Coffee

Learned about making coffee last night.

All drink knowledge tend to be very nerdy with silly details and insider only knowledge.

Maybe that's why it intrigues me. =)

Now I want to learn about bartending. Or actually just making drinks, to actually "tend a bar" is not the point for me. But I'm not going to be that nerdy that I call it mixology. ;)

Food knowledge seems to make more sense to me. As soon as it's liquid I have a little bit harder to grasp it, (yes, it's a bit of an ironic metaphor) but I'm guessing it's basically the same when it comes down to it.

Very interesting to learn!

Want to know moooore now!

Wind

A windy morning in Queens

Popcorn

Swedish cookies

Cooooookies from Ikea, nam nam nam, (havreflarn, pepparkakor). Slooowly decorating the tree...a few things every time I pass... Most of the other Christmas stuff already up...so pretty. Done lots of laundry today. Took a walk taking photos this morning. After a night of dancing. Will post in a near future. (Tonight? Tomorrow? Next week?) A little bit busy. Going to have a housewarming party this weekend so trying to do the finishing touches to the apartment...and the Christmas decorations.

Joined Google Wave today. Don't know how to use it yet or what to use it for...but I'm going to figure it out.

Want to see a picture of how I look right now? Here it is:

Everyone is a little entitled to some late night anxiety right? Referring to the friend post... In Sweden we call it the wolf hour. Ouwouwoooouuuu!
Now everything feels much better again! And as you can see yesterday was a fun day. Everybody was extremly nice, suprisingly helpful...from busdrivers in Brooklyn to another security guard to Ikea customers...(except the employees just because they didn't know more than us.)

Really...?

Security gard: Ooh I've never met sweedes before! 
Me: Really...? 
Sec guard: Never. 
Me: ...But you work at Ikea!?

Friends...

I hate coming out from a period of being sick. The world around you has forgotten about you.

I haven't had energy to get in touch with my friends, or even call them back. Never any good news or interesting things to tell makes it harder. You could argue that it's not real friends if they aren't staying through that....but at the same time I haven't been a good friend at all. Being sick is depressive. No energy for anything fun. Just comes with guilt, stress and anxiety. Thank God I'm not severely sick at least. Just "blame god" that I caught so many colds after each other this last year...Exhausting. And it's nothing you can be proud of so when I'm sick, I'm hiding.

Well I've been feeling well for a while now...trying to catch up with friends. Seeing who's still out there. It's rough. Some are sweet and understanding. Other's hurt but trying to be forgiving. Some have had so much going on themselves they're oblivious. Others have left.

Family's bound to stick around though. And here's a big Thank God, not only are they bound to, mine actually do =) Without my family I'd be nothing. They're the best friends I could ever wish for.

And having good friends...is the best things in life.

Living across the ocean far away from some of them doesn't make things easier at all. They probably think I've forgot about them. When in reality I miss them most of all.

Sunday

It's getting dark so early...I feel like I'm losing my days...even if it's not less time, the mentality changes.  I feel like a night owl at 6pm already. 

First of Advent today. A tradition in Sweden to cuddle up and eat Ginger snaps, sweet saffron buns and drink glögg (Christmas spiced hot wine drink) or julmust (carbonated soda...think Christmas spiced pepsi or coke...not really but can't describe it better), every Sunday until Christmas. Light one candle for every Sunday and when the fourth is lit you know it's Christmas =)

However I'm not gonna be able to do that today, haven't been to Ikea yet =P Me and a Swedish friend is going on Dec 1st!  
Instead I'm gonna go to a friends house today for a little (unrelated) get together =) Everybody is bringing a little something, to eat or drink. Since our house is still somehat unorganized food wise since the move I had to improvise. I made a quinoa salad with tomatoes, avocado and garlic. Spiced with sea salt, basil, black pepper, a little bit of olive oil and squeezed a few drops of lime over. Turned out pretty tasty (if I may say so myself) but I should've done more I realized too late. But if everybody brings a little it should be fine!

Sitting on the train now on my way. I hope I can post this before we're going under ground, if not I guess I have to post this tonight, maybe a day off =P  

Productive day

Very productive day, got a lot of things done today. Some in Manhattan. Came home less than an hour ago. Sat down and wrote a text on my Swedish blog, Flyktsoda. And now time to cook some food. Still got things to unpack. If there's some energy left after eating I'll deal with it.

