Branded’s blog

I just HAD to go to the loo now during the afternoon and have a look at my knee. It's been crappy for the past couple of days, though not all that bad. Yesterday it was just a tad bit stiffer when I rode my bike to the trainstation, and felt a bit stiff all day even through workout.
Then I was out with Symantec last night eating traditional Swedish Christmas dinner and then bowling a bit. When leaving the bowling place I had to walk down to the trainstation. Due to numerous amounts of robery to the buses in Malmö they no longer take money after 8 PM so I couldn't get on the bus. The walk takes about 20-30 minutes and it was with a bit of a limp, when I got home I had to get on my bike and ride it home. Today the knee has felt like if someone's surgically inserted a filled water baloon under my kneecap. It's been kind of OK all day, and still is, as I've kept from moving about too much or to stand up while working.
But it didn't keep me from taking a trip to the loo and have a look at the knee. Hmmmmm looked like.... well if you have a big ball of play-doh and you put your fist into it.. THAT's what it looks like. So I have told my workout partner that there will be no workout for me tomorrow. Wonder if I'll be able to get onto my bike tonight when I get home from the evening out with my 2 bosses from the US. I have at least decided not to stay out till 1 AM again, it's so crappy when you have to get up at 5.30 AM again.
Well we'll just wait and see what my knee looks like in the morning.

Cheers!!

So, this years company Christmas party is finally over. Last Friday the event took place, at something called Gessie Byakrog. The theme for this year was Cowboy, so when we arrived at the location we were given some cowboy outfits, west, cowboy hat, guns and then we were "shoved" into the stable/barn where the party would be held. The restaurant is located in an old barn/stable so we had the right athmosphere there.

I was so happy when we were told about what the food was, NOT traditional Swedish Christmas food!! And it was buffé so you could stuff yourself with as much as you wanted. During the time of eating we had a lot of entertainment, singing, dancing/linedancing etcetera etcetera. There were also a bunch of people who just couldn't resist trying out their luck on the mechanical bull. We were, after desert, called up to the dancefloor where we were taught some linedance steps/combinations and then we had to do the moves to various music, one faster than the other, But it was fun, though stressing as you were almost breathing down the neighbours neck on the dancefloor, and once in a while you were standing face to face with one of them, wondering if they or you had made the wrong move and they you had to try to find out from where you could catch up with the rest of the dance again.

We also, during the desert, had a singing contest between the 4 different long-tables. We all got one vers from the song "We wish you a Merry Christmas" to sing, and the linedancer would judge which table was the best singer. My table had the second vers to sing and we really made the best effort we could, and was decided the winning table *woohoo* so now I can say that I've won a singing contest *lol*

After all this, the normal disco started and we had a blast dancing. My Resource manager came up to me and we got onto the dancefloor and had a couple of dances. Noticed that she didn't dance with any of the other from our group, but I know some of them are NOT the dancing kind of guys, they rather sit at the table and watch instead. I also had a blast during the evening, as I got to talk to some foreigners that attended the party as well. So I got to speak English, Russian and Swahiili during the evening. When I ran into the two Swahiili speaking guys, my workmanager was standing just infront of them and he turned towards us and said "WHAT?? You speak Swahiili as well??" *haha* Well now that secret has been revealed to him. Not that I know much Swahiili but those two were very impressed that I even knew Swahiili at all.

When the party was over and I was heading to the back yard and the bus, my Resource manager came up to me again and gave me a big hug, thanking me for the dances and then she said "You know, I am SO happy that you are a part of my team and I know that a lot of people in higher positions are very happy to have you in this company". I know I might sound like a confirmation-seaker but it's nice to know that even though I don't have all the knowledge that my coworkers have, I am still a valued employee and to hear it once every now and then, gives a nice boost to my self-confidence.

To summarize the Christmas party, I would say that it was a really fun event, with good food, good entertainment and loads of joy and laughter.

Dang it, my knees are messed up again *sigh* so no more deep knee-bending or putting more than necessary pressure on them. So work out on Monday might be a no-no.

Have had a visit from my dear friend Robert today. Was really great seeing him again. Loads of chit-chat, laughter and serious talks.

Have picked up my UV filters today, replaced the broken one on my 105mm macro and changed the circ pol on the 18-70mm. Only had time to do some quick snaps to test them out today. Will see if I'll bring my camera to the handball game tomorrow.

Some time in your life you will run into that special person that completes you in every way. For me this happened back in 1997 when I was working as a "teacher"/project manager for unomeployed people. We just took in a new bunch of people and I was appointed responsible for one lot of them, and there he was! We'd never met before, he was much younger than me, but he always brought a smile to everyone each morning.

From there we started going to handball games in our home town, and that's when our friendship really started to grow. I felt really good, being around him and I hope that he felt the same way. Then we started to hang out even when it wasn't handball in town and then came movies, pubs etc etc etc. It's been 12 years now and we're still tight as ever. AND he still brings a smile to my face everytime we meet or speak.

During these 12 years we've been trough ups and downs, sunshine and blood stained rain, joy/rage/sadnes. But he's ALWAYS been there for me. I've always felt good about our friendship and I know that I can put my trust in him, can trust him with my life. He'll be picking up the pieces when my life gets shattered, and he'll glue me together again and give me all those comforting words and feelings. He's like my twin brother, solid as a rock and just the best.

