Day 202: What's important?

Spent the day buried in a project that should have taken max two hours and wound up taking all day. Bad planning? I don't know. Some people live in a "squeaky wheel gets the oil" mode while my focus is on optimizing for efficiency. When we try to work together, we clash. Puh.

Oh, well. The final product was superb. I can't show it to you here because it requires tactile contact, but if you're curious, send me your snail-mail address and I'll post you a copy.

And I got to walk through this lovely area...so white, and still (except for the wafting voices of the choir practicing in the tiny church that is in the middle of this enclosed courtyard). All in all, a good day.

Day 201: Holiday sales

A fun way to spend an hour or two is browsing Amazon in preparation for a trip to the U.S. No use starting unless I have an hour or two on my hands, because the site is way too good at suggesting items that I might find interesting. The danger is that my impulsive self will run amok so my routine is always to load up the shopping cart and then "sleep on it."

Today's treasures include Barbara Kingsolver's new book, Flight Behavior; Anne Tyler's The Beginner's Goodbye (which I already borrowed from the library and read but have to have my bookshelf); a DVD of Sondheim's Company; Louise Erdrich's The Round House. Did I mention you can do all this shopping while listening to sample music tracks?

Better get back to it now :-)

Day 200: The second hundred mark

Basking in the afterglow of Board Games...Yeah! my monthly gathering of game playing enthusiasts. Best part? Kicking back on the sofa with a clementine and admiring my clean home afterwards :-)

It's the age-old strategy of inviting people over so you're forced to clean. A prerequisite, of course, is that you'll only invite people over to your home if it is clean...which, hard as it is for me to grasp, I'm forced to acknowledge is not a universal truth. Me? I can't think straight when I'm surrounded by clutter, so it's pretty neat around here most of the time. And once a month, I give the place a real cleaning, then reward myself with an afternoon of fun in the company of people.

And as a bonus, I get a clean home to enjoy.

Next month, we're all going to see Assassins afterwards. Let the games continue!

Day 199: Oily business

And so it begins...eight days of everything fried. Happy Chanukkah! Plagiarizing from an acquaintance I bid all my Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Buddhist friends et al. lives filled with light that will show you the way to happiness, love and understanding.

Let the latke eating begin!

Day 198: Out of hibernation

Took the train out to the 'burbs today to have dinner with my Sweeties and their dad. It's about a 10 minute walk from the subway station to their house, through a residential area along tree-lined paths. In other words,  clean snow all over the place...the paths were lined with it, laden tree branches sagged under it, and children frolicked all around.

After three days in the great indoors, it felt great to trudge through the snow with my ever so wonderful cleats keeping me safely grounded and protected from slipping.

Winter...this type of winter...makes me happy.

Day 197: Dagens musikal

Attention ALL lovers of musicals. Here is a blog you will not want to miss.

Not mine. But mine.

This is today's happy...one new musical a day for 365 days. What an incredibly fun project this sounds like. I wonder what the next 365 will be to surface.

So, without further ado, I present my friend Johan Rudebeck, www.musikaldiggaren.se Hop on board, it's day 1!

Because you've got to
ac-cen-tu-ate the positive...

I 

Day 196: Oh the weather outside is frightful...

...which makes the fact that construction of two balconies in my building was started today incredibly amusing. It made me laugh out loud when I saw the workmen out in the garden building scaffolding in the midst of a snow blizzard. Ya gotta love the Swedes! A plan is a plan and weather be damned! But then, a picture's worth a thousand words:

Day 195: Hot potatoes

I've been accused by my colleagues of sending (too) many mails. Don't know if it's because it's true or for some other reason. I'm a fan of mail in a professional network and on this project I've been introduced to Dropbox and Basecamp, helpful tools to help keep people in sync. Down side is that everyone has their preferred communication style and inclination to learn ceilings, I think.

