NyStateOfMind

The airplane landed at 10:50pm and by 11:30 they came walking out the doors. That’s the quickest I think I have ever seen anybody get through security AND get their bags.

The roads were empty at that time of the night and we pulled in to our street a little bit after midnight.

Our awesome friends brought us lots and lots of candy, rice to make Risgrynsgröt and cute Swedish clothes. Sat up until 2am chatting before we all closed our eyes and went to lala land.

Tuesday was our first full day together and also a very cold and windy day. For a while I thought I was going to get swept away by the wind. Obviously that didn’t happen. After Starbucks, Tanger Outlet, Century 21, Annie Sez and the supermarket we were hungry and tired. Went home and ordered Asian Food and had a few beers. Shortly after that my bed was calling my name and my eyes closed before my head hit the pillow.

Monday morning and the rain is falling from the sky. The snow is all gone and it’s pretty warm outside.

2009 is coming to an end and I am ready to start filling my new calendar with fun stuff to do next year. There are a few plans already, a week’s vacation in Los Angeles, Rock of Ages on Broadway and of course going to SWEDEN!!! Then we also have a few weddings to attend and a couple of babies to welcome into this world.

After work tonight I’m heading to the airport to pick up my two Swedish friends that are coming to live with us for the next 8 days. Lots of tourist stuff and shopping is on the agenda. And of course the New Years Eve Party at Webster Hall :)

Christmas came and Christmas went. So much preparing and planning for almost a whole month before the 25^th arrives. Then it’s over in a heartbeat.

I guess I must have been a good girl this year since Santa came and left me lots of presents. I got everything from new books, clothes, CD's, coffee mugs, DVD's, jewelry and let's not forget Broadway tickets to Rock of Ages. And the one thing I wished for seems to be coming true, the snow is melting :)

Today I’m spending the day finding a home for all my new stuff, washing clothes and eating the candy that yesterday was nicely wrapped in my stocking.

The blizzard came, as expected, and we have about a foot of snow if not more. We have been out shoveling all morning and we now have a little walkway from the house to our cars.

My back and arms are hurting and my guess is that it’s going to be much worse tomorrow. With some luck my boss might decide to stay home and I don’t have to go to work. Keeping my fingers crossed :)

Last night we went to a friend’s house to celebrate his 30^th B-Day. Not the best idea when it’s a blizzard outside and you can barely see 2 feet in front of you. But we made it there and had a great time.

I’m now enjoying a glass of cold wine while talking to a Swedish friend online. I should go finish those Oreo Truffles that I started making yesterday.


               Trans-Siberian Orchestra - "Christmas Eve/Sarajevo - 12/24

Friday night and nothing special going on.

Went to see my munchkins again today to exchange Christmas gifts. I gave them each a toy and a personalized photo album and I went home with a pair of earrings.

Last weekend before Christmas and I am proud to say that all my gifts are wrapped under the tree waiting to be ripped opened.

It’s supposed to be a blizzard here tomorrow with up to a foot of snow. I hope they are wrong. I don’t want a white Christmas, I want sun and warm weather. I know that’s not going to happened, but dreaming is allowed, right?

Just got back from the post office and I feel like an ice cube.  :)  I have one more thing to mail out, I just need the address before the package can hit the road.

I have never really been into shopping online. But in the past two months or so it has become more and more of a hobby of mine :)

Anyway, a few weeks back on Cyber Monday I was, of course, online pretty much all day! I found some good deals but the best one was a pair of Jeans for $6!!! Including shipping and tax... Not knowing how these jeans were going to fit I decided to not be too excited. Last week a bag was waiting for me when I got home from work. I ripped it up and inside was my jeans. To my surprise they fit me perfectly! I couldn’t be happier.

Today is Lucia. My plan for the day was to go to Manhattan and listen to the Swedish choir sing.

For the past 5 years I have missed the Lucia celebration here in New York. It has always been on a weekday and I have been working.  I was so happy that it fell on a Sunday this year, thinking that I could go.  Well, since it fell on a Sunday, which is the day everybody goes to mass in church, they celebrated Lucia yesterday.

Oh well. Next year I will make sure I’m in Sweden for December 13^th.

To see the positive side of the whole thing: It’s raining and cold outside and I don’t really mind sitting inside dry and warm instead of pushing my way through Penn Station and walking up 5^th Ave in this weather.

