Umlautitude: Adventures in Swedonia

Parting Shots [A Stroll Around Paris]

2009-10-11T19:56:00.006+02:00

You know that you've arrived in Paris when you see the bums drinking champagne. Now, had I only seen one bum drinking from a bottle of champagne, I would have considered this an anomaly; albeit an amusing one. However, I observed several bums drinking the bubbly. And saw quite a few empty bottles strewn around on lonely streets. And, so, I can confirm that Paris is a magical place where even the bums indulge in the finer things in life. Such is my vision of Paris.

Walking from where I was staying in the 10th arrondissement toward the Seine, I passed down a familiar boulevard, Rue du Faubourg Saint Denis. Prostitutes abound. They hang out in the doorways. And they hang well out and over their brassieres. For some strange reason this street is home to well-aged hookers; most are in the 50+ range. And most bear more than a passing resemblance to Marianne Faithfull. How delightfully odd.

I embarked on a little photography project while in Paris. Inspired by bad illustrations in an Air France magazine article on French food and encouraged by my friend Pascal, I put my whole stomach into the project. Basically, I photographed pastries with a famous Parisian landmark in the background.

In all, eleven pastries were photographed. Not quite all of the pastries were consumed after the photo was taken. Even I have my limits. More photos here.

Parting Shots [National Food Holidays]

2009-10-04T11:21:00.004+02:00

There is something so deliciously satisfying about a food holiday. In Sweden, there seem to be a lot of food holidays. Today, for example, is October 4th which is Kanelbullens dag or National Cinnamon Bun Day. I blogged about this last year. But, this year is my last. So, to commemorate this occasion, I opted for the giant Hagabullar from Café Husaren in Haga, the old part of town. It is shown here compared to a regular kanelbullar that bought at Hemköp. I ate a lot of it, but not all. It's pretty damn big. I may need to go lie down and let the digestive process do its thing. But what a sweet memory to carry with me.

Parting Shots [A Dogwalker's Tale]

2009-09-24T17:19:00.004+02:00

I was walking the dogs near the Feskekôrka (Fish Church) when a woman started talking to (at) me from across the street. Once she switched to English, I realized that she wanted to pet the dogs. She told me how much she loves animals (a lot). Then she proceeded to tell me all about how many pets she had (a lot). She was quite talkative. She must have realized that she was rattling on and paused to explain "I'm a bit drunk." Then, she hugged me and laughed. And promptly ended the conversation by saying she needed to go have a smoke. As she left, she wished me a good life. It was oh-so-very untypically typical Swedish. And such divine randomness too. These are the types of encounters I will miss in Sweden.

Germany and Belgium: Summer Holiday 2009

2009-08-16T16:31:00.011+02:00

So, here we are in Cologne, Germany. We're riding around on an open air bus taking a tour. It's a bit cold. Seeing some nice sights. Then, we glance at the ticket. There are coupons for free beer. Score!

Note: The images in this post link to my Picasa photo album with all trip photos.

But, first, let's back things up a bit. After having departed Copenhagen, TJ, Mike and I drove South through Denmark into Germany. Usually, we take the ferry from Rødby to Puttgarden. We decided to check out the scenery in Denmark this time around (and we're frugal). Lots of pastures. Lots of windmills (modern and old). Once in Germany on the autobahn, TJ got into a driving groove. And we raced towards Cologne.

Over 90% of Cologne was destroyed in World War II. The exception was Kölner Dom (Cologne Cathedral). I had visited the city and church 10 years ago. On this trip, we went up one of the church towers. At the top, 100 meters up, you get a good sense of just how big this church is. I had some nice video of the interior of the church, but that is gone as I mentioned in my last post.

After the bus tour, we headed toward the first of three bars to redeem our coupons (but 1, get one free). Now, Cologne is the home of Kölsch beer. Kölsch is traditionally served in small (0.2 liter) glasses so that the beer remains cold when you drink it.

The next evening, TJ's colleague, Frank, took us to a large local beer house where the wait staff is known for being surly. And where you have to cover your beer with a coaster. Or else the staff will bring you a new beer unsolicited when your glass gets low. TJ found this out firsthand. Frank also took us to a restaurant where I had a schnitzel. I always have to have a schnitzel when I go to Germany.

The next day we drove South from Cologne along the Mosel River with its restored and ruined castles. We toured one of the few preserved castles, Burg Eltz. Then, we headed through Luxembourg (blink and you'll miss it) and into Belgium.

Now, I had been through Brussels before (on a train from Berlin to Amsterdam), but had never stopped and explored the city. I wish I had, but was glad for the opportunity this time around. I love Brussels. Beautiful city. And very French. In fact, the city, which was remarkably clean, reminded me of Paris. I could have wandered around there for days.

But, our time was short so we had to make the best of it. Upon arrival late in the afternoon, we headed for the Grand Place, a large market square in the heart of the old city. We caught a nightly light show on the facade of the Hôtel de Ville (Town Hall) pictured above. The Baroque and Gothic styles of the buildings surrounding the square is decadent. It's almost too much. Almost. Like the food. Mussels are quite popular in Brussels. And tasty.

On the way back to the hotel, I was more than tempted by a Belgian waffle. Soft, warm, with a scoop of ice cream and some caramel sauce. That really hit the spot after an evening of sightseeing.

The next day, we visited a few more sights including the Palais Royal de Bruxelles (The Royal Palace of Brussels) and Cathédrale Saints-Michel-et-Gudule (St. Michael and St. Gudula Cathedral).

Belgium chocolate. Quite famous indeed. And delectable (if you like that kind of thing). There were shops with elaborate displays of chocolates. Two-meter high chocolate fountains. There's even a museum, the Museum of Cocoa and Chocolate, which Mike and I toured. And then there is chocolate-covered fruit. On a skewer. In Brussels, you can find decadence in all forms. take your pick.

For more photos of our trip to Germany and Belgium, click here.

Copenhagen: Summer Holiday 2009

2009-08-16T16:30:00.006+02:00

Okay. So, after arriving back in Göteborg on Saturday, we relax for a few days before Mike gets into town. He was a little groggy late in the afternoon, but did not have major jet lag. Good thing cause we left the next morning for Copenhagen.

Due to a last minute review of the weather and some advice from Norwegian travelers in Greece, we opted to skip the fjords. Instead, we decided to head South. First up was Copenhagen which was hosting the World Outgames. Coinciding with Copenhagen Pride. How gay and festive!

The weather could not have been better. As such, we hopped on a boat and took a canal tour of the city. Once back on dry land, we wandered along Strøget, a long pedestrian shopping street that runs through the heart of the city. Note: The images in this post link to my Picasa photo album with all trip photos.

The next day was time to wander about. Off to Vor Frelsers Kirke (Church of Our Saviour) to investigate the stairs up the outside of the spire. You begin the climb inside and walk past the bell. Once you arrive at the outside platform, you're up pretty high; it is 90 meters to the top of the spire. The stairs take you nearly to the top. Just underneath a giant gold ball. Apparently, trying to touch the golden ball is some sort of manliness test. Had we known, that would have been the goal. Instead, we were left to enjoy the amazing view of the city. TJ, who was in front of me, did get almost to the very top where the stairs narrow to a point.

Later that night, we saw Kate Ryan in concert near Vor Frue Kirke (Church of Our Lady). She sings in both English and French and is fairly popular in Europe (and Canada). I've known of her music for a number of years. She was great! The gays loved her. Je t'Adore, Kate!

The next day was the Pride Parade. So we set about that morning to see some sights. Just as a gay cruise had docked. It was kind of amusing to see the guys from the boat slowly work their way through the city. Mike kept track of new arrivals. Hard to miss some of them in their tight shirts, worked out bodies, and shopping bags. Meow.

The Pride Parade was, um, interesting. Kind of what a lot of parades have become. An endless series of semi-trailer trucks filled with people dancing to music blaring from huge loudspeakers. Needless to say, with beers in hand, we enjoyed the show. Until that lesbian on the truck threw water at us. Karma, honey. At the end of the parade, we joined it. Yes, this was the quickest way to get back to Rådhuspladsen (City Hall Square) where the concerts and entertainment was taking place.

The entertainment included a Michael Jackson impersonator. I could not tell if it was a man dressed as a woman dressed as Michael or a woman dressed as a man...dressed as Michael. How appropriate. A drag review from Canada (is that an oxymoron?). And...Kate Ryan again! What luck. We stayed until the bitter end.

As luck would have it, TJ ran into some friends from Laguna Beach and Chicago. Both had been on the cruise. We were hanging out with the Chicago boys until late. They were witness to TJ making new friends with the usual suspects: lesbians, large-breasted women, little people, and fellow Swedes. At one point TJ jumped up on a rather large lesbian (she did invite him to do this), wrapped his legs around her waist, and let her swing him around. Unfortunately, I was not able to whip my camera out in time.

Speaking of which, the one casualty of the trip was my videos. A truly unfortunate circumstance. When I got back to Sweden, I downloaded the photos but forgot to download the videos. Then, later that day before I was to use the camera again, I erased all the photos. Ugh! I had purposely taken videos in place of photos on this trip. And had gotten some really great stuff. Well, okay, lots of Kate Ryan singing. And some nice virtual tours of Cologne and Brussels. All gone. But, be sure to ask TJ about the chicken dance.

For more photos of our trip to Copenhagen, click here.

Istanbul: Summer Holiday 2009

2009-07-28T13:05:00.009+02:00

So, Istanbul was one of those "if you visit Greece, you should visit Turkey since they're so close" destinations. The cuisine of each country overlaps, but culturally, they are worlds apart. Note: The images in this post link to my Picasa photo album with all trip photos.

Although Turkey is secular, the majority of the country is Muslim. In fact, this is the first Muslim country I have visited. As such, TJ and I made a point to visit as many mosques as we could. Of course we visited the Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque) and Hagia Sophia. Any self-respecting tourist has to see these two gems. But, see for yourself: the architecture and atmosphere of mosques is mysteriously beautiful.

It wasn't a mosque-centric adventure. We did go out and about and experience some of the nightlife in Istanbul. Two of TJ's colleagues, Johan and Cânâ, showed us around town and ensured we got a taste of the high life.

I'm dressed up a bit more than my usual vacation wear (shorts and t-shirt) for our dinner at Suada Club. Suada is a manmade island that sits just offshore in the Bosphorus River. You take a little ferry boat out to the club. In addition to Suada, we had dinner at Joke Perestroyka, Istanbul's current "it" restaurant, and drinks with the jet set at Anjelique. A mini-tour of these clubs is provided in the video below:

But, it wasn't all fancy clubs either. No, we got right into the thick of things at the bazaars. The Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar to be exact. While TJ did not care for haggling, I could have walked around those bazaars for hours.

And I practically did trying to find the right pair of Björn Borg underwear. That was my big purchase at the bazaars! I even convinced TJ to buy two pairs. Mainly since, I was able to negotiate the price down on the premise that I'd buy four pairs. TJ has long resisted the move to European-style underwear. Whereas I have embraced it. Is this TMI? But seriously, this underwear is over $30/pair here in Sweden!!! And I got my (probably fake) Björn Borg underwear for ~$6/pair. Damn, I'm a good negotiator. I tend to fight for those things that interest me. And commando-pattern underwear interests me. Ooops, TMI again.

I also bought some Turkish Delight. Um, the confection. They sold all kinds in all sizes. The blocks of Turkish Delight were huge in some cases. I preferred the bite-size pieces. With less nuts. Okay, all sugar. But, I did try some chocked with pistachio nuts.

And baklava. Did I mention baklava?

Honey and nuts never tasted so good together. We even visited a store that had ISO 9000-approved baklava. Tastes great and manufactured adhering to quality standards. The perfect combination.

I also went with Johan to a Turkish Bath and got the scrub, massage and wash treatment. It was a smaller bath, not one of the the big tourist draws. I was a bit apprehensive about being man-handled during the massage. I had read that they could be quite forceful. And, my back is a bit delicate. But, our big, sweaty, and hairy Turkish masseur didn't get too rough. How's that for a visual? It was so relaxing that I could have gone again the next day had I had the time.

But, there's never enough time to see and do everything that you want on vacation. You just have to enjoy the delights that you do get. For more photos of our trip to Istanbul, click here.

Lastly, I leave you with a tour of the Basilica Cistern and one of the many building in Topkapi Palace. The Cistern, dating from the 6th century, is the largest cistern beneath Istanbul.

Santorini: Summer Holiday 2009

2009-07-28T13:03:00.024+02:00

I had heard the stories and read descriptions of sailing into the caldera in Santorini. But, second-hand accounts don't do justice to the experience. Seeing the towns with their blindingly white houses high up on the cliffs is an eye opener. Note: The images in this post link to my Picasa photo album with all trip photos.

This video shows us arriving by ferry. And also a day trip we took to Nea Kameni, the island in the center of the caldera.

After having blown off Santorini during my previous trip to Greece, I was finally here. Very exciting. But, not as exciting as the van ride from the port up to Fira. That was hair raising. I kept my eyes where they needed to be: on the rocks in the cliffs. The volcanic history of this island ensured some fascinating geology. At least to me. TJ, not so much.

Once we got settled in our hotel, we headed for Oia to see the sunset. Oia is pretty spectacular. Rebuilt on the cliff side after a 1956 earthquake sent nearly the entire town down into the water. We staked out our claim for choice viewing and let the sky, clouds and atmosphere take over.

Yes, I crush your picture perfect sunset!

We spent two nights watching the sunset at Oia. Both times as the sun faded out of sight, applause rose us from the crowd. Pretty freaking awesome. They applaud the sunset here!

As on Mykonos and Naxos, we rented an ATV for the day and headed out exploring other parts of the island. There was a beautiful red sand beach (like the one in Maui). And two black sand beaches. By this point in the trip, TJ and I had acquired quite a healthy tan. Is that an oxymoron? So, we stayed for awhile, tested the water, and moved on. As usual, we found some great gyros to snack on. And some pastries for me.

Fira is similar to Mykonos Town. But, not as geared toward clubs and late night craziness. Or maybe we just went back to the hotel before all that got started. Hmmm. Maybe.

During the day, the town buzzes with tourists in search of evil eye amulets, nodding donkey dolls, and other truly horrible gifts to remember their stay. I picked up a leather and twine bracelet. Reminds me of my early days living in Southern California. And at 3 euros, cheap.

At night, the crowds are still there shopping. And eating. And drinking. But, the town itself becomes the star. Lit up like a Christmas tree. Night and day in Fira are worlds apart.

Since Fira sits on a cliff, you have to do a little up and down to get from one part of town to the next. This usually is fairly benign. On the day we took a boat out into the caldera, we had to be at the old port. Which is located directly below the town. The way down wasn't too bad. Except for maneuvering around the donkeys. At certain points, they stood across all the steps. Move that ass!

On the way up, TJ noticed the numbers on the steps. At the top, we saw the sign indicating that there were over 500 steps from the old port to where we were.

This is me arriving at the top of the steps. Well worth the effort. We rewarded ourselves with lunch at our favorite restaurant, Santo Mythos. Nothing more than a simple gyro shop. But, they made the gyros just right. The shaved pieces of meat were crispy, yet juicy. The pita was crispy, soft on the inside, and glistening with oil. Santorini may have had less emphasis on seafood than Mykonos or Naxos, but they more than made up for it with traditional gyros.

