I'm studying a one-year journalist master, so by June I will theoretically be employable. The last two weeks we've had a radio sub-course and it's been fun, but exhausting. I spend a lot of time at our college radio station anyway, but these last two weeks have all had nine or ten hour days - or longer. Lots of fun and I'm really happy with my assignments but I've barely been home. I get so sad when I'm away from home, and don't have enough time to play with Hoppy, my rabbit, or sew, or keep the apartment tidy.
I finished the last assignment quite early today, went to trumpet practice and was home by 6:30 but I haven't managed to convince myself to do anything. The kitchen's a mess. There are dishes in the living room and a half-finished dress all over the dining room table. But I can't be bothered tonight, I'm simply too exhausted! Tonight is a night for watching the Simpsons, taking a bath and putting all that boring stuff off for one more day.
Thursday, 23 October 2014
Wednesday, 22 October 2014
Christmas is coming! ... really!
The grocery store is already filling up with Christmas things: chocolate boxes, gingerbread in a million forms, julmust (spicy Christmas soda pop), but I'm makng myself wait until November before I can start even thinking about such things. It's hard to wait! Especially for all the Christmas magazines, those are my favourite.
Tuesday, 21 October 2014
Strange hobbies
I tend to go through phases - sometimes really long ones - where I just can't bring myself to buy clothes. I love clothes, I love looking at magazines and online and in catalogues and in second hand stores and on etsy and pinterest and - well you get the picture! I like looking in stores too, but even if I find something I like I usually end up thinking "meh, I'd rather sew a dress myself", at least right now.
It's not always less expensive to sew my own, but on the other hand I can be choosier about fabric. And I really do enjoy the process of sewing, choosing a pattern and fabric, cutting it out, fixing all the little details. I suppose I just like spending the time sewing, and have a few things slowly, rather than have lots of clothes quickly.
But time! Boy does it take time. Especially the last few weeks, my school schedule has been really demanding. I started a dress, the perfect fall dress, ages ago, by the time I finish it'll be winter! Today, for example, I sewed and hemmed the sleeves but now I think I have to cut out new ones and start over because I don't like how the plaid matches, or rather doesn't match.
Oh well, it'll be great when I finally finish!
It's not always less expensive to sew my own, but on the other hand I can be choosier about fabric. And I really do enjoy the process of sewing, choosing a pattern and fabric, cutting it out, fixing all the little details. I suppose I just like spending the time sewing, and have a few things slowly, rather than have lots of clothes quickly.
But time! Boy does it take time. Especially the last few weeks, my school schedule has been really demanding. I started a dress, the perfect fall dress, ages ago, by the time I finish it'll be winter! Today, for example, I sewed and hemmed the sleeves but now I think I have to cut out new ones and start over because I don't like how the plaid matches, or rather doesn't match.
Oh well, it'll be great when I finally finish!
Monday, 20 October 2014
Building a wardrobe
On Thursday I saw Julia Biel at the Stockholm Jazz Festival. It was an amazing concert and extra fun because I had a press ticket - I'll be talking about it in my radio show on wednesday so more on that later.
Getting ready to go though, I discovered an big hole in my wardrobe: I have nothing to wear for an evening out that's not either very casual or quite dressed up. What does one wear to a jazz club, or any concert for that matter where adult people are? My wardrobe right now is very collegiate (hey, if you're going to be a student, milk it I say!), with lots of nice-casual things for day and dresses for dinners and balls. I should edit that to say very Uppsala-collegiate, I think there's more dressing up here than a lot of other schools.
I really like the idea of having a 'complete' wardrobe - of course it would never be completely complete but I like working towards having something for every occassion (the same something works multiple times of course) rather than having tons of clothes and nothing to wear. One of my hobbies is really thinking about clothes, thinking about wardrobe staples and building up "the compleat wardrobe".
So not only did I see a great concert, and go to Stockholm, but I also get to start thinking about the next addition to my wardrobe: What does one wear for a weeknight concert (or theatre visit) in the city?
