Existence is still brutal!

anuran @ 2006-01-02T10:13:00

2006-01-02T09:17:40Z

Hmm.. Such a crappy blogger.
Well, I'm still alive and I've had a good Christmas. Was up in the city to see the family. Lots of quality time with the near and dear, a peek in town, sushi etc.
Back to the little town and dished up a turkey dinner for some friends. Turkey exceeded expectations actually. Feared it would be dry but it wasn't.
New years party at a friend's house. He has a spectacular view and we watched the fireworks from his balcony. Good stuff!
And so 2006 begins. Hope it'll be a good one!

anuran @ 2005-12-01T08:39:00

2005-12-01T07:43:21Z

Today is the 1st of December, World AIDS Day. 40 million people live with HIV. Most of them are going to die from it. Most of them for reasons that can but won't disappear.

Do something. There are so many small things that you can do and they make a difference. If nothing else, give a dollar or a euro to an AIDS charity. Everything is better than nothing.

Wtf?!?!

2005-11-27T19:49:48Z

We finally found a buyer for our old bed. A perky sounding girl rang this morning and wanted to come look at the bed and possibly buy it.
The spouse went out to inspect the bed on the landing and it was gone! WTF!

The conversation that followed between the spouse and the girl wanting to buy a bed, was just as confused as you might imagine.

Oh well. Good riddence. All we really wanted was to get rid of the bed without having to cart it down 4 flights of stairs and rent a trailer to drive off to the garbage station. We're secretly relieved.
Moohahaha.

It's fun to travel!

2005-11-26T19:33:23Z

Travelling is one of my favourite pass-times. To experience other places, their food, their music, their smells and sounds is fantastic. There is so much to see. There is so much to learn.
I have liked mose places I've been to but here are my top-5 places that I recommend:

1. Tokyo. Oh what fun it is! The ultra-modern meets the ancient in a fabulous mix. The food is delicious and you can shop til you drop. A must see and do!

2. London. Someone once said "When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life." Great place for sight-seeing, shopping, clubbing and just hanging out in pubs.

3. Dublin. A friendly and very easy going city. Lots of nice bars. Great atmosphere.

4. Nerja. A new favourite of mine. On the south coast of Spain lies this little cute town with fabulous beaches, great restaurants a set in a beautiful landscape.

5. Stockholm archipelago. My childhood summers. Fresh fish and wild strawberries. The glittering blue sea, the green grass and the sun-warmed rocks. Very beautiful. Very relaxing.

I found a site where you can fill out your own world map that shows the where you've been. This is what my map looks like:

create your own visited countries map
or vertaling Duits Nederlands

Go see Harry Potter IV

2005-11-25T08:12:25Z

Wheee!
Harry Potter and the goblet of fire was great! Possibly slightly rushed and I did prefer the old Dumbledore but all in all, very good.

Ps. If you thought Dobby in HP III reminded you of someone, compare his picture to one of the Russian President Vladimir Putin. ;)

anuran @ 2005-11-22T23:01:00

2005-11-22T22:04:57Z

I have a little bit too much to do these days. I feel like I get nothing done but I have tons to do and time just races by.
Winter has hit us and the temperatures have dropped drastically. I am getting my winter tires put on the car tomorrow so I don't have to skid around on the roads.

Saw three wild mooses today! Way cool! :D Also saw quite a few deer out grazing in the fields going to tonight's meeting.
They're beautiful but I am a little afraid of meeting one on the road.

Must go see the new Harry Potter film this week. The fourth book was one of the better ones imho. I like them all though.

Good thing one is not a dead duck

2005-11-15T20:51:16Z

I recently read about a poor mallard that died in a park. The deceased lay close to a path and could easily be seen by people passing by. The sight of the dead duck immediately caused anxiety and fear. BIRD FLU!!!
Which ever way you turn there are articles about the bird flu. One minute it's in Bulgaria and Turkey and the next it's approaching Öland with the speed of the wind. My employers are criticized for only storing Tamiflu for twenty people. What are the rest of the people in the county supposed to do? Maybe not pet birds.
Personally I can't be bothered to worry. There are too many "ifs" and "whens" that have to be met before I get myself worked up. If it turns out the virus does reach us and mutates and spreads like a wild fire, I promise to join in the panic.

