Happy Halloween!

Trick or Treat
Originally uploaded by Color Lover

Snow

Yes, snow. That flurry white stuff that comes down from the sky and makes me long for southern altitudes. And tonight it arrived for the first time. Waiting for the bus big flakes started coming down and everybody was just “Oh, my God”, “This is early” and so on. It's not that rare that we do get snow in late October or early November, but never less it always feels early. I'm still wearing shoes, not boots and no heavy winter coat. My parka is somewhere deep down in my closet and and just thinking that I might have to dig it out makes me sad.

London and the English east coast got snow on Tuesday so it's real no surprise it's coming here now. Most every weather systems move north east from the British Isles and into Sweden a couple of days later. Th one of the few things I don't like about the UK, the weather they keep sending us. So now I'm just going to curl up under my duvet and hopefully it will all be gone by time I wake up tomorrow.

Virtual murder

Murdering your on line husband in a computer game can make you end up in jail.

A 43-year-old Japanese woman whose sudden divorce in a virtual game world made her so angry that she killed her online husband's digital persona has been arrested on suspicion of hacking, police said Thursday.

I had to read the article several times before I realised that the Japanese woman was not married in real life, which makes it even more fascinating. They had only met on line playing Maple Story. And I thought I lived my life behind the computer...

Lighter mornings

With changing of the clock yesterday it meant that this morning it wasn't as dark as it has been for the last couple of weeks. Yippee yeah! OK, so it will only last for a week or two, but two weeks without staring out in a pitch dark wall when having breakfast feels quite nice. I'll take whatever I can get...

Leaving work wasn't as fun since it was dark already, but that is sort of OK since the day is over. And it's actually almost November which means the Christmas lights are around the corner. When leaving the Opera on Friday night I noticed that some of the lighting stands were already out down town. Early maybe, but very welcomed.

Mary Poppins

On Friday night I went to see Mary Poppins at the Opera together with my friends from the wine testing group. A very nice evening and only one glass of wine...

It's the first time the production has been done outside London and New York and in a non-English language. I saw the London production two years ago and I thought it was very good. Leaving the theatre you felt both happy and cherry. The same thing happened this time, and I got a feeling that we all need a little bit of magic in our lives. With some sugar everything can be supercalifragilisticexpialidocious...

Palin Facebook spoof

After my Sarah Palin rant a while back a friend in the UK sent me a link to a spoof Facebook page where she is listed as being married to a Snowmobile Guy and her political views as "None – I'm not very political."

Her current status is set to: "Sarah Palin is shoring up the economy… trade… not seeing trade as a competitive, scary thing."

There is also messages from Vladimir Putin ("I seen you starin at me from across the water"), John McCain ("You’re a woman, right? Are you busy for the next four years?") and Barack Obama, who thanks her for "all your help".

When it comes to religious views she's listed as "Jesusologist", and in a comment at the bottom of the page Jesus Christ writes: "You like me. We get it".

Some of the Facebook groups she is shown to have joined are "Never Been Out of North America", "Evolution Schmevolution" and "Shoot Stuff In The Face Enthusiasts".

You just got to love good satire...

Suing God

State Sen. Ernie Chambers in Nebraska is suing God for allegedly causing deaths, making threats.

Chambers says in his lawsuit that God has made terrorist threats against the senator and his constituents, inspired fear and caused "widespread death, destruction and terrorization of millions upon millions of the Earth’s inhabitants."

The Omaha senator, who skips morning prayers during the legislative session and often criticizes Christians, also says God has caused "fearsome floods ... horrendous hurricanes, terrifying tornadoes."

He’s seeking a permanent injunction against the Almighty.

So what to say? Only in America... Wasting people's time , money, and getting a bit of PR. But at the same time I think it's hilarious, really showing that one can sue anyone. And If God is almighty and everywhere then he knows he's being sued and I'm sure he can come up with a great defence or counterstrike.

Quote of the day

~ Well, be happy we don't live on Greenland ~

One of the HR Managers at work when I said that I hate this time of year when it's getting dark.

Finishing things

I had the hardest time this morning to wake up and get going at work. A colleague sent me this which at least got me laughing.

Today, we all could probably use more calm in our lives.

A doctor on breakfast television this morning said that the way to achieve inner peace is to finish all the things you have started.

So I looked around my house to see things I'd started and hadn't finished and, before leaving the house this morning, I finished off a bottle of Merlot, a bottle of shhhardonay, a bodle of Baileys, a butle of vocka, a pockage of Prunglies, tha mainder of bot Prozic and Valum scriptins, the res of the Chesescke an a box a chocolets. Yu haf no idr who fkin gud I fel. Peas sen dis orn to dem yu fee AR in ned ov inr pece

Health check

Every other year a nurse comes to the office and check blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol and your weight. An easy way for the company to make sure their employees are doing OK. If something is wrong you then get send to a doctor for more tests.

