The Universe According to Benskog

Good Girl

2009-12-21T20:39:20Z

Dear Santa...

2009 Meme

2009-12-21T20:09:51Z

Meme, shamelessly nicked from Emilsson: Take the first sentence of the first post of each month of the year and post it. Here goes:

January: Moved all the boxes today, cellar-to-cellar.

February: This poetry meme is taken from Emilssons LJ.

March: Fellow Student : You look like the brown-haired girl in Gossip Girl.

April: Came home from London yesterday.

May: I had a blast.

June: The first one was Hansel and Gretel.

July: A - age: Yes.

August: The lyrics.

September: One never notices what has been done; one can only see what remains to be done.

October: Jag har blivit bestulen och utskälld.

November: Random musings: I have an office room, all of my own.

December: December!

Saturnalia!

2009-12-17T00:18:01Z

And my birthday!
Snow! (I placed an order. Hee-hee.)
A subscription to the fantastic magazine Bust!
Sushi!
A wonderful, mad, oversize t-shirt in peach and leopard prints!
Bliss!
And a neighbour who exclaimed: "I thought you were much younger!"

Pottering about on a Sunday

2009-12-13T21:46:03Z

* At last I´m allowed to handle food again. Made scones today, a whopping sixteen of them. Hubby found them. He now makes late-eventing tea for us both.

* Went to Lusse-OD yesterday. Nice, as always. The Christmas smörgåsbord was better than ever. The pickled herring had a certain bite in the taste, it wasn´t wishy-washy. Jansson´s frestelse was delicious, no crunchy fish-bones in it, and the gratin has a nice, brown crust. And marvellous Mr M. get me another Lady Lyre instead of the one that I lost at the ball last Saturday.*

* I ordered some clothes from a Danish brand. Boy, was I ever surprised when the designer herself answered to my e-mail!

* Orphei Drängar, the male singing society, has a lyre as its symbol. Every time there´s a Stor-OD (ball), the accompanying lady of the singer gets a small lyre to put on the ballgown. Every year there´s a new colour. Some of the veteran wives look like awarded charinas.

Benskog and the Order of the Bonkers

2009-12-08T20:43:18Z

Everything is just plainly bonkers right now.

Am somewhat weak after a bout of gastroenteritis from Hell, or at least from Skövde. As I already wrote o´er at Gnillib´s place: If I walk faster than an 85 year old lady with a Zimmer frame, I might faint. To top it all, a mate said that I looked radiant today. (85 years old with a Zimmer and all!) I told her it was all thanks to the British make-up brand which I employ. It´s Lily Lolo by the way.

Nevertheless, I went to a 6 h Faculty meeting. Oh jeez, the plots! The schemes! The TD whose voice trembled with anger, when her protegè didn´t earn a doctorate´s place! The male "all-important" professor that blathers on, and who has a finger in every pie!

And I, who asked: "This new Russia project - I know that Russia is an important country in many ways, but still: Why exactly Russia?"
The Director of Education answered, smilingly (much like a ruddy Cheshire Cat): "Do you want the straight answer, or the official answer?!?" Laughter all around, and the consoled TD shouted: "Straight!" So I said, "Straight, please." He told us. People seemed pleased that someone dared to ask the question aloud.

This day was crowded with people. Most of them nice, at least they were all interesting.

Everything is just plainly bonkers right now. I stared for a whole on my computer-screen. The revelation came: This is my life. And then I chuckled.

Go On, Take a look and Have a Try!

2009-12-07T18:47:30Z

There´s a fun competition on one of my favourite blogs: Underbara Clara.
You can win clothes for SEK 3000 idfyou put an outfit together - see the rest of the rules at:

Go on, go on, I urge you!
Good luck!

I Could´ve Danced All Night

2009-12-06T16:08:37Z

And so I did.
Very, very tired now, physically. As if I did a slalom session yesterday, or swam two kilometer. But dancing is the one sport where you get to wear Relly Nice Clothes in action. Like a misty-lilac ballgown and silvery nailvarnish.

Now: Scones. With tea. Before I fall asleep in the armchair.

December!

2009-11-30T23:17:16Z

December!
December!
December!
The month with the most beautiful name of them all!

Getting Better - Life as an Accidental Toddler

2009-11-28T18:28:45Z

Slowly, I´m getting better. I eat the same things as a toddler: Porridge, and blueberry soup. Yesterday, hubby went to the University Library to get a book for me. He came home with the book, the free daily newspapers, and a bunch of roses. Sweet.

I planned to write a longer post than this, but I´m so tired that I forget what it was about. As an accidental toddler, I´m up way past my bed-time.