What a (time consuming) project

Packing

Moving

Time to unpack... a work in progress...

Farewell Manhattan, Good day Astoria!

Moving today!

Stressful but exciting =D

A slow come back...?

I don't want to stop writing. But when I've had a never ending sinus infection and no energy what so ever...well then I have nothing to write about: Haven't done much interesting, haven't had energy to read something to be upset or excited enough to write about, haven't taken any interesting photos or done much creative at all...

It's depressing to be sick. Surprise surprise.

It's like when friends call. Or send an email. It's ok to say I have a cold right now, but one month later it's not ok to say it any more. Then they'll start wondering what's wrong with me, have you been to the doctor, you have the swine flu, you should eat this, you should sleep better, aaaarghhh

deep breath: I'm grateful to have concerned friends. But I don't let them be, any more, because I just get tired of saying I'm sick, so I don't respond... I know, I know... but the only thing I should've done is to be born with a better immune defense, without allergies. I'm finally done blaming myself for getting sick every now and then. It only took me about 20 years so I don't expect anyone else to understand... That's why I become a bad friend and ignore calls and texts and letters.

I hate getting sick so much I rather deny it. So next subject.

Something very positive for me =)

I'm moving from Manhattan to Astoria, Queens!

A much bigger apartment. It's a loft style apartment with one bedroom. The bedroom is slightly bigger than the current one, the livingroom is bigger than the entire current apartment, bigger bathroom and lots and lots of closet space. With balcony... gonna be so nice!

Even though I love Manhattan it feels good to get away from the hectic life here, to feel like you're coming "home", recharging, relaxing more.

(It's like with a job you love: you can still be overworked!)

Especially since I'm probably gonna go in every day anyways.

I loved living in Brooklyn. I loved coming into Manhattan every day, but I loved coming home to Brooklyn every day too. I have missed those days lately. Felt like I had so much more time every day back then. I miss being complacently bored. Like always in Sweden. You know those days when you're done with all that you need to do and you're just home anyways so why not bake a cake/ take up knitting / finish a few books / paint / write ...etc.

Maybe it's an age thing. Maybe life was just simpler when I was a few years younger? But it hasn't changed that much so it doesn't really makes sense.

Since I'm feeling better now, still not good but hey it's much better and in the right direction, I've decided the move is the point where things are gonna turn around for me, in all areas. Sounds reasonable right?

Rainy thoughts

It's raining today.

Not a great weather for taking a long walk in. At least not when you have a cold.

I want to go out and have breakfast with a friend but calling someone at 8am on a Sunday morning maybe isn't all that nice...

I guess instead I'll have to do some boring stuff, which is so much harder to motivate myself for when I'm feeling sick. Like filling out some forms for Sweden or doing laundry. Blach, boring.

At least I woke up to a nice slightly remade livingroom with the new rocking chair and new tables.

Once again, sweet materialism.

When they say. "money can't buy happiness", it's a lie. Because it sure can, indirectly. It buys health as well. The only thing true about that statement is that it's not guaranteed. The saying should be "money doesn't guarantee happiness, it just helps a long way."

Why oh why did I choose a career as a dancer? My millions are waiting for me to come and get them. I want to be filthy rich. Well, to be serious for a while my reasoning has been like this: If I had all the money in the world, what would I choose to do? I would do what I'm doing now. So why work at another job, earning money to spend on what I'm already doing that I couldn't do if I had another job? In that sense it's not money that's bringing me the happiness. Other things than money bring happiness too. =)

It's just that if I had another career instead I would probably travel more, eat out more, go shopping more, live in a bigger apartment...but even if I want that too, what's that in itself compared to the feeling I feel when I dance? Nothing, for real.

To choose to dance is also a choice to stay active, to work out, it's an investment in health. Priceless...

New Yorkers patriotism rocking

Is it something in the air today?

Well, I did smell fall outside, for the first time this year.

