Author: lizardek

09
May
2004

SIGNS THAT SUMMER IS A-COMING

put up insect bead curtain and window screens can’t stop opening windows put all the winter jackets in the closet put dark navy blinds up in the kids’s rooms so they’ll stop saying it’s too light out to be bedtime changed from winter comforter to summer-weight blanket lilacs, lilacs, LILACS! received invitation to annual midsommar party

09
May
2004

LOVES ON YA

Haha! My BROTHER called to wish me a Happy Mother’s Day…which none of my family here had thought about. Anders always makes sure I get flowers for the Swedish Mother’s Day (May 23) but he never remembers the American one. 🙂 Doesn’t seem fair to make him remember 2 mother’s days somehow. I sent flowers to MY mom and will be calling her and my grandma later. It’s looking to be a beautiful day today, it’s 10:30 and the temp is already up to 20C. I have … NO PLANS … other than to drop off and pick up Martin...

08
May
2004

DITCHING AND DESPAIR

Yesterday was an all-around horrible day. I bailed out on work togetherness (bleah) after a couple of hours of trying to put on a smiley face, and later, after dinner with some friends where I felt increasingly uncomfortable and out-of-place*, we ended up not being able to see Mona Lisa’s Smile as it turned out the movies changed yesterday at the theater and they hadn’t posted the new ones on the website, so we had a choice between Secret Window and “Angelina Jolie playing an FBI agent” movie, whereupon the other 3 girls chose Angelina because the theme of the...

07
May
2004

HIT OR MISS

The courtyard of the school looks like a ticker tape parade hit it, but it turns out it’s the cherry blossoms blown asunder by the wind. Skåne is windy, as usual, and the trees are winking silver and green, silver and green. The tulips and daffodils are bleached of color and bowing under their own weight, and the dandelions are closed up tight waiting for the sun. It’s a 3-pheasant day, must be a lucky one. 3 proud (but stupid) gentlemen pheasants ambling in various places along the edges of the road, the grove, the fields. 1 of them struts...

06
May
2004

LIFE IS A CABARET, OLD CHUM

After the bath, while I’m brushing his hair: Liz: (brushing Martin’s wet bangs straight up) There! Go check that out! Martin: (goes to look in mirror, comes back rolling eyes at me) Farmor: Vilken tuffing!* Martin: (makes another face) Jag vill inte vara en tuffing, jag vill vara en snygging* Me: (laughing too hard to brush)

06
May
2004

THE MAIN EVENT

Fighting with my daughter seems to be becoming an integral part of our lives. 🙁 We just butt heads constantly. I know that I have control issues, but I also find the stubbornness and tenacity of my daughter completely over-the-top. She finds it necessary to fight EVERY request, every order, everything. I’m so tired of it I could scream. Last night was horrible and this morning wasn’t much better. After doing a LOT of thinking about it, trying to figure out what to do to change my attitude and my reactions, which, let me tell ya, ain’t easy, I had...

05
May
2004

HIGHLIGHTS

Baby ferns are uncurling in the roadside ditches. The sun has touched the tops of the rapeseed with gold, they’re glinting at the top. The rapeseed, after a mere two weeks, is already waist-high and blooming. With the rape and the dandelions, and the daffodils still gamely hanging in there, the world is highlighted yellow everywhere you look. Up the long empty slope of Odarslövsvägen a novice learns how to drive a motorcycle, his instructor standing hands on hips, watching as he rockets slowly away. Marda loved the design for her flyers and we’re getting together soon, probably tonight, so...

04
May
2004

GRUMPY MCGRUMPSTER

Why am I sad and mad and bad? I do not know, go ask your dad. Reasons For Bailing Out of the 5K Walk Last Night: 1) bruised knee, 2) allergies from hell, 3) pouring rain. Okay, it probably wouldn’t have stopped dbrus but I freely admit I’m a wimp. Happy Birthday Wishes to same_sky and montfort! Things That Might Help Stop the Grumpiness Before It Gets So Thick I Have to Chip it Off With a Fork: Eating all 10 of the fun-size 3 Musketeers bars my boss gave me this morning Keep thinking: The sun is out! It’s...