"Party Girl" with U2

Yesterday I promised that I would tell you a bit more about the U2 concert...
...so here are a few highlights!

Vertigo (I)
There was a messages on the internet to wave with something white (against poverty), so 40-50.000 waving white things greets Bono and the band when they starts the concert…and it looks very cool from our seats.
I Will Follow
Simply one of my favourite U2-songs. Always fantastic live.
City of Blinding Lights
The big wall behind the stage (and the band) just explodes with light and movement in one of the two breathtaking moments of the evening. It is too hard to describe – you had to be there!
Love and Peace or Else
Usually a quite boring song, but they have a success when they put Larry Mullen in the middle of the audience and turns on the lightening system from heaven.
Where the Streets Have No Name
The biggest sing-along of the evening is also beautifully staged with all flags of Africa on the big wall and it is the best version I have ever heard from the band. Best song of the concert and a true memory.
One
Fantastic song, fantastic version, and when Bono ask everyone to use their mobile phones to "light up the stadium as a Christmas-tree" it might be one of the most astonished moments I have ever witnessed. Ullevi stadium simply looks like a gigantic concave disco-ball.
Zoo Station/The Fly
I missed the Zoo-TV tour, but here I get some nice replays. Cool.
With or Without You
Their most beautiful song. It is as simple as that.
Party Girl
What a surprise! I would never have thought they were going to play this one. They usually just do that in Dublin. Cool as hell, and an old after-ski favorite of mine from a ski-trip in 1993.
Vertigo (II)
This second version is electric and Bono counts it down I Swedish: Ett, två, tre – fjorton!

Thanks Fredrik for queuing and buying me a ticket!
Thanks Johan for the company and the VIP-party with free booze after!
Thanks U2 for another superb arena concert.

Please come back.
Soon.

And how do you pick a song of the day out of this…
…I guess I just take the most unexpected one!

Keep readin’.
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "Party Girl" with U2

"Where the Streets Have No Name" with U2

My god.
It was superb!
Five stars out of five!!

They said the rain came pouring down somewhere during "One", but I never noticed (maybe since we where sitting under a roof…but that’s not nearly as poetic) because I was too focused on the music and on the songs:

Vertigo
I Will Follow
The Electric co
Elevation
New Years Day
Beautiful Day
I Still Haven’t Found what I’m Looking For
All I Want is You
City of Blinding Lights
Miracle Drug
Sometimes You Can’t Make it on Your Own
Love and Peace or Else
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Bullet the Blue Sky
Miss Sarajevo
Pride (In the Name of Love)
Where the Streets Have No Name
One
Zoo Station
The Fly
With or Without You
All Because of You
Party Girl
Vertigo

I will tell you more about it tomorrow, but the song of today is of course the best song of the concert!

Keep readin’.
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "Where the Streets Have No Name" with U2

"Vertigo" with U2

Well, today is the day!
U2 Vertigo Tour has come to Ullevi, Gothenburg.

See you there tonight!

Keep readin’.
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "Vertigo" with U2

"Jag Kommer Hem Igen till Jul" with Peter Jöback

I know.
It’s U2-week.
But it is also my blog so I can change the rules as much as I want to…
=)
So today it’s not a U2 song, 'cause this song was too much fitting my day.
I’m back in Gothenburg!
It is great to be home...
...and before my departure I actually FINALLY got my day at the Baltic beach!!

Ironically enough the Baltic was filled with jellyfishes due to the previous cold weather...
...just the type of animal I was so eager to get rid off.

…and well…
If you want a U2 song anyway, my favourite song of the day is "So Cruel" from the Achtung Baby-album.
A song I hope I will never be forced to use for a blog-theme by the way.

Keep readin’.
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "Jag Kommer Hem Igen till Jul" with Peter Jöback

"Staring at the Sun" with U2

Today it's time for the 50th song of the blog...and it's of course a U2 song (since it's U2 week).
But first a recap:

26 "Music" with Madonna
27 "He's on the Phone" with St Etienne
28 "Facts of Life" with Lazyboy
29 "Das Kleine Krokodil" with Schnappi
30 "Panic (on the Streets of London)" with The Smiths
31 "You're My First" with Barry White
32 "En Sten vid en Sjö i en Skog" with Gyllene Tider
33 "Hymn to the Sea" by James Horner
34 "Insomnia" with Faithless
35 "Move in My Direction" with Bananarama
36 "Everybody’s Free (to wear Sunscreen)" with Baz Luhrman
37 "Proud" with Heather Small
38 "Holiday" with Madonna
39 "Son av Ayatollah" with Torsson
40 "Sex Crime (1984)" with Eurythmics
41 "Givin' You Up" with Kylie
42 "Right Now" with Atomic Kitten
43 "Precioius" with Depeche Mode
44 "Semester" with Bo Kaspers Orkester
45 "Why Does it Always Rain on Me" with Travis
46 "My Hometown" with The Wannadies
47 "I Still Haven’t Found what I’m Looking For" with U2
48 "I Will Follow" with U2
49 "Desire" with U2

...and then the important number 50!
For about 10…15…maybe 30 minutes yesterday, I actually saw the sun!
I promise.
Today the sky is totally grey again, and the rain is coming any minute…but the song is given!

