I woke up Sunday morning to that which we all dread: No Internet. The only things that saved me from going out of my mind were that Helena came over later in the day to keep me company until today and that Olof called me every day once he realized I wasn’t getting [...]

With Lydia sleeping over at a friend’s house and Tage playing quietly enough by himself, I finally got started on the long-overdue housecleaning this afternoon, and I’m amazed–truly, struck almost dumb–by the capacity of my family to create messes. Why can’t we just pick up after ourselves like normal people?
I hate to cast aspersions, [...]

I am so glad it’s Friday because that means I don’t have to set my alarm for the next two days. On “school days” I get up at 7:20 to get Lydia up and ready and out the door, and every single morning it’s a struggle for me to get out of bed that [...]

The longer I live in Sweden the less I want to go “home,” even for a visit. Truthfully, the good ol’ U.S. of A. scarcely even feels like home to me anymore. The not-quite-four years that have passed since I made the move have turned the country into a place I hardly recognize, [...]

Tage was browsing the pictures I posted earlier and admiring himself. He did think, however, that a few more expressions demanded to be recorded here. (Plus I know that Olof would like to see them and I’m assured that they *do* have internet in Malta.)

Pity there isn’t a högkostnadskort* for dogs. Asbjørn has a urinary tract infection (how unmanly!) and the course of antibiotics that will send it on its merry way just set me back 315:- (roughly $45 US). It’ll be worth it, though, if it puts an end to his little dribbling problem.
I have [...]

Olof left earlier this evening to go to Malta for work. He’ll be gone for eight days and anyone who’s read my blog for any length of time knows how I feel about that. I think the eight months we were apart before I moved to Sweden were separation enough to last us [...]

I sat down and tried to write an entry at least three or four times today, but nothing came to me, so instead you’re getting goofy pictures of my dog. Who doesn’t love goofy dog pictures?!

I’m beginning to think that someone out there does not want me to grow geraniums from seed. Readers may recall that I sowed three packets of seeds at the beginning of July. In the beginning there were twenty-four seeds — plenty, I figured, to assure my success.
Within a week or so, [...]

Last night we went out to Olof’s parents’ cabin for a family surströmming party. To those of you who know of this “northern delicacy” but haven’t seen it firsthand, yes, it is as bad as you’ve heard. Those of you who do not know of it, pause right now to thank the powers [...]