Friday, May 29, 2015

The hardest part of writing

Is that in order for the writing to pour out, you need to sit down however restless and idealess you are. You have to try to get it done. Not do other stuff. Just endure the mediocrity of whatever comes, without starting to believe that is all you can produce. Without comparing your work or success (or lack thereof) with that of other people.

I hate it. But it has to be done.

Thursday, May 28, 2015

Was it paradise? An intimate look into my marriage

Last night, Anders came back from a stay in Puerto Rico where he'd been staying at a beach so desolate that the most exciting event that happened during his entire weeklong stay there was that one day, a man shook down a coconut from a tree, split it in half, gave it to Anders and walked away.

Anders feet are now speckled with sea urchin spines.  I help extract them. I love removing splinters.

Anyways, to celebrate Anders return and my mother's, brother's and niece's visit we went out for dinner. It was all so good.

Sadly, afterwards we couldn't sleep at all. Stayed wide awake til 3 o'clock. To pass the time (and perhaps to get drowsy from the monotonous soothing sound of my voice) Anders asked me to tell him about life when he'd been away.

So I told him the truth - how my brother, Niki,  Rut and I had gone to Central Park where a big boat sailed on the little lake with a big brass band playing on it. How the temperature was so perfectly pleasingly warm and friendly and how we saw young women in what looked like colorful ballgowns line up for ice cream. Turned out the ice cream was free and made in an ice cream stand completely powered by solar energy. Then the kids ran around happily, barefoot.

It was very unreal and ideal. It might have been paradise. Had there been lots of books and a lap pool too it would have been my kind of paradise.



Friday, May 22, 2015

10


Shopping / Returning

Is there a word for shopping stuff you're 99.99% sure you'll return?

I weirdly get the same satisfaction returning as others seem to get from shopping.
I mostly do this with shoes. It's because my feet are very tricky. I have to try the shoes on for real to make a decision. som many shoes have made it to my home only to be returned the next day.


MY BROTHER IS COMING HERE TODAY!


can't wait to see him and my niece!


Tuesday, May 19, 2015

So going to see this



Grete Stern & Horacio Coppola at MoMA

The writing life/life

Set to write 4 more books! So happy! And today my mom is coming! And on Friday my brother and niece.

And it is spring. And I have new shoes. And when I get into a funk I walk it off across the Williamsburg bridge, listening to California Roll. There is no better song right now.


Saturday, May 16, 2015

A principal


Yes. And some more. (pic by Maurice Sendak from A hole is to dig by Ruth Krauss). 
I always wondered if this came from a Swedish kid as tweezers are called pincett in our language. Pincett and principal do seem kind of related. 

Thursday, May 14, 2015

Today



I'm working with Sweden, but Sweden is always on vacation. So while I'm waiting for feedback, I might as well try to get on with the next book. Bought Scrivener, trying to learn it. Should also put together a resume and start looking for more freelance copywriting jobs. Or even employment.



While looking for something, stumbled across this pic of Annie Oakley shooting over her shoulder. That's kind of my career right now. Anything could happen! 



More Annie. Determined, professional, confident. 




Monday, May 4, 2015

Life recently




For us short people, this sounds so luxurious

only want to travel in vehicles designed for basketball players from now on

And, as the roomiest coach traveling to the East End, it offers the ultimate in comfort and convenience, such as extra-wide plush seats, extended legroom (it was designed for basketball players), spacious overhead and underneath storage compartments plus individual electric power outlets.  In addition to rapid boarding, a courteous on-board attendant provides a wide variety of complimentary refreshments, snacks and reading material on every trip.

I love Camilla Engströms art



Friday, May 1, 2015

Vodka, ferris wheels and childrens' books


I rarely talk about work here. But I LOVE MY JOB.

I thought I'd be a graphic designer. Turned out that wasn't really my thing at all. Though very interested in design, I'd much rather write. So I became a copywriter, writer and translator instead.

My words have been printed on hundreds of thousands of vodka bottles. No one tells you in elementary school, that spelling might one day be important because of vodka. Vodka and spelling are rarely mentioned together in a positive way. I feel perhaps I can make a difference here!




And every day, people who use the WiFi at Starbucks are questioned in important little polls.

(The statement preceding these results was "I love ferris wheels" / "I love ferries"):




I LOVE copywriting, so much fun, but am also fulfilling a lifelong dream of writing childrens' books. So happy this will be out in Sweden this August. It has the best pics by Loka Kanarp.

Nina och snöleoparden (inbunden)

http://www.bokus.com/bok/9789129696523/nina-och-snoleoparden/

So childrens' books, ferris wheel polls and vodka. That's how I make a living. How about you?

ps. So next time you're in a starbucks and enjoy the free wifi - take the daily poll. You know who's really asking you!