Ps. What actually killed our friend the mallard, stays unkown. Perhaps he killed himself so that he wouldn't have to live with the suspicions that he was carrying a deadly and contageous disease.

anuran @ 2005-11-07T21:01:00

2005-11-07T20:23:00Z

Urgh. Time just rushes by! It's going to be Christmas in no time at all! I had a look at my calendar today and there are so many meetings and events that I know I'm hardly going to have time to blink before it's time to dig into the ham.
In one way it's good that I'm keeping busy but at the same time I don't want my life to rush by. Hmmm...
Inspired by Grolly I'm going to try to do a WTF sample list from my life.

I was at some little restaurant on a mountain side in Austria, happily eating my lunch. I made a move with my fork towards my plate to spear a piece of potato when a waiter briskly walked by and swooped up my plate from under my fork. WTF!!!

I was flying back from Brussels to Stockholm. I checked in my luggage and went to the tax-free shop and then had to make a brief stop at the ladies room.
Back at Stockholm's Arlanda airport I realized that I had left my tax-free shopping in the loo and my luggage had gone off to Norway. I was carrying nothing! WTF!!

My chemistry teacher in highschool used to write on the black board with one hand and erased the text with the other hand as she walked back and forth. WTF!

Hmmm... can't think of any more right now but I'll get back to you with more WTFs if I do.

anuran @ 2005-11-05T01:56:00

2005-11-05T01:02:06Z

Blimey! It's 01:56 in the morning and I've just sent off a draft for an election campaign program. This is what I get for not having regular working hours. I work until I'm finished. Had to deliver before going to bed tonight. Never mind that it's the night before a public holiday.
But... I'm not really complaining. I'm tired but that's not so terrible. I work weird hours sometimes but in return I can take sleep late if I need to, I can take 2 hour lunch breaks now and then, I leave early on afternoons when I'm really tired or have other things to do.
It's probably the best perk about this job. That and the fact that a fairly decent pay cheque arrives every month.
It will be nice to just have two days off now after having been away. It's was good and interesting and we had a lot of fun but it was after all work and it's always good to be home again.
Very soon bedtime. ZzzZZzz

anuran @ 2005-10-29T19:25:00

2005-10-29T17:30:17Z

I'm sick! :( Not very but I have a rather severe cold and a sore throat. I hate being sick and I don't handle it well. As soon as I get sick I feel like I'm dying. =P
Can't decide if I'm going on a daytrip or not tomorrow. I want to go and it's bound to be very interesting but also rather exhausting. Hmmmm...
I've just decided, I'll go if I don't have a temprerature. *pat self on head*

I have to find my license number for Z-mud. It's locked at the moment. Either that or I have to purchase another one for 29 USD. It's kind of reasonable and god knows I've used Z-mud enough.

Soon dinner time! Korean-style spare ribs, rice and veggies. Lalalala. :D

Confession

2005-10-26T21:01:52Z

I have a confession to make.
I've been unfaithful. I have been blogging somewhere else.
I'm going to try to keep up two blogs. The other one is in Swedish. It's a blog where I reflect on various topics but I don't rant about my own life. Like I do here! =P
So you'll still be the poor bastards who have to read about my ups and downs and all that jazz.
Oh, and on that topic. Had a fuck of a day today! Got home at 20:30. High points were working out like a dog for an hour and the spouse coming home. So glad I married a beautiful woman. It's always good to see her walk in the door. *pat self on head* Smartest thing I ever did, actually.

Hmmm... CSI just started. It's 23:00 and I have to get up in the morning. To watch or not to watch.... I'll watch for a little bit. We'll see how it goes. Hehe.

anuran @ 2005-10-25T07:43:00

2005-10-25T05:46:53Z

I don't want to go outside!! Sitting here gathering courage and energy to start my day. It's still dark outside and the wind is howling. The rain whips against my windows and it's so warm and cosy here on the couch. Silly me, every winter I curse Sweden and I wonder whatever possessed me to make me stay in this f***ing frdigid country and then every summer I reply: "This is why!" and so I carry on. Year after year.
*sigh* It's time to dig out the winter jacket today.
This I have learned: It is futile to fight the weather. <--- my not so old asian words of wisdom

Survey time!

