My whole life for the next 10 days is laying on my bed. It's filled with everything from beach clothes to books and my iPod. The missus and I are taking off for a while. Yessiree - we are going downunder for a while, putting a stop to the ratrace, slowing down to zero. Sydney is the destination, some 14 hours away from sunny California.
We are just going to sit in the sun, contemplate and digest the present. That's a pretty darn good and satisfying excerise. Switching between sipping expresso's in the morning, to wine for lunch and finishing off a hard days work with a gin and tonic. Possible a cigar.
Nosiree, Bob! We are not backing down for any challenge. Send us downunder, to the land of wonder and we'll show 'em outback-sissies that we can be adventurous (the missus) and slack (yours truly) better than most. I'm also a hell of a mytomaniac in despite what people say.
We are going to reinvent the good old turtlewalk and commit to one destination a day. No crazy see-it-all-cause-we-might-never-come-back-crap. No Mam! Underneath all that beauty lies one smart cookie (the missus) and one lazy brownie (yours truly).
So we are off to enjoy one of the few places in the industrialized world where you still can smoke a phattie in the Pub, shake your bootie without being arrested and wrestle Kangeroo's.
God Bless Australia!
Friday, November 19, 2004
Wednesday, November 17, 2004
To The Missus: What I Want For Christmas
We are spending our first Christmas as newlyweds at home this year. No more crazy Christmas traveling with people in their PJ's. No snow and freezing cold wind.
A great Christmas is only as great as the weakest gift. I have therefor created - ahead of the mindless shopping time - my wishlist for the missus:
1. Any or all of the following DVD's: Le Mans, The Spy Who Came In From The Cold, The Assassination Bureau, Zoolander, Office Space, The Rock, The Star Wars Trilogy, Blow-Up, The Thomas Crown Affair (original and remake), The Saint and The Professionals (if released in region 1).
2. Any or all of the following books: 'Porsche - The Road from Zuffenhausen by Dennis Adler', 'How to Talk to a Liberal (If You Must) : The World According to Ann Coulter', 'Carry On, Jeeves - by P.G Woodhouse', "The Chinese in America: A Narrative History by Iris Chang' and 'Down and Dirty Pictures : Miramax, Sundance, and the Rise of Independent Film by Peter Biskind'.
3. Any or all of the following CD's: Maroon 8, Switchfoot, The Guru, Frequent Flyer: Bombay, Whitesnake : Whitesnake, Vampyros Lesbos Sexadelic Dance Party, Refazenda (Gilbero Gil), Aqualung, Expresso 2222 (Gilberto Gil), Deep Note: Music of 1970s Adult Cinema and Gran Riserva.
4. Funky underwear. Any Brand. Size 34 (understatement).
5. Ben & Jerry's Half Baked Icecream. Go crazy. As many pints as you can carry.
A great Christmas is only as great as the weakest gift. I have therefor created - ahead of the mindless shopping time - my wishlist for the missus:
1. Any or all of the following DVD's: Le Mans, The Spy Who Came In From The Cold, The Assassination Bureau, Zoolander, Office Space, The Rock, The Star Wars Trilogy, Blow-Up, The Thomas Crown Affair (original and remake), The Saint and The Professionals (if released in region 1).
2. Any or all of the following books: 'Porsche - The Road from Zuffenhausen by Dennis Adler', 'How to Talk to a Liberal (If You Must) : The World According to Ann Coulter', 'Carry On, Jeeves - by P.G Woodhouse', "The Chinese in America: A Narrative History by Iris Chang' and 'Down and Dirty Pictures : Miramax, Sundance, and the Rise of Independent Film by Peter Biskind'.
3. Any or all of the following CD's: Maroon 8, Switchfoot, The Guru, Frequent Flyer: Bombay, Whitesnake : Whitesnake, Vampyros Lesbos Sexadelic Dance Party, Refazenda (Gilbero Gil), Aqualung, Expresso 2222 (Gilberto Gil), Deep Note: Music of 1970s Adult Cinema and Gran Riserva.
4. Funky underwear. Any Brand. Size 34 (understatement).
5. Ben & Jerry's Half Baked Icecream. Go crazy. As many pints as you can carry.
California Living
People ask me why I live in California when there are such charming places like, Fargo in Minnesota, Boras in Sweden and Cancun, Mexico. Hmm, lemme think...!
Well - California has got three very attractive elements: Sun, Beaches and Attitude! The first two are No-Brainers while the third might need a little more explanation.
Attitude is Everything! It's what makes people connect and fall in love. It's what makes people pissed off and want to change the world. It's your inner cojones that refuses to barge for anything. It's the pure passionate rage that comes from your gut and explodes in a raised index-finger pointed in the direction of stupidity, smallmindness and lack of funkadelic vibe. That's what I'm talking about.
