Another week concludes on planet Earth, where we all live.

Guys, it was a week ago I asked you to send those emails. And can you believe that I STILL haven't explained myself?! I should be at the top of the Worst Things Ever list.

Next week. I promise. Cross my heart. Pinky swear. Scout's honor with the three fingers up (Eli McCann: Eagle Scout, 1997. I can show you my card to prove it. I'm sure I got a card for that, right? All I remember is I had to learn how to tie 5 billion knots and hate camping).

The post is not ready yet. Have you ever tried to eat a turkey before it was done cooking? Exactly. You don't want that to happen here, do you? I'm practically protecting you from getting worms. You're welcome.

Gosh, maybe I should be on the Best Things Ever list.

My two pairs of shoes. I wear the flip-flops to and from work (and everywhere else). When I get to work I change in to my "business" sandals, pictured on the right. Truthfully, most of the day I walk around my office barefoot. Life is hard in Palau.




My office. Those sticky notes will overtake me by the end of the year. As will the 200 empty water bottles.
Some of my closest friends, Anna, Emma, and Isabel sent these books full of pictures documenting our last year together. I wanted to climb inside of them and experience it all again. Even the hard parts.


And my very good friend Hannah sent along this small flask of snow from Salt Lake City recently in hopes that it would help us have a white Christmas in Palau. Sadly, it had already melted by the time it got here.



Crap to distract you from whatever you're supposed to be doing:

Ghost drive-through prank.

Cat facts texts. Thanks, Valli.

Is anyone who reads Stranger surprised by this story? Thanks for bringing it to our attention, Heidi.

I'm not sure whether we should be thanking or cursing Tricia for sending us this.

Moscow's stray dogs master the city's complex metro system. Thanks, Brian.

Faces in Places. Surprisingly captivating. Thanks, Erika.

~It Just Gets Stranger