calling all Swedes

Swedish cannoli - is that a delicacy I have missed? Is that a national dish that has developed in the Swedish kitchen in the last 14 years?
http://olescannoli.com/

Heatwave

San Francisco is finally feeling some heat, after 9 long months of cold weather. This is what makes northern California so wonderful!

Tongue twister

I listened to a book report on NPR the other day. Someone was talking about Stieg Larssons Millenium trilogy (of course) and then went on to talk about other great Swedish crime writers, and most importantly, the founders of the Swedish crime novel, Sjöwall and Wahlöö, who in the 60's and 70's wrote the books about police detective Martin Beck. It was a good piece but I couldn't help but getting distracted every time the reporter pronounced their names:

"Shouaaal and ualoo".
Over and over again. I lost focus. Couldn't stop myself from repeating it over and over again in my head.
Shouaaal and ualoo.

For the American readers, this won't make any sense, and I apologise for that.

And then there was none

I am in mourning this week, and suffering from withdrawal symptoms. It's funny how you just get used to having someone in your life, you almost take it for granted. You expect to be able to send them a text, or a ratty FB message whenever you feel like it, and have them respond almost immediately, and then meet up, bitch, gossip, eat, drink, listen to music, laugh, cry - whatever.

It's not so much about the presence of this person, it's about them getting you, understanding who you are, and you're point of view. Someone who's infinitely patient and have a cracking sense of humor.

It's going to be hard to readjust, but I am so excited to her adventure, and am so happy to have already gotten her first email.

Miss you, B***!

Waivers

sunset on Öland

I have signed Finn up to a couple of activities (music and animal school) for the autumn and can't help but still being baffled over the amount of waivers I have to sign before he can even enter the premises. There are instructions on everything, from - pretty obvious - be on time - to the "different children might behave in different ways, please be sure to respond accordingly and engage actively with your child throughout the activity" to the bordering-on-nanny-state "this is a germ-free zone, if anyone of you have Mr Sniffles, please consider staying at home!"

And then I am signing a form assuming all responsibilities during the activity - so if my son chokes on a maracas, or gets bitten by an armadillo, it's nothing to do with the the Music group or the Animal Camp.
Sure enough. I can sign that.
But now I've forgotten that this was meant to be a fun thing for my son to enjoy. Instead I am head over heals paranoid that he might sneeze, or that he might accidentally touch another child with a tambourine. And is the teacher giving me the evil eye? Am I not clapping enthusiastically enough?


Since when did a rhythm and dance playgroup have to come with ten pages of instructions?
What happened to "let's all join in and have fun in any way we can?"

The guy from pest control spent four hours playing the flute and working his magic to get rid of my unwanted houseguests yesterday.
Fingers crossed it will work.

Hayes Valley

I sometimes use the stupidly expensive parking lot on Hayes and Octavia if I have to stay in the area for more than two hours. The money it costs is worth not having to run back and forth to feed the meter with more quarters every hour.
Yesterday I came back to the car in the lot with Finn and two women were talking by a Volvo. They linger for a long time while I try to get everything in to my trunk, including school bags, ballet bag, Harry Potter book, stroller, snack back, hand bag, jacket, tops, coffee, two kids, it's never ending.
After some time, I turn around to the women and ask if they are parking or leaving. If they are parking, they can have my ticket, it's valid for the rest of the day.
- We're leaving, they're saying, we just wanted to stay until you got in the car.
They nod towards a man, an old transient, who is zig zaging around the lot looking over at us.
I smile and thank them. it is really sweet and thoughtful of them to look out for a woman with kids. I tell them not to worry. The man walks up to drivers and try to sell them fake parking ticket's, a little scam that is potentially sorting him out for a few meals over a couple of days, but he is completely harmless, and very friendly.

rats (literally)

So it turns out that I am a landlord housing a big family of rats who have decided to nest in the foundation under my house, where they piss, crap, chew the insulation and wires and generally cause teenage-like bad behavior.
I bet you can detect the excitement I am feeling right now, and that I am doing very well in hiding how completely and utterly creeped out I was touring their campsite with a guy from pest control and his torch, looking at the debris caused by rodents the size of a small LA dog (we saw one run away).
It feels like my skin is covered in ants.
Or like I am slowly lying down on a bed of needles.
Or like I'm about to faint.