And thus ended our Greek vacation. On to Turkey, where we could expect to find kebaps and baklava. Gastronomically, we weren't really going far.

For more photos of our trip to Santorini, click here.

Naxos: Summer Holiday 2009

2009-07-28T13:03:00.020+02:00

Relaxing in Naxos. It's not hard to do. The crowds are much smaller on Naxos. There is no party all night atmosphere. In other words, it serves travelers who are a bit older. Like me. With less than 2 days to explore, we stuck close to the port in Naxos Town in the evening. Note: The images in this post link to my Picasa photo album with all trip photos.

But, we did rent an ATV and venture to some of the beaches to the South. The beaches so tranquil, the water, clear and warm. The beach below had its own church.

We found one little beach nestled underneath some cliffs and shared it with a total of six other people. We ended the day at Agios Prokopios. I snorkeled while TJ enjoyed a beer at a bar overlooking the beach. I later joined him for some tasty fried, fresh octopus.

Of course, this might be a little too fresh. But, it does highlight the fact that we ate some pretty damn good seafood on our march through the Greek Islands. The squid, cuttlefish, and octopus, in general, were superb. I'd be remiss if I forgot to mention that I found a favorite pastry here on Naxos: Galaktoboureko. It is layers of pastry filled with custard. Pure heaven.

For more photos of our trip to Naxos, click here.

The sunsets on Naxos were quite nice as well. We found a nice bar (Mojo) along the port in town that had the best view of sunset (with drinks). Here's a little taste.

Mykonos: Summer Holiday 2009

2009-07-28T13:01:00.014+02:00

Mykonos. I have fond memories of Mykonos. When I arrived there for the first time in 1999, I had no set agenda. In fact, I had only planned to stay 4 days before moving on to Santorini. But having just come out, and being on an island filled with men from all over the world, I decided to stay a bit longer. At first, 8 days. Then, thirteen. Note: The images in this post link to my Picasa photo album with all trip photos.

Super Paradise, drag queens, amazing sunsets, and wandering around the narrow winding streets of Mykonos Town at night. Those were my memories then.

And those are my memories now.

This time around, we tried an alternative form of transportation: an ATV. Sure, you get quite an adventure taking the buses (which we did). And everyone seemed to have a scooter. But, then we started hearing the scooter accident stories. And seeing people with their arms in a sling or bandaged or bandaged in a sling. I admit to chickening out. So, an ATV was the compromise.

I saw so much more of the island than I was able to last time. And we got to wear these dorky helmets.

The nice thing about revisiting a place is re-experiencing the things you saw the last time. I found and photographed a church and a balcony arch that I had photographed on my first visit. Now, these images (with some new perspectives) are preserved digitally. And, I redid the walk from Paradise Beach to Super Paradise Beach. Last time, there was an indistinct path, but, it was well-traveled. This time around, there was a lot of development and a less-defined path. Sometimes, it's better not to revisit everything.

Of course, drinks along Little Venice never disappoint.

And watching sunsets never gets old. The sky just kept getting better every night. But, I'll let you be the judge.

Sunsets and cocktails. Now that is the end of a perfect day.

For more photos of our trip to Mykonos, click here.

Oh, I did mention drag queens, didn't I? Enjoy!

Athens: Summer Holiday 2009

2009-07-28T13:00:00.012+02:00

I was in Athens 10 years ago. I had followed the advice from fellow travelers and decided to stay barely 24 hours in the city before heading on to the islands. I hopped a ferry from Brindisi, Italy to Patras, Greece. Then, caught a 2am train into the city arriving in the early morning. It was everything everyone had told me. A hot, dirty mess. I slept for a few hours and began to explore with my limited time. I climbed the Acropolis and toured through the National Archeological Museum (go there is you visit). But, I was glad to find myself the next morning on the docks at Piraeus waiting for a ferry to Mykonos. What a difference 10 years makes.

Athens is still a hot mess. A little less dirty. But, still a hot mess. It didn't help that seeing main attractions required us to walk to/from our hotel through Omonia Square. At night in this square, we walked past addicts with needles sticking of their arms. The subway comes in handy in times like these.

Note: The images in this post link to my Picasa photo album with all trip photos.

The Athens I'll remember from this trip is all about architecture. Really old architecture. With really great light. There were some great little unexplored nuggets waiting to be found. Like the Temple of Hephaestus (above).

But, what was really nice was the opportunity to walk around the city at night. Lots of hustle and bustle in the main tourist area of Plaka. And some wonderful monuments that projected their former (and current) glory well. Walking beneath the Acropolis lit up at night on a quiet street away from the shopping and eating frenzy of Plaka is great therapy for erasing bad images of Athens.

The difference is like night and day. And the difference between walking around in daylight and at night is like, well, just watch the video.

Now, both of us ended up buying one of those gauzy, long-sleeved, white cotton shirts in Plaka. When in Greece...

For more photos along with descriptions of our trip to Athens, click here.

Musik i Full Fart [Music at Full Speed] v5

2009-07-02T12:38:00.019+02:00

A long overdue post of the music I've been listening to and highly recommend. Artist links will take you to an informational website (MySpace page, artist website, etc). Song links will take you to a video of the song.

Swedonia Songs
There is some really great pop music coming out of Sweden. The varied offspring of ABBA and Roxette keep forming new wondrous variations. I only wish my friends in the States had direct access to some/all of it. So, I'll do my part to enlighten and encourage.

Alphabeat's bouncy Fascination came out in 2008 but holds up well to global inspection even today. John ME has a yearning love song with the requisite reference to drugs, Love is My Drug, on which he duets with Amanda Jenssen (winner of Swedish Idol). At 3:05, it looks a lot like love. Another winner of Swedish Idol is Agnes Carlsson (or just Agnes). Her dancefloor hit, Release Me, is one of the best dance pop songs of 2009. YouTube seems to have pulled the video (since she has exploded on the music charts around the world), but you can watch it on her website. Another one of her songs, On and On, is more Eurodance but still lots of fun. Basic Element is a dance act from the 90's that re-emerged a few years ago. They are putting out blatant eurodance like Touch You Right Now. What's not to like about that? Then, there's Robyn. She's practically Swedish music royalty. Be Mine! is quirky pop. Very Robyn. Speaking of Swedish musical royalty, A Camp, the side group of Cardigan's lead singer, Nina Persson, released Stronger Than Jesus.

In spin class, I've gotten into the zone with some spirited music including Oh Laura with Release Me (Attic Remix) and Swingfly with Singing That Melody. Position 2, please.

Swedish acts are featured prominently in commercials. The Honeythieve's Reminder is used in television ads for Lindex. I love the global ad and the song for Magnum Temptation ice cream bars. Though, the music sounds a bit like the White Stripes. A DJ/music producer out of Stockholm creates sonic snippets for use in Cubus commercials. And I love them. Two ads, for Christmas and Summer, are the best. I think of them as my own personal soundtrack. I walk down the street and this music plays in my head. Try it. Oh, and the model in the commercials is Swedish supermodel, Mini Anden.

I'm a sucker for a good power ballad. I grew up in the 70's and 80's, so guilty as charged. When I heard Takida's Curly Sue, I knew I would like it in spite of myself. Why!?! And then there is my lone Swedish Alternative pick (cause Alphabeat is pop with a capital P), Mando Diao, with their Echo and Bunnymenesque song, Dance With Somebody.

Dance
Shena brings back the disco with her NuDisco gold, Can't Stop The Rain. David Guetta pairs up with Kelly Rowland for When Love Takes Over; this is the dance song of the Summer. And, yes, the Black-Eyed Pea's I Got A Feeling will compete with Guetta for song of the Summer. Hed Kandi continues to roll out (and rework) some great dance music including Warren Clark's Bitch is Back which features the aforementioned Shena on vocals. And Ali Payami's Dancin' which features vocals by Missum. She brings on the fun-K. Kraak & Smaak lay on the funk with Squeeze Me Tight. Utada is a Japanese-American who sings mainly pop who has had much more success in Japan. But, Automatic, Pt. II caught my attention. Sleek. Stylish. Tokyo at night. Laurent Wolf, French DJ/producer, has delivered with a followup to No Stress, again featuring Éric Carter: Wash My World. And finally a song from way back in 2007: Let Go by German DJ extraordinaire Paul van Dyk.

Alternative
Moby's new release, Wait For Me, traverses one amazing sonicscape. Shot in the Back of the Head is sublime. When the weepy guitar comes in at 1:08, it's staggering. Pale Horses harkens back to Play quite nicely. Lily Allen actually wrote a song I like (Lily Allen = not so much). Normally, I think the whole Brits singing with a Brit accent a little much. But, this cheeky homage to a Carpenter's song, F*ck You is quite catchy. Diane Birch has some great pipes. Fortunately for me, she was featured on iTunes where I was exposed to Rise Up.

Adult Alternative
Seriously, I love Laura Izibor. This woman's voice has me hypnotized. She finally released an album with all the wonderful songs I'd heard before and some new favorites. This includes the quite lovely If Tonight is My Last. It puts a big smile on my face. Another new voice with promise is Angel Taylor with Make Me Believe. True, Yael Naim made her name by having her song, New Soul, included in an Apple commercial. Don't hold that against her. Instead, check out another single, Far Far, and enjoy.

R&B/Soul
A great voice not to be missed is Chrisette Michele with Blame it on Me.

Trip Hop
Tricky! He's back. Puppy Toy. Check it out.

Guilty Pleasures
I am not sure if these guys qualify as a guilty pleasure or the end of all things with taste as we know it. Star Pilots competed in Melodifestivalen 2009 with their song Higher. Needless to say they did not make it to Eurovision representing Sweden. We can all breathe a sigh of relief. So, where do I start? How about a contest? See how many song lyric cliches you can identify in this song. It is basically just a string of cliches set to a throbbing dance beat. Not as egregious and 100% eurodancepop is their other song In The Heat of The Night. Enjoy.

Archive Posts
Musik i Full Fart Volume I
Musik i Full Fart Volume II
Musik i Full Fart Volume III
Musik i Full Fart Volume IV

Hund Dag Eftermiddag

2009-06-24T17:01:00.007+02:00

For the past few weeks, the weather here in Sweden has been nearly perfect. Blue skies with some occasional small puffy clouds. A nice breeze (or occasional strong wind) to cool you down. Temperatures have hovered around 27C (that's 80F for you Yanks). That's quite toasty by Swedish standards. And awe-inspiring sunsets. Det är sommar!

So, last weekend was a "home" weekend. As such, we decided to treat the dogs to a day at the beach. Like most places in the States, dogs are not allowed on beaches during this time of the year. But, there are a few places to be found. We headed about an hour South of Göteborg. Past the town of Varberg. To Holmen. The beach is situated right next to a nature preserve and a small boat harbor.

The water was extremely shallow. Which I found out once I thought I had lost the dog's water toy. The wind was pushing it further away. The toy was now quite far away and I assumed it was in deep water. I was in calf deep water wearing shorts with my wallet in my pocket. I looked to TJ for help. He had on board shorts. And likes to swim more than I do. So, off he went. It turned out to be shallow quite a ways out. He never had to swim at any point. Zoey, who followed him out, did. Good girl.

Zoey and Lily enjoyed themselves. Though, Lily had to retire a bit early since she's not the water dog she used to be. Here's a little video snippet of all the fun:

Weekender: French Riviera

2009-06-05T11:49:00.020+02:00

Oh la la. We ventured to the South of France. The French Riviera to be exact. We arrived in Nice and traveled along the coast from Monte Carlo to Cannes. The weather was spot on. The scenery was picture-perfect. And the food was rich. Nearly everything was rich in this part of France. Note: The images in this post link to my Picasa photo album with all trip photos.

The concentration of wealth in this region was both breathtaking and mind-numbing. People made comments like, Bernie Madoff had his yacht berthed here or Bono owns a large estate nearby. People with money. So, this is what they do with it. The term "super yacht" could be bandied about with the greatest of ease; they were everywhere. Each town had a port with at least a few docked. In Monaco, TJ got his first glimpse of a super yacht breeding ground. There were tears in his eyes.

The beaches along the French Riviera were quite nice. Many of the beaches around Nice consist of smooth, flattened stones. And some extremely fine sand that borders on being invisible. But, there were some sandy beaches situated south of Nice in Antibes and Cannes. We sampled both areas. TJ is modeling the finest in Cannes beaches in this photo. Not too crowded. Warm, salty (bouyant) water. Nice, very nice.

And it was fun to walk around the old town sections of Antibes, Monaco, and Cannes. Some places, like Antibes were millennia old. Others, mere babes dating to the 12th century. I love wandering through narrow streets. Here, I'm taking in the sun and scenes in Cannes.

Quite frankly, while the sites and sounds of the French Riviera are full of delights, it's the tastes that inspire an out-of-body experience. Drool.

[You need to sing this next part to get the full effect] Flan, glorious flan! Oh how I love you! Every time I go to France, I get some flan. This trip was no exception. Rich. Thick. Creamy. It's worth every calorie.

And this little find topped off our day in Cannes. A mille-feuille nature. A crunchy crust like a crème brûlée. And that familiar custard inside.

For more photos of our trip to France, click here.

Weekender: Stockholm

2009-05-26T19:48:00.010+02:00

This post is a bit en retard as they in French. And, no, that has nothing to do with my state of mind. It's just a bit late. After the fact. Tardy. Moving right along.

A few weeks ago, we visited Stockholm along with our friend Peter. What a difference a year makes. Last year, we went to Stockholm at Easter and it was bitterly cold. And then some. This time around, it was North of 30C (that's mid-80F). And so, everywhere we went, TJ took time out to recline in the sun. In fact, most of the few pix I did take on this trip consist of TJ reclining. Note: The images in this post link to my Picasa photo album with all trip photos.

We stayed in Gamla Stan (old town) which is right in the heart of the city. The Stockholm Marathon was being run on Sunday. So, lots of activity. I took a fascinating solo tour of the Vasa Museum (Vasamuseet). The Vasa is a preserved 17th ship that sailed 1500 meters out of Stockholm and sank. Now, if you are asking why I toured the museum alone, it has to do with Peter having been there already. And TJ being a bit "under the weather."

Um, yep. We had gone out the night before to two clubs (Paradise and Torget) and had a fun time. As usual, TJ befriended women and danced with them. And did his little jiggly dance (sans bottle on the head). There was a schlager cover band that performed most of the hits from this year's Eurovision finals. Oh, speaking of, some twink from Norway won this year's contest. Cute, the song, that is.

What trip would be complete without an animal adventure. This one involved Barnacle Geese. We took a ferry out to Fjäderholmarna in the Stockholm archipelago. A rather small island. And there were nesting geese everywhere. As usual, TJ wanted to pet whatever animals were in closets proximity. Now, Barnacle Geese are nice to look at. But, when they are agitated, they stick out their tongue which looks like a giant worm. Scary and gross. We had an encounter with one goose near a small path that went out to an outcropping of rocks on the shore. Needless to say, it didn't end well, but was quite comical.

