A Swede Abroad

Two words...

2010-05-27T17:27:00.002+02:00

Dear Blogworld,
I have not forgotten about you, and I do have SO much to tell you!
It is just that reality is kicking my ass right now...

FINAL EXAMS!

See you soon and love always,
Annika

P.S. For those wondering, the picture is not of me, I have not transformed into a bald black man with a yellow shirt.

The Summer Feria of Andalucia

2010-05-13T12:56:00.005+02:00

Every town and village in Andalucia has its own feria or fair and it was my town, Rotas, feria last week. Now I have to admit that the Spanish really know how to have a good time! Sherry, wine, tapas and dancing all day and night, it was marvelous! Below you can see me enjoying a gigantic cup of tinto de verano.

It is a huge event and the Spanish look forward to it all year. Women spend a lot of time getting ready in the traditional sevilliana dress, it is a sea of color! The feria concept originated in the middle ages, and was the principal means of interchange of local products within the kingdom.

The streets outside of town are closed of and during the day horses are paraded along the streets and a lot tapas are consumed. At night it turns into a huge block party and the fair shifts to become a public fairground with a traditional amusement park with lots of rides for the children. Below I show of anther gigantic cup, this time mojito, and the pirate dog Andre won me at one of the many prize winning stalls!

Also at night is when most restaurants and bars have parties in the "casetas" (tents) they set up, complete with fully stocked bars and dancing floors. Yeah, living in Spain totally rocks!

Le petit heaven

2010-05-06T09:14:00.005+02:00

One day strolling around the rose city of Toulouse my husband was determined to show me this store his mother had taken him to last time he visited.

When he finally found the place he told me to close my eyes before getting up to its window. He did the 'tadaa!' and I opened my eyes. In front of me was the fantastical world of the most amazing chocolateir I have ever been into!

I love that my husband knows me so well! Wondering around the place I felt like I was in a daze. It was impossible to take it all in. And how could I choose from this chocolate art?
I mean just look at these marzipan fruits and vegetables, they look so real!

We ended up buying a small bag of pralines and truffles (which we had to eat as soon as we purchased them, only to prevent the melted mess of course...!) each and a bag of chocolate covered gourmet coffee beans.

Every bite was highly emotional! And yeah, of course we don't have any left over... Ah, until next time my sweet chocolateir!

Graduation crisis in the sun

2010-05-05T09:47:00.002+02:00

Whoa! I guess I have not felt like blogging in awhile huh?

It is all good here in Spain though, last week I was busy laying on the warm sand and soaking up some rays dude!
Unfortunately this week I am just busy with school again... Nearly done though! May is my last month of school and then I have my Bachelors degree, whoohoo!

The only problem that the end of school seems to bring is that I have fallen into some confused midlife crisis! What now? Now that I am going to be graduated, what is my next step? Do I really have to grow up now?

The horror! I automatically in panic started to think that going for a Masters degree would be so much cooler then Bachelors... But that would be based on the fear of "the graduated from college" void...

I have gone from panic and to embracing the possibilities, or if you prefer, embracing the chaos! Have a lot planned for this summer including starting to work on my book, learning Greek and French and also plenty of travel. Come fall we will see how the book is going, I might be ripe for actually starting to look for a "real" job by then.

I have so many dreams and the perfect opportunity to fulfill a lot of them, now I just have to prioritize and be creative! Hmmm... Or procrastinate! Don't you hear the beach calling my name?

Walking around a 'Toulousian' suburb

2010-04-28T09:01:00.005+02:00

Every night after dinner we explored this neighborhood.

Just walking around the suburbs in Toulouse was sometimes a treat.

Houses were gorgeous, spring in full bloom and loads of friendly cats.

We would hear singing and classical music streaming from the houses, smell the culinary skills of the french and say "bonsoir" to the people we would meet.

In this region it is rude not to be polite, it is really the little things that make the difference!

French connections

2010-04-26T09:05:00.004+02:00

While in France and then on returning I have realized many things. Here are five examples;

1.That the Captain did not cure me...
The flights to France were fine, but going back to Spain I was scared poopless! I guess the Captains cure only works if you spend the whole day prior to your flight preparing. Now I need suggestions on what to try next... Valium?

2.That sometimes I blogging felt like something I had to do and took up way to much time...
So now I am going to read a book, watch a movie or spend all night walking around town, and if I do not feel like blogging I wont blog that day, or week or whatever! Or if I feel like it I might blog 3 times a day!

3.That sometimes all you have to do is ask...
The weekend the husband and I went to France we were supposed to go to Portugal for a long weekend. Due to this last minute change of plans we lost our hotel booking and it was non refundable. My mother told me to email the hotel and just ask if it was possible to use the room another time instead of getting money back. I did and they actually said yes!

4.That my husband has some amazing strength...
And an unique way to look at life and living. To celebrate his mothers life instead of morning the loss. I admire his faith and feel like the luckiest woman alive! Everyday we choose to do something his mother loved and ended up having a lot of smiles among the sadness of the situation.

5.That I adore France...
And especially how everything illuminates through the little details they spend their time on. Everything was in the details, the buildings, the food, the gardens, the fashion, the people. Just the tiniest thing could make the difference between OK and WOW!

Hola back!

2010-04-24T10:33:00.002+02:00

I am back in Spain and back in the blog world!
And ooooh me' goodness, do I have a lot to tell you?!!
Don't touch that dial!

Has the Captain cured me?

2010-04-11T22:04:00.004+02:00

Tomorrow I will be flying to Toulouse, France.

The past couple of years I have had a hard time with flying... So today I spent a couple hours (or more) taking a free online fear of flying class! It is called Fear of Flying Help Course by the cool Captain Stacey Chance.
You know what? I actually think that it helped! The real proof will be tomorrow of course, but after all that information I received there is not much to worry about and no reason to be scared! I really recommend it to anyone who has a hard time like me. And I will let you all know the results!

I will be gone for awhile, will try to fit some blog time in here and there but my first priorities are taking care of my husband and his family.
It is a shame that the trip isn't under more fun circumstances, but I am going to try and make the most of it, I know that is what the fun spirited Vera would have done too!

Wish me luck tomorrow and if you believe in praying, please pray for the family!

Δεν ελπίζω τίποτα. Δε φοβάμαι τίποτα. Είμαι λέφτερος.

2010-04-10T23:58:00.003+02:00

This post was inspired from a friend on facebook posting a Nikos quote, so I had to search for more!
My dear lovely readers I grant ye the Greek wisdom of Nikos Kazantzakis (1883 - 1957), author of the fabulous Zorba the Greek and mighty philosopher;

"In order to succeed, we must first believe that we can."

"A person needs a little madness, or else they never dare cut the rope and be free."

"I expect nothing. I fear no one. I am free."

"Since we cannot change reality, let us change the eyes which see reality."

Vera

2010-04-08T23:20:00.003+02:00

My beautiful mother in-law is dying.
The doctors say she only has about a day left to live.
I wish the world had more people like her.

She sees beauty in everything, wakes up every morning looking at the world through untarnished eyes. Never taking anything for granted, always smiling and dreaming, it was contagious. Seeing the world and its beauty everyday as if it was the first time she had ever seen it.
I wish you all could have met her, I am so blessed that I did.

I am so thankful that she taught her son about the beauty in life, to love in the unique way that he does. And how, thanks to her, he never wastes a single precious moment of enjoying and truly living life.

Thank you Vera, there are so many ways to describe who you are; your passion and curiosity for life and ability to create laughter will always be here, your soul never tainted or spoiled!
I will miss you so much.

Insane endorphin photography

2010-04-07T13:52:00.005+02:00

Last night a friend and her husband and my husband and I were having a conversation about kettlebells:
"Oh yeah we have some kettleebells over at our work..." My friends husband said when we got to talking about our training.
"Oh no, you do not understand honey!" My friend said to her husband, "These guys are in a whole separate group, its not just weight lifting, its like they are part of a tribe!"
"yeah, you have the ones who do kettlebells on one side and on the other side, the ones who don't" I added jokingly.
"Indeed," My husband said "we belong to the kettlebell tribe". And we high-fived each other like the dorks that we are.

I just loved how my friend looked at "kettlebellers" as a tribe, I have never really thought about it before in that way. We all have something that instantly bonds us, we all understand the crazy addiction to the cannonballs with handles. I wonder, is it the same for other activities? Like marathoners and such? Probably, and I guess the kettlebell folk just have a reputation for being intensely addicted...

