Happy Valentine’s Day!

I just received the nicest of surprises in the mail, from my dear friend Sirpa. She had asked me earlier in the week if I had received anything yet, so when I knew something was coming, I rushed to the mail box every day, but ... nothing. Until yesterday. And what a lovely box full of pretties it was. Everything was so carefully wrapped, even my girls ooohed and aaahed over each little bag and bow. Each little gift—with ties to Finland—was carefully selected for me. Most precious was probably the letter she wrote, telling me about each company and its history, and more importantly, about Sirpa herself.

Thank you so much, Sirpa!


Each gift was so nicely wrapped, and the two gold bags were tied in a way I had never seen before. The girls and I marveled at each little goodie.


The aftermath of reluctantly tearing through all the pretty bags.


All the pretties revealed. Earrings by Aarikka, a bracelet by Sirpa herself, a reindeer from Pentik, magnet, tags and note cards by Minna L. Immonen of MinnaKortti, a bag by Marimekko, and chocolate and salmiakki by Fazer.


Wearing the lovely earrings from Aarikka.

Woot, woot!!!

The lovely miss Brandi of Brandi Girl [blog] and Brandi from Catie’s Blue [Flickr] nominated me for the much coveted and somewhat elusive Marie Antoinette Award for … right. For being one of the most awesome bloggers ever. Or something like that. Hmm.

The rules are:

1. Please put the logo on your blog.
2. Place a link to the person from whom you received the award.
3. Nominate at least 7 or more blogs.
4. Put links of those blogs on your blog.
5. Leave a message on their blogs to tell them.

My nominations are, in no particular order:

1. Claire of Claire Pearse
2. Sheela of Eclettica
3. Anna-Karin of SmåBlå
4. Maryam of Maryam of Marrakesh
5. Deb of Crysallis Creations
6. Joanne of JoJoBell
7. Natalia of Realisation Creations

Impatience

So, I’m not very good at waiting. And right now, I’m waiting very impatiently for two packages to arrive. Not just one, but two. One expected and very coveted by several Flickr friends. The other a complete surprise until a couple of days ago, when dear Sirpa asked if I’d received the package she sent me. I love surprises like that, especially from Finland and Sweden. And Malaysia and England. And Poland. Or from anywhere, really. Except the IRS, don’t like those very much.

Winter Woes

You know, if it’s going to be cold in Georgia (15°F/-9.5°C currently), it should be cold with lots of snow like this, not just cold.

I’m Coming Undone

I have had a song severely stuck in my head for the last two days. Does that ever happen to you? They say you need to listen to the whole song—and sing it too?—to sort of get rid of it, but in my case that only makes it worse. It’s not a bad song—and thank God, it’s not a corny song—it’s just getting a little ridiculous. I have watched and/or listened to the video on YouTube probably ten times now. It’s a haunting song and the video is a work of art, in my opinion. Funny thing is, it’s not the kind of music I generally listen to anymore. In fact, even back when I still listened to mainstream music, I didn’t listen to this band. I only recently researched their sound after reading an autobiography by one of the former members*, and most of it is way too heavy and dark for me, but this one song …

I think the lyrics are ingenious. The melody is haunting to say the least. And the bass is just very pronounced in a way I don’t usually hear in a song. I don’t know, maybe you need to judge for yourself, but I’m pretty sure most of you will be surprised at the sound or the group, especially coming from me. I don’t know how to post the video in my blog, so watch it here.

*The book is “Save Me from Myself: How I Found God, Quit Korn, Kicked Drugs, and Lived to Tell My Story” by Brian Welch.

Gray, gray, gray … inside and out

THIS is what I want to do …


… but this is pretty much what I’m faced with …

Sixteen Facts About Me

I was tagged by both Hee Soon and Patty on Flickr to post a photo and 16 things about myself, and then tag 16 people in return. Not sure I managed to tag 16 people yet (we are a rather close-knit group and everybody ended up tagging each other), but here are my facts:

1. I graduated with a degree in business administration (ekonomiska linjen) and worked in a bank in Sweden for three and a half years before coming over to the U.S. to go to college. Yup, banker.

2. I am a Christian and although it isn’t always easy, God has given me the strength to endure the trials that I have had to go through.

3. I’ve studied German, French and Spanish and would love the opportunity to live in those countries long enough to speak fluently. Or at least listen fluently.

4. I tore my right ACL (anterior cruciate ligament in the knee, for those of you who are not familiar with medical terms) skiing on moguls in Crested Butte, Colorado. I had to have surgery to replace it (with a piece of my own hamstring). Yeah, I had no business being up there, but I got a snazzy knee brace out of it.

5. I don’t really like Chinese food anymore. I had too many servings of questionable chicken, so unless it’s from P.F. Chang’s, I don’t really want it.

6. I am the proud aunt of the Swedish Pro Superbike Champion 2008.

7. I worked at Systembolaget, the Swedish Alcohol Retail Monopoly, a couple of summers when I went home from college. We had wine/ beer tastings once a month and I had my regulars hanging on the door every morning before we opened. It was hard work, being on my feet for eight hours a day, but a fun bunch to work with.

8. I’m a Swede with a Finnish name, living in America, driving a Korean car.

9. I loved being pregnant—well, at least the first time, the second time not so much—and would love to be pregnant again, but I don’t want any more children. Go figure!

10. I have a great sense of direction and never get lost. I have, however, gotten sidetracked a few times, but I hate asking for directions.

11. I love being by myself and I rarely feel lonely.

12. When I like a movie, I love watching it over and over ... and over again, until I can’t stand watching it again for a long time.

13. I recently finished two creative writing courses online. I loved the first one, didn't love the second one, and now I’m totally burned out. Hmm ...

14. I love to read, especially non-fiction. Last year, I read a book about cadavers and I just finished a book about brain surgery.

15. I love computers. I love email. I love the Internet. I love online chatting on FB and photo sharing on Flickr. I love to blog. But I hate that my butt gets bigger and bigger while sitting here with all this virtual love.

16. I’m amazed that I found sixteen things to say about myself after all.