Owner: Earth To Danie! URL:http://earthtodanie.blogspot.com Join Date: Fri, 06 Jul 2007 06:59:15 -0500 Rating:0 Site Description: Canadian, Mom, Expat, Trailing Spouse, Traveler, Chocoholic, Blogger...Earth to Danie! Site statistics:Click here
I'm a Sucker for a Singapore Sling 2008-05-14 19:51:14 I've been sitting at my laptop day in and day out finishing up our plans for our summer trip around the world. As I was studying my itinerary, my eyes were continually drawn to our 5.5 hour stopover in Singapore
, on our way from Beijing back to Chennai. If only I could stay in Singapore for a few days.It was killing me.I haven't been to Singapore yet and I can't stand the thought of hanging out Read more:Sling
RTW: The Travel Binder 2008-05-16 19:30:01 Big KUDOS to my friend, Michele, who gave me a fantastic idea to stay organized on a multi-stop trip. She and her family did a round-the-world trip at Christmas so she is the voice of experience. Of course, I'd never have come up with this one on my own, even though it's forehead-slappingly simple. No, I had a stack of papers an inch thick of tickets, itineraries, and vouchers stuffed in a file Read more:Travel
The Meatballs on my Plate 2008-05-19 00:16:53 I'm not sure if it's just the end-of-the-school-year stuff or the ramp up to our summer trip, but I'm so overwhelmed right now. My to-do list feels like it's a mile long. In fact, I'm too busy to create an avatar to go with this post. And I so enjoy playing with the avatars. I'm surprised the folks at Meez.com haven't called me to see why I didn't log in today...but I digress. Back to being o Read more:Meatballs
, Plate
Under Construction 2008-05-18 07:10:24 I'll be doing a little work around the blog, busting out a few walls to make more space, in hopes of having some dedicated areas for our summer trip. If you pop in this week and see things are messed up or missing, come back again and they'll reappear. I've done as much as I could over the weekend with a test blog to see if everything will work, but nothing ever fully works.In any case, once I ge Read more:Construction
Expat Meme 2008-05-20 01:51:35 I found this meme recently on the Expat
Travels - From Switzerland to Canada blog. If you're reading this and you're an expat, consider yourself tagged. You can even copy the five questions into a comment below.5) Name five things you love in your new country:- Kindness of the people- There's always something to celebrate- Endless variety of new foods to try- Household staff- My circle of frien
It's Raining Soccer Moms 2008-05-21 19:15:45 Connor has been doing soccer training at the school 0n Saturday mornings. The coach arranged a friendly little game against a local school, St. Michael's.Connor hasn't played soccer since he played at the Christian Center in Illinois. It was fun to see him out there again, although it's very hot weather for running around on a soccer field. I certainly wouldn't want to be doing it.Most of the m Read more:Raining
, Soccer
Immi-GrateOnMyNerves-tion 2008-05-21 09:22:30 I wrote this post last week out of sheer frustration. Since I'm heading back to the immigration office today, in light of our immigration attorney being a bigger screw up than I originally thought, the post still stands.Here I am in Chennai, India. Three months go by of me living my life, doing my thing and feeling good about being here. And then WHAMO! India just bitch-slaps me from somewhere be
Middle Child Maid Syndrome 2008-05-22 22:00:26 Our housekeeper did something today that was so "middle child." I can't think of way other way to describe it. And while this is a silly little thing that made me chuckle and shake my head, this is just to show you the kind of juvenile stuff that goes on everyday around here.The night that we "Partied Hearty," she had her photo taken with her sister. A few days after the party, she gave me a co Read more:Syndrome
UBGEEK2 2008-05-23 22:44:54 I know you can hardly contain the anticipation of learning how to tweak your blog. There are a gazillion websites out there for this stuff, but you've seen it here, you're a wee bit envious, so I'm going to help you out.I'm only going to show you the tweaks that I've implemented but before I do, I have two suggestions. First, back up your blog template. You can do this by going to the "Layout" tab
Stress-Free, Affordable Travel 2008-05-25 19:50:48 Not too many years ago, we couldn't afford to travel. We couldn't even afford to pay for parking in downtown Boston on a Friday night just so we could walk around Faneuil Hall to smell the food--because we certainly couldn't afford to eat it.I recently read on someone's blog that the planning of a trip (and the cost) overwhelms them. It doesn't have to be that way. If you want to travel...do it Read more:Travel
The Expat Arc: Book Review by Scribbly Katia 2008-05-27 07:40:35 Katia has written a review of the Expat
Arc. You can read it on her blog, Scribbly Katia.Be sure to pre-order Katia's book, Amadi's Snowman, available May 31!
