Globetrotter

One of my answers in the last post was that I wished I travelled more. My friend Michael just wrote his annual post summing up the year's travels. Compared to him the rest of us who love to travel are nothing.

And I do know he went more places than he wrote about in his post. Life is so hard...

End of year questionnaire

1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
Took part in an international digital marketing conference

2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Don't do new year's resolutions

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No

5. What countries did you visit?
Denmark, Poland , Norway, UK and Ireland

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
Patience

7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
October 10 when I found out I got the job I've been dreaming about for 2 years

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting the job I've been dreaming about for 2 years

9. What was your biggest failure?
I hate to say that I failed, but I did not lose any weight

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
No

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Collectable wines

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
The Tibetan monks

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe

14. Where did most of your money go?
Travels and clothes

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Getting the job I've been dreaming about for 2 years

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
Warwick Avenue

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder?
The same
b) thinner or fatter?
Fatter
c) richer or poorer?
Richer

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Travelled

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Worked

20. How did you spend Christmas?
With family

21. Did you fall in love in 2008?
No

22. What was your favorite TV program?
House

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No

24. What was the best book you read?
Great hatred, little room. Making peace in Northern Ireland

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Duffy

26. What did you want and get?
Beautiful earrings

27. What did you want and not get?
Go to Texas

28. What was your favorite film of this year?
Mamma Mia

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Visiting the amusement park Liseberg at the hottest day of the year with my cousin and her family. 36 years

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Living in London

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Classic but comfortable

32. What kept you sane?
My friends

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Barrack Obama

34. What political issue stirred you the most?
IPRED-law (the Swedish government wants to have the right to check everything stored digitally)

35. Who did you miss?
Holly and Jo

36. Who was the best new person you met?
Jan Eliasson, UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy to Darfur, Sudan. Also former President of the UN General Assembly and former Swedish Minister of Foreign Affairs

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
You're not your job

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
She's got style, she's got grace, she's a winner.
She's a lady. Whoa whoa whoa, She's a lady.

Orchids

My orchids all decided to bloom a the same right in time for Christmas. I'm quite amazed that a little bit of tender love and care every other Sunday can produce something this beautiful.

Family overload

Again I've had overload of family. It happens every year around the holidays because of 3 birthdays and Christmas all crammed together in 3 weeks. That's too much! At least for me who are not related by blood to any of them besides mum. The rest of the family is my step-dad's family and we would never meet if we didn't had to.

Christmas this year was worse than ever with rude comments, bad behaviour and no manners whatever so. No I'm not a lesbian, and yes I have gained weight. Thank you very much for telling me I'm getting fat again. I do not slam the door in people's faces because I think it's funny and I do not tell people they are idiots because they like beer I don't like. I say thank you, please and yes sir/mum because I was raised so. I believe giving is better than receiving and helping people who are less fortune than me are important. Yes, I believe in God, but that doesn't make me stupid and I would never tell people what I believe is right. That's for everybody to decided by themselves. Yes, I was a spoiled only child, but living with a terminal ill parent for over four years sort of take the edge of that. I would happily change all of that to have dad back. Mum might be getting old, but don't you dare saying she's a moron. She's still the sharpest brains of all of us.

Well, the list could just go on and on. I was ready to leave after 10 minutes, but stayed for 4 hours because that's what you do when it's Christmas. You smile and try not to listen to the worse things because you're better than them. So standing in the kitchen counting to 10 for the umptiest time I promised myself this is the last Christmas with my so called family. Next year I'm going travelling, staying at home alone or whatever just because I had enough. Christmas is about love, joy and cherish things together. What we do every year is far from that and I do not like to be part of it any more. I simply have had enough.

Another Christmas song

Still being in some sort of Christmas mood and way too stuffed with food (if someone offers me more Christmas food I'm going to scream) I'm just going to be lazy and post another favourite Christmas song of mine. Do they know it's Christmas with Band Aid.

During a quiz at a Christmas party last week I realised this is my song. I could name all the lead singers in the right order. My new boss (from January 1st) just looked at me and said I was crazy... Maybe I am or I'm just a kid of the 80's... Paul Young, Boy George, George Michael, Simon LeBon, Sting and Bono...

Merry Christmas!

One of the best Christmas songs ever made. Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas.

No more work this year

I left the office around 3 this afternoon and I'm not coming back until January 7. A wonderful feeling and when leaving it was still daylight outside. That hasn't been the case in months. Another thing just to be happy over.

