Day 266: To each his own

There are some Swedish popular foods that I've yet to develop a taste for, among them the semla. Today is national semla day, known in the vernacular as "fettisdag" (a play on words; you can split the word in two different ways: fet+tisdag [fat+Tuesday] or fettis+dag [fatso+day]). However you split it, the point is to eat this cardamom-spiced wheat bun which has its top cut off and insides scooped out, and is then filled with a mix of the scooped-out bread crumbs, milk and almond paste and topped with whipped cream. The cut-off top serves as a lid and is dusted with powdered sugar. Traditionally, it was eaten in a bowl of hot milk, though nowadays most people eat it with a cup of coffee or tea. And I don't eat it at all...just the though of all that whipped cream makes me slightly nauseated.

Which isn't to say that I do not have my own sugar vices. I'm sure the Swedes would turn their noses up at the thought of consuming one of my favorite junk foods, the Pop Tart. I'll be the first to admit that it has absolutely no redeeming qualities (or nutritious value) whatsoever. Still, it is my personal favorite sinful delight. In my defense, I will say that I only bought one package on my recent trip to the U.S. and managed to save half of the servings and transported them home with me. They barely survived the trip intact as evidenced by the photo below but that did not decrease my pleasure in consuming them.

As the French would say, "chacun a son goût!"

Day 265: Back in the saddle

The language saddle that is. After a three month hiatus, I rejoined the Monday night Swedish language exchange. Someone changed the venue and when I showed up at the new café, I found it is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Fortunately, I was early and could post a message on the Meetup site to let people know. I also could post a note on the door directing people to the old venue (a different café just a short walk away on the same street) thanks to the kindness of a neighboring store owner who provided shelter from the cold while I wrote the note and a piece of tape :-)

There's something about helping beginners with Swedish which I find both satisfying and fun. And you often wind up talking about the oddest topics. Today's included wedding traditions in Iran, Spain, Austria, Switzerland and among Jews, disparate corporate cultures, as well as designing safety measures for the Stockholm subway system. All while listening with careful attention for grammar, pronunciation and vocabulary.

Brings back fond memories of my first months in Sweden all those many years ago.

Day 264: Lovely Sunday

A small but enthusiastic group gathered at my place for board games today. We played a couple of games new to me as well as a travel version of Clue. Even learned how to count to five in Turkish (bir, iki, üc, dört, bes) for a card game that I consistently lost :-)

Afterwards it was nap time on the sofa followed by one of my favorite meals (pictured at right). Then a phone call from a new-found theater friend simply to shoot the breeze. Now I can go off to bed happily and read some more Dickens. All in all, a lovely Sunday.

Day 263: Ingenuity

Out for a winter walk today, I passed by the ice skaters at Kungsträdgården. A happy sight, don't you agree?

Oh, and this bit of Swedish ingenuity also brought a smile to my face; baby carriage duplex parking at Kulturhuset (the Stockholm Culture Center). Gotta love those Swedes!

Day 262: Frozen treasures

As northeastern U.S. prepares for the freezing temperatures of a snow storm, I raided my freezer where, to my delight, I found homemade chili and the best saffron buns (also homemade, a holiday gift from a good friend). Yummo!

Happily ensconced on my sofa, I eat with relish and delight.

Day 261: The little things

My internet is working again. Every once in a while, for reasons I do not fathom, the wireless connection at my place simply dies. Usually, I can resurrect it by rebooting both the modem and the router but last night that did not work. Fortunately, unlimited internet access is included in my cell phone plan and this fall I learned how to create a personal hotspot using my iPhone. Sanity restored.

This afternoon, just as mysteriously as it disappeared the connection reappeared.

Yup, folks, it does not take much to make me happy!

Day 260: Efficient

When the systems I set in place work, it's pure joy! Sometime last year, I put reminders into my calendar to renew my passports. I have three so keeping track of when each expires is a challenge. Rather than risk discovering that my passport had expired when I was on my way to the airport for some future trip, I scheduled renewals a couple of months before each expiration date.

