Out Of Office

This morning Blanka spotted my old boss out the car window and suddenly asked "Mom, do you not have any work friends anymore?"
It's a good question.
And well put, since work friends are important in a way that colleagues are not.
So it felt good to be able to tell her that, yes, I do.
I don't see them everyday, like I used to.
And they don't know everything about me, like they used to.
But they are beginning to feel very much like friends.
And there are places where I'm starting to feel very much like home.
So, yes.
Out of office.
But not really an outsider.
I like it.

All Work, All Play

It's a busy week. The good kind of busy.
Such a good feeling, working when it's not feeling like work.
I wish there was a way of applying this to my running.
Run run run, I guess that's pretty much the only way to do it.
Maybe tomorrow.
Ahem.
If there's not too much work.
Ahem.

Bounty

So I just incidentally showed a whole lot of skin to the twelveyearold art director sitting next to me.
Ok, so he's not twelve, but the innocence is the same.
And there I was, talking browsers and showing him the lion part of my ample bosom.
God Dear Lord God.
And, being me and being deranged, I obviously pointed it out.
"Oh, dear me, here I am showing you all this skin!"
Yes.
I know.
God Dear Lord God.
The awkward silence. Can you hear it?
This is how I pass my days.
Should stick to working strictly from home.
Fully clothed.
As if they didn't think I was nuts already, now with the skin also?!
God Dear Lord Dear God.
He probably thinks I was trying to seduce him.
He'll tell his girlfriend the story tonight with HORROR.
I'm Mrs Robinson.
Oh kill me now.

Obvious Perks With Not Working From Home On This Particular Thursday In August Anno Domini 2011

lunch
the day I marinate myself some tofu and serve it on a bed of roses is yet to come
company
hooked up with best ever Lisch for lunch, the perfect treat
conversation
see above and add a few HAHAHA laughs for full effect
dessert
two Pärlans sea salt toffee (come to mommy, little one)
running
not actually doing it, but talking about it and looking forward to tonight's run
coffee
with said Lisch to Johan's for an after lunch brew, talked football, tennis and marriage
coincidence
bumped into three former colleagues (not at the same time!), one of them very very happy
favourite client
this one has got to be one of the nicest (evah)
noise level
at this moment there are two sevenyearolds, two eightyearolds and a fouryearold at my house (all taken care of by a hunk of a 37-yearold, but still)
bike riding
rode my red devil into town this morning (go legs, go!)
coming home
it's so much better when you've actually been somewhere else during the day

I Love Their Focus

I could get used to digital displays announcing my presence in a meeting.

Purpose

A visit to Kathleen yesterday reminded me that I chose a word for 2011. How could I forget? It's been weeks since I thought about it. And I did make a big sign of it (and of my goals for the year, first time ever!) and framed it. Put it right in front of me on my desk. But then I guess I just moved on with things. And I haven't been sitting down a lot lately. Here's what it says:

Get that driver's license
Make money
Write a book
Use your body

Underneath it I've written my word. Purpose. It's such a good word. Exactly what I need this year. And exactly what I needed to be reminded of today. When starting this new adventure, what was it that I wanted to do? Why and how? And for what purpose? These last couple of weeks I've gone a little off track. It's easily done when there's lots to do. But was that the purpose of starting out on my own? To work this much?

I'm proud to be able to check box number two on the list. In many ways it's what makes my work real. Now I just have to find the balance needed to let me do the other things. I need to find my purpose again. And get that license.

Thanks for listening. Good night.

Wednesday Is Almost Friday

No, it is. It has to be. There's hardly any week left in me.

Hard Knock Life

The e-mail server has died and the office is going bananas. But we have nice shoes. That's Ebba top left and me bottoms up. (Chunky ankles model's own.)

Berlin One (In The Name Of Love)

It's good. Berlin is really good. Will post properly when I'm not working.
Thanks for reading (more like looking today).
Schüss!

Ein Bischen Tripschen

Well, whaddyaknow. Turns out I'm going to Berlin Monday. Just like that. (AGAIN with the perks!) This is of course wonderful in many ways. But apart from the excellent work I hope to be doing, I just might, if I'm really lucky, meet one of my readers. How about that for brilliant? Monsieur Aymo, keep those fingers crossed! I know I am. And sweet Kansas Anna, in a way I feel like I'm getting to meet you too, since Berlin is after all your city. Now I have to go practice my language skills. Guten Tag. Ich bin ein Berliner. Mutti, Mutti, Ich möchte ein Souvenirführer haben.

I didn't take this picture. Nor have I any idea who did. Please forgive me, internet.

Sweet Release

Yesterday we finally launched my company website. Big phew. There isn't an English version yet, but hey, I've shared stranger things than this with you. So, without further ado, I give you: SECRETAIRE. Feel free to hire my ass.

PS. It has rabbits.

A Day In The Life

Things I'd like to talk about today:
Dog etiquette – if it licks my hand, how soon can I go wash without hurting the owner?
Last episode of Mad Men. The drama, the tension, the suspense!
What to eat for lunch
Skinny jeans – why are they always too big or too small?
Backstreet Boys
Gardening
The Future – always interesting
Robbie Williams – friend or foe?
Easter
Big Love (see previous post)

Things I likely will discuss:
None of the above

And why, you ask me, is that so?
Am spending the day at a lovely office where I'm cast as New Girl.
Will try and act accordingly
Dear Lord, how hard it is.

Unexpected Valentine

The best part of the day was finding myself being surprise-recommended on LinkedIn. Yes, I can hear myself. And I know LinkedIn is a far cry from Wuthering Heights, everything Austen and even poor Jane Eyre. But is was so sweet and kind and such a surprise that it almost had me in tears. What an exceptionally gracious thing to do. To recommend someone and describe them as the bee's knees. If that's not a Valentine, I don't know what is. Thank you so much, young master Björn. That was a great thing to do.

In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning

It's funny with good bye's.
Never quite like you picture them.
But then again, most things never are.
So you take the leap and the world is not the same and still it's never changed.
The uncertainty of it all fizzing inside me,
making me girly, turning me bubbly.
The finality like a soft pillow under my head.
Comfort. A place to rest.
How strange to find comfort in not knowing what lies ahead.
Yes, it's funny with good bye's.
Never quite like you picture them.
But still, this one.
So good. So exciting.
Ok.
Fingers crossed.
Here I go.

Prep

Office Christmas party tonight and things are looking good. You might not be able to tell from this photo, but they really are. 'Tis definitely the season to be jolly! Time for dinner and dancing! For high heels and oysters and indecent proposals (yeah, I should be so lucky). Will now run out to the dry cleaners to pick up my dress. Let the festivities commence!

Testing Testing

Today I bribed kind Kristofer into helping me to do some adjustments to the blog. He's been very good about it. I have not. I hate not knowing what to do! Anyway, the results are looking better by the minute. Unfortunately every photo I've ever uploaded is now out of focus. Kristofer strongly suggest that I move my baby to wordpress.

Here We Go

H&M Home launched their Christmas today (how early is too early?). They know their stuff, there's no denying it. Our first Christmas campaigns are coming out in a couple of weeks. I've found myself thinking about Advent and how to do things a little different this year. Are you there yet?

Conversation

Mary: When you were, say nineteen, what was the one part of your body that you knew you "had"? You know, like one part you could always count on. That wouldn't let you down. You know, that let you get away with things!
Me: (thinking hard) Umm, my ass?
Mary: (checks me out) Yeah, yep. Yes, I can see that. Yes.
Me: How about you?
Mary: (acting all surprised) Me?
Me: Yes, you. Gimme a break.
Mary: Umm, yes... I guess for me it was, umm... My whole body.
Me: (stunned silence)
Mary: Well, you know...
Me: (stunned silence)
Mary: But it was! Sorry! It was!
Me: (not having to check her out) Yeah. I know.

I would hate her if I didn't love her. Oh, and she's six months pregnant while uttering this. With child number three. Would definitely hate her if I didn't love her.

I Wrote Something

a while ago. I think I told you about it. Today a reporter picked up on the story (Swedish only, sorry).
And thanks to her it's been a very good day.
When you write for a living it's easy to lose track of what's good and what's not.
It's a job, it pays the bills, it's what I do.
But then someone actually reads something you wrote and likes it.
And you get a high that's better than anything.
Last night I felt like nothing. Today I'm on top of the world.
And do I like it! I love it.
Thank you, friendly stranger.
Thank you everyone who cheered me on today.
Turns out I'm a writer, after all.

Photo from last weeks conference at Gotland. A whole other story.

Perks

The new regime includes early mornings at the office. That just might turn out to be ok. Today, apart from the view and the mist that covered half of my city in white, young Kristofer was making mushroom omelette for breakfast.
Perks, my dears. Obvious perks.