But that's neither here nor there...my day brightened considerably, even as the sun started setting at around 14.00, by conversation after conversation with the incredibly professional production team that I'm part of and help to coordinate. God, I adore theater people. And the process of making it all happen. What a privileged life I lead. (And by "God" I make no religious concessions whatsoever..."god," as we all know, "is in the details.")

Which brings me right back to the subject of e-mails. I honor my god of details. It's what gets me through the days. That, and the music, which never fails me.

Listen for yourselves...on Spotify for example :-)

Photos-of-the-day

My toasty wool socks from Riga come...

...in handy when the thermometer reads like this!

Day 194: Slip sliding..no way

Let me tell you what I am happy about right now:

1. After freaking me out by displaying a message that my user name and/or password was/were incorrect, it turned out that when I typed in both the password and the captcha phrase, I could log on after all. Phew.
2. In an hour-long phone conversation we were able to settle the contents and order of the program for Assassins. Efficient, aren't we?
3. Before leaving the house into the icy winter weather, I both remembered to take my cleats AND remembered where I stored them at the end of last winter.

On that last point, allow me to rave about this wonderful winter aide that enables me to venture into the great outdoors unhindered. I actually do not mind winter weather. The cold does not bother me much...you can always put on another layer of clothing. What terrifies me is the ice and the risk of slipping. It's happened to me once (resulting in a rather severe black eye) and it was not an experience I'd care to repeat. So last year, I bit the bullet and purchased a pair of cleats. They are made of rubber and fit snugly over regular shoes. Without them I would surely hibernate the winter away.

Day 193: Parlez-vous...?

After a month long hiatus from the Language Exchange meetup, I dived right in...to the kiddy pool. Sheesh, how hard can it be? I mean it's a language I used to parler fluently. But no sirree, those words are just stuck in there and refuse to come out.

It was a relief when the Swedish session rolled around and I could be in my element again, although I still find it somewhat bewildering to be the "language expert" at the table. Today one of the other hosts corrected an error I made...that was sooo nice, does not happen often these days which I attribute more to Swedish politeness than to my flawless speech.

After biting cold temperatures on the way home, I am now happy to be home and warming up supper.

Bon appetite!
Smaklig måltid!

P.S. Today's photo has no direct connection to the blog...it is just so fabulous, I had to share it!

Or whatever you say in your local language... :-)

Day 192: Waste not...

Leftover rehearsal fruit transformed...somewhere in the afterlife my mother is doing a cartwheel ;-)

One for now, one for the freezer.

Who's coming over for fika?

Day 191: Creature comforts...

It's been a serene home day today. Mattias called at 08.30, alltså before my morning coffee, always a dangerous move and done at one's own risk ;-) There was a quiet steady snowfall all day and the view from my kitchen was enchanting.

Had a long, uninterrupted pass of Rummikub, which I just love, this morning. Rummikub is a game of my youth. Nowadays, you can play it online with opponents worldwide. When I was a kid, my Aunt Giza used to have a  regular game with the neighborhood ladies, on her balcony. They rotated who hosted and when it was at her house, I got to play. By then I was 16 or so and it was a rite of passage. Before that, we played cards a lot. Everyone in my family was a card player. My parents had a circle of friends, mostly German, who met regularly at "the club," as we called it, to play rummy. It was all very civilized, with coffee and cake served. Fela, the proprietress, was a warm and gracious host. I would make it a habit to stop by at the club on my way home from school...looking for my mother, who often hung out there. Fela would offer saft and sometimes a piece of cake.

And now, my favorite comfort food: roasted chestnuts...MUMS...and putting away the laundry.

Day 190: Done and dusted

First snowfall of the season. And we had an open rehearsal today. The air was abuzz. After only 13 days of rehearsal folks, we put on Assassins. I'm impressed. And humbled. And moved. And grateful. And happy it was received well.

People were bewildered at first, and then drawn in and finally intrigued. And that's an amazing feat to have accomplished. Kudos.

Psyched for the next go-round. But first...Little Women, and laundry, and sleep. Not necessarily in that order...

Day 189: LOL!

Don't really know if this makes me happy...but it sure did make me laugh!

