teapot's brewing

Cuteness!

2012-01-14T00:46:00.002+01:00

:-D Put a smile on my aching face.

Smuggler vs bounty hunter

2012-01-09T23:13:00.003+01:00

Meet my two new friends - one republic smuggler (below) and one sith bounty hunter (above). Both cyborgs.

Much fun. :-)

Video filming

2012-01-05T22:45:00.002+01:00

Found this rather amazing tonight:

Back in the USSR

2012-01-02T23:35:00.003+01:00

...to quote a song I really never listened to. I'm back. Own computer, not work computer. Enough space for SWTOR.

Old disk.
Extremely time consuming registration process.
Old graphic drivers.
Lagged server.

Meet "Glömsk" - lvl 1 Twi'lek Jedi Counsular, right now learning the ropes on planet Thyton.

Happy New 2012

2012-01-01T02:03:00.006+01:00

I remember trying to imagine (as a child) how life would be when I was older. A positive thing in all as it meant I planned to live at least another 30 years or so. But I never actually imagined life ANYTHING like this.

I think it's a good thing.

Because I like surprises. :-) I really like not knowing exactly every detail about everything that's going on. The more life I get under my belt the more I also appreciate how insanely vast the number of optional paths are.

No levelling assistance in real life, nope. It's all down to the choices you make. There are SO many choices I have made which I have regret making and if I had been given an opportunity to change them right after they had been made I would've - and this is the important part - if I had I would NEVER have had the life I have right now.

I am so grateful for my life. Thank you 2011 and all years preceeding you. Thank you. I look forward to what 2012 will bring.

Love to all.

No good

2011-12-28T10:04:00.004+01:00

I tried and I tried, to no avail.

Even with 16 external GB filled up I didn't succeed to free up enough space to install my new Christmas gift. Bleh.

Ha HA!

2011-12-26T17:30:00.007+01:00

S' Christmas gift to me this year (bought one for himself too, a clever man indeed).

Only problem is that on this lovely Christmas vacation I bring only a laptop with a lousy small disk and a barely-there graphic card...

Great visualizations!

2011-12-20T23:16:00.003+01:00

Borrowed directly from http://blog.visual.ly/20-great-visualizations-of-2011/ visit that site to get the full and very fascinating story! :-)

EVE Online: Crucible

2011-12-02T22:54:00.002+01:00

The most breathtaking game of all of the ones out there just stated they have "breathtaking new visuals". Huh? Is that even possible???

This is a game I figure my dad would love to play, simply because he is a space/sci-fi buff. I would love to play it if I only worked out what you do with it/how it's played (and naturally, if I could conjure up a few more hours in every day). :-)

Awesomness awaits.

Must-see

2011-12-02T22:11:00.002+01:00

War Horse - imdb link

I will be shedding more than one tear to this one, I can imagine. Despite not even liking war-movies. 8-)

Strange urges

2011-10-07T20:05:00.001+02:00

Despite being tired beyond comprehension I find that the urge, the need to express myself is so strong that when I'm unable to access Twitter I resort to re-directing blogger-droid to publish posts to the current blog instead of the usual enannanblog.

What is that? Why is that so?

Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.4

Ding 77!

2011-09-18T23:56:00.003+02:00

Surprised myself by dinging level 77 with undead priest Glömsk. :-)

To compare with "Total time played: 31 days, 10 hours, 51 minutes, 21 seconds" to level 70 with undead warrior Teéhe... The game has gotten easier and easier for each expansion, not at all implying that it's less good. Only that the game designers at Blizzard have learned what works and what the players like. :-)

If I kill a spider

2011-09-11T19:19:00.002+02:00

If I kill a spider and it's already raining. Will it start to rain more then??

I grew up with the superstition that killing a spider would bring rain later on. So you'd rather catch it and carry it outside than kill it. Unless you wanted rain.

But what if it's already raining?

Heck, it's autumn too, it will make no difference one way or another! :-)

Ding 20!

2011-09-07T12:35:00.003+02:00

Now it's time to have a bite to eat and then shower, got to spruce up a bit to go pick up the boys at kindergarden. No fever today, voice is almost back to normal (a tad husky and nasal). Work awaits tomorrow.

Ding 19!

2011-09-07T11:26:00.002+02:00

Time flies when you're having fun (thank god for that). :-)

Ding 18!

2011-09-07T08:51:00.004+02:00

Rolled a new character in December, just after the previous expansion (Cataclysm). Wiwiane is a fearsome goblin warrior and I enjoy the simplicity of play-style the warrior class offers on the early levels. Although, looking at how much time I've spent on this character since it was rolled I can't claim any benefits from earlier experience - it having taken almost as many hours as levels to get here... X-)

But I truly enjoyed the initial storyline where you are introduced to how the goblins chose side and started fighting the good fight together with the rest of the Horde. A lot of action and adventure, many so-called 'world events'. T even played with me during a few more peaceful events (training as a miner, going on collect-quests and exploration tours). He liked the fact that it looked just like "Alcúdia" and wanted to play more. :-D

While I was at it (rolling new characters) I had to try out the new Alliance race as well - a worgen. So I rolled a worgen hunter Rweena and her first pet naturally had to be called Rwarr. You get a lot for free nowadays when rolling new characters. Back in the days you had to level many levels before you could train a pet to hunt with you and you had to level a painful amount of levels to get a mount... :-) The worgen got her pet from the start and don't even need a mount (will just learn the ability to run real fast on her own worgen legs). Mounts are available from level 20 now instead of level 40 like earlier, a lot of running around spared there.

All you need to know about World of Warcraft - beginners brief.

Ignorance is NOT bliss

2011-09-06T21:05:00.004+02:00

I know the symptoms quite well now, after thirty odd years of menstruation. I know them too well. I know all about the periodic bloating, the gathering of water in tissue making me increase one size in clothes for a few days per month. I know all about the mood swings, the illogical dip in self-esteem and the sudden lack of faith in my own abilities and sense of own value.

I know all about cramps. Pains of all kinds of different flavors from the early dull pain to the full on "kick in the midriff" type in the middle and the soreness towards the end.

