It's grey, raining and just fantastic! !!

This is a very boring picture.  Grey, raining and just fantastic!  We're home in Sweden to the most boring weather of all but we LOVE it! It's so nice to eat food haha. Swedish housemanskost...pizza, real McDonald's,  Max lyxshake and yesterday...oven baked salmon with CHEESE and boiled potatoes.  We even snuck down some hot dogs at Frankfurt airport. 

I'm so grateful to be home! For the first time in my life I love everything about my country.  Tjohoo!!...and coming home for Christmas is like seriously the best.

Crying baby to relax

I read this one today and like the final punchline...the baby would like to relax by having a good cry.

Nice...well...maybe not if you ask the parents...but what to do  

Crying for apparently no reason at all

 

Sometimes though you have taken care of all your baby's basic needs, she just will not stop crying. Some studies indicate that four out of five babies have daily crying sessions lasting from 15 minutes to an hour for no apparent reason. These crying jags usually occur in the evening that tends to be the busiest time of the day. There may be a lot of noise and activity as the rest of the family returns home and prepares to settle down for the evening. Babies often cannot tolerate this heightened hustle and bustle. For the baby it could be the end of a tiring day, taking in new sights, sounds and smells. After the sensory overload, the baby would like to relax by having a good cry.

Marilyn = Merlin...of course

During my visit to the hospital this week, I met a fantastic nice and "magical" nurse (woman). Since we talked a lot I notice her namebadge...Merlin.

- Is that your name?!! wow!!
- Yes
- Do you know how Merlin is? It's a famous wizard.
- Yes, my dad named me after HER
- But Merlin is a man....(did they mistake the spelling...hmm..Merlin...Märrlinn..Marilyn....hmm). That's a really cool name and I wonder if you do your "magic" here?
- (giggle)

This incident made me wonder, did her father think of Marilyn Monroe, but missed the spelling "just a tad" making his daughter the world's most famous male wizard instead. Hahaha.. I think it's hysterical. I'm imagining the Indian pronounciation....Märrlinn

Nice to have copy and paste

Thank you for copy and paste function....

Deadmau5 new album cover?

Could this be Deadmau5 next album cover. ..hahaha

Expect the unexpected

This is a prime example of unexpected things that happen here in India.  This brand new Pril is too watery,  ie someone has opened it a taken some of the content and filled it with water.  Think I'm joking? ..it's not the first time it happens.  Baby shampoo or water bottles are other instances.

On all bottled water is written "crush after use" just to make sure no one refills and sells the water.

Donations for teeth repair fund accepted

Since June, I have had lots of problems with my teeth, a dentist fixed a new cavity and then I had to do root canal treatment in that tooth and another. Since pain is still there, and a front tooth has chipped, and my night guard is broken..... I will (very fun) spend part of Xmas vacation in Sweden going to the dentist.

So basically, donations accepted for my newly established teeth repair fund...(little sarcastic)...going to the dentist in Sweden is very expensive and you have to pay up..."what to do"...It will be ok, but I dread it.

Immigration Success

Yesterday, we went to the immigrations department to clear Lil Baba for exit from India since we're going home for Xmas. Most people complain about FRRO (Foreign Regional Registrations Office), but I would like to say that we're pros there. This is how to go through clearance fast:

- Be polite and submissive. Call the officers sir and show them utmost respect.
- Never argue about anything. Just do what they tell you to.
- Be positive
- Don't complain....it's just the way it is.
- Bring all the papers you have, AND copies of everything. Yes it takes a long time and they should have payment options in house, instead of people having to walk to a local Kannada bank to get a check-like thing which takes forever.
- Smile
- (be pregnant or bring a baby. Even the toughest officer started smiling when Baba was staring him down)

Psss. I have the cutest lil boy in the world...

Armageddon Ad

LOL, read the text. It sounds like Armageddon, but it's about equity for investments.

Daily Ad Fail

Since we're overwhelmed with advertisement on the Internet, I though of creating "Ad Fail of the Day"


Here we go: I've always thought full lips were beutiful, but this is too much. It looks ridiculous actually.

An Ent in Bangalore

If you've seen or read the Lord of the Rings books, well, you know. Actually, a lot of the Ents from the movie can be found here in Bangalore.

Caramba!!!!

Lil Baba is teething so among other things: his interest in food is pretty low. Whenever we try to feed him solids, he shuts his little mouth and waves his arms. This is the hysterical part. As a parent you become pretty desperate to get some food into his belly, so you basically do whatever works.

This works for Lil Baba.....distraction. While I'm feeding him, my husband is singing Caramba, shaking the bottle as a maraccas behind my back as I quickly feeds him spoon by spoon. "What to do"?..well I do the same....let him play with my watch, do peekaboo from under the table, and sing crazy songs. I needed that laugh I got today. It must look ridiculous with two grown ups performing Cherokee War Dance in the living room a few times a day.

By the way, things you do when tired: Brush your teeth using the Muscle Ointment as tooth paste

Some pics of the day:

Chicken Tikka Danish....hmm wonder if that one flies in Denmark?
 

If you listened to music in the 90's, well you know.  Not the A, B, C or NE

 

Chemical Love - Stevie Wonder

Song of the day...great text.

