I know that there is thousands out there wondering why I haven't written in a couple of days. Don't be fooled by the fact that the counter only shows 19 visits - I am sure that most people have this page open on their computer 24-7 and only reload every now and then, which does not get counted as an individual visit.
So what exactly has happened? Let's just say that life doesn't always go as smoothly as you would want it to and sometimes you are in for an extra bumpy ride. There are those days that just suck the life right out of you and leave you feeling tired and overwhelmed. I have had several of those days in a row now, complete with a nervous breakdown or two.
I had started to write down everything that was going around my head a couple of times, but could not get myself to actually post it. Thinking and feeling something is one thing - putting it in writing for oneself and the world to read is another. Maybe I can do that after I have found the time and opportunity to take a step back and regain control, but not right now.....
May 31, 2008
May 25, 2008
Margins
Yahoo Germany's homepage proclaims: "Russia beat "No Angels" by a clear margin". Yeah, a 250 point margin, a "more than 20 other countries did better than Germany" margin. But you gotta love how they try to make it sound like "No Angels" came in a close second.
And you think Germans don't have a sense of humor....
And you think Germans don't have a sense of humor....
Why doesn't anyone love us?
This is the headline of Germany's biggest tabloid after yesterday's ESC final debacle.
Having lived abroad for some time now I can guess that nobody loves Germany because Germans are often considered to be loud, pushy and rude individuals. In the eyes of others we also tend to complain a lot and come across as being cold and distant, without any sense of humor. Our love for Ordnung (orderliness) is certainly not appreciated everywhere. And while people will acknowledge that we seem to be efficient and diligent workers, these are not exactly the most attractive and lovable of traits.
Considering what the headline was referring to though I would have to reply: because you sent a song that sucked! And not just a little - it sucked big time! THAT, dear people of Germany, is why you did not get any points (or "love" as you call it) last night!
As Muddiz would say now: Face it and embrace it!
Having lived abroad for some time now I can guess that nobody loves Germany because Germans are often considered to be loud, pushy and rude individuals. In the eyes of others we also tend to complain a lot and come across as being cold and distant, without any sense of humor. Our love for Ordnung (orderliness) is certainly not appreciated everywhere. And while people will acknowledge that we seem to be efficient and diligent workers, these are not exactly the most attractive and lovable of traits.
Considering what the headline was referring to though I would have to reply: because you sent a song that sucked! And not just a little - it sucked big time! THAT, dear people of Germany, is why you did not get any points (or "love" as you call it) last night!
As Muddiz would say now: Face it and embrace it!
Bad English
That is not "Bad English" as in the band from the late 80ies, but a concise summary of yesterday's final of the Eurovision Song Contest. As a German I lack any natural interest in the competition and looking at the songs and artists Germany usually sends to the event you will understand that it is a notion I share with many of my countrymen. Here in Sweden though, the ESC is a big thing with several national contests and massive media coverage. Living in this country you are faced with some tough options: you either accept that your respective other will be hogging the tv for many Saturdays and find yourself something else to do OR you try to get in touch with your inner Swede long enough to be able to sit through the event.
I opted for the latter and it was truly an interesting experience. 25 songs, most of them either performed in incomprehensible English or a foreign language. I have yet to decide what is worse. Either way you could barely understand a word of any of the songs (or of what the hosts said for that matter). Who sits for over 3 hours and watches something like that you ask? Muddiz of course. And even more shocking: she enjoyed it! While her husband fell asleep on our couch before the show even started, Muddiz would even have watched the horrible filler performances with which they "entertain" people during the voting for example if we'd let her. You think you know people....
I will apply for Swedish citizenship soon and if enduring what I endured last night does not earn me any brownie points with the Swedes then I don't know what will.
I opted for the latter and it was truly an interesting experience. 25 songs, most of them either performed in incomprehensible English or a foreign language. I have yet to decide what is worse. Either way you could barely understand a word of any of the songs (or of what the hosts said for that matter). Who sits for over 3 hours and watches something like that you ask? Muddiz of course. And even more shocking: she enjoyed it! While her husband fell asleep on our couch before the show even started, Muddiz would even have watched the horrible filler performances with which they "entertain" people during the voting for example if we'd let her. You think you know people....
I will apply for Swedish citizenship soon and if enduring what I endured last night does not earn me any brownie points with the Swedes then I don't know what will.
May 23, 2008
Throat infection
I woke up with throat pain today, which means that means I have one of my three annual throat infections. They always follow the same pattern: first it hurts when I swallow, then my throat closes up, everything hurts for a couple of days and when I start to get cough attacks I know it's almost over.
It is not contagious, but a clear sign that I maybe should have put on some warmer clothing some time. Can you hear that sound? That is Muddiz laughing! Let's just say we had a little discussion yesterday about whether one should be wearing a jacket or not...
I hope to get better until tomorrow or speaking will be out of the question. The sound you hear right now? A sigh of relief from everyone invited about not having to listen to my funny Swerman (Swedish + German) for a change...