I know too much about worrying about stains on my clothes from failing pads and tampons. I know quite well how much more toilet paper is spent on cleaning out veritable bloodbaths in the bathroom that time of the month.

I know enough to accept and compensate for most of these symptoms, I know they're for a good reason. All but one.

WHAT IS IT WITH THIS BLOATING THING???

Why on earth would my body repeatedly do that to itself?? I am sure if I understodd why it wouldn't annoy me so much, but now I don't and it does. Annoy me a lot.

This particular area of ignorance is certainly not one that brings me any joy.

Would you ever feel at home here?

2011-09-06T10:49:00.005+02:00

I found this picture when looking for non-table alternatives for our living room, lounge area. I'm after something soft to put my feet on rather than what we have today, a table we rarely use for anything other than putting our feet on.

I felt so smart and innovative thinking up this idea, but will have to realise I'm not first with this one...

Looking through the photos for this property for sale - would you ever feel at home here?

http://www.lagerlings.se/pictList.aspx?objectID=387

Bugaboo

2011-06-20T21:39:00.003+02:00

I managed to stick T's bike onto the Bugaboo when I walked to kindergarden this afternoon, he was very excited to get a chance to cycle home and D was quite content lounging away inside the rain-protected pram.
This look is perhaps not quite what they imagined when they designed this (our favorite) pram?
Awfully handy none the less. :-)

Now you good design-people out there, please run ahead and design a bicycle carrier addition to Bugaboo Cameleon. ;-)

Vacation

2011-06-09T09:44:00.003+02:00

The only problem with a really really good vacation is that it will come back to haunt you.

I once went here, how can I ever top that?

It doesn't come back quite as often nowadays but hey when it does... blech. Need to focus on something else now! X-)

All photos borrowed from Lizard Island's own webbsite.

Weird smile

2011-05-05T20:03:00.002+02:00

This is so far the weirdest smiley I've seen:

C=

It certainly looks happy but how on earth do you come up with that one? :-D

Sockerbit NY - sweet & Swedish

2011-03-23T21:37:00.004+01:00

A candy shop selling Swedish sweets will open in Manhattan this weekend. Hah! We might have to, just might have to take a detour past this place too while we're there? :-)

If not I'll just have to settle for a fresh non-exported supply of my favourite Jelly Belly's. :-D

Sockerbit doesn't seem to have spent so much time on their own webpage yet, but I found a few links with references to it:
Resespanarna - Sockerbit (Swedish site)
A Swede in New York (Swedish blog)
DN.se Sockerbit-laddar-för -Goda-affärer (Swedish newspaper article)
Plockgodis i New York (Swedish blog)

And naturally Sockerbit's own FaceBook page - Sockerbit sweet & swedish

Bad combination

2011-02-13T00:56:00.005+01:00

Woollen jumper with an oversized collar + WoW incident leading to character's death + large cup of tea = dead character + soaking wet (hot) collar + fast exit from chair + laundry.

I leaned forward in excitement and thoroughly soaked the collar of the knitted jumper. Great. Didn't discover it until I sat up and felt a very warm/wet sensation from the area of where the collar was...
Fortunately the jumper is brown and I hadn't poured any milk into my tea yet.

Ding 75!

2010-12-04T22:12:00.002+01:00

Glömsk and I celebrate by flying to the nearest capital and do some training.
It is no longer necessary to portal all the way back to the now completely changed old orchish capital Orgrimmar. A lot of interesting new things are going on over there so I'm tempted to roll a new character to have a taste. But the expansion is due next week (three days) so I suppose I can wait for then when the new races will be available. On the other hand, mother in law is visiting then so it'll have to wait, after Christmas is a more likely time to upgrade and go exploring. :-D

Joy!

2010-10-18T22:04:00.004+02:00

Wee! I just found five new episodes of The Guild. :-D And Blizzard released a nice new patch for World of Warcraft last Wednesday that made life SO easy in-game.

2010-10-07T22:36:00.001+02:00

The Guild. :-D They manage to keep me (very) entertained despite me not spending any, zip, zero, gaming time the past months.

New episode

2010-07-17T13:16:00.002+02:00

&amp;amp;lt;a href="http://video.msn.com/?mkt=en-us&amp;amp;amp;amp;from=sp&amp;amp;amp;amp;fg=shareObject&amp;amp;amp;amp;vid=9c194351-975c-4b54-9462-e85b3e87af8e" target="_new" title="Season 4 - Episode 1 - Epic Guilt"&amp;amp;gt;Video: Season 4 - Episode 1 - Epic Guilt&amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;gt;

Wohoo! :-D The Guild released first new episode of season 4, I'm so happy. :-D And now that I've watched it I better get going with the cleaning of the house... 8-)

Beach 2010

2010-07-16T01:30:00.004+02:00

My sister just reminded me of one sunny day at Surfer's Paradise on the Gold Coast of Queensland Australia (that's a mouthful! :-D).

For the first time in a long long LONG time a memory from my time in Australia didn't bring me automatically back there. :-D Thank you, three weeks of +30C!
It has gotten to the point where I have removed the "check the forecast" as the last (and first) thing I do every day. There's no need to check the weather, it is going to be warm enough for sandals, skirts and no need for a jacket. :-D Exactly like in Sydney.
No need to be obsessing about the weather when it is reliably good all year through.

Just because of that I betcha this is probably the last day of that kind of weather... 8-)

Feet

2010-07-02T21:24:00.002+02:00

I tell you, perhaps I have to realise this is just another phobia of mine? Definitely one of the downsides to summer - naked feet.

I love babies feet (I could eat them!).
I don't mind a pair of reasonably clean, neat feet.
I don't mind a pair of tanned feet with painted toenails.

Problem is, not all feet fall into the categories above. Far from! Blech. I really really think calloused feet furnishing long yellow toenails with brown/green edges of dirt is just too much to stomach. What's worse is that when the owner of these feet are seated on a "high seat" in the bus and you're stuck slightly below them watching over your toddler and stroller you get just a little too much time to look at them. I hate it! Blech!

