Hello readers! How is the day treating yall? I currently just got in from rollerblading. Yes, I am crazy for going out on the blades again, but...well..thats just it...IM CRAZY. None the less, I took the blades out for a spin. I coached this morning, watched some Greys Anatomy, Biked to the beach, biked home, ate dinner, and went roller blading with Wilma and Kristen. Wilma is 12, she brought the dog. More of an audience so I can show off my skills. I think thats why she came, to see me do some unathletic crash. Well she got a run for her money... exact same hill as last time. Kristen turns the corner, and does what any good friend would do. Recaps my fall the last time I headed down this hill. I told her it was no big deal, and I was going to pizza wedge my way down this time. So she said ok...she went ahead of me, and Wilma was behind me with Ludde. No one on the bike path. It was going to be great, I set myself up for success.
Or so I thought...I start going down the hill, everything was great, Then the speed starts to come in...I start screaming...Kristen is ahead of me video taping...WHAT IN THE HELL? I come to the same spot as last time, about to hit the intersection and I bail in the grass...meanwhile Kristen went first to tape me, and Wilma stayed back so i wouldnt kill the dog. It was all planned, BUT it was hilarious. I do not have the guts to put the film on blog yet due to the fact that I had been at the beach all day, have no make up on, and wasnt prepared for camera...but if i grow a pair...I will share my blading skills with yall.
So after the fall, I only had one more accident. I didnt fall though, I stayed on my feet...Wilma had the dog on the leash. They were to the left front of me. We start down a small hill..NO BIG DEAL. I start going faster, I start screaming, the dog(ludde) cuts in front of me to the right on the grass, i start picking up more speed. I have Wilma to my left, the dog to my right...and the leash DIRECTLY INFRONT OF ME. so i latch on to the leash and continue picking up speed...pulling Wilma on her blades, and dragging the poor dog on his ass all the way down the hill with me. It was hysterical.
So this is where my quote comes in. I guess I thought I was going to figure it the blading thing out as I was going down the hill. I thought i was going to master the hill, but i had No plan, I took the exact same plan of attack and did the same thing...zoomed down the hill, with a diving land at the end. I need a new plan, a different way to do this...(if i am going to continue to roller blade)
That was pretty much my day! Today after day care, Louisa fell asleep on the couch before dinner while I was at the beach. So when they woke her up for dinner, it was too late. All hell broke loose. She ate, but then was not tired any more to go to sleep. So from the time I got home, until the time I left for my blading excursion she cried/screamed in her room. She was yelling for her dad, "Papa" and she was telling Karen and I that she was going to move out of the house. haha it was hilarious.
Tomorrow I am going running, and going back to the beach for some sun, then giving pitching lesson prior to practice, and then practice.
I wanted to share my adventure today...maybe I will upload the video another time. its embarrassing, and extremely unathletic...none the less a good laugh.
I hope yalls week is going good, and you are staying cool during the summer. I am enjoying my 70 degree weather (be jealous please, it makes me feel good)
I love yall
"work hard, play harder"
Shann
#1 on the field, #1 in your heart
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Sunday, June 20, 2010
"My dad always says "Dont spend it all on one thing," but since the day I was born he "spent it all on one thing"...this family."
(warning:before reading you must understand this will be a long blog, it could be dangerous to your health, your back might start hurting in the computer chair, and you might get bored. Read at your own risk. Tack(thank you in swedish)
My quote and picture are dedicated to the person i admire the most---my dad! The greatest man alive, the reason i'm single, and who I want to grow up to be. Happy Father's Day Faza! Also shout out to the man that watches over me every day, my handsome grandfather who I wish was still here to read this blog, and complain about America's government, as well as sneak chocolates before meals, and tell me its never my fault. Every day I think about how my Gramps should be emailing me saying "so whats it like out there kid, tell me something i dont know" he always emailed me in capital letters, and no matter the topic the answer was "its a conspiracy." haha.
