Notes from the North Midwest

[firstfrost]

harrock says they're the Midwest. jdbakermn suggests "the top of the Mississippi". I'm fond of "the states that start zigzag-I" (which include Michigan, but that's up there too), but it just seems to confuse people.

Anyway, harrock and I have returned from the Whirlwind Zoosh around Minnesota and Wisconsin, in which many relatives of his (and two cats) were seen.

• The first time I've been harassed by a TSA agent about carrying a backpack, a small carryon bag, and a purse as "more than two carryons", and it's in Madison. Yes, I am technically carrying three objects, but they total a lot smaller than the two rolly-carryons that other people have. I will have to readjust my automatic assumption that people in the Midwest are generally nicer.
• Audiobooks are definitely a good way to pass long drives. I still don't like the radio conversion from ipod to car stereo, though.
• Anyone who's in the lower left corner of Wisconsin should stop by the Chetek Bakery and stuff themselves on pastries.
• As mjperson already knows, a Clicker is a great icebreaker with small children and people who are small children at heart.

Comments

North Midwest

[twe.livejournal.com]

"Great Lakes Region" :)

Re: North Midwest

[firstfrost.livejournal.com]

Though that goes all the way over to New York; I suppose I want the "Lake Superior region". :)

[remcat.livejournal.com]

I'm in harrock's camp -- WI and MN are in the Midwest. From my point of view, Ohio is practically New England! :)

[firstfrost.livejournal.com]

It's not that I don't think they're in the Midwest (like I have any idea what the states are in the middle of the country? There's the East Coast and the West Coast and the Middle and the South... :) ), it's that my personal lumping-together makes the Midwest too big. "I'm going to the Midwest" could mean Idaho or it could mean Ohio or anywhere in between.

[chenoameg.livejournal.com]

Welcome back!

[seborn.livejournal.com]

I had to read that four times before I stopped wondering "Why does the TSA care how many crayons you have? Do they think you'll draw on the walls?"

[countertorque.livejournal.com]

Chica just leaves enough space in one of her bags to stuff her purse in. So, if anyone complains, one of her bags disapears. Actually, the snack bag and the craft bag go in there with her purse. So, really she's carrying about 5 carryons.

[firstfrost.livejournal.com]

Usually I have enough space to do so, but all my space got eaten by the antique bowl from Grandma Harrock. :) (I think the guy was expecting me to stuff the purse in the backpack, and was a little taken aback that I claimed not to have room.

Luckily, harrock still did have space, though the that led to all sorts of further hazards, given that I was the only one with spare money at the time.

Duct Tape!

[jaedian.livejournal.com]

Do you travel with duct tape? I wonder what they would do if you proceed to tape the two bags together? Wait now it's one. Of course the TSA folks don't really have much of a sense of humor.

But I will make sure to have a bigger bag next time in order to put my purse in. I am surprised I haven't been busted for having a third bag on the few occassions when I have hit the news stand and bought a few magazines and gum which they put in a little shopping bag. Although I suppose I could hand something to one of the kids and say it was their carry on.

[arcanology.livejournal.com]

Radio from portable to car is junk. It only works if you happen to be driving through an area without much radio. Boston, and apparently Madison, don't count.

Hopefully soon all cars will have jacks. Until then you can use tape converters or just cry.

[firstfrost.livejournal.com]

I love the tape converter. Sadly, rental cars don't have tape players any more, they have CD players.

(They also have many mysterious buttons and no owners' manual, which was quite irksome. I wonder what OnStar is *supposed* to do other than accidentally call in emergencies.)

Cd Players

[jaedian.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the Saturn only has a CD player. And really a tape converter is the only reason that is a pain.

[twe.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I have to just cry in may car. I can get my iTrip to work in other cars, but never mine.

[kelkyag]

What is a Clicker?

[firstfrost.livejournal.com]

My knitting counter:
http://www.theyarnexchange.com/images/Tools/336.JPG

(While "clicker" isn't an official name for it "kacha-kacha" apparently is)

Kacha kacha

[jaedian.livejournal.com]

Hey I think I have one of those. And you are right, I bet the kids would love it.

[kirisutogomen.livejournal.com]

Wait, Mississippi is in the Midwest? I'm so confused.