On the Lucky Star

1. I think that the Lucky Star Bus could really use some cup-holders. I came to this realization while I was trying to simultaneously write and drink my coffee. There was no where to put my cup down, so I cleverly put the half-filled coffee cup in those little trash bags that are tied at the end of the seats. But then I realized that my clever idea was not so clever because, not only was I out of coffee, but now I faced the potential liquid-in-bag-disaster. So let's hope that my coffee doesn't fall over the Lucky Star floor when we hit a speed bump. And c'mon, it is the Lucky Star afterall and we, most likely, will hit more than a few speed bumps as we speed down the highway towards  to New York.

2. CONFESSIONS OF A MESSY PERSON
 I've always been kind of messy in my appearance. In 6th grade, for example, it was not uncommon to find my shoelaces untied, my backpack practically falling off my shoulders and hanging awkwardly on my arms at elbow length. In fact, I received all sorts of advise about my haphazard appearance.  Patti Noriega would say to me, "God, Annery. pick yourself up. You look so messy." My pastor would gently point out, "Annery, you're shoelaces are untied,"  but he and everyone else knew that they were almost always untied. In kindergarten, my dad didn't know how to do my hair while my mother was working so I would come into class with tangled hair causing teachers to think I was a neglected child. Nope. I just had a dad who did not know how to use a comb.
So these days I'm trying to learn not to carry 10 research books in my backpack when I'm headed to the library to work on a project. I'm learning that the ache in my back can actually go away pretty easily if I decide to only bring three books instead of 10. I am learning that when my shoelaces are untied it only takes 4 seconds to tie them and that big briefcase-type bags exist in order to comfortably store your laptop and files in each compartment as opposed to stuffing them anxiously in a backpack or small purse.
The $40 is worth the investment.
I can just see your face now, my dear reader. You must be thinking, "This is common sense! What is wrong with this girl?" Well, there are some things that were taught to us that we take for granted and other things that were taught to other people that we never learned--even the most common sensical lesson might not be as common sense to the person next to you, right?
So now, as I'm riding the bus to New York with my suitcase that holds my hair brush, body wash, makeup and clothes in nice compartments, I am sensitive to the other passengers who might not have their things so neatly stored. The earphone chord to their ipod might be wrapped around their purse and arm, for instance, while they try to balance two bags and their breakfast. I look at them and say, "Hey, my friend, I know what that's like. You can take a second to put your food in your purse and untangle yourself from this oppressive ipod chord! Don't worry. I've been there. Trust me. It's worth the effort."  But had I never been a sloppy a kid, I would have never understood why this is not common sense to all.

Now, don't get me wrong: You can take the girl out of the hot-mess, but you can't always take the hot-mess out of the girl--Ok. Maybe that doesn't quite work here. But what I mean is that I'm still learning about the wonders of tupper-wear whose lids are not hanging out somewhere underneath the sink--tupper-wear that you can easily find. Just the other day I found out that zip lock bags were my best friend and I had to train myself to get over the guilt of using too many of them (because I might be hurting the environment or I might not have enough money to get more--but wait! I have a salary...I can surely afford zip lock bags!)  Every day a new discovery on how to become neater and cleaner.
I guess we'll leave the psycho-analysis for another entry. It'll be called "Why messy people are anxious people." Maybe. Or maybe I'll never get around to writing it. We'll see....