But what I was referring to was the aggression that I saw, or rather heard, around the city today. When I entered the subway a lady in her 80's or maybe 70's was yelling loudly at what seemed to be her husband while they were rushing by (in old people speed), then around Union square I almost walked right into a couple that stood in the street fighting. Of course there was also the usual snappy remarks that New Yorkers are well known for and later on when I was on my way back home a guy passed me while cursing someone out over the phone.

Maybe not abnormally much in a city where you encounter so many people every day but to me it still seemed out of the ordinary.

Union square yesterday:

I just stumbled across this article: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33013187/ns/health-kids_and_parenting/

At first I was wondering how the studying could forth go without involving social services and take care of the kids, until I remembered...it's legal in this country! You're not allowed to hit anybody unless it's a kid, that you're responsible for. Shivers down my back. I sometimes ask myself why I live in this country that fails its own people. Low minimum wage, racist tendencies, around 50 million without decent healthcare, but that's not important as long as we defend the right to bear arms and beat our kids.

Ok ok, there's a lot of positive things in this country as well. But as a teacher of mine once taught us; real patriotism is not just nodding and agreeing with everything, patriotism is to question, so you can improve, to make sure your country stays, or becomes, the best place in the world, then there's something you can really be proud over.

From one subject to another... Except aggressive New Yorkers (or tourists, who knows) and a little bit upset over certain things in this country I'm in a tremendous mood this sunny but cold Saturday =)

I've been up and about for three days now. Even though lungs still hurt and I'm still coughing it's a start...baby steps. My goal is to take a class on Monday. Or depending on how you see it: my goal is to NOT take a class until Monday. I want to, but really don't think I should until then. Taking walks and having lunch with friends has been a nice start. Just that has actually made me exhausted ...wow, I feel so out of shape, it's terrible. I've also, with the help of friends, finally got some important paper work done, which feels awesome. Both to have good friends, thanks girls!, and getting boring paperwork over with.

On that note I'm now going to relax in the couch for a while, or maybe in my new rocking chair!

Slowly...

Aaaah sweet materialism!

While NYC is having a hard time letting go of summer, my cold is having a hard time letting go of me. But I bribed myself with shopping and took a long walk in the sun from Union square down through Soho, all the way down to Leonard Street.

Not only did I manage to get out and be up and about yesterday, but the shopping actually made me wake up with a smile on my face this morning, going through what I bought yesterday...because when I got home last night I was too tired to appreciate it really, though I forced myself to stay up long enough for my sleeping hours to get back on track. (I did wake up around 5 am yesterday.)

I'm still coughing and my lungs hurt, but being in the sun and doing something fun gave me a little bit of energy, so I'm gonna try the same thing today =)

Lunch with friends and simple walks is step one to get back on track after this terrible chain of colds that's been haunting me. I'm trying to ease back in to "real life" so I don't end up getting so exhausted that I get sick AGAIN...but it's hard, I'm already thinking of going and take a class....I want to so bad!!

In my home

When someone suddenly suggested to me that we should, just for fun, each write a mystery, a short story, I was surprised but excited! Of course I took on the challenge. I've never written mysteries before, even though I've read many. Not only did it have to be in English, it's also a style far from what I'm usually writing. So I did it in my own way, he he. Let me know what you think!

In my home

As soon as she had unlocked the door and walked in to the apartment she sensed that something was…not wrong at first, but off, somehow; different. Almost with goose bumps she felt a tingling sense of her home holding a secret. The well known had been touched by strangeness.

She turned on the hall light, looked around and tried to figure out what gave her this feeling. Nothing instantly looked out of order. She dropped the keys in her pocket, put her bag down, took off her jacket and regretted it while hanging it on the hook, because the lingering feeling of uneasiness gave her the chills.

The thought of someone but her being inside her apartment occurred to her like a punch in the stomach. She quickly turned around, not seeing anyone she bent down and almost hysterically went through her bag until she found her cell phone. She dialed the 9, the first 1 and with strong hesitation finally the second 1, maybe she was just imagining? Now all she had to do was to press the call button, that her thumb was hovering over, as soon as she would actually see someone. In her other hand she grabbed the closest thing she could think of to use as a weapon; an umbrella which pointy top surely could do some damage. She stopped for a second to hope it wouldn’t be used against her, she had read somewhere that weapons meant for self defense often ended up being used against your self. She tried to shake the thought of being punched and stabbed with an umbrella and took a firmer grip, and even more so she tried to avoid the icky thought of actually having to stab someone.

