Welcome to Chaos !! - Sweden Other

Trolltider

nospam@example.com (TATIANA) — Tue, 26 Dec 2023 22:30:00 +0000

In Sweden we have something called Julkalendern, been around since I was a kid. In fact Julkalendern started in 1960 and it is like an advent calendar series made for tv, one episode per day starting December 1 and ending December 24. It is part of our Christmas tradition. This year's Julkalender is called Trolltider and the original version was shown 44 years ago. I decided to watch Trolltider yesterday and watched the last couple of episodes today. Of course I loved it - trolls, tomtar, witches, faeries......all the stories from childhood. I told a friend about it and he watched it too although he does not speak Swedish and then he decided to rewatch all the episodes.

I also watched the Swedish King's speech, very nicely delivered but with a serious tone. Because the situation in the world is grim. I am about to rewatch it tonight. The speech can be found translated on the web in case you want to know what he said. I can't help but to compare it to Trump's Christmas message he posted on Truth Social......talk about a difference in tone and content. I feel extra Swedish tonight and I usually consider myself a global citizen.
And that is my beautiful hometown Stockholm.

That's it from me for tonight this late December evening. I am in bed with two sleeping puppies. Exactly the company I want to have in my bed. And pink sheets, a warm electric blanket, soft blankets and plush pillows. Bliss. Happy Holidays.

Glad Midsommar

nospam@example.com (TATIANA) — Sun, 21 Jun 2020 03:18:34 +0000

Glad Midsommar or Happy Midsummer. This weekend is midsummer weekend in Sweden and that means celebration and old traditions like dancing around the Maypole. I was lucky to find a Swedish Maypole in Portland, much shorter than the ones usually raised in Sweden but that is perfectly fine. I am happy I was able to see some traditions. I feel a bit melancholic because it is June 20 today and as we say in Sweden, "sommaren är kort" meaning the summer is short. One more summer in my life.....and the years go by too fast.

Back in the day people believed that gnomes lived amongst us humans, I still believe in all that stuff.

The distance between Portland and Stockholm. Perhaps I will spend next midsummer in Sweden.

Stockholm

nospam@example.com (TATIANA) — Sat, 08 Apr 2017 04:43:00 +0000

Many have said it was just a matter of time and today it happened.....a highjacked truck driven by a madman in high speed down Drottninggatan in Stockholm.
So far four people dead and 15 injured. And a dead dog. A few years ago a man with a bomb strapped to himself detonated the bomb on the same street, Drottninggatan, only he died then. And plenty of shocked bystanders.
A few days ago, bombs on the subway in St.Petersburg. A truck drove into people in London. Before that Berlin. And Nice. Paris. Theo van Gogh. There was a nerve agent chemical attack in Syria recently. Sarin is banned, illegal and to release a gas amongst people is.....I have no words.
No matter where in the world innocent people die in senseless violent attacks it is just wrong. It happened to be Stockholm today. The city I grew up in and a place that I love, of course.
Well.....many of these attacks have been carried out by men with Arabic names, in the name of Allah and organizations like ISIS have claimed responsibility for much of this. These are just facts, nothing made up.
Oh yes, there are non Arab, non Muslim folks that go on killing sprees as well, I am very much aware of that. Just seems to be a whole lot of attacks in the name of the not so peaceful religion Islam carried out in the last two decades or so.
Of course there was stuff happening worldwide in the 70's and 80's as well but I don't have any statistic on that. I can think of Pan Am flight 103, Lockerbie.
And the Northern Ireland Conflict, IRA.
Sweden is a very politically correct place, being labeled a racist or "främlingsfientlig" is something really bad. You might get seriously shunned for that. God forbid you are outspoken about your political opinions if they have anything to do with wanting to accept less immigrants into the country.
That makes you a bad person.
I grew up knowing people either born somewhere else besides Sweden, like myself or being second generation immigrants. I have very close friends from all over. But I also have opinions and even my immigrant friends in Sweden with roots from the Middle East are not happy with the political situation and the downturn of the country. This was one of the bigger topics of discussion last time I was home. Swedes are kind and naive by nature. Other not so nice people take advantage of that. I have often been too kind and naive for my own good after leaving Sweden, not understanding that some people lie and really only are out to harm you in whatever ways they can. There has been much disbelief, many tears and sadness in my life because of that.
Anyhow. I am not sure what can be done about ISIS and similar groups. I want to say that they will go away soon, that this will all go away but that would be foolish wouldn't it? I do not understand what makes somebody feel compelled and driven to carry out acts like these and honestly believe that they are doing something good.
I don't get it. I did not grow up like that. I will never understand.
Yeah, I talked to my brother, he was stuck in Stockholm like many others because public transportation was at a standstill. I talked to my Mom and I am going to call them again tomorrow.
I really miss Sweden, it is a beautiful place with kind wonderful people living there. Too bad that this happened in Stockholm today. But no matter where innocent people die in the world it is wrong.