Talking about kettlebells, I had the worlds best workout today! I started with a 3 mile run feeling light as a feather and practically smiling during it all. Came home and started with my 16 kg kettlebell, I was feeling so strong and powerful! Am I the only one who takes a photo after a wicked workout?

It is like I try to capture the endorphins on film or something, like it should transcend and shine through the photo and every time I look at it its purpose will be fulfilled by remembering how awesome I felt at that exact moment! Yeah, I am probably not alone. There must be more "insane endorphin photography people" out there... right..?

Red wine, paella and Birthday cake

2010-04-07T10:19:00.006+02:00

Last night the husband and I celebrate the United States Navy Chief Petty Officers 117th Anniversary. I have to say that I am not one for dressy formal things, I prefer jeans and relaxation. Below are some pics of us all dressed up (believe me, it is worth documenting!);

But last night turned out to be unexpectedly fun! The celebration was held at the gorgeous quarters of the Command Master Chief and his Mrs.

It was just e really relaxed feel to a usually stuffy event. It was a great bunch of people gathered (already knew many of them so no polite chitchat necessary!), short speeches, gorgeous red wine and deliciously scrumptious paella and Birthday cake!

Also as you can see above, a lot of smiles and love!

The ethically challenged me

2010-04-05T22:33:00.004+02:00

Yup, that is my award!
Beautiful and talented Ashley over at Awful Beautiful Disarray handed it to me awhile back, make sure to check out her blog, its full of delight!

The Meaning :
Sweet Blog Award is an award for blog which you think is so friendly and make you enjoy to visit it often.

So now there's two things:
1. I give this award to ten people
2. The people I give this award to need to make a post about the award(include the picture & the person that gave it to you!)

I deleted the other rules, yes, I am morally corrupt.

I would love to hand this award over to five blogs. (I know... the morally challenged me is taking over!) I make sure not to miss a single post from these ladies:
Johana at The Mercurial Wife
Office Girl at Tired but writing
Nicole at One Significant Moment at a Time
The Fabulous Mama at Fabulous! (pasta not included)
Michelle at her blog Michelle Dennis Evans

Who guessed that I am studying theological and philosophical ethics and morals right now?!

Photographing Easter; Religion, Romance and Chocolate

2010-04-04T22:08:00.009+02:00

My Easter Was:

Beach...

Romance...

Friends...

Chocolate...

Bbq...

Painting eggs...

Picnic...

Religion...

Easter Aloe...

...and so much more!

Now why is she posting a photo of the KKK?

2010-04-01T22:43:00.004+02:00

So I didn't dress up as an Easter witch today, I know, I am sooo lame! But I still do have the chance to follow a Spanish Easter tradition and dress up like a member of the Ku Klux Klan! Oh yay!

OK, not really. It is Semana Santa here in Spain this week, Holy week. From Palm Sunday to Resurrection Sunday, everyday is a spectacular pageant of devotion and also mourning to the final week of Jesus’ life. So you may encounter lifelike wood or plaster sculptures of individual scenes of the events that happened between Jesus' arrest and his burial, or images of the Virgin Mary showing grief for the torture and killing of her son.

The processions began in 15Th century Andalusia and became very fancy for the purpose of showing off Catholicism and bringing the religion out to the people and paraded through the streets for all to see.
The floats are carried on the shoulders of men called costaleros (sack men), under the burden of the float which weigh between 1,500 and 2,000 pounds, only their feet and calves are visible to the public (sometimes chained). Accompanying them are penitentes (penitents), members of the procession who repent their sins carrying crosses or holding burning candles. They wear distinctive robes and cone-shaped hoods to symbolize repentance and grief. (Info gathered from Naval Station Rota's Facebook page.)

I have still not yet been to see one of these parades... But will go tomorrow for the big one! It is supposed to be a very stunning experience with brass bands playing religious hymns or flamenco singing written for the occasion and also colors galore. Religious or not, it should not be missed!

Let us go dancing with the devil

2010-03-31T22:16:00.003+02:00

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

2010-03-31T09:42:00.003+02:00

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

It is safer this way

2010-03-29T23:08:00.005+02:00

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.

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

2010-03-28T22:36:00.007+02:00

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!

Happy Waffle Day!

2010-03-25T22:23:00.005+01:00

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!

My humble servant

2010-03-24T21:56:00.003+01:00

"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)

"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!

Mr. T and sushi

2010-03-23T22:29:00.004+01:00

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...

Preventing a mind explosion

2010-03-22T23:20:00.003+01:00

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?

You will be needing protective gear

2010-03-21T21:50:00.007+01:00

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!

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!

Me so prolific

2010-03-19T23:33:00.004+01:00

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....

Satisfying the inner Irish

2010-03-18T21:42:00.005+01:00

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!

St. Patrick's Eve

2010-03-16T21:54:00.005+01:00

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!

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!

Malfunctioning yoga breath

2010-03-15T22:07:00.007+01:00

Tossing and turning, sheets twisted and pulled, as soon as my alarm clock rung my heart was filled with dread. I stepped out of bed and headed straight to the kitchen to make my morning cup of coffee. I needed it, last nights sleep was not exactly restful.

I showered and brushed my teeth with extra care, making sure my breath would smell of as much artificial mint as possible. Lacing up my shoes I tried to calm my breathing "Think yoga Annika, deep breaths, deeeep breaaathss".

Today I was going to go to the dentist.

I never used to be scared of the dentist. But last night when I had remembered the appointment to fix a chipped tooth the fear had overwhelmed me! The 20 minute walk to the dentist was torture, my damn yoga breathing was broken or malfunctioning and definitely not helping! I tried to convince my brain that "I can either make this a difficult experience or an easy one, its up to you Annika", that helped, for about a minute. I dared to enter the dentists office, mainly since I needed to sit down.

"Just to let you know, I am really nervous" I said to the nurse. He nodded his head and went on checking my blood pressure, "Wow, you are not kidding about being nervous ma'am" He said writing down my sky high levels. I was secretly hoping he would tell me my blood pressure was too high to possibly fix anything today. He didn't.

The first 20 minutes I was overcome by fear, breathing was all I was trying to focus on, I even tried counting sheep to distract myself from the highly uncomfortable situation I was in. The last 20 my arm went numb so I worried I was having a stroke or something caused by all this stress (later the dentist explained that was because my head was situated lower then my body in the chair. Well, he could have warned me!).

When I was finally done I took my cooked spaghetti legs and almost run (or stumbled) out of that office. As soon as I was outside all the worry flew of me or melted away or whatever, and I felt like me again, finally! I sat down on the iron bench outside, let out a deep sigh and thought 'was that IT?' That was nothing! And I started to laugh.

All that worry, fear and wasted energy had just held me captive. There was no reason at all for me to have felt that way, but I let myself get sucked into it! And when it was over I felt so silly. This is not the first time it happened. I have also become scared of flying recently. Yeah, I still do it but I suffer the whole time. Why do we do this? Why now when I haven't been affected by those situations before? You tell me because I have no idea.

But today I learned, AGAIN, that change is the only constant we have, the only thing we really know will happen for certain. Nothing last forever, everything passes even fear and horror. I will try to remember this in the future when struck by sudden horror, it is just hard when the darn yoga breathing wont work!

One for the history books

2010-03-14T12:41:00.007+01:00

It all started on Friday, husband and I were going to see the premier of Alice in Wonderland on base. When we got there the line was just a crazy mess of hyper kids in mad hatter outfits. So we skipped that, strapped on some sexy bowling shoes and went tinto de verano sipping and bowling instead! Finished of the night with a Cadbury Easter egg (true love in a bite).

The weather was gorgeous Saturday so we went to the wild beach! Packed a picnic and a kite and had an enchanting beach day. It was my husbands first time to ever fly a kite, so it definitely made the history books. And yeah, I was rocking my new kettlebell top!

Later that evening we were invited to a BBQ and poker/melodifestival night and we enjoyed every single minute of it! Thanks a billion friends!

It's quickie Friday!

2010-03-12T20:37:00.004+01:00

I wanted to say thank you to Jenn for featuring me on her website. I am a weight loss superstar! Check it out my very first interview!

Make sure you have an enchanting weekend!

