Today was momentous

Today....for the first time in 2.5 years....I got a pay check.

It would have been completely thrilling if Uncle Sam hadn't taken his huge cut! Ouch! I don't think it was any sort of a coincidence that the story on NPR when I was driving home was Warren Buffet talking about how little he is taxed, percentage-wise, compared to his secretary.

A repatriating no no

Four months before you move, don't become addicted to a product you can only get in your current country.

Club Orange is the greatest orange soda ever made. It has real bits in it. REAL BITS! Interestingly, it's the first fruit juice soda ever produced and it's been around since just before World War II, then taken off the market due to rationing, and reintroduced in 1945. I don't really have anything to say about it, except that I love it and in two months I won't be able to get it anymore. I'm partial to the diet version, but the regular is nice too. If you ever visit Ireland you should try it.

One of my new favorites!

I was checking out Abby's blog the other day and you should too. Not only does she have an adorable son, she takes some pretty cool pictures. On top of that she posts about fun things like this Ira Glass finger puppet from AbbeyChristine's Etsy shop!

I love Ira Glass! Can a 35 year old woman (with no children) buy finger puppets? Is that weird? These are the cutest things ever! She also has Bob Ross, Lloyd Dobler, Johnny Cash, Charles Darwin...need I go on!?? Just think of the stories you could make with that cast in your finger puppet show....

What's your game?

My friend, Kennedy, made me this picture when I was visiting a few weeks ago. I have to say, she's dead on when it comes to describing me. She asked me what subjects I like. She's only 7 and she's all about school, so I figured I needed to say a school subject. While I'm standing there contemplating which makes me sound less nerdy - band or science - her mom saves the day by saying I like to cook and I like traveling. Good thing she knows me better than I know myself! This was the finished product:

I've never cooked for her and she still knows I'm a great cook. Perhaps she's read my food blog?? But, my favorite part is 'traveling is your game!' I love that I have game! It makes me feel very cool, canceling out my thoughts of band and science. Oh, and Samantha was nice enough to add 'like super stars'. High five!

These girls love them some Kim....good thing I love them back!

Peace out!

A 10/10/10 baby!

This lovely lady was born on 10/10/10 and I had the pleasure of meeting her today! When I was leaving she was sucking her thumb and it was completely adorable. Sinead was looking A-M-A-Z-I-N-G (hello, pre-pregnancy weight). I think that should be illegal. Oh, and if anyone's looking for John you'll find him wrapped around Grace's tiny pinky finger. He is one proud papa!!!

Ode to the Hot Water Bottle

Dear Hot Water Bottle,

You are the greatest invention of all time. That's right, even better than sliced bread. You keep me warm in the cold winters here in the British Isles. There's nothing better than getting into a bed that you've already warmed up for me. Even my cat loves you. I had to buy a second one for her to use because she was hogging the bottle from me.

This morning you were nice enough to come to my rescue. Yesterday I was doing the laundry and I did something to my back. I popped the ibuprofen, but this morning I was feeling a bit stiff. I asked the husband to make you up and put you under my back. You were like a kiss from an angel! I have to say though, I'm a bit nervous that it's August, I have you tucked under my back, and I'm not overly hot. Does that mean the summer is coming to an end?? I'm not ready to use you on a regular basis just yet.

I love you, Hot Water Bottle.

Love Always,
Kim

When being an expat well and truly sucks.

My grandma died yesterday and I can't go to the funeral. This sucks. My grandfather died last year and I couldn't go to that one either. That sucked. Unfortunately, last minute international flights (particularly in the summer time) aren't cheap.

Enough whining about that, let me tell you about my grandma.

Here she is with her boys!

She was a lovely Grandma who knitted lots of things for all her granddaughters (not sure if my cousin, Craig, ever got anything knitted), bought us our yearly pair of clogs, got all us girls matching shiny roller skate jackets (yes!), took us camping, made us yummy food, and thought her sons (my dad and uncles) walked on water. 

I think my favorite story about Grandma happened when my dad was a teenager. Dad was at the town fair was hit by a race car which had gone off the track and broke his leg. Since he couldn't ride his bike, she took over his paper route and got her picture in the local paper delivering the papers! Sassy!

One of the most random memories is of a trip we took to a farm shop in Everett. I'm fairly certain it was just me and her. Why my sister wasn't there? No idea. Or maybe she was and I don't remember. Sorry Julie! We went to this farm shop and we bought Colby Jack cheese, which I had never tried before and have loved ever since. I don't think it's any sort of coincidence that a good memory for me involves cheese. We came back to the house and I had a ham and cheese sandwich, sitting at the table on a barrel stool, with a jewel-colored cushion, on the screened-in, astro-turfed carport. Perfection.

I am a lucky girl to have had such awesome grandparents and great-grandparents! Seriously, I just have an awesome family full stop. One day I asked Wes what he was thinking about and he said, 'How nice your family is.' 

Nice doesn't even begin to describe them.  They were willing to burn their retinas for these pictures!

The Sproats

 The Furrys