Off the grid. Hiatsu. Going of the deep end.

I’ve been away for a few days. Before that, I worked late and got home to tired to write. But I’ve been having so much fun!

I got home yesterday, at nine, and just checked on a few things before turning into bed. Today, well, it’s the same time, but since I checked the most important stuff yesterday… I just feel I’ve got the time for a short post anyway.

I’ve been to Denmark, Copenhagen. I’ve visited castles, and museums. I’ve seen important statues, and less important ones. I’ve been soaking in sun, and drinking both beer and cocktails. I’ve been swimming in the hotel pool, stuffing myself at the breakfast-buffet. I’ve been listening to a great book when waiting for my friend to wake up, and then finding myself huffing and puffing to keep up when walking around the town. I’ve been surprised at the shoddy standard in service at a great and expensive(ish) restaurant, and happy for the great service at an unexpected place.

I’ve seen sharks, and cute Danish boys. I’ve eaten ice-cream and drunk tea late at night. I’ve watched a new movie, and a old one. I’ve revisited a old favourite museum, and a few new ones. I’ve been walking in parks, and trying to remember the names of plants. I’ve been sitting and talking with my friend in the sun, and enjoyed a jacuzzi.

It’s been a great, short, hectic couple of days. I would love to do it again. But not for a few days. My bruises are still visible, my feet still a bit tender, and my wallet thin. My fridge is full as of this evenings emergency-shopping,  as well as my belly thanks to Teapot and her dinner invitation. My bed is inviting and my brain a blissful mix of new ideas and thoughts. Need to land before I run of to the next adventure.

Join me?

Homecoming Queen

I got home last night. Nothing to eat, so got out and got some food. Found Teapot on a bike, stayed to chat and gossip for a while, but then I got home (again) and what a glorious feeling. Being in my own place, it is pretty spectacular. I curled up in the couch with a cup of tea and just enjoyed being home last night. I unpacked part of my stuff, but then I got no further.

I loved being in the big apple, saying hello to mum, watching the cherry blossoms in the park with friends, sitting in the sun and drinking tea with another, it is a good life. But at the same time, I missed my flat where I’ve got my stuff where I like them. Where I can run around a whole day in pyjama. Where I can sit and read in the couch for how long as I want to without my sister waking up and deciding to watch the telly. I love how my flat actually doesn’t get up to 30 degrees because it’s sunny outside. Mom loves the heat, and the house is designed around that. Which makes me sweat just thinking about it.

I love my mothers garden where some new treasure may always be found. I love the chaos that comes with a mom who got a million things on her mind, a husband who loves technology, three siblings and a dog. Things never stop happening. And there is always something going on, something giving of sounds, something moving. The kitchen turns into a mess with a five minute window, Mom’s cooking leaves me breathless, and I just sit there soaking in the love that surrounds the whole house. But I kind of like my own space as well. I love having a quite corner where I can sit and read without anyone disturbing, my own bed, at mom’s place I’ve got a couch.

I don’t think I’m complaining, but rather, I try to show that love both styles of life. Both the hectic chaotic life of family that never stands still. And the simple, slow life of a librarian who loves to spend evenings in the sofa with a book and a cup of tea.

Ying and Yang. Balance. *Bows deep*

Mother nature.

Spent a few days up here in the big apple with family. In itself is kinda awesome. I’ve had time to rest and relax. Being bathed in the love only family can give. I’ve read 2 books, one old, one new. Both really good. I’ve gone for a walk in the forrest with mother and her dog. I’ve gone visiting the churchyard and said hello to family and friends on the other side. I’ve woken up early, gone to bed with wine spinning my head. I’ve gotten sunburn and my neck still hurts. I’ve talked for hours with Boobie (a friend, not the body-part).  I’ve sat in the hidden oasis of a buzzing part of town. I’ve eaten ice-cream in the sun, and meat from the grill with potatoes and love. I’ve teased my siblings, and hugged them alot. Miss them even if I can’t wait for them to grow up and do grown up things instead of running around and annoy the hell out of me. I’ve had my fingers in the dirt and felt the power of the earth and Mother nature. I’ve hug my little granny and sung songs of praise both to the Lord, since he managed to be the first christian Zombie. Rejoice!