Getting ready to go though, I discovered an big hole in my wardrobe: I have nothing to wear for an evening out that's not either very casual or quite dressed up. What does one wear to a jazz club, or any concert for that matter where adult people are? My wardrobe right now is very collegiate (hey, if you're going to be a student, milk it I say!), with lots of nice-casual things for day and dresses for dinners and balls. I should edit that to say very Uppsala-collegiate, I think there's more dressing up here than a lot of other schools.
I really like the idea of having a 'complete' wardrobe - of course it would never be completely complete but I like working towards having something for every occassion (the same something works multiple times of course) rather than having tons of clothes and nothing to wear. One of my hobbies is really thinking about clothes, thinking about wardrobe staples and building up "the compleat wardrobe".
So not only did I see a great concert, and go to Stockholm, but I also get to start thinking about the next addition to my wardrobe: What does one wear for a weeknight concert (or theatre visit) in the city?
Sunday, 29 June 2014
Summer Reading List (Part One)
Every summer I make a reading list of 10 books. This summer I'm hoping to get through two such lists, I have a shelf full of unread books I bought during the year and haven't had time for yet. Here's the first list:
OBS! Spoilers ahead!
1. Bättre tillsammans/Better Together - Sheila O'Flanagan
What better way to start the summer than with "chick lit" (a demeaning term I don't really love but hey, maybe it's time to reclaim it). This book and the next I've been looking at in the shop for ages. I really liked Better Together, it was everything you could ask from the genre, well-written, likeable characters, the perfect amount of drama.
2. Livet efter dig/Me before you - Jojo Moyes
This one, though ... I was not impressed. I really didn't think it was going to turn out to be yet another one of those "the quadriplegic has to die" stories so I was genuinely surprised and very disappointed with the ending, especially because I'd enjoyed it so much up till then. The characters are well developed and you genuinely enjoy "being with them" - right up until the end. It really felt as though the author just wanted to make a point about assisted suicide and invented the characters to suit a message that would perhaps be better suited for a newspaper opinion page, rather than the other way around. And it's not that I'm opposed to assisted suicide - I basically agree with Moyes' argument that it's each person's choice. But the book's insistent liberal individualism, its faith in a world where worth ultimately comes down to money and travel and making business deals - despite claims otherwise - made the book feel somehow American despite the endless references to cups of tea and English holiday towns. The basic argument was that the Good Life can be measured by how many extreme sports and trips to Bali it involves and despite the author's efforts to portray the working class compassionately it seems quite clear which side of the class divide one should prefer to be on. And this is all besides a dismal portrayal of life with a disability. As I read in another review, it doesn't seem like the author has real-life experience there, but just decided "now I'll write a story about what it must be like to become paralyzed"; considering that a lot of people who read this book probably don't have any first hand experience either, that's a problem. I don't know. It was an upsetting read on a lot of levels; of course I wouldn't care this much if it hadn't been well-written to begin with.
One last thing - the character commits suicide just over two years after his injury. Now, my understanding of assisted suicide clinics is that they go to great lengths to make sure you really want to make that decision and it seemed a little unrealistic to me that they would go through with it then, since it is also my understanding that a depression lasting 2-3 years after a spinal cord injury isn't completely uncommon. Again, just another thing that felt "off" with the story line, as if her plot and characters didn't quite fit together with the soap box she shoved in to the novel. I think some people feel that they need to make their chick lit "go beyond" what we expect of the genre - that it has to have some "serious" aspect that's presumed missing from these "petty things women care about". A story where he embraces life, where a life of the mind can - at least somewhat - live up to his previous life of adventure, and where the love of a woman is enough to make someone want to stay alive - nevermind a novel in which the other characters learn to let the disabled character make decisions and reign over his own life as much as possible would have been great.
3. Jane Austen's Sewing Box - Jennifer Forest
My dad bought this for me while he was visiting a couple of weeks ago. I wouldn't have bought it myself (a bit expensive) and it's great! It's full of regency-era craft projects. The photographs are great and the instructions very clear.