50 "Staring at the Sun" with U2

Keep readin’.
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new (U2) song.

Song of Today: "Staring at the Sun" with U2

"Desire" with U2

There are some things I just have to eat when I’m in Karlskrona:

• Kebab at "Barnes Kebab" – the best kebab in Sweden
• Ice-cream at "Glaciären" – still (and for the last 15 years I guess) the largest ice-creams I’ve ever seen
• Yellow Raspberries – much sweeter than the red ones, and loads in my parent’s garden

Don’t miss that if you’re passing by the south-east corner of Sweden!

…and since we are listing some desires (oh, you couldn’t see that one coming, could you?) – here is the list of this week:

Best this Week:
1. "A Long Way Down" – Book by Nick Hornby [New]
His best since "High Fidelity" and a must-read of course.
2. Red&White Hugo Boss Shoes
At last I’ve found a pair of shoes to love this summer!
3. "Precious" – Coming Single with Depeche Mode [New]
DM sounds like Kent when they try to sound like DM. Of course it’s the single of the summer!
4. Summer Vacation [2 weeks]
I don’t like the rain…but it is still nice to think about other things than work for a while.
5. "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" – Book by J.K Rowling [2 weeks]
I can’t believe she killed him off?? How could she?? But next book will be marvellous!
6. "Worms World Party" – Classic Computer Game [New]
To kill some worms is the best way to get over the rainy weather.
7. Power-walks in the Morning [13 weeks]
This week: New much greener ways to explore and my sister for company.
8. 1000 Text Messages for 100SEK [New]
The best way to keep in touch with absent friends.
9. Ice-cream
Karlskrona is heaven for ice-cream lovers
10. Blogs [7 weeks]
You blog a whole lot better when the rain is pouring down outside.

Maybe this Week:
Write for QX
The most exciting thing that has happened for ages – but can I do it?

Bad this Week:
More Terror in London
Didn’t we agree that terror was soooo 1970???
Rain
The visit in Karlskrona was supposed to be my summer at the beach…but not ONE day.
Lasse Larsson (Sydöstran) & Jonas Cramby (Expressen)
The worst movie critics in Sweden as far as I am concerned.

Keep readin’.
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new (U2) song.

Song of Today: "Desire" with U2

"I Will Follow" with U2

I guess this Monday won’t end up on my top-ten-list of fun and inspiring day in my life…not even this year or even this summer.
I guess you can say it has been one of the most boring days for a very long time.
You see, when I’m here visiting my parents I almost stops thinking for my self and just follow what other people do…

…so today I put myself with four other people in a Volvo and went for 1½ hour to visit “the ugliest mall I’ve ever seen” (that’s actually not a quote from me, it’s from my sisters boyfriend. He said that to me when nobody else heard him), at Färjestaden at Öland (of all places), ate “one of the worst kebabs I’ve ever had” (that’s my quote), went to one of the worst smelling public toilets I’ve been to (at least this year; also my quote), and sat another 1½ hour in the car on the way home.

This could have been a slightly nice thing (at least something else to do but hanging around the house for yet another day) if;

A) the rain hadn’t been pouring down all time as if it was November
B) the mall had contained ANY shop that also isn’t located in the mall 5 minutes from my parents house
C) I hadn’t felt sick for some unidentified reason half of the time

When three of my best friends (actually they might be “the three best friends” period) independent from each other called me on my mobile during the care ride, it seemed like I made contact with another planet…
…and you should know that one of them called me since he had injured his finger, another was driving a full-loaded car at 70km/h on a motorway and was frustrated as hell, and the third was so tired he could barely speak after a day of house-painting…
…even so it felt like I was talking to people on another planet on which you do things that is funny and where you enjoy yourself.

These calls really made my day. I love my friends. And I envy the people who are spending time with them right now, when I am just sitting here staring out on the autumn-like street.

