Today
10.52 - 16.08
To meet Susanne and her Carl, I went to Malmö today. Susanne is one of my best friends from Kristianstad and my constant mind coach. We've spent many, many hours over countless coffee and tea cups trying to make sense of the world. I believe we get a little closer every time ;-) Since I last saw her, in January, she's followed her heart across Skåne and moved in with Carl. Congratulations!
Thank you for a great day - and thank you for the sushi.
(In reality, Susanne is not as blurry as the picture might suggest. The lack of sharpness is due to both the photographer and the object walking.)
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18.20 - 23.40
The girls' had dinner at Caroline's because Martin was away at some conference in Stockholm where he was appointed the best salesman of the last quarter of the year! Congrats Carl Martin (former known as only Martin).
After eating and catching up on the latest gossip, Stina test made-up Caroline in bridal shimmer. The wedding is in a week now! I can't believe it's so soon! For me, this will the first wedding I go to - my best friend's wedding. I'm sure I'll cry like a baby.
I chillax in Caroline's couch and blow kisses to Stina.
On the bus going home. Stina is being a good girl, putting on the seat belt and all. This is her "old-lady-pose".
To meet Susanne and her Carl, I went to Malmö today. Susanne is one of my best friends from Kristianstad and my constant mind coach. We've spent many, many hours over countless coffee and tea cups trying to make sense of the world. I believe we get a little closer every time ;-) Since I last saw her, in January, she's followed her heart across Skåne and moved in with Carl. Congratulations!
Thank you for a great day - and thank you for the sushi.
(In reality, Susanne is not as blurry as the picture might suggest. The lack of sharpness is due to both the photographer and the object walking.)
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18.20 - 23.40
The girls' had dinner at Caroline's because Martin was away at some conference in Stockholm where he was appointed the best salesman of the last quarter of the year! Congrats Carl Martin (former known as only Martin).
After eating and catching up on the latest gossip, Stina test made-up Caroline in bridal shimmer. The wedding is in a week now! I can't believe it's so soon! For me, this will the first wedding I go to - my best friend's wedding. I'm sure I'll cry like a baby.
I chillax in Caroline's couch and blow kisses to Stina.
On the bus going home. Stina is being a good girl, putting on the seat belt and all. This is her "old-lady-pose".
Being Bad
Today I've been in a bad mood all day. I can't help it; some days are just like that. It's not like I WANT to be bad, but the feelings overpower me. I wish I was one of those people who are able to TALK about their disturbing feelings in the heat of them, but I'm not always so good at that. It's not in my blood. Also - sometimes I don't even know myself why I'm upset. Spooky.
So on days like today, when the good and bright angel on my shoulder calls in sick, I'm a danger to the rest. There used to be these Calvin and Hobbes t-shirts that said "Today I'm Mean". Maybe I should invest in one like that.
So on days like today, when the good and bright angel on my shoulder calls in sick, I'm a danger to the rest. There used to be these Calvin and Hobbes t-shirts that said "Today I'm Mean". Maybe I should invest in one like that.
One Year Later
Today it's been a year since I started blogging and found the perfect way to terrorize the world with my personal opinions. For those who have an interest of getting to know me or want insight in my life, the blog is great. Otherwise, it probably lacks in value. However, it fills my desire to feel important - so I will keep writing. Thanks to all of you who read and shame on you who are regularly readers but never comment. I know you are out there.
Lund
Since deceptive clouds prevented us from laying on the beach today, mom and I went exploring instead. Our destination was one of Landskrona's neighbouring cities, Lund. Lund is one of the oldest cities in Sweden and very rich in history and culture; the city is held to have been founded around 990, when the Scanian lands (Skåne) belonged to Denmark. It soon became the Christian center of Northern Europe with an archbishop and with the towering Lund Cathedral, built in the eleventh century. Outside of religion, Lund is probably most well known because of the prominent Lund University, one of Europe's oldest universities.
Lund must be one of Sweden's bike friendliest cities, or at least one of the cities with the most amount of bikes. When you walk around Lund, you better watch out for the two-wheelers; they are fast and show pedestrians no mercy. These bikes are parked by the train station.
A house next to the train station, with beautiful flowers on one of the balconies.
During the two semesters I took classes in Lund, I walked up and down this street every day. Being back, I realize how much I miss it.
Another of Lund's cobble stoned streets.
It's a beautiful city.
It's hard to believe, but this is one of the main streets cutting through central Lund. Over the tree tops, you see the steeples of the majestic Cathedral of Lund.
The Cathedral is almost one thousand years old; the building began in 1080.
The Cathedral is still the most famous landmark of Lund and huge compared to the buildings around. It's not difficult to imagine how mighty it must have been to the people who lived here when it was built.
This building, just next to the Cathedral, is the oldest part of Lund University. The university was founded in 1666 and is the second oldest within Sweden's present borders, but the house dates back further than that.
Mom as my guide, reading the information loud.
Today, Kungshuset houses the Department of Philosophy. Not a bad place to go to school.
The newer University buildings are not lacking in beauty either. This is the back of one of the wings of the main building.
Cobblestones, cobblestones. Another quiet alley.
To satisfy our sophisticated side, we visited kulturen, the biggest museum in the region and the second oldest open-air museum in the world. This beautiful rune stone stands outside the entrance.
Traditional houses for the region.
An old smithy / stable.
A door knock, model older.
A typical house a couple of hundred years ago. It looks like the home of a hobbit.
One building housed a toy-museum. My favorite in the collection was King Carl XII's rocking horse. Isn't it beautiful? Now I know what I want for my next birthday.
A butterfly shows her splendor.
The last stop of the day was Mormors Bageri (grandmother's bakery), where we enjoyed over priced cappuccinos and looked at all sorts of strange people passing by.
