Kommissarie F. Curiosa: Feminine curiosity can be deadly

Swenglish

2008-09-30T11:57:00.004+02:00

If a Scandinavian speaker says "it's not a dance on roses," he or she means "it's not a walk in the park."If he or she says "it's not a cow on ice," he or she means "the situation is not totally hopeless."So what happens if it's a cow in a bed of roses?

They're back!

2008-09-29T21:09:00.002+02:00

The question: How do you know that the world is coming to an end?The answer: The Reunion Tour of New Kids on the Block, described on their website as "five now fully-grown men who forever defined what the modern boy band would look and sound like".If it wasn't good the first time, it's probably not going to be good the second time around. Besides, Boyz II Men were so much hotter.

The Modern Man

2007-09-02T17:07:00.000+02:00

Sweden is known as a bastion of equality; it's a country with one of the lowest gender pay gaps and one of the highest numbers of female parliamentarians in the world. "Maternity leave" is a thing of the past, replaced by "parental leave" and fathers face a use-it-or-lose-it policy when it comes to doing their share of the time. Swedish men cook, clean and change diapers. All of this is great,

Where does the time go?

2007-08-18T23:30:00.000+02:00

When I stepped off the plane at Arlanda on August 18, 2002, I had no idea that I would still be living in Sweden five years later. I had just graduated from college and was ready to spend a year in Stockholm before I returned home to enter the 'real world.' What my 'real world' would entail was ill-defined, but it didn't involve herring (ok, it still doesn't really involve herring, but it's my

Swedish Menswear

2007-08-18T23:25:00.000+02:00

Anniversary

2007-08-05T09:17:00.000+02:00

It's been two years to the day since I smashed my heel in a pretty dramatic car accident on my way to the airport to go back to Sweden after a two-week trip back home. That two week trip turned into three months pretty much glued to the couch and the TV remote, a trip through three airports -- including JFK -- by wheelchair, a rather sexy orthopedic boot and two additional months of recovery upon

Overheard

2007-08-05T09:07:00.000+02:00

Overheard in New York City:"Do you like stand-up comedy? No? Do you like me?" (Not surprisingly, the answer to the second question was the same as the first.)"So this season it's wide-legged again. After all these skinny jeans, we're just picking up where we left off in 2006."Overheard in Lakeside, Montana:"Whose coyote is that?""Stop chewing on your shirt!"

Live from New York City

2007-08-05T06:50:00.000+02:00

Modern transportation means that you can have breakfast in Stockholm, lunch in New York City and dinner in Seattle. By the time you're done, neither your body nor your brain will have much of a clue as to what time zone their in, but by that point, all they really care about is a bed and a pillow.I'm currently blogging live from New York City after a two-week whirlwind tour that spanned the

How to find me

2007-05-25T12:12:00.000+02:00

After months of inactivity, my blog still keeps popping up in the most unexpected of places.This would make great mad libs material.Whoever is looking for the Swedish Bikini Team will be disappointed to find out its a dream that only exists in the minds of beer-drinking American males, and the person looking for "swedes on dates" isn't going to have much luck either, unless he or she plans to

Newer doesn't necessarily mean better

2007-05-24T22:59:00.001+02:00

Hemköp, a Swedish grocery chain, might just have an easier time herding cats or reversing the side of the road an entire country drives on than is currently the case with its implementation of a self-service checkout at its main Stockholm location. Wisely (and I choose that word carefully), they decided to test the new system at closing – right about the time you hear the automated voice announce

Post-Christmas observations

2006-12-27T23:08:00.000+01:00

1) Kalle's Caviar still makes an excellent Christmas tree ornament2) Has anyone ever thought about nominating the Gävle goat as Lucia, thus requiring him to wear a halo of candles? Seems to me it would kill two birds with one stone3) The shortest day of the year, December 21, has now passed, so it only gets lighter until Midsummer in June, when Swedes begin mourning the passing of summer4) It's

Gobble gobble

2006-11-23T23:50:00.000+01:00

Happy Thanksgiving!(I'm thankful I'm not a turkey today.)