I took for granted spending Father's Day with my dad for 22 years, or atleast calling him, mailing him some card that made me laugh until I cried in Target. So I didnt realize what Father's day meant to me until I woke up at 9 am here, 2 am at home, and sent my dad an email. like he was going to get it then? NO. Then I went about the day rushing to come home so that I could stalk my family on Skype, called, sent messages, just to wake everyone up on Father's Day. I patiently waited by the computer staring at the screen for the call back. And then it happened!!! I saw the man of the hour! haha...It's fathers day, I should be asking about his day, about his week, about their life back home...and it didnt click until I hung up...We spent an hour talking aobut ME-what in the hell? Today is titled for FATHERS. Was there something i didnt comprehend about "Father's Day". So I felt terrible about it when I hung up on skype. What was I thinking? He's just a good Dad though. Its so hard to explain, but everything I know, I know because of him. So I thought in tribute to my dad ill list some things/lessons that everyone is missing out on due to the fact they do not have Randy Johnston has a father. Ive never been good at sharing, but I think to benefit American society if everyone followed these 10 things, we would be better off:
1. There is no free lunch
2. If you go out to eat, get what you want, if you are worried about the price-eat at home
3. Pick up the tab, it will even out one day
4. Write it down
5. Do the right thing
6. Walk like you have some place to go
7. Do something that scares you every day
8. It is not about whose fault it is
9. Shut your pie hole, and work
10. The world is your oyster
These 10 things are hard. It is easy to cheap out, or take the easy route, but if you learn to live by these standards...you see a side of life that is not explainable. I know that anyone can change over from "the other side" only bc I was "that kid" I was a brat, I talked back, I cried when anyone critiqued me (ask my mom, I cried after/during every pitching lesson with dad), I wanted it my way, I didnt like to work hard, nothing was my fault, and I was entitled to everything...until i saw the light...the world according to Randy. so give it a shot!
Ok so the last time I blogged was Wednesday. Nothing much happened since then. (I always say that and then bore ya'll with a novel about what I have been doing, but I like to write, and when you blog...no one talks back/disagrees-so its great)
Last week I helped My pitch. She wanted to throw every day, and I thought that was great. She is getting it. It takes forever, and every day she throws a ball over the back stop, so I am confident that she will become another "little shannon". Ya'll can decide if thats good or bad, my grandfather would say its great :)
Luisa escaped daycare this week with her "boyfriend" Kevin. They went to his place to play with his toys. His mom found them in the house, took them back to daycare where they sat in chairs to feel bad about their decision the rest of the day. She wont tell me how she escaped. For all anyone knows, they have been leaving every day for 2 years. haha.
Saturday I worked the Nationals practice all day from 10 am until 6 pm. It was long, but its great to see those girls try so hard, and see them light up when they do something great. There were 2 other Americans there helping that play for another Swedish team. It was nice to have other people to speak english to.
The other night I went walking. Here in Sweden or Europe, people walk with walking sticks. It works you out 15% more than without because you use your arms more, you push with them and you move pretty damn fast. It was all going good...until we walked over the bridge. going good, going good, going good...BAM-shit hit the fan. My stick got caught in between 2 of the wood planks that built the bridge, instead of letting go of my walking stick I did the dumbest thing and held on, while striding out...elbowed Kristen, twisted my wrist, and made yet another scene in Sweden trying to be athletic. Walking stick-1, Shannon-0.
After the camp on Friday I biked home, showered quickly, chatted a bit with Karen, and got ready. Nathalie is one of my friends I met through Matilda. She invited me to come hang out with her for the night. I was so glad. She has an apartment in downtown Enkoping. It is so cute! We had wine there, chatted, facebook stalked, and then left for the rugby girls house to meet them. They were all so welcoming and sweet. I am so glad they speak english. Some of the rugby boys came too, and then we all headed for the club in Enkoping. We tore it up, had so much fun. I was exhausted though due to the fact I had been in the sun all day at the field, ran, pitched, biked, so I left before the other girls and took a cab home. I had alot of fun though. Nathalie is great. She stayed in Flower Mound TX when she came to the states, so I think its such a small world that now I am here.
Today I woke up. Mickey and Karen have their plumbing company and did all the plumbing in one of the churches that has been renovated for th past 2 years. The grand opening was today, so I went with them to church, then to celebrate Wilma's birthday, then finally home. When we got home we all crashed. EVERYONE napped! haha it felt so good. When i woke up, i watched an episode of Greys Anatomy. For dinner we had lasagna and salad. And here I am.