2005-10-20T05:51:17Z

*TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF - The Survey*
Name:	Suzanne Na-Myung
Birthday:	5th of July (maybe...)
Birthplace:	Seoul, Korea
Current Location:	Karlskrona, Sweden
Eye Color:	dark brown
Hair Color:	black
Height:	5'4
Right Handed or Left Handed:	right
Your Heritage:	Korean
The Shoes You Wore Today:	none, so far. Converse All Star shoes later.
Your Weakness:	Oh, but there are so many...
Your Fears:	Stupidity scares me.
Your Perfect Pizza:	good mozzarella, shrimp, peperoni
Goal You Would Like To Achieve This Year:	loose weight!
Your Most Overused Phrase On an instant messenger:	:P
Thoughts First Waking Up:	Urgh!
Your Best Physical Feature:	Hands?
Your Bedtime:	Usually around 23:00
Your Most Missed Memory:	Oh hang on... it's.. erm.. errr....
Pepsi or Coke:	coke
MacDonalds or Burger King:	Burger King
Single or Group Dates:	single
Lipton Ice Tea or Nestea:	Regular tea!
Chocolate or Vanilla:	vanilla
Cappuccino or Coffee:	tea
Do you Smoke:	not any more strut
Do you Swear:	It has been known to happen
Do you Sing:	loudly and proudly, if not well
Do you Shower Daily:	yes
Have you Been in Love:	yes
Do you want to go to College:	Nooo! Don't make me go back!
Do you want to get Married:	I'd like to stay in the marriage I'm in.
Do you belive in yourself:	As in: Do you believe in god?
Do you get Motion Sickness:	Yes. =(
Do you think you are Attractive:	possibly mentally
Are you a Health Freak:	Hehe..hehe..heh
Do you get along with your Parents:	I get along with the one I have.
Do you like Thunderstorms:	Yes!
Do you play an Instrument:	A few actually.
In the past month have you Drank Alcohol:	Yes.
In the past month have you Smoked:	No.
In the past month have you been on Drugs:	No.
In the past month have you gone on a Date:	With my spouse.
In the past month have you gone to a Mall:	Yes.
In the past month have you eaten a box of Oreos:	No.
In the past month have you eaten Sushi:	No. Sadly. Booohooo!
In the past month have you been on Stage:	No.
In the past month have you been Dumped:	No.
In the past month have you gone Skinny Dipping:	No.
In the past month have you Stolen Anything:	No.
Ever been Drunk:	Ys.
Ever been called a Tease:	Yes.
Ever been Beaten up:	No.
Ever Shoplifted:	Yes.
How do you want to Die:	Quickly.
What do you want to be when you Grow Up:	I'd rather not grow up.
What country would you most like to Visit:	New Zealand
*In a Boy/Girl..*
Favorite Eye Color:	Any.
Favorite Hair Color:	Have a thing for blondes..
Short or Long Hair:	short on boys, girls - doesn't matter
Height:	doesn't matter
Weight:	not too under- or overweight
Best Clothing Style:	casual but thought through
Number of Drugs I have taken:	3 maybe
Number of CDs I own:	Hmm... A couple of hundred
Number of Piercings:	2
Number of Tattoos:	2
Number of things in my Past I Regret:	I really have no idea.
CREATE YOUR OWN! - or - GET PAID TO TAKE SURVEYS!

anuran @ 2005-10-17T13:02:00

2005-10-17T11:03:19Z

Gah! It's been a long time since I blogged properly! Must shape up! Must get more organised!

anuran @ 2005-10-07T07:58:00

2005-10-07T06:03:30Z

Gosh! It's been a long time. I've been away some and too busy on other days.
Was at a conference Monday and Tuesday with my colleagues from the rest of the country. It was really good. Of course I had to go and drink too much in the evening and felt like crap on Tuesday morning but hey, shit happens.
It occured to me how nice it is to be amongs like minded people. Obviously we work with the same kind of stuff and the job does sort of require certain veiws and values, so we all share them from the onset. But they're social, thinking and sympathetic people!
Whine whine whine. I don't meet all that many of those here. At least not my own age. Feels like everyone I meet here is either a lot younger or a lot older.
Not that everyone I socialise with has to be like me but it's nice to have someone you a have a lot in common with.