Today it was time to renew the Swedish passport. This being Sweden, you can make an appointment to renew your passport via the internet. Unfortunately, I missed my appointed time as I took the wrong subway line, so I wound up getting a drop-in number. Just forty minutes later, it was my turn. The police officer checked my height, asked whether I wanted my current passport canceled now or when I pick up the new (I chose the latter), asked for my cell phone number so they can text me when the passport is ready to pick up and then took my photo. I signed on-screen, paid by credit card and that was. The whole procedure took less than five minutes.

Gotta love them Swedes!

Day 259: Jet lag no more

Great cure for jet lag: go to the theater at 11 a.m.! You have to get up at a reasonable hour and stay awake through the performance (especially if you get a seat in the second row where you are as visible to the actors on stage as they are to you!). If you're lucky and it's a good performance, you'll leave the theater feeling energized.

My day continued with a trip to the grocery store to restock the fridge which was followed by vacuuming my flat and fixing my printer. Next on the agenda is a co-op board meeting. By the time that's over, it'll be bedtime and voilà I'm back on schedule.

Theater at 11 was the key :-) And today it was also free at the Royal Dramatic Theater (dress rehearsal for Les Liaisons Dangereuses).

Day 259: Burst of energy

Everything's in its place. Not only did I unpack, but actually reorganized one of the closets to accommodate the growing number of board games. And I found bread, milk, cheese and juice in the freezer, so food for the day solved without an outing to the grocery store.

Then I discovered that my American Netflix account works in Sweden now that Netflix has expanded to Europe. At 25% less than the Swedish price per month. Sweet. It simply adjusts the selection of movies and TV programs to the local market.

And to cap it all off, the spring 2013 issue of The Sondheim Review arrived in today's mail.

Happy camper.

Day 258: Home sweet home

Lost a day of blogging to the long trip home. Trip was uneventful and I spent most of my time sleeping, just the way I like it.

Luxurious to be picked up at the airport and thrilling surprise that my Sweeties were also there to greet me. Got a big running hug so you know I'm happy. Then off we went to a cupcake decorating session in honor of Dr. Levál. Such fun. And yummy.

Very nice homecoming indeed!

Day 256: Family of friends

So much laughter and warmth as six of us gather for dinner. Lively conversation. Openness, intimacy, frankness. Generosity.

These are people to count on. People to cherish. People I choose to be part of my life and who have chosen me as well. Some of us go back a long time...high school. Some go back as long but only became my friends a few years ago. All with integrity. And a great sense of humor.

Oh...and yet another fabulous culinary experience.

On the eve of my departure from New York, I count my blessings.

Day 255: Manicure

When I lived in Queens all those many (almost two decades) ago, I had a standing Saturday morning appointment to get my nails done. Hibiscus is the name of the polish I always chose and Sherry the name of the woman who always did my nails. Sherry, whose name, I found out only a few years ago, is really ShaoLi, is from China and did both my nails and my mother's (at my recommendation) for many, many years. Sherry called my mother MaMa and would introduce me to her colleagues and customers as her sister, "Same mother, different father," was her line. Sherry was invited and attended my mother's surprise 80th birthday party, visited her in the hospital, and even called me in Sweden because she was worried when she hadn't seen my mother in a while.

So you will understand how happy we both were when I showed up at the salon today to get my nails done. I always make it a point to do that when I am in NY and am always received with a huge hug and a smile, the best manicure ever accompanied by a long and luxurious hand massage (because she knows it's my favorite part of the manicure).

Day 254: Taken to task

Four chores and an errand lifted my spirits immeasurably. This might not be immediately evident to most, after all, who revels in doing chores or running errands? Not even I do. What makes these make my heart sing is being allowed to help a friend.

In my experience, many people have a hard time asking for help or even accepting help when it is freely offered. At first glance, it may seem that they do not want to feel obligated to the other. However, I believe that beneath that is a reluctance to admit that they would welcome help. People too often confuse "would welcome" with "need" and "need" is for them associated with weakness of character. They should be able to make it on their own.

