Favourite lunch & some words about Twitter

I just had to try lunch blogging again today while eating lunch at favourite sushi bar.

The snow is melting. It is back to 'ordinary' Swedish winter. Sadly. My arm is better - I can both drive and type today. Yesterday my family thought it was a fracture considering my screams. But sleep and painkillers did a great work this night. I presume it only is an inflammation in the tendons controlling the fingers.

Now my project probably will make me sleepless instead. Losing one day was really bad.

I have started too like Twitter. I get information I need to improve at work. I also have got a few really good friend :-) . I like the "over hearing" communication as well as short private mails.

You have to skip the bullshit if you want to say something on Twitter. You have to THINK before you send. Something I very often find very hard since I usually think when or after I have spoken *giggling*.

Now off for a meeting at other side of the region.

 

I think I prefer not to understand

"there is also another side of the other side" I read on Twitter a few days ago. A fact I sometimes think I am too aware of.

In general I chose not to draw any conclusions about occurrences, problems & happenings I do not know enough about. My kids hate me for this since I never take any ones side when discussing "external" relational problems. I say "the only thing we are sure about is that we only know a fraction of what is needed". So why then even bother to judge other peoples acts & behaviours?

But sometimes when things get too bad I have had another strategy. But it doesn´t work all the time.

Original post written May 2010
The reason why I republish this post is that I feel this is a dilemma I will experience again. And probably you too...

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Why do we always struggle to understand?
I wonder so.

Why can’t we just rest in the fact that some things are not understandable? Like where the universe stops? Why do so many people starve? Why is there such a thing as war? Or why do my kid wants homemade lunch for the day trip tomorrow instead of a prefabricated salad in a hygienically box?

I use to think that if you have a lot of observations and riddles in life you cannot make fit together – find a few possible solutions and then pick one. Be content with that choice. Never admit you chosed the wrong one. Stick to it and be happy! But today I cannot make such a choice. For a long while I haven’t been able to comprehend a few things in my life. I have been lost in my self and a mind drowning in lots of “whys” and “wonderings”. I haven’t been able to pick one solution and be happy with it.

A few days ago I picked up the coin, tossed it furiously up in the air and it landed with the other side up. And there it was. The solution. It had been there all the time - I just had been blindfolded to see it. The other side of the coin.

For the first time in my life I have come to a point where I resign. I will never understand and that is nothing bad. I lie happily - well almost - on my air mattress on the ocean of non-understanding and not comprehending. The weather is perhaps no the best but it will get warmer. It is calm and the sea gives peace in my mind. And the rippling waves makes my muscles relax.

There are things I will never understand and I finally accept I can live my life without it. I think it is better than locking my mind in something that is wrong. And I feel content about it…well mostly anyhow.

It is like when reading a big nice book. The journey is enough – I do not need to know the end of the saga. I do not need to understand every word, every course of events or every character of that book. With an open mind and a good author I do not need to rush. Like when I for the first time read Steinbeck’s “Sweet Thursday”. I cried when I finished that book.

If one day I find the answer myself…
I will never admit it to myself. I will keep it to myself and presume I have locked my mind into wrong conclusion. And I will be happy with that.

If one day anyone tells me the answer …
I will perhaps even refuse to accept it. Who knows – I can be damn stubborn.

If one day anyone can tell me the answer…
I´d like to have a choice - to listen or not to listen. Or else I might come to a point where the almost same amount of work has to be done once again. And I will simply not manage it once again.

Nevertheless – I think I wish to get that choice one day. In time. After a year. Or When I´m old and gray haired mama. Or in next life. Who knows. But not now. That is for sure. I simply cannot recalculate all informations once again. I think...

Until then – the day that probably never will come - the day I’m not waiting for - I stick to my air mattress and the ripples of the ocean. And I will be happy.

When I came home from work something really non-comprehensible was happening in my kitchen. Big kid was cooking American pancakes for dinner. And there was three times as much than needed. So lunch for tomorrow’s day trip is ready.

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One month later I finally understood the true meaning of what a Japanese koan is.
A koan is a riddle where there is no answer. It is the question that is wrong or the perspective of the problem. 

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Art on top: Kjell Engman´s Contradictory
 

Happy new Year!

Here is a drink for every one that been in touch with me at Twitter, Facebook or elsewhere (I will become tipsy - but it is worth it).

I am already looking forward to some new events and happenings next year. My project - a new customer website will be launched in beginning of March. It is nice to see the result and to be able to show it to customers, leaders and owners already now.

Summer Salsa festival in Croatia at end of June is one other thing I already is looking forward to. And Scandinavian salsa congress of course at end of March.

There are a few more nice things coming up....with a little luck. But as always I never presumes anything.

I had lots of fun "here" despite the worse possible year culminating 9 September. But a pale sun is shining over the landscape. I think it is a turning point both in life and the cold winter. A heath wave at -5 degrees turned into -10 this night. But it is warmer again.

So sheers everyone!
And one more sip for everyone who made me smile 
And then one sip for each smile....
(I am definitely tipsy now)

Happy New year!

Do you need something to warm you up? From last year's Salsa party: Now with working links.

Sensual Bachata, Youtube

Salsa - Via, Youtube

Moose meatball making mama feeling good post

This is a post for you who need to read something nice for the moment.

I am far too tired to write anything new tonight - just getting home from a Christmas party with relatives. It is -15 degrees Celsius, the snow is sparkling like billions of diamonds. Thekids are wrapping up the last presents. Then in about ten minutes we are tearing them up again. The Christmas three is more beautiful than ever. I look forward to a quiet evening and lots of sleep.

Ah - I forgot the moose!
We call them actually elks. But it sound better with "moose meatball making mama". These creatures I found this autumn in the garden. No I didn´t have any gun. I bought the minced moose meat I used for a delicious meal. The best meatballs I ever have eaten. I have hidden a few for myself for a late night sandwich.

