Med sol och värme, kanske lite för varmt
Dagarna förbi oss flyger.
Så kul vi har med månskensbad
Nej, här är det inget som suger.
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Från gammelman till ungdomsbarn
Vi den senaste tiden firat.
50-års fest och 19-års kalas
Och en 70-plussare spirat.
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Böcker, pengar och en kasse med ved
Är saker som till mina presenter höra.
Och en veckarklocka med hjul och ljud
Ska se till att jag mina morgonsysslor göra.
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Jag denna vers till B-Marie skriva
För att undvika tråkiga följder.
Annars kan hända hon med en spade mig slår
Och kroppen i sin trädgård döljer.
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”Men Britt-Marie,
vilken vacker trädgård du har!”
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Men nu jag avsluta denna text
Min diktelse kort får bliva,
Solen och värmen vill jag vandra i
Och på datorn jag ej mera skriva.
Sparat under: Hobbies & Activities
Juno is cool. I really like Juno. In fact, if she wasn’t knocked up already…
OK, let’s not go there. In case you didn’t know, Juno is a movie character (portrayed by the wonderful Ellen Page). Her name is also the title of the movie.
The basic plot: way too young girl (16) gets pregnant and decides to put the child up for adoption. She finds a lovely couple, but they turn out to have marriage problems and the adoption is put on risk.
That sounds fairly simple, but as always there’s more to it. The story is told in a slightly different way, not necessarily leaving everything to the obvious. Turns are taken without warning, but only small turns, so nothing major and completely unexpected happens. To some, this makes the movie special, to others, it appears are a poorly made film. Personally I’m a bit in between.
Because the fact remains: I find ”Juno” to be an average movie. It has won an Oscar for the script, but it’s that very same script that splits in two. But on the plus side, it’s the slightly original twists to the story that makes it special…
A very strong plus, though, is the selection of characters: Juno herself is quite witty, stays cool in any situation, and appears to make every single sarcastic statement a serious one. This gives her a very ironic tone, something which makes her shine on screen!
Other characters are very clever too. From the shy Bleeker kid to the father who, when Juno reveals that she’s pregnant, reacts with the words ”I didn’t think he had it in him”. One of my personal favorites, however, is the step mom. The scene where she uses bad words in an almost poetic way to yell at a nurse is absolutely marvelous! And all for a good cause (the nurse said ”thank goodness” when Juno said she wanted to adopt, something which the mom found extremely annoying – ”who’s she to assume my kid can’t take care of a child?”)
But again, despite the characters, as a whole, I find ”Juno” to be, well, average. But during the past week I’ve watched tons of movies, many which I liked more than this one, so why is it that I choose to write about Juno and not any of the others? Well, the answer is simple: presentation.
See, I didn’t watch Juno on a regular TV screen or on a computer, nor did I go to the cinema. Instead, I, along with some friends, went to ”Zulu Sommerbio”, a sort of traveling movie theatre that happened to be in town. A large screen in the outdoors by a castle. ”Bring your own chairs and/or blankets”. Great company, great atmosphere. Thus, a great movie despite its downsides.
Sparat under: General Blogging
On several occasions this week, strangers have approached me:
”So, I hear you’re from Finland?”
”No, actually I’m from Sweden, but I’ve lived in Finland.”
”Oh. So what are you doing here in Denmark?”
”I’ve lived in Denmark too once.”
”But where do you live now?”
”In Sweden.”
”…”
”So, do you have a girlfriend?”
”Yes, I do.” (No need to confuse them further by explaining the fact that we’re likely only to see each other one more time this year, and that we’ve agreed on not to stay together for longer than we find possible).
”Is she Swedish?”
”No, she’s American.”
”But she lives in Sweden?”
”No, she lives in Finland, and later this year she’s moving to Denmark.”
”…”
”So you speak English to each other?”
”No, we communicate in Swedish.”
At this point, most people give up and change the subject 
Sparat under: General Blogging
Yesterday I was with friends here in Denmark, having a good time. Two weird things happened: 1) I was among the few who actually consumed any alcohol at all (one cider, but still), and 2) I annoyed the man, the one and only, the legend: Alice Cooper!
OK, the latter is a bit of an exaggeration. But one of his staff did sound a bit upset. See, at about midnight last night, we decided to go down town to see if we could hear, and possibly even see, Alice Cooper while he was performing there. However, the show was already over when we arrived. So, without passing any restricted areas, we just walked around casually, watching all the people packing everything together, taking the stage down piece by piece. There was also a bus within which the star himself most likely was seated.
