Deep pressure For me it was the Swedish sauna, but now I'm jealous I missed the massage. I became a fan of Sauna on Facebook and it has photos of little sauanas throughout Scandinavia.
Maya's blog Oh to be out with the girls at a spa reminds me of a story with my captors. They had a visitor stop by. She had a black square with handles that she left on the floor. Then she walked away and was drinking out of brown bottles and laughing lots. I thought good distraction. I quietly snuck over to the curious black square - it was a bag and the zipper is open. Mmmm something smells good. What is it women wear when they go out. Oh yea there it is. That little silver tube - yes - I've almost got the cap off. (My captors have not noticed me...) Oh yea, this red stuff tasts good. Hey look it makes the fur around my mouth red too. Bummer - my captors are running toward me now. I'll just smile and show them how nice the lip stick looks on me. :o) I cannot wait for you to come home so I can show you all the neat tricks I am learning. But I'm not done yet...
Friends and miles Been there and done that, Emma. Spent almost 4 years away from my sweetheart and family. Only connection w/mainland USA from Hawaii was snailmail or phone on underwater transpacific cable. You probably can contact a lot of your friends on a daily basis--there are still there and will be there when you get back to the Land of 10,000 Lakes--then you will be missing the new friends you have made in Sweden. Life is kind of like that! We think of you all several times each day. Hugs-Gramps and Granny
From Washington Yes, I was there, but no I wasn't. The ticket thing didn't work out, so I didn't actually witness history, but I certainly experienced it walking around the capital....the positive energy was evident wherever one looked. Our new president and First Lady are dancing and kissing in public at their second inaugural ball....only eight more to go.
Half ways Never mind that there were no radio's or i-pods or dvd's involved in the trip to Disney World. It was a Travell-all. Not only a Travell-all but a travell-all pulling a one wheeled trailer. That epic adventuer took place around 1974 or 5. Dad recently found the "tab" for that round trip to Florida. Total cost - less than 400 dollars. A treasured adventure...................Greg
Oh Maya! I think your captors are trying to spoil you so that you'll want to stay with them forever! Just remember how nice it is to run into the woods and get loaded with ticks and cockleburrs...rolling in horse poop and dead animals. You are a COUNTRY dog - never forget your roots.
Be nice to your captors so that you're ready to make your escape in July...it may have to be under the cover of night.
We miss you, Poochie!
Maya's Blog Yea, I miss you too. As my captors are reading this, I'm having a hard time listening for my name (ahem...) No really, the captors trated me to a day at the spa. Loved it! I could bark, bark, bark all day long. I'm sure you will love my new do. I slept for the next week just catching up. It must be what Emma and Signe feel like when they have a sleep over. My trim has been a bit cold tho. As much as I love rubbing my belly on the snow, the -22 wind chill is a bit too much for me. I've gotten pretty quick to finish my business and get right back into that nice warm house. I cannot wait to see you again. Hugs and woofs to you all. Maya
halfway We celebrated our "halfway day" yesterday, too, with a cake in which I misread the Italian recipe, so it turned out more like a brownie. I convinced the girls it was just like our half-year here -- mixed up! We agreed the second half would surely be less mixed up, now that we know our way around.
I love to hear your perspective; yes, this is why we're here. But we miss home, too.
ok...hmmmmm Good morning all, glad you got sunshine. We are currently almost 30 below zero (without windchill). I was thinking that it was going to be tough to get out of the drive this morning. The snow has drifted almost across the yard. When I went out this morning there were 2 owls up in the trees, out front. They were doing some hooting (I thought maybe it would bring in some HOOTERS girls) but I think they just smelled my chickens and were hoping for an easy breakfast. HMMMMMM I like that language, Jorgen. Looking forward to seeing some of the family saturday in Sioux Falls. We will be celebrating 4 birthdays. Lauren, Darla, Rob and Shea. Weather is supposed to warm tomorrow and be pretty decent by saturday. Will be heading up with the thought of getting Olivia on a tube for a spin down Tuthill. She is excited. I am , also. I found the driveway "cleared out" this morning. Am really grateful, yet, don't know who to thank. Don't have any farmers around, anymore, it's all city folk owned property now. The closest tractor/loader is over 3 miles away. I'm guessing it was Jay Van Liere, he has been such a good friend from the first day at the lake, many years ago. It's also testimony to the great insulation on the house. I thought I heard the road grader yesterday afternoon, musta been a tractor in the yard. Missing you all. Maybe you'll get Skyped saturday. I don't know how that works but if it happens don't be suprised. Love to all Greg
Sunshine in America Hi You Meatballs.....I'm leaving early tomorrow morning for NYC for three days and then on to D.C. for the Inauguration of a new day in America. I'm so proud that we've come out of this abyss. Peace.
Kapla blocks We all enjoyed seeing the boys playing with the Kapla blocks. I loved them the first time I saw them but they were too expensive to buy so I had Matt make some for our boys. It cost about $10 for the wood and now we have a huge tub of them (cut to exact specifications since the company gave us the exact measurements).