Lucia Celebration In Las Vegas

nospam@example.com (TATIANA) — Sun, 04 Dec 2016 02:57:00 +0000

I just got home from a traditional Swedish Lucia Celebration in Las Vegas! Well, as traditional as it gets here in Vegas. There was a Lucia and tärnor and stjärngossar singing songs. Swedish traditional Jul mat (Christmas food) and glögg. I went and got food several times and some man renamed me "The Girl with the fast metabolism" and said something like "Thank You for being thin". I was like......?
I have a good appetite and I am for sure not going to hold back on my food intake when I can have Swedish food that taste like HOME. No dieting for me.
Roxy was kind enough to accompany me this afternoon, we had fun (Thank You Roxy). There was a raffle and Roxy got us tickets and she won a knitted throw in blue and yellow, the Swedish flag colors and I won a $50 gift certificate to a Mexican restaurant so I am taking us there. Yeay!
Lucia walking away. Lucia is a big deal in Sweden, I was Lucia in 6th grade.

Glögg! I got us a small cup that we split. In Sweden we usually serve it with almonds and sometimes raisins on the bottom of the cup/glass.

Lussekatt or Lussebulle.

Midsommar

nospam@example.com (TATIANA) — Fri, 19 Jun 2015 21:00:00 +0000

Today it's Midsommar in Sweden, a holiday that dates back to pre Christian times. A pagan holiday if I'm not mistaken, a celebration of summer solstice. I LOVE Midsommar, the whole country is celebrating and it's just beautiful. I'm not in Sweden this year, although I did celebrate Midsommar in Tyresta By last year with my brother and friends. Maybe I can be in Sweden next year and either do the traditional thing at Skansen or take a boat to some island in the archipelago outside Stockholm. Glad Midsommar! I miss Sweden, LOTS! ❤

Being Boring

nospam@example.com (TATIANA) — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 23:00:00 +0000

I'm just being boring and feeling boring right now. It's kind of dreary out, no sun just gray but at least there is no snow. Some places in the country have severe weather and waist deep snow right now and here it's rather mild actually. Most people think that all of Alaska is just a frozen ice block, that we live in igloos and co exist with polar bears. No. That's more up north, keep in mind that Alaska is the largest state in the US. Where I live on the Kenai Peninsula there are no polar bears and I live in a house mainly made out of wood. I have never seen an igloo in real life. The closet to an igloo would be when I make snölyktor from snow. Kind of like a snow lantern.
What am I doing today? I'm thinking about paying the gym a visit to get sweaty and move my flab around. Then I need to tackle my box situation at home. Right now 80% of my stuff is in boxes since I almost moved a few days ago. A decision I'm still second guessing. I think I have a difficult time tackling things that give my anxiety, like a move. It's easier just not to deal with it. And that's exactly what I did. For now. I need a personal coach to crack the whip over my head when I get emotional and irrational.
Then I'm thinking about what I am going to do for my annual Christmas cards this year.
Me and Chhaya, it's my Christmas tradition. I have an idea, if the weather permits.....
So, last night I came across some news from Sweden about four women that arrived there as refugees from Syria together with their sick Father. The four women are complaining that they do not like the apartment that the Swedish government set them up in and that the tax payers are funding. The tax payers also paid for the furniture in that place and the food these people eat. Since those people have no income to speak of. They are not happy with the beds, it's cold and then there is the fact that there is no elevator. Their Father is sick and bedridden and currently getting care in a hospital. The reason they did not get an apartment with elevator access is because the information about the sick Father was last minute and there is also a shortage of places to live in Sweden. People have to wait for a long time to be able to secure an apartment sometimes. I have a friend that broke up with her ex about two years ago but she is still sleeping on the couch in the living room in the apartment they share because she can't find a place of her own. My brother lives in a one bedroom apartment in a suburb outside of Stockholm, he sleeps in the living room and rents out the other bedroom to somebody. If I would to move back to Sweden I would have to live with my Mom or a friend unless I would have the money to buy my own place or be willing to live in Norrland. Well, I'm a Stockholm kind of girl. These four women are now threatening to leave Sweden if nothing changes. Really? My suggestion is.....GET THE FUCK OUT! Maybe go back to where you came from. Or try to go somewhere else (another country) with a list of demands for your comfort and see how well it goes. Nobody will miss you in Sweden, I promise. This is so typical Sweden, I just feel like WTF.....how DARE you? If you don't like it, LEAVE! Actually, don't even bother arriving in the first place. I do feel bad for their elderly Father that is sick and bedridden but hey, I'm sure he is getting way better care in Sweden than he did in Syria. Do I feel bad for the four able bodied women? Not at all, shut the fuck up bitches and GO TO WORK. I'm sure McDonald's is hiring, learn the Swedish language and contribute to society before you start demanding free shit form the government. I'm glad I don't live in Sweden because I would had been PISSED OFF at the situation there and LOUDLY stated my opinions. This is not an isolated incident, this shit happens all the time. The Swedes are too nice.
I found a pic of me on Facebook from Burning Man, some photographer took it when I having a great time at the Steampunk Saloon. That will do as the Tatiana pic of the day!