On a more cheerful note, our new bed and armchairs have arrived!!!! WHEEEEEE!!!!
The bed is huge but looks really good and feels even better. *jumps and skips*

anuran @ 2005-09-28T06:57:00

2005-09-28T05:00:43Z

Back again. Been rushed off my feet since I got back from Spain. Went to a conference on Human Rights over the weekend. Very interesting and rather inspiring.
The spouse got back from Ireland on Monday evening. Nice not to be alone! Meeting last night.
Going to a friend's house tonight. We've started a film discussion group and tonight is our first meeting. We're to watch a film that the host chooses. We're not allowed to tease each other for choice of film. Hehe. I am going to show Eat Drink Man Woman when it's my turn. I love that film. I quite like Ang Lee in general but I prefer the films he made in Taiwan to the Hollywood productions. The Hulk was dire...

Granny tit overdose

2005-09-19T19:41:43Z

Ok, I've had more than my fair share of granny tit viewing. I mean really....
At first I was at the beach and went *doh* *doh* *doh* *doh* (that was me looking in four directions) unable not to see granny tit. Big granny tit, pale granny tit, tan granny tit, wrinkly granny tit, saggy granny tit, very saggy granny tit. You name it, I've seen it. Me like a little prude keeping my one-piece bathing suit on at all times (apart from when I'm in a sun top and shorts). It must be the bad influence of the Irish catholic spouse. *nod self*
Anyway, as the week progressed granny tit became part of the scenery and now I'm kind of more thinking "Good on yis grannies! Fair fucks to yis!" (in me best Irish accent) Why should it be that topless sunbathing is only for women aged 15-25 with slender figures and perky boobs? Huh? And besides, god knows I've seen enough middle aged men with larger boobs than I have. Hairy at that! (No, not mine!)
So there!
I'm not gonna take my kit off, don't worry, but I think the grannies on the beach are probably doing the world a favour. They remind us that the whole world isn't 22 years old and size 36 and that's ok. That's the way it should be because invariably it is.

anuran @ 2005-09-18T20:36:00

2005-09-18T18:40:11Z

Spain is still fabulicious! Slobbing aimlessly around. Well, we tried to go to see the caves today but got to the bus stop too late since the guided tours of the caves ended at 14:00 and you can't go in without a guide. Oh well. Maybe tomorrow unless the weather is too good and the beach beckons. As the spouse put it, the caves will most likely still be there next time we get to Spain. I have a wise spouse.
The thought of only having two whole days left is horrible but we will certainly make an effort to enjoy them as much as possible.
Soon time for dinner.
Hasta la vista. Baby. ;)

Hola de Espana!

2005-09-16T18:28:04Z

I'm in Spain and it's bloody gorgeous!!!! Wheeee!!!!
We live 2 minutes walk from the beach and it warm and sunny. We eat well, sleep late, slob around and really enjoying our holidays! Going to Dublin and Stockholm in the summer was all very well but not relaxing.
I'm getting a good tan and the spouse is growing pinker and pinker.
Wheee!!!!

360 muffins....

2005-09-12T05:08:56Z

Friday afternoon. Me and Magnus were assigned to bake muffins. Mia had happily told us it would take about 2 hours to bake 300 muffins. We started at 16:30. We baked. Melted butter, cracked eggs, whisked, stired, added flour, baking powder, vanilla sugar, baked baked baked. The clock struck 19:00. We baked. The clock struck 21:00. We baked. At 21:37 we stopped baking. Bleh!
Then we met up at 08:00 in pouring rain to fix the coffee. Delivered coffee and muffins to Patrik and then we headed off to the meeting we were going to. Gah!

