Yearly Archive: 2010

31
Dec
2010

RETROSPECTIVE

find closure in the year-end retrospective that I’ve been doing on this journal for—goodness!—8 years. It’s fun to look back and count up and tote up and list the things that happened, the experiences that shaped the year and the literary and musical discoveries I made. Outside the window, the world is white: still so much snow on the ground and the sky is white as well. The hoarfrost of yesterday is gone, but a heavy fog descending promises more for later. Two Swedish couples, very good friends of ours, are coming to celebrate New Year’s Eve with us; Anders...

30
Dec
2010

ICE ICE BABY

I suppose it’s that time of year again. To look both backward and forward; to make resolutions and promises and open your eyes wide to the wonder of what will come next. This morning, the white world was whiter: covered in thick hoarfrost, fat and full and frozen. Chickadees flock to the frozen feeder, grabbing seed and flinging themselves to the top of the bird cherry. From the bedroom window I could see a bird with a very red body and strained to make out what it was; there are no cardinals here and the red-breasted robins aren’t that red....

29
Dec
2010

R & R

It’s the day before the day before the day before (as Karin put it, earlier today). There’s nothing much doing this week and I’m managing to be just fine with that (beyond checking email a little too often). We’ve had my cousin Cate and her family over for dinner one night and an AWC event cancelled and mostly have spent the days sleeping in, reading, relaxing, watching movies and TV and eating too much. January is soon enough to get motivated and I shall. It’s a promise to myself, not just a resolution. Time to get a grip and get...

25
Dec
2010

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

This has been a cold, white, frozen Christmas…on the outside. On the inside? Warm, relaxing, and full of food, family and fun. Full Swedish julbord yesterday with Anders’ family here and a leisurely-ish American-style Christmas this morning, complete with stockings full of perfect stuffers, great gifts that had everyone smiling, an afternoon spent enjoying the new massage chair that Anders got me (!) and an evening at the movie premiere of Narnia, Voyage of the Dawn Treader in English AND 3D! A very merry holiday from us to you!

23
Dec
2010

THERE’S NO BUSINESS LIKE SNOW BUSINESS

This has been a cold and snowy winter so far. It started snowing in early November and it hasn’t let up yet. In fact, it’s snowing now; it’s been snowing all day. We’re supposed to get another foot or so, which brings us up to at least 3 feet, at least. And with the wind sculpting the snow into wild white piles, some of the drifts are up to my waist. I love the snow—you won’t catch me complaining. It brightens everything up…there’s no way I’d trade this brilliant brightness for another rainy dark cloud-covered Skåne winter. And even with...

21
Dec
2010

WARM WORDS ON A COLD EVENING

Martin’s last day of school was last Friday, Karin’s was Monday. Today was their first day home alone during Christmas vacation and because Tuesday isn’t a day either of them has computer time, they were bored. I knew before I left for work that they would be, if they didn’t go out in the snow, sledding or fort-building or snowman-making or something. Martin’s at that beginning teenager-stage…EVERYTHING is boring. He doesn’t want to go out and PLAY. Karin went out at some point, looking for friends to hang out with in the bright sunshine and snowscape but alas, no one...

20
Dec
2010

LET NOTHING YOU DISMAY

I bought Christmas presents for my in-laws today: theater tickets to see Madame Butterfly at the Malmö Opera in January. All I have left to get are a couple of small stocking stuffers and I’ll do that tomorrow or Wednesday. Everything else is done, except wrapping. And even half of that is done already! Cookies have been baked (4 kinds: Rice Krispie Holly Bars, Reindeer poop, Holiday balls and tonight, frosted sugar cookies) and all the cards were mailed last week. We haven’t received several envelopes/packages that are supposedly en route, so I sure hope they get here in time!...

18
Dec
2010

IN PASSING

Writing condolence cards is hard. Words seem inadequate. EVERYTHING seems inadequate, actually. What can you say or do that relates your sympathy, your empathy, your sorrow in the face of someone’s loss? Mostly I think it’s worthy that you try. That you say you’re sorry, that you send your love and a heartfelt note. That you open your arms and hold someone tight. Or let them cry. Or just listen. It’s never enough, though. Nothing is. My dad died 14 years ago on December 20th. 5 days before Christmas. A friend’s father died 2 days ago. And my sister-in-law’s father...

13
Dec
2010

TREES, FREEZE, GOODIES

Whew! I have a moment to sit down and catch my breath in this whirlwind month and by gum, I’m going to post while doing it! It’s go go go right now, with work still being crazy, though I’d hoped it would’ve slown down by now. I just made up that word: slown. It’s a good one, dont’cha think? (not really, I kid.) We rushed madly around yesterday in the late afternoon, after Anders got home from his hockey bockey game. Karin and I had run to the store earlier to buy her a winter jacket and then I dropped...

11
Dec
2010

PUT ONE FOOT IN FRONT OF THE OTHER

I’m feeling pretty good about Christmas preparations this year. I’ve already gotten so much done, I don’t really feel stressed at all! The house is decorated, Christmas letter written, all my cards addressed, signed and mailed except 3 that are getting sent with packages. Gift shopping is nearly done: Martin and I went to the mall today and I finished Anders. Just need a couple more things for the kids, and his family and that’s done, too. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to go get the tree today because the weather suddenly went warm and it was raining overnight and this...

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