Pests and Pestilence

It is well into Summer and the ticks (fästning in Swedish) seem to be winning the game.

Current Score

Ticks 5
Chris/Lily/Zoey 0

Two things are wrong with that score. First, that my name is up there. Second, that TJ's name is not. I've already described the tick that we tweezed off Zoey several weeks back. New scores were posted during our Midsommar excursion.

You see, in Tanum, where we were, there are walking paths. And those walking paths pass through forests. And in those forests, lying in wait, are ticks. Lots of ticks. We picked quite a few ticks off the dogs while we were there. Then, we came home. And, the ticks appeared.

We got back in early evening. I showered. And found the first tick...on me. And, I'm almost too embarrassed to tell you where it was. Almost. It was on my nipple. No, I have no idea how it got there. But, it was attached. And quite content, suckling, as it were. And so, I can only say that the image of TJ coming towards me with a pair of [heated] tweezers is not a pleasant one. And, yes, I am monitoring the area to make sure no telltale ring appears. Lyme disease is present here in Sweden.

The next day, an even scarier discovery. A tick on Lily. On her eyelid. I had to wait until TJ got home so we could both deal with this tiny terror. Lily is one of the most patient (and gentle) dogs in the world. Two more ticks, the last one 5 full days after our return. Hopefully the last. It hasn't scared us from venturing into the woods. We'll just be better prepared.

On to another recurrent pest. The rats at the Otter House. Two nights ago, as I was walking the dogs out the front of the building, a rat ran right in front of the door. Oh dear god, they are relocating to our building! Nooooo! Stay across the street at the Otter House!

I did, however, make a discovery that puts my mind at ease. As I mentioned, the dogs relieve themselves in the back yard of the Otter House. A week or so ago, Zoey started eating something off the ground. When I finally discovered what it was I was horrified. It was a pellet. As in a rat pellet. As in rat poop. Needless to say, I kept her away from the pellets as best I could. No sense having her contract bubonic plague or a rat version of Hanta virus. Yes, I do worry about these things, even if the possibility is remote.

All that worry for naught. Yesterday, I took the girls over to the Otter House. As we rounded the corner into the back yard, a giant rabbit bounded away. It was a ridiculously large rabbit. I did wonder how those small rats could produce such large-looking poop pellets. Now, I had my answer. It was the giant rabbit! So, as I explained to TJ, I no longer worry about the dogs eating the rabbit pellets. A supplemental food source, right? Somehow, TJ does not share my viewpoint on this. He even questions the existence of the giant rabbit. I know what I saw. It was there. A big, hinking rabbit. What else could it have been? Does Lyme disease cause hallucinations?

UPDATE: TJ has seen the rabbit! He described it as huge. I'm vindicated! And not crazy. Well, not that crazy.

Midsommar: The Movie

For your viewing pleasure, my first attempt at making an iMovie:



If you want to view the video at higher resolution (recommended), go to YouTube and select the "watch in higher resolution" link below the Views (below and to right of video frame).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1lYxoTJdh8

And, because you need to know, the lyrics to the frog dance. Sing Along! And, I bet the song will get stuck in your head.

Lyrics in Swedish:

Små grodorna, små grodorna är lustiga att se! Små grodorna, små grodorna är lustiga att se! Ej öron, ej öron, ej svansar hava de! Ej öron, ej öron, ej svansar hava de! Kou ack ack ack, kou ack ack ack! kou ack ack ack ack kaa! Kou ack ack ack, kou ack ack ack! kou ack ack ack ack kaa!

Literal English translation:

Small frogs, small frogs are fun to see! Small frogs, small frogs are fun to see! No ears, no ears, no tails they have! No ears, no ears, no tails they have! Kou ack ack ack, kou ack ack ack! kou ack ack ack ack kaa! Kou ack ack ack, kou ack ack ack! kou ack ack ack ack kaa!

