And now: the news

Hi,

Dark outside. Raining. After midnight, so Sunday has begun.

In the archipelago outside Stockholm the Swedish Navy is chasing what they claim to be a foreign submarine of some sort.

The tabloids and news headlines are talking about a new cold war situation. I prefer to stay calm until I see more proof with regards to this ongoing incident.

I’m old enough to remember how it was during the ending decades of the Cold War. The Navy used to chase suspected foreign subs then too, but they never found any and could not present much proof of anything. Don’t get me wrong: I take this new situation seriously and I trust the Swedish Navy to know what they’re doing but I don’t like the big headlines and the feeling of hysteria in the media.

The media is painting a picture of a new “Cold War” when no one knows for sure what results the current chase will end up with or even if it will give us any conclusive proof of this still only suspected foreign military submarine activity inside the archipelago.

On a more personal note, I have started “work” at the new office. I’m learning how to use some photo editing software in order to be able to work with making digital copies of old photos, maps and other documents from various institutions, museums and such.

I like the new place.

This past week I have had a cold. It started already on last Sunday but I managed to be at the office for three days before I had to call in sick. Headache, light fever, runny nose,sneezing and a cough was too much for me. Not until Saturday have I started to feel mostly ok again even if some of the cough remains and my nose is congested.

On job hunting front much remains the same. Nothing much happens. However, this Wednesday I had a job interview over the phone with one employer. I didn’t get the job but at least they wanted to talk to me. A good sign. The first interview I’ve had in a really long time. It made me feel a bit more motivated.

On the more personal front. I still enjoy seeing friends and taking part in the social media networks. That’s about all there is to say.

Welcome to Sweden, Mr President

Ok, my first post for September just happens to be written the same day as the current President of the United States, Barack Obama is visiting our country. Landed about 1 hour ago and is now getting ready for his day of meetings and dinners in Stockholm.

Regardless of politics both domestic and foreign, I’m happy to be alive in this historic moment. Swedes are not used to visits by US Presidents. So I believe most Swedes are thrilled no matter what their views are regarding the United States and/or its politics.

I understand that this visit does not matter much in the USA or elsewhere but here it is a rather big deal.

Yet, I’ll be watching it on television. I could have been out in the streets of Stockholm to perhaps catch a glimpse of it all but since the traffic situation will be somewhat difficult I have decided to stay in my suburban part of town.

Also, I have a lot of things to do.

That’s all.

 

Don’t let it snow no more

I hope that it won’t.  Not for the next few days at least.

Ok, I know I’ve been quiet a long time on this blog. I have been busy getting my internet connection and speed repaired. It’s still not all done but at least good enough to let me type this quick update.

Been a busy time in other ways too ,the last few weeks. Somehow I managed to write some on Twitter now and then but this blog I have neglected.

My stay at the office has been extended for another year, which is good. I like it there enough to want to stay. And I have a project to work on when I’m not busy looking for jobs.

The unemployment rate is rising in Sweden so the future doesn’t look good but I keep trying and trying some more.

The neverending snowing is not helping to keep my mood in a good way but at least all the shoveling keeps me busy and it probably “builds character” too. Not that I know in what way.

Be that as it may. The weather can’t be reasoned with, it will just keep on going. No matter what.

In order to survive I read, listen to music and watch some movies or TV shows. And I do some writing. Still have that long text I promised to publish waiting to be finished.

Don’t worry, it will be. Maybe not before the end of the year but it will be published here.

What else? Well, without my friends to talk to from time to time I would not survive.

 

Another Sunday

Been a few days since the last update. Can’t say I’ve been too busy to write, I’ve only been able to find a lot of excuses for not doing it. Also, I’ve been thinking about a few things to write that are all planned and ready in my mind. I’m still debating with myself whether or not to publish them when I have typed them in.

What else have I been doing then? Mostly reading, watching movies online and listened to music. I have some problems with my internet connection and hope to have it fixed soon.

At the office, I have looked at job ads, written some applications, had some discussions and done some reading and thinking. Somehow I think the time has come to make some more efforts in order to make things happen. Try some different ideas.