Schhhh! It IS Christmas and I am allowed to have secrets ;-)


Here are some feeling good posts if you need them or just feel for reading:



Christmas and/or snow

Merry Christmas & Glögg (hot nice drinks)

So it is Christmas again & another burning hot ski tour

A Rhapsody in Light or the lack of it. Nordic Light Winter 2010

Report from a fancy skiresort - or my extended backyard?

I am addicted - but not by elks, deers and hares


Not snow

It has to be fun or else we cannot make it

Contradictionary - The English Language part 1


Be yourself - It takes a fool to remain sane

Shiteons are sub-atomic particles of bad luck that streak around the universe

Merry Christmas all of you!

 

Merry Christmas & Glögg (hot nice drinks)

I wish all my netfried, businesspartners and friends a
Merry Christmas and a Happy New year!
Why not try one of these hot beverages. They will scare any cold away and keep those of you who need it warm. If you're living in a warm country - I presume they will help you anyhow. At least to get that special feeling connected with Christmas.

/Bettina


Thorilds Glögg 
a receipt I've inherited from my father
(ö is pronounced just like "a" in "an" in "an apple")

Take for 1 litre:

1/3 red wine
1/3 port wine
1/3 of vodka

Pour wine and port wine into a saucepan. Heat it gently while adding.
but wait with the vodka.

Add:

1/3 -1/2 of teaspoon with ginger
3-4 pieces of cinnamon (you know the kind looking like stick/barque)
10-15 pieces of clove
a few spoons of raisins
a few spoons of chopped date (this is unique for my fathers receipt)

The amount of spices in not exact in any way. Add more or less of everything. (I have never ever measured how much I add so this is just a guess)

Boil water in a separate saucepan.
Add 1/2-1 dl of almonds. Just let it be real hot. When you lift them up you can remove the peel.

Finally add the last 1/3 of vodka into the saucepan with wine.
Heat it up quickly and serve it in small cups together with a spoon and the almond. All the fruit is supposed to be eaten but not the hard type of spices,

If you think this receipt is too strong - either you reduce the amount of vodka OR you add more ginger. Ginger conceals the taste of alcohol. If you serve this to friends - remember that people usually underestimates what effect hot alcohol will have on their poor bodies. No driving after glögg!

If you have leftovers - pour into some kind of can with lid. Place it into the a refrigerator. The taste gets better and better. Just add some more vodka for every time you heat it up.

Äpple Glögg (apple glögg) - great even without alcohol

5 dl juice from apple
2 dl white vine
3-5 pieces of barque/pins of cinnamon
5-7 pieces of that kind of aniseed that looks like flowers/stars (what is it called?)
(a few 10-20 pieces of clove if you like that taste)
0,5-1 dl raisins
0,5-1 dl almond
2-?? cl of hard liquid like apple snaps, Skåne snaps, or in vorst case Vodka. Anything strong with apple or taste of aniseed is great.

Boil the spices and the apple juice for 10 - 15 minutes.

Add raisins and peeled almond .
Add vine and heat more.
Add the hard liquid and heat for a few seconds.

This is wonderful for a bad throat or when ever you have a cold. The vitamins makes you feel much better. And you can make this recipes without any alcohol at all. Kids love it! (It taste almost as good)

Keep any left overs in the refrigerator. Without alcohol it last for about 1-2 weeks. With alcohol much longer. The taste get better and better. (The taste of "star aniseed" and cinnamon takes a while to flourish.)

So it is Christmas again & another burning hot ski tour

As always I woke up one day realizing it is Christmas in just a few days. And so I did yesterday. At 12:30. I haven´t slept that long for several year - I had really to hurry to manage to do shopping before closing time at 16.00. Annoyed really...I really wanted to go up early this morning.

So I did start my X-mas shopping by buying three gifts and of course the most expensive to myself. But before showing you that awesome thing - let me introduce my oldest daughter. The most pretty girl in town. And of course also the best salsa dancer too.

Here she is:

But I think this angle is prettier

Talking about beauty - this is where she got her dancing & beauty genes from ;-)

Saturday Night Fever?
Nice Christmas gift, surprise surprise.

About ageing and how to feel good
I must admit I feel a little bit old the day after a skitour. The tendons in my heels do not like skiing but since I do they just have to obey. I have to figure out what insoles to use for the skiboots. And meanwhile I have to pamper my heels with warm socks and liniment. I am pretty good at pampering....so we can manage. Including in day-after-ski-pampering is also wearing high heels. I can do that offer for the good sake.

the light is actually yellow but iPhone makes it burning hot red
Probably corresponding my temperature

I went skiing tonight once again. Angry at everybody and everyone but the most angry at myself. And as always - every bad feeling was wiped out after that skitour. I really wish everyone on this earth find a similar magic cure for all kinds of "feeling bad".

The silence, the snow, the nature, the smell, the partly monotone and hard work making an almost meditative transcendental feeling. I love feeling my body working really hard. That is probably why I like going to the gym and swimming too. I like that kind of meeting with my body and feel how it responds to my wish. It is amazing much more we can manage then we actually believe. Not that I ran that hard this night - I just ran hard enough to get any effect and still save my heel tendons.

On the way down from the prepared tracks I was risking my life as usual. It was a kind of off pist skiing with cross country skis. 30 centimetre new snow and no other skiers this day at that path.Only a few footprints. I ended up first in the blackberry bushes and then literally in a spruce. But I fell softly and giggling. This is also a part of that therapy :)

It has to be fun or else we cannot make it

Post moved to Bettinas Business Blogg
(remove from here to stop SEO penalties because of duplicate content)