I’ve eaten until I’ve hardly been able to breath. I’ve drunk loads of wonderfull wine and beer. I’ve bought books and spent a wonderful morning in my favourite bookshop, just being happy for being alive. I’ve sung even more songs of praise to the alcoholic beverages as a part of an oral tradition that we have in Sweden called Nubbevisor. I’ve helped mom with a waterfeature in her garden.

I have a few things left to do before I go back home to my small town. I stll have to meet another one of my friends. We are going to exchange books, I get back some of mine, and she’ll get some others of mine. I might help my mother again with the waterfeature, re-arrange the whole thing instead of just trying to path and mend. I still have to try to find my Enigma (yes, another friend) and see if she is available for a cup of tea. I’m still going to just be thankful of my wonderful family, and the very relaxed but catastropich chaos that reigns supreem in mothers house. I love the dishwasher and her cooking. I love that I can be here and don’t have to care about going for walkies with the dustbunnies back home. Even if the dog here does fill the same position.

Hands dyed red of beets.

I’ve been pretty sluggish all day, amused by the simplest things. I’ve gone on a short walk about in my neighbourhood, found my local library and talked to the nice lady in the Asian food shop as I giggling gathered Pocky and ginger-snacks to me. I was proud of my five read books, and then I went and found another 4 to bring home with me. One less then when I started this morning, so I guess points for that?

The last hour I’ve been boiling and scrubbing beets for my warm beets salad with goats cheese I’m going to bring to work tomorrow. I really tried with the gloves first, but couldn’t really get a good grip on the skin, and every beet took forever to skin. So I decided to try without the gloves, and yes, it did go much more smoothly and now my hands match my Pink sofa quite nice. Good of me to do this tonight and not tomorrow. At least I’m going to have another shower and do stuff with my hair before leaving the house tomorrow. That should hopefully take some of the colour out. Otherwise I’m going to get teased at work. Have to shut them all up with my awesome cooking then..

Note to self. Buy better gloves if I’m to do this again.

Teapot came around with a small bookshelf I asked if she could buy for me at IKEA, it being 1 hour away by buss, and she going there yesterday with her mother. She did, and came around with it today. Saying stuff about being inspired by my flat and my taste for the unusual. Made me blush with all those kind words. I’m not sure I live in the prettiest flat, because I can still find things that bugs me. But happy that someone else find as much pleasure in it as I do. I’m one of those people who functions best in surroundings that reflect beauty and reminds me of all the beautiful things in life. Like my passion for books, religion, food, geek stuff. How a pot of tea can be all that one needs after a long day at work. My home should give me a sense of peace, of belonging. And it’s going there.

Now I’m going to bed, hoping to finish the cleaning of the kitchen tomorrow, so that it’s done by Friday since I’m going up to visit my family in the Big Apple. I still need to do the laundry. Only 2 pairs of clean socks left. Need to buy new shoes that doesn’t eat socks.

Here is a song about socks. Because.

Some things achived, some things not.

I did read four YA. I did make three different bentous and are set for another two weeks of lunch. I did go play with my Teapots crazy kitten who couldn’t stop licking my toes. Is it my feet that are wierd, or the kitten? I did call my brothers to wish them a happy birthday. I did go grocery shopping. I did not answer those letters stuck to my fridge. I did not do all the dishes. I did not vacuum in the kitchen. I did not do laundry. I’ve not put my books into my goodreads challenge of this year. I didn’t make the fourth option on todays menue, because I couldn’t find freash goats chees, I only found the one with the white mold. I like it better on toast than in sallad. In sallad I prefer the fresh.

I found a new series, and have as of right now watched 6 episodes today. It’s from 1995, and it is amazing. I never knew it excisted, but since I’m out of Top Gear, I’ve been looking for something new these past few days. Something with a few seasons and already finished. Found this one with the search of Dystopia. And I’m stuck. Work tomorrow? Naah. I’ll pass, I need to watch more of sliders.. And make a nice salad of goats cheese and beets. Yum yum!

Life after work.

