Tagged: holidaze

It’s hard to get writing again when so much time has gone by and all of it crammed with things you want to remember. I’ve thought about posting several times in the last few days but wasn’t able to motivate myself that last little necessary bit. There was always something to do, or someplace to go, but today the clouds are hanging low and heavy white over the Alps and the wind is rising; we might see another spectacular thunderstorm before the day is over, they seem to be a specialty down here. 3 days in Paris wasn’t long enough,...

How much more perfect can a summer evening be? Sun slowly sinking, tiny non-biting midges dancing in sparkling clouds. Children splashing and screeching in the pool. A hose in hand, spraying water over every pot and flower and sun-saturated growing thing. A rainbow-striped hot-air balloon slowly cruising right above our heads. A day spent finalizing preparations for the annual AWC Independence Day bash which we’re hosting tomorrow (because today was a regular work day, though I took it off regardless). Singing American patriotic songs in the car to the kids: Yankee Doodle, My Country Tis of Thee, God Bless America,...

Bouncy Flouncy Pouncy Piles of Birthday Wishes to redpirk!

I read 118 books in 2007, an average of 9.8 books per month. I’ve increased the total number of books every year since I started keeping track, from 104 to 110 to 113 in the past three years. I don’t know if I’m getting faster at speed-reading or if the books are smaller. Though some of the books I read this year could totally be used in house-building as bricks, so I don’t think that’s it. Best books of 2007 (in no particular order and including no re-reads): The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield...

Carols playing on the stereo, cookies on a platter, stockings lying rumpled and flattened on the floor, surrounded by scraps and strewings of wrapping paper. Cards from friends and family around the world pinned to the felt snowman strip that hangs in the hallway. The aroma of roasting turkey wafts through the house overriding the knowledge that after the holidays it’s going to be time to get back on that treadmill and get some pounds off again. Lights on the tree glow on the red and golden and multi-colored ornaments, each with its own story to tell. Mistletoe lurks above...

You know, I love living overseas. I’ve lived overseas for 17 years, give or take a few weeks. 17 years! Not all at once, and not all in the same place but still, that’s a significant portion of my life…especially considering I’m…only 29. I like living in Europe. I like living in Sweden. There isn’t much I dislike about it (and even less I’d admit to in public). But the thing I dislike MOST about living overseas? Living so far away from my family. And the hardest? Putting my mom on the train and waving goodbye as she leaves for...

I confess to being a tad envious of those of you who have snow. We have no snow and no snow in sight. We had no snow at all last winter, to speak of, and so, though one always wants to be done with it already come February, right now a little snow would be nice. Mom keeps asking me really hard crossword puzzle questions. It’s getting rarer that I know the answers offhand and it makes me feel alzheimery and dumb. It also makes me suspect my Trivial Pursuit crown would be in total jeopardy if I had anyone...