onsdag 31 december 2008
tisdag 30 december 2008
Flagellatio
Men man är ju en tuff brud och dessutom har en broder i Jakobstad vetat berätta att dessa mattor visserligen inte är flygande sådana, men att känslan efteråt är densamma (och att detta fenomen t o m gjort det uthärdligt att mattan inte funnits att få i svart!) och därför tänker jag att saken kan vara värd viss utforskning.
En stund senare ligger jag således där och lider och kvider och svider och tänker i mitt stilla sinne att det efter denna procedur nog av mig får tillverkas det min far alltid påstått tillreds av gamla hästar - nämligen prickig korv - och att eventulla känslor av att sväva i luften nog har mer att göra med nära döden upplevelser än något annat...
... men se, en dryg vecka senare och samspelet med detta självspäkningsredskap börjar bli en välkommen kvällsritual. Avslappningen i den muskulatur som fått sig en omgång är tydlig och sömnen otvivelaktigt förbättrad. På en annan blogg ser jag att det diskuteras inte bara huruvida mattan förbättrar blodcirkulationen, utan också VAR den förbättras, och jag drar på munnen när jag även ser begreppet "lutherskt" nämnas. Ja, varför inte? Visst mått av flagellatio brukar höra religiös övertygelse till och i vår region håller Shaktimattan på att bli föremål för en i det närmaste kultliknande dyrkan...
"Haha!" utropar jag nästa gång jag möter motstånd och lidande. "Jag har varit med om värre. Varje kväll, faktiskt. Och det som inte dödar en gör en starkare."
"Lär dig lida utan att klaga!"
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As a christmas gift from my loving husband this year, I recieve a prickly misery which at first sight is aesthetically pleasing and therefore has the appearance of something positive, until I realize I am supposed to lie down on it and preferably undressed! "Learn how to suffer without complaining" I think to myself and recall the text from an embroidery on a kitchen wall long time ago - and no, I'm not a fan of domestic duties either.
But since I'm a tough chick and a brother in Jakobstad claims these little carpets - NOT real flying carpets, of course! - still manage to ewoke the feeling of being airborne (and that this phenomenon even made him endure the fact that this mat could not be found in black!), I come to the conclusion the matter could be worth some exploration.
A moment later I therefore lie there, suffering and whimpering and hurting and thinking to myself that I will end up the way my father has always claimed happens to old horses - as salami! - and that possible feelings of floating in the air probably has more to do with near death experiences than anything else ...
... but one week later the interaction with this self-torture-tool is becoming an appreciated evening ritual. The tension in the muscles treated with the mat is reduced and sleep is undoubtedly improved. In another blog, I see a discussion going on whether - and where! - the mat improves blood circulation, and I can't help but smile when I see the term "lutheran" mentioned. Well, why not? Flagellatio, at least to some degree, is a common expression of religion and in our region the Shakti mat certainly has become the subject of an almost cult-like worship ...
"Hahaa!" I will proclaim the next time I encounter resistance and pain. "I've been through worse. Every evening, as a matter of fact. And what doesn't kill You makes You stronger".
"Learn how to suffer without complaining!"
måndag 29 december 2008
söndag 28 december 2008
need
"Remember the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other". (Dalai Lama)
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Found this saying in a blogpost at Pip's and thought at first "that's nice" until I really began to dwell upon the meaning of it. This can be just as demanding for a spirit weak in patience as it is comforting to someone who is strong - and when forced upon You such a nail in the flesh!
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more --->
lördag 27 december 2008
Your song
I will be singing at a wedding reception this evening and I'm a little nervous - I really like these people! Wish me luck, will You?
Congratulations to P & M!
♥♥♥
torsdag 25 december 2008
Gnomes in the attic 2008
Me (Anni) and my cybersister M are proud to declare the "tomtejakt" a COMPLETE SUCCESS! None of expected the huge and heartwarming welcome the challenge recieved and we are both a little overwhelmed. Try counting the tomtar appearing on this blog and blogs linked to this project and You will... eh...hmmm... be in great difficulty!
We wish to say THANK YOU! to all gnomehunters and ask of everyone to stay prepared for new adventures in the supernatural spheres of Europe, U.S.A and Antarctica (next time we'll of course engage other continents aswell) and if You don't mind us saying so - with the best of intensions and most positive meaning of the expression:
WE ALL HAVE GNOMES IN OUR ATTICS*, DON'T WE? ;-)
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(* "Tomtar på loftet" is a swedish slang expression that directly translates: "gnomes in the attic" and means that a person has funny things going on in his/her head or world of make-believe...)
tisdag 23 december 2008
måndag 22 december 2008
TP32
.
