New to the US

There are many things that baffle a non-American when arriving here. Like all the adult people carrying beverages AT ALL TIMES, the affinity for baseball caps, the size of your food servings and the prevalent notion that fries go with everything.

But the number one question remains:
Why is there SO MUCH water in your toilet bowls?

Isabellas - you're in luck

Did you know there's a museum where every girl or woman named Isabella gets in for free? 
Don't miss it!

Jennifer in Boston?

Are you reading this? have a question for you!
-emi

NYC, enough with the grown-up sippy cups

There must be an amendment in the American legislation that safeguards the right to bear a to-go cup of beverage at every instance of your life.

As leaders talked about the sacrifices we will all have to make to help the environment, this is such a minor sacrifice I don't understand why it hasn't already been made a legal issue.

I know Bloomberg tried to fight the sugared drinks but take it further. Drink your coffee at home or use a container that can be reused, not thrown away.

Swedish traditions

Largely secular and sadly devoid of traditions, Swedes celebrate easter, Valpurgis, Midsummer, All saints eve, Saint Lucias day and Christmas. That's pretty much it.

But know what tradition we have that you might not have in your country?
We have the proud tradition of dropping your pacifiers off at the kittens at zoo once you quit using pacifiers.
It's just done.

I'll go to Skansen when I visit Sweden week after next. I'll show you proof. It's a fine tradition, we're proud of it. Not sure what the kitten think?

But what's your tradition when it comes to such an important rite of passage as quitting the pacis?

A thought I often have

Sometimes I hear about the great advantages of abstaining from coffee, alcohol and sugar. Well. I share a household with people who have very limited access to the above.

Let me tell you, they are constantly bananas.

Loving women and this letter to Kim

http://www.roxyfarhat.com/openlettertokimkardashian.html

Loving women

If you're going to wear animal print this season

Take some pointers from a master.

Being human

So close to other primates in so many ways. And yet, a life apart.

Eavesdropping snippet

"It's not oil, it's sauerkraut!"

Fall is inching closer

There's so much to be upset about

And here's one more thing. Colombia's female bicycle team in their new gear.

Don't forget

There's a rat in inspiration.

Unfortunate fact

In Sweden, the term for "married" coincides with the word for "poison".
Gift.

Speaking without words

I find this touching

The conscious mind's infatuation with the fact that there is such a thing as consciousness.

IRL

http://www.visualnews.com/2014/09/08/famous-movie-stills-real-life/

Found a pic from my childhood

Ages 7-13, this is where you'd find me. Kista Galleria.

Did you read this?

Am curious

or this?

IS IT A PROBLEM?

Is this blog confusing to you? I mean, I've almost entirely abandoned the "letters from end consumer" concept. Should I return to that concept or change name of blog?

Or does it not matter?

Happy day

Just got a mail from my publisher saying my next book is officially accepted. It's not completed yet but they want it. So happy.

Next step: scoring an illustrator. It's really the publisher that does this part but I get to suggest names. It's fun.

This book will focus on a character very similar to Niki, our youngest.

never walk alone

Expatte

Every now and then I mix English and Swedish here and I understand thats's confusing. No more of that. This will be only English. All Swedish posts will be here http://expatte.blogspot.com

Startar ny blogg på svenska här: http://expatte.blogspot.com

On publishing a book.

Recent studies show that a writer spends exactly the same amount of time (or more) as it took to write it, just thinking about the book and hoping for its success.

Oh book, hope you manage on your own. Hope children will find you and read you and make you part of their lives and homes.

Am about to try to find an Anglo publisher.
Any advice? Jenny, hoping for your contact of course, but just in case they're not interested.

My book is about 8-year old Simon who wants a pet more than anything but since his parents are so against pets (horrible people) he goes for the next best thing - a carnivorous plant.

Ready for fall

I love fall most of all.

Camera people

You know I love my Fujifilm x-e2.
But earlier this summer I interviewed a super blogger who said she had both a Fujifilm and a Canon 5D Mark II and these were her words :

"I hoped the Fujifilm would be the solution. But it just doesn't do what the Canon does".

And ever since I've been dreaming about the Canon.

what do you say? would you start saving?
I'd buy a used one I think, could never afford a new one.

Also - those of you who are into photography, how many cameras do you have?

Back in NYC

Feeling confused, ready for fall, excited, a bit apprehensive.

This next year, what will it bring?
Will we become more rooted here or want to return to Stockholm?

Have a strong feeling we will have to let go of Stockholm to really feel at home here. Not sure if I'm ready to let go of Stockholm but at the same time this is where we live now.

Sure many of you have been through this.
If you did, did everyone in your family agree on the arrangements you made?
Or did one of you want to return/stay in contrast to the others?

Do not miss Medieval People of Color blog

http://medievalpoc.org

Let's talk about arch bishops - it's a first

One of my major problems with organized religion is how low women of faith often place within each respective faith's power hierarchy (both here on earth and in the presumed afterlife). So it's with great joy that I see that Sweden's 70th elected arch bishop is, for the first time, a woman: Antje Jackelén.

Antje is into environmental issues and LGBT rights and claims that humor is very important to her. I feel respect and interest come rushing in. Go, Antje.

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Since I'm on the topic of faith, this is how I personally view my existence:

Transmitter and receiver, perceiver, a hopeful non-believer.