Efter Midsommar

We were invited to spend Midsommar in Tanum, a small town on the coast about 140km North of Goteborg. The weather all week had been, in a word, poor. So much for Summer. But, our friend Ingrid mentioned that the weather is always bad leading up until Midsommar (last year, especially). And, then, like some biblical prophesy, the skies part, the weather gods smile, and good weather returns for the holiday weekend. Okay, I made that last part up. But, the skies literally did part. And, on the drive up, I saw my first ever funnel cloud! Came down less than halfway from the bottom of the cloud. Then dissipated. Was not able to pull off the highway and provide you with photographic proof. Next time! I promise.

So upon arriving, it was time to eat the traditional Midsommar meal: herring (sill) and new potatoes (nytt potatis). Now, I was expecting an actual fish (head and all). Nope. The herring were swimming in jars of pickling juices and sauce. There were three flavors: plain, onion and mustard sauce. I preferred the onion. The texture was interesting. My palette had to warm up to it. Like fish balls, the herring is manufactured by Abba. The seafood company, not the pop group. New (or fresh) potatoes are essentially boiled baby potatoes with dill. And served with sour cream. Simple, yet delicious. To end the meal...strawberries (jordgubbar).

Then, we made our way to a common area near the boat dock. Around 200 people assembled. Young and old. And waited. People ate. Kids played. Music wafted through the air. Swedish folk tunes, perhaps. Then, the maypole was brought out and raised.

Two rings of children and adults encircled the maypole. And the dancing began. Several dances were performed. The most famous is the frog dance (små grodorna dans). My favorite was the sleeping bear dance (björnen sover). Sadly, I have no video of this. I was too enthralled by the choreography. I am working on an iMovie of the festivities. Because, who would want to be deprived of seeing people hopping like a frog and dancing around a maypole.

Well, there is always the photo of TJ wearing a crown of Midsommar flowers in his hair.

Back to food. Dinner. First course. Colorful and tasty.

Main course. Leg of deer (Bambi). Our host, Jannes, shot the deer himself. Yes, that is a big leg. No, between four of us (plus 2 children), we did not finish even half of it.

Glad Midsommar!

Leaving tomorrow for our first Midsommar celebration! A lowdown on Sweden's favorite holiday can be found here. The dogs will be in tow. Perhaps, they will join us in a frog dance around the maypole. Perhaps, not.

Will have a full report next week. Herring ho!

Sverige, Sverige, Sverige!

That was the rallying cry heard this past Sunday along Avenyn, one of the wider thoroughfares in Goteborg. The city had blocked off part of the street and set up jumbo screens suspended from cranes so that the Euro 2008 football (soccer) match between Sweden and Spain could be watched by the masses.

And watched by the masses it was. As was the match against Greece on June 10. Chanting, silly hats, national pride, consumption of copious amounts of alcohol. Yes, football is the national sport here. We enjoyed watching the game along with the crowd. But, we didn't have the stamina to stay for the whole game. Indian food was calling us back to our favorite restaurant. How could we not heed the call of that chant?

Chants of Sverige! were heard Wednesday night as well. That is, up until the game ended. Sweden had failed to score 1 point against Russia which would have advanced them into the next round. And, so, Sweden was out. I guess Swedish sports fans will have to put away their jerseys and silly hats. At least until curling season starts up.

An interesting perspective on the geopolitical implications and uniting powers of football can be found here.

Swedish Women Don't Spit, They Swallow

It's true. We have proof.

A few weeks ago, TJ and I attended an art event at the Världskulturmuseet (Museum of World Culture). As we stood there waiting for the naked performance artists to start crawling across the glass roof above us, a group of women positioned themselves next to us to get a good view. One motioned to TJ and started speaking to him (in Swedish). He did not understand what she said as much as he understood her gestures. She handed him her wine glass. He held it. From her purse, she produced a round tin and opened it. Inside the tin, were packets (portions) of snus.

Snus, for the uninitiated, is a moist powder that is chock full of nicotine; it is placed under the lip, similar to chewing tobacco. Snus is produced and consumed mainly in Sweden and Norway.

The woman placed a packet of snus under her bottom lip, thanked TJ, and reclaimed her wine glass. It was then that I noticed she did not have another container. One in which to catch the snus juice. Nor was the floor the type of floor that one might spit upon. We were indoors after all. Even the Museum of World Culture has its limits. It was then that it dawned on me. She would have to swallow the snus juice. TJ and I conferred about this...and shuddered.

