I fly a lot and with kids. I have not had a bad TSA experience anywhere. In fact, quite the opposite. They have always been kind and helpful to me. I've carried on liquids (baby formula in bottles), medicines, no problem. The only thing ever taken from me was a large can of hairspray...which is my fault. I knew better, I just forgot. I have never been scanned and the few times I've been patted down were quick, professional, and no big deal. I've had much worse problems with flight attendants than TSA agents!

Ice cream hands down. Butter pecan. Vanilla bean. Jamocha fudge. Yum...

Sigh... Never mind. It's not worth the effort of explaining.

For my secondary teaching degree it was required. We had to be certified in at least two different areas.

Nice attitude. I am merely pointing out that there are other reasons that a person might say the things he said other than him being some kind of pervert. If YOU can't see that, I guess I can't help you either.

As usual, the answer is in the middle. In all things moderation ... And what-not. :) I am a huge fan of technology in education but I am also a huge fan of getting back to basics. Both are needed.

In many cultures, however, age determines your "place" in the world. If your waiter was older than you, he could comment on your clothing as he is your elder and elders have the right to give younger people their "advice" on things. You are to show your respect for them and accept their advice humbly. Here is a recent example: our amah (housekeeper/nanny) has a teenage daughter. This daughter has a boyfriend. We have never met the boyfriend. My dh was out one day and saw the two driving by. The boyfriend was driving like a maniac. When my dh got home, he told our amah about it. She then gave my dh the boy's phone number and my dh called the boy and scolded him for his terrible, dangerous driving. In American culture the boy's reaction would be "F--k Y-u old man! You're not my dad. It's none of your business!" But here the boy said, "I am so sorry uncle. Please forgive me uncle. I will be more careful I promise." The young people here refer to anyone older than them as uncle or auntie even if they don't know them. Was it my dh's "place" to scold this boy for his driving? In America? No. In many other parts of the world? Not only is it his place, it is expected of him as a contributing member of society.

Actually, this is very much a cultural thing. I have found that it is quite common to admonish children that are not your own in many cultures I have spent time with. Examples: my family is from the south and in their small town, the adults frequently scold children that are not their own for all kinds of things (immodest clothing is definitely one of them). I also found this to be very true among the Latin-Americans I spent a lot of time with, the Mexicans I lived and worked with in Mexico, and here in Malaysia, the Malays, Indians and Chinese will all tell your kids exactly what they think of their clothing, behavior, language, etc., regardless if they are complete strangers. So honestly, this man's outspoken opinion of the girl's attire wouldn't shock me at all. I don't necessarily agree with his opinion...but him giving his opinion is a common thing in many cultures. Americans hold very tightly to "it's none of your business" because we are so fiercely individual. But this man is not a "sicko" just for expressing an opinion even if you disagree with it. It was not appropriate timing in that situation since he was on duty, but "sicko"? Yeah, that's a bit much. As a principal, I have had to send girls home from school to put some more clothes on lots of times. Does my speaking to a teenage girl that is not my own daughter and telling her that she is dressed too scantily and needs to change her clothes make me a "sicko" too? I just think we need to be careful about throwing terms like "sicko" around when we all know that it carries the connotation of "pervert."

Cutting boards Basket with dish towels in it Dish drainer Knife block Chopper thingy Toaster Cereal dispenser Rice cooker Microwave Canisters I have a lot of counter space. :)

No way would I answer those questions. I would go to a different doctor first.

Oh my gosh I am first! I have never been first!!! Woo hoo! Started Reading: The Sherlockian by Graham Moore (American author, DD class 800) Still Reading: The Conviction to Lead: 25 Principles for Leadership that Matters by Albert Mohler (American author, DD class 300) The God Who is There: Finding Your Place in God's Story by D.A. Carson (Canadian author, DD class 200) Finished: 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 am sorry you have to go through all this. Food allergies suck.

I am so sorry. Praying.

Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!

I feel for you! Last summer we went back to the states for 6 weeks. Preparing to be gone for that long... And then actually being gone for that long... Is what made us decide to stay here this summer! It is a lot of work. I pray all goes well and that you have a great time!

:) True. How funny!

I'm not a huge fan of it but I hate it it worse when people SPEAK it. For instance, we were at a store and the sales clerk needed to go look in the back for our item. He said, "I think we have more in the back. BRB." I looked at my husband and said, "Did he just say 'BRB' aloud to me?" Weird.

One thing we did before marriage was decide on who does what housework chores. It sounds silly but it has made a huge difference. For instance, he does dishes. I do laundry. Always. So there is NEVER the question of whose turn is it to do the laundry? Or the resentment of "I did the dishes the last three times! It's HIS turn now!" Etc. My brother and his wife bicker endlessly over chores. Or worse, seethe inwardly. For us, deciding in advance made all the difference. In 16 years, we have never argued about housework.

I grocery shop. Sad, I know. But it is the only hour of the week that is all mine.

It also sends the message that school being out for summer is good for kids, bad for parents ... But school back in session in the fall means happy parents and crabby kids. Is that really the message we want to send our kids? That learning = misery?

If you shoot me with your nerf gun, prepare for retaliation. :) We have a nerf gun armory here and there have been some epic battles!

Amen. We have had some very memorable experiences (both good and bad) as a mixed family (tri-racial?) both in America and abroad.

In my school they would be in the following grades: 6 3 1 K P3

Close enough. Malaysia. :)

Well, moving to another country has given me a whole new perspective on rudeness. Looking through my American mindset, I witness at least a hundred rude acts every day...things that really blow my mind. But no one here seems to even blink. What I consider rude, they consider perfectly normal. It really is about a majority. If 51% or more of the people think it is ok, then it is, I guess. Like it is perfectly reasonable to belch LOUDLY at a restaurant, at the dinner table, or just wherever. No big deal. Or spit a disgusting blob on the ground. Or let your kids pee right in the middle of the sidewalk. Or throw trash out your car window. And traffic? Wow. I can't even describe how bad it is here. Rude and dangerous. And the lying. They will do anything to save face including lie to you. If you stop and ask someone for directions, rather than tell you they don't know, they will give you fake directions. Ask the Internet or cable company how long it will be before it gets connected and they will tell you "tomorrow" when they KNOW it won't be for 3 weeks. They know that answer will upset you, so they lie and say something to appease you in the moment. Last night at the movie theater, one man took 4 phone calls. As in answered them and proceeded to have long, loud conversations. No one seem perturbed but us weird Americans. OTOH, they think we are rude because we expect good customer service and common courtesy. So go figure. Can you tell it's been a rough couple of days? :)