Ditt and Datt
On Sunday, Stina's mom, Louise, had an open house to celebrate her 50th birthday. It's a strange thing watching our parents get older... It's a reminder we are heading in that direction ourselves.
A happy Fifty-year-old.
Caroline was the Golden Lady.
From Olle, Stina's uncle, I learned that her dad wanted her last name to be . . .
. . . Carlsberg when she was born. That would have been the perfect combo of her parents' names, Carlsson and Östberg.
Martin is raising his cup - Skål!
Uffe is looking awfully cool with a green bean in the corner of his mouth.
Linus, Stina's little brother, came home from London to celebrate his mom. When we grew up, he was the most annoying little kid; now he's a newly graduated economist.
Stina and Max.
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Sunday was rainy so mom and I went to the mall; a temple full of homeless clothes. I saved an orphan dress and one shirt . . .
. . . and refilled my stock of hair bands. A sneaky furrball has stolen all I had. I love you Schmaltz, but these will be kept in a safe place.
Productive Thursday
I met my good friend Mattias for a quick lunch and a talkative walk on Thursday. We are old classmates and it was great to catch up on things.
Then I had a meeting with Jane, the head of the English Department at Kristianstad Högskola. We made plans for my next semester in Texas. Now I feel I'm ready to go! Of all people I've had to struggle with to get my ways, Jane has given me the least problems. Sometimes, she has been the only one believing in me. That means a lot.
Later, I met Lina in her garden full of blooming daisies. She served home made rusks, her own apricot jam and strawberries. We ate in the shade of the old pear trees and talked for hours. I was so engaged in the situation that I forgot to take a single picture :-) To see Lina is always a treat; she is a sweetie.
Then I had a meeting with Jane, the head of the English Department at Kristianstad Högskola. We made plans for my next semester in Texas. Now I feel I'm ready to go! Of all people I've had to struggle with to get my ways, Jane has given me the least problems. Sometimes, she has been the only one believing in me. That means a lot.
Later, I met Lina in her garden full of blooming daisies. She served home made rusks, her own apricot jam and strawberries. We ate in the shade of the old pear trees and talked for hours. I was so engaged in the situation that I forgot to take a single picture :-) To see Lina is always a treat; she is a sweetie.
Tiny Thyra
Today I, my mom, and Björn went to see Marie, Peppe, and Thyra. Thyra is still under observation at the neonatal intensive care unit at Helsingborg Hospital, although she seems to be doing better and better. She is slowly learning to eat by mouth and is gaining weight. Over the last couple of days she's put on some serious 25 grams (0.05 pounds). Altogether, she is just over 2000 grams (4,4 pounds).
Wrapped in a soft blanket, Thyra is keeping warm. Without the necessary body fat, she needs help to keep the right body temperature.
Looks pretty comfortable to me.
Thyra is flirting . . .
. . . and smiling.
A newborn grandmother with her newborn granddaughter.
Thyra almost disappears in the huge arms of Uncle Björn.
Peppe, Marie, and Thyra. A new family was born on Tuesday evening, and a family branch added to my own. I wish you the best of luck and will always be here for you - wherever I might be.
Wrapped in a soft blanket, Thyra is keeping warm. Without the necessary body fat, she needs help to keep the right body temperature.
Looks pretty comfortable to me.
Thyra is flirting . . .
. . . and smiling.
A newborn grandmother with her newborn granddaughter.
Thyra almost disappears in the huge arms of Uncle Björn.
Peppe, Marie, and Thyra. A new family was born on Tuesday evening, and a family branch added to my own. I wish you the best of luck and will always be here for you - wherever I might be.
Bachelorette Party á la Caroline
- - - J u n e 1 6 t h 2 0 0 7 - - -
Caroline's Bridal Shower . . .
. . . was today. I'll update with more pictures tomorrow. Now it's 3.30 and I am ready for bed.
My Camera and I . . .
. . . are best friends.
Happy Birthday Björn!
Today is my brother's birthday! He has escaped rainy Sweden and fled with Jenny to Mallorca. Good for you!
Sleeping Half the Day Away
I's noon and I just woke up, which means I slept for twelve hours! OMG! Before I went to bed last night, my mom said she hoped the new mattress for the sofa bed was comfortable. There are no doubts. No doubts at all...
Last night I saw Stina & Max, Mia & Uffe and Oliver for a couple of hours. It's so nice to be back with all my friends. Seeing them again makes me realize how much I have missed them.
Max & Stina
Oliver showed his awesome, inflatable Superman costume (which matches his Sweden-shorts perfectly) and his talking Darth Vader mask.
Last night I saw Stina & Max, Mia & Uffe and Oliver for a couple of hours. It's so nice to be back with all my friends. Seeing them again makes me realize how much I have missed them.
Max & Stina
Oliver showed his awesome, inflatable Superman costume (which matches his Sweden-shorts perfectly) and his talking Darth Vader mask.
My First Meal at Home
Swedish Strawberries.
Go figures...
:-)
Railroads & Cowboys
Wednesday morning at 10.22, my flight home was supposed to take off. However, due to bad weather, the flights between Baltimore and New York were cancelled. Instead I was put on a train, and that worked just fine. The ride up to NY took about three hours and still gave me plenty of time to check in... I thought...
Once at the airport, it turned out the lines to Continental's desks were miles long and moved almost nothing at all. These cool cowboys helped make the wait a little more pleasant.
Killing time at a café before boarding.
Killing time at a café before boarding.
Thyra Cornelia Lennemark
Tuesday evening, Marie and Peppe had a baby girl. That makes me an aunt!
Welcome Thyra, I can't wait to meet you.
When I grow up . . .
. . . I want wild strawberries in my backyard.
Just as when I was a child.
Ocean City
Fell's Point
