Kitty’s Place

Well yes it is actually “Saturday Morning Confusion” but the song has been in my head all day and it is Sunday. *laugh*

I was exhausted last night as was my fellow, so we went to bed early. The kidlet woke up crying at 0430 and crawled into bed, so I moved to the middle. Now I am a roamer when I sleep and being sandwiched between the two of them meant I basically slept in one position for the next 5 hours. So when I woke just after 0900, my back was spasming badly. It took a good 15 minutes to get sitting up to be able to finish my morning back exercises. At that point I was up and so was everyone else. *laugh* My fellow went back to sleep for a bit and I got some dishes washed and breakfast made. Since I have been somewhat sporadic in my cleaning efforts here this week, I had many little things to work at.

That is when I doubled over from cramps. I don’t know how or where I got food poisoning, but I sure did have it. Since we have all been eating the same foods I am pretty confused about what caused mine, since the guys are fine. Anyway, another good excuse to put off more than picking up. *laugh* My stomach has finally settled somewhat, which is a great relief.

Aunt Maud called from my grandparents tonight. So we talked to all three of them. It was fun to catch up on home, since I am mega homesick at the moment. Need to check out ticket prices again for October.

Was checking out train prices and schedules to go up to Skellefteå next month. The whole process of booking them confuses the heck out of me but I think I at least got the price sorted out. *laugh*

This has been a long, funfilled day. *smile*

We had the alarm set for 0615 but at 0600 the kidlet woke me yelling in his sleep for his friend Tova. Then he started to cry and I called for him to crawl in with us. I lifted him in to our bed and he lay between the two of us crying. He was trying to tell us that someone or something had died, but neither of us could make out the key word. He settled down as he came fully awake. So up we got and made breakfast for everyone. My fellow was going off “cruising” at 0700. I was really confused about this, since he said he was going to be cruising in Uppsala and darned if I could figure out how that was possible. But I would not ask and give him the chance to tell me “I’m not telling you” with that same mischievious look in his eyes that our kidlet gets. So he headed out and we showered and picked up some before we headed out too.

Marika had called last evening and asked us to come for waffles at Jennifer’s home this morning. She and Leslie were spending the night there. So we were on the 0900 train to Stockholm. We got off at Karlberg and strolled over to the subway station, looking in all the shop windows I never have time to look in normally. It was lots of fun. It was about 1000 when we got to the subway and I called and said we would be at their stop in about 10 minutes. Riika said they had just gotten up and I said don’t rush to meet us, we would browse around there until they got to the station to meet us. So we walked about near where Jennifer lives and saw another section of Stockholm we haven’t checked out before. It was about 1030 when Riika called and asked where we were. I said we were sitting at the south stairwell of the subway station and she said they were there too, so I stood up and there were her and Leslie. *laugh* It was a short walk to the apartment and we met Jennifer’s fellow when we got there. So I got to see Leslie again, meet Riika and have a real meeting with Jennifer, who I had met once before while enveloped in a cloud of confusion. *laugh*

We had waffles for breakfast and they were superb. We all sat around and talked lots and lots. They have a real pinball machine, reminiscent of the ones I played 20 some years ago when I was in college. Llywellyn spotted it right away and pointed it out to me. He plays the online Windows pinball and always points out the real machines when he sees one, but he had never actually played one. Jennifer was sweet enough to plug it in and let him play and he was in seventh heaven. Later he played again with her fellow helping and I could hear him babbling away in swedish. *smile* Sadly time flew by and then it was time to leave. Leslie had to catch her bus home and Riika had to catch her train. So farewells were made and we headed back to T-Centralen. We parted with Leslie there as she was going on home. Then we made our way to where the train was waiting. After a few more minutes of chatting up a storm between us, Riika headed off. The kidlet and I made our way back to the exit to McDonalds and we got him a happy meal to take with us to work. He kept telling me “jag är ledsen, mamma” with this big sad face. He was sad that Riika was gone and that Leslie went too. He always gets sad when we say bye to people.

So then we were off to work. We got there about 1445 and were finished at 1715. He ate, played with the foam balls, talked on the play phone to everyone he could think of and I did all the usual cleaning and a few extras. As we were heading back to the subway my phone rang. It was my fellow calling from Uppsala. He was wondering how our day was going and wanted to tell me he was driving around in a 1958 Chevy that had won the People’s Choice Award for best car. So the cruising mystery was solved. He really was cruising, literally. One of his workmates is a vintage car buff so I imagine it was something he arranged for them.