I didn't see any of that when in Fargo, Boras or Cancun. I just saw bald, beerbellied babies and that freaks me out. Word!
PS. Today we had 65°F (18°C) in San Francisco with sunny clear blue sky. I wore shorts and a shirt. Forgot my sunglasses. Life can really suck!
Well - California has got three very attractive elements: Sun, Beaches and Attitude! The first two are No-Brainers while the third might need a little more explanation.
Attitude is Everything! It's what makes people connect and fall in love. It's what makes people pissed off and want to change the world. It's your inner cojones that refuses to barge for anything. It's the pure passionate rage that comes from your gut and explodes in a raised index-finger pointed in the direction of stupidity, smallmindness and lack of funkadelic vibe. That's what I'm talking about.
I didn't see any of that when in Fargo, Boras or Cancun. I just saw bald, beerbellied babies and that freaks me out. Word!
PS. Today we had 65°F (18°C) in San Francisco with sunny clear blue sky. I wore shorts and a shirt. Forgot my sunglasses. Life can really suck!
Monday, November 15, 2004
Home Alone II
Yes - I'm going crazy. This is the second time in just a short while where I'm home alone without the missus. The cultural consensus is that I should spend this time smoking, drinking and watching porn (the boys view) or mend, fix and paint the house (the family view).
Well - I'm sorry to disappoint you both (never been a sucker to please) but I've spend my time much more wisely doing... absolutely nothing!
I forgot how boring a bachelor's life could by, at least when home alone. The worst thing is the inner voice, the reflections that keeps going on and on. It's like being in an episode of Seinfeld's. Yada, yada, yada!
When the missus is home the inner monolog doesn't really get a chance to feast on my brain. The missus establish a good balance between my inner thoughts and her charm by initiating conversation. Mind you, I'm a Scandinavian and we need a lot of help to initiate conversation. Well, we a need a lot of help in a lot of things but that's another story.
My buddies and I can sit at the pub in total silence and just excist without any feeling of aquardness. It's almost that we try to avoid to talk just not to initiate a discomforting situation or moment. Aquard moments are a sin from where I originate. It means that you don't have anything intelligent to contribute with. One exception to this rule might be talking weather with older people. But that's about it. I mean why blow the cover, opening you mouth and make it obvious that your contribution to society is on par with a donkey.
Anyhow. My life has evolved around the most basic tasks over the past few days: eat, drink and sleep. I have occasionally watched a movie or read some news on the web. Oh yes, I was forced to do some laundry the other day. But that's about it, folks.
I've been pacing around in our pad, turning the TV on (and realizing that the shows sucks), turned it off (and realizing that it's better than nothing) and turned it on again. I cannot wait until the missus comes back, drops her things all over the place and wakes me up in the morning with hairdryers and phone calls. I cannot wait!
Well - I'm sorry to disappoint you both (never been a sucker to please) but I've spend my time much more wisely doing... absolutely nothing!
I forgot how boring a bachelor's life could by, at least when home alone. The worst thing is the inner voice, the reflections that keeps going on and on. It's like being in an episode of Seinfeld's. Yada, yada, yada!
When the missus is home the inner monolog doesn't really get a chance to feast on my brain. The missus establish a good balance between my inner thoughts and her charm by initiating conversation. Mind you, I'm a Scandinavian and we need a lot of help to initiate conversation. Well, we a need a lot of help in a lot of things but that's another story.
My buddies and I can sit at the pub in total silence and just excist without any feeling of aquardness. It's almost that we try to avoid to talk just not to initiate a discomforting situation or moment. Aquard moments are a sin from where I originate. It means that you don't have anything intelligent to contribute with. One exception to this rule might be talking weather with older people. But that's about it. I mean why blow the cover, opening you mouth and make it obvious that your contribution to society is on par with a donkey.
Anyhow. My life has evolved around the most basic tasks over the past few days: eat, drink and sleep. I have occasionally watched a movie or read some news on the web. Oh yes, I was forced to do some laundry the other day. But that's about it, folks.
I've been pacing around in our pad, turning the TV on (and realizing that the shows sucks), turned it off (and realizing that it's better than nothing) and turned it on again. I cannot wait until the missus comes back, drops her things all over the place and wakes me up in the morning with hairdryers and phone calls. I cannot wait!
Thursday, November 11, 2004
My Insouciant Life
Bigger. Better. Faster. More. It's part of our human DNA to strive for new conquests and achievements. To challenge life and get on the rollercoaster for the ride of our life. As soon as one goal is reached we move to the next.
But sometimes it's nice (and healthy) to just step back for a moment, to catch some breath and get perspective. One of my old mentors always said the perspective is worth 100 IQ points. Who knows, really!