Over the top

2006-11-17T15:55:00.000+01:00

The best places to get a bird’s eye view of Stockholm. 1) City Hall Tower. Open daily from May-Sept, 10am – 4:15 pm. Also open Saturdays and Sundays in April. Adults 20 SEK, children under 12 free of charge. 360 degree view of Stockholm. (Bonus: You can also take a tour of the hall where the Nobel banquet is held every December.)2) The Katarina Lift. Open daily. 10 SEK. View over the Old Town and

Livewire: Wireless and internet access in Stockholm

2006-11-17T15:52:00.000+01:00

You’re never more than a few blocks away from the Internet in Stockholm.Be on the lookout for Sidewalk Express, which can be found at the many 7-Elevens that populate the city. Sidewalk Express has almost 40 locations in Stockholm. You’ll also find Sidewalk Express at the Central Station and several McDonalds. If you want to sip a latte while you surf, check out Roberts Coffee at Drottninggatan

Cheap Eats

2006-11-17T15:48:00.000+01:00

It's not the time of year that you really want to spend your lunch break catching a few rays in one of the many parks in central Stockholm. So it was time for a change. This afternoon, I wandered down Kungsgatan to Hötorgshallen, an indoor market dating back to 1880 (with several subsequent rebuilds). It's a great place to wander around, and if you're discreet, you might even be able to fill up

I will follow thee to the ends of the earth

2006-11-15T21:28:00.000+01:00

I turned the corner, and a hoodie-clad young man on the other side of the street darted towards me....mumbling something incomprehensible in Swedish..."Sorry?" I asked, warily."Oh, English!" he exclaimed, as if he had just had a revelation."I think you're beautiful!" came revelation number two.Now most girls appreciate being told they're beautiful, but not usually by hoodie-clad strangers on the

Sometimes people surprise you

2006-10-06T13:37:00.000+02:00

When I'm travelling, I generally pay extra attention to the meter when I hop into a taxi, especially late at night. I've been ripped off one two many times not to be a bit wary. Last night, when arriving at Amsterdam Centraal at midnight, my usual caution was compounded by a headache and a beast of a mood. It had been a very long week, and I was still trying to get through a full day without

Not Just a Cat

2006-10-01T23:14:00.000+02:00

My childhood memories of Sunday School have become a blur of choruses of “Jesus Loves Me” (not the Whitney Houston rendition) and memorizing the Lord’s Prayer for prizes of candy bars and prayer cards. One particular lesson, however, still sticks with me. The topic was heaven. We were not at an age where we had serious theological debates, but were nonetheless old enough to have some notion

Tang Tonguelers

2006-09-25T22:27:00.000+02:00

The thing about being "creative" is that your brain works in mysterious ways; you make associations that other people don't. Sometimes this can be a good thing, and the result is an innovation that nobody else would have thought of. Other times, it's just plain confusing.For me, there seems to be an extra layer to the creativity cake. Not only do I make unusual associations that sometimes require

Happy 93rd Birthday, Grandma!

2006-09-16T23:03:00.000+02:00

The third youngestHigh School Graduation

Waxing political

2006-09-16T15:29:00.000+02:00

The two most decisive issues in the Swedish elections tomorrow will be unemployment... and schlager.In most countries, I would be willing to bet an öre or two that schlager wouldn't win you any votes. In Sweden, however, it might just be the difference between whether or not Göran Persson can hold onto the coveted seat of Prime Minister. The other parties are hot on his heels to snatch away the

Sweater weather

2006-09-13T18:48:00.000+02:00

I think my debut and demise as a fashion blogger has occurred in the span of a single day. I'm not nearly up-to-date enough with the current fashion trends, although I know ugly when I see it. I can appreciate fashion as artistic expression, but it's hard to take haute couture from the catwalk to the street. Besides, any piece of clothing that has to be taped to your body to stay on is best left

Avant garde ugly

2006-09-12T10:42:00.000+02:00

Today can best be described as a plethora of pleather and avant garde ugly. It's going to take me years to get over the fashion horrors I saw today (and H&M is the perpetrator).It's been awhile since I've been on a major shopping spree, but I thought I was at least somewhat up-to-date on the latest styles and trends. It turns out, however, that "up-to-date" means raiding the back of your mother's

Just like Halloween, except it's not October

2006-08-27T01:01:00.000+02:00

Two girls in their early twenties got on the bus tonight. Normally, this wouldn't be something worth blogging about, but the accouterments of these particular young ladies were astonishing.They didn't look bad in the traditional sense of the word; in fact, they almost pulled the look off. Almost.Imagine Darth Vader meets ABBA. Times two. They had the ABBA hair and a weird dark and evil thing

What comes around goes around

2006-08-26T22:11:00.000+02:00

Even before I ever studied abroad, I had a knack for befriending international students. In church youth group in junior high, it was Suzanna from Brazil. In high school, it was Andrea from Switzerland and Tim from England. (I always felt a little sorry for the foreign students who decided to spend a year in the States and then lo and behold, they get plopped smack dab in the middle of Idaho).