I still have some energy left.

Today is Father’s Day here in Sweden and that’s why I went to the church yesterday to light a candle for my father, at his grave. The candle is inside a lamp so it will last for four days.

Yesterday was  pretty nice day but very windy. Today, I woke up and thought it was snowing outside but luckily I was only dreaming. Instead it was raining.

Also yesterday I had some pretty bad stomach ache and most of the day was ruined. I had some errands to run and I did but I almost thought I wouldn’t make it back home.

Luckily, today I’ve been feeling a lot better. So good I have finally started to write these overdue updates.

In about 20 minutes I’ll start watching a crime show on tv and then maybe write some more before going to sleep.

“White trash”

In my country – Sweden – the expression “white trash” is now being commonly used by some, to label people who are perceived to be poor, unemployed, uneducated and morally challenged.

I’m sure some people who don’t know me might consider me to be “white trash” since I’ve been unemployed for a long time and have a poor financial situation.

To me it seems that the need for some people to look down on others as a way to distance themselves is born out of fear in a society where inequality is growing and more and more people risk falling through the widening cracks in the social safety net due to unemployment and/or illness.

This trend worries me a lot but I’m not sure it can be turned around before it gets even worse.

 

No!

No! I will not write anything about any news about the Swedish royal family. I will not comment on the recent news about another royal wedding being in the works. I have no opinion at all.

A few things I’ve learned this week (the hard way):

Do not voice your opinion on anything anyone writes or says unless you have been asked by him/her to voice an opinion.

Think twice about  making any kind of comment about something unless asked to do it.

Do not offer to help someone with anything whatsoever without having been asked to help first. 

Do not offer your good advice to someone about anything without having been asked to do so.

Live by these rules and life becomes a piece of cake. #Sarcasm

“A.F.”

In honor of my brother the drummer/chef  and of the band Kal P Dal  and of the lead singer and songwriter Carl-Göran Ljunggren (1949-1985)  , and the fact that a musical about the recording of their first album will open later this year, in Malmoe, Sweden, I post this song. It’s one of my many favorites.

Sunday serenade

Right. Wrong.

Anyway. No way.

Ok, it seems yesterday I wrote a kind of confused and depressed update for this blog. Not as confused and depressed as the earlier stuff this week but close enough. I know I promised some changes a while ago. That I would only be doing happy and superficial updates from now on. Well, I’m not quite there yet so you shallow people who yearn for this will have to wait a while longer. I’m sorry but it’s the laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaw of the land.

I woke up around 4am this morning. Wasn’t really all awake but it was too hot to sleep at that point, so what did I do? I checked some twitter timelines and sent a tweet. Then I kind of started to drift off to sleep again and next time I woke up at around 6am, I remembered having dreamed of chasing someones naked butt down along a sandy beach and finally falling on my face in the sand from exhaustion before waking up feeling like I had sand in my eyes.

Just because my dreams are weird doesn’t mean they didn’t happen. OK? Most of the time I don’t even remember them anyway.

Reading the Sunday edition of the morning paper after getting up made me choke on my ice tea (not that I was having any,  I just had to mention it for the effect).

An article pointed out that this nation’s fastest growing people’s movement is  – sex. The article claimed that sex talk is now such a common practice that it is not even controversial anymore. All kinds of everyday people want to educate themselves, discuss and try out sexual practices and buy sex toys.

I suddenly felt like a prude, because I have not once noticed this new movement. All I have noticed is the always increasing commercial use of sex in and shape or form to sell almost any kind of product or service, but this people’s movement of exploration and learning has passed me by.

Granted, I don’t socialize enough but I still think I should have heard or seen something. Anyway, after reading the article I had that old feeling of missing out. I often have this feeling. About a lot of things.

Then I thought I’d just go masturbate and be done with it.

I still haven’t though.  I’m at my computer. Writing. Just before I started typing this, I was in a chatroom but not typing, just looking and listening. Saw someone I don’t see a lot these days but used to see a few years ago. Only for a short time and just because I happened to be on the site this morning.

