Thursday, April 17, 2008
Changing lanes
I've decided to start a new blog and change languages. : ) So, from now on you will find me at http://blabarochmjolk.blogspot.com , in my native tongue. That means Raspberry Swirl will be on hold for a while but who knows, I might just revive it one day. Still, as for now the new blog is where I'll be.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Go Hillary!
Don't ask me why but I really, really don't want Obama to become the Democratic nominee for the Presidential election in the US. I like Hillary! It's not cause she's a woman (I'm nowhere near being a feminist) cause that would be lame but I really do think she would do a great job. She's got the same qualities that Madeleine Allbright had. Granted, Allbright got points in my book for agreeing to do a dream sequence in Gilmore Girls. Soooo funny! Comparing Obama to the Kennedys is just sad cause that's history and it ain't coming back. Obama just doesn't make me care about things. Go Hillary!
On a smiliar note I can now say that it's 99,9% sure that I am going to Washington DC in May for a week's conference. There are still a few quirks to work out ( like booking a flight, registering, finding a hotel etc.) but then I am off. I've never been on that side of the pond but I've been a sucker for it f-o-r-e-v-e-r so woho for me!! It doesn't make it anymore boring that I'm going during election year. Woho! I know I kind of live the illusion that Josiah Bartlet reigns the White House but that's fine with me. I've been watching reruns of The West Wing and it's actually making me feel better about work. As if working in the West Wing of the White House is even remotely comparable to working in the administrative office of a University... ; )
On a smiliar note I can now say that it's 99,9% sure that I am going to Washington DC in May for a week's conference. There are still a few quirks to work out ( like booking a flight, registering, finding a hotel etc.) but then I am off. I've never been on that side of the pond but I've been a sucker for it f-o-r-e-v-e-r so woho for me!! It doesn't make it anymore boring that I'm going during election year. Woho! I know I kind of live the illusion that Josiah Bartlet reigns the White House but that's fine with me. I've been watching reruns of The West Wing and it's actually making me feel better about work. As if working in the West Wing of the White House is even remotely comparable to working in the administrative office of a University... ; )
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
A change would do you good...
If you ever come to Sweden be ready to talk about the weather. If you ask a Swedish person how he or she is, there is a real chance that you will get a reference to the weather back. Something along the lines of 'I'm ok, how could I not be when the weather is great!' or 'Well, you know, the weather is really getting to me'. So we're constantly 'under the weather', come rain or shine. I try to get over the weather but it's difficult when you live in one of the rainiest places in Sweden. People from the south of Sweden complain about it being dark up north but I'd take the darkness anyday compared to this all-year-long-greyish-fog-dampness that signifies life in this part of the country. Frankly my dear, it sucks!
I took a ginormous trip down memory lane last weekend as two of my favourite tv-shows growing up came into my possession, Remington Steele and My so-called life. I wanted to marry Remington Steele when I was little and despite the angsty tone of My so-called life I wanted to be Angela (hey, who wouldn't want to make out with Jordan Catalano?). The shows turned out to be just as good now as they used to be back in the day funnily enough. Usually it's the complete opposite of that. Unfortunately the plug-in thingy to my headphones broke inside the computer sometime mid-Sunday so now I can't listen to the shows unless it's through the crappy laptop speakers. I'm glad the computer or the sound aren't broken but still, I want my headphones to work. Now there's a small headphone plug-in thingy that I don't have the tools to get out, yet. I think a trip to the great Swedish store 'Claes Ohlsson' after work is in order. : ) Or else I'll find a computersurgeon who can operate on it and get it out.
I took a ginormous trip down memory lane last weekend as two of my favourite tv-shows growing up came into my possession, Remington Steele and My so-called life. I wanted to marry Remington Steele when I was little and despite the angsty tone of My so-called life I wanted to be Angela (hey, who wouldn't want to make out with Jordan Catalano?). The shows turned out to be just as good now as they used to be back in the day funnily enough. Usually it's the complete opposite of that. Unfortunately the plug-in thingy to my headphones broke inside the computer sometime mid-Sunday so now I can't listen to the shows unless it's through the crappy laptop speakers. I'm glad the computer or the sound aren't broken but still, I want my headphones to work. Now there's a small headphone plug-in thingy that I don't have the tools to get out, yet. I think a trip to the great Swedish store 'Claes Ohlsson' after work is in order. : ) Or else I'll find a computersurgeon who can operate on it and get it out.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Things that look down and things that look up...
One word: stomach flu. Ok, so that's two words but still. ; ) 'Tis the season apparently. Luckily I don't have it, yet, but people in and around the office has it so cross all fingers and hope for the best. On my way home from work yesterday I bought a huge bottle of Coca Cola, just in case. I don't know if it's true that Coca Cola works or not but at least it makes me feel prepared, just in case. I hate stomach flu, passionately. It's by far the worst non-lethal thing you can catch.´
For the first time in years I'm actually excited about this year's book sales. We have one every year around the end of february and I used to go early in the morning when I was younger. Once I even went at midnight just to see what it was like (early is one word for it). The last couple of years I haven't been all that excited thought but for some reason I feel good about books this year. It might be that I managed to finish two (Stardust and The Interpretation of Murder) when I was in Spain for Christmas. I haven't really felt good about books in a couple of years either so that could be it. I'm already making a list of what to look out for, just in case. I'm just hoping that my expectations won't be deflated once the sales catalogues arrive. Ah well, for now I'll just be excited and enjoy that. 'Tis the little things...
