Lifecruiser

This wonderful day in my life I wanted to just pack our suitcases, kidnap Mr Lifecruiser and take off…. somewhere far far away from everything.

Got that feeling lately…?

Today (and many days back) everything have gone wrong and I’ve had enough of everything before the day even started, so it didn’t take much to get me in that lively mood. It doesn’t matter what I’ve tried to do, it went wrong. Perhaps I should have stayed in bed today…. together with Mr Lifecruiser, that would have improved my mood incredible!!!

No one wants me… (except from Mr Lifecruiser) It’s the fantastic truth. I’ve tried to booked a doc’s appointment in several places without luck and I’m almost given up hope. Stubborn as I am, I will give it another try tomorrow again. For the first time in my life I will force myself upon someone ;-) If that’s what it takes to get a appointment, I’ll do it.

The problem is that you don’t want to go to shitty doctor’s that don’t listen to you and can keep up a dialogue. Our doc just quitted, so we have to find a new one we can trust. Not that easy. Swedish health care have been good, but it isn’t any more.

So, if I suddenly stop blogging, it’s probably because we’ve sold our home and moved away from all this, sitting on some nice hot island sipping our cold drink with our cool, cool sun hats….

..doing nothing… at the most poking with our toes in the hot sand…. dipping a toe in the ocean…

*POFF* (we’re gone)

I’ve been quite busy lately, doing a research about my hair loss problems.

First of all, I diagnosed myself, so I know what desease I have: Alopecia, also known as Diffuse Hair Loss. (I wouldn’t call it diffuse hair loss though, it’s more like Massive Hair loss! ) That was the easy part of it.

Then we come to the question of what caused it… and that’s where I get stuck for the moment. There is a lot of things that can cause it, so I had to read a lot about it and sort out the things that don’t fit my situation.

I came up with some possible or alternative causes in my case, that I can’t sort out - yet:

1. Severe infection. I had that when we were in Paraguay-Brazil. The hair loss often starts 2-4 months after the infection, which corresponds to this actual time factor.

2. Diet.I lost 3 kilos when we were in the U.S. and then further more 6 kilos in Paraguay-Brazil, that’s 9 kilos all together within 2 months, which I haven’t been able to get back yet. That’s a lot on my body! Nutritional deficiencies - maybe lack of certain vitamines, iron, minerals etc. I do eat Multi-vitamines every day, but maybe that’s not enough after this.

3. Side effects of medicines.I’m taking two medicines (not every day) that both of them can cause hair loss in rare cases. I really have to take them. The only strange thing is why it appears now and not earlier in that case.

4. Physical or mental stress. I’m crazy, need I say more ;-) Seriously, I’ve been under a lot of stress the last year, not only because of my back pain, but a lot of other things around us too. Pneumonia, appendix surgery, different familymembers and friends having a lot of big problems, the month in U.S was very problematic, illness in Paraguay and Brazil, total car break down… Let’s just stop there and say that it has been one thing after another, because I could go on and on. I don’t think that I have been that upset that it would have caused hair loss, but hey what do I know?

5. Thyroid disease. My sister got it. I have some of the sympthoms, but they are rather common so it’s hard to tell. My chronical back pain is doing it more difficult for me to decide what is what.

Planned measures so far:
1. Go to doc, take blood tests to see what’s missing
2. Take nutrition complements
3. Go to the hairdresser for advice

There is a medicine (without prescription) to use against the hair loss, Rogaine, but I’m not so fond of medicines, so I’ll don’t think I can persuade myself to do it… It’s applied to the scalp, so it sounds like a mess to me. If it continues maybe I’ll get desperate enough?

NOTE: One important fact that made me very happy was that the hair loss is NOT permanent and the hair can grow out again, but it can take about 6-12 months before it does.

Secret whisper: Maybe I can cancel the order of the cool wig now ;-)

Well, Dave made us wanting to know the so useful fact of what color green we are supposed to be.

Mrs Lifecruiser You Are Teal Green

You are a one of a kind, original person. There’s no one even close to being like you. Expressive and creative, you have a knack for making the impossible possible. While you are a bit offbeat, you don’t scare people away with your quirks. Your warm personality nicely counteracts any strange habits you may have.

