Today's statement

Via The Sepia Buzz

Love thy body

I guess all women have seen pictures of themselves and then decided to go on a diet. I know I have (those dreaded pics from my 30th birthday party...)

Having been up, down and now somewhere in between the last seven years I'm slightly coming to turns with the fact that I will never be one of those skinny women. No matter how hard I try, how little I eat and how much I exercise. It's not going to happen.

It's indeed a daily struggle to learn to love your body big or small. Some days are good and some days are not so good, but still in the end you are not your body size, no matter how much we are thought to believe so.

So when reading articles like this about Kelly Brook I get upset and sad. Why can't she see what the rest of the world is seeing? She's gorgeous! And most of all I keep wondering what's wrong with today's society which make perfectly fine girls and women go on a diet because they believe they are fat? It's sickening!

An experience richer

I'm all in for new experiences and all that, but today I think I had one that I necessary didn't need to have. I had an asthma attack. Thinking about it now I realise it was quite scary actually.

Still having trouble breathing and wheezing as I wrote about yesterday I decided for once to be safe than sorry. But still I was just going to call the doctors' office, because hey it really can't be that bad, can it?

I've been walking to work for almost three months now and love it. Not thinking about it I did it today as well. Well after 10 minutes I could really feel how the air was disappearing and I had to take deeper and deeper breaths. Another 5 minutes later I realised that this was not going to get better, just worse. I walk by the doctor's office every day and since I know they have walk-in clinic I decided to go there. When I finally arrived there (felt like an eternity) I was breathing like I had been running a marathon and I couldn't speak.

The nurse took just one look at me and the next minute I was seeing a doctor. Usually it takes at least 30-60 minutes before you get to see a doctor in a walk-in clinic The doctor was a very sweet old man who immediately very calm told me they were going to fix me up in no time. And they did. First I got to drink some stuff that tasted like cough syrup and then breathe into a machine with some other meds while a nurse sat next to me making me breath normally, and after a while I did. What a marvellous feeling!

All doped up and breathing almost normally, although a bit shaky, I then went to the chemist and picked up an inhalator and some strong anti-histamines that are suppose to do the trick. The anti-histamines are small and blue and look very much like another famous blue pill. But thankfully these ones have a S engraved instead of a V.

After the chemist I went back to office and then as the tension wore off I started to realise what had happened. Scary!

I feel pretty decent now, but when I went out for lunch and then later going home (took the bus) I immediately felt how I was chocking up, so I guess that inhalator will become my new best friend for awhile.

Allergies

I've been stuck inside most of the weekend due to stupid pollen allergies. As a teenager every spring was a pain but as I grew older the less it got. Even though I can tell every year when the pollen season starts. And then every 5th years or so I get real bad. Sneezing, itching and wheezing. Apparently trees have cycles too and and about every 5th year they produce an extreme a mount of pollen and that's when I get hit. Ugh!

I've just been using over counter medicines so far, but it's not really doing the trick. So I guess it's time for trip to the doctor tomorrow. Double ugh!

Quote of the day

There is only one you... Don't you dare change just because you're outnumbered!

~ Charles Swindoll ~

Gloomy weather good for you

Researchers have recently discovered that people performed better in memory tests when the weather was bad and they were feeling grumpy. The worse the weather and the more depressed the individual, the sharper their brain

The findings were made by the University of New South Wales School of Psychology. The team carried out the study by questioning shoppers at a Sydney store over two months.

They tested their memory and found that they recalled three times as much information when the weather was bad and they were feeling down.

Professor Joe Forgas, who led the research, said: "It seems counter-intuitive but a little bit of sadness is a good thing.

"People performed much better on our memory test when the weather was unpleasant and they were in a slightly negative mood.

"On bright sunny days, when they were more likely to be happy and carefree, they flunked it."

So does this mean that people are smarter and use their brain more in countries with bad weather? Just saying because Gothenburg where I live is famous for its rainy and grey days...

Data heat

Excess heat from servers in Telehouse West data centre will soon heat home and offices in the Docklands.

