I think I'm in love with Monroe. :)

chewing loudly, smacking, slurping... really any kind of noise while eating bugs the living daylights out of me.

I love that show. I don't think Monroe is dead. I am so bummed that Rachel's dad is working with the patriots. :(

I give up. I read the first 25% of the Nora Roberts book and I am so bored I want to jab my eyeballs out. Moving on... I decided to try The Mountain Between Us by Charles Martin instead. I usually like his books plus I am killing time until Allegiant comes available at the library. I'm up to #9 on the waiting list. :)

Woo hoo! I finished the Dewey Decimal challenge!!! Started Reading: The Next Always by Nora Roberts Still Reading: God is Red: The Secret Story of How Christianity Survived and Flourished in Communist China by Liao Yiwu Finished: 46. Sharp Things by Gillian Flynn 45. Stealing Rembrandts: The Untold Stories of Notorious Art Heists by Anthony Amore (American Author, DD class 700) 44. The Gospel's Power and Message by Paul Washer (American author, DD class 200) 43. They Say/I Say: The Moves That Matter in Persuasive Writing by Gerald Graff (American author, DD class 400) 42. Gilead by Marilynne Robinson (American author, DD class 800) 41. Mariana by Susanna Kearsley (Canadian author, DD class 800) 40. Man Seeks God: My Flirtations with the Divine by Eric Weiner (American author, DD class 200) 39. When I Don't Desire God: How to Fight for Joy by John Piper (American author, DD class 200) 38. Inferno by Dan Brown (American author, DD class 800) 37. That Old Cape Magic by Richard Russo (American author, DD class 800) 36. The God Who is There: Finding Your Place in God's Story by D.A. Carson (Canadian author, DD class 200) 35. Sandstorm by James Rollins (American author, DD class 800) 34. Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel (Mexican Author, DD class 800) 33. The Sex Lives of Cannibals: Adrift in the Equatorial Pacific by J. Maarten Troost (Dutch Author, DD class 900) 32. Bill Bryson's African Diary by Bill Bryson (American author, DD class 900) 31. The Millionaires by Brad Meltzer (American author, DD class 800) 30. Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter (American author, DD class 800) 29.The Sherlockian by Graham Moore (American author, DD class 800) 28. Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl (American authors, DD class 800) 27. A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson (American author, DD class 900) 26. The Last Camellia by Sarah Jio (American author, DD class 800) 25. Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese (Ethiopian author, DD class 800) 24. Having Hard Conversations by Jennifer Abrams (American author, DD class 300) 23.The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe (American author, DD class 600) 22. The Infernal Devices #3: The Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare (American author, DD class 800) 21. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (American author, DD class 800) 20. Why Revival Tarries by Leonard Ravenhill (British author, DD class 200) 19. The Infernal Devices #2: Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare (American author, DD class 800) 18. The Infernal Devices: Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare (American author, DD class 800) 17. God's Big Picture: Tracing the Story-Line of the Bible by Vaughan Roberts (British author, DD class 200) 16.The Weed that Strings the Hangman's Bag: A Flavia de Luce Mystery by Alan Bradley (Canadian Author, DD Class 800) 15.The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World by Eric Weiner (American author, DD class 900) 14. Prodigy by Marie Lu (Chinese author, DD class 800) 13. Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand (American author, DD class 900) 12. The Disappearing Spoon: And Other Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements by Sam Kean (American author, DD class 500) 11. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down: A Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and the Collision of Two Cultures by Anne Fadiman (American Author, DD class 600) 10. A Praying Life: Connecting with God in a Distracting World by Paul Miller (American author, DD class 200) 9. Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea by Barbara Demick (American author, DD class 300) 8. Ordering Your Private World by Gordon MacDonald (American author, DD class 100) 7. The Bungalow by Sarah Jio (American author, DD class 800) 6. The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen (American author, DD class 800) 5. Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen (American author, DD class 800) 4. The Next Story: Life and Faith After the Digital Explosion by Tim Challies (Canadian author, DD class 600) 3. The House at Riverton by Kate Morton (Australian author, DD class 800) 2. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (English author, DD class 800) 1. The Dark Monk: A Hangman's Daughter Tale by Oliver Potzsch (German author, DD class 800)

I'm not necessarily a PW fan (I don't dislike her either) but the vitriol in that blog makes me think the blogger needs to seek some psychiatric treatment. Yikes.

I have 15 and none I would buy again. Does anyone know how often they plan to add more titles? Or how those titles are selected?