What they fail to take into account is the pleasure they deprive the helper of. Which is ironic since they, themselves, need only look within to connect to the pleasure, joy and satisfaction they feel when their offer to help has been accepted by others.

So make someone happy today and say, "Yes, thanks. That would be terrific." Then let them re-pot your plant, or wash the dishes, or do the laundry, or take that package to the post office, etc.

Day 253: Symphonic Sondheim

Lincoln Center. Avery Fisher Hall. New York Philharmonic with Paul Geminiani at the helm. All Sondheim evening with Nathan Lane as host. Need I say more?

Best line of the evening: "It took a while longer for Steve to reach acclaim as a composer [than as lyricist]. Let's just say people needed time to improve their humming skills."

Listening to this music without the distraction of lyrics and played by an orchestra the size and caliber of the New York Philharmonic was pure joy. My favorite was Dances from Pacific Overtures...such delicacy and beauty. Naturally, Sweeney Todd was brilliant...it lends itself so well to philharmonic-size orchestration. But Pacific Overtures held surprises and I liked that.

Oh, and for the initiated, Monsieur was in the house applauding vigorously, so I take it the wrist has healed well.

Gotta love it!

Day 252: Home delivery

It's raining. I've been in bed all day as my cold gets worse rather than better. What's there to be happy about? I'll tell you...

I'm in NYC and you can get food delivered to your door. Any kind of food you want. And it tastes great. And it's not expensive. Well, you can get expensive food delivered too. But I didn't. Instead, I had eggplant Parmesan and fusilli from a local Italian place. Complete with salad, bread, butter and a little plastic bag of Parmesan cheese.

Ya gotta love NY!

Day 251: Reunion

Brunch at The Brasserie on East 53 Street

Had a wonderful brunch today with a friend from graduate school who I hadn't seen in some eight years. We have one of those relationships that picks up pretty much where it left off and I simply delight in the company of this vivacious, intelligent, no-nonsense, funny, warm and wise woman. Beautiful too. Our paths have diverged considerably since grad school, she getting married and raising a family and pursuing a career in our former field of study, and me staying single and switch fields (several times) and moving abroad. Still, there's never a lull in the conversation and I am loathe to part ways when our long brunch is over.

What a blessing to have such friends in my life.

Day 250: More culinary heaven...and nostalgia

Brunch: Eggs Benedict with spinach and avocado and crab cake. I ordered one, Mickey D ordered the other and we shared. Why can't you get eggs Benedict in Stockholm? What a great concept...and soooo delicious. Freshly squeezed orange juice and freshly brewed decaf (after the first cup of caffeinated) capped off the meal. And great conversation.

Then I took the train out to Forest Hills, the neighborhood I grew up in, to visit with two of my mother's neighbors who've since become my friends. We ate at a local Chinese restaurant where we were the only non-Chinese customers (always a good sign). It was a special feeling climbing up the subway stairs into my old stomping grounds. So many years. So many memories.

Another satisfying day in NYC. 

Days 248-249: Audacity at its best

The Eugene O'Neill Theater

In its review, The New York Times describes The Book of Mormon as "blasphemous, scurrilous and amore foul-mouthed than David Mamet on a blue streak." And well it was. And very, very funny. I'm always skeptical of a show (or movie or book or art or, well, anything) that is praised beyond the moon and back. This time, I was not disappointed.

I'm fascinated by how it occurs to someone, or a group of collaborators, to pick some topics for a musical. The two most recent ones I've seen...this one and Assassins...certainly focus on odd subject matter. Whatever their motivation...or inspiration...I'm delighted to have been so thoroughly entertained.

As a bonus, I stopped hurriedly by Boston Market on my way to the theater and was able to purchase a bowl of chicken noodle soup to go. Just the thing to fight off  the (yet another) cold I'm developing. That's New York people...chicken soup and Broadway shows. Gotta love it!