It is not contagious, but a clear sign that I maybe should have put on some warmer clothing some time. Can you hear that sound? That is Muddiz laughing! Let's just say we had a little discussion yesterday about whether one should be wearing a jacket or not...
I hope to get better until tomorrow or speaking will be out of the question. The sound you hear right now? A sigh of relief from everyone invited about not having to listen to my funny Swerman (Swedish + German) for a change...
My movie theater moment
Have you ever gone to see a movie and then found yourself sitting close to the guy with the big bag of popcorn? The kind of bag that makes you realize instantly that you will most probably not be able to hear anything of what's being said in the movie?
I attract these people like cow dung attracts flies, so I have had my share of encounters of the rustling kind. And yesterday I had another one, but this time baby-style.
Hoping to get some much-needed rest I lay down with Pontus on the beds in what currently is our guest room. He seemed content, looking around the room, so I closed my eyes. The next thing I know is that he has somehow gotten hold of a plastic bag that had been lying on the other bed and is happily playing with it. How he did it - I don't know. But when I tried to take the bag away from him he started to scream. So I lay beside him as he tore at that plastic bag with all of his hands and feet, while regularly turning to me to check that I had not managed to fall asleep anyway. 15 minutes and a pounding headache later I gave up.
In the fight of "Man vs. Plastic bag", the plastic bag came out a clear winner!
I attract these people like cow dung attracts flies, so I have had my share of encounters of the rustling kind. And yesterday I had another one, but this time baby-style.
Hoping to get some much-needed rest I lay down with Pontus on the beds in what currently is our guest room. He seemed content, looking around the room, so I closed my eyes. The next thing I know is that he has somehow gotten hold of a plastic bag that had been lying on the other bed and is happily playing with it. How he did it - I don't know. But when I tried to take the bag away from him he started to scream. So I lay beside him as he tore at that plastic bag with all of his hands and feet, while regularly turning to me to check that I had not managed to fall asleep anyway. 15 minutes and a pounding headache later I gave up.
In the fight of "Man vs. Plastic bag", the plastic bag came out a clear winner!
Stuntbabies
Yesterday morning I left Pontus with Muddiz because I needed to go and do some serious grocery shopping before Saturday's BBQ. This was the first time somebody outside the family took care of him and I could not possibly have picked a more suitable person....or could I?
I had barely made it through her door when a loud "DUNK" from upstairs announced that her son had woken up and made his way off the couch. And it was apparently not the first time that had happened. Of course one could think that there is some carelessness involved, but I have another theory: Muddiz is probably one of these pushy showbiz moms who wants Milton to become a world-famous stuntman and starts training him early.
Did I have any doubts to leave Pontus with her? Hell no! He has been so horribly cranky all week that the prospect of taking him with me on an intense shopping tour was actually more terrifying than that of him spending time alone with the mother of all stuntmen.
And I am happy to say that things worked out very well, probaby because Pontus did not come there unprepared. He too has special abilities, such as extreme pooping powers and an ultraforceful super spit-up, and with those he kept Muddiz busy until I returned.
Well done, boy wonder!
P.S.: Maybe I should get him a shirt that says "I survived Muddiz and all I got was this lousy t-shirt"....
I had barely made it through her door when a loud "DUNK" from upstairs announced that her son had woken up and made his way off the couch. And it was apparently not the first time that had happened. Of course one could think that there is some carelessness involved, but I have another theory: Muddiz is probably one of these pushy showbiz moms who wants Milton to become a world-famous stuntman and starts training him early.
Did I have any doubts to leave Pontus with her? Hell no! He has been so horribly cranky all week that the prospect of taking him with me on an intense shopping tour was actually more terrifying than that of him spending time alone with the mother of all stuntmen.
And I am happy to say that things worked out very well, probaby because Pontus did not come there unprepared. He too has special abilities, such as extreme pooping powers and an ultraforceful super spit-up, and with those he kept Muddiz busy until I returned.
Well done, boy wonder!
P.S.: Maybe I should get him a shirt that says "I survived Muddiz and all I got was this lousy t-shirt"....
May 21, 2008
Ready, Set, Go!
I got the idea for this blog from my friend Muddiz, who updates me (and the rest of the world) about what's going on in her life, which, incidentally, is very similar to my life. We do in fact not only live similar lives, we also physically live less than 300 meters apart. So, with all of those things we have in common, how can she be filling page after page with funny little stories and witty observations of the world around us, while I sit at home and, well, do nothing?
Okay, so I do not have a cool ingrown toenail that makes for gross shocker photos and I don't have confessions to make like dreaming about tucking Björn Gustafsson in at night (an image that haunted me for a very long time btw), but I too have things to say.
Ready or not, here I come!
Okay, so I do not have a cool ingrown toenail that makes for gross shocker photos and I don't have confessions to make like dreaming about tucking Björn Gustafsson in at night (an image that haunted me for a very long time btw), but I too have things to say.
Ready or not, here I come!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