Legendary life

2010-03-11T22:08:00.007+01:00

"What a day for a daydream, what a day for a daydreamin' girl..." *insert jolly whistling*
Aaah, yes I am having one of those days when I feel on top of the world! That anything is possible and I am grateful for my legendary life! I have a feeling I will be using a lot of these ! today!
But you know what, and this may come as a shock to some of my loyal readers, I am not even going to try and analyze why I am feeling this way, just flowin' with it dude!

Today I played hooky from my school work, yeah shame on me but I really thought that going shopping and having lunch with a friend would be so much more fun. And guess what? I was totally correct on that matter! And I found three gorgeous and totally different summer dresses, you all can see what I am looking forward to... Sultry summer nights (and days, I take whatever I can get!). I am actually not much of a shopper, but when the mood hits me I better get out there and do it or else I would be walking around in any old rags!

At lunch Sara and I were talking a lot about friendship and came upon the topic of "friendship hierarchy". I think it is mostly a female thing when we divide our friends into different levels on the "closeness" scale. Have not really thought about it so much before but that is probably what most women do. Sure you can have a couple on the same level but no more then that. I wonder why that is? Don't we have the ability to love all our friends the same or we just preference some to others?
And some friends are good for somethings while some are better for others. I guess that is, in a way, what makes our world go round... When we were younger the amount of friends sort of defined who we were, the more friends the higher value you had as a person. But that all changes (thank God) when we grow up. I could go on about my friendship queries but that will be enough for today. Let me know what you think!

"I would like to thank my agent..."
Last I would like to thank my favorite enchanting Irene over at Lovely Violet for giving me the happiness award!

RULES:
1. When you receive the award you must thank the person who awarded you this
2. Name 10 things that make you happy
3. Pass the award to 10 other bloggers and inform the winners.

Things that make me happy:
1. My husband
2. A badass kettlebell workout
3. Tattoos
4. Getting swept away by a brilliant book
5. Runners high
6. Tinto de Verano
7. A beautiful meal
8. Diving into the Atlantic
9. My parents
10. Friendship

I would like to pass it on to these outrageously sublime bloggers;
**Carolina at Carol's Prints for making me giggle today!
**Lycia at Chubby Cherry Bomb, check her out!
**Tricia at Endurance Isn't Only Physical for all the priceless inspiration
**Joel at I was born very young for some wickedly hilarious stories and he seriously needs more recognition
**Michelle Dennis Evans for her cheerfulness!
**Lisa over at Personal demons for inspiring my cravings to write again!
**Janae at Pink Moss for making me look at beauty in a new way (check out her handcrafted bags, gorgeous!)
**Heather at See Heather Write for some kickin' writing advise
**Tigerlilly at Where Is Tigerlilly? for awarding her success with tattoos!
**Abigail at Who was Abigail Carter for making me smile with her intelligent randomness!

A courageous waddle

2010-03-10T22:06:00.003+01:00

Mary over at Fit this, girl! finished her always inspiring blog post with something I thought was ULTRA inspiring;

Find your vision, pick a dream [...] and take steps to make it happen!! Your best days are ahead of you!!

I read those words before heading out on my oh so lovely run today. Talk about starting of strong with thought of accomplishing all my dreams in my head!

But halfway along the course it turned out I was having a hard time, my mind always plays these games with me. It tries to put doubt in my head that I will complete it... (damn you brain!) I was starting to listen to the doubts when I remembered something else I read that morning "The miracle isn't that I finished the race, it is that I had the courage to start" (John "The Penguin" Bingham). Oh I know that I have courage! I wasn't about to let my brain get me down and rain on my parade (run). I started blocking it out and thinking "courage, courage, courage!!!" all the way home. That was the best run I had in a long time.

The idea of repeating positive affirmations in a time of doubt I got from a Kara Goucher interview. Her word was fighter and she would repeat that in her mind if her mind was trying to belittle her obviously amazing abilities. It works! I choose courage as my word because of all the fears that I face (all of us do) daily but choose to face them head on, that is courage!

Alright have to cut my rambles there for today, since someone is wanting to interview me and I have to answer her questions! Yeah, little old me and some of my story is going to be featured, never been asked to do that before! Ill keep you all updated!

Cocktails & Dreams

2010-03-09T21:54:00.004+01:00

I love to dream.

Ever since I was little I would imagine myself living in whatever dream world I wanted to picture at the time. I would pass hours making up whole new worlds with fantastical people and I would always be the star! That was one of my teenage fantasies, to be a rock star. Like many teenagers before I would close my bedroom door, put on my favorite music and pretend that I had the limelight for the whole CD (or cassette, yes I am old) the world was mine and everyone adored me!

Wonder why we stop doing this imagination thingy? Or do we really stop pretending? Maybe we just keep it secret since "God forbid if someone found out I had a passionate dream about something!" The limelight thing continued into my young adult years but then my dream became more realistic, I dreamed of being a wicked bartender. No kidding, I think it was after I saw the movie 'Cocktail' for the first time. I used to pretend I was behind a bar on some tropical island, all eyes on me. I was the female Tom Cruise, I was the entertainment - and men would just flock around me! And guess what, it actually came true!

We might stop because it seems silly, or a waste of time. Think that is why I have always loved to write, to escape in the story, to become someone else for awhile. I can create whatever I want, there are no rules for me to follow and nothing, not a thing, is silly at all. Or we transform our dreams into something limited and obtainable due to fear. That is also why I love to read. When reading I get a glimpse of other aspects of life, far from mine. I get to see what is beyond my path, something beyond what my present imagination can create. Maybe we all need to read more to open our adult minds so they are able to picture the possibilities out there? Basically, literature gives us life alternatives.

What I am saying is that imagination and dreaming gives us a world of knowledge on the possibilities that are out there, they are limitless even though we are adults! The whole world is yours. Yeah, really.

A preacher and a terminator

2010-03-08T22:12:00.003+01:00

Now I don't want to be labeled as Annika the 'loco' preaching blogger, but just need to add some thought on the 3D mantra I posted about yesterday.
I overheard this conversation today between two women;

"I don't know if I will keep this personal trainer I have been working with... Just don't seem to be loosing weight, and my back hurts... Oh and my knee has started to hurt too..."
The other woman wearing pink sighed and turned took a sip of her coffee and asked;
"So you are telling me you are giving up?"
"Yeah", the woman in yellow looked pretty fed up but the woman in pink shook her head.
"So you are telling me that your personal trainer told you to eat that donut for breakfast?"
"No, but.."
"And you are telling me that your sore muscles in you back is causing you to sit on the couch eating potato chips?" Before the yellow woman could come with an excuse the pink woman continued,
"And I bet that your aching knee is the reason why you don't ever go walking with me on the lunch break? So please stop with the excuses already!" The yellow woman turned her sour grimace away from the pink woman's concerned gazing.

WOW. That woman in pink WAS a real friend and wouldn't let her friend BS herself anymore. This society today is a society full of enablers, people letting people feel sorry for themselves, because who likes someone feeling bad? We are kind if we are comforting, but no, that is wrong. Being a woman who once lived four years with a crack head (yet another post topic one day), I know how easy it is to enable. It makes life easier for you when you take the enabler way.
Some people who have heard about my Determination, Dedication and Discipline mantra think that it sounds a little bit too hard core and militant. That is the very reason it worked! No more pussy footing around, that was exactly what I needed to get responsible and my ass in gear at that time. I had been living in a world of chaos and needed some solid structure.

The world needs more people like the woman in pink, it might have seemed a bit harsh, and maybe it was, but sometimes I wish I could be more ballsy like that and I bet her friend got the message this time!
Time to call the terminator on the preaching? I think so, just sometimes people need a good healthy kick in the ass!

Basking in tremendously simple pleasure

2010-03-07T22:12:00.007+01:00

Yet another weekend is coming to its end.
I am not complaining since I have the luxury of deciding my own hours working. That just takes a lot of discipline, but I have plenty of that. After taking responsibility over my health and deciding for once and all to get it sorted I made up a mantra. While loosing my 120 something pounds I would say that mantra over and over in my head.
I called it the 3 D plan (maybe I should copyright this, haha!). Determination, Discipline and Dedication. That easy, or that hard, however you choose to look at it! I actually read those three words in a Navy magazine and just applied it to my weight loss and health goals. Of course the plan was more then a mantra but wont go into that now!

