That is so country! (Second Edition)

You get aware of that you're not exactly living in the city when one of your employees calls up and says she can't make it to work because her goat is sick...

For the first edition of "That is so country!" click here.

Awesome!

Just when you thought this week couldn't get any worse the tax people from H&R Block called and said we owe $5.500. I get so tired...

Going back to my roots

This morning after I was done with fighting for my rights I went ahead and bought a ticket to Sweden. Leaving in the beginning of May. Remains to be seen is whether they'll let me back in the country or not. Exciting!

When two toothbrushes becomes one

Today my other half left for Mardi Gras and New Orleans. I know it is silly but I couldn’t help but feeling a sting in my heart when we said goodbye. He is only going to be gone until Wednesday but the thing is that we are never apart from each other. ”Together Forever” has become the slogan for our relationship. But one good thing with him not being here is that I don’t have to get up as early in the mornings. Yeah, that’s about it...

I pat myself on the shoulder

I know I said I wasn't going to buy anything else until spring break. However; there are moments in life when you just have to treat yourself. Especially after disappointing events. For example, after visits to immigration offices.

After I made my promise I have treated myself to the following:

1. Trip to Mexico – 5 of 5 on the scale of essentialness!
After all - there is snow six months of the year where we live.

2. One dress and a tanktop – needed some kind of a pick-me-upper yesterday after meeting with that horrible immigration lady. So two thumbs up for those!

3. A Bikini – Yeah why not?!

4. Six pairs of socks – not so essential but the campus bookstore had a sale and I got them for $1.00/pair. So good purchase.

5. Juicer – what was I thinking?
Just a little too early in the morning for squeezing all those oranges, don’t you think?

6. Three bras – extremely essential! For more info., read post "Braless".

Have a Heart!

I am so sick and tired of this immigration process that I am thinking it might be better for me to move back to Sweden. I barely got the stamp in my passport today. I was told I filed the wrong freaking application. I filed the application they told me to file. I paid the filing fee of $370.00. I took off days from work. I rented a car (two times). I drove all the way down to Denver and to Grand Junction. And I got told I couldn’t get a stamp in my passport and that they couldn’t give me a refund because the money I paid was just to process the application. The wrong application. Instead I was given yet another form with directions where to file and I was told the filing fee for this application was going to be $545.00. I was also told that since my green card is already expired I could be sent to court – and maybe even be deported.

I almost started to cry. Right then and there in that stupid immigration office. Where the stupid immigration officers work who are so cruel, and arrogant, and unhelpful. Completely unaware of that they are dealing with real people.

Eventually they decided to give me a stamp that expires one day after the day I get back from Mexico. Tomorrow I am going to send in the other application. I am also going to attach a letter and ask for a refund. I am going to fight. Fight for my rights. For my rights as a legal alien in Steamboat Springs.

Long-winded Blog

Don't you worry. I will never write something that long again.
So keep reading!

Where fries and ketchup are considered vegetables

Last night I went to a seminar about childhood obesity. That made me feel so incredible thankful. Thankful for being born in a country like Sweden and thankful for the way my parents decided to raise me.

American restaurants have special menus for children. The choices consist of hamburgers with fries, grilled cheese, fried chicken tenders, and mac & cheese. That to me is so sad. Why should there even be something like a separate menu for children? Why can’t kids in America eat the same food as adults? I don’t remember ever ordering food from a kid menu. Even worse; working at an American college I know that young adults at the age of twenty still prefer the same kind of junk food as a four year old.

And then there are those brain dead ”All-you-can-eat” Buffets! Five plates full of food for $9.95. Who can resist a bargain like that? And God forbid you leave something on your plate because kids in China are starving. How about smaller portions and stop eating when you are full. I know the endless supply of unhealthy foods don’t exactly make it easy for us poor consumers and sometimes I wonder if you need a PhD in Nutrition to leave the grocery store with a healthy shopping cart. How are we supposed to know that a can of Marinara sauce contain more sugar than the chocolate syrup we put on our ice cream? By reading the label? I don’t read labels and I am far from being a health freak. But how about being something in the middle? Moderation is the key word. To quote Dr. Katz at the seminar: ”Eat food, not too much, mostly from plants”.

I am so happy that I had to walk half an hour to school and half an hour back. I am happy I didn’t have a car by the age of sixteen but instead a bicycle, rollerblades and a pair of skis. I am grateful for the waters I got to swim in and for the forests I got to run in. For the mountains I got to ski and for the trees I got to climb. I am thankful that we ate candy mostly on Saturdays and that soda rarely was seen in our fridge. Instead I am thankful for all the oatmeal, fruits, vegetables and real multigrain bread we ate. Not the kind of bread choices you have here in America, where air seems to be the main ingredient. Air and peanut butter.

Mrs. Cuteness (who has been a bad, bad dog lately)

Braless

Chew, crunch, slurp - and there goes my last bra. Into Chania's stomach. Joining the other two bras that she ate last week. Damn dog! If she only wasn't so cute...

Happy Valentines!

I Love You Maxie...