All in all, it was a wonderful return to Stockholm. Such a beautiful, livable city. Retracing some of our steps from the last visit and exploring new parts of the city. Who could ask for more? On the way back to Göteborg, we had to stop outside of Borås and pick up the dogs. They were enjoying their stay at a kennel in the country. Just past Rude. Who knew it was a destination?

For more photos of our trip to Stockholm, click here.

Weekender: Medieval Germany

2009-05-12T01:21:00.018+02:00

Our weekender was a northern Germany rewind. The original destination was Lüneburg, but hotels were filled up, so we headed back to Lübeck. Both cities retain a charming medieval look with old buildings and narrow streets.

We arrived in Lübeck on a Thursday afternoon and were informed that a special Father's Day celebration was going on in the city. This celebration seemed to involve lots of drinking. People were pulling around small carts and wagons filled with beer. At this point in the day, it was mainly empty beer bottles. Most people were headed home.

Stores were closed as we wandered around old town (innenstadt). So no window shopping opportunities. We stopped at Paulaner's pub and had a pint of the namesake beer. Then on to dinner at a great Turkish restaurant, Ali Baba. We had been to both back in December and heartily recommend them. Note: The images in this post link to my Picasa photo album with all trip photos.

Lüneburg was suggested by a German traveler, Martina, that we met on New Year's Eve in Tenerife. She insisted that we visit Lüneburg rather than go back to Lübeck. And so, I put the city name on a list of places to visit. Five months later and here we are. A most excellent suggestion it was.

TJ is standing in front of the Fish Market (Am Stint) which is also known as the longest pub mile in Lüneburg. I think I elicited one of TJ's best smiles in this photo. Wish I could tell you what I was saying to him to get that reaction. It was something gross...but not dirty.

Kind of odd to have the statue of a creature with horns outside of a church. But, there it was butting right up against St. Mary's Church (Marienkirche) in Lübeck. Naturally, I had TJ take my picture with it. At first, I proclaimed it to be a devil. But looking at it now, it seems more like a satyr. Kinship, nonetheless.

And, finally, this: an advert for a gym in Lübeck. With a photo of some "women" doing step aerobics. Lady Men Fitness. Sounds like a old comedy routine from Saturday Night Live. Pump you up!

For more photos of our trip to Lübeck and Lüneburg, click here.

Don't Feed The Animals

2009-05-12T01:20:00.025+02:00

I feel like someone's mother when I admonish TJ with "Do not feed the animals." I guess if he actually listened to me this wouldn't be an issue. But, he doesn't. There is some deep satisfaction that he seems to get when interacting with wildlife. And by wildlife, I mean birds and, occasionally, sheep. And by interacting, I mean feeding, petting, and chasing.

The history of TJ's behavior is documented. Here he is in New Zealand (2007) trying to make friends with a Kea. Actually, it looks more like he is trying to birdnap it.

And, here are some seagulls that needed feeding. Also in New Zealand.

And, here he is trying to goose a goose in London (2008)? Really? Really.

But, this time, he really takes the cake. It starts with a joke. Or what sounds like the beginning of a joke. A duck walks down the street. In this case, we were in Kalmar, Sweden, loading up the car for the trip home. The dogs had just been loaded into the car when I noticed a duck walking down the middle of the street towards us. TJ tempted it with a banana. Then, wondered aloud if he had to wash the banana now that the duck tried to bite it. Duck germs!

Next, TJ enticed the duck with some lowfat potato chips. The duck seemed to like this quite a bit. A dieting duck? TJ had made a new friend. However, I saw some potential problems with their relationship. I captured the events on video. So, as they say, on with the show....

The epilogue is that the duck walked into the convenience store, spooked a customer, and stood around the entrance until TJ came out. Luckily, the duck got distracted when TJ came out. And so, we made our escape. Lest we have a duck trailing us back to the car and flying alongside us on our way out of town. We drove by the convenience store and saw the duck standing out front eating crumbs on the sidewalk. He seemed happy enough. But, a nervous pigeon stood nearby and gave him the side-eye. There was now unexpected competition. TJ had reset the balance of survival of the fittest in Kalmar. Do not feed the animals!

Weekender: Småland and The Kingdom of Crystal

2009-05-05T09:46:00.017+02:00

When TJ and I first heard that there was an area in Sweden where most of the country's glassblowers were located, we put it on our list of places to visit. The region is called the Kingdom of Crystal (glasriket, or glass realm, in Swedish). The home of glass royalty! How regal. If that weren't reason enough, TJ likes collecting glass objects. Hmmm, this may be a bit of an understatement. And I like one glass brand in particular - Kosta Boda. Besides, we smelled bargains. Glass factory outlets. How can you not find a deal there? So, a weekender to an area in southwestern Sweden called Småland. We brought the dogs along for added fun. Note: The images below link to my Picasa photo album with all trip photos.

Our first stop was the Boda glassworks and showroom. Boda was once a separate entity, but merged with Kosta-Boda. The factory was closed so we wandered through the showroom. No bargains to be found there. Luckily, this was not the main Kosta-Boda site. In an empty pasture, we exercised (read: wore out) the dogs. This way, they couldn't complain as we continued our tour of the Kingdom of Crystal.

The next stop was the Orrefors glassworks. The glassware here is a bit stuffier. Lots of stemware. And glass bowls that look like fancy ashtrays. Kinda pricey. Orrefors merged with Kosta-Boda in 1990. So, there was a Kosta-Boda store at Orrefors where this wonderful display was found.

These are my favorite Kosta-Boda glasses, called Mine. The Mine Collection includes glasses, tumblers, shot glasses, plates and bowls. We found some shot glasses in deep cobalt blue on sale. The purchase was prompted by a comment at a recent dinner party that we lacked a sufficient number of shot glasses. That situation has been remedied.

We eventually ended up at the Kosta glassworks. Kosta is Sweden's oldest glassworks and was founded in 1742. After wandering through the showrooms (TJ bought a small bowl), we entered the factory and watched a demonstration. Fascinating. But, it has to be a little monotonous to produce the same item with only slight variation.

One of our last stops was Transjö Hytta, a small glassworks with two Master glassmakers and two apprentices. When we arrived, the gallery appeared to be closed. We noticed an old barn next to a small stream and noticed movement. Upon closer inspection, there were two people inside rocking out to loud heavy metal music. As we approached, the music was turned way down. The two apprentices inside were in the middle of making a bowl. One, opened the gallery once he had delivered some color to the other artist at the prescribed time. TJ and I liked the work, but the signed pieces were expensive. TJ was leaning toward buying one of these despite the price. At that moment, one of the Masters came inside with a bowl that had a slight blemish. He priced it at nearly one-third the price for a similar bowl. In fact, he had only made three of these bowls; one of which was broken. That was good enough for TJ. Sold.

After a full day of glass perusing, it was time to head for Kalmar. We stayed in the Old Town area of this coastal city of 35,000. The building were old and charming. The town squares were reminiscent of grander European cities. For the rest of the evening we walked around with the dogs and explored the facades and cobblestone streets of the medieval town.

Back at the hotel, the dogs enjoyed playing hotel guest for a night. Zoey thought the beds were extremely comfortable.

The next day, we visited Kalmar Castle (slott, Swedish). Built in the 12th century, the castle underwent many structural improvements over the centuries. The well-preserved site includes cannons which used to protect its walls. Luckily, they don't work anymore (plugged with wood).

After our tour of the castle, we took the longest bridge in Sweden over to Öland, the second biggest island in Sweden. We headed South for a bit down the center of the island. Which was also the highest point on the island. And, it was here that we saw quite a few old windmills.

The island was long, so instead of driving all the way North or South, we opted to head East. There, we reached the Baltic Sea. And found an abundance of fossils in the rock formations on the shore. I brought a few back, including a partial Trilobite fossil. Yes, Geology Geek strikes again!

For more photos of our trip to Småland and The Kingdom of Crystal, click here.

Here are some of the items we purchased on our trip to the Kingdom of Crystal. Cobalt blue Mine shot glasses from Kosta-Boda.

Blue-green bowl from Transjö Hytta glassworks.

Romanian Holiday

2009-05-05T09:45:00.015+02:00

More like a Romanian excursion. Bucharest. An old world Eastern European city. Really old world. Where architectural gems are scattered amongst abandoned buildings and vacant lots. Where Communist era buildings dominate the sky and offer a reminder of the not too distant past.

Sometimes, it's enough to make you lie down, close your eyes, and reflect on it all. Until you informed by a stern-looking policeman to move along. Note: The images below link to my Picasa photo album with all trip photos.

Former Eastern Bloc country. Check. May 1st. Check. May Day Celebration. Of course. Well actually, we weren't quite so certain that any events were planned. But after wandering around the massive Palatul Parlamentului, we came across some festivities in a park. This was the mici si bere (grill and beer) party. The Social Democratic Party sponsored the party and provided music, beer, and traditional grilled meat to the assembled crowd; the beer and meat were free). Entertainment was a Romanian rap singer with four young female dancers dressed in short shorts and hoodies. Good for a giggle or two.

In one of the pocket guides we read, it stated that for a genuine local experience you could feed a few stray dogs. Um, no. I had never been to a large city with so many strays wandering around; they were everywhere. And seemed to know how to cross the streets and navigate traffic quite well. They seemed wary of people. Probably for the best. We were told that a few years ago, the city rounded up and killed up to 75% of the stray dog population. I cannot even imagine what it was like before they culled the population.

Just some harmless graffiti folks. Nothing to see. Move along.

There was a large police presence in the city. Quite noticeable. On our way to the airport, our taxi driver remarked that the number of policeman was unusual even for Bucharest. He guessed that the President was probably heading into town. Sure enough, a heavily guarded motorcade passed by a few minutes later.

To see more images from our trip to Bucharest, click here.

Finally, a little video. On our first night in Bucharest, we ate at a fun beerhall/restaurant called Caru' cu Bere. I had it on my recommended list. And, when we walked by it in the afternoon, TJ put in on our "must go" list. We were seated right next to the bar and staircase. Which, at first, we thought was not a good place. Then, the floorshow started. Dancers came out and started moving around the open space. High-kicking and twirling in and around waiters and customers. Awesome! We met up with some guys (Mike and Francesco) from London the next day. And decided to meet them at Caru' cu Bere (again) for a late dinner. And another floorshow.

Sweet Meat

2009-04-14T23:06:00.003+02:00

I have always loved them from afar. Occasionally, succumbing to their pleasures. So tempting. Overpowering. Intimidating. Until. I finally broke down. Searched them out on the Internet. And decided to try it firsthand. With no regrets.

Yes, it's true. I made a batch of lemon squares. I've made them twice so far.
The ones pictured below are actually lemon-lime squares. Tangy.

But be forewarned, this dessert contains dangerous amounts of sugar. It's a giant sugar bomb. Which is why I wanted to share the recipe. Found it at the LA Times website. Everyone should experience the tart excitement of this sugar overload. With a little raspberry sorbet on the side.

Now about the title of this post. Can't figure out where it's from? Think early 90's Brit alternative bands. The Soup Dragons. Off their album, Lovegod. Now, for the life of me, I cannot find a video of this song anywhere. Except for a 12" version (remember those) that doesn't really reflect the post-haze languish of the original. But, all is not lost for your aural and visual pleasure. This song also would have been an apt title for the post:

Parting Shots [Valencia]

2009-04-14T23:05:00.007+02:00

Old world traditions. Modern attitude. Valencia has embraced both. I wouldn't hesitate for a moment to come back to this thriving metropolis on the Mediterranean. The distractingly beautiful architecture alone is enough for a return visit. That and the food.

For more fine art images from the Valencia trip, visit my Flickr photostream.

Like some strange future predator rearing its head, the Hemisfèric is a mass of lines and curves.

The Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía looks like it is coming in for a nibble on the overpass.

The Hemisfèric and Museu de les Ciències seem to be locked in a game of next-generation Pac-Man.

All signs point due East.

The Future is Spain

2009-04-10T10:53:00.017+02:00

When I first saw images on Flickr of the futuristic buildings at the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias (City of Arts and Sciences), I knew I wanted to go there and photograph them. A destination in sunny Spain is nothing to sneeze at either. And so, TJ and I put Valencia on the list. We ended up booking our trip for Easter weekend. Note: The images below link to my Picasa photo album with all trip photos.

Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias is a futurescape set in the old river bed that winds around and through the heart of Valencia. The white tile, glass, and metal of the buildings seems a bit out of place in an old world city like Valencia. But, it signals the future. And TJ and I were happy to get lost in its modern appeal.

I saw this coffee mug at the airport. The graphic was way too cute to resist taking a photo. However, the price tag prevented me from considering a purchase. Maybe if I drank coffee.

This adorable representation of El Toro was in stark contrast to the bull fighting event that was shown live on TV. There were at least 5 bull fighters in the ring. Spain's president was in the stands along with a host of celebrities; this was a big event. The bull looked old. And tired. And, I have to say, I found it difficult to appreciate the pagentry and tradition of the sport. It seemed very violent. And very unfair. A true bloodsport. I turned it off before the swords were used.

I saw a bat on several manhole covers and was a bit perplexed. It turns out that the bat is a symbol for the city.

The bat rests over an emblem (crown and shield) as shown in this gate ironwork at the old city wall. A bat! How cool is that? Between that and the multitude of orange trees (and their fragrant flowers) all around the city, it's hard not to like Valencia.

And it is hard not to like the food of Valencia. Between the paella and the seafood (grilled cuttlefish and calamari), TJ and I indulged in a bit of Spanish gluttony. I also found a new tasty treat in torrejas.

Paella is one of the most well-known Spanish dishes. In Valencia, they make a variation called paella valencia; it is not your typical paella. Ingredients include green beans and great northern beans. Typically, there is no seafood. Instead, the meat is usually chicken. We were offered rabbit in one restaurant. Since, it was so close to Easter, we passed. You can't eat Peter Cottontail on Easter weekend. Still, it could have been worse. Rata de marjal (marsh rat) was one of the main ingredients of early paellas in the 18th century. As living standards rose in the 19th century, this early ingredient was replaced by other meats. Rat. I bet it tastes like chicken.

Speaking of Easter, we were looking for a place to eat on Saturday night and came across an Easter Mass at Valencia Cathedral. It was quite the procession. Thought this photo captured the requisite amount of religious mysticism.

To see more images from our trip to Valencia, click here.

GLAD PÅSK!

2009-04-04T17:02:00.007+02:00

Glad Påsk! That's Happy Easter in Swedish. And what better way to celebrate Easter than with a bag of Påsk godis. And, that is exactly what I did. Last night, we made a trip to ICA Maxi and there in the frozen food aisles was a Påsk godis display calling my name. This morning, the godis bag is empty. I know I will pay for this somehow. But, for the moment my stomach feels fine and my head does not feel the sugar rush associated with the overconsumption of very sweet things.

Easter is a big holiday in Sweden. But, religion is not a big part of it. As is typical, there are pagan origins to some of the traditions that carry on today. It's less about the Easter Bunny and more about the Easter Witch. More here.

But, now is not the time to contemplate the religious significance of Easter here in Sweden, or lack thereof. No, now is the time to savor the flavor of Påsk godis gone by.

