This blog follows no particular theme. My constant craving soul just wont allow it! This is my musings on wisdom, travels, life in Spain, kettlebells, running, rock music and so much more.

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Let us go dancing with the devil

Have you guys packed yet?
Don't forget the broom, black cat and kettle.
Should we all meet at sundown and fly together? The devil will be waiting at Blue Hill! You can ride on my broom, I am sure that is better for the environment...



OK, no I have not gone insane (not more then usual). We have another unique tradition in Sweden that I want to tell you about. Tomorrow it is Skartorsdag in Sweden. All the little girls dress up as Easter witches and boys as, well, boy witches (or my brother used to dress up as an Easter bunny, because that is how wicked cool he is!).



It is like Sweden's Halloween but everyone has the same costume! And not the pointy hat scary witch but the cute, old lady kinda witch. The mini witches go door to door for treats or a coin, but unlike trick-or-treating they always leave a little handmade Easter card, letter or craft. I used to love it!



A long long time ago people believed that witches were especially active and their black magic especially powerful during this Easter week. And on the Thursday they were thought to fly off on brooms, or stolen cattle, to dance with the devil at a place called blåkulla (Blue Hill) until Saturday. I love that this tradition actually still exists in Sweden!
Hmmm... I wonder what the Spanish folk would think if I dressed up as a Easter witch tomorrow...?

Tramps like us need inspiration

I'll love you with all the madness in my soul
Oh, someday girl I don't know when
We're gonna get to that place
Where we really want to go and we'll walk in the sun
But till then tramps like us baby we were born to run
- B. Springsteen



Monday, March 29, 2010

It is safer this way

Due to "the black cloud over my head and someone pulling a string that is tied tightly around my heart" time of month I am going to post a writing assignment from last years class. It is safer that way.

LOOKING OUT MY WINDOW

Every morning when I look out of my living room window I feel like the luckiest human being on earth.
Sipping my coffee I close my eyes allowing the sound of the Atlantic Ocean crashing upon the beach to regenerate my spirit.
There are birds chirping around me but as I open my eyes they are nowhere to be seen. It is highly possible that these little creatures are hiding among the green of the bushy trees in the park below. It is a small park and all that the trees conceal from my view are a few gray concrete benches and a shady spot, a much needed respite during the long hot summer days.

A smile comes upon me as the scene below is interrupted with the approach of “the gang”, as I call them. These four old men stroll along the white stone tiled beach promenade. One is holding an umbrella even though there are no clouds in sight. Every day they walk there, up along that path which follows the cliffs edge and then back down again towards the center of the town, often pointing out to sea and a couple of them holding onto their straw fedora hats when the wind picks up its strength. Today the ocean is slightly uneven, the wind causing it to be unsettled in a sparkling cocktail of green and blue, acting like a frame for the town in the distance. It is only the rugged fishing pier that breaks the frame. The pier is fully stocked with boats of all shapes and sizes, their white wooden masts pointing up into the sky.

The ocean bathes the small town in a somewhat holy glow of light and reminds me of a place more exotic and oriental. Maybe this is because of the delicate pale color of the sand on the beach below it and the heavy palm trees circling that desert area. The buildings being mostly white makes the three old stone towers even more noticeable as the main characters of this town. These majestic towers belong to the church, castle, and market place which all date from the discovery of the new world.
Yes, I am indeed one of the luckiest people on earth to get to wake up and sip on my coffee to this view; it could very well be the definition of unbelievable.

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Ask, and Ye Shall Receive / Ye Have Not, Because Ye Ask Not

All my hard work this week, slaving with my midterm exam, was rewarded with the whole weekend off! Friday, when I realized I had finished the exam two day before the due date (yes I am a genius), I knew this weekend would be special!

But first I have to tell you what happened to me on Friday morning. Thursday night, after reading a bit in my book (The Glass Lake by Maeve Binchy) and then reading some of the inspiring writing blogs I follow I felt a huge need. For awhile now I have been wanting to start writing again, I could feel I was so ripe for the process. My problem was, all my story ideas were super sucky! Before I went to bed Thursday I wrote this down in my little red notebook;

I want to write SO badly! I just do not know about what!
HELP, I need a story to fall in love with!