Donuts with Dad

Yesterday it was “Donuts with Dad” at the elementary school and I helped Max to dip six hundred donuts in Chocolate, Vanilla and Cinnamon/Sugar.

Without eating a single donut.

That's what I call self discipline!

Shrimp salad, shrimp and potatoes, shrimp burger, shrimp sandwich...

In the car last night:

C: If you want you can put your stuff together with mine in the suitcase that I am bringing to Mexico?

M: Why are you taking a suitcase?

C: Because it will be cheaper - even though I have to pay $15.00 (times two) to have it checked-in.

M: Why is that cheaper?

C: Because otherwise I have to buy all those things down in Mexico that they won’t let me have in a carry–on bag.

M: Like what?

C: Like lotion.

M: They have lotion in Mexico.

C: I know but I need more than just one kind.

M: For what?

C: I need sun block, regular body lotion, day lotion, night lotion, hand lotion, foot lotion, aloe vera...

M: ----------------

C: And then there is toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, other hair products, nail polish, nail polish remover, mascara, lip gloss, deodorant, perfume...

M: Well, I'm bringing all my stuff in this (pointing at his tiny little book bag)

C: Whatever, more room for my stuff then.

LONG PAUS

C: They won’t let you bring razors…

Citizenship or not - that's the question...

Annoying! Back in December I had to go down to Grand Junction to renew my green card that expired in April of 2008 (yes, I was a little late). That was an experience in itself. I had rented a car for the day - a little white Ford Focus that was a piece of shit and didn't even make it up our driveway. But I was lucky and a neighbor came and pulled me up after two hours of trying. Worth to mention is also that I had the stomach flu the day before and hadn't had anything to eat in the last 24 hours. Enough said about that! No, one more thing,, when they were about to take my picture in Grand Junction I thought I should show off my pearly whites and try to look as pretty as possibly but that was a BIG no-no. New rules... Sorry Miss, but you cannot show your teeth. OK?! Why am I not amazed?

Anyway; my new Green Card is still not here and I definitely don't want any problems in immigration after Mexico so now I have to visit the USCIS one more time to get a special stamp in my passport.

I have not decided whether I want to become an American citizen or not, at least I have not wanted to rush it. However; becoming an American citizen seems to make my life easier when traveling, so I might have to think it over again. Next Friday I am driving all the way down to Denver to get stamped. Ahhh,, I love living in the middle of nowhere - NOT!

Sour!

Colorado Department of Education has decided to ban the sale of soda and sugary beverages in schools. This makes me worried. Not so much for the students. It's worse with my poor husband. The biggest Coke addict of them all. And he does not drink milk or water. I don't want him to get dehydrated, that's all.

Happy Birthday Rim-Pim!

Today my baby boy turns six years old. Happy Birthday Pumkin Head! Without you, the world would just not be the same. You light up the darkest hour. I love you..

Just what I wanted...

I have received an early valentine’s gift from my wonderful Mexican coworker. Guess what! A Baby Doll Playset from Graco. A Baby Doll Playset?! Excuse me for laughing out loud, but what the heck am I going to do with it? His intension was that I was going to play with it. Maybe to practice with until we have a real baby.

Just to clearify...

1. I am 27 years old (going on 28)
2. I am married to a man who does not want to have children (ever)
3. If we despite all the odds decided to have children, we would never
practice with a Baby Doll Playset (EVER!)

But now I am stuck with it because I didn’t want to hurt his feelings. I have a Baby Doll Playset in my basement. Yep I do!

Monday mood

I love my job, I love the pay!
I love it more and more each day.
I love my boss, he is the best!
I love his boss and all the rest.

I love my office and its location,
I hate to have to go on vacation.
I love my furniture, drab and grey,
and piles of paper that grow each day!

I think my job is really swell,
there’s nothing else I love so well.
I love to work among my peers,
I love their leers, and jeers, and sneers.

I love my computer and its software;
I hug it often though it won’t care.
I love each program and every file.
I’d love them more if they worked a while.

I’m happy to be here. I am. I am.
I’m the happiest slave of the firm, I am.
I love this work, I live these chores.
I love the meetings with deadly bores.

I love my job - I’ll say it again
I even love those friendly men.
Those friendly men who’ve come today,
In clean white coats to take me away!!!!

(The lost Dr. Seuss Poem)

Starbucks is SO yesterday!!

My favorite beverage is juice, preferable freshly squeezed. I have always thought of freshly squeezed juice as something exotic. Something I spoil myself with on sunny vacations. However; I am now going to spoil myself every day, because I have bought a juicer. Six oranges in liquid form to sip on those early mornings during our ride in to work. Kind of like a daily spa treatment - but in the car.

Sunny Sundays

I love Sundays. Sundays are our only day off work and the ultimate snuggle and cuddle and simply enjoying life day. It is a day of peace and quiet and a day to do only those things you like to do. Right now I am sitting here in front of the fire waiting for a professional cooked meal, consisting of steak, butternut squash, red wine and chocolate. I have the latest episode of the Swedish ”Let’s Dance” ready to watch and I estimate my pulse being about sixty.