Who said pregnant women should take it easy?

Yesterday was D day. The day when we, after almost five months in a temporary apartment, got to move back in to our own place. For those of you who don't know, our apartment, that we moved in to five months ago, turned out to have water damage. So we had to move straight out again. But now, we're finally back in there.

So, apart from working eight days in a row, trying to study and exercise in between, my husband and I have now finally moved back in to our apartment. Who said pregnant women should take it easy?

This post is, of course, just an excuse for why I haven't been writing lately. But the fact is, that it's the same in the end of every year. Work is hectic. Studies are hectic. And then there is always something else added to it. And we shouldn't even talk about the added stress that Christmas brings. Is November and December the same for all people, or is it just me that somehow doesn't manage to even it out over the year?

Why are young people becoming murderers?

Over the last one or two years, there's been an increase in killings by youngsters in Stockholm. At least it feels that way. It could be that the media is reporting it more loud and frequently than before, but I don't think so. I actually believe that there's been an increase.

Just a few days ago it happened again. Two men were killed, for no real reason (if there is ever a reason). Two boys got in to an argument with them in a bar. Bouncers forced the two boys to leave. But instead of going home, the boys waited outside until the two men also left the bar, and they killed them. They just ran them over with their car.

My husband knew one of the men that were killed, and told me that he was the sweetest and most humble guy who, ironically (if you can call it that), worked against violence. I feel for my husband and for all the family and friends that's been left mourning and asking: "Why?"

This increase of young people turning in to murderers makes me sad. And it makes me too wonder "Why?". Why is this happening in Sweden now? Are young people today much more lost in the world, lost in their own identity (or lack of identity)? Where are we going wrong? What can we do to go right instead?

Recommendation

This evening I went to a concert. On stage was Amir Sulaiman, a spoken word artist from the States, currently on FBI's list of people considered being anti American.

Amongst many other poems and songs he did perform the poem that made him end up on that list. The poem that made the FBI questioning his mother, come to his workplace, and accuse him for being anti American.

It's interesting though, that the poem actually was not anti American at all. It was rather about injustice in the world. But the Feds interpreted it as anti American. I guess that say more about their view of their country than about Amir Sulaiman's view of the same country.

Anyway just want to recommend the artist. Buy the CD. Find it on the net. Watch him at a theater near you. Or something. The performance was great.

Does pregnancy provide you with cooking skills?

In my marriage one of us does most of the cooking. It's not me.

I used to really suck at cooking. These days I'm a bit better, because I've learnt a lot from my husband over the years. But I still suck compared to him, so I do not really see the point of cooking.

I mean, I love good food, so why should I eat less good food, when my husband can make miracles in the kitchen?

Lately though, I've been cooking a bit more than usual. I'm not sure if it's because I'm so much more hungry, being pregnant and all that, that I can't be bothered to wait for my husband to get of his ass to make me food. Or if it's just that my husband has been extra lazy recently.

I don't know, but anyway, I have been cooking. And the strange thing is that it's tasted pretty nice. My husband has even praised my food a few times, and that does not happen normally, believe me! Today he even said that there is hope for our unborn daughter.

So, is it possible that pregnancy actually also provides you with some sort of cooking skill, for the survival of the human race? Or is it just my husband being smart, realizing that if I haven't learnt now, I will never learn, so it's better encouraging me, even if my food suck, as our kid is going to have to eat it once in a while anyway.

Who really knows you?

I read on a friends blog, something she had written about her colleagues knowing her better than her old friends.

It made me think: Who actually does know you, for real?

Your parents? They might know most about your history, what you were like as a kid, and they love you unconditionally. But do they really know you? I'm pretty sure that my parents don't have a clue about what I believe in and what my views on life are. So how well do they really know me then?

Your old friends? In my case at least, I must say, it's pretty much the same as above. The only difference is, I guess, the part about unconditional love.

Your new friends? At least them you made as a grown up, very much from the stand point where you are today. And they might know most about what your political views are, what your favorite subjects are, and what you enjoy. But do they really now the whole of you, as there is probably a lot you've chosen to leave out?

Your partner? I guess that's as close as it gets (at least for me). But we all know that we never tell anyone everything. And we also know that love is blind, and because of love your partner probably ignores and unconsciously chooses to be blind to certain things about you.

If you have a sibling he/she might end up in the same category as the partner, above. At least my sister does.

But I'm still pretty sure no one totally knows you. When it comes to myself only one-two-three-four people are close to knowing me, in the way I define "really knowing".

So the following question then is: Does it really matter or not? Is it good that no one has the full story? Or does it make us more lonely, inside, than we have to be? What do you think?

Mia Wallace and Vincent Vega

Yesterday a friend of mine organized a fancy dress party. Fancy dress is not really my thing. I barely use make up normally. I barely dress up. So I guess a fancy dress party, where you have to put time and effort in to both clothes and make up, is a bit too much for my lazy ass. Or I just lack imagination.

But when someone puts a lot of energy into organizing a party for her friends. The least the friends can do is to dress up for it. So that’s what I did.

But I had no clue what to dress up as. So I forced my poor, lovely sister to help me. She had the idea that we would go together as the Pulp Fiction characters Mia Wallace and Vincent Vega. Guess who had do go as Vincent Vega?

I sure did look like an idiot as Vincent Vega. And most people couldn’t even figure out what my sister and I were trying to look like. But one thing is certain. I had so much fun while preparing. I’ve never laughed so much in my whole life. That’s in-between putting my head out through the window, trying to get some air that was not poisoned by the black hair spray my sister was spraying all over my hair.

It was also great being at the party watching all the people and the effort and creativity some of them had put into their costumes.

And honestly, I think it was crystal clear what my sister and I was trying to portrait. What do you think? :)