Book survey part 1

For Eva-Lotta. I wrote my answers guessing what Amy and Barbara might have answered. Quite funny. Although I suspect B has stopped hating the main character in every book, that must have been a pregnancy issue like a craving oddity.

1. Favorite book from childhood
Taran and the Magic Cauldron

2. What are you reading now?

The Art of Running in the Rain (but it is annoying me so might never finish), Grave Secret.

3. What books have you reserved at the library?
None. But I need to go borrow some travel books: Chicago, Seattle, San Fransisco

4. Bad book habits?
Half read books everywhere.

5. What do you have at home from the library?
None

6. Have you got a reading device?
No but I have the kindle app on my iPhone and am reading Great Expectations right now.

7. Do you prefer reading one book at a time or to have several on the go at the same time?
Multiple choice is my preference

8. Have you changed your reading habits since you started blogging?
No

9. Worst book you have read this year?
One I didnt finish and that I dont remember.

10. Best book you have read this year?
100 aringen som klev ut ur fonstret o forsvann

11. How often do you read outside of your comfort zone?
Rarely

12. What is your comfort zone?
Fiction. Books that make me happy, books that keep me reading.

13. Can you read on the bus?
No

14. What is your favorite place to read?
In bed

15. What do you think about lending out books? Any rules?
I only lend books I dont mind losing. I give away books to people that I think they will like.

16. Do you turn down the corners in your books?
Yes

17. Do you ever write anything in the margins?
No

18. In educational books?
Lots

19. Which is your favorite language to read in?
English, Swedish.

20. What makes you love a book?
It has something special that makes me happy.

21. What insipires you to recommend a book?
That I like it and want others to discover it.

22. Favorite genre?
In phases; detective novels, vampire books, fantasy, modern fiction, award winners, youth books.

23. Genre you dont read very often (but wish you did)?

None

24. Favorite biography?
Clarissa Dickson Wright

25. Have you ever read a self help book?
Yes, listened to some book on women and eating - Women, Food and God? Something like that. Made me feel very normal.

Escape

We left for warm Florida on Tuesday, arrived to a lovely warm night so we had some tapas and sangria on a rooftop bar in Sarasota.

Wednesday morning we golfed. Oh that is such a nice sport when played in sunshine and with buggies. We didnt play very well but lots of interesting birds on the course (including an ibis eating a snake) so that kept us from despairing over our odd shots. Wednesday night - sunset cruise and we saw lots and lots of frollicking dolphins and an eagle couple. It was a lovely evening and the sunset was breathtaking. I spilled red wine on me as it got a bit choppy at one point but that just proves that you should stick to bubbly on twilight cruises.

Thursday - Thanksgiving - we went to the beach while the food was cooked for us. Very spoilt we are. My first swim in the gulf of Mexico. Salty and around 19 so refreshing. This was followed by an amazing amount of food. Phew.

Friday - started with rain so we went for a brief shopping trip as its Black Friday after all. We didn't buy anything as the queues were horrific. And by the time we got to the stores the sun was out! So the afternoon was spent on the beach (Siesta Key) and some swimming in the sea. Dinner on the beach as well, checking out the sunset once more. A good last night in the warmth.

Saturday - back north. Its cold but sunny and time to decorate for Christmas as its 1st Advent.

Sending packages

we are getting closer to Christmas. I know this because I have got the back of presents out, that I have been adding to through the year whenever I find anything suitable. Today we tried UPS instead of the Post office and it was a treat. Yes they are more expensive but they are nice and helpful and the whole experience was significantly less annoying than going to the post office. I love Royal Mail but the US post office is just plan rubbish.

So today 4 packages are on their way. Another 5 will go after thanksgiving. A couple more items are needed and a lot more needs wrapped. So bring on Christmas! I am moderately ready!

Report out

It was fabulous! My salmon went down a treat and it was missed by many as there was just so much food to choose from. A lot of warm food, from kielbasa to sausage bread, from jerk chicken to beef bourguignon, from trifle to egg custard tarts. We stuffed our faces and enjoyed every last bit of it!

Cant wait for next years event. I am thinking being a bit more traditional and maybe making meatballs or pannbiff or flaskpannkaka...

Foreign food

On Monday we are hosting an International Food day at work with a pot luck where people bring in food from their home countries (or in many cases, food from their grandparents home countries).

I am bringing in Gravlax with Hovmastarsas - cured salmon with dill mustard sauce. I got a large side of salmon last night and its currently curing away in the fridge. I am particularly looking forward to the Romanian meatballs that one of my colleagues is bringing in as well as the gulab jamun another colleague is bringing in.

I think its a fantastic idea and I missed last years event so this is my first one. I have seen the list of foods, we will not leave hungry come Monday... Unfortunately we are not allowed to accompany our food with the matching spirits from the home countries, some rule about not drinking at work. Fneh!

Sleeping

Ah last Sunday we made the fatal mistake of trying a Tempur-pedic bed in one of the shops in the mall. We have since spent every night reminiscing before falling asleep in our old banger of a bed.

So yesterday we said 'no more!' and went to Sleepys for the rest of our lives (geddit?). In the brilliant American way we got it delivered today. And our old one removed for a small fee. In some ways this is the best country in the world!

Its white. Its huge. Its firm. It smells (apparently its the material, not harmful and will go away after a few days). I love it already. Tried skyping from it earlier and can confirm its a good skype place.

After an extra terrible nights sleep (due to noisy neighbours as well as sleeping on the old mattress on the floor) I am giddy with excitement about having an early night.

Same old same old

Working a lot, its been raining but both those things are ok. Life is pretty good and I can still remember the feel of walking barefood on the hot sand.