Sunday

 

 

Hej kära bloggläsare!

 

If your name is Cecilia or Sissela, then today is your day! Grattis!

Weather is cloudy with occasional mist. Feels cold out.

Lunch with John in Lindsborg. Had coconut shrimp and lingonberry bread pudding.

Had to unlock the Red Barn today.

Now home. Took a nap. Futbol is on now. Championship game. My team not playing.

‘An apple, a pear, a plum, or a cherry, any good thing to make us all merry’.

 

«Ett gott skratt förlälnger livet!»

 

Go Sounders!!!

 

 

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Julie-Ann den 22/11/09                      Hemlängtan för Sverige!

Solution

Senior health care solution–according to Maxine

 

Senior Health Care Solution

So you're a senior citizen and the government says no health care for you, what do you do? 

Our plan gives anyone 65 years or older a gun and 4 bullets.  Your are allowed to shoot 2 senators and 2 representatives.  Of Course, this means you will be sent to prison where you will get 3 meals a day, a roof over your head, and all the health care you need!  New teeth, no problem.  Need glasses, great.  New hip, knees, kidney, lungs, heart?  All covered. 

And who will be paying for all of this?  The same government that just told you that you are too  old for health care.  Plus, because you are a prisoner, you don't have to pay any income taxes anymore.

IS THIS A GREAT COUNTRY OR WHAT?!

 

 

Saturday

 

 

Hej kära bloggläsare!

 

If your name is Helga or Olga, then today is your day! Grattis!

Weather remains gorgeous. I spent much of yesterday afternoon outside. Very nice. Still flowers blooming here. In november. We may pay later. Did have a few more clouds today but nothing more severe than that. Yesterday morning was a bit frosty and foggy.

Had Swedish group yesterday. The program was me. I had a page of Swedish words to translate. They were way too easy! Hard to find a happy medium. If they have to think, then I hear griping, mostly from one. Today that said that not as many show up when *I* have translating for the group. Most of the ones missing were ill today. Sure is hard to never be right.

Had lunch on friday with Sally at Jalisco’s. Good food. And we had a good visit. Sometimes it is hard to wonder, how the he** did I end up here. Or just how things are. What did I ever do? We both discussed that but there are no answers.

I went to the Old Mill Museum in town yesterday afternoon. I walked all over outside and took a lot of photos. Relaxing. Nice area. My grandfather worked there as a young man. I can still hear his laugh. And still miss him. See all the photos of the mill, the river, etc. here.

Then I drove up on Coronado Heights. It is a hill named after the explorer Coronado. A sword was found years ago that dated back to his time and we think he may have made this far north. There is a ‘castle’ built on the top by WPA workers during WWII. And many places to have picnics. The view from the top is spectacular. See all my photos of the hill and the awesome views here.

I took the long way home. Saw a llama and some horses. When I got home I got very tired and felt so cold. I finally laid down for a short nap and to cover up.

Last nite was nothing but frustration. Cannot get photos to load easily to Flickr. Used to go fast. Could do 70 at a time. Now. Nothing. One or two and then it freezes. And I have a comment I want to make on FaceBook. No can do. Keep getting an error message. And the tv and the radio. On at the same time. Both on crap. I know he does it just to pi$$ me off. Has both on and then falls asleep. Where does that leave me? If I change the tv, he wakes up and gets huffy. What did I ever do?

I had lunch at noon with Chris at Jalisco’s. I think I might as well move in!! I seem to always be there. Food in consistantly good. The staff take excellent and fast care of you. And one waiter takes time to help me learn a new word or two in Spanish. Cannot beat it!

Then I worked and had 6 tours. Nicely spaced out. And they left lots of money in donations. Always nice.

Came home and had a major meltdown. Just desperately wanted my mom again. Willie did take me out to eat. He did not really want to but he did. Home but still teary. What an idiot I am.

 

‘An apple, a pear, a plum, or a cherry, any good thing to make us all merry’.

 

«Ett gott skratt förlälnger livet!»

 

Go Sounders!!!

 

 

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Julie-Ann den 21/11/09                      Hemlängtan för Sverige!

Monas Dare — Something heart-shaped

  

This little "Game", "Competition" or whatever I shall call it – it is not a contest! I came up with this idea (Maybe some will think it is corny… silly or whatever, but then they do not have to join so there! lol) I just thought this could be a fun way to get to know each other, get our inspiration going and use our cameras or painting programs!

I call this game "I dare you!" and every Friday I will dare you to show me something! (Nothing nude or nasty!!) Obviously it has to be your own photos, or graphics!

I changed one thing, it doesn't have to be a NEW photo, you can pick any photo or graphics you have!

This Friday I will make it an easy one, show me something heart-shaped.

Leave the link HERE in my comments so I can come and see!

My entry is a photo from my trip to Denver a couple of years ago. The red t-shirt has a heart on it. On the top shelf near the middle lamp there are 3 hearts from small to large and a red heart napkin holder. I remember how excited I was to be here. And how fun it all was. But then I got home and found out the awful things the lady I travelled with had said of me. I wish I had never gone and would still think she was a nice person. I am just one of many who found out the truth the hard way.

