The cow's on the loose

One (of the many things) that is nice in my neighbourhood, is actually the activities by the trash shed. People put out the old and used inventory of their apartments, and quite often, someone else comes and picks the things up and puts them in their own apartments. Chairs, tables, shelves etc.

I always look when I pass by the shed, if there is something nice. Ususally I look for pots for my plants, and sometimes there is something. Today, though, there was something that I have never seen there before. A cow. Made of wood.

But why? But who put it there? Who has used it, and for what? And why was it time to discard it now? So many questions...

Thrice

Three times the same number.

My insurance company sent me some silly form to fill out. You had to answer two questions - what is your current employment? and how much is your current salary? After that you had to put the form in the envelope they had sent with the form, lick the envelope shut and put it on a mailbox.

In exchange, a few days later I got a mail from them letting me know that I would earn 18 901 during my retirement. Counted in "today's money value" and with a 2.5 % salary increase each year until my 65th birthday. I didn't think that was too bad actually, but what do I know.

People, companies, keep sending me a lot of information about the monetary issues concerning my retirement. They have done so for the last few years, but this year, or this month there has been a super increase in the amount of information I have received. I really liked this letter from the insurance company. I found it very informative, personal, and with a good "dictionary" of what exactly all the different words mean concerning retirement; inkomstpension, premiepension, allmän pension, och avtalspension. I can't say I KNOW it all know, but at least I understand the words better.

Plus, along with my retirement income "statement", as a thank you for me filling out that very difficult (irony) form they sent me, I got a Triss lottery ticket. I scratched it, and won 25 SEK.

I exchanged the winning ticket for a new Triss ticket. I scratched that, and on it, I won 50 SEK.

My intentions are now to exchange the winning ticket, for a new Triss ticket, and... I guess you can all see where that is going. Win 100 SEK. And then I intend to carry on like that for a couple of tickets, until I feel I have enough money. Enough to retire. So kind of my insurance company!

Cute Cat and Obidoo

They are absolutely adorable together, just check them out! And thanks Joding for the last few pictures, they're great! Apparently the cats to even cuter things while I'm still asleep, so it's good to have a boyfriend gettin up early, taking the pictures.

A study in Goat

Next to Cute Cat, my absolute favourite animals are the goats. I want a whole bunch when I own space enough for them to roam. Right now, I'm thinking my balcony is a bit to small. Pictures are from a few days ago when me and Peter visited Kulturens Östarp, the goatiest place there is - I visit there at least once a year to fulfil my goat quota.

Nano baby

Less than 36 hours after clicking on "order" on the apple.com webpage, my new pretty red iPod nano rang my door bell, wohoo!

Matching dots

And to match those new red items I've purchased - dmi.dk has published a representation of that very intense thunder that just went straight over the apartment. It seems to have been just that - straight over Lund, and nowhere else. Marked by pretty red dots, just for me!

Consumed by happiness

I have been complaining for a month or so, about my feet aching from running. Especially my left foot. That it has lasted more or less exactly a month has a very natural explanation. That's when I bought a new pair of running shoes. The intent with buying new shoes was to be kind on my feet, ankles, legs, back etc. and renew my 4 years old track shoes. They have been kind to me for the last few years, but it's important to renew your footwear when running, especially when you start being troubled by pain. And I was, my Akilles' tendon was hurting.

The new shoes were very comfortable upon purchase. Lovely Nike+ shoes, I'm sure you all remember, it wasn't that long ago. First I bought one pair, but then thought they were a bit expensive, so I bought another pair - a pair I stuck with. My feet hurt quite a bit after the first round, but of course they would - it's new shoes. There's always a period of 'wearing the shoes in'. So I stuck with it, and after a while (8-10 bouts of running or so) the only place I felt pain after running was my left big toe. But that pain wasn't so "only", it was quite bad after running, and did not subside until after 2 days post shoe-wearing. But I stuck with it, convinced to wear the shoes in.