Today marks my 1 month anniversary with Sweden. I miss America!!! I cant wait to have a cell phone where I can dial anyone I want. I miss calling my mom when I am bored, I miss my dads cards, I miss blasting music in my car (we all know I listen to my music too loud). Time is flying by!! Not sure what I am going to do tomorrow. i have practice at 6. Probably lounge around. Maybe go in to town, go for a run for sure, maybe buy some candy, who knows!!!
I missed seeing my Grandmother on skype this weekend, and I am totally bummed. I miss her. I usually call her every other day or every 3rd day. I love hearing about the weather, her day, her patio garden, my grandfather, her walks to the store, how pretty she thinks I am, and I love how when we are about to hang up...she says "Tank yu fa calling" just like that.
Ok well that is all from me I think. I love yall and miss yall alot. alot alot!!!
Happy Father's Day Dad! I love you.
"work hard, play harder"
Shann
#1 on the field, #1 in your heart
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
"I never know how much of what I say is true, but I believe it."-Bettie Midler
“We all think we’re going to be great and we feel a little bit robbed when our expectations aren’t met. But sometimes expectations sell us short. Sometimes the expected simply pales in comparison to the unexpected. You got to wonder why we cling to our expectations, because the expected is just what keeps us steady. Standing. Still, the expected’s just the beginning, the unexpected is what changes our lives.”-Meredith Grey
That was the title of my blog, but it was too long to put in the "title" section. It doesnt go along with the theme of this blog (warning you) its just a good quote. Monday tuesday and Wednesday have not been that exciting, but I liked that quote, and I have been watching Grey's Anatomy season 6 online, and I think there are alot of good quotes and good "lessons" in the show. Besides the fact there is alot of good looking doctors to for eye candy. I need to find me one of them :)
Monday, I went to this little town outside of Enkoping with the girls. It starts with a V, but Im not sure how to pronounce it, or spell it...so sorry! Let ya down...it wont b the last time i let you down though, so dont get too upset. We looked around, shopped around. It was relaxing. Then practice that night.
Tuesday was fun because My and I woke up and biked to the field. We met our new teammate Amanda there. (Amanda is not new to the team, but she just started getting back into softball from last season beacuse she schools far away to play hockey) Amanda wants to learn how to be a catcher, and since Enkoping only has one catcher it is smart for us to teach someone else too. My wants to start to pitch, and they both asked me to coach them at 10:00 AM on Tuesday. So there we were. Both no experience, both didnt know anything. Where do you start? The first thing I told them was this: "No matter what, (in softball, life, work, family) you cannot get discouraged or scared to fail. You are deciding today to do something new and unfamiliar, and the result of that is failure before success." I dont know if that is the first thing they wanted to hear, but I think its important that we start teaching this generation that theyre not as great as their parents tell them. haha. So anyways. My was great...So was Amanda. My managed to throw a ball over the back stop. I was worreid when her lesson was almost over and not one ball had gone over the back stop. All my pitching students have done it, and they have all turned out to be class act pitchers, so I needed her to do this...it was kind of like a superstition sort of thing. haha, but she didn't fail me, so I assume she will be great too! I know most of you might not know that much about pitching or catching so u can go face book stalk for the next few sentences...but by the end of the lesson, My knew how to get to balance, snap, push, and keep a long arm. Amanda knew how to bock correctly, how to throw over the top, how to kick her feet instead of drag them, and how to keep her elbow down. So it was a good little session. Tomorrow at 2 we will meet again!
I find such gratification in seeing these girls develop skills they had NO idea were possible. I think when I leave here if they all know how to sprint, and kick their feet around I will be satisfied. Ok so then I had My do a leg workout on the field, and sprints on the soccer field. I did it all with her, but I told her if she wanted to be a pitcher, she was going to have condition to be one too. She did good! so then we rode bikes home...chilled, I watched some Greys, then I biked to Gansta Forest, which is basically the forest Enkoping is built in, I ran the 5KM track throught the forest, biked home...I spent the night at Maria's with Matilda.