Day 247: Culinary heaven

Over lunch today, one of my friends asked me to name the best and worst things about living in Sweden. Best was easy. Worst was tougher so I settled for what I missed a lot. Very high on the list is culinary adventures. Or even novelty. I find the food in Scandinavia devoid of imagination.

Naturally, this is relative and depends on what you compare it to. I'd venture to say that most places in the world would pale in comparison to the rich variety of eating pleasures you can have in New York. It isn't simply the variety of ethnic restaurants to be found. It is also the variety of dishes that you can find within any one ethnicity. Point in case, we ate lunch at a Mexican restaurant today. On the menu were three different types of guacamole, one (the one I ordered) with pomegranate, cilantro and pineapple. I've never seen that on the menu at any other Mexican restaurant I've ever visited. And this was not the only unique dish. And this restaurant was not an exception to the rule, and not particularly pricey either.

Perhaps the Nordic climate causes the imagination to freeze? Some would argue that Swedes in general are not particularly adventurous eaters and offering unusual combinations of flavors would not attract customers. I'm not convinced. I've yet to meet a Swede who did not appreciate good cooking. So, loosen up those imaginations folks and get cooking! In the meanwhile, I'm off to my next food adventure...happy as a clam!

Day 246: Count on it

Spent a couple of hours at the Museum of Mathematics in NYC today. Very hands on. And judging from the noise level in the place I would say a big success with the youngsters. Fun that someone thought to create such a museum and that parents take their kids there. The adults were equally fascinated by the variety of puzzles and experiments around.

Two details that made me smile were the door knob shaped like pi and the pizza pi slicer (complete with directions on how to calculate the pie's circumference and area). Now that's what I call having your pi and eating it too ;-))

Day 245: Variety

Shopping in a high-end supermarket in Manhattan is truly a joyous ordeal. Just one more reason why I cannot move back to New York. I would become a blimp within a year. The choices, the quality, the smells. I'm pleased with my level of discipline today as I only left with three items that I did not specifically go in to buy.

So lunch today was potato and spinach perogies sauteed with onions and served with a side of chili pepper and goat cheese spread. Heaven. Bagels for breakfast tomorrow, with the same spread. Just one more reason to wake up in the morning.

YUMMO!

Days 243-44: Family

Two days of basking in the love and craziness of family...such joy!

I make it a point to try and attend all happy occasions and celebrations, especially when it comes to family events. We are a largish clan and somewhat spread throughout the world, yet we manage to stay in touch and make an effort to gather for important milestones. One such was the wedding of Julie and Ron which took place in Philadelphia last night. And what a joyous occasion it was!

It pleases me no end to observe the passage of time through the maturation and growth of the children in the family, many of whom are at an age to be having children of their own. I particularly like the fact that they, too, stay in touch and involved in each other's lives despite the distances involved.

As we are fond of saying, let us continue to meet under joyous circumstances!

Day 242: Progress

Uneventful flight through which I slept almost continuously. Just the way I like it! Then to my surprise and delight, free WiFi on the NJ Transit train from Newark Airport to Trenton (where my cousin picked me up). Free WiFi. On the commuter train. Now that made me happy. And seeing family. For an entire weekend.

Miss my Stockholm Assassins family though...break a leg you guys on your final performances.

Day 241: Travel eve

My flight leaves at 06:50 AM tomorrow so tonight is travel eve. That time when it becomes essential to get everything done you've put off for weeks. So the place is now clean, the fridge is emptied, trash disposed of, recycling recycled, bills paid, e-mails written and dishes washed.

All that's left is laundry...doubtful as the laundry room was booked all day and evening...and packing. Fortunately, I am staying with relatives the first few days so, worst case scenario, I can pack dirty clothes and do a load of wash there :-)

Will stay up late, late, late tonight so I can sleep, sleep, sleep on the plane. Great feeling, climbing on board; whatever could not get done by then is simply left behind. Until I return home.

"Leaving on a jet plane..."