Is China Worth it? 2008-05-27 00:16:03 Well, it damn well better be!I haven't been to China
yet. I'm trying to go there this summer. JB has been there many times and has never had any issues with obtaining a visa. Now, ostensibly because of the Olympics, we need to submit last year's tax return, a bank statement proving we have at least three grand in our account and a hotel confirmation in order to be issued a visa. I'm not even Read more:Worth
What's Your Dream Job? 2008-05-28 21:44:04 There are not many "trailing spouses" who are out there living their dream jobs. Most give up their careers to support their spouse on the climb of the corporate ladder. I'm living out my dreams of travel and the dreams I have for my family. Living out my dreams of the perfect job or career, not so much.Don't get me wrong. I've found things to occupy my time. Projects I care about and have in Read more:Dream
The Hardest Part of Expat Life 2008-05-27 23:02:33 Oooooh, therapy time, people!I've had to shake some of my family members over the years. Bless their hearts, they meant well, but they needed to be shaken straight. And shake them, I did.It would really make me mad to hear something like, "You're great aunt Carmie passed away two weeks ago. It was a lovely funeral." What? You couldn't tell me sooner so I could at least pay my respects and con Read more:Expat
6 Random Things About Me: India Version 2008-05-29 20:39:29 I've been tagged by A Touch of Dutch. Since she did this meme as a Netherlands version, I'll do mine as an India
version.1) My favorite food in India is buttered naan bread. Throw a little garlic on there and it's the best part of my day. Watch a video clip of naan bread being made in my own yard, here.2) My favorite Indian restaurants in Chennai are Copper Chimney (remember the crispy masala Read more:Random
Look Who's in Town 2008-05-30 19:30:01 Look Who's in TownEach month, a family is featured in At a Glance, a local expat magazine. The quotes are not direct, but interpreted from the conversation we had with the interviewer. I can guarantee that JB would never use the word adorn in any conversation.
No Apologies 2008-06-02 00:08:16 The American school will not likely be endorsing my book any time soon. There will be no apology in this post. A clarification, perhaps, but not an apology.It's no secret that I really struggled when we first moved to India. Part of my struggle was not being able to help my 11 year old son settle in to school. His teacher was a horrible bully and his life was hell in her classroom. I was reli
Blog Tour 2008-06-03 10:20:57 It's been a couple of weeks since my blog renovations. There are couple of things I'd like to point out. So, let's take a tour...Earth to Danie EmporiumThere's a new link at the top of the page that says Shop. This is the new Earth to Danie Emporium. I've only added a few things, so far, but if I've recommended an item on my blog you'll find it listed in the shop. There are two main categorie
Too Sick to Blog 2008-06-04 21:28:18 You know it's bad if I was too sick to even blog.I've been so careful. Only drinking bottled or canned drinks and being very careful of what I eat. I think I know where it happened. I ate salad at a place I don't normally eat salad. I knew there was a reason why we'd stopped eating at this particular hotel. Yesterday, I stopped being a brave little soldier and came to the realization that I ne
School's Out! 2008-06-06 07:43:31 To quote HeHeelys, "I thought this year would never end." Quite frankly, I thought this year would never end too. And praise Jesus, it ended today.Yesterday was report card day....2 A's, 5 B's and a C. We were expecting that C, but it was a grade that went from C to C+ so we're moving on. It's been a tough school year. Middle school has kicked HeHeelys's unorganized butt. I'll never understa Read more:School
The Perlman Update - Out of the Mouths of Babes 2008-06-07 04:26:30 1) Spent the morning at the spa.2) Joined a dear friend for our last luncheon.3) Need nap.So I'm referring you to The Perlman Update
to read about Jill's children. They're spending the summer in the US, the country of their citizenship but not the country they know. I think it's a fascinating look at expat children and the challenges of expat parenting.