"God's gift to us is our life what's ours to him
If it's not our love, then nothing's given, given"
 
"Chemical Love"


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ans-eTeOXtk

"Chemical Love"

People goin' round
Tellin' others they are square
Around and round in circles
Is a ride that goes somewhere
All you need to fly
Is a heart dying to try
A chemical love
It's a chemical love

Ain't nothin to it
Gettin' cash when you are broke
Doin' lots of time
Is worth a little snort of coke
Infected needles
Can aid you in no time
Through chemical love
You've got a chemical love

Some people crave for physical love
Some people crave material love
Yet fewer crave for spiritual love
You've got a chemical jones
You've got a chemical love

Yeah, a chemical love
You've got chemical love

Some people find themselves hooked on the
weirdest things
That have nothing to do with living
God's gift to us is our life what's ours to him
If it's not our love, then nothing's given, given

Some people crave for physical love
Some people crave material love
Yet fewer crave for spiritual love
You've got a chemical jones
For a chemical love

Yes it's true
The best things in life are free
Not material
Chemical or physically
Try it for yourself
You'll get a guaranteed high
From spiritual love, natural miracle drug

Some people crave for physical love
Some people crave material love
Yet fewer crave for spiritual love
You've got a chemical jones
You've got a chemical love

You've got a chemical love
For a chemical drug

Some people crave for physical love
Some people crave material love
Yet fewer crave for spiritual love
You need a spiritual jones
For that spiritual love

I'm talking to you
We all could do with spiritual jones
For some spiritual love

City market

Don't tend to your Smartphone baby at night

Many years ago, my husband used to tease me about my work mobile, ie Blackberry. Why? I was like hooked on it and used to keep it next to my bed AND look at it whenever the little red light was showing, ie all the time. Well, now this is reality for all of us in the Smartphone world. It beeps, buzzes, flashes all the time and if you keep it in your bedroom at night there might be a chance it will disturb your sleep. You may not admit it yet, but think about what I'm telling you.

There's no law written that you always have to pick up the phone and check everything instantly. At least not when you're supposed to be sleeping. Yea yea, you're very busy doing a career. What if I told you that I've read studies that shows our small children are affected by parents constantly looking into their screens instead of looking at them.

Everything in moderation, my mom used to tell me. That goes for Smartphones as well. My husband and I are extremely interested in IT and at one point we had six computers at home so believe me I know how addicting YouTube is. You get stuck watching something....and then there's a whole list of suggestions showing even more interesting clips. So you click on a new one, a new one, a new one and voila....3 hours later.

As a parent I ask myself - What did I do with all the time I had before? Now, if I can go and see ONE movie it's like Christmas. Time is very precious and I value it much more now.

Everything in moderation is my point here. Just as we should not drink 2 bottles of Whiskey every day, exercise 8 hours a day, eat 2 kg of sugar.....or spend every waking moment looking at the lil screen. I prefer to look at life itself through my own eyes, and we have decided to put our phones in another room during night. I love my lil screen, but I've decided to draw the line. Actually we were forced to. As a parent, sleep is precious and there's no room to also tend to my Samsung Baby at night. One baby is enough at the moment.

Santa's lil helper

Thanks.  I really need lil Baba and Choota Bheem to help me to take care of those Christmas gifts.

Noah the movie.....Russell Crowe

The flood is coming...

I just surfed in on Imdb to check out a new movie release. ...guess my surprise when I saw this one....Noah...starring Russell Crowe (my all time favorite actor). Well,  I love the story and you know it's a very important name for me. I'm also a big fan of Russell Crowe so I can't wait to see this one.

Well, God always spoke to me through movies.

 Click here Noah (2014)

You see him?

There he is, the manager of a local petrol station.  He's their most dedicated employee.  I guess he hired himself.  He lives there and never leaves. He works day and night for food, water and the towel that is his bed. He's also the security guard and bouncer. If he doesn't like you, he'll bark you out of his office. ..even if "you're" a car.

A treasured moment

Really good ice cream is hard to find so....I'm enjoying this one.

Pain by Tupac

Is an old Tupac Shakur song. It's the only thing that is in my mind today. I used to live in 18th Street Gang district in Los Angeles and it's like in the movies. The things I've seen and experienced I guess a few "select" get to do.

Currently my back is in pain. Terrible pain. I don't know what is holding me together at this point but....I'm still one piece. My grandfather said that "going through pain and misery makes a person noble or royal". Being extremely stubborn and having a faith in God is what is holding me together in this one piece. I guess if you're brought to it, God brings you through it.

(I know this song is not a church song but it's a song from my past and best describes what I'm going through right know. Also whenever I write something like this, I'm usually writing for ONE person in particular and now it is a younger relative of mine)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1LXb8RAOtA

Cleaning the AC

Yuck

8 pills kills!!! (Tylenol, Dolo, Panadol to name a few)

Information is power. Can we please get this information out to people? I have a lot of anonymous readers so please help me.

"If treatment is received within 8 hours of the overdose, there is a very good chance of recovery.

However, without rapid treatment, a very large overdose of acetaminophen can lead to liver failure and death in a few days."

Tylenol, Dolo, Panadol, Alvedon (if you're Swedish). Paracetamol/Acetaminophen is extremely lethal if taken in high quantities.  Then why do they sell it like candy everywhere?  All information about this drug "in everybody's handbag" is out there,  available on Internet. 

A doctor said that the world's most famous "Lady D" tried to commit suicide with....this over the counter pill.  I don't if that's true but it made me interested in the most common pain killer. In India where I live right now the general public thinks that 10 pieces of 2mg Valium will kill you, yet sell Dolo 500 (paracetamol) like rice. You only need to take 8 of these pills to overdose.

 It's the same all over the world. ..people "know things" when they're clueless.  You know the story about the Emperor's New Clothes?  It's about a very vain emperor who loved expensive garments. Two tailors came to his court and managed to convince everyone,  including the Emperor  that the costume they've made for him was the most exquisite in the world.  So the Emperor bought what turned out to be the most expensive garment in the world. ...and paraded his kingdom completely naked.