Congratulations mate!

2010-06-20T23:30:00.004+02:00

We started out as neighbors, became friends. Our friendship survived working together and living in different countries, on different continents. Funny, silly, intelligent, dangerously childish at times - I never thought he'd get married - but he did. And to a fantastic, intelligent, beautiful woman to that. Congratulations Séa, all the best to you and your beautiful new life partner and a light and full future, full of all of life's delights. :-)

We really wish we could've been there to celebrate with you, hope to see you soon anyway!

Archibald Fountain

2010-06-16T00:52:00.002+02:00

Dad did it again, emailed me some news snippet out of SMH which triggered a memory of days past... In Hyde Park, Sydney, lies my favorite fountain. Of all fountains I've visited this is 'the one'. :-) The Archibald Fountain.

I always took visitors there, on one of the various walks I preferred when introducing Sydney to friends. Night time walks in Hyde Park was quite "adventurous" at times, when you had to dodge the droppings of the big fruit bats invading the trees in large segments of the park. 8-)

I like the fountain because of its setting and its shape, but most of all for the fan of water spouting up/outwards at the center statue.

Diving horses

2010-06-15T22:29:00.003+02:00

Amazing, the things you find on the internet - and on YouTube in particular. This one caught me and I had to watch a couple of related videos as the context and pure madness of the whole thing was hard to come to terms with... In a way it is beautiful, in another way it's pure and utter madness and horses should never be trained to do this type of thing. 8-)

Warcraft für alles

2010-06-07T22:28:00.000+02:00

This just made me smile (as always). 8-)

Ding 74

2010-05-30T23:32:00.003+02:00

Well... it took a while longer to ding this time around. Haven't played as much as earlier this year now that the sun's started to reach all the way up to us here in the northern hemisphere. :-) Glömsk turned 74 tonight, it's getting closer...

Nice pad

2010-05-22T00:22:00.003+02:00

Just stumbled over a nice Furbolg home. Must say it's one of the nicer ones around. :-D Constructed out of a hollowed out tree trunk, with windows. Pot of stew simmering away, colourful pot plants, magic lantern to light up the place, nice furs to sleep on... life's comforts.

Fourteen takes

2010-04-29T12:21:00.002+02:00

I just recorded a new message for the voicemail on my work mobile. I've had the same message since 2002 and I've received a fair amount of flak over it being a little "one time, at bandcamp.." and very Swedish/Australian sounding.

Now, fourteen attempts later I have an updated version sounding EXACTLY the same... *sigh* I suppose that's just how I sound.

Hilarious

2010-04-26T23:10:00.003+02:00

This is just too funny. And cute. :-D I so wish we had captured some of our oldest son's booty shakes on cam.

Imgur

2010-04-25T22:48:00.002+02:00

"How Genetics Works"

Got stuck on this site, looking at an unusually pleasant mix of photos and images. :-)

Mystery beach

2010-04-14T21:58:00.003+02:00

I don't remember the name of the beach we visited when my sister visited me in Sydney. She reminded me of it, dammit, and now I can't stop thinking about it... *sigh*

Love you sis!

I think it's this one - Google map link.

Or perhaps this one - Google map link.

Saab 92

2010-04-08T22:45:00.004+02:00

NOW I know what I'm going to start saving for... :-)

Apparently the CEO of Saab, Victor Muller has stated that it's a fond idea, even a prioritized idea of his to start manufacturing a new "retro model" Saab based on the old favorite Saab 92. Much like the "new Beetle" by Volkswagen and the "new Mini" by Mini. :-)

However - this piece of delicious news happened to appear in media just exactly on the 1st of April so I'm not going to put away a whole bundle of money. But then again... if it DOES happen, I will want to have one. I will. I really really will. ;-)

More info in English: http://blogs.motortrend.com/6661914/corporate/exclusive-victor-muller-shows-us-new-saab-92-sketch-calls-it-top-priority/index.html

More info in Swedish: http://www.dn.se/ekonomi/muller-vill-bygga-ny-saab-92-1.1074111

Ding 73

2010-03-31T00:15:00.003+02:00

Oops, less than a month passed since last ding - just under 24 hours played. Very well. It's time for a healthy Easter break now anyway, it'll be good for me no doubt! :-)

Ding 72

2010-03-07T23:51:00.004+01:00

One month later, Glömsk turned 72. Got to go see if she gets to learn any new fandangled skills now. Adding time played, for the record.

Flame

2010-03-07T22:22:00.005+01:00

A friend sent me this link and I have to issue a warning to go with it: it's dangerous!
If you let your imagination loose you may never actually feel the need to stop using it! ;-)

Neru'bar sounds

2010-03-07T00:07:00.003+01:00

I am easily amused - the Neru'bar skitterers makes a couple of noises which are just hilarious.

On attack: "REGARDE!" (in a very truly sourly French way)

On dying: Sounds just like something the singer of ACDC could muster, just like him screeching away passionately.

Memories

2010-02-09T10:11:00.003+01:00

Dad does me no favors by sending me Google Earth links to where I used to live in Sydney...
111 Carabella Street, that's where I spent three wonderful years 'living la vida loca' (in many aspects doing just the same as here, only not with children). :-)

Google Earth link:
This shows the front of the building, best mate and neighbor's windows visible (the two rightmost on the top floor).

Google Earth link:
This is where you'll spot a glimpse of my apartment windows facing Careening Cove (the bedroom and so-called sun-room), the red brick building behind the left building at the front (the one you're facing when standing on the street looking up towards "my" street).

A backpacker's and a catholic girl's school are the nearest neighboring buildings, both offering their own special spice to life on Carabella Street... There was quite often parties going on at the backpacker's and my mate had the sometimes quite shocking view of people taking a shower right across his kitchen window... :-D The girl's school was generally quiet apart from on the rare occasion when I was stuck at home in bed with a cold, MY GOD the noise level 200 little girls achieve when they are out in the back yard playing!

Ding 71!

