Kitty’s Place

Was up early with my fellow, who had to fly down to Göteborg for the day. The kidlet had crawled into our bed, so I crawled back in after waving goodbye to my fellow. My intention was to grab an extra hour sleep and then get out to shop a bit before work. Well I slept until 1030. The kidlet got up and watched tv and let me sleep. He got himself juice and yoghurt for breakfast. He ate 3 of those little tiny yoghurts and used one spoon for each one. *laugh* So it was a race when I woke up. I got the dog walked, litter box changed, garbage out, kidlet dressed and fed something more substantial than yoghurt.

We headed into the city and then went to work. The kidlet was thrilled that the girls were there. I like it too because they keep him occupied while I am working and things go quicker then. We were done by 1600 and then headed back into Stockholm. Got the kidlet a Happy Meal and then we got on the train home. We were here by 1800 and then stopped at the postal outlet for our parcels. The Graeme Base books we got for Llywellyn are just wonderful. My new bathing suit is nice, fits well, but I wish there had been another colour choice besides black. *laugh*

We had the strangest time on the trains today. The pendaltåg smelled like a brewery because someone had spilled a bottle of beer on the floor. Then we got onto the subway and there were 2 drunk men sitting in the next set of seats to us. Again it smelled like a brewery. I don’t have a lot of patience with drunks. Probably from all those night shifts spent detoxing them. One of them was in the “sobbing” mode and if that was not bad enough, he began to bark. The kidlet looked at them and then went back to chattering to me. Suddenly the barking drunk yelled at him in swedish to shut up. Llywellyn was really startled and stopped talking and tears came into his eyes. I was not impressed and told the drunk to close his own mouth in a most angry tone. So the drunk started to cry again and the other drunk with him got him up and off the train.

Our trip back was fine, clean subway car, nice people. Then we got to the platform for the pendeltåg. A couple were standing at the train doors asking everyone who got on if it was the train to Märsta and people were saying no, this train goes to Upplands Väsby. So the couple would ask the next people boarding the train the same thing. I wondered if they were hoping the answer would change. Finally the doors shut and the man walked over to us and pointed to the train and asked “Märsta”? I said no, the next train was the Märsta one, but he didn’t understand swedish. So I tried english, but he didn’t understand that either. Finally I held up 5 fingers and pointed to the clock and he got the idea. His wife, very obviously pregnant spoke to LL and then handed me a piece of paper saying that they were refugees and had 5 children and no money for food so could we help. I said no. She tried to convince me by pointing to LL, showing me she had 5 like him and then making eating motions. I said no. She asked if I understood spanish. I said no. What I really wanted to say was “you stupid woman, if you didn’t spend money on that cigarette you are smoking, you would have some for your kids food and the one you are carrying would have a better start to life”. I really can’t handle women smoking while they are pregnant.

So the train came and we got on. Not before someone else asked if it was the train to Märsta. I guess there are a lot of illiterate people, since there is big sign stating the destination. *laugh* We ended up sitting across the aisle from the refugees. He pulled out a bunch of papers and she looked them over. Then he took out his wallet and counted a bunch of 100 :- bills. She then took her note and an empty coffee cup and went along begging for money for her hungry kids. Eventually we got to Upplands Väsby and they got off. So why in the world were they so determined to get on the Märsta train? Another of mysteries of life. *laugh*

My fellow called when we were one stop from home to say he had just landed at the airport. So we got home just after he did, since we did the stop for parcels. Dinner was cheeseburgers. I took out the turkey to thaw and booked a laundry time for tomorrow morning. Did some dishes and tucked in the kidlet. We watched Law & Order: Criminal Intent and then I walked the dog. Now I am in relax mode. I still have sore ears and a sore throat but hopefully it will resolve over the weekend.

1. What is your favorite type of literature to read (magazine, newspaper, novels, nonfiction, poetry, etc.)?
Fiction. I love a well written novel.

2. What is your favorite novel?
The Talisman by Stephen King and Peter Straub.

3. Do you have a favorite poem? (Share it!)

A Valediction by Ernest Dowson

If we must part,
Then let it be like this;
Not heart on heart,
Nor with the useless anguish of a kiss;
But touch mine hand and say:
“Until to-morrow or some other day,
If we must part.”