If you think Swedish pizza is the best pizza in the world

you'd want to read this!

Away they go

Living in a city as transient as SF I have now learnt what it is like to be the one who is left behind, more than once.
When I first moved to SF I was warned by an electrician that I would find it difficult to make friends in the city because San Franciscans are very wary of newcomers. They don't feel they want to invest valuable time in them since there is no guarantee they'll stay longer than a few years. What's the point of inviting you over to dinner if you're leaving in a few months?
Well, I am still here, four years later, and I have made some great friends but I am now finding myself in the boat of the stayer, rather than that of the newcomer. More than once, good friends have moved away. Jobs, money or homesickness have required them to leave and start afresh somewhere else. Nothing is forever, and in this city, you get reminded of it almost every year, when yet again, you have to review your phone list and erase disconnected 415 numbers.

This week it is happening again. One of my dear friends from an ancient time in London when I was still a working girl (did that time really exist???), who has lived in the city for the last 2,5 years, have decided to pack her backpack and get the hiking boots out to go travel around the world for a few years. Although I am very excited for her, the more selfish part of me thinks she's a rotten tomato:).
On Friday she's having a going away party, and I have promised her to not get emotional, and to not hold any silly, sentimental speeches. Hmmm... Let's see about that:).

Huset

I have found a new oasis of beautiful Svandinavian goodies at Huset, an LA-based online store, and I have now become an addicted shopper. Apart from carrying great brands like Odd Molly, Day Birger et Mikkelsen, Aya Naya, Hunkydory, Hasbeens and Ayay Naya and Smafolket for kids, they carry a great range of accessories and both practical and decorative interior design.
Their website is easy to maneuver and delivery is fast!

Go to www.huset-shop.com
and enjoy all the beauty!

Coffee

I have been addicted to Blue Bottle Coffee, and it took me only two days, since yesterday was the first time I went there. The nearest location is a little hole in the wall by Holly's school and I have always avoided it because of the constantly wet street and long queue but the street has now been paved (part of some kind of urban cleaning and renewal program). The idea behind the small, organic company is that they only roast (on vintage apparatus) and serve coffee that is less than 48 hours old, and/or sell the beans in compostable bags (again, within 48 hours). They have a few locations scattered around the city and I have now become a convert.
OK, I will have to split my loyalty between Blue Bottle and Corba's a block away. Corba's does an outstanding latte and stupidly good bagels, but if it's drip and half and half, I'll make it Blue Bottle.
Having said that, I really shouldn't be drinking coffee at all. Keeps me up half the night.

Dogs and stuff

The bay area canine phenomenon is still slightly lost on me as I am not a great dog person, or rather, I don't mid the dogs, but I do mind dog-owners who don't mind other people.
It's my own fault. I know. If I don't want a dog to go with my turkey sandwich, I shouldn't pick the dog's allowed part of Crissy Fields, but come on - this is by far the nicest stretch of the beach, plus this is were the kids can fish for crabs so since dog's are allowed to run of the leash, could we at least try and get the to not run across the blankets, wet and sandy, while we're having lunch.
Let's face it: I don't let my children do it to other people, why should it be different for dogs?

Back to normality

It's Labor Day and school starts again tomorrow after a long, long summer. I'm not sure I even remember how to turn the alarm clock on. Back to early mornings, packed lunches, school drop off's and hopefully, fingers crossed, some routine exercise as well. I put on weight over the summer....

Hasbeens

I love, love, love these bags, as they remind me of a bag my mother had when I was growing up. But *big sigh*, shipping costs to the US are extortionate and it would cost me almost as much in postage as the actual bag costs to buy....
Maybe some other time.

Bunny

I get in contact with the family who has been looking after Floppsy the bunny while we've been away. I can hear on her tone of voice that the mother is happy to be rid of our little treasure.
OK, so there goes my plan to ask her if they would like to adopt Floppsy full time.
- No thank you, she says. It's too much hard work.
- The only thing I can suggest, she continues, is to ask my neighbor. He breeds rabbits, but I wouldn't give her to him. He breeds them for eating.
I decline. I want to find another home for the rabbit, but not that badly.