For the first time in years I'm actually excited about this year's book sales. We have one every year around the end of february and I used to go early in the morning when I was younger. Once I even went at midnight just to see what it was like (early is one word for it). The last couple of years I haven't been all that excited thought but for some reason I feel good about books this year. It might be that I managed to finish two (Stardust and The Interpretation of Murder) when I was in Spain for Christmas. I haven't really felt good about books in a couple of years either so that could be it. I'm already making a list of what to look out for, just in case. I'm just hoping that my expectations won't be deflated once the sales catalogues arrive. Ah well, for now I'll just be excited and enjoy that. 'Tis the little things...
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Back after the holidays!
Months and months have passed and no posting. Now I'm back though and although I know better than to make promises I can't keep my intention is to post more regularly now.
Anywho, holidays were great. I spent 4 weeks with mother dearest on the Canary Islands. Very unlikely for me, I know, but I have to say I didn't really miss being home for Christmas. It's not like there was any snow at home either. In the town where I work there were 22 minutes of sun in December... Is that even possible?! So it should come as no surprise that it's been grey, grey, grey since I got back. Wonderful and uplifting. Really.
I've had a lot of time to think over these last 4 weeks, both about work and about other things. I've focused on 'other things' though. Like for example why so few Spanish people speak English. Seriously, goat farmers in Mongolia know more English than a person working in a shop in the Canary Islands (or the airport in Madrid for that matter). They can be snotty and damn right mean but they don't know I word in English. The girl at McDonald's in the Barajas airport in Madrid didn't know what 'take away' meant... Hello, you're working in M-C-D-O-N-A-L-D-'-S! Take away is your middle name for crying out loud! So, for me it was 4 weeks of trying to figure out what people were saying and answer as best I could (which is an achievement seeing as I have never taken a class in Spanish). I got the overall picture most of the time but if someone asked me for something specific (like a pen) I was lost. I picked up quite a number of cursewords and slang though. Always good to know.
After my vacation I can also say that I officially suffer from vertigo. I should get a t-shirt saying so. Mum and I took several trips up in the mountains but there was one trip, to end all other trips one might say, which really made me sure I would die. We took a bus (they use huge buses for tiny roads) and sat in the front seat to get a good view. Only thing was the view made me pale as a sheet and mum giggle hysterically, trying not to gasp everytime we rounded a hairpin corner in the teeny, tiny road. I've never been so scared in my life, I'll admit to that.
Anywho, holidays were great. I spent 4 weeks with mother dearest on the Canary Islands. Very unlikely for me, I know, but I have to say I didn't really miss being home for Christmas. It's not like there was any snow at home either. In the town where I work there were 22 minutes of sun in December... Is that even possible?! So it should come as no surprise that it's been grey, grey, grey since I got back. Wonderful and uplifting. Really.
I've had a lot of time to think over these last 4 weeks, both about work and about other things. I've focused on 'other things' though. Like for example why so few Spanish people speak English. Seriously, goat farmers in Mongolia know more English than a person working in a shop in the Canary Islands (or the airport in Madrid for that matter). They can be snotty and damn right mean but they don't know I word in English. The girl at McDonald's in the Barajas airport in Madrid didn't know what 'take away' meant... Hello, you're working in M-C-D-O-N-A-L-D-'-S! Take away is your middle name for crying out loud! So, for me it was 4 weeks of trying to figure out what people were saying and answer as best I could (which is an achievement seeing as I have never taken a class in Spanish). I got the overall picture most of the time but if someone asked me for something specific (like a pen) I was lost. I picked up quite a number of cursewords and slang though. Always good to know.
After my vacation I can also say that I officially suffer from vertigo. I should get a t-shirt saying so. Mum and I took several trips up in the mountains but there was one trip, to end all other trips one might say, which really made me sure I would die. We took a bus (they use huge buses for tiny roads) and sat in the front seat to get a good view. Only thing was the view made me pale as a sheet and mum giggle hysterically, trying not to gasp everytime we rounded a hairpin corner in the teeny, tiny road. I've never been so scared in my life, I'll admit to that.
Being back at work is both ok and not. I guess I really have to figure out whether the current situation is worth the energy it takes or if there is more to life than this. It's weird because things could be amazing but instead I'm still caught in this situation where I'm not able to concentrate on that which I'm supposed (read hired) to do because I have to cover other seats as well. It's pretty tiring in the long run. February will most likely be horrible to say the least and March will not come far behind. On the other hand plans for May are looking up although nothing's really settled yet. And then it's June...
