Jokers Cave of Games

We enjoyed the very last remains of winter in Svabenverk, and Amanda hooked up for a walk together with the dogs, which was a nice treat. I don't think I ever promised not to mention her misfortune when she stepped through the upper crust of the snow and immersed herself up to the hipbone, but just to be safe, I won't. Personally, I am celebrating this excursion into the wild of Svaben, since it this time offered me the opportunity to catch on film (card) that most elusive creature of all - the nightdweller that is so extremely hard to lure from it's lair - the teenager! And a prime specimen it is! But it did turn out pretty well on camera, I must say ;)  And speaking of spring, check out the bounding leaps of Audi below. Imagine being on a walk with two of those energypacks along. Lying on your back in the grass and having these thunder by is like hearing a freighttrain pass! They are a very interesting and special breed, the Whippets. I will get back to them later.  ...

Summer is almost upon us, with all the merry matters the coming of the season affords us all. For us, it's going to mean some summer studies (at least for Vendela - I will probably leisurely read a book with a good glass of white wine. Or perhaps even a glass of good white wine. Rather wining than whining, I always say). She keeps on struggling with behavioral sciences - a fascinating subject made infinitely less so by the designs of academics. I will be taking some economics, if I find the hunch. Presently, the chances of my taking that course is slim, next to none, and with some of the other news popping up, even more reduced than before. Still, it's good to have something to fall back on. Naturally, I am taking a lot of courses and seminars for my work. Nothing wrong with that but I find I do need some other types of relaxation, and that might just as well be comprised of studies as leisure reading of the same book. Still, the subjects to enroll in are not always easy to f...

Finally, I am home again, and boy, it has been a while. Work has really taken it's toll lately, and for the last week, I haven't even been home. Hotels are nice when they are for vacation and more or less voluntary, but rapidly become demanding when they are mandatory. Today, I was back in the tower, and that felt nice. Comforting to hear the roar of jet engines outside the window. After a really heavy day, swamped with interrogations and regulations, I got to go home and throw myself in the couch with nothing better to do that act like the Marine Liason to the Office of Naval Contemplation. Food today was interesting. I have never been, nor will I ever voluntarily be, a vegan or vegetarian or dieter of any sort. Today though I got myself some lacto-ovo-vegetarians balls to eat. Stood frying them on the stove, speculating on that they actually contain, pondering the goodness of my heart. Amanda, Vendela's daughter, has turned vegetarian (the way someone turns vampire, I...

Plus and minus. That's the secret to my own, home-developed psychological system to strengthen relationships between human beings. Sounds easy. And it is. It is, of course, not a quick fix, but rather a long-term strategy, but I can explain it in just a few words, and I promise that it helps in ANY relationship. It is quite easy - there are plus signals and minus signals. Being aware of your signals raises your awareness of how you act towards other people. Plus is everything that brings you closer to the other person, makes you open. Minus is everything that is hostile, closing off and turning away. There is an unwritten agreement hardwired into our genes that this system works, but one can actually draw benefits from talking about it, and agreeing to use it. For every plus signal you get, you are to respond with one of your own, no matter what the situation. And well, if you get a minus, it is easy to understand that you get one. You can raise the issue, and if you get too many, ...

There's a difference. I thought the last hotel, Best Western Arken in Gothenburg, was pretty decent. The food was on the verge of awesome and the rooms were nice, albeit somewhat small. The feeling was not dissimilar to that of a cabin onboard a ship.  Today, though, things have taken a turn for the better. The bathroom has the toilet paper folded into the small arrow! And there's a small balcony (about 12 cm in depth) that gives a certain suave air to the room. But most importantly, I could sit by the desk and experience sunlight filtering in through the trees outside. Who knew they had trees in Stockholm?  Really a place where time itself has stood still. Can't help but love it! It's looking to be a great summer for photography, this year. Some great sessions include a magnificent session with the horror author Michael Faun. Yes, you probably remember the creepy last session with the graveyard theme. This time, it will be pictures for the next upcoming horror...

 And so I am finally back in town... for just one night. Yep, came home just after seven in the evening and sat myself down by the computer, promptly, for just over three hours. Unfortunately, it was the working computer. The mountain of paperwork tends to ... well, not decrease whenever I am away. So I shuffled away the bare essentials and then went to sleep. This morning, up with the sun to pack the backs and prepare for another trip. And this time, I find myself scratching my head and wondering, should I pack my computer (perhaps to edit some pictures and update the blog), the working computer (to have a little check on the much needed paperwork and experience the thrill of 12-hour working days) or gym clothes (since the hotel does have a gym and I am, quite frankly, badly in need). At the time of writing, I still haven't decided, but I will call you back on that. This picture serves me as a reminder of the strange actions of people. Here was a roundabout in the middle of ...

Underbart med sovmorgon. Att ha sovit hela natten i ett becksvart hotellrum får mig att fundera på om jag inte borde skaffa mig nya kuddar. Värt att testa om inte något sådant kan hjälpa mig från fenomenet att alltid vakna upp med täppt näsa, för idag fanns det inga tecken på något sådant! Skönt att hasa ner till den enorma hotellfrukosten. Också roligt att se hur det har utvecklats. När jag var yngre, alternativt liten, så var det standard med att få en "kontinental frukost" på hotell. Sedan var det vissa av de riktigt schyssta hotellen som började med bufféer och så har det spridit sig successivt för att så småningom bli standard. Mat, det stora problemet. I-landsproblem såsom u-landsproblem. De svälter, vi äter för mycket. "Tänk på barnen i Afrika" var det ja... Från en voodooutställning, som turnerade runt land och rike och var på kort besök i Sverige. Allt var autentiska saker och ja, här ser vi då hur rollen som CO har efterliknats...  För tillfället spö...

Not bad to have a day off work, I should say. Started somewhat early with a trip to the store to get some much needed supplies to celebrate a casual day with the missus. Lunch on the balcony was smoked garlic mackerel with potato salad - my own secret recipe, with a glass of wine. Then an afternoon run across the river. Just me, though, since Vendela has dramatically feigned a sprained ankle. She really went into the deception, though. Complete with bloody lacerations and swelling and whatnot, but it just came at too opportune a moment for it to be REALLY real. Today, I learned something about the way we communicate as men and women. Dunno if it's true, really, but a though. Women tend to discuss matters with each other, interrupting each other and building on each other's ideas. That tends to distract me. I want to deliver my message, so I tell a story, more or less. So men, delivering stories, tend to be silent and listen with hums and "yeah"s and nods, while wo...