Read more:Mouths
, Babes
Summer WoW Tour 2008 Kickoff 2008-06-08 06:35:20 And so we're off on our summer vacation. We leave tonight! How incredible is my husband for giving us this amazing experience? The whole time that I've been planning this trip, I tried not to think about being away from JB for so long. And now it's time.The basis for planning this trip was to see as many Wonders of the World and finalists as we could squeeze in. We crossed off the ones we've Read more:Summer
Words You Should Dread 2008-06-09 09:03:25 Hello from Istanbul, Turkey!I can't belive we actually made it--you won't believe it either. Have you ever walked up to the check-in desk and handed them your confirmation number only to be told, "I'm sorry, madame, this ticket is already in use." Wha!?! Fear those words--your ticket is in use. Remember them. Fear them. Because if that's what the omnipotent airline computer spits out upon you, you Read more:Words
, Dread
Hello, My Friend! 2008-06-10 10:51:47 The people in Instanbul are friendly. I made many new friends today. Ironically, all my new friends wanted me to eat at their establishment. Hi, my name is Danie and I travel for food.Once we got our bearings this morning--map in hand--we took a cab to the well-known shopping area in Taksim. We strolled the long, mainly pedestrian area Istiklal to Beyoglu. Along the way we stopped at Starbucks (of Read more:Hello
8 Hour Tour 2008-06-11 11:54:26 We lucked out today and were the only people on the full-day tour. We are tuckered out. Maybe too tuckered for dinner...another Simit, it is. Simit is the name for the pretzely/bagely bread sold in the street. They're happy carbs.Our guide, Omar, was very knowledgable and personable, although a little rushed. I would've liked to have spent more time just wandering and soaking it in...more time for
Friday the 13th 2008-06-13 09:42:23 Those dreaded words again. I'm so glad we went to the airport early...and I mean early. I'm hoping that if I can make it out of Rome--God and Air Dolomitti willing--that I might be able to get my e-ticket converted by United Airlines in London. Something's got to give. I can't keep worrying that I won't be allowed on my next flight. Kudos to Lufthansa, though! While this has been an incredible inc Read more:Friday
Turkish Delight 2008-06-12 13:32:36 Did we go back to the Hagia Sofia or go on the boat tour? We left the decision until morning. We slept in, worked on math (yes, we brought school work with us) and decided on the afternoon Bosphorus Tour.Our first stop was the spice market. I had no desire to go but the Indian couple in our tour group didn't want to miss it. Whatever, I'm flexible. I'm not one for souvenirs and stuff. It did smell Read more:Turkish
HeHeelys the Great 2008-06-13 23:38:12 I'd like to take a minute to be obnoxious. I'm about to shamelessly brag about my kid. You've been forwarned.HeHeelys is 11. It's true that I've always had fairly high expectations of him. Sometimes I feel like my expecations may even be too low, though. He continually amazes me and exceeds anything I can think up.We woke up at 3am for our flight out of Istanbul. He's been so patient while I've be Read more:Great
Eternal Love for the Eternal City 2008-06-15 02:22:29 How incredible is a city that has so much history and architecture--and ice cream and pizza--on every corner?Forget the history...let's talk about the food! I love the way food is displayed in the windows of the shops. The paninis are cut in half and stacked with their contents teasing all who stroll by. Works every time. The gelato looks like colorful fluffy clouds. It makes me want to run my fin Read more:Eternal
Paging Passenger Bark-owwwss. 2008-06-18 16:06:35 I'm in Munich. I'm out of breath. I've walked as fast as I could past 20 gates. My feet are chanting, "I...hate...you...I...hate...you." The chanting is getting louder and faster with each step I take. I should be running but my body has already reached its natural frequency and it ain't pretty. I look at every clock as I race by. I'm running out of time. A second call, more emphatic this time, " Read more:Paging
, Passenger
Recommend Site To A Friend