2010-02-07T22:39:00.004+01:00

Glömsk facing her "inner turmoil" in a quest...

Slowly slowly, but surely...

At this rate I might reach level 80 before the end of next year. I must say it's dead easy playing shadow priest. Almost so much that it's not as much fun any longer. But it feels good to be able to face two-three mobs at the same time without also facing death with certainty... 8-)

Greetings from the cleaners?

2010-01-28T23:32:00.003+01:00

Found this word on our kitchen benchtop this afternoon.

Oh, the letters were there before, only they used to say "HEM" as in home in Swedish. :-) Planning to put them up on the wall somewhere in the kitchen.

Avatar theme

2010-01-20T22:17:00.003+01:00

Since I seem to not be able to get enough of the film (Avatar) - the theme is now on repeat in my headphones... *dreaming away* I recommend it with my whole heart!

Avatar OST (original soundtrack) by James Horner contains the following imagination infusing songs:

You don't dream in cryo...
Jake Enters His Avatar World
Pure Spirits of the Forest
The Bioluminescence of the Night
Becoming one of 'The People' Becoming one with Neytiri
Climbing up 'Iknimaya - The Stairway to Heaven
Jake's First Flight
Scorched Earth
Quaritch
The Destruction of 'Hometree'
Shutting Down Grace's Lab
Gathering All the Na'vi Clans for Battle
War
Leona Lewis - I See You (Theme from Avatar)

Another avatar...

Ohh... Avatar!

2010-01-19T23:28:00.004+01:00

I can not get enough of this film! :-)

Avatar, closest I've ever got to being 'inside' Warcraft, I've got nothing bad to say about the film except maybe that it's too short... :-D

http://www.apple.com/trailers/fox/avatar/trailerlarge.html

1.8 kg

2009-11-01T02:12:00.003+01:00

That's how much candy this is, give or take a few that disappeared before I had time to get the camera out.

Do you want to know what's worse? Nobody came "trick or treat'ing" at our door tonight!! That means... 1.8kg of candy is heading straight for my hips! Eeek! 8-)

Ding 70!

2009-11-01T01:53:00.004+01:00

After 17 days online with this toon, Glömsk has finally turned 70. :-) Nothing much exciting to add to her skillset, but there are a few mobs out there which will just be a fraction easier to slay now. :-)

Shortcuts

2009-10-30T01:29:00.002+01:00

I realise I miss a few functional commands from Aion in WoW, not bad Aion, not bad. :-) The most missed was one of the ones I had the hardest time to learn to use - right-click to auto-walk to mobs and items. But other than that WoW now feels just like it does when you come home from work and pull on the comfy baggy soft attire mostly worn out of public view ("mjukisar"). :-D It feels good.

End of Aion

2009-10-24T03:55:00.004+02:00

Ding level 10. Tested flying. Enjoyed the interface. Enjoyed the combat. Got tired of the music. Still don't stand the look of robes in the game. My free gaming time should be just about to expire.

My conclusion: Easy to play (easier than Oblivion, for sure). But too expensive to subscribe to, or rather, not good enough to spend the monthly money on.

I like my character, I will miss her freckled green-haired energy. :-D

Aion

2009-10-09T01:10:00.007+02:00

Nippertippa, scout, main char (tiny)

Aion came. And we waited. And waited. And waited... my gosh, servers are totally swamped and it is no use trying to log on during the afternoon or early evening. Thankfully my "free" time starts after 23:00 so the waiting time isn't too bad then. I created three characters, mostly for fun, the character creation features are great!

Glomsk, priest (tall and chunky, just like a priest should be, right?)

However the actual game questing and combat is, well, so-so. It doesn't quite cut it to Warcraft standards. But I'll give it that - it could well be 'the new warcraft' to me, if I could only give it the time it needs. It's "pretty" (although, MY GOD why couldn't they animate the robes so that they look at least somewhat real??) and the combat is easy and graphically appealing. The sounds aren't too annoying, the voices ok, the music is good. The quests are reasonably easy to pursue, guiding you into and onto gradually more difficult areas and mobs as you progress your levelling (unlike Oblivion, where you can easily stumble onto an end-game instance-like mob with your newborn character...). The function-keys and menus are semi-logical although for my Warcraft-demented brain my muscle-memory makes me return to the old familiar shortcuts over and over again, to no avail... X-) Some of the built-in features, like maps and navigation and aid to find npc's are stuff that I'd really like to have in Warcraft too.

Teehe, warrior (slender and cute, like a warrior) ;-)

I had lots of fun creating the characters. But will I ever again invest the hours required to get to the point of comfort I am with Warcraft? I doubt it... :-] Tough luck Aion.

What happened to Warcraft?

2009-10-09T00:37:00.002+02:00

MY ACCOUNT IS TEMPORARILY UNPAID FOR OH MY GOD.

:-o

I haven't had time to look into it but I suspect I used my old credit card to pay for the subscription and now it's no longer valid, ergo, my Warcraft account is temporarily unavailable. I feel a horrible void growing inside, despite not having a single minute of gaming time available. X-)

63.3

2009-10-09T00:23:00.002+02:00

That's what I weigh in on right now. That means I'm truly down to what I weighed before I was registered as pregnant at the local health center (I weighed in on 65 then). :-)
Will not specifically aim to loose any more weight, but I will be happy if I could get down closer towards 60 kg next year. Can't really diet as I am constantly hungry right now, all due to wee David's habit of eating every hour upon the hour (nearly) when he's awake and I need to make sure I stay upright and lactate well . :-D

Chocolate

2009-10-08T23:30:00.003+02:00

S had the opportunity to taste a new brand of chocolates some time ago and came home passionately describing it to me. I have had some issues with dark chocolate since the start of my last pregnancy (you wonder what this will mean for young David in the long run?) so haven't had much chocolate since as the echoes of nausea still lurks at the back of my mind when thinking about having some. Tonight he had bought some and insisted I'd try it.

It was Cocoa Farm Wine Chocolate Pinot Noir by Farm by Nature - yummy!