Mr Lifecruiser You Are Mint Green

Balanced and calm, you have mastered the philosophy of living well. Your friends seek you out for support, and you are able to bring stability to chaotic situations. You’re very open and cheerful - and you feel like you have a lot of freedom in life. Your future may hold any number of exciting things, and you’re ready for all of them!

 
What do you say? Is this us…? Haven’t they missed something really crucial about us?

I’ve been tagged… again! This time by Sharlet.

List seven songs you are into right now. No matter what the genre, whether they have words, or even if they’re any good, but they must be songs you’re really enjoying now. Post these instructions in your blog along with your seven songs. Then tag seven other people to see what they’re listening to.

1. The Road To Hell, Chris Rea
2. The Road To Hell, Chris Rea
3. The Road To Hell, Chris Rea
4. The Road To Hell, Chris Rea
5. The Road To Hell, Chris Rea
6. The Road To Hell, Chris Rea
7. The Road To Hell, Chris Rea

Possible explanations:

1. The CD is stuck
2. I’m totally crazy
3. I’m on my way, at least it’s hot there

Our internet connection have been on that road the whole weekend now, on and off all the time, driving us even more crazy than we already are, if that’s possible!

I’m tagging all bloggers that want to be tagged. Hell, the whole blog universe…

What are you listening to? Sing it out loud!

A very important event for the Swedes has been held this evening, the voting for which song will be the participant for Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest for 2006. The Contest has been going on since 1956.

The winner of the Swedish songs this year is Carola with the song Evighet (Eternity). She is a very popular singer over here and she has a very good voice, no doubt about it! She has a very powerful voice and can sing everything from Gospel to Pop or ballads or whatever.

She will go to Athens to participate in the big contest 18-20 of May. She has come in 1st place once earlier, so she have routine. We have one more Swede participating there too, Sandra, who is representing Estonia.

Earlier times Sweden has come on 1st place in the contest:

1974 Abba, Waterloo
1984 Herrey’s, Diggi-loo Diggi-ley
1991 Carola, Fångad av en stormvind (Catched by a storm wind)
1999 Charlotte Nilsson, Take me to your heaven

Usually, we do have a habit of getting pretty high up in the ranking.

Eurovisions Song Contest 2006

Secret whisper: Personally I’m often fond of United Kingdoms and Irelands contributions….

“It is not a good thing if you have too many girls. Then it will not be enough girls for all of us”.

[ Brian, 8 year ]

When asked what he would like for dinner, chances are the average Swedish man will answer “Mothers Meatballs”, traditionally served with lingonberries. The berry contains a natural preservative and has enriched Swedish meals since before the days of regrigeration.

Although meatballs have a firmly established past in Sweden, the prefix “Mothers” dates from 1959. It arose in from the world heavyweight fight in the USA between Ingemar Johansson (challenger) and American Floyd Patterson (champion). During the build up to the match it emerged from the Swedes camp that his entire family were with him and that his mother was doing his cooking.

Because of this and because Johansson was often seen out in Manhattan nightlife, the Swedes unexpected victory caused a big, worldwide sensation, but his mothers meatballs received almost the same attention and it was even suggested that they provided the power for that celebrated right hook. The secret of mother Ebbas recipe? “Lots of onion,” according to the champion himself.

Classic meatballs

400 g minced meat
1/2 onion
150 ml milk or cream
1 egg
5 tbsp breadcrumbs
1-2 tsp salt
1-2 pinches allspice (alternative cayenne pepper, Dijon mustard or similar)
Butter and/or oil for frying

Mix milk or cream, breadcrumbs and spices and leave to soak for at least 10 mins. Peel onion and chop finely, brown on low heat. Mix all ingredients. Roll into small balls (works best with wet hands) and fry. First brown to seal, then lower heat and fry the meatballs in another saucepan or in a roasting dish in the oven.

Source:
“Things Swedish” by Mari Hemming

I can confirm that mothers meatballs (mammas köttbullar) really is delicious, but I wouldn’t do meatballs on only 400 g, I would do it on 1 kilo, because the are disappearingly yummy and if I’m going to dirty my hands with it, I want a lot of them. I wouldn’t take allspice, I would take white pepper and then grated onion instead of chopping it.

There are a lot of different recipes how to make them. Some put in a bit of liver pâté too, but I’ve never tasted that myself. I don’t use to change to another saucepan either or put it in the oven.

Usually we eat meatballs together with pasta and ketchup or boiled or mashed potato and the lingonberrys. There is always meatballs at the christmas dinner table too.