But I guess I can’t blame anyone else but myself for this day…
I could have stayed at home reading, walking (hmmm, maybe not), watching telly or something.
But I was just following people without thinking again.
Like I did when I was 5. And 15. And 25.

(By the way; maybe I can blame something else but myself.
Maybe I can blame the weather! I blame it on the rain!!
That had been a nice song of the day if it hadn’t been “U2 week”.
But it is. So I pick another obvious choice.)

Keep readin’.
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new (U2) song.

Song of Today: "I Will Follow" with U2

"I Still Haven’t Found what I’m Looking For" with U2

(Note! Since I had some criticism yesterday for not writing everything in that blog by my self, this blog will be entirely made up by yours truly. Just for your information... =P)

Today it’s five days until I’m going to see U2 and their "Vertigo Tour 2005", and since U2 might be my only true pop-/rock-idols (well, I guess I could include Kylie also) I will celebrate that by having only U2 songs as the song of today for a week from today.

So, what have I done today then?

• I have had a one hour power-walk with my sister.
• I have eaten a very creamy birthday-cake since it is my sister’s boyfriend’s birthday.
• I have been to a strange flee-market in an old barn, which contained so much old stuff it was a delight to visit. I almost whished I had my old record player left, since there where sooo many old, cool LP-records there for about 5SEK each.
• I have been on a trip to the little village Kristianopel, situated about 30km from here, which is very beautifully situated just at the coastline and has a fascinating history. (After being burned down several times during the war between Denmark and Sweden in the 17th century, the Swedish king finally tore Kristianopel down and used its material to build his new town Karlskrona. He also forced all Kristianopel’s citizens to move to Karlskrona, since he had a completely new town, but no people who would live in it. Actually, he removed all windows in the town Ronneby also, to get even more Karlskronites.)
• I have eaten a large (and also very, very creamy) soft ice-cream.
• I have been reading the terrific book "A Long Way Down" by Nick Hornby.
• I am currently waiting for more food…I think it is some form of barbecue.

…and what have I not done?

Well, there is still no sun to be found. No sun-burn which will make me look nice (since I’m now fat of all the creamy stuff mentioned above) to Pride. Still no beach visits. Still no swims taken in the Baltic.

I guess the song of the day was quite easy.

Keep readin’.
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new (U2) song.

Song of Today: "I Still Haven’t Found what I’m Looking For" with U2

"My Hometown" with The Wannadies

Since I’m currently visiting my parents in my home town Karlskrona I thought I should write something nice about my (quite beautifully) hometown…

…but then I decided to just steal something from their homepage.

So, here are some facts about the town I’m currently located in:

Karlskrona
Karlskrona, which has been on UNESCO’s World Heritage list since 1998, is a living history book with well preserved locations from the town’s naval history, a modern IT town and one of the Baltic’s meeting places. An international outlook and three centuries of solid technical knowledge are the driving forces behind Karlskrona’s progress. Exciting experiences are offered alongside the warmest hospitality, and from the moment you arrive there are enjoyable discoveries to be made.

Karlskrona then and now
King Karl XI, whose statue stands in the square, founded the town in 1680 to strengthen control over the Baltic. The town is situated on 33 islands. Naval features include the naval dockyards, with the 300-metre long ropewalk from 1692, and Polhemsdockan, a dry dock dating from 1724. Wide streets and monumental buildings provide classical purity and baroque splendour. During the reign of King Gustav III, ships were built under the supervision of the Master Shipwright Fredrik Henrik af Chapman. Karlskrona has experienced the strongest growth in IT in Sweden. The TelecomCity network has been developed, as has Blekinge Institute of Technology, which has a high profile in IT and research. The geographical position is favourable, and several of the town’s industrial companies operate globally. Sweden’s southernmost archipelago offers glorious swimming and boating. Karlskrona is alive with enterprise. Nevertheless, the fortifications have remained virtually untouched since the beginning of the eighteenth century.

Sightseeing and places to visit.
World Heritage town. Karlskrona is a journey through time and space. The master architects Erik Dahlberg and the father and son Nicodemus Tessin were summoned to what was once Sweden’s second-largest town. Influences from Rome can be seen in the churches on Stortorget. Outside Amiralitetskyrkan (Admiralty church), Sweden’s largest wooden church, there is a wooden statue of the well-known Karlskrona figure, Rosenbom the beggar. During the development of the naval town, Admiral Hans Wachtmeister resided at Grevagården, which is now Blekinge museum. Gamla varvet (the old shipyard) is like a museum in itself. In the archipelago, Kungsholms fort, the citadel of Drottningskärs kastell and the sea fort of Godnatt are exciting places to visit for the whole family. Björkholmen’s narrow alleys and tiny cottages offer an excellent contrast. Out at Skärfva, af Chapman’s impressive summer residence combines a traditional Swedish folk style with one redolent of a great power.