Slowly she started to walk forward trough the hallway, turning left into the kitchen. Her heart throbbed high up in her throat when she saw things had been moved. Her crystal vase, which always stood, mostly unused, in the corner of the counter, was gone. She looked in through the cabinet with glass doors and saw that her grandpa’s antique glasses also were gone,those that he had given her with the condition that she would actually use them. -No point of them just collecting dust, her grandpa had said. For the record she had kept that promise, it had become a routine to buy a bottle of wine every time friends were going to come over to serve in those glasses. She started wondering, who was it that had been here, that took the time to steal glasses? A high society thief? She should check if her TV and her jewelries were gone too, but first she had to know if the thief was still in the apartment. While thinking that, she had definitely heard something! It had come from further in to the apartment. Holding her breath and slightly trembling she moved towards the living room.

Then everything happened very quickly.
-911, where is the emergency, said a voice she didn’t hear as the umbrella dropped to the floor.
She felt the knees bend and the hearth almost stop as her friends yelled: -Surprise!

Chocolate, coughs and culture.

What a weird morning.

Eating luxury chocolate, played some video games, then started cleaning out the fridge, all while my lungs are burning. Coughing now too. Freezing for a while, sweating for a while: obviously fever.

Should be impossible to get another cold again, but obviously not. And there's nothing I can do. Just another virus, just bad luck. =( Miss dancing sooooooo much.

The days (and nights) are getting so messed up after a period of just being sick. No energy and sleeping for a few hours, awake for a few, bored but no energy to actually do something. Blach, this is so frustrating.

Well... it could be worse I guess.

Listened to some Beatles and started thinking about how almost ironic it is that they were THE first big rock band, that started a phenomena, and they are still the best. Nothing can yet barely reach their level, and even if so surely not pass it... kind of amazing.

Maybe that's just my opinion?

Maybe that is why they were so good? Not in any genre yet, they dared to do something new and just go for it. Without expectations and not following any rules. Kind of what I'm aiming to do with my dancing. Dare to try my own approach. Try to forget about expectations. Explore with trial and error, find out what my audience wants and what I want to express. Find out how important it is to please and how important it is that I get to say what I want to say.

The balance between narcissism and sell-out... the balance between being the object or the subject, balance between having the attention and communicating.

Is art equal? How can I actually explore this? How can I change it into taking a form I want it to be?

Now I need to get healthy so I can start (continue) my path into creating art, maybe even be art. So I can write about the process, not just my expecting thoughts.

Oh no... I'm feeling sick again. My lungs are burning. I don't have any more energy to be sick! ='(

Blaachh

I'm good now but it's been a lousy few weeks. Cold after cold after flu after cold after allergy attack and throw some bad period pain in there. Yeah it has sucked pretty bad. Boring and depressing and soooo frustrating.

But everything comes to an end and thankfully so even this. I'm feeling better now, just tired, stressed out and pretty wiped out but as long as I'm healthy that's fixable =)

And I got some good news: A friend that I miss so much is coming to New York! =D

September, in a few minutes

Summer is gone

Om allt går åt helvete

...följ inte efter!

=)

(If everything goes to hell
...don't follow!)

=)

Summer...

MY cute computer - welcome back!

Ok now I've transfered photos from the harddisk to external harddrive, cleaned up in my music, backed it up, deleted evrything from iTunes, made my own advanced colorscheme for windows (based on the olive green standard options), edited language options, downloaded Chrome web browser....about that: I heard that it spies on you and keep track of everything you do...so maybe I shouldn't have...but I just couldn't resist the PINK web browser design!! Oh spy on me, see me naked if you want, after all it's PINK and incredible adorable!

I've also sorted my bookmarks, deleted old ones, alphabetized the rest, started importing my current music to iTunes, downloaded a new version of the antivirus program, cleaned up the hard drive, virus scanned it, updated different programmes and finally now I feel like I don't only have my old lap top back but it feels new and organized, ahhh nice feeling.

