Yesterday, I faced my non-sensical fear of tanning beds, and went to the local beauty salon. It's located only two buildings away from where I live, and I basically only knew it as "that place next to the laundromat". Afterwards, I could see a subtle tanline too, but there was no real diffirence, which is probably good after such a short first visit. Wouldn't wanna turn orange or anything.
Anyway, as previously mentioned, I was recommended by a Californian former neighbour, as well as a Swedish neighbour, to try the tanning bed this winter. They said the warmth and the light did wonders for their mood during Swedish winter. I decided to give it a try, hoping that it would help so that I would have something to help me get through my down-ward spiralling moods in the future dark seasons of the year.
It was pretty good, I must say. Though I only tried it for 10 minutes, it was nice and warm, without being uncomfortable and sweaty. Also, the fan close to the head gave this breeze-like sound slightly reminicent to the sounds of being close to the sea (if you tried hard to imagine it...). Initially, I was a bit freaked out by the whole thing, laying there and basically closing the lid on yourself. But half way through, it was hard not to be swept away by the lovely feeling of being all warm, as if the sun was actually out and shining and glorious again.
I'll probably go back for a 15 minut visit next month.
fredag, februari 25, 2011
måndag, februari 21, 2011
Balance
Friday was spent in a whirlwind haze of ambitiously trying to do all my household chores at once.
I spent the day doing laundry, vacuuming, doing loads of dishes, baking chocolate cupcakes and pineapple pie, grocery shopping, folding laundry, as well as attending my afternoon classes.
At 8.30PM, three of my friends from Stockholm arrived, and an entire weekend of talking, eating, drinking coctails, playing cardgames and laughing ensued. On Saturday, we joined other of our friends and kept up the small scale but thorough partying all night.
They drove off again last night after 48 hours of joint lazying about, and left me planning for a week of studying, working out and other thing the weekends gluttony should inspire.
Ofcourse, those are all plans procrastinated until tomorrow. Today is about reading, watching movies and perhaps studying some Spanish, if I'm up for it. Mostly just reading, I think. I'm gonna keep it all very low-key and un-ambitious today. I'm all about balance, after all.
On a completely seperate note, I miss Gorka and Amie very much...
I spent the day doing laundry, vacuuming, doing loads of dishes, baking chocolate cupcakes and pineapple pie, grocery shopping, folding laundry, as well as attending my afternoon classes.
At 8.30PM, three of my friends from Stockholm arrived, and an entire weekend of talking, eating, drinking coctails, playing cardgames and laughing ensued. On Saturday, we joined other of our friends and kept up the small scale but thorough partying all night.
They drove off again last night after 48 hours of joint lazying about, and left me planning for a week of studying, working out and other thing the weekends gluttony should inspire.
Ofcourse, those are all plans procrastinated until tomorrow. Today is about reading, watching movies and perhaps studying some Spanish, if I'm up for it. Mostly just reading, I think. I'm gonna keep it all very low-key and un-ambitious today. I'm all about balance, after all.
On a completely seperate note, I miss Gorka and Amie very much...
måndag, februari 14, 2011
Year 6
Honestly, when I "launched" this small scale project of mine, I don't think I ever believed it would be holding my interest for so long. Today marked the start of it's sixth year online. And though it has been un-even in regards to updates, it holds alot of dear memories, and many reminders of who I used to be. Or who I am and why.
A year ago, I remarked on not wanting to share as much of my life online anymore. I think that is still the case, but I don't mind going back to more regular and daily updates again. I've also started another blog, and I write more fiction on my spare time. It makes me happy.
This has during long periods of time been the only place where I have gotten any writing done, apart from school-related assignments and reviews for work. It might not have been what I would have preferably written, but it has been something, and that makes it worth keeping up.
Also worth noting, my life as a whole feels more structured than it did this time a year ago, and the change is a welcomed one. It looks like I'll be staying in Uppsala for yet another year as well, and I feel no restlessness connected to the thought.
Though I must add that I wouldn't turn down some travelling, especially when the thermometor, as it does right now, displays a -18degrees Celsius...
A year ago, I remarked on not wanting to share as much of my life online anymore. I think that is still the case, but I don't mind going back to more regular and daily updates again. I've also started another blog, and I write more fiction on my spare time. It makes me happy.
This has during long periods of time been the only place where I have gotten any writing done, apart from school-related assignments and reviews for work. It might not have been what I would have preferably written, but it has been something, and that makes it worth keeping up.
Also worth noting, my life as a whole feels more structured than it did this time a year ago, and the change is a welcomed one. It looks like I'll be staying in Uppsala for yet another year as well, and I feel no restlessness connected to the thought.
Though I must add that I wouldn't turn down some travelling, especially when the thermometor, as it does right now, displays a -18degrees Celsius...
torsdag, februari 10, 2011
Stylo
During the past week, I've been doing some part-time work, preparing for a jurist conference on insolvency (yeah, it's probably as fun as it sounds, to be a lawyer...) here in town.
It's a few extra bucks for my planned trip to Madrid, and might lead to some additional small scale project-employments of the kind in the future.
Since I'm used to having classes in the afternoon and getting up late during the days, working so early is cutting in on my sleep hours. I mean, today I had to get up at 10 to 6. That's just wrong. But hopefully, it'll get me on a better routine, and I'll stop going to bed so terribly late (wishful thinking). Also, I haven't been to the gym again this week, and it's getting me a bit annoyed (which is a good sign! Not long ago I couldn't have cared less). But atleast I've been doing some walking. The office is on the other side of town, so it's a 45 minut walk at it's minimum in these weather conditions.