Anyway! This is not a post about my incredible weight loss (yeah I'm still damn proud!) but I wanted to tell you about my weekend here in the sometimes sunny Spain.
Started of a rainy Saturday with joining some friends for a birthday party for a one year old. Of course there were more adults there then kids, enjoying the beer and some scrumptious Jamaican cooking. OK, I don't know a lot about kids but what one year old has a bunch of friends anyway? Just a good reason to party I guess, fine with me!

Then me and the husband went book shopping! One of my favorite things in the world is to wander around in a book store, book stores excite me tremendously (love that word)! I didn't even buy anything this time, was just happy as can be strolling the aisles judging books by their front covers and reading the back cover of the ones that appealed to me.

Later in the evening husband and I visited our great Swedish friends and had taco dinner at their home. We were supposed to stream this Swedish music festival, Melodifestivalen (the winner goes to the European song contest, I will explain all this in a later post), but the darn servers were too busy! We had a fabulous time youtoub'ing it though and accompanied it with chocolates and Cava!

Today was incredible since we actually had fabulously hot sun for like four hours! I mean I was sweating out there and loving it! We made the most of it and took a drive to Chipiona and spent hours walking around this picturesque beach town and basking in the simple pleasure.

I have a suspicion that this upcoming week will be a very exciting one, the feel of spring is in the air and I am smiling!

Let go weekend!

2010-03-05T23:32:00.002+01:00

I don't usually post on Fridays and Saturdays but y'all know I just can't stay away! Just a quickie within the same theme as yesterdays.

Be careful so that all your "shoulds" and "have to's" don't get so engraved into your daily life that you might be mistaking them for desires.

This weekend, why don't we try (I sure will) to let go a little of all that we "have to" do. Try to spend your time doing as little of that as possible. Skip folding the laundry, rest if you are feeling tiered and maybe its time to let go of that "obligatory" friendship you have been holding on to only by habit.

A friend posted this on facebook today which rings very true in this sense;

"Some think it's holding on that makes one strong; sometimes it's letting go..."

Have a brilliant weekend everyone!

Embracing adventure (I ♥ Chania)

2010-03-04T22:00:00.008+01:00

I often miss Greece. Even just the act of uploading these photos break my little heart... All those memories!

For you who don't already know, I used to live on the island of Crete, in the town of Chania (or Hania or Xania or however you choose to spell it). 1996 I came there on vacation for the first time, and just fell, head over heals (think it was wedges), in love with the town. Ever since then I kept going back as if this place was the home I had been born into. I felt alive there.

In Sweden, sure I was living and well (my family rocks - don't get me wrong) but never felt as if I was meant to stay there. Crete was the island that made me bloom, made me flourish in life and all it had to offer, it is where I grew up.
I worked briefly in a hotel, selling boat tickets, as a waitress but in the end the bartender occupation got its hooks in me, and I adored it!

Since my bartender days in Chania, I have still not found a place where I feel is as much as my home as there. Sometimes I feel like I found what I was always looking for but foolishly left it behind. But is this true?

I just read an article in yoga journal (March 2010 by J. Kramer and D. Alstad), called "wishful thinking". And it sure got me thinking. What is it that we all are searching for? A home? Happiness? All we want really is to feel good, that is what drives us.

But as the article says, what we actually are seeking is a product of desire; an expectation already planted in our minds. The moments I miss Greece and think that I cannot possibly feel such satisfaction again, are what they are; memories. The only thing we can seek that way, in fact, is sadly the known. And of course when I am feeling down or like life isn't going my way Greece will pop up inside my head. My brain automatically places Greece as the place where everything will be alright. After all that is where I as a 'new' adult first learned the importance of living my dreams. Its a big part of what made me 'me today'.

OK, this is getting a bit long, but all I am saying is maybe we (I) need to stop searching for that, stop looking back. Like I said, the only thing we search for is what we already know. And I know today that it is not about where you are that makes the magic, it is always you that is the creator. Pleasure leads to desire and desire leads - sometimes - to fear/confusion or suffering (a form of change).
But most important remember this, it is also ONLY trough suffering - change - that one gets to experience the fantastic adventures of the unknown! (And it also happens to fuel the evolutionary growth!)
But Chania, you know, one day I will be back!

A limping and moaning zombie

2010-03-03T21:58:00.004+01:00

Woe is me, woe is me... I thought yesterdays kettlebell workout was lacking some sort of zing, and now I know why. Woke up today feeling like a half eaten, slime stuffed zombie (get the picture?). And not one of those fast running, growling zombies from the more recent horror movies, no Sir; a slow, limping, moaning one and I even think I was in black and white.... And then I got worse.

So, since I am feeling sorry for myself and not motivated for anything but sleep, I decided to post this strange short story (or long poem) I wrote awhile back.

RIDDLE ME THIS
I will not say hello. For you have been unconsciously expecting me. I have flown into your core to tell you. Feel me caress your spine. It is me. This is your last chance. Travel through your wisdom. Listen to me very carefully now. As sensitive and pure as it has always been told, that is how I will tell you. Absorb my every word as if they were your destruction. Feel my presence. Enjoy the pain of what is you;

I am what you want. I am what you need most desperately. The problem is that you do not know this yet. Your mind is shadowing someone else right now. You have wrapped your whole being around that body. That fantasy. The fantasy of what you think you want. Find me! Yes, this is very disturbing and very inconvenient. I do realize that. Your mind feels like a storage room for something nuclear. How does one settle? Where are you going? What do I destroy?

Love? No no no… You are getting it all wrong. This has nothing to do with love. Such a petty and ridiculous emotion. Damaging your heart for a mortal soul. Foolish. You should have something better to do than that. Lust? That’s more like it. Your speed is admirable. As a silky white moon surrounded by the dark and heavy sky, you seek serenity. I will not give you that! Ouch. What’s the difference? Come to me and you will see. I can show you theses things my dear…

Ah, your shadow around the other is fading. Pleasure? Why should I pleasure you? You are so naive to think such things. Distance us through closeness, such stupidity! Pulsating and throbbing. Shivering and death. A passage through the solutions. Lovely. But you will fall onto your knees in sheer pain. Now remove yourself from that other. Come with me, totally. Do not linger! Do not show me your pain. I have no patience for such things. Why are you crying my dear? Fantasy is such a terrible waist of time. You should know better by now. See, your shadow belongs to me again. We might succeed. Or not.

Sorrow is such a disgusting emotion. It is driven by fear and regret. I must teach you. Why such resistance? Can you not handle this reality? Too many questions. You are so weak. Go ahead! Stagger around wimpling and whining. Is that your choice? For without what I am you will slowly disintegrate. You are nothing! I pity you. There, there, calm down my dear. You have not failed. I will not torture you with more riddles my friend. You accept me? That will just not do! You need to keep me! I must have all of you!

I sense that your attraction for me is growing with your every breath. Show me courage! Break the path! Take me! For I am yours now. Do you not understand? Analyze your mind. What I just told you is only the beginning. Pay attention! I will now give you the answer to what I am:
I am your story.

And thank you so much to Agy from Agy talks for giving me another sunshine award!!! Unfortunately I don't follow more then like 15 blogs so it will be hard to spread the love more then I did with the last award. This is serious guys, it means that I must suffer from a bad case of blog reading deficiency; I need to find more cool blogs. So the mission begins...

The horror of a habitual life

2010-03-02T22:07:00.006+01:00

This little world of blogging, how fortunate that I stumbled upon you. I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I started this blog about a month ago. My first blog experience was of high remembrance and very scary. It must have been about three years ago when my friend told me to check out this blog she was following. She said that it made her laugh and I did come to understand why. She was not laughing with the blogger but at how foolish the blogger was behaving. Don't ask me the name of the blog, really don't remember, but it was some blond Swedish bimbo basically taking pictures of herself drunk. The rest of the content is a blank, I must have, in a state of trauma, hidden it in some dark place within my memory. Oh the horror, I was now scarred!

So anyway, after seeing that I quickly decided that the blog world was no world where I wanted to linger. That is until one night. I was bored, my school books had not arrived from Sweden so I couldn't start studying. I basically just hung around all day and then one night while streaming some crappy TV-show I just decided to do it. Thank God for the delay in the school, or else I might never have experienced writing this blog, and what is most horrific would have been that I would have missed out on reading all these spectacular blogs that actually are out there! It is so motivating to read what all of these (you) funky, cool and oh so intelligent people have to say. When reading these life stories I often get reminded how great people can be and inspire me to be great as well.