 

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Road trip to Red Cloud Nebraska

 

 

Hej kära bloggläsare!

 

If your name is Elisabet or Lisbet, then today is your day! Grattis!

Weather is back to gorgeous again. Unbelievable. In the 50s for 2 days, no wind, few clouds. Getting spoiled.

Today is a nothing day. Just laundry, dishes, and soaps. And, of course, surfin’ the ‘net.

Yesterday was a great day! John and I left around 9am and went to Red Cloud Nebraska. John once lived there and helped with restoring the opera house there that is now also part of the Willa Cather museum. John is an artist and has painted many many paintings of scenes and places from Willa’s books and the area in which she lived. John is having a showing there next june so we brought some paintings up for it, one historical photo of a friend of Willa, and to meet the new director, Dennis Norris. Dennis took us out to eat for lunch. It was nice to meet him. Very nice man and I enjoyed visiting with him. I took lots of photos of small towns, lakes, trains, graves, houses, roads, antiques, and nature. It was a perfect day! See all my photos of the day here.

 

‘An apple, a pear, a plum, or a cherry, any good thing to make us all merry’.

 

«Ett gott skratt förlälnger livet!»

 

Go Sounders!!!

 

 

Create your own visitor map!

 

Julie-Ann den 19/11/09                      Hemlängtan för Sverige!

Movie Blogg

Eric Monder who is my teacher and a close friend who writes about film for The Hollywood Reporter and Film Journal International has a service where he will try to locate films for people. Even some that are very hard to find. I will be adding posts from him periodically. Here goes the first one.

Here are a few new DVD releases I recommend: First Run International continues its restoration of the DEFA library (Deutsche Film Aktiengesellschaft), German classics from the post-WWII period. Falk Harnack’s THE AXE OF WANDSBECK (made in 1951 but set in 1934) represents a powerful and chilling reminder of the forces that led “average” German citizens to turn on each other under the Third Reich. Harnack, a former anti-Nazi resistance fighter, directed the story of a town butcher who, needing money, reluctantly agrees to help the Nazis kill political prisoners.

Another DEFA production, THE ADVENTURES OF WERNER HOLT, has been long regarded within Germany but not seen very much outside the country. Like WANDSBECK, this 1964 black & white film re-examines Germany’s dark and tragic legacy, this time with a story about two teenage best friends who are recruited into Hitler’s army (one devotes himself to the cause, the other has major doubts).  Joachim Kunert’s lengthy but absorbing work has relevancy for any era as a lesson about standing up for one’s values and trusting one’s own instincts.

More on the disappointing side from First Run, CAPTURING REALITY: THE ART OF DOCUMENTARY, is certainly comprehensive, with many hours of extras, but Pepita Ferrari’s film about documentarians and how they approach their subjects gets repetitive and lacks a clear focus or structure. On the other hand, you hear from such major non-fiction filmmakers as Albert Maysles, Joan Churchill, Errol Morris, and (the most interesting of the 38 interviewed) Werner Herzog. I personally would have loved Ferrari to include Marcel Ophuls and Fred Wiseman to counter the Lockian theory made by Maysles and Morris that “truth in cinema” is actually achievable. And fewer clips for longer durations would help viewers better understand what they are seeing. Oh, well.

The link to First Run Features is: http://www.firstrunfeatures.com/index.html

Working often

Hej kära bloggläsare!

If your name is Naemi or Naima, then today is your day! Grattis!

Weather  was snowy on minday but gone today. It was quite cool but no wind. Or rain. More comes early next week.

I cancelled everything on monday. I was in a horrible, emotional mood and also scared of icy roads. I am sure no one wanted to see me the way I was. Missed coffee with a friend and movie class.

Worked at the Red Barn today since Marsha had a dr app’t. I had a group of college kids visit. There were 12 total. Groups are just not my fave thing to do. Most of the time they are not interested in being there and rarely leave any money. This group was no different. Nice kids, polite, no horsing around. But they were not very interested, never made comments or asked a question. Kind of frustrating. I tend to cut my tour short if people don’t care.

Bought a few groceries then came home. The studio is always so cold. I swear there was an isicle hanging from my nose! Took me until 8pm to warm back up. My feet were blocks of ice. I layered but not enough.

‘An apple, a pear, a plum, or a cherry, any good thing to make us all merry’.

«Ett gott skratt förlälnger livet!»

<a href=”http://www.7is7.com/otto/countdown.html?year=2010&month=3&date=25&hrs=20&ts=24&min=30&sec=0&tz=local&lang=en&show=dhms&mode=t&cdir=down&bgcolor=%236BFF6B&fgcolor=%230032F2&title=Countdown%20To%20Sounders%202010″>Countdown To Sounders 2010</a>

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Julie-Ann den 17/11/09                      Hemlängtan för Sverige!

Change is almost here….

 

 

Hej kära bloggläsare!