Leftovers

2006-08-20T21:47:00.000+02:00

"So what do you want to do with the pad thai from last night? There's not very much left.""We could have it as an appethaizer."My boyfriend is oh-so-punny.

Stockholm from the Inside out

2006-07-25T18:05:00.000+02:00

My best friend is coming on Friday and she'll be here for 10 days. What should we see/do that's non-obvious? Already got things like a boat trip in the archipelago, the Vasa Museum, the view of the Old Town and Södermalm from City Hall on the list, but would appreciate any suggestions for out-of-the-way things to see and do.

Maid in Sweden

2006-07-14T15:17:00.000+02:00

There is nothing like coming home to find your apartment spic and span, especially if you're not the one who did the cleaning. But short of having Mr. Clean around to do the dirty work, where do you turn?There has recently been a debate in the Swedish media about introducing a tax deduction for "household services." In essence, the question is whether or not the state should either subsidize

The Bottoms are Back

2006-07-13T11:26:00.000+02:00

Last winter, Lindex launched part two of its "We love bottoms!" campaign: We love boobs!. Stockholm Transport (SL) deemed the breast-baring advertisements as too risqué, citing that they had "made the assessment that the text may cause upset among certain social groups." (The text is upsetting? What about the picture?). SL subsequently pulled the ads from the bill boards in the Stockholm subway

Saddle sores

2006-07-12T19:53:00.000+02:00

That bike I rode last night certainly had its way with me.I could pepper this post with all sort of unsavory metaphors about what my tush feels like right now, but "ow ow ow" just about covers it.I haven't ridden a bike in quite awhile, and my ass is definitely reminding me of that fact. In light of an upcoming trip to Gotland that will include more than just a little cycling around the island, I

The Ten Most Difficult Things to Do as an Expat in Sweden

2006-07-07T21:27:00.000+02:00

10) Take a shower without having to mop out the entire bathroom afterwards.9) Date the natives.8) Mate the natives.7) Pronounce the number sju.6) Get the bill within a reasonable amount of time after finishing a meal.5) Get something done during the months of June, July, and August at any place of business including banks, public authorities, and post offices.4) Survive the months of November,

Top Ten Differences Between the U.S. and Sweden

2006-06-27T11:39:00.000+02:00

10. Swedes play football, while Americans play something else. (After watching the U.S. team in the World Cup, it's clear that American soccer and Swedish football are NOT the same sport).9. Sweden thinks it's not part of the European Union, while the U.S. thinks Canada is part of the U.S..8. Swedes know the difference between Sweden and Switzerland, while Americans don't really care as long as

On the subject of Swedish taxes

2006-06-27T09:57:00.000+02:00

"It almost makes you want to go home and become a Republican." -American expat living in Stockholm

Kuriosity killed the cat

2006-06-27T09:20:00.000+02:00

A Nation in Mourning

2006-06-26T00:03:00.000+02:00

The combination of Midsummer's hangovers and a 0-2 loss against Germany do not happy Swedes make. The atmosphere was less than jovial yesterday at the same pub where we watched hottie Henke slam dunk a goal in the match Sweden tied against England (and yes, I do realize that I am using the wrong sports lingo and I'm doing it on purpose). In fact, hottie Henke not-so-hotly missed a penalty kick

How to Tell When It's Midsummer in Stockholm

2006-06-23T11:05:00.000+02:00

10. The streets are empty. The only people you see are frantically packing their Volvos with crates of strawberries and new potatos and gallons of alcohol.9. ICA has been sold out of sill for weeks.8. The whole country is attired in shorts and tank tops, still in denial that Mother Nature won't deliver the sun they've been praying for since December. (Although Swedes aren't religious and most

Home shopping erotica Part II

2006-06-21T23:39:00.000+02:00

"So this must be foreplay," I said."What on earth are you talking about?" he replied."Well, this is the red ottoman that goes with the red chair that goes with the red couch that you said was orgasmic.""Right.""If the couch is orgasmic, then the footstool must be foreplay. The chair is somewhere around third base.""Right.""It's an extended metaphor!""It's a metaphor that shouldn't be extended."A

One to Watch

2006-06-21T12:05:00.000+02:00

I couldn't have said it better myself. Check out the excellent The Stockholm Grumpy guide to Tunnelbana "nutters" by Stockholm Grumpy. Please submit visual representations of any recent escapees from the loony bin (or those who ought to be locked up) you spot on the Stockholm subway to stockholmgrumpy at gmail dot com. What else, after all, would you use your camera phone for?