The point is: take time to celebrate your victories, enjoy the wonderful flavor of success. It could be getting a raise, loosing weight or making the perfect swedish meatballs. Let that feeling of pure, innocent joy fill your body and mind. Kick off your shoes and embrace the insouciant life. Just for a moment care to not care and let that feeling fill your veins. I do - as often as I can.
But sometimes it's nice (and healthy) to just step back for a moment, to catch some breath and get perspective. One of my old mentors always said the perspective is worth 100 IQ points. Who knows, really!
The point is: take time to celebrate your victories, enjoy the wonderful flavor of success. It could be getting a raise, loosing weight or making the perfect swedish meatballs. Let that feeling of pure, innocent joy fill your body and mind. Kick off your shoes and embrace the insouciant life. Just for a moment care to not care and let that feeling fill your veins. I do - as often as I can.
Wednesday, November 10, 2004
Will My Guayabera Shirts Still Fit When I'm 64
I worry that my collection of Guayabera shirts - most of them Mexican Wedding shirts, some known as lounge / rockabilly shirts - won't fit me when I'm 64. I worry about being broke, bald and beer-bellied. If that happens, I wish I still can wear my Guayabera shirts. Medium size.
London Calling, Baby
The missus and I went to London the other week for work as well as pleasure. We both were fortunate to be sent their at the same time by our respective companies. Coincidence? I think not!
London - that's where we met, a cold Saturday in February 2001. Going back together brought back a lot of fond memories and created some new. I guess it also readjusted some and erased others. Funny how the mind works.
We visited our old stomping grounds: The Cod in Knightsbridge, The Wine Factory and Zucca in Notting Hill. The Cod (Admiral Codington) was Erin's local pub, just around the corner from her pad. The Wine Factory was the restaurant where we had our first real date and Zucca were we had our first lunch, that cold Saturday morning. Both around the corner from my old pad.
We spent the most of the weekend hanging out with my buddies - shopping, eating and drinking. The shopping in London is very different from most places in the US but that's another blog.
What I really like about London and the UK in general is their drinking culture. Spending a rainy Saturday with your friends, exchanging stories and drinking real beer (no light Bud crap) in front of the fireplace is not too bad (as the brits say). It's actually freakin' great.
So after several hours of walking and shopping the choice was clear - a pint at The Cod would make a great finish to a fun day. Or at least make the transition from afternoon into evening somewhat painless.
It's amazing how thirsty one can get when one is out shopping. Bloody hell! I think we had a few pints and shared a couple of bottles of wine before the darkness and hunger made it's presence known. Thank God they close the Pubs at 11 o'clock. Otherwise we might still have been there - chatting and drinking in front of the fire.
I couldn't agree more with Samuel Johnson's quote from Boswell's Life: "When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford."
London - that's where we met, a cold Saturday in February 2001. Going back together brought back a lot of fond memories and created some new. I guess it also readjusted some and erased others. Funny how the mind works.
We visited our old stomping grounds: The Cod in Knightsbridge, The Wine Factory and Zucca in Notting Hill. The Cod (Admiral Codington) was Erin's local pub, just around the corner from her pad. The Wine Factory was the restaurant where we had our first real date and Zucca were we had our first lunch, that cold Saturday morning. Both around the corner from my old pad.
We spent the most of the weekend hanging out with my buddies - shopping, eating and drinking. The shopping in London is very different from most places in the US but that's another blog.
What I really like about London and the UK in general is their drinking culture. Spending a rainy Saturday with your friends, exchanging stories and drinking real beer (no light Bud crap) in front of the fireplace is not too bad (as the brits say). It's actually freakin' great.
So after several hours of walking and shopping the choice was clear - a pint at The Cod would make a great finish to a fun day. Or at least make the transition from afternoon into evening somewhat painless.
It's amazing how thirsty one can get when one is out shopping. Bloody hell! I think we had a few pints and shared a couple of bottles of wine before the darkness and hunger made it's presence known. Thank God they close the Pubs at 11 o'clock. Otherwise we might still have been there - chatting and drinking in front of the fire.
I couldn't agree more with Samuel Johnson's quote from Boswell's Life: "When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford."
Monday, November 01, 2004
Hip Behaving Badly
My left hip gets cranky once in a while and refuses to collaborate. It's Perthes fault. I don't know who he is but I got his desease. I've had it since I can remember. The earliest memories are from when I was watching the snowfall from the kitchen window but couldn't go out and play, only watch the other kids have fun.
Nowdays I move around as well as the next person. But occasionally the pain comes back and I rememeber the kids playing in the snow.
Nowdays I move around as well as the next person. But occasionally the pain comes back and I rememeber the kids playing in the snow.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