The other night, walking back home in the cold and dark, me and my friend were passed by a bike. The biker turned around and called my name, and to my surprise it was my former neighbour. He and his wife are really sweet people who recently moved out because they could not live with such crazy, loud people. They even apologized for not staying! We're very understanding of the fact that we are the problem, and forgive them for not loving us unconditionally :P
The point is, he had seen me from behind at quite the distance and still known it was me. It turns out, as he put it, he had "recognized that crappy hat", hahaha! I pretended to be truly offended and claimed that I loved my hat. He laughed and said that the boots also gave me away.
I thought about it for a second and replied in agreement "Yeah, makes sense. How many other girls do you know who wear big fur hats from the men's department, combat-like boots and a frilly skirt at the same time?"
I have an eclectic sense of style.
It's a few extra bucks for my planned trip to Madrid, and might lead to some additional small scale project-employments of the kind in the future.
Since I'm used to having classes in the afternoon and getting up late during the days, working so early is cutting in on my sleep hours. I mean, today I had to get up at 10 to 6. That's just wrong. But hopefully, it'll get me on a better routine, and I'll stop going to bed so terribly late (wishful thinking). Also, I haven't been to the gym again this week, and it's getting me a bit annoyed (which is a good sign! Not long ago I couldn't have cared less). But atleast I've been doing some walking. The office is on the other side of town, so it's a 45 minut walk at it's minimum in these weather conditions.
The other night, walking back home in the cold and dark, me and my friend were passed by a bike. The biker turned around and called my name, and to my surprise it was my former neighbour. He and his wife are really sweet people who recently moved out because they could not live with such crazy, loud people. They even apologized for not staying! We're very understanding of the fact that we are the problem, and forgive them for not loving us unconditionally :P
The point is, he had seen me from behind at quite the distance and still known it was me. It turns out, as he put it, he had "recognized that crappy hat", hahaha! I pretended to be truly offended and claimed that I loved my hat. He laughed and said that the boots also gave me away.
I thought about it for a second and replied in agreement "Yeah, makes sense. How many other girls do you know who wear big fur hats from the men's department, combat-like boots and a frilly skirt at the same time?"
I have an eclectic sense of style.
måndag, februari 07, 2011
Säg Omelett
I ett förvirrat, svagt och alldeles för nyfiket ögonblick har jag gått med på att klä ut mig till en spelkaraktär till Ninas fotoprojekt.
Jag har aldrig varit förtjust i att fotograferas, och lyckas därför aldrig sitta still när jag är medveten om att kameralinsen har satt mig i fokus. Särskilt på senare år tror jag att det blivit värre. Men till och med som yngre tyckte jag alltid att jag blev konstig på bild, och det är kanske det obekväma kroppsspråket som är problemet.
Fördelen med detta projekt är som sagt att jag är utklädd, med peruk och allt annats som hör därtill. Jag behöver därför inte oroa mig för hur jag ser ut, för det är heller inte meningen att jag ska likna mig själv.
Har dock bestämt mig för att om fotosessionen går bra, så ska jag ställa upp på att bli fotograferad av Björn också. Han har frågat tidigare, och trots att jag imponerats av andra bilder han tagit så har jag aldrig vågat. Kanske om jag får ha peruk?
Jag har aldrig varit förtjust i att fotograferas, och lyckas därför aldrig sitta still när jag är medveten om att kameralinsen har satt mig i fokus. Särskilt på senare år tror jag att det blivit värre. Men till och med som yngre tyckte jag alltid att jag blev konstig på bild, och det är kanske det obekväma kroppsspråket som är problemet.
Fördelen med detta projekt är som sagt att jag är utklädd, med peruk och allt annats som hör därtill. Jag behöver därför inte oroa mig för hur jag ser ut, för det är heller inte meningen att jag ska likna mig själv.
Har dock bestämt mig för att om fotosessionen går bra, så ska jag ställa upp på att bli fotograferad av Björn också. Han har frågat tidigare, och trots att jag imponerats av andra bilder han tagit så har jag aldrig vågat. Kanske om jag får ha peruk?
lördag, februari 05, 2011
Goodbye/Hello
I've started out this year with a whole lot of non-blogging, and it's time for a belated update.
I'm attending a new course named (atleast I think the translation would be) Representations of Diversity, which is held by the Center av Gender Studies at Uppsala University. I really like how the Master program in Humanities gives you the opportunity to read many courses outside your own main field as a part of the two year study. Of course, I still really like literature, and am still pleased with my major, but a lot of the mandatory classes have been a snooze at the best.
Other than the course, I should really plan on getting back to writing my thesis. Haven't really touched it for a couple of months now. I do some research, but I think it's about time I get something down on paper. I hope to have finished a 30 page draft by Easter.
And when mentioning Easter, I plan to go visit some friends in Madrid for the holidays! I've never been to Spain and look forward to sun and sights. Also, it gives me a good timespan for practicing basic skills in Spanish. I've gotten some language courses from the local library, and from this week I will be studying Spanish for atleast four hours a week. That is more than what they schedualed for our third language in school, when I started out with French in sixth grade. So hopefully, there will be some results. It also would be nice to make som progress on my goals for this year.
Talking goals, I've been watching some of the movies I'd like to cross off of my IMDb-list. Saw Casablanca with my sister and C'era una volta il West with my dad. He had seen it before, but like me, he usually doesn't mind re-watching movies.
It should also be mentioned that I went on a 40hour cruise to Riga with some of my neighbours in the beginning of January. This effectively both marked the 25-list boxes for "Visiting a European capitol I've never been to" and "dare to sing kareoke" which I managed to part-take in on the cruise ship, even though the results varied alot. Riga in itself was pretty (atleast the Old Town) but freezing, so we spent most of the time there shopping and eating.
Back in Sweden, I've spent my time figuring stuff out.
