Author: lizardek

02
Dec
2019

CREEPING UP

This weekend was filled with family thoughts in many different ways. Because it was the weekend after Thanksgiving, which we can’t celebrate on Thursday here in Sweden, it was also filled with the friends who have become family over the years. I went to the annual AWC wreathmaking workshop on Thursday evening, and we figured it out it was the 20-year anniversary. Not a huge turnout this year, but it was fun regardless, and I was quite happy with my wreath. I don’t understand why no one else takes advantage of the gold spray paint that Rosa always has on...

22
Nov
2019

THE OPPOSITE OF NANOWRIMO

There’s no shortage of days in November, no lack of days that I could have been writing, but didn’t. November days all seem to blur together in one gray, cloud-covered, drizzly blur. Today was no exception. A few weeks ago, we had so much work we were drowning in it (not waving, but drowning), and I sent out an email to all the marketing people both in Corporate and out in the regions to give them a heads-up that we were really slammed and could they please 1) give us more than 1-2 days deadline on their requests and 2)...

29
Oct
2019

PHOTOS I DIDN’T TAKE OF THINGS I MIGHT HAVE SEEN

Four of them leaping, crossing the road from one side of the twilit fields to the other. Tails flashing white, they were gone into the dimness so fast I only had time to take my foot off the accelerator. I could only see the idea of deer, the bounding impression of them; headless, hornless, just a fading smear across my vision, safe to the other side. Earlier today, a rising of crows or perhaps, jackdaws. A black flapping into the trees. The things I see from the drive to and from work: storks stepping sedately, a couple of shine-eyed cats...

27
Oct
2019

SOV GOTT!

Our bedroom is done, apart from the closet, which Anders is working on now, and it’s so nice it’s like sleeping in a hotel room. We are really pleased with the result and it’s amazing how paint and new furniture can spiff up a room! I have one more painting that is at the framer’s now, but otherwise, everything is back in place. I went to the same frame shop that helped with Martin’s art back in March, and even though I was only there twice, once to drop off and decide and once to pick up the finished pieces,...

18
Oct
2019

BIBLIOMANIA

We had book group last night and we were a small gathering, only 5 of the usual suspects, but it was cozy and made for a really nice discussion…easy to follow and jump in, without it breaking down into smaller groups, which sometimes happens. The book we discussed was interesting, though I wouldn’t have read it on my own initiative: Beautiful Exiles by Meg Waite Clayton. It’s about Hemingway’s third wife Martha Gellhorn, and while I pretty much dislike HIM, even if his books are (mostly) good, SHE was fascinating, and I found myself wondering as I often do, why...

16
Oct
2019

MY POWER’S TURNED ON

Caught in the work squeeze again and it’s getting me down. Even the free Fridays are only sorta kinda helping. Urgh. We’ve made a ton of progress on the bedroom renovation and are moving back in officially tonight, though it’s not 100% finished. Anders took last Thursday and Friday off and spent both days painting. On Saturday we went shopping and picked out a ceiling fan that works better with the decor than the previous one did (which is being moved to the living room). I spent a great deal of time putting dresser drawers together and we finished assembling...

06
Oct
2019

I LOVE MY LONG WEEKENDS

I’ve taken all the Fridays in October off, and I’m really happy about it, though, to be honest, I could just as happily take all the Thursdays off as well. Except there is too much to do at work, so that would probably just be more stressful than not. We’re sitting in a really un-fun open landscape situation at work and it’s really getting me down, so I’m squeezing every moment of satisfaction and relaxation out of my weekly day off that I can, including rolling over and going back to sleep, reading a LOT, and getting things done around...

01
Oct
2019

I CHEST WANT SOME NEW BUREAUS

October came whistling in over the weekend with wild winds, cold temperatures and lots of grey cloud cover. It’s COLD now. I’ve switched to my winter raincoat and a scarf is a must now. The trees are mostly losing leaves but some have turned…raggedy gold and brown. The bright red that signals autumn hasn’t struck since there haven’t been any frosty nights yet. With global warming, it may be a thing of the past here…I suspect the trees will be bare before the temps drop that low, anyway, at least at the rate the wind is whirling. Anders is in...

28
Sep
2019

SPEAKING OF WHICH

Years ago, a friend who was a teacher asked me to speak to her English students about my thoughts and opinions of living in Sweden. I don’t remember much about it, except that I stood in front of a class of high school kids and told them what my experiences were and answered their questions. My kids were small then, and I had only been in Sweden for a handful of years or so. Now, I’ve lived here for nearly 23 years. My kids are, to all intents and purposes, grown and heading out on their own adult journeys. They...

22
Sep
2019

LONG WEEKEND, SHORT THOUGHTS

I had a nice long weekend, with Friday off, and not a lot of plans, though I seem to have done things…apart from just cleaning house and laundry. I also noted yesterday that my shoulders didn’t hurt like they typically do after a regular work day, so that was good. I still DID work, though most of what I did this weekend was for the AWC and not my day job, as we have our annual business meeting and board elections coming up on Tuesday. My life seems to be a lot of lather-rinse-repeat these days. One year blending into...

October 2025
S M T W T F S
 1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031  

Archives