I'm truly a computer nerd. Electronics are so fun =)

So even if I'm tired and exhausted from cold (flu?) and allergy reaction (it was bad) I'm still resting AND being productive at the same time.

So except being bummed about missing dance classes I'm in a really good mood =)

About my blogging again

I have got my lap top back! Finally!! Now I have no excuse to not write, and that feels really good actually!

I want to write more about politics but... Right now the debate here in the US seems to be mostly about the health care system. It's an extremely important question but it's not really a serious debate about it. For those already involved in politics I'm sure there's forum for debates but through mass media is just silly and petty remarks without any relevancy what so ever. I don't want to be a part of that. There are no actual arguments I could contradict, or agree with.

Most politics are handled that way here in the US.

It becomes a circus where insults and shit-talk can take over and be main focus.

The presidential election was very much the same.

Head lines become more important than what the actual articles say. TV news talks down to people.

I should maybe be the one to actively search for forums but it's exhausting and tiring to fight your way through all the bullshit to get to the core so I often give up halfway. I become one of those ignorant people that the TV news has to talk down to in order for me to understand. It annoys me but makes me turn my focus other directions.

I want to use my art to influence politically. My way of expressing my opinions and spread already existing ones. To express values and ask questions.

And my art is very personal. So I'm going to let this blog be very personal without the need of being art, that way I can let my art be very artsy without the need of being too personal ha ha or something like that... ;)

But speaking of art, I'm definatly going to start posting about one post a day at Flyktsoda! If I can't come up with new stuff there's always old stuff I could post so shouldn't be a problem! :)

New Post

New posts at Flyktsoda

Matching

I have a weird habit. To accidently match. Mostly outfits. But
here's an example I just had to take a picture of when I realized:

I analyze myself and am thinking: maybe my personality give in to the spur of the moment, my temporary but intense feeling, very straight on. Without much thought.

Or the opposite. My mind likes to organize. Even when I'm unaware, my brain tries to simplify through sorting colors and patterns. When I'm thinking that I'm just grabbing the nearest thing my brain has already made a concious choice.

Yes I'm overtired and overanalyzing. But it's interesting sometimes, even the silly details. I like details. Obviously, hence this subject.

Health Care

It's such an awkard debate here in the US about health care. People are throwing insults around, like "socialism"....ooooooh scary.

First of all most republicans seem to think socialism and communism is the same thing. Actually most Americans seem to think that.
Dictionary.com explains socialism as "a theory or system of social
organization that advocates the vesting of the ownership and control
of the means of production and distribution, of capital, land, etc.,
in the community as a whole."
And communism as "a system of social organization in which all
economic and social activity is controlled by a totalitarian state
dominated by a single and self-perpetuating political party."

I saw the daily show with Jon Stewart (comedy news show) where they brought up the made up "death panels". They made the point that of course the government shouldn't get to decide if someone would be allowed to live or die. Such a great decision should be where it is now: in the hands of corporate insurance companies.....

I think that says it all!

Was really gonna go for it. Train dance get things done. Yeah yeah...no.
Have had fever. Head-, throath- and stomach ache. Slept for a week soon.
Bored, disappointed and almost angry but it would be too exhausting so I'm just bitter.
Blach. =(

Den omöjliga vägen

New Post at Flyktsoda:
Den omöjliga vägen

Spring seems so long ago

New posts

New post at
http://sofiasflyktsoda.blogspot.com

Also, I just posted some pictures (taken with my phone so not so good quality)
here below
but since I emailed them in earlier they ended up being posted before my latest post.

Beach

Almost unwillingly I pick up the phone to write. I'm at the beach and electronics maybe should be banned ;) but at the same time it's awfully nice to lie on a beach after a swim, eat berries and write. Well the swimming isn't as much swimming as it is getting drenched: put one foot in the water and next second you're being pulled by a wave.

It's still very nice but the lifeguards keep on bringing everyone out of the water every now and then because they think the waves get too high.

I appreciate that they're concerned for our safety but the waves here doesn't seem to differ much from what i've experienced at other beaches.

Maybe the lifeguards are better here? Maybe they have less resources here? Or maybe the rip tides are bad here?

I'm at Long Beach.