Blue and Gul, Le Deux

2006-06-21T11:28:00.000+02:00

England 2-Sweden 2Well, last night wasn't as much about oh-so-fine Freddie as it was hottie Henke who took center stage in the final minutes of the game. While not exactly Calvin Klein material, Henke's not so bad himself. For his part, Freddie did get a little naughty, picking up a yellow yard in the 88th minute (haven't I just become the resident football expert).I still think it's much more

Celebrity crush

2006-06-19T22:50:00.000+02:00

Celebrity crushes are a sign of a healthy relationship.Or rather, getting extremely upset and jealous about your mate’s celebrity crush is a good indicator of an UNhealthy relationship.For instance, I’ve got enough self-confidence to cheerfully indulge Steve’s crush on Princess Madeleine. He is, after all, a red-blooded American male, and this proves it. In fact, it would be bit worrisome if he

The Blog that Changed My Life

2006-06-19T20:03:00.000+02:00

A collective gasp of horror was heard around the office as one of my colleagues exclaimed, "Why the hell do you have a picture of David Hasselhoff on your blog?""Ewwwwwww!" screamed another."Well, I don't really have a good reason for that, other than to say that 'I guess you needed to be there.' But at least there are cute puppies!""Well, the puppies are cute, but POOR puppies!"That exchange

Baby buggies beware

2006-06-19T18:26:00.000+02:00

Let's get one thing straight: I'm not out to get parents who have small children. I don't dislike all children, just the screaming kind. In fact, I'm sure there are some very nice small children out there somewhere (although that somewhere may very well be over the rainbow). I think that Sweden is indeed a fantastic place to have kids. I also agree with the principle that society should be set

Hyra En Hund™

2006-06-19T17:30:00.000+02:00

I have a great new business concept: Rent-A-Pup™. I even have a slogan: The place where dogs who love people meet people who love dogs. The idea is that city dwellers who live in tiny apartments can, for a fee, borrow a dog for the day. It would be sort of an unconventional doggy daycare. Dog owners going on vacation would drop Fido off at the kennel, and then people who love dogs, but can't have

May the Hoff Be With You

2006-06-18T23:33:00.000+02:00

Curiosa (to Steve, sprawled out on the bed**): Now when I get back, I want to see your very best David Hasselhoff impression.Steve: You're going to be waiting a very, very long time.Curiosa: You know, I don't find David Hasselhoff the least bit attractive.Steve: The rest of the world agrees with you, unless they're German.**The size of aforementioned bed is no longer an issue in our relationship,

Random neuron firings at midnight

2006-06-17T00:20:00.000+02:00

This week, the illustrious cow connoisseur Mamma Mu became the resident cat sitter at Casa Curiosa. She claims to have invaded my apartment, but I tend to think the nature of the occupation should actually be determined by the invadee, not the invader. Take, for example, the numerous Viking raids of Scotland, starting in the eighth century. I'm sure they were considered invaders, not to mention

Blå och gul

2006-06-15T23:13:00.000+02:00

I'm a bit ambivalent about the whole World Cup soccer hysteria in general, and Stockholm Grumpy pretty much sums up how I feel about it. But I will say that now that I'm dating someone who knows more than a little about the game, I certainly appreciate it more than I used to (in sort of a baptism by fire kind of way). It's more interesting to watch it now that I understand some of the technical

One stop shopping

2006-06-14T12:19:00.000+02:00

One of the perks of being on the other side of the Atlantic: you can get just about anything you want (and lots of things you don't) anytime of the day or night. If you find yourself in a situation that leaves you scrambling for products that you need RIGHT NOW, damn it, your local pharmacy is just a short drive away. Yes indeed, the 24-hour drug store is one of the things I miss the most about

