Happy Tuesday (6/16/15)

[dorothyinAus]

How goes things in IL land?  Anything exciting or even quirkily interesting?

QOTW:  What's your favorite underused word?  Perhaps because it's a very specific word, or because you like the way it sounds when said aloud, or just because you think it's a cool word and more people should know and use it more regularly. 

[Deleted]

Moving week here! It's proving to be pretty trying: kids/baby sick.

I thought I would be feeling a lot of sadness at leaving the expat life. Surprisingly, I am not. I think some of it is that our kids are at an age where travel really sucks. So we aren't taking advantage of being so close to so many great places.

I am looking forward to getting home and having a fun summer and then getting into a routine in the fall.

QOTW: oooh, this is a hard one for me. Maybe lack of sleep. If something comes to me I will come back and add it.

[GilliC]

I'm giving a talk at a conference tomorrow, and I'm getting annoyed because they keep changing the time and location (even though they printed a copy of the agenda months ago). They changed it once over the weekend, and even though it's tomorrow they pushed it back an hour between 6pm last night and 9am this morning.

I was disappointed that they moved it to the "workshop" room (a small room without even a microphone) in a completely different part of the building, because when I tried to find that room a few years ago it took me 20 minutes and directions from two different event staff (the first staff member didn't even know where it was).

And last night they pushed it back an hour to the 6-7 pm time slot. Seriously? There is going to be no one there. I was planning to practice it a few times today, but now I can't even be bothered. They might as well have just canceled it.

QOTW: "Desire path" Not because it sounds great, but because there's a word (phrase) for it. So we should use it!

...ETA - When did I post this? They changed it again! At least it couldn't get any worse as long as it stayed on the same day. Now it's still in the late-day time slot, but at least it's in a real room. I guess now I need to practice since people will actually see it (and the real rooms have video recording).

[dorothyinAus]

It's a bit of up-and-down around my house lately. My grandmother has moved to an assisted living facility and she is fighting the system every step of the way. So everyone is stressed about that, and even though I'm half a world away, I get the stress dumped on me. Maybe it's because I'm half a world away. And I just found out my college BFF's mother had a stroke just after Mother's Day. I feel terrible that I did not know. I was at my friend's house every other weekend in college, and I really feel like a part of her family. I'm sure she was just overwhelmed and that's why she's didn't tell me, and it's not the kind of news she would ever post on social media, but it still makes me feel awful for not knowing.

In good news, my cousin just found out she's having a boy, which is good because he'll have one of each. I know it doesn't matter really but he's one of two boys, his wife is one of five girls, his brother had two girls, his mother is one of three girls, his cousin each had two boys. It just seems like that part of the family was never going to have a mix in the family, you know? So everyone is excited about that.

QOTW: I've learned several new words recently that are very nice words. Petrichor, which is the smell after the rain. And I learned the word for amphibian hibernation, which is a cool word, but wouldn't know now is the moment I can't remember it. I have always loved defenestrate, but that is because is so so very specific and I quite often have a desire to defenestrate technology that is frustrating me.

Edited because I remembered:  estivation, that's the word for amphibian hibernation, which is not hibernation as such, but similar.

[orriskitten]

It's been an exciting week since we got our tax return! So we are no longer in credit card debt from buying all of our furniture, booked our trip back to the U.S. And bought a grill! I've never had a grill

The 17th is a national holiday here, so we will be going out to explore and see some shows on offer, it's generally a fun family day. Then the 19th is the 100 year anniversary of women getting the right to vote, so it'll be a half day of preschool for my older munchkin.

To add to all that, one of dh's best friends is coming to Iceland to get married! They'll be doing a stag party on Saturday, then we'll have a BBQ at our place for Father's Day. Then we're planning a few game nights which will be lots of fun. Then the wedding on the 27th. And my BIL and his family will be here.

This summer is going to be busy!!

I'll have to get back with a word. I can't think of one now.

[rupertpenny]

I have no idea how to answer the QOTD, haha.

My daughter has a little group of kids she plays with everyday. One of the friend's mom just invited us to a birthday party via text. The message was all in French, which I don't speak at all. I answered in English which I hope is ok. Expat problems I guess, haha.

[rupertpenny]

orriskitten random question since you're here. Do you know if there is such a thing as car seat rental in Iceland? Or some equivalent to the Cosco Scenara sold over there? I'm bringing B in September and trying to figure out how to deal with the car seat stuff since we don't own one but I know we will be in the car a lot there.

[orriskitten]

Jun 16, 2015 8:31:48 GMT -5 rupertpenny said:

orriskitten random question since you're here. Do you know if there is such a thing as car seat rental in Iceland? Or some equivalent to the Cosco Scenara sold over there? I'm bringing B in September and trying to figure out how to deal with the car seat stuff since we don't own one but I know we will be in the car a lot there.

Are you renting a car or will you be with someone who lives here? If you are renting a car, they should be able to rent a seat to you as well. If you're visiting, then the person whose car it is can likely rent it through their car insurance. There are absolutely no cheap car seats to be had out here, unless you're looking for a backless booster.

[mrsukyankee]

We're moving in with my MIL tomorrow. I have spent the weekend with my H building the rest of our IKEA furniture and clearly out the rest of the crap that my FIL had accumulated. We filled our car with stuff to toss/recycle and went to the local dump/recycling centre. I went over there today to move most of our clothing and to vacuum before tomorrow. We have Aussie guys moving all our beds, two chairs and our tv over. And then we'll be moving the beds that were in the rooms over there to our place (for future rental purposes). And then I'll go to IKEA to pick up a few more things, move more clothing and other stuff over, and then relax for a bit. Crazy.