Decided to try it out, take the train here. I have been here once before, last year, it wasn't as crowded here then. Next time I think I'll go to a beach where I can swim but now I'm going to enjoy this one, which I still truly do =)

On my way home

A few phone pictures from, for some dancers, a well known
neighbourhood :)

Vitamins

Multivitamins for kids... And why not for adults?
I found these at wholefoods and there's no gelatin in them or
artificial colorings, like in every other brand I've seen!
And...I just love the style of the label :)

Längtan

New Post at Flyktsoda

Rest in peace

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/27/merce-cunningham-dies/?src=twt&twt=nytimes

God Bless America

Americans might not afford healthcare but at least they have cheap do-it-yourself-kits at the drug store.

Clouds in the sky clouds in my brain...

It's a cloudy day, my body is tired from yesterdays classes which I rounded off with a nice walk across Manhattan. Woke up at 7 this morning. Nice feeling to wake up early and know I don't have morning class to rush off to today. (Class I can't take because of foot has a sub, harder to feel bad for missing it then. Going to take pilates tonight instead.)

View on my walk last night: (phone picture)

My brain is very still. Relaxing.
In that mindset where everything is thought with a resistance in a nice relaxing underwater manner.
No room for unnecessary thoughts, no especially clever activity either. Just calmness.

I'm sure it has to do with the outlet that dancing yesterday gave me. My brain has nothing it desperatly needs to express. So now I'm just going to enjoy this until I have to get ready and get going to dance some more.

Hmmm this texting is a little unreliable, last post didn't go through until I re-sent it now after class. And I who wanted to brag about my early hour ;)

Eating lunch in the park again. :)

My lunch spot:

Swedish speaking people: new post at http://sofiasflyktsoda.blogspot.com, Asfaltssommar.
Pavement summer...

So the weather forecast was wrong. Shining sun today! Such a weird day yesterday. Woke up early well rested but got soon tired again. Can't take the class I wanted to take because of my foot so was going to take another class instead but that teacher didn't teach yesterday. Tired and unmotivated I struggled to stay awake but fell asleep already soon after 8! Here's the weirdest part; I managed to stay asleep until 7 this morning!! Wow! Well I guess I needed that sleep! Was it the weather? Tired from all the swimming during the weekend? The class on Monday? Anyways, hope my energy will catch up today because now I'm off to dance class. Ciao.

Good news and bad news.
Bad news: it's raining.
Good news: it's raining.

More time to just focus on dancing. Don't have to worry about missing out on summer since there really isn't much of a summer to miss out on. Looks like it's going to be raining all week. On the other hand it would have been nice to be able to make the most of my time off. Like lunch in the park and Sundays on the beach. It's energizing. Well well. If someone could promise me a vacation to a warm country in November I wouldn't worry so much... ;)

So unappealing to be back in the stressful city. Rather would have stayed close to beaches and pools using goggles and relaxing. Suprise huh? ;)
Well it's gonna be fun to dance of course.

Om språk

New post at http://sofiasflyktsoda.blogspot.com
A thought, today in the car, after my happy battle with the waves.

Workout? No. Fight? No. Waves? Yesssss... I'm exhausted. Happy exhausted. Clearest cleanest saltest water I've been in, in years....lovely!!!!!

Btw ha ha that was obviously too much text for it to handle via text message. Got divided into 13 different blog posts... whoops!
Good thing I caught it. Edited it so now, enjoy:

Weekend

I'm excited and in a good mood. What's the reason? Well, you see ...if you know me maybe it makes more sense...but the reason is a brand new pair of goggles!! Hehehe, so much fun they promise! They symbolize sun and water and energy! And how you can never grow to old to play.

The effortless easiness of the water combined with the smooth resistance is such a strengthening experience for me.

It's 9am and I'm waiting for the house to really wake up. Until then I'm just enjoying the silence out here in Long Island, enhanced by the reliable ticking of an old clock.

Last night we watched the sun set at a beach, with luke warm waves caressing our feet.
I would post the pictures I took IF my camera wouldn't have broke! I know; disaster!! But it's somewhat ok, the clever giftgiver that gave me my beloved camera last Christmas happened to be very smart (or know my luck???). The camera is insured! Phew!
Poor thing, as soon as I'm back in the city I'll go to the camera ER and let it be healed at the electronics hospital.