Coast and archipelago.
Islands that were previously subject to military restrictions are waiting for you to explore them. Proper cultivation thrives on Hasslö, Aspö, Tjurkö and Sturkö, where you can enjoy strawberries, fish specialities and delicious potatoes. The Skärgårdstrafiken boat service departs from Fisktorget. It is easy to find your own cove on the small islands in the east. Birdwatchers flock to the peninsula of Torhamns udde. The picturesque, historical and entertaining village of Kristianopel is well worth a visit.

Keep readin’.
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "My Hometown" with The Wannadies

"Why Does it Always Rain on Me" with Travis

When I came to Karlskrona they hadn’t had any rain for about a month and the farmers where going berserks in the local newspapers…
…but since I came here the rain has kept pouring down.
Tons of it.

You might say, since my number one idea of coming here was to get sun burned and lay at the beach, that I am a little bit disappointed.

The understatement of the month, actually.

Keep readin’.
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "Why Does it Always Rain on Me" with Travis

"Semester" with Bo Kaspers Orkester

This week's list!

Best this Week:
1. Vacation [New]
3½ weeks without any work. Karlskrona, lots of reading, U2 concert, Stockholm Pride, and meeting my sister are on the menu. Wonderful!
2. "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" – Book by J.K Rowling [New]
A new H.P-book is a big thing for me who loves Harry, Ron, Hemione and Hogwarts…and the start with a full scale witch-war looks promising!
3. Summer Parties with My Friends [3 weeks]
Andreas’ birthday party was of course fabulous, but I also had a nice after work with Ante&Javad (+Kristin&Fredrik).
4. "80’s Night" – TV-special at SVT [New]
A very nice initiative from SVT with a lot of goodies for us who loved the 80’s.
5. "No Tears for Queers" – Book by Johan Hilton [2 weeks]
One of the most interesting books I’ve ever read. This years most important book?
6. Dark Blue G*Star T-shirt [New]
An expensive spontaneous buy, that become a success.
7. Sunday Brunches [New]
A nice tradition this summer among my friends
8. Hovåsbadet [New]
Finally a nice place to take a swim in Gothenburg…and to skip work for half a day going there is fantastic.
9. Power-walks in the Morning [12 weeks]
I have to keep this up even if I have vacation…
10. "Spongebob Squarepants"– Movie by Stephen Hillenburg [New]
Disney on acid? The strangest animated movie I might have seen. But funny as hell.

Maybe this Week:
Blogs [6 weeks]
Still very funny, but there are so many other things to do in the summer…
Karlskrona
It will be nice to come home for a while, but if the weather is bad there isn’t that much to do in my home town.

Bad this Week:
Sanna Bråding
Destroys the radio-show "Sommartoppen" in P3 with her horrific voice of evil
Rain
When my vacation starts the rain starts pouring down and the temperature falls 10 degrees…
Remol (Bleach Preparative)
Smells worse than anything I’ve ever smelt…and upon that it doesn’t work. At all.

Keep readin’.
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "Semester" with Bo Kaspers Orkester

"Precioius" with Depeche Mode

Before I entered my parents car yesterday (and had a 600 km journey through a rainy Sweden) I found the forthcoming single "Precious" from Depeche Mode on the net.
Since several of my friends are fanatical DM-fans, I guess I have been a bit "bitten" myself lately, so of course I put it in my iPod right away.

And how was it then?

Well, it was very....hmmm..."Depechish" I guess.
But the first thing that actually hit me was that for10 years the Swedish group "Kent" has sounded a lot like DM...and now suddenly DM sounds like "Kent".
I have no "Kent" in my iPod, and I am 450km away from my albums, so I just can't get a grip of which song "Precious" reminds me of...but the electronic sound in the background is soooo reminding me of a Kent-tune that it's almost starting to get annoying.

But then I love Kent so I guess it just makes "Precious" even better.

Keep readin'
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song!

Song of Today: "Precioius" with Depeche Mode

"Right Now" with Atomic Kitten

Right now I'm waiting for my parents to pick me up and drive me to my native town for eight day's of reading, eating and relaxing.
Right now it feels very good...but I guess that I will tell you otherwise in a couple of days.
Especially if the rain continues to pour down in rivers...

I also guess the blogging will suffer without any broadband connection.

But keep readin'
(Hopefully) Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song!

Song of Today: "Right Now" with Atomic Kitten

"Givin' You Up" with Kylie

No time for blogging...