We got back in to the Central Station and then came the long anticipated treat of the day … Pizza Hut! We went and had pizza for dinner at the kidlet’s favourite pizza place. He only ate one slice, his usual but he loved every bite of it. *laugh* Then we headed home and got in the door here about 2015. I got the kidlet ready for bed and we called his dad so he could say goodnight. He was asleep in minutes. *laugh* It really surprised that he never fell asleep on the train or the bus, but he was too excited about his stellar day to do that. *smile*

So it has been a wonderful day for both of us. It was the best to spend time with all the girls and make happy memories. *smile*

Update: As the kidlet would say “oj förlåt”. My fellow is home and we are having a cup of tea. He tells me I heard him wrong, it was not a ‘58 Chevy, it was a ‘58 Caddy, he was driving. (good year anyway *grin*) He was out with members of this group. At least I was right about the car buff from work arranging it. *laugh*

My fellow had to go to Göteborg Thursday morning so I was up at 0515 to get him tea and out the door to catch his flight. The kidlet got up about 0700 and by 0800 I had everything cleaned up and us showered and dressed. *laugh* We were at öppna förskolan in the morning and then went in to Stockholm in the afternoon. I was hoping to meet up with the girls, Marika, Jennifer and Leslie, there but they ended up going to the beach instead. I sure can’t blame them, it was in 30’s yesterday and the train was brutal. We were invited to go out as well but it is a couple of hours out and back and since we had to be home here by 1730, it sadly wasn’t an option.

So the kidlet and I went to McDonalds for lunch and then played tourist in Gamla Stan. I bought a lot of postcards and a new book, he got goodies and a new toy. We went to the American food store, the first time I have ever been there. I got mostly treats for my fellow, things he liked when he was living in Canada but aren’t normally available here. I did get some Rice a Roni and some canned pumpkin since I have used up the stuff I froze last fall. We were home about 1630. My fellow got an earlier flight back and was home shortly after us.

I was Miss Emotional all evening, I think because I was disappointed at not being able to go out to Leslie’s. I cried all through dinner preparation and was terribly homesick and sniffly. They were going to be going in to Stockholm today and I really wanted to go, but my fellow had made arrangements a couple days ago, with his dad, for farfar to take the kidlet swimming at the local pool. In a big case of misunderstanding, I thought he was going to swim from 1230-1300, so we could go in to the city after. But what it really was, was that farfar would pick the kidlet up between 1230 and 1300 and they would be gone for a couple hours. Even that would have been ok, if he would have been going to their place after, but he was coming home since they were heading to the cottage. So my day plans went down the tube pretty quick.

Just to top off a rather icky day, I developed a head cold in the evening. *laugh* So here I sat, sniffly, sneezing and sobbing. Quite the combo. *smile*

Today I have not done much of anything. Still have that sneezy, hollow headed feeling but it is getting better. The sitting for long stretches on the train didn’t help my back much, although the walking in the city did, so I don’t have numb hands and legs today, just a backache. *laugh* My fellow has to be up and out of here by 0700 tomorrow, since he is going cruising with his workmates. The kidlet and I will go in to Stockholm and perhaps shop a bit, then go out to Hässelby Gård to work and end up back in Stockholm. I have promised him Pizza Hut for lunch or dinner and my fellow likely will be away till the wee hours of Sunday morning, so we can take our time. I still have hopes of seeing Marika before she goes home tomorrow.

I don’t really know what it is about Wednesday but I always think “whew, the week is half over” yet I never in my life held a Monday-Friday job. *laugh*

It has been a fun week so far. Monday we were at öppna förskolan bright and early. The kidlet had the best time with his friends and I relaxed and let him play. One of the other mom’s had her new little girl there, 3 weeks old and absolutely adorable. I love babies. After lunch we took the train in to work. We left here at 1345 and were home at 1930, so we made record time this week. The kidlet had McDonalds for dinner while I was doing the cleaning. I had made chinese food home for my fellow to warm up when he got home from work, so I only had to throw together something for myself once I settled the kidlet to bed at 2000.