I have memories of trying smokeless tobacco (dip or chew, as it was known) in college. This was back before portions were packaged. The brand was Skoal. Just loose, moist, finely shredded tobacco leaves. I distinctly remember the rule. Do not swallow the juice that formed in your mouth. The juice that started flowing immediately after the chew was placed between the lower lip and gum. The nicotine buzz would follow shortly thereafter. Trying to keep the mass of chew in place was half the battle. It wanted to move around in your mouth. Slide across your teeth, around the sides, to the back of your mouth and down your throat, if it could. Expelling the juice elegantly was the other challenge. Some were successful, some were not. Sure, there were some friends who could actually chew and drink beer at the same time. Now, that was talent. I was not so talented. Needless to say, I had my [limited] experience and checked it off the list.

Here in Sweden, everyone, not just the women, swallows. And they combine the feat whilst drinking. Talented? Maybe. But, I'm not as impressed as I used to be.

Life and Death in the City

We live downtown. In a port city. So, in addition to the pigeons (and rats) one normally expects to find, there are seagulls. Some are garden variety seagulls, average in size and disposition; others are above-average brutes. Still, we have managed to co-exist despite their loud chatter at all times of the day and night.

So, it was surprising when I observed some strange behavior a few weeks back. I was walking the dogs near the building next door when a seagull screeched, swooped down, landed in the street, and began running parallel to us. The gull tucked his head low as it ran forward and seemed to be 'leading' us further down the street. I observed this behavior the next few times I passed this same way. Sometimes another gull would join the first. Curious. Kinda amusing. Until the seagull screeched and dive bombed me. Talons and beak too close for comfort. Okay, crazy seagulls. I get it.

Or did I? I noticed on my subsequent trips that the gulls were now perched on lights and street signs in one specific area. And when they performed their 'chase me' game, they were taking me away from something. I figured out what that was last week. Two newborns sitting on the sidewalk. Where they had hatched, I couldn't tell. Had they been on the roof and fallen down? Not sure. But, now they were huddling near a drainpipe with their parents standing guard and chasing intruders such as myself away.

Of course, I had to show TJ. Secretly thought I could capture an attack on film. Not to be. Above is TJ, the seagull (on the flagpole), and the two baby gulls (red circle).

From our deck, we were able to observe the protection ritual from afar. It was not safe to get too close during feeding time. Still, other people in the neighborhood had noticed the baby gull's predicament. A bowl of water was put out. Somehow, with the cars and foot traffic, the baby gulls seemed to be making it. Until three days ago. When I noticed that the gulls were not screeching anymore. I looked down and couldn't see any parents watching guard. The babies were gone. No clue as to what might have happened. Did some animal rescue organization collect the babies? Or something worse. So, while I am no longer in danger of being pecked by an overprotective seagull, the relief is bittersweet.

It's tough trying to raise a family in the city.

Parting Shots [Hälleviksstrand and Mollösund]

Another trip up the coast this past weekend. Revisiting some towns from 2 weekends ago. One was the coastal community of Hälleviksstrand which is located on the island of Orust. The photo above is a detail of a building located a few kilometers outside of the town. Not sure what you're looking at? Yes, a bit abstract, isn't it? Does this help?

Very quaint. Maybe, from the windows, you've guessed that it might be a something historical. Well, quaint and historical pretty much sums up the building along the entire Swedish coastline. The nave-like shape of the window should be a telling clue. A church (kyrka, in Swedish)? Yes, of course.

We also strolled around the town of Mollösund which is a little further South of Hälleviksstrand. As you head toward the waterfront, there is a church and a cemetery. The cemetery gate has this phrase which, we were told, is quite common.

Tänk På Döden - Think About Death. Heck of a recruiting message.

For more images of Hälleviksstrand Kyrka and Mollösund click here. And, you might want to check another Mollösund website (all in Swedish). The image in the lower right looks eerily familiar to IKEA Midsommar commercial. I'm just saying. In two weeks, I'll find out and report back on just how authentic that commercial really is...or isn't.