The project is expected to produce up to nine megawatts of power for the local community, and allow the 130,000 square foot Telehouse West to reduce its carbon footprint by 1,110 tons. "The energy savings will equate to boiling 3,000 kettles continuously," the company said.

The project is the most most ambitious effort yet to reuse the excess heat from data centres and the first one in the UK. In Switzerland IBM is using excess heat to warm a swimming pool and at Notre Dame University the excess heat from data nodes are used to warm greenhouses and the botanical garden. Really smart thinking and I'm very surprised that it's used at little as it is. Probably because it costs too much, which very often is the case when being environmentally friendly.

Brains before age

Rita Levi Montalcini, 1986 Nobel Prize winner in medicine will turn 100 on Wednesday. An Italian grand old lady who still is an active scientists and servers as a senator for life.

After having to leave university in 1930s due Benito Mussolini's fascist regime and anti-Jewish laws and set up an improvised laboratory in her bedroom at home to do research, she has one great advise to give:

"Above all, don't fear difficult moments," she said. "The best comes from them."

Miracles do happen

I really don't see my as a religious person, even though I believe in God and believes that he is always there and watches out for us. Just like the famous “"Footprints in sand".

A friend recently had a baby after years of infertility problems, more or less going to hell and back over and over again. And then she came. On Easter Monday as reminder that miracles do happen and that we should never give up trying.

The miracle of life is rather hard to grasp, but when things like this happens you just have to believe that there is someone or something out there. Helping and supporting us through good and bad times. Someone who either walk next to us or carries us when needed.

Time flies

Yahoo recently celebrated 25 years of on line communication and to remember the the good old days they put together this video. I feel rather old since I remember most of it. Time flies...

Why travel?

I love to travel and one of the best things of travelling is to experience new things, food and people. To challenge yourself and get new input on life. One thing is for sure when travelling, it's not like home but that is the charm.

Thomas Cook and ABTA just put together a list of the 20 most ridiculous complaints from holidaymakers in the UK. To me it can't get any worse than this and I just have to wonder why did they bother to go on a holiday in the first place. People complaining about the beach is too sandy, that there are too many foreigners and my favourite, no one told us there was going to be fish in the sea, should not travel.

Stressed?

According to a recent survey 11:45am Tuesday is the most stressful time during the week.

Most workers coast through Monday getting their brain in gear and catching up with gossip from the weekend through social networking sites.

But on Tuesday reality sets in and staff spend the first part of the day going through emails they ignored on Monday before planning the week ahead.

And 11.45am is the point when everything comes to a head.

Not sure if it was like that today since today was the first day back at work after a four day weekend, which means tomorrow right before lunch is going to be the most stressful time of the week...

But I do believe that there is some truth to it. I usually find it takes forever to get going on Monday and I'm sure I spend way too much time doing other things on the web. The day goes rather quick though, but then comes Tuesday. Just a long day with tons of things to do, just like Wednesday, but after Wednesday we are over the hump and the week is almost over. So either we work harder on Monday or we have to live with that Tuesdays actually are the worst day of the week.

Marley and me

Like I wrote yesterday I've been reading and reading this Easter, jut like in the good old days when I spent days on the sofa or bed disappearing from the real world. On Saturday I read Marley and me by John Grogan. Having heard so much about the book and now with the film out as well I decided to pick up a copy myself a couple of weeks ago.

Growing up I always wanted a dog, but being a very busy family my parents said no and I now understand why. It would not have been fair to the dog or to us. Over the years though I've been dog-sitting for a couple of days or even weeks and loved every minute of it. Especially one dog, Higgins has left unforgettable memories with both my mum and me. A huge and lovable Clumber Spaniel who more or less thought he was a human. A bit loopey but always with a great big heart.

So when starting to read Marley and me I quickly realised that Marley was just like Higgins. Full speed ahead through life and that is why the book is so great. You smile, laugh out loud and shake your head wondering what the next thing might be. At same time you feel the unconditional love from both Marley and his master knowing that a relationship like that only comes once in a lifetime. Finishing the book you feel great and catch yourself smiling and thinking about Marley, because he was one unique dog. Just like Higgins. And I'm pretty sure they are having a blast in doggie heaven right now.

Happy Easter!