Parting Shots [Dublin]

2009-03-27T12:48:00.010+01:00

Things that caught my eye while exploring this great city. The history, mood, and color of Dublin in images.

Peeling Back Layers of History

Red-eye Structural Support

A Guinness Moment

Walking on Broken Glass

Fading Irish Eyes Smile

2009-03-27T12:47:00.012+01:00

I'm a bit late in posting about our trip to Dublin. And, so close to our Easter trip to Valencia. Absorbing two vastly different cultures in the space of a month. Yes, living in Europe does have its advantages.

Snow was falling when we left Göteborg. So much so that they had to de-ice the plane before take-off. We arrived in Dublin late Thursday afternoon to mostly sunny skies. It was the weekend before St. Paddy's Day. We were staying in the Temple Bar area, the heart of Dublin nightlife. For more photos of our trip to Dublin, click here.

All signs pointed to the festivities taking place the next week. Lots of shops sold celebratory paraphernalia. TJ eyed the hats and tried a few on. On Saturday, he finally broke down and bought one. Surely this hat is worth the 2.95 euros he spent, don't you think? Note: The images below link to my Picasa photo album with all trip photos.

There are bars and restaurants galore in Temple Bar. Some more festive than others. We did not drink in this puce green bar. Instead we opted for the elegant, red Temple Bar Pub down the road. But, regardless of the bar, you were guaranteed to find live singers and a livelier crowd. The crowds really picked up Friday and Saturday nights. There were a surprising number of Americans running about. A few we spoke with had found amazingly cheap flights to Dublin. So, why not hop on a plane and party in Dublin and tour the Irish countryside? Recession be damned!

We took a sightseeing bus around the city. Personally, I think these Hop-on Hop-off buses are the best way to get around in most cities. Not that I have anything against walking. We did a lot of that as well. We walked around the quiet, manicured lawns of Trinity College. And along the pedestrian shopping mecca of Grafton Street...where elbows push you 'round and buskers sing by candlelight (name that song). Viewed the state apartments in Dublin Castle. Passed through the dank recesses of Kilmainham Gaol, a former prison. And savored the view from the top of the Guinness Storehouse where we enjoyed a free pint.

I was skeptical at first about going to the museum. Neither TJ or I are big fans of Guinness beer. But, the 7-story building is absolutely beautiful. And, the exhibits were very well done. Now, I can see why it is one of the top visitor attractions in Ireland. And, well, there was that free pint of Guinness. Which turned out to be quite tasty.

Overall, the food and drink were pretty damn good in Dublin. Lots of character and taste. And sometimes, unintended humor. We passed by this bar while touring around the city. Wish we had been able to have drink here. I'm sure I would have felt right at home.

Opera Diva Wins Melodifestivalen

2009-03-23T00:25:00.014+01:00

The winner of the 2009 Melodifestivalen has been selected to represent Sweden in the Eurovision contest. It's opera singer, Malena Ernman, who sings La Voix in both English and French to a throbbing disco beat. It should have strong multi-national, multi-generational appeal. How can it lose? I mean, this is the 35th anniversary of ABBA winning the Eurovision contest. Well, that satirical musical number presented at the finals in Stockholm might not go over well with this year's Eurovision host country, Russia. More on that later.

Melodifestivalen is bigger than ever. Here's an introduction to this year's event. There were four regional contests held around the country to select the semi-finalists for the finals in Stockholm. In additional, there was a second chance contest (andra chansen in Swedish) to select from those artists that did not make it through the semi-finals. The first regional show was right here in Göteborg. The event was televised live. According to reports, 3 million people watched that show. For perspective, Sweden only has a population of 9 million. In the United States, 100 million people would have to American Idol to achieve the same ratings success.

My take on the artists and songs in this year's contest can be described in one word: flat. There were some very lackluster performances and forgettable songs. Now, I like Alcazar, but their song, Stay the Night, was as limp as a semla sitting in milk. At least compared to this little ditty, which I love. And, Måns Zelmerlöw's Hope & Glory didn't have any. Måns was a favorite going in to the contest. Maybe next year. I still think he is the Enrique Iglesias of Sweden. E.M.D. with Baby Goodbye was pretty good but the song title was self-fulfilling. And Agnes, who I like, didn't deliver enough Love Love Love. Still, most had the requisite sing-along-pop and dance sensibility. Which is what Melodifestivalen is all about. The winner, Malena, wasn't expected to do well, but the public voted for her in big numbers.

Now, on to the controversy. At the finals, there was a parady skit and dance number that mocked Russia and its national anthem. The dance number had Matryoshka dolls and Cossacks and dancing bears. Oh my. Lots of Russian stereotypes. Offensive, maybe. But, funny as well. Oh, those nutty Swedes. Enjoy.

And, one final treat. In honor of ABBA's win at Eurovision 35 year's ago, here is a video of them singing Waterloo in Swedish at Melodifestivalen that same year.

Shopping Cart Rentals

2009-03-23T00:02:00.003+01:00

Pay a deposit to obtain a shopping cart. Get the deposit back when you return the cart. This sounds like a strange concept to some of you. But, the system is common throughout Europe. And it works quite well. Of particular interest to Americans, you see few, if any, shopping carts that have strayed far from their respective store parking lots. As a former grocery store employee (more than 25 years ago), I can attest to the straying nature of shopping carts. They just like to roam.

So, the system is quite simple. There are two slots for coins; one each for a 5 kronor or a 10 kronor coin. Depending on the exchange rate, that works out to something over $0.50 to less than $1.75 for your shopping excursion. So, in most cases, you really do want that coin back. Insert the coin into the slot and the chain connecting your cart to the one behind it is released. Reverse the process after shopping by reconnecting the chain to your cart. Voila! Coinage retrieved.

And, yes, TJ and I shop at Willy:s. We like Willy:s. Um, I mean we like to shop at Willy:s. Oh, you know what I mean.

Scene: Spring Awakening!

2009-03-22T23:43:00.009+01:00

Finally! Spring has sprung. And not a moment too soon. The flowers have been pushing earnestly through the ground for the past week or two. We were almost able to walk about with no jacket on Saturday. Almost. Maybe another couple of weeks for that feat. But, seriously, where do Swedes get their tolerance to frolic about in t-shirts or a short skirt in cold weather? They've been doing it all Winter long. Certainly, my time here has not been long enough to master those chillin' skills.

Anywho, this was the scene this Spring weekend in Kungsparken in Göteborg. Flowers are blooming. That's blommor är blommande if you are following along in Swedish. Hard to believe that it was just 6 months ago that Autumn had settled in.

Just a little reminder...

Semla Tasting Contest

2009-03-03T15:25:00.014+01:00

Well, if someone's gotta handle the tough assignments, it might as well be me. The relocation service department (WIN) of the West Sweden Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Västsvenska Industri- och Handelskammaren) sponsored a semla tasting contest. This activity involved eating, judging, and scoring. How could I pass up that opportunity?

First, the basics. What is a semla? A semla is a wheat bun made with cardamom that is sliced in two, filled with almond paste and whipped cream, and dusted with powdered sugar. Now for an important distinction: multiple semlas are called semlor.
A good overview of the semla is here. Traditionally, semla was consumed on the last Tuesday before Lent, otherwise known as Fat Tuesday, or Fettisdagen in Swedish. But, Swedes cannot resist a sweet tasty treat. And so, you will see semla appearing in stores starting January and continuing on through Easter.

As part of the semla hype, newspapers have "Best Semla" competitions. And, so with Swedes weighing in on the best semla, it was thought to give non-Swedes a chance to test their taste buds and voice their opinion. Göteborg takes its semla seriously. There is even a semla academy in the city. There are established standards for making semla. More on what makes a good semla is here. Apparently, it's all about the almond paste.

I had tried a semla last year. And came away not being impressed at all. It was like eating a dinner roll with super light whipped cream. I don't even remember tasting any almond paste. Which may have been the problem. Still, plain [flavorless] whipped cream does nothing for me. I tried not to take this bias into the contest.

We tasted semlor from four different establishments; two of which were from the Best of Göteborg list. Each semla was cut into four pieces. As you can see below, cutting a semla is not always an easy task. But, the fresher (softer) the bun, the easier it is. This particular semla had a dry bun. Not so easy. And kind of messy.

Still, the pieces were big. And, I ended up having five. I had to resample Semla 1.

The results: the group chose the semla from ICA Focus, a grocery store, as the best. I used to love buying donuts, muffins, and cookies from the local grocery stores (Shaw's in Maine, King Sooper in Colorado, and Safeway in California). Just an unscientific observation.

Second place went to Brogyllen Konditori, which was voted #1 in the Best of survey. Interestingly, we rated the semla from Steinbrenner & Nyberg last; while the Best of survey rated it #2. My favorite was voted #3 overall. The almond paste was mild (not overpowering) and smooth. The cream, light but not too airy. And the bun was soft, moist, and slightly chewy. Cultural palettes diverge at the semla.

The Iceman Cometh

2009-02-25T16:28:00.014+01:00

What a difference a year makes. So, yes, let's acknowledge that milestone. I arrived in Sweden on February 15, 2008. It was cold and gray...and raining. And it continued to rain for many a days (weeks) to come. What an introduction. This year, things are a bit different weather-wise. Much colder. Less mud. And, even some measurable amounts of snow. The canals froze over and ice appeared in the harbor. It was like a Swedish version of a glacial lagoon.

It also reminded me of Portland, Maine. When our family first moved to the area in the mid-70's, I remember reading about abnormally cold and harsh winters of days gone by. In Casco Bay, off Portland, there are numerous islands on which people have lived since the area was first settled. The main transport to the islands was by boat. But, on several occasions over the past 200 years, the bay froze solid. There were stories of people taking horse drawn carriages or driving cars across the bay to the islands. That thought has always stayed with me. And for a brief moment, I thought the harbor just might freeze over here in Göteborg. Not quite, but I'll take what I can get.

A few days after this scene on the harbor, we had a wonderful snowstorm. It has snowed lighted for a few days. With little accumulation to show for the effort. But, then, it just came down. TJ and I had our friends and neighbors, Sofie and Kalle, over for dinner. And, I was itching to go outside and play in the snow. As were the dogs. They told me so. So, into the white we did go.

Dogs like snow. Although Lily had her fill by this point. Zoey, not so much. And everyone was all smiles until the snowballs started flying. The snow had become heavy and made for great snowballs.

We regrouped for one final photo before heading back into the warmth of the apartment. Sofie and I enjoyed tea and hot chocolate while TJ and Kalle continued with beer. A perfect winter nightcap.

By the next day, the temperature had risen and a lot of the snow had melted. Still, it gives me hope that I might see more snow through the rest of the season.

So, you may have noticed that I like to talk about the weather. Some people do. Though, in most instances it is because that is a safe and easy subject with which to initiate and advance a conversation. But for me, it is more. I love weather. I trace my interest back to when our family lived in Elizabethtown, Kentucky in the early 1970's. One afternoon, I remember coming out of the dentist office with my Mom and sisters. Up in the sky were the strangest clouds I had ever seen; they looked like cotton balls. I now know their name is mammatocumulus. They are sometimes associated with tornadoes. We went to the town center and continued errands. Coming out of a store, a huge gust of wind blew down the street. Later, we were informed a tornado had touched down within a mile of where we were. It was April 3, 1974; the day of a major tornado outbreak in the US. I've been fascinated ever since.

There are a few things most people don't know about me. One is that in 1991, I was accepted into a meteorology program at the University of Washington in Seattle. It would have been a second BS degree. I had dreams (perhaps, delusions) of working for the Weather Channel. Instead, I took a job with the Defense Department. Delusion deferred. And so, I talk about the weather. Humor me.

Caught!

2009-02-02T01:08:00.004+01:00

Zoey riding the elevator again. Unsupervised.

Waiting for the Sluts to Arrive

2009-01-25T12:23:00.006+01:00

Okay, now before you get too offended, a simple lesson in Swedish:

Rea = Sale

Slut Rea = Final Sale

Post-holiday shopping swings into high gear with the arrival of the Slut Rea in display windows across Sweden. This isn't just any old sale. It is THE sale. A Slut Rea usually lasts through the end of January. And they usually provide some great discounts. But, this year, they came early (as they did everywhere), but reached unheard of discount levels.

We walked by this store and decided that TJ had to go in and investigate. Who passes by 90% off. Apparently, no one. TJ couldn't find anything in his size.

Don't feel too bad, he has been able to partake in the sales. As is his ritual, each Saturday morning as I sleep in, TJ investigates what is on sale around town. And by around town, I mean IKEA and other home furnishing stores. His shopping usually entails replenishing the candle supply. Or replacing the [poor, sickly] plants that mysteriously disappear on weekends. He is a good shopper. And frugal too.

As for me, I'm pretty good about shopping. I usually don't. But, I did go into this fun store on Kungsgatan called Weekday. On sale for 75% off were a pair of Cheap Monday jeans with a Día de los Muertos skull on the label. Heaven!

But, I could not find my size. Seems like the sizing is geared for all these skinny bitches [and, here, I'm referring to guys] who like the tight style. So, I thought, it was not meant to be.

Until this weekend, when TJ and I went out to peruse the sales. Again, I found myself in Weekday. The sales were gone. Oh no! But, upon closer inspection, there were still tables with sale items. I picked up a pair. It was close to my size. I picked up a second pair. It was my size! Destiny! After the discount, the jeans were 100SEK (~$13USD).

So, thanks to the arrival of the Sluts, I will be walking around town with a Skelly on my ass.

Far East Treat

2009-01-23T01:17:00.007+01:00

No, this is not a blancmange. Though it looks like it might have appeared in a Monty Python skit. This is annindofu; a Chinese dessert that is also found in Japan. Translations range from almond tofu to apricot pudding. It is also known as kanten jelly because the main ingredient is agar-agar. Which, of course, has a variety of names around the world, including kanten. Basically, it is a thickening agent derived from seaweed. It is 80% fiber, binds with glucose during digestion, and is part of a diet craze in Asia. Other diets facts about agar-agar can be found here. As for me, it is a new ingredient in my cooking arsenal.

So, annindofu? How did I ever stumble upon this? Well, it is a dessert. But, the story begins with my business trips to Tokyo over the years. I had a habit of eating at convenience stores. The variety of ready-to-eat food was too great to pass up. A far cry from a 7-11 hot dog (no, I've never had on, just referencing it). And, this is where I found the best steam cakes. But, I digress. There were small cups of what I thought was yogurt or custard with white translucent cubes. It was something better. And though I had no idea what it was called, I have been obsessed with it ever since.

Recently, I mentioned this to my friend Tari who lives in Tokyo. And, she not only found the name of this delectable treat, but also provided me with a recipe. I did run into an obstacle finding one ingredient (almond powder), so I searched for more recipes online. And found some here, here, and here. I experimented a bit and came up with my own variation. Mine is much sweeter than regular annindofu. Go figure. The truth is that I accidentally used sweetened, condensed milk instead of evaporated milk in one experiment. Best mistake I ever made.

