When it comes to planning for a trip, I could win some sort of list-making award. It’s part of the fun for me, the getting-ready-to-go, and I like to categorize and prioritize and memorize everything that needs to be done.
I like to think that it’s one of my spiritual gifts. But mostly it’s probably just annoying to anyone who has the misfortune of traveling with me.
Tomorrow Melanie and I are going to take our kidlets on a little getaway, and we’ve already decided that the grown-ups are going to have appetizers for supper every night. My sister-in-law Janie and I did something similar last year when we were at the beach with our boys, and we enjoyed it so much that Mel and I have decided to continue the tradition. It’s the right thing to do.
Since M and C will have to fly here before we hit the road to my brother- and sister-in-law’s place at the beach, I have made it my personal mission to gather as many of our trip supplies as possible. The gathering of supplies serves two purposes: 1) it brings me UNTOLD VOLUMES OF JOY and 2) it eliminates the need for stopping at the grocery store as soon as we get down there because, well, who wants to get to the beach and then have to run errands?
See? It’s all very logical.
Well.
One night last week I made our initial grocery list, and then I typed it all into a Word document because THIS, THIS IS WHO I AM: A PERSON WHO ENJOYS TYPING GROCERY LISTS, IT’S VERY NICE TO MEET YOU. After I typed the list, I emailed it to Mel so she could take a look at it (THIS IS WHO I AM, TAKE TWO: A PERSON WHO ASKS FRIENDS TO DOUBLE CHECK GROCERY LISTS), and once I made some final changes, I moved everything around so that the list would follow the order of the aisles at the grocery store (THIS IS WHO I AM, TAKE THREE: THE PERSON WHO MAKES HER GROCERY LISTS BY AISLE, JUST AS THE GOOD LORD INTENDED).
All that to say: one particular section of the grocery list made me so happy.
Clearly the chocolate chips have a very important purpose, because obviously we’ll need something sweet to balance out all that dairy.
Good times.
Anyway, I actually have a very important (non-cream cheese-related) question to ask y’all, and I do hope you’ll give it some prayerful consideration.
Later today I’m going to run by the Blockbuster to pick up some movies for Mel and me to watch after the young’uns are in bed at night. I’m thinking that this is our golden opportunity to watch stuff that our husbands wouldn’t be able to watch for more than five minutes without rolling their eyes and making a comment about how totally unrealistic someone’s relationship is.
Because as we all know, it’s much more realistic when a rogue CIA agent flips a car that catches on fire but manages to shimmy out of a back window just in time to walk in a drugstore and buy some hair dye so that he can then transform his appearance in the Walgreens restroom and walk back out into the streets completely unnoticed.
So. Movies for the beach. Do you have any suggestions?
Please keep in mind that I don’t watch movies very often. So if you think “Oh, she’s probably seen that,” odds are that I haven’t. And if you have a suggestion for an entire season of a TV show, throw that into the mix as well. Mel and I have never been ones to back down from a TV-related challenge. As I often say, it is good to have TV-watching goals.
Mainly because TV-watching goals often pair quite beautifully with excessive amounts of cream cheese.
Thanks in advance for your help – hope y’all have a wonderful weekend!
It’s old now, but it’s still really, really good — The Thomas Crown Affair with Rene Russo and Pierce Brosnan.
First of all, I too am a list maker. When I was pg with my son, I had a list of things to do before 36 wks. One item on the list: make a list for the hospital bag. My hubby thought it was hysterical that I had making a list as a to do item. LOL Oh, and I have my grocery list printed by aisle too. ;D
As for movies… an 80’s movie marathon is always fun! Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, Footloose, Pretty in Pink, Dirty Dancing, etc.
Two movies that I am LOVING lately are 500 Days of Summer and August Rush!!!
TV season – PHYSCH totally fits your personality…love it.
I have to add my vote for Blindside. As an adoptive mother to an older child I can tell you that it totally captures the experience.
I say watch Ramona’s runway walk over and over and over again. One of my favorite TV moments EVER.
I scanned the comments and don’t think I saw this listed!
RETURN TO ME
It’s old, and a sleeper at that, and I know ya’ll would love it!
Bonnie Hunt WROTE and produced it….along with Don Lake…( do you like her show?)
Minnie Driver and David Ducovney….
IT’s SO GOOD!
Yep, I’m jealous.
Take lots of pics and tell us all the fun!
I can’t think of anything else that hasn’t been said but 24!!! Best tv show ever!!!
I made myself a list of tv shows and movies to watch. My hubby is in the jungle of Peru so I appreciate a list of things to do!
HITCH.
How did I forget that one earlier???
please tell me you’ve seen Hitch with Will Smith.
you girls should watch that this week if you haven’t seen it.
soooo funny, hilarious actors/actresses, 2 love stories, you can’t go wrong.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0386588/
I am zero help with the movies because if I was going away I’d ask the same question.
BUT I think you are the coolest for typing a grocery list. I like the way you roll!!
