Just had to show you...

 So, this is on the package of pills that our family took last week.  It cracks me up that we are swallowing pills that have this picture on the front.  Anyone want to make a guess at what the pills are for?

Here is a hint:  if you don't take the above pills, you may have to get lots of these!  Can you guess what this is for?  Yup, it's a receipt that you get each time you use a public toilet.  Don't worry, 1,000 Rupiah is not as much money as it sounds!  It's about equal to a dime.  Plus, you get a receipt!  Do you think we can claim this on our taxes?

These Are A Few of My Favorite Things

 (sung to the tune of the famous song with the same name)

Cicaks on my walls and ants in my kitchen
Mosquitos are biting and my legs are itchin’
These are what  life of adventure will bring
So these are a few of my “favorite” things

Beaches and mountains, volcanoes and forests
Plants all around like I live at the florist
Rain every day like a “forever” Spring
These are a few of my favorite things

When the bugs bite
When my stuff molds
When I’m feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don’t feel so bad!

Chances to learn a new language and try it
Food here is awesome, you cannot deny it!
Even the traffic that’s daily a scare
Is just a chance to catch up on your prayer!

When the bugs bite
When my stuff molds
When I’m feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don’t feel so bad!

Tomato Paste

Tomato paste can only be found in a handful of stores in Bandung.  Each little tiny can costs several dollars.  Tomato paste is also the ingredient in about half my good recipes.  No wonder I remember eating pizza with ketchup for the sauce when I was a kid!  In the past three countries we’ve lived in, tomato has been a base for many of the national dishes, so it was never hard to find.  Imagine my surprise when I discovered I’d either have to find a solution for my tomato paste problem, or chunk half my recipes!  I did find some cans of tomato paste...with sardines!  No way.  So, today I made my own tomato paste!  I feel very Little House on the Prairie-ish, and also very proud of myself.  Should I be wearing a bonnet and a calico dress?  Do you know how many tomatoes it takes to make even a small amount of tomato paste?  It takes a lot.  But today, after boiling, peeling, cutting, blending, straining, stirring, baking and spooning two kilos of tomatoes, I have myself 2 small jelly jars of tomato paste!  Yum!  I think I’ll make a pizza!