An optional ingredient and one that was in the stuff I had in Tokyo is nata de coco, the white translucent cubes. Another high fiber ingredient, nata de coco is extremely sweet. The texture takes some getting used to. TJ spit it out. But, I love it. You should be able to find it in most Chinese and Thai grocery stores. Same for the agar-agar/kanten powder.

Here is the recipe. It takes all of 15 minutes to make this.

Swedonia Annindofu
4g (slightly less than 1 teaspoon) agar-agar (kanten) powder
400 ml water
1/4 teaspoon almond flavor
100 ml sweetened, condensed milk

Options:
A few drops of food coloring
1/2 cup nata de coco cubes

Bring the water to a boil. Then, add the agar-agar powder. Whisk/stir continuously until all the powder is completely dissolved. This is key. If you need to, remove from heat and look at the bottom of pot to ensure that no granules are left. Add the almond flavor. Lower the heat and simmer. Add the condensed milk, turn up the heat, and stir continuously. Add optional food coloring here. Let the mixture come to just under a boil. Remove from heat. Pour into cups or a flat pan. Add the optional nata de coco to each container. Refrigerate for a few hours. Then, either serve directly out of container. Or, if you used a pan, cut it up into squares and serve with fruit. Bon appetite!

I leave you with Annindofu at Sunset. Enjoy. [Clicking on image will take you to my Flickr photostream]

One word about the color. Since I made the annindofu with condensed milk, it has a slightly yellowish tone instead of the normal milky white if I had used just plain milk. I wanted to add a little color. But, I added a bit more in order to mask the yellow. Still, it makes a nice contrast with the nata de coco cubes.

Below Freezing

2009-01-11T19:19:00.007+01:00

You have just returned to Sweden from a vacation in the Canary Islands where the temperatures were in the mid-20's (that's 70+ degrees for you Yanks). It's cold. Colder than usual for the West coast of Sweden. The ground is actually frozen. So, where do you go? Well, North, of course. To Norway. To attempt a little skiing. Of course. We've never claimed to be sane. Photos of the trip can be found here.

We stayed at a beautiful hotel in the foothills northwest of Oslo: the Holmenkollen Park Hotel Rica. It has some of the best views of Oslo and the surrounding area. And, it had a big fireplace which made TJ happy.

Did I mention that it was cold outside? At one point, it was -18C (which is around 0F). C-C-C-Cold. We observed an interesting cold weather phenomenon that occurred in low-lying areas. The surfaces of all objects, both natural and man-made, were coated with ice crystals.

It was a beautiful thing to see. From the inside of a warm Volvo. Okay, we did get out to see it up close and personal. Very cool. As a side note, as we went to pick up the dogs at the kennel a few days later, we observed the same phenomenon in the areas East of Göteborg. My guess is that a moisture-heavy valley fog or low clouds is responsible. And, I'll believe this until someone tells me otherwise.

Now, our idea was to try and do some skiing. We had read the ski reports which indicated there was snow at the resorts around Oslo. Just not a lot of it. This turned out to be the case. So, we (I) reasoned that cross-country might be a better option than downhill. TJ was a novice. And I had not been on CC skis for over 10 years. Those were our excuses. It was not pretty. Funny, but not as much fun. Unless you call bruise-producing spills fun. The trails were practically ice. Poor TJ did not get a good introduction to cross-country. And, I, well, I apologized a lot. And fell almost as much. Though, we did have some fun sliding down a large snow hill without skis.

We squeezed in a day trip to Lillehammer and then it was back to Göteborg. Where, surprisingly, it was still cold. But, not for long.

Parting Shots [Canary Islands]

2009-01-11T18:09:00.009+01:00

Bright. Colorful. Exotic. Faded. Textured. Decay. My perspective on the Canary Islands. For more fine art images from this trip, visit my Flickr photostream here.

Colors on the side of a fishing boat in Puerto de la Cruz on Tenerife.

A rusting fence along the boardwalk in Playa de las Américas.

Home of the most delicious calamari. A colorful cafe on the beach at Playa de Santiago.

The sunny side of the street. Doorways in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

Hidden on a side street in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, this doorway begged to be photographed.

Sun, fun and the new year has begun

2009-01-09T19:25:00.015+01:00

We're back from holiday. Actually two holidays that will be handled in two separate posts. Up first, the Canary Islands. We left Göteborg on December 23rd and after a night's stay in Frankfurt (damn you Orbitz!) we headed for Tenerife on Christmas Eve. Spent the night in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Quaint city. Absolutely shut down on Christmas Eve. But, that didn't stop us from walking about and enjoying the festive holiday decorations. Note: The images below link to my Picasa photo album with all trip photos.

The next day we headed South down the western coast of Tenerife. We stopped at a couple of towns including Puerto de la Cruz. Saw the lighthouse at Punta de Teno. And drove along some pretty steep and twisting roads before arriving in Playa de las Américas. Now, Playa de las Américas is a true resort town (for better or worse) that seems to cater predominantly to Brits. Every restaurant served an English breakfast (lots of beans and sausage). There were more English pubs than in SoHo. And some grocery stores even advertised "we sell English food." Cause who would want to eat paella all the time? Um.....I would. But, at the end of the day, you could always count on a great sunset and cool drink to refocus attention on where you were...

The next day, we headed up. Not just North, but up. To El Teide. The highest point in Spain (of which the Canary Islands is a part) and the Atlantic Ocean at 3718 meters. We waited over 2 hours for the gondola cables to be cleared of ice before we were allowed to head up. Unfortunately we didn't have time to get a pass that would allow us to climb to the summit and inside the crater, but we made due at 3600 meters just below the top. And we were rewarded with awesome views of the surrounding volcanic landscape, nearby islands, and a winter wonderland.

The next day we headed by ferry to the nearby island of La Gomera. We stayed two nights in San Sebastián de la Gomera. La Gomera is a small island that has a large park (Parque Nacional de Garajonay) in the center and coastal towns and beaches at the peripheries. We toured the entire island the first day. Did I mention how steep the roads were? Very. Scary. On the way back, [I made] TJ pose for this photo.

We spent the remainder of the afternoon in Playa de Santiago. At a brightly colored beach cafe, we enjoyed beer, some fried calamari, and a lot of sun. Then back to San Sebastián de la Gomera for evening sangria and dinner. San Sebastián is small but vibrant. The building facades provided a great subject for my photography. The next day, we headed back through the cold, foggy mountains to the warmth of Valle Gran Rey. This little beach and port enclave is well-known by German tourists. The highlight of our trip. Then back to San Sebastián de la Gomera for evening sangria and paella. The paella took 40 minutes to make but was well worth the wait. The wait included a few Dorada cervezas and some almogrote spread made with goat cheese and mojo sauce.

And, then, all too quickly, back to Playa de las Américas on Tenerife. There, we met up with Jenn and Bridget. TJ and Jenn went to Kellogg together. We celebrated TJ's (43rd) birthday. I opted for a variety of treats instead of a cake. The cakes I looked at were the size (and shape) of a log. Still, the four of us did some damage on what we had.

TJ, Jenn and Bridget stayed out until 3am both of our final 2 nights in Playa de las Américas. I was the old man who goes to bed [relatively] early. I did, however, go the distance on New Year's Eve.

We drove back to Santa Cruz de Tenerife. And, as was the case on Christmas Eve, most restuarants were not serving dinner in preparation for the evening's festivities. Luckily, we found a cafe off the main square where we were able to sample Canary Island cuisine. Bars were not opening until AFTER midnight. So, we walked around town for a bit. This small park with tiles benches afforded a nice backdrop for a group photo.

Then, to the hotel to have some cocktails, count down to the new year, eat our 12 grapes by the 12th strike of the clock at midnight, and toast with champagne. And into the streets we went. There was a street with a live band and a group of trendy bars/cafes. We stayed there until the wee hours. The locals, especially, the young, were dressed in their finest suits and dresses. We didn't mind slumming it a bit. A great way to end our winter holiday. You can find all the photos from our Canary Islands trip here.

Jul Time

2008-12-22T22:27:00.020+01:00

Christmas is in the air. And, in Sweden, they're not going to let a little "bad economic weather" rain on their holiday. A poll taken in December showed that most Swedes were not going to curtail their spending despite the gloomy national and global economies. So, shoppers are out in full force. The pedestrian sidewalks have been packed with shoppers.

The image on the left is our hood. Looking down Kungsgatan towards city centre, there was a mass of hurried buyers as far as the eye could see. Note the decorative lighted crowns that guard over the pedestrian street. The image on the right is a view into Haga, the historic section of town. There has been an outdoor Christmas market all along the street each weekend in December.

It was in Haga that I made my ultimate Christmas and ultimate fun purchase. A tomte. How cool is he? He was made in the 1920's or 30's. I found him in an antique shop last year on our pre-visit. But, I did not buy him at the time (frugal, moi?). Now, there were only three left and this little guy was in the best condition. Best of all, his price had come down. Way down. Lucky, frugal, me. For a brief description of a tomte, click on the image.

So, besides a tomte, what else defines Christmas in Sweden? Well, I guess there would be the julbock or Christmas Goat. The goat is made from straw and wrapped in red ribbon. He is placed under the Christmas tree or near the fireplace waiting for tomte and guarding presents. There is a famous large-scale version of the straw goat in the town of Gävle. Merry pranksters tend to light it on fire every year. This year, it is untorched...so far.

More on Chritsmas in Sweden can be found here. I have to file this tradition under odd: black Christmas decorations. Saw these in a shop at the Christmas Markets at Liseberg.

I mean, we did think it was a bit odd that there were very few green Christmas lights around the city. Red? Check. Green, not so much. But, black decorations? Just plain odd.

For traditional holiday drink, eggnog comes in far behind something called Julmust. It's a holiday drink specific to Sweden.

Julmust is a non-alcoholic malt-flavored beverage that, in my opinion, tastes like a cross between Mr. Pibbs and Dr. Pepper. Apotekarnes is the preferred brand to drink (thanks, Sofie). Coca-Cola, which experiences a severe drop in sales during Christmas as Swedes switch to Julmust, has begun marketing its soda as "a Must for Christmas." Oh. So. Clever. not.

Speaking of clever, here is our Christmas greeting for 2008. Click on the image for a [much] larger version. Or click here and try to find the following:

A cantankerous or tame blue-eyed julbock
A slutty or saintly St. Lucia bearing lussekatter
A tuneful or screeching Singing Christmas Tree of Göteborg
A naughty or nice tomte

The Leeky Cauldron

2008-12-08T19:18:00.009+01:00

So, there is a food mystery here in Sweden. Where did all the green onions go? I was so used to buying a bunch of green onions (aka scallions) that when they disappeared from the produce department seemingly overnight, I thought there must be a mistake.

Now, TJ and I usually shop at two stores: ICA Maxi and Willy:S; one right after the other (cheaper produce and Diet Coke at Willy:S). The green onions. Gone from both stores. I checked the local Hemköp around the corner from our apartment just to be sure. Nada. What happened? Did the local or regional suppliers just stop growing it?

What remained in the produce department was another vegetable. One that I had always seen. A long green stack and a white bulbous bottom. Like a green onion on steroids. I had wondered what it was. It is purjolök. So, it was some type of onion or so I thought. Lök is the word for onion in Swedish. But, it is used indiscriminately (to thwart people like me). For example, garlic is vitlök in Swedish: white - onion. Hmmm.

So, the upshot is that I bought this uber onion and used it. The flavor was oniony, but just a little off. I figured this was the new onion for Winter. A whole lotta onion.

Then, one day we were in the self-checkout line at Willy:S. It was our first time buying a purjolök there. We selected onion from the menu on the touchscreen and placed the purjolök in the bag. Warning! Warning! An attendant comes over, inspects our bag, and informs us that the item in question is not an onion. Rather, it is a leek. How embarrassing. Who knew my Vegetable IQ was so low?

But, that still leaves me wondering. Where did the green onions go?

Lübeck Christmas Markets

2008-12-03T18:51:00.020+01:00

Our trip to the Christmas markets in Lübeck, Germany was quite a fun adventure. We drove down, took a short ferry from Denmark to Germany, and arrived in Lübeck in late afternoon. Immediately headed toward city center and found the main Christmas market at Breite Straße (a pedestrian area). It was still early but the crowds were gathering. We picked the only night of the Christmas markets season when all markets and stores would be open until midnight.

So, we walked around and did a bit of window shopping. But, not before TJ had some piping hot glühwein. I had some as well. But, I really liked the spiced apple cider (äpfel punch).

The next day, it snowed. The forecast had called for party sunny skies with temps just above freezing. Um.....no. But the snow was a bonus. It's not something we get a lot in Göteborg. Of course, we did decide to drive into town instead of walking.

What better to do on a cold, snowy day then to head indoors. Which is what we did. Several of the Christmas markets are indoors. The best was the market inside Hospital of the Holy Spirit on Koberg. There was a line to get in. But, it moved. Eventually. The quality of the crafts was better than other markets around town. But, most importantly, there were three older women who were cranking out fresh waffles. Oh. My. God. Those were good. I wanted to get another, but a huge line had formed. How sad...for me.

Of course, at the market at Breite Straße, there were several booths selling small pieces of fried sweet dough covered with powdered sugar. That was a highlight. I have pictures from our little adventure posted online here. Or just select any of the images above to see them.

I end with this little guy. A genie of some sort. A grantor of wishes, perhaps. He oversaw a children's ride at the Christmas market on Koberg. I insisted that we walk back across town so that I could take a picture of him. We were in the process of deciding on a restaurant for dinner. After I "got the shot", we headed back to a Turkish restuarant we had passed. The name: Ali Baba. The meal was excellent. Our wish was granted.

Mood Today: Devilish

2008-12-02T00:56:00.003+01:00

Just a fun little photography/Photoshop project for [another] cold, wet day in Göteborg. Clicking on the image will take you to my Flickr Photostream.

Daylight Fading

2008-11-25T15:36:00.002+01:00

And one more thing...

The sun has just set. It is 3:40pm. That is another reason why lights are such an important part of the holiday season in Sweden; they help chase away the darkness of Winter. Most store fronts also now have candles burning outside on either side of the entrance. Inviting.

Back to the fading daylight. In December, the sun sets around 3:30pm for nearly the entire month. At the beginning of the month, the sun rises at 8:30am; later in the month this tops out at 8:54am. On December 21st, the shortest day of the year, the times are as follows:

Sunrise: 8:52 AM
Sunset: 3:25 PM

Daylight: 6 hours 33 minutes

Good times!

So as not to succumb to Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), I have a six-month supply of St. John's Wort. Hopefully, I won't have to resort to a lightbox. But, just picture it: me and the dogs sitting in front of a lightbox every day.

To Market, To Market

2008-11-25T15:16:00.003+01:00

Ooops. Forgot to mention that we are heading to Germany this weekend to experience the Chrismas market (Weihnachtsmärkte, in German). Several people strongly recommended that we visit the Christmas markets.

Although there are markets in both Göteborg and Stockholm, the ones in Germany are supposed to be the best. The absolute best is in Nuremberg. But, that a bit too far to drive, so we are heading Lubeck in Northern Germany. The Christmas markets in Lubeck should be fun.

Will have a full report when we return. Including what we bought.

God Jul, Already?

