Tagged: holidaze

17
Dec
2014

MIRROR OF THE MIND

I know, I know, using my blog to write to-do lists is the ULTIMATE in lame. And yet. Who else should I share the most important things in my life with? You think my husband and children give a rat’s ass about my to-do list? It’s short. Or at least it is from this end, when I haven’t actually started it yet. Write Christmas cards Buy stamps Mail Christmas cards Post online Christmas letter Bake Christmas cookies Check gift pile status…are the kids’ presents balanced? If not, remedy Clean the freaking house Buy Christmas food, Swedish and American style Work...

10
Dec
2014

XMAS HALF-STATUS

I am half-stressed about Christmas, but only because I’ve mislaid half my motivation. I just finished Christmas shopping for my brother and his wife, and all I have left is to check the balance of presents for my kids, and see if I have enough stocking stuffers and I am DONE. Oh, and maybe one more thing for Anders…though I probably have too much already and he, poor guy, doesn’t know what to get me, since I have a very short wishlist this year, and practically everything on it has to be ordered from the US, which is not usually...

07
Dec
2014

HOME SWEDE HOME

I bet you thought I’d NEVER get back! It actually felt like longer than 2 weeks away. Weird how time distorts. I had a lovely week of vacation at my sister’s new (temporary) place in Connecticut, just hanging out and enjoying the American bounty of Thanksgiving and family. Sarah and Mom and I binge-watched the entire first half of Season 1 of Outlander while it snowed outside. We avoided the malls on Black Friday but ventured out Saturday and things were just as crowded. Eek! Mom and I left Sunday for Boston and I had a good week working and...

27
Nov
2014

WHAT I’M THANKFUL FOR

husband, children, mom, siblings, relatives, friends, home, job, health Internet, airplanes, electricity, clean water, refrigeration, antibiotics authors, publishers, books, magazines, paper, ink, alphabets, teachers humor, sanity, reason, patience, talent, organization, foresight, love unpredictable endings, unsolicited compliments, comforting routines, witty repartee, conversation starters turkey, stuffing, potatoes, gravy, green beans, black olives, pumpkin pie

22
Nov
2014

READY TO PARTY

It’s 3 o’clock and we’re nearly ready. One turkey is done and the other two are being basted as I write this. The kids have done their share of picking up and cleaning. I need to go wipe down the bathrooms one more time, and when Karin’s boyfriend arrives in an hour, she will put him to work with her setting the tables. It’s been a sunny day, for the most part, but it’s going overcast now. We went to the store twice…once for more potatoes and tinfoil and once for candles, which I had thought I already had. We...

06
Nov
2014

A LITTLE BIT OF THIS, A LITTLE BIT OF THAT

For some stupid reason, Martin’s school did not do individual school photos this year. Or else he missed the day and didn’t find out if there was a make-up day. I have heard from two other friends with kids his age that their schools didn’t do photos either. WTH? Now I have to find time to take him to a photographer if I don’t want to have a gaping hole in the parade o’ school photos that every child’s life (at least in the Western world) is not complete without. Warning: this post is going to be all over the...

27
Aug
2014

WHAT I DID ON MY SUMMER VACATION

We had several people boggle at us when we made the announcement that we had chosen Toronto for our BIG birthday trip. Even the border patrol goggled at my sister on her way into the Canada, when she answered the question about whether she was entering the country for business or leisure. “What the heck are you going to do in Toronto for a week?” he sputtered. Granted it wasn’t our first choice, but it turned out to be a good one. We had a fantastic time, and I’ve got the photos to prove it!

20
Apr
2014

WALKING ON SUNSHINE

So far, this has been an absolutely wonderful and relaxing long weekend and there’s still the rest of this evening and all of tomorrow to enjoy of it. Karin is up in Gothenburg, participating in the Future Cup Invitational, as goalie for her team. They are playing in the semi-final game tonight, but we can hopefully keep track of the match progress live on the website. They won their first 3 games and she only let in one goal, so she was sounding quite happy when I talked to her a couple of hours ago. Yesterday, we had some good...

14
Apr
2014

SHE WORKS HARD FOR THE MONEY

I love spring in Sweden. It’s not just the daffodils everywhere or the way the fuchsia glows in the lengthening light or the sheen of green that pours itself over every rolling hill. It’s the SHORT WORK WEEKS. Easter is super late this year, and because of it, I have this to look forward to: This week: 3.5 days of work Followed by a: 4.5 day weekend Followed by: 4 days of work Followed by: 2.5 days of work Followed by a: 4.5 day weekend And then at the end of May? Another 2.5 day work week, followed by ANOTHER...

31
Dec
2013

RETROSPECTIVE

haven’t checked to see how many years I’ve been writing a retrospective on the last day of the year, but it’s been several and it’s always fun to go back and look at what I was reading and watching and listening to. My goals don’t seem to change much, but that’s okay. Debbie, Camilla and I had a sleepover a couple of nights ago, which was very fun (and caused my daughter envy) at which we just talked and ate and watched movies. We saw Bright Star and The Adjustment Bureau, both of which were excellent in very different ways....

December 2025
S M T W T F S
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28293031  

Archives