It sounds silly, but it's true.
I need to structure my studying better. And I need to get a part-time job. I have the time since I don't have that many classes, and I do homework better in the evenings and at night. So, a job. Though how I'll get that in a city full of money-starved students is beyond me. But I'll try. I'm down with a serious case of hit-the-road-blues, and you can't travel nowhere if you don't have the coins for it.
I've also been trying to make the most out of my time with friends who have been leaving. For Christmas break, my crazy yet darling former neighbour G came to visit us, and though I wish we had time to see more of eachother, it was wonderful yet sad to have her here. Three weeks after she left again, the second one of my two close exchange-student friends packed up her bags and flew cross-Atlantic. After more than three years in this town, she decided to find new adventures elsewhere. Though I am happy for her and all the oppurtunities San Fransisco will offer her, A left another dent in my already bruised heart when she left this week. I've cried over both of my friends, and even though I believe that I will see them again for sure, the loss of them as a part of my daily life weighs me down more than usual some days.
Yet as a symbolic sign from life itself though, one of my closest friends officially became a resident of Uppsala just the day after A left. And it feels lovely of course. There will always be good people in my life, it's just that noone replaces the other, and noone fills the empty space left by another. That is good, but also heavy for the heart.
Moving his stuff in, and helping out with whatever I could, made me think about how much things you actually collect. I haven't given it the slightest thought in almost two years, since I moved to Uppsala. But the leaving of many friends has left me the inheritor of a lot more things than I got here with. The more I consider it, the more I think it's time for me to go through my things and get rid of all that is truly useless to me, but that I've saved "just in case" (and I wouldn't be surprised if the amount of crap could fill out an entire wardrobe or something).
Or, I could always move to a bigger place. Which gets another string of thoughts jumbled together in my head waiting to be heard and observed, and a whole row of emotions waiting to be untangled just by the thought of moving on yet again.
But that is life, and as mentioned, I'm trying to figure it out.
I'm attending a new course named (atleast I think the translation would be) Representations of Diversity, which is held by the Center av Gender Studies at Uppsala University. I really like how the Master program in Humanities gives you the opportunity to read many courses outside your own main field as a part of the two year study. Of course, I still really like literature, and am still pleased with my major, but a lot of the mandatory classes have been a snooze at the best.
Other than the course, I should really plan on getting back to writing my thesis. Haven't really touched it for a couple of months now. I do some research, but I think it's about time I get something down on paper. I hope to have finished a 30 page draft by Easter.
And when mentioning Easter, I plan to go visit some friends in Madrid for the holidays! I've never been to Spain and look forward to sun and sights. Also, it gives me a good timespan for practicing basic skills in Spanish. I've gotten some language courses from the local library, and from this week I will be studying Spanish for atleast four hours a week. That is more than what they schedualed for our third language in school, when I started out with French in sixth grade. So hopefully, there will be some results. It also would be nice to make som progress on my goals for this year.
Talking goals, I've been watching some of the movies I'd like to cross off of my IMDb-list. Saw Casablanca with my sister and C'era una volta il West with my dad. He had seen it before, but like me, he usually doesn't mind re-watching movies.
It should also be mentioned that I went on a 40hour cruise to Riga with some of my neighbours in the beginning of January. This effectively both marked the 25-list boxes for "Visiting a European capitol I've never been to" and "dare to sing kareoke" which I managed to part-take in on the cruise ship, even though the results varied alot. Riga in itself was pretty (atleast the Old Town) but freezing, so we spent most of the time there shopping and eating.
Back in Sweden, I've spent my time figuring stuff out.
It sounds silly, but it's true.
I need to structure my studying better. And I need to get a part-time job. I have the time since I don't have that many classes, and I do homework better in the evenings and at night. So, a job. Though how I'll get that in a city full of money-starved students is beyond me. But I'll try. I'm down with a serious case of hit-the-road-blues, and you can't travel nowhere if you don't have the coins for it.
I've also been trying to make the most out of my time with friends who have been leaving. For Christmas break, my crazy yet darling former neighbour G came to visit us, and though I wish we had time to see more of eachother, it was wonderful yet sad to have her here. Three weeks after she left again, the second one of my two close exchange-student friends packed up her bags and flew cross-Atlantic. After more than three years in this town, she decided to find new adventures elsewhere. Though I am happy for her and all the oppurtunities San Fransisco will offer her, A left another dent in my already bruised heart when she left this week. I've cried over both of my friends, and even though I believe that I will see them again for sure, the loss of them as a part of my daily life weighs me down more than usual some days.
Yet as a symbolic sign from life itself though, one of my closest friends officially became a resident of Uppsala just the day after A left. And it feels lovely of course. There will always be good people in my life, it's just that noone replaces the other, and noone fills the empty space left by another. That is good, but also heavy for the heart.
Moving his stuff in, and helping out with whatever I could, made me think about how much things you actually collect. I haven't given it the slightest thought in almost two years, since I moved to Uppsala. But the leaving of many friends has left me the inheritor of a lot more things than I got here with. The more I consider it, the more I think it's time for me to go through my things and get rid of all that is truly useless to me, but that I've saved "just in case" (and I wouldn't be surprised if the amount of crap could fill out an entire wardrobe or something).
Or, I could always move to a bigger place. Which gets another string of thoughts jumbled together in my head waiting to be heard and observed, and a whole row of emotions waiting to be untangled just by the thought of moving on yet again.
But that is life, and as mentioned, I'm trying to figure it out.
onsdag, januari 19, 2011
Ain't No Sunshine
New semester starts this week on friday, and I am gathering books at the libraries in hopes of keeping the costs for new literature to the minimum. It's happened too many times that I never open a book again after the classes have reached their end, and I've tried very hard to not buy any books I won't have any interest in later.