Just because everyone agrees, general public, pharmacy companies and world governments. ..does not make it right at least when it comes to this drug.  It's very dangerous if taken in huge quantities, which is very easy to do. You just buy a bag of "candy" at the store on the corner and swallow.  

More about the Emperor:

"The expressions The Emperor's new clothes and The Emperor has no clothes are often used with allusion to Andersen's tale. Most frequently, the metaphor involves a situation wherein the overwhelming (usually unempowered) majority of observers willingly share in a collective ignorance of an obvious fact, despite individually recognising the absurdity. A similar twentieth-century metaphor is the Elephant in the room." Click for more info

You Facebook user, read this

Social media such as Facebook etc give opportunities for people to find and interact with almost anyone from all over the world,  but not all are fishes in the sea, some are sharks.

My message goes to people who are relatively new to Internet,  for instance elderly people.

Don't accept invitations from any stranger who wants to be friends with you. At least do some thinking or research before you do. This is just ONE example of what can happen. Your new "friend" looks up all your friends and sends invitations to everyone.  Since I've been working with charity in India, this is a general practice for a person to find sponsors in the West for instance.  In reality you need to know the consequence of every individual setting in your Facebook account to really be sure what information is available to the general public, ie anyone.

So what you might think?  - I want as many friends as possible. The more the better.  Ok, but your childhood friend Sara may not want a stranger to be able to read HER profile if let's say she has a protected identity (just to make the message clear).

Or you might think - I'll block him! Well that person can have alternate accounts or use friends to click into your profile.  It's like the famous " everybody knows everybody" and in social media that is the case.  I have lots of experience based on the above and my other issue related to men wanting to be friends. I know ways to find anyone or anything on the Internet so if I can do it just imagine how many other people can do the same. It's the whole bloodhound scenario.  They have a bait and can sniff it out and find it easily even though it is impossible for a human being. ..the difference? ... the hound has an incredible nose.

Think twice before you accept or share things from a friend's page. I don't want my son's face on the Internet and smudge any pic with his face online. .. yet if I Google. ..well there he is. Troubling.

Big deal who cares about you?  You're not rich and famous!  You might say. Ok, personal experience tells me that it's enough that ONE strange friend/person does.

Yes, I use Social Media like almost everybody and I even write a blog. I'm just a little bit extra careful with online information.  I don't just click YES on everything.  It's ok to say no. It's kind of like checking left and right before you cross a street.  Your life in your hands,  your responsibility,  easy thing to do, potential huge consequences.  One black piece of marble on Taj Mahal changes the whole pictures.  I hope to get my point.

I guess we've all made real and good friends online,  but we also read stories of young girls being found by pedofiles or a child clicking YES, ending up in a game purchase of $1000.

Just to reaaaalllly push the suspicion level to the max. Your online FRIEND could really be Jeffrey Dahmer if you knew who that was.  Basically a really bad person.

Life is not black and white like this blog message,  99.99% of people are good and most people are really just looking for a friend. A true friend.  So that's the other side of the coin.. all the fantastic good things that come with Social Media and Internet.  The people who genuinely do good charity work and the people on the other side of the world that provides financial means; contacts established on Facebook. The long lost childhood friend you find on Facebook or the chat rooms where people help each other through situations where everything offered by society has failed.

Just think twice and learn how to drive before you take your Ferrari on the Autobahn.  Ok?

This pic shows what I love about this country!!!

It's the unexpected and colorful. So what? Carry a huuuuge purple teddybear on my head with perfect balance, so what?! I asked for permission and I can tell you that more people than me saw the comic appeal in this everyday scene in India. (You can see the sales man in the background with a huge smile on his face)

Seriously....I rock with the help of big G.

Let's get personal.

I'm watching YouTube for movies on the painkiller I quit and seriously, I rock! Due to severe back pain prior and after delivery of my son, I did an MRI, became a frequent flyer at the best pain specialist in Bangalore. I was put on a strong painkiller that saved our lives at the time.....but as time went on I felt my heart telling me; time to quit. I lost weight, eat very well and I'm in great shape now due to a strict exercise routine. Yes, people try to get me to eat the laddos and other sweets. I might have one but I'm on a quest.

With the help of God, I've quit! Lesson learned. Don't take anything for granted because health can not be bought with money. Now I praise God every day for delivering me through this very long and dark period. The strength is returning day by day. Wow, I feel like I've finally grown up. I went through all of this and I conquered what "they" say is impossible to do. Don't ever listen to those people!

So that song...That's how I felt

Please heal me, I cant sleep
Thought I was unbreakable,but this is killing me
Call me, everything
Make me fell unbreakable, now you set me free

I feel the fear takes hold
Afraid this hell I create is my own
Come my fatigueness, I cant take it anymore
This used to be my own world, but now I've lost control

Please heal me, I cant sleep
Thought I was unbreakable,but this is killing me,
Call me, everything,
Make me fell unbreakable, now you set me free

Momma I'm coming home...

...for Christmas.  I've never longed so much to go home as now. We've booked tickets and will be staying in Sweden 3 weeks.

The biggest aspect is that it's the first time my son will set his feet,  or butt (he can't walk yet) on Swedish soil. He will meet some of his relatives for the first time, yeah! !! My father is the first stop on lil Baba's roadshow.  

Ice cream from the shop where my sister lives,  safe streets at night,  movies with my husband,  snow and clean nature,  Oboy and cheese smörgås,  friends and family,  Christmas spirit,  relaxation,  lil Baba meeting Strawberry Blonde lil Sista, and mil Sista, really good chocolate and pralines, my mother in law's different pies,  my mom....ok this list could go on. 