We brought our Irish friends to a Swedish crayfish party on Saturday night. Very pleasant. I was impressed by their ability to peel and eat the crayfish. Slightly fortified by good old Absolut.
Then they left for Stockholm on Sunday. *sniff*
Sunday the 11th of September.
The planes. The orange, red and black clouds of fire. The collapse.
I was home sick that day. I was walking past the tv in the sitting room when I first heard. I'm sure you can recall where you were too, at that time, on that day.
Then two years later Anna. Our clearest voice in the world and our future leader killed in an inane act of violence.
Oh Anna, so many hopes died with you.

Monday today. Off to work in a minute. Workity work. Workity work.
Workity work tomorrow too and then on Wednesday we go to Spain! Wheeee! :D

anuran @ 2005-09-08T06:52:00

2005-09-08T04:56:03Z

Friends from Ireland arrived yesterday. Wheee! They brought us a proper Irish teapot. The previous Irish teapot was of some new modern design and started to leak after a while. Incidently it leaked into the cupboard where we keep stuff like flour and sugar.... Yeah..
Moving swiftly on!

I feel like I don't have any time to get things done at work! *panic*
I'm going to Spain in less than a week and I'm meetings all day Monday and Tuesday and ther more I think about it the more I stress about it and the more I stress, the less I get done. Wheee mee!

What's going on?

2005-09-03T10:48:30Z

The newspapers and tv news tell horrible stories of suffering, chaos and devastation in New Orleans. The pictures are images of people in great need, and a city in shambles. Lack of medicine, food, blankets and clean water. Risk of epidemics. Looting. Violence.
We've seen the pictures and we've read the stories before. Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, China and many more countries have experienced similar disasters and suffered the aftermaths. But wait a minute. Wait one bloody minute! This is not Indonesia or India. It's the United States of America! It is the richest country on the planet. It's the most powerful country of all countries. Home of Wall Street and Hollywood.

For all the known reasons there were not enough resources to aid all those who suffered due to the tsunami that swept in and claimed thousands and thousands of lives in one foul swoop on the 26th of December 2004. The affected countries were simply too poor. The infrastructure insufficient. The resources just came short.
Well America, what's your excuse?

anuran @ 2005-09-02T17:13:00

2005-09-02T15:57:46Z

Heh, I've stolen Kalikad's questionaire. :P Hope you don't mind gerbil.

1. smoked a cigarette - yes
2. smoked a cigar - yes
3. made out with a member of the same sex - yes
4. crashed a friend's car - no

5. stolen a car - no
6. been in love - yes
7. been dumped - yes
8. shoplifted- yes
9. been fired - not so far

10. been in a fist fight - Yeah.. kind of. I was about 7 I think.
11. snuck out of your house - Not out of this house. The spouse lets me leave when I want.
12. had feelings for someone who didn't return them - yes
13. been arrested - no got away every time. *phew*
14. made out with a stranger - yes

15. gone on a blind date - no
16. lied to a friend - yes
17. had a crush on a teacher - no.
18. skipped school - A lot!
19. slept with a co-worker - no

20. seen someone die - yes
21. been on a plane - yes
22. thrown up in a bar - not actually in the bar but in the loo. In a few bars I think. Can distinctly recall one such incident in a fashionable club in Paris. Rather embarrassing.
23. taken painkillers - Yes. Is that odd?
24. love someone or miss someone right now - yes
25. laid on your back and watched cloud shapes go by - yes
26. made a snow angel - one of my favourite things to do in the winter.
27. played dress up - yes
28. cheated while playing a game - not that I can recall
29. been lonely - yes

30. fallen asleep at work/school - yes and yes
31. used a fake id - yes, I had to! I still get carded and I'm 36! Thankfully my real id works now.
32. felt an earthquake - no
33. touched a snake - yes, a few actually. They're not slimey at all.
34. ran a red light - yes but I only realized afterwards.