Talking about inspirational blogs, a few days ago I started thinking about something Brooke and Mango were doing in their amazing blogs. They have both made a list of 101 things that they will complete within 1001 days. When I read some of what was on the lists it was like a big fat wake up call! Why not? Why wait around? Just write a list of things I want to do, eat, try, buy and so on and just freaking do it! So yeah, I will.

I have been so blessed with my life and I have already done so many crazy, wonderful and glittering things. But there is still SO much that I want to do! Since I started writing on my list (I am at number 35 so far) I have already realized what an unconscious effect it has on my life. Just the other day I went to the grocery store, I bypassed most of the food I regularly buy and went for all these goodies that I in the past had neglected (like a butternut squash!). It was then I realized I was stuck in a habitual kind of life and had been postponing my needed to try new things.

I just adore how I now walk around with a more open mind, finding things that I have yet not tried, remembering things I always wanted to try and reaching inside me to find what I have always wanted to do.

Gracias!

2010-03-01T21:56:00.005+01:00

Can you guys believe it? The queen of random awesomeness Johana, from The Mercurial Wife just gave me my first blog award!!! Dudes, I am so gonna celebrate this! It is called the sunshine award and is given to bloggers whose contagious positivity and creativity inspire others in this blog world.
Thanks a million!
And here it is:

The rules are as follows:

* Put the logo on the blog within your post.
* Pass the awards on to 12 bloggers
* Link the nominees within your post.
* Let the nominees know they have received the award by commenting on their blog.
* Share the love and link to the person from whom you received this award.

Now for the hard part... To decide on 12 sunshiny lovelies... But here goes;

1. Jodi from Passport in my pocket
2. Meika from Waiting on the muse
3.Tracy from Tracy Reifkind's Transforming thought, body and food
4. Brooke from The republic of Brooke
5. Beth from Shut up and run!
6. Mango from Traveling mango
7. Brandi from Run bundles, run!
8. The newlywed from Love is...
9. Diana from Diana's blog-my road to the RKC
10. Sadie from Sadie's page
11. Greta from Big bottom blogger
12. Mary from Fit this, girl!

Make sure to check these ladies out, they all rock on so many levels, just like Johana!

Wow, this took waaay longer then I thought to figure out. Hey gimme a break, I am like a newborn just starting to crawl in this blog world! So unfortunately the post I was going to write will just have to wait till tomorrow. Wouldn't want to post something crappy and ruin my newly glorifying reputation now do I?!

Boasting sweetness with pictures

2010-02-28T22:31:00.014+01:00

My life is sweet.
This weekend was sweet.
I like sweet.

Friday I did a kick ass kettlebell workout and then hurried down town to meet Sara for some "fika", but this is Spain so fika turned into tapas instead. It's all good. For you out there who do not know fika, let me tell you about this fabulous Swedish invention. Coffee/tea + cookies/pastries = fika and swedes love it. I have tried to find a sufficient English word for it but there is none. But if you are in Sweden you will hear it a lot "come over for fika one day" or "lets meet at the cafe and have some fika".

But yeah, this is Spain, so you cant find a good fika place here easy. So we went to the Castillio Cafe and sat our pretty behinds down for some much needed girl chatting and gossip. Ah, I do love being a woman. But the tapas were gone too quickly so we continued to Sara's office and popped open a bottle of cava for some more chatting. Ah, I do love Cava and high-styling it with plastic cups. A perfect afternoon.

Then I hurried home to make myself even more gorgeous (how is it possible?) for the chief hail and farewell party on base. Oh man oh man did we have a good time! Around midnight we all got bored of the base and headed into Rota for some serious good time at Paddys, Los Arcos and O'Gradys. Muy perfecto!

Oh and don't you just love Saturdays? Gods best creation I think. Actually didn't do a whole lot (no Sanlucar trip...) but that was just what we wanted. It was our friend Tomas birthday so we met all them for dinner at the homey comfy German restaurant. They serve this white wine that is just adorable (can wine be adorable?). Potatoes, Sauerkraut, bratwurst, ham and pork was served to me and it was tasty as can be! Had a perfect 3 hour dinner with loads of good conversations and company and I think the birthday boy was happy. Me and the husband rounded of the night with some intensely fun hours of dart and loving each other (aaaawwww... yeah we make people sick), a good combo.

And today its... lazy Sunday! We did go on base and we were forced to stop at the Baskin Robins there because a crazy zombie hale storm! Oh no, not baskin robins, anywhere but there!!! Sweet torture it was indeed, I haven't had an ice cream like this in ages. Peanut butter chocolate vanilla caramel ice cream with warm gooey caramel sauce topped with cream and almond sprinkles. I have never felt so sinful in my life (ok, that is a lie). And hey, what is it I do all this kettlebelling and running for if not for moments like these? Seriously, that was the taste of pure joy.

A smidgen of how I rocked the last days of February, hope you did too. Now I am ready and fully charged for March and this upcoming week! Going to be diving head first into my theology books, its gonna be hectic, but I am a rock star, I can deal, *wink*!

Alien abduction

2010-02-25T22:08:00.006+01:00

The weather gods are so kind to us here in southern Spain. They chose to give us one day of warmth and brilliance and then switch it all up so the next day turns into a wet gloomy mess. All of this just so we don't grow tiered of that cheerful brightness, how considerate they are!

The peoples moods here in Andalusia seem to be more weather dependent then anywhere else I have been in the world. They do a total Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde! On a sunny day you see them out socializing and playing with their family, friends and miniature dogs. People wave and smile and laugh. But then the clods come... Poof! They are nowhere to be seen, like they all have been abducted by aliens. This mass abduction is definitely a horrible experience for the poor souls left behind. You walk the streets and see traumatic twisted faces or blank faces staring into infinity. That is if they even bother to lift their hanging heads up. It is as if they have never smiled or laughed before in their lives.

I might be over exaggerating and generalizing just a bit there, but the change is dramatic! For me as a (tough viking) swede I guess it doesn't hit me as hard since I am used to cold and gloom. Walk the streets of Stockholm and you pretty much see those sad twisted faces everyday of the year. Hustling and bustling, running around but heading nowhere. The people of Andalusia are born into the sun, it is a part of their everyday life, it is their culture. The clouds affect them so bad since they are spoiled with brightness most of the time, and I hope they know how lucky they are!

This is probably going to be my last post until Sunday. Got a really nice weekend planned. I am starting Friday out with Swedish "fika" in town and ending it with a Hawaiian themed party on base (I am just so very international!). Come rain or come shine, Amen! I hope you all do too, just watch out for those pesky aliens!

That woman was trying to kill me

2010-02-24T22:21:00.004+01:00

Oh, what happened here? The blog has a different look yet again! OK, I promise I wont change it again (for at least a week...). I like this on though, loving the vineyard feel and the vines. I love grapevines. Been wanting a tattoo with some actually...!

Enough about vines! Today was yet again another beautiful day here in Rota. In fact, it was so warm that I think I have to retire my "winter" running outfit! Halfway through the run today I was dripping wet with sweat. That means time to get the shorts and tank tops out again, yay! (Sorry to you all who are stuck in various snowstorms, I might just be rubbing it in a bit too much?) Had great form throughout the run, listening to a brilliant playlist containing a mix with my favorites; The dead weather, Metallica and Marilyn Manson.

Then I came home and went to do my kettlebell workout. Come to find out my darling husband had accidentally taken my favorite DVD with him to work... This turned out to be a blessing in disguise , I found this Maureen Martone DVD that I forgot I had. Oh my lord, I think that woman was trying to kill me! It was no joke! You all know I totally adored the torture! So now I have to figure out how to work this into my routine...

Other news from south of Spain? Not really, been busy with my studies as always where I am looking closer into modern theologies biggest obstacles. Husband and I are thinking about another Sanlucar trip on Saturday, need to explore that town and their tapas more closely!

Also thinking that I need to continue writing again, but where do I find time? I needed to take a break with writing after last semesters creative writing class, didn't enjoy getting graded on my creativity so much.

That is it for now, time for me to relax and read some other wicked blogs!

Crush your enemies

2010-02-23T22:20:00.004+01:00

"Conan, what is best in life?"
"To crush your enemies..." (Conan the Barbarian 1984)

Some wise words from the 'govenator' inspire today's post. It was actually my husband who quoted it from the top of his head when we were talking about priorities in life. He has the most random things stored up there, you gotta love his brain!
But there are some very important truths in those few words. First, to be able to figure out what ones priorities are, one must figure out what one finds most enjoyable. What attracts you to living with full potential?