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Everyday mysteries
Ok, so it's been ages since I last found enough energy to post on this blog. Explanation? Too much work. As simple as that. Not that things have changed to the better or anything but this morning I took time. New motto: take time! ; )
The busride to work is always a good place for thinking. Most of the time you think about work, what to do after work, what to eat for dinner, what's on tv etc etc but every now and then something happens that breaks the pattern and makes you think about something else. This morning was one of those times. I wish the topic of thought had been something amazing but instead I landed on 'why do grown men giggle in falsetto?' . Let's face it, it's not exactly manly manish, is it? Handsome men who look like they just walked off a Hugo Boss billboard and then they open their mouths to laugh and... *cringe* Anywho, maybe that's what makes life bareble for the rest of us? : )
The rest of my life smells like paint right now. After 1,5 years my landlord finally decided it was time to repaint my kitchen, bathroom and walk in closet (aka the storage room). Of course they made this decision at the worst possible time for me but hey, my flat will be nice for Christmas. So two days in a row the painter has been around, doing his business, and I've come home to a place smelling like a big can of paint. Nice, fresh but smelly. It really did turn out very nicely. And I got a new lightswitch in the kitchen cause the old one broke (*gasp* they only last 40-odd years?!?) and they put in lightbulbs that are energyfriendly so *clap* *clap* for landlord. Now if they could only fix it so that the windows keep the cold winds outside of the flat, that would be great. Well, I'll probably have to wait till Christmas next year for that. Can't be too picky...
The busride to work is always a good place for thinking. Most of the time you think about work, what to do after work, what to eat for dinner, what's on tv etc etc but every now and then something happens that breaks the pattern and makes you think about something else. This morning was one of those times. I wish the topic of thought had been something amazing but instead I landed on 'why do grown men giggle in falsetto?' . Let's face it, it's not exactly manly manish, is it? Handsome men who look like they just walked off a Hugo Boss billboard and then they open their mouths to laugh and... *cringe* Anywho, maybe that's what makes life bareble for the rest of us? : )
The rest of my life smells like paint right now. After 1,5 years my landlord finally decided it was time to repaint my kitchen, bathroom and walk in closet (aka the storage room). Of course they made this decision at the worst possible time for me but hey, my flat will be nice for Christmas. So two days in a row the painter has been around, doing his business, and I've come home to a place smelling like a big can of paint. Nice, fresh but smelly. It really did turn out very nicely. And I got a new lightswitch in the kitchen cause the old one broke (*gasp* they only last 40-odd years?!?) and they put in lightbulbs that are energyfriendly so *clap* *clap* for landlord. Now if they could only fix it so that the windows keep the cold winds outside of the flat, that would be great. Well, I'll probably have to wait till Christmas next year for that. Can't be too picky...
Friday, August 24, 2007
Weekend? Not where I'm standing
Normally Fridays mean woho-the-weekend-is-around-the-corner-and-oh-how-much-sleeping-I-will-do. Not for me though. Not this weekend. I'm looking forward to a day at the office tomorrow. Lovely. I stayed untlil 18.30 last night and I'm staying a while today. Then I'm going back tomorrow. Lovely. Really. Can't wait.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
They're baaack....
The bus stop this morning was like something out of a scary movie and if that's what it's going to be all year I'll have to seriously rethink how I get to and from work. There have always been quite a number of high school kids waiting there but this morning was an all-time high. Then, to top it all off, the bus company has started a line that runs 5 minutes after 'mine' does. It has the same number but not the same route or destination. Total confusion! People were running between busses at just about every stop. Great planning. One man switched 4 times. Seriously, do you know where you work? I think he ended up at the wrong bus in the end. Fun fact is that all summer the bus company have used their nice busses, clean, with seatbelts, not that the kids are back we're back to old, seatbelt-free busses. I wonder what parents would think about that?
Work is oh so hectic right now. Everything needs to be done for the start of the semester and we're balancing on a fine line between chaos and kind of ok. I get all sorts of questions really and it's kind of difficult to keep calm in all situations. I am a pretty patient person but sometimes it's just a tad too much. It feels like I've got my head above water although there are those who seem to want me under it. Seriously, if I wasn't ok I would say something. Stop assuming that I'm this overambitious angstcase who will fall down any second. Not the case. Just cause I like what I do doesn't mean that I'm on the verge of a nervous breakdown. The only thing I'll own up to is being bored. Cause I am. Nothing, and I repeat nothing, happens here.
I got my new dvds yesterday. I had to watch 'New York Waiting' straight away and it was a good film. Very indie-feelish but in a good way. The music was amazingly good. So, now I'll have Ice Age 1 and 2 plus Bridget Jones (#1) to look forward to for the weekend.
By the way, a man was stabbed to death just a couple of hundred metres from my building the other day. I've lived in Brussels and in Manchester and things happen her, in this tiny place. Unbelievable. Does this mean I'll have to rethink my livingarrangements?
Work is oh so hectic right now. Everything needs to be done for the start of the semester and we're balancing on a fine line between chaos and kind of ok. I get all sorts of questions really and it's kind of difficult to keep calm in all situations. I am a pretty patient person but sometimes it's just a tad too much. It feels like I've got my head above water although there are those who seem to want me under it. Seriously, if I wasn't ok I would say something. Stop assuming that I'm this overambitious angstcase who will fall down any second. Not the case. Just cause I like what I do doesn't mean that I'm on the verge of a nervous breakdown. The only thing I'll own up to is being bored. Cause I am. Nothing, and I repeat nothing, happens here.
