Blue Suede Traveling Shoes

When traveling, stretch your spine!!  How often?  Every chance you get, darlin!

I'm here.  At the USC campus for a quick visit with GianPaolo before heading to Florida for another John Lennon art show.  I am writing this post just outside the buildings of the School of Cinematic Arts and all around me are tones teeming with creativity.  I just love it!

Lucky kid!  I will reap some of his education by asking a whole lot of questions.

Background:  musical scales on a trumpet and a soprano voice sings an obscure tune just around the corner.  Bicycles whiz past me, their spoked wheels beating time to the melodies filling the spit shined, blueness atop the buildings.  I pretend to be one of the students; just a regular gal in a world of genius.  No biggie.  Yeah, I can pull this off.

Just a regular old building here.

On the predawn flight down here, I snap a shot of me performing a perfunctory stretch.  Lady across the aisle looks at me like I'm twisted.

I call this my "number 4" stretch.  I do it constantly during flights.  (Sorry neighbor!)

As I wait in "ground transportation" at LAX for Eugene, our favorite cab driver, (retired engineer with two USC grads to his credit) to pick up my Starbucked body and deliver it to the campus, I release my tight hamstrings by putting one foot up on the bench and leaning into my outstretched leg.  Oh my, I am tight today.

All you need is a bench.  Maybe a few dips?  Nahhh..

My neck has been kind of crunchy, pinchy so I resort to my old faithful; open my chest, lean back without arching my low back and take a deep breath.  The exhaust almost chokes me, but my thoracic spine feels looser.  (See photo above, taken last summer.)



I elevate my legs for a few moments, people watching.  We are all so different.  I love it!

Ahhh, I am alone and nobody knows me!  Yes, use your luggage for an ottoman! 

I will walk a lot.  I will stretch whenever and wherever I can.  I will be someone else for a few days, but I will be myself.

Do you travel for business?  Do you have a fitness related routine that helps you feel your best?  Give me the scoop!  I need to hear from you well seasoned travelers.

Viaggiare Leggeri a la Bodeci

Golly!  What a nice breakfast for us parents!  Well, I guess for the cost of the tuition...

Moving through the airport requires agility!  I could really move in comfort with this travel outfit.  My only
problem was I like better foot support, but with airline security I wanted slip-off ease.

It was "Parent Weekend" at my son's school and I wanted to travel light.  This is has been a difficult task for me in the past, but I'd worked at perfecting it.  We had to be up at 4:30 and out the door by 5:00 AM to catch our 6:30 flight from Santa Rosa to L.A.  I decided I would carry one small carry-on and wear only one outfit with options.  My black jeggings and cami from "White House Black Market" and my "Melissa" flip flops were the main pieces I worked with.  I added my white button down stretch cotton blouse from "H&M" on the plane and to our first event at the school: The Dean's Breakfast and a 'sit-in' on my son's screen writing class.  I felt fresh and appropriate for the entire day and all I had to cart around was my inexpensive ($40) bag from "Dean and Deluca" and my red "Swiss Army" travel tote.  No problem!

Felt quite comfy. That black bag (left) on my right can hold my laptop,  small make-up bag, notebook, magazines, two pairs of glasses with cases, my water bottle, an apple, large wallet and camera.  The cardigan looks better buttoned up to a cowl neck, but it was still warm before dinner.

Later that evening we went for appetizers at the “Yard House” then to “Fleming’s” for dinner.  I took off the white shirt and topped my look with a “Linq” cowl, double-breasted, elbow-length sleeve, cotton knit sweater.  The entire weekend I wore my diamond stud earrings, gold Rolex watch and black-pearl pendant.  Simple and elegant.  (Oh, and my "new" aviators via "Rich Life".  She was ready to put them on eBay.  I saved her the trouble!)

At the Trojans vs. Huskies game, I wore my simple logo T with knee length logo shorts and "Van's" slip-on sneekers.    Easy to pack in my carry-on tote.

Along with the football game wear, I packed simple cotton lounge pants and tank for sleep and put-zing about.  (While traveling, I like to feel prepared for potential evacuation, so my sleepwear can easily become comfy wear.)  I also had my small make-up bag, face and dental requirements and a small styling gel.  My iPhone, laptop, magazines and travel documents all went in my "Dean & Deluca" patent leather shopping tote.  Very roomy making it easy to find my money and identification.  


The Bodeci method of "Weekend Travel is to mantenere le cose seplici! (keep it simple!)  If unencumbered and comfortable, you will move with freedom and energy.  What is your "Weekend Travel Wardrobe"?  Any late fall/ winter ideas?  I'd love to hear!