Thursday, February 28, 2008
One Perfect Moment
The 20000 Club
Today's the day the official blog visitor counter turned 20000 - in reality maybe a bit more or less - in the big picture it's probably small potatoes, but still sort of neat... Ah sometimes I'm just so easy to please.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
When the Last Endeavour Did the Trick
Remember the mind at work? Possibly also the post-interview thoughts - now we've come to chapter (post) three on this particular subject. I hope I can see this as three really very much is a charm, since... yes, I got accepted to the course. So congrats to me (I hope, think?)!
Obviously I did something right at the aforementioned interview, despite lack of sleep, feeling a bit queasy that day, not to mention my flagrant choice of something purple to wear. Well, perhaps that latter choice was actually the metaphorical cherry on the proverbial sundae? Maybe I should even show some well-deserved gratitude towards purple? Possibly even wear that same outfit upcoming Monday, the first day of course (change)?
Although being seen in the same outfit twice in a row, in the same circle of things, isn't that something of a gross misconduct in the outfit realm of life? Mm, better safe than sorry, if I once again choose to go purple it has to be another shady shape of it.
Another highly important question, first day of *school*, is of course which handbag is to accompany me and my possibly shade of purple. Size matters, which excludes some of them, and leaves the race open for Blända (oak/brownish), Tindra (olivegreen), Elvira (orange) or Stina Smitten (blue). Will have to ponder a bit over that. Don't you just love using your little grey ones for such important, life changing matters? This surely must be what makes our world turn around. The choice of handbag du jour.
There will be about 25 of us slightly mature students, from all sorts of academic backgrounds I gather. None than me with a legal one as far as I know, though a few with a stray legal course baggage - which can be rather amusing since there rarely is something as completely confident know-it-all as a person who has done a couple of casual law courses... When I mention this to M, his reply was "well, what's wrong with that, you think you know better, even best than know-it-alls most all the time" - I have absolutely no idea what he meant by that. I guess it was a feeble attempt on wittiness of some sort.
The course will range over a period of about seven months - goodbye summer of 2008 - out of which a third will be out and about as a trainee. It all looks very well on paper, I kind of liked the information-meeting, the teacher seems like a very pleasant guy, there are some really nifty sections of the course I'm so looking forward to dig into, others that I'm not all that keen on. I know it'll be quite mind boggling at first, but I also think it's going to be just great to actually be doing something which hopefully in the end will finally lead to something new and exciting.
To tell the truth I feel sort of as effervescent as I did when I began first grade. Or at least I like to think I was all that drolly as a six year old (back in the stone ages that was), since I thought school was basically a great place to be and do.
Though now, as an all matured and better-than-know-it-all Pia, the most exciting thing with returning to the school bench is quite possibly the prospect of choosing the tip-top purple shaded outfit and a matching perfect handbag for the very first day at the desk. Brand new legal pad, pencils sharpened, brain at work, here I come.
Mrs & Mr Duck
Mrs Duck wants to continue sleeping yet for another while, Mr Duck seems however more eager to discover the new springtime world of things - *quack*
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Of Sheepish Crime & Special Calamity
So there, I've finished reading that special book, the *first* book of the year now, and oh me oh my was it a fantastic read, I just loved it!! Every. Single. Page. "Special Topics In Calamity Physics" by Marisha Pessl is officially on my favourite-books list now - although, admittedly, I found the ending rather shortened and anticlimactic, a whole bunch of questions unanswered. I suppose the "Final Exam" part was a way to handle those unanswered issues, and although gimmicky, perhaps not really what I'd have liked as a perfect finishing touch to what must be concidered a tremendously arduous labour of love for words and writing.
If you don't love words, expressions, wordplays, puns and literature you won't enjoy this book. At all. Since it's absolutely brilliantly brimming with those. I found myself again and again smiling as well as somewhat silently giggling while reading it on the train, sometimes even laughing (very silently indeed). All the wordly nerdiness, the constant references to books and treatises, the witty parables, not to mention the naming of the chapters after books (and movies) - of course I especially adored just that... And oh, those delightful visual aids.