I got my new dvds yesterday. I had to watch 'New York Waiting' straight away and it was a good film. Very indie-feelish but in a good way. The music was amazingly good. So, now I'll have Ice Age 1 and 2 plus Bridget Jones (#1) to look forward to for the weekend.
By the way, a man was stabbed to death just a couple of hundred metres from my building the other day. I've lived in Brussels and in Manchester and things happen her, in this tiny place. Unbelievable. Does this mean I'll have to rethink my livingarrangements?
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
I love myspace!!
One of the main benefits of being back at the office is the opportunity to listen to music on myspace while your working. Could it get any better? Therefore I've decided to start a myspace music-sidebar. Easy access to my favourite bands.
I'm doing my best to get my head around my new office and girl it up a bit. Organizing the office makes me realize what a box and folder-freak I am. My predecessor apparently had this thing for rubberbands, my pet thing is plastic folders. We all have our perks. My main annoyance right now is the cord to the phone. No matter where I put the phone the cord is in the way. Wow, life really is tough. Ain't it.
I'm doing my best to get my head around my new office and girl it up a bit. Organizing the office makes me realize what a box and folder-freak I am. My predecessor apparently had this thing for rubberbands, my pet thing is plastic folders. We all have our perks. My main annoyance right now is the cord to the phone. No matter where I put the phone the cord is in the way. Wow, life really is tough. Ain't it.
Monday, August 6, 2007
The downsides of having huge windows
My summer vacation is over and I am back at the office. I'm not too happy about it, I would have needed about 4 more weeks to really get into the kind of mode I was last year when I came back to work. But I guess that's just part of life as an adult. First signs of aging as a 30-something perhaps? (And I've just realised I have huuuuuge windows overlooking the campus. Everyone can see me and I can see everyone. Great.)
The summer has been good. I've spent all of it cooped up in our summer house by the ocean. The first two weeks were a blur for so many reasons but the last two were good. I haven't gotten nearly as much done as I would have wanted but then again, that's ok. My new motto: it's ok. Unfortunately we have to redo the roofing between the two parts of the house but I think the new version will be better and more lasting than the old *holding fingers crossed*. Hopefully it won't cost a truckload of money either. Yeah, cause that's likely when there are screws and wood involved... It's an investment is what I keep telling myself. I am a bit sad I didn't get so much done in the garden cause it needed some work but that's for next year. I did get my mother into the ocean on numerous occasions though which should earn me a medal of some sort. The water wasn't as warm as it has been the last two years but it was more than ok. Let's just say it was difficult to go back here after the vacation was done. When I got off the train I wasn't really sure I'd gotten off at the right stop. I don't know, this just isn't like home. : )
Being back at the office isn't all bad. No one's really around at the moment which is great cause I like the quiet but then again the students are busy e-mailing and calling like crazy. There is so much to be done I'm not really sure where to start.
So, the last and final Harry Potter book has been released and, obviously, I've read it. Not sure what I think. Parts were great, other parts I'm not so sure about, but all in all, it's done. I've also seen the new movie. Can't help thinking they should have signed Alfonso Cuarón (HP and the Prisoner of Azkaban) up for the entire series. His movie was the best so far. I have to get the new one on DVD and see what I think then.
Other than that, saw the Narnia-movie (quite ok actually if you get past the whole Liam Neeson as the voice of Aslan-part. Whatever that Lucy-girl is on she should bottle it cause I could use with a teaspoon of that energy), bought Shadowlands (very good, bawled like usual. It really is the new Out of Africa for me. The end kills me every time. Cause I'm a girl is what I am.), and bought series one of the West Wing (aw, the good old days). I've listened to a remarkably small amount of music which is totally uncommon for me. Then again I've hung out with a remarkably small amount of people which is quite uncommon for me as well. Just didn't have the energy. Didn't even watch a lot of TV and that is uncommon for me. Watched the usual Foyle's war, Midsomer Murders, Ms Marple, Veronica Mars (would she quit tormenting Logan already!!) and the occasional movie (Chicago was better than I expected).
So, beginning of term, new job, possible changes to existing job perhaps (?), new people, erm, hm... Well, no matter what I think of it you can't really stop time now can you? ; )
The summer has been good. I've spent all of it cooped up in our summer house by the ocean. The first two weeks were a blur for so many reasons but the last two were good. I haven't gotten nearly as much done as I would have wanted but then again, that's ok. My new motto: it's ok. Unfortunately we have to redo the roofing between the two parts of the house but I think the new version will be better and more lasting than the old *holding fingers crossed*. Hopefully it won't cost a truckload of money either. Yeah, cause that's likely when there are screws and wood involved... It's an investment is what I keep telling myself. I am a bit sad I didn't get so much done in the garden cause it needed some work but that's for next year. I did get my mother into the ocean on numerous occasions though which should earn me a medal of some sort. The water wasn't as warm as it has been the last two years but it was more than ok. Let's just say it was difficult to go back here after the vacation was done. When I got off the train I wasn't really sure I'd gotten off at the right stop. I don't know, this just isn't like home. : )
Being back at the office isn't all bad. No one's really around at the moment which is great cause I like the quiet but then again the students are busy e-mailing and calling like crazy. There is so much to be done I'm not really sure where to start.
