It was only when I was actually DONE with this spreadsheet that I realized the extent to my madness. Does anyone else actually DO this, I wondered? Am I the only one? I am basically Joan Crawford with less jumpsuits? And Internet, don’t say I never show you my flaws, bitches. THESE ARE MY FLAWS.
In my defense, we have plans both tonight and tomorrow night, leaving us precious little time to pack our joint belongings in a suitcase and a travel pack. So I figured a list tacked up in the bedroom somewhere would make the last-minute frantic double-checking a little easier.
In my total lack of a defense, THIS SHIT IS INSANE, YO. I can’t tell whether I’m proud or horrified. I think a little bit of both.
what is the “secret weapon” you mention under toiletries?
Obviously if I told you I’d have to kill you with it.
Conversely, it could just be one of John Frieda’s Frizz-ease products.
i do the same thing, but without the sophistication and dedication of excel–my nerdy, over-detailed and column sorted travel/packing to-do lists are all handwritten. usually in one of my assorted fine-tipped colored sharpie pens. i feel you on this one.
Oh, I’m so glad I am not the only one that does this…I find I cannot pack without VERY detailed list now! I have not yet used Excel, but I think you may have started me on something. ;O)
I didn’t even THINK about making a spreadsheet! that is a great idea… course, my packing for my next trip to London (the one where I’m staying for at least 3 months) is easy
1. pack ALL clothes
easiest ‘To Pack’ list ever.
SHIT, yo. i make LISTS sometimes? but this mess is fucking INTENSE.
dude.
mind = blown.
freak. totally unrelated, how do you do a screen grab?
Did anyone else just get frustrated because they couldn’t figure out why the cursor wasnt moving in this screen grab? No?
Don’t worry: no-formulas == normal.
Oh, and on other train of thought:
Mmmmm…ipod…
I love you for showing us your list AND admitting that you wear a mouthguard.
only when you get into things like vlookups should you be worried.
I love the column where you remind yourself to bring Stuart. Priceless.
I was totally intrigued by the secret weapon. I’ve been in london for a month. Did I forget to pack something?
Did you remember to bring an extra bag to lug home all the extra stuff you’re going to pick up while in the UK? I have to pack to go home on Sun. and somehow, SOMEHOW I seem to have accumulated about 7 new books. I HAVE NO IDEA HOW IT HAPPENED.
I totally understand the drive to do things like this. Sadly, I even have a running Excel spreadsheet of all the clothing I own, ranked by how much I love the item.
Ha! One a recent trip to Paris, my spreadsheet also had the restaurants, shops, and sights I didn’t want to miss, sorted by sections of the city (arr.).
That way, no matter where I was, I could easily find a place to eat or spend my $. Allowed for informed meandering.
I say, good for you! (And your peace of mind.)
brilliant. i am honeymooning in spain in october and have already begun stressing about all the things i have to remember to pack. i have borrowed your outline and will use it wisely.
happy trails!
HAHAHAHA. I love this post. And you’re not flawed! You are the mold from which we should all derive our organizational abilities. Having always done something of the same when I travel, I appreciated this. But, sometimes I like to print it out so I can swipe through the things I’ve done with a red flourish (not always the same satisfaction from using the red highlight feature on Excel) Especially the VIP list. Marisa–what a good idea, I should think of doing that.
Krissa,
I had the same problem you did in finding an email address. I’m going to take a minute and post ours on our site this afternoon.
But thanks for your comments and the classy way in which you responded, despite the fact I ranted like a three year old. I responded here http://karmic-irony.blogspot.com/2005/08/my-apologies.html
i do the same exact thing. you should see my wedding_budget.xls, guest_list1.xls, and scotland.xls. I tend to get v. v. organized with lists for this kind of stuff. they all contain many tabs for seperate portions of information. sad, really. not you – me.
my only comment to all of this is… are you seriously still using OS9?
i do this too, but it’s worse than OS 9, it’s hand written. it’s totally sane.
Krissa,
You are totally a girl after my own heart. I do the detailed packing lists. I also do a practice run with my packing to see if everything can fit. If it does, I go to the secondary list so that I can bring more stuff. Lists are the BEST!!
you forgot:
sunscreen (says the white girl)
razor/shaving cream (unless.. *shudder*)
toothpaste (although perhaps toothbrush will remind you)
conditioner (although perhaps shampoo will remind you – but for me, foreign water (hard or soft) leaves me needing conditioner more than ever)
ipod (although you got charger, so i’m assuming this just stays in your purse)
Packing spreadsheet. Right. I’m leaving in nine days and I’m not even remotely organised so I’m thinking I might get with it. Get me one of these spreadsheets happening. Today. I’m on it. Oi!
By the way, the eggplant blouse KILLS ME!!! Is it puffy and purple with a big green collar and stalk? See, aubergine blouse may not have conjured such an image, but eggplant blouse – that kills me!
Very impressive. I’ve used a similar list for my last two (okay, my only two) international trips to South America and New Zealand. Evidently I need to use it at home too, seeing as the last trip I took to Houston for a week of work, I left my glasses at home along with contact case (contacts were in my eyes). Of course in the morning I wouldn’t remember this, when I would try to feel for my glasses on the nightstand.
Safe travels.
Wow! – no you aren’t the only one like this. I do written detailed lists like that for packing, but I never thought to do it in excel. I have budget lists, christmas card lists, birthday lists in excel, but never a travel one. You’ve inspired me. Yay for OCD! And have a great trip too.
I have a todo list of everything I have to do before my next trip in iCal, sorted by the date it should be done. No packing lists yet though.
Had exactly the same reaction as M to “eggplant” blouse. A prototype for a new offrering in your cafepress selection?
Be proud, be very proud. I do this exact same thing. But I love that you shared it with the Internet. Embrace your organizational skills, baby!!
actually, forget the sunscreen, the major thing you need is a jacket/woolly jumper…while you may not be able to imagine how a shiver feels right now i can assure you once you hit these shores, you’ll remember. brrrr
I’m new to your blog and have been finding it (and you) quite amusing. Now I know why. We were separated at birth. I just now finished making 3 separate lists for my camping & kayaking trip this weekend. One for equipment, one for food, and one for personal stuff. See? You’re not alone!
i make lists, too. but i’ve never broken them down by category in an excel sheet. wow! i’m more of a type-a-long-list-in-word gal.
That is 1ne hell of a list. Time for a vacation.
TGIF.
I’m such an organizational list freak that I think that spreadsheet turned me on just a tiny bit.
you are definitely not alone. i made my own checklist in ms word, and print it out every time i need to pack. believe me it’s helpful because i hate forgetting things. i’m more anal than you because as for your spreadsheet, i would add borders and add a background color to each category title.
Yikes. I do that too.
What’s the “secret weapon” and “mouthguard” for???
Only 3 bras? Ewwwww!
I love that there are 38 (now 39) comments for this post.
Is Secret Weapon that John Frieda stuff for your hair? I’ve got my own tube – love it!
I totally make the same spreadsheets but they always save our bacon so it’s WORTH IT! I’m an anal retentive Virgo so I’m okay with it
)