Words are so weak
When love hath been so strong:
Let silence speak:
“Life is a little while, and love is long;
A time to sow and reap,
And after harvest a long time to sleep,
But words are weak.”

4. What is one thing you’ve always wanted to read, or wish you had more time to read?
The Bhagavad Gita

5. What are you currently reading?
The Godfather by Mario Puzo (I can’t believe I have never read this before!)

We have two packages waiting at the postal outlet. One is the books I ordered for the kidlet last week and the other is a bathing suit I ordered for myself. Both will have to wait until tomorrow though.

The meat pie was ok, kind of like a meatloaf quiche. I will make it again but with less oregano and montreal steak spice next time.

No cough syrup required last night by the kidlet. I am feeling better too. Still have a fever, sore throat and sore ears, but I can swallow solids now. That is a definite improvement. I am definitely going in to the city tomorrow so I had better be feeling even better then. *laugh*

My fellow has a meeting tonight so it will be a fish sticks and potato wedges dinner. I have to do dishes soon, the counter is hidden under yesterdays dishes and I hate not having it cleared off. Just have no energy to do anything, all I want to do is sleep. Thank goodness the weekend will be here soon.

My fellow is going down south for the day tomorrow so I am going to go in to work and then we will have the weekend free to relax. I will take out the turkey I got before christmas and we will have a turkey dinner on Saturday. We have been together 6 years now and while it was last Sunday that was the actual anniversary of the day we first met in person, I knew we would be busy with his family last weekend so decided to have a little celebration this weekend. I can’t believe it has already been 6 years. It sure went by quickly. *laugh*

We are having a stay at home day. Again it was excrutiatingly difficult to get out of bed this morning. I did sleep in some because my fellow turned off the alarm and slept in some as well. Then he came back to bed with the laptop while he had his tea.

Last evening he had a meeting after dinner. So they ate and then ran about and played for half an hour before my fellow had to go out. The kidlet was coughing a lot and generally whiny so I gave him cough syrup before bed. He cried and wanted to stay up till pappa came home. So I tucked him on the couch under a blanket and put on my tape. I have 5 hours of Waltons and an ER episode to watch and I thought I would catch up. My fellow arrived home about 10 minutes later. So I turned off the tape since he is not a big Waltons fan. The kidlet bagan to cry and said he wanted to watch “cowboy”. I said it was not a cowboy show and he cried more and said he liked “cowboy”. That is when I realized he meant “John-boy”. *laugh* He really was feeling awful at that point although he had no fever. So he curled up on his father’s lap and they talked about his new books. Then pappa took him in and tucked him into his bed and read one of the new books to him. He was asleep before the book was finished.

I was really cranky and felt horrible. About 2130 I started to cry because I was just plain hungry and was having trouble just swallowing tea. My fellow suggested Ramen noodles cooked until they were really soft. I hadn’t even thought of those. So I had some noodles and some tea and then went to bed.

Today my voice is beginning to come back and the kidlet’s cough is infrequent. We have watched 3 kids movies (from his supply of vcr tapes), I bundled up really well and took the dog out and emptied the garbage. That is all I plan on doing too. Will be trying this ‘paj med färs’ recipe from last weeks Hemmets Journal. It is a meat pie with onions and mushrooms and then you put pineapple slices on top. Not sure how it will go with the sore throat but now I know that pasta is a good choice if the pie doesn’t work. *laugh*

We did go into work on Sunday and my fellow had a quiet day at home. When we got back I made chicken with wok veggies and rice. Was feeling tired and went to bed early.

Monday we went into the city since I had an 1100 chiropractor appointment. We left here before 0900 so we could stop at McDonalds for an egg mcmuffin, but it was not meant to be. Our train broke down and we had to wait for a new one to come. That took almost 20 minutes. Then we got onto the new one, only to discover it was having some sort of problem as well, so then they disconnected half the cars and finally we were off. We got to the appointment at about 1102, but there was no breakfast and a lot of rushing to make it. *laugh* She did help the stiffness in my back but when she was adjusting my neck she made something click and I have had a sore jaw and a headache since I got home. So I guess I will have to go back. I knew that last adjustment was not quite right, my old chiropractor once told me that you should never hear cracking or loud noises when you are being adjusted. Dr Scales is the best and I surely do miss him. *smile*

After we left Lisa’s office, we went to Dromhuset and got a bunch of little 10 :- items. A travel toothbrush, travel nail brush, travel razor, travel scissors, soap holder for here, a bunny towel holder, a little ball and a little car. The car needed a double A battery. We stopped at the Pizza Hut in Centralstation and the kidlet had a piece of pizza and garlic bread for lunch. Then we headed back home.

We watched a bit of tv and then headed out again, this time to Eurostop. I had to do a big grocery shop. This is the first time I have ever had the joy of getting to the checkout and discovering items in my cart that I did not put there. One was a Kit Kat bar, the second was mini marshmallows and the third was … mmhmm … double A batteries. *laugh* I guess the kidlet thinks that he is big enough to make his own purchases now. We were done about 1705 and my fellow came from work and picked us up. By then I was feeling really bad, had a fever and both of us were coughing. I put away the groceries and made pasta with shrimp and a white sauce and a ceaser salad for dinner. I didn’t even watch ER last night. I went to bed as soon as I had taken the dog out for her last walk of the day and fed her and the cat. By the time my fellow came to bed I had laryngitis. He teased my muchly about my squeaky man’s voice. The kidlet meanwhile slept fine but coughed off and on the whole night through. This morning I did not want to get up. I even croaked to my fellow I wanted to be like those “Toys R Us” kids .. only in my case it was “I don’t want to get up”. *laugh* But I did get up and we got dressed and my fellow dropped us off at the book sale on his way to work. We had breakfast there, well the kidlet did. I am having too hard a time swallowing to have attempted to eat. I got 4 cookbooks, a book about airplanes for my fellow and the kidlet got 4 books as well, a Mumin book, a Jultomten book, a Nalle Puh colour and shape book and another puzzle book. The puzzle books are cool. Each page has a description of the animal on one side and the other side is a real puzzle of that animal. There are 5 puzzles in each book. He had one of Safari animals already, so he got a Farm animal one today. From there we came home and walked the dog, then went to playgroup for an hour. It was not my idea of fun, but since the kidlet is fever free and has not been coughing since he woke up, I let him have his fun and I stayed in a corner well away from everyone.

Now we are home and relaxing. I have dishes to wash and beds to make but I really just want to take some more Tylenol and go to bed instead. *smile* I think I will bake a ham for dinner so I should go and get it ready.

We went to Kista centrum with my fellow’s family. The first adventure was finding a parking spot. Luckily for us the kidlet had fallen asleep so there was not nonstop commentary about the going around in circles. *laugh* After we got into the mall we split up. J&T headed off one way, farmor, farfar, faster A and the kidlet went another and my fellow and I went off our way. It was fun.

We stopped in the Body Shop where I got a terracotta pumice stone thing and some Mango body butter. We peeked in a hair salon/hair supply shop and found my favourite Joico hair products, so no more pleas to family to mail over when my stash gets low. As we were walking along I saw a big sign for semlor but what caught my attention was the smell of sub sauce. It was a place called Sandy’s Subs. We didn’t buy anything but I took note for the future. It has been forever since I had a sub. Next we went to Clas Olsen which reminds me somewhat of CTC. We didn’t get anything there except a catalogue. We popped in a book store and saw shelves and tables full of books with signs all over them saying they were not for sale until Tuesday. That was too funny. Tuesday is the start of the yearly week long book sale here in Sweden. There are two cookbooks I want to get so I will be at ICA Maxi early Tuesday (we actually got a coupon in the mail to go there for breakfast presale, they really take this booksale seriously). Our last stop was a music store. We got 4 new PS2 games and I got a music cd.

We all met up again and then headed back to farmor and farfars where we had dinner. Then J&T and A headed out for Sköldinge. We visited a bit longer and then came home. The fellows tried a couple of the new games, then I bathed the kidlet and settled him in bed. We watched the Melodifestivalen show and now we are watching a movie, snacking on brownies and popcorn. It has been a really fun day all around.

Have laid out our clothes for the morning and I will take the kidlet and go early to work, letting my fellow have a sleep in.

Friday was a rushed day here. We slept in, I woke up just as my fellow was heading out for work, around 0900. Since I had laundry time at 0700 I was a bit upset about the sleep in but on the other hand, it was nice to sleep. *laugh* The kidlet and I had breakfast and headed to playgroup. He made a new friend and they played for a couple hours, building pillow forts and dressing up in old clothes.

Then we did the mad rush home and I got his lunch ready. He wanted to eat in the living room so he could see Scooby Doo and I foolishly agreed. So only one meatball was actually consumed. Just as I was getting him ready to go, my fellow called and said he was coming home for lunch. So we met him outside and he picked the kidlet up and then carried him to preschool. LL was thrilled to have pappa come along and meet his teacher.

Then it was dash back here, get lunch for my fellow and see him off to work. I picked up and made beds, then started back at the toys. I got a lot done before it was time to pick up the kidlet again. I have about 2 hours more to spend sorting though. Have a big box to go to storage and then we will take those out to the cottage when the weather is better.

After preschool we went to the grocery store, then came back here for a bit. We played with puzzles and then it was time to go out to the road and meet farmor. She picked us up and we went to their place for the evening. Jonas & Tina came up for the night so we had dinner and a visit with them. My fellow came over when he was done work, had dinner and fika and then headed out to a political meeting. Speaking of, he told me a couple days ago that one of the woman from his party asked him to ask me if I would be interested in going to do water aerobics with a group of them on Tuesdays. So I ordered a new bathing suit and will check this out.

J&T dropped us back here just before 2000. They were going in to Stockholm to a nightclub. We had been invited but I find right now that I just don’t want to be going where there are big crowds. I am so glad the days are getting longer and this depression will flee in the face of spring. *smile* It was just as well we declined, since my fellow hadn’t checked his schedule and had this meeting planned already.

After the kidlet was snuggled in bed, I sorted out more little bits and pieces. Kindereggs are fun but those toy pieces must multiply inside toy boxes. Then when my fellow came home I gave him the choice of ‘Best Ever Chewy Brownies’ or ‘Pineapple Cake’ (both recipes are Leslie’s and are delicious). He chose brownies so I made those and we had them warm with our tea. We watched Law & Order: Criminal Intent. I still don’t think it is as good as the original or SVU. The episode we saw was about people who died from cyanide poisoning. The beginning with the hospital deaths reminded me of Susan Nelles and that just turned me off, so I didn’t even care that I missed it while I was making brownies. Funny how that case still rankles even after 20 some years. I guess it is that I always felt it could so easily have been me in her shoes.

This morning we have Dexter on the tv and I am brewing tea. J&T are going to call when they are mobile and we will likely go and see them for a bit. Also on the agenda is a big food shop.

Yesterday was a great mail day here. Not only did we get the shared custody form, we got a parcel!

We all dragged ourselves from bed around 0800, no one had any pep at all. I hope spring gets here soon. *smile* After breakfast my fellow headed off to work and the kidlet and I got ready and went to playgroup. There were lots of people there and we made a cat out of construction paper and a paper towel roll. Then it was a race home for lunch and I took the kidlet back for preschool.

I did have laundry time at 1400 but when I got back at 1230 from dropping him off, no one was using the laundry room so I started early. I had a jacket of farfar’s to wash so I did it first. As I was cleaning up between laundry room trips, the mail came and the form I have been calling about forever is finally in my hands. There was also a slip saying we had a “big letter” waiting at the postal outlet. I decided to tackle the kidlet’s dresser and bagged two of the paper grocery sacks we get here, full of outgrown clothes. That makes 4 bags of clothes and a bag of shoes and boots I have sorted out recently. I managed to also get dishes done and the bathroom scrubbed before I had to pick up the kidlet at 1530.

