Today is April 21st. We woke up this morning to about a quarter of an inch of snow on the ground. Seriously.
For the past several weeks, we have had at least one gorgeous Spring day.....I now have Spring Fever so bad that I am willing myself to eat on the porch when it is the least bit sunny outside. I am pushing The Belle outside to play if the sun is even peeking through the clouds. Perhaps it is denial......at our previous home in the US, people are already wearing flipflops and shorts. Here? I think it is warm when I can go outside with just a fleece jacket on. My, how things have changed.....
To add to the crazy weather, we have all been sick. Thanks, Dagis. Although, baby girl did get sick first.....and she doesn't go to Dagis yet. So for all we know, this wonderful mess came off of a cart at Maxi. All I know is that I feel horrible, and Mama is never allowed to be sick. *sigh*
What an uplifting post for you today! I promise things will get better......
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Done
I am so done.
Done with sassy husbands, crabby kids, obnoxious dogs, and tiny apartments. Done with pediatricians who snarkily say, "So you prefer English?" and "Americans certainly are ambitious with immunizations". Done with preschool teachers who tell me that the other teachers and parents are afraid to talk to me because I only speak English. Done. Done, I say.
And forgive me, said pediatrician, for immunizing my child according to American guidelines. A thousand pardons..............you idiot.
Done with sassy husbands, crabby kids, obnoxious dogs, and tiny apartments. Done with pediatricians who snarkily say, "So you prefer English?" and "Americans certainly are ambitious with immunizations". Done with preschool teachers who tell me that the other teachers and parents are afraid to talk to me because I only speak English. Done. Done, I say.
And forgive me, said pediatrician, for immunizing my child according to American guidelines. A thousand pardons..............you idiot.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Reflections
It has been almost 4 months since we made our big transatlantic move. In that time, I have made it through the worst winter in 50 years, a transition from a 1900 square foot house (with a yard) to a 900 square foot apartment, and various other ups and downs. Yet one thing eludes me about common interactions I have experienced. Let me explain.....
Example 1.....today baby girl and I went to Maxi (the Wal-Mart of Scandinavia) after we dropped The Belle off at dagis. Everything was cool....we took in our recycling and got the receipt for the pant. I got my self-scanner and we started on our way. I even brought my own bags, which was very European of me. So, I am going down the first aisle.....1 giant cart with an 11 month-old in the seat.....3 bags in the cart, waiting to be filled up. I stopped to get soap.....I scanned it, no problem. I put it in the bag and look up to see a pissed-off lady basically wanting to play chicken in the grocery aisle. Um, ok. So I hurriedly throw my soap in the bag and try to get out of her way, but she stays put and glares at me. Um, hello? I got so ruffled that I couldn't get out of her way fast enough so she could pick out her Pepsodent. I wanted to tell her, "If I am in your way, why don't you say excuse me? Is it not obvious that I don't see you?? And why are you so bitter?" But I digress......
Example 2......after Fun Times at Maxi, baby girl and I set our sights on home. At our apartment, there are gates at the paths but you can open them if you need to. I think 3 large bags of groceries and a sleeping infant qualify for opening the gate and driving up to the apartment door. Apparently I am wrong. As I get everybody and everything in the house, an elderly couple walks around from the other direction. If you have read any previous posts, you know my luck with the elderly....but I remained hopeful that they would just keep walking. The man did, but his wife stopped dead in her tracks, turned around, and stared at me until I was in the building. Then, as I went in to put the groceries in the kitchen I looked out the window and the man had stopped, turned around, and was watching me through the window. WTF? I gave him the stinkeye and he turned around and walked off, but really? What was that about? I know that I do not look typically Scandinavian.....I am a glamazon, a redhead that is almost 6 feet tall, but please do not stare at me like I dropped down from the moon. That rattled me so much that I had to call The International and ask him if I looked funny. Now he thinks I'm crazy, but I have had enough weird things happen to me since we've been here that I thought it was a valid question. Whew.
So, enough of my reflections for today. Hopefully next time they will be a little more positive. Hopefully.
Example 1.....today baby girl and I went to Maxi (the Wal-Mart of Scandinavia) after we dropped The Belle off at dagis. Everything was cool....we took in our recycling and got the receipt for the pant. I got my self-scanner and we started on our way. I even brought my own bags, which was very European of me. So, I am going down the first aisle.....1 giant cart with an 11 month-old in the seat.....3 bags in the cart, waiting to be filled up. I stopped to get soap.....I scanned it, no problem. I put it in the bag and look up to see a pissed-off lady basically wanting to play chicken in the grocery aisle. Um, ok. So I hurriedly throw my soap in the bag and try to get out of her way, but she stays put and glares at me. Um, hello? I got so ruffled that I couldn't get out of her way fast enough so she could pick out her Pepsodent. I wanted to tell her, "If I am in your way, why don't you say excuse me? Is it not obvious that I don't see you?? And why are you so bitter?" But I digress......
Example 2......after Fun Times at Maxi, baby girl and I set our sights on home. At our apartment, there are gates at the paths but you can open them if you need to. I think 3 large bags of groceries and a sleeping infant qualify for opening the gate and driving up to the apartment door. Apparently I am wrong. As I get everybody and everything in the house, an elderly couple walks around from the other direction. If you have read any previous posts, you know my luck with the elderly....but I remained hopeful that they would just keep walking. The man did, but his wife stopped dead in her tracks, turned around, and stared at me until I was in the building. Then, as I went in to put the groceries in the kitchen I looked out the window and the man had stopped, turned around, and was watching me through the window. WTF? I gave him the stinkeye and he turned around and walked off, but really? What was that about? I know that I do not look typically Scandinavian.....I am a glamazon, a redhead that is almost 6 feet tall, but please do not stare at me like I dropped down from the moon. That rattled me so much that I had to call The International and ask him if I looked funny. Now he thinks I'm crazy, but I have had enough weird things happen to me since we've been here that I thought it was a valid question. Whew.
So, enough of my reflections for today. Hopefully next time they will be a little more positive. Hopefully.
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