Life in the Land of the Ice and Snow
Infiltrating Sweden one cinnamon bun at a time
I check the Houston news about once a month to keep up with things happening back in Texas. I want to be on top of current events and important developments happening in the city, so I know what’s affecting my family and friends. Sometimes I think I should check the news more often than once … Read more
The snow is melting today and it’s just a big slush of muddy roads and giant slabs of ice falling from roofs. I think most people here who claim they hate the snow don’t really hate the snow, they hate what’s going to happen because they know that eventually it will get melty and slushy, … Read more
My husband gave a presentation to a 4th grade class yesterday and asked the kids how they veiw the future and what new technologies they think we will have 50 years from now. I asked him how it went and he said, “It’s amazing the number of children who answer Robot Slaves. In fact, one … Read more
One of my favorite Christmas gifts from my husband about 3 years back was this hotel bell. One of my husband’s biggest regrets in life was getting me this hotel bell. He gave it to me because he thought it might come in handy any time I was sick and needed something in bed. And … Read more
My husband got a special pickling jar for Christmas. He is currently buying all the cabbage available in Sweden and filling our fridge and counters with sauerkraut and kimchi. Everything in the fridge smells of cabbage. The kitchen smells of cabbage. The apartment smells of cabbage. I’m afraid to go out and meet friends today … Read more
It is only this year that I learned what “Boxing day” means. Most Americans have heard this term and I guarantee that the majority of us just picture a boxing match or taking out frustration on relatives after being cooped up in a house with them over the holidays. So for those who, like me, … Read more
Our family Christmas card this year. I’ve already heard several of my friends’ children complaining that our family has a flying saucer and their families have to take the bus.
For the person who has everything… Well, I bet they don’t have THIS!
I was talking to another parent in my son’s class about the weather being so snowy and icy outside that it was hard to walk anywhere without falling. The other parent told me that she has been riding her bike in the ice and snow lately, but is a little nervous about crashing. I said, … Read more
December 13th in Sweden is Lucia day. It’s basically a celebration of light in the darkness, based on an Italian saint who had her eyes gouged out (really gets kids in the Christmas spirit). All over Sweden, choirs of children dress in white robes while one girl (the Lucia) has a crown of lit candles … Read more
I like to wear jewelry, but I also like to be practical. Fortunately, I found the perfect necklace!
My husband was singing in a beautiful Advent concert that I attended this past weekend. Everything was very tasteful, old-fashioned, Christmassy, etc., until the beautiful chandeliers were lowered and the altar boys lit the candles with….. a blow torch attached to a stick. Hey, this may be a reverent celebration, but this concert is only … Read more
It’s the giving season! I’ve picked out this special gift for a number of people on my enemies Christmas list! Bus driver who didn’t stop for my son and I in the rain Old lady telling me how to raise my kids after meeting me for 5 seconds Every person who takes up several seats … Read more
Just another news story to encourage us all to use credit cards instead of cash.
For several years now, here in Sweden, I’ve been seeing stores advertise for “Black Friday.” It’s not the chaos of the U.S., but more regular type sales. As far as I know, nothing opens early. The reason that I and other Americans find Swedish “Black Friday” sales ridiculous is that there is no point behind … Read more
Never really caught on.
An opinion piece on CNN is titled “Should we fear killer robots?” Yes. It does seem like a no-brainer because of the adjective “killer.” If this headline said, “Should we fear killer dolphins?” or “Should we fear killer hedgehogs?” my answer would be the same.
We had a slight bit of a scorpion problem while renting an apartment in Italy last week. However, I still prefer scorpions to giant Texas tree roaches. Scorpions somehow seem more sophisticated. Because of my respect for the majestic scorpion, I chose to catch and release the two we found by throwing them out of … Read more
One of my friends is working at a company currently planning the annual Christmas party. She says that last week, the CEO of the company walked up to the woman in charge, annouced that he needed an animatronic reindeer with snow showering around it, and then walked away. If I were the CEO of a … Read more
Jacket for sale – $10. — Message from Woman: I’m interested. I’d like to try it on. Me: Ok, here’s my address. (I write address). Woman: I’ll get back to you tomorrow. — next day — Woman: Is the jacket still there? Me: Yes. Woman: Can we meet at the Central Station? Me: No. The … Read more