I completely agree. I am American and I love America. Does that make me patriotic? :) But I also love where we live now in Malaysia. A lot. I also really liked Singapore and Thailand and could see myself being happy there and loving those countries as well. Does that make me unpatriotic? Does patriotic mean loving only the country you were born in? Or the country whose passport you hold? Or the country where you spent your childhood? Or the majority of your life so far? That is what always confuses me about patriotism. I've always considered myself patriotic but others have questioned my patriotism because we no longer live in America. Can't a person love more than one country?

Cook the meat with taco seasoning, onions and chilis. Add salsa (and corn and black beans or pinto beans if you have them) Make a pot of rice with more taco seasoning added in Mix rice with meat Wrap it up in the flour tortillas, add cheese, sour cream, etc. Because beef is so expensive on this island, this is how we make "tacos" here. A pound of ground beef costs about $10 USD so we add other things to it to fill up.

I love the Flavia de Luce books and I just finished "A Geography of Bliss" which I LOVED.

Nonsense.

I don't think I would. There are too many risks, too many ethical unknowns, too many legal complications. In addition, I think it sets too large of a focus on "genetics" and I am a big fan of adoption instead. We suffer from secondary infertility and we explored all options before settling on adoption.

Started Reading: The Weed that Strings the Hangman's Bag: A Flavia de Luce Mystery by Alan Bradley (Canadian Author, DD Class 800) Still Reading: God's Big Picture: Tracing the Story-Line of the Bible by Vaughan Roberts (British author, DD class 200) 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: 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)

Awwww.... I like cover squirrel!!!

Definitely rude.

Part of the problem is a lack of skilled/trades people available. Now that "everyone" is supposed to get a college degree, people don't go to trade schools as much any more. So there are loads of mediocre engineers in the U.S. but finding a good plumber is impossible. Here, it is the opposite. Trades and skilled labor is dirt cheap but very few people are educated for the "white collar" jobs.

After MANY years, I finally changed my avatar. :) The other picture was SO OLD it was actually embarrassing. Who am I kidding? I don't look like that any more! This one was just taken 3 days ago (rather than about 8 years ago like the old one!). First I changed my screen name...then my avatar. I AM SUCH A REBEL! :lol:

As we say in Malaysia... No problem lah! We have an excellent shipping company that can ship anything here... Cars, pianos, you name it. Our amah will whip up some fabulous Indian food and we can hang out at the beach. :) My brother just sent me a pic of it snowing again near Detroit... Yesterday, I think. I feel so bad for you all!

85-90 degrees and sunny every day of the year here and, as a former Michigander, I will gladly adopt you!!

Yeah, I guess I set the bar too high for myself by wanting the authors themselves to be born in the different continents. I was doing fine until Antarctica snuck up and bit me on the bum :) I guess I will have to adjust my own rules.

In my personal challenge (a book written by an author from each continent AND a book from each class in the Dewey Decimal system), I am making good progress but I've hit a road block. I need an author born in Antarctica. Any suggestions? I also need Africa and South America but I am not worried about those ... I have my eye on a few. I only need the 400 (language) and 700 (arts) classes still to read for my second challenge. I have the 400 covered but a book on art? So I need two suggestions: a book on art, and a book written by someone born in Antarctica Ideas??

Mary-Louise Anna-Louise Mary-Anna Louise It would be hard for me to resist choosing Louisa May. :)

As Francis Chan said, "My greatest fear is NOT failure. My greatest fear is being successful at something that doesn't really matter." In my world, elaborate, ostentatious parties do not really matter. Therefore, I do not feel like a failure for not wasting my time on them. YMMV

Started Reading: The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World by Eric Weiner (American author, DD class 900) Still Reading: God's Big Picture: Tracing the Story-Line of the Bible by Vaughan Roberts (British author, DD class 200) 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: 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 finished Unbroken this week and I am still reeling from it. What an amazing story.

Ditto. I am in.

My knowledge of the Korean War came from watching MASH as a child. :)

Um, wow. Is she for real? It doesn't look like real life at all. It looks like a catalog for a children's clothing boutique. It doesn't make jealous. In fact, it creeps me out a bit although I can't really explain why.

Well we watched all 8 seasons of it in a 6 month period so yeah, I get it. :)

This made me actually laugh out loud. I thought it was just me. My life is superficial and meaningless in comparison.

Yes, Singapore actually IS that neat and perfect. However, it is also one of the most stifling places I have ever been. Zero individuality. And the pressure to succeed and be the best at everything is intense. I don't really read any mommy blogs (I mostly read theology blogs) but I don't go on Pintrest or watch HGTV or the Food Network for the same reasons.

I do love that book. I think it gives a profound description of the effects of colonialism (good and bad) as well as missionary work (good and bad). It was the first book I ever read that made me think hard about what it means to be "civilized." I read it decades ago and it has stuck with me.