I have been browsing through your wonderful blogs. I understand your mix of homesickness and excitement of travel. We are Americans livings in Poland and will return to the states soon. Although, we are beginning to miss the things we have gotten used to here. I especially liked your blog about going to church. When we visit chuches, even as a tourist, I feel like I have a connection with people through worship, if not through spoken language. I wish you and your family many adventures and safe travels! Stephanie
Happy New Year and 40th Birthday Just got connected to Roadhaven WiFi after some trouble. Just kept clicking!!!! hope it is going to stay on for me. It is nice here in Arizona!!! I don't miss the cold and snow in South Dakota!!
Is it over yet??? OMG - I thought I was the only one who was WAY OVER the togetherness of Christmas break. 17 days of messy, stay up late, sleep half the day teenagers! Out with you!!! I love my family but 2 1/2 weeks is too much! Happy 40th my dear friend! You look beautiful in the photos - Sweden suits you. Love you, KK
Happy Holidays We are in Las Cruces NM right now, however went to Apache Junction (Roadhaven) first and parked our RV before driving to NM. Grandpa Jerry backed and parked it for us!!! We spent 2 1/2 days with Jerry and Jan, playing Pegs and Jokers, eating, and the guys put in some tile at their friends. I got a laptop so I can keep in touch with everyone, AND I can enjoy your blogs in Arizona!!!
Traditions We missed you all. I don't know where that "tradition"of oyster stew came from. It must have krept in after I left home! Glad to see the kids enjoying their Swedish Christmas. Someone had a pheasant hunt, saturday. Tim was the 'ringleader" and I'm guessing Robin was the "instigator". I and sister Anne heated up "stuff" and put on a pretty good spread when the 16 "hunters" showed up. It appeared they got there "limits" as there had to have been 30 plus beautiful Chinese ringnecks laid out. Brother Tim created some of the tastiest chili I have ever had. Tim was pretty sick and was dragging his tail but it sounds like everyone did a good amount of shooting. A good time was had by all. Everyone was a little nervous with John Werverka, sister Anne's boyfriend, packing a shotgun. We, in South Dakota, know how them Harley riders like to "pop one off", now and again! kidding. Christmas eve was very nice. It was one of the few times we weren't all there. In that respect it was really different. Keep the blogs fresh..........................Peace and love brother Greg
Merry Christmas! I'm guessing your old family traditions will become stronger when you return, and more than a few 'new' traditions may follow you home from Sweden.
Have a Happy New Year.
Merry Christmas! Hi Maria! I love the photos - thanks for sharing your thoughts. I love your never-ending quests to find the ingredients you are looking for to satisfy your family's food / meal requests... What a comfort to enjoy some of the traditions from home - thank god you are such an amazing cook and 'can do' girl! Kudos - well done! Love to you, Kary and the Krugers
Maya blog Finally! I've been looking on the internet while my captors have been away and I found a site with my name in it. It's been 5 months now. Who would have thought that "sweedish meatballs" would be my family. Leaving me - home alone - to fend for myself with my captors.
My captors are not very smart people. I keep tricking them into things and they fall for it. They keep giving me those crunch treats in the cupboard - but I'm onto them. I crunch it up and leave it all in a big pile.
Instead I go for those frozen treats they pull out of the cold food storage compartment. They have lots of them in there and I know it! Ice cube something - I love it. I am constantly tricking them into giving me them.
Oh, gotta go. I mean really go. There is new white fluffy stuff outside. I've gotten really good at launching myself off the top step and sliding into it. I have this game I play. Let's see how much of this white stuff I can stick to my fur so when I go inside to my captors house it melts and fills the house with that sweet wet doggie smell.
By the way, that London canine underground connection - doesn't work - those dalmations don't know anything!
Woof, woof for now,
Maya
Hi Hi, nice travel blog you have there
just wanted to tell you not to forget to go to European football before you go home. it's actually fun even if you are not interested and something everyone should do when you visit Europe.
Bring your kids and go on a 'IFK Gothenburg' game when the season starts in the middle of March, it tends to be a pretty cool event with much and high singing, popcorn and good mood
There is no need to be interested in sports to appreciate it, me and my children loved the events when I lived in Gothenburg
It's the Julöl! O.k. all of you lookers...are you wondering what Sweden has done to my mind to allow me to post such a hideous picture? That Swedish Christmas beer in my hand might have something to do with my judgement. It's delicious, better than lutefisk.
Our family has decided this is a good year for an adventure, as Jeff has earned sabbatical for the 2008-2009 academic year. We'll be living in Gothenburg Sweden (where Jeff will be doing mercury research) and plan to visit as many European countries as we can. On the list, Emma wants pizza in Italy, Signe wants to visit the Eiffel Tower and Jorgen is in search of a castle! As for Jeff and I, he wants to visit the land of his forefathers (Norway) and I'm in search of great local food wherever the road takes us.... full info
Neal
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ABBA
Just listen to some ABBA to pick you up (OK, so I know that won't help). -nothing more to say, no more ace to play.