Maria lives on a farm. It is really nice though! She plays the guitar and sings, so she played some for us...she is SOOO good. It reminded me of when my dad used to sing us to sleep playing James Taylor. I want to learn.
Then we watched 2 movies, one was scary, and one was hilarious!!!!! It was so funny, I laughed my ass off, but im sure that comes as no surprise because it doesnt take much to make me laugh. The problem is....i forgot the names of the movies! I am so bad with names- i get it from my Dad-SORRY!!! I will let yall know what they were tomorrow so yall can rent them! We had ficka and homemade "buns" aka cinnimon rolls. They were home made from Matilda's mom and sister (if i remember correctly) and they were delish! so yum! oh we also had candy.... so basically it was the perfect night for me. haha. candy, girls, movies, laughing. righttt up my alleyyy!
came home today, went to the beach/lake, laid out, got some sun, had lunch there with the girls, came home, went to practice, ate dinner, biked to the track with Maria, ran, then ran hills. biked home. Maria told me I was a good "rabbit". she said that means I pushed her. She said she was seeing black and white we had run so hard, and she was so glad i pushed her to that state of mind she had never been to. So i told her she was a good "tail". She's a tough cookie, she would be out of breath and said she wanted to throw up, and then say "ok what now coach" hahaha. She also taught me how to run down a hill in a way that works your hamstrings. Her cousin that plays soccer taught her. (i might have made up the cousin part, it might be someone else, but we will go with cousin)
Ok so then we biked home. I GOT TO SEE MY DAD!! i was excited, we talked ball ofcourse, got caught up, and i noticed we both sit on the screen talking, and biting away at our cutical. haha. its so funny. It was great to see him. He had to go for a conference call though, which was understandable..."time is money"
Well, I know it was boring, but just updating yall on what the hell im doing over here in Sweden. I hope you enjoy the quote. I thought it was really great- I love yall and I miss yall so much!
"work hard, play harder"
Shann
#1 on the field, #1 in your heart
That was the title of my blog, but it was too long to put in the "title" section. It doesnt go along with the theme of this blog (warning you) its just a good quote. Monday tuesday and Wednesday have not been that exciting, but I liked that quote, and I have been watching Grey's Anatomy season 6 online, and I think there are alot of good quotes and good "lessons" in the show. Besides the fact there is alot of good looking doctors to for eye candy. I need to find me one of them :)
Monday, I went to this little town outside of Enkoping with the girls. It starts with a V, but Im not sure how to pronounce it, or spell it...so sorry! Let ya down...it wont b the last time i let you down though, so dont get too upset. We looked around, shopped around. It was relaxing. Then practice that night.
Tuesday was fun because My and I woke up and biked to the field. We met our new teammate Amanda there. (Amanda is not new to the team, but she just started getting back into softball from last season beacuse she schools far away to play hockey) Amanda wants to learn how to be a catcher, and since Enkoping only has one catcher it is smart for us to teach someone else too. My wants to start to pitch, and they both asked me to coach them at 10:00 AM on Tuesday. So there we were. Both no experience, both didnt know anything. Where do you start? The first thing I told them was this: "No matter what, (in softball, life, work, family) you cannot get discouraged or scared to fail. You are deciding today to do something new and unfamiliar, and the result of that is failure before success." I dont know if that is the first thing they wanted to hear, but I think its important that we start teaching this generation that theyre not as great as their parents tell them. haha. So anyways. My was great...So was Amanda. My managed to throw a ball over the back stop. I was worreid when her lesson was almost over and not one ball had gone over the back stop. All my pitching students have done it, and they have all turned out to be class act pitchers, so I needed her to do this...it was kind of like a superstition sort of thing. haha, but she didn't fail me, so I assume she will be great too! I know most of you might not know that much about pitching or catching so u can go face book stalk for the next few sentences...but by the end of the lesson, My knew how to get to balance, snap, push, and keep a long arm. Amanda knew how to bock correctly, how to throw over the top, how to kick her feet instead of drag them, and how to keep her elbow down. So it was a good little session. Tomorrow at 2 we will meet again!
