I may have a lead on a Siberian cat here in Skåne that we can go visit to see if Anders reacts. I’m SO happy at the thought that we might be able to get a cat again!! 🙂 I miss them so much, and hate not having a cat in the house. We had to give away our two Swedish tiger tabbies when Martin was only 5 months old, as Anders’ asthma allergy-reaction was getting too bad to mess with. 🙁 I’ve since discovered that I’m actually allergic too, after not having cats in the house for the past...

I wonder how many people in Sweden will vote yes for the Euro on Sunday in honor of Anna Lindh? Apparently, it happened somewhere else in Europe that someone’s death engendered sympathy votes for the Euro, but I can’t find anything on Google. Anyone heard of this?

My husband is the most careful person on earth, which is usually endearing and occasionally frustrating (for someone as impatient as I am). This character trait applies to his driving skills as well. He’s not a slow driver or a stupid one, and has owned 17 cars and 9 motorcycles in the course of his life and regularly drives track days. In other words, if it’s not clear enough already, he’s an EXCELLENT driver. Which is why I was very upset on his account when he came home last Friday and told me that the police in Gothenburg had called...

One thing is clear to me. You can’t know everything you’d like to know. You can’t do everything you’d like to do. You can’t read everything you’d like to read. —RLP

This is the most amazing website, stuffed with info about the artists, with gorgeous high-resolution images of their paintings: Art Renewal, indeed!

I just filled out an online survey about “What Reading Means To Me” and realized that it was a harder question to answer than I was expecting. I thought it would be easy, but find that putting my feelings about books and reading into words isn’t so simple. How has the way I read changed over time? How has it impacted my life? What do I get from reading that I can’t get anywhere else? I love the weight and feel and smell of books themselves. I’m fascinated by binding, paper, typefaces, bookplates, libraries and bookstores. I worked in a...

In the car, driving home tonight: Karin: Mama. Me: Yes, Karin? Karin: (out of the blue, in English) You are the best mama! Me: What? Karin: You are the best. Me: Um…thank you. What brought that on? Karin: För att du passade Alexs hus (because you watched Alex’s house) Me: Well, thank you. That was very nice of you. John: What about me? Aren’t I the best? silence Karin: Um. No, Uncle Johnnie. Busy day today, with nice big spot inbetween when I actually got to work on my collage book. Don’t know what I’ll do when I’m done with...

It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood, a beautiful day in the neighborhood…oops, there I go, mixing Sesame Street with Mr. Rogers again. Just got back from a lovely walk around Bosjökloster with the rest of the inhabitants of Skåne! The lake was glittery with sunshine and whitecaps and people were in the mood to walk really slow and suddenly stop in front of one for no obvious reason. Lots of handicrafts (mostly consisting of little santas made of rock or straw or wool or anything Swedes can get their crafty hands on) and food and music. I just realized...

My brother has been really confusing the kids by speaking German to them, but the end result has actually been that Karin is speaking more English! Hurrah! And this is after only one day. 🙂 Despite this stupid cold which refuses to let go and leaves me feeling as if I have a giant cotton ball inside the front of my face, stifling all air intake, I had a good day. Left work early (hmmm…) and came home to sunshine all over the deck and yard. Packed up a picnic dinner (tuna sandwiches! deviled eggs!) and we headed into Malmö...

My brother arrived last night! 🙂 🙂 I haven’t seen any of my family since June of 2002, so I’m pretty happy about it. I drove down to pick him up at the ferry terminal in Trelleborg. What a confusing, aggravating place!! The signage is worthless or non-existant. Anyway, he got there and we got home at around 8:30 p.m. Anders is taking him to a track day on the Ducati today and we’re going to an AWC picnic tonight. Tomorrow we’re going to a county fair, of all things, although compared with REAL (read: American) county fairs, it’s a...