 

If your name is Leopold, then today is your day! Grattis!

Weather is is cold and windy. Was lite rain most of day until late afternoon. Then it dried up. Sleet is not near here with snow behind. See how much we get. I have several plans tomorrow that are sort of in limbo. I refuse to drive to town, especially at nite, in deep snow. Just no need.

Yesterday and today I worked at the Red Barn. Both day fairly quiet. had 2 tours yesterday and 6 today. All were such nice people and very interested in art and what I said. People like that are a joy.

Last nite we went to a couples baby shower for our niece and nephew. They baby is due 6 december. they bbq’d brauts and burgers. Good eats. Lots of people to visit with. And they got lots of great things for the little one to come.

Today I met John, Sally, and Paul for lunch. One of our restaurants is trying a new format with new foods and some old standards. I had Swedish meatballs with lingon. Sally ordered Lingonberry Bread Pudding and we each got a spoon. OMG! It was to die for. Must go back soon!!

Not feeling very good. Thanks goodness I have medicine that can stop me from crying and allow me to laugh and smile, even if only briefly. Really bothered me hearing everyone talking about all their holiday plans, how many would be there, what to eat, etc. Just felt sorry for myself. Don’t know why. No one else cares. Or at least not those who should care. Next year will be better.

Cannot get photos to upload to Flickr. No idea why. Tried a different browser with no luck. It just sits there and times out. I rebooted. No change. I give up.

‘An apple, a pear, a plum, or a cherry, any good thing to make us all merry’.

 

«Ett gott skratt förlälnger livet!»

 

 

Create your own visitor map!

 

Julie-Ann den 15/11/09                      Hemlängtan för Sverige!

Changes are a comin’

 

 

Hej kära bloggläsare!

 

If your name is Krister or Kristian, then today is your day!

Weather is changing. Mostly cloudy and cool—ish today. This afternoon the clouds were so heavy and it looked and felt dampish out. Nothing on the radar yet but I see rain/snow in Nebraska.

This morning was our Swedish group. We had a speaker from Sweden named Peter Salvolainen. He was so interesting. He is started working in forensics and now works on studying dogs DNA. He has found out that ALL dogs originated in southern China and ALL dogs are descended from wolves. Amazing.

After Peter’s talk we got to ask him questions. And even stayed almost 30 min. late. We asked him about health care in Sweden and here. He thinks that all the fuss that everyone here is having over health care is silly. And most Europeans/Scandinavians cannot understand what the problem is. Oh, my! The scrunchie faces on the ultra conservatives in our group. They believe that only certain people are good enough to have health care. Someone asked about the high taxes in Sweden to pay for all this free health care. Well, in Sweden 30% is taken out of his paycheck but here in the good ole USA he had 35% taken out. Hmm. Caused more scrunchie faces. Then he was asked what Swedes think of Obama. He stated that most Swedes like him, but they would like anyone other than Bush. And he added that all of Europe would prefer anyone other than Bush. There are now some faces that cannot be unscrunched. Nothing he said surprised me, but many were shocked. He did say that in Sweden Obama would actually be considered a conservative and he himself is very liberal. After our group ended, several who usually stay to chat with our guests, left right away. So much for tolerance and open mindedness and freedom of speech. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about not only dogs but about present Sweden and Swedes.

I had lunch with Naomi. We ate at Season’s and Chris was our chef. He came and sat with us when he was caught up. He does my hamburger just perfect. What a nice grandson I have. I am blessed.

Then I was off to Salina to shop for baby shower gifts. Have a shower for my niece tomorrow nite so I cannot go see the Christmas lights being turned on Lindsborg. I always go and watch. And in Salina, I am officially now tired of road construction. Sigh….

My mood is still bordering on tears but it sure helped to spend time with Naomi and Beth and Terry from FaceBook made me laugh.

Willie is still in pain and still won’t call our doctor. The chiropractor did some extra work on his knee today so hopefully that might help. Why are men so stubborn?

‘An apple, a pear, a plum, or a cherry, any good thing to make us all merry’.

 

«Ett gott skratt förlälnger livet!»

 

 

Create your own visitor map!

 

Julie-Ann den 13/11/09                      Hemlängtan för Sverige!

Monas Dare – Stones

  

This little "Game", "Competition" or whatever I shall call it – it is not a contest! I came up with this idea (Maybe some will think it is corny… silly or whatever, but then they do not have to join so there! lol) I just thought this could be a fun way to get to know each other, get our inspiration going and use our cameras or painting programs!

I call this game "I dare you!" and every Friday I will dare you to show me something! (Nothing nude or nasty!!) Obviously it has to be your own photos, or graphics!

I changed one thing, it doesn't have to be a NEW photo, you can pick any photo or graphics you have!

This Friday I will make it an easy one, show me stones.

Leave the link HERE in my comments so I can come and see!

My entry is a photo from my 2006 trip to Sweden. I took this on Marstrand. The little girl is standing on a large rock or stone. Across the water are large rocks. In fact, most of the island of Marstrand is all rocks.

 

 

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