I find such gratification in seeing these girls develop skills they had NO idea were possible. I think when I leave here if they all know how to sprint, and kick their feet around I will be satisfied. Ok so then I had My do a leg workout on the field, and sprints on the soccer field. I did it all with her, but I told her if she wanted to be a pitcher, she was going to have condition to be one too. She did good! so then we rode bikes home...chilled, I watched some Greys, then I biked to Gansta Forest, which is basically the forest Enkoping is built in, I ran the 5KM track throught the forest, biked home...I spent the night at Maria's with Matilda.
Maria lives on a farm. It is really nice though! She plays the guitar and sings, so she played some for us...she is SOOO good. It reminded me of when my dad used to sing us to sleep playing James Taylor. I want to learn.
Then we watched 2 movies, one was scary, and one was hilarious!!!!! It was so funny, I laughed my ass off, but im sure that comes as no surprise because it doesnt take much to make me laugh. The problem is....i forgot the names of the movies! I am so bad with names- i get it from my Dad-SORRY!!! I will let yall know what they were tomorrow so yall can rent them! We had ficka and homemade "buns" aka cinnimon rolls. They were home made from Matilda's mom and sister (if i remember correctly) and they were delish! so yum! oh we also had candy.... so basically it was the perfect night for me. haha. candy, girls, movies, laughing. righttt up my alleyyy!
came home today, went to the beach/lake, laid out, got some sun, had lunch there with the girls, came home, went to practice, ate dinner, biked to the track with Maria, ran, then ran hills. biked home. Maria told me I was a good "rabbit". she said that means I pushed her. She said she was seeing black and white we had run so hard, and she was so glad i pushed her to that state of mind she had never been to. So i told her she was a good "tail". She's a tough cookie, she would be out of breath and said she wanted to throw up, and then say "ok what now coach" hahaha. She also taught me how to run down a hill in a way that works your hamstrings. Her cousin that plays soccer taught her. (i might have made up the cousin part, it might be someone else, but we will go with cousin)
Ok so then we biked home. I GOT TO SEE MY DAD!! i was excited, we talked ball ofcourse, got caught up, and i noticed we both sit on the screen talking, and biting away at our cutical. haha. its so funny. It was great to see him. He had to go for a conference call though, which was understandable..."time is money"
Well, I know it was boring, but just updating yall on what the hell im doing over here in Sweden. I hope you enjoy the quote. I thought it was really great- I love yall and I miss yall so much!
"work hard, play harder"
Shann
#1 on the field, #1 in your heart
Sunday, June 13, 2010
“My family vacations were softball tournaments, but when I throw a perfect game it's worth it.” -Jenni Finch
Hellooooo from Sweden. I just got back from a walk. It was pouring down rain, and it was so fun. Only in America does society shut down when its raining. Their were just as many kids, walkers, bikers, people in general out. I came back soaked, and had ice cream with Karen. YUMMM!!!
Now we get to review the weekend:
Friday: (last day school events as written about before) Then Matilda texted me and invited me along for taco dinner with the girls and a movie> So we got ready, Matilda, me, Gabbi, Maria, Elin, Sophia, and Mattias all met at the grocery store, got the items necessary for a delish dinner, went to Elins chopped up the veggies, had ground beef, and had a lovely dinner! SO GOOD!! About 6:40, Matilda, Maria, and I decided that instead of the movie we wanted to go downtown for a fun night. The liqour store closes at 7, so we raced there JUST IN TIME to get the goods to create havoc for the night! Went to Matilda's and got busy! Matilda's younger sister was throwing a party, so we went to the living room upstairs and had our fun. We had such a good time, danced the night away at the Enkoping club downtown, got a snack after, walked in the pouring rain, and made it home safely! It was a blast. So spontaneous, and I think that made it more fun.
