millimita

Holidays are over... (12th January 2009 in the air above *looking at screen* a frozen North Canada)

So, back to work again. The boat's still in San Diego, where I left it just before Xmas. Holidays at home have been as usual, pretty stressful with all the stuff I needed to do, all the family and friends I wanted to spend time with. Didn't manage to do everything this time either. But I don't think I'll ever succeed with that. Mais ce n'est pas grave. Most things in life are about compromising and doing what one can.

First weekend I went to see my sister Philippa's new house together with Mom. A couple of hours' drive from Stockholm makes it a bit cumbersome to go visit, and there's a lot of renovating going on, but also a lot of potential and I think it'll be very nice once it's done.

Christmas eve we celebrated in my sister Johanna's house. As tradition has it; lots and lots of marvellous food, that of course you have to stuff yourself with almost to overflowing. Yes, I know; I'm somewhat addicted to food (first thing I bought Friday morning was liver pâté and soured milk) , but we all have to have some small addictions, right?;)

Kids got a lot of presents; among other things a Nintendo Ds Lite each from me. I can't remember at what age I got my Nintendo (NES), but I know it was something I really loved. I thought they're probably still a bit young for Super Mario, but that's a classic that they'll have to have sooner or later. Something you just _have_ to have if you've got video games. Part of the cultural up-bringing=)

New Year I spent with my dear friends Bäver and Ellda. This time around I got to spend quite some time with them; very happy about that. New Year we were chilling at a friend's place, starting the new year by playing Munchkin (pirate version). I won- wohoo! Never been much for partying - prefer being social at someone's home to going out trying to talk in a too loud bar/disco looking at drunk people.

Managed, after about a week and a half of hassle, to finally figure out how to install my new external network HD. It was sooo much easier when we figured our where to plug it in. It's kind of working now. Some small kinks I'm going to try and iron out next time I'm home. Couldn't be bothered to try and puzzle out some time for that this time.

Went with my nieces to the Royal Court's Stable one day to see them ride. I somehow managed to find myself up on the horse, trotting without stirrups. Haven't been on a horse for about three or so years. Sheesh I had some sore muscles the day after that=)

Thursday night James, and Chris -who I haven't seen for what, two years now- came up to spend the weekend with me in Stockholm. I'm so happy they could come. They're much fun; sometimes like a couple of big boys just tumbling around, and just constantly lovely. Haven't been teased in French in a while. Actually, when I think about it; it's mostly at work I get teased. Not too many of my Swedish friends tease me =s.

So my poor brain suddenly had to switch back and forth between Swedish, English, and French. I absolutely love to speak French, and English is more or less automatic by now, but mix trying to sort out whom you're speaking what to, with quite some lack of sleep, and that's a mix that'll be sure to get you confused. But, boy was I pleased to run around town with a couple of handsome, charming Frenchmen in my arms...

Friday we went shopping, I took them to a pre-party at a friend's place and then we went to see what kind of party Tech Noir was. I must admit that lately I've taken a liking to that kind of music. I haven't had the opportunity to dance to it too much (this was the first time) but definitively think it's much better than trance or "dance music". Some of the clothes in there were... interesting. Others were cool and some just plain strange. Got to spend a little time with some other friends there as well.

Saturday I showed them around Karlberg Castle a bit; kind of have to, seeing as I've been a student there myself=) We also went to see the Wasa Museum. At night we had a good dinner and visited the Stockholm Ice Bar. Went down to Söder (South) and found a shopping mall that had been turned into a bar for the night. Pretty cool, actually, and packed with people.

Sunday we had a lazy day. I made Falukorv (big Swedish sausage) in the oven with boiled potatoes, and Skagenröra toast for entrée. I've made them taste a few different kinds of Swedish food; soured milk (kind of like a sour yoghurt), semlor (cream bun with almond paste, traditionally eaten around Lent), and, my favourite candy; salty liquorice skulls. Poor Chris trusted me (or was too tired to think) and just opened his mouth so I could pop one in as we were playing cards Sunday night with my flatmate Mimmi. P r i c e l e s s. I had cramps in my stomach. The tears were pouring from my eyes as I tried to breathe enough not to faint, curled in a little ball on the floor as I was, desperately gasping for air. _That's_ ROTFLMAO (Rolling On The Floor Laughing My Arse Off). Poor Chris. His eyes popped and he tried and tried (pretty impressed by that, actually, he's the who's had it in the longest so far) and tried but finally he gave up. The skulls are a bit... harsh.... when you're not used to them. But well done by him. *pleased, slightly evil little laugh* He did promise some kind of retribution next time I'm down in Southern France. Will be interesting to see what he comes up with=)

So. Holiday over. Had a very good ending, you really see your city with new eyes when you guide tourists around. Spent some precious time with my friends and family. Didn't have time to see all, though, and some I just didn't have the energy to chase down. Maybe next time. Or whenever I grow up and move back home. We'll see.