Day 188: Pit-pitty-pat

"Listen to the rain on the roof go

Pit-pitty-pat--

Pit-pitty-pat--

Pitty--

Sit, kitty cat..."

All day long...and my umbrella collapsed after only one use.

But what difference does that make when you're absorbed in creating musical theater. That is classy and funny and political and not? What an adventure...breathing life into characters... communicating intention...and the music, always the music to fall back on. Because you can't fake the music, it is what it is. An extraordinary challenge, one worth rising up to...and that's fun.

Charmed, I'm tellin' you...simply, charmed.

Day 187: Bees

Aaahhhh...four minutes to midnight...and I still haven't written my blog entry for today. And now there are only two minutes left before it's tomorrow and Day 188.

No problem, because when you're a busy little bee, there's always time. As the saying goes, "If you want something done, give it to a busy person." Which makes me so happy...you would not believe what we got done today...mug shots, and make-up, and costumes, and photos, and singing rehearsals, a run through, flyers, a planning session. And a blog before midnight! Life is good.

Day 186: My thanksgiving

I'm reading Little Women for book club and am finding it very soothing. There is something I like about being in the company of these girls. And so much of it still translates to today. There is an American spirit about it, a "can-do-ness" that appeals to the girl in me. Fun to revisit the Marches.

Thanksgiving Day. A little sad. Miss my family and friends. I'm not usually here at this time of year so it's no wonder I didn't get invited by anyone. Could have invited myself to a number of places where I would have been welcome, I'm sure. Still.

Then Lori called...so sweet. And she looked so beautiful in her gorgeous necklace. And life was good again. (namaste)

Today, a day of Thanksgiving. I honor my inner Jag. Which is I, in English. Ani, in Hebrew. And cook for the week. Allrecipes to the rescue as usual. Decided on one soup and one meat dish. Looked at what I had in the fridge. Last go-round it was pasta, so no pasta this time. Voilà the results, yumminess indeed.

(cont'd)

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/sweet-potato-carrot-apple-and-red-lentil-soup/detail.aspx

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/baked-garlic-parmesan-chicken/detail.aspx

Back to the Marches: Amy's just come home from Aunt March's and declared that she intends to turn her closet into a retreat for meditation and being for herself. This blogg is my retreat in a way. For those who've been following, we're more than half-way through the journey. Thank you for coming along for the ride. And thank you Grace Ann for the inspiration.

Day 185: Puttering

Long night's sleep and leisurely breakfast followed by catching up on all the little things I do not get around to on weekdays. How did I ever manage to work full-time and still be active on many other fronts? Beyond my comprehension :-)

It was nice to be able to straighten up a bit, load and run the dishwasher, and spend some time coordinating logistics and researching texts for Assassins. At a relaxed pace. In my own living room.

Happy Saturday everyone!

Day 184: Perspective

Patrick James killed Red John today. At least that's the episode they aired. It's a rerun, even here in Sweden. Still, I paid more careful attention to their dialogue this time around to discover that it really is an amazing exercise in perspective. Well written and acted too.

What on earth does this have to do with happy? Nothing really. Now happy, that's getting help with the dishes! And watching the transforming work of a pro.

Day 183: Full Gallop

Håkan Jonson as Diana Vreeland in a two hour one-man play was simply delightful. A happy way to end a busy day and in the company of members of "my" company.

P.S. Now officially half-way through a year of finding happy...that, too, makes me happy!

Day 182: A visual feast

Managed to squeeze in a brief visit at the opening of Finnish artist Jorma Puranen's exhibition, after the end of today's rehearsal and the Kabbalah class I attend on Wednesday evenings. Puranen's photos are strikingly painting-like. He achieves this effect by photographing the reflection of light in pieces of wood that he has painted black. The one you see here is from a series he called Icy Prospects, capturing the magnificent arctic landscape for which I have a special affinity.

Day 181: Time zones

In some part of the world it is still yesterday and I have not missed day 181 of my blog ;-)
Why, you ask? Exhaustion I reply. But it was worth it!