After stopping by the madhouse called grocery store I finally made it home. I picked out the largest cookie from yesterday's baking, sat down on the sofa and watched the sun set. And then I fell asleep and slept for and hour and half. Sitting here now I feel happy, relaxed and filled quite a bit with Christmas spirit. I guess what was missing was the feeling of knowing that there is no work for two and half weeks and a nap on the sofa.

Merry Christmas!

No Christmas spirit

For a couple of days now I've been trying to feel some Christmas spirit, but I can't. I've been to several Christmas parties, wrapped gifts, sent out cards, decorated my flat, made cookies and listened to Christmas music, but I feel nothing. Everything feels like normal besides that I'm counting down the days before some time off. Only one more day to go.

Christmas has always been my favourite holiday so it feels a bit strange. Maybe it's because I'm getting old or maybe it's because I don't have a family of my own. But I do want to feel happy, jolly and good will towards men. It is Christmas after all...

Busy week

I'm right in the middle of a busy week, and I'm not really complaining besides that times fly when you're having fun.

On Monday Jo was visiting, yesterday I had a massage, facial and got my lashes and brows fixed. Tonight it was time for the last wine testing of the year. Yummy plummy and fruity red ones from California. Tomorrow I have a Christmas party with my new department and on Friday night I'm visiting the Christmas market at Liseberg with some friends.

Saturday I don't have any plans yet, but with only four days before Christmas I have feeling I'll be busy. Need to make cookies, wrap the last presents and do all the normal weekend chores.

Not 20 any longer...

That's what Jo and I realised this morning looking at each other and then started laughing. We are getting old...

We met up at 6 in the evening and didn't stop talking until 2:30 in the morning. Two strawberry daiquiris and two bottle of wines later. A lot of artichoke and asparagus risotto, ice cream and chocolate and we had gone through the highlights of the last 7 years and many trips down memory lane. We were some crazy kids... Tubing down Guadalupe river, drinking tequila shots, clubbing until the wee hours and going for curry and chips (fries) before bed.

I know we both thought it was wonderful to meet again and this morning it was hard to say goodbye. We had just met...

So tonight I'm going to bed early, but very happy and thankful knowing that nor time or distance changed our friendship. And now living only three hours apart I'm pretty sure there will be more nights like this. Even though we are not 20 any longer or even 30...

Excited

It's been a while, but I'm actually excited. Tomorrow after work I'm meeting up with my very old and dear friend Jo. It's been six years since the last time.

We were flat mates back in Texas in the early 90's (I can't believe that's almost 17 years ago now) and whereas I stayed mostly put in Sweden Jo went to live in France and then later in to London. Thanks to low cost airlines we managed to see each other a lot until Jo met the love of her life - an Aussie chef who after two years in London had had enough of the crappy weather and wanted to move back to Oz. That was six years ago. I never made it to Down Under, but know they are back in Sweden for a while. And tomorrow I'm meeting my darling Jo. I can't wait!!!

At the same time as I'm very excited I have to admit I'm a bit nervous. Six years is a long time even though we have kept in touch by email. I know I have changed a lot and I'm pretty sure Jo has too. But after talking to her on the phone I know she's still that free spirited and crazy girl I immediately liked. After all we were each other's family for more than a year and I think that says it all.

Quote of the day

Cities have sexes: London is a man, Paris a woman, and New York a well-adjusted transsexual.

~ Angela Carter ~

Clothes shopping

With a 50-years-old party on Saturday and Christmas in two weeks I forced myself to go clothes shopping today. I love to shop and for the last couple of years shopping for clothes have been great fun. Funky and cool outfits that I just had dreamt about before. Nice lingerie, tight tops and dresses showing a fit and toned body. Well, things have changed and I'm back at size 16 and not very happy about. I still love my body a lot more than I did before and I'm not afraid of showing it to people (like I used to), but I do not like how big my belly has become or how jiggly the arms and thighs are.

Being a size 20 at my biggest I know I'm not totally back to where I started 5 years ago, but not very far from and it makes me incredible sad and frustrated. Especially since I remember how much hard work it was and that I promised myself over and over again that it would never happened again. Well it has... And of course now I have closet full of clothes that are either too small, too tight or just tight. Nothing really fits any more...

Not very far from the office there is a shop that's been around for ever. It really doesn't look like high fashion store, but it is and you know when you walk in there that you will leave with a bag in your hand. It's run by two ladies in their mid 50's who has been doing this all their life and they are good, very good. Today I walked in and said I was looking for tops. Five minutes later I had tried on three different tops and loved all of them. They looked good on and I felt great about myself. When I was about to leave one of them showed me a black wool jacket from Oui Moments."Please try it on. This is really you". I did try it on and yes it was very much me. Tight were it's suppose to be tight and lose where it needs to be lose.

