THE BUSY, IT’S HERE

It’s already crazy at work and busy with AIC obligations before the annual meeting in just over a week, but now my social calendar has exploded too. During the next 3 weeks, starting tomorrow, I have 7 days with no plans. 9 with no EVENING plans. 7 AIC activities. 1 massage. 1 hair appointment. 4 dinners (2 that we are hosting and 2 that are elsewhere). It’s busy time, that’s for sure. And because it’s already mid-September, my thoughts are turning to end of year events. I have Friendsgiving on my mind: need to nail down a date that both kids can do, and send a save-the-date invitation. And it’s time for me to start thinking about Christmas…presents, travel plans, etc. It’s never too early, really. I have a few things to mail already, and I’ve been trying to connect with my brother to discuss accommodations, but we keep missing each other.

This morning, I got up early and met up with Martin and an AIC friend in Arlöv at a flea market/junk store. It used to be in Malmö but moved during the last year, so we thought we’d check it out. I got a couple of little things: a pretty pot, 2 glass flower bowls, and a tiny Höganäs pot for my shadowbox. Martin found some things and so did Elaine. We went to Burlöv Center shopping mall for fika and while we were there I went to Zizzi and was lucky enough to find a black sweater to replace the one Debbie gave me years ago that is wearing out because I pretty much wear it daily. We stopped in the Asian market and the Björk and Secondhand store, but I didn’t find anything.

Then we went to Trollets Loppis in Malmö, another giant flea market…one that actually kind of gives me hives because it is packed SO FULL of stuff. Junk mostly, but lots of great furniture (if I were in the market). I found a small mosaic-topped glass outdoor table to use next to the garden swing, and Martin replaced a ring that he had lost a couple of weeks ago with another version of the same one, as he had purchased the original there last year. His boyfriend Theo met us there, and shopped with Martin for a little bit.

Then the 3 of us headed to Lund and had sushi for lunch before going to watch Karin’s soccer game. They lost but it was an exciting game with back and forth goals right up to the last minute, and they only lost by one point, and played well. It was super hot and sunny and I was afraid I’d be sunburned by the time we left, but I seem to have escaped unscathed. I dropped Martin and Theo back home in Malmö and then came home. It’s only 6:30 pm but I’m wiped out and just want to take it easy the rest of the night.

I had the shingles vaccine shot on Thursday after work, and was very happy not to have more than mild side effects from it. I’d had several people tell me their scary experiences with being super sick after the first shot, so I was a little worried. I got the vaccine which I’d been thinking about before, but with more urgency because Anders developed shingles a couple of weeks ago and has been miserable with the pain. He’s in the 4th week now and says it’s improving but it still hurts. 1 in 3 people over 50 develop shingles so this was the push I needed to get the shot. But OY the price hurt almost worse than the shot itself (and my arm is still sore 3 days later). It’s TWO shots, so I have to go back in 2 months for the second dose, and each shot costs SEK 2450! EEESH. Vaccines are spendy. We were very spoiled by having FOUR free COVID shots, that’s for sure.

Anyway, I’m going to go sit and read and be a vegetable until bedtime, I think. And prepare myself mentally for another week of crazy at work and all kinds of things to be social about on top of it.

Mood: anticipatory
Music: Caroline Polachek—I Believe