saturday school

yep. today is the first of i'm not sure how many...school/work on saturday to make up for snow days. i would be complaining and whining, but... my love bought her ticket to the states for the summer!! YAY! so, three months from today we will finally be reunited! 10 travel planning points for my love!

saturday school? bring it on!

where can i go?

i wanna travel the world.

ok. that shouldn't be a surprise to many people who know me, but let me explain why this feeling is overwhelming me today... i've been living in some february time-warp for the past week due to snow, ice, no school, and surprise vacation days from work. since february started about a week ago (i think), i have had no idea what day it really is, what i am supposed to be doing, or how to focus... i have read a book, written some, listened to music, pondered my passion in life, talked on msn, been to work a little, watched a crapload of tv, and slept some. today, i have focused on travel programs on tv. i've kinda settled into this pondering, being kind of existence, but sadly, i believe that today is gonna be my last day of my time-warp holiday.

perhaps it's due to some form of cabin fever, though i don't really feel restless, or perhaps it's due to having way to much time to think and just be... but i am having this uncontrollable desire to travel. i mean really travel. pack up what i need in a backpack, grab my camera and my journal/computer, swing by sweden and get my love, and then take off!

where do i wanna go? everywhere! i want to meet crazy, interesting people. see ancient, old places. explore beautiful architecture and nature. hear different kinds of music and taste new foods. i want to take it all in, soak it all up, photograph it, and write about it all. i want to travel because i want to experience this amazing world and share it with others through my writing. i want to inspire people to try something new, meet someone new, and expand their minds. i want to travel for peace. don't you think that if we travel and open ourselves up to new things we become more open and accepting? then we realize that we are not that different from one another, and become willing to work with each other. and then...we are creating peace and justice in this world. i really believe in this.

i want to travel!

spring break comes early

ok. i am home again today. no school. yay. or not. i can't decide. you see, in order to be able to miss this day of school, the school system had to find a day we could use to make up the missed one. today's missed day will be made up on friday, april 9. the last day of spring break. so, my spring break vacation just lost 3 days (i will have to travel home on thursday instead of sunday). ugh.

therefore, i am celebrating spring break all day today. i mean, it IS one of my spring break holidays now. it doesn't matter that it is sleeting, raining, and snowing outside. i have another cozy day inside. gonna read some, clean some, listen to some music, work on some paperwork a little, and hopefully talk to my love some after she gets home from work.

so, it's gonna be a good holiday today. i'm gonna make it good.

a few memories from last year's amazing spring break...

our campsite in the keys!

the world's smallest and coolest bar!

my love's favorite tree!

crazy, amazing, greasy breakfast restaurant in islamorada

we made a spontaneous 3-day trip to my parents' beach house in nc on our way home

the beatles bringing people together

yesterday i was in terminal c at newark international airport. if you have heard the news today, then you know that there was a security issue last night that caused chaos...someone went the wrong way through security and in an attempt to locate the person, authorities had everyone in terminal c (and it's a BIG terminal) go back through security. even those on planes had to get off and go back through. and planes were grounded for hours. luckily, my plane took off just before this chaos took place. though, i did hear what i believe were alarms going off for about 30 minutes indicating that something was wrong.

anyway...in the midst of a crappy, crowded, stressful time for so many people, one man decided to make the best of the situation. love it. amazing.


home for christmas

i'm listening to amy grant's home for christmas album right now...one of my favorites. and i am enjoying the beginning of my christmas in sweden! yes, i am away from nc and my family there, but this year it's our turn to be in sweden. back to nc next year. anyway, here's an update on my adventure getting here...


it began thursday morning with the threat of a snow and ice storm in nc. i went to work, kept checking the weather forecast, and decided i needed to leave early. so, i booked a flight out of charlotte on thursday (my original plan was to leave friday). i ran home and packed like a crazy person, and headed off to charlotte. i must have snatched up the very last seat on the flight to newark, new jersey, because i was in the middle on the back row, and the plan was completely full! i wondered if we would make it, because i worry waaaay too much on flights, but the woman (who turned out to be a man) sitting beside me with her hood up had her ipod playing the whole time we took off - and you are not supposed to do that! thankfully, i landed safely and headed off to my hotel at the airport to rest...yeah right...too excited!


my almost-24-hour stay in nj was quite pleasant. i had my own, private driver to my hotel, a fantastic room, and time to relax! i slept in friday morning, checked my bag in on friday afternoon, and then hung out for some hours in the airport. everywhere i went, there were cheerful, pleasant, friendly people. not the cold, unfriendly, holiday-crazed people you always hear about. maybe i was just lucky.


i boarded the plane at 5, and sat there for 2 and a half hours before we took off!!! yep. 2 and a half hours. there was a "mechanical problem"...WHAT?!?! i was an emotional wreck. after finally leaving nj, the flight was pretty uneventful (whew) and i think i even slept a little. however, arriving one and a half hours late, was not exactly what i'd hoped for. but, arriving safely was definitely a good thing.


i LOVE airport reunions!!! after our traditional hello rituals, my love and i hopped on a train to stockholm central, and then on to the bus to norrköping. it was snowing and a winter wonderland all around. yay! i took a shower, ate some chinese for dinner, and then rested. it was a quiet, cozy night and so good to be with my love again!


today we were up early and headed to church. lina was singing in a choir (and singing solo too. yes, i am proud!) we came back home and had fika with more friends and family. now, it's wrapping gifts (lina's doing it. hehe. i'm writing this) and christmas music time. later on we're planning to watch a movie. cozy, cozy, cozy!


i know i don't have any pictures to show you now. i will have some tomorrow! so many things to show you americans...swedish traditions and celebrations. we have a full list of things to do, so there will be many opportunities for picture-taking!


until then...peace to you all.