QOTD: I love the word Onomatopoeia - partially because of the sound of it and because it means something about sounds. I just love it.

[orriskitten]

Or I guess you could order a cheaper seat where you are and check it before you leave so you'll have it?

[rupertpenny]

Jun 16, 2015 11:21:08 GMT -5 orriskitten said:

Jun 16, 2015 8:31:48 GMT -5 rupertpenny said:

orriskitten random question since you're here. Do you know if there is such a thing as car seat rental in Iceland? Or some equivalent to the Cosco Scenara sold over there? I'm bringing B in September and trying to figure out how to deal with the car seat stuff since we don't own one but I know we will be in the car a lot there.

Are you renting a car or will you be with someone who lives here? If you are renting a car, they should be able to rent a seat to you as well. If you're visiting, then the person whose car it is can likely rent it through their car insurance. There are absolutely no cheap car seats to be had out here, unless you're looking for a backless booster.

I'm not sure yet. I'm going for a conference but hoping to stay a few extra days to hang out with my family. I will need a car because the conference is at the Hilton and my sister lives in Kopavogur, but last time I was there I just used my Amma's car since she doesn't drive much anymore. Maybe I can get my employer to cover a rental car since I won't need a hotel room. Otherwise I'll ask my sister if she can look into borrowing one or renting through her insurance. B is defintely still too small for a backless booster. 

[rupertpenny]

Jun 16, 2015 11:36:14 GMT -5 orriskitten said:

Or I guess you could order a cheaper seat where you are and check it before you leave so you'll have it?

Cheap seats don't exists in Hong Kong either Seriously, they start at like $300. 

[potatopie]

Well, I'm back in the US now for the year. Left South Africa but know we'll be back, so not too sad. We'll be apart from DH most if the summer, though, so that was difficult.

Had a long journey with DS but we've settled in and got over jetlag. Got to see my siblings and meet my latest neice for the first time this weekend.

Today was quiet but finally sunny. DS wants to be outside all the time, so that's what we did most of the day.

QOTD: i love words with interesting sounds like "circumnavigate" and "escapade".

[Deleted]

Jun 16, 2015 19:29:48 GMT -5 rupertpenny said:

Jun 16, 2015 11:36:14 GMT -5 orriskitten said:

Or I guess you could order a cheaper seat where you are and check it before you leave so you'll have it?

Cheap seats don't exists in Hong Kong either Seriously, they start at like $300. 

Oh man, car seat logistics for travel. Ugh.

We ordered new seats for DS1 and DS3 and sent them to my MILs. She is meeting us at the airport with them. So happy to only be lugging one car seat with us on our return. One car seat, a travel crib, Phil & Ted double pram, 7 suitcases... FML!

[orriskitten]

Jun 16, 2015 19:29:48 GMT -5 rupertpenny said:

Jun 16, 2015 11:36:14 GMT -5 orriskitten said:

Or I guess you could order a cheaper seat where you are and check it before you leave so you'll have it?

Cheap seats don't exists in Hong Kong either Seriously, they start at like $300. 

Similar boat here, we got an "affordable" forward facing only seat for around $350. The convertible we got for my son was around $600 with a discount. A lot of people I know here actually don't buy a seat, but rent it for the duration of their kid needing a seat from their insurance company.

It'd be awesome if your employer will cover your car rental!

When is your conference? If you're up for a meetup/play date, me and my munchkins (3year old girl and 1 year old boy) would be happy to see some other expats, even if you're not here for good

[rupertpenny]

orriskitten it is the last week in September. I would love to meet up! We can talk more when it is closer.

[orriskitten]

Jun 17, 2015 19:46:48 GMT -5 rupertpenny said:

orriskitten it is the last week in September. I would love to meet up! We can talk more when it is closer.

We'll be in the states from sept 17-oct 6

Let me know how it all goes, if you can't get a seat then maybe one of mine will work for your LO? Happy to loan it to you if you can't work something out.

[rupertpenny]

Jun 18, 2015 5:02:54 GMT -5 orriskitten said:

Jun 17, 2015 19:46:48 GMT -5 rupertpenny said:

orriskitten it is the last week in September. I would love to meet up! We can talk more when it is closer.

We'll be in the states from sept 17-oct 6

Let me know how it all goes, if you can't get a seat then maybe one of mine will work for your LO? Happy to loan it to you if you can't work something out.

Oh too bad! If you don't need to bring the seat to the States I'd be interested in borrowing your son's seat. She will be 25 months old then so I guess still in a convertible.

[orriskitten]

Jun 18, 2015 5:49:34 GMT -5 rupertpenny said:

Jun 18, 2015 5:02:54 GMT -5 orriskitten said:

We'll be in the states from sept 17-oct 6

Let me know how it all goes, if you can't get a seat then maybe one of mine will work for your LO? Happy to loan it to you if you can't work something out.

Oh too bad! If you don't need to bring the seat to the States I'd be interested in borrowing your son's seat. She will be 25 months old then so I guess still in a convertible.

We have some seats waiting for us in the states (left 2 convertibles behind when we moved) so don't need ours. Plus, the convertible is ISO fix and not the kind used in the states. Message me when it's closer if you don't have a seat and I can give you my ILs contact info who can give you the seat.

[Grimmy]

I've had a pretty busy week. We're thinking of booking our flights back home soon, so yay for that. Thinking probably the end of September. Hopefully that doesn't cause issues at work.

QOTW: Frangipane. It's not a dessert I've seen often. And because it's a dessert, it's not like it can be used in typical everyday conversation. But it's fun to say.