They’re perfect to throw into the freezer to take out and warm up again - or eat cold on a sandwich. A very useful picnic ingredient.

Oh my, I’m beginning to drool here….

We’re going to Ireland in June!!!! It’s so exciting!!!! *jumping up and down*

Both of us have always wanted to see Ireland, it’s stunning beautifully landscape and the irish people and culture too. It’s almost like an fairy tale….

Description of the tour:

Day 1. Dublin - Irelands capital
Afternoon seightseeing tour with a local guide in Dublin. Seeing Dublins castle magnificent floors, built in the georgian time era showing historical portraits and fantastic furniture. Then going to Guinness museum to learn about and taste the famous dark brew. The evening is spend with other travellers over a welcome drink, dinner and an Irish cabaré.

Day 2. Castle Blarney & Killarney
A day to experience everything from farmer landscape to markets when leaving Dublin to get out in the countryside. Makes a stop close to Cashel to taste homebaked scones and drinking tea at a farm, which also gives us the chance to learn more about Irish farming. Just outside Cork we will visit Blarney Castle where we get the oppertunity to achieve the gift of achieve eloquent by kissing the well known stone in the area. We continue to the mountain area of Kerry and Killarney. After dinner we’ll visit one of Killarneys well known pubs that is characterized of music and singing.

Dag 3. Ring of Kerry Tour
We’ll get dressed in comfortable clothes to take a car tour along the beach of Muckross Lake and a guided tour in the 19th century Muckross House. Then on to one of Irelands most spectacular areas - The Ring of Kerry - by walking on Irelands highest mountain, Macgillycuddy´s Reeks. the path is passing through Glenbeigh with palmtrees and beutiful beaches, walking towards the offside Waterville and the colorful village Sneem. Then walking back towards Killarney via Moll´s gap - where dinner is waiting!

Dag 4. Cliffs of Mother & Bunratty Castle
Leaves Killarney, travelling towards Tarbert to take the ferry over the river Shannon. Continues along the coast line of Clare to Cliffs of Mother - the rocks with the height of 700 feet over the atlantic ocean. Driving to the Shannon region to check in at our hotel. This evening dinner is a medevial banquet with memorable entertainment in Bunratty Castle.
Comment: We’re going to take our Medevial outfits with us to wear at the banquet evening! And not telling anyone about it until we appears in them…. It will be so fun!

Dag 5. Shannon & Dublin
Continue from shannon region to Dublin area again. Then on to a visit of The National Stud in Kildare - the famous stud with Irish horses in Kildare. The last evening will be spent on our own in Dublin at different pubs I suspect…. Then going home the day after that.

WHY can’t it be June already…..?

*looking dreamy*

This have been a very grey and frozen day. The sky is grey and cloudy, it’s cold outside, the snow is still there.

A perfect day for indoors activities with other words.

I’m stiff like an old woman and Mr Lifecruiser as an old man.

Hey, wait a minute…. He is allowed to be… at least in certain parts ;-)

We’re going to take a long hot shower, byeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NOTE: No, you can’t come you too! And under no circumstances are we going to publish any shower photos, not even if you bribe us with something totally unresistable…. But you can try… Could be interesting to see what you could come up with… and you’ll never know!

My former dog Billy Boy once met the moving stone. It was the most exciting experience for him. He had never seen such a strange thing.

Could you imagine? A stone that moved around! He didn’t recognize the smell of it either. He was very puzzled about it. His forehead was full of wrinkles over this mystery. He was trying to figure out what it was and how to get to know it, because every time he was coming close to the stone - the head disappeared in to the stone! How could this be? As soon as he backed off, the head was there again! Was there some kind of magic involved?

Sure, it was fun to see the head go in and out all the time, but after a while he thought that he should wait out the stone. So he laid down just in front of the stone and were watching it eagerly, waiting for the head to come out again so he could investigate it further. But the stone just took a very fast peek to get the direction and moved. He followed and once again laid down right in front of the hole where the head came out every time.

They kept doing that for the whole evening…!!!!

He was totally exhausted from all the watching and mystery solving when we went home at last and very disappointed. He never got the chance to tell the stone what a nice guy he was - and how fun they could have had playing together.

That was the kind of dog he was, he never hurted other animals.

Except from insects, he snapped them immediately…