Day 240: Crossing t's and dotting i's

A calm, luxurious day of bookkeeping, packing, laundry, food and planning details of my upcoming trip to the U.S. A little TV. A little Rummikub. A little FB.

And grateful for a) the e-mail reminder from the travel site and b) myself for actually reading it! Otherwise I would have traveled to the wrong airport on Friday. THAT would not have been fun. Now for a book and a nap.

Until tomorrow then...be well one and all.

Day 239: Dishwashing

Have I mentioned how much I love my dishwasher. OK, perhaps love is a bit strong...but only a bit. The pleasure I get from running the thing is palpable. People have left and in just a few minutes the place is more or less back to normal. Not only are the dishes "out of sight, out of mind," they are also getting clean in the process.

And I get to sleep in tomorrow and wake up to a clean kitchen.

:-)

Day 238: Separation Anxiety

Stephen Sondheim as I first remember him

Every good production requires a dress rehearsal. Tomorrow will be mine. Tomorrow I revert to Jane Q. Public, just a regular theater goer with a passion for musicals in general, and Sondheim in particular. No longer production manager for Assassins, I will be an audience member tomorrow night along with a group of former colleagues. Then, although the show plays through Saturday night, I will retain my civilian status and head toward the U.S. for a wedding followed by a nice visit in NY to reconnect with friends and family.

What an adventure it's been. What excellent work we've done. And how much I've learned. About the production process. About the creative process. About the business end of show business. And, not least, about myself. Moments of intense pleasure and joy, pride in the work and my contributions, a long hard look in the mirror, blemishes and all. An opportunity to forgive myself. And to appreciate the lessons the journey has taught me.

More Sondheim to the people. Mr. Sondheim, to whom I'm ever so grateful for the many ways in which he has enriched my life over the many decades that our paths have overlapped.

Day 237: Flow

One of those days where things just fell into place one after the other. When I woke up this morning, I thought that I'd planned way too many things for this one day. Instead of panicking though, I just started putting one foot in front of the other. Soon, the place was neat and tidy and off I went to the theater where we were to rebuild the set and move costumes and props back into the actors' dressing rooms. On my way, I stopped to recycle the (many) cans and bottles that had accumulated over the past week of performances and pick up fruit and milk.

Once at the theater, everything went smoothly and we were done in less than two hours. Back home then to await the gathering of fellow board game enthusiasts who were also coming to see this evening's performance of Assassins. We played two games I got as Chanukkah presents from my Sweeties, both of which turned out to be quite fun.

Then off to dinner at a neighborhood restaurant that turns out to have a eat two for the price of one special on Sundays. And the food was yummy. Icing on the cake? Everyone loved the show.

What more can a person ask? :-)

Day 236: Perfect timing

There is nothing on earth I enjoy more than a massage. Nothing. It's the ultimate pleasure in my opinion...lying in a warm room, face down and having someone knead my sore or tense muscles. The firmer, the better.

Today's massage, a gift from one of my Swedish brothers (thank you JR!) was all the sweeter having come the day after we had to strike the entire Assassins set, costumes, make-up and props, only to build it all up again tomorrow. Afterwards, lunch at JR's by the fire and a nice chat about musicals and my fondest Sondheim memory. Then home and an afternoon nap.

Pretty perfect Saturday :-)

Day 234: Affirmation

From the 2012 Legatum Prosperity Index (http://www.prosperity.com/Ranking.aspx) which incorporates traditional economic measures of prosperity with measurements of well-being and life satisfaction:

"Like Switzerland, Sweden has been placing significant emphasis on creating the conditions for innovation-led growth. The quality of its public institutions is first-rate, with a very high degree of efficiency, trust, and transparency. Private institutions also receive excellent marks (3rd), with firms that demonstrate the highest ethical behavior (3rd), supported by strong auditing and reporting standards (2nd) and well-functioning corporate boards (1st). Goods and financial markets are also very efficient, although the labor market could be more flexible (25th). Combined with a strong focus on education over the years (2nd for higher education and training) and a high level of technological adoption (2nd), Sweden has developed a very sophisticated business culture (2nd) and is one of the world’s leading innovators (2nd). Last but not least, the country boasts a stable macroeconomic environment (13th), with an almost balanced budget and manageable

public debt levels. These characteristics come together to make Sweden one of the most productive and competitive economies in the world."