Even though we don't live close together any more, we still try to talk with each other via MSN/phone/text messages and mail as often as possible and we still ventilate everything that goes on in our lives without disguising anything for the other one. It's straight forward and joyful.

I dedicate this song to my dearest friend Fredrik, you are the best one ever and you're always in my heart!!

Plain White T's - 1,2,3,4

Give me more lovin' than I've ever had,
Make it all better when I'm feelin' sad,
Tell me that I'm special even when I know I'm not,
Make it feel good when I hurt so bad, Barely gettin' mad,
I'm so glad I found you; I love bein' around you.

You make it easy, it's easy as 1,2- 1,2,3,4
There's only 1 thing 2 do 3 words 4 you- (I love you) I love you
There's only 1 way 2 say those 3 words and that's what I'll do-(I love you)
I love you.

Give me more lovin' from the very start,
Piece me back together when I fall apart,
Tell me things you never even tell your closest friends-
Make it feel good when I hurt so bad, Best that I've had,
I'm so glad I found you, I love bein' around you.

You make it easy, it's easy as 1,2- 1,2,3,4
There's only 1 thing 2 do 3 words 4 you- (I love you) I love you
There's only 1 way 2 say those 3 words and that's what I'll do- (I love you)
I love you.
(I love you) I love you.

You make it easy, it's easy as 1,2- 1,2,3,4
There's only 1 thing 2 do 3 words 4 you- (I love you) I love you
There's only 1 way 2 say those 3 words and that's what I'll do- (I love you)
I love you.

(I love you) I love you
1, 2, 3, 4
(I love you) I love you
(I love you) I love you

Sunday, chilly outside and right now it's pitch black as well.

Have continued to chuck away old stuff that I don't need/want anymore and it's so nice to clean out the flat of old junk. Have been to the store and bought a book shelf that will replace the old fridge that I threw out yesterday, even with the book shelf in place, there's loads of space that I didn't have before, it's almost a dancefloor :) Also been to Lund to repair my bike, so now I have a brand new backwheel on my bike *yay* Went in to the train station to purchase a new period-card for the train. They are replacing all the old cards with cards with a built in chip, otherwise I would've extended my card in one of the machines at the station. Since it is Sunday today I thought that it will be an easy task, but f*uck me sidways, when I got there I had 36 ppl before me, and I thought it was crowded during the week days (I've refused to go in ther this week due to all the ppl that I've seen trying to go in there to get the new card), but after almost 45 minutes I had my freaking card in my hand.

Got home in time to see the second period of the Handball SuperCup between Sweden and Norway, and gladly Sweden won *yay* Then it was time to head off to the gym to watch the Elite series handball game that was played here in town today. We played against a team from Gothenburg, and they were taught on which turf they were playing. What was fun though was that one of Swedens most famous handball player, Magnus Wislander, was there as a spectator. It felt very off that such a celebrity would come to my hometown to watch handball. Sure, his daughter was the goalie for the oponents, but still, it's a 3 hours drive from Gothenburg to my home town. But now he had to sit there and watch his daughter get slaugtered in the goal.

Back is a bit sore today, but I think it'll be ok by tomorrow. heck it has to be good by tomorrow, it's workout time tomorrow :)

Finally have had a rather calm week. Not that I've had any problem finding stuff to do all day at work, on the contrary. BUT I've not been stressed about finding time to be able to do everything. Some of the stuff I've only been able to do in the evenings, so those parts I've "shipped" over to my coworkers in the US. Scott's been pulling a big load of work, and there's some to be done next week as well.

Yesterday afternoon I headed off to see two old coworkers of mine from my consulting time. it was nice to see them again and have a good chat. Thought of going grocery shopping in the evening but had to postpone because I got home later than expected and at 6 PM the Handball Supercup started, couldn't miss that now could I? *smile*

Today I did just as my coworkers usually do, I took a 2 hour lunch :) We only have 30 minuts, but since they can take 2 hours to run errands, well I decided that I should to the same today. So after my workout, I got in my car and drove off. I had a "date" with Rajala Camera =) They had a time limited offer that was just too good to miss out on. When I got there, there was not many customers there and I thought it would be easy peasy, When it was my turn I thought it would go swift, but it took me an hour to be done. But the service at that store is wonderful, they are very friendly and easy to talk with, ask for advice and everything. All employees are semipro or pro photographers so they know what they talk about, and they don't try to force you into one way or another when you ask about cameras, no matter if they are Nikon or Canon shooters themselves. I sold off my Nikon D200 and am now a prowd owner of a Nikon D300s, now I just have to learn the new camera and finetune the settings to my liking :)

Tomorrow it's time to carry down my old fridge that's been acting as a storage place for the past couple of years. The tennants association have placed a huge container outside my building where we can throw off all garbage that does not go into the normal garbage (we sort garbage into plastic, paper, carton, metal, dry, wet and coloured glass and white glass). I'm also gonna throw away the bathtub since I only take showers and the tub is just in the way. Going to sort out some old electronics as well and get rid of that.
Then it's another Handball Supercup game tomorrow afternoon and on Sunday it's handball here in town. Have to fix the back wheel of my bike in Lund, I blew the tyre last Monday and have purchased a new hose for it today. Need to have it fixed and mounted during this weekend so I can ride my bike on Monday again.
Hmmm when the hell am I going to find time to go shooting with my new camera this weekend??? =)