Like I mentioned in yesterdays post, I have been pondering what I want out of life. No, I am not going through some sort of midlife crisis! It is just so very important to take a step back and look at the situation. Am I living the life I want? Nothing selfish about it, everyone deserve to live a full life! A wider perspective is all it takes sometimes. I know what I enjoy, I know what makes me smile, I just have no idea right now what to do with it! My problem is I have a hard time relaxing and just letting life happen. If I feel I have lost control and just 'flowing about', then it is time for some sort of action plan! I like striving towards things. But what the hell do I want? Am I even close to living a life of purpose?

Sorry, cant answer those questions. Wish I could, but for right now I am just thinking aloud. It is nothing one should stress, this is one thing that needs to linger for some time... Oh why do I crave constant action?! Patience Annika, it is a virtue after all...

But Conan's answer to the best in life is to crush your enemies. Maybe that is the answer! To crush you enemies, to concur whatever stands in your way for you to live your life of purpose, or whatever your goal destination may be, is the priority. Maybe it is not the purpose it self, the goal, that is the solution, but the journey getting there? Life is not completing, life consists of struggles to complete (or enemies to crush). Everything you concur to get to you goal, that is what makes life and who you are and that is the most important, not the end solution.

So maybe it is just the right time to sit back and keep crushing those enemies. I want to find my purpose in life, and all the while it might just be my life that is the purpose! So live now and live strong peeps.

Cant believe I got all that from a quote from that silly movie! Hasta la vista baby, I'll be back!

Some major construction accompanied by rock and roll

2010-02-22T22:35:00.006+01:00

OK, I admit it... I was learning about and experimenting with blog backgrounds and headers when I was supposed to be studying today... Ooops! But I tell ya', that stuff is addicting! You fix one thing and then you want to fix another and then that doesn't look right so you have to re-fix it all over, and so on over and over. I don't even know if I will keep this style, it might be too much for me... We will see how I feel tomorrow.Yep, it is not only my blog page that is getting some remodeling. I have been thinking about priorities lately and trying to figure out what is important (that is a whole different blog post though!). But my health is sure a priority and today I did some serious work on myself I have to say! Or at least, after today's run followed by a kettlebell workout it sure felt like some major construction going on! That is me after the hard core and kick ass workout, my hair was dry when I started! Ah felt great though. The run was perfect and sweaty, proud to say the hills where easier to tackle thanks to kettlebells creating some muscle!

While running I was listening to those talented guys above, 'The dead weather' which is my new favorite band. Really recommend the whole album (do you still call it that? God I am getting old), it feels like it could be the soundtrack to the next Tarantino movie. When you listen to it just picture some bad ass broad (or yourself, I do) and loads of explosions in the background and you will get what I mean. Then the kettlebell workout was accompanied by some classic 'Metallica', I swinged those bells harder then ever before! I sure do love my rock and roll!

Bulls eye of destruction

2010-02-21T22:18:00.007+01:00

This weekend was strange... Hadn't made many plans since it seemed so much was going on and I wanted just to be cool and go with the flow. Come to find out the flow went nowhere unfortunately! I guess I will have to stick to the plan making if something is going to happen, no point sitting around and waiting for the knight in shining armor to come save the day. This princess is fully capable of doing that herself!

Friday I had a nice run, well that is a lie actually. The run was pretty darn crappy, I was just not feeling it, think my body must have been a bit tiered. Kept playing Marilyn Manson's "Beautiful people" over and over to help motivate me, but alas... Stayed in at night and had a dart night with the husband, that was hilarious! Just us, some classic rock and a few beers and we had a blast. Ended up being a tie, and I figured out that the art of darts is all about confidence or if you sing while throwing it is easier to hit the target, no bull!

Saturday was a kinda downer day. Started out awesome with some much needed yoga in the morning. Later we went on base (the American navy base where the husband works) and enjoyed a couple of productive shopping hours at the NEX and commissary. But here is the strange thing, I was in such a silly playful mood all day until the evening and it, without any warning, just went into hiding. I looked everywhere but it was nowhere to be found, and then on top of that I started feeling sick... So the carnival Saturday with my Swedish friend Sara was canceled. Blah. Don't you just HATE the feeling that you are missing out on all the fun?! Ended up having a movie night with the worlds most wonderful husband trying to cheer me up. Bless his humongous heart!

Today was a gorgeous spring day here in Rota, woke up feeling refreshed and much healthier then the night before. Walked around town and beaches taking some photos of the destruction that all this rain has caused. The rock arch (or I guess it was clay) by our house, which is Rotas pride and joy, was gone! The arch had collapsed. It is really sad in a way, like an end of an era or something. And then more cliff damage...

Hard to see in the photos but you might get the picture. On our way back home we took a break and sat quietly looking out over the ocean. The sun was so hot so when I closed my eyes it was easy to picture one of those long lost and wholeheartedly missed summer days. I think I even got a whiff of coconut sunscreen! Ah, not too long now I hope!

Looking into the mirror

2010-02-18T22:59:00.002+01:00

Severe thunderstorms and heavy rain outside right now, don't think Andalusia's soil can take much more of this rain! Half the beach walk by our house is shutdown after the flippin' cliff collapsed from all the rain... And that was last week. I sure hope the rest of the cliff will hold! And I am supposed to go running in the morning, but do you think some measly rainstorm will stop me? Hmmmm, maybe!

Today after I finished my lovely kettlebell workout I stood looking at myself in the bathroom mirror. Sweaty, panting and my whole body so very tiered I realized that I have become, I am now, the person that I always wanted to be. This person is the person I used to dream about back when I was about 112 pounds heavier. I used to imagine what her life would be like, how it would feel being her. Now I am her!

I walked back into our gym room and lifted one 24 kg kettlebell in each hand and I started walking around. I used to weigh more then that! The experience was just mind blowing.
So there might be no need to say this but after that I have been feeling totally hot and awesome all day! I really should give myself more credit for the things I actually already have accomplished, probably most people need to do that. Some of it is pretty amazing stuff!

Could go on and on like a broken record player stuck on adverbs trying to describe this place which is seemingly made for the postcard factory!

2010-02-17T22:34:00.000+01:00

Alrighty then, back in action! Going to try and make this Portugal post as short as possible, could go on and on like a broken record player stuck on adverbs trying to describe this trip!
The weather was bad, I mean really bad, for the four hour drive to Lagos... The rain gods where trying to drown us I think! But I did get to experience a real police road block (with guns and all!) before we got there, I was so excited since I have only ever before seen it in movies! I know, I am a tool!
Anyway the hotel, Marina Rio, was fabulous and the service darn perfect, so that made up for the clouds outside! That is the hotel and view from it you can see below (I know, tiny pics... but cant seem to get the sizing right when copying link from facebook..).The first night we had some horribly good steak at Don Toro Angus steak house and then walked around Lagos old-town checking out the night life. Found several bars that played rock music, so I was pretty much in heaven! Our favorites came to be Stones bar, Zanzi-bar and Eddies. That's the steak and Stones downstairs dart area (where husband kept winning... I used to be the dart pro!)
The next day it was sunny and we had a good sightseeing morning around Lagos, and W.O.W. that place rocks, it has it all, beaches, marina, romantic streets, dramatic cliffs, museums, slave market (don't worry, not in use anymore, but it was Europe's first slave market) and best of all... a statue of Henry the Navigator!!! My close friends and family know what a big part of life he was for me in my history research, yes I am a geek!

Later in the afternoon we headed towards Sagres, it was just crazy cool. Sagres is the most southern western point in mainland Europe and the cliffs, views and scenery is indescribably breathtakingly gorgeous. Not many times I have ever felt such force of nature! It is also where Henry the Navigators school of navigation was based.

That night we enjoyed some amazing Indian food (no mum, not better then yours!) and some more bar hopping, enjoyed the pub Irish rover very much.
Our last full day in Lagos, Valentines day, was spent up in the mountains, went all the way up to the highest point in the Algarve. I really felt like queen of the world up there! Unfortunately the pictures didn't turn out great. In the afternoon we headed to the Dona Ana beach and Ponte piedade. Again WOW, that is a place made for the postcard factory's!

