The Media

Luggage is packed in two large rolling duffles.  My thinking is that Matt and I can each pull a wheeled duffle and each hold onto a kid.  We also each have backpacks to hold our assorted media and entertainment for the long flight.

The kids are using their Kindles that are a couple of years old, but work great.  Using AmazonFreeTime, the kids have access to many books, apps, games and videos, all through their own Kindle.

But the best thing is the public library.  Now, I went in yesterday to clear our fines, and I won't say what our total was, but at $.10 a day, I can't believe they got that high.  With cleared library cards, we could access all of the digital content through the public library.

If you haven't tried this, you should!  Through the public library, and with a couple of clicks with your library card, you get to an app called Overdrive.  From here, you have access to thousands of books delivered right to your device, for free!  Some of the most popular ones you may have to waitlist for, but still.

What are we reading?  I digitally checked out Lady Catherine, the Earl and the Real Downtown Abby.  I thought this would be fun since we are hoping to make it to Downton Abbey on our trip. Amazon Prime also let's you check out one book per month, and I checked out The Handmaids Tale. I started this series on Hulu on the recommendation from a friend- a bit disturbing but I think it can be a good read.

For the kids, I'm hoping to get one started on Harry Potter, and the other is looking forward to reading The Strange Case of Origami Yoda.  Thank you to our lovely public librarian for the recommendation.  We are also continuing the Sisters Grimm series and have two of those books packed.

One of the best things about the public library is the magazines!  Did you know you can check out digital copies of many current and popular magazines.  Through the Zinio app, I am cued up with Better Homes and Gardens, Oprah and the Wine Enthusiast among a few other (Lifestyle to keep up with celebrity gossip).

Matt has a number of shows cued up to watch through Amazon Prime: 3 seasons of Catastrophe, 2 seasons of Man in the High Castle and 1 season of Bosch.  And because we're going to England, Patriot Games and Becket.  Books on Matt's list: The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World (by the Dalai Lama), Thomas Beckett: Warrior, Priest, Rebel (by John Guy) and Sidney Chabers and The Shadow of Death (by James Runcie).

I said to someone earlier today we've got enough media to go on this trip and do nothing else!  But at least we'll have options and choices throughout the trip.

(And for those of you that think we do too much digital, we have markers, pencils, crayons and activity books in the kids backpacks.  One even brought a notebook to keep as her "field journal," extending a regular practice of the school year.)