May be hazardous to your health

2006-06-14T09:52:00.000+02:00

Warning labels about the hazards of smoking slapped on the side of cigarette packs are nothing new.** But while we all know by now that smoking is bad for you, apparently there are other health hazards lurking out there of which the general public should now be made aware.For example, you better duck and take cover when your mobile rings. When I tried to adjust the volume on my new Sony Ericsson

IKEA assembly and other home shopping erotica

2006-06-10T20:37:00.000+02:00

Anyone else ever notice the conversational similiarities between assembling furniture and engaging in aerobically inadvisable bedroom activities?This should just take a minute.(two hours later) Are you finished yet?Do you want me to hold it while you screw?This one just slides in sideways.Where's the hole?Just a little to the right; no, go back a bit.Found it!Do you need help with that?No, this

The Letter Ö

2006-06-10T20:19:00.001+02:00

Steve**: I guess you can't really call it an umlaut in Swedish. Curiosa: No, in Swedish you say an ‘o med två prickar’. That’s an ‘o with two pricks.’ Steve: That’s one lucky guy. Except that he’d have to go shopping for surgical gloves instead of condoms. Curiosa: I’m so going to blog this. **His full blog pseudonym is the Guy Formerly Known as the Guy who Likes Things Far Neater

Everything in America is bigger...

2006-05-13T17:31:00.000+02:00

...except for the baby buggies.Since Swedes seem to like to take their babies everywhere (including academic lectures), and because babies need so much stuff, it is necessary for Swedish "barnvagnar" to be large enough to transport small elephants.** Inevitably, barnvagnar take up a lot of room, oftentimes the space right in the middle of the sidewalk.Getting off the bus today:"Why do they always

Very taxing indeed

2006-05-02T20:21:00.000+02:00

After experiencing what is by far the most bureaucracy I've ever dealt with as a foreigner in Sweden – in the form of Migrationsverket (the Swedish Immigration Agency) – I find it rather ironic that completing one of the more onerous paperwork tasks EVER can be as simple as sending an SMS. Of course, I shouldn’t be all that surprised, as taxation is one of the things

Size only matters if it's 90 cm or less

2006-04-26T14:38:00.000+02:00

It's a bit like my first year of college, except I'm a bit older (although maybe not wiser) and no longer look forward to the prospect of "dorm living" -- basically a year of summer camp for 18-year-olds, without the adult supervision -- with giddiness and glee.Maybe my standards have gotten higher, or I've just become more finicky in my old age. I've started to appreciate the finer things in

Organize This! Part III

2006-04-25T19:01:00.000+02:00

In a moment of temporary insanity, last week I invited my supervisor from the university to come to dinner at Casa Curiosa on Monday.She accepted the invitation, and remarked, "It will be interesting to see how you live."I think it was actually just a case of Swenglish, and she meant to say where I live, but little did she know how close to scary she actually was.For various reasons, any attempts

Morning quips

2006-04-24T11:49:00.000+02:00

Upon receiving freshly squeezed grapefruit juice: Me: "That's very good, even if I did make a face. Just because I made a face doesn't mean I don't like it. In fact, I make the same face when I eat pickles."Him: "Fantastic. So I made you grapefruit juice that tastes like pickles."Upon being handed a latte as I step out of the shower:Him: "Here's your latte. I didn't add anything extra to it yet."

Organize This! Part II

2006-04-23T11:38:00.000+02:00

Can you guess which side of the bed is occupied by Hurricane Curiosa?

Nine to five

2006-04-05T22:40:00.000+02:00

Gone are the days of blogging late into the wee hours of the night, only to spend a lazy morning slumbering peacefully until noon 1 pm 2 pm, for I am now....drum roll please...gainfully employed. That's right, ladies and gents, Kommissarie Curiosa is officially a productive member of society. And I'll be getting a paycheck (and paying taxes!!) to prove it.The self-satisfaction lasted until about

Alarm clock

2006-04-05T15:46:00.000+02:00

Whoever invented 6 am ought to be beaten with a fermented herring.

A journey of a thousand miles, one step at a time

2006-04-04T15:45:00.000+02:00

One of the first evenings that we spent together, you told me that a sign of a good relationship is not that the other person asks you to change, but the fact that he or she inspires you to be a better person. In other words, you complement each other and bring out each other's best.When I’m with you, I feel no need for pretences and you give me the freedom to be myself. At the same time, there

Organize This!