Still in New York, and it's getting colder still. Today it was about 13degrees Celsius, and rainy most of the day. We're busy busy as usual, no sleep-ins for me this weekend either, though at least my cold is getting better.

Last weekend I went to BALTIMORE to finally, after what, seven or so years of only internet contact, see my friend Andrew and his wife, Kathy. A really good idea, I must say. I had a WONDERFUL weekend, again, thank you so much! Went down by bus, some confusion about the time to get there, so somewhere towards the end I started panicking a bit about maybe having caught the wrong bus. Luckily I hadn't. Andrew picked me up at the station, we went by his house on our way to pick Kathy. Then it was time to feed Mr Tapeworm (our relief engineer Travis used to say I was living in a symbiotic relationship with Mr Tapeworm) and we went to Appleby's, a typical American family diner. I thoroughly enjoyed the meal, very good food (and yes, the company too;). On our way home we went past a book store with sale. Not good. Not good at all. Though now I've at least gotten a fair way on my xmas shopping list=). Luckily I didn't pack more than half the bag I had brought...

Saturday we went to the yearly Maryland medieval fair. Much much bigger than I thought it would be. Much fun, we sat forever in a car queue (what is it with America and car queues?) to get the last couple of miles, almost managed to hide the car from ourselves, and saw a few good bands (mostly Scottish, for some reason), loads of shops with interesting stuff, and a jousting match at the fair. I found a couple of nice horns for Halloween, and Andrew got himself a kilt. I challenged him on the Strong-man thingy (where you have a sledge hammer and try to get a thingy to go all the way up to the top), but we were equal there, so no one won. That sledge hammer was REALLY heavy!

Andrew and Kathy are very early risers, and thanks to my cold I was, as well. Sunday we went to a mall, I managed not to buy too much more stuff, hooray for me=) So, Andrew and Kathy are LOVELY people, but they seemed to take me to way to many good stores to shop... Bad influence.... t-t-t-t *shaking head* oh, and ERIKA - got a present for you from them, and I know what it is, and YOU don't.... Hahahahahahaha *sweet revenge*

NEW YORK. The day we got here it was foggy, all the way to the first bridge. We were a bit worried that we wouldn't se anything, but luckily it cleared up enough for us to see some of the city, though the sky was grey. As we had some time before the tide was right, we took a small detour around the statue of Liberty and up the river.

The first weeks we spent next to a golf training range. It's protected by netting, but even so quite a few golf balls made it through the net. Most days we found a ball or two on deck, and sometimes a mark that wouldn't rub off. Now we've moved a bit, so no more golf balls to duck for=)

Being next door to a gym managed to get me motivated enough to sign up for a month. Did some yoga classes, and something called zumba - 45min of energetic dancing, everything from Charleston to hip hop. Though now, with guests coming so often and us not knowing how long we're staying, I haven't signed up again. I'm going to try and do some stuff onboard instead, wish me good luck, I'm sure it'll be as always - I'll manage for a day or so, and then it's just back to maña maña...

Next week I'm looking forward to going to Stomp with Kaz and Yves. Have been wanting to see that one for quite some time now=)

Had a bit of a shopping frenzy last weekend. Canada is good shopping, at least Montreal is. Have been more or less seriously looking for a skin skirt, as well as a jacket, and new, nice boots. Apparently, leather is very big here in Canada. Found a store who sold skirts, tried one on, and then a jacket, and then the owner of the store said he would give me the skirt for free if I bought the jacket, just because it fit me so well and that I would make publicity for his store. My little shopping-devil went crazy and started rocking the canoe (yes, I'm aware that Erika's probably the only one who'll get this, but I don't care=P), and while the indians were busy trying not to fall in the freezing water (this is Canada, after all), he made me buy it. Not that I'm unhappy. Now one of my goals is to find opportunities to wear the things... And of course a few new tops that I can wear to it ...

A few hours later I just wanted to try out a pair of boots, which actually were quite comfortable, and more or less what I've been wanting to get, and since the owner of THAT store gave me a special price since it was his last boots and I was so pretty and bla bla bla I found myself walking off with new boots and a few freebies. Still happy.

Then I had a problem. I had tried on another leather jacket that I REALLY liked, and kept thinking of and thinking of, so I went back there yesterday just to try and get it out of my head. I don't really need two leather jackets, do I? I do. Don't . Do. Don't. Ehm... Anyway, went back, tried it on again, managed to convince myself that yes, it' GORGEOUS, but really a bit to thin, and look what a pretty bag almost exactly what I need (if you can't win over the shopping-devil, distract him), so I left the store with a very nice, new leather bag and a happy devil. Hooray for me!

Still not thinking too hard about that other jacket.