Tuesday was another playgroup morning and then after lunch we had company. Brenda (Dee from Amerikanska) came over and spent the afternoon. It was a really nice afternoon and great fun to meet her. She borrowed a couple books and one of my swedish learning progams on tape since she has only lived here a month and is starting from scratch with swedish. After work my fellow brought home his sister, her best friend and best friends’ non functioning computer. I made dinner for all while he repaired said computer. The kidlet tripped and fell in the morning and scraped his chin, so he has a bandaid on it. He milked that for all its worth most of the day. *laugh*

This morning we went to playgroup and as we were leaving he was running and fell and scraped his palm. We came home and I wanted to put a bandaid on it also but he said no, then proceeded to shriek every time he touched anything with that hand. A bandaid was applied after performance #3. *laugh* They are too funny when they get to this dramatic stage. Will do laundry this afternoon and my fellow has to go after work to get his picture taken, something to do with the upcoming elections. So late dinner again. *laugh*

Today was weigh in day and the grand total of weight loss for the past 3 weeks is 6.5 kg (14 lbs). *smile*

We were away for the weekend and it was lovely. I didn’t go to work on Friday, will go in tomorrow instead. When my fellow got home from work we ate, he had a shower and we headed out. We left here a bit after 1800 and got to Sköldinge around 2000. It took no time to unpack our one bag with clothes and the kidlets Mumin suitcase with his stuffed animals and toys. (he packed it himself Friday morning). We also took the pet carriers down for J&T to look at. These are the ones that the animals traveled in during their flight over from Canada and are large and sturdy. J&T are getting two kittens and we thought that one of the carriers would be a good size for transporting two cats. They liked them and we left one there, to await the arrival of the kittens in a few weeks.

Once we were in and settled, Jonas made nachos and we sat around and ate while catching up on the past couple of weeks. The kidlet got to bed late but that was ok. We followed close on his heels and had a good sleep, even though it was still warm, about 28C (82F) in the house after a really hot day.

Saturday morning we were up fairly early and went to an auction. That was fun and the kidlet got a box of toys that Jonas bid on for him. Then we went home, packed a picnic and piled into the car to go to the beach. It was about 7 km from their home, a really lovely little spot. We had to climb over two wooden stairways set in barbed wire fences, to get to the beach itself. It was small but a real sand beach with a sandy bottom. The water was really quite warm, but refreshing and we were there for the afternoon. We swam, sunned, swam, ate, sunned, swam and sunned more. It was a perfect afternoon! Then we headed back to J&T’s place. My fellow fell asleep on the couch and I fell asleep reading on the bed. So the kidlet went out for a walk and played in one of the play areas with Jonas and Tina.

We woke about 1830 and then dinner preparations began. We had surströmming for dinner. This is a swedish “delicacy”, fermented herring, or more to the point, rotting fish in a can. *laugh* The cans were opened under water to help dissipate the odour somewhat, an odour that I can only compare to the smell of the methane gas that burns off at landfill sites. It was not a nice smell at all, but on the other hand, not as bad as I had anticipated. We had hotdogs for the kidlet. So we sat down to dinner, potatoes, onion, thin bread and surströmming. We ate it by spreading butter on the thin bread, then putting pieces of potato, fish and onion on it and rolling it up, rather like a fajita. Of course before that we had to removed fins and skin and cut the stinky fish into little pieces. We also had hard thin bread, prepared the same way except not rolled up. The flavour of the fish was not bad after the smell. It was rather salty and a bit sweet. I really do prefer herring pickled though. *laugh* I had two pieces of the smelly fish as did my fellow. The kidlet had a little taste of his dad’s but wasn’t crazy about it. After dinner everything was doubled bagged and thrown out promptly, so the house would lose the smell. As a once a year thing, I could eat this again. After we settled the kidlet into bed we watched a movie (Forget Paris with Billy Crystal) and then called it a night.

Sunday morning we slept late and then had a late breakfast. My fellows race was on at 1355 so we didn’t go back to the beach, instead we went to look at a house. We took a nice walk in the country to get there. On the way we passed old railway tracks in the bush and showed them to the kidlet. There was also an old switch there and he was really intrigued with it. We could see a building off in the woods, it looked like an old factory and just called out to me. We made our way around to the house and surprise, the old building was right there. This house is for sale and the owner works at the same place as Jonas.