Gingerbread

nospam@example.com (TATIANA) — Thu, 25 Sep 2014 18:00:00 +0000

I have been eating a lot of Anna's gingerbread cookies lately.....in the evening with a mug of hot tea - yummy. I'm missing Sweden right now and thinking about when I should go again. Since it's such a long plane ride and I have so many friends there and family to catch up with I need at least two weeks. Last time I went I extended my stay because I didn't have enough time.

It's Thursday today....Throwback Thursday. My Mom has these two pics of me on display back home.

I'm not sure how old I am in the first pic.....five maybe? And the second like 18-19. I did my first real photo shoot and they (hair and make up people) made me up like that.

Stinky

nospam@example.com (TATIANA) — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 07:30:00 +0000

It's been raining almost all day today. Earlier I cooked and ate a whole cauliflower, well Chhaya wanted some too. The result? Very stinky and powerful gas. I decided to stay home, feeling lazy and in need of ME time. Although this would had been a good night to cash in on the "Ballrumbler" dances. That is a rare and very popular treat, you grind your butt into another persons lap and let out a fart that vibrates through the recipients body. Costs extra, of course. I usually charge $60. They sell like hotcakes.
So I'm at home. I took a bath, washed my bedding, about to continue reading my new book that is very sad by the way. Ahhhhh.....my bed is so comfortable.....

Thinking about calling my Mom and some friends in Sweden. They held elections there yesterday (every four years) and there are some big changes. Not that I am too surprised, the ruling party Moderaterna got replaced by the other large party, Socialdemokraterna. It's been between those two ever since I was a child. The third largest party is now Sverige Demokraterna.

Many in Sweden are not happy about that. Or at least they pretend they are not happy about it. Nobody wants to admit to voting for them, it's considered shameful and you might get called out to be a racist. Although plenty of people obviously did vote for them since they got enough votes to be the third largest party. I understand why Sverige Demokraterna are growing. You can't ignore certain very important issues like immigration and all the stuff that comes with that. It does not make you a racist because you want to limit immigration to a small country like Sweden, it makes you a REALIST. I am a REALIST. I spent some considerable time discussing politics when I was in Sweden this summer. I have friends from other countries and people that were born in Sweden by Swedish parents.
Remember, I was not born in Sweden. Even my immigrant friends or second generation immigrant friends understand why Sverige Demokraterna are growing. What I find extremely baffling is how the ruling party Social Demokraterna say that they are not going to work with Sverige Demokraterna, childish behavior in a very grown up arena. You have to work together now and reach decisions, they are the third largest party, voted in by the people - democracy! What party would I had voted for? Djurens Parti. They advocate for the welfare of animals and the environment. I believe in taking care of the animals and fight for their welfare and take care of the environment. Without the animals that feed us and clothe us and the trees, vegetation, clean oceans and rivers and clean air we are nothing. Human beings will never get along. I love animals. Defenseless beautiful souls coexisting with the greedy brutes - us humans. Human beings will be their own demise.