Halfway through the long weekend and as usual I have been reading, eating and then reading and eating some more.

The weather is fabulous so I have also been out for a walk every day too. Feeling the sun, looking at the “mouse ears” on the trees and enjoying not having any special plans. Just being here and now and knowing that life is good.

Quick exit

Earlier today Britain's top counter-terrorism officer Assistant Commissioner Bob Quick resigned after a blunder that again makes you wonder how top secret material are handled in the UK.

Yesterday the Assistant Commissioner was photographed with top secret paper clutched under his arm which forced the police to forward and anti-terrorism operation in the North West of England.

A nightmare for any detective I would say, but doesn't working with top secret papers means that you should be extra careful? Or is that when you do it on a day to day basis that you forget about it? Everybody else around you handles those papers too so you don't need to think about being careful. But still leaving the office with those papers out in the open and then getting out of car at Downing Street which is always full of photographers. Not smart and as the head of anti-terrorism Mr Quick should know better. So anything else than resigning wasn't really an option. But what a way to end a career. With a rookie mistake.

One thing lead to another

Last time in London I picked up Katy Regan's first novel One thing led to another. Having followed her column in Marie Claire and then her blog I just had to buy her book. After all those years it almost feels like I know her...

The book tells the story of Tess who gets pregnant with her best friend and decides to keep the baby. Just like Katy herself, but the book ends maybe in a more conventional way than Katy's own story, but never less the book is great read on a Sunday afternoon. It's an easy book to ready and Katy Regan uses the same style as she does in her blog, engaging, funny and tells her own experiences which makes her very true to all women out there. We are not the only one thinking and wondering what might be or come. We are normal and see a sister in both Tess and Katy Regan.

The people have spoken

In the latest political poll asking which party to vote for, the governing coalition have a lead over the labour/left wing parties for the first time since October 2006. Quite a surprise to many since bad times usually means that people want the government to take care of things just like they did in the good old days, i.e. the 1940's-1970's. Which in my very personal opinion shows that people finally have realised that the government shouldn't take care of from the cradle to the grave.

They have also realised something else more important, that the chief of the trade union is just like everybody else. Allowing big bonuses to the top managers of the people's own pension funds and then saying that she didn't know. And on top of that claiming that she's still a simple worker, getting paid more than 1 million SEK a year. Then you're not a simple worker, then you're a hypocrite.

Spring fever

It's amazing what a change in the weather can do to you. Finally last Wednesday warmer weather and sunshine arrived. Walking home with the sun in my back and getting real warm hot the best feeling in a long, long time. Thursday and Friday was cloudy but still warm, compared to what is has been for the last 6 months, and then yesterday, the warmest day so far. With the sun shining through my bedroom window I wok up refreshed and just knew it was going to be a great day. Before noon I had managed to make a very large lasagne and very delicious one I might add. I had also stored away the heavy boots and coats hoping that they will not be needed in another 6-7 months.

Still full of energy I then went out for the first outside run for the season. The trail was full of people doing the same thing and what I could see they all looked as happy as me. Finally outside again. We survived the winter. Passing by the football ground games were going on all fields, another major sign of spring.

The sun is shining today as well and the light is so bright it almost hurts, but it makes me so happy and full of energy.

Quote of the day

Those who are incapable of earning our respect often end up demanding it

~ Anonymous ~

The right to protest

With the G20 summit starting in London tomorrow today has been a day of protest in The City.

I believe that everybody has the right to protest and make their voice heard, but what makes me angry are those who are not doing it for a cause but instead doing it just to destroy and disturb. Yes, they are causing headlines, but they are causing the wrong headlines and people just get angry and upset. This afternoon a branch of the Royal Bank of Scotland was rioted. For what use I might ask.

A small number of demonstrators forced their way into the building on Threadneedle Street near the Bank of England after smashing windows and throwing smoke grenades.

Hundreds of protesters cheered as office equipment including a printer was carried out of the building – which is believed to have been empty – before riot police wielding batons managed to force the crowds back.

I just wonder what the rioters themselves would say if someone came into their house and destroyed their property. Would they still cheer and think it's an excellent idea to riot?