2008-11-19T13:43:00.009+01:00

Here in Sweden, there is no major holiday, such as Thanksgiving, to prevent the start of Christmas season. Although I finally found a whole turkey at ICA Maxi, we are foregoing the traditional meal this year. No turkey. And, at over $3.25/lb., I can't say I'm too sad. Of course, not having pumpkin and apple-cranberry pies (freshly baked by yours truly) or my special corn bread and cranberry stuffing is a bit sad. We are going out that evening and depart the next day for a weekend trip.

So, some Christmas decorations went up around the city a few weeks ago. Large stars and snowflake with lights that stretch across narrow roads around city center. The bulk of the decorations will go up around the city on December 1st, or so we have been told. Including some hideous shapes with blue lights on the Aveny that I saw last year.

The stores have been pushing Christmas odds and ends since October. TJ has been in the holiday spirit and a diligent shopper. For my part, I bought some cookie cutters for the annual Christmas cookie bake-off and decorating event. And so it begins.

TJ has already decked our halls and walls with shiny red and silver ornaments. Cinnamon-scented candles liven the air. And this:

This is a tomte candle that you burn starting at the beginning of December to count down to Christmas Day. The tomte originally started off as a more pagan creature, but has now been folded into the traditional Christmas story involving St. Nick - the Christmas tomte. There are many variations of a tomte. I like the ones that look like gnomes. Like this one (clicking on image will take you to my Flickr photostream):

I plan on buying an antique, traditional looking tomte in the next few weeks. Expect a photo.

We attended our first holiday party - a glögg mingle. We met old faces and new in the most spacious, wonderfully decorated apartment just off the Aveny. Glögg is the Swedish version of mulled wine. Sweet, warm and tasty. A recipe if you are so inclined.

Unfortunately, we are missing a Lucia party this weekend. What fun that would have been. The actual date of the Lucia celebration is December 13th. It involves a young girl dressed in white with a crown of burning candles on her head. Glögg and lussekatter (St Lucy buns) are consumed. The buns, which I will have to try, are made with saffron. And, there is a Lucia song. More here. And here.

Halloween Party Post-Mortem

2008-11-07T12:12:00.005+01:00

Well, the scariest day of the year is over. And, I am not talking about election day. No, the aftermath of our Halloween party has been cleaned up and put away for next year. Yes, there will be a next year. Click on the image above or here to see photos from the party.

Special thanks to David and Simon for providing me with supplemental photos (and video) from the party. Still, between the three of us, no one had a picture of TJ in full costume as Ghostface from the Scream movies; he discarded his mask and knife quite early. TJ is sneaky that way.

A note about the photos. Many people in the photos have red eye. I decided not to correct them. Mainly, because it was too time-consuming. But also, because the red eyes fit with the demonic theme of the party. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.

So, the next day was recovery day. Now I remember why I don't drink a lot of tequila. Two words: massive headache. And TJ? Well, they say that happiness is a warm puppy. But, I think a couple of Advil would have helped more.

Feeling Good

2008-11-05T12:04:00.003+01:00

The fog lifted overnight here in Göteborg. I awoke to a crisp, clear morning.

sun in the sky, you know how I feel...

it's a new dawn
it's a new day...
and I'm feeling good

'cause this old world is a new world
and a bold world
for you and me

Bump in the Night

2008-11-04T16:42:00.003+01:00

There is nothing scarier than a good Halloween pumpkin (mine was good, not great).

Except, of course, waiting for election results. So, I'm hoping there is no bump in the middle of the night. No strange new dawn of uncertainty.

No, I would like to think the real nightmare is over. That suspense will be minimal. The joy, overwhelming. The healing? Well, we can always hope.

The Great Pumpkin Disaster!

2008-10-29T00:18:00.007+01:00

Our Halloween party is rapidly approaching. It looks like the the turnout will be robust. Planning has been going along smoothly. Up until now.

While in the US, we purchased candy corn, candy pumpkins, and Peeps (yes, Peeps!). A little taste of traditional Halloween candy for our Swedish friends. Well, traditional except for the Peeps part. Also found costumes for ourselves and the dogs [party pix to be posted next week]. Lots of scary decorations for the apartment. And this guy...

Yes, a Devil Domo plush toy! In fact, we got two additional little Halloween-themed Domos from Target. Don't judge. I have had a Domo for 7 years. I like strange and cute figures from Japan. No comments from the peanut gallery.

Anywho, we decorated the apartment this past weekend. TJ did the bulk of the heavy lifting. Stringing cobwebs and setting a plastic spider into said cobweb. Hanging bats from our circular staircase belfry. Gluing a plastic skull onto a beer bottle. Did I mention that TJ was putting up the decorations? On Saturday we went grocery shopping and picked up two pumpkins. A postmortem analysis:

Buying your pumpkins 6 days before our Halloween party - Seems logical.
Carving your pumpkin 6 days before your Halloween party - Shouldn't be a problem.
Keeping the pumpkins indoors - Might be a problem.
Pumpkin becoming soft and squishy in places 3 days before your Halloween party - A bad problem.
Mold growing on your pumpkins 3 days before your Halloween party - A very bad problem.

The autopsy photo clearly shows the problem.

So, if you happen to be attending our Halloween party on Friday night and see one or two [skillfully carved] pumpkins, you will know that the pumpkin elves were hard at work Friday afternoon.

Absentee Blogging

2008-10-28T23:49:00.003+01:00

Okay. So the frequency of my postings has slowed a bit. I've been wrapped up in things (how specific of me). But, I did vote. The ballot was mailed on Monday. And barring some unforeseen event, my vote will be counted. I hope all my dear friends and family in the US are voting. It's too important for you to not let your voices be heard. Participate or don't bother complaining about the result.

We're certainly sailing through uncharted waters with not only the US economy, but the global one as well. I've been following along here in Sweden. And while I find a silver lining in that the US Dollar has staged an amazing rally against European currencies, it's pretty bleak otherwise. Still, TJ and I have decided to keep traveling and not let the opportunity to see Europe slip away.

For those who know me well, you probably can guess how I voted. But, this video uses both humor and poignancy to illustrate why it's time for real change in the US. I'm hopeful.

Happy Halloween!

2008-10-14T14:23:00.006+02:00

Halloween is fast approaching. A scary day during some scary times indeed. Even here in Sweden. So, we've decided to throw a Halloween Party. Halloween is not celebrated on the same level as it is in the US. The holiday and associated marketing are just making inroads into Scandinavia and, for that matter, most parts of Europe. Candy corn is unknown to most Swedes. The horror!

We aim to change all that.

But how will we acquire the requisite orange, yellow and white sugary gold? Well, a trip to the US, of course. Luckily we already had one planned. A very brief trip to Upstate New York. But long enough to do a little shopping and help prop up the US economy. We're both bring an extra suitcase! And we will return with candy corn, some decorations (which are few and far between here), and perhaps the makings of a costume.

Yes, it is going to be a costume party! In that spirit, I designed an apropos Halloween greeting. Click on the image below (or here) to be taken to an interactive page where you can reveal who is scarier...

Glad Kanelbullens Dag!

2008-10-04T11:37:00.003+02:00

Much to my surprise, October 4 is Kanelbullens Dag. A day to celebrate the cinnamon (kanel) roll or bun (bulle). That Sweden has a special day set aside for a pastry should really come as no surprise. But, I would have thought that the French would be the ones to honor such delectable treats. Perhaps they do. I am always willing to be enlightened about such matters.

So what is Kanelbullens Dag? Well, this handy website would surely tell me, if only I were more proficient at Swedish. Luckily, I found this bit of info on another Swedish blog. "The Cinnamon Bun Day is invented by an organisation called Hembakningsrådet. Hembakning means home baking, and this organization works for supporting knowledge about cereals, baking and other bun-and-bread-related issues."

So, there you have it. I cannot think of a better reason to celebrate. In fact, thanks to TJ, I've already "celebrated" this morning with two lovely warm kanelbullar. Two down....many more to go!

After The Fall

2008-09-24T11:22:00.005+02:00

Sure. It all seems so pleasant and unassuming at the moment. Looking out my window, there is not a cloud in the sky. Truly beautiful. But, the air has a slight chill. A hint of what is to come.

The weather stopped being warm a few weeks ago. The turn came in late August. Snap! Just like that. One morning, I awoke to this scene.

A gray day. An ominous cloud stretching across the sky. Gray days are nothing new here. But, coupled with the change in temperature, the falling leaves, and the sun's rapidly advancing march South, the signs all pointed toward the impending dormant cycle. So, I took the picture above to illustrate the change. But, this is what I really saw.

Seasons shift rapidly here. Although technically Fall now, it seems as though we've moved past it already. The leaves just need to catch up. The final nail in the coffin will be when all the outdoor seating areas at cafes and restaurants are disassembled and put away until next year. I hear that will take place in mid-October. Then, outdoor life here will slow down noticeably. And it will all be about dressing in layers. Crisp morning air. Frost. Runny noses. Hot chocolate!

Still, on a day like this, I think Winter just got pushed back a bit. But, it's out there. Waiting.

UPDATE: Okay, we're in Day 2 of Indian Summer. Who knew?

Scene: Photo Vignettes III

2008-09-20T14:48:00.008+02:00

Lördagsbarn Stopp!
Surbrunnsgatan and Stora Badhusgatan, Göteborg, Sweden
September 20, 2008 2:24pm

Lördagsbarn Gå!
Surbrunnsgatan and Stora Badhusgatan, Göteborg, Sweden
September 20, 2008 2:25pm

The Trials and Tribulations of a Spastic Hund

2008-09-19T11:55:00.006+02:00

Yes, hund is Swedish for dog. And, isn't this a picture of one sad little hund? But, looks are deceiving. The bandage is more for protection than a determinant of actual injury.

So, how did this come to be. It starts, as usual, with new and unusal behavior from Zoey. In this case, she started acting strange in our favorite backyard restroom area behind the Otter House. Last week, she began to tiptoe (best description I can come up with) at the edge of the grass. She didn't seem to want to walk into the yard, let alone do her business. Occassionally, some unknown force was nipping at her feet and head. Then, she would sit down and stare out away from the yard. Curious. We had to move onto to other pastures, equally as green, but farther away.

So, some of this may be my fault. I failed to notice the small bugs on her. They were, in fact, mosquitoes. And, it appears, they were biting her. Somehow, I thought given the colder temperatures that the bugs would have gone to their permanent slumber. Apparently not. Zoey began licking her paw. Swollen and a little red. A bite.

Now, dogs seem to think their saliva has curative powers. They apply it everywhere. To everything. One side effect of continuous licking is hair loss. Another is irritation. Zoey had both. Thus, the bandage. Which lasted all of 15 hours. She is a clever girl. Still, there was a little time for the affected area to heal.

No need to send cards or flowers. The patient is doing well.

Scene: Photo Vignettes II

2008-09-09T09:32:00.005+02:00

Leo Pacifier

Højbro Bron, Copenhagen, Denmark
September 6, 2008 4:14pm

Zoey Pacifier
Norra Allégatan, Göteborg, Sweden
September 5, 2008 1:48pm

Scene: Photo Vignettes I

2008-08-29T13:31:00.005+02:00

Street Corner Buddha
Skeppsbron, Göteborg
August 29, 2008 9:25am

Musik i Full Fart [Music at Full Speed] v4

2008-08-26T19:08:00.011+02:00

This post contains a list of new and notable music I've been listening to of late. Feel free to comment with your favorite songs and artists. I always welcome suggestions for music. To find out more about my musical tastes, check out my profile on LastFM.

Artist links will take you to an informational website (Myspace page, artist website, etc). Song links will take you to a video of the song.

I’ve dug a little deeper into world music for this edition. Some artists are repeat offenders; I’ve previously recommended their music. Enjoy!

Pop
From Australia, Gabriella Cilmi, with a full-throated voice like Anastacia, delivers in-your-face pop-rock on Save The Lies, the follow-up to Sweet About Me. Her next single is Don’t Wanna Go To Bed Now. Pretty smart lyrics coming from a 16 year-old. She's got the voice to back up the bravado. And, finally, in Gabriella’s case, who doesn’t love a good cover of Echo Beach! Also from OZ comes Vanessa Amorosi with her soaring Perfect. Yes, it is. For a sweet redux back to the 60’s pop landscape, there is UK artist Beth Rowley on So Sublime. Canadian singer Esthero is Never Gonna Let You Go. Now, if she could just offer this unreleased song for sale. Swedish rising star Veronica Maggio sings in Swedish, but her voice translates Stopp and Mandagsbarn into mod 60’s-esque pop gems. An Iranian-born Swedish artist, Arash (featuring Rebecca), was all over the airwaves last month with Suddenly. And, then there is Belgian singer Kate Ryan. Her last song (Voyage, Voyage) was pure europop. But not my cup of tea. And repetitive. The same can be said of her new song, Ella Elle l’a. Still, I cannot get it out of my head. The final Pop entry is huge in Europe. I’m not sold, but I’ll pass it along anyway. The Script from Ireland with the somewhat drippy The Man Who Can’t Be Moved. Maybe a new category: schmaltz pop.

Dance
Shine (Ian Carey Mix) is yet another dance song off of Booty Luv's debut album. More grooves to shake things up on the dancefloor. Laurent Wolf (featuring Éric Carter) brings on the euro-dance beats with No Stress (Club Mix). Bellatrax (featuring Sophia May) loses control on I Can’t Help Myself (Sunfreakz Mix). One of those songs where you want to be in the center of the dancefloor waving your arms over your head. Well, I do. On Mike Polo’s I Love U Baby (Extended Mix), I think we get it. Emphatically. I finally jumped on the fun, sexy Lady GaGa bandwagon. Teamed with Colby O’Donis on Just Dance, Lady GaGa may not be able to see straight, but she knows the ultimate destination is the dancefloor.

Alternative
Wow! When I first heard Stop The Clocks by German band Donots, it was like listening to WHFS in Washington, DC back in the early 90's. Ah, the good old alternative radio days. And I dating myself here? Probably. Still, how can you resist a music video with puppies? Someone who caught my attention then is back again: Juliana Hatfield. She teams with Richard Butler of the Psychedelic Furs on This Lonely Love. The song is a long way from Everybody Loves Me But You or Universal Heartbeat. Her voice and tone has matured nicely with age. From Spain, Amaral puts it out there on Kamikaze. If only Shakira had gone in this direction.

Adult Alternative
The search for the next retro-cool singer (think Amy Winehouse or Duffy) has turned up a young Swiss singer, Stephanie Heinzmann. She’s big in Germany and her voice is spreading across the continent. Check out Like A Bullet, My Man is a Mean Man, and Revolution to get a sense of her talent. Norwegian singer Maria Haukaas Storeng sang Hold On Be Strong in the 2008 Eurovision contest. I missed the performance. As such, I didn’t hear her song until it started flooding the airwaves this Summer. Finally, Irish singer Laura Izibor follows up the promise of From My Heart To Yours and Don’t Stay with breezy, bright Shine. Check out this talented voice!!!

Hip-Hop
In 2007, Norwegian group Madcon remade Beggin’ and garnered success in a few corners of Europe. What a difference a year makes. The song, an amalgam of hip/hop and retro pop, has made its way all over Europe in a big way. Dig deeper and check out their song Liar.