Homesick

nospam@example.com (TATIANA) — Mon, 30 Jun 2014 18:36:32 +0000

I am very very homesick today.....not feeling that great at all. I know that going somewhere on vacation is way different than actually living there because I was complaining and being bored with everyday life when I lived in Stockholm too. That's normal I think, especially when you are in the midst of winter. But NOTHING.....NOTHING is as boring as Kenai. At least for me. I'm sure Kenai is a perfectly fine place for a lot of people but not for me. I'm not going to expand on the Kenai is a boring place topic any more this time around. I am homesick and that's that. I miss my friends and actually DOING stuff because there are plenty of things to do in Stockholm and I also miss walking around in City. I put some new stuff from Sweden in the kitchen window......

What else can I write about? O yeah, I had to get a new passport while I was in Sweden. Therefore I had to get measured.....I was curious to see if I had shrunk since the last time but I I'm the same.

And I was also curios to see what I weighed in actual kilos. There is an old scale at the gym here in Kenai, the kind where you have to move the little weight around to balance it out.....
I don't know how to use that stuff and I don't know what I weigh in pounds either......so I stepped on my brothers scale and it said 61.9 kilos. Now I know.

Well.....I'm going to start my day now. I have a few things on my to do list.

Mumintrollen

nospam@example.com (TATIANA) — Sat, 28 Jun 2014 21:00:00 +0000

As a child I grew up with ABBA, Pippi Långstrump, Bamse, Fem myror är fler än fyra elefanter, Trazan och Banarne, Vi på Saltkråkan, Pojken med guldbyxorna and also Mumintrollen.
I love Pippi, she is my heroine. So on my trip to Sweden I got some Pippi stuff that I will show later but also for the first time some Mumintrollen stuff.....or Mumin like you can also say. Mumintrollen is about a troll family created by Tove Jansson. I remember thinking that Mumintrollen were kind of sad and a bit scary to watch when I was little, there was a character called Mårran and I was scared of her. Besides that Swedish children's TV when I was growing up was great and very pedagogic and educational, I learned a lot from watching Fem myror är fler än fyra elefanter and Pippi Långstrump is a wonderful role model for girls I think. When I arrived to Sweden from Poland as a child I spoke no Swedish and I got teased a lot and from that I became shy and very insecure. I was the only foreign born child in first grade and that was not fun I quickly learned. In second grade we moved from Tumba to Handen and I got to know new friends like Carmen that I am still friends with today. I quickly learned Swedish from reading a lot and in the end I got mostly high grades on everything that had to do with writing and reading Swedish. And later I studies other languages like most kids in Sweden do. School went on and I grew out of being insecure, thank goodness. Now I feel super confident and strong.
Well, here is my Mumin stuff. A tray that I will keep on the kitchen counter so I can put car keys and sun glasses on it. Some postcards, coasters and Mumin on key chains. I think I will attach those to one of my purses.

Santa And Fly Agaric

nospam@example.com (TATIANA) — Sat, 14 Dec 2013 10:22:36 +0000

I love stories about Santa and the connection to the fly agaric. Back in the day mushrooms were depicted on many Christmas cards. I think it's pretty and I also like mushroom ornaments for the Christmas tree. I am also fascinated with all things of the underworld......faeries, mermaids, trolls, gnomes.....the stuff faerie tales are made off.
In Sweden there are tons of folklore about trolls, princesses and faeries. And Santa comes from Lappland, where Sweden, Norway and Finland meet, where the reindeer roam. At least that makes the most sense to me, that Santa is from there.

It snowed a lot here today. It is so pretty outside and I miss Sweden when Christmas is around the corner. All the traditions.....julbord, glögg, a walk through Gamla Stan, Kalle Ankas julafton, Lucia, adventsljustake, julstjärna......I don't want to think too much about it and get sad. It's quiet and dark outside. Chhaya is in love with the electric blanket, she doesn't want to move from it. The house is decorated and looks beautiful. I'm content and pensive. Right now I wish I was under a thick but soft blanket in front of a hot wood fire stove somewhere, listening to somebody delivering hours of faerie tales while sipping on hot chocolate.