35. been suspended from school - no
36. had detention - yes but that was a very long time ago on a continent far away from here.
39. witnessed a crime - Do the ones I committed myself count? =P Regardless, yes I have witnessed crimes.
40. pole danced - no
41. been lost - I have no sense of direction. Lost is a natural state for me.
42. been to the opposite side of the country - yes
43. felt like dying - yes I think so. A long time ago.
44. cried yourself to sleep - yes.

45. played cops and robbers - yes but I hated it.
46. sang karaoke - yes, I am east asian after all...
47. done something you told yourself you wouldn't - I wouldn't look like this otherwise...
48. laughed till some kind of beverage came out of your nose - yes
49. caught a snowflake on your tongue - yes
50. kissed in the rain - I'm not sure but I think so.
51. sing in the shower - not very often.
52. made love in a park - yes, Southwick Green
53. had a dream that you married someone - not that I can recall
54. glued your hand to something - yes but not inteionally

55. got your tongue stuck to a flag pole - no but I think I did get my tongue stuck on something when I was little and it was very cold
56. worn the opposite sex's clothes - yes
57. been a cheerleader - no and I really don't get the whole cheerleading thang.
58. sat on a roof top - yes
59. didn't take a shower for a week - maybe when I was a child in the summer house but then we swam in the ocean every day.

60. ever too scared to watch scary movies alone - yes
61. played 'chicken' - yes
62. been pushed into a pool with all your clothes on -Yup. Several times.
63. been told you're hot by a complete stranger - yeah but the strangers were unfortunately not very hot themselves.
64. broken a bone - no

65. been easily amused - yes, life is easier that way
66. laugh so hard you cry - yes
67. mooned/flashed someone - never mooned anyone I think. Maybe the spouse. Flash the spouse almost daily. Not flash flash but am seen without clothes.
68. cheated on a test - yes
69. forgotten someone's name - Constantly! *groan*
70. slept naked - yes but am not too fond of it.
71. gone skinny dipping in a pool - yes
72. been kicked out of your house - no
73. blacked out from drinking - kinda
74. played a prank on someone - yes

75. gone to a late night movie - yes. Quite nice if one doesn't have to get up early the next day.
76. made love to anything not human - No! Ick!
77. failed a class - yes, gym class. Didn't go so I flunked.
78. choked on something you're not supposed to eat - don't think so. Might have when I was little. I choke on food all the time though.
79. played an instrument for more than 10 hours - Not for 10 hours straight but certainly more than 10 hours put together.
80. cheated on a gf/bf - yes *hangs head in shame* Not the spouse though. This was way back.
81. ate a whole package of oreos - nope
82. thrown strange objects - strange? yes
83. felt like killing someone - yes
84. thought about running away - of course. Hasn't every child?

85. ran away - Set out but changed my mind before I reached the gate. I think I was about 6.
86. did drugs - yes
87. had detention and did not attend it - no
88. yelled at parents - yes
89. made a parent cry - erm.. yes. Not proud of it.

90. cried over someone - yes
91. owned more than 5 sharpies - What are sharpies?
92. dated more than 1 person at once - no
93. have a dog - no
94. have a cat - no
95. own an instrument - a guitar, a flute, a kena flute, a recorder, a tin whistle and a few other bits and bobs.
96. been in a band - yep, played the elelctric guitar. Wheee!
97. had more than 25 sodas in one day - no. Urgh!
98. broken a cd - no
99. shot a gun - only air guns
100. been on okcupid for more than 5 hours - You wha'?

frown self

2005-09-01T22:05:52Z

I mean to blog! I swear I did but now it's after midnight and I need to get up to work tomorrow.
Bad me. Baaaad me!

I'll try again tomorrow.

anuran @ 2005-08-31T08:19:00

2005-08-31T06:21:40Z

Don't have that much to say today and very little time.
Going to pack an over night bag and head up to the next county for a 2 day meeting.

Going to stay in a beautiful old manor and I hear the food is really good there. Mmmmm... food....
No work out for me tonight.

I have slightly too much to do at the moment. Hope it will ease up soon.
Bought the cutest little set of Absolut Vodka bottles yesterday. *pat self*