Two years ago I my blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol were all very low and I was considered healthy. The nurse even told me that I should go home and eat crisps. When it was time again last Thursday I was a bit curious if anything had changed. For the last year or so I really can't say I have been focusing on what I eat and exercise. Too much travelling, too much irregular hours, too much eating out, too much wine and too much chocolate. The scale has indeed showed me that I'm living dangerously, but so far I've only been thinking about it.

If my test were in the lower end the last time, this time they were perfect. The nurse didn't even comment on my weight until I did. Just get back on track was her comment. Yeah, I know, but why is it so hard? Answer that and you've solved one of life's great mysteries.

Still 10 year old in my mind

The other day I had lunch with a friend who knew even before I was born. Her mum and my mum has been friends since they were 15 years. Her parents are my godparents and my parents are her godparents. Growing up our families spent a lot of time together during holidays, weekends, days out etc.

Since our mums still keep in touch we pretty much know what has been going on in our lives, but we haven't met in a long, long time. An email here and there saying that we really should meet, but nothing more. Then in September my friend got a job at the Finance Department at work and suddenly we were only three floors apart and had absolutely no reasons why we shouldn't met.

Lunch was great and since we know each other and our families so well it's very easy to pick up where we left the last time even though it's been a couple of years. As usual we got into talking about things that happened when we were kids and things our parents did or said. Found memories of a happy and bright childhood with funny and go-lucky parents who still somehow managed to be strict.

Suddenly my friend said something that her dad was getting old. "You know he's 77 years now". I just looked at her, because that couldn't be right. In my mind thinking about him, my godmother and my parents I'm 10 and they are in their 40's and early 50's. Not 77, because that would make me, um yes 36 and my friend 41. We then laughed and said something about getting old.

I've kept thinking about it though. Dad has been dead for 21 years now, which is a lifetime more or less. I know that my godparents are ailing and so are mum. They are getting old and that is scary. Especially since in my mind I'm still 10...

After rain comes sunshine

If yesterday was terribly and I dreaded the coming darkness, today has been a glorious autumn's day with sunshine, crisp and clear air and temperatures in the 50's. On my lunch walk I marvelled over the lovely foliage and people still sitting outside drinking coffee. Tonight I ended the day with Thai food, girlfriends, wine and the latest news. After rain comes sunshine indeed...

Dark and wet

It was dark outside when I left for work this morning and dark when I got home tonight, and I did not go in early or stay late. It just means that six months of misery has begun. And it's wet. No pouring rain, just fine mist that somehow makes you soaking wet.

I so hate it and it has only started. Ms Sunshine I miss you so already.

Reaching goal

On Friday two years of dreaming, hoping and wanting came true when I got a new job on group level instead of just the Swedish market. For a while it felt rather unreal and overwhelming since this is something I've wanted for so long. I'm that sort of person who enjoys the challenge and journey towards a goal and now I have (finally) reached it. What now?! What's next?! But the feeling of knowing that I managed, I did it, is a lot bigger. I'm so happy and I have a feeling it will take a while before that goofy smile of mine goes away. Hopefully not until January 1 when I officially change job and department.

That new job is going to be quite a challenge, but I'm ready – Come and get me!

Quote of the day

In my many years I have come to a conclusion that one useless man is a shame, two is a law firm, and three or more is a congress.

~ John Adams ~

Sarah Palin rant

With the first presidential debate tonight I guess it's time to talk about Sarah Palin. As a woman I was very happy to see her getting nominated as Vice President. But from that minute on there has been something about her that annoys me. I tried to chalk it off as being jealous on a successful and perfect woman. All you women know exactly what I'm talking about. Every now and then we met a woman who has it all. Brain, looks, success and somehow it all becomes too much and you just don't like that person.

Soon though I realised that it wasn't her appearance that got me annoyed. It was her views and just the thought that she might become the second in command in the largest economy in the world is terrifying. Watching the news last night there was an interview with a famous women's rights person. Her comment that a vote for Palin will mean restricted rights for women such as abortions and other equal rights issues really got me going. The next clip was an interview with a Pro Life woman who talked very fondly of Sarah Palin. Especially her beliefs that a woman should not have the right to an abortion after a rape or an incest. The woman has already suffered enough by going through the trauma of a rape or incest. Having an abortion would be another trauma. Hearing that got me so mad, so mad.

I shall not go into the Pro Life or Pro Choice discussion, where both sides make valid points, but instead just say this is the 21st century and not the Dark Ages. We are all created equal. Man or woman, black or white and we all should have the freedom to chose what we believe is the best for us.

OK, stepping down from my soapbox now...

Credit crunch shoppers' delight

For those loosing money in the credit crunch, but still want luxury Selfridge's in London has launched a special treat – a bag of 150-gram Valrhona chocolate and honeycomb pieces called Credit Crunch.

Ewan Venters, the store's director of food and restaurants:

"Quality chocolate is the ultimate solution, being relatively inexpensive, instantly satisfying and really helps lift your mood."