Had breakfast with a former colleague and friend who is now working in France. He was here on a (very short) business trip and our only opportunity to get together was yesterday morning. At 7 AM. The crack of dawn :-) We figured out that it's been eight years since he was last in Stockholm and I lamented his departure which had a strong negative effect on my social life. On the other hand, I now have a good excuse to visit Paris...as if one needs an excuse for that.

And now, on to today...

Day 180: You learn something new every day

That isn't just a saying for me today. I learned all about inscribed angles today. Well, maybe not all but enough to be able to explain a particularly tricky math problem to a number of students who were at the Mattecentrum convention...that is, after another volunteer explained it to me.

Joy!

(Oh, if you're curious too, here's a link )

Day 179: Brain calesthenics

In a most relaxing pause in my day today, I spent some time preparing for the math convention that Mattecentrum is organizing. This is the first time I will have been at a Fall one, in the spring we set up big tents in Sergels Torg, a round square right out side Stadsteatern (The City Theater Center). Tomorrow we get more luxurious digs...Blå Hallen at Statshuset. This is where the city hosts the Nobel Dinner every year at City Hall. Quite magnificent. Just like the work that we do.

A good reminder of how much I like math and that I once was quite good at it too (until I hit pre-calc and it all died in the dust with a bang ;-)). I will be helping youngsters with Math B or 2 as they've now renamed it. It's a bit of algebra, quadratic equations, graphs, basic geometry (not the proofs, applications), probability. The fun stuff ;-) I do better on Matte B then 2...although they are supposed to be on equivalent levels...I think.

That's the news for today. More tomorrow.

Day 178: Ahhh...

Slept till I woke up.
Drank coffee.
Patzed around.
Read Little Women.
Took a long nap.
Wrote a PR-brief.
Drank elderberry soda.
Watched Downtown Abbey.
Writing blog.
More Little Women.
Sleep.

Ahhh...

Day 177: Proximity

Today, I think a great deal about my brother's children. How close to my heart they stand and how far away they live. How happy I am to be part of their lives. How I wish they were a greater part in mine. And I hope they are safe.

Sister and brother a few years ago

Nephew in April

Husband and wife earlier this year

It's not in our teachings to be the aggressors. But it is to stand up for our rights. Take responsibility. Build a future. Invest in education. Science. Technology. The Arts. The Humanities. Medicine.

Peace would benefit the Israelis much more than the Arabs. And therein lies the crux, in my opinion. If you're truly interested in Peace, you would strike a deal that is reasonable. And then you would stick to it. That's what trust is based on. The past is the best predictor of the future. That doesn't mean that you never make mistakes. You do. And you learn to acknowledge them, take responsibility for your part. That also becomes part of the past...and thus part of the future.

A bit philosophical this evening. It's that kind of happy.

Day 176: Brainstorming

Tea kettle's ready. Soon, three of the most creative people I know will arrive, put their heads together and talk theater. We are going to focus on the program this evening and after almost a week of rehearsals, I have a much clearer picture of where we're headed.

I love the theater!

Day 175: Hearing voices now

A threadbare somewhat worn dressing at a theater in the outskirts of Stockholm. Harsh lighting. Temperature a bit too low. Footsteps in the corridor.

And the sounds of working actors from every corner and way. Piano too. Dialogue. Singing.

I'm part of the creative process. Square, organizational, administrative me.

Now THAT's happiness.

Day 174: Forgetfulness, part 3

Can hardly put together coherent sentences I'm so tired tonight. Still it was fun to lift my head out of the intense focus on our musical and attend book club this evening. I'd read the book, A Beginner's Goodbye by Anne Tyler (one of my favorite authors) a couple of months ago and was surprised at a) how much I had to say about it and b) how much of it I'd forgotten.