So I left the shop with two tops and the jacket, which very quickly decided was going to be my Christmas gift to myself. Also since I'm moving office to the top floor and starting my new job after the holidays this was just what I needed (but maybe didn't now I needed).

Amazing what the right salespersons can make you feel and do.

Out of sight

The film Out of sight was voted the sexiest film of all time last week by Entertainment Weekly. I couldn't agree more. Most of the scenes between George Clooney and Jennifer Lopez are steaming. My favourite scene is when they meet up in the bar and it's snowing outside. You know exactly how it's going to end even before they have started to talk. Sizzling!

The judges said Clooney and Lopez combined to make the ultimate "cinematic aphrodisiac".

They said: "It made Clooney a major star and gave J-Lo her most well-rounded role to date. And thanks to director Steven Soderbergh, it features a number of scenes that belong in a sexy cinema hall of fame."

Second on the list was His Girl Friday, with Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt in Mr and Mrs Smith came in third. Another favourite of mine The Age of Innocence ended up at number 22. Hot stuff!

Missing daylight

This morning I realised why I feel so blue, the poor daylight has finally hit me. Surprisingly late I might add, but nerveless. The days are now at its shortest and with all the rain and clouds we are having it's easy to figure out the rest. No daylight to speak about.

Work is rather slow at the moment as well (post project state) so there is no extra adrenaline from stress to hold me up either. Just plain gloom and wanting to curl up on the sofa, read and eat cookies or chocolate. Or really any food that's not good for you. Cheese, bread, wine, chips, candy... I guess I also feel a little bit lonely which is rare. Must be the time of the year when everybody talk about families and kids. That too will pass...

Sunday blues

Not really sure what happened, but suddenly the day is gone and it's time to get ready for a new working week. Ugh! It's been a while since I had the Sunday blues but today it's hitting me with full force. It feels like the time has just disappeared and I haven't managed to day any of the things I planed to do.

Trying to think about things I have done think weekend things like watching telly, sleeping and playing with the computer comes up. Not very creative or mind boggling... Just slacking...

Maybe a hot bath will make me feel better. Disappearing into a cloud of bubbles and feeling the nice aromas of vanilla and lavender. Mmm...

The USB toaster

Since going to the kitchen and do some toast is such hard work, here it is – The USB toaster. Just plug into your USB port and 7-9 later one slice of lovely toast comes out. Maybe Christmas present for the gadget freak who has everything already?

Well there is one catch, the toaster is not for real. It's very cunning ploy from the US comedy site The Onion. But still it can be bought for online for $ 8 and you will get a box, but with a pair of socks.

Not so smart forger

No criminals are smart, if they were they should not be criminals... A bit condemning maybe, but reading about "Britain's worst forger" it makes you wonder if it isn't true...

Chris Woodruff used his computer printer to create his own insurance certificate when he was stopped by police but made a basic error with the date.

The certificate he presented to police looked perfect but for one vital detail - its expiry date was listed as the non-existent "31/02/08 at 23.59hrs".

Woodruff had previous been charged three times for driving without an insurance and was also dreaming about joining the police force after leaving the army. Hm, not sure what to say... Maybe - Good for you for trying at least?!

Talk about airbrushing

We all know it's out there – airbrushed photos of models. But this photos of Mel B for Ultimo lingerie really takes the price. Her hips are totally gone which makes her upper body look way out of proportion. Compared to other "real" photos of her it also seems like her fun and carefree sparkle is gone. It's just too good to be true.

The Daily Mirror talks about her body as a full figure body which really makes me laugh. Her real body is gorgeous, not full figured. They too do exactly what the article is all about, airbrushing the truth that more women are size 12 and up than size 0.

Flu gene

Being on the mend from some sort of flu/cold over the weekend I find this article in The Telegraph about flu genes interesting. Or could it just be that I had forgotten how bad one feel with high fever, muscle aches and a sore throat?!

Scientist in Australia has identified a gene that in some people make it eight times more likely they will suffer for longer and experience severe symptoms once they get ill. The researcher also found that some people has a genetic combination that makes them hardy and recover from illness faster than others.

"We all know that when people get sick some take a long time to recover and while others seem to get over it very fast, and what we've been able to show are the possible genetic reasons for this," said Dr Ute Vollmer-Conna, who led the study, told Australian Associated Press.

About 28% of the 300 people who took part of the study showed the gene for prolonged illness, while 18% had more robust genes that could protect them from suffering.

Hm, wonder which genes I have because Friday and Saturday was plain misery...