...I'm going to wipe out all that's saved on this computer (and re-install it and give it to my parents) and start using my new one.

So this is the last words written on this machine.
Bye bye!

Keep readin'
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song!

Song of Today: "Givin' You Up" with Kylie

"Sex Crime (1984)" with Eurythmics

I'm tired today...but not as hangover as I thought I would be... Karaoke, tons of snacks, and new interesting people - Andreas had a good birthday party as usual...

...and it became even better with a splendid "Night of the 80's" at SVT! All night they showed the events, shows, people, songs and stuff from the 80's:

• Live Aid, Jacob's Stege, Solstollarna, Bagen, Måndagsbörsen...
• Wham!, DepecheMode, DuranDuran, TinaTurner, CultureClub...
• RubricsCube, Game&Watch, Shoulder pads...

The song of today is a celebration to what was elected as the best year (musically) of the 80's. This night was a great initiative from SVT and I cursed myself for not timing my VHS (or maybe it should have been a BetaMax this time ;)).
Re-run please!

Keep readin'
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song!

Song of Today: "Sex Crime (1984)" with Eurythmics

"Son av Ayatollah" with Torsson

Today is the birthday of Javad - one of my best friends.

Since I won't see him today (I drank a lot of beers with him yesterday, and today I'm going to a bithday party for another good friend...whose birthday actually was yesterday...ehh...well) I dedicate my song of the day to him!

Happy birthday, Javad!
I'm happy and proud to be your friend.

Keep readin’
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "Son av Ayatollah" with Torsson

"Holiday" with Madonna

Finally!
Finally!!
Summer vacation.
Three weeks starting today.
Summer – here I come!

Keep readin’
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "Holiday" with Madonna

"Proud" with Heather Small

This week's list!

Best this week:

1. "No Tears for Queers" – Book by Johan Hilton [New]
One of the best and most interesting books I’ve ever read.
2. "Elsa" [4 weeks] *back*
Now my favorite kid has turned one year old!
3. Summer Parties with My Friends [2 weeks]
To have a cold beer outside - in town or at my friend Ante’s - is one of summer’s greatest things
4. "War of the Worlds" – Movie by Steven Spielberg [New]
The movie you have to see (so far) this summer. One of his best in many, many years.
Review in Swedish here!
5. London 2012 [New]
Won due to a fantastic, superior presentation and a video based on the fantastic song "Proud" with Heather Small
6. "Midsomer Murders" – Detective Series at SVT [2 weeks]
Do not disturb me when Barnaby solves his murders in Midsomer.
7. Pasta Salad [2 weeks]
Best food of the summer, since you don’t want hot food then...
8. Salsa with Coriander & Parsley
...but if you have a barbecue this salsa is the hit of 2005.
9. Blogs [5 weeks]
Johan have one, Andreas have one...or two, Jens showed me this one, everyone is doin’ it!
10. Power-walks in the Morning [11 weeks]
Johan told me it started to show...and I got the power to get up at 5.50 A.M yet another week.

Maybe this week!

The Heat
I know, I know. You shouldn’t complain...but I just can’t sleep!
"Strangers with Candy" – TV-series from the 90’s
I haven’t decided yet if this is good, fun – or just peculiar...

Worst this week!

London Terror/al-Qaida
Terrorism is soooo 1970! Idiotic deeds that just creates prejudices.
Roadwork at night
Well I guess it makes some sense...but try to tell me that at 2AM when I can’t sleep and I have to have my window open...
No Summer Vacation Yet
Soon. Real soon. Please let the sunny weather stay!

Keep readin’
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "Hymn to the Sea" by James Horner

"Everybody’s Free (to wear Sunscreen)" with Baz Luhrman

Yesterday, two colleagues and me got a great idea and skipped work in the afternoon in favour for the beach.

It was fantastic!!
I finally found a place where I could swim without any jellyfishes or other disgusting water creatures, had ice cream, and discussed other peoples bath suits and how their bodies fit into them...
...just like it should be.

Unfortunately I forgot to wear sunscreen on my back...
Afterwards, when I got home, I tried to take a shower...but it was just not possible.
My back burned like hell and I had to do some sort of acrobatic program to manage to shower my head but not my back...

So today I look like me from the front and look like a boiled lobster from behind.
It’s really not that attractive.
I promise.

Keep readin’
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "Everybody’s Free (to wear Sunscreen)" with Baz Luhrman

"Move in My Direction" with Bananarama

Yesterday I found a new single with Bananarama.

