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The Viking Diaries

More phone fun

Sunday, 1 November 2009 8:09 A GMT+01

Our plan to torment my father-in-law by rotating unfamiliar male voices on the outgoing message on our oddly-behaving answering machine fell apart late last week when the machine stopped working altogether, prompting Sweden's most informed consumer t

I remember leisure time...

Friday, 30 October 2009 8:34 P GMT+01

Work has been crazy for both of us lately...with me going in early (and skipping the gym to do so) and Dr. Darling staying late nearly every afternoon. But by the middle of this week, the Swede was seeing a bit of light at the end of the tunnel.

Enthusiastic practicality

Wednesday, 28 October 2009 9:58 A GMT+01

One of my favorite colleagues, Eliza, came barreling into my office this afternoon while I was on the phone. Dancing around my desk she whispered loudly, "You've got to get off the phone." The fact that I was talking to our boss did not deter her.

New laundry war...

Monday, 26 October 2009 9:28 A GMT+01

It's been awhile since I've told any tales from the Swedish Laundry Room, primarily because we've had something of a monopoly on our preferred weekly time slot.

First Family by Annie Leibovitz

Friday, 23 October 2009 8:54 A GMT+01

I generally don't spend a lot of time looking at other people's photos on Flickr. But the exception is The Official White House Photostream, which never fails to charm, impress and inform. (Even though not all of the shots are taken by Annie Leibovit

What a warm welcome...

Monday, 19 October 2009 7:08 A GMT+01

After much drama courtesy of the Super Secret System for securing holiday vacation time that apparently even Dr. Darling's boss has no knowledge of (more on that latter), we were finally able to book our Christmas trip to the US tonight.

Perfect convergence of fall entertainment

Friday, 16 October 2009 3:02 P GMT+01

Leave it to Glee to find a way to combine two of my favorite things: American football and Beyonce.

Questioning my Swede-cred...

Tuesday, 13 October 2009 7:21 A GMT+01

Iäve been living in Sweden for over 7 years now and consider myself to be pretty well integrated into society. I've learned the language, cracked the cultural code of the workplace (no to mention the apartment building laundry room).

FL Congressman Alan Grayson is my hero

Friday, 9 October 2009 7:40 A GMT+01

This week my favorite member of Congress reminded his Democratic colleagues that Americans did not elect Olympian Snow president, and claimed that if Barack Obama ate a BLT for lunch tomorrow, the GOP would try to ban bacon.

Fun with fathers-in-law

Tuesday, 6 October 2009 4:52 A GMT+01

Our answering machine has been behaving badly the last couple weeks. I came home from work one day to find the call indicator light flashing even though there were no messages on it.

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America's Right-Wingnuts celebrate Olympic loss

Saturday, 3 October 2009 7:56 P GMT+01

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

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Two Big O's invade Denmark

Wednesday, 30 September 2009 6:32 P GMT+01

Michelle Obama arrived in Copenhagen today to help sell Chicago to the International Olympic Committee as the host city for the 2016 Games.

Behold the power of the tweet

Sunday, 27 September 2009 5:18 A GMT+01

When it comes to Twitter, I find that people tend to fall into two camps: those who "get it" and those who don't. And the folks who "get it" are often torn as to how hard we should try to convince the don'ts of what they're missing.

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Kallbadhus conflict...

Wednesday, 23 September 2009 9:34 A GMT+01

Saturday morning was sunshiney and warm, just begging for us to get outside and enjoy it before the Swedish autumn sets in. To my surprise and delight, Dr. Darling, suggested we go to the kallbadhus.

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So how did you celebrate "Talk Like a Pirate Day"?

Sunday, 20 September 2009 8:49 A GMT+01

As a new iPhone owner...I really had no choice.

Swedish anatomy

Friday, 18 September 2009 8:05 A GMT+01

One of the many charms of being part of a bi-national couple is the often comical way each mangles the other's native language. It's truly a never-ending source of entertainment.

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Godparent gig is exhausting for exhibitionists

Tuesday, 15 September 2009 3:21 P GMT+01

Dr. Darling and I had the honor and privilege to become Godparents on Saturday afternoon, but our "official" responsibilities actually kicked in a bit earlier than that.

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Lofoten Island Tour: Souvenirs and Scary Hotels

Sunday, 13 September 2009 9:21 P GMT+01

When we last left our idiot intrepid cycle tourers Shazzer and Dr. Darling, they had just spent two days staying out of the rain in a cozy sea cabin in the Lofoten Islands in northern Norway. Had they known what they were in for the next night,

Bill Maher asks the Dems to fight @$$holes with @$$holes

Saturday, 12 September 2009 10:38 A GMT+01

And I think he's got it absolutely right:

Lots more plundering and pilaging in my future

Sunday, 6 September 2009 5:23 P GMT+01

So last spring I had the first of what I understand will be an annual cleaning, polishing and fit-check of my prosthetic eye.

We have no business being together

Thursday, 3 September 2009 8:09 P GMT+01

Recently one of our cable TV networks began airing episodes of possibly my all-time favorite TV series from the late 80's - early 90's, LA Law.

Home safe, still swamped

Tuesday, 1 September 2009 9:06 A GMT+01

Here's an entry that should have been posted a couple days ago...but I just haven't been able to get my act together to do it. We arrived home late Sunday morning following a surprisingly restful night on the Oslo-Copenhagen Ferry.

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Rain-riding is not my forte

Friday, 28 August 2009 9:13 A GMT+01

Being out in the elements is both the blessing and the curse of bike touring. When the weather is good, it's an amazing way to travel. When the weather is bad, it can be downright miserable.

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Sometimes Mother Nature wins

Friday, 21 August 2009 9:11 A GMT+01

August 21, 2009 I thought sleeping in a tent in the rain would be the low-light of the trip...but it turns out that wind is much worse. I learned this on our 2nd night out when our campsite was buffeted by rolling bursts of high winds from the se

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Bike Boat between islands.

Wednesday, 19 August 2009 9:09 A GMT+01

Mobile post sent by Shazzer using Utterli. Replies.

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