4. The Tailor of Panama - John LeCarré
My dad had this with him on the plane and left it here when he went back. I like John Le Carré and a spy drama is perfect summer reading.
5. S. - J.J. Abrams
I have no idea what this is, but it looks very interesting. A friend posted it to me quite a few months ago so I've really got to hurry up and read it.
6. Himmel över London - Håkan Nesser
I bought this at least a year ago after eyeing it for a while. It's about the 60s and I think it's a mystery. During the year I read so much non-fiction so it's fun gulping down novels!
7. The Hare with Amber Eyes - Edmund de Waal
A biography I've been longing to read. I bought it way back in february at the annual book sale, where all the shops in town have a huge sale.
8. How to Eat Out - Giles Coren
Rather cheeky title. It's about Coren's life as a restaurant critic. I think he's very funny so I'm looking forward to it - and have been since I got it for Valentine's day in february. Sigh. I'm terrible!
9. Matens pris - Malin Olofsson
I don't really want to read this anymore, to be honest. I bought it about a year and a half ago when I was really into food issues (still am, but less intensely), but I have no other non-fiction (besides biography) on this list and I do own the book, after all.
10. Nils Holgerssons underbara resa genom sverige - Selma Lagerlöf
A classic. And yet another book I got as a gift and haven't read yet.
OBS! Spoilers ahead!
1. Bättre tillsammans/Better Together - Sheila O'Flanagan
What better way to start the summer than with "chick lit" (a demeaning term I don't really love but hey, maybe it's time to reclaim it). This book and the next I've been looking at in the shop for ages. I really liked Better Together, it was everything you could ask from the genre, well-written, likeable characters, the perfect amount of drama.
2. Livet efter dig/Me before you - Jojo Moyes
This one, though ... I was not impressed. I really didn't think it was going to turn out to be yet another one of those "the quadriplegic has to die" stories so I was genuinely surprised and very disappointed with the ending, especially because I'd enjoyed it so much up till then. The characters are well developed and you genuinely enjoy "being with them" - right up until the end. It really felt as though the author just wanted to make a point about assisted suicide and invented the characters to suit a message that would perhaps be better suited for a newspaper opinion page, rather than the other way around. And it's not that I'm opposed to assisted suicide - I basically agree with Moyes' argument that it's each person's choice. But the book's insistent liberal individualism, its faith in a world where worth ultimately comes down to money and travel and making business deals - despite claims otherwise - made the book feel somehow American despite the endless references to cups of tea and English holiday towns. The basic argument was that the Good Life can be measured by how many extreme sports and trips to Bali it involves and despite the author's efforts to portray the working class compassionately it seems quite clear which side of the class divide one should prefer to be on. And this is all besides a dismal portrayal of life with a disability. As I read in another review, it doesn't seem like the author has real-life experience there, but just decided "now I'll write a story about what it must be like to become paralyzed"; considering that a lot of people who read this book probably don't have any first hand experience either, that's a problem. I don't know. It was an upsetting read on a lot of levels; of course I wouldn't care this much if it hadn't been well-written to begin with.
One last thing - the character commits suicide just over two years after his injury. Now, my understanding of assisted suicide clinics is that they go to great lengths to make sure you really want to make that decision and it seemed a little unrealistic to me that they would go through with it then, since it is also my understanding that a depression lasting 2-3 years after a spinal cord injury isn't completely uncommon. Again, just another thing that felt "off" with the story line, as if her plot and characters didn't quite fit together with the soap box she shoved in to the novel. I think some people feel that they need to make their chick lit "go beyond" what we expect of the genre - that it has to have some "serious" aspect that's presumed missing from these "petty things women care about". A story where he embraces life, where a life of the mind can - at least somewhat - live up to his previous life of adventure, and where the love of a woman is enough to make someone want to stay alive - nevermind a novel in which the other characters learn to let the disabled character make decisions and reign over his own life as much as possible would have been great.