Then we decided to go back where we came from. But suddenly a man shouted in English ”hey, what are those kids doing here?” We looked around, puzzled as we realized he was talking about us. A danish speaking man came over, asked us to turn around and take another exit, and then he sealed off the area by placing a temporary fence over the pathway.
Alright, so Alice Cooper probably never even knew we were there. But it still was a cool experience in a weird way
Sparat under: General Blogging
Here I am, In Denmark, third year in a row 
I just arrived yesterday and have a week in the country. During the flight from Copenhagen to Sonderborg we were ten people (excluding staff), which shows both the size and popularity of Sonderborg as a whole However, right now I’d like to share some stuff I saw and conversations I overheard at the airport:
Talkactive Security - In Gothenburg, when passing security, a woman was checking peoples tickets. The line wasn’t very long, but still it took quite some time. Why? She was chatting with everyone! ”Oh, you’re going to Spain? I hear it’s lovely there this time of year.”
She did the same thing with me, telling me how she found it odd that I was also flying from Copenhagen to Sonderborg, considering the small size of Denmark. I had the feeling she didn’t even belong there, that she wasn’t even a security guard, but rather someone playing a joke, pretending to be one But then again, we all have different personalities…
Asian saleswomen - I went to buy a hotdog to eat. Two Asian women occupied the stall. They were both funny and weird at the same time. When asked if I wanted a large one I answered ”no, standard size is fine”. One of them gave me a crooked smile and asked in a playful tone ”are you sure?”.
The other one asked me what I wanted on it. I went french mustard, and suddenly she began speaking French just for fun. I got my hotdog and left
Foreigners at the table - Two older couples speaking a language I didn’t recognize asked if the seats at my table were free (larger table, only me there). As they sat there they talked and made jokes. They discussed something about how much your luggage can weigh and later they talked about Danish coins. I really don’t know exactly what they said, but they were still really fun to listen to!
Danish couple at the table - Before the previously mentioned couples came, a Danish couple sat at my table. The woman seemed strict and in a bad mood. The man seemed more casual and relaxed. I even felt sorry for him having to listen to her snapping comments. When they left (we had said a few words to each other, so he felt obliged to say goodbye), he gave me a thumbs up and said ”have a nice day”. She, on the other hand, gave me a quick smile that looked far from sincere and then she left in a hurry.
Vehicle chasing paper - As I was watching out a window, one of those vehicles with ”large rotating broomsticks” on the front was driving around cleaning up on the airport streets. A certain piece of paper played along by being hard to catch. It was funny watching how the vehicle was driving around, trying to catch the paper
Woman on phone - Just before my flight arrived, a woman was talking extremely loud on the phone. Everybody looked up when she started, and I doubt anyone in the area was able to ignore her conversation.
”That’s really good, Tanya. But Tanya, don’t forget to buy those *unknown item* we talked about. Remember, if she wants two, he wants one. If she wants one, he wants two. And if she doesn’t want any, he wants three! Great, Tanya, that’s brilliant!”
Sparat under: General Blogging
I got a letter today. A letter I wasn’t expecting at all.
”Luckily”, in Sweden not everyone has to go. The first stage in the selection process: an online formula!
I had to answer questions on my health, my motivation to be in the army, my social life, etc. I answered truthfully according to national law. But still, I can’t help but wish they won’t pick me. The army is not for me.
With summer comes the annual trip to Sweden, a tradition that has been going on for eight years. This year, however, is different.
The fact that I just came home from a weekend with relatives serves as proof to that. That wasn’t a possibility at all until now. I live closer to them, and suddenly the annual trips to Sweden are replaced by annual trips to Denmark (and possibly Finland too in years to come).
And the travelling season has only just begun! Last Friday was my first time doing a longer car trip on my own, and starting tomorrow, when going to Denmark, it will actually be the first time I do an entire two-way flight alone. In previous years, my sister has been with me either one way or the other.
The trip to Denmark lasts for a week, then it’s immediately off to relatives again, this time for the major 50th birthday party that my dad and his brother-in-law are throwing. And a few days after that: my granddads birthday, followed by my own birthday, which, according to tradition, I’ll celebrate with family and friends on the countryside.
In August, when returning to Gothenburg, the summer celebrations still aren’t over, though. On the 9th of August a BookCrossing event is to be held in Slotsskogen along with other BookCrossers, and later during the month the street we now live on will throw an annual street party, something I’ve long missed from the years in Denmark.
So a busy time ahead, but a great one indeed!
Sparat under: Funny Stuff
While surfing the net, I came over the following very funny story. The humor is a bit rocky, but stable enough to entertain you the whole way through (you’ll get that joke once you’ve read the rest ;) )! I only have two complaints about it: the poor grammar and the fact I didn’t write it myself
”Feeling a bit depressed, I took a walk down to the lake to be by myself….Or so I thought! I sat down on a huge boulder and leaned over to pick up a rock to throw in the water..Just as I was about to release it, I heard a voice cry out..”Hey! Wait a minute,Lady! !!! What makes you think I wanna go for a swim?! Did I ask to go for a swim? NOOOO!” It was the rock talking….”Yeh, you people just think you’re the only ones on this planet! I’m sick of it! You kick us around like dirt ! It ain’t right!” ”Uhmmm..sorry..” was all I could utter out. ”I sure wasn’t thinkin’ ,I guess”. ”Of course not! You humans are all alike!” she returned. Yes, it was a ‘’she”’ because about then I heard some faint whimpering…I looked down and saw a smaller rock crying..”That rock is crying!”I said. ”Of course,it’s crying! It’s a pebble..Pick it up and rock it unless you feel a great need to throw it into the lake too!” I picked up the pebble and rocked it a bit. It stopped crying and actually grinned at me! I tossed it up and down in my palm and it began to laugh and laugh…I was starting to feel better as I laughed along with the pebble. ‘Well, I think I will go ,” I said to the rocks.”I feel better now…” ”Well, fine! You go then!” said the momma rock. ”You were sitting on Grandfather anyway!” ”Spiteful ol’ rock..”I thought to myself.. As I walked away I had to have the last words..”Yeh, think I ‘ll go home and have a bowl of Cocoa Pebbles!” YOU SHOULD HAVE HEARD THE GASP!!! ”Well, fine! Maybe you should listen to some ROCK while you’re at it! Cos you didn’t listen to this one very well!!!’’she shouted back. She was rock hard on me…”Well, it just goes to show ya..” I called back walking backwards,”Never take anything for GRANITE!!” I grinned and felt self satisfaction …About that time, I noticed the grandpa boulder look my way and gave me a big wink…It is still etched in my mind like stone…..:)”
Clever and funny. That’s the way to go
Sparat under: Hobbies & Activities
Those of you hyped about the upcoming game Spore probably already know that the Creature Creator has already been released! You can get the full version quite cheap in any good game store, but you can also download a demo here.
Odds are, however, that unless you came here via a search engine you don’t know what the Spore Creature Creator is, or at least you don’t care. Well, perhaps you should. Spore has every possibility to become the game of 2008, and hopefully it will once and for all knock out the dreaful and way too long-lived The Sims.
So if using your fantasy and create wicked creatures, go ahead and get the Spore CC now!
Sparat under: General Blogging
So, here we are, in Sweden. Recent move, messy house, but at least we’re making progress. ”Welcome back,” says some. ”Welcome home,” says others.
But it doesn’t feel like that. The house already feels like home, the area feels like home. And it is our home. But we’re not ”back”, and we’re not ”returning home”. At least it doesn’t feel like it.
Of course, Gothenburg (or to be specific, Kungsbacka), where we’re now living, wasn’t our home in the first place. But Sweden was. Yet, at least Caroline (my sister) and I have been abroad too long to feel like it’s our home country.
So what is our home country then? Finland? No. Denmark? No. Caroline feels most at home in Denmark, but I don’t think she considers it ”home” in that sense. I liked Denmark the most while living there, but since three years have passed since then, the country has drifted away from me. And Finland never really appealed to me in the first place.
In short, I don’t feel I have a home country in the mental way. When cheering for a sports team, there’s no clear choice. When I’m asked if it feels good to come back to Sweden, I don’t know what to answer.
Both for good and bad, I do believe Sweden will grow to me, though. I’m likely to spend quite a few years here before it becomes relevant to move to another country once again.
But then again, what does the country matter when all you need is friends and family, something which I already have here, and am likely to get more of (referring to the former rather than the latter) in the future. Kungsbacka and Gothenburg are great places, and I’m sure I’ll like it here. But is it really where I’ve always had my heart?
