Spark.

I am attempting to place both my feet firmly on the ground these days... while I do that I wanna deliver to you reason # 37 why I need to move Up North (do I actually have to convince you anyways?).

Well, reason # 37 is the spark. On the pic below you're seeing sparks (no pun intended here ;) ...) parked (and cabled to) a bike thingy... you know the place where you would attach your bike - if it was summer or something.

They're used much like bikes... to my endless excitement the elderly population seems to make heavy use of them. Aren't they brilliant? I'll attach a Wikipedia link for your Swedish amusement.


I haven't had a chance to try one yet... but it won't be long, I can promise you that much.

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Other news today....: In addition to Rhuben (whom I am doggy sitting) and Buford I unknowingly had a third pet under my care these last few days. Earlier today, I was happily finishing up some salad I had bought Up North eight days ago. That's when I saw.... and this is when my vision got blurry for a second... a snail (!) meander onto the rim of my plate. Yikes! This kind of stuff gives me the shivers... I almost ate a living frickin' snail!!! Once I got over the initial shock I shifted into intrigue however - how did the little wo/man make it this far?? I bought the (packaged) salad (don't even think it was organic) during the drive between Stockholm and Up North. I opened it the next day and stored it in the fridge ever since (minus during the drive back two days ago). Then it went back into the fridge in Paradise. And today on my plate. Gulp! What a tough little bugger, huh? Well, I guess s/he had plenty of salad to snack on.

Here's the thing though... I probably killed him/her in the meanwhile. This was not my first "snail in salad" episode, however, usually they happen in summer. When the obvious thing to do is to eat the snail... ahem.. I mean deliver it outside. Several thoughts crossed my troubled mind today... should I: Feed it to the dogs? Put it down the toilet? Put it outside? Smush it with my fork? Yeah... I know - all those options lead essentially to the death of the lil' tough guy/gal. So I did what any reasonable person would do. I asked my community. Via Facebook. And stored him on the balcony (including plate, minus fork) while waiting for responses. The responses took a while... (hey, I could blame the souls who didn't respond pronto!). By now there is a little sample of answers and it sounds like people are voting for a) eating him/her, or b) holding him/her as a pet (terrarium included). I actually haven't checked yet but I believe that I passively chose to kill him by letting nature take its course by moving him into the outside part of my home. Sorry, snail. :(

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Dear Lil' Tough Snail (bugger),

I am sorry that I killed you after all you have gone through. I hope that death was quick and painless. I may or may not dream about you. You may or may not be HUGE and SCARY in that (those) dream(s) [Shit!! So much for peace and quite at night]. I promise I will do better next time. In the meanwhile I will do my best to take care of the two dogs that I have on my hands. Really, they're all I can handle in addition to my life being turned upside down once again. I hope you'll understand.

I also hope your life was blissful.

Hey, you're probably one of the farther traveled snails out there! ;)

Don't hate. Please.


Love ya,

Marlies

Found a Coffee Place... and an Ice Climb.

Yesterday's visit of my neighborhood village (across the Braviken) introduced me to all kinds of fun. For instance: I am now aware of the fact that I can go drink a cup of coffee with others.. by merely doing the following simple steps:

1. Gear up with winter clothing.
2. Take deep breath.
3. Call B (actually, he's ready the minute I even consider leaving the house).
4. Grab essentials (water, leash, booties, poop bag, survival snack).
5. Leave house (make sure that the boss leaves first).
6. Walk towards the ferry - choose the acres this time.
7. Start running after checking the time.
8. Have a literal 'run in' on the ferry right before it leaves.
9. Leash the B after arriving on board.
10. Nod thankfully up to the ferry gods :)
11. Turn into an icicle during the 2 minutes ride.
12. Walk past the boat storage place (where Mr. Moose's Atlantic rowing boat is stored).
13. Arrive in Kvarsebo "down town".
14. Find the coffee place.
15. Realize that it's closed.

Time frame for all this? A mere hour or so.
Plan? Come back when it's open.

B & I spontaneously decided to climb the mountain behind the coffee shop. After climbing past the section below, the boss (that would be me) decided it was too risky to proceed. There were ice sheets all over. I was writing headlines in my head (is that why they are called headlines??): "Stupid Tourist and her Cute Dog fell to Death during Monday Exploration of the Neighborhood", or "Send the Swiss Home: Tragedy on the Mountain", you get the drift...

We did find a trail after all (cause we're not giving up when there is a "utkik" for grabs).

"And where is the food, mama?"

On the way back I decided to film the progression of the ice from the ferry. The video doesn't only star Beefy, but also my glove. Cool, huh?





And today... we're going grocery shopping. By ski. Thinking about future headlines: "Silly Swiss didn't know where to Park cute Dog and Skis - Deported"... or "When will it end? Swiss having too much Fun in Sweden".

Make yourself giggle today!!

Who let these crazies loose? (Part II)

Who let these crazies loose? (Part I)