Monthly Archive: November 2014

15
Nov
2014

WORKING FOR THE WEEKEND

I have nothing to write about right now. We spent a large part of the day cleaning house, because we have our Thanksgiving dinner party next weekend and Anders will be gone on all week and there’s no time on the day to do anything but prepare food and get the tables ready. So the big cleaning has to happen this weekend. I wrote a list of chores this morning and got everyone moving after lunch. I told the kids they had to pick at least 2 of the items on the list. Martin picked windexing and the toilets. Karin...

14
Nov
2014

PRODUCTS OF THE PAST

Don’t you ever worry about the fact that all the stores with stuff are closing and all that will be left, soon, are clothing boutiques, hair salons, liquor stores, groceries, and restaurants? Bookstores are more and more threatened by Kindles and other e-readers. Stores that sell movies are going under as Netflix and Apple TV take over. Stores that sell music have pretty much already gone the way of the dinosaur. There are still some toy stores out there, but more and more, it seems that we do the majority of our shopping and ordering online. We stream our music...

13
Nov
2014

TANGENTIAL

Things we talked about at Bookworms tonight, in no particular order: one woman’s new house renovation issues the same woman’s new job one woman’s imminent baby (she’s due in 2 weeks) c-sections one woman’s return to book group after the birth of her baby 2.5 months ago one woman’s news that she is 17 weeks pregnant smörgåstärtas Kegels exercises women’s necks after 40 the fact that the image of yourself that you see in the mirror is actually reversed and not how everyone else sees YOU podcasts audiobooks one woman’s experience of running the NY marathon 2 weeks ago security...

12
Nov
2014

MINDGAMES

Oops, I missed a day. How did I manage that?? I honestly have no idea. I was doing so well!! When I’m wasting time, which seems to happen much more frequently now than ever before, it’s by playing games on the iPad. Sometimes the kids play with me. In the mornings, if Martin is getting ready at the same time I am, he always plays the daily Seven Little Words and Red Herring with me. Sometimes, if it’s just a couple of us at the dinner table, we’ll put the iPad between us an play Logo Quiz or Iconic or...

10
Nov
2014

THE ANTI-BUCKET LIST

Things I hope never to do before I die Eat squid or snails or bugs Go blind Wear stilettos “Misplace” another IUD Become a victim of identity theft Pierce any part of my body Stop telling my husband I love him every day Throw up in public Develop an allergy to gluten Catch an STD Bungee-jump Take up smoking Learn to appreciate wine Be stung by a scorpion Change my behavior because someone might think I’m weird Become a morning person Get over my love for lists Own a glue gun Pass a kidney stone Run out of things to...

09
Nov
2014

SOUPY

One reason for liking autumn is that it’s soup weather. I’ve always had a soft spot for soups and I eat them all year round. Cans of certain Cambell’s soups that I can’t get over here are one of the few things that I consistently bring back home with me from the States. I really miss chicken noodle soups, which can rarely be found here in Sweden. But there is something about the chill in the air that makes me want to MAKE them, and not just open a can. gnostraeh also has a thing for soups and she’s been...

08
Nov
2014

GOOD NIGHT

I just drove Martin in to Lund to drop him off at the train station (he’s going to a movie with a friend in Malmö) and it was nearly pitch black out… the streetlights weren’t on yet, but light was nearly gone from the sky. They WERE on when I returned back through our village at 5 o’clock. And it’s still nearly two months until the shortest day. UGH. Every year, the darkness of this time of the year gets harder to bear. The only respite is the month of December when everyone’s windows are lit up by advent candelabras....

07
Nov
2014

A LITTLE LESS CONVERSATION

My daughter told me that her boyfriend is coming over for dinner tomorrow and she adjured me that “this time, mama, you have to TALK to him!” She has a point. It’s not that I haven’t talked to him, exactly, but I find it really hard sometimes to initiate conversation. I’m not a naturally chatty person, though I bet people who have met me will be surprised at that self-assessment. But it’s true: I find it much easier to keep up a conversation than to get one going. And of the four of us, only Karin is a natural chat-initiator....

06
Nov
2014

A LITTLE BIT OF THIS, A LITTLE BIT OF THAT

For some stupid reason, Martin’s school did not do individual school photos this year. Or else he missed the day and didn’t find out if there was a make-up day. I have heard from two other friends with kids his age that their schools didn’t do photos either. WTH? Now I have to find time to take him to a photographer if I don’t want to have a gaping hole in the parade o’ school photos that every child’s life (at least in the Western world) is not complete without. Warning: this post is going to be all over the...

05
Nov
2014

RANTY

Ugh. I’m so glad I’m almost done with this part of the job. As VP Membership for the AWC, I not only have to call new members when they register, activate them and keep track of whether or not they’ve paid their dues but every year when our new season starts, and membership fees are due for everyone, which is the end of August…I have to keep track of ALL the payments (with the help of our excellently patient treasurer) and finally deactivate all those who have moved, are not renewing or who never answer. I put several notices and...

November 2014
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