Even thought it's true I'm not sure I would spend 3,99 pounds (seven dollars), when a Galaxy chocolate bar for 79p or KitKat for 59p would do the same thing for me. But then on the other hand I haven't lost any money and I probably play in a totally different league than the City girls and boys.

Fire and car explosion

One of my biggest fears in life is fire. Ever since I was child my uttermost nightmare is to get caught by a fire and not being able to get out. The closet I ever been to a fire was a building across the street when I has just moved away to college. Nobody was hurt, but for weeks I had trouble going to sleep. Listening to every sound.

On Thursday a bit of that nightmare came back. While having lunch with some colleagues I got a phone call from mum who was picking up some things in my flat. When she arrived the entrance door was open and the whole building smelled like smoke. Getting off at my floor she was met by a man who was cleaning off soot from the walls, ceilings and floors. Mum asked him what had happened and he really didn't know other that he had been sent there to clean up. There was no damage to my flat and no smell of smoke. Most likely thanks to the heavy fireproofed door. Mum knows my fear of fire and she called me so I wouldn't get worried when I got home, but needless to say it didn't work. I left work earlier just to see what actually had happened.

The smell was still strong when I got home and even though the whole building had been scrubbed from top to bottom with strong detergent. At my floor the fire had started about 3 meters from my door and right there both paint and skirting board were gone. The rest of the walls and ceiling that are usually white had turned grey and one could tell they had been washed.

My imagination was of course running wild and when I heard my neighbour who I see at the bus every morning arriving home I went next doors. The two of us had left the building around 7:30 am and both of us had noticed a medium sized box on the landing but not really thought about. People put out stuff from time to time since the hallways in the flats are tiny and people doesn't always feel like walking all they way down to the basement right at that moment.

When our other neighbour was suppose to leave 30 minutes later the box was on fire along with bags of old newspapers and plastic things, which created the smoke and soot. The fire department arrived with 14 fire fighters, one ordinary truck and one ladder truck. Both the police and paramedics were also called to the scene. If I had been home I would have been a completely wreck.

The fire fighters went through the building from top to bottom, but could not find anything else or traces of things being used. To them it was either a pyromaniac or some kids playing around. Sure, but the entrance door is locked all the time which makes it a bit scary. If it was a pyromaniac he/she will not come back since they never start a fire at the same place twice. Like that would be a comfort... I slept surprisingly well on Thursday night even though I woke several times and had a hard time falling a sleep to start with.

On Friday night when leaving the house to go my monthly wine testing I noticed leftovers of something burnt on the pavement right outside the entrance. Probably something left behind by the fire fighters cleaning up I thought. I was also late and it was getting dark so I didn't think about it any more.

Then yesterday I ran into another neighbour who actually started the conversion with asking if I lived in the building, which means that people are on the watch out for strangers. He then went on and asked if I had seen the explosion and fire on Friday. No the fire was on Thursday I replied. No he said. On Friday morning around 10:30 am a car had exploded right outside the entrance door. Again the whole street had been filled with emergency vehicles. The police think that some sort of explosives had been used. Not much, but enough to crack the petrol tank and get a fire going.

So that was what I had seen in Friday night. The remains of a burnt out car. Back in the flat I checked the newspaper on-line and yes there was a notice about a car exploding. Even a picture of the car burning right outside my entrance door.

This has always been a quiet part of town. I've lived here for 11 years and nothing has ever happened. There is plenty of gang wars related to organised crime going on in the city. Gothenburg has the most organised crime in Sweden, which we are not very proud of, but all that stuff goes on in the suburbs. Not here, right in the middle of the city.

Yesterday and today have been quiet, so I really hope this was something temporary and a coincidence that things happened two days in a row. That's what the police thought at least. Not sure if that makes me feel less worried, even though I really would like to. I will for sure be more careful with who I let into the building and notice people on the street more.

Autumn tree

As everybody probably know I'm not a big fan of autumn. I more or less want to hibernate and come back in six months when autumn and winter is all over and done with. Going through my pics from last week in London (I always walk around with ta camera there since you never know what you might stumble upon) I found this one, a perfect autumn picture. A tree, with leaves in yellow and green and everything in between.

I just wish I was better at Photoshop so I could edit out that darn lamppost though...

Gender sensitive signs

On Monday Swedish Road Administration revealed they are going to issue gender-sensitive pedestrian crossing signs. The old sign with a man crossing over a street was found not to be equal enough for two local municipalities which decided to create signs of their own.

Reading about things like this make me very annoyed. Why do people and municipalities bather about things like this? And the Road Administration? Isn't there more important things to deal with?

I'm all for equal rights, but every time I hear about things like this I feel like going back to the days when women were women and men were man. Just because you believe in equal rights is doesn't not mean that everything has to be equal. At least not when it comes to signs. It's just a waste of tax payers money. And the wrong cause to fight for. There are so many other important equal right issues out there I wish those people would fight for instead. Grow up and fight for the real and important things instead.