Actual news story or “It” promotion?

I can’t be the only person who sees this headline on CNN and wonders if someone just really wants to promote the new Stephen King “It” movie remake. (Also, before posting this story, I had to add a category to my post. I went with “parenting,” as it’s good parental skills not to let your … Read more

Conversations in Italian

I like to travel with my family to Italy twice a year, so I study at least two lessons a day on my Italian Rosetta Stone program. It’s a great program, but sometimes I get too involved in the attitudes and lives of the people in the pictures. Example in the pictures below: These people … Read more

Bugs! Get them off me!

  This is why I can’t have any indoor plants. The minute I spot one bug on them, I throw them off the balcony!  At least they have a chance to survive out there. But a whole apartment full of plants? I feel things crawling on me just reading about it.  

I’m on this new bee diet

Many people wonder why people in Sweden don’t get fat at the end of the summer after eating loads of ice cream, hot dogs and chips. Well, I’m here to let you in on the secret to Swedish summer weight loss. Bees. August is the time when the bees tend to swarm in our area. … Read more

Fruitopia

We seem to be having an early season for apples and other fruits here in the Stockholm area, and I’m lucky enough to live in a place that used to be a fruit orchard at some far point back in time. Or maybe it was a dump where lazy people threw out rotten apple cores … Read more

Pet Rock – The Next Generation

I told the kids I had a Pet Rock when I was their age. They thought I made it up. Then I showed them the exact one I had, on the internet (pictured here), and they laughed so hard they actually fell on the ground. They have now collected 2 big rocks with the plan … Read more

The only way I will fly Delta

So Delta airlines had pizza delivered to waiting passengers on a plane during the recent delays caused by their computer system. My thoughts: Can we please just do this every time instead of airline food? I will pay extra. Do the delivery guys get tips in airline tickets? And still, Pizza Hut won’t deliver to … Read more

Seat saving criminals

Italy is now handing out fines to people who hog beach space by setting up umbrellas and towels overnight in order to have prime space in the morning, or people who take up way too much space with empty towels and chairs waiting on friends who may not be coming for hours. Article here: http://tinyurl.com/j6ylopj … Read more

Isn’t this how everyone boards RyanAir?

Apparently a RyanAir passenger was late for his flight and decided to run for his plane on the tarmac. CNN may be shocked, but to me, this is basically how one normally boards RyanAir. I wrote about this airline in my book. We took it only once and decided NEVER AGAIN! To board a RyanAir … Read more

Every scar tells a story

I see this phrase often, so let’s give it a try. “Once upon a time, I cut my ankle while shaving my legs in the shower. And then it happened again, and again, and again, and then I decided I should probably be slower and more careful. The end.” I don’t know. I think that … Read more

A Knuckle Sandwich for Breakfast, dear?

I punched my husband in the face this morning. Right in the nose! Of course, I thought he was some weirdo trying to attack me in a hotel. Yes, I was dreaming and my husband’s face was unfortunately positioned in a perfect punching position. On the positive side, I’ve never been able to punch anyone … Read more

The best of false advertising

Yesterday, I wrote about false advertising. Looking up the most famous examples took me down a wonderful rabbit hole of the worst offenders. It made me laugh, so I thought I’d share the best examples with you:

K.F.C., ads and wallpaper paste

Yesterday, I got into a heated discussion with my son about how it’s possible for KFC to have so many secret spices. My son insisted the commercial he saw in the U.S. claimed Kentucky Fried Chicken had 17 secret spices in their batter (I’ve since discovered it’s 11). To him, this was blatant false advertising. … Read more

No politics at all !

Just reminding everyone that I have a new book out – “As Long as I Have My Own Bathroom” – which is great summer reading while you’re on vacation, but most of all, IT CONTAINS ABSOLUTELY NO POLITICS! For sale in the U.S. here – https://amzn.com/1530292964 For sale at other Amazons, such as – http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1530292964 … Read more

Too many ninjas in my life

After 2 years of longing, my husband finally got the object of his dreams – a Ninja Blender. He was sucked in 2 years ago on a trip to the U.S., where several channels seem to be required by law to run day-long advertisements about the life-changing Ninja Blender. Apparently, your life is not complete … Read more

A day at the beach

While many of our friends were posting pictures from their beach vacations on the Mediterranean, we were on the Texas Gulf Coast where we were subjected to warnings about avoiding the beaches because they contained flesh-eating bacteria, sea lice, alligators, sharks, and snakes in the sand dunes. I wish I was making this up, but … Read more

My children are brought to you by …

One drawback of having children in Sweden who NEVER see t.v. commercials is that they become quite overwhelmed by them when we visit the U.S. After about a week, my youngest was saying things like, “This breakfast today is sponsored by…” and “Brushing my teeth is brought to you by …” I guess I should … Read more

Customs video FAIL

As usual, when we arrived in the U.S. last month, we were subjected to a special video that re-played every three minutes while we waited in the long line at immigration/customs. At least this year there was a new video. I was really getting tired of listening to super-happy people repeating, “I am America…… I … Read more

I need this trash can

Smithsonian Air & Space Museum trash can. Forget the Wright Brothers’ plane, Apollo 11 and the Spirit of St. Louis – where can I buy this trash can?  

Back from Bacon-Land

We’ve returned to Sweden this week after a 3 week trip to the U.S. – or as it really should be called – “Bacon-Land.” They might as well change the name already and get it over with. Needless to say, we are all spending this first week home detoxing our body from bacon and fried … Read more