The Christmas Party last night was fun and I went home with TWO gifts this year! A candle holder with three glass cups for candles and A mini fondue set. Can’t wait to cut up some fruit, marshmallows and maybe pretzels and dip it into melted chocolate.

Here is two of my favorite Swedish Lucia Songs


             Så mörk är natten



        Betlehems Stjärna

Yesterday was the last time I ever held Penny. She laid in my arms for about an hour just sleeping.

Never really thought about this day coming. 14 years old and always acted like a little puppy. Until last week. She lost so much weight it was scary to touch her. Couldn’t hear or see anything and she pretty much stopped eating.  It went so fast. I guess that’s good in one way. But still so sad.

5:50 is the time my alarm went off this morning and I didn’t hear it, as usual. After a few pokes in my back I finally woke up and pressed snooze on the clock. The rain was coming down so hard on the windows it kept me from falling back asleep. Still, I stayed in bed for another 30 minutes until I had to get up and get ready for work.

My new travel mug fits two cups of instant coffee (from starbucks of course) and a little vanilla creamer. The beauty about this it that it makes both me and my wallet very happy :)

The rain has now stopped and I absolutely love the smell of wet asphalt. 

My stomach is growling and the baby is sleeping which means, Lunchtime.

Winter is here and it’s the time of the year when I wish I had an automatic starter on my car :) 
Frost on the windows, white grass, and fog coming from my mouth when I breathe.

My winter coat, gloves and heavy scarf’s have found their way out of the closet and are now being worn everyday.

The sun is down by 4:30 and that’s when I light lots of candles in my apartment. Between the Christmas tree and all the candles it looks like a winter wonderland in here.

It’s also the time of the year when you can make soup for dinner and snuggle under a blanket while watching TV.

Tortilla Soup is on the menu tonight and after that perhaps I’ll make some sugar cookies.

Other than that, nothing new from here.

Listening to some music while I’m enjoying the smell of my soup cooking on the stove.

                                        Thrice - For Miles

Saturday night I was babysitting for a new family.

Got there around five. Played with the little girl, had dinner and watched Dora the Explorer.

After I put her to bed I went back downstairs to watch TV. All of a sudden the doorbell rings. I look at the time and it’s almost midnight. Who rings the doorbell at midnight? It rang a second time and after looking through the little peephole, I saw a police woman.

She told me that there had been a burglary in the house behind the one I was in and wanted to know if I had seen or heard anything. I hadn’t. 

The parents came home shortly after the police woman left, thank god! I drove over with the mom to the house behind hers and talked to the police man who was still there. He told us that there had been another burglary a few streets away that same night. He also told us that this had been going on for a few weeks, at least one house every night. Scary.

I’m going to make sure that my doors are locked and some lights are on so it looks like there is someone home at all times.

It started at the FedEx store where I picked up my new Ipod! Drove home and put it on charge. Then we caught the 9:30 train into Manhattan to meet my two Swedish friends!

The weather was perfect for a day in the city, warm and sunny. I didn't even wear my jacket!

Saw a whole lot of Christmas decorations and even visited Santa in Macy's on 34^th street!  

After 10 hours of catching up and a lot of walking we took the train back home.

Played with my new toy for a while once we got home, put on a lot of music, a movie and downloaded a bunch of apps!

My feet and whole body were so tired that falling asleep was no problem.

Friday we spent the whole day at the mall getting most of our Christmas shopping done. Even wrapped all the gifts and put them under our newly decorated tree :)

I missed FedEx delivery today and therefore still don't have my ipod :(  What a bummer. Hopefully they will leave it at the FedEx office tomorrow morning so I can pick it up, I hate waiting!

Long day at work today, then I have a four day weekend (like always). Going to the city tomorrow to meet two friends that are here visiting from Sweden. It's supposed to rain but only in the morning, lets hope the weather guy is right about that one.

Since they are lighting the tree at Rockefeller Center tonight I wanna see that tomorrow. What else we do depends on what they have done already, they have been here since Saturday and have probably seen a whole lot. Maybe the windows at Macy's, walk up 5^th Ave and see their decorations and end the day in Central Park looking at the ice skaters?

Either way, I'm gonna have fun just hanging out with my Swedish friends for a day!