More Things....

I head back to the U.S. in less than a week (!), and I will be there for three weeks. I can't WAIT.

Whatever crazy virus I had that attacked my stomach is now resting comfortably in my upper respiratory tract. Great. I just need to get home and get some good ol' fashioned TLC.

The next week is going to be an insane whirlwind. I have a gazillion things due, plus parent-teacher conferences and report cards, plus pretty much all of my Christmas shopping to accomplish, as I've been too sick or injured to do any of it. And so, please pardon my absence from Blogland as I prepare for my journey home.

Here is a list of things that I have not done in a year, and which I plan on doing next week (YAY!!):

In all of 2008 (minus a week or two), I have NOT....

*Set foot in the U.S. (although I guess technically that trip to the Embassy was setting foot on U.S. soil....)

*Seen my family (save for my sister, who came out for a brief visit in October!!)

*Watched a T.V. show (yes, I've watched DVDs of T.V. shows, and about a gazillion videos of the presidential debates and conventions on cnn.com. However, I have not watched an actual, live T.V. show in a year)

*Eaten a peanut butter and jelly sandwich

*Walked into a store and taken it for granted that the person behind the counter would be able to understand what I was saying

*Driven a car

*Read an American newspaper (actual PAPER, not my daily online browsings....)

*Eaten Taco Bell (now, I've gone years without eating Taco Bell before, but somehow knowing that I couldn't have Taco Bell even if I wanted it makes it seem all the more alluring....)

*Taken a proper bath in an actual tub (I can't WAIT to do that....)

*Worn a jacket

*Contributed in any way to the U.S. GDP (unless you count iTunes)

*Used my U.S. cell phone

*Listened to the radio

*Heard a Minnesota accent

*Had any idea who/what any of the current "hot" actors/actresses/T.V. shows/bands/musicians are

*Taken a drink right out of the tap

*Gone to an ATM, put in my PIN, and had it spit out U.S. dollars