It's like a serious heavy-weight champion deluxe variant of the old Swedish classic ice cream "romrussin" but with chocolate and wine, not ice cream and rum. Oh, um, that's a poor comparison now isn't it? It is someway also not too far from another old Swedish classic "Skotte" (soft, rich dark chocolate, raisins, crunch...). But that's the first impression and I happen to love the ol' romrussin ice cream and the "old ladies chocolate" Skotte... :-D

Anyway, they make this chocolate using a special technique where they infuse raisins with wine (Pinot Noir, Shiraz or Merlot) and cover them with chocolate (38% in this case). It is absolutely looovely.

Try it out!

Ding 69!

2009-09-20T01:25:00.003+02:00

Imagine that, Glömsk has reached level 69 all of a sudden. I'm happy S nagged me into Northrend, it's much more fun to quest up there and levelling seems to go faster there. Or maybe it is the whole shadow priest thing?

Over to the dark side

2009-09-05T02:20:00.004+02:00

Tonight I finally caved in and respecced Glömsk to "shadow priest". Apparently it will enable me to finish off mobs a lot quicker. 8-) I've been running strictly "holy" up until this point (and I'm proud of it! :-p) but it's getting increasingly tedious to flap away with wand and shield to kill mobs. Though I must say, faster as it may be - shadow spells have _not_ got the flare holy spells have. I already miss the thunderous sound and lightningflame-effect of Holy Fire?

The Guild

2009-09-04T00:06:00.003+02:00

"The Guild" beats "The Office" hands down... :-D S have been talking about it for a long time but I've never taken the time to watch it before. I just finished the last released episode (season 3, episode 1, released now in September) and I have been laughing a lot these past few hours. Funny thing though, despite watching a show about Warcraft playing nerds the entire evening I haven't actually logged on WoW (or, errh, except to check AH that is) the whole time...

What the?

2009-09-03T00:53:00.005+02:00

This ad makes absolutely no sense! :-D If they have to use babelfish for translation I can only guess how bad the game must be...

Ding 68!

2009-08-30T15:18:00.002+02:00

New level. Northrend level. Nice goggles too. :-)

Aion

2009-08-29T01:23:00.004+02:00

Right, I managed to muster up a few hours to try out Aion before the closed beta was locked and beta testing terminated. I ended up rolling a scout. :-)

Initial impression - it's a 2009 version of Oblivion, with the ease and familiarity of shortcuts resembling World of Warcraft. I didn't have enough time to learn any particular skills so my combat experience is hardly worth disclosing. :-)

I look forward to it's next step though, release scheduled for September.

Five years

2009-08-29T01:20:00.001+02:00

Fortunate for us, Warcraft was released AFTER we met. :-D Thank you for five absolutely fantastic years my love. I love you.

Chanter or cleric?

2009-08-15T20:46:00.003+02:00

When I roll a new character in the closed beta version of Aion online, will I roll a chanter or a cleric? That's the thousand dollar question of the evening.

Chanters are better than clerics for solo play as they can handle more melee as well as heal. But even though they are a little bit hardier than clerics they're pretty useless when the going gets tough and you meet multiple mobs. That means I'd have to pace myself carefully and not advance on the safe side of levelling e.g. focusing on lower level mobs etc. Which in reality is not as much excitement as if you're a little bit ahead of level. Perhaps I should roll a completely different character instead?

These are my options/classes available:

The Warrior - templar or gladiator (very much the same as warrior and palladin in WoW)
The Scout - assassin or ranger (rogue or hunter in WoW)
The Mage - sorcerer or spiritmaster (mage or shaman in WoW)
The Priest - chanter or cleric (priest in WoW)

Hmm... perhaps I'll try a ranger instead? Will have to do some more reading before making up my mind. Shouldn't be a problem. Downloading the install and patches seems to be a bit of a task, 6G waiting to trickle down into our house with the speed of a murder snail... *sigh*

Ding 67!

2009-08-01T01:26:00.003+02:00

New baby, new sudden urge to play Warcraft... how do you work this out?? I certainly don't know. X-)

Time to go to bed now, only one level to go before this toon can go to Northrend (new lands available since last expansion "Wrath of the Lich King") but that's for another evening. :-)

He's here too

2009-07-22T02:12:00.002+02:00

David
3565 g
52 cm
10 July 17:06

He arrived one day ahead of schedule. Longed for. Loved. :-) Big brother have patted his head and welcomed him home. Both boys are fast asleep now.

Both.

We have two boys now, S and I. It is an incredible feeling! We see that David is quite different from Tobias, but most of our rellies think they look very much like eachother. It is going to be über cool to watch our two sons grow up. :-)

A very merry movie marathon Christmas

2009-01-09T00:06:00.005+01:00

We spent the holidays up north with my sister's family. As soon as the kids had gone to bed we got a fire going in the fireplace, snacks dished up on the table and got seated in the lounge in front of the telly to watch a movie. :-)

Thoroughbred wholesome adult relaxation time, perfect for tired parents in varying stages of colds. :-)

We watched:

Casino Royale (imdb link) - it gets 8.0/10 on imdb and I have to agree with that, it's the best Bond movie since Sean Connery.
Quantum of Solace (imdb link) - also this one of the best Bond movies in years. I like it for the sense of closure, and it's a twist that you actually learn about Bond's "junior years" in these two films. Daniel Craig is not as "smooth" as some (all?) of the previous Bond's, he doesn't have a very expressive acting style but he wins on the blue eyes, the rough edges and the very realistic action scenes (that may be thanks to the director off course but still).
Seven Pounds (imdb link) - oh what a film!! It gets ten out of ten from me. It surprised me, it had me crying (just a little) and it had me aww'ing and it's almost too much for a weakened mother's heart to handle. It's awesome and very very different.
Hancock (imdb link) - Ha ha! I like this film! It was many different films in one and you go from corny "redemption" type film via love story to a sudden hit of sci-fi to end up with a lot of feel-good. :-)
Constant Gardener (imdb link) - Serious stuff this one. I'm not going to theorise about whether or not this is the way it is out there in reality. But it's a frickin scary movie and it makes me want to be a better person. Apart from that I just LOVE the actual filming technique, it's the first time I've actively noticed a technical aspect like that (in a positive way). It's blurry and unsharp at times, but the flow of movement and people, colours and sound is just awesome. And Ralph Fiennes made it again, another beautifully set slightly dry love story under his belt (note: The English Patient being the other).
Days of Thunder (imdb link) - a rather sweet and simple minded early 90's film. So close to the eighties that I get the same "embarrassment vibes" as I always get when watching clothes and acting from that time... :-D I'm guessing this is when Tom and Nicole met for the first time.

