The Land of the Free & the Home of the Brave (expats)... All Those in the US!

[UnderRated]

I just finished the old thread by accident

Dooney (or any other foodies) have you seen this website?

Must go to bed. Mummy will be here tomorrow grin]

Thank you all. (SuperBunny says it better than me).

Thanks jabberwocky for putting the rash into perspective. Your poor DS2.

The nearest Target is 50 miles away but I've to collect DH from the airport tomorrow so will be going that way anyway. Sadly he's not coming from the UK with stocks of Sudocrem, but back from a business trip to Alaska. (Finding my feet without him this week has been a bit of an adventure) Given the lamentable shopping here I should really stock up on Vit A&D cream, the Aveeno stuff, and, well, pretty much everything. The nuisance is that we have pots & pots of sudocrem in our airfreight which has gone missing . My stash of teabags is in there too

Thanks Cali and SuperBunny for the phone advice. I'm now Skyped up and feeling all skittish at the thought of an iPhone.

Finally, for the roll call, I'm in the backwoods of Oklahoma. So not actually the Midwest as I previously thought. Mmm, just to be on the safe side, what year is it?

Monkey, you must be in the middle of nowhere to not have a Target. I'm shocked that you can be anywhere in the US and not have Target nearby. I imagine there might be a bit of culture shock, going from the UK to the back of beyond in Oklahoma. Does OK count as the South? I don't really know where it is Is it the panhandle one?

Yes, the panhandle, that's the one! (I'm very tempted to namechange to that) I think we're in the town Target forgot. The biggest shop in town (excluding blardy Wallmart) is a ranch supply store, so I think that means we're in the South. (And Wikipedia tells me it's in the South Central Region).

Culture shock? I've only been here a fortnight so I still think I'm on holiday. But how hard will it be? At any other time in my life I'd have been climbing the walls by now, but with the 2 mini-monkeys to contend with I'm not often on the ran-dan anyway. Are you in Chicago proper SuperBunny?

I have that and foodgawker in my favorites. Yay for your mom getting there tomorrow.

Wow Oklahoma. I think that has to be the state I know the least about.

Monkey - no Target you have my total sympathy. You can get bundle deals with Qwest by the way. I have an iPhone and have no issues with AT&T and I live in the Foothills of the Rockies. You can shop online with Target mind you. So as you do have one nearby bear that in mind. Sorry your supplies went missing. We should start a list of "Please bring back from UK" and when any of us go we should try and bring a few bits back with us. So I'll start, I'm off next year and will willingly bring things back with me.

Yep, Chicago proper. I have a view of the city from my window (not that exact view as that was taken from the lake but is very similar), DS checks frequently to see if the candle (red flashing light) on Sears Tower is still there and we often can watch the helicopters they use in ER land on the hospital roof. DS was born right below it. And yes, Targets aplenty. But not as many as Walgreens

Thanks for the phone & mailorder advice Ali. Mailorder may well become my specialist subject. Good idea about bringing stuff back; I'll willingly be a Brit-stuff Mule.

Wow SuperBunny I'm impressed! (enjoy your mum's visit, btw)

Wow, Superbunny, that view is so ultra-cool

Monkeylover, I lived in SE AR for part of my adolescence. Memories of going across the state line to OK for beer...Very flat and OK City at least has very sulfur smelling water, lol.

Chocolate
Glace Cherries
Angel Delight
Custard Powder
Marigold Bouillon powder
branston pickle
tartex
marmite
jam
marzipan
hair stuff
clothes
knickers
perfume
Tunnocks wafers
hulahoops
chocolate buttons for DS
A space-rocket carrying truck
and a wind-up swimmer

OMG did your mum bring any clothes with her. Yeah for SB - enjoy all your treats and have a great time with your Mum.

Love the way chocolate is at the top of the list - obviously it's the most important item! I brought 8 tubs of Marigold with me from England as you can't get it here. But you can buy a lot of the stuff you mention in Bermuda - Marmite, Branston, Cadbury's choc, glace cherries (in red, green and yellow), jam and custard powder. It's kind of like a cross between British and American influences with a little Caribbean thrown in.

Love the view of Chicago.

If you haven't seen it, this made my day today.

Saw it, loved it and loved this as well.

Superbunny - what a fabulous, mesmerising view. I'd never come away from the window if that was what I had to look at!

Do you feel nervous now that Chicago has officially been named the 'Murder Capital' of America?

How shocking. Both the headlines and the murder capital. Sadly, I am not surprised about Chicago. There are huge problems with gangs and people are shot all the time. I hate it so much. Why they don't tighten gun laws?

Chicago is lovely though, honest...

But Yippeee for Obama. Where will he be on the night of the election?

Do you ever feel unsafe or vulnerable?

Who will celebrate Thanksgiving? Any initial thoughts regarding menu? I may be hosting at my house this year and need ideas.

I would rather not walk alone along some streets at night but generally I don't feel unsafe. I go out and do all the things I need to do. I think it is like any city really. Downtown feels quite safe and there is a very visible police presence. And I'm not in a gang so I think that helps...

I'll probably get mugged now, won't I?

And I will celebrate Thanksgiving. Not sure where or who with though. I will definitely make pumkpin bars because I don't like sweet potato or pumpkin pie. And I found a new stuffing recipe.

I think you bean green bean casserole, sweet potatoes with brown sugar & marshmallows on top and mashed spuds

Obama's supposed to be outside at some park in Chicago, I think. John McCain isn't even going to attend his party in person.

I am. I love Thanksgiving. It was my favorite holiday before kids. I ALWAYS have it at my house. I am a huge traditionalist. I'm going to brine a turkey the night before and cook it. For sides, I'll make pearl onion, pancetta and sage stuffing, sweet potato casserole, but no marshmallows on top, more like brown sugar and pecans, brie mashed potatoes, and green beans with garlic and shallots. I always have a starter soup, and I think it will be corn chowder with rosemary. I always make a spiced orange pumpkin pie, but am toying with the idea of making a pumpkin cheesecake, and maybe an apple pie or something.

I used to make a cranberry relish with Grand Marnier, but ever since DH's mom died, I stopped, and buy one of those awful cans of cranberry sauce. That was the one thing she brought every year, because it wasn't Thanksgiving without it. I always make a new alcoholic drink every year, and this year I made my own grenadine out of pomegranate juice, and I think I'll make Mimosas with a splash of homemade grenadine.

Oops, sorry. I love Thanksgiving