PRE-THOUGHT NOTE: #Confession: I have stopped listening to other podcasts. I know… I know… I'm confessing this even though this is a link to listen to a podcast. I can hear you now: "BUT! LN! HOW DO YOU EXPECT TO GET BETTER AT MAKING PODCASTS??!?"   #Tangent: I had this problem when I graduated from college- where I had to stop listening to music because all I would do is analyze it. (I-V-vi-iv)… Over and over again. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOlDewpCfZQ   The same thing happened to me with podcasts. I can hear the script. I can hear the agony of stupid decisions of "Should we pause here? Should we have a bigger music swell here? What will this nuance of ____ convey to the listener? Should we use a different word here that is gooder than that other word?"   And you know what? I really hate all that. I dispised the naval gazing. I cringed at the thought: "is this creative enough? Is this conveying the message I want to convey?" So I stopped. And I've been SO MUCH HAPPIER with what I've been creating!   With that said- I don't want you to stop listening to my podcast :P If it's helpful for you- keep listening! But I've changed how I make it. It's more for me. It's *MY* creative outlet. I don't have an editor marking my scripts. After November, I'm going to be switching to Reaper- so I don't even have to pay for audio software anymore. I don't have people in the sidelines saying "eh… but this is how ____ does it! You should, too!" Fuck that noise. I'm done being like someone else. It's using skills (my useless audio degree) that I don't get to use while fighting fire.   Oh.. Right… update: I'm a wildland fire fighter/disaster response girl now- and much happier because of it. For once- I have a 5-year plan! And this summer, during downtime inbetween fires, I hope to get more chunks of my book done. I kinda need to- because my grandparents aren't getting younger- and they don't listen to podcasts, either.   So there ya go. THIS is the reason this podcast has taken so long. This is the reason it's in a weird format. This is what I'm doing with my time.       *************     I’m currently obsessed with Hamilton the musical And sometimes it’s usual To be inspired by something beautiful And potentially do-able… So I’ve been going cuckoo Trying to dream up something new While I was on a fire-crew   And this may be useable…   I am currently in Grand Rapids, Minnesota Where I need to fill my quota Of classes for wild land fire-fighting— but in truth, it’s kinda really boring.   And the girl in the next dorm packed like she was moving in. Her bag un-thin, bulged like double chins, Looked like she had rubbermaid bins, All for some classes over 5 days, At the end of may, That was given high praise,     2 rolling bags, A duvet with the american flag, A month’s worth of rags, All wheeled out of her little chevy To be walked up the stairs… man, I bet that was heavy.   Reportedly, I packed accordingly, Shockingly And probably quite boringly. Which I’ll give you my list At the end of all this.     This is a mini series where my lips will be smacking And I’ll be racking My brain to find people to be backing This podcast about Packing.   But before I continue the verse… Let’s do this first…..   ———————   Most people over-pack- like the girl in the dorm. That’s the norm You have to brainstorm- what’s easiest for you? Have more stuff? Or more leg room?     I called my friend Victor- from Victorstravels.com And he decided to help me, because he is the bomb, We talked about the importance and unimportance of stuff And when to get rid of things- which is really tough.   But he had a good formula which isn’t new Or a breakthrough, It’s something that all travelers accrue, And now I want to share it…. With you.       I use the same formula, Which is no phenomena, Doesn’t matter if I’m going to florida Or utica To fight fires or play in an orchestra-