So, the last and final Harry Potter book has been released and, obviously, I've read it. Not sure what I think. Parts were great, other parts I'm not so sure about, but all in all, it's done. I've also seen the new movie. Can't help thinking they should have signed Alfonso Cuarón (HP and the Prisoner of Azkaban) up for the entire series. His movie was the best so far. I have to get the new one on DVD and see what I think then.
Other than that, saw the Narnia-movie (quite ok actually if you get past the whole Liam Neeson as the voice of Aslan-part. Whatever that Lucy-girl is on she should bottle it cause I could use with a teaspoon of that energy), bought Shadowlands (very good, bawled like usual. It really is the new Out of Africa for me. The end kills me every time. Cause I'm a girl is what I am.), and bought series one of the West Wing (aw, the good old days). I've listened to a remarkably small amount of music which is totally uncommon for me. Then again I've hung out with a remarkably small amount of people which is quite uncommon for me as well. Just didn't have the energy. Didn't even watch a lot of TV and that is uncommon for me. Watched the usual Foyle's war, Midsomer Murders, Ms Marple, Veronica Mars (would she quit tormenting Logan already!!) and the occasional movie (Chicago was better than I expected).
So, beginning of term, new job, possible changes to existing job perhaps (?), new people, erm, hm... Well, no matter what I think of it you can't really stop time now can you? ; )
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
A visit to the dentist
I spent the first hours of this day at the dentist, drilling and fixing a hole. Well, they drilled, put stuff in my tooth and now I'm supposed to wait 6 months and see what happens with it. Exciting. I just hope everything works out so that I don't have to do the whole rootcanal thing (a bit too much CJ on the West Wing for me). So, fingers crossed!
I've started my progress over to the new job now and it is mucho scary. There is just so much to learn about things I know of but now need to know in detail. And at the same time there's this tugwar going on about when I will quit my old 'job' and go over to the new one. Too much to focus on in other words.
The only thing I'm worried about now is my summer holiday. Everything has to be worked out before tomorrow afternoon or I'll be spending summer in hell. Amazing, and stupid to say the least.
I've started my progress over to the new job now and it is mucho scary. There is just so much to learn about things I know of but now need to know in detail. And at the same time there's this tugwar going on about when I will quit my old 'job' and go over to the new one. Too much to focus on in other words.
The only thing I'm worried about now is my summer holiday. Everything has to be worked out before tomorrow afternoon or I'll be spending summer in hell. Amazing, and stupid to say the least.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Monday, June 11, 2007
In the summertime when the weather is hot...
This has been the weekend from hell! I'm not complaining, just saying. It has been so incredibly hot that I thought I was going to die more than once. It's safe to say I don't do well in the heat. Well, I do when I'm in another country where the temperature by nature is on the warmer side of hot as hell but here? Not so much! I went out for a couple of hourse every day just to get some air but I don't know what was worse, being outside in the sun or inside in the sun. I kept all doors and windows open and it was kind of breezy but the kind of warm breeze you feel when you walk into a sauna. Not at all comfortable. Anywho.
I got a sign I'm actually 30-something (or a 30-something apprentice perhaps since I'm not 30 and something yet) on Saturday night. I don't do well when watching scary movies. They don't have to be very scary, just a little bit, and my sleeping habits go to pieces for days. Humiliating? Bet your be-hind but I've learnt to embrace it. I love to watch them but they scare the sheut out of me. But! This weekend I managed to watch the Village (granted not the scariest of movies) on my own, with the lights turned off (ok, bathroom light and the natural light of a Swedish summer evening two weeks before Midsummer's Eve), and I slept like a bairn. Ok, so I had to switch the channel when the redcoated 'monster' ran at Ivy the first time but after that it was a smooth ride. Not half bad. : )
This week will be interesting I think. I have to plan everything for the transition over to the new job and plan for the upcoming weeks. Exciting and scary at the same time. It should be good but still, a bit scary. : )
Today's soundtrack is the lovely 'Mark Ronson'. Gotta love the Lilly Allen version of 'Oh My God' and the Annie Mac Minimix. : )
I got a sign I'm actually 30-something (or a 30-something apprentice perhaps since I'm not 30 and something yet) on Saturday night. I don't do well when watching scary movies. They don't have to be very scary, just a little bit, and my sleeping habits go to pieces for days. Humiliating? Bet your be-hind but I've learnt to embrace it. I love to watch them but they scare the sheut out of me. But! This weekend I managed to watch the Village (granted not the scariest of movies) on my own, with the lights turned off (ok, bathroom light and the natural light of a Swedish summer evening two weeks before Midsummer's Eve), and I slept like a bairn. Ok, so I had to switch the channel when the redcoated 'monster' ran at Ivy the first time but after that it was a smooth ride. Not half bad. : )
This week will be interesting I think. I have to plan everything for the transition over to the new job and plan for the upcoming weeks. Exciting and scary at the same time. It should be good but still, a bit scary. : )
Today's soundtrack is the lovely 'Mark Ronson'. Gotta love the Lilly Allen version of 'Oh My God' and the Annie Mac Minimix. : )
Friday, June 8, 2007
Just how stupid do you think I am?