I also watched short bits of "Tropic Thunder" (the guys watched the whole of it and absolutely loved it for unknown reasons) but it's so bad I'm not even going to use words to start describing it...

The Spiderwick Chronicles

2008-12-11T22:39:00.003+01:00

We watched The Spiderwick Chronicles last night - weeee! I like it! :-) Imdb link. A good, hearty adventure fairy tale. With emphasis on 'fairy'... :-) Got the same good feeling from it as I get when watching Harry Potter films (although it's close but not quite as good).
This film is based on a series of five books with the same title (link to web page here) and naturally I should read the books too, I will have to find time to do some reading soon. :-)

I can't wait until we can watch this type of film together with our son. But in this particular case it possibly would have to wait until he's at least seven, or even older. I thought it was pretty scary at times! :-D

Ding 60!

2008-12-10T00:02:00.002+01:00

Glömsk finally made it to lvl 60. :-D It only took some 14 days played to get there, but in real time it would be closer to 3 years... :-D

Pan Restaurant & Night club

2008-11-30T01:46:00.004+01:00

After a long day in town we decided to not go to Magnus Ladulås (we tend to always end up there because of the reasonably priced and delicious food) and couldn't get a table at Kryp In (which was fortunate seeing their menu has jumped up a notch price wise). So we went a-wandering along the cobbled streets of Old Town/Gamla Stan to find a restaurant to feed four hungry adults and a one-year-old.

We stumbled upon this seemingly brand new place "Pan Restaurant & Nightclub" serving "South European food". It was very stylish, clean and open (the place triggered some very old memories of "Marble Bar" in Sydney, only not quite as grand). I worried we perhaps wouldn't be welcome in case it was exclusively for smartly dressed night-clubbers and bar-hangers but after a quick scouting tour inside we were made to feel very welcome by the expressive head waiter.

Nothing in our visit to this restaurant was disappointing. My fish soup was delicious. The 28 days tenderized beef served with french fries and fresh veg's was apparently to die for. :-) Service was excellent although the waitress in training forgot to bring us our drinks (something which the waiter could have noticed when bringing us our food) and the waiter charmed Tobias who flirted back rather happily. They heated Tobias food without protests and served it on a really nice plate with his own cutlery. The waitress even asked if we would like to wait with his food until ours was ready to serve and she suggested a straw for his water, a totally unexpected and much appreciated initiative!

The sound level was low even though the restaurant filled up (half full) while we were sitting there, the space was airy and attractive and the food was great. There's absolutely no reason not to go back there! :-)

There's unfortunately only a few traces of this restaurant on the web, old job ads on different websites (link) but I believe it's located on Stora Nygatan 40-42 (on the corner to Schönfeldts Gränd).

Worth noticing is that at the moment you get 20% off for orders placed before 6pm.

WARNING: Café Art

2008-11-30T00:41:00.003+01:00

We desperately needed somewhere to break for afternoon snack, cup of warming coffee and restroom needs today and ended up in a previously untested café in Stockholm Old Town.

Holy schmoly it is by far the worst café I have ever visited! I so rarely go in to town nowadays and I so cherish my coffee and "fikabröd" that the quiality of Café Art really put me back. This horrid place should be put out of business and made into an art gallery or something totally different before it has a chance to ruin other people's café experiences!

Review at CINT (in Swedish).

Street Christmas markets

2008-11-30T00:30:00.002+01:00

After nearly taking the longest detour ever possible we took a right turn and asked a couple coming from that direction if we were heading the right way (we were) we finally found it - Street Christmas markets.

It was a let-down.

It was small, far from cosy, far from unique and I don't see the point in returning. Except maybe for a thick Thai-silk woven winter shawl on sale for 150 SEK...

My brief visit a few years back, when walking around Södermalm a bright sunny Sunday morning together with J & J was totally different. But then again, this time it was incredibly chilly and my expectations were probably too high. It may also be that the "original" Street actually had to shut down and move to a new location, this was a "quick fix" replacement market if I understand it correctly.

Nhu's Thai

2008-11-29T23:44:00.003+01:00

We had lunch at Nhu's Thai restaurant at Hornstull on Söder (Stockholm) today, I say WOW! We climbed off the subway after traveling for 45 minutes to get to town for the Christmas markets today and _needed food quickly_. This restaurant was one of two options close by, the place was nearly empty and we clambered in with stroller and baby no problem.
We ordered food, got Tobias food heated and by the time he was half way through his meal we got our food. And what food it was! :-D Glorious food!

We saw on the window outside that it had been nominated to the "Gulddraken" by one of the main newspapers in town. I can clearly understand why now. :-)

S ordered a fish dish which was beautiful in every aspect. It was crisp, it was colourful with a rich spicy taste and the serving was large. I ordered my classic (seeing my appetite is at rock bottom) Thom Ka Gai (chicken soup with coconut milk, lemon grass, mushroom and coriander) and it was yummy. Perhaps not knocking any socks off, but I refuse to review food in this state of appetite! I read later that they serve Thai fish cakes and I SO regret not having some, they are just generally the most delishious Thai food I know! :-) The menu offered some not so regular Thai choices because of an offering of food from the northern regions of Thailand, I like that.