I promise, it does exist. I get home, throws on my pyjama and then cuddle down in the Pink Dream, with a big cup of tea. Then my tastes runt either towards reading, this week I’m already done with 4 books. I must admit, everyone except one have been YA. I have a goal for this weekend, and that is to read all the YA novels I have at home. I’ve got four left, so shouldn’t be such a big task. Need to read them to have some inspiration for the blog I write for work, but I only choose YA that I actually want to read. The ones I’ve read tonight have been a sci-fi adventure in space, with a rather nice world-build, and the other was one with a fantastic language called Dark Life. About how when the earth becomes to overpopulated due to shrinking land-mass people starts living at the bottom of the ocean.

The other blog is just your basic book-tip blog, that a couple of us at work write. Target audience are everyone from kindergarten to the end of 9th grade. I usually try to read my books on the later end of that scale. And the best part it, I get to write something at work. I love the way one can shape reality with words. Not that I ever think I would be able to be an actual writer, but I love using the words to create stories. If the written word was a guy, I would be asking him to marry me.

I don’t know if you have figured it out yet, but I rather like my evenings alone. Winding down and reading, watching some telly. I live in the world of both the intro- and extrovert. I treasure my lone-time, and at evenings I love to sometimes shut down the computer, and turn of the cellphone and just have a cup of tea and a good book. To loose myself for a whole day in a rather nice show on the telly. To not be around people.

But at the same time, I wouldn’t like a less sociable work than what I’ve got. I get to meet so many fun people who shares my love and passion in life for the written word, and whom also worship on the altar of books. People who get it when you tell them that you haven’t slept for 3 days in a row because you had a trilogy to finish and it was so amazing you couldn’t put it down. Or have time enough to do any bentous.

I consider myself happy, and a pretty balanced person. I get to be the flamboyant me that sings and dance and runs around laughing and always tries to find the middle of the group, to dazzle and soak in the pleasure of crazy co-workers at work. I get to be the closed person who looses herself in books and shows, and who can disappear in my own world for hours after work. Am I rambling now? Maybe.

Here is a treat for you.

My spot.

I’ve finally got a sofa. It’s pink. It’s mine. It’s here.. I planted my butt in it a few hours ago after a gruelling afternoon of putting it together, along with a new bed and a bookshelf. I Love it. The pinkness of it makes my heart go all pitter patter. And it kinda broke my economy. But it was beautiful, and a sofa was needed. And now I don’t think I’ll ever move. EVER.

I’ve got a few things left to do before this will be a true home. I need to get another bookshelf. As a librarian, no less then 6 is acceptable. I need to get a few boards together and create a beautiful thing  that makes it possible for me to use my horrible corner for my bed and still be able to use the internet and maybe even a few bedside lamps. I’ve got a plan. Tell you about that later. Right now, it even hurts to write. My arms are hurting from all the putting together. And the carrying from the parking lot. Thankful there were no ladders or staircases to climb to make this thing become a reality.

As a thank you for helping me with everything, I read the poem Raven to my teapot friend. She was curious of my love of the macabre and wondered about Poe, and the fascination some have with it.

Another friend, an empty bottle of limoncello

Days goes by so fast, where do they go? I feel like I have the time to wake up, and go to work, and before I even get there I’m back home again and getting ready for bed because it’s after 10pm. Is it just me having this problem?

Now, I spent the afternoon(evening with a good friend, Night, she was in the city, and I had some limoncello left in the bottle I started with my ex-co-worker. God. Need to find a shorter name to write for her than that. She owns a cat. But it’s evil to call her cat-lady. If I call her teapot, does it work? She did fix my Japanese teapot, and she drinks tea with my every time she comes visiting, even if she prefers coffee. I think it could work. She’ll be my teapot to my kettle calling a pot black. *drunken giggle*

But yeah, Night was here, we ate a wonderful salad, we had originally said Pizza, but my gawd what I wanted a nice and crisp salad today after a rather oily lunch, and she was up for it. Even if she didn’t like the idea of putting pasta into it. But hey, more pasta for my bentous! We drank limoncello, just one glass to begin, then another to finish off, and then one to acompany my ice-cream-testing, and then another because we could. And then just one more to finish the bottle off.

Now I’ve been busy doing important administrative stuff for my book-club, hoping it goes well. And for tonight only reading stands on the schedule, I need to read some, so that I can write some, so that the conversation can be started.

A few nights offline, a few drinks with friends, a few experiments.

