We're walking in the air...

As I stepped outside earlier this evening, just after dinner, I felt it on the air. That smell! That wonderful and beautiful scent of almost-Winter. The first one of this season! Instead of being just cold and damp, like it's been for the past few days, it was that crisp and chilly kind of air. The Winter kind of air. Only, there was no snow of course. This is south-western Scotland in early October after all. But I couldn't help but long and wish for some white flakes to fall. I started singing as I walked to the wee corner shop on my street. I am really getting into the Yuletide spirit now. It doesn't help that some of the shops on the High Street are starting to display X-mas cards either.

I actually cave in and bought a pack of 12 cards for 99p:

Better to be prepared, right?

I know some of you think it's awfully early to start thinking about the upcoming Holiday Season, but you're talking to someone who can start humming "Good King Wenceslas" in July. And I'm not ashamed.

///Anna

The Reason For The Season

With Easter approaching us I think it's very important to remember why we really celebrate the holiday to begin with. And no, Jesus is not the reason for the season. I'll leave you to ponder on that with the following article/post that I found on a Facebook group. Whoever wrote it was genius! It makes you realize how much Christianity has stolen from the ancient Pagan religions.

An Easter Blessing

Beloved, let us rejoice, for this is a time of celebration. In the true spirit of this season, let our hearts be gladdened, and let us pray and pay tribute to the deity in whose honor this holiday comes...

...Eostre, the Germanic goddess of spring.

No, no, wait, that's not right. Let's try again.


Please forgive our previous silly mistake. As we all well know, beloved, this holiday comes not because of any primitive druidic goddess, but rather in honor of a heroic figure, a true god among men, who was born of a mortal woman and a divine Father. As should be obvious by now, the name of this very special child was...

...Hercules.

No - hold on. That can't be right either.


Of course, of course. The hero of our story, the one whom we have gathered here to thank, was no figure of pagan Greek polytheism. He was a redeemer, one who came to earth to lift up sinful and ignorant humans, knowing full well he would pay the ultimate price for his actions, but willing to go ahead anyway out of love and compassion. As you all know, this blessed Savior was called...

...Prometheus.

No, no, give us just a minute. We'll get it right.


We all know full well who is being described here, of course. He is the one, the One, who defeated death itself and rose from the grave, in a miracle that no other would-be savior has ever been able to duplicate. By dramatically displaying his power over death, he proved once and for all that he was the single true god. And his name was...

...Osiris.

No, wait. That's not right either. Of course! What a ridiculous error to make. Our apologies.


Beloved, only one god fits this description. You know him well -- millions of you around the world today worship him. He was conceived miraculously and visited while still an infant by wise men who were guided to him by a star. He lived in a small province whose evil ruler sought to have him killed before he could rise to power, but his parents were warned by a heavenly messenger who instructed them to take their child to a neighboring district, where he would be safe from the slaughter. This miracle child would come to grow up and perform many great deeds, and the timeless and moving story of his life was recounted throughout history and still rings true today. I refer of course to...

...Krishna.

Is that right? That can't be right, can it?


No! Beloved, the god to whom I refer stands alone, unique, head and shoulders above the myths and fables of the false religions. No other savior ever claimed to duplicate his deeds. No other prophet was anything at all like him. He was the mediator between God and man, he helps departed souls ascend to heaven, and he will judge the human race at the end of the world. He shed the blood of an innocent to wash away the sins of the world and established a sacred meal ritual where flesh and blood were symbolically consumed by initiates. Only one person fits that description. You know this person well - his birthday falls near the end of the year, on December 25. As should be more than obvious by now, this person can only be the one who was called...

...Mithras.

That doesn't seem right either...


Of course. That, too, is incorrect. My most sincere apologies. Beloved, do not let these slight slips of the tongue distract you from the power of the message I bring. Our religion is the one true religion. The claims of all others crumble under scrutiny, but ours and ours alone is validated, again and again, by historical fact. It was the first of its kind to make such claims as these; all others are merely impostors which sought to capitalize on its fame. Our savior cannot be mistaken for any other. He performed countless miracles on earth, miracles well attested to by bystanders. He healed the sick and the crippled, restored sight to the blind, cast out demons, yea, even raised the dead! His birth was of a virgin, foretold by an angel. While still a child, he exhibited extraordinary knowledge of religious scripture. He reformed the corrupt and worldly religions of his day. After his death, he rose from the grave and appeared to his disciples to prove to them his miraculous power, after which he ascended to Heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father. He was known as "the Son of God!" No other religion can make such claims! No other savior proved his divinity again and again to so many! No one can doubt his power or the truth of the message he brought. His memory will live forever. How can he be mistaken for anyone else? Of course, by now there is not a shred of doubt in any of your minds. You know as well as I do to whom I am referring. We must worship him, pay tribute to his memory, and focus on spreading his message of love and compassion; that, after everything, is the true meaning of Easter. Come, beloved, let us pray and honor the divine prophet whom I have just described. Let us glory in the everlasting love of...

