That is an awesome sounding mapbookthing! Go Scola!

I have to finish my Christmas shopping soon. And apparently, to Europe, my brother has requested I bring: reese's cups (the small, not the large ones), and a carton of American Spirit cigarettes. ...I feel like this says something about America.

I feel like this says something about America.

If it makes you feel better, my French friend's husband always asks me to bring Big Red gum.

That sounds like such a cool book. Also,

If it makes you feel better, my French friend's husband always asks me to bring Big Red gum.

Hee. I love that the completely ordinary-to-the-person-who-lives-there item can be such a treasure to the person who doesn't, and can't otherwise acquire it.

A friend of mine in Austria, who'd been a nanny in the states, asked me to bring her Campbell's cream of mushroom soup so she could make tuna noodle casserol.

That mapbook sounds super cool!

When my friend E, who'd been my roommate in France, asked me what I wanted from Paris, it was Bonne Maman Reine Claude plum preserves. Nom. And when I was in Moldova, of course, I always wanted peanut butter.

When I lived in England, we had a friend bring over canned pumpkin, so that we could make pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving.

Anyone who ever goes to America brings me Kraft macaroni and cheese. I am truly blessed to have a Girl with a US passport.

Grrr. Having ordered part of my Secret Santa gift online, I've received an email telling m they won't take my Visa because it's not based in the US, or something. Then why did you have an international billing address section?!

In any case, apologies to my giftee, but a part of your present may be a bit delayed while I sort it out.

Do you think if I could get my husband to call Tom Scola he could Christmas shop for me? Because he is awesome at it, and my husband sucks. Tom, you could seriously make a mint as a personal shopper for husbands at Christmas.

Heh. I got exactly the same speech from my sister last year.