So we were just notified that we are receiving an inheritance from my dh's grandparents (they died within 6 months of each other, in their 90's, after more than 70 years of marriage...beautiful story, but I digress). I don't know how much it is yet. The lawyer did not specify in his initial email making contact with us and it feels rude to ask. Anyhow... Neither of us have ever received an inheritance of any kind before so we don't know the first thing about inheritance taxes other than we are pretty sure we need to pay them. :) So how does that work? Do they just lop off a certain percent before they give us the money? Are there federal and state taxes? Because we live and work outside the US and because we make so little money (less than $50,000 USD for both of us), we do not pay any federal taxes. Our AGI every year is zero. Because we live overseas we no longer have a home state of residence and have not even filed state taxes in four years. We do continue to file federal taxes, though, even though every year it is always zero. So I guess I just want to know what to expect. I tried looking it up online but I cannot understand these crazy laws. Can someone explain it to me in monosyllabic words? :)

Started Reading: God is Red: The Secret story of How Christianity Survived and Flourished in Communist China by Liao Yiwu (Chinese author, DD class 200) Still Reading: Stealing Rembrandts: The Untold Stories of Notorious Art Heists by Anthony Amore (American Author, DD class 700) Finished: 44. The Gospel's Power and Message by Paul Washer (American author, DD class 200) 43. They Say/I Say: The Moves That Matter in Persuasive Writing by Gerald Graff (American author, DD class 400) 42. Gilead by Marilynne Robinson (American author, DD class 800) 41. Mariana by Susanna Kearsley (Canadian author, DD class 800) 40. Man Seeks God: My Flirtations with the Divine by Eric Weiner (American author, DD class 200) 39. When I Don't Desire God: How to Fight for Joy by John Piper (American author, DD class 200) 38. Inferno by Dan Brown (American author, DD class 800) 37. That Old Cape Magic by Richard Russo (American author, DD class 800) 36. The God Who is There: Finding Your Place in God's Story by D.A. Carson (Canadian author, DD class 200) 35. Sandstorm by James Rollins (American author, DD class 800) 34. Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel (Mexican Author, DD class 800) 33. The Sex Lives of Cannibals: Adrift in the Equatorial Pacific by J. Maarten Troost (Dutch Author, DD class 900) 32. Bill Bryson's African Diary by Bill Bryson (American author, DD class 900) 31. The Millionaires by Brad Meltzer (American author, DD class 800) 30. Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter (American author, DD class 800) 29.The Sherlockian by Graham Moore (American author, DD class 800) 28. Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl (American authors, DD class 800) 27. A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson (American author, DD class 900) 26. The Last Camellia by Sarah Jio (American author, DD class 800) 25. Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese (Ethiopian author, DD class 800) 24. Having Hard Conversations by Jennifer Abrams (American author, DD class 300) 23.The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe (American author, DD class 600) 22. The Infernal Devices #3: The Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare (American author, DD class 800) 21. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (American author, DD class 800) 20. Why Revival Tarries by Leonard Ravenhill (British author, DD class 200) 19. The Infernal Devices #2: Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare (American author, DD class 800) 18. The Infernal Devices: Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare (American author, DD class 800) 17. God's Big Picture: Tracing the Story-Line of the Bible by Vaughan Roberts (British author, DD class 200) 16.The Weed that Strings the Hangman's Bag: A Flavia de Luce Mystery by Alan Bradley (Canadian Author, DD Class 800) 15.The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World by Eric Weiner (American author, DD class 900) 14. Prodigy by Marie Lu (Chinese author, DD class 800) 13. Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand (American author, DD class 900) 12. The Disappearing Spoon: And Other Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements by Sam Kean (American author, DD class 500) 11. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down: A Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and the Collision of Two Cultures by Anne Fadiman (American Author, DD class 600) 10. A Praying Life: Connecting with God in a Distracting World by Paul Miller (American author, DD class 200) 9. Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea by Barbara Demick (American author, DD class 300) 8. Ordering Your Private World by Gordon MacDonald (American author, DD class 100) 7. The Bungalow by Sarah Jio (American author, DD class 800) 6. The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen (American author, DD class 800) 5. Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen (American author, DD class 800) 4. The Next Story: Life and Faith After the Digital Explosion by Tim Challies (Canadian author, DD class 600) 3. The House at Riverton by Kate Morton (Australian author, DD class 800) 2. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (English author, DD class 800) 1. The Dark Monk: A Hangman's Daughter Tale by Oliver Potzsch (German author, DD class 800)

Normally I feel that way, too, but I am enjoying Wonderland and The Originals is so much better than I thought it would be. Klaus' character has much more depth now. It is really a good show. I just watched the premiere of Dracula with Jonathon Rhys Meyers and I liked it. I also liked the first episode of Reign. Does anyone watch Scandal? Is it any good?