Bananarama?!?
Do they still exist?
Apparently.
They’re still just the two of them (Sara and Keren) since Siobhan have her solo-career (and she has also just released a new single - named after one of Keren’s dildos...) and Jacquie O'Sullivan was never a real member, and well...they're looking better than ever.

I loved the Bananas when they had their SAW-hits in the 80’s and the new song is actually quite OK (even if it is very far from SAW). It should be really fun to hear the album late in September.

I just adore the magazine Attitude where I found out all of this. It is surely worth its 69SEK.

Keep readin’
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "Move in My Direction" with Bananarama

"Insomnia" with Faithless

As I've mentioned before, I can’t sleep in this heat we’re experience right now in Gothenburg.

Since we usually have temperatures around 10ºC (and rain) the largest part of the year, we have no air-conditioning at our homes...
...so right now in my bedroom it is about 28ºC and it is completely impossible to sleep.

But I’m very good at not sleeping otherwise also.
I actually think I’m the best non-sleeper of all my friends.
I can be so tired all day that I’m barley able to sit straight...but when I put my head on my pillow my eyes are wide open...and if I am really lucky my neighbors have very loud sex and makes it even more impossible to get some hours of rest.

So even if there are rumors regarding cooler weather at the end of this week – of course since my vacation start Friday and I am supposed to lie on the beach the next three weeks – I really have no solution to my sleeping problems.

By the way; we have air-conditioning at work where I spend the most tired hours of my day. Isn’t that ironic.

Keep readin’
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "Insomnia" with Faithless

"Hymn to the Sea" by James Horner

After the lake fiasco yesterday, I thought that I should have a new try today and have a dip in the sea.

The sea outside Gothenburg is Kattegatt, a part of the North Sea, but the people born here at the west coast of Sweden are very, very, VERY eager to point out that this is THE ocean in opposite to the Baltic Sea at the east coast of Sweden (where I was born and raised), which they consider to be a small, filthy lake.

I have never understand why they have to point this out EVERY time I try to explain that I prefer the east coast since there are no jellyfishes there, the water isn’t that salt (so your skin stays a bit fresher), and since I prefer beaches and small bridges for rocks and great depths.

The people born here can’t understand that at all.
None of them.
They would never put their foots at the shore of a lake or at the beaches of the Baltic.
And if they buy a house they have to at least see the sea at winter with a pair of binoculars, otherwise they could just as well live in a flat.

So, if you plan to go to Gothenburg – do NOT make jokes about the ocean...
...and maybe not about Stockholm being the most beautiful city of Sweden (you might even avoid mentioning it is the capital).

And as for my little swim turn today it turned out to be just a smidge better than the one yesterday...but instead of ducks there where about 100 kids all over the place this time.
Next week I will travel to my hometown at the Baltic.
And I will (hopefully...please stay sunny) swim my legs off.

Keep readin’
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "Hymn to the Sea" by James Horner

"En Sten vid en Sjö i en Skog" with Gyllene Tider

At my power walk this morning I walked to a lake to have my first outside dip of the summer. I thought it sounded very "summerish" in theory, and the small lake looked quite beautiful and inviting in the sultry heat we experience right now in Gothenburg.

Well...
Standing there all alone at the small bridge looking down in the pitch black water it felt a little bit more uninviting...but I felt I couldn’t change my mind when I had gotten so far...so I climbed down the small ladder into the (very nice and warm) deep, black water...and swam about three strokes...then I got some panic-like feelings about what was hiding in the depths beneath me...and two strokes after that I almost swam into a duck.

After about 30 seconds in the little lake I was up from the water again.

I sat down on a rock beside the shore and sun dried.
Yet again the lake looked quite beautiful and inviting.
But now I knew better.

Keep readin’
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "En Sten vid en Sjö i en Skog" with Gyllene Tider

"You're My First" with Barry White

This week's list!

Best this week:

1. Summer Parties with My Friends [New]
Picnic, free wine with the colleagues, Strawberry Daiquiris, Rosé&Soda...that’s life! I love my friends! 2. ”Midsomer Murders” – Detective Series at SVT [New]
My summer isn’t here before Tom Barnaby solved some murders at my TV.
3. Picnic in the Evening [New]
Get home from work, make a salad, pack some strawberries and wine, take a friend – and just put yourselves on a blanket in the evening sun somewhere. Wonderful!
4. “Sommar” – Classic Swedish Radio Show [New]
One person speaking for an hour...and still it’s excellent radio.
5. Pasta Salad [New]
Best food of the summer. Fast, light and delicious!
6. Gaystraight2hell [2 weeks] *back*
The best gay club in town. Unfortunately just one day a month.
7. "Fantastic Four" – Movie by Tim Story [New]
Nothing new in the comic movie genre...but since I haven’t read the comic I quite like it. And Chris Evans as the Human Torch is the best looking man at the screen so far this year. Review in Swedish here!
8. Blogs [4 weeks]
It’s not a problem to know what to write – but it’s a problem to find the time...
9. Power-walks in the Morning [10 weeks]
I had a bit of a set back last week with to missed mornings... Bad me! Baaad me!
10. Live 8 [New]
OK, maybe I’m not Bob Geldofs biggest fan...but Madonna, Scissor Sisters, Robbie, Kean and U2...live...that’s quite fun, actually. And for a good cause.