2006-03-22T15:46:00.000+01:00

My system of organizing should probably be filed under "C." Not "C" as in "Curiosa," but under "C" as in "Chaos." (Not that I really ever file anything ever, but we all have to start somewhere, don't we?) It was not an overstatement when my college roommate aptly gave me the nickname "Hurricane Curiosa" during the year we shared a flat in Seattle.I've always been a

Please is not the word I'm looking for

2006-03-15T18:01:00.000+01:00

"Take your pants off.""Say the magic word.""NOW!"

Oh where oh where...

2006-03-10T15:20:00.000+01:00

Well, I've been getting a few comments wondering what the Kommissarie has been doing with herself. (I'm sorry; I know I just referred to myself in the third person). Let's just say I've been otherwise occupied, and once again, I have this blog to thank. I've been slow on reporting the play-by-play, and for once, prefer to keep the details to myself, at least for the time being. The Exibitionist

You know you've been at the university too long...

2006-03-10T15:17:00.000+01:00

...when you start to say things like "during my freshman year of grad school..."

It's ONLY Monday

2006-03-06T02:42:00.000+01:00

OB = Oh Boy!

2006-03-05T23:59:00.000+01:00

I understand that quite a bit of thought goes into advertising campaigns for feminine hygiene products, as Mr. Silver Fish has pondered over in his blog. It seems a bit silly to me that the same Stockholm Local Traffic that would choose to take down the slogan "We Love Boobs!" from the subway and bus stops would turn right around and choose to allow an advert with a cartoon mouse reclining

Quote of the day

2006-03-03T19:02:00.000+01:00

"I'm sorry for being so apologetic."

Shameless Self-Promotion Part II (OR false modesty part I)

2006-03-02T02:57:00.000+01:00

As we've already established, I would never, ever use this blog for selfish purposes, such as to get votes for blogging awards, and certainly would NEVER EVER EVER use it to meet men, such the one who tried to score a date by referring to this a bimbo blog. (For those of you who missed the episode, I believe the exact description of my "bimbo blog" was: a trite, incredibly mundane though

A contradiction in terms

2006-02-28T18:34:00.000+01:00

One of my expat friends who has recently split up with his long-term significant other is now trying his hand at internet dating. I've laid low in terms of Internet dating the last few months, mainly because I have my hands full with all of the male contacts generated by this blog, such as the gentleman who called me a bimbo or the "anonymous" male caller who told me to go and jump off a building

Poor kitty

2006-02-27T20:35:00.000+01:00

If kids are anything like cats, I've got the feeling I'm going to make a terrible mother.

Don't Blame Me!

2006-02-27T02:24:00.000+01:00

To the guy who found this blog by googling "you can't blame a guy for trying," I have one thing to say.You're right. At least the first time.I'm also a bit disturbed that someone found me by googling "female curiosity torture." It's not torture, really. It's all in the name of love, I swear.

Frosted flakes

2006-02-26T23:41:00.000+01:00

It's about time to get my haircut. Although it's easy enough to hide the damage with a little effort on my part, I'm starting to do a Bengi impression if I don't explicitly try to avoid it. My hair is at that in between stage where it's too long to just leave it hanging, but not quite long enough to entirely pull it back. So once I solve the demagnetized ATM card problem solved, I'll be more than

Meet the Neighbors

2006-02-25T21:33:00.001+01:00

Cold Feet has certainly had her fair share of adventures after daring to navigate the treacherous Stockholm housing market. But although I have moved around a lot, I have yet to experience much of anything regarding my Swedish neighbors, with the exception of utter anonymity and quite possibly the communal Christmas tree, although I became better aquainted with the tree itself than I did with any

Curiosa's Guide to Financial Management Part II

2006-02-25T20:16:00.001+01:00

1) You can't spend money you don't have. Technically, thanks to Visa and American Express, you can, but this is ill-advised. 2) You can't spend money you can't access. Somehow demagnetize your credit card the Friday before payday so you can't touch the money that has finally been deposited in your bank account. This is particularily frustrating when you know you have money in your account, and

Sick Take Two

2006-02-24T00:12:00.000+01:00

Still sick, but at least I'm well fed. Thanks to Francis S. And they supplied me with a very nice cheese. Cheese is good.

Sick

2006-02-23T00:07:00.000+01:00

So sick. So very very sick.I want by bommy.

Sleepy

2006-02-21T21:17:00.000+01:00

So sleepy. So very very sleepy.

