Lizardek

24
Apr
2016

SMALL THOUGHTS

Weekends just go too damn fast. No matter how relaxed I try to be about them, they zip right by. Here it is Sunday evening already. Sigh. Sweden is being very Sweden-spring-like right now. We’ve run the gamut of weather today: sun, clouds, rain, snow, hail, wind, back to sun. The hail came pounding down and was bouncing off the grass. Martin took a video for me. I took the last little fish over to the neighbor’s today and left it there…in a bowl. Turns out they don’t have an aquarium full of little tropical fish…they have a huge aquarium...

23
Apr
2016

SAD IN SPRING

My Uncle Sam died yesterday morning, before my mom could even get on the road. She called me at work and I couldn’t leave right away as I was waiting for Karin, so had to try really hard to stifle myself a bit so that people didn’t get concerned and make it worse by being nice to me. I’m so sad. This is the second time in the space of a year that a close relative has passed away and I can’t get home to be with my family. GAH. It’s sunny and beautiful today, a bite in the air,...

20
Apr
2016

ONE OF THOSE…DAYS-WEEKS-MONTHS

I have a huge pile of mixed emotions right now. I was really happy on Monday after WW because I finally (!) hit -15 kg*. It’s taken forever to get down this last kilo, thanks to Pie Night, Easter, Anthon Berg and my own lack of motivation. One step forward, two steps back, rinse & repeat for way too many weeks. So, it felt really good to have finally hit that milestone on my way down. 🙂 Still a long way to go, but now the sun is out and I am getting moving again. My mom called Sunday and...

17
Apr
2016

ALIVE BUT BORING

Suddenly it’s been nearly 2 weeks since I posted. How does that happen?? Anders got home from China on Friday, he leaves again super early tomorrow morning for Italy, but will be home next weekend as well. I just looked out the window and over across the way are three tall pine trees, each one with a dove perched at the highest branch, all facing into the wind. 😀 It’s quite cloudy and the wind is racing the clouds along. I was hoping for a nicer, sunshiny day today but looks as if I’m being foiled again. *sigh* …where is...

06
Apr
2016

GRADITATION

Invitations are printed, folded, stuffed, addressed and ready to go to the post office for stamps. Anders confirmed today that the tent, tables and chairs are reserved. I’ve started the design for the student poster (very important item here in Sweden, apparently). The list seems to be endless and Martin just informed us that he’s planning to go to prom as well. He paid for the tickets today (1000 kronor!). AAAAAAGH. His suit is out on the table for trying on and then we have to see what’s next. I keep feeling like I’m forgetting something important. Graduation is a...

03
Apr
2016

THINGS PEOPLE SAY

A young girl, in a book that I am reading, uses the phrase “sprung clent” and then explained it like this, when her listeners don’t understand her, “They washed the floor and they dried and polished…” and one of her aunts exclaims, “Oh! they spring cleaned!” That’s what I’ve started doing and by the time I’m done (probably in time for next spring), I want to be able to say that I have sprung clent. I told the kids that we are starting Operation Deep Clean and they have to help, as they live here too and contribute to the...

31
Mar
2016

THINGS I LOVE RIGHT NOW THIS MINUTE

Elisabeth Shaw 70% dark chocolates The fact that Karin just came in and asked if she could make kolakakor right now Choir Singing again That people feel they can confide in me Barky: purple! plum! auburn! gorgeous! Blackbird songs in the yard Fresh new spring leaves on the columbine under the front window Every Diana Wynne Jones book ever written That I figured out how to get my comments to show on June’s blog FINALLY That I didn’t end up addicted to nose spray this week Hugs when I need them You. Did you know I love you right now...

30
Mar
2016

IF I HAD A MILLION DOLLARS

We had a lazy long weekend and now I’m having a busy week. It’s making my second short week feel longer, because there’s so much in it. Wah wah wah, here comes the Wahmbulance, as my brother would say. I might have mentioned in a recent post how anxious I was feeling about money…all these big expenditures we have right now is making me panic a bit. We had several huge car repair bills, still have a few to pay and car service coming up, Martin’s graduation party, our tickets to the US, driving school, plus some busted appliances …EEK....

21
Mar
2016

BUT DO I REALLY FEEL THE WAY I FEEL?

Spring spring spring! Everyone is posting about spring! AT’CHOO! RUB RUB RUB….augh, my itchy eyes! Spring: pffooey. Allergy season, more like. It gets worse every year, which bums me out because I AM excited about spring. Can we skip to the part where my eyes stop itching? haha! Anyway. It’s Easter break and the kids are off school, despite the fact that they were off school for a week just 3 weeks ago. Spoiled rotten, that’s what. Karin is off for the second night to stay with friends in Lund. She’s flying the coop more and more. Martin is still...

15
Mar
2016

STRESS CANNOT EXIST IN THE PRESENCE OF A PIE*

It was sunny and blue by the time we left work (Anders picked me up after picking up Martin because my car is in for repairs) but I was in a seminar all afternoon so the weather was moot. I hope it’s warming up for real now, though…I would like for it to be spring already. Martin and I went for a walk on Saturday, and it was also warm and blue and we saw snowdrops and smörblommor and crocuses, and the tiny green leaves of what will be miniature violets along a rock wall, and teeny tiny lilac buds....