Yesterday I was tired and felt like it's so unfair; I can never just have a good time and know that everything's ok, something always have to go wrong! Even if it's small things it's such a scornful irony.
But maybe I have to accept that life is never perfect, it's just about appreciating the things that's actually good, seeking them up and focusing on that once you find them, work hard to get the most out of them...and try to let go of those other worries. Let them be and let go with a trust they will somehow be resolved in the best way in the future.
One can need vacation for less. It's tireing to be optimistic. Well, rather exhausted from that so now I will enjoy my lovely Sunday.

Over all I did have a fantastic Saturday; dance classes, lunch in a city park, train out to long island, surrounded by awesome people and beautiful nature. Ahhh life =)

On my way to dance class a sunny summer Saturday in New York City. Sounds like my dream life. It's also my actual life. Even though it's filled with problems and stress as well it's still pretty amazing to me.

Tonight I'm going to take a break though from NYC. I'm not going to go far nor stay long but just enough to get some calmness and a day at the beach. =D

My day today

Don't think I told you what happened to my foot.
Weeks ago I walked past a painting which had recently been put up. I had been thinking that "that was not a good place to hang a painting, it's gonna fall". I hate that I'm always right! Of course it did not just fall when I walked past it, it also landed on my foot. With the sharp corner, of course.
It went down something like the first 2 minutes of this video...

Find more videos like this on www.truveo.com.

I saw a bruise quickly growing on my foot and I was icing it.
For over two days the foot kept on swelling. The foot was not only like a purple, almost black, balloon, it was also so sore I had trouble walking normally and even sleeping at night because of the pain.
I X-rayed it but no fracture thankfully.
It's over a month ago now but I still have a sore bump on it. Looks fine now though.
Just that...you know...I'm a dancer! I need my foot intact!
Since it's been hurting for so long my body has started to compensate in the weight bearing so I'm tensing my foot when I'm walking and using it the wrong way. Yeah point is that it hurts still when I try to dance, and it's so weak.
But it's getting better and better.

Today I took the ballet bar, felt fine just until the end. My reward was a nice brunch in the sunny park and then I took a long nice dance class warm-up. Hung out with a friend for a while, met up with another friend and caught up some. Really nice =) After that I was so tired I just went home showered and fell asleep. Since I didn't sleep any last night. So now I'm awake again...stupid hours but hey I'll get through the days my way...even if it's not the best way ;)

AAAAArgggh!

This is driving me crazy!

In last post I copied in an o with dots over it, you know the swedish letter in Ebba Gron, and after that part of the text came out in different font and size. Ok, of course, but I tried changing it and it doesn't work! Whyyyy

What can I do?

I tried to change the font, copy and paste rewritten text in, I tried with HTML but it's just not happening.

Anyone who knows what I could do?

Because it's driving me nuts now...

Obviously I've lost my touch with computers. I feel stupid. Something so easy. Maybe it's an age thing? Over a certain age technology isn't with you any more but against you. Well, I'm not that old so maybe it's just personal. It hates me.

Well then I'm deciding to hate it too. For now. Bye!

Changes

I've made some changes if you haven't already noticed!

I have divided my blog into two different ones.

My main one, now renamed to Present Words, is now to be found at this address: http://presentwords.blogspot.com/

The new one, with the old name Flyktsoda, will be found at the old address: http://sofiasflyktsoda.blogspot.com/

Confusing? I'm sorry, but it's for a reason, or actually a few:

First of all, since I've decided to try to write mostly in English it made more sense to have a name and address in English, so I can share it more easily.

The few times I decide to write in Swedish is actually mostly when I'm trying to create some poetry, and for that I feel like the name Flyktsoda still have a lot of value to me. So I wanted to keep Flyktsoda and keep that a true creative writing blog. Flyktsoda means "escape soda", taken from the title of a Swedish song by Ebba Grön. Writing used to be an escape I could drink lots and lots of =) Now when I'm not living in a Swedish speaking country it gets harder and harder but it's something I definitely don't want to give up! (Whenever I post at Flyktsoda I will let you know at Present Words.)

