Have you ever had a cough and wished you had a cough drop? Have you ever felt a little peckish and wished you had a gum drop? Have you ever suffered from coffee breath and wished you had a mint? Have you ever experienced all three simultaneously?

Have I got a product for you!

Unick Cough Gum Drops – “Packed for Shanghai Dah Chong Children’s Food Factory Co. Ltd”

Yummy mint flavor! Gummy texture!

Just one of the many delightful foods we have been given on domestic airline flights in China. I just wasn’t sure that a mint-flavored cough gum drop was exactly what I needed as an in-flight snack.

The DH and I are flying to Shanghai tonight. I can’t wait to see what the snack will be!

Yea, yea I know I said I wasn’t gonna be here, but in between nyquil doses, this made me laugh and I had to share:

I also love being cheeky! Hope you spend the day with someone you love!

I recently received an email from a friend with a Christmas Meme included. One of the questions asked, “Do you like egg nog?” When I read the question, I was suddenly seized by an overwhelming craving for the stuff. A serious craving that I would in no way be able to satisfy in Linyi, China, no matter how badly I wanted to. 

What the heck is in egg nog anyway? I always bought it in those cardboard milk cartons. I’m sure as much as I love the store-bought version, homemade egg nog must be knock-out. I “did a Google” (Wouldn’t McCain be proud of me?) and found a slew of recipes. This “traditional” version lists eggs, milk, cream, bourbon, sugar, brandy and nutmeg. Hmm… if only I were in Beijing or Shanghai… no cream and nutmeg here. 

The meme also asked, “Do you have a favorite Christmas memory?” Here’s a happy memory. When I lived in Costa Rica, I was delighted to find tetra-briks of Dos Pinos brand rompope in the supermarket year round (sans liquor). That’s right! Costa Ricans consume egg nog any time of the year! Much to the DH’s disgust, I regularly consumed the stuff. Rompope, incidentally, is Latin America’s version of egg nog. (Or egg nog is the Norteamericano’s, minus Mexico, version of Rompope, if you see the world that way.) As far as I can tell, Rompope differs in that it is flavored with vanilla and includes rum instead of bourbon. 

It’s all good in my book. There is a possibility I will be in Canada in late January… Any chance egg nog will still be in the stores? (She asks while wiping the drool from her chin.)

I’m really enjoying having my Google RSS Feed Reader open today. Because I am so many hours ahead of all of you, it is not Christmas yet for most of my favorite bloggers. But, as time slowly marches forward, the occasional post will come through with Christmas greetings. It’s like having a mailbox that delivers goodies all day! I am at work because although the Chinese enjoy the trappings of Christmas, it is not an official holiday. (Although with the kind of work I have been doing today – ahem, blog surfing – I really needn’t of bothered coming in at all! Shh!)

One of the best things about having been an expat kid in Kuwait was my exposure to the BBC and Absolutely Fabulous – a program that I never grow tired of watching or imitating. I am by extension a French & Saunders fan, of course.

Speaking of being an expat (and F&S), I just found these little beauties on youtube and had to share. We’ve all met an expat like this, haven’t we?

and a few expat postings later:

Love, love, love this!! Hat tip to Dongurigal.

So I took a silly quiz on Blogthings to find out what country I am. I have some great friends from there!

You Are Denmark

Well known for your happiness, you live a high quality life. You are compassionate, articulate, and polite.You tend to be quite reserved. You prefer to be around those you know best. You value equality. Modest and humble, you are not concerned with personal success.

Mom in 1967 and Me “Yearbooked” in 1968.

Yearbook Yourself!

This post was not previously approved by my Mom, but I think she looks great so there is no reason to be mad – right Mom?

And just cause I had such a good time at Yearbook Yourself check out these goodies:

1960’s Most Likely to Become a Librarian

1972’s Most Likely to Marry Sonny Bono

1978’s Most Likely to Own a Pick

1980’s Most Likely to Sing Blondie in the Shower

1990’s Most Likely to Actually Look This Way in Her HS Yearbook

It’s International Talk Like a Pirate Day! Aye, ’tis! Not that the DH and I need an excuse…

Coincidentally, today I noticed that the hotel we are staying at here at the Qingdao airport, the Red Crowned Crane, is sporting a nautical theme in honor of the Olympic sailing events. I was particularly pleased to see this display inside the revolving door at the entrance.

Batten down the hatches

Who knew they were also celebrating Talk Like a Pirate Day? Blow me down!