Curiosa's Guide to Financial Management (OR how to survive when you're broke)**

2006-02-21T00:37:00.000+01:00

1) Buy non-perishable food at the beginning of the month so that you won't starve when you run out of money at the end of the month. This does not, however, prevent you from being jealous of your cat when you realize that he is eating better than you are.2) "Borrow" toilet paper from your employer when you run low and can't afford to restock. Consider it a "perk" of the job (along with the free

Curiosa's Guide To Swedes, Swedishness and Travel in Sweden (according to others)

2006-02-20T21:44:00.000+01:00

Considering how small of a country it is, there are plenty of books out there that set out to present an expose on Swedes and Swedishness. Here's what I've found:Culture Shock! Sweden: A Guide to Customs and EtiquetteCharlotte Rosen SvenssonFocuses on Swedish culture and customs rather than just another travel guide to Sweden. (Leave that to the Rough Guide and Lonely Planet). Entertaining and

Swedish fridge poesi

2006-02-20T21:23:00.000+01:00

If you don't have a fridge of your own, or you don't have anything better to do, go and write some online Kylskåpspoesi.

He's Onto Us!

2006-02-20T13:55:00.000+01:00

'Twas a blast from the past. (Or rather, from three weeks ago).Saturday night, Miz Cold Feet received a disturbing sms from the Godfather. His associates were the infamous Denim Twins, aka the Moustache and the Beard."Aha so you use the seduce and abandon tecnique on me. What are the plans for tonight, if they are not secret?"Who was seducing and who was abandoning?Suddenly, the Blond Expat

You've got something on your nose

2006-02-19T03:35:00.000+01:00

It was a very pleasant evening, with good company and good food.I was cosied up in a chair by the heater, snickering at the poor brave Viking souls puffing out on the balcony, having an enjoyable conversation with a Dutch guy, and snacking on a delicious homemade tapenade (olive spread) on warm bread. It was dark green, and although tasty, I was careful to avoid spilling any down my front, and

I'm a Toys R' Us Kid

2006-02-19T03:22:00.000+01:00

Tonight was a friend's 40th birthday party.The past two weeks, I've received e-mails with pictures of newborns from three different friends who just had babies. "You have been given a premier membership in the Auntie and Uncle Club."I've been to three weddings in the last two years, and at least one of those ended in divorce.Next week I'm interviewing for a job with a higher salary than my mom

Shameless self-promotion

2006-02-15T22:32:00.000+01:00

God forbid I would dare to use Kommissarie Curiosa for shameless self-promotion (or to get dates, for that matter!!)!! Suffice it to say that I would simply like to inform you that I have been nominated in several categories for the Second AFOE European Weblog Awards 2006 at Fistful of Euros. I have even been nominated under "Best Weblog," but I would be quite happy with "Best New Weblog." You

Packrat syndrome spreads to Sweden

2006-02-15T21:36:00.000+01:00

There have been several recent cases of packrat syndrome diagnosed by Swedish medical experts. Packrat syndrome has no known cure, and although people who suffer from it can learn to lead relatively normal lives, it is a lifelong affliction, which can only be treated by extensive therapy.Packrat syndrome is characterized by abnormal hoarding behavior, often rationalized as "collecting." Sufferers

Will you be mine?

2006-02-14T17:23:00.000+01:00

My most memorable Valentine’s day was during my second year of college in Seattle. His name was Bradley. We worked together as writing tutors in our campus Writing Center, and we were working the 7 to 9 pm shift that evening. Not surprisingly, there were no students for us to help that evening. It seemed everyone else was with his or her sweetheart. Bradley jokingly asked me if I would be his

2006-02-12T00:38:00.000+01:00

Guy from the Office who Hath Not a Clue About Anything Involving Interaction with Other Human Beings called this morning at 9 am. I was asleep, and stayed that way.