The house was a lovely old place, with a stone roof, the first one of those I have seen here. It had two lower apartments and then a big one on the second floor. The lower ones are one bedroom, compact but cute. We went in to the unrented one and the kidlet walked into the living room, looked around and exclaimed “oj, vad fint” (oh, how fine). I giggled like crazy over that one. After we had seen the one lower and the upper apartments we went out back. It is in a wooded area, fairly secluded. Then we discovered that the old building was actually an old train garage that was no longer in use since moving the tracks. The fellow who owned the house had access to the garage and took us in to see it. Imagine how exciting that was! There was a lot of old equipment and a train car on one of the tracks. There was a spot where the trains would have come in and then been worked on from underneath. The kidlet was rather overwhelmed by it all but eventually relaxed and then he really enjoyed it. It was a really interesting and fun afternoon. Any stray thoughts of packing up and moving down there were whisked away by loud sound and vibrations when a train went past. The house is located directly across a small road, from the new railway tracks. It was reminiscent of the when I lived in the murder house in Merriton that was located across from a busy spot with 6 tracks. *smile* We thanked the man and headed back to J&T’s to watch the race. Then had a late lunch and headed home. As always our time with them was wonderful.

Tomorrow öppna förskolan reopens and the kidlet is just so excited about being able to go and play with his friends there. Should be a nice day for him. *smile*

This was the funniest thing I have read in a bit so I thought I would pass it along. *laugh*

This is the only picture I have over here from when I was a kid, so I decided to post it. *smile*

Yesterday was a fun day. Beverly had a little boy and his name is Tage. I think a boy is perfect, now they are the storybook family, mom, dad, daughter and son. *smile* She had him on Tuesday and posted a pic of him here Wednesday. Can’t wait to go visit and see them all.

It was Lori’s birthday so I called her to wish her a happy one. It was just the nicest thing. I always forget just how much fun it is to talk with her. In our IRC days we could talk for hours, conversations that wound along to some of the oddest subjects. *smile* Even though I keep up with her life on lj, I miss those chats. I made a vow to call more often, actually I think of it many times but usually she is working the days that I do.

The kidlet and I stayed quiet in the heat. My back is out, not sure how it happened, but it is. I noticed on the weekend that my hands kept going numb and then Monday my thighs did the same. This is the same thing that happened in the past when one of the discs got out of alignment and started pinching a nerve. I need to get to the chiropractor. So I didn’t do much walking and iced my back at intervals. I did have laundry time in the evening and I did do that. It was brave the stairs or go naked. *laugh*

Today my fellow picked the kidlet up at 1400 and took him to work with him. I had a 1430 appointment for testing for SFI. I walked over to the school and was there by 1410. The women doing the testing were two of the day class instructors, one of whom I had as an evening class teacher last year. They brought me in, sat me down, had a chat with me and when they realized I wanted to go to evening classes again, told me I didn’t need to write after all, since they do the testing in class on the first night. So I was done and on my way home at 1420. *laugh* All the talking was done in swedish and we covered a number of things, like the fact my fellows mom works there, how old the kidlet was, why I want to stay home with him, how much reading I do in swedish, where I had left the kidlet while there and did I have any fun plans now that I was kid free. *grin* I should hear next month when classes start. They are starting later than many communities, since they moved over the summer and the construction of the new classrooms is not yet complete.

So I am home alone for a couple hours! I went and picked up hamburger patties and buns for dinner, since it won’t make it warm in here to cook them. It is in the high 80’s here today and even I am finding the heat a bit much to handle. Then I came home and lay in bed with my ice and a book. Nothing is on here, no tv, no stereo .. complete silence and it is bliss. *laugh* Now back to my quiet time. *smile*

It has been warm here, much warmer than the norm. Yesterday when we were waiting for the ice cream truck an elderly man stopped to catch his breath and asked me if I liked the heat. When I said yes, he said it was too much, what we need is just enough heat in the summer. *laugh* If only it was that easy to get the weather we want. I do agree with him to a point though, since air conditioning is so rare here the trend of temps in the mid to high 80’s is uncomfortable.

We went to work on Saturday. The kidlet and I went on the train. We stopped and picked up cut flowers at the kiosk outside the subway stop at Hässelby Gård. It was not really bad at work, a company was in and used a machine to wax and buff up the floors in the 3 big areas on Friday, so I had 50% less floor washing to do. I used the time to wipe windows and registers and get back into a routine. There was a big welcome back note on the table in the kitchen. It was a really nice surprise.

Sunday we went to Månkarbo and had a great day in the sun. The men worked more on the sauna/bathroom and my fellow’s mom painted windows. Kidlet and I relaxed.

Monday my fellow was home. So it was a quiet relaxing at home day. The glassbil was supposed to be here at 1820 and we went out to wait for it. It was almost an hour late again. During that time I chatted with a number of the neighbours.

One couple we have spoken to in passing since our first week here. A couple weeks ago he asked me something I didn’t catch and that was the first he realized I was an english speaker. So he asked on Monday if I was from Britain or the US. He was really surprised when I said Canada and asked where exactly. What a surprise for us both to discover that he went to university in Hamilton, the city where Aunt Maud lives and not far at all from where I am from.