At work we get a lot of mails from persons claiming to be in charge of bank accounts or bank deposit boxes where someone with our last name has left billions (always written in figures and then in CAPITAL LETTERS) of (Disney)money with no one to claim them. So now these persons are contacting us, with the hope that we will not take offence since we have not been properly introduced (like we lived in 1707). The other scenario is person from country x wanting to ship money to our country and if we do it we will get 20% of the total sum only in reality it means they get us to pay 100% to them since there, *gasp*, is no money to begin with. I feel so tempted to write a reply with a simple question: 'Just how stupid do you think I am?'. But, since I work for the government it's not really proper so I end up just deleating the e-mail and marking the sender as a 'spammer'. But one day...
Friday once again and I'm hoping I've gotten one of my favourite books from when I was a kid in the mail. It's a series of three books and I have one (which I won when I was about 5 years old and already by then the books were like 20 years old) and I want the two others. I've found online and the other is on sale at an online market next Wednesday. It seems there are a lot of people looking for these books so I'll have to work hard to get them. Well, two down, one to go. : ) And yes, I turned 30 last February...
Friday once again and I'm hoping I've gotten one of my favourite books from when I was a kid in the mail. It's a series of three books and I have one (which I won when I was about 5 years old and already by then the books were like 20 years old) and I want the two others. I've found online and the other is on sale at an online market next Wednesday. It seems there are a lot of people looking for these books so I'll have to work hard to get them. Well, two down, one to go. : ) And yes, I turned 30 last February...
Thursday, June 7, 2007
The day after June 6th
This week is odd. Yesterday was June 6th, Sweden's National Day, and these days it's a national holiday which means that this week we got Wednesday off. It's actually much better than it might sound. It's great to get a break mid-week and then come back to work and have not be Monday. : ) Not at all unpleasant.
I spent yesterday sleeping in and going to the local celebration of June 6th. Not that anyone knows why it's our National Day but still. There were ceremonies welcoming 6 out of the 40 people who have gained their Swedish citizenships since last year (this being Småland they were of course Germans, Icelandic people, antother person of blond descent and only one person from the Middle East or former Yugoslavia even though they are probably the majority). Then there were fiddleplayers and a marching band and a truckload of ballons and flags. Afterwards I went to the place where I find my rubharbs and picked some flowers. Some of them are the kind that smells amazing at night so I watched Grey's Anatomy in an almost perfumelike scented room. Very nice. : )
Today's soundtrack is a band I first heard on the TV-show 'Dead like me' (very good. lots of irony and humour. only lasted two seasons). The band is called Metisse and the song they played on the show was 'Boom Boom Ba'.
I spent yesterday sleeping in and going to the local celebration of June 6th. Not that anyone knows why it's our National Day but still. There were ceremonies welcoming 6 out of the 40 people who have gained their Swedish citizenships since last year (this being Småland they were of course Germans, Icelandic people, antother person of blond descent and only one person from the Middle East or former Yugoslavia even though they are probably the majority). Then there were fiddleplayers and a marching band and a truckload of ballons and flags. Afterwards I went to the place where I find my rubharbs and picked some flowers. Some of them are the kind that smells amazing at night so I watched Grey's Anatomy in an almost perfumelike scented room. Very nice. : )
Today's soundtrack is a band I first heard on the TV-show 'Dead like me' (very good. lots of irony and humour. only lasted two seasons). The band is called Metisse and the song they played on the show was 'Boom Boom Ba'.
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
Sundays, Mondays, brainfreeze
I think I might have an actual job. I mean, I've been offered a job and I've accepted but I'm too cautious to do the happy-dance before all the paperwork has been signed. I know luck, it is seriously unpredictable. Anywho, yay for now and keep all fingers crossed 'cause it would be great, and so much fun! : )
For the last three weeks I've had Percy Bysshe Shelley's poem 'Ozymandias' playing over and over in my head. I really don't know why. Sure, it's one of my favourite poems but it's still odd. Probably my brains way of telling me to take a deep breath and catch up to speed with myself.
The poem goes:
"I met a traveller from an antique land
Who said: Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert. Near them on the sand,
Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown
And wrinkled lip and sneer of cold command
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them and the heart that fed.
And on the pedestal these words appear:
‘My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings:
Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!
’Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare,
The lone and level sands stretch far away."
Happy, don't you think? ; )
Today's soundtrack is provided by Norwegian band 'Susanna and the Magical Orchestra' as featured on last weeks episode of Grey's Anatomy. Their cover of Joy Division's 'Love will tear us apart' is really good. It seems I'm very much into covers right now. another favourite is Ryan Adams cover of Oasis' 'Wonderwall'. Very good.
For the last three weeks I've had Percy Bysshe Shelley's poem 'Ozymandias' playing over and over in my head. I really don't know why. Sure, it's one of my favourite poems but it's still odd. Probably my brains way of telling me to take a deep breath and catch up to speed with myself.
The poem goes:
"I met a traveller from an antique land
Who said: Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert. Near them on the sand,
Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown
And wrinkled lip and sneer of cold command
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them and the heart that fed.
And on the pedestal these words appear:
‘My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings:
Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!
’Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare,
The lone and level sands stretch far away."