If I *had to* resemble it to another book I could say it somewhat reminds me of Donna Tartt's lovely book "The Secret History", though more than a cut above in ingeniousness.
And even if I, as I wrote above, didn't fully embrace the ending, at least it definitely lingers on, and has me thinking, pondering, broodering over what really happen, what was the reason for Film Studies teacher Hannah Schneider's death? And is Blue really prepared to take on, by her very self, the world after her high school graduation? Did she really kiss like a tuna? What happened to the remains of all the poor pinned butterflies? And what about... The list of minor as well as major questions unanswered by the time one reaches page 668 seems slightly endless. Ah, perhaps that actually is a part of the unquestionable charm of this simply irresistable, enchanting love of a book.
I'll round this review off with a far from equally good book, in fact a book I read great reviews on last summer, had to have, but which never really caught me. After a seemingly endless time of trying to get past page 80 - imagine I actually forced myself to get that far into the book... - I decided enough was enough. I don't like this book, it's not very well written, in fact it's rather boring, a pity since the plot-inventiveness is really fresh; sheep flock solving a murder.
But if it might be difficult to distinguish 19 different human characters, imagine to tell 19 sheep apart... 19 sheep that the author frankly hasn't done a very good job in giving distinct personalities or features to. I was constantly annoyed for having to return to the cast of characters since I just couldn't distinguish one sheep from another. Thus the murder of the shepherd and its solving by sheep became unengaging and secondary.
The book I highly not-recommend to read is the debute novel "Glennkill - Ein Schafskrimi" (English translation being "Three Bags Full") by German Leoni Swann.
Since *Calamity* also is a first novel, the authors are both females and of the same age, I can't help but thinking that these books are not only written geographically a world apart, but very much apart on so many levels...
If you don't love words, expressions, wordplays, puns and literature you won't enjoy this book. At all. Since it's absolutely brilliantly brimming with those. I found myself again and again smiling as well as somewhat silently giggling while reading it on the train, sometimes even laughing (very silently indeed). All the wordly nerdiness, the constant references to books and treatises, the witty parables, not to mention the naming of the chapters after books (and movies) - of course I especially adored just that... And oh, those delightful visual aids.
If I *had to* resemble it to another book I could say it somewhat reminds me of Donna Tartt's lovely book "The Secret History", though more than a cut above in ingeniousness.
And even if I, as I wrote above, didn't fully embrace the ending, at least it definitely lingers on, and has me thinking, pondering, broodering over what really happen, what was the reason for Film Studies teacher Hannah Schneider's death? And is Blue really prepared to take on, by her very self, the world after her high school graduation? Did she really kiss like a tuna? What happened to the remains of all the poor pinned butterflies? And what about... The list of minor as well as major questions unanswered by the time one reaches page 668 seems slightly endless. Ah, perhaps that actually is a part of the unquestionable charm of this simply irresistable, enchanting love of a book.
I'll round this review off with a far from equally good book, in fact a book I read great reviews on last summer, had to have, but which never really caught me. After a seemingly endless time of trying to get past page 80 - imagine I actually forced myself to get that far into the book... - I decided enough was enough. I don't like this book, it's not very well written, in fact it's rather boring, a pity since the plot-inventiveness is really fresh; sheep flock solving a murder.
But if it might be difficult to distinguish 19 different human characters, imagine to tell 19 sheep apart... 19 sheep that the author frankly hasn't done a very good job in giving distinct personalities or features to. I was constantly annoyed for having to return to the cast of characters since I just couldn't distinguish one sheep from another. Thus the murder of the shepherd and its solving by sheep became unengaging and secondary.
The book I highly not-recommend to read is the debute novel "Glennkill - Ein Schafskrimi" (English translation being "Three Bags Full") by German Leoni Swann.
Since *Calamity* also is a first novel, the authors are both females and of the same age, I can't help but thinking that these books are not only written geographically a world apart, but very much apart on so many levels...
