Monthly Archive: April 2011

27
Apr
2011

SPRING FEVER

I’ve lost count of how many beautiful days we have had this past week. I don’t remember EVER having this many days of this kind of weather in a row before; not here in Sweden, anyway. And the forecast I looked at earlier just showed more of the same: sunny, sunny, partly sunny, sunny. Whee! Sweden, when you get Spring up your nose, you really get Spring up your nose! Spring is sproinging out all over. Everything that blossoms has suddenly exploded. The bird cherry across the ditch in the backyard blew up like a giant Jiffy Pop yesterday (without...

24
Apr
2011

LOVE LETTER

Dear Easter weekend holidays, Thank you for making the 16-week wait for another day off from January 6 to now worth it. You’ve outdone yourself with the unbelievably beautiful weather, the relaxation, the traditional egg coloring, filling of the baskets and egg hunt (even though the kids wouldn’t let me take photos this year), the getting-things-done in between lounging on the deck and on the trampoline, the kitty fix and dog-sitting, the amount of books I’ve had time to read, the good food and good sleep of several nights in a row. And you’ve still got another day left! Mwah!...

18
Apr
2011

MY WORK HERE IS DONE

We have been asked to cat-sit for our across-the-street neighbors this weekend, but due to allergies and preference we will be taking care of the cats in their house instead of bringing them over to ours. Cats seem to be much more place-sensitive when it comes to this kind of thing; dogs, it seems, are more particular to people. It’s embarrassing to admit I can’t remember the wife’s name. She’s really nice, and I know her husband is named Håkan and her little boy is named Jonathan. The cats are named Nadja and Alice and they are simply lovely, and...

17
Apr
2011

FETCH

The sky is that peculiar shade of blue that fades into white where the light shines into it. I can see contrails, streaky cirrus clouds, the beginning ripples of sunset. The sun is low and shines orange against the house. If you look you can see it shining through leaves, tracing their patterned skeletons. Earlier today, we took the dog up on the hill and threw a sodden drooly tennis ball for him. Over and over, he never gets tired, though his lolloping return slowly decelerates after awhile. We could feel the wind scudding across the hill. We could see...

13
Apr
2011

PREPOSITIONAL MONOTONY*

On the brain: All the things on my Anticipation list Finalizing Iceland trip dates and purchasing airilne tickets Giant salamis (Karin was selling them for her soccer team and our fridge is full of them until we get them all delivered). GIANT! SALAMIS! On the table: Work laptop & work papers home phone & iPhone AWC folder and calendars to update GIANT SALAMIS! On the floor: Dust, though mostly it’s under things Dirt, tracked in from soccer practice and pansy potting Hair, soon to be shed by Mental the dog who arrives tomorrow! Various Things my family doesn’t seem to...

10
Apr
2011

THINGS I’VE ACCOMPLISHED THIS WEEKEND, SO FAR

Attended an AWC sushi night with friends Took down all the curtains, washed them, did other things while my MiL ironed them all, put them back up. Several of them involved those little metal hook things that slip in the band and pleat it: I HATE THOSE THINGS. Every year I say I am never doing this job again. I say it again this year. Stripped and changed the beds 5 loads of laundry, all together Washed dishes and took out recyclables Dusted almost the whole house Vacuumed the whole house Grocery shopped Made a really yummy dinner for Martin...

06
Apr
2011

THINGS I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO, THROUGH SUMMER

Bookworms tomorrow Lunch with Geena! Sushi Night on Friday (which means sushi TWICE in one day!) Sleeping in on Saturday Little Big Bookgroup next week, which means this interminable book will finally be over Bonfire at Mats & Annelotte’s for Walpurgis Eve SPRING! Willow Weaving course GAME NIGHT at our house! It’s been ages! Anders’ birthday Martin participating in his second World Run Wonders at Angie’s in May and at a castle in June to celebrate Debbie’s big birthday Midsommer strawberries and new potatoes! Bookworms at the beach in June Summer vacation 4th of July party at our house! Trip...

05
Apr
2011

CARE PACKAGES

Two awesome care packages in such a short time! Thanks to the best seester who sent my order of Girl Scout cookies, we now have a freezer full of Lemonades and Peanut Butter Sandwiches. And thanks to the best mom who acted so quickly when I called her with an emergency order for American medicine and sent a complete care package of items I was running low on. When I moved to Sweden 14+ years ago, the list of things I craved was long. My mom was awesome about sending stuff over to keep my homesickness at bay. Everything from...

02
Apr
2011

STUCK

I feel stuck. In almost every way, just now. I can’t seem to write about anything until I come unglued. But I don’t know what it is that will pull me out of this. Maybe nothing can pull me out of it. Maybe it’s ME that has to do the pulling. And maybe what’s keeping me stuck is the fact that I don’t know what will happen if I pull. In the meantime, talk amongst yourselves.

April 2011
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