PLUS Sweden currently boasts the Scandinavian premiere of Stephen Sondheim's award winning musical "Assassins"...I mean, what more can you ask for?!

www.assassins.se

Day 233: Out and about

Feels luxurious to be able to walk to work every day. I'd forgotten how great it is to start the work day with a brisk walk. As luck would have it, the theater is within walking distance of where I live, and not too close either. On my way, I discovered that one of my favorite restaurants in Stockholm, La Neta serving real Mexican food, has opened a branch on Söder. And I found a wedding present for Julie and Ron. On the way back, I did some grocery shopping.

The bonus? Exercise! :-)

Days 230-232: Post-Premiere High

We did it! After a mere 22 rehearsal days we put on a full-fledged production of Assassins. The first review came out this morning and I quote:

"Upbeat marches and tearful ballads. There are many spoken scenes and director Staffan Aspegren and his  team have really managed to get both text and music to fascinate. Ulricha Johnson, who has translated a number of Sondheim shows into Swedish, shows us that this rhythmically quite intricate syllable hunt can work dramatically."

I am proud, moved, happy. For me, this is a dream come true...to be part of a professional production of a Sondheim musical. My love affair with Sondheims works began many decades ago when I saw my first Sondheim musical on Broadway. Never did I expect to be part of bringing one of them to life on a professional stage. Humbled. Grateful.

Days 227-229: Lordy!

It's like this folks: so much happy right now that there is no time to write about it, time enough to live it. The crowning achievement? Full page (front page!) spread in today's Culture section of the third largest Swedish newspaper Svenska Dagbladet. Dress rehearsal tonight. Opening night tomorrow. A million details to attend to. Busy little bee. HAPPY!

http://www.svd.se/kultur/presidentmordare-tar-ton-i-musikal_7800552.svd
  

Day 226: Breathing again...

...through both nostrils. There is really nothing that beats feeling fine after having been sick. And being genuinely welcomed back to work, even after a relatively short absence.

I lead a charmed life. Not hard at all to find things to be happy about. Grateful.

Day 225: The heart grows fonder

Throughout the course of the many years I've been in the workforce, this is the first time I've ever received so many messages when I've been out sick. Facebook, text messages, phone calls, e-mails.

An example (via text message):

"Welllllll, where are you? Get well and come here now. Where is our time police? Our organizer? And where is the fruit? And the coffee is neeeevvvvvver ready nowadays. And all the Sondheim love that flows from you?"

Yup, the business world could learn a thing or two from theater people.

My heart runneth over...thank you wonderful colleagues! I'll be there tomorrow (and will leave my germs at home, promise)

Day 224: Teamwork

Off I went at 7:45 to the theater to meet up with the group of technicians and volunteers on this first day of building scenery, setting lights, adjusting the sound system and so on. By 10:00, it was clear to me that I would not last much longer, with my runny nose and watery eyes and feverish complexion. Although I had promised to be on hand and lead the project today, I was forced to exit early rather than risk this rather bad cold turning into something worse, like pneumonia or bronchitis.

Confident in the tight teamwork that grew as the morning progressed, I was relieved and happy to be able to leave the scene knowing that all would be well. And so it was, as I later found out in a conversation with our set designer.

As for my cold...not so much. So I can only imagine how much worse I'd be feeling if I stuck around. But tomorrow is another day, and I've got plenty of administrative stuff to do to keep me busy between naps :-)

Day 223: The best is yet to come

I thought it would be hard to find something to feel positive about today what with my runny nosy and sore throat. Then it occurred to me that this was actually a fabulous way to kick off the new year. After all, it can only get better!