Monday, February 25, 2008
Officially Spring
Yes, now it's official, Spring has come to many parts of Sweden, including the Stockholm area! Officially as it's after February 15th and the average temperature for a day and night is above +/-0 C during a period of at least seven days. About a month earlier than usual - ominous...? - nevertheless,
Welcome coltsfeet!
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Cruelty in Wool
I just couldn't watch the whole Swedish documentary about the completely vile, repulsive act of atrocious cruelty toward sheep in the (merino) wool industry. The practise of so called mulesing in mainly the Australian sheep industry. The pictures, and the absolutely heartbreaking screams of those poor lambs being scalped...
It makes me so unbelievably mad, I've had an angry despair-knot in my stomach all evening, I've cried and have been on the verge of crying ever since I catched those glimpses of this savage abuse. Ah, who cares if the human race extinguish themselves, good riddance for planet earth.
And those guys who have the audacity to claim innocence, who play all injured and wronged... P l e a s e, if you can find it in your vile heartless human heart to do it, then you should at least be *human* enough skip the whitewash and admit to your own actions!!
Why not simply admit that you just don't care about all the pain and suffering you're willfully causing innocent and helpless animals, that their life and suffering just is a part of you making money. I mean, it's not like you're alone in the world being a brutal barbar, there are plenty of you heartless abject bastards around. All you sad excuses for decent human beings, that put yourselves above the rest of nature's creatures. Oh there are a plethora (unfortunately) of you that can comfort you and pat your back when poor you are so completely misunderstood by the rest of us who actually do have a conscience, who care about something else than our own measly monetary profit.
Being a consumer it's so easy to live under the illusion that whenever you buy something that's made in nature materials it's also something very natural, made with thought and care for animals and the environment. Really, very different from those horrible synthetics, that feels absolutely nasty against your skin, makes the clothes all burled and your hair all wired.
And then you suddenly read something here, see something there that makes you realize that just because it's called nature materials that doesn't mean it's so very eco and animal friendly. That you have to look even further when you're buying clothes and accessories, that you have to be *quite* active in your pre-store-clothes/brands research if you want to continue to claim being a human with a conscience.
I didn't think I had any garments made of merino wool, turned out I was wrong. I did get something at the post-Christmas sales that states 100% merino wool. And now I feel *slightly* queazy about that. Me being a, however tiny, part of this reprehensible industry. Ah, it's so very easy to think of oneself being a bit better, a bit - or more - superior than the average sheeple, but I guess, sometimes you're simply a sheep like everyone else.
It makes me so unbelievably mad, I've had an angry despair-knot in my stomach all evening, I've cried and have been on the verge of crying ever since I catched those glimpses of this savage abuse. Ah, who cares if the human race extinguish themselves, good riddance for planet earth.
And those guys who have the audacity to claim innocence, who play all injured and wronged... P l e a s e, if you can find it in your vile heartless human heart to do it, then you should at least be *human* enough skip the whitewash and admit to your own actions!!
Why not simply admit that you just don't care about all the pain and suffering you're willfully causing innocent and helpless animals, that their life and suffering just is a part of you making money. I mean, it's not like you're alone in the world being a brutal barbar, there are plenty of you heartless abject bastards around. All you sad excuses for decent human beings, that put yourselves above the rest of nature's creatures. Oh there are a plethora (unfortunately) of you that can comfort you and pat your back when poor you are so completely misunderstood by the rest of us who actually do have a conscience, who care about something else than our own measly monetary profit.
Being a consumer it's so easy to live under the illusion that whenever you buy something that's made in nature materials it's also something very natural, made with thought and care for animals and the environment. Really, very different from those horrible synthetics, that feels absolutely nasty against your skin, makes the clothes all burled and your hair all wired.
And then you suddenly read something here, see something there that makes you realize that just because it's called nature materials that doesn't mean it's so very eco and animal friendly. That you have to look even further when you're buying clothes and accessories, that you have to be *quite* active in your pre-store-clothes/brands research if you want to continue to claim being a human with a conscience.