Only bad thing I can think of was that the restaurant was rather chilly as we were one of the few tables inhabited. It probably gets better as it fills up but I still wish they'd have some form of additional heating installed. :-)

More about Nhu's (in Swedish):
DN's Äta ute - beskrivning och hitta dit
DN's Äta ute - recension (besök)

Wall-E

2008-11-23T23:37:00.003+01:00

Ohhh! I like this one so much I am going to have to buy all the merchandise there is! :-D

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0910970/

It's a sweet sweet love story wrapped up in a pretty cool sci-fi story. The proportions are such that if you choose to you don't have to spend any time thinking about the background story (about a potential future for us humans) but can focus entirely on the story about love and hope. I like both aspects of it. And I love Pixar.

I have seen on the net that with this film Pixar released a new short film called "Burn-E" but I haven't been able to catch it anywhere yet. Might have to buy the DVD. :-)

Burn After Reading

2008-11-23T23:14:00.003+01:00

We also watched "Burn After Reading" (imdb link) at the cinema in Norway and the only reason I mention it here is so that I can remember that I didn't like it. I have an urgent feeling this film is "hyped" and will be so forever just because it's directed and written by the infamous Coen brothers.

It's jampacked with famous big name actors (Clooney, Frances McDormand, Tilda Swinton, Malkovich, Pitt) but it's cheap cheap cheap.
The plot is simpleminded with a tendency to rely on slapstick-like acting and it's poorly tied together.

Sure it is funny, but it's painful to see everyone overacting in that slapstick/humor-like way. Clooney pulls off a reasonably good anal type of guy, but he's the only one. Pitt is just boring and John Malkovich is worringly realistic in his slow decay.
So no need to watch this one, if you have an alternative - pick that one instead! :-)

Through a Glass, Darkly

2008-11-23T22:49:00.003+01:00

Original title: I et speil i en gåte
IMDB link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1170396/

We decided to watch a "native" movie when we went to Norway last and timed it to the premiere of this bittersweet painfully beautiful and odd film. It has stayed with me, which is one of the few really trustworthy quality meters I have. So I recommend it warmly.

My only comment would be that the main character, Cecilie played by Marie Haagenrud came across as older than she was supposed to be. But I also think that some of the nuances in her personality hadn't been available had they selected a younger actress.

It is based on a book with the same name by Jostein Gaarder (author of amongst other "Sophie's World").

Bad night for Warcraft

2008-11-05T00:28:00.004+01:00

It's evenings like these that makes me loose the urge to play Warcraft. I've been trying to get a plug-in to work all evening, when I finally get it to work it doesn't quite cut it compared to the old version of itself. Blech.

Crazy crazy crazy

2008-11-05T00:26:00.001+01:00

http://www.dn.se/DNet/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=148&a=847872

I will never ever ever understand this! :-(

Why is it

2008-11-05T00:08:00.005+01:00

...that in some countries it's quite OK to store egg in room temperature but in other countries egg are stored in the fridge?

...that jam and peanut butter can be stored in room temperature in some countries, but not in others?

Time to 70

2008-10-04T13:16:00.003+02:00

Total time played: 31 days, 10 hours, 51 minutes, 21 seconds
(Time played this level: 0 days, 0 hours, 52 minutes, 59 seconds)

:-)

Ding 70!!

2008-10-04T01:36:00.006+02:00

Ha ha! I finally made it. Many hours and days played and Teéhe finally hit level 70. Should have a big celebration but I think I'll stagger away to bed instead.

Oh, and I got me a flying mount too, isn't it neat?? ;-) Had saved a 'holly' from an in-game Christmas event some years ago - it transforms my brand new regular blue flying mount to "something more festive"... :-D

Ding 55!

2008-09-23T00:40:00.002+02:00

Noggenfogged

Glömsk has turned 55, only took something like a year or so... :-)

/played
Total time played: 12 days, 21 hours, 51 minutes, 46 seconds.

In-game gaming

2008-09-21T12:43:00.002+02:00

PopCap Games are soon releasing an in-game version of "Bejeweled" for Warcraft. :-D Imagine that, finally something entertaining to do while flying to somewhere or while waiting for a Zeppelin.

You know you're tired when...

2008-09-06T03:46:00.002+02:00

You know you're really tired when you fall asleep while running from AH to the mailbox in Orgrimmar.

X-)

New alt

2008-08-10T14:02:00.002+02:00

Last week I rolled a new alt, on the European server "Outland". Joining the guild "Wolf Claw" which is headed by (amongst other) 'Humlan', my best friend Mrs Humlan's husband. :-) He's been nagging me to play on his server a long time now, but it's difficult to switch just like that when all my time invested in this game is spent on mainly the same server (Dragonblight). Unfortunately Dragonblight is PvE (player versus environment) and Outland is PvP (player versus player) so I can't migrate/move any characters from Dragonblight to Outland. It is a pity, since almost everyone I know (in game) has left Dragonblight.

What finally convinced me to roll a new character on Humlan's server was the fact that Humlan's wife FINALLY FINALLY started playing Warcraft!!!! FINALLY! :-D :-D :-D She is so much fun and even though we haven't played much together yet I can't wait until I've leveled up so we can. She's rolled a tauren hunter, I rolled an orch hunter so we'll be a strong four man band once we get together. :-) It'll be so much fun! Just hope she doesn't get sidetracked back into Oblivion again... :-D

Yours truly,
altoholic

Ding 69!

2008-07-29T08:46:00.004+02:00

Weeee! Finally, the elusive level 70 is within reach. :-) I checked yesterday, it has taken me 30 days in-game to get to this level. That's not too bad considering how many years it has taken in real life... :-D With a bit of luck I'll have time to be 70 before the next expansion... (unlike level 60, where I had to rush to get in to Outlands). :-)

Manah-manah ha ha

2008-07-29T08:38:00.004+02:00

A shadow priest's one and only task in a raid is to be a mana generator, no matter how much dps (damage per sec) they think they can do. :-) This muppet show video clip with Warcraft subtitles are just too good. :-D S plays a shadow priest (I stick to the holy side of priesthood = healing).