At the moment, I'm looking over both my economy and my study-plans, and feel like I need to do some serious reconsidering. I spend too much money on books, food, going out dancing, and I know that if I just made an effort, I'd be able to save up some at the end of every month instead of using up almost all of it. Also, I need to get new habits when it comes to studying. As always, I study way too late at night, and usually always too close to deadline. It has, I must admit, worked well for me in the past years. But I'm getting older and I truly prefer some good, stable hours of sleep. And, I really want to try and hit the gym more than twice a week (unfortunately, this week has been a complete no-go), which means better routines all together.
All of this would be so much easier if I didn't despise the cold so much. Winter season drains me, and I don't like to go out when it's cold, and end up sleeping all the odd hours of the day. When I finally manage to socialize, it's always to go out for dinner or movies or dancing, activities that cost and once again keep me indoors.
On the recommendation of a Californian friend, I think I'm gonna try the tanning salon. He said it really helped him not to feel tired and light-starved while he lived in Sweden. It would be terriffic if it worked. And wierd to some degree, because it means I could have saved myself years of seasonal sadness with some artificial light baths once a month for years. Then again, it might not be the case. I am still unreasonably scared of the tanning bed and it's coffin-like shape, and in the back of my head a voice keeps warning me that the thing might get all jammed and have me lie there stuck inside it. I know it's unlikely, but fear doesn't have to make sense.
Then again, this entire year is supposed to be about facing fears, getting a hold of my life, getting new routines and trying new things. If you have to start somewhere, it might as well be on a tanning bed as anywhere else.
At the moment, I'm looking over both my economy and my study-plans, and feel like I need to do some serious reconsidering. I spend too much money on books, food, going out dancing, and I know that if I just made an effort, I'd be able to save up some at the end of every month instead of using up almost all of it. Also, I need to get new habits when it comes to studying. As always, I study way too late at night, and usually always too close to deadline. It has, I must admit, worked well for me in the past years. But I'm getting older and I truly prefer some good, stable hours of sleep. And, I really want to try and hit the gym more than twice a week (unfortunately, this week has been a complete no-go), which means better routines all together.
All of this would be so much easier if I didn't despise the cold so much. Winter season drains me, and I don't like to go out when it's cold, and end up sleeping all the odd hours of the day. When I finally manage to socialize, it's always to go out for dinner or movies or dancing, activities that cost and once again keep me indoors.
On the recommendation of a Californian friend, I think I'm gonna try the tanning salon. He said it really helped him not to feel tired and light-starved while he lived in Sweden. It would be terriffic if it worked. And wierd to some degree, because it means I could have saved myself years of seasonal sadness with some artificial light baths once a month for years. Then again, it might not be the case. I am still unreasonably scared of the tanning bed and it's coffin-like shape, and in the back of my head a voice keeps warning me that the thing might get all jammed and have me lie there stuck inside it. I know it's unlikely, but fear doesn't have to make sense.
Then again, this entire year is supposed to be about facing fears, getting a hold of my life, getting new routines and trying new things. If you have to start somewhere, it might as well be on a tanning bed as anywhere else.
onsdag, januari 05, 2011
Dear World,
you keep turning, I get older and life goes on.
Last year was better than the ones just previous, and despite ups-and-downs, I ended it happier and healthier than I started it.
Christmas holidays was all about being with family, eating and resting alot. New Years was about friends; laughing and hoping.
As always, I wish for a year better than the one before. I danced in to the new year with the same joy I hope to dance through it with. Always turning, always dreaming, always burning brightly.
Stroke of Midnight 2010/2011
Last year was better than the ones just previous, and despite ups-and-downs, I ended it happier and healthier than I started it.
Christmas holidays was all about being with family, eating and resting alot. New Years was about friends; laughing and hoping.
As always, I wish for a year better than the one before. I danced in to the new year with the same joy I hope to dance through it with. Always turning, always dreaming, always burning brightly.
Stroke of Midnight 2010/2011måndag, december 27, 2010
Hermanita
Tonight I had a long talk with my sister, and we sat laughing at memories, photos from family trips and old conversations we'd had. One of the funniest stories turned out to be when she had accidentally dropped a container of eyeshadow on my rug. Now, the eyeshadow was black powder, and the handmade rug was bought in Iran and had a cream-colored backdrop. It was like she had emptied the soot from an open fire place on it. She and her friend, both in the ages of 10-11, had tried to get the soot out in all the wrong ways, and by the time the shit hit the fan, they had pretty much made a worse mess out of it. I came home the day after and almost wrung her neck. Today, it's a hoot.
This memory also led to the conclusion that some things hadn't really changed. My sister told me, that when under pressure or stressed, she still becomes pretty much useless. I replied that it was good to know, and that in time of war, I might have to sacrifice her since she would be such a liability.
Sisterhood is obviously about honesty, humor and messing up. Who the Hell needs "ya-ya's" and Travelling Pants?
This memory also led to the conclusion that some things hadn't really changed. My sister told me, that when under pressure or stressed, she still becomes pretty much useless. I replied that it was good to know, and that in time of war, I might have to sacrifice her since she would be such a liability.
Sisterhood is obviously about honesty, humor and messing up. Who the Hell needs "ya-ya's" and Travelling Pants?
söndag, december 26, 2010
Yule-time Reading
We spent the Christmas at my aunts again this year. Food was great, company was nice, gifts were much appreciated. Weather was colder than I like, but then again I spent all my time eating and sleeping. I love holidays, it makes me catch up on everything that I haven't been getting enough of regularly, and the last weeks of the school term, that tends to be good food and rest.