TP30
söndag 21 december 2008
TP27
Ok, dear Nirak, here we go:
*WE have Jultomten, Julbocken or Julgubben - YOU have Weihnachtsmann
*WE have vättar - YOU have wichteln
*WE have hustomtarna och småfolket - YOU have Heinzelmännchen
... but all of them are TOMTAR!
Where I live there are certain kinds of tomtar who have as a mission to help Santa Claus out in his workshop and other ones to spy on wether kids behave bad or good, and thereby are entitled to get their christmas gifts. It was very common when I was little that parents used to warn their kids: "You'd better be careful with what You're doing this time of year, the "tomtar" might be looking in through Your window!"
You have been - and still are! - a marvellous assistant in collecting tomtar, and I have learned a lot about the christmas tradition in Your country from Your blog.
I wish You a really nice Christmas and a Happy New Year, NIRAK!
/Anni
TP26
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This has got to be my favourite "tomte" this year, and not only at christmastime! I am of course refering to the smiling one in the middle, yes, the cutest without a beard and no whoolen cap. This is the son of a blogger whose daily life I've followed for a long time already, and this little boy and his mother are two of the most courageous people I know. By describing their everyday "when- and whereabouts" they're fighting prejudice against kids with downs syndrome in a way I consider to be truly admirable.
Tack för att du sände mig det här underbara fotot/Thank You for sending me this wonderful photo, LILLI!
/Anni
TP25
"Det här är tomtar som rymde från julgubben men ändå inte vet vad de vill med sina liv. Kanske väntar de på någon sorts uppenbarelse, på att kamma hem storvinsten på något lotteri eller kanske på att bli kändis utan ansträngning. Uttråkade är de minsann allesammans och vore det inte för den sista lilla gnuttan upprorsmakeri skulle de nog ha återvänt hem till "den gamle" för länge sedan. Som det är nu, väntar de bara. På att någon ska ta hand om dem."
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"These are tomtar that ran away from Santa but still don't know what they want to do with their lives. Maybe they are waiting for some kind of revelation, or to win the big lottery or maybe become famous without effort. Boredome is their middlename and if it wasn't for that one ounce of rebelliousness left, they would have returned home to "the old man" a long time ago. Now they just wait. For somemone to take care of them. "
DANIEL
lördag 20 december 2008
TP24
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"Enough is enough. I strongly suggest You'd show some angels on Your blog now. Stop the indecency."
HUSBAND ---------------------------------------------- * töntar = geeks
TP23
"Här kommer mitt bidrag till utmaningen! Den här lilla tomtebyn brukade stå framme hos oss när vi var små, och jag kommer fortfarande ihåg hur arg jag blev då min bror söndrade lampan som hänger i taket! Han kopplade den till ett strömuttag och fick en stöt... 20 år senare, och lampan är fortfarande sönder... min bror lever fortfarnade =)
Hoppas du har det bra!"
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"Here comes my contribution to the challenge! This little tomte-village was a tradition in my home when I was a child and I can still recall how angry I got when my brother broke the lamp that hangs from the roof! He plugged it into an electricity socket and got himself a shock... twenty years later the lamp is still broken... and my brother still alive =)
I hope You're doing well!"
ANDREAS H
TP22
"Min tomte heter Mark och han har inte så mycket med julen att göra för han har både hjärta och hjärna.
[bara för dig - ingen publicering] *LoL*"
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"My gnome is named Mark and he has not a lot to do with Christmas since he's got both a heart and a brain.
[only for You - no publishing] *LoL*"
CH
TP21
Here's a tomte that I found at the New Zealand Scott Base in Antarctica. This one has been around for a while, and has been to the South Pole, and once climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro! He has been signed by both Sir Edmund Hillary and PM Helen Clark of New Zealand.
Cheers! "
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"Hej!
Här är en tomte som jag hittade på New Zealand Scott Base på Antarktis. Den här har hängt med ett tag, han har varit till sydpolen och en gång bestigit Kilimanjaro! Han har dessutom både Sir Edmund Hillarys och Nya Zeelands tidigare premiärminister Helen Clarks autografer.
Skål!"
ANDRE FLEUETTE
Hazardous Cargo Specialist, Asst.
fredag 19 december 2008
TP20
Denna har en speciellt innebörd, dock. Den tillhörde en bra fyllepolare, en av mina bästa polare faktiskt, som dog tidigare i år. Numera bor tomten i min ficka. Jag ska ta honom med mig hem.
Här är min Gnome. God jul på dig, Lady! :)"
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"Here's a gnome that I've found. Lady of the Lake notifies gnomes as missing, and I have actually found one! It is a conspiracy I think, 'cause for some reason they turn up everywhere. This one is special, though. It used to belong to one of my drinking buddies, one of my best buddies actually, who died earlier this year. Now this gnome is living in my pocket. I will take him home with me.