I guess both me and my husband really want to go back for a few weeks to recharge our batteries.  I guess that's why I'm listening to Christmas songs on YouTube all the time. ...Tipp Tapp, Midnatt osv

Diwali (as a dog owner)

Diwali is in full blast. I really mean full blast.  It's one of the big Hindu festivals and called the festival of lights...and firecrackers. For those of you living in Sweden,  imagine New Years Eve like 10 days in a row with crackers and fireworks going on from like 7am to 12 at night. 

Yes, we are guests in this wonderful country so we have to adapt. ..especially the dogs and I'm impressed.  Before they could wet their pants by one firecracker and our first year here was terrible for them, but now they're supercool. They've adapted.  We can go for walks, they will sleep and more importantly not bark unless someone blows a really big thing outside our window.

That's impressive!  Especially if you know Elvis,  the biggest dog chicken in the world. ..or used to be

We (adults) also had a night out last week. Actually the first one in like two years. Since I spent most of my energy at the dance floor, I kind of forgot to take pictures of us. My thought was to show the beautiful sari I wore but but...

Monkey Business

We went to Nandi Hills today and since I'm an animal lover....monkeys were the main attraction for me. I shot almost 1gb of pics and movies of monkeys. I'll try to find time to put together a hysterical video of baby monkeys doing their monkey business, jumping between some trees.

What can I do to help?

- What can I do to help?  was my question.  The answer surprised me since they asked for my time and not financial support (even though we discussed it later on). - Can you come here and just spend time with the children? They need that personal attention. 

I went there unannounced because I wanted to see the real and daily operations, ie what goes on when a potential sponsor is not expected.

Founded by an American,  sponsored with second hand wheelchairs and equipment sent from US. Good solid foundation with a track record of 25 years.  Another fantastic aspect is that they have a very good reputation by the locals as well.  

Quality and not quantity is another characteristic where they only take on as much responsibility as they can handle.

I got a really good feeling meeting the staff where each person seemed tailor made for his/her position.  The man who got the children from the slums, well,  he was also from the slum AND in a wheelchair.

The children are of course the real diamonds and one little boy really touched my heart.  He is a dwarf and the class helper. About a third of the group are unable to walk so this little hero runs around and helps the others. 

I've only been there once but I think I'll commit to these children so more information will follow.

But Madame! !!

So here I was sweeping outside our entrance when a total stranger (and a servant) said - but Madame. ..and wanted to do the sweeping for me. Ok, this is the essence of "the difference between people and people". Both my faith and country is based on everybody being equal.  You know the famous "love and treat thy neighbor as yourself"?

Sweeping as I understand it, is the lowest ranking housework...for servants.  Of course I like to make a statement and do it myself.  If you know me, you know what makes me tick. So each time I'm out there as a spectacle, yes it is; people look at me with big eyes because I'm a Madame here. A Madame is basically a well off woman.

As a Swede,  our equality thinking is etched into our DNA so I will never really get the difference between people and people...but I do get it after living here more than a year.  I can use Indian spectacles and see who is what in society.  If two women walk down a street,  I know who is the Madame and who is not. By the way people dress,  you can tell if they're a politician,  doctor,  auto driver, garbage man, rich or poor. Well, not only the dress; also smell,  dust, hands and feet and overall appearance.  It's status to be able to take a shower each day and wear clean clothes.

Today, I visited a charity where I will start volunteering.  I went my affluent area to the other side of the tracks so to say. It's a school with handicapped children from poor families.  My job? Play with them and give soak those child sponges with attention water. Yes, I can support and provide other means as well but I really want to get down to basics and be with the children.  We danced,  played with puzzles,  I cleaned a little boy's finger and danced with the girls.  WOW! Instant love. They can give something more valuable than money and gold. I've missed this in my life.  Yes I have an own son, but he can share me a few hours a week with the children "they found tied to beds in the back room".

Boss

Bollywood is big business and there's a new movie release right now,  Boss with Akshay Kumar. ...

Under our bed is our Boss. Sting came in to our family and ruled. We have tried to keep both dogs out from the kitchen (begging) for years. Sting however managed to keep Elvis out after dominating him one time some weeks ago. (You need to know about dog psychiatry to fully understand). Now, he is always located right outside the kitchen door with a funny look on his little face. She stands in the middle of the kitchen. ...Begging Boss.

Things you do when tired

-No, this is not where the coffee goes!
- Vomit on the floor and nothing to clean it with,  use your skirt.
- To tired or stressed to make your own breakfast,  well,  eat the leftover cerelac (äppelgröt)
- So you fell asleep with full makeup and look like a Halloween monster in the morning,  well, who cares.
- Sleep or shower?  That's a no brainer!
- Every morning the same story with a touch of panic. ...  Where is the night guard?  Under or in the bed? In the bathroom or kitchen?  (I use it to prevent grinding my teeth)
- Is that toe still alive? ..I mean from countless nights misjudging the distance to the door.

Disclaimer: This is what happened when becoming a parent.  I actually do spend my time keeping all lil Baba's things perfect and the house clean. It's all for him. We're his Entourage.  This is written with a touch of irony,  but I can assure you that all parents do crazy things at least once.

And there's 20 more. ..

Ahead of us waiting to get fueled.  I thought the driver was taking me for a ride, but there are customers in about half of the autos. What happened to filling up your tank between customers?  I think it's hysterical.

Pondicherry

We just got back from a visit to Pondicherry, an old French colony by the coast.  Yes, the beach guards tried to stop me from swimming (probably because they could not swim themselves),  but nothing could stop me.  As a child,  I dreamt of being a fish or a mermaid. Silly thoughts of a child, but I still remember how I thought and the feeling is the same.