The Princess and the Frog

2009-11-27T12:05:58Z

So, the Internet is raving over Disney´s latest holiday film: The Princess and the Frog. It is set in 1920´s New Orleans, and the female lead is - ta-daa- Afro-American. Which is a first. The animations is somewhat old-fashioned, in a good way. I have wondered for a decade when this trend with drawn-out figures will come to an end. How post-modern can you get, before a Disney figure looks like modern art? Personally, I´m not a fan of figures pulled out tautly like rubberbands.

The female lead is as thin as a rail with huge eyes. The male lead (when not a frog, I assume), is a six-footer with quarterback shoulders. No queer surprises there. Males = muscular and strong. Females = reedy and child-like.

Überraschung

2009-11-25T20:21:03Z

One never notices what has been done;
one can only see what remains to be done.
~ Marie Curie

After eight years of knowing him, my husband Stig still has the ability to surprise me. Stig´s generosity is stunning. He is generous with both time and love, and money as well.

I can´t stand stinginess. There are two things a Finn never should be: Stingy or lazy. I aspire to be the opposite: Generous, and busy. (And a sudden insight struck the readers.)

Five-Word Meme from Emilsson

2009-11-22T17:55:20Z

Emilsson has given me five words that she associates with me. Here goes:

The Goddess
Ah, the Goddess. Or Goddesses. Where to begin? The Goddess Series by P.C. Cast? Great books. Fun, exciting, feminist. At my wedding in July, I was dressed Neo-Classically in white and gold, much like I´d stepped out of British Museum, or down from the Olymp to frolic amongst the mortals.

Also, as a scholar and personally, I´m fond of goddesses. Some of my favourites are Rhiannon, Shekinah, and Venus from Willendorff. I think the world would be a better place with more goddesses around.

Shoes
Shoes? I wondered. But, well, I can easily step into 4" heels and run for the bus. (See: The Goddess above.) I prefer black shoes. Classic pumps, balleria shoes, or the kind that Emilsson calls "dating-Martin-Gore-shoes". I love Christian Louboutin as much as the chains Din Sko, Skopunkten, or Target for that matter!

Snape
As in Snape played by Alan Rickman. Dark, broody, complex, very tall. Velvety voice. Libido on legs. What´s not to like and to be troubled with? I´d do anything to get detention overseen by him.

Dogs
I love dogs, but am very particular about breeds. Poodles? No. Labradors? Absolutely not. English Bulldogs? Now we´re talking. English Staffordshire Bullterriers? Yes, love them. Bloodhounds? Sweet little creatures. Mastiffs? Coochie-pooh!

Pimm´s
British ambrosia for Anglophiles, and people who love them. Am trying to pull everyone into the magic sphere of Pimm´s No. 1. I love the taste of it, and could easily drink it every day. Proceed at your own risk! I have yet to meet someone who doesn´t like Pimm´s.

A Short Story on Creationism

2009-11-22T17:37:29Z

One day the Devil was bored.
Thus he created stomach flu.

Lindex - Unbearable Stupidity

2009-11-21T16:29:42Z

Hello! My name is Benskog and I´m heavy on sarcasm, since I don´t suffer fools glady. In my days, I´ve analysed quite a few advertising campaigns. Here´s a recent one that has badly backfired.

Lindex, a Swedish clothes-chain, is desperate enough to do anything now. Recently, it launched an ill-advised collection named Affordable Luxury. Between size 36-42. The pictures show emanciated girls in flesh-coloured, er, clothes. Or something. Mostly, the frocks look like something a fifth-grader tried to rustle up at school.

When people commented (unfavourably) upon the collection, the stupidities came a-rolling from the company.

Some examples:

* The sizes S and M are the most popular at Lindex.
Wrong. Size L is always sold out, I´ve noticed.

* Women bigger than size 42 are supposed to shop at the Lindex department named "Generous". Oh, who wouldn´t dream of shopping at something called "Generous" or "Big is Beautiful"? Just to rub in the insult.

Have you seen the clothes at Generous? They´re hideous, 99% of them. Tunics for pregnant women. Pregnant with triplets, that is. In Christmas red, or swirly patterns in black and white. Yes, to look as a IKEA sofa anno 1997, that´s the way to go!

Oh, I have a great idea: Lindex can clump together all sizes over 38 and rename them as a new line: "Fatso". And rename Affordable Luxury as Unbearable Stupidity, because that´s what it is...

Concert!