I'll be spending the next five days in Stockholm with friends and family, doing some reading, studying, shopping... then it's back to Uppsala for New Years.
And, talking about reading, one of my christmas gifts was Nobel prize winner Mario Vargas Llosa's book The Bad Girl. It'll fit well into my goal of reading books by atleast five authors this year whos native tongue isn't Swedish or English. I will ofcourse read translations anyway, but it's the idea that counts. At the moment, the nominated books are:
1. The Master and Margarita - Mikhail Bulgakov
2. Love in the Time of Cholera - Gabriel García Márquez
3. The Wind-Up Bird Chronicles - Haruki Murakami
4. The Bad Girl - Mario Vargas Llosa
This leaves me with one empty spot. Two, if I decide that I should have only one author representing any language.
Recommendations are much welcomed.
I'll be spending the next five days in Stockholm with friends and family, doing some reading, studying, shopping... then it's back to Uppsala for New Years.
And, talking about reading, one of my christmas gifts was Nobel prize winner Mario Vargas Llosa's book The Bad Girl. It'll fit well into my goal of reading books by atleast five authors this year whos native tongue isn't Swedish or English. I will ofcourse read translations anyway, but it's the idea that counts. At the moment, the nominated books are:
1. The Master and Margarita - Mikhail Bulgakov
2. Love in the Time of Cholera - Gabriel García Márquez
3. The Wind-Up Bird Chronicles - Haruki Murakami
4. The Bad Girl - Mario Vargas Llosa
This leaves me with one empty spot. Two, if I decide that I should have only one author representing any language.
Recommendations are much welcomed.
söndag, december 19, 2010
Post - it.
I'm folding laundry. I thought this was so interesting a thing I share it with the interworld.
No, really. It's quarter to 8 in the morning. Since I'm up I might as well be useful. I'm folding laundry, and I'm making a big breakfast. After that, the plan of the day goes somewhat like this: say goodbye to neighbours that are going home for Christmas, study, eat lunch, take a short nap, study more, go to the gym, have tea with a friend, study more, sleep like the dead.
Soundtrack of the day: Neon Trees - Animal
No, really. It's quarter to 8 in the morning. Since I'm up I might as well be useful. I'm folding laundry, and I'm making a big breakfast. After that, the plan of the day goes somewhat like this: say goodbye to neighbours that are going home for Christmas, study, eat lunch, take a short nap, study more, go to the gym, have tea with a friend, study more, sleep like the dead.
Soundtrack of the day: Neon Trees - Animal
torsdag, december 16, 2010
Livskvalitet
Igår deltog jag i en undersökning som hålls ungefär vart tionde år av Statistiska Central Byrån.
Undersökningen handlar om svenskars livskvalitet och hälsa, och har gjorts de senaste decennierna. Blir man av slump utvald en gång, kommer man att kontaktas igen nästa gång undersökningen görs. Om man låter sina barn delta, så kommer även de att kontaktas nästa gång det är dags för undersökningen. Sist jag deltog var jag fjorton.
Igår dök det upp en kvinna, och efter nästan en och en halv timma hade jag svarat på tillräckligt många frågor för att den här kvinnan skulle veta mer om mig än en del av mina bekanta vet.
Det är tänkt att du ska svara på dessa standardiserade frågor med ett "ja" eller "nej". Ibland finns flera alternativ, men dessa är också i stort sett indelade i jakande och nekande svar, förutom om man svarar "Vet ej".
Det är frågor om ens sysselsättning, ens studier och jobb och boende. Ens bakgrund och föräldrars bakgrund. Om man bott utomlands, hur länge man arbetat, om man har fritidssysselsättningar, om man känner sig frisk och kry, om man har vänner och är lycklig.
I slutändan kom jag fram till att jag må ha ont i kroppen och känna mig trött, och kanske inte alltid veta vart jag är på väg, men jag är inte olycklig. Jag mår förhållandevist bra, har åstadkommit en del, misslyckats med en del annat, gått vidare från motgångar, uppskattat framgångar, lärt känna mycket människor på gott och ont, sett mig omkring lite i världen, drömt mycket större än jag haft möjligheter att uppfylla, gråtit mycket, skrattat ännu mer och lärt mig tycka om mig själv. Jag är glad. Och det är skönt att kunna gå in i nya året med den vetskapen.
Undersökningen handlar om svenskars livskvalitet och hälsa, och har gjorts de senaste decennierna. Blir man av slump utvald en gång, kommer man att kontaktas igen nästa gång undersökningen görs. Om man låter sina barn delta, så kommer även de att kontaktas nästa gång det är dags för undersökningen. Sist jag deltog var jag fjorton.
Igår dök det upp en kvinna, och efter nästan en och en halv timma hade jag svarat på tillräckligt många frågor för att den här kvinnan skulle veta mer om mig än en del av mina bekanta vet.
Det är tänkt att du ska svara på dessa standardiserade frågor med ett "ja" eller "nej". Ibland finns flera alternativ, men dessa är också i stort sett indelade i jakande och nekande svar, förutom om man svarar "Vet ej".
Det är frågor om ens sysselsättning, ens studier och jobb och boende. Ens bakgrund och föräldrars bakgrund. Om man bott utomlands, hur länge man arbetat, om man har fritidssysselsättningar, om man känner sig frisk och kry, om man har vänner och är lycklig.