Happy, don't you think? ; )
Today's soundtrack is provided by Norwegian band 'Susanna and the Magical Orchestra' as featured on last weeks episode of Grey's Anatomy. Their cover of Joy Division's 'Love will tear us apart' is really good. It seems I'm very much into covers right now. another favourite is Ryan Adams cover of Oasis' 'Wonderwall'. Very good.
Friday, June 1, 2007
Fun, fun, fun and then some.
Last night's TV-dilemma was not as big to work out as I'd thought. One look at Robin Hood resulted in a 'naah' and I switched back to a highly yawn-inspiring episode of Doctor Who.
Another Friday, another weekend. My plans are simple: recover from the cold and get some more rhubarb from the park. On my way home from work yesterday I stopped by the park where there used to be an area where people could rent land and grow what they wanted to grow. The area is free for use right now, no one's using it anymore, and there are still flowers and berries around. Since no one owns it you can just go there and pick what you want. Brilliant! Yesterday I risked my life for some rhubarb and beautiful flowers but I didn't have a bag for it so I have to go back this weekend. It's free and it's good for you. Could it get any better?
So the final interviews are today and I try to be all calm about it but of course you can't help but wonder. There is so much going on around here now though so things could change a hundred times before next Thursday (when they're planning to make the final decision).
My Friday fix in music is the soundtrack for the movie 'Last Kiss' with Zach Braff. My favourites are 'chocolate' and 'ride'. Then I'll probably be listening to some Bassboosa before the day is done. : ) Their version of Chris Isaac's 'Wicked Game' is really good.
Another Friday, another weekend. My plans are simple: recover from the cold and get some more rhubarb from the park. On my way home from work yesterday I stopped by the park where there used to be an area where people could rent land and grow what they wanted to grow. The area is free for use right now, no one's using it anymore, and there are still flowers and berries around. Since no one owns it you can just go there and pick what you want. Brilliant! Yesterday I risked my life for some rhubarb and beautiful flowers but I didn't have a bag for it so I have to go back this weekend. It's free and it's good for you. Could it get any better?
So the final interviews are today and I try to be all calm about it but of course you can't help but wonder. There is so much going on around here now though so things could change a hundred times before next Thursday (when they're planning to make the final decision).
My Friday fix in music is the soundtrack for the movie 'Last Kiss' with Zach Braff. My favourites are 'chocolate' and 'ride'. Then I'll probably be listening to some Bassboosa before the day is done. : ) Their version of Chris Isaac's 'Wicked Game' is really good.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Robin Hood or Doctor Who, that's the question...
K and J got back from China the other day and hearing about a trip like that really helps you define the anal world of what we call 'first world problems'. I.e. problems that seem big to us but when you compare it to famine and war, they're nothing but a slap in someone else's face and a total non-problem.
My FWP for today is: Should I keep the tradition of watching Doctor Who on Thursday's at 8, even though it really sucks. Or, should I dare to change my pattern and try the premiere of Robin Hood - the tv-series? Could life be more boring than that? What I should do is take out the vacuum cleaner and clean up my flat before the weekend, instead of doing it at the weekend when all you want to do is enjoy a clean house. ; )
It's a good thing I still have a few hours to think about that...
My FWP for today is: Should I keep the tradition of watching Doctor Who on Thursday's at 8, even though it really sucks. Or, should I dare to change my pattern and try the premiere of Robin Hood - the tv-series? Could life be more boring than that? What I should do is take out the vacuum cleaner and clean up my flat before the weekend, instead of doing it at the weekend when all you want to do is enjoy a clean house. ; )
It's a good thing I still have a few hours to think about that...
Monday, May 28, 2007
A day in the life of a porridge-brain
I had an interview today. Would have been great, really, had it not been for the fact that I woke up yesterday morning with a sore throat only to find out that someone had stolen my brain and replaced it with porridge. Horrible!! Ah well, if it's not meant to be, it's not meant to be. And let me just say one thing, I've had a bad feeling about this for a while so keep fingers crossed and take cover cause the future's about to happen...
Apart from the sore throat it's been a good weekend. Saturday was spent shopping, going to see the new Pirates of the Carribean - At World's End, dining out and relaxing in front of the TV. Pirates was very good. Weird thing was it felt like this was movie #4 and I had missed #3. Still, it feels as though a #4 is not all that far away since the movie had a rather open ending. Keith Richards, however short his cameo, was marvelous! Even Orlando Bloom brought something to the table. I can't wait for it to come out on DVD. The extra stuff should be good. : )
Since Sunday was the last day with the car I decided to pull my behind out of bed and go to the fleemarket. Since the weather was neither here nor there many people thought like me and it got kind of crowded. I managed to find some really nice things though. It's starting to seem as though I cannot get out of there without at least some sort of glass (bought 4 for myself and 1 for my mother), something made out of glass (I found a perfectly sized bowl, a cream jug and a candle holder), something made of linnen (a cover for my bed, a tablecloth and a couple of pillowcases), a framed painting (small one with a black frame) and either a bowl or a cup for the kitchen (bought a new breakfast bowl and a teacup in my favourite china). All in all very nice day.