Gnomes

2008-07-05T23:51:00.003+02:00

Call me simple minded, but it doesn't seem to wear off - I still giggle a little (in my mind) when I hear the "non-player character" (NPC) gnomes in Warcraft speak with their typical New York accent... X-)

Funcom

2008-07-01T07:29:00.003+02:00

Not long after I removed my "method of payment" from my Age of Conan account I received an email from Funcom asking me to please tell them why. I like that. So that's one point to Funcom. They get another point for making bits and pieces of Conan rather likable too. But that's not going to make me continue to play. I might return to Conan later though, if I start to hear good things about it again.

Thing is, I wonder if they are going to get enough money to make those much needed improvements if everyone does what I do?

More Spore

2008-06-22T02:39:00.004+02:00

Had to test creating another creature. :-) It's fascinating how "stuck" I am in my perception of animals/creatures. This looks like a rabbit, right?
Why does it have to look "like" something? I'm totally free to build a five legged treble mouthed twin headed [anything], but instead I find I'm creating horse-like replicas, rabbits and other creations like real animals... :-) Silly me. Maybe I'll be able to let my imagination run free if I practice a little? :-)

But now it's bedtime. High time for it too.

Spore!

2008-06-22T01:41:00.004+02:00

The trial edition of Creature Creator has been tested, the full version (a whopping 59 kr) is being downloaded as I type. :-)

I can't help liking it. It will be interesting to see what they offer in the full version. The green thing on the picture above was built with what they let you play with in the free trial version. :-D

Fun fun fun!

Me want

2008-06-19T23:43:00.002+02:00

Ha ha :-D Who wouldn't want one of these? A Boba Fett USB memory stick. Only Darth Vader is available in 2GB though so they're not very large unfortunately.

Read all about it here: http://www.firebox.com/product/1899/Star-Wars-Mimobots

The end of Age of Conan...

2008-06-19T23:05:00.004+02:00

I've just removed my "method of payment" from my account page. That means I'm only able to play for the remainder of the "free" period included in the game package. Not that it's a problem, because I am afraid I am returning to WoW. Good ol' Warcraft...

Age of Conan isn't good enough to keep my interest, casual player as I am. I need it to work without hiccups, I need it balanced and I need much more Warcraft. 8-) I really like the fighting, the combat system, which is much more intense and far better than anything Warcraft has to offer. But it doesn't compensate for the environmental bugs and the poorly designed status and gear details. So I'll let it mature for a bit. If I hear good things about it later I'll give it another chance.

So it's back to WoW again, back to the repetitive, pretty, comfortable, fun, warcraft. :-)

Bedtime discussion

2008-06-03T00:06:00.001+02:00

Din chans förlorades i vardagsrummet när du inte ville gå och lägga dig. ;-) Nej.
Sluta.
När jag har borstat?
OK
*suss*
Want to bet?
How much?
För mig?
Om jag lägger mig innan tre?
Deal
Naturally
Blblblblblblblbllblblblbblbl!

Nej.
Hinner inte. Vill nu.
Jo

---> and those of you gifted with knowledge in both Swedish and English, none of what you think this is about is what it is about. None. ;-)

No Country for Old Men

2008-06-02T09:04:00.002+02:00

We watched "No Country for Old Men" (imdb link) the other night, it was nice.

Spore

2008-05-31T00:34:00.004+02:00

I just remembered this is one of the few games I'm really looking forward to seeing more of: "Spore". The idea of creating your own organism and guiding it through 20+ levels of evolution is very very appealing. Watching Robin Williams trying it out does not make it any less appealing. :-D

I doubt I'll be too much into the "endgame" bits though, that's all about strategy and warfare/exploration. But you never know, maybe once you've created your character/being and guided it/nurtured it through the evolutionary stages you might passionately want to follow it out in space (end level, space exploration).

The game serves up a totally different experience depending on what you do, how you evolve your character. The character's evolution depends on what you make it eat, where you go, how you interact with other beings. Your "world" will also be filled with the creations of other players, so the different servers (or single player with imported characters?) will really be quite different.

Spore demo on YouTube.

Cloverfield

2008-05-31T00:07:00.002+02:00

The other night, against better knowledge and induced by a long running film-abstinence we decided we could handle watching a movie. We ended up watching "Cloverfield" (imdb link) at 2 in the morning (school night).
It's a brilliant action/horror film and it kept us wide awake despite being preceded by a few sleepless nights. It's the first time I have wholeheartedly enjoyed a movie recorded with the now quite common "hand held camera shake" technique. That very effect made the whole difference throughout and they managed to stay on the right side of "too much", it never got so much that I started to think about the filming technique rather than the story.

Well played, not that it really required high octane acting skills, but neither of the characters annoyed or stuck out as 'bad'. It was a collection of nice new faces (to me at least).
[SPOILER] The only thing distracting me towards the end of the film was the design of the thing that happened upon New York, the monster looked like someone running wild on Spore and forgetting about gravity etc... :-D

More about Spore.

The apple tree is gone

2008-05-30T14:48:00.003+02:00

Our neighbor took down his apple tree today, wee! :-) That means we have to build a new fence. That old apple tree has slowly been pushing the old fence over to our side making it so skewed that we found it would be impossible to build a new terrace without straightening it up (e.g. replacing it with a new one). Fortunately our neighbor wants a new fence more than he wanted to keep his apple tree, so there was no argument about taking it down. :-)

So the ball is rolling now. S has measured up and worked out what's needed to make a new fence and placed an order with a local sawmill. The timber will arrive chopped up and ready to be put together sometime next week. Then it's time for the new terrace... :-)

First day of Age of Conan

2008-05-24T17:36:00.004+02:00

I will give it three months. If it still feels like a bugged out rough edged flawed version of Oblivion by then I won't give Funcom any more of my money (499 SEK to purchase Collector's Ed and 15 EUR/month subscription).
But it's early days. There are undoubtedly lots of defects still to be fixed and unbalanced environment/race/profession/quests to fix (like for instance the low level volcano quests! I stopped counting the times I died after the first twenty times or so...). The whole game might also leave a completely different impression once you get past the low level quests.

So I'll give it a few more hours and wait for higher level quests, game-feel (my own) and eventual bug fixes.