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

I know, I offered them a handful each and before I knew it they were gone.

So now I've moved onto Pinot Grigio. At least I can buy that here lol.

Guess who is going on a little road trip this weekend. We're going to be stuck in a car on our own for HOURS. There could be a hotel involved too. Should be interesting. Feel sick already. Can't even talk to my other mates about it as everyone knows everyone here. Ugh.

All you people flaunting your superior chocolate. You should be ashamed.

We went raspberry picking today when Colin was at camp. Caitlin made a small pile of them on the ground, and when I asked her why, she said it was to feed the bees so they wouldn't be hungry.

I am slucking down a root beer float as quickly as possible. Neither one of them did a very good job of eating their dinner, and am trying to get it finished off in peace before DH is through giving them a bath.

Yummy root beer floats are divine. I like cream soda floats too. Sorry to flaunt my maltesers. If it makes you feel any better they'll be gone before you know it.

S'okay, I don't even know what they taste like. I just know that ALL American chocolate tastes like crap compared to anything I ate while in Europe.

Dooney, she sounds lovely. DS and I were in the garden yesterday (eating our raspberries, as it happens) and he pointed at a butterfly and said, "when I'm a butterfly, I'm going to eat nectar" It was rather endearing. Sadly, today it was, "when I am an animal, I will poo on the floor"

Mananny, where are you going? You will report back, won't you? [excited]

Is it just me who doesn't like rootbeer?

mmmm, root beer float

Jabber!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I really don't like root beer, just root beer floats.

No no nooooo, why put icecream in soda? Whyyy?

Because sometimes the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

I think I prefer things separately. And I don't really like soda so I suppose it's unlikely that I'd like it with ice cream in. I'm the same with chocolate and fruit too - much better separately - when you mix them you spoil them both.

Up country for a couple of days, to get out of the stinking, muggy city. Just us. AAAGGGHHHH.

Am very jealous of your butterfly, BTW. Caitlin loves them. We don't have very many. Just some boring white moths. She gets excited at those, and I feel bad, because they are such a cheap imitation. Am very impressed that Dinner knew about nectar.

lol @ Dinner

Our garden is a bit of a oasis - an empty lot in a run-down neighbourhood but is full of flowers, herbs and fruit and is crawling with bugs, butterfies, scary wasps etc. I think they don't have anywhere else to go. So we get Monarch butterflies and all sorts of other types too. I don't like them much (unpredictable, flappy things with wings) but they are pretty. Dinner wanted to know why they liked the flowers so I explained. He seems to remember quite a lot.

If you do visit Chicago, the nature museum has a butterfly house which is fab (not for me but the kids love it). And it is free on Thursdays. I think the Brookfield zoo has one too but you have to pay $$$ extra to get in.

That might just put us over the top for going. Our zoo closed down their butterfly house, because they always died. I'm very pretty sure we will be there in September, but just have to wait for DH to make sure of some things. Then I will be e-mailing you to bug you, and hopefully I will finally get to go to a MN meet-up.

So my excitement for the day - we had to evacuate our building - gas main rupture . Out for 2 hours. Fire trucks/police the lot. Great moment. Finally got car out, went to pick up boys for an appointment and then saw a hit and run. Definitely a day for flashing blue lights . Other than that - IT'S RAINING YEAH. Saw the most beautiful double rainbow. Excellent moment. Still struggling to believe I'm a single woman - don't have time to think that's what it is. Got a great party to look forward to. Tomorrow we're glasses shopping for my eldest. Poor boy is "nearsighted' like his Mum and Dad. He'll look way too cute. The girls will adore him.

Hope everyone's had a great day without my level of excitement.

Yay, Dooney

Ali, what a day! Are you ok?

I need to work out if eyes are covered on my med insurance. I think they are not but I seem to not be able to read anything (road signs, clocks, words, numbers) - friends with glasses can see better than I can when they take their glasses off

Hi guys, have been working like crazy lately trying to get a second office up for an extra day or so a week at least until my main practice gets busier.

ali, hope everything is OK - my dcs would have loved the flashing lights too

dooney and UR, I may be in Chicago in September. Just for a weekend conference though. One of those fly in, fly out kind of things. Wish I had time to stay longer.

My Brit Superstore order arrived and the Sprat household now has Marigold Bouillon - hooray.

I'm not normally an HP Sauce in my luggage type, but need to ship in formula for DD, so always room for extras, why didn't I think of Twirls? Very disappointed to discover they couldn't satisfy my longing for 'Colour Catcher', is there an equivalent this side of the Atlantic?

Jabber, sounds like that is hard work. If you have a spare hour or so in Chicago, we could get together for coffee.

What is Colour Catcher, MrsS? I haven't ordered much from my mum - I forgot the bouillon and the Branston pickle . I'll have to hope my Sister wants to visit soon

At the risk of sounding deranged...Colour Catcher is a porous sheet you put in with laundry to catch colour runs. It means you can wash all kinds of colours together and more importantly pure black and white prints without seepage/greyness. I bloody love it, despite deep down thinking it might be a tweenzy bit of a con. Although I have ruined many a two-tone top before getting it.

Actually, it sounds like quite a good idea. I still do separate washes for everything but we seem to get through so many clothes, it's not like I am running the washing machine with just 2 things in it.

Dooney, have you ever made pudding? Does this come into the 'only crazy people try to make marshmallows' category? I know you can buy it in a box for about 2cents but, well, um, [crazy lady]

Nayfun brought Nootella sandwiches to share with Dinner

Mmmmmmmm nutella

I really need to go grocery shopping as my meals have mainly been of the little round brown variety lately!!!! Stress or no stress I need to get back on track!!!