Maybe this week!

”The Alchemist” – Book by Paulo Coelho
I might be the last person in the world who reads this book...but now it’s done. And well, I liked it. But I guess it didn’t changed my life as promised on the cover...

Worst this week!

Västtrafik
Responsible for the buses and trams in Gothenburg...and at summer it’s just one big chaos...and at the same prizes as ever.
Hang-overs
My god, I can’t drink anything these days...
"Sin City" - Movie by Frank Miller&Robert Rodriguez
Good looking but really not my thing at all. I need some substance behind the surface. Review in Swedish here!

Keep readin’
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "You're My First" with Barry White

"Panic (on the Streets of London)" with The Smiths

This is how I finished my blog yesterday:
"...it's her day to day...and in some way London's I guess..."

London had just got the 2012 Olympics, everyone was celebrating and all my colleagues and I were looking forward to our trip to London in early September.

Well. That was yesterday.
Today we’ve (once again) experienced terror in a major city in Europe – like Madrid last year - and innocent people have been killed.
Once again fear and disinformation is everywhere.
3 dead. 300 dead. Gas explosion. 5 blasted busses. 4 explosions. 180 casualties.
And so on. And so on.

The thing is that I thought I was starting to get a bit blasé...

When 9/11 occurred I was chocked and terrified, and well, I guess the whole world changed that day. I remember who told me (I got a mail from a colleague who is as afraid of flying that I am), I remember the first time I saw the pictures of the second plane crash into WTC, I remember who I talked to during that day, I remember the towers falling, and most of all that I was completely terrified and almost thought the world were coming to an end that beautiful (yapp, I remember the weather) September day.

But after that we’ve had so many terrorist attacks, or terrorist attacks warnings, or emergencies that were not terrorist attacks but everybody thought they were, or terrorist alarms, or terrorists hunts...
It like there’s nothing special about it now days. It is more like "when?" than "how?"

But London is special to me...
London is my number one destination for shopping, drinking beer, clubbing, do some more shopping... I adore that city.
So this hit me almost as hard as 9/11, even if the casualties (while I’m writing this) is much, much less.

As late as 10AM this morning I was watching the "Sport at Heart” video (with the song "Proud" with Heather Small and a lot of celebrities in different London areas) at the London2012 website, and was longing to be in my favourite city again...
...and now some of my colleagues ask me how they should do if the would like to skip the planned trip and cancel their flights, I’ve been listening to BBC Live online all day....and outside we have been hit by rain, thunder, and lightning after several days of almost tropical heat.

Yeah, I guess I will remember this day to.

Keep readin’
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "Panic (on the Streets of London)" with The Smiths

"Das Kleine Krokodil" with Schnappi

Today my favourite girl celebrates her first birthday ever!!

Elsa - my best friends daughter - turns one year old, and I will soon be off with my presents (a play-phone, two photos of her, and a CD with children’s music) to eat some cake.
So no time for bloging then!

...and as for the song of today; I chose Elsa’s favourite tune right now...
(I guess that would make this the first favourite song she have ever had in her life...I wonder which song I had?)
...'cause even if I hate this crocodile-song intensively, it's her day to day.

...and in some way London's I guess...

Keep readin’
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "Das Kleine Krokodil" with Schnappi

"Facts of Life" with Lazyboy

Two hard things to do when it is about 28 degrees Celsius outside in Sweden:

1. Eat your food - if your fridge been open all day due to a broken door (and a clumsy owner) and the milk, cheese, butter and so on have a temperature identical to the one outside.
2. Sleep - if the only air-conditioned place in your life is at your work and consequently your bedroom at home is hot as a sauna even during the night...and simultaneously has someone decided that nights in July are the perfect time for asphalting the streets outside your house.

So now you also know.
Yesterday, I learned it the hard way.