I didn't think I had any garments made of merino wool, turned out I was wrong. I did get something at the post-Christmas sales that states 100% merino wool. And now I feel *slightly* queazy about that. Me being a, however tiny, part of this reprehensible industry. Ah, it's so very easy to think of oneself being a bit better, a bit - or more - superior than the average sheeple, but I guess, sometimes you're simply a sheep like everyone else.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Having A Name Of A Day
Today's my very own name day, according to the Swedish calender, February 22nd. At least the one of my names that begins with a "P" and ends with an "a" - and any excuse to celebrate being alive and kicking, here and now, having a name, being me is a good excuse to treat oneself to something extra.
Even if the extra of today wasn't anything very obviously extraordinary and remarkably grand, it was quite a delightful day; the sun was shining, it was definitely spring in the air - never mind a bit too much of that air in shape of relentless winds -, a nice breakfast coffee date with a friend, some browsing through shops - yup, imagine I can actually do that without feeling a need to fuel the economy - and a long walk. I even had the (dubious) pleasure of nearly being roped in and exchanged for some cattle in some remote place on the African continent. Imagine that. Or rather not.
Even if everyday is concidered a Pia-day, in my world, it is kind of pleasant to be officially acknowledged by Regnum Sueciae at least once - in my case even twice - a year. And sometimes even I am easy to please, a spot of sun, a dash of spring, a perfect day.
Even if the extra of today wasn't anything very obviously extraordinary and remarkably grand, it was quite a delightful day; the sun was shining, it was definitely spring in the air - never mind a bit too much of that air in shape of relentless winds -, a nice breakfast coffee date with a friend, some browsing through shops - yup, imagine I can actually do that without feeling a need to fuel the economy - and a long walk. I even had the (dubious) pleasure of nearly being roped in and exchanged for some cattle in some remote place on the African continent. Imagine that. Or rather not.
Even if everyday is concidered a Pia-day, in my world, it is kind of pleasant to be officially acknowledged by Regnum Sueciae at least once - in my case even twice - a year. And sometimes even I am easy to please, a spot of sun, a dash of spring, a perfect day.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Post-Interview Thoughts
I know, it's just plain silly to contemplate the what-ifs, should-have-said or not-said post a job interview, I went with my gut feeling, I was me, I have the papers to prove it and that's that. Being you, trying to steer pass any question-shallows, still you never ever know what the person/s sitting in front of you asking those well-thought-through - or, honestly, more often than seldom very less than well-thought-through... - questions, actually thinks or think they've grasped about you and your ability and skills.
But still, when you - from your point of outstanding clarity and insightfullness - think (know!) you've given such a perfect answer - filled with both wisdom, personal knowledge, taking a firm standpoint still hinting a touch of flexibility, and perhaps a dash of wittiness - to a rather dense question... Ah, that afterward feeling should, without a questionmark in sight, be relished.
So, what are my feelings on this morning's interview? I was apparently the only lawyer seeking new challenges - I'm not sure that's a good or bad thing from their point of view, since I completely lack the experience working within this field. However I do have a lot of "free" legal knowledge as well as personal qualities and skills that would most probably be a great advantage in this line of work.
Perhaps they think that I already have my degree and work experiences, I don't come off as desperate - no my life most certainly won't be over if I don't get to attend this course - I should be able to find a job within my realm. But I haven't. And the Swedish labour-market legislation leaves a whole darn lot to be desired, it's rigid, it's trapping, it's gloomy. Not to mention, frankly, wasting a whole lot of taxpayer's money...
When I was finally back on track looking for a job again I, with my background, thought it would be so easy peasy to get one. The ultimate job, at last a newish line of work, doing what I love and do best. Little did I know, the only piece of cake around here is the one you find at a cosy Stockholmian café or possibly being made in the oven of undersigned. Other than that, stick to what your degree says and stop wasting our time with futile applications. Would it hurt you to have a look at my portfolio, to have a chat...?