Before doing the above, I checked the latest headlines of the online newspaper site I most often visit. Just to check up on what’s going on in the country and in the world.

Then I also looked at my Twitter timeline again and wrote one tweet –  a morning greeting to my followers.

What I’ll be doing for the rest of my Sunday, I do not know yet. Probably, I will watch some broadcasts from the Olympic Games on TV and perhaps I’ll also watch a movie.

Most likely I will listen to music, maybe read or do some more writing. I think it will be a relaxing day though.

Right now, I’ll be busy doing some non-controversial wanking though.

Over and out.

July 21, 2012

 

Today I got up at around 5 am. Visited a chatroom and spent some time talking to a friend. Then went back to sleep again at around 7am and woke up again at around 10am.

Got up and had breakfast with my mother and my niece. Nephew was asleep until past 12 am. Seems they both had very little sleep on the night before travelling here from the south of Sweden.

They got ready and went to the city to visit the amusement park. I decided not to go with them, as I feel a bit tired and prefer to rest. Also had some garden work to do.

Yesterday afternoon my other nephew and his baby daughter also visited. It was nice to have them all here.

We had different kinds of fish, potatoes and vegetables for dinner.

Later in the evening, my niece and nephew went to sleep while I spent some time at my computer writing job applications. I also looked around the internet and watched the latest episode of Louie.

Ended my evening in a chatroom.

All in all a good day.

 

Midsummer 2012

Naked.

I woke from a dream of walking out on the lawn naked and letting the morning sun warm up my body .  Tweeted it, then added that this only works in movies and not in real life. Certainly won’t work for a middle-aged rather over weight Swedish man.

That same moment was when I decided once and for all that posting nude pics in my twitter feed will not get me any more followers. Instead I will most likely lose the ones I have gained so far. Now, had I been a woman instead, it might have been worth a try. Odd, how gender matters in this situation and would make a difference.

Gender issues are often discussed in Sweden. I also notice it being discussed in my twitter feed. When I was in college, gender was an issue in every class, regardless of subject. Gender could never be avoided. It is a dimension to be taken into account at all times. Even when writing a simple analysis of a mainstream movie. Or of a magazine cover. The rather surprising fact that a magazine attracts more buyers when there is an attractive woman on the cover, regardless if the magazine is aimed at men, women or both.

Anyway this is not going to be my two cents about the gender discussions.

Instead I will focus on the fact that today is Midsummer Eve in Sweden. This holiday is very old and very firmly upheld by Swedes in general. It’s a celebration but most of all its a time for drinking and eating. As I’ve already described in a previous post most Swedes prefer to leave the big cities and go to summer houses or camping sites  in the countryside or out in the archipelago to celebrate this holiday with family and friends.

This holiday is the last during the first half of the year and after these two days there is only one major holiday late in the fall  to look forward to before Christmas. Maybe that’s why Midsummer is celebrated so fiercely.

I will not be going anywhere. My oldest brother and his family is at his summer-house and my other brother is probably going to be at home with his family in the city where he lives. I’ll be with my mother and have some traditional food and relax and have a nice weekend.

Last weekend my oldest nephew visited with his daughter and it was a nice day for them and for my mother and for me too.  Especially for my mother who is still recovering from the minor stroke she suffered earlier this year, but which wasnt detected until months after.

Yesterday I took a free test online to find out my “real” age, and the result made me a bit worried. According to the test my real age is 49.6 years, even though my actual age is 44 and will be 45 later this year. I’m aging too fast, which brings me to want to change some of my bad habits.  Of course this test should not be trusted to be accurate but it is still an indication about my overall health status.

This week I spent a lot of time looking for jobs. I also followed the last days of the 10 weeks long trial against the terrorist in Norway who killed 77 people last year in July.  The prosecution pleaded that he be sentenced to mental treatment instead of prison, since he is believed to be mentally ill in some fashion. The defence will plead that he is not mentally ill and that he should go to prison instead. It will be interesting to see what the court will decide.