Drunken swenglish

2006-02-12T00:36:00.000+01:00

Drunken guy at 7/11: Can I learn you?Curiosa: No, you cannot.Edited to add: (The rest of the conversation was even better).Drunken guy: It's because I'm black, isn't it? (obviously had been watching too much Ali G., as was pointed out by Cold Feet this afternoon)Curiosa: No, that has nothing to do with it. It's because you're drunk and I'm busy.Drunken guy: Can I at least by you a coffee?Curiosa:

EU Commission Proposes Ban on Catnip

2006-02-10T00:17:00.000+01:00

Brussels -- The European Commission has today adopted a proposal to the Council amending EU legislation on the distribution of catnip. Current legislation allows catnip to be distributed by licensed feline pharmaceutical representatives only. The Commission's proposal would effectively ban the distribution of catnip for personal use. While there are currently no limits on the quantity of catnip

"The Swedes will not make the first move"

2006-02-09T21:05:00.000+01:00

Once again, I must give credit to Biff R. for linking to this rather humorous article, "Gay German penguins unimpressed by Swedish females" in The Local. I wonder if North American male penguins would have been similarly unimpressed, or whether they are still holding out for the chics in bikinis.

Partay partay

2006-02-09T19:51:00.000+01:00

I have found a cafe with a great wireless connection, and have spent most of the afternoon tucked into a corner with my precious laptop. Two guys were just sitting at the table next to me, and they were composing a guestlist for an upcoming party one of them was having. They added several couples, several male friends, but seemed to have a hard time coming with with any "single, good-looking, and

Don't you dare blog me!

2006-02-09T18:48:00.000+01:00

It seems that some people (you know who you are) have attempted to use reverse psychology on me, precisely so that I won't blog them. I explained my blogging policy. It's quite simple, really. If you do or say something idiotic, particularily in the context of a date, your stupidity will forever be commemorated in the annals of Kommissarie F. Curiosa. So the individual in question seems to want

Deadly fish

2006-02-09T18:43:00.000+01:00

Apparently I'm not the only one who has envisioned using a herring as a deadly weapon. Thanks to Biff R. for the link!

Clueless

2006-02-08T20:57:00.000+01:00

He did it again. And unfortunately for me, he didn't wait until the yearly anniversary of Guy from the Office who Hath Not a Clue About Anything Involving Interaction with Other Human Beings Asks Curiosa On a Some Kind of Strange Date By Email. Except for this time it wasn't by email. It was by phone."Hello?""Hi Curiosa! This is Guy from the Office who Hath Not a Clue About Anything Involving

My Cat is a Democrat

2006-02-08T18:15:00.000+01:00

Eclectic and diverse groups of people gather together in the name of blogging.Having received a last minute e-mail, forwarded to me by Stefan, about a get-together yesterday evening with Iranian blogger Hossein Derakhhshan, who is in Stockholm for a few days, I decided to show up. (As a side note, Hossein has been instrumental in jumpstarting the Persian blogosphere, not in the least in relation

We love boobs! Don't you?

2006-02-08T00:38:00.000+01:00

Exiting the subway yesterday, I looked up and saw a very large Lindex ad with the words "We love boobs" sprawled across their poster. I had to take a double take to make sure I had actually read what I thought I had. Sure enough, Lindex loves boobs.It's a follow-up to their "We love bottoms" Summer 2005 underwear campaign, just in time for Valentine's Day. In the last two days, most of the

tick tock

2006-02-05T20:58:00.000+01:00

Over the last few years, as I've gotten older, and have realized that she is actually wiser than I am, Mom and I have become much, much closer. We talk on the phone two or three times a week. She even asked me for advice when she started dating again, and she's got an encyclopedia of knowledge that I can tap into when it comes to dealing with fidgety felines. I may know more about world politics,

Beware of the Blonds

2006-02-05T16:43:00.000+01:00

Half-a-bag of cheese doodles (ostbågar) and half-a-bottle of wine do not a healthy dinner make.I digress.After splitting a bag of cheesy goodness and washing it down with some red wine, Miz Cold Feet and I once again ventured out to grace the cafes and pubs of Södermalm with our presence. We ended up in the club that has quickly become The Usual, mainly due to its proximity to Casa Curiosa, as

This and that

2006-02-05T16:04:00.000+01:00

I haven't had so much to write about this past week, at least anything that I've felt like sharing. There have been some ups and downs regarding romantic attachments these last few weeks, and I really don't feel that I should elaborate for the sake of the other person involved. Regardless of what decisions have been made about what is best for us as individuals at this point in our lives, there

Have you kissed your groundhog today?

2006-02-02T14:13:00.000+01:00

I know it's strange to have a holiday dedicated to a rodent, but it's also strange to voluntarily eat rottenfermented herring and actually enjoy it.Happy Groundhog Day!

Bedmate

2006-01-31T17:11:00.000+01:00

It's a very odd experience waking up to someone trying to stick his paw up your nose.