Also the title Present Words have many meanings to it. It has to do with a Dance company I wish to start up. I will not jinx it by telling too much about it until it's starting to actually happen, but I promise I will keep you updated! =)

Of course the new name also has a lot to do with the nature of blogging, the presented words are written in the present time, but unlike dancing words are very permanent. In blogging however, it's very much about updating and the interest for reading old blog posts is very small. A poem or a book can still be good after 100 years and more, or even more appreciated even. A blog post is considered old only after a day or two.

So therefor this change will hopefully make me feel more structured and make it easier to update more often =)

I hope you will enjoy reading it !

Blog application??

Does anyone know a great iPhone app to blog from? Think that would make me update way more often... It's really fun to blog but I just almost never take the time to start up the computer, unless I have new photos to upload. My phone, on the other hand, I'm almost addicted too ;)

Problem with texting is mainly two things: Can't add photos (since iPhones don't have mms) and I do take pics with my phone sometimes. Also I haven't figured out a way to write a "headline", a post title.

I'm pulling an allnighter now..couldn't sleep, slept all day. Going to class in a few hours, I'm really looking forward to it, wish I could go now already! Worried I might be too tired to be excited when it's actually time ;)
Well it's just another day another class, I'll be fine and do better tomorrow, more energy then hopefully =)

Dutch Kills update

Just found another blog writing about Dutch Kills, if you want to see a review:http://astorianyc.blogspot.com/2009/05/dutch-kills-interesting-and-acquired.html

I also found some nice pictures:http://eater.com/tags/dutch-kills

They handcut the ice at Dutch Kills...

Took a pic with my phone of the big uncut block.

Fire and more

In absence of sun

Unnecessary shadow

Why I like to go grocery shopping

An unusual usual

How you know you're loved

Life at it's best

Life at it's best!!! Just been swimming in the ocean, eaten some fruit and snacks, now lying in the sun with nice friends listening to music. Doesn't get much better than this. Just fantasticly wonderful. I love this. So relaxing and uplifting.

The best thing of it all is the sound of the waves and the sand between my toes. Mother earth I love you ;)

Dutch Kills!

At Dutch Kills. Best bar I know. Not just saying that because I've been somewhat involved in the making of this bar, I truly love this spot. Nice, elegant, friendly and best of all: their cocktails. Mmm yummy!

It's located in LIC, Queens, just a quick (and cheap) cab ride away from my place in Manhattan. Subway works fine too, been doing that a few times, even in the winter the stop felt close. Recommend weekdays though, Saturday night was a little bit too crowded for my taste, at a place like this.

Now I'm gonna get slightly buzzed, ordering my third drink, bartenders choice =)
Cheers!

Please please please let it be warm sunny weather on Sunday! I really wanna go to the beach! I need it! To store some energy and health :) from relaxation and cleansing water. Warmed up muscles ready for a crazy dance week next week.
Beach and dance. That is a perfect summer! So crossing my fingers.

Forecast told thunderstorms in the beginning of this week but now it looks like it's gonna go my way =)

Figured out I can text posts from my phone. Guess if that's easier for me!! I'm a textaddict ;) so now you can expect more frequent updates from me, he he.

Messed up sleeping hours or not, this is going to be a good evening!
First ballet class and then dinner at one of my favorite restaurants. They have the best pizzas in the city! It's called Piola, located on 12th street between University and Broadway. Yummy :)

At night I own myself

The good thing about not being able to sleep at night is that I rediscover so many old things I like to do. All those small hobbies there's no time for during the day, because then I need to pay attention to the forever growing to do list. Not even in the "city that never sleeps" can all that be done during the night.

This is something I miss by Sweden. The boredom. The restlessness. The silence when the day ends early and everybody can, without the need of an excuse, curl up in solitude with their books or hobbies. All the stores are closed. All customer service business hours are over.

I could have it like that here too. But there's too many things I want to do! And so many things I need to do.

At night though, I own myself.

My thoughts have room to echo.

My brain can clearer hear my hearts whispers that are drenched and suffocated by the days brightness.

Even though it's mixed with anxiety for how I'll manage the next day, it's such a relief to have my quiet nights.

Another rainy night

Since I've been bad at writing...

...I'll start posting my photos instead =)