3. Jane Austen's Sewing Box - Jennifer Forest
My dad bought this for me while he was visiting a couple of weeks ago. I wouldn't have bought it myself (a bit expensive) and it's great! It's full of regency-era craft projects. The photographs are great and the instructions very clear.
4. The Tailor of Panama - John LeCarré
My dad had this with him on the plane and left it here when he went back. I like John Le Carré and a spy drama is perfect summer reading.
5. S. - J.J. Abrams
I have no idea what this is, but it looks very interesting. A friend posted it to me quite a few months ago so I've really got to hurry up and read it.
6. Himmel över London - Håkan Nesser
I bought this at least a year ago after eyeing it for a while. It's about the 60s and I think it's a mystery. During the year I read so much non-fiction so it's fun gulping down novels!
7. The Hare with Amber Eyes - Edmund de Waal
A biography I've been longing to read. I bought it way back in february at the annual book sale, where all the shops in town have a huge sale.
8. How to Eat Out - Giles Coren
Rather cheeky title. It's about Coren's life as a restaurant critic. I think he's very funny so I'm looking forward to it - and have been since I got it for Valentine's day in february. Sigh. I'm terrible!
9. Matens pris - Malin Olofsson
I don't really want to read this anymore, to be honest. I bought it about a year and a half ago when I was really into food issues (still am, but less intensely), but I have no other non-fiction (besides biography) on this list and I do own the book, after all.
10. Nils Holgerssons underbara resa genom sverige - Selma Lagerlöf
A classic. And yet another book I got as a gift and haven't read yet.
Monday, 7 October 2013
Baby animals!!!
So the big excitement around here lately is that a baby bunny is coming to live with us!
I picked her out a few weeks ago but have to wait until she's eight weeks old, and weaned (around the 22nd) to bring her home. It's so so hard to wait! I've always wanted a pet rabbit of my own so I'm really excited to be getting one.
She's a mini lop so her ears will eventually flop over, although I've heard it sometimes happens that one ear flops over and the other doesn't, which would be so unbelievably adorable!
Names currently under consideration: Tailsie, Hoppy, Trixie and Cricket.
I picked her out a few weeks ago but have to wait until she's eight weeks old, and weaned (around the 22nd) to bring her home. It's so so hard to wait! I've always wanted a pet rabbit of my own so I'm really excited to be getting one.
She's a mini lop so her ears will eventually flop over, although I've heard it sometimes happens that one ear flops over and the other doesn't, which would be so unbelievably adorable!
Names currently under consideration: Tailsie, Hoppy, Trixie and Cricket.
Thursday, 3 October 2013
Do the Hucklebuckle
Every Wednesday I broadcast my own radio show on our local college radio station. It's great fun, definitely the highlight of my week!
The show is called Vintage Party and I play music from the 40s-60s, my favourite music. There's no limit to the genre but it has to be fun music that I think you can get up and dance to - hence the name. Every week has a theme - last week was jazz guitar, and the week before that I talked about Sun Records.
Yesterday's episode was about fad dances, which is something I've wanted to do for a while. I started by playing some swing jazz from the '40s and talking about the Lindy hop, since it was one of the biggest dance crazes of the decade. For the '50s I played the Stroll and the Madison. But the thing I really wanted to get to was the novelty dances of the '60s! It's so funny to dance the mashed potato, the monkey, the swim and all that.
One dance I'd never heard of was the Hucklebuck but I found this amusing and instructional clip from the Honeymooners:
I think the Hucklebuck is really nothing more than a glorified version of the Twist but of course for comedy's sake they really elaborate on it here!
What about you? Do you like to go out and dance, and do you ever do any fad- or novelty steps?
PS You can listen to Vintage Party every Wednesday at 7pm (GMT +1) at www.studentradion.com. If you're in North America that's some time between 11am and 1pm depending how far West or East you are!
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