TP19
Beste hilsen,"
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"It is absolutely okay to blog my tomte (gnome). Thank You very much!
Best regards,"
PILLEPALLE
TP18
"Jag fick en snusleverans häromdagen av Tomten himself. Själv har ju jäkeln munnen full, kinderna är ju helt röda av allt snus han har där under. Men han passar väl på så länge det är lagligt.. :)"
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"I recieved a snuff delivery the other day by the Tomten himself. The bastard has his own mouth full, his cheeks are all red because of the snuff in there. But I guess he is doing it as long as he's got the opportunity - while it's still legal .. :)"
LAMINHO
torsdag 18 december 2008
TP17
TP16
onsdag 17 december 2008
TP13
Looking around I found this Tomte on a big NOT lightened candle. It's the only one in my house and I think "he" is waiting for a Tomte girl."
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"Hej Anni,
När jag tittade mig omkring fann jag denna tomte på ett ljus som ännu inte tänts. Det är den enda tomten i mitt hus och jag tror att han väntar på en tomteflicka."
SCHANZENBACH
tisdag 16 december 2008
TP12
"Our superior hustomte (house-gnome) announced that he will only be able to superintend us from a distance this year. He, himeself, has decided to celebrate Christmas on Hawaii. He thinks it's really for the best. Aloha!"
MARIA
TP11
... to be continued... fortsättning följer...
TP10
I tried to find some gnomes for you, but it was more difficult than I thought. Here in Germany, we know gnomes only from Ronja Räubertochter or fairy tales from Island. Especially Christmas gnomes are very, very rare. Only some malformed Santa Clauses resemble these objects you desire. Cought some of them for you, though.
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"Kära Annika,
Jag försökte hitta några tomtar åt dig, men det var svårare än jag hade trott. Här i Tyskland känner vi till tomtar enbart från Ronja Rövardotter eller sagor från Island. Speciellt jultomtar är mycket, mycket sällsynta. Endast några missbildade julgubbar liknar dessa typer du eftertraktar. Jag fångade in några åt dig i alla fall.
Hugs and pre-christmas-greetings!"/ Kramar och för-jule-hälsningar!"
HENRY
... to be continued... fortsättning följer...
TP9
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"Kära Annika, en gammal legend om ett gott folk (jag tror att de är besläktade med era tomtar) och några bilder på dem.
Greetings from Cologne!" /Hälsningar från Köln!"
KARINA
.
... to be continued... fortsättning följer...
måndag 15 december 2008
TP8
EXTREMT ANONYM
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"Chocking!!!"
EXTREMELY ANONYMOUS
TP7
"Hjälp! Du har rätt! Jag behövde verkligen få se detta! Dessutom tror jag att deras hemliga mötesplats finns hos mej, och jag kan troligtvis inte göra nåt åt det. De blir ju bara fler för varje år!!! Av någon konstig anlednig. Jag skickar en bild på deras nya spioner för i år, och en bild på största gänget, kolla in den största, jag tror han runnar stället..."
"Help! You're right! I really needed to see this! Further more, I believe that my home is their secret meeting place, and there is probably nothing I can do about it. Their crowd grows bigger with every year! For some strange reason. I send one picture of their new spies for this year, and another picture of the biggest gang. Check the largest one out, I think he runs this place... "
MAMMVARANAVIKO
söndag 14 december 2008
TP6
Ha en härligt fridfull jul!"
FISKEN SVEA
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"Here the tomtar do not appear until maybe next weekend, but there is one exception - the one on the picture. He has stood on the staircase since Little Christmas*, but he doesn't mind. He and I have a special relationship.That's the way my legs look too ... ;)
Have a wonderful and peaceful Christmas!"
SVEA THE FISH
(* Lillajul (= Little Christmas) is not an official holiday in Finland, but it is still celebrated by many finns and fennoswedes. It occures on a Saturday, right before the first Sunday of Advent.)
TP5
Hälsningar, SIV
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"Lady of the Lake has imposed a tomte-challenge after M told her about what could be considered as an invasion by gnomes - in her home. I am not the one to hesitate to accept the challenge and therefore I have been sneaking around the house with my camera in search for early christmastomtar. And behold: behind the bedroom curtain a dazed tomte stood and peered at me! He was not very sociable and muttered something about having a bad-hairday when I picked up the camera. In all honesty he seems to be in need of a thorough haircure. At least I had the opportunity to take a snapshot of him in front of the chandelier before his retreat back behind the curtain."
Greetings, SIV
TP4
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In i det längsta påstod min cyberkompis WORTMAN att han inte hade sett några tomtar, nästan som om han inte ens visste om att det existerade något som tomtar... men... men... men... Se vad katten släpat in! ;-)