At night we had a romantic dinner at Italiano restaurant and later some ciders at Eddies surfer bar.
On our way back to Spain we stopped at Faros city. We had heard about this chapel made from human bones and HAD TO go check it out! Was like something out of a movie!
So as you can see, I live a blessed life and will definitely return to the Algarve in the summer! It is such a fantastic wondrous place, awesome people, more variety in restaurants and nightlife and hotels are like half the price compared Spain! Enjoying all this with my the love of my life is true magic.

Been pushing the escape key...

2010-02-17T00:02:00.001+01:00

So... I was going to write a long blog post about my wonderful weekend in Portugal... But having internet and computer problems at the moment, welcome back to reality Annika! I will try again tomorrow when its all sorted out. Darn machines!

Até logo!

2010-02-10T23:13:00.000+01:00

Portugal! Yes that is where me and the husband are going for four days! Have been there once before and that was not the best experience. We went to Albuferia for a weekend, the town and beaches were amazing... But at night it was swarming with drunken Brits, not so much fun. Oh and I have also been to Madeira with my parents for a week, warmly recommend to spend some of your valuable time on that island!

This time we are going to Lagos which is very close to the most south west of mainland Europe one can come. Haven't had time to research much about the town yet but it has a lot of history (yay!!!) and looks like a place to make memories. The beaches too look fantastic, although it will be too cold (and probably rainy...) to use them to their full capacities.

Since we are staying for so long we plan a day trip to Sagres. that is the most southern point and also where Henry the Navigator was based for most of his adventurous life. The scenery is supposed to be rugged and totally breathtaking! We will also be taking another day trip to Monchique which is a mountain town full of beauty! As you can see, I am very excited!

Also very excited about kettlebell training! Husband and I have now decided that we are to get back into shipshape and do the HKC certification later this year or beginning of the next! I still have a lot to learn so husband is going to have kettlebell class with me everyday till I get it, great stuff! Never thought that I would actually do it but it feels like the thing I need to do.

Will not be back here for another 4-5 days then, Até logo! (see you soon)

Kenyan wisdom

2010-02-09T23:18:00.000+01:00

Hope you didn't get your quote dose satisfied with my last post, since here is another wise on today! "...the essential thing in Nandi society is not simply enduring. It is also always finding a solution." This comes from a the great runner Bernard Lagat talking about life growing up as a Kenyan and in a Nandi tribe with elders.

Why do we, often willingly, suffer in silence. I am not saying that we shall walk up to every single person and vent our hearts out, that would be annoying. But don't be afraid to seek help to better your self or the situation that you are in.
In the book "the monk who sold his Ferrari" the author also writes about how the only one who you should ever feel superior to is your former self. This is something that I am still working on, how to better myself at the expense of not caring what others think. Daring to do what I want and what my heart feels right without looking around the room first for reaction. Anyone recognize this?

But most importantly I see the Lagat quote as is this; start expecting more out of life and yourself. Why go through life just being OK? Why settle when you really can have it all? That is what keeps me going. I don't settle for normal, I truly believe I deserve what I work for and wont accept much less then that. This is not unique for me, anyone can do this as long as one does not quit! And do something to solve the problem instead of wallowing in your troubles.

Hmmm.. This was going to be a post about Portugal (where husband and I are heading for the long carnival/valentines weekend) or the possibility of maybe in the future get a HKC certification for kettlebells... (Where is all this life wisdom and pondering coming from?) Ah well, maybe tomorrow!

Ghandi- it is all your fault.

2010-02-08T22:41:00.000+01:00

"Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never have enough". That quote is taken from a friends status on facebook and just thought it tied in nicely to what I was writing about last night.
That is the thing, to be brutally honest, pretty much everything that sucks in your life is your fault but don't forget that all that rocks in your life is your fault too.

I read a book not so long ago called "the monk who sold his Ferrari" and the author was on the same path. You choose how to look at life, if you choose only to see and think the good, all you are going to get is good. Your thoughts is the only thing that you control totally.
It is so easy to get inspired by such quotes, but why are they so darn hard to follow? Is life just too distracting? Or are we humans built with some sort of fault that makes us not appreciate what we have? Is it easier just not to bother? Are we maybe just too lazy? Unfortunately I don't have the answer, all I know is that it takes a lot of hard work.

Hard work makes me think of another quote, this one is from Gandhi; "We must be the change we wish to see in the world". Have you ever heard anything so logical?! You can apply it too everything in your life charity, work, relationships, health and more. When I think like that within the health department of my life I use it in the sense 'be the change you wish to see'. You have to BE it to BECOME it, work it to gain it.

Enough of my rambles for tonight, don't want anyone to drown, its getting a bit too deep in here man!

Stop and smell the sea urchins and sangria

2010-02-07T22:46:00.000+01:00

Today I had one of those days when I remember that the grass isn't always greener. I remembered that my life, the way I live now, the people in it and the town it happens in, is not that shabby.
I think maybe some of you know what I am talking about. It is so easy to forget what beauty you have around you, you become blind to the reality of the everyday life.
Of course it is hard to stay focused and in the moment when we (well I do) are constantly planing the next move, trip or the next thing that is going to create happiness.

I have it all around me, happiness, life is there and it is not hiding either! Yesterday we had a nice relaxing Saturday with sangria and sun on our balcony (how awesome isn't that photo?! Like from a charter catalog!). And today went for a walk with my husband into town to people watch and without any effort on my part it turned into this beautiful day. People were swarming the town from last nights motorcycle meet up and today's chameleon festival(see photo above). We just didn't have any idea any of this was happening, since we were not looking in the place where we actually live our lives!

So I guess this weekend I have learnt to "stop and smell the roses", or rather the sea urchin that they were serving at the festival. I am so happy I live in this cool little town! Don't get me wrong, I looove to plan things, research and write lists and will keep doing it too but in the future I might just start too look at whats closest too me and actually see it this time!

My big cast iron balls

2010-02-04T22:20:00.000+01:00

If anyone is looking for a new way to sweat a lot and build up some of that muscle that is hiding beneath the skin somewhere I recommend kettlebells. Yes those are my 18 and 25 pound babies you see in the picture to the right.

Today I started my new Thursday workout routine (don't run on Tue and Thu) and decided to dedicate it fully to my big cast iron balls! I always do 15 min after running, but love muscle so decided to incorporate more, and its so much fun!

I would never had believed it either, my husband was (is) the god of kettlebell but I never thought that I would get into it. Swinging a heavy cast iron ball around didn't look like a good time too me... But once I found a good workout (started with Lauren Brooks and still love it, cant wait for the new DVD!) I was so hooked. Its like the ultimate core exercise.

I am not going to lie, it is probably one of the hardest work outs you've had in your life and it is easy to get injured if not applying proper technique. But it is so worth it and you will walk around feeling like a total bad ass all day!

Knowledge is a windmill on speed

2010-02-04T00:00:00.000+01:00

Rainy and windy day here in Rota. The weather was helpful and I actually had a really productive day inside today! Have finally got some of the books for this semester, so I am playing catch up and pretending to be a super wind powered studying mechanism!

Have one question though, what is up with these people who write the textbooks for university? Do they have something to prove or whatever reason do they have not to use "normal" language in writing? I catch myself all the time after reading a paragraph and then realising I didn't understand what I just read so I have to reread it one (or more) times! So frustrating, forget the academic gibberish and just say it out straight!

Catching up like a windmill on speed though! Although I really only understand half of what I read, I find it very interesting. The first couple books were on feminist and gender based theology, which does not rock my boat. But the one I am working on now focuses more on systematic christian theology that attempts to formulate an orderly and rational account of the Christian faith and beliefs.
The guys at the faculty has us answering the question; what is theology's most important aspect... Easy right...

Time to sleep and dream of the valentine weekend I am planning... Will tell more when its all booked.
Hope the weather clears a bit tomorrow, seriously need a good run!

Where did my ladybugs go?

2010-02-02T23:35:00.000+01:00

Last week I was so pumped and ready to go with everything I have going on in my life. This week, yeah, not so much. This week I just want to be lazy and not have to do anything of the things that I am supposed to be doing.
My husband tells me that life is not just fun fun fun all the time, reality comes and bites you in the ass once in awhile... Ugh, I hate when he is right.

If I could have it my way I would just like to hide from the world for a few days. Creep under some magical protective blanket that would keep me safe and warm and very well hidden.
I will get over this soon enough though, I always do.
Life goes on and before you know it I will have ladybugs crawling all over me (under the Tuscan sun reference) and I will be smiling again.
Here little ladybugs, come on, you can do it, here here little ladybugs just come on crawling to me...

