major problem; I am a perfectionist.  I have the fantasy that I I could just put a few things in a bag and go away on a moment's notice.  But I think I really could if pressed to do so; especially if we were going somewhere exciting.  I would just have to fight my nature to have everything "done" before I left.
     Right now I should be sewing the button on the jacket, but here I am writing in my blog.  Oh, well!

I Bit the "Apple..."

     Good news for me.  The "Genius" at the Apple Store fixed my syncing problem, got my contacts back on the iphone, and put all of my "dates" back in the right place.  All of the time I was waiting for my turn at the Genius Bar, I looked around at the "people concentrated" (translate: crowded) store and its inhabitants and what they seemed to be doing there.
     Of course, there were the people who were wandering through the mall, and stopped in to play with the ipads and computers on display; many of them had baby strollers and packages with them which says to me, "not a buyer."  Lots of people had boxes of accessories in their hands; iphone cases, earbuds, speakers, etc. They were in a separate line to pay, or if they were lucky, someone with a charge "thingy" came to them.
     There were lots and lots of people like me, waiting to have their computers and other devices fixed....wouldn't you think that would scare some buyers away?  Maybe they should have put us in a separate room.  Actually, they want everyone to know that they can fix any problem that arises; thus, the Genius Bar.
     Best of all  were the folks who were taking lessons on the Mac computer system, iphoto, iphone operation, etc.  The Apple people are so very patient and knowledgable that it is fun shopping and doing business with them.
     Oh, I forgot, there was a double line outside the store for people who are buying the new iphone4, which has been acknowledged to have a glitch.  Wouldn't you think they would wait for the 4.1 to come out?
     My Genius said it is like that all day, every day.....and that is just one store in Manhattan Beach. It boggles my mind.  I wish I had Apple stock!