Back to today's interview, when I, answering the question of what I do in my spare time, began enumerating a few (yes I actually scaled them down) of my interests they were *slightly* taken aback and wondered how I managed to fit all that in. Well, really, while looking for a job that actually pays, I have to fill the rest of my days with things I love to do. Sure I have those days I don't do much but shuffle around the house, but I'm not much of a TV-soap-beer-drinking-scratching-my-rotund-belly-in-the-sofa-kind-of-person, I prefer to at least try and expand my horizons, amplify my intellect, enhance my skills with the spare time I actually have.
Sure, there are a whole lot of things I just can't do at this moment in life, my situation being what it is, but there are also such a plethora of things I can do instead. I think I'm blessed in that way. I don't think I would be able to fully appreciate all those details around us, which I starryeyed frequently promote, if I wasn't in the position I am in now. So I try, when the things I can't do don't get too overwhelming, to think of this as something truly, in the end, positive. With curiousness, a monthly season ticket for the public transportation system, a camera and a few bucks, there's a whole lot to be experienced and conquered out there!
And you know the highly important what-to-wear-to-this-interview-part, rather a waste of pondering-time I'd say. The interviewers probably couldn't care less by the way they dressed themselves... But I did go with a purple tenfold cardigan, and not that skyblue velvet jacket, ah maybe that should have been three's-a-charm, maybe that choice of cardigan was the one thing that totally blew my chances for a course change... Oh, the choices we make.
But still, when you - from your point of outstanding clarity and insightfullness - think (know!) you've given such a perfect answer - filled with both wisdom, personal knowledge, taking a firm standpoint still hinting a touch of flexibility, and perhaps a dash of wittiness - to a rather dense question... Ah, that afterward feeling should, without a questionmark in sight, be relished.
So, what are my feelings on this morning's interview? I was apparently the only lawyer seeking new challenges - I'm not sure that's a good or bad thing from their point of view, since I completely lack the experience working within this field. However I do have a lot of "free" legal knowledge as well as personal qualities and skills that would most probably be a great advantage in this line of work.
Perhaps they think that I already have my degree and work experiences, I don't come off as desperate - no my life most certainly won't be over if I don't get to attend this course - I should be able to find a job within my realm. But I haven't. And the Swedish labour-market legislation leaves a whole darn lot to be desired, it's rigid, it's trapping, it's gloomy. Not to mention, frankly, wasting a whole lot of taxpayer's money...
When I was finally back on track looking for a job again I, with my background, thought it would be so easy peasy to get one. The ultimate job, at last a newish line of work, doing what I love and do best. Little did I know, the only piece of cake around here is the one you find at a cosy Stockholmian café or possibly being made in the oven of undersigned. Other than that, stick to what your degree says and stop wasting our time with futile applications. Would it hurt you to have a look at my portfolio, to have a chat...?
Back to today's interview, when I, answering the question of what I do in my spare time, began enumerating a few (yes I actually scaled them down) of my interests they were *slightly* taken aback and wondered how I managed to fit all that in. Well, really, while looking for a job that actually pays, I have to fill the rest of my days with things I love to do. Sure I have those days I don't do much but shuffle around the house, but I'm not much of a TV-soap-beer-drinking-scratching-my-rotund-belly-in-the-sofa-kind-of-person, I prefer to at least try and expand my horizons, amplify my intellect, enhance my skills with the spare time I actually have.
Sure, there are a whole lot of things I just can't do at this moment in life, my situation being what it is, but there are also such a plethora of things I can do instead. I think I'm blessed in that way. I don't think I would be able to fully appreciate all those details around us, which I starryeyed frequently promote, if I wasn't in the position I am in now. So I try, when the things I can't do don't get too overwhelming, to think of this as something truly, in the end, positive. With curiousness, a monthly season ticket for the public transportation system, a camera and a few bucks, there's a whole lot to be experienced and conquered out there!
And you know the highly important what-to-wear-to-this-interview-part, rather a waste of pondering-time I'd say. The interviewers probably couldn't care less by the way they dressed themselves... But I did go with a purple tenfold cardigan, and not that skyblue velvet jacket, ah maybe that should have been three's-a-charm, maybe that choice of cardigan was the one thing that totally blew my chances for a course change... Oh, the choices we make.
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