Guilty Pleasures
Swingle Singing. Huh? Say what? In Swingle singing, songs without lyrics are sung using the sounds doo's, boo's, dah's and bah's. It originated out of the 60’s from a group of French session singers led by Ward Swingle. Hence the name. The Swingle Singers have been through several incarnations, but are still around today (sans Ward).

Archive Posts
Musik i Full Fart Volume I
Musik i Full Fart Volume II
Musik i Full Fart Volume III

Ooh, it really makes me wonder...

2008-08-19T16:57:00.004+02:00

There was a story at the English language news site, The Local, regarding pedestrian crosswalk signals. The signal (shown above) is manufactured by a Swedish company, Prisma Teknik, and is ubiquitous in Sweden. It is also found in a number of other countries around the world. Be on the lookout for it.

Seems innocuous, doesn't it? A warning light, a figure of a pedestrian, and a helpful hand that points up to the button that should be pressed before crossing the street. But, in reality, the hand actually is a hidden symbol for God. The president of Prioma Teknik states that "We want to show that there is only one way to reach God and that is up and through Jesus." Now that's a subliminal stairway to heaven!

Of course, it is possible that if you don't press the button, but still cross the road, you might end up reaching God a lot sooner. Having said that, I use the hand to guide me to the button every time I cross the road. Heaven can wait!

Parting Shots [Iceland]

2008-08-07T16:00:00.012+02:00

The postmortem on Iceland as a photographic subject. In a place with unending panorama landscapes, I ended up taking a a good number of [classical] abstract images. Go figure. Not surprisingly, these abstracts are some of my favorite images from the trip.

Close up of boat docked on land. Red port hole. Orange rust. Flaking white paint. A hint of green through the port hole.

Some type of industrial propeller. Taken as a black and white. Heavy contrast.

Rusted part of shipwreck sitting in a sea of rounded black stones.

Piece of ice with great reflective/refractive light sitting on a black sand beach.

These images were taken with my Canon 5D digital SLR. Photos (and full captions) of the Iceland trip taken with my point and shoot camera can be found here.

Iceland: Fire and Ice Adventure

2008-08-07T15:59:00.021+02:00

Iceland is vast. An amalgamation of varied worlds. It's the size of the state of Kentucky (TJ read that somewhere) but seems a million miles from the bluegrass state of mind. Except for the horses. There are a lot of horses in Iceland. They're hardy, like the people. They've survived fire and ice. And live in the great wide open. A visitor sees seemingly endless vistas like this one in the Westfjordlands. Icelanders live it. [click on images to see a larger view]

Getting around this island country was an adventure in itself. We had a Volkswagen Polo as our trusty steed. Manual. Which means TJ drove. And, brilliantly maneuvered across the variety of road surfaces that exist in Iceland. The Ring Road encircles the entire island. And it is paved. At least the sections we were on. But, straying away from the Ring Road is where road adventures begin. Most interior roads are called F-Roads. Rental cars are not allowed on F-Roads. We did not travel on F-Roads. But, we did drive on a lot of roads that were unpaved to varying degrees. Narrow. Occasionally steep. Usually with no guardrails. Like the road shown below. The posted speed limit was always much higher than what we felt could be driven given the conditions. But, not for the locals.

In Iceland, there were two things that stood out in the pockets of civilization. Restored churches and land-dwelling ships. There were churches everywhere...and anywhere. Many were situated adjacent to a homestead in the middle of pasture land. Sometimes with no means of access except to drive up to the adjacent house and park in the their driveway. We did not do this. Instead, we looked for the signposts indicating a church and access. As such, we did not visit a lot of churches. Most churches look like they were just built. Wood, stone and cement. Painted white with colorful roof and trim accents (usually red); though some churches were black. It turns out that many have been restored by the descendants of those who built or maintained the church (back in the day). Picturesque. Maybe that is the point.

As for the ships. Was this how [coastal] communities displayed their connection to the sea? Were the ships simply out of commission after years of sailing service? Had they all been blown ashore in big storms? Probably the truth resides in equal parts. Regardless, it was still kind of unique to see a ship moored on dry land. Smaller boats had been placed in playgrounds. A connection to the sea for young and old alike.

Water surrounds Iceland. And water flows out of Iceland. Water, water, everywhere. Falling. Thundering down to the sea. A land of waterfalls. Some were grand, like Gullfoss waterfalls.

Others were smaller (relatively speaking - note person in photo for scale). You could walk right up to them. And, in the case of Seljalandsfoss waterfalls (below), you could walk behind them.

Iceland is a land between two continents. It sits atop the Mid-Atlantic Ridge where the North American and Eurasian plates are spreading apart. As such, it was born of volcanoes. Everywhere there is evidence of current and past geo-dynamic activity. Some violent, some beautiful, some both. TJ and I ventured to a couple of geothermal areas, mainly in South/Southwest Iceland. In one town, you could walk right up to the boiling mud. This was as close as I wanted to get. Still, it made me a bit nervous.

At another, we walked past warning barriers and into an unstable steam field. After a strong earthquake in late May, the activity shifted across an access road. We walked in and surveyed the spread of escaping steam. TJ walked out onto a lookout and boardwalk that had been closed for obvious reasons. Luckily, he only came away with dirty hands.

Other terrain in Iceland is a bit more benign. Lots of old and new lava flows. During the cooling of thick lava flows, fracturing can lead to the formation of hexagonal columns. Known as columnar basalt, these formation are found throughout Iceland. Sometimes, just the tops of the formation are exposed.

In a guidebook, we found some interesting statistics. Iceland comprises a land surface of about 100,000 square kilometers. Of this, glaciers represent 12 percent and pasture land another 24 percent. But, according to this source, the majority of Iceland (65%) is referred to as wasteland. At first, we thought that was a bit of a misnomer. But as we drove high above the fjords or across the moss-covered lava fields, we realized that wasteland was an apt description for this alien landscape.

In South Iceland, the Ring Road cuts through kilometers of coarse black grit surrounded by nothing but an occasional [large] boulder. This is glacial debris deposited by catastrophic floods when Katla, the volcano underneath Myrdalsjokull Glacier, erupted and melted the glacier. Katla has erupted 16 times in historical times; the last time in 1918. Driving on this flat black plane our thoughts turned to disaster scenarios. What would happen if Katla erupted while we were driving? Where would we go? Would/could we survive? We identified a high promontory on the coast that might offer safety. We were only here for a vacation, the farms and houses around us live with this doomsday scenario every day.

This mixture of fire and ice is what makes Iceland unique. But, with the fire, you likely want it small and contained. A hot springs or geyser will do. A violent, erupting volcano. No thank you, please. Yes, ice. Flowing ice. Melting ice. Sometimes, just eating ice. Here I am enjoying some ice that is likely over 1000 years old. Yes, in a sense, I am contributing to global warming. But, it was oh-so-enjoyable.

The highlight of the trip was seeing icebergs lying on a beach. Now, technically, I am not sure if they are still considered icebergs if not floating in water? But that's beside the point. Look at the colors. Look at the size. There was clear ice and coarse granular ice and snow cone ice. There was white ice, blue ice and black ice.

There were small icebergs and large, bigger than TJ, icebergs. It was a landscape like no other I had ever seen. And that is a lasting memory I wish to share with you.

I have posted more photos from our trip on Picasa here. Enjoy!

All photos shown on this post and on the Picasa link were taken with my new digital point and shoot camera. It is a Canon Powershot SD1100 IS in Bohemian Brown and I really like it.

Skyr: The Gelato of Iceland

2008-08-05T11:34:00.005+02:00

I hadn't really given much thought to what food marvels I might discover in Iceland. If any, I assumed it would be a fish dish. But, on the Icelandair flight to Reykjavik, they served a creamy deliciousness called skyr. The in-flight magazine described it as a type of cheese product made from skim milk. But, it really fits into the yogurt family. However, in Iceland, they use the product in all types of dishes. So, it's not just a dessert sensation. Regardless, with low fat and high protein what's not to like. Skyr.is is the most prominent skyr product.

The taste is very familiar and, yet, quite different. I am tempted to say that it had a taste doppleganger in Yoplait's Custard Style Yogurt. But, I believe, Yoplait has changed the name (now Thick and Creamy), packaging, and maybe even the taste of that product since I last tried it. Damn those marketing execs!

Fret not, eager Americans, Whole Foods offers this delectable, cultured product in select regions of the country. I can only imagine what unimaginable price they charge for it, but try it anyway. At least once. Hopefully, it won't eat up your entire paycheck. For those of you in the rest of the world (myself included), a(nother) trip to Iceland is in order.

A-ah-ahh-ah, ah-ah-ahh-ah

2008-08-04T12:49:00.006+02:00

we've come from the land of the ice and snow

from the midnight sun

where the hot springs flow

Back from Iceland. Amazing holiday. Amazing land. Our luck with the weather continued from the Italy trip. Only on the last two days was it overcast. But, even the clouds proved to be beneficial. We never would have noticed the partial solar eclipse had it been sunny. As far as midnight sun, we missed it by about a month. The sun actually set around 11:30pm and rose at 4:15am.

Our holiday is officially over. So, I will be posting about the Iceland trip as soon as I finish some posts on the Italy trip. August will be catch up month in that respect. Cheers.

Solen Skiner

2008-07-26T08:26:00.005+02:00

The sun was shining for nearly the entire trip down to Italy. Could not have asked for any better weather. The weather gods were smiling indeed. And so, there are two sunsets that rate as the best of the trip. Both are from Italy. No surprise there. The Mediterranean skies are the most vibrant.

The first was on the walk back from the cliff-side towns of Manarola to Riomaggiore in Cinque Terre National Park.

The other was on the Ponte Vecchio in Florence. As always a large crowd had gathered. We enjoyed the moment with them.

Giving Props to Pisa

2008-07-25T19:15:00.008+02:00

Italy, land of my forebearers. And pasta. But, honestly, only one word adequately and accurately defines Italy:

G - E - L - A - T - O

I could have eaten gelato morning, noon and night. But, since breakfast was included at all the hotels, I missed out on that gastronomic trifecta. Pity.

In Pisa, a rite of passage for [nearly every] tourist is posing for the I Propped Up the Leaning Tower of Pisa picture. We were not ones to shirk our supportive duties. But, the question I have for you is: Who worked it better?

Hotel Recommendation: Hotel Globus in Florence. Very nice. Modern. In the heart of the city. Close to everything.

If We Took a Holiday...

2008-07-25T17:06:00.006+02:00

A road trip. From Sweden to Italy. See the sights (and everything in between) in 10 days. This was going to be the best! holiday! ever! How could it not be? And who would choose to go on this daring venture? Seasoned travelers. Of sound mind and spirit. Of course. [click on a pic for a larger view]

Summer Listening

2008-07-24T14:14:00.002+02:00

On holiday. Hence, the dearth of posts. Just finished the first leg of travel. Heard this song driving through Germany. Highly recommended. Little White Lies by Jenniffer Kae. She's an upcoming singer out of Germany and has a great voice. Her website is here. Enjoy the video.

Parting Shots [Göteborg]

2008-07-11T00:49:00.006+02:00

Having lived in Göteborg for a good 5 months, I guess it was finally time for me to point the camera at my surroundings. To explore the visual treats that this city has to offer. Yes, there are visual treats to be found. If you like abstract, colorful, sober images. Which I happen to like. It's kind of like godis for the eyes. Since we will be living here at least another 18 months, I will have the opportunity to revisit certain locations through the seasons. You know, the two seasons we have here: Winter and cool Summer. Should be able to provide a complete spectrum of "my Göteborg." This is just the beginning.

So, the first stop on the tour is on the docks alongside Maritiman, the floating ship museum, which is located at Packhuskajen. There are 19 ships and vessels, including a submarine. Several are brightly colored. Naturally, I gravitate towards those ships. Shadow, anyone?

There is a floating platform between two of the ships. I assume it to be a painting platform. Most of the ship colors seen are present as splattered paint on the floating platform. How's that for deductive reasoning? The ships are painted anew often. Though sometimes, the colors don't quite match. The orange ship pictured above has at least 5 different shades of orange on its side.

Bold colors energize me. Red. Anchor. Away.

Party Post-Mortem

2008-07-07T14:18:00.017+02:00

The Fourth of July party couldn't have been any more fun. Well, maybe if the Swedish Bikini Team had shown up. Still, fun. And warm. The weather gods were listening and the warm temps (27C+) returned just in time. Friends, food, drink, music and good conversation. What more could you ask for? TJ in a silly hat, perhaps?

I was not wearing mine for this photo, but both of us did receive a hat. One of many gifts from our dear new friends welcoming us to Sweden. A few pix from the party. To see more photos, either select a photo below or click here.

One thing I learned at the party is that my compact digital camera is toast. Too much abuse over the years. I've dropped it more times than I care to admit. All the photos seem to be out of focus on one side. Not good. And the trip to Burning Man added quite a bit of dust to the interior of the camera. Dust, you can have as much as you like.

Another thing I learned is that Swedes can really drink. But, occasionally, so can TJ. The day after photo tells the story. Shhhh. Be very very quiet.

Musik i Full Fart [Music at Full Speed] v3

2008-07-06T23:09:00.010+02:00

This post contains a list of new and notable music I've been listening to of late. Feel free to comment with your favorite songs and artists. I always welcome suggestions for music. To find out more about my musical tastes, check out my profile on LastFM.

Artist links will take you to an informational website (Myspace page, artist website, etc). Song links will take you to a video of the song.

Dance
Freemasons ft. Katherine Ellis – When You Touch Me (2008 Club Mix/Radio Edit). The Freemasons come to the dancefloor rescue! What a killer dance track. The video is an homage to Bob Fosse's choreography in a dance number, Rich Man's Frug, from the movie Sweet Charity. For more of Katherine Ellis’ exquisite full-throttled voice, try Stereo Palma – Dreaming or ABSO ft. Katherine Ellis – Let The Beat Hit ‘Em (Soul Avengerz Remix). The latter can only be found on a Hed Kandi mix at the moment.

This Summer, one of the hottest songs in Europe (and hopefully beyond) is Hagenaar & Albrecht – What Would We Do (Original Edit). The funky piano chords hit you hard. Although the next song, Soul Survivors ft. Angie Brown – Bring It Back (Classic Club), came out last year, take a listen to this retro disco gold. Angie Brown's vocals are strong, lively, and cajoling. Bring it back, indeed. An electric disco maestro from Australia, Sam Sparro – Black & Gold, hit the UK charts earlier this Spring. His music is making its presence known in the US. Listen closely and enjoy. Dig a little deeper and try Hot Mess, a falsetto funk that echoes Prince and Al Green. If you seek a distinctive, androgynous voice set to a hypnotic disco sway then Hercules and Love Affair – Blind should meet your needs. Need to be uplifted? Danny Clark & Jay Benham – Wondrous (MuthaFunkaz Mix) truly delivers a wondrous reworking of a praise chorus by SuSu Bobien. And who knew that girl from Queens, Cyndi Lauper – Set Your Heart, would still be delivering the goods 25 years after she just wanted to have fun. End it all with a little (lack of) love from Russia: Valeriya - The Party's Over

Trance/Electronica
Kaskade makes big waves with Strobelight Seduction. Great vocal tracks include Angel On My Shoulder and I Remember (Strobelight Edit). You may also want to check out his remix of Britney Spear's Break The Ice. Yes, I am recommending a Britnot song. The last time I did that, it was a Guilty Pleasure pick.

Ambient Alternative
Bitter:Sweet delivers sexy space-age love songs. That's the good news. The bad news is that most of their songs sound oh-so-similar. The best of the bunch is The Mating Game.

Adult Alternative
Aussie Gabriella Cilmi sings playfully sly and sweet on Sweet About Me. The song was used in a 2008 European commercial for Rexona deodorant. Keren Ann sings airy and light as a Summer breeze on Lay Your Head Down. The song was used in a commercial for H&M promoting their 2008 Summer collection. Jon McLaughlin – Beautiful Disaster reminds me a lot of Shawn Mullins. And that's a very good thing. I liked Tristan Prettyman when she sang with Jason Mraz on Shy That Way from her previous album, 23. Check out her new song, Madly, and see why I continue my admiration for her singing and songwriting abilities.

Jazz
Every once in a while you need something cool and calm to wind down the day. That something could be Melody Gardot singing Worrisome Heart.

Retro 70’s and Neo-Soul
Jamie Lidell is crazy. The evidence is here, here, and here. But, he makes great music. How can you not be taken in by the soulful retro old school sounds of Another Day?

Guilty Pleasures
We started with a video homage to Sweet Charity and end with another for Valley of the Dolls. It's the Pipettes! With their retro 60's Brit-pop confection called Pull Shapes. I had read about the group a few years ago, but didn't explore much beyond three female singers in polka dot hoop skirts. Then, late last year, YouTuber Michael Buckley (aka What The Buck) promoted the song in his video blog. And I became hooked. You might too.

Archive Posts
Musik i Full Fart Volume I
Musik i Full Fart Volume II

Happy Fourth of July!

2008-07-04T17:02:00.007+02:00

In Swedish, that would be Glad Juli Fjärde! Or some close approximation thereof. I think. Okay, I'm guessing. But, it's all about intention.

And it was our intention to have a party on July 4th here in Goteborg. And so, it has come to pass. We are having a Fourth of July party in Goteborg. We will be the only Americans at our party. Which may seem a little sad. But, we take solace in the fact that there's an American icon playing just across town at Ullevi Stadium. The Boss. As in Bruce Springsteen, The Boss.

Another amusing addendum to our adventures. How American is that? The Boss! Almost as American as a soker kaka decorated like an American flag with blueberries and strawberries. Now, that's American! Happy Fourth of July from TJ, Chris, Lily and Zoey!!!!

Pests and Pestilence

2008-06-29T23:19:00.005+02:00

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

2008-06-27T12:18:00.006+02:00

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

2008-06-19T16:09:00.016+02:00

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!

2008-06-19T15:58:00.004+02:00

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!

2008-06-16T07:13:00.004+02:00

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

2008-06-14T16:31:00.006+02:00

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

2008-06-11T00:29:00.005+02:00

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]

2008-06-09T00:14:00.010+02:00

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.

Murder at the Otter House

2008-05-30T01:18:00.009+02:00

This posting originally was going to be about small, plague-spreading vermin that inhabit the area around a historic landmark next to our apartment. But, things took an unexpected, fatal turn.

First, some background. The stone house is called Drottning Kristinas Jaktslott which translates as Queen Christina's Hunting Lodge. It is one of the oldest buildings in Goteborg dating back to the 1600s when it occasionally was used as....the hunting lodge for Queen Christina. The building is located on Otterhällegaten. Thus, we refer to it as the Otter House. Why? Why not. The Otter House is a tourist stop. Though, quite honestly, there is very little interesting or unique about it except for its age. It has been renovated with modern windows and skylights. The house is rented out for special occasions. In fact, the British Club of Gothenburg holds a pub night there once a month with some members dressed in full Brit regalia.

In the back of the house (as shown in the picture) is a small grassy area shaded by a large tree. Some plants and flowers cover the periphery. A large rock outcropping anchors the edge of the backyard. This is the closest bit of grass in a sea of pavement so it was only natural that we would take the dogs to do their business there (and clean it up, of course). As did many other dog owners. A month or so ago, as the weather grew appreciably warmer, I noticed some scurrying activity late at night as we entered the area. Then, one evening, I saw the source. A rat! Welcome to life in the city. Since that night, rat sightings have become a common occurrence - even during the day. They run in the streets, all over and into the rock outcropping, and around other areas near the Otter House. That rock outcropping is like one giant rat mountain.

So. The murder. Committed by me. An unintentional accident. Resulting in death, nonetheless. Last Friday, TJ and I had been out and about. We got home late. The girls still needed to be taken out. As we walked into the yard, a rat ran across the patio toward the house. I hurriedly stepped onto to grass away from the rat. And, as I did, the ground squirmed under my left foot. I had stepped on another rat. I moved aside to see. But, Zoey wanted to investigate so I quickly pulled both dogs away. The rat tried to run for the safety of the ground cover. But, it could no longer run. The girls did their business. We passed by the rat. In the same place. Moving its feet. Haltingly. I went upstairs feeling queasy. I didn't know what to do except (hopefully) let nature takes its course. Most unnatural.

The next morning, bright and early, a catering company was at the Otter House. I checked late morning and the rat was gone. Did it crawl to the bushes for its impending death? Or was it removed having already succumbed? I'll never know. But, the bottom line is that I killed a rat. And I felt awful. Later that day, we headed North to the coast. I was driving. I saw something ahead on the highway. I avoided the object; it turned out to be a duck. Just sitting in the road. Probably injured. There was no way to stop. To help. At some point, someone else was not going to swerve for that duck. Ugh. What a dreadful feeling.

So, how do I lighten up this post. Not too many ways that I can. Except maybe this. When we returned home there was a party going on at the Otter House. Parents and children. Most were in the back yard. Sitting on the grass. The grass where the rat had died. The grass encrusted with dog fecal-matter. Some were climbing over the rock outcropping. Poking around the opening to the rat-infested lair. Maybe the rats will have the last laugh. A plague on the Otter House. It's only a matter of time.

I Kissed a Girl

2008-05-27T23:55:00.007+02:00

Um, me? Not recently. Barrack, with Hillary? Probably not. And no, this is not wishful thinking for an Obama-Clinton ticket in the Fall election. That would be like wishing for a War of the Roses style divorce.

No, this was just a little bit of Photoshop fun that popped into my head while listening to Katy Perry's new song. Titled appropriately, I Kissed a Girl. Love, love, love this song. I like singing it out loud - ironically, of course. Of course. There may even be some choreography with the singing, but I'll refrain from divulging those details. Just had to talk about this song before the next Music i Full Fart post comes out in June. Katy Perry may be the new Pink. Or a hybrid of Pink and Joan Jett without the lesbian undertones. Either way, the song is fun. None of that pop-tart music stuff by J-Britimi. Refreshing.

Now, back to Barrack and Hillary. Yes, I am following the election over here. Every cringe-inducing, jaw-dropping, and painful moment of it. And that's just the news commentators. I can't wait until the real battle [of the words] begins this Fall. I'll be over here in Sweden hiding under a rock from embarrassment. Not to fret, I will be voting. I'm not one to shirk my civic duty. Hopefully, one of the two Democratic candidates above won't screw up this opportunity to take back the White House. There is change in the wind. I can feel it all the way across the pond. Either that or we're in for a cool Summer.

And, no, I do not think it is appropriate to refer to Hillary as a girl. She is a woman. And I have a lot of respect for her. Though not as much as I used to have. I merely linked the Democratic race to the title of a pop song - visually. Nothing more. Nothing less. I would hate to cause a kerfuffle.

Cool Weather Attire

2008-05-27T10:17:00.005+02:00

TJ is sporting the must-have Goteborg cool weather accessory - a [cheap, IKEA] blanket. Every establishment has them for patrons who eat, drink and be merry outside. So, we [read: TJ] purchased one for our deck so we could enjoy a nice beverage [a pint, in this instance] while admiring the setting sun. We do have a few other blankets that can be used in a pinch.

Not sure why I am going on about cool weather since it has been quite warm for the past few weeks and looks to be even warmer next week (25C aka 77F). Ominously, I was told that this weather pattern was similar to last year. Warm and sunny up through Midsommar and then cool and rainy for the remainder. Hopefully not. But, I took this picture a few weeks ago and knew I had to post it. Hopefully, the blanket won't be in use again until Fall.

Parting Shots [Vänersborg and Särö]

2008-05-26T12:14:00.007+02:00

This past weekend, we headed inland to check out the largest lake in Sweden, Vänern. Not only is Vänern the biggest lake in Sweden, but it also is the third-largest lake in Europe. In the town of Vänersborg, we walked along the shore of the lake. There was a small rocky island just offshore that could be accessed by a foot bridge. Beyond TJ is the lake. With the wind and the waves, it could easily be mistaken for the ocean. Vast is an understatement.

On Sunday, our destination was Särö Västerskog, a nature reserve, near the towns of Särö and Släp. Set in an affluent community of large houses, golf courses, and tennis courts, this peaceful wooded headland has a couple of small beaches nestled along its rocky shoreline. We were able to walk out on a very short breakwater to this rock outcropping. In the photo below, looking out to sea are islands of the archipelago. Zoey [and Lily] got to see and explore the water. Happy, tired dogs when we got them home.

Happy Dogs Ticked Off

2008-05-25T22:29:00.008+02:00

Happy dog? Well, at least I think she's smiling. Yes, Zoey finally is starting to find her groove here in Goteborg. Sounds are less frightening. People are less intimidating. And she's been to the big park. What more could a dog want?

Slottsskogsparken is about a 15 minute walk from the apartment. It is a big park. There are three separate dog areas. Two weeks ago, we brought the dogs for the first time. And found one of the hund rastplats which, when translated, should mean dog exercise area. We think. We hope. No one, except us, was playing with their dog...at all. Let alone off the lead. Lily didn't seem to think it was a big deal.

We've been back a few times. It's convenient. And it wears them both out nicely. But, this past weekend, we opted for a walk in the woods. The destination was Vänersborg. A quaint town on the Southwestern shores of Lake Vänern, the largest lake in Sweden. On the way there, we spotted a small lake with a path circumnavigating it. Off we went through the woods. Around the lake. And back to the car. Then I spotted something. Right next to Lily's nostril. A tick. Crawling. Now, had I been thinking rationally, I would have taken a picture of what unfolded next. And you would have a visual cue. But, I was not thinking rationally. I mean, these were ticks. Ticks!

Lily was laid out on a towel and examined head to toe. Her light-colored fur was a nice contrast to the small dark ticks. Not sure how many we pulled off. But they were roaming around and heading down into the fur. Zoey came up empty in the tick lottery. Though, inexplicably, at home nearly 6 hours later, I saw (and removed) a tick crawling on her leg. For the next couple of days, I will run my hands across both dog's coat. A sign of affection. And paranoia.

And, yes, TJ and I checked ourselves for ticks. Nothing. But, for the rest of the day, any strange sensation on my skin conjured up thoughts of a methodical tick inching his way toward a jackpot of my blood. As unsettling as that was, headed back into the woods on Sunday. Ticks be damned!

The Sun's March Towards Pagan Celebration

2008-05-17T18:44:00.006+02:00

The view from our deck shows that the sun continues its race northward. Currently, from sunrise to sunset, there are 16 3/4 hours of daylight. Add another hour or so on either end for dawn and dusk (twilight) and you understand why I am no longer a night owl in the traditional sense. Given our latitude, the angle of the sun as it intersects the horizon is becoming more acute. This will continue until it dives below the horizon for just a few hours a day. A relentless drive that ends at the summer solstice. Midsummer.

Midsommar is not just the longest day of the year, it is also one of Sweden's most celebrated holidays. Midsommer originated in pre-Christian times and has never shaken off its pagan beginnings. My kind of holiday. A good overview of the festivities can be found here and here. In short, every community erects a maypole and spends the day and well into the night eating, drinking, singing and dancing. Traditions include eating pickled herring and new potatoes, drinking snaps (aka schnapps), and performing the frog dance. Here's an IKEA commercial produced by the company's German subsidiary that parodies the Swedish holiday traditions. I think it's a parody.

Hmmm. Fish, alcohol, and pole-dancing. In Sweden, a national holiday. In the US, a career choice. [Think about it. Oh yes I did.]

It's Dancy Times!

2008-05-17T17:42:00.019+02:00

There are a series of ads for a digital TV company in Sweden called Boxer. This particular ad is a take-off on Indiana Jones using their corporate character Robert; thus, the name Indiana Robert. Robert is computer-generated; life-like, but not that convincing.

But, that's besides the point. This commercial is all about the song. TJ loves it. And made me try to find it. I did. Not available anywhere yet...except BitTorrent (which I do not use). Here's the commercial:

The song is It's Dancy Times by Priddyboy which can be heard, not seen, on YouTube. Is that an oxymoron? It's a fun little party tune. Should last through the Summer. Probably will be heard in soccer stadiums throughout Europe. I'd dance to it. But, I probably wouldn't get the digital TV service from Boxer. So much for effective advertising.

So, Priddyboy has yet to post the lyrics to this song on his new website. Until he does, this is what I've come up with so far. A few small gaps remain. Any assistance with the missing lyrics would be appreciated.

Note: Priddyboy allows you to download the vocal only and instrumental only tracks of the song from his website. Follow link named Yo DJs.

It's Dancy Times Lyrics
Artist: Priddyboy

Move Your Ass!

CHORUS
Ahhhh-ahhhh-ahhhh-ahhhh-ahh, it’s dancy time
Dancy, dancy ‘til you’re fly
Come on, pick it up, pick it up and dance

REPEAT CHORUS

[Dance] To the ????? (lyric might be rhythm divine)
It’ll take you out of place and take you out of time
Have a little look and don’t be shook
Dance like a crook, dance dance to the hook [dance]
And now I’m here, hold the line.
Your man is live and you know I don’t waste time
You know who it is.
I’m looking for kidz, still doing gold in this biz

REPEAT CHORUS
REPEAT CHORUS

[Dance] To the ????? (lyric might be rhythm divine)
With your man on the line.
[Dance] Would you be so kind and lose your mind and move your behind
[Dance] Then you can do it ???? sexy beats with macho rhymes (unknown word)
A combination that will make you feel so fine
Take cover cause we’re gonna wreck it one more time

Ahhhh-ahhhh-ahhhh-ahhhh-ahh
Ahhhh-ahhhh-ahhhh-ahhhh-ahh
Ahhhh-ahhhh-ahhhh-ahhhh-ahh
Ahhhh-ahhhh-ahhhh-ahhhh-ahh

Dancy slow with me tonight (not 100% sure about this line)
So come on hold on tight

REPEAT CHORUS
REPEAT CHORUS

It’s dancy time
It’s dancy time
It’s dancy time
Dancy, dancy ‘til you’re fly.

REPEAT CHORUS
REPEAT CHORUS

REPEAT CHORUS
REPEAT CHORUS

[Dance]