Throwback Thursday

nospam@example.com (TATIANA) — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 20:54:00 +0000

I'm 12 years old. I love horses. The best thing I know is to be around them, pet them, clean them and when I can afford it......ride them. I want my own horse, that was my dream when I was 12. Life was easy. I was happy most of the time.

Shortly after that picture was taken, we moved from Stockholm to Växjö. I was not happy at all about having to say goodbye to my friends, start a new school and make new friends.
Say goodbye to my favorite horses at the stable Skutan that I would go to all the time. But I made new friends, good ones too......the kind you have for life.

Throwback Thursday

nospam@example.com (TATIANA) — Fri, 15 Nov 2013 05:26:00 +0000

It's Throwback Thursday and that means putting up pictures from days gone by. So I found this one of me from second grade. I'm either seven or eight depending on when in the year the picture was taken. I was always the youngest in my class, since my birthday is late in the year. I remember wanting to be a veterinarian or a circus princess/performer. I think journalist was included in the future plans also. My favorite color was red and my best friend was Helén. We loved animals, especially horses and we had our own club, it was called Kla-Kla. We spent a lot of time making newsletters for our club. One time we saved a spider, I still remember this, we named the spider Victor. We would also save trees, at least we were convinced we did, by mending broken branches with tape. I loved reading and would spend hours in my room doing that, happily immersed in my book. I was very shy but very fun loving and outgoing with my friends. I played outside a lot and I collected, what we call in Sweden "bokmärken" and I had several albums full of them.

Time goes by SO fast! Now I'm becoming nostalgic......

Today

nospam@example.com (TATIANA) — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 05:43:00 +0000

Today I went to a store called Save-U-More and I found some Swedish lingonberries and some other treats that I just love - kakao balls or like we say in Sweden "kokosbollar" or "chokladbollar" or "kakaobollar" LOL! What a nice surprise! And that of course made me feel a little home sick and miss Sweden.......Actually Save-U-More has a bunch of stuff from IKEA. No large items like furniture but smaller things like kitchen and household stuff and toys.
When I was little in Sweden, the kakao balls were actually called "negerbollar", to translate that into English would be "negro balls". Then it became politically incorrect to call them that and that's why today most people in Sweden say "kokosbollar" or "chokladbollar" or "kakaobollar".

Went for a walk with Chhaya, it is starting to get really cold now. I have on layers, gloves, a scarf....... What I need to do is get my winter jackets out this week and wash them. I need tennis balls. Why? When you put a thick fluffy jacket in the dryer the tennis balls will prevent the down from clumping. The tennis balls will keep the clothing fluffy.
Chhaya needs new boots, her little paws get frozen if it's too cold out and I put boots on her. Well, two of her boots have tears in them, therefore I have to get her boots this week too. What else am I doing this week? I think working. I thought of going in tonight but stayed home instead, I can always get busy with something at home. I really do need to go to the gym, at least twice this week. And I am going to bake an apple pie on Thanksgiving. I am going to spend Thanksgiving with some friends. And in the evening I want to relax at home with a movie or two.

Right now I am in bed. Earlier today I put coconut oil in my hair and scalp. I will leave it in overnight until I wash my hair tomorrow. I've heard good things about coconut oil and hair, never tried this before but the results are supposedly great.
Exciting day! I can't be writing about work all the time or put up half naked or naked pics every day. That would not properly describe my life.