Also had a long chat with my neighbour from the 3rd floor. We spoke when I first moved here and she heard me speaking english to the kidlet. She stopped and asked if I was from Canada and was excited, since she had moved here from Toronto 17 years ago (hmm, close to 20 years now, wow). We have not really seen each other much since, as she leaves here at 0500 for her commute to work and arrives home after 1900 most nights. During our chat I discovered she had married in February and is waiting for her husband to get a permit. He is from Pakistan and they applied in January, supplied the wedding certificate in February and have been waiting since. He was interviewed once and has been requested to come in to reinterview before she is given a date for her interview here. She said that since 9/11 travel visas are routinely denied now, within her extended family and also for her Turkish friends who have brothers, sisters or parents requesting to come for a visit. She wants this wait over because it is costing her a fortune in long distance charges .. that I really could relate to.

Then there was the chat about the heat I recounted earlier and finally, as I was making a quick trip to the store (discovered at the last minute I did not have enough flour to make the pizza I had planned *laugh*) I ran into the elderly woman from the next building who loves the kidlet so much. I said hello and she blurted out “do you live here now?”. I thought perhaps I misunderstood her so I asked her what she said and she repeated it, making motions like a person sleeping and pointing to our building. I was totally confused and said very hesitantly that yes, I lived here. Then all was made clear. *laugh* She said she had not seen us for so long she thought we moved and I explained we had been away on vacation. She said she was so glad we were still living here as she was missing us. I thought that was sweet. I really love that we are now part of the community here and know people to speak to, especially when I read about how people in some places never have any interaction with the neighbours, because the swedes keep to themselves.

Today we had a fun day too. The kidlet got to play some computer games, he watched Scooby Doo and then we went to Eurostop and McDonalds. After a Happy Meal and a big time playing in the balls with another kid, we went shopping. LL bought a plastic ring toss set, something he has been asking for since reading about “ring the gack” in Dr Suess’s “One Fish Two Fish …”. Then I bought him his own watch. It is a Pooh watch and you push a button to have a small digital clock pop out. We looked at pocket watches as well, since I want to replace the one of his dad’s that he broke. My tax refund got deposited to my account this week and I want to use it and my next pay for the watch. Then we grocery shopped and my fellow picked us up on his way home from work. Of course as we were walking from the car to the apartment, the kidlet asked his dad if he wanted the new watch that mom was looking at for him. *laugh* So I guess the surprise factor is gone.

Tonight I am reading this Judge Judy book and wondering how Beverly is doing.

The flu has come calling in our house. Monday evening brought a queasy tummy and Tuesday the full blown bug. So it has been a quiet couple of days.

My fellow went to Göteborg yesterday for work. The kidlet thought it was cool that his dad went on a plane 2 times in one day. He wasn’t able to get the early flight back this time and got home around 1900 bearing gifts. He went and bought me Sagan om Ringen (Lord of the Rings) on dvd. He actually went yesterday on his lunch but they weren’t in yet. So he stopped on his way home from the airport. He brought candy for the kidlet, who was so excited and kept saying “for me? just for me?” (of course he said it in swedish since he says most things in swedish).

That reminds of a something funny. A few months ago I got one of those grab bags of craft supplies and such at a store. One of the items in it was a shoehorn that has feet on it. One of the feet had broken off. We found it when I was digging out my weight watchers point book. I promised to fix it for him. So the other morning he very seriously said to me (in english) “mamma, you fix horn shoe for me?” It was hard work not to laugh but I really was proud of him for remembering what it was called in english, even if he had it backwards. It must be tough for him having all these languages to process but he tries so hard.

I started counting points again and doing a daily “long walk”. All part of my “love me” plan that I started last month. So yesterday was my first weigh in and I lost 4 kg (9 lbs) in the first week. I have been working on being more positive about myself, wearing makeup again, dressing up instead of wearing old worn t-shirts and pants around the house, spending less time online and more time reading and crafting again. I must admit that I do feel better and my being happy and content has made my fellows the same. So life here is running extra smoothly. Now if this flubug would call it quits, everything would be rosy. *laugh*

I am testing to see if this link will work. I have uploaded our vacation photos here.

Update: Well it works. *laugh* This is the first time I have used Webshots and I wasn’t sure how it would go. These are pictures from our week in Sköldinge and our week in Katrineholm.