Lizardek

10
Dec
2024

I GUESS THERE ARE NEVER ENOUGH BOOKS*

We only have one book left for the AIC book group, which is scheduled for discussion in mid-January. So last month the organizer sent out the request for book recommendations (feels like we just did this, but it was July 2023) and we all sent in 5 book names, and then we got the list and voted, and the results just came back in. It seems that a couple of regulars didn’t recommend any books, but of those of us who did, each of us got at least one of our recommendations onto the list. Unfortunately, this year, there are...

09
Dec
2024

BARKY

I spend a rather embarrassing amount of time thinking about my hair. I’ve even named it, as long-time readers of this blog will remember. ↑ I cover it up if I can when it’s raining or misting because it will frizz out completely if I don’t, and will frizz out regardless, even if I do. It’s like having a poodle on my head. I never really control what it does or how it looks, and frankly, after nearly 28 years in Sweden, where it is so often raining or misting, I’ve kind of given up. The curling iron is relegated...

06
Dec
2024

TIS THE SEASON TO STRESS OUT

I’m tired and stressed and worried about certain things, but at least I’m feeling pretty ready for Christmas and MORE than ready for vacation, which is coming soon. Two more weeks of work and then I’m off for nearly 3 weeks and I can’t wait. I’m sure it will get filled up with things to do but I plan to spend quite a lot of it with my feet up. I’m avoiding sugar for real now, though it might be too late, and it’s been really really hard. For most of this week it was ALL I THOUGHT ABOUT. Yesterday...

30
Nov
2024

BUNNY BUNNY BUNNY

Just like you are supposed to say “rabbit rabbit rabbit” on the first day of the month, I feel like there should be something you say on the LAST day of the month. Like everyone else, I’m a bit boggled that it’s already the end of November. Maybe I should say “bunny bunny bunny” now! That sounds legit. I’ve made an excellent start on my holiday to-do list. Wrapped up the few gifts that have to be put in the post, just have to get them into padded envelopes and INTO the post. Unfortunately 3 of them were supposed to...

26
Nov
2024

COOKIE MONSTER IS SAVED

I am very sad about the cookie situation. Which is, that I can’t have any, because I’m not supposed to be eating sugar. And it’s coming up on Christmas cookie season. AUGH! I organized the cookie exchange for the AIC again this year, but at the very last minute, right before I sent out the email telling everyone how many were participating and how many cookies to make, I took my name off the list. There were 12 people participating, which was a nice number, and a lot of cookies, and I thought that if I had 66 cookies in...

23
Nov
2024

BACK FROM THE DEAD

Yowza, three weeks flies by when you are having fun! I’ve been full up with all kinds of things. Mom and Sarah arrived on November 4 and we had about 3 days before Sarah left for Ireland, into which we crammed pottery painting, thrifting for night stands, and various other activities. I worked half days that week, and then we had the weekend, where we took mom to brunch at Torna Hällestads lanthandel (with Karin and Anders), and the following week, I worked from home every day, so that mom wouldn’t be by herself. We had massages, and met up...

10
Nov
2024

PLENTY OF UGH

I can’t write much about my reactions to the election results. I find I can’t think much about it either. I don’t want to talk about it, especially at work where everyone seems to think that a) I should defend them or b) I should explain them. Neither of which can I, nor do I feel obligated to, do. I can’t answer for the 51% of the country that voted for insanity AGAIN. I am angry, depressed, saddened, boggled, and most of all numb. I can’t watch or read the news right now, though I am still reading the newsletters...

03
Nov
2024

READY STEADY GO

2 months to Christmas, eeek!! I have actually already gotten several Christmas presents and stocking stuffers but still have a lot to do in that regard. But right now, my focus is on preparing for mom and Sarah’s visit and then for Friendsgiving. They will be here late on Monday night, hurrah! Yesterday, I slept in and then had a rather lazy morning. But I made up for it after I got up. I cleaned everything in sight. Bathrooms, kitchen, floors, dusted, vacuumed, windexed, etc. And I did a boatload of laundry: all the bedding for all the beds, all...

28
Oct
2024

HOLIDAY PREP

It’s nearly Halloween. I have the big bowl of candy ready and the kids are coming home tomorrow night to carve the pumpkins and decorate. Anders is gone this week but will be home on Thursday at some point, though I don’t know if he’ll make it for the trick-or-treat hours. Kirstin hosted the annual (3x makes it a yearly event, right) AIC adult party on Friday. I didn’t really dress up at all, since I don’t really like dressing up. I stuck my bat deelybobbers on and wore a bright orange shirt. That’s as dressed up as I like...

20
Oct
2024

SUNDAY UPDATE

Apart from the restricted diet I’m on this past week and today, this has been an excellent weekend. We’ve had beautiful, warm autumn weather with lots and lots of sunshine, and a to-do list that has every item but one now checked off. Lots of laundry, cleaning, and yardwork. Anders has harvested the rest of the potatoes and a handful of late carrots and put the vegetable garden to bed for the winter. He took in the porch swing (I put the rest of the porch furniture away last week) and I washed the canopy cover. The house is clean...