Hmmpft... perhaps I shouldn't try so hard.

Humbug

2010-02-01T23:04:00.000+01:00

Due to once a month hormonal reasons I am not writing today, believe me, it is for the best.
So instead, here comes some flash fiction I wrote for my creative writing class last semester. Suits my grumpy mood. Enjoy!
(The photo is the spookiest I had, from Aracena in Huelva)

Here is to the future...

It was soon the beginning of a new year and the time was ripe for a new start, time for Shannon’s life to become whatever she wanted it to be. And there was only one way that this would happen, she had to kill her best friend. She had thought about this for a few months now and that was the only decision that made any sense whatsoever. Everything, after all, was Erica’s fault, Shannon’s whole fucked-up life was her fault. Erica was always bossing her around and giving Shannon false promises that one day she would actually be there for her, but obviously this was a one way street. It was driving Shannon nuts and all she could feel was hate and anger and she just couldn’t stand it anymore.

On the eve of the new year Shannon had convinced Erica, after a lot of begging and making it seem like she was doing her this huge favor, to come with her on a brisk walk through the woods. It would be refreshing after the big feast Shannon had prepared and that Erica had greedily wolfed down without a single word of thanks. The winning argument was that they would feel less bloated at the party they were going to later and Shannon knew that a sexy start of the new year was very important for Erica.

“Oh my god I’m going to get so hammered later, 2010 is going to start with a massive hang over that’s one thing that I know for sure!” Erica said looking pleased with her plan for the night. “I’m already feeling totally woozy form that champagne we had with dinner.”

“Yeah I think you managed to drink the whole bottle yourself”

“Well how could I not? The food you cooked was so damn salty,” she said and laughed. An instant rush of rage and pain filled Shannon. It was always like this, she could not please Erica, it didn’t matter how hard she tried.

As they stumbled through the woods the pain and anger inside Shannon was replaced by a sneer on her face and butterflies of anticipation in her stomach. It was nearly time, the drugs she had put into the champagne seemed to be already working their magic. This was going to be the best year ever.

“Shannon, enough of this damn refreshing walk nonsense, what a stupid idea it was anyway, I need to go home and get ready already.” Erica said stubbornly, stopped abruptly and at once spun around. The sudden turn did not agree with her body and she stumbled to the ground.

“Ouch! Shit I think I twisted my foot!” Erica grimaced from the pain. Shannon pouted her lips and stood there, looking down at Erica with false pity. “Stop staring you damn fool, do something!” Shannon nodded her head and the pout turned into a smile. “Oh my god, I’m not feeling too good, Shannon I think I’m gonna pass out” and that is exactly what Erica did.

Shannon dragged the body of her best friend further into the woods and pushed it so it tumbled down a steep slope. She watched and giggled as Erica’s body would crush into tree stubs and rocks on the way down. Carefully Shannon made her way down the slope, slipping a few times herself. She had been here the day before, digging the grave, and luckily the body landed pretty darn close to it.

“And now just to make sure” she said to herself and pulled up the axe she had stored in the grave. Closing her eyes she swung the axe down a few times feeling it breaking through flesh and bone. Still not looking at the body, since blood always made her feel squeamish, she kicked the messy corpse down into the grave and threw the blood-spattered axe down after it. After covering up the hole she took great pleasure in the sensation of the huge weight that was just lifted from her shoulders, took a deep breath and let out a long sigh. Finally she was free. Shannon hurried up the slope, in urgency now to fully enjoy the New Year’s party. Close to the top she sprinted the last bit but lost her footing, sliding down the slope still with a smile on her face it all of a sudden went dark for Shannon.

She awoke to a sky full of multicolored magical fireworks. Paralyzed, mute and filled with panic she thought about her fresh start. Shannon thought about her new beginning and started to weep, lying there motionless on top of the newly filled grave.

Having it all

2010-01-31T12:52:00.000+01:00

I am one of those gals who usually thinks that being alone is wonderful, I enjoy and need my own time and I am not at all scared of being alone.
But let me tell you, friends totally rock. They give me such a sense of accomplishment by just hanging out with them. And after yesterday I feel very accomplished!

Yesterday was one of them Saturdays where my husband and I have nothing really planned out and would be happy just staying home all day. But then something happens, and it usually does when I don't have to do anything, that turns everything into an adventure just because everything I am doing is because i want to do it. Is there any better feeling?

The day started at El Paseo (Puerto de la santa Maria) mall for some shopping and washing the car, one of my favorite stores were having a sale and I end up buying this gorgeous leopard print skirt. Or what I thought was a skirt... When I came home and model it for my husband it turns out that something looks a bit wrong. And, oh what is this? Pockets on the bottom... Turns out the "skirt" is a one piece short and top, very ghetto indeed... So (as you can see in the pic) I cut the bottom part of and turn it into a top... Got many compliments actually, hahaha!

Later on we met up with Sara and six other swedes at Juan's grill for dinner. Wow, is that some good food! The best meat I have had in Spain so far, there are no words to explain it so go out and try it yourself! Order the sausage (also in the pic) or the steak, yummy!

After this mind blowing meal with awesome company, Andre and I met our other friends Rosa and Steven for some bar hopping and pool playing. We end this fabulous night hanging out with Tori in my favorite pub O'Grady's and having deep conversations about religion till three in the morning!

Just feeling very thankful to have that Saturday to look back on whenever I get my rare dose of loneliness or feeling sorry for myself. There are so many experiences and people out there and I just happened upon some of the best. Everything without expectations just rocks so much more.

Running wild!

2010-01-29T13:59:00.000+01:00

Oh what a fantastic run I had today! You other runners out there know what I am talking about, one of those runs where your mind clears, your breathing is easy. A perfect breeze to cool you but the sun to make it all sparkle!

And no dogs! Yes, I have, like many fellow hikers, runners and bikers, been pestered by this aggressive dog. Rota is really dog crazy too, it is like every citizen of this little town has at least two of them and they prefer the tiny annoying ones... Anyway last week he just did not want to leave me alone, I change my route and there he still was, barking and going insane. But this week has been totally dog free, ah sweet luxury!

The photos show my route (and what I look at everyday from my balcony) running, can not complain right?!
Of course I wake up just about everyday not wanting to go out there, it is just so much easier to be lazy! But I try to fool my mind, just tell it; you only have to go out there and walk, that's all... But once I am out there the spring in my step just comes naturally and I start running! Afterwards I always feel like a rock star.

Today it was not hard to convince myself thou, it is such a pretty spring day and I have been so sad after the news of my grandfather. I knew there would be no better medicine to cheer me up!

Well, have to go prepare tonight's masterpiece dinner; Marinated and then blackened tuna steaks with a fresh barley salad with a raspberry vinaigrette. Yeah, I am a wicked cook...

Memories...

2010-01-28T23:38:00.000+01:00

My grandfather died today. He is now resting in peace and that gives me comfort.
His death made me think of all the times he made me smile, and the love he gave, sometimes even without knowing it.
Time does not have a price, what we choose to do with it and who we choose to spend it with is of such importance. Give your time to the people you love, that will be your greatest gift.

The second day

2010-01-28T10:16:00.000+01:00

Aha! I did it, I created a blog! You might think that this is not a very big deal, but me and computers usually do not work well together! (had the same sense of euphoria when I managed to create a facebook account...)

So I promised an introduction. Most people following my blog will probably know me, but here goes;
I am a Swedish woman living in the south of Spain.
I am a new wife since October last year and my husband is totally awesome.
I have been studying for awhile and now on my last semester before having my bachelors degree. My studies are right now in Systematic Theology, Ethics and Philosophy of Religion, but before it was mostly history.
I dream of a lot of things, new places to visit, what my future holds, what I will learn next...
I enjoy writing and reading, basking in the sun and listening to the waves, meting my friends for delicious food and drink, and running and kettlebells make me feel like a badass!

Ah, that is a good start of Annika basics! The photo is of me when I was just a wee lass, before it all started. Will return tonight!

Lets see how this works then...

2010-01-27T23:09:00.000+01:00

So, I have decided to start with a blog. I have no idea why, I never even read other peoples blogs. But I guess it is a fun way to get my brilliant thoughts out there to the world, haha.
What I will be writing about is my life here in south Spain, good days bad days, come rain or come sun.
Will write an into later now its time to figure out how this delightful yet a tad scary blog site works!
Puss puss!