I Am A Fulparkerare Who Livsloggas

I found this article that was entitled "Ogooglebar... and 14 Other Swedish Words We Should Incorporate Into English Immediately". Why not right? Turns out ogoolebar just simply refers to a search that gets zero results in Google. I remember hearing something awhile back about these guys putting together a website that listed words or combinations of words that received zero results on Google. I guess they failed to realize that once they listed those words or combinations that they were no longer unGoogleable, so.... failure. But here the Swedish have decided to invent a new word and try to add it to their dictionary. That is until Google wanted in a refused to release the right to use the foundation of their company name unless the name itself was in the definition, which I guess the Swedish Merriam-Webster was not willing to chalk up the cash. Anyhow....

I found a few words that I myself would like to work into my vocabulary, so I'm putting them here, so I can practice them, because Swedish is wild.

Firstly, anyone who knows me knows that I'm a Livslogga, (v. - literally translating to "life log," the word refers to continually documenting one's life in pictures). And proud of it. Going on seven years without missing a day so far. Makes for some pretty damn harsh realities of my boring life, but, now I know what to call myself.

Ask Laura, I am a Fulparkerare, (n. - literally translating to "ugly parker," the word describes someone who parks his or her car in a particularly egregious or unlawful manner). But only since we've bought the van. I don't know if it's the shortened front end or the concern for sliding doors but I cannot park that thing straight. Like not even close. And I find myself really concentrating on it too, thinking I've nailed it, only to hop out and find the parking spot nearly perpendicular. Yeah, I'm an ugly parker.

This one doesn't so much refer to me or even Laura, we're constantly without our phones, but we do know a few Nomofobs, (n. - any person who feels anxious at the very thought of being separated from his or her mobile phone. Adapted from the clunky English "no mobile phone phobia."). And now we know what to call them. Not that it will matter because they either won't understand what we're talking about to even care, or by the time we explain it to them we'll be too hungry for Swedish beef curry to remember what we're talking about.

From The West They Come

The Krupps of the west have arrived at long last

They got a soggy tour of the outdoors

Yuula showed off her block skills to some pros

I still can't believe this happened

After a hefty meal of Swedish beef curry we smashed the plates in the backyard as is our newly acquired custom to shake up dinner parties

The rest of the night was dedicated to dancing off the chutney

Yuula did a couples routine with her mother

Her controller skills need quite a bit of developing

The boys have done this before, and they were not playing around

today, we drag them into the belly of the beast...

On And Off And Tom Again

Best laid plans. Last made plans. It doesn't matter. Tom rendezvoused with Laura in Budd Lake and dinner was waiting for them when they got here. It was already dark but no one seemed to notice. A cutting board with spoons and bananas sat next to an empty bottle of wine within the hour, and that wasn't the best part.

excited to be found

Yuula took to Tom faster than anyone she's ever met, including her mother and me. She must know. And Tom took to her dance floor before the beat could even think about dropping. This went on well into the night. It was too surreal to capture any good photo.

The next morning we took to the yard, spoke in reminiscence and plant species, and got our feet wet with dew.

Decision was made to show Tom (who apparently enjoys antiquing just as much if not more and better than we do) our favorite joints and maybe grab some lunch. Olde Engine, and that expensive mess on 611 and we were ready to dine. Where else but Tandoori Palace, the Indian Express train with stellar butter naan and the perfect tikka masala sauce. Yuula ate a ton of tandoori chicken, mostly because she was being rewarded with mango lassi. Who wouldn't?

Peddler's Village was next but it's hard to seek out treasure with bellies full of basmati. Let's just say we tested out every chair in the place and a few crusade helmets as well.

Coffee and Main Street was next. We may have won the award for most time spent in Stroudsburg Square for any human being. Yuula smelled the flowers by color and found monsters down the cannon barrels.

Tom wanted to pick up some records to bring home. I helped him decide which Stones album would be optimal and seeked out some transitional material with little success. But I did find Paul Simon's Graceland for a fiver!

Then off to see Laura and say goodbyes. Yuula takes over that place whenever she visits. Pretty sure this girl was not hired to be baby chauffeur.

Strange to see Tom. Strange only because it's been seven years since I last saw him, albeit extremely briefly (7 minutes), and 13 years since we last hung out.

This was us in December of 1999.

This was us yesterday.

We switched sides.

And after all this time, the only thing that changed is our wastebands, in opposite directions. He's still the best friend I ever had.

All Vampires And Bananas

Like a whirlwind, visits sweet and short. It was nice to see Christian and great to finally spend some time getting to know Katrina. The girls seem to be doing quite well for themselves and hair aficionados, working in the glamorous field of film and television, stage and screen. I can't divulge their clientele for fear of painful death but I can give you a clue: Vampires. And before you guess incorrectly let me just tell you that you probably can't guess incorrectly. Anyone want some autographs?

The day started off at the Gap bus depot. From there we were all in need of a brunch. A new place, for us, was chosen, Sarah's Corner Cafe. Looked sweet and Southern and quiet. Perfect. During breakfast we learned that Christian cannot do math, Katrina is adept at breaking & entering and we let Yuula order for us all.



Knowing the girls' penchant for period piece headgear we dropped by the Olde Engine Antiques on the way home to see if they could find any hidden treasures. Turns out they could. And turns out Yuula and I are natural head models.





I think they picked up 5 or six articles, which is good for them, but not for me who was not consulted on the decision for us all to then wear said headgear for the remainder of the evening. At least I got a pretty one.



We made them one of our favorites, Swedish beef curry, which worked Laura up into a tizzy in the kitchen, something she loves doing when it's not 9pm after a long day's work. She was even convinced to whip up a rhubarb pie when she heard that neither of our guests had ever ventured to try the stuff.

The rest of the evening went by too quickly but I remember it involved sewing machines, Green Man, a cabana, Bordeaux and a group effort in making a bed. Look here at these confusing photos.







Double Exposure! This is the beginning.

Daddy Smells Like Red Wine & Indian Beer

Trunks over tonight. Laura made the beef curry with banana and chutney meal. We had picked up some Taj Mahal from the liquor superstore in Georgia so we busted that out. Gone. That and a bottle of cabernet sauvignon. Big night for us parents. The Trunks like to laugh so we obliged. Somewhere in between the clogging and zumba videos on YouTube and the talks of formaldehyde (on two different instances), Urban Meyer and jeggings there was hilarity. Good times. Biscuits.

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Vic & Dani Bring The Cheer

It's official. Dani & Vic are on the east coast and our Christmas celebration can begin. They arrived shortly after 8pm to a dazzling light show constructed by yours truly and headed right for the case of Sam Adams winter variety. It is now tradition.

A lager, a porter and an ale each later we were ready for dinner. Laura & I prepared a Swedish beef curry meal featuring mango chutney, basmati & bananas. They were cautious but a few bites in and they were hooked. We wolfed down the entire meal. I thought for sure I'd have leftovers for lunch today.

Conversation wavered between Vic's new gig, the football playoffs, why Wilco fans suck, boss's getting fired, foreign affability, and how a guy Like Vic can hate a show like It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia. Everyone takes off early this morning, shopping, working, cooking to do, but I have a feeling we'll see them tomorrow and maybe later on this weekend on their way out of town. There is still 5 bottles of eggnog to drink.