The discussion centered for a while on just this subject: books you've read and cannot remember, even when you remember that you really liked (or disliked) them. A couple of decades ago, I was a very avid Rex Stout fan and collected all 58 of his Nero Wolfe mysteries. You'd think it would be impossible to reread mysteries...after all, what's the point of reading a who done it when you already know who did it, right? This is when forgetfulness comes in handy. I'm pretty sure I've read the entire series at least twice, possibly three times.

Which reminds me, I need to start taking a good book along with me for the long daily commutes I have through the end of November. Good thing I've got plenty on my shelves that I know I read and loved...but could not tell you what they were about :-) It's like watching reruns, only better!

Day 173: Food for thought

Actually, food for stomach would be a more appropriate title. So happy that rehearsals for Assassins are now in full swing. Somewhere along the way today I realized that if I am going to make it through this intensive period, I'd better be sure to take care of myself to the same extent that I am taking care of others around me.

Today this meant leaving the theater when my presence was no longer needed and heading home to cook. I'm especially happy that when I got home, I stuck with my plan, went food shopping and came home to prepare one pot of soup and a lasagna. Now I'm all set for lunch and dinner for the remainder of the week: nutritious and delicious food, and price worthy to boot. All in time to catch this evening's episode of The Big Bang Theory.

Day 172: My cups runneth over

It's the day before rehearsals begin and there's a buzz in the air. It's the bees who are busy creating magic. The bees are not driven by the music. (Or are they, but I'm not really tuned in?) They're driven by safety, and aesthetics and possibilities. And they've build a world to build a musical in. Magic.

And me, I've been busy too, preparing the "mys" factor. Naturally, there's the basics (coffee, tea, fruit, fika plus stuff to fix them in) but my pièce de resisténce are the real coffee mugs I found on sale at Co-op in my neighborhood. Just under 10 kronor a piece and in different shades of browns they are sure to raise the mys factor significantly. AND they're good for the environment. Ran them through the dishwasher and all.

À demain!

Sneak Preview...sprid vårt ord!

Day 171: Axelbert-Herbelson hot shots!

In these times of shifting relationships and juggling priorities, I witnessed a miraculous event yesterday. It was like watching a perfect waltz. Or catching the light just so. And it occurred to me that I'd been watching this couple dance for many years now, lifting each other and themselves.

With their permission, I will reprint here my tribute to their friendship.

For now, a photo will have to do.

Day 170: Celebration, Swedish Style

There's a wonderful tradition here in Sweden of celebrating occasions. Tonight, I attended such a celebration in honor of a newly hatched PhD (epidemiology). It struck me that what makes these occasions so special is the thoroughness of the celebration; that the person in focus gets celebrated through and through.

These occasions are marked by conviviality and humor. People go to great efforts to show their appreciation for the guest of honor's achievement or simply for being the person they are. There are speeches and stories and songs, rhymes and jingles, performances and toasts. People dress up and gather in joy. And I imagine the celebrated feels incredibly affirmed and mirrored.

Swedes can teach the rest of the world a thing or two about rejoicing in celebration.

Day 169: Forgetfulness, part 2

Long brunch with a long-lost friend (well, not exactly lost but this meal has been 2.5 years in the planning) followed by a little online Rummikub, and off I went to the math lab. Today, I was able to help one student understand parallel lines and I learned that a cubic meter is equivalent to 1000 liters, and that a nanometer is 10 raised to negative nine of a meter. All in all, a good session. And it turned out that one of the other volunteers lives in my direction so I had company on the way home.

All was frid och fröjd until I turned on my cell phone and saw a missed call from Bente. Shit, shit, shit. I'd blown it. I forgot to leave the key for them... embarrassing. Call came in at 6:21. It was now past 7. Quickly, I returned the call. "Shit, shit shit," I said when she answered. After a moment's hesitation as she was figuring out who it was, the laughter peeled. Naturally, Bente had figured out a solution and they were all happily ensconsed, no problem. "I'm happy you forgot," she added.

Yup, sometimes you need a reminder that it doesn't all begin and end with you :-)

Day 168: Happy birthday to me!