Yesterday I gave up. Quite annoyed about the 800 SEK I very recently spent on the other shoes, I dedided without hesitation, to buy a new pair. My toe hurt a lot still, and now I could see that my left big toe nail was only stuck to my left big toe to about 1/4th, the rest was detached. This I noticed by wanting to press the nail to investigate the amount of pain, and upon pressing, fluids came squirting out from under my left toe nail - leaving a lumenous space of nothing between the nail and the toe.

The old shoes will be tried on by my sweet sister - she really needs some new jogging shoes. I hope they'll fit her, otherwise, I'll just have to try to sell the shoes on tradera.com, or something like that. Noticing how I went straight for, and picked out a white and silvery pair of men's nike+ shoes, I understood where it was heading. Subconciously I had decided to buy the thing for the Nike-shoes, that keeps track of your running progress, and also, I had before long bought a new iPod. A brilliantly red iPod nano (http://www.apple.com/se/ipodnano/red/), with a workout nano-holder for the arm.

The iPod inscription is the very motivating 'Run baby, run!'. To remind me that I only deserve those gadgets, if I keep up with the marathon-plan (which is still going bloody great if I might add).

I also bought a matching water-boiler for my kitchen, seeing how the other one had spontaneously died a week ago. I hope for the toaster to be the next kitchen gadget to go, because they have that in pretty red as well!

It's good to have a brother

Obidoo is here visiting for a little while. He disturbed me real good shortly before 3 am, and since then I've not been able to sleep. But still, he doesn't anger me. Because he's so cute, and he lets me cuddle him a lot, and he's so sweet to Cute Cat. They really love each other's company, as brother and sisters should. I mean, I just know how I feel about my wonderful sister, so no wonder Cute Cat loves Obidoo.

For the record, I don't show my sister-love by biting her throat, ever.

Marathon begins

One week into my workout schedule.

I am strictly following the workout plan posted on the Stockholm Marathon webpage. As it is now, I'm working out with the 4-hour-group, i.e. the schedule of how hard you need to work out for 26 weeks, in order to finish a Marathon race in around 4 hours. Optimistic, eh? Ad astra!

The first week has gone bloody great if I might say so myself. I jumped right into the 3rd week of the 26-week plan, the first two weeks were too slow in my opinion (I'm going to regret this!). This current week had 30 km planned spread out over 4 workout sessions. I have run 31.2 km, in four sessions, with best min/km-pace noted at a shy 4.58 min/km.

I have got to make a real move-on if I'm going to beat the winner of Copenhagen Marathon this year, Julius Mutai. He ran 42 km in 2 hours 23 minutes and 24 seconds. Now, THAT impresses me. A little less than 3.5 minute per km. I don't think I could keep up with that pace in even 1 km, let alone 42. Yet!

I could not sleep, so at 4.48 am I went for a relaxed jog. Such a brilliant temperature, weather and light to run in. I love Sweden in the summer, it just doesn't get dark!

Do not forget...

...to regularly listen to these two clips.

About an angry dad and his son Freeedrik: http://www.flosk.se/files/mp3/nattradio.mp3

And crazy lady complaining about disruptions in radio traffic: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQ5Rm_Orn_k

If you understand swedish, you'll enjoy them lots.

Playing with...

...photo booth, Cute Cat and Peter.

Not so cute cat

If Cute Cat was a desert fox, he'd look something like this.

The King of Computers

He is here today, and he has fixed our internet connection, and enabled me surfing wireless from my balcony (and also other parts of the apartment).

Where would I be if I couldn't publish spontaneous Photo Booth pictures like this one?

All hail the King!

Marathon

I have been all inspired by a sweet friend of my sisters', and I am now working out with a specific aim to run Copenhagen Marathon next May. I am on a 26 week running schedule - found on the Stockholm Marathon webpage. But I am hoping I can run Marathon in another city, eventhough I'm following the Stockholm schedule.

Obviously there are more than 26 weeks left until next May. But there'll be a natural break when winter/snow and crummy weather is coming - when I'll slow down the running and workout inside the gym instead. At my gym one can only run 10 min on the treadmill (eventhough some people think it's ok to jog 10, run 10, walk 10 etc., but the real rule is that you can only stay on the treadmill for 10 min, whatever you are doing on it). So it's not really an option to run my marathon distances in there. I'll go for the spinning bikes, and let them replace the running while the roads are to slippery to run on, or while it's to dark to run outside. And then, in the spring, I'll get right back on those bike paths, running.

I feel, the more people I tell about this plan, the more likely is it that I'll stick to the plan, and follow through. Of course, the actual marathon race is not really what's important. The working out bit leading up to it, that's what's important for real. But I feel it's easier to keep up with regular running, if I have a specific goal.

I have never been the competitive person. Or this is what I have thought at least. But I realise, the truth is, I have never ENJOYED the competitive part of sports. It can really break me down, and I just keep thinking "I can't do this", "I will lose" etc. So I have to find ways to work out psychologically too, to mentally prepare for a long race. I'm thinking, if I just have an interesting book on my iPod, to entertain me while running - I'll forget all about the running part, and just do it.

I sound like a Nike-slogan. And also like a comercial for iPod. Do you think I can get sponsored? I really want that Nike+ thing to put in my shoe, and the iPod mini to register my every step along the way I run. That's a reasonable benefit, after mentioning these two products on my high impact blog, don't you think?

I was just out. 10 km (the green line on the map) - 53 min and 9 seconds - mean pulse 178 - max pulse 192.
I'm going to kick Copenhagen's ass!

Leaning excursion

I still cannot flip the pictures with my bloody macintosh. So just lean your head, ok?!

What's cooler than cold?

Ice-Katie.

Grandpa' murder slug

This sluggy was captured by mum in their garden today, and she proudly showed it off before Soup. A pretty large specimen of the notorious murder slug breed.

A day out!

Today I took some cool people to visit my parents' pretty garden. We had coffee and plenty of cookies there, and then borrowed the car and drove to Nimis (http://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nimis) in Kullaberg Nature Reserve. We also went to Mölle to check out the center of erotica and promiscuity. It isn't that really, but once it was. It was the first place in Sweden where women started swiming in bathing suits, which at the time was considered the height of bad behaviour.


The very pretty nimis towers with the concrete Arx-thingy in the background


James on the top of the woooooorld!


Rusti and the wodden towers

Hot Spot

Ah, I'm outside Joding's lab waiting for him to finish work, so we can accompany eachother home. We never do that, so I thought it would be sweet. I found a field of marguerites, so I went ahead and picked a large-sized boquet. When I was finished, and Joding apparently still had 5 min to work, I realised that I could open my Papers-program on the computer and read something for the lab. But upon login, my computer suggested that I would connect to the open network in the area. Being the pushover I am, I logged in to that instead, and started surfing away. So here's the picture of me and the boquet, taken with my computer, blogged over the wireless network Netlogon, outside the Center for Chemistry in Lund.

I love technology progress - when I don't have to do the work, just eat the fruits!

Hey!

I'm quite busy these days. Which has made me a slow-ass-blogger. This I regret. But I don't regret all the things I have done instead! There was a lovely soup-event at my place on tuesday, and yesterday our lovely friends picked us up and drove us all to Malmö to see the final part of Pirates of the Carribean.

There was a lot of action, plenty of turns and lots of feeling "I have no idea what they are up to know - but they're pirates, so I guess it's part of the film". I felt a bit stupid though, for not following the plot completely. First of all I couldn't remember anything of the second film. I've only seen it once in the movies about a year ago, and I just can't recall what happened. Then during the one we saw yesterday, as I said, there were so many rapid turns in the story, and I just couldn't follow all the time. Then you can feel a bit stupid. Like "I can't follow the plot of a simple action flick, what's wrong with me!". But my cognitive psychology-boosted brain instantly told me "now you thought you were stupid - is that really reasonable? ". And I could put the thought in perspective, and it did not make me sad in the end (as it tried to by telling me I was stupid).

This morning I noticed another automatic thought that was bound for sad-making. I opened the fridge, and saw all the nice vegetables I bought two days ago, and thought - "I was supposed to make lunch-salads of that, and I haven't done it even once yet, now the salad is going to go bad, and I am just hopeless" and this was quickly followed by "and I haven't made my own muesli yet that I have wanted to do since April, I'm hopeless". But two thoughts containing "hopeless" in such a short timeframe set of the cognitive psychology alarm in my head, and I was able to put in a correct perspective, and it did not make me sad.

It's so important to notice your automatic thoughts, you have to focus, and then it is almost enough to just think "now I thought this and that", to put it in perspective and have it move away from you, instead of making you sad. If you subconsciously think (or consciously as a test, try it!) 100 times one day "I am hopeless" or "I am stupid", or "I am ugly", or why not a mix of them. And then see how you feel. We ALL have these automatic thoughts, and when you are sad, you can try to pay attention to them, and it is bound to make you less sad, I swear!

In the beginning of this work it is easy to think "oh, now I had that thought of I'm hopeless - man how stupid am I having these weird thoughts!". Like blaming yourself when you notice sad/bad thoughts, but please, just continue practising, and just again think "now I thought that it was stupid of me to have thoughts of being hopeless - is that REALLY reasonable", and soon, you'll master the skill perfectly! You just have to pay attention to the thoughts, to be able to change the way the make you feel!

Time to go to work soon.
Just finish my yoghurt and perhaps read a bit in the paper.

Silicone

To avoid confusion, maybe you should tell your fake-bust-friends to wear some stickers so you keep track on what's real and what's made.

This is the prototype sticker, on my breast - all natural goods.

Holy diver

My dearest boyfriend hooked me up with a cyclopse, snorkel and flippers today! How cool am I? I wonder if the fish would appreciate some company.

The best fish

A somewhat desperate war has started between Cute Cat and the fish. I urge you to check out the first attempt to kamikaze-style dive into the pond and find a prey at my mum's blog

He dove in. Fish vs. Cute Cat; 0-1

Today he was hiding in the tall grass next to the pond, searching out the weakest link in the herd of fish. He likes the one called Shogun the most, 'cause he hears this one was the most expensive.

The war-score is unaltered still.

Graduation party I

It was a very nice event tonight. There were delicious main course pies with feta cheese or taco inspiration. And for dessert was the heaviest chocolate cake known to mankind. It was two sticky chocolate cakes on top of eachother, with a layer of chocolate mousse in between, and to top it off was a layer of whipped cream and some raspberries. How sweet and tasty. It feels like I have a brick of chocolate in my tummy now.

Tummy likes...

On my way

Wearing my new shoes, and the new clothes I bought earlier this week, I will after a bit of sparkling wine, be off to the graduation party! Of course, I'll bring my sweet Joding!

And I am annoyed with my computer. I import the pictures from the camera, and the are automatically rotated when I open and look at them in Preview, and when I look at the icons on the desktop. And there is no option to rotate them. But then when I upload them to my blog, they are as they were originally taken (i.e. some you need to lean your head to look at properly). And I don't know how to fix it. Soooo annoying!

New shoes, unintentionally

I bought some really nice ecco shoes on town, just because I love Denmark and all danish things now. When you finally realise you can't keep up the hate-act anymore, because you know so many sweet danes, and find yourself volountarily visiting the country with its pretty islands, and just loving the language - it is time to go from black to white. From hate to love. From 0 to 1. Some things don't have a spectrum of continuous steps, but just on or off. I didn't know what I was looking for really, more than shoes (obviously) when I went into the store. I found two pairs of really nice pretty shoes. One pair more tidy, and one pair more cute. I couldn't decide which way to go, so I bought them both.

It's just, I have found so nice clothes for all the graduation parties I have this week (2). So I felt I had an excuse to get some nice shoes as well. I'll be all pimped up, both tonight at Elisabet's graduation from psychology school! And I have bought the perfect gift. She always reads my blog it seems, so I don't dare write what it is just yet. And tomorrow I'll go to Sofie's baby sisters high school graduation, and I bought her a really cute gift too. Now, which shoes to wear... Obviously I could wear the one pair tonight, and the other tomorrow, but in which order? Or should I go with one of each? Probably a bad idea since the heals have different heights.

Aren't they pretty?!