About Sweden

nospam@example.com (TATIANA) — Sat, 11 Aug 2012 02:58:00 +0000

A while ago I read an article in Vanity Fair called Nordic Exposure . Written by somebody named A.A Gill. The author is saying that "we" meaning the world or I suspect more like the US is having a "Scandinavian moment" and elaborates on that topic.
I still have that magazine laying around and before I get rid of it, I want to comment a little on that article. You know, I think I have something of substance to add since I grew up in Sweden.
I always thought (got taught this in school) that Scandinavia is made up of five countries - Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark and Iceland. But depending on who you ask and where you look for information, you might get a different answer.
First of all, not everybody walking around in Sweden is blonde, blue eyed and tall. There are many people in Sweden from different countries. But many of the "real" Swedes are indeed blonde, a real blonde, not dyed. I am not considered a blonde in Sweden, though many refer to me as blonde here in the US, in Sweden I would be a brunette to simplify things. Though I would probably say golden brown or honey colored.
I personally LOVE ABBA and Ikea and many other things and traditions that I grew up with.
I know pretty much every ABBA song and when I was little I would sing along to them in the mirror, pretending to be Agnetha.
Yes, you do pay taxes in Sweden, rather high too - around 30 % but it's of course more complicated than that when you break it down. You also get taxed on every item you buy in the store, it's called "moms" and that tax is rather high too. Visiting a restaurant, buying alcohol and cigarettes is also rather costly due to the "moms". Many Swedes make a trip on some ferries that run between Sweden and Finland to buy cartons of cigarettes and bottles of booze, no taxes on the ferry - therefore hefty savings.
But there are also lots of perks when you live in Sweden, such as four consecutive weeks of vacation between June and August and sporadic vacation days throughout the rest of the year. When you have a baby you are allowed to stay at home with the child for well over a year and they also want the father to take part in that time. The parental leave is paid for by the state and your employer if you were employed somewhere prior to getting pregnant. When I lived in Sweden I never worried about paying for school, even university studies and any doctors visits.
I think that's great and basic human rights, I never questioned it - that is just what I was used to.
I never took advantage of the system either. I don't have any kids and I am not on welfare, here in the US or when I lived in Sweden. Some people make a career of popping out kids that they can't provide for - milking the system of everything they can get. I do not agree with that whatsoever.
I also think that Sweden has a too generous immigration policy. That is my personal opinion after seeing what has happened in the country the last couple of decades of allowing way too many people in that do not embrace Sweden, don't want to at least somewhat integrate and basically abuse the country. There has been cases of honor killings in Sweden due to "religious" reasons and that is NOT the Swedish way of life.
It is very common that men and women co habit in Sweden without any plans of a marriage.
I never grew up dreaming of a large wedding and a diamond ring, not that much emphasis is put on that there. I would rather spend money on a long, exciting trip somewhere than a diamond ring. You are protected by co habit laws in Sweden that take effect if you seperate. People look at co habit partners as married anyways, a ring on your finger is just that. A ring. It is a symbol and does not mean anything when it comes to your personal moral compass.
Yes, the views on nudity are more relaxed than in the US. It is common to see topless women of all ages on the beaches and nobody raises an eyebrow. We also enjoy saunas, naked men and women AND children together. Nobody is even thinking about pedophilia. It is nothing sexual about it, because to me and many people in Sweden - nudity and sex are two separate things. That's why I am so relaxed about nudity. Although I know better than to just drop my clothes anywhere. DUH!
But I hear that Germany is even more lax about nudity than Scandinavia. Don't know if that's true or not. If so, good for them!
The standard of living is high and comfortable. Especially in Norway, lucky people in Norway, it's a very rich, beautiful country with not many inhabitants, only about five million. A great place to live.
The one thing about Sweden is that you are supposed to be "lagom". That would be, not too much and not too little. Just right. There is an archetypical Swedish proverb
"Lagom är bäst" - meaning "The right amount is best". That is the standard and generally viewed the best way to be in society, though unspoken of.
Of course there are plenty of people that don't fall into that category either. Sometimes lagom is good and sometimes it's also good to go your own way. A mix of both.
Many people outside of Scandinavia seem to think that suicide is rampant there and that people are depressed and unhappy. I think that fake happiness is more common here in the US, people pretend to be a certain way in public while they are on one or more prescribed medications daily to help them deal with themselves and reality. I keep in touch with my friends and family in Sweden, not many use and abuse drugs, prescribed or not.
I did not come to the US to escape any hardships in Sweden. I had everything there, every comfort that I have here and many more friends btw.
I came to the US kind of on a whim, it was a fairly quick decision and I did have a job lined up in California, NO not dancing (stripping). That happened later. After some years here and an acquired mortgage (the brick around my neck) and my beautiful friend Chhaya I am kind of "stuck" here. I am not complaining though!