And can you guess it? Friday morning I woke an hour before I was supposed too and for no particular reason, with this image in my head from the dream I was having. The image was so powerful that I just had to write it down. And when I started to write, practically the whole story came flowing out of me! It was like magic! Seriously, this story is GOOD, it is like REALLY really good!
Just thought it was the most miraculous thing, I guess it is true what they say; Ask and you shall receive!

Here is a taste of what I did this weekend; I am truly blessed!
Friday night the husband and I went to El Gato which is "our" little bodega for a glass of sherry before heading to Shanghai restaurant for some delicious food (really recommend the curry egg roll and the blueberry duck!) and some hot Saki!







Saturday was a lazy romantic day but we did do our big monthly grocery shopping! Is that strange to only do it once a month? Just like to get it out of the way... But we did cook up a real treat for dinner that evening; home made pizza baked on the BBQ! This is a MUST try for any creative grillers out there. This was ridiculously good! And finished of the night with one of my favorite romantic movies ever "Only you".





And today was.... wait for it.... The first beach day of the year!!! It is Seriously gorgeous and warm here in south Spain now. Still too cold in the Atlantic but perfect for laying on the soft sand soaking up the rays, book in one hand and husbands hand in the other! My legs wont be pale for long! Husband and I had been spring cleaning our place all morning so it was definitely well deserved!



Hope you made your weekend absolutely legendary!

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Happy Waffle Day!

I know every country has special days like woman's day and fathers day and such. But today is one day dedicated to something more important than all that in Sweden. It is of such importance, today is WAFFLE DAY!!! A whole day dedicated to waffles! How can you not love Sweden for that?



How do they serve waffles where you live? In Sweden the traditional toppings are whipped cream and cloud-berry preserves (above). Here in Spain (the famous Feria Gofres needs a whole separate post to do them justice) you can find them covered in chocolate or buy them fresh with cream or caramel- chocolate- strawberry sauce or all of the above! (below)



So in honor of all important waffle day hubby and I had waffles for dinner!
"I love being a grown up" my hot husband said when he came home from work and saw me in kitchen begging the waffle iron to heat faster (I have no patients especially when i comes to waiting for yummyness). We set the table with all the toppings we could find in the cupboards;



My carefully selected toppings were whipped cream, blackberries, chopped nuts and honey and yes, it was delicious!



One day I will try and make some savory waffles like these pictured below with a wild mushroom cheesy sauce. Or maybe some crispy waffles with caviar or smoked salmon, sour cream and avocado... That sounds like an Easter entrée to me!




Now go make some waffles people!

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

My humble servant

Antique Rotary Telephone


"Ring, ring!" (yes that is how my phone sounds)
"Hello?" (I always answer the phone with hello as a question)
"This is an automatic service of the health center reminding you about your appointment" (The robot receptionist was sounding a little stressed)

Robot receptionist using speaker phone


"Press one for confirmation" (sure I'll do that)
"Your time is now confirmed" (Robot receptionist sounded extremely relived!)
"Thank you for letting us serve you, have a great day!"

Before I could even hang up the phone I started to laugh my ass off; THANK YOU FOR LETTING US SERVE YOU?! I have never heard that before in my life, someone thanking me for them serving me!
Shit, honey I will LET you serve me anytime you want if that is what makes you happy!

Thank you candy heart

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Mr. T and sushi

Uh uh, no way, I am SO not going to post anything tonight...
But then I see loads of lovely comments and I just cannot resist!

Not that I have anything to say. My life is boring, not like my other blogger friends lives, they always have something to write about... Yes I might have caught blog envy or something.

Ouch! Just writing that I got a pang of guilt! What am I on about? My life is utterly shinny and brilliant. I seriously need to shut up sometime!



As my gorgeous followers know I am under some STRESS this week, that is all. It will pass and I will rock on. The End!

Found out on facebook today that my old class of 95' is having a reunion... I dig reunions, love to see what people been up to, if they have gotten fat, or bald or sad or rich or happier or worse; they are just the same... Since I live in Spain and the reunion is in Sweden I'll just have to beg for photos! I went to the reunion 5 years ago and was fat as hell and the first to be divorced in the class... I liked being the first though, it's the rock star rebel in me... Had a real blast that night though!



Enough rambling and on to some important news! I got another award! From the mysterious vixen Johana at The Mercurial Wife, her blog is a real jewel and she thinks I am awesome, so there!



I would like to pass it on too...
Erin at The Houndstooth Apron cos' she's wicked smart!

And actually that is all I have time to do for now!!! Aaah, do you think the blog world will survive? Or maybe it's just that more special for one person to get an award at a time?! (Or am I just lazy?)

Hmmm.. now I am craving sushi...

elevated view of a platter of assorted sushi rolls served with condiments

Monday, March 22, 2010

Preventing a mind explosion

Today I have been so overwhelmed! Oh so busy... All that keeps me from banging my head against the wall or falling to my knees and calling out "why God? Why?" are these five simple words;



If I look at the whole amount of work that needs to be done, the big picture, I will freak. So as long as I keep my focus on small pieces as a time I will be fine! Definitely living life one day at a time this week, how about you?

Sunday, March 21, 2010

You will be needing protective gear

Road sign in Hawaii

Or... WARNING! Dizzy random post ahead, wear hard hat or some sort of protection gear!

Is it just me or is anyone else feeling a bit uninspired lately? Hopefully its just me, would hate for a world full of rambling, stumbling, mumbling and uninspired people! But maybe uninspired is the wrong word, I might be overly inspired... Seems like I cant focus on one thing and stick too it. My mind automatically drifts to the next project without complete the last. Isn't that sort of the definition for an attention deficit disorder?

But like the militant optimist I am I just try and make the best of this inner dizziness. I am trying many new things and my ideas are all racing around! For example, like these past three nights I have not been able to sleep well since I keep dreaming of book ideas, but as soon as I wake to jot down the fantastic ideas they evaporate from my mind like steam from a kettle... I am just all over the place not really knowing what I am doing, but you know what? That is perfectly OK with me, at least my brain isn't bored!

Thinkstock Single Image Set


This weekend was perfectly uneventful as planned. Filled with studies, next week is the mid semester exam so it'll be filled with studies too, yay...
BUT! I did get to be girly today and go shopping! I do not think that you probably care what I got but I am on a shopping high, so don't care and will tell you anyway, humpfh!

- Two books (The Car by Gary Paulsen and Tiger Moon by Antonia Michaelis, VERY excited to read both! Not a big book buyer, like libraries, but it had been a long time since last and I need inspiration for my writing!)

- Black high heels (really basic but sooo comfy and my legs look awesome, hey needed new shoes for the dresses right?)
- Running shorts (really cute turquoise ones, I used to wear my hubby's old ones so needed these)
- And last a Nike+ thingy!!! (Husband got this one for me and I am in looove! Never ever owned a running measuring thingamabob, yes that is a technological term, it lets you know distance, time, calories burnt, pace and its gorgeous. Seriously need to baptize it.)

But also this weekend I received yet another award, whoohoo!
It is "I love your blog award". That must just be the most straightforward award I have gotten so far; "Yeah, don't be ashamed, just say it load and proud; I LOVE YOUR BLOG"! I received it from Irene at Lovely Violet and I LOVE HER BLOG too!



I would like to pass it on to these party people because of their plain awesomeness:
Jewels at A blond walks into a blog
Anna at A Storm in a wine Glass
Agy at Agy Talks
Alee at Love Is...
Nicole at One Significant Moment at a Time

Sleep time for me, but you know I will just be lying and waiting for that magic book to pop back into my head again!
Oh and maybe tomorrow I will be organized... Yeah whatever!

Friday, March 19, 2010

Me so prolific

Thank you so much Nicole over at One Significant Moment at a Time who let me choose the PROLIFIC blogger AWARD!
We were having an award ceremony today, I guess you all happened to miss it... It was so cool, TV and radio was there and Brad Pitt and... Yeah I suck at lying!

Love the description of the award; By definition, a Prolific Blogger "is one who is intellectually productive...keeping up an active blog that is filled with enjoyable content." Yes that is so me. Hmmm...



I would like to pass it on to these inspiring, and totally unique bloggers(in no order);
Brandi at AWAKEN THE STRENGTH
Elana over at well, Elana Johnson, Author
Nikosmommy at Fabulous!(pasta not included)
Libbylayla at Memoirs Of An Imperfect Writer
Johana at A Mercurial Wife

Make sure to check them out! Have a kickin' weekend, now I have to study....

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Satisfying the inner Irish

Yeah so if I didn't celebrate st. Patrick's day right, I do not know who did!
The plan was just to go have dinner and drinks at Molly Malone's.






But that did not satisfy our inner Irish so we continued our journey to Paddy's where I saw proof of that my new last name in fact is Irish!





Then to end the night we made sure to go to O'Gradys and join in on that legendary fun and party leprechaun style!





All in all it was a very green and cheerful night with my delightful friends and tons of new memories that I already cherish dearly!

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

St. Patrick's Eve



I do like to wear green, people say it suits me.
I am blogging about st Patty's day on the eve of the event since I will be out tomorrow night celebrating it! I believe some wise old lady once told me that St Patrick was the patron saint of bloggers who needed a day of. This sounds very true to me so of course I will honor the practice... OK, made that one up!



Most of Europe does not really celebrate this day, well yeah, that is because it is an Irish Holiday. But since it is celebrated to a certain degree in America and since Americans seem to love Irish pubs, and since I live in a town that houses a lot of American Navy we just happen to have three Irish pubs in the surrounding area! Paddys, O'Gradys and Molly Malones. Last year we celebrated in O'Gradys, here are some pics of that crazy fun night:




Green beer, silly hats, shots of Jameson, drunk people attempting the Irish jig... Aaaah, can it get much better? And the fact that it is now in the middle of the week just makes it that more badass to celebrate!

Holidays & Occasions


I am not Irish one bit (my husband is a mutt and one of his many parts is Irish), but my favorite thing about it is for me the sign of spring. St Patrick's day is definitely a promise of sunnier days to come and that is worth celebrating! Actually the shamrock was a sacred plant in ancient Ireland because it symbolized the rebirth of spring.
This year we are going to celebrate at Molly Malones, they better have a good party because O'Gradys last year is going to be hard to beat, but it sure looks promising;



As the big history geek I am here is some St Patty's info for you:

Little is known of Patrick's early life, though we know he was born in Roman Britain in the fifth century, into a wealthy Romano-British family. His father was a deacon in the Church, like his father before him. At the age of sixteen he was kidnapped by Irish raiders and taken captive to Ireland as a slave. He was told by God in a dream to flee from captivity to the coast, where he would board a ship and return to Britain. In 432, he again says that he was called back to Ireland, though as a bishop, to save the Irish, and indeed he was successful at this, focusing on converting royalty and aristocracy as well as the poor.

Irish folklore tells that one of his teaching methods included using the shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity (the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit) to the Irish people. It has long been recounted that, during his mission in Ireland, St. Patrick once stood on a hilltop and with only a wooden staff by his side, banished all the snakes from Ireland. In fact, the island was never home to any snakes. The "banishing of the snakes" was really a metaphor for the eradication of pagan ideology from Ireland and the triumph of Christianity. After nearly thirty years of teaching and spreading God's word he died on 17 March, 461 AD.



It is believed that Saint Patrick's Day has been celebrated in Ireland since before the 1600s. It was also believed to have served as a one-day break during Lent, the forty day period of fasting. This would involve drinking alcohol; something which became a tradition. Irish families would traditionally attend church in the morning and celebrate in the afternoon. Lenten prohibitions against the consumption of meat were waived and people would dance, drink and feast—on the traditional meal of Irish bacon and cabbage.
In 1903, Saint Patrick's Day became an official public holiday in Ireland. Writing in The Word magazine's March 2007 issue, Fr. Vincent Twomey stated that, "it is time to reclaim St Patrick's Day as a church festival". He questioned the need for "mindless alcohol-fuelled revelry" and concluded that, "it is time to bring the piety and the fun together". (Info gathered from wikipedia)
Yeah... I don't see that happening!

Dancing leprechaun with beer