I've never had more dosa and idli in my entire life...and I liked it. We found a great restaurant, Surguru, where a full meal for three adults was about 200rs, ie 20 kronor! 

I met some new friends, visited fantastic antique shops, got a beautiful gift from my husband and got to bless some other people with gifts.  It's fun to receive,  but even more so to give to others.  Beggars are common, but I met a handicapped man that touched my heart. He was a SALES MAN who sold 5 items for 50rs....and he was persistent.  I was not really interested in scissors and clips, but he did not accept getting money for free so I ended up with the items. There were some other sales women who caught the moment and tried to interfere with his sales pitch...dude..did he get angry! On our way to the airport I saw him selling a bucket and a broom. I hope other people like myself see and appreciate that wonderful man. Many people have lost their dignity a long time ago (understandably so), but he knocked me off my feet. I'll remember him for the rest of my life.

I already told you about my visit to the tomb of St Thomas and that was a life defining moment for me.

For this little guy

I just conquered something people say is almost impossible to do.  Yea yea, your not supposed to say "A if you're not going to say B"...it's one of the most irritating posts according to surveys.

I'm writing this blog as a diary of our time in India and I'll tell those I know later.  The message though is that I did it, for him. I love him and want to be the best mom I can be. Your own child sure is a strong motivator!

What would a toy collector

Pay for this Baby Vespa?

Invizzy Lizzy

Can you see me?  I didn't like having my picture taken so I'm camouflaging myself.  I'm invizzible.

St Thomas and Me

Ever since I began studying the Bible,  I always identified myself with the disciple Thomas. He was the one who wanted to see with his own eyes that Jesus was resurrected,  ie he could not believe unless he saw it himself.  Ok, big J gave him a lesson on true faith and there's a lot more to the story.

My path as Christian is kind of in the same spirit as Thomas.  I had to see with my own eyes because I'm usually a very rational scientific type of person who always wants all the facts.

Then how on earth could I miss this one?! Haha. It's so funny the paths in which we are led. Ok, so we visit Chennai and I ask a woman about "some church someone told me about". We go there and the only thing I think about is that it's nice and fully white,  hmm funny I'm also dressed in fully white by chance.

We enter the reception and I see a sign "St Thomas Tomb".....what!!!!??? Is this that church! The Santhome Church is raised over the tomb of Thomas who went to India.  I felt completely knocked off my feet. I had no clue.  I may not ever visit Chennai again. ..but I got to see this after two of the most difficult and victorious weeks of my life. 

WOW.

Chocolate Dosa

With spicy sambar, chutney etc.

Crazy Drummer

If you need a laugh AND be impressed by the drummer. He does not lose speed OR the drumsticks. That's amazing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DVbt5W-DNc

Delight and Anger

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HEpX9q11Ls

Right now, this is something in my life. I will explain later that makes sense to hopefully even religious sensitive people.

I love you

And I love your little feet. I love everything about you.

Tänd ett ljus (Light a candle)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQgXJbjsEbM

Very appropriate for my mood right now....a classic Swedish song we all now and like even if we don't admit it.

Light a candle

Dom dom dom dom dom dom dom dom dom dom dom
Dom dom dom dom dom dom dom dom dom dom dom (x3)

Light a candle and let it burn
Never let the hope fade away, it's dark now
But it will be lighter again

Light a candle for everything you believe in
For this planet we live on
Light a candle for the children of the earth

Dom dom dom...

I saw a star falling
Tonight when every one was asleep
I think i wished
That you were close

A minute ago it burned
A second ago it disappeared
I was the only one who saw

They sang about peace on earth on the radio
I wanted to believe the broken words

Dom dom dom...

Light a candle and let it burn
Never let the hope fade away
It's dark now
But it will be lighter again

Light a candle for everything you believe in
For this planet we live on
Light a candle for the children of the earth

Dom dom dom...

I got a card from Windhem
I didn't now where it was
I saw it on the map
You're on the other side of the earth

But it is the same sky
It's the same ocean and star that I saw

It fell for everything we dream about
It fell because we will never forget

Dom dom dom..

Light a candle and let it burn
Never let the hope fade away, it's dark now
But it will be lighter again

Light a candle for everything you believe in
For this planet we live on
Light a candle for the children of the earth

Dom dom dom...

Merry christmas and a happy new year

Promise to take care
A greeting to you

Light a candle and let it burn
Never let the hope fade away, it's dark now
But it will be lighter again

Light a candle for everything you believe in
For this planet we live on
Light a candle for the children of the earth

Oh, light a candle for the children of the earth
Light a candle for the children of the earth

Light a candle

Dom dom dom dom dom dom dom dom dom dom dom
Dom dom dom dom dom dom dom dom dom dom dom (x3)
Light a candle and let it burn
Never let the hope fade away, it's dark now
But it will be lighter again
Light a candle for everything you believe in
For this planet we live on
Light a candle for the children of the earth
Dom dom dom...
I saw a star falling
Tonight when every one was asleep
I think i wished
That you were close
A minute ago it burned
A second ago it disappeared
I was the only one who saw
They sang about peace on earth on the radio
I wanted to believe the broken words
Dom dom dom...
Light a candle and let it burn
Never let the hope fade away
It's dark now
But it will be lighter again
Light a candle for everything you believe in
For this planet we live on
Light a candle for the children of the earth
Dom dom dom...
I got a card from Windhem
I didn't now where it was
I saw it on the map
You're on the other side of the earth
But it is the same sky
It's the same ocean and star that I saw
It fell for everything we dream about
It fell because we will never forget
Dom dom dom..
Light a candle and let it burn
Never let the hope fade away, it's dark now
But it will be lighter again
Light a candle for everything you believe in
For this planet we live on
Light a candle for the children of the earth
Dom dom dom...
Merry christmas and a happy new year
Promise to take care
A greeting to you
Light a candle and let it burn
Never let the hope fade away, it's dark now
But it will be lighter again
Light a candle for everything you believe in
For this planet we live on
Light a candle for the children of the earth
Oh, light a candle for the children of the earth
Light a candle for the children of the earth