We also love OUAT OUAT in wonderland Revolution Blacklist SHIELD Psych I watched the first 4 seasons of Vampire Diaries but now I'm over it. I do love the spinoff though, The Originals. Awesome!! I also watch Parenthood Revenge Sherlock Downton Abbey

We just watched it. Juliette has annoyed me from day one. I keep hoping she will get killed off the show, maybe by one of Nick's enemies thereby making his character a little darker. :) Love love love officer Wu. He is my favorite!!! Love Monroe and Rosalee. Love the captain. I'm a little sick of Adeline and her smirk. I want non-zombie Nick back but I want him to "Grimm-out" a little more! My ds said, "Why are there so many wesen in Portland? Sheesh. Remind me never to move there!"

Absolutely. We were a bit older when we got married ( I was 26 and he was 28) and we had a good idea of what we wanted and didn't want. Having these discussions beforehand was absolutely vital to the health of our marriage.

We met at a wedding. We were both there with other dates and we were both having a miserable time. So we both happened to be standing at the bar at the same time getting a drink. He struck up a conversation and one year later we married. :)

I have never had to do it. I would, though. I live in a country full of starving street dogs and cats. It's so sad. I could never add to that situation.

Interesting timing for me... I am having a similar crisis so I know what you mean. We have been in Malaysia long enough now that we are transitioning out of "cool, cultural experience" and into "putting down roots and this is our life" phase. Now I am starting to panic because I love experiencing Malaysia but I am not so sure it is "home." I actually have the option of leaving which, in some ways, makes it worse. If you are "stuck" somewhere then it is what it is, you just make the best of it. But if you have the choice of leaving or not leaving, then it comes down to "will I make the wrong choice?" It's making me a little crazy right now. I am from the south, too, so I know just what you are missing. I agree with Audrey. It is impossible to replicate. And I do love magnolias. Oh and crepe myrtle trees. True story: I once bought crepe myrtle saplings and had them shipped to me in Michigan and tried DESPERATELY to get them to live (foolish, I know). I just missed them so much. I cried when the last one died.

My mother threw me a personal shower although it was called a bridal tea. It was just me, my bridesmaids, my mom and my MIL. It was lovely. Yes, lingerie was involved. So was tea and cakes and beautiful floral arrangements. It wasn't the least bit icky or weird. I was also 26 yo at the time. I'm not sure why it is so weird for your closest girl friends to buy you some cute nighties. But then again, I love Victorias Secret and go shopping there with my mother every chance I get. My mom is like my BF. I can talk to her about anything including sex so receiving a pretty nightie as a gift from her didn't faze me.

You're in Mexico now? How did I miss that? That sounds awesome! I spent a summer in Cuernavaca and I loved it.

I just got a cute new haircut. :) I have a week off of work for mid-semester break. My oldest ds had his first choir performance and it was awesome. I'm so proud of him because he has had a stutter most of his life and this was a big step out of his comfort zone. This is just me showing him off (he is the tall one on the far left): I just registered my younger ds for a tennis camp at University of Michigan for next June while we are back visiting in the states. He is really excited and so are we. My dd should get her citizenship in time for us to actually go on this trip. Yahoo! My dh won his first tennis tournament last week at age 45 which is pretty cool since he just started playing less than two years ago. It is a beautiful sunny morning, the worst of the monsoon season is over, and I am getting a pedicure today. Seriously, what more could a girl want?

:) Don't listen to me. I'm just cranky. I am not a good book club member because I like to pick my own books and I usually end up waiting until the last minute to read the assigned book, then I just cram it all in. UGH. I'm sure yours will be a great book club!!!!

I like getting together with friends. I like discussing books. But for some reason, being assigned a book to read with a deadline to read it by just kills it for me. I start procrastinating and then I get cranky about it. I do not know what my problem is. Do you like being in book clubs?

I really like the show too and agree that the queen is poorly cast. I want to see a love triangle with Alice, Cyrus and the Knave. :)

I work in a private christian school. We do not have an organized before school recess but our students generally show up 20 minutes before school and play on the playground until school starts. We also have an hour for lunch and recess and another afternoon recess. My teachers get a minimum of a 40 minute lunch, 15 minute afternoon break, and 80 minutes of prep every day.

Absolutely! Dh rough-houses with the kids all the time. The squeals of laughter through the house are my favorite moments! Pranks- we like to try and scare each other by jumping out when you least expect it. I win the game because I have nerves of steel and never flinch. Drives them crazy. :) Teasing- definitely. We are big on funny nicknames, too. We are a thick-skinned bunch, though.

My oldest ds just completed a science project using Minecraft to explain macromolecules. It was awesome. :)