2009-11-21T12:39:12Z

Cliff Richard and the Shadows played at Globen yesterday. It was pure bliss. Hubby liked it a lot - he gave the gig 10 out of 10. Gray and her mother were over the moon. Those lucky things bagged front-row seats. I admit it freely, that I was a teeny bit envious. On the other hand, I got to see Cliff & the Shads for the second time in less then two months.

And what did we get to hear? The Shadows: FBI, Atlantis, Wonderful Land. Apache, of course. And Cliff sang, with the Shadows backing: A Voice in the Wilderness, Visions, I Love You, Lucky Lips, The Young Ones, Summer Holiday, Willie and the Hand-Jive... and many more. Great atmosphere, too. Almost tangible. Smiles all around.

Now I long for the next concert, whenever that will be!

Tomorrow!

2009-11-19T21:09:54Z

Cliff Richard & the Shadows in Stockholm tomorrow!

What the Mrs. Is Up To (No Good!)

2009-11-14T13:51:17Z

Have relocated derrières academically - i.e. kicked ass in the class. That exam - I nailed it.

Today I got hold of this little darling: //shop.hm.com/se/campaign788designercoll?category=LB&page=7
- and a violet-grey ballgown in size 40. Am cradling the clutch like a favourite teddy-bear. If you see the picture: Just look at the giant Swarowski star! An appropriate accessory at a DM concert, or what do you think, Emilsson?

Terrible weather today. Very comatose-inducing, but I shall write about Soka Gakkai, and drink another cup o´java. Ta!

I Have a Feeling

2009-11-07T10:06:59Z

Exam in East Asian Religions yesterday. Wrote for three hours and fifty minutes, with short breaks for chocolate, and finger-stretching due to writer´s cramp. Satisfaction after a job well done.

Now I have to dance for a while to Shake the Disease.

My Life, in a Nutshell

2009-11-01T18:56:18Z

Random musings:

* I have an office room, all of my own.
How grown-up is that?!?

* Now I´m almost done with the wardrobe clearance, due to my losing three dress sizes. I have no fun frocks left, only black and white-and black ones. Which means... shopping!

* I´m planning all kinds of Christmas presents and birthday gifts. It´s great fun, and right now I´m giggling at a card that I shall bestow upon the darling N. Hopefully she´ll like it as much as I do.

* True Blood. Now: How bonkers, exactly, is that series? I haven´t followed a TV series for ages. It´s a welcome distraction from Chinese Buddhism and Japanese Zen (interesting though they are). I look forward to see more of Alexander Skarsgård as bad boss Erci Northman, and I´m rather fond of Bill the Vampire (have forgot the actor´s name).

* Exam next week: This time it´s East Asian Religions. Fingers crossed, please!

* Have now been married for a little longer than three months. This change is strange to think of, yet natural. Must say that it suits me to be a Mrs. - she said, smugly.

* All kinds of crap (sorry, but true) keep coming up. Try as I might to keep trouble at bay, I don´t always succeed. I see everything that needs to be done, not what is already achieved. And so my good cheer suffers. Tonight I will, once more, jot down fifteen good things, big and small, that make me greatful and happy.

* Two interesting, new words straight from my brain : Distractment, and greatfulness.

Gah, My Eyes Are Insulted!

2009-09-30T17:59:58Z

Regrettably enough, I just saw Depeche Mode´s latest vid, Hole to Feed.
My spontaneous jottings while having my eyeballs insulted:

Abominable video.
Really f*****g awful. Kick the director.
I HATE other peoples´ mouths. Keep your oralities to yourselves.

Am groping for my course books on East Asian religions. Must keep my mind occupied with something else. Detox my brain.
Downing a stiff drink would also be a good idea. Throwing some ice-cubes in my mouth and glug Pimm´s straight from the bottle.

*double handpalm*

I Say No, No, No!

2009-09-17T18:35:18Z

I say no.
To too much work.
To pressure.
To stress.
To illness.
To false people.
To putting myself last on my list.
To neverending to-do lists.

Freedom!

Zzz?

2009-09-16T20:49:52Z

In the past few days I´ve met several people who said that they´ve been sleeping badly. I second that. Have no idea what´s up. Trelawney voiceover: The Moon is in the Sign of the Insomniac. Woo-woo!

Thrifty Benskog

2009-09-12T13:19:35Z

I just saved almost 300 SEK on two course books!
The topics are religions in China and Japan. Since I like Japanese culture, the books might be keepers.

Type A Personality

2009-09-01T21:26:39Z

One never notices what has been done;
one can only see what remains to be done.
~ Marie Curie

It´s Raining, But This Cheers Me Up

2009-08-13T19:01:12Z