Kitty’s Place

Wow, it has been a week since I updated properly. It was a pretty routine week all around.

I did laundry on Tuesday.

Wednesday morning we were up at 0400 and my fellow headed out to catch his flight down to Göteborg. The kidlet and I went to playgroup and preschool. Then his grandparents picked him up at 1700 and he went off to spend the night with them. So I had the place to myself for a full 24 hours. I made curry chicken, had pistachios and pear cider while watching what I wanted to on tv. All the things I normally don’t eat, since my fellow has allergies to so many things but still wants to eat them. I did go to bed fairly early though.

Thursday I slept in, went out and did some shopping and did a lot of reading. It was nice to have a quiet day. It was also nice when the kidlet came home after dinner with farmor and farfar. He had a great time swimming and sleeping over. *smile*

Friday the kidlet wanted to go to school, not mom’s job, so that is what he did. I puttered about and did cleaning up before my fellow got home. He got an earlier flight than I thought and was home around 1700, which was great. We missed him a lot. We had a quiet, cuddly evening and went to bed early. I don’t think either of us really sleep well when we are apart.

Saturday we spent the day in bed. At least a fair chunk of it. The kidlet slept in and so did we. Then he got up and watched tv and we slept a bit more. After lunch I went back to bed to read and my fellows crawled back in too. All of us had a nap. It was the laziest day I have spent in forever. *smile*

Sunday I went to work. It was cold, wet and by the time I got to Hässelby there was snow and even hail. I did some extra cleaning since I was kidfree and was home by 1800. The kidlet and my fellow had gone to farmor and farfar’s for the afternoon. LL went shopping and to McDonalds with his grandmother. He thought that was just the best. *laugh*

Monday my fellow headed out to work at the usual time and we went to playgroup. Then I took the kidlet back in the afternoon for preschool, did laundry, made dinner and finished the 1400+ page book I have been working away at for a couple months. I kept putting it down and reading something else, probably because it was a reread. I had to run out to the store last night after dinner. While I was there I bought the kidlet this little remote control robot he has been looking at in the store for over a month. Every time we go in he points it out and I say no, we are not buying it and he never makes a fuss. So since there was just one left I figured he deserved it. (even though he has enough toys to outfit an entire daycare *laugh*) So when I got home he greeted me at the door with a picture he had drawn for me, rolled up with a ribbon tied around it. I handed him the robot and his little eyes got so big. He said thank you and walked away holding it, then came back and gave me a big hug and announced that I am the best mom. He then went straight to his father, hugged him and told him he was the best dad. As spoiled as he is, he really is a sweet kid. *smile*

Today we are having a quiet morning. My fellow has had a headache since Sunday and he had an upset stomach as well on Sunday. He said it was from eating too fast at his parents. I have had a headache and an upset stomach since Sunday. So my guess is it is a little bug. It certainly is not keeping us housebound but we are not so peppy as usual. *laugh*

The plan for Wednesday is to go in and clean so we can have a long weekend together. We may go away. Wednesday we will have the big Walpurgis bonfire and Thursday is May Day. My fellow’s parents have said they may go out to the cottage, so we may go there as well once the May Day stuff is over.

1. What was the last TV show you watched?
The Waltons. I am so glad they are airing these old show here, makes me feel like a kid again. *laugh*

2. What was the last thing you complained about and what was the problem?
Hmm, I complained to the maintenance people here about the problems in the laundry room the day my clothes got trapped in the centrifuge.

3. Who was the last person you complimented and what did you say?
My fellow, I told him he was wonderful.

4. What was the last thing you threw away?
The radishes that were making the fridge smell bad. Next time I won’t forget to cut off the leaves before I store them.