Read more at http://lyricstranslate.com/en/t%C3%A4nd-ett-ljus-light-candle.html#5VjQT8Ebe6SvCBtR.99

Light a candle

Dom dom dom dom dom dom dom dom dom dom dom
Dom dom dom dom dom dom dom dom dom dom dom (x3)
Light a candle and let it burn
Never let the hope fade away, it's dark now
But it will be lighter again
Light a candle for everything you believe in
For this planet we live on
Light a candle for the children of the earth
Dom dom dom...
I saw a star falling
Tonight when every one was asleep
I think i wished
That you were close
A minute ago it burned
A second ago it disappeared
I was the only one who saw
They sang about peace on earth on the radio
I wanted to believe the broken words
Dom dom dom...
Light a candle and let it burn
Never let the hope fade away
It's dark now
But it will be lighter again
Light a candle for everything you believe in
For this planet we live on
Light a candle for the children of the earth
Dom dom dom...
I got a card from Windhem
I didn't now where it was
I saw it on the map
You're on the other side of the earth
But it is the same sky
It's the same ocean and star that I saw
It fell for everything we dream about
It fell because we will never forget
Dom dom dom..
Light a candle and let it burn
Never let the hope fade away, it's dark now
But it will be lighter again
Light a candle for everything you believe in
For this planet we live on
Light a candle for the children of the earth
Dom dom dom...
Merry christmas and a happy new year
Promise to take care
A greeting to you
Light a candle and let it burn
Never let the hope fade away, it's dark now
But it will be lighter again
Light a candle for everything you believe in
For this planet we live on
Light a candle for the children of the earth
Oh, light a candle for the children of the earth
Light a candle for the children of the earth

Read more at http://lyricstranslate.com/en/t%C3%A4nd-ett-ljus-light-candle.html#5VjQT8Ebe6SvCBtR.99

Light a candle

Dom dom dom dom dom dom dom dom dom dom dom
Dom dom dom dom dom dom dom dom dom dom dom (x3)
Light a candle and let it burn
Never let the hope fade away, it's dark now
But it will be lighter again
Light a candle for everything you believe in
For this planet we live on
Light a candle for the children of the earth
Dom dom dom...
I saw a star falling
Tonight when every one was asleep
I think i wished
That you were close
A minute ago it burned
A second ago it disappeared
I was the only one who saw
They sang about peace on earth on the radio
I wanted to believe the broken words
Dom dom dom...
Light a candle and let it burn
Never let the hope fade away
It's dark now
But it will be lighter again
Light a candle for everything you believe in
For this planet we live on
Light a candle for the children of the earth
Dom dom dom...
I got a card from Windhem
I didn't now where it was
I saw it on the map
You're on the other side of the earth
But it is the same sky
It's the same ocean and star that I saw
It fell for everything we dream about
It fell because we will never forget
Dom dom dom..
Light a candle and let it burn
Never let the hope fade away, it's dark now
But it will be lighter again
Light a candle for everything you believe in
For this planet we live on
Light a candle for the children of the earth
Dom dom dom...
Merry christmas and a happy new year
Promise to take care
A greeting to you
Light a candle and let it burn
Never let the hope fade away, it's dark now
But it will be lighter again
Light a candle for everything you believe in
For this planet we live on
Light a candle for the children of the earth
Oh, light a candle for the children of the earth
Light a candle for the children of the earth

Read more at http://lyricstranslate.com/en/t%C3%A4nd-ett-ljus-light-candle.html#5VjQT8Ebe6SvCBtR.99

Longing home

I'm longing home....very much so. It's like my heart is in terrible ache to leave and go back to Sweden.  To see all the beautiful colors of fall, leaves turning orange,  yellow and burning red. I checked a friend's pics from Sweden this morning and there it was....orange, yellow and burning red.

I felt like, what on earth am I doing here? I must miss a screw up there or something.  On the other hand are the things I like also here, well, just pick my breakfast for instance.  Sprouted Ragi boiled in milk with some sugar(very South India.  It's some "hirsch". Not that I know what that is either.) Amul butter. ..mmm...very tasty, especially on a toast on this yellow bread.  Yum!

Every foreign person feels this now and then.  I felt it when I lived in the US also.       Being homesick. My homesickness is on its peak right now.

I've also realized that I would never want to be a famous person, especially the stares of people everywhere you go. Unwanted attention as soon as you step outside the door,  and even sneaking in the back door through Internet. I told my husband this morning that I was even thinking about covering myself,  my hair and face when I go outside. Seriously.

What type of events lure in ones baggage when you start feeling like this?

(Ok so this is not my prime week in India,  but life can feel like this wherever you are. The sun is not shining all the time)

People of Sweden!

I'm sitting here in an auto.  When I go home, I will clean out the black from inside of  my nose.  I will scrub the grey from my feet and change clothes. 

We say we know that we have beautiful nature and that we appreciate it,  but I guess it's not until "it's no longer there" that I realized that it's in my genes,  Swedish nature is like air. It's just there, I need it to survive. ...and I took it for granted.

