Cheap batteries?

Just to break the monotony.

hut102023

Rayovac AAA Maximum Plus Alkaline Batteries: 100 Count (Approx. Ship Date: July 15)

Bottom Line: $8.99 | Street: $89.99

Very sad, but it seems even battery companies are concerned about their image and some batteries just aren't pretty enough to make the cut. These Rayovac Maximum Plus Alkaline Batteries are cosmetically imperfect. So yes, when your friends and family open your remote control, your mp3 player or your child's toys, they're going to get a glimpse of your embarrasing battery blemishes. However, if you can overcome the name calling "Blemished Battery Buyer Person" and the like, your in for a heck of a great savings. But beware, these batteri (more...)

Oh Lucy!!!

All of my transportation troubles aside we had a great time today wandering the Sjöfartsmuseet, a museum dedicated to the maritime history of Gothenburg, Sweden. There was an amazing collection of model ships for what seemed like every ship that must have sailed into the port. It occurred to me that I didn’t take a picture of the statue outside the museum that is a big deal over the skyline of Gothenburg, so the one I posted below is “borrowed”. We started calling her “Lucy” when we were looking for the museum as she was “in the sky” and our landmark to figuring out where to go. The reference was lost on Sara who prides herself on knowing everything like all 14 year olds. If you notice a stranger in the picture with us, it is Lisa, a visitor from Zimbabwe, and a friend of the family. I have no doubt I’ll be writing about her visit later as she is a VERY interesting and nice person. A couple of pictures in the meantime.

Here is a good write up about “Lucy” if you are inclined. (from Henrik)

One of Gothenburg's most famous sights is the high statue of "Sjömanshustrun" (the seaman's wife). It was built in 1933, in memory of all the swedish seamen that were killed during the WW1. 690 swedes, from 98 different ships, were killed during the war. And then Sweden wasn't even the war. Talk about stupid!?
Sjömanshustrun is a huge tower, 60 or 82 meter high (depending on how one counts) and is the highest monumental sculpture in Sweden. The symbol is that the wife is waiting for her husband to return, which he sadly enough never will. A strange thing is that she isn't looking out over the ocean, which she should be doing logicaly, but instead looking straight over the river, at the island Hisingen. One would think that it was me she was looking for, but the truth is that she's turned that way for a esthetic reason. As she stands now she's seen in profile from both the ocean and the harbour. It's possible to climb up in the tower, from where one will have one of the best views in the whole city. Unfortunately it's open only during the summer, although one can make a special request to be allowed in also during the rest of the year. Not sure how easy it is to get a permission though...? Seems like only school classes will be allowed in.
Once inside one can either take the elevator, or climb the 205 steps. At the bottom of the tower there is a huge sign with the name of all the killed seamen, where it also says which boat they were going with. The statue itself is five meters high, and made in bronze. It was built by the sculptor Ivar Johnsson and inaugurated by former swedish king Gustav V in 1933.

You can’t get there from here boy

I’m not sure what this blog is turning into really. I think I complain a lot or I’m making it into a one man “Three Stooges”. Today is a perfect example. We went downtown to the Maritime museum in Gothenburg which is a whole story by itself, so I’ll let it keep for a bit. The group split up because I have a job that starts at 2:00 p.m. that I love. That also is another story. So I’m turned loose on the mass transit, bus and tram system here, which is fine. I’m perfectly capable and not intimidated by it, at least I wasn’t. What I think is roughly halfway home the tram stops and this is the announcement I hear. “Vi har tekniska problem du byta tåg till vänster.” This is at least a rough translation of what I think was said. Sensing that all is not well I ask the man next to me, “What is the problem?” He shrugs his shoulders and gets off the tram. The next two people do the same thing and like the sheep that I am…I follow them. Now these people could have all been getting off the tram to attend the 20th annual Naked Pogo Stick convention for all I know, but what the heck I’m going with them. They all jump over some fence, walk half a block and get on another tram. Since none of them seemed to have any pogo sticks and didn’t seem to be particularly athletic I felt a little better. The tram eventually makes it to an area that I recognize and I transfer to bus route 94. I didn’t realize until the bus took off that even though I’m 10 minutes from “home”, that the 94 must mean either how many stops there are or how long it takes to get there. As my stop passes by the window I also realize that if you want the bus to ACTUALLY stop, you have to hit the little red button. Something that not a single soul has done up to this point, and I might add that my stop is the only one that we didn’t stop at. By the time I figured all of this out, the bus had done a U-turn and started over, giving me a second chance at the red button and success. Such is my luck here in Sweden most of the time.

Island hopping

We investigated the Gothenburg mass transit system yesterday as a group. Having a visitor is good as it makes us slightly more inclined to get going and see the sights. Every person we talked to up to this point would make a comment such as “Have you been to the islands?”, so we decided that we should go see the islands. This way when that question comes up we don’t look like rookies. Every leg of the train / tram system here costs about $2, so it is an easy and inexpensive way to travel. The interesting thing about the system is that the boats that service the islands off the coast are also roughly $2. This was a rare treat for us in Sweden…inexpensiveness! I’m not even sure that’s a word. The island we settled on didn’t seem to have any cars and a bevy of golf carts. We had a great time wandering around, including a trip through the boneyard, a lunch and the trek back. Here are a few pictures of the beauty of the island…no, not more pictures of me.

Something

So last night we were sitting around talking and at about 11:30 the fireworks start. We all look at each other and wonder what is going on. Do we have some American neighbors that couldn’t help themselves? Maybe the opportunity to light some fireworks is just too good to pass up, we’ll never know. I also took the opportunity to document the sunlight debacle that we keep complaining about.

Spot the goober

Happy 4th of July everyone!!

I think I’ll just throw some random pictures up to keep everyone amused for a day. I know most of you will be out and enjoying the holiday. Seems I have a tendency to make funny faces. This is the last time you will see this many pictures of me in one place. I’m sneaking them in when I know there will be little traffic here.

 

 

Happy 3rd of July!!

Well we sent our visitors off in grand style. We offer free rides to any airport, bus, or train station. FREE! The part most people take issue with is the airfare to visit.

I think I’ll take a few seconds today to tell you happy 4th of July and to send a special message from abroad about the freedoms you enjoy. I don’t really have a format for doing this but here are some thoughts.

As you grab a cold drink this weekend while watching the fireworks. Add an extra ice cube as a tribute to those who can’t or won’t use ice cubes. They need to know you are fighting for them.

Celebrate the opportunity to wilt in the heat of 100+ degree weather with 98% humidity. There are some countries over here that don’t get such an opportunity and are looking to you to enjoy it while they can’t.

If you do get hit by an errant bottle rocket. Remember that waiting in the emergency room for 10 hours is a privilege that is almost uniquely American.

If you see a line. Do your best to stand in it and show the rest of the world that not only do we Americans like to stand in line….we don’t cut. Be proud! (That one was for you Ståle.)

and the last one I especially need some help with. Park wherever you want this weekend. On the grass, on the side of the road, wherever…and don’t pay for it. This will make me very happy.

On a serious note I have learned a lot of things while traveling these last few months. One is that I miss my country and I am proud of it and two, that others are equally as proud of their countries for many good reasons. We should celebrate together whenever we can.

Larry update

I don’t really have an update, I’m just trying to reel you in. Mom and dad returned from Kansas City the other day. Dad drove a lot of the way home with no problems. They had a nice time, but were glad to be home. I don’t have any news or pictures from that trip, but I’m also told that Sunny had fun also. Sunny is quite a traveler now. Anyone who attended the Kansas City get together can either chime in or send some pictures!

It was the best of meals, it was the worst of meals…

Yesterday was a tale of two meals. For lunch we traveled to the “Fish church” to take a look at the central fish market and have some lunch. I didn’t have anything at the fish church. I took a look at the menu and chickened out. I’m more of a white fish, no shellfish, meat and potatoes kind of guy and I didn’t see anything on the menu I thought I would like. Turns out I missed the boat. Jen had a fish kabob with some very tasty items on it and the kids had some yummy pasta and salmon. John Wrenn, looking for the Swedish experience, had a fish tapas dish with a wide variety of things. We sat on the deck outside next to the canal and had a great time. See picture below. NOW….let’s talk about dinner. I tried to cook a pork tenderloin on the grill…an unfamiliar grill. I tried to use a thermometer that I wasn’t sure worked…it didn’t. We ended up with some pork jerky and eating steaks that Jen and Beth chased down at the store at around 8:00 p.m. I think we wrapped up dinner at around 9:00 or later and had quite a few laughs about it. No pictures of the dinner. You might never eat pork again.

Fixed! Next!

I found a site the other day that had me cracking up at every picture. It’s called “There I fixed it”. If you’ve ever sat back and admired your handiwork on a suspicious fix of anything you should check this stuff out. Here is an example. Click the picture to visit the site.

Traipsing around…

The other day we hit the trail with our new visitors. We went back to our Norwegian roots and decided to trek around the nature trails in the area. This was new to our little niece Allie, but she had little Bear Grylls to show her around. Sam immediately launched into the troop leader grabbing his hiking stick and pointing the way. He didn’t entirely succeed in getting his troop to go everywhere he wanted, but he tried. We climbed some trees, sampled some nature, and met some Highland Cattle. Yes, I said Highland Cattle. At the end of the trail there was a stockade of cattle that had been imported years ago from Scotland and were now being tended by the granddaughter of the man who brought them here. They were pretty cool and the kids loved them. Sara had to translate, as the lady spoke zero English. Here are some shots of this episode.

I’ll find him for 5. Catch him, kill him for 10.

I think I complain a lot about our Swedish trip. I’m not going to take the time to go back and look over what I wrote, you’ll just have to let me know. My latest issue is probably minor, but it combines with my other complaint and makes me irritated. They have pterodactyls here. I’ve never really seen them, but I know a pterodactyl when I hear one. When the sun comes up at 3:30 a.m. it summons them to the backyard where they begin some sort of song. When I say song I mean some sort of prehistoric, million decibel screeching that will drive you insane. I know this because I am their victim. The only thing left to do is make sure they aren’t on some protected species list before I start hunting them. I will try to get a picture of this elusive creature to show you.