5. What was the last website (besides this one) that you visited?
Amerikanska.

1) My middle name is Alma.
2) I am the oldest of 5 children.
3) I went to college in Toronto for one term but was so homesick I couldn’t stay there.
4) I thought I would never move away from Niagara again.
5) I am named Kitty Sue after a cousin of my mom.
6) When I was in high school I went to Greece for 10 days.
7) I was married for 18 years.
8) When I was 25 I was told I would never conceive a child.
9) I worked as a nurse for almost 18 years.
10) I had my own business for a year, an ISP.
11) I met my fellow online.
12) My parents both died of cancer.
13) My maternal grandparents are still alive and self sufficient.
14) I am allergic to my dog and my cat.
15) I moved to Sweden without ever having visited here.
16) This month I will apply for Swedish citizenship.
17) All I ever wanted to be in my life was a nurse.
18) I get carsick.
19) When I am stressed I rub my left eye.
20) I wear glasses but only outside since they are for distance.
21) I love to read.
22) I have been a Tolkien fan for 33 years.
23) I love John Travolta and think Blow Out was his best film.
24) I am a sucker for an accent.
25) When I was 17 my dad took us on a cross country holiday, to the west coast through the US and back east through Canada.
26) My mom was my best friend.
27) I collect kaleidoscopes.
28) My Raggedy Anne doll has travelled with me for 30 years and still sits in my bedroom.
29) My fellow and I met because of a mutual love of the TV show ER.
30) My son had no name when he was born, we couldn’t agree on one until the day after.
31) I love Little Women and wore out 3 copies of the book.
32) I used to ring the bell at the Salvation Army kettle at Christmas time.
33) I was raised Baptist.
34) I have always dreamed of seeing St Petersburg.
35) As much as I have dreamed of seeing the Pyramids in Egypt.
36) My paternal grandparents emigrated to Canada from Scotland in the 1920’s.
37) My maternal ancestors emigrated to Canada from Scotland and Ireland in the late 1700’s.
38) My mom and dad met on a bus, I met my ex husband on a bus too.
39) I like to do cross stitch.
40) I wrote a novel in the 70’s, it was so bad I packed it away to read again when I am old.

We had such a fun week.

Wednesday we went into the city and met with Meaghan’s friend Heather, another Canadian. We met at her hotel and then went to Skansen. There is just so much to see there! We wandered about for a few hours and then went out for lunch. After lunch we went to Gamla Stan and wandered some more. We went into an optical shop and they had a display with sunglasses for 70% off. I got the kidlet cute Polaroid sunglasses since his old ones are getting a bit too small. They were 198 SEK originally and we paid 59 SEK, so it was a worthwhile stop indeed. His favourite part was the case the girl gave him that you squeeze and it opens up! Kids are so funny. We headed back to Märsta and got dinner ready for my fellow before his meeting.

Thursday Meaghan went in to the city early to meet her friend. We followed about an hour later and went on to work. It was an easy day, there had been no classes through because of Påsklov and the place had been empty Mon-Tues. *smile* We met up with the girls at Central Station about 1400. Meaghan still had some stops to make so we went ahead home. She went to Kreatima and got some lovely pens, I am excited to check it out now. When she got back we all went out for pizza.

Friday we went to Ibo’s parents for dinner. We had salmon, herring and potatoes and then for dessert there was Memma, a finnish easter thing that tastes like molasses mixed with fine oats. Jonas and Tina were up for a couple of days and they brought easter treats for all. Meaghan took Susan and went for a long walk, getting back here shortly before we got home.

Saturday we went to Sigtuna and wandered about yet again. We checked out the ruins of St Olof’s, the Maria church, the old buildings and the museum. I of course had handed over all my cash to Ibo the evening before to pay for pizza and had no money for museum entrance fees. Thankfully Meaghan had funds. *smile* The fellows stayed out in the sunshine while we looked at artifacts. We walked down to the waterfront and then did the fika thing. We all had coffee (pepsi for the kidlet of course), I had carrot cake, Ibo had a fruit tart with vanilla sauce and the kidlet and Meaghan had cinnamon buns. After Sigtuna we drove about a bit and made our way to Odensala church where they have 14th century (I think) murals. But the church is being majorly renovated so we did not get to go in. When we got home we threw together a quiche for dinner. After dinner Ibo, the kidlet and I went over to his parents since they had an easter egg for the kidlet. We met them driving out from the parking area as we drove in, they thought we weren’t coming so they were coming to us. *laugh* We had coffee and a short visit and then it was home again, with our tired son. *smile*