We put clothes in the dryer as soon as we got back from preschool and then went to the grocery store. We picked up our package from Aunt Maud and came back. It was a Valentines parcel! She sent us all cards, a pig fridge magnet for my fellow, a kitten hotpad for me, Pooh and Piglet stamps and stamp pads and a Canada patch for the kidlet. The most exciting part of the parcel (to me anyway) were the heart shaped candies with sayings on them! I love those and haven’t seen them in years. We looked for some when I was home last fall and of course, Aunt Maud remembered that and picked up these one when she saw them in a store there. She said they were the only ones she saw anywhere though. She also included a bunch of pictures from our trip over there last fall. Those I saved to go through when I had my pre bedtime cup of tea. *smile*

When I went to get out the final load of clothes I met the woman who had the next time slot coming out. She had switched times to another day, so I took her time and did towels and bedding. Then we had dinner and I did a classic “wife” thing. We had fish for dinner and I totally forgot to get lemon when we were at the grocery store. So I asked my fellow to stop and pick some up on his way home. *laugh* After dinner we phoned and talked to Aunt Maud and thanked her for the wonderful gifts. The kidlet was being a bit bratty while I was on the phone and it was past bedtime, so I told him to crawl in bed and read and I would come tuck him in when I was done talking to Aunt Maud. I could hear him reading in there and then silence. He fell asleep clutching “The Water Hole”. *laugh*

So laundry is all caught up, part of my weekly cleaning is finished and I have more cleaning up plans for today. The kidlet has a cough again and I am debating letting him go to his grandparents for the night. He has no fever and says he is fine, but I know that farmor gets worried when he has a cough, so I think it is best he stays home. The kidlet and his dad of course, disagree. *laugh* Will see how he does through the day. Now it is bath time and then we are off to playgroup.

When we were in Canada my Aunt Pearl gave the kidlet a lovely book. It is called The Water Hole by Graeme Base. The kidlet loves it. It is a fun counting book with superb illustrations. He spends hours looking at the pictures and delights in counting along with the book. I have been worrying a bit about his english counting skills and his alphabet skills, so am thrilled with how he interacts with this book. So on the weekend I ordered “Animalia”, an alphabet book as well as two others of his. So soon we will have more bedtime reading material on hand.

Right now we have about a 50/50 mix of swedish and english childrens books. Llywellyn loves books and while he can’t read yet, he will sit with a book and make up a story to go with the pictures. It is sweet and funny. We get new swedish ones regularly because I can go into the store and look them over and see if they are fun, but I don’t have the same opportunity with english ones. I basically have to wait until I am in Canada to stock up since I don’t like the idea of ordering books without knowing if they are really good. So if any of you reading here can suggest any books for a 4 and a half year old, I would really appreciate it. *smile*

Quiet weekend here. We did literally nothing. It was great fun. *smile* We did watch Melodifestivalen on Saturday evening. Otherwise, we slept, ate and lazed around.

This morning I was up at 0500 since my fellow had to fly down to Göteborg. The kidlet slept in until almost 0800. I need to make a trip out to the airport so I suggested we go there for breakfast, he said no, he wanted to watch cartoons and play with his toys. So we had a fun morning here instead. He is at preschool now and I am going to strip beds etc.

Papers came today from the tax office. What the dolt I spoke to on Friday sent was a 3 page document “extract of the population register”. Basically it is what is on their computer, showing the kidlet information and that of his parents. No application for shared custody yet again. So I was a bit angry and called them the minute I opened the letter. I got a man who put me through to a woman. I explained the whole situation to her and she kept suggesting things I should try. I finally lost my temper and told her that I have contacted their office 4 times in the past few months and that this was supposed to be sorted out 3 years when we came here, as was promised us by the local tax department office.

Finally she said “well, we can send you a request for custody form, but it has to be requested by the swedish citizen”. What??? I replied in a not happy voice. “are you telling me that he has to phone to request the forms??? I can’t asked to have them sent here for him to fill in???” There was silence and then she said, well I guess I can mail this and your husband can write it. This is the mentality of these people. They can’t remember for 2 minutes in a conversation that he isn’t my husband and the whole reason for needing these papers is that we are not married. Anyway she wanted to transfer me to the Spånga office and I said “NO”, I have already spoken with them 3 times and they either never send the papers or they send what I got today, useless things. I am sure she was sorry she answered the phone. *smile* I did apologize for being short with her but if they had people with any brains there, then I would not have to be losing my temper. So it will be interesting to see if the proper forms show up here tomorrow. In six weeks we can send in our applications for citizenship. I really would like this sorted out before that, only so I can be done with government agencies for a while. *laugh*