Keep readin’
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "Facts of Life" with Lazyboy

"He’s on the Phone" with St. Etienne

Finally I've got a cell-phone again!
Hurray!!
Now people can reach me - and I can reach them when I’ve finally managed to get all the phone numbers into the new phone...
...and I can start spending too much money again by sending text-messages all the time and making unnecessary phone-calls when I’m bored...
Lucky me!

Keep readin’
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "He’s on the Phone" with St. Etienne

"Music" with Madonna

It’s the day after Live8 and I have a bad, bad hangover...

But yesterday was fun.
Two pre-parties – one at Fredrik’s with fantastic food and a lot of beer and one at Andreas&Arne’s with a lot of rosé wine – in front of the TV, and then finishing at the "Gaystraigh2hell"-club at Respekt.

Live8 then...
...well, it wasn’t the same thing as being 12 years old and watch Live Aid (in those days you almost never saw live pop artists on Swedish television), but it was still quite amazing. I guess they had me already when U2 entered the stage...
...but I also enjoyed Madonna, Scissor Sisters, Keane and Robbie Williams.

But if it will make any difference at the G8 meeting....well...let’s say I’m sceptical but will gladly be proven wrong.

Keep readin’
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "Music" with Madonna

"Groove is in the Heart" with Dee Lite

Today we have something to celebrate...
It's time for the 25th song of the blog!

Let's recap the first 24:

01 "(Even Better than) The Real Thing [The Perfecto Remix]" by U2
02 "Revolution" with The Thompson Twins
03 "Lay All Your Love On Me"/"I Tryggt Förvar Hos Mig" by ABBA
04 "The Devil Sent You to Lorado" with Baccara
05 "Til Kingdom Come" by Coldplay
06 "Yesterday when I was Mad" by Pet Shop Boys
07 "Sunshine in the Rain" by BWO
08 "My Best Friend" by Hello Saferide
09 "My Number One" with Helena Paparizou
10 "Some Girls are Bigger than Others" by The Smiths
11 "Crash and Burn Girl" by Robyn
12 "Strawberry Fields Forever" by The Beatles
13 "Summer in the City" by The Lovin' Spoonful
14 "Edge of Your Atmosphere" with Kelly Osbourne
15 "When Tomorrow Comes" with Anna Ternheim
16 "Used to Be the One" with David Guetta
17 "A Midsummer Nights Dream" by Mendelssohn
18 "Bandido" with Azucar Moreno
19 "Perfect" with fairground Attraction
20 "Can’t Get Blue Monday Out of My Head" with Kylie Minouge
21 "Satellites" with September
22 "Electric" with Leila K
23 "Beautiful Day" with U2
24 "So Good" with Rachel Stevens

...and for the important 25-spot I just pick an all time favourite of mine...

25 "Groove is in the Heart" with Dee Lite

Keep readin’
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "Groove is in the Heart" with Dee Lite

"So Good" with Rachel Stevens

This week's list!

Best this week:

1. Midsummer [New]
It was fantastic (as you can read here)!
2. ”Midsommar 2005” – My Midsummer Compilation CD [New]
I think it turned out quite well. What do you think?
3. Podcasting [New]
Another thing that makes you glad to have a little pink iPod mini
4. Swedish Strawberries [2 weeks]
Strawberry cake, strawberry salsa and strawberry marinated meat...midsummer is a strawberry overload.
5. Elsa [3 weeks]
Miss charming all midsummer
6. "The Family Way" - bokk by Tony Parsons [New]
His best since "Man and Boy" is about three sisters and their babies
7. Blogs [3 weeks]
It's quite hard to find a song and something to write about every day...
8. Power-walks in the Morning [9 weeks]
I’m still going strong. (Even if I wish I'd stayed at home at Midsummer's Eve when I lost my phone...)
9. ”Shoreline EP” – Covers Sung by Anna Ternheim [New]
Annas' version of Eurythmics' "When Tomorrow Comes" is still the most beautiful song in my iPod – but it feels a bit like autum and have to stand back for Rachel Stevens' "So Good" at the power-walks.
10 ”24” (season4) – TV-series [3 weeks]
Just finishing the last hours of season 4, and it is not as good as season 3's last hours...even if they've thrown in Dennis Haysbert.

Maybe this week!

Pickled Herring&New Potatoes
A must at Midsummer...but unfortenately (since it is very cheap) you get tired really quickly

Worst this week!

Stolen Cell-phone
I. Am. Boiling. With. Rage!!!
Bad Days
This Monday was just a black hole (as you can read here).
Broken Pipes
it took a damaged floor and a *slammbil* before I could wash my plates again...

That's that for this week.

Keep readin’
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "So Good" with Rachel Stevens