...Apollonius of Tyana.

Wait - wait - wait - eh, you know what? Screw this.

With that I want to wish you a Happy Easter, Blessed Ostara, Glad Påsk and Gleðilega Páska! May you eat chocolate and candy until you burst :D

Halló frá Ísland!

So I have arrived! Flew in to Keflavík Airport yesterday where the family was waiting for me. I had a really good feeling instantly when I saw them. We then went to Reykjavik, had some hamburgers for dinner and then headed for the house in Stokkseyri. Everything has been great so far. The house is wonderful and there is even a computer, a TV and a DVD player in my room! I couldn´t ask for more. Today we went to their park; it´s like a wee open-air zoo which they keep open to the public in the summer. Saw some sheep, goats, horses, chicken and turkeys today. It was a lot of fun, Can't wait to see it open.

The kids are absolutely adorable. The twins, Elísabet and Daníela (3) are to die for. Victoría (5) is superfun and Ingibjörg (13) is really sweet! There is also a cat, Romeo and a cuddly dog named Bosse. The parents are really friendly, fun to hang out with and really warm and open. I have a really good feeling about this job. I can't wait to spend the next 5 months here!

SmurfenLars hath arriveth

Dad and I went to Norrköping early this morning to go hard drive shopping. We went to the huge nationwide Hi-Fi retailer OnOff to see what they had to offer. They had recently moved to an even bigger facility and so the place was HUGE! We first found a 250GB external hard drive but soon realized they had a special offer on the 320GB hard drive (of the same brand) so it cost the same as the 250GB one. Doesn't take a genius to figure out which one I chose ;) We then went to ICA Maxi (sort of like... Target with food) quickly to get stuff for tonight's dinner. Sandra, if you're reading this, it's that pork stuff we had at my house with the curry, bananas, raisins, peanuts, cashews etc. My request! It's probably one of my favorite things to eat.

Now I'm sitting here transferring all my music, pictures, videos and documents to my new external hard drive, which I named "SmurfenLars" ('LarsTheSmurf'). Haha, don't ask. Long story. It's going to be really good having all my stuff with me so I can continue with my writing and graphics while I'm there as well as listening to all my music. I can't believe I'm leaving tomorrow. Panic? The answer is yes :p

What are they thinking?

You can't help but wonder when watching shows like American Idol; "what are they thinking?". Are they honestly serious when going in there and giving the worst audition in the history of time? Why is it always the people who say that they're such incredible singers who are tone-deaf? Then you have the people who have decent voices but they go and screw everything up by wailing throughout the whole song. Wailing is not singing. Just because you can wail your ass through a song does not make you a great singer. JUST SING THE SONG DAMN IT! What's with singing everything BUT the melody to try to show your vocal range?! I don't classify that as good singing, but apparently America does since those are the people they always put through to Hollywood. Simon is basically the only judge with taste (and sanity). In came a girl last night (Sweden is still on the audition weeks, about to go to the Hollywood week soon) who had the most unique, old-school, great-sounding voice. Nothing fake or affected about it. Natural and different. Why she didn't go to Hollywood at first? Her "facial expressions" bothered Randy and Paula. WHAT THE FUCK?! You put through people who can't even sing a melody right but you decline a girl who can actually sing from her heart because she makes weird expressions with her face when vocalizing?

America in a nutshell I guess.

Running out of time

Why do I have to leave in 3 days?! 3 DAYS! There is so much I feel like I need to do before I go. Why is it always a panic situation whenever I'm about to leave for a longer period of time? I'm probably just the worst planner in the world. Oh well, you gotta suck it up I guess. If only I had the money to buy an external hard drive for my computer, it'd make things much easier for sure as I wouldn't have to do everything concerning computer stuff before I leave (since I wouldn't have access to my files and documents for five months) but I could take it with me and continue with it once I've arrived in Iceland. Might flirt with the folks see if that helps ;)

I'll be back *in my best Arnold voice*

Midnight thoughts

So here I am, writing my first blogspot post ever! Yay me!
I'm about to embark on another adventure abroad. Saturday I will be flying to Iceland to work as an au-pair for 5 months. I seriously cannot wait. Iceland has been one of those countries I've always wanted to visit and I just love the sound of the language. This will be my 3rd official au-pair experience (4th counting the 2 months I spent in the States helping out a friend with her kids). People must think I'm crazy to keep doing it but I just love it so much. You get to experience a whole new country and culture first hand and you get to spend your days taking care of little kids. It's such a rewarding experience.

I should probably head for bed!
I'll talk to you soonlies