I feel that being out of the loop of writing for a few days, I have trouble starting. What does one say if one keeps a blog and then don’t find the time to write? Does one confess to the laziness? Blames it on other interest such as reading? Other duties such as cleaning? Do I tell you that I didn’t bring my computer to my grandma’s place because I knew the horrible internet connection they (don’t) have. Do I give you a taste of what I’ve been doing for the last few days by a couple of videos? How to start this?

Since last time, at work: nothing exotic, crazy, sexy or fantastic have happen. I’ve had fun, I’ve been bored. Regular work I think one could call it.

Since last time, regarding monsters: I’m able to sleep without a skewer by my pillow, but this Saturday at the flea market I bought 2 very pretty African knives longer than my forearm, FOR NOTHING. And I’ll try to keep them handy. In case of Zombies. Still not entirely happy when thinking about the Lights out video. But I’ve started to walk around in the dark without screaming.

Since last time, regarding Limoncellon: I finished it today, and invited my now friend, ex-co-worker, to have a go with me. Tasting if you want. And a few glasses later, we realized the clock was spinning much faster than it should, I gave her a Buddha to polish and promised a dinner in the future as payment.

Since last time, regarding Ice-cream: I talked to another co-worker this Friday, about making a cacti-lime sorbet. And the thought stuck, so I tried it today, and it WAS AMAZING! And that is not only because we were into a second glass of limoncello by this time. I fregging LOVE my new machine ^^

Since last time, regarding happiness: This morning was pretty hard, for a moment there I wanted to scream, and then punch someone, and then find a suitable rock to spend the rest of my life under. But then came lunch, yet another co-worker with the coolest beard and a moustache in the shape of batman, and a great afternoon. I’m back to squealing and singing and dancing.

Since last time, regarding friends: A co-worker had her last day today, and is therefore a official FRIEND more then co-worker now. I went to a flea market and a had a nice long tea-break with another friend. She was supposed to come try the limoncello as well tonight. But she decided to apply for many, many. many jobs today, and we will be drunk on Wednesday instead.

Since last time, regarding books: I’ve started Harry Potter suite, read by Stphn Fry. He is my hero. Sthpn Fry, not HP, even if he is a cool wizard, but he is fictional and Stphn Fry is a real person. Is that racist?

Since last time, regarding family: Visited my grandma and grandpa this weekend. And my Aunt, and my cousin, and there was roast beef, wonderful potatos and free food which I did neither have to cook or clean up after.

Since last time, regarding many other things: I’ve had a busy few days. And at the same time, not at all.

Does one end the same way as one started on a spastic and irregular post as this? Do I blame the yawns that brings tears to my eyes? The limoncello that makes the room spin, the last few chapters of HP 2, work tomorrow or some fable regarding witching hour? Do I tell you about the pile of unanswered letters, the mountain of madness in my kitchen and the empty space in my fridge where my bentous should be if I was a better person? Do I tell you about my plan for Saturday, and how I’m thinking about palm-reading and Tarot? Do I tell you that the munchies have set in, and I fear that I’ll have to make a sandwich before I try to sleep?

Lemons. Too many, or too few?

A few weeks (?) ago a friend was here. Or rather, many friends was here, but one on a more permanent basis since she slept on my floor. We bought lemons to make taco, and for me to have to a lemon meringue pie later, because, lemon meringue pie is the food for Queens.

It never happened. The pie. Time has flown by and I realised yesterday that I still had 7 lemons in my fridge. So I started to fantasise what to do with them. Too many for a pie, not enough for 2, and then I found a simple recipe for Limoncello that had the same amount of lemons that I needed to get rid off. So, yeah. Today I bought myself a vodka, and peeled the shit out of those lemons. And now it kind of looks like art. Something made for summer. And it’s going to stand there and look pretty all week. because it needs that amount of time to soak the lemons soul into the alcohol. My flat smells of lemons and summer.

And afterwards, I squeezed the juice out, and yeah.. I bought a ice-cream machine today. Kind on a whim. I don’t need one. But I remember the awesome taste of lemon sorbet that I made at new year from my cousins machine. And doing the Limoncello I’m going to have all the juice over. So I’m going to have lemon sorbet for breakfast tomorrow. Because.