Saturday: Slept in, woke up, had lunch. Then I went back down town with Karen, My, Tove, and some of the girls freinds to enjoy the dance show. It is common here to take dance classes just for fun. For enjoyment, and excersize...two words people dont do enough of in the states. It was great. Sophia was in the show and she did soo good, and Karens friend and collegue was alos in the performance. After the dance show I rode with Karen to take My to her fathers house. It was a nice ride! Then we chatted it up on the way home. Karen is so open and I like that. Divorce must be hard. I cant imagine seeing the father of my kids be with someone else- that just breaks my heart. Karen makes it work though!
Ok then we came home, and had Cheese, crackers, and wine before dinner. Then for dinner we had some pork loin, salad, avacado, bread with cream cheese, and this cream cheese/cheese side. (im not sure what else was in it, but it was SO good)
Then I came to bed. I got to skype my dad before I went to sleep. That was nice because I missed him on the computer earlier when I saw mom and taylor. He was doing work, and I got to hear the "Good luck tomorrow, play well, throw hard." Thats what he always says to me. I didnt realize, but I always say that to my pitching students too. haha. like Father like daughter.
Sunday: Woke up, got my stuff together, biked down to the field...got the field ready for the games. and played! I pitched a no hitter/perfect game- pretty exciting. Even though the teams arent as good as the states- I would say hitting sometimes is about luck. They just swing where you throw it, and the ball goes where the defense isnt. I've given up more hits that way then throwing fat pitches. But anyways... I thought it was kind of cool. It's like one day your complaining about missing your highschool boyfriends basketball game, or missing a girls sleepover when your 15 for pitching practice...but then somedays-you break a record, or you might even throw a perfect game---and the basketball game/sleepover wasnt that important after all. That is kind of how life works though. What seems so important at the time, will explain itself one day. It's like pay back kind of. Well thats what i believe anyways. I am no psychology major or anything though, so I wouldnt hang on my word or anything. But it helps me get through the day!
Ok well after the games, we had home made pizza, and hung out! then went walking in the rain, and here I am.
The team we played against was from Stockholm- after the game they invited me to come play with them in the European Cupp. They qualified for the tournament last year because they won the league? or maybe they just won some tournament? I am not really sure, but I gave them my email, so I guess we will see. That means I might get to go to Turkey!
Lets see..i clipped my nails today, i have 3 million bug bites, and i miss taking naps in my dads recliner! I dont think any other life altering events went on. Tomorrow, I am thinking of taking a trip to the candy store- I am sure yall are shocked.
I love yall, and I will talk to yall this week!
Just remember ur sacrafices today, could reward you with a perfect game tomorrow!
"work hard, play harder"
Shann
#1 on the field, #1 in your heart
Friday, June 11, 2010
"If your children look up to you, you've made a success of life's biggest job.'' -DJ Thomas
Hi,
I did not blog last night, went to be early, and honestly did not feel like typing. Yesterady was kind of boring. I woke up, ran into town, up to the train station, back to town, and back to the house! It was hard, alot of uphill, but it was good for me. My knees feel about 90 years old today, but thats less than 91 so I am doing good. We had practice last night anyways...we drove the car to practice because Tove took Karens bike. (story time)...so on the way home we took Emily (teammate) home. So we had me, My, Karen, Wilma, and Emily. the car fits 5 perfectly, BUT Luisa's car seat was in th back.
If you have read any of my bloggs, I am sure you can guess what I am about to tell you....YES, I sat in the car seat the whole way home. It as hilarious. I fit in the seat just fine, but it sits up higher, so my head was hitting the roof. We laughed the whole way home. No matter what country your in/language you speak, laughter is universal. When I used to take spanish, I used to wonder why the entire world didnt speak one lanuge...well 1-that is ignorant to think, but 2-WE DO. laughing and smiling is universal. Wherever you go...people will get the idea when your dying laughing. haha.