Bangalore was the garden city, but it has been destroyed.  Filled with garbage,  pot holes and toxic smoke from ancient vehicles;  Bangalore explodes into a construction frenzy to make a name as the IT city. It leaves me wondering. ..Garden City or IT City. ...hmm.

I miss fresh air and being able to walk barefoot on clean grass.  I miss our beautiful nature,  clean lakes, real laked the sound and smell of a forest in spring. I miss hiking and drinking water from the tap without being afraid of whatever toxic is filtered through the water.

Yes I've chosen to live here and love this country.  There are other areas where India is better than Sweden. ..but when it comes to nature....It makes me sad that humans just bulldozer down what is there for free in the name of profit margins. We will be the losers in the end, or maybe our children.

Gloomy picture yes, but true.  We just don't think about it because daily life is daily life and I guess it hurts on the inside.  It's like you know we (humans) are destroying the planet but we're stuck. Don't know what to do. It's to big or to difficult to take to heart.

I can still go back to nature's paradise but people here live this pollution every day. It's not fair. 

Sorry for the sad blog today but sometimes you have to discuss something serious.

The picture has nothing to do with this. It's just a beautiful contrast of the old mill building and the new MC.

Can anything surprise me...

This scene just popped up during a walk. Not eggs painted in Easter colors,  but the chickens.

Now we're talking

I guess a select few Swedish people get this. ...fresh Aloe

Nice!!

Well that's a nice car! An Indian classic in perfect condition. ..wow.  BMW, Ferrari got nothing on this one.

Not a bread fan

At least not yet. He takes it, looks at it, put it in his walker seat and cries because it's there...the bread pieces

Akakakaka

I don't know what to call this.  I can't show the "movie clip" needed. ..well here they are, my molded teeth. .Akakakaka.

Finally,  teeth business is over. I have my fake smile,  my night guard.  Puh. Honestly,  I've been so on the edge of this ordeal. (Well dental phobia is the most common phobia)...I'm tired now. 

I've decided to go live luxury housewife life for a few hours just to pamper myself and buy a box of doughnuts for my husband.  Nowadays, I always do that for him. You can only find good doughnuts in very few places and where I'm going today is one of them. Tata!

Remember my swing

I bought a swing for Lil Baba, similar to the one I had as a child and he absolutely loves it. So it is placed in the middle of our living room. I just knew it would be an instant hit because I actually remember how much I loved to be in the swing myself. My swing was placed between the kitchen and our hallway.

And he doesn't like to be still a single moment.  If I hold him, he starts wobbling and eventually crying. ...until I push him into a swing....then his face just shines of happiness. 

(I cover his face because I don't want facial recognition on him)

She sure has a fake smile

Sounds more dramatic (or maybe not) than it is. That she is really me. I got my 2 porcelain crowns fitted today so hopefully no more dentist for a while. The company 3M is like a mysterious company to me. We all know about PostIt but I know they have their fingers in a lot of cookie jars. They make teeth for instance, my teeth.

I was gonna put up a pic of he new teeth but it got to much of a close up...well....they look really good and if you ever need to see a fantastic dentist in Bangalore, contact me. She does not charge you "expat" price, is very skilled and super nice. She also plays Janet Jackson during your session.

This is what happened. ...

...to my taste in jewelry after living in India for a year. Lol. Before pic is just a tiny little red ball, but now....big, noisy, showing,  sparkly. ..well much better.

100% sure...

- Hi I'm looking for a headset for my phone. .with microphone (me looking at a full display of earpiece)
- Hmm, wait for minute (young clerk asks his colleague)
- No actually,  none of these headsets work like that. You will only be able to listen to music.
- Ok, but what about this Skull candy?  It has a microphone?
- No it does not work on your phone? 100% sure!
- Ok is that some special thing here in India because in my country this Skull candy works on mobile phones?
- (not getting a real answer). It just won't work.  100% sure.
- Ok.  (I'm looking at the headsets and see this Sony piece)
- What about this one.  It says "hands free phone calls for smartphones, Android,  iPad, BlackBerry". It says here on the box it works! I'll buy it and try here in the shop.

After buying the headphones,  he opens the box and I make a call to my husband. ...with the new ones. It worked. 100% sure it worked just like the box said.

So whenever someone here says "it's not possible,  we don't have it, it doesn't work etc".....don't make a mistake to believe they're 100% sure.

I did it!!!

I drove this lil Scooter in real Indian traffic to the dentist.  Tjohoooo.  (I prayed a lot before)

How appropriate. ..hmm

Check out this tooth shaped reflex I found in the wardrobe. ..how appropriate for the day.

Choose between the plague or cholera

is a Swedish idiom that basically means that you have to make a choice between two bad things, in my case go to the dentist or have pain and 2 ruined teeth.

Here's a list of other expressions we use, well in Swedish, but I'm sure you can find the translation somewhere.

http://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lista_%C3%B6ver_svenska_idiomatiska_uttryck

I did my emergency root canal of two teeth in one sitting the day before we had to go to Delhi. We had planned that trip a long time with the purpose of arranging a passport for Lil Baba at the Swedish embassy, so I bit into the sour apple (check another idiom to figure that one out) and did whatever necessary to be able to fly there. Well, we made it and now we're back and since I did not want the treatment process to "pour into the sand", I started as soon as I got back. This week's calender is basically fully booked with my plague and cholera....and everything else is put on hold. I dislike the dentist sooooo much, so to "pour salt in my wounds" .....it costs tons of money, it hurts, AND you have to go there unless you want a smile filled with gaps.

The same day my teeth started hurting, Lil Baba got his first tooth!! haha. I feel proud, like I did something and he is rightfully irritated with mommy who keeps on looking him in his mouth all the time.

If there was ever...

A magical place or monument. This is it.

What are the odds?...

That you have to do root canal on two teeth the day before you're traveling for the first time with your baby. Add the fact that I am petrified of the dentist. I'm really scared of going there and voila...today when I have to do so many things, pack and prepare....o noo...I'm doing TWO ROOT CANALS.

What are the odds. Seriously.

"It's simply not possible"

Well, it's the story of my life. They say -it's simply not possible and I say -It just happened!

Blogging has been low priority the past two weeks due to monsoon = cold, fever and cough season. I was knocked out last week, then Lil Baba and now my husband is starting to sound like Zeb Macahan (anyone remember him?)

I have started to look for jobs and posted my profile on one of the biggest sites here in India, you know like LinkedIn or similar. I've been online two days and yesterday received the following phone call.

- Hello Sir. I'm calling from ----. This is a confirmation call to confirm your account and phone nr.
- Ok, my name is Linda
- Yes, Sir, is it correct Sir that you have registered on our site?
- Yes I have registered on your site, but as you can hear, I am a woman.
- Oho, ok.....
(Total change of tone)
- I see you have experience from Europe. By the way, why did you leave Europe? It is a good COUNTRY!!
- We live in India and that question is irrelevant.
- Can I work for your company?
- NO. I am the one looking for a job
- I want to go to Europe. How can I slip into Europe. I want to work for your company.
- NOOO. This is ridiculous!! What are you talking about? I'm not going to take you to Europe.

(I hang up the phone and call the big recruitment site)

- I just received a very strange phone call. I thought my personal details were protected. My impression is that you are one of the most reputable sites in India
- But Madam, it's simply not possible. No one can access your profile. We have strict rules and regulations.
- Well, it just happenedd and this is the phone number from the person who called me.
- Oh, Madam, this is a very serious issue. Please send all the details to me bla bla bla.

(I traced the phone nr and called it again after 5 minutes....busy.....then another 5 minutes.....tut, tut, tut...phone is off)

I have learned a lot of protecting privacy since moving here, but this incident took me to a whole new level where I'm even reluctant to send my CV to a reputed recruitment agency. So except for the no address, no personal details, etc...... I'm asking myself how can I apply for a job if things like this happen.

Many of us use Facebook for instance. Talk about information being out there.....It's part of our life and what if I or you decide to delete all social networking, deactivate our online accounts and go pitch black away from the electronic world. It's almost like if you're not there on Facebook, LinkedIn, Google, YouTube etc......you don't exist. Is it possible to go completely offline? (I know it is, but is it?). Part of our life exists on the Internet. Can we choose not to be part of that world? "Everybody" peaks at each other on LinkedIn, who knows who, checks when "that" person was online last time. We like to anonymously snoop around social networks and surf the net, but we are fooling ourselves. We are not anonymous at all. We are monitored. That is what we are. When I surf the net there is targeted advertising for a pair of earrings that I've been looking at virtually everywhere. I see ads of these gold drop earrings everywhere with a sales tag. I receive emails with jewellery offers from that site. Add one + one = Someone is watching me online. I'm being monitored.

Sick, weight, and oil change

I've been sick like totally knocked out this week.  I wrote a long blog today but if you accidentally press a setting key on the keyboard. ..the whole blog is lost in space. ..so this is the short version.

I've lost more weight.  I've driven my scooter on some crazy "roads", well that's what it said on Google maps. I've been to the Yamaha garage to change oil in my scooter. I have one good trance song in my loop.

Everybody is sleeping.  I'm gonna have a cup of coffee and take out the dogs for a walk. Tomorrow is a big festival here in India,  red day and celebration of Ganesha.

My own Bible has been used more this week.  That feels good.

The new hit

Here it is, a crazy sounding walker/sit support/entertainment machine.  Blip blip, böö böö, tut tut...you know. It was an instant success and interestingly the reason for my new "addiction", Magix Music Maker.

Lol. I started making my own trance music. ..figured I've been to so many raves; I could probably DJ Housewife myself to a few songs.  Seriously,  that software is the bomb. I really love it and it is so much fun. I never ever ever in my wildest dreams would have seen me doing this....but on the other hand. ..becoming a mom used to be on that list.

Horror Hours

Like I wrote about before, when bad things happen in my life,  they cluster together all at once.  Imagine a bunch of computer nerds when/if Apple give away free Iphone 5...ok

My Dr appointment was late and everything got delayed.  Traffic was bad and I spilled coffee on my white top...a big brown stain across my boobs. Ok so I'm stressed out trying to hurry back to my other appointment. ..then the auto driver spits so much part of his saliva flows into my mouth! !! YUCK....whereas I basically get a full blown panic attack so my husband hears the full conversation (with the auto driver) on my un switched phone in my purse....me questioning auto driver for diseases.  - tooth ache he says. Sorry madam.. .who cares!!! Then another auto driver starts talking to me and I yell...- I just got that guy's spit in my mouth.  Do you think I want to go with you now when I need to gargle and spit myself.

Ok, ok...#walk to my husband's office. #light headed and everything around me is reddish color..note...panic attack. #beggar boy say baaaa #men stare at me cus I spit here and there.

I've partly calmed down now. Only in this country does things like these happen.

Hitchhiker

I was driving today and saw this little hitchhiker on the back of my scooter.  Lucky for spider that the web was still intact.  Well, they say there's nothing as strong,  comparatively, as the thread of a spider.

Driving here is different, but I tell myself that if I roamed in LA traffic, then I can do it here.

Haha...what's wrong. ..

With this picture?

This dog is such a character.