I totally love Chuck, but there’s a lot of flipping car, things on fire action going on there. You’ll definitely want to watch that from the beginning because it all works together. My favorites lately are “Fireproof”, “One Night With the King”, and any musical like “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers”, “Sound of Music”, and “Oklahoma”. Hope you have fun!
Dear John and I agree with Pride and Prejudice!
I’m with Tickled Pink somewhere in the 90s who suggested Shag– perfect retro beach movie with Phoebe Cates and HIGHLY quotable. “It’s the MOOOOST fuuuuun.”
One not mentioned yet is Heart and Souls with Robert Downey Jr. The theology is way off, but SUCH a sweet movie! Kyra Segwick and Elisabeth Shue? Come ON!
And speaking of Miss Shue…Adventures in Babysitting? Cocktail?
Also, after reading of Big Mama’s A/C drama, I believe Coal Miner’s Daughter is in order. And you can’t double feature that one with anything but The River with Sissy Spacek and Mel Gibson. Enjoy~
I suggest the entire season of top chef-masters.
The Lake House (Keanu Reeves and Sandra The The Lake House (Reeves and Bullock)
My Life In Ruins (Nia Vardolas and a really hot greek guy)
The Family Man (Nicholas Cage)
Shall We Dance (original I japanese but dubbed in english or the newer one with Richard Gere)
Little Miss Sunshine (I’m a good christian girl, but I just glossed over the language and LAUGHED SOOO HARD)
Have lots of fun!
I also have my grocery list by aisle on the computer. I have a master list and then just tweek it each time before I go. I also have a huge “beach trip” list that I update and save each year. Makes planning/packing for our beach vacation so much easier.
As for movies, I concur with Blindside.
No movie suggestions, I see like one a year. This year it was the Blindside – or maybe that was last year. It was good though.
Anyway, I would have thought your grocery list was out of control EXCEPT I have a friend who has a computerized version of her grocery list, in order by aisle, of EVERYTHING she ever buys. She prints it out, hangs it on the fridge and then just has to put a check mark in the box next to it when she needs an item. So. You could try that if you wanted. ;)
I watched The Proposal recently – SO FUNNY. And The Blind Side. SO good.
Movies: Julie and Julia, Anne of Green Gables, Roman Holiday (Audrey Hepburn), French Kiss
About the list thing: my husband thought I was a little loony when I started making my grocery lists, by aisle. I’m happy to be able to tell him that I’m completely normal!
I have a little award for you over at my blog… http://cropgirl.blogspot.com/2010/06/wow.html
I’m passing time at home and was looking up a movie to watch myself and saw “The Lake House”-my husband and I both liked that (I know. Keanu Reeves. Both of us. Strange, but true.).
Also, you may want to check out “The Time-Travelers Wife”. :)
Gilmore Girls – TV Show…LOVE IT!
Julie and Julia
Have fun!!
Hope you got Julie and Julia!
I love me some Panhandle. Especially the part of the handle that is 30A (Seaside, Rosemary, etc.). If you haven’t been, you must, must, must go to the Red Bar in Grayton Beach. Fun atmosphere and the kids would dig it.
But, you weren’t asking for restaurant recs, were you?
Movies – The Color Purple can’t be beat. It is from 1985, but you said you never see movies so I’m taking a chance that you’ve not seen it.
Have an blast!
I type up my grocery lists in Word too, aisle by aisle! I’m so glad to know i’m not freaky.
OK, since I know we’re the same age, Music and Lyrics is a must. First because of Hugh Grant and second because you’ll have flashbacks to watching Wham on MTV. Too funny! And then I would also suggest 27 Dresses. Such a fun movie! And for a completely different feel, I loved Miss Potter about Beatrix Potter.
“Last Holiday”
[ trust me! ]
LISTS! I love lists. When traveling, I prepare my list by: l. original list 2. alphabetic list 3. alphabetic list broken down into individual suitcase/tote/carry-on/purse list (each individual list alphabetized AND color-coded). I’ve never considered typing my grocery list so thanks SO much for putting THAT idea in my head!
MOVIES! I love those, too. I always enjoy musicals. I suggest: Grease, My Fair Lady, Oklahoma, Enchanted (two thumbs and one big toe UP), Hairspray (not the original – the one AFTER the Broadway play). And, if you haven’t seen it, the first High School Musical movie is a great “remake” of the original Grease. (Not exactly a remake but a similar story line.)
I have a grocery app on my iphone called grocery IQ and whne you type in your items it will go ahead and put them in the right aisle so your list is 1. on your phone and 2. in aisle order. LOVE IT!!
Movies:
Juno
Blindside
What about Bob
Fool’s Gold ( good beach movie)
Whip it
Miss Congeniality
Sweet Home Alabama
Napoleon Dynamite
Have fun! Much Love!!
Seven Pounds
The Bucket List
Up (watch this with the kids, it’s great for everybody)
I, too, love making grocery lists. I write everything down first, then I rewrite it in aisle order. I have also been known to make a list with things on it that I’ve already done…because I LOVE LOVE LOVE crossing things off of my lists. Love your blog…keeps me laughing!