It's my birthday and the American people have made it truly special.

Four more years. Phew.

Day 167: Forgetfulness

No, you did not miss a day...I did. Completely forgot to blog yesterday. Well, not completely, I did remember at around 11 PM for a brief moment, after which I got engrossed in the absolutely wonderful texts that are in progress for the Assassins program. It was well past midnight when I was done reading and organizing them and went to sleep a tired and very happy camper. So I did not forget about happy, I just forgot to report about it.

Up bright and early today and off to have lunch with the other cutie and her mom. There is something about carting a baby around, blowing raspberries on her belly and making her laugh in delight that is so incredibly satisfying. And fun. And makes me happy. Thank you to all the parents who over the years have shared their kids with me. You have all enriched my life beyond measure. Keep those babies coming ;-))

Day 165: Namaste

It's chilly in my apartment tonight, and I'm glad for my Dale sweater, and for the chill that invites me to wear it. It's been a long day that embraced chauffeuring and getting people settled and a long afternoon of board games capped off by dinner on the couch.

And a time of living inside my clothes. My "time off" time. Earned by a sense of accomplishment and meaning. Seized so rarely, the more sweet is the feeling.

Day 164: Simple pleasures

Today's happy: spelt pasta with homemade meat sauce topped with Parmesan cheese, a glass of elderberry soda and the season premier of Downtown Abbey. Poifect. 

Day 163: Nourished and nurtured

It's been a great meal day. Started out by lunching with one of my cuties and her dad (seen here in a splendid hug moment...the cutie, not the dad ;-)). Several hours and one long nap later, off I went to shabbat dinner at the rabbi's. It's so nice to have friends to visit within walking distance. And shabbat dinner always meaning interesting people and Mina's fabulous cooking.

Tonight was no exception with lively conversation that covered topics such as home schooling, table setting and the Swedish infrastructure. We still sang in an incredibly uncomfortable key for my taste but sing we did. And then there's the amazing opportunity to speak in a variety of languages including Hebrew and French. Oh, there was a baby to squeeze too.

Now I'm gonna roll into bed, content and no doubt weighing a bit more than I did this morning :-))

Day 162: Honored guest

My piano and I are happy. My piano because it rarely gets played. Me because today's guest artist is none other than one of my Sweeties. "I like being at your house, Auntie Bella." Now that's music to my ears. Plus clothes hung up, "may I please" at every turn, "thank you very much." A real little gentleman.

It does not get better than this!

Excuse me now...it's time for Snakes and Ladders...my Sweetie awaits.

Day 161: Whimsy

Whatwith Sandy wreaking havoc on family and friends in the USA, I hardly had time to notice that it's Halloween. Until I was on my way down to the laundry room and was confronted by creepy crawlies dangling from the ceiling and climbing the walls.


Love it that someone in the building felt moved to decorate :-) Certainly brightened up my day! Hope it brightens yours too...

Day 160: The flowers that bloom...

You gotta love a plant that flowers in winter! This morning I noticed small buds popping out all over my Christmas cactus (a much more apt name than its official Schlumbergera.) This against the background of gray and wind and rain, plus news that my family and friends seem to have weathered Sandy OK, puts a smile on my face today.

Day 159: Sympathy winds

Add caption

It's been blowing like crazy here in Stockholm all day today. The rain began late in the afternoon, just in time for my outing. Feels like sympathy weather for all the friends and family on the east coast of the USA. At times like this, I am so very happy for all the electronic media that enables us to keep in touch. And even happier that the news so far seems to be positive.

Keep those posts coming people...

Day 158: Brrrr....

It was quite chilly at my place today. So much so that I fled back to bed at around noon with ice cold feet and hands...and I was wearing fleece!

On days such as these, I think about how lucky I am to have a bed to flee to, a home to live in, food in the fridge and access to unending entertainment at my fingertips (long live my iPad ;-)).

That's plenty of happy wouldn't you say? (Oh, and after I warmed up I even completed an organizing project...my cup runneth over with joy!)