Sunday we went to Gamla Uppsala. We saw the viking burial mounds, did not get into the church since there was a service going on and saw the museum there. It was the most gorgeous spring day for walking about outside. The kidlet had a meltdown at one point over a stick he picked up. Since he couldn’t bring it home with him we suggested he add it to the brush and pallets being stack for the big bonfire next week. He sobbed uncontrollably and over and over again about missing his stick. I think the combination of lots of fresh air, lots of easter chocolate and late nights/early mornings just finally caught up with him. We came home and then went out for sushi. The restaurant we headed out for was closed, so went across to the other new japanese restaurant. Dinner was excellent! The sushi appetizers were tasty and the food was spicy and filling. Meaghan treated for dinner, a sweet and totally unexpected surprise. On our way home we stopped and did some food shopping.

Monday of course we saw her off at Arlanda. Ibo’s parents came over about 1700. We had ham, scalloped potatoes, peas, corn, sliced fresh veggies (there was not a head of lettuce worth buying so I had to scrap the salad plans) and baked salmon for his parents who don’t eat meat. They brought a cool red carrying box with even more legos in it
as well as a cute little cupboard with 4 plastic “drawers” for his legos. They also brought over a lovely wooden box that Ibo’s morfar made for him when he was little. It has a car racing set in it, which no longer works, but will be great for storing train stuff, something we have an abundance of. We were all so full from Easter goodies that no one even wanted dessert. *laugh* It was way too quiet in the evening with just us two watching tv.

So it was great fun having our guest here. I already miss her. It was nice to have someone else comment about tv shows, saying the things I say to Ibo. Someone who “gets” obscure references to things and recognizes old sayings. No matter how comfortable you get in your new country and with your new family, there is always something missing, a level of interaction that is inherently cultural. Meaghan will need to come back of course, since we never did make it the ice cream factory, the Vasa ship museum or to Gray’s a second time. *smile*

This has been a lovely week. I have lots to write when I have some time to sit here and get it all typed out. We saw Meaghan off this morning at Arlanda. The kidlet told her he would wave to her plane. So after she went through the gate and waved, he literally ran through the airport, back to Sky City, to where the planes he had been watching earlier were. It was like those old Hertz commercials with OJ. He ducked under things and ran around things in his dash. We came behind at a more sane pace and found him watching a KLM plane taxiing out. He wanted to know which plane was hers and we said the KLM one. (of course her plane was loading at the other side of the airport and was a different airline *laugh*) So he waved until it taxied out of sight, then waited to see it take off. When it flew up he was all excited and waved like a madman, yelling “hejdå Meaghan!”. We are going to miss having her here.

I am off to have a shower and then get ready for company for dinner. Apparently Ibo’s parents found the rest of the Lego stuff and are bringing it over so we asked them to dinner. It will be a leisurely evening and a nice ending to a great week and fun holiday weekend. *smile*

Have been neglecting the journal the past couple of days. Sunday we did go in to Hässelby and cleaned. I went early and was home around 1500 so we had a quiet evening.

The asthma is improving, albeit slowly. I don’t have an audible wheze now until late in the day and the chest pressure is completely gone. The change back to warm spring weather seems to have done the trick.

Monday we met Meaghan at the airport at 1400. LL was looking out the window at 0900 hoping she might come early. *laugh* He enjoyed his airport trip as always. She came bearing gifts, Power Puff Girls lollipops for the kidlet and a lovely 2004 Kitten calender from Greece for me. It is great fun having her here. I have talked her ears off and it is so nice to have conversations with an adult during the day. *smile*

Today we headed into Stockholm and got there about noon. We had lunch at the Mongolian BBQ and then went to Gray’s American Food Store. We stopped in a small bakery and got semlor and the kidlet got a cookie shaped like a nest with two marzipan eggs and a marzipan chick on it. Then for some reason I got totally insane and instead of getting on the green line to St. Eriksplan, got on the red line and went to Östermalmstorg. *laugh* So we shopped some there and then sat outdoors and had coffee in the sun. Then we headed back to Märsta and had salmon for dinner. I am doing laundry at the moment and will have to head over shortly to get the clothes out of the dryer. Tomorrow we will go back into the city in the morning and do some museum type stuff.

Aunt Maud called earlier and said that Uncle Allan had his angiogram and they put in two stints because he had a couple blockages. He is coming along fine. I was glad to hear that.

Had a nice birthday, but am still having a really bad time with the asthma. Am taking the maximum doses of all inhalers and tapering off the highest starting dose of steroids, but still sound like an old pair of bellows. Just a short walk to preschool or the 5 minutes to the local store puts me into coughing fits. Last night when Ibo’s parents were here his mom asked why the cat was crying and was shocked when I said, “that’s not the cat, it’s me breathing”. *laugh* I need to work at some point over the weekend and while things are clean here, I have to declutter before Meaghan comes on Monday, just to fit her bed in here. *smile* So my computer time will be limited while I wheeze along trying to be productive. I desperately don’t want to have to go to the doctor here, they are so horrid to deal with.

Last evening we had Ibo’s sister join us for dinner. LL waited at the window watching for Alexandra and when she got here he waved like crazy and then ran and threw open the door as she rang the bell. He greeted her with “hej Sandra! How great it is that you are here with us! Come in!! Close the door behind you please. (that was my favourite part *laugh*)

After dinner my fellow turned to his sister and said “are you leaving now? you are done eating.” *laugh* I almost fell off my chair and she laughed loads. Now there is swedish humour at its’ best.

Today I was thinking about this when I was walking back from the store and I wondered where in the world did my son get such good manners, it must be from me, obviously not that father of his. *laugh*

This morning when I woke I looked out the window and while it was dull, there was no snow. 90 minutes later we had a centimeter of the white stuff. *laugh*

The phone rang at 0730. It was Aunt Maud, who set her alarm to get up at 0130 to call and say happy birthday. She is the best! LL answered the phone and except for one word in swedish, conducted the whole conversation in english. I was so proud of him. Uncle Allan will have his angiogram today.

There have been loads of lj birthday messages and lots of ecards and it really has made the day special. Ibo’s parents called from Egypt to say happy birthday and that they will be late home tonight, so would I mind if we all got together for my birthday tomorrow night. So I am postponing cake baking until tomorrow.

When Llywellyn woke up this morning he came out to the kitchen and got me to pick him up. In his half asleep still little voice he said he had a sore throat. I looked and it wasn’t red, but I hugged him up some anyway and asked where exactly it hurt. He said where Axel pulled on it before the scratching. Then he asked if I could phone and say he wasn’t coming to school today because his throat hurts. He also woke crying in the middle of the night and climbed in bed with us. However now that it is getting close to school time, he wants to go so he can play with Felicia and Sofia. I think I am going to start to drop by during the 3 hours and check on what is going on there. I don’t think he is lying, I think he did get hurt there and the teacher just was not around to see it or stop it.

Tonight we are doing swedish pancakes for dinner and I guess I will buy an ice cream cake. I would prefer a Princess cake but Ibo can’t eat it because of allergies. Boy are they good though. *smile*

The day started off with sun but it got cloudy and cold in the afternoon. I took the kidlet to preschool and talked to his teacher. She said she did tell me he had a scratch while she was telling me about him vomiting. Obviously I missed that. I remember her motioning to her throat but I am sure she was talking about how apple pieces sometimes get stuck there. Anyway, she had a very different story of how it happened. She said he and some of the other kids climbed up on pillows and hung off the paper holder. We are talking an industrial type of metal thing with teeth that holds a large roll 2 foot in length of brown paper. She said he was hanging off of it and that is where he got the scratch, off the metal and she did see it happen. I asked him if that is what happened and he nodded yes. (I did see him doing exactly that this morning at öppna förskolan and was very adamant that he was never to do it again). Then the teacher said that no other kids are bullying him and that it is good kids get little injuries at times, so they know they are not a bad thing. (I am paraphrasing that) I felt like such an overprotective mother being scolded. I did say I was worried about supervision but she didn’t answer that directly, she was telling me the injury quote then. I hate having him in a situation where I am dealing in a foreign language I am still not fluent in. Since I never wanted him in preschool in the first place, this has just plain upset me.