I slutändan kom jag fram till att jag må ha ont i kroppen och känna mig trött, och kanske inte alltid veta vart jag är på väg, men jag är inte olycklig. Jag mår förhållandevist bra, har åstadkommit en del, misslyckats med en del annat, gått vidare från motgångar, uppskattat framgångar, lärt känna mycket människor på gott och ont, sett mig omkring lite i världen, drömt mycket större än jag haft möjligheter att uppfylla, gråtit mycket, skrattat ännu mer och lärt mig tycka om mig själv. Jag är glad. Och det är skönt att kunna gå in i nya året med den vetskapen.
fredag, december 10, 2010
Tron: Legacy
Just two days ago, I could listen to most of the Tron: Legacy soundtrack on Spotify. I didn't go through it all, but some of the tracks left me hoping for more, while many were great. I was a bit unsure as to what to think, since I usually love Daft Punk (they're the primary reason to why I even want to see the movie).
But then I went to bed, and after I woke up, Spotify had reduced the amount of songs to only four tracks! To hear all the songs, you obviously have to have Spotify Premium now.
I'm quite bitter about it.
But yesterday, my neighbour got his hands on it, and after a bit more of a listening through, I came to the conclusion that the soundtrack really is awesome (still have 2-3 tracks I'm not all that content with) and that Daft Punk as always are pure genius. Happiness!
But then I went to bed, and after I woke up, Spotify had reduced the amount of songs to only four tracks! To hear all the songs, you obviously have to have Spotify Premium now.
I'm quite bitter about it.
But yesterday, my neighbour got his hands on it, and after a bit more of a listening through, I came to the conclusion that the soundtrack really is awesome (still have 2-3 tracks I'm not all that content with) and that Daft Punk as always are pure genius. Happiness!
tisdag, december 07, 2010
Winter Weekends
I spent the weekend in Stockholm, celebrating a dear friends 30th birthday (and as it turned out, also her engagement!), and trying to study for an exam. I had great fun on Saturday, even though I wasn't able to keep myself on my schedualed food-routine (must stop making excuses, even though birthday parties and engagements mixed up with a house-warming party is a pretty big deal). It's good to see people I don't get to see much during the year, and I'm always reminded of how much I miss them. I'm also always just as reminded of how good it feels to have a comfortable couple of laughs and hugs with people who know you well, and whom you can share both amusing stories as well as comfortable silences with.
Sunday on the other hand mostly went to studying, reading up on old course literature and trying to make someting of it. I managed to finish the exam and send it in before deadline. Hopefully, it'll pass, and it'll be the last I see of it.
On the negative side, I spent an entire weekend home, but did not manage more than an hours film or less with my sister, as well as a late lunch on friday. We tried to hang out some and talk, but both had studies and plans. I don't think I even managed to time in a decent meal with my folks, but we had a couple of cups of tea together, and all in all it was pretty relaxing. For Christmas break, I'm gonna ask dad to teach me how to prepare and cook the Christmas ham the way he does, and I'm gonna try to catch up with my mom and see if we can get through a couple of episodes of In Treatment (which btw, is a awesome show. Gabriel Byrnes and Judi Dench are fabulous, and the fact that the entire dynamic of each episode almost solely focuses on a dialog between two people is simply masterful). She got the first season box-set for her birthday a couple of weeks ago, and I've really taken a liking to it, so we try to watch episodes together whenever I'm home.
Anyways, I got back to Uppsala this afternoon, after such delays I would have managed to take an entire roundabout trip between Stockholm-Uppsala in the time I had to wait alone. I came home, took a three hour long nap, then headed out to buy food for tonights dinner. We made sushi for 20 people, and it ended up with a cost of 20kr/head, which was great. It'll probably be the last time of the year I'll eat sushi. It's really healthy food and all, but I should try to follow my diet more strictly.
Tomorrow (later on today actually), the plan is to clean up my messy room, get some writing done for work, decide on the subject for this semesters final paper, start wrapping some gifts and go see Västgöta Nations advent concert in church downtown (musical preformances is one of the few reasons I ever set foot in church). I'm trying to get into the holliday spirit, which would lend a more charming glow to the incessant cold. I also feel like decorating. I've already decided on having a Christmas tree. Yes, I am aware that my home is just about 19 square meters, and already full of furniture. But there's no saying I can't have a small tree for my small room. And maybe I'll buy some tassel and lights while I'm at it.
Sunday on the other hand mostly went to studying, reading up on old course literature and trying to make someting of it. I managed to finish the exam and send it in before deadline. Hopefully, it'll pass, and it'll be the last I see of it.
On the negative side, I spent an entire weekend home, but did not manage more than an hours film or less with my sister, as well as a late lunch on friday. We tried to hang out some and talk, but both had studies and plans. I don't think I even managed to time in a decent meal with my folks, but we had a couple of cups of tea together, and all in all it was pretty relaxing. For Christmas break, I'm gonna ask dad to teach me how to prepare and cook the Christmas ham the way he does, and I'm gonna try to catch up with my mom and see if we can get through a couple of episodes of In Treatment (which btw, is a awesome show. Gabriel Byrnes and Judi Dench are fabulous, and the fact that the entire dynamic of each episode almost solely focuses on a dialog between two people is simply masterful). She got the first season box-set for her birthday a couple of weeks ago, and I've really taken a liking to it, so we try to watch episodes together whenever I'm home.
Anyways, I got back to Uppsala this afternoon, after such delays I would have managed to take an entire roundabout trip between Stockholm-Uppsala in the time I had to wait alone. I came home, took a three hour long nap, then headed out to buy food for tonights dinner. We made sushi for 20 people, and it ended up with a cost of 20kr/head, which was great. It'll probably be the last time of the year I'll eat sushi. It's really healthy food and all, but I should try to follow my diet more strictly.
