When you are married to an engineer you get used to "test packs" (I haven't loaded a dishwasher in 30 years - it has its advantages).

So.....

...all clothes/shoes/etc out on bed - check
..."safari" clothes (versus clothes for South Africa/Namibia) identified and isolated - check
...safari coloured soft sider bag for safari portion identified and weighed - check
...backpack packed - check
...clothes in soft sider bag for safari - check

Then the moment of truth - my backpack and soft sider bag weigh 10 kilos so I still have 5 kilos for a book, toiletries, etc.

At that point we were feeling smug .... and then we noticed the logos on the soft sider bag. They were premiums from our one week cooking course at the Culinary Institute of America - called "Boot Camp".

There - in a large M*A*S*H/military font, the bag proclaims:

CIA BOOT CAMP

Hmmmm.......might need a magic marker to cover that over!

See? Good thing you executed the test pack!

How funny!

I have bought a swath of canvas and had an embroidery store sew it on over unwanted logos. The tailor I consulted first said he could not do it and suggested the embroidery place. You could probably do it yourself if you have the correct kind of sewing machine. Because the bag was free, it was still cost effective.

Lynn.....as good Canadians we fixed it with duct tape!

Liz

Duct tape works wonders!

Looking forward to following you on your latest quest!

All my best...

That's hilarious. It could be part of a Bob and Doug McKenzie skit. I used to love those guys and according to other people I talk a little like them since I'm not that far south of Canada.

You may wish to wrap several meters of this magical substance around a pencil and stick it in the test pack. You never know when some duct tape might come in handy.

Soon enough I'll be able to wish you, "Take off!"

Too funny! CIA BOOT CAMP!

Duct tape is one of the first things I pack 'cause it covers my arse for most any crisis. Along with a black waterproof marker.

Sorry LyndaS, have never packed a stapler!

"Certified Internal Auditors" learned long ago not to carry their "CIA" cards with 'em overseas!

LOL - duct tape to the rescue!

<<...as good Canadians we fixed it with duct tape!>>

You are my kind of Canadians!! Good job! Red Green would be truly proud!

HA HA HA - I love that story. Yes, probably not something to advertise overseas.

Ha haaa, that's such a funny anecdote, love it!

I want to know more about loading the dishwasher.

Me too atravelynn....my mistake for marrying an accountant!

The dishwasher comment was a little obtuse! I can place 3 plates in an empty dishwasher and somehow it is full - Richard is extremely organized and patient and he can get a month's worth of dishes in.....hence I haven't loaded a dishwasher in 30 years. Also, I don't do any of the vacation packing...or basically anything that includes putting things away/tidying up. People laugh when I ask Richard where something is in the kitchen......but I just smile

I hope airport security doesn't decide to rip off that duct tape. "And just why were you trying to hide those letters, madam?" Very funny.
Oh, if only my husband would do the packing! But he does all the cooking, so I don't mind a little dishwasher loading.

My parents were both artists, but for some reason my Mom was always able to estimate exactly what size bowl was needed to store leftovers, while my dad was the one to pack the car for vacations, with some magical, hidden engineering talent.

I remember one famous trip in an old VW bug, where he somehow managed to fit our family of 4, our luggage for 2 weeks including winter gear such as ski suits and ice skates, and our dog (a medium sized collie mutt), along with a cardboard box holding several puppies.