So then I went to the store and they did not have the cake mix I wanted for tomorrow. I know I can make a cake from scratch but I wanted a Betty Crocker Devil’s food cake. *laugh* While I was checking out my fellow phoned to say he was on his way from Västerås. I was resorting clothes when he got home. We had a nice afternoon here while the kidlet was at school. When I picked him up I noticed that his teacher was watching the kids from the door, so perhaps she did hear my supervision comment. On our way home I mentioned to him that he was not to ever hang off that paper thing again and he said ok, but it was Axel who scratched him, not the paper holder. I am really at a loss what to beleive at this point.

Since it has been over a week and no one has added my name to the board in the hall, I put it there with a post-it. My fellow suggested I use lots and lots of tape on it too. *laugh* I am really worried about not getting the packages that have been sent to me.

We called my fellow’s sister and she joined us for dinner. The kidlet was so thrilled. He was a bit disappointed that his grandparents weren’t coming but was ok with the fact that they will be back from Egypt tomorrow and he can see them on the weekend.

I started laundry (again) at 1730. All the broken signs were gone. The first two loads of clothes washed fine. Then I put some in the dryer and went to hang bedding in the drying cupboard. When I came back out, the dryer had the red light on again. It still is only blowing cold air. This is the 4th week for this and I keep seeing the broken sign up, then down over and over but the machine is never repaired. By then the other two loads were washing so I figured no big deal, I will move the bedding to the drying room in an hour and put the other clothes in the cupboard. Great plan, but the drying room is also broken. So I will have to leave my clothes hanging overnight there. I have my doubts the other things will dry before the power goes off to the machines at 2130, so they will likely have to stay overnight as well. I will email the office telling them about the broken machines and mention that the large washer is not spinning the clothes dry so they have to be cetrifuged (and you can bet I was worried about doing that again *laugh*) It irritates me that the facilities we pay for with our monthly fees here are being so badly maintained. My next step will be to have my fellow complain directly to the board, something he will have to do since he is the owner of the apartment.

But on the whole, it has been a good day. I have chest pain tonight and some wheeziness but I
think it is from all the fussing and moving around of clothes in the damp laundry room. At least this time I got everything washed, so I can forget about laundry until next week. My fellow is at a meeting and the kidlet is watching Tom & Jerry, munching on nachos. He was sitting quietly when suddenly he popped out of the chair and said “I want chips”. *laugh* I think he is spoiled. My fellow should be home around 2100 and I am going to make a blueberry/raspberry pie (the swedish kind with the fruit laid directly on the bottom of the pie plate and a crumble dough on top) and we can have that with vanilla sauce and tea. That will be a nice end to the day. *smile*

Something I forgot to mention earlier. On Monday I went down to the storage and found a huge box of legos that belonged to my fellow when he was a kid. I brought them up and he gave them to the kidlet when he got home from work. The box was deteriorating so I put them in a paper grocer bag (it was full) and you should have seen his eyes when he looked inside and saw Legos. He just was astonished and excited beyond words (a rare thing, since he talks 12 straight hours a day *laugh*). I tried sorting them a bit and filled one ziploc sandwich bag just with little lego men.

And finally, as I was thinking if there was anything else I have forgotten to journal, I checked my email and found this: Subject: HAPPY 100TH BIRTHDAY!
LOL, my little sister who will always be 7 years younger and rub that in, sent me birthday wishes. *laugh*