On my way home from the fleemarket I wanted to go to the gasstation to fill up some petrol but lo and behold, the gasstation next to my house has some weird-assed system where you can't fill up gas and go into the store to pay, the way we normally do it. Instead you have to use your credit card or put cash into the machine. What kind of dorkish system is that? Since there is only one machine for every set of pumps you have to wait for the other person to finish before you can start. Then you have to somehow assess how much petrol you need, if you pay in cash since you pay first and then fill up. Stupid! So, I'm bying K and J a bottle of wine instead. It really has been great to be able to use the car. Only trouble is that when you're borrowing a car you're not likely to use it the way you would your own. I really didn't like the idea of having the car breakdown somewhere in the middle of nowhere on one of my fleemarket galores. ; )
A musical favourite even though the video is almost a complete, and really bad in comparison, ripoff from Lamb's Gabriel:
Play Imogen Heap’s “Hide and Seek”
Oh, and one of my favourite covers: Placebo's makeover of Kate Bush's 'Running up that Hill'. Very good indeed:
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=2029442826
(more placebo on http://www.myspace.com/placebo )
Apart from the sore throat it's been a good weekend. Saturday was spent shopping, going to see the new Pirates of the Carribean - At World's End, dining out and relaxing in front of the TV. Pirates was very good. Weird thing was it felt like this was movie #4 and I had missed #3. Still, it feels as though a #4 is not all that far away since the movie had a rather open ending. Keith Richards, however short his cameo, was marvelous! Even Orlando Bloom brought something to the table. I can't wait for it to come out on DVD. The extra stuff should be good. : )
Since Sunday was the last day with the car I decided to pull my behind out of bed and go to the fleemarket. Since the weather was neither here nor there many people thought like me and it got kind of crowded. I managed to find some really nice things though. It's starting to seem as though I cannot get out of there without at least some sort of glass (bought 4 for myself and 1 for my mother), something made out of glass (I found a perfectly sized bowl, a cream jug and a candle holder), something made of linnen (a cover for my bed, a tablecloth and a couple of pillowcases), a framed painting (small one with a black frame) and either a bowl or a cup for the kitchen (bought a new breakfast bowl and a teacup in my favourite china). All in all very nice day.
On my way home from the fleemarket I wanted to go to the gasstation to fill up some petrol but lo and behold, the gasstation next to my house has some weird-assed system where you can't fill up gas and go into the store to pay, the way we normally do it. Instead you have to use your credit card or put cash into the machine. What kind of dorkish system is that? Since there is only one machine for every set of pumps you have to wait for the other person to finish before you can start. Then you have to somehow assess how much petrol you need, if you pay in cash since you pay first and then fill up. Stupid! So, I'm bying K and J a bottle of wine instead. It really has been great to be able to use the car. Only trouble is that when you're borrowing a car you're not likely to use it the way you would your own. I really didn't like the idea of having the car breakdown somewhere in the middle of nowhere on one of my fleemarket galores. ; )
A musical favourite even though the video is almost a complete, and really bad in comparison, ripoff from Lamb's Gabriel:
Play Imogen Heap’s “Hide and Seek”
Oh, and one of my favourite covers: Placebo's makeover of Kate Bush's 'Running up that Hill'. Very good indeed:
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=2029442826
(more placebo on http://www.myspace.com/placebo )
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
The long and winding road...
Life is pretty darn interesting. The only thing you can be certain of is that it will never cease to surprise you. I find that pretty comforting. I could choose to look at my current situation as rather energyconsuming, and it is, but as tired as I may be right now, that's not a particularly healthy attitude. So, I'm going for suck it up, suck it in and the view that everything happens for a reason. Dude, I'll need the entire weekend to work up the energy for that. It's a good thing we've got four days off now. Well, I'm thinking of throwing in a couple of hours work on Friday but at least that will be of my own free will.
I know Wednesdays are proper TV-nights but still I couldn't stop myself from ordering two movies for the weekend. Totally girly movies but ergo girl, ergo girly, right? Makes sense. Anywho, I ordered 'Little Women' cause I love it and 'Finding Neverland' cause I haven't seen it and Johnny Depp is amazing. I could have ordered Pirates of the Carribean 1, 2 but I'm waiting for the trilogy to hit the stores in box-shape with loads of extra material. And no, I don't know if they will but it worked for Peter Jackson. Can't imagine they will let an opportunity like that go to waste... ; ) I'm soooo looking forward to movie #3 next week. After having seen Orlando Bloom on Extras last week I have total respect for him. That was funny!! Extras is my new weekend tv-must see.
I know Wednesdays are proper TV-nights but still I couldn't stop myself from ordering two movies for the weekend. Totally girly movies but ergo girl, ergo girly, right? Makes sense. Anywho, I ordered 'Little Women' cause I love it and 'Finding Neverland' cause I haven't seen it and Johnny Depp is amazing. I could have ordered Pirates of the Carribean 1, 2 but I'm waiting for the trilogy to hit the stores in box-shape with loads of extra material. And no, I don't know if they will but it worked for Peter Jackson. Can't imagine they will let an opportunity like that go to waste... ; ) I'm soooo looking forward to movie #3 next week. After having seen Orlando Bloom on Extras last week I have total respect for him. That was funny!! Extras is my new weekend tv-must see.
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