Tomorrow (later on today actually), the plan is to clean up my messy room, get some writing done for work, decide on the subject for this semesters final paper, start wrapping some gifts and go see Västgöta Nations advent concert in church downtown (musical preformances is one of the few reasons I ever set foot in church). I'm trying to get into the holliday spirit, which would lend a more charming glow to the incessant cold. I also feel like decorating. I've already decided on having a Christmas tree. Yes, I am aware that my home is just about 19 square meters, and already full of furniture. But there's no saying I can't have a small tree for my small room. And maybe I'll buy some tassel and lights while I'm at it.
tisdag, november 30, 2010
Sugar, Oh Honey Honey.
One of the goals on my 25-list, is to lose weight. This plan has been in motion, albeight serious slow motion, for a very long time. This summer, I tried on a slightly adjusted version of the Ducan Diet, on a friends recommendation. It was surprisingly effective. Almost too much so. I decided that I should take things a bit slower, and started with excluding carbs from my meals. Not all together, but for someone with a sugar addiction, it took it's time and really did help. After that, I got a gym card in September.
So after changing my diet to some degree, and starting to go to the gym, you'd think I was making progress. In some way, that's true. But I lack in character, so as soon as I got sick, I reverted into former habits and gained the few kilos I had lost. By my 25th birthday, I realized that I might as well start over comepletely. I decided to re-start my sugar-blog, which had after one sole post went into a deep sleep of oblivion, and start taking my health seriously.
As of yesterday, you can read about my bouts with sugar, my fondness for baking, my progress and failiure when dieting and my irregular visits to the gym, here:
So after changing my diet to some degree, and starting to go to the gym, you'd think I was making progress. In some way, that's true. But I lack in character, so as soon as I got sick, I reverted into former habits and gained the few kilos I had lost. By my 25th birthday, I realized that I might as well start over comepletely. I decided to re-start my sugar-blog, which had after one sole post went into a deep sleep of oblivion, and start taking my health seriously.
As of yesterday, you can read about my bouts with sugar, my fondness for baking, my progress and failiure when dieting and my irregular visits to the gym, here:
söndag, november 28, 2010
lördag, november 27, 2010
Your Eyes Open
Jag har efter ett par månader av att skära ner på kolhydrater och äta bättre, slarvat dryga sista månaden och gått upp i vikt igen. Så i förrgår gav jag efter och bestämde mig för att kompromisser inte riktigt är lyckade i min livssituation och påbörjade min diet. Mer om det i andra bloggen som ska tas ur ide nu i helgen.
Annars har jag i veckan utnyttjat massa erbjudanden och rabattkuponger och använt en del av mina födelsedagspengar till att köpa saker jag behöver (som nya träningskläder, varma inläggssulor, jeansleggins, varma strumpbyxor och en cardigan) samt saker jag velat ha jättelänge (som en ny parfym och en kavaj). Annars går allt sakta men säkert frammåt.
Jag är så fruktansvärt trött bara, och önskar att jag vore mindre ängslig. Jag försöker bli mer regelbunden med träningen så att det balanserar bra med orken och sovrytm, men mest av allt vill jag ha en natts ordentlig sömn. Det var en vecka sen sist och jag börjar bli lite grinig.
Plugget går OK, jag ligger nästan helt ikapp med allt, och det var ett tag sen sist det var fallet, tyvärr. Men det känns bra. Jag har tenta som ska in om en vecka och ett PM som borde vara in strax innan dess, och det borde inte vara några större problem.
För tillfället läser jag en kurs i textkritik. Detta innebär inte hur man tolkar och analyserar texten, utan snarare hur man kritiserar bibliografin, upplagan, vad som specifierar just detta tryck med varianter, kommentarer etc. Det är ett oväntat brett ämne som bär på nästa obetydligt intresse för min del. Jag tycker det är smärtsamt tråkigt. Men det är nyttigt att kunna om jag en dag jobbar på förlag och våra kursansvariga lärare är extremt kompetenta och engagerade i sitt ämne, så det uppväger för min grundläggande brist på passion till ämnet, åtminstone något.
Intressant är att jag vid första kurstillfälle upptäckte att vi:
1) var elva elever i klassen, och att
2) fem av dessa var män i åldrarna ~20-50 och sex av oss var kvinnor i åldrarna ~20-60, samt
3) att eleverna delat upp sig med bara män på vänster sida om läraren och kvinnor på höger sida.
Jag satt i mitten, mittemot läraren, och tyckte att hela situationen var löjeväckande och extremt talande på allra sorgligaste vis. Vad är det som gör att folk känner en sådan tydlig gräns i klassrummet ända upp i vuxen ålder? Vi vet ju att könsrollerna i klassrummet finns, i alla åldrar, men som vuxna måste det väl gå att påverka sin situation mer aktivt? På rasten beblandar man sig, men efter kaffet är det åter till platser som skriker positionering. Man intar en plats där styrkan finns, man håller sig till sina egna.
Jag kände mig oerhört nöjd när läraren kastade om hela ordningen inför gruppdiskussion och fick alla att sitta på helt nya platser (som om vi ännu vore barn) och att det redan två lektionstillfällen senare börjat luckras upp i leden.
Annars har jag i veckan utnyttjat massa erbjudanden och rabattkuponger och använt en del av mina födelsedagspengar till att köpa saker jag behöver (som nya träningskläder, varma inläggssulor, jeansleggins, varma strumpbyxor och en cardigan) samt saker jag velat ha jättelänge (som en ny parfym och en kavaj). Annars går allt sakta men säkert frammåt.
Jag är så fruktansvärt trött bara, och önskar att jag vore mindre ängslig. Jag försöker bli mer regelbunden med träningen så att det balanserar bra med orken och sovrytm, men mest av allt vill jag ha en natts ordentlig sömn. Det var en vecka sen sist och jag börjar bli lite grinig.
Plugget går OK, jag ligger nästan helt ikapp med allt, och det var ett tag sen sist det var fallet, tyvärr. Men det känns bra. Jag har tenta som ska in om en vecka och ett PM som borde vara in strax innan dess, och det borde inte vara några större problem.
För tillfället läser jag en kurs i textkritik. Detta innebär inte hur man tolkar och analyserar texten, utan snarare hur man kritiserar bibliografin, upplagan, vad som specifierar just detta tryck med varianter, kommentarer etc. Det är ett oväntat brett ämne som bär på nästa obetydligt intresse för min del. Jag tycker det är smärtsamt tråkigt. Men det är nyttigt att kunna om jag en dag jobbar på förlag och våra kursansvariga lärare är extremt kompetenta och engagerade i sitt ämne, så det uppväger för min grundläggande brist på passion till ämnet, åtminstone något.
Intressant är att jag vid första kurstillfälle upptäckte att vi:
1) var elva elever i klassen, och att
2) fem av dessa var män i åldrarna ~20-50 och sex av oss var kvinnor i åldrarna ~20-60, samt
3) att eleverna delat upp sig med bara män på vänster sida om läraren och kvinnor på höger sida.
Jag satt i mitten, mittemot läraren, och tyckte att hela situationen var löjeväckande och extremt talande på allra sorgligaste vis. Vad är det som gör att folk känner en sådan tydlig gräns i klassrummet ända upp i vuxen ålder? Vi vet ju att könsrollerna i klassrummet finns, i alla åldrar, men som vuxna måste det väl gå att påverka sin situation mer aktivt? På rasten beblandar man sig, men efter kaffet är det åter till platser som skriker positionering. Man intar en plats där styrkan finns, man håller sig till sina egna.
Jag kände mig oerhört nöjd när läraren kastade om hela ordningen inför gruppdiskussion och fick alla att sitta på helt nya platser (som om vi ännu vore barn) och att det redan två lektionstillfällen senare börjat luckras upp i leden.
måndag, november 22, 2010
"My melancholy baby, the Star of Mazzy must..."
Still falling
Breathless and on again
Inside today
Beside me today
Around broken in two
'Till you eyes shed
Into dust
Like two strangers
Turning into dust
'Till my hand shook with the way I fear
I could possibly be fading
Or have something more to gain
I could feel myself growing colder
I could feel myself under your fate
Under your fate
It was you breathless and tall
I could feel my eyes turning into dust
And two strangers turning into dust
Turning into dust
-"Into Dust", Mazzy Star
söndag, november 14, 2010
Film-O-Rama
Som ett av mina mål på "25 Under 25"-listan, har jag att se de 25 filmer som listats som allra bäst på IMDb. Eftersom detta självklart är föränderligt (och starkt baserat på vilka filmer som blivit tillfälliga succéer runt sina premiärer de senaste åren) kopierade jag den 4/11 listan från hemsidan, och kommer utgå från vad som var aktuellt den dagen.
Så om någon vill göra mig sällskap är det bara att höra av sig. Jag tänkte se västern-filmerna med pappa, men ni som i flera år tjatat på att jag bör se Star Wars har ju chansen att se det hända nu.
Så om någon vill göra mig sällskap är det bara att höra av sig. Jag tänkte se västern-filmerna med pappa, men ni som i flera år tjatat på att jag bör se Star Wars har ju chansen att se det hända nu.
| 1. | 9.2 | 530,272 | |
| 2. | 9.1 | The Godfather (1972) | 417,878 |
| 3. | 9.0 | The Godfather II (1974) | 250,223 |
| 4. | 8.9 | Inception (2010) | 215,887 |
| 5. | 8.9 | Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo (1966) | 164,210 |
| 6. | 8.9 | 425,177 | |
| 7. | 8.9 | Schindler's List (1993) | 281,389 |
| 8. | 8.9 | 12 Angry Men (1957) | 122,269 |
| 9. | 8.8 | 218,796 | |
| 10. | 8.8 | 474,073 | |
| 11. | 8.8 | Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) | 282,356 |
| 12. | 8.8 | The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) | 370,392 |
| 13. | 8.8 | Shichinin no Samurai (1954) | 98,432 |
| 14. | 8.7 | Star Wars (1977) | 325,569 |
| 15. | 8.7 | Goodfellas (1990) | 233,683 |
| 16. | 8.7 | 170,397 | |
| 17. | 8.7 | Fight Club (1999) | 390,123 |
| 18. | 8.7 | Cidade de Deus (2002) | 170,787 |
| 19. | 8.7 | The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) | 393,893 |
| 20. | 8.7 | Toy Story 3 (2010) | 77,869 |
| 21. | 8.7 | 120,715 | |
| 22. | 8.7 | 246,258 | |
| 23. | 8.7 | 75,805 | |
| 24. | 8.7 | 146,350 | |
| 25. | 8.7 |
torsdag, november 11, 2010
Dacia Näcken
Trots att reklam är den mest oattraktiva aspekten med att inte ha Spotify Premium, så är jag hyfsat van vid att stänga ut sådant jag finner irriterande (ljud, människor, you name it). Men på sistone har en reklamsnutt fångat mitt intresse, och efter att ha hört den i en vecka så tycker jag fortfarande att den är fantastiskt rolig.
Finns det ett årligt reklampris? Jag vill nominera den här:
Finns det ett årligt reklampris? Jag vill nominera den här:
"Är du en gammal gubbe med bockfötter som sålt din själ till Djävulen för att få sitta i en bäck och spela fiol? Lockar inte ditt briljanta fiolspel ut damerna på samma sätt som för 250 år sedan?
Köp i så fall en Dacia Duster från osannolika 134900. En äkta fyrhjulsdriven terrrängbil som tar dig hela vägen från bäcken in till staden där vi andra har bott ett tag nu..."
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