Day 183: Milestones, Bad Krukas and Random Giveways

"Milestones are constructed to provide reference points along the road. This can be used to reassure travellers that the proper path is being followed, and to indicate either distance travelled or the remaining distance to a destination." - Wikipedia 

Today is a day of celebration for many reasons. First of all, it is the day that I reached my half year milestone to Finding Happy In 365 Days (mini squeal). Second of all, it is, as I am declaring it, the first official day of summer in Stockholm (medium squeal). And third of all, there is a present, or Happy Package, involved in today's celebration (Super squeal). As I wrote a couple of days ago, today will be my second Random Giveaway for a Happy Package to one of my lucky readers. All in celebration of me meeting my milestone of Finding Happy for one hundred and eighty-three consecutive days. More details below...

I personally celebrated today with a bicycle and picnic outing with my husband to one of our favorite summer spots, Haga Park. It is also where Crown Princess Viktoria and Prince Daniel live with their newborn, Princess Estelle. There is a lovely spot located along the water where we like to picnic, if it isn't too crowded, and sometimes swim, if weather permits. Earlier today the weather was really nice. It was sunny and warm but a little breezy. We rolled up on our bikes to the spot and it was nearly deserted, with the exception of an older woman who was sunbathing topless. Unfortunately she was lying on the big rock where we usually swim from, which made going into the water from the rock a bit uncomfortable. Fortunately the water was still a tad too cold for swimming, so we just had our picnic and enjoyed being out in the sunshine and ignored the woman on the rock. It was my first day to be out in public in my swimsuit, which is why I declared it the first official day of summer. This weekend was also the first time it was warm enough to wear shorts and a t-shirt and not have goose bumps on my skin at some point during my bike ride.

It was so wonderful to lie lazily on our picnic blankets and read or just sit and watch people walk, bicycle or kayak by. Part of me really wanted to swim, regardless of the woman on the rock, but the bad kruka in me said no. A "bad kruka," pronounced "bod krooka," is someone who is a chicken when it comes to swimming. I was christened with that name several years ago on my first visit to Sweden and I was chicken to get in the water. Well, the water was COLD for one thing and for another thing, the sun was hiding behind the clouds. Cold water plus no sun equals bad kruka. 

I am actually a bit of a chicken when it comes to swimming in oceans, or rivers and lakes too for that matter. I blame it on my brother who, when we were kids, told me that there were sharks in swimming pools. It pretty much kept me out of the deep end for years with the fear that sharks were lurking in the deep water waiting to eat me. I don't know if I made that part up or if my brother told me that as well. There is a fifty percent chance that it could be either but he did tell me that there were sharks in the pool.

Why I believed that I have no idea but the fear has stuck with me unfortunately. So, just call me a bad kruka. The funny part is that "bad kruka" literally means "swimming pot." There are so many fun plays on words in Sweden. Whether it's putting rhubarb on something or calling someone a swimming pot, but meaning something entirely different, the words and images that come to mind are enough to keep me rolling in laughter. Today we were both bad krukas. My husband will probably protest but regardless of the reason, I know he really wanted to swim but he wouldn't get in the water either.

So, you are probably getting distracted by the lovely photo below. Yes, it is part of the Random Drawing and Happy Package that will be on it's way to one of my lucky readers tomorrow. In order to participate you need to leave a comment below on today's post. I will then hold a drawing with the names of everyone who commented today. Please be sure to leave your name somewhere in your comment if you make an anonymous comment. Also, due to the time zone differences in my readership, the cut off time for leaving a comment, to be included in the drawing, will be midnight central standard time in the U.S. The drawing will take place tomorrow with photos to be posted later.

Tell me something makes you happy...

Good Luck... Happy Commenting... and a Big THANK YOU for supporting my Positivity Project!

A part of the Happy Package that will be sent to one of my lucky readers tomorrow!