Nerds

A reader wrote in and commented that Buddy wasn’t getting enough blogtime. So this post is for the Chilean brother.
Buddy is on a quest to be rich. He is ten years old. I think this in part due to the fact that we live in a neighborhood akin to Brentwood, at least [...]

Clueless!

Angel’s surprise party went off without a hitch Saturday night. Her dear friend, MT, organized it all for me so it was a slam-dunk in terms of party preparation. All I had to do was pass the check at the restaurant to Mr. Understanding. Seven of Angel’s friends met my husband and [...]

Purge

This is just the start. I promise not to bore you with too many other posts of this ilk; if purging isn’t your thing, click on. On Saturday we went through the majority of my husband’s clothes and shoes in preparation for our move in June. This probably seems crazy to [...]

Cake

Mrs. O’Leary is my witness. After a re-entry lunch out and a depressing shop at the Pao de Azucar grocery store together for birthday meal ingredients, we went home to our respective broods. As I was on a bridge on the main drag of town, our conversation was interrupted by a hideously loud [...]

Carolina

Carolina was the second baby I saw born, close on the heels of Angel’s 6th birthday. This time, I was the camerawoman.
Carolina’s mother, TB, and I have shared many memories. September 11, 2001 was the saddest in terms of world history. I had no TV at the time and TB, [...]

Teenager

Today I became the mother of a teenager. Thirteen years ago, after 23 hours of labor, Angelgirl (her nickname, not her real name, please) was extracted with a really big set of tongs from my nether regions. We were both really tired and there was not much of January 24th left by the [...]

Nap

We arrived safely home. I even slept over the Amazon basin, something I have never done before, as the ride was smooth. Chaos ensued at the airport, order and progress being something Brazil strives for yet does not achieve. Have yet to unpack everything but no lost baggage. The only casualty: [...]

Home

I am ready to go home. Well, not ready, ready. My cosmetics and dirty clothes still have to be packed and I can tell that one of my suitcases is over 70 lbs. so that will have to be dealt with before we get to the airport. But I am ready [...]

Splash!

There are several days for baptism reserved in the Episcopal church. Christmas, Epiphany, Easter and Pentecost are the biggies. Although we have passed some of the big days, the church is bending the rules so that us out-of-towners can participate. Missing family events is one of the hardest parts of living abroad [...]

Sick

It is at about this time of the trip that I start feeling sick about all the money I have spent. Years of seasoned shopping have failed to get me to compartmentalize this aspect of ex-pat living. So far, I have 6 suitcases more or less packed. Technically, I am entitled to [...]

Cha-Chang

Good Lord. Save us.
After a full day of shopping at the Alderwood Mall (”Welcome to Lynnwood”) and lunch at P.F. Chang’s, we are topping off the day with American Idol as we eat ice cream drumsticks. Poppy, scandalized that we are watching this tomfoolery, actually laughs whenever Simon Cowell [...]

Diet

I think not.
My mother commented this morning, “Do you think we could have some civilized eating here today?”
“By that do you mean you don’t want Mexican for lunch?” I asked.
One of the most slenderizing aspects of ex-pat life is living without food you love, i.e. American/Mexican/Chinese food. Although we make up [...]

Dunce

We have a winner! Whilst rummaging in Buddy’s backpack in search of retainers last night, I discovered a dessicated apple. Though not yet rotting, neither gel nor liquid, it was wizened, its skin starting to puff. Perhaps this is why the TSA thought Buddy had a bomb in its backpack? Incredibly, [...]

Target

To ex-pats, it’s like Mecca*. Despite the rhythmic chanting of the children to forego lunch yesterday, we held off for 24 hours. The devil may or may not wear Prada, but I know for sure he lives at Target. The store’s symbol is probably alerting God that the giant conglomerate chain [...]

Whew

A mere 30 hours, door to door. No Famous Grouse, no YSL but some MAC eyeliners were purchased (they do not involve gel or liquid). Very bumpy until we reached the top of South America. A family with 3 children sitting in 4 seats sat in front. Two of the children [...]