Day 333: Today Has Been Cancelled

"Your attention, your attention please: Due to sleet, snow and unpleasant windy weather, today has been cancelled. Please return to your homes, change back into your pj's and go back to bed until tomorrow."

Wouldn't that be a wonderful announcement? I personally would have loved to hear something along those lines earlier today. But since the day is already nearly over, I'll just move on with it. Just recently I boasted that I was ready for winter. I may have fibbed. It is darn cold today and with the icy rain-wind whipping me and my poor umbrella around, I feel rather beat up and ready for bed. However, once I get my winter coat and boots out and dress more appropriately tomorrow I'll get back to you with an update. It could possibly be okay after all. Just not with my fall coat and attire.

Believe it or not it was not difficult to find happy today. After all, I had the final slice of pumpkin bread for breakfast this morning and I am enjoying a cozy cup of herbal tea with the last tea bag from the box, right now as I type this. There could have easily been no pumpkin bread or tea left but luck was on my side today. A couple of simple pleasures to get me through the beginning of winter.

Simple pleasures are the most direct connection between me and my happy place. Of course, I'm also of the mentality that when in doubt, a cup of herbal tea and a quiet corner work wonders. I usually like to also enjoy a kanelbulle (Swedish cinnamon bun) with my cup of tea but since I've recently managed to shake off the extra pounds that crept up on me during the last few years, I'll skip that for now. (And thank goodness we finally ate the remaining pumpkin pie last night!) Ha! Who am I fooling? Kanelbulle? Slice of pie? Not a terribly huge difference but I justify it somehow and so far the scale is still in my favor. Sheer luck? I'm not completely sure but I'll take it and run.

And according to the quote on my yogi tea bag tab, one good word has warmth for the winter. Hmmm... I hope I can find that one good word. Tea? Maybe? It certainly warmed my soul. 

Day 320: Ovanligt Väder (Uncommon Weather)

The weather is making me feel turned around today. It feels and looks like an early spring day. Sunny and warm and a sense of lightness in the air. Of course, that's just wishful thinking on my part. And even though it feels like spring would be openly welcomed right about now, I actually look forward to snuggling up against the winter cold and I am hopeful for snow. With this crazy warm weather however I don't know if I should expect or even hope for snow but I'm going to anyway. If we have to go through with it(winter), then I say, "Bring it on and bring on the snow!"

But if the weather wants to stay this "warm" a while longer, I would be perfectly okay with that too. I stepped out at lunch time today to go for a little stroll and take in some vitamin D and I think because it was extra beautiful out, I "accidentally" took a longer lunch than normal. I just couldn't bear to go back inside yet. As I made my way back to the office with my take-out lunch from Govinda's vegetarian restaurant, I noticed around me that it wasn't just me who thought getting outside was a good idea. Lots of people were also out enjoying the sun. No one was rushing to get back to their offices or even to the restaurants for lunch. Completely opposite from the haste of the morning commute. Everyone walked with a sort of rambling, meandering gate, which made me slow down as well. Who needs to be in a hurry anyway?

As I made my way up the last bit of the mörderbacke (muderously steep hill) and turned to go up the short set of stairs that signal I am almost back at the office, I hesitated for a long moment and just stood there, facing the sun with my eyes closed. I came very near going inside and telling everyone that I was taking the rest of the day off but in the end, I gave in and went back in. But standing in the sunshine there, I thought about how important sunny days are to me. A sunny day really can make or break it for me. Today reminded me of the many years I lived in Sunny Los Angeles. It very seldom rains in Southern California and the seasons are so mild that it is nearly impossible to tell which time of year it is based on the temperature. I missed having true seasons but I really loved living in a place where there is blue sky and sunshine nearly every single day. Now I am getting to enjoy a completely different climate and though I prefer a warm climate to a cold climate, the experience of living in such a different place is really cool. (And I mean that literally as well!)

Just something to remind you of warm sunny days... now I only need some guacamole and chips...