With that pleasant thought in mind, it's back to the BBT marathon...and my tissues.

Day 222: New Year's Eve

Soooo happy that I did not make plans for this evening. I would have had to cancel them anyway as I've been nursing a cold all day long and have a long pre-premier week ahead of me. Things always work out for the best in this best of all possible worlds.

Here's to a fabulous 2013!

And now, back to Dickens.

Day 221: Underdogs

My interest in sports is limited to miniature golf and watching the occasional tennis match. Yet I'm a sucker for sports movies. I suppose it's because they are always about the victory of determination, hard work, team spirit and talent over great odds. Sports movies are among the best feel good films I've seen and today's (Miracle, about the 1980 Olypmics gold winning USA hockey team) was no exception. Left me with a warm afterglow as I trotted off to our annual holiday celebration, happy too that the temperature outside was above the freezing level and sidewalks are no longer treacherously icy.

Day 220: Workplace Wonderland

This evening I paid a visit to a most enchanting workplace in Stockholm. From the looks of it, you'd never guess what type of work they do here...or would you? Give it a try from the series of photos below, before you get to the last one which sort of gives it away.

It is such a wonderful example of thinking outside the box and daring to combine business with a bit fun. Imagine coming here to work every morning instead of the tradition office spaces of most corporations!

Day 219: Music to my ears

First rehearsal with the band today...what a joy! Musicians, as I'm sure I've mentioned before, astound me. And it's so much fun to listen to them rehearse. Naturally, I love the music they make. Equally interesting, however, is listening to their shop talk. I'm fascinated by how they communicate in a language of their own and in very few words that seem so vague to me but so exact to them.

As some of my current landsmen once put it, "Thank you for the music..."

Day 218: Bonus

Imagine my delight when one of our cast members showed up for rehearsal this morning with his toddler in tow! Before long, she and I were best buddies and hung out together until her grandmother picked her up at around lunchtime. We spent part of the morning on stage enjoying the singing rehearsal and dancing to the music, and most of the time engaged in the little one's absolute favorite pastime...climbing up and down the stairs. My own favorite pastime was sitting on the floor with her in my lap during rehearsal, as she often bent her head backwards and rewarded me with the sweetest smile.

And I just found out that I get her for two whole hours tomorrow too! :-D

Day 217: Spontaneity

So I'm in my PJs, under the covers, playing cards and surfing the internet when PLING signals an incoming text message: "The boys are out playing and I'm bored. Can I come visit you?" YES!

In a country where people's calendars are filled weeks in advance, this is a rare event. Even if you get the urge to call a friend on a moment's notice and suggest an outing or a visit, you often give up before you even make the call because you assume that the answer will be some variation of "I would have loved to but..."

I'm glad I still have friends who throw all caution to the wind and make the call anyway. Sure picked up my day...up and out of bed, dressed, shopped, cleaned, cooked and still have a smile on my face. Let's hear it for spontaneity!

Day 216: Things to do on Christmas day

Sleep in. Three loads of wash. Grocery shopping. Clean out the fridge. Throw out the trash. Change bed linens. Empty the dishwasher, fill it again, run it and empty it. Continue reading Dickens. A game or two of Rummikub. See what folks are up to on FB. Eat some clementines, an egg, homemade bread with butter. Take a nap. Write a blog. Miss my friends who live afar.

And it's only 3:15 PM.
Feel so efficient.

:-)

Day 215: Peaceful

A city covered in a blanket of snow. Fire roaring in the tiled stove. Pleasant aroma of food wafting in the air. Puppini Sisters on the stereo. Good friends hanging in the kitchen. Julmust. Glögg. Janssons. Home baked bread. Chatting and laughing. A good video. Calm subway ride home.

My kind of day.

Day 214: Entertained and informed

Spending the day with two of my favorite Web sites, Wikipedia and YouTube. Plus a movie and some Rummikub in between. And Charles Dickens when I need a break.

Happy!