Monthly Archive: September 2003

In the car, driving home tonight: Karin: Mama. Me: Yes, Karin? Karin: (out of the blue, in English) You are the best mama! Me: What? Karin: You are the best. Me: Um…thank you. What brought that on? Karin: För att du passade Alexs hus (because you watched Alex’s house) Me: Well, thank you. That was very nice of you. John: What about me? Aren’t I the best? silence Karin: Um. No, Uncle Johnnie. Busy day today, with nice big spot inbetween when I actually got to work on my collage book. Don’t know what I’ll do when I’m done with...

It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood, a beautiful day in the neighborhood…oops, there I go, mixing Sesame Street with Mr. Rogers again. Just got back from a lovely walk around Bosjökloster with the rest of the inhabitants of Skåne! The lake was glittery with sunshine and whitecaps and people were in the mood to walk really slow and suddenly stop in front of one for no obvious reason. Lots of handicrafts (mostly consisting of little santas made of rock or straw or wool or anything Swedes can get their crafty hands on) and food and music. I just realized...

My brother has been really confusing the kids by speaking German to them, but the end result has actually been that Karin is speaking more English! Hurrah! And this is after only one day. 🙂 Despite this stupid cold which refuses to let go and leaves me feeling as if I have a giant cotton ball inside the front of my face, stifling all air intake, I had a good day. Left work early (hmmm…) and came home to sunshine all over the deck and yard. Packed up a picnic dinner (tuna sandwiches! deviled eggs!) and we headed into Malmö...

My brother arrived last night! 🙂 🙂 I haven’t seen any of my family since June of 2002, so I’m pretty happy about it. I drove down to pick him up at the ferry terminal in Trelleborg. What a confusing, aggravating place!! The signage is worthless or non-existant. Anyway, he got there and we got home at around 8:30 p.m. Anders is taking him to a track day on the Ducati today and we’re going to an AWC picnic tonight. Tomorrow we’re going to a county fair, of all things, although compared with REAL (read: American) county fairs, it’s a...

Veel beter om je mee op te eten! (all the better to eat you with, my dear!)

When I called galestorm this morning to cancel our get-together this evening due to my continued cold, she told me I had a great gravelly, after-cigarettes Greta Garbo voice going and I told her it was most definitely the only sexy thing about me today. Still is, although the voice is starting to fade into hoarse croaking. Ribbit I’m so bummed because I can’t get my hands on my rubber stamps, see hers, give her magazine back, eat Chinese hot-and-sour soup and go to choir. My brother is arriving tomorrow night and I had better not still be producing great...

I just got off the phone with my friend Kelly, who is incredibly lucky to be alive. She flipped her car on the highway last Friday and ended up upside down in the ditch with just scrapes on her arms and cracked ribs. She was talking on her cell phone, and in going to change lanes, realized someone was in her blind spot and swerved to avoid them, losing control of the car. Her husband heard the whole thing. Geez louise. She says she’ll never talk on a cell phone while in the car again, and studies have, in fact,...

Reason #34 Why Not to Have Kids Because you can’t coddle yourself when you’re sick and lay in bed all day and have people bring you orange juice, tissues and chicken soup, and you can’t sleep as much as you need to, and you can’t be alone in a quiet house. Especially when they’re sick, too. Although they’re on the borderline of being okay to go back to school/daycare and I, on the other hand, am on my DEATHBED. 🙂 feeling sorry for myself makes me feel a little better. 🙂

The day has not begun well. Both kids were up several times in the night coughing. I’ve definitely got a cold. Anders is staying home this morning with them, and when I went out to leave for work, NEITHER car would start. sigh Someone send me positive vibes. 13:35 After a rough start, I have to say that the day is starting to get better. Must be because of all of you who sent me positive vibes, thank you! Got the news that my friend Lisa in Chicago had her baby and all’s well The car started with no problem...