i'm back...

insane couple of weeks!!!

released "company altering" software - cool

had a birthday (33) - ate tiramisu

almost missed a flight that almost made me miss lunch with becka - traumatic

had my first shot ever - sicilian kiss

learned how to play bar dice - beat the bar

got a promotion - yay

hoping that life will attempt to go back to normal... normal? is there anything normal about me?

Nordic Sweets

I'm up north for the weekend. It's big release weekend. Big deployment and data migration.

Lot's of stress.

Our wonderful administrative assistant ordered lunch for us (like on most other days). I was difficult. It was Mexican. I finally decided on cheese quesadillas (light on the cheese) with guacamole. When I walked into the dorm room (development headquarters) to get my food, one of my colleagues was eating it. He was disappointed that it was mine. I let him have it. He needed it more than me. I wasn't that hungry anyway.

Around 2:30 I got hungry. I decided to go to the grocery store. I gathered several delightful items like gourmet cereal, soy milk, bananas, and fruit leather. Then I went down the candy isle (it is one of those days) and guess what I found!?!?! Salty licorice fish! So amazing. I have never stumbled across this delightful candy anywhere in this country. I picked up a bag.

When I got to the registry, I realized that I had forgotten my wallet. I asked the cashier if I could give her my credit card number verbally. She said no. I almost started crying. I was so tired and hungry and stressed. So I went back to the office and got my wallet. And went back to the store. And paid for my stuff.

I already ate all the salty licorice fish. I will probably have a stomach ache soon. It will be worth it.

Domestic Tabita

I, husband of Tabita, have been afforded the great honor of serving as a guest blogger. She allowed me to do it on the provision that I write only about her, and not about other mundane things like world hunger or AIDS.

Tabita has undergone a transformation since returning from vacation in Sweden. She has become domestic. Yes, Tabita has been participating in household chores. Yesterday, she cleaned (with Rebecka's help) all of the downstairs - wiping down the counters, cleaning out the refrigerator, scrubbing the sink, organizing her piano music, picking up all of the clutter, and mopping the floor. She and Rebecka also baked - that's right, Tabita baked. And I wasn't even here to show her how to turn on the oven! They made minttoppar, little shortbread cookies with mint in the middle - actually, since Rebecka didn't want the mint, they substituted melted chocolate.

Today, Tabita and Rebecka made an awesome lunch - apple bourbon pork loin, potato wedges, green peas, and a salad. Then, they both put up the laundry. It almost brought me to tears.

I love domestic Tabita. Of course, I love not-so-domestic Tabita too, because she brings home the bacon. I eagerly await the unfolding of 2007 to see how well domestic Tabita and not-so-domestic Tabita get along. Even if they don't, I'll still love them both.

180

It's amazing how quickly one can go from fully rested to thoroughly exhausted...

Out of practice?

Seems I am out of practice on the 5 minute packing... This week I forgot two fairly important items:

toothbrush (must have left it in Sweden) and panties (thankfully I have some for exercise that I can wear today)

Guess I'll be going to VS tonight...

Welcome 2007

Back in the US (home country #2). Jet lagged. Woke up around 3:30 this morning. Went for a run at 5. That is the beauty of coming back from Europe, I suppose.

Already up in Wisconsin (home state #2). Trying to get back into the swing of things. Not easy!

Gained 2 pounds over the holidays. Not terrible. Not good either. Now I'm on the "Saturday candy" diet. Means no sweets except for on Saturdays. This is a fairly common occurrence among Swedish children... There was even a Saturday morning TV show named for the concept.

Anyway, part of my long, long list of New Year's resolutions: eat better - not necessarily less - just better. Why do we insist on putting things in our mouths that are simply harmful to our bodies? It is a mystery indeed.

It seems like New Year's resolutions are necessary only if you are not 100% happy with your life... I wonder what it means that I have like 25 of them...? Am I not happy - or do I just want to improve myself? I think I definitely have some improvements to make. Thinking more about it, I could probably reduce my resolutions down to one...

Achieve balance.

Easier said than done, but there is hope.

I think 2007 will be a good year.