Ok so this morning I had to get up early and shower, because it was the kids last day of school. The last day of school here is huge, the girls wear dresses and the boys dress cute too. I didnt really want to go, i mean theyre not my kids, it was raining, had to get up early..blah blah. So we got there, we go to the gym first and the principle talks...then we booked it accross the street to Pontus's class. We listen to the teacher talk, the class presents a presnt and then we leave to head to Tove's class. They were just having Ficka, so we left and went to My's class. My is in the 8th grade. That is the first year that students get grades in Sweden. Crazy right? So they present them with their report cards. Call their names, go get it, give every teacher you had a hug, and sit down. My got the highest grade out of any student in her textiles class! How bad ass! "One day I am going to care about grades" i started saying that my sophomore year in highschool...good job shannon! Ok so we saw My, and then booked it back over to the gym across the street to meet Mickey and see the younger kids (pontus and Wilma) perform their class song. Every class sings a song. It was so cute. It was then I realized what parenting is all about. It was crazy, it like clicked. I dont have kids, nor do i want kids. But I saw these kids (even the ones I didnt know, which was few because all the kids are always at our house) and they would get on stage to sing, and immediately look around for their parents...it was the same routine for every kid:
1-look for mom and dad
2-face lights up like christmas
3-start waving and smiling
4-find friends to the right and left, and show them that YOUR parents are here.
And you know whats great? The parents go through the same sequence of events. Karen would wave back, Smile, tears come to her eyes, and then she would poke me and tell me where they are...and I would wave. It was like involentary. That parent/kid connection was soo cool. I dont have younger siblings, and when your young you dont realize how attached you are to your parents, you dont realize that you value that relationship more than life itself honestly. I saw this entire different persepective of life. It was crazy to see these kids, products of their parents.
So, they sang the songs, and each kid looked and basically sang looking directly at their parents the entire time. (as if their parents have never seen them sing/scream words to a song before) None the less...it was great.
I couldn't remember being like that when I was younger, but what do you remember when your young? I was trying to think back...and your like that your whole life. I will be 55 and still feel like a kid around my parents probably, no matter what you are their kid. In highschool I would wait behind the fence before my softball games waiting to see my parents walk up. In college, I would keep looking back behind the bull pin waiting to see my Dad walk up (10 paces infront of my mom b/c he walks so fast) wearing his Towson colors, and then my mom with her Sebastiani bag. Its like we dont realize that attachment. And now after I play...the ONE thing I think is...I wish my cell phone was international so I could call home and tell them about the games. It is just crazy. Being foreign is so different, but some things all around the world are the same. ok enough of my corny "realization" blog. It was just crazy, I bet people go their whole life and never see what I saw today.
Karen introduced me to someone today "This is our oldest daughter Shannon" haha I smiled. Everyone replies with..."6 kids wasnt enough" and Karen always tells them she didnt have a big kid. haha.
So, nothing has changed my mind yet, I still dont think I want kids. I envy that relationship, bc starting today I think that the parent/child relationship is the BEST thing in the world. More valuable than anything, but it is a full time job! Who knows! I think it would still be cool to be the bad ass Aunt that attends all the functions, takes the kids for weeks at a time, gives the kids candy to eat too late, teaches them to light fireworks, lets them drink coffee to feel "cool" when they are too young for caffine... ha so many things! But none the less, Pontus was the cutest boy in his class. He is adorable. I need to take a picture and show yall. He straightens the front of his hair, and wears the back long and messy with this waxy gel in it...Hes got some swag for his age. I wish I could bring him home too.
I always dogg on the parents that think their kids are "the best", then im visiting all these classes, and seeing all of my sisters and brothers, and I found myself thinking the same thing, and Ive only been here 3 weeks! its crazy.
Oh wow...today is Sweden and my 3 week anniversary!! waho000...haha! Were still in lust..or puppy love I guess you would say.
Well I know my post was kind of nerdy today, but I learned something about life I never knew until I saw these kids-and I thought I would share it with ya'll. Tonight maybe dinner and movie with Matilda and friends. I always feel bad going because then the girls feel obligated to speak english, and I know its not easy speaking a foreign language...(seeing how I took spanish for 6 years, and I cant make sentences, actually thats not true, I know more than I give myself credit)
Ok...talk to yall later this evening >
"work hard, play harder"
Shann
#1 on the field, #1 in your heart
I did not blog last night, went to be early, and honestly did not feel like typing. Yesterady was kind of boring. I woke up, ran into town, up to the train station, back to town, and back to the house! It was hard, alot of uphill, but it was good for me. My knees feel about 90 years old today, but thats less than 91 so I am doing good. We had practice last night anyways...we drove the car to practice because Tove took Karens bike. (story time)...so on the way home we took Emily (teammate) home. So we had me, My, Karen, Wilma, and Emily. the car fits 5 perfectly, BUT Luisa's car seat was in th back.
If you have read any of my bloggs, I am sure you can guess what I am about to tell you....YES, I sat in the car seat the whole way home. It as hilarious. I fit in the seat just fine, but it sits up higher, so my head was hitting the roof. We laughed the whole way home. No matter what country your in/language you speak, laughter is universal. When I used to take spanish, I used to wonder why the entire world didnt speak one lanuge...well 1-that is ignorant to think, but 2-WE DO. laughing and smiling is universal. Wherever you go...people will get the idea when your dying laughing. haha.
Ok so this morning I had to get up early and shower, because it was the kids last day of school. The last day of school here is huge, the girls wear dresses and the boys dress cute too. I didnt really want to go, i mean theyre not my kids, it was raining, had to get up early..blah blah. So we got there, we go to the gym first and the principle talks...then we booked it accross the street to Pontus's class. We listen to the teacher talk, the class presents a presnt and then we leave to head to Tove's class. They were just having Ficka, so we left and went to My's class. My is in the 8th grade. That is the first year that students get grades in Sweden. Crazy right? So they present them with their report cards. Call their names, go get it, give every teacher you had a hug, and sit down. My got the highest grade out of any student in her textiles class! How bad ass! "One day I am going to care about grades" i started saying that my sophomore year in highschool...good job shannon! Ok so we saw My, and then booked it back over to the gym across the street to meet Mickey and see the younger kids (pontus and Wilma) perform their class song. Every class sings a song. It was so cute. It was then I realized what parenting is all about. It was crazy, it like clicked. I dont have kids, nor do i want kids. But I saw these kids (even the ones I didnt know, which was few because all the kids are always at our house) and they would get on stage to sing, and immediately look around for their parents...it was the same routine for every kid:
1-look for mom and dad
2-face lights up like christmas
3-start waving and smiling
4-find friends to the right and left, and show them that YOUR parents are here.
And you know whats great? The parents go through the same sequence of events. Karen would wave back, Smile, tears come to her eyes, and then she would poke me and tell me where they are...and I would wave. It was like involentary. That parent/kid connection was soo cool. I dont have younger siblings, and when your young you dont realize how attached you are to your parents, you dont realize that you value that relationship more than life itself honestly. I saw this entire different persepective of life. It was crazy to see these kids, products of their parents.
So, they sang the songs, and each kid looked and basically sang looking directly at their parents the entire time. (as if their parents have never seen them sing/scream words to a song before) None the less...it was great.
I couldn't remember being like that when I was younger, but what do you remember when your young? I was trying to think back...and your like that your whole life. I will be 55 and still feel like a kid around my parents probably, no matter what you are their kid. In highschool I would wait behind the fence before my softball games waiting to see my parents walk up. In college, I would keep looking back behind the bull pin waiting to see my Dad walk up (10 paces infront of my mom b/c he walks so fast) wearing his Towson colors, and then my mom with her Sebastiani bag. Its like we dont realize that attachment. And now after I play...the ONE thing I think is...I wish my cell phone was international so I could call home and tell them about the games. It is just crazy. Being foreign is so different, but some things all around the world are the same. ok enough of my corny "realization" blog. It was just crazy, I bet people go their whole life and never see what I saw today.
Karen introduced me to someone today "This is our oldest daughter Shannon" haha I smiled. Everyone replies with..."6 kids wasnt enough" and Karen always tells them she didnt have a big kid. haha.
So, nothing has changed my mind yet, I still dont think I want kids. I envy that relationship, bc starting today I think that the parent/child relationship is the BEST thing in the world. More valuable than anything, but it is a full time job! Who knows! I think it would still be cool to be the bad ass Aunt that attends all the functions, takes the kids for weeks at a time, gives the kids candy to eat too late, teaches them to light fireworks, lets them drink coffee to feel "cool" when they are too young for caffine... ha so many things! But none the less, Pontus was the cutest boy in his class. He is adorable. