The Thing I Hate the Most....

....well actually it is not a thing per say, but here goes.

A Scandinavian author wrote a book about a fictive community called Jante - hence he created the Jante Law, which has 10 rules about "Don't think you're anyone special or that you're better than us."

Despite this law being fictive, it is actually incorporated into many Scandinavian people's behaviour. This fact actually makes me ashamed on behalf of my fellow citizens, since our countries usually have a "picture perfect" perception of Scandinavians. And when they get to know/experience this law, they are shocked. Well if you read on, you will realise, just how bad that is........

The ten rules are:

1. 
   
   Don't think that you are special.
2. 
   
   Don't think that you are of the same standing as us.
3. 
   
   Don't think that you are smarter than us.
4. 
   
   Don't fancy yourself as being better than us.
5. 
   
   Don't think that you know more than us.
6. 
   
   Don't think that you are more important than us.
7. 
   
   Don't think that you are good at anything.
8. 
   
   Don't laugh at us.
9. 
   
   Don't think that anyone of us cares about you.
10. 
    
    Don't think that you can teach us anything.

I HATE THIS!!!!!

I don't use the "hate"-word often, but this is one of the rare occations where it is very much alive in my vocabulary.

Sadly a lot of my family members live by this rule, but you will never get them to admit it. One of my brothers also hates this, and we try to stick together in our more positive attitude ... one thing that might have influenced os more positively is likely to be that we, in our jobs, depend on people from other countries/cultures.

When I was on sickleave due to stress, the doctor immediately wanted to find out just how much my surroundings was influenced by this - and it was a shocking discovery... but so many pieces suddenly made the picture very clear, and I had something to work with. It's a terrible thing, but that is the main reason why I don't have much contact with my family due to all this, it takes days to recover mentally after a visit, because suddenly I am a target for not having the same opinions/"beliefts" as them.

Luckily none of my friends live by the Jante Law - just like me, they hate everyting about it.... And can easily relate to how tough it is having to endure surroundings living by this "law".............. And there would be absolutely no creative people in this country, if they didn't break the Jante Law.....

Secret Ingredient.....

Ohhh....What's a secret ingredient?

Something you want to keep secret for others, so they can only guess about what it could be? Is it something that you have gained a patent for in order to keep it yours....

Do you want to mention a secret ingredient, just to keep your friends, dinner guests or what have you, intrigued by the mystery?....

Or do you know, that a certain person would reject to even taste it, if he/she knew that a certain kind of ingredient was included? ........ Ok allergies are not to be trifled with (ever!!!!).

In "Kung Fu Panda": there is not secret - just to believe in yourself.

In "Just Desserts": H20.....

In CocaCola: 7X .... don't think they want to reveal their secret, and why should they?

For me it is.... yes it is often about a cooking ingredient - not that I cook very much - that totally surprise people, when I reveal it.... "I would never have guessed...."

I just have to look at a recipe, and I instantly see how much fun it could actually generate. They all have various opion about the secret ingredient in general, but they acknowledge the ingredient's bigger potential.... not all is what it seems ;o)

Today's pic can be found at dixiepieces.com what you can find other cool pics.

Is blogging just an online "Dear Diary" moment?

I would say.... "Yes!".... and "No!"

I keep a diary, and the stuff written there are actually thoughts similar to some of the topics in my posts - on the other hand my diary contains very personal information, opinions etc about persons, that are all named in my diary... Even opions about topics that I rather keep for myself.

See my diary is for me to read - for me to remember - to help me remember - to start reflecting on various issues that might have a huge impact on my life... stuff I would never feel comfortable about publishing on any website ...my diary is personal.

My blog reflects some of the random thoughts I have about some topic, event etc. - the stuff I feel comfortable about sharing....

But I can easily understand why some compare blogging with a diary - I think is because of the format we use to express ourselves in the blog.... Sending questions out there - not necessarily asking for an answer, opinion etc - a diary can not answer you back, just make the writer/reader reflect on the written word - a blog enables to exchange ideas swirling in you head with the readers of your blog....

Ever seen "Sex and the City"?? - Well Carrie Bradshaw always writes a lot of rethorical questions in her newspaper column... not expecting feedback - but hoping to envoke some thoughts in the reader's head... you can actually say, that a newspaper column is the predecessor to the online blog......

Admit one....

... Can I have a refund please?!

... This is not the patch of life, that I wanted in my dreams - is it possible to buy a ticket to an alternative?

I got an unexpected free ticket, when I was diagnosed with MS...

The ticket to live in "the now"... and not to look back and dwell on what could have been...

The ticket to new adventures, that I might not have been open to pre-MS

Finding out that some of the restrictions are not applicable to this type of ticket....

......

Yesterday, I described life as a rollercoaster ride - I had a ticket to yet another wild ride today... and "still landed on my feet" where some might have panicked in the process: One thing that the whole ongoing MS-process has taught me, is to to try to stay calm, and just keep on trying, pursuing a goal -whether that being a small or a large one :o)

Have a nice weekend all.

Life is a rollercoaster.....

...... or at least it reminds me of a rollercoaster..

....even though your day doesn't seem like its beginning at the start of the ride - rather on the way up a steep curve or already on the way to hurry down to conquer new thrilling "adventures"....

... going up the steep curve makes you wonder: is it ever getting better?

... or the the steep curve the equivalent to the "Is glass half empty?" question, where the answer could be turned into "No it is half full - that interpretion is made individually - we are not all alike....

Well my day felt like a collercoaster from the moment I left my apartment this morning and headed off for work - challenges, problems, opportunities, changes, laughs, frustration, successes - and at the end of the day I went home happy, just enjoying the snow and watched people that was grumpy due to the face, at we had yet another snowstorm....

By the way: the picture is of an old wooden rollercoaster from 1932, which is still in use at the world's oldest amusementpark Bakken, situated in Denmark.

Happy Valentines Day....

Well as you already know, Valentine's Day has never been a big deal to me - mostly since yesterday was my birthday. Actually I will spend most of my day in front of my computer, trying to get some work done - this past week has been hectic, so some stuff was put aside for the urgent matters. And I really don't mind doing it eventhough it is supposed to be a day of rest. It's too cold to venture outside, and I did a lot of creative stuff yesterday so no absolute need/craving to do it today also..... and doing some of the work may even put less stress on the coming workweek.

Yesterday, all the buzzing about this day of the hearts still evoked some creative ideas in my head, and I decided to go with the flow, and this is the result:

Usually I always make two of each cards, that I am producing - this is an exception since Valentine's Day is not big within my circle of friends... but had to let the idea out of my head.

Street-knitting.... aka yarnbombing

With one of the birthday greetings this morning, one of my friends send me a newspaper clipping about a (for me anyway) new way of doing grafitti.

The sender of the clipping knows how much I value my own creative moments, so she wanted to add another smil on my face - and she did :o)

This was found a couple of miles from where I live...

Then I Googled the two words and was surprised how many hits they actually came up with... try it... I's sure that the pics will make you smile or even laugh....

Have a great weekend - I am heading out for a nice walk in the snow :o)

Guinea Pig? Donor? What am I....??

I would rather describe it as: HELPFUL

Donating research material - by donating samples of my blood, accepting additional MRI scans, completing surveys

Contribution to knowledge....

Contribution to hope....

Hoping to one day understand, know what causes this.....

But if you insist on calling me Ms. Guinea-Pig: Can I please be the one in the picture? And then the weights are the MS that I am fighting every day..........

And yes I refuse to give up without a fight :o)

Eye candy.....

Admitting it - there is eye candy in my office

As in two really nice guys just being themselves, not trying to impress anyone...

Both single....

Both easy to communicate with....

Both of them have actually shared very private thoughts, feelings about other co-workers, things about their past..... the GossipGirls would gladly amputate their right arm to gain just a little of that knowledge, if they knew that I know something, that they don't know...If people shares highly personal/confidential stuff with me, I never gossip about it... (That's how you gain precious/loyal co-workers who will allways support you if you need it... and of course good friends)

Both of them aware that I have the MS diagnosis, but don't treat me any different than their other friends....

 

Both nice looking - not necessarily picture perfect... who cares the above overrule it....

Both of them - unaware that I regard them as being eye candy......

But you know what - not boyfriend material. Why??!! The above is positive? Yes, that is true, but they are my colleagues, and I don't want to change that.....

I have dated co-workers at previous employments, and it was akward when it turned out, that we were not meant to be.... Been down that road a few times too many... And I am ok with them just being eye candy, because then, I wouldn't risk loosing their friendship that makes a lousy workday (yes they sometimes occur) much easier to handle.......

So the only type of candy, that I can't resist at the moment is RJ's Natual Licorice, more expensive that the usual candy, which makes it a special treat when I finally buy some..... And you know what - I love it......

XOXO Hotchypotch.

Inspiration..... Where Art Thou?

• Where do one find inspiration?
• Can we learn how-to transform inspiration into something we our hands?
• Is it a natural ability?
• Does our genes determine if we can perceive inspiration?
• Can you force/provoke inspiration?

To me inspiration is to be found a lot of places. Sometimes the inspiration is just stored in my head, as I don't know who to express it - at other times it just flows, and often when you have the least spare time to do it.

Yesterday I received a magazine in my mail (subscription) that pitched two new ideas into my head - the ideas buzzed in my head, and suddenly I realised that I could transform the ideas into 6 cards, using materials that I already had in stock - and in a combination, that I had never dreamed of. Movies, books, television etc. all sources of ideas to me - hence the ever present moleskin notebook in my bag with lots of doodle bugs representing an idea.

But inspiration does not necessarily has to be creative inspiration - it can also be something simple as finding a new recipe, that can be transformed into your special recipe, since you have to be cautious about certain types of food - or even figuring out which type of clothing that you want, it might take a while to find it, but as soon as you pass it in a store window, you stop because there it is (ok - for me shopping can actually be a problem, because I am soo easily boored in clothing stores - if I linger too much at a pair of jeans, blouse etc. I shouldn't buy it, because that item will soon be forgotten in the back of my closet - whereas if I spot something I like and it fits: I should buy it as I will wear it as often as I get the chance).

What is creativity to you? And where do you find it? Or does it find you?

Todays picture was captured on a walk on the beach in Florida - somebody had drawn this cartoon-like figure in the sand.: Is it a favorite cartoon character? A self-portrait? Or just the inspiration drawn on the canvas at hand?

Just another day....

Just another day. Not particular good - but not bad either.

Passed these snowmen today while going out to shop for groceries - went back to fetch my camera: I wanted to remember what made me smile today and just fuelled some random thoughts.

Somebody had a good time while creating them - otherwise they wouldn't have been finished.

Somebody made them, because they wanted to create snowmen - not because they had to.

Somebody created them - not knowing if passers-by would even see them.

Somebody.......

Me first!! ME FIRST!!!!!!!!!

Nope, those words never come out of my mouth - at least not in that combo........

Well lately a lot of people have gone totally nuts, forgetting all about common, decent behaviour and a common denominator for all of them: they actually blame the snow for their bad behaviour...

"Liar, Liar, pants on fire!!" It is the worst excuse ever!!

Now our local newpapers write about "snow rage", "road rage" and the list just continues... it is getting more and more about the "Me first!! ME FIST!!!!!!!!" -it really makes me sick. Suddenly rules, common polite behaviour do no apply anymore, and it seems like everybody is fighting everybody. A newpaper editorial mentioned something about the situation in Haiti - either everybody is trying to be all about me-first or all about kindness to the person being next to you, helping out even though that person might be a total stranger - and the people in between have kinda given up.

I remember a newspaper article from the time just before the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing - it explained who the Chinese had to learn how to wait in line for something..... Actually I didn't think much of it - that is just until I had the chance to go to China... Waiting in line/queue??!! Forget about it - their cultural background is soo different than ours, and what we find normal might be quite the opposite out there....

People are saying that the world is getting smaller and smaller - due to communication technolog and the means of transport - but changing behaviour just because of several snowstorms

My wandering thoughts then made me think about Easter and daffodils. Daffodils.... aka Narcissus in Latin... aka the ancient Greek myth abouth the boy who fell in love with his reflection in the water.......

OK why did my thoughts end up there..... Easter does not necessarily mean no snow, since we have experienced snow during Easter a couple of times.... and some people claim that yellow is the color of envy... Was it the daffodils Latin name, that came up because of this blog post's title...

One of my fellow bloggers chose the word of her year 2010 to be "respect" - let me just put it like this "I hear you girl!!!"

February 2nd - Groundhog Day

Or locally Kyndelmisse (derived from the Latin: Candalarum Misa = Mass of the Light)

No February 2nd without watching one of my favourite movies "Groundhog Day" - ahhhh the sceene of the alarmclock slooooooly turning to 06:00 am :o) During this time of year, it always seems like my alarm clock has seen this movie way to often - LOL!!

We have a lot of saying around this date - most known is the part about it being the coldest day of the year - well then it have to be really really cold, because this winter has been soo chilly and the 4th snowstorm within 7 days upon us as I write this.

So I am going to cuddle-up under my blanket, eating pancakes (yep another local tradition) for dinner, light several candles and watch the movie....

To Knit or Not to Knit

Well I chose knitting....

Since I finished reading this book a few weeks back, I have kind of had an urge to knit again...and therefore needed a new project.

Then I realised that I had some yarns - not enough to make a scarf, blouse etc... but how could I use the "scraps" before heading to the local yarn/knitting store to buy new yarn....?? Then I remembered that the local chapter of SaveTheChildren are pledging for knitted baby caps (to help reduce the infant mortality rate in Africa).

So far almost 4 caps knitted, and believe that I various colours for yarn for at least 10 more. I found a very easy knit pattern which enables me to knit while watching tv - horray for multitasking - and I feel good about doing this for charity as the balls of yarn were just collecting dust (each ball of yarn can be made into two caps).

One of my fried - who's pregnant - came by my appartment the other day, saw the knitted caps and sent me a ball of yarn the following days with the words: "Please knit one for my soon-to-be-born babygirl, and then another for a girl in Africa". She has asked me if I could finish it in time for the baby shower that we are throwing her - she wants absolutely no other gift from me - and she has asked all the other girls coming to the babyshower to each give one ball of yarn... wow that will result in a LOT of caps....

One should never underestimate the power of the written words - and reading this book lead me to this project: to do something good for people, that I have never met and never will...