Day 88: Play on!

Can anything really make me happy on a day like today? I really wonder. My good friend is in town, the weather is cooperating and I am stuck home with a horrible cold I can't shake off. Of course, I am happy for her sake that the weather is fine and showing off Stockholm at its best. But what about me? Poor, lonely, under-the-weather (get it?!) me?

Staying home while I'd rather be out and about is not much fun...I even had to skip dinner and the concert we had planned for yesterday evening. On the bright side, because my friends there really always is a bright side, my proclivity for creating family wherever I am pays off in situations like this. Which is why, despite my being indisposed, my friend does not have to spend her time alone. She's in the good hands of another good friend, to whom I (and my mother when she lived) refer as my "Swedish brother." They have met before on several occasions, both here and in NYC, enjoy each other's company and have been traipsing around Stockholm for a couple of days now while I try to get better. So that makes me happy.

Another bright spot in my sickly gloom are all the people out there, near and far, who are as enthusiastic as I am about Wordfeud. It's a nice way to have company without infecting anyone with my germs and a great way to pass the time when, like last night, I wake up in the wee hours with a coughing fit and can't get back to sleep. So thank you and tack så mycket ('cause I play both in English and Swedish). Oh, and I do admit to an extra thrill when (more often than not) I beat Swedish opponents ;-)

Day 87: The Breast of Everything

In a word: success! NYC author and my good friend Lori Berhon read from her first novel in print, The Breast of Everything, to a modest but enthusiastic audience in Stockholm this evening. Lori is a wonderful writer and an equally expressive reader. Laughter filled the room on several occasions as she read. The follow-up Q&A was lively with interesting questions posed by interested audience members. And we sold a number of books. All in all, everything we'd hoped for, and more.

I'm so happy! Accccchhhhhhoooooooo. (except for the cold ;-( )

Laughter

Waiting on line to purchase the book

Autographing the books

Day 86: "Bättre kan man inte ha det"

What's a cold...even a really bad one like the one I have right now...in light of those words from one's hematologist? Blood test results are back. Every single number is normal. "See you next year," he added. "Forget about us."

That last admonition will go by the wayside because how will I ever forget this amazing doctor? And why would I want to? I told him that and he had to agree that forgetting each other is probably not an option at this point. We have had a number of conversations, visits, etc. Each one has left me more informed and more positive than before. And I'd like to think it's left him at the very least smiling.

Today is an extra good day!

Day 85: Aaaahhh-choooo

Why do colds always seem to come on when it's most inconvenient? I woke up with a very sore throat very early this morning, just in time for the arrival of my good friends from out of town. We have many things planned for the short time they are going to be here and the last thing I need is to be sneezing through it all.

Up out of bed I dragged myself to drink some echinacea in the hopes of staving off said cold. Fortunately, I was able to fall back asleep and spent the rest of the day sleeping on and off, drinking tea and more echinacea. I'd be happy to be able to report that I beat this thing. Alas, not totally. Still, I'm glad it isn't worse than it is and look forward to spending time with my friends. Keep your fingers crossed (or hold your thumbs as we do here in Sweden ;-)).

Day 84: Reunited...and it feels so good

July 12th was Take Your Squishy to Work Day. Maizie and I did not want to feel like slackers. Just because I decided to leave the workforce last year was no reason to miss this opportunity to contribute to charity. Besides, Maizie was due for an outing. So, off she went with Grace Ann to her job.

That was more than a month ago and I've been missing her. Tonight was book club night and to my great delight, Maizie showed up with Grace Ann! It was so wonderful to hug her and feel her squishness right next to me. She made a pretty great impression on the rest of the book club members too, but I got to take her home.

Welcome back Maizie! xxx ooo

Day 83: Finders keepers

Found a partially unused travel coupon on the subway platform today. Just in time for visiting friends later this week. That's enough to make this girl happy on an otherwise uneventful, albeit gorgeous, summer day.

Sleep well all! I know I will.

Day 82: Collaboration

Eight people, four teams, (scientists, engineers, doctors) all focused on eradicating disease throughout the world. A fight against the clock as new outbreaks and epidemics erupt. Building research stations, traveling the continents. Will we succeed in the nick of time?

That is Pandemia. After four valiant attempts, the game still won over us players. But what fun to play together, cooperating toward a common goal. And how ingenious to come up with a game that is non-competitive as well as challenging.

All this and a yummy baby to squeeze and tickle and kiss on her ever so plump baby cheeks. Plus two three-year-olds. And great food.

I'm a happy camper on this Sunday after board games.

Day 81: Harmony

In a wine cellar at Hesselby Slott, a group of people gather in a circle to sing traditional Swedish folk songs. Folk songs are, as the name implies, songs of the people, passed from generation to generation by repetition. They originate in villages and towns, typically in the country or mountains, and spread via troubadours and regular folk from mouth to ear.

This was one of the sessions at the Stockholm Folk Festival that I was most looking forward to and it didn't disappoint. Anyone in the circle was free to take up a song, some of which were familiar while others were new to most of us. The session took flight whenever a tune was familiar to most and then the room filled with voices singing in spontaneous harmony. I so admire the ability some people have to weave a tune around another tune in a way that pleases the ear of the listener. Many of the participants in today's visstuga (as it's called in Swedish) were obviously experienced folk tune singers and it made me so happy to be part of the beautiful music we created together.

Click on the photo below for a bit of a taste: