We finally got sod put down in our yard. The truck came on Friday afternoon and unloaded 5 pallets of rolled sod. Saturday we had three people come help us roll it out and water it. Our yard backs up to a ditch/brook, and we are borrowing a pump to water the grass using that water.
It may not seem like a big deal to you, but if you had no grass, you would know what we are experiencing. Now that we have grass down, our yard feels less like a waste land and more like a back yard. I am looking out over our back yard now, and it looks so peaceful and pleasant. It is very private, and the grass makes it so much more delightful. I guess it is just one more step in making this house a home.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Monday, May 19, 2008
Frustrations with Big Government
There are a lot of things I like about living in Sweden. However, there are also many things that drive me crazy. For example, the cable to our house for the phone (and Internet) was broken during the construction of our house. A man from the phone company finally came today, and he did not know where the cable was or that it was even broken. I was so confused as to how this did not get communicated to him. And don't even get me started on why it has taken over 4 months to get someone out here, not to mention that the problem should have been fixed before we moved in. Part of the problem is that there is just one company that can dig, lay, and fix the cables, and it is state-owned. It makes me miss the US and its rules on monopolies.
The pharmacies are also state-operated. There is one chain you can visit for medicine, OTC or prescription, and OTC medicines are ridiculously expensive or non-existent (at least compared to what you can find in the US). I miss being able to go to the grocery store to get Tylenol. You have to make a special trip to an Apotek (what their pharmacies are called) to get simple medicines like that.
One more thing, and then I can stop complaining. They have "free" health care here for children. When you go to the doctor, all you have to give them is the person number (kind of like a SSN in the US), and they don't ask for anything else. That is nice, except that when I had to take AJ to the doctor earlier this year, I could not get through to the doctors' offices to make an appointment. I finally was able to get him an appointment at the children's clinic in the hospital, but only after making several phone calls with my neighbor there to translate for me. We spend more in taxes here than we ever spent on health care (including premiums, co-pays, deductibles, etc.) in the US. Free my foot. And at least I could get through to my doctor and even make an appointment the same day on most days in the US.
The pharmacies are also state-operated. There is one chain you can visit for medicine, OTC or prescription, and OTC medicines are ridiculously expensive or non-existent (at least compared to what you can find in the US). I miss being able to go to the grocery store to get Tylenol. You have to make a special trip to an Apotek (what their pharmacies are called) to get simple medicines like that.
One more thing, and then I can stop complaining. They have "free" health care here for children. When you go to the doctor, all you have to give them is the person number (kind of like a SSN in the US), and they don't ask for anything else. That is nice, except that when I had to take AJ to the doctor earlier this year, I could not get through to the doctors' offices to make an appointment. I finally was able to get him an appointment at the children's clinic in the hospital, but only after making several phone calls with my neighbor there to translate for me. We spend more in taxes here than we ever spent on health care (including premiums, co-pays, deductibles, etc.) in the US. Free my foot. And at least I could get through to my doctor and even make an appointment the same day on most days in the US.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Difficult Questions
Last night at bedtime, K was talking about when AJ would be 100 years old. I told her I did not know if I would be alive when he is that old as I was not sure I would live to be 127 yrs old. This really bothered her. She couldn't understand why I would be dead and not with her. She asked me with tears in her voice and eyes, "If you are dead, who will be our Mommy?" I tried to explain that mommies and daddies usually die before their children. T had a better answer. He said that I will always be her Mommy. I also took the opportunity to share with her our beliefs about life after death. I don't know what she got out of the conversation, but she seemed to be a little more at peace about the whole concept by the time we turned out the lights.
Dr. K, OB
K has been really into babies for the past few months. In fact, we have let her watch a "baby" show that they occasionally show here. This has led to some questions as to how babies are born, but, fortunately, none as to how they get in the mommy's tummy to begin with.
K has been interested in being a doctor for a while, and she received a play doctor set for her 3rd birthday. She has used that to perform C-sections on her American Girl doll she received for Christmas from her great-grandmother. One day, I thought she was being too quiet. You who are parents know the feeling. To my surprise, she was being perfectly good. She was just in surgery. She occasionally comes out pretending to hold babies in her arms, then she tells me when they get to go home. I take this all as good news for any future babies we may have come into our family (and, no, I am not hinting at anything regarding an impeding arrival).
One of her latest babies was named LeeLocks. I don't know if it is supposed to be a take on Goldilocks or what. This baby has grown quickly as she recently celebrated her 6th birthday. K updates me on her birthday, her mom and dad's status, and any other news about her. I don't think she is an imaginary friend as K does not talk to her, just tells me stories about her. For example, K has told me that LeeLocks is staying with her while her parents travel, or, more recently, she told me that LeeLocks' daddy died in a car accident. I did not know how to take that. Today she told me that LeeLocks stays with her while her mommy goes to work to earn money. Most of her stories are about why LeeLocks is with her that day. It makes life interesting.
K has been interested in being a doctor for a while, and she received a play doctor set for her 3rd birthday. She has used that to perform C-sections on her American Girl doll she received for Christmas from her great-grandmother. One day, I thought she was being too quiet. You who are parents know the feeling. To my surprise, she was being perfectly good. She was just in surgery. She occasionally comes out pretending to hold babies in her arms, then she tells me when they get to go home. I take this all as good news for any future babies we may have come into our family (and, no, I am not hinting at anything regarding an impeding arrival).
One of her latest babies was named LeeLocks. I don't know if it is supposed to be a take on Goldilocks or what. This baby has grown quickly as she recently celebrated her 6th birthday. K updates me on her birthday, her mom and dad's status, and any other news about her. I don't think she is an imaginary friend as K does not talk to her, just tells me stories about her. For example, K has told me that LeeLocks is staying with her while her parents travel, or, more recently, she told me that LeeLocks' daddy died in a car accident. I did not know how to take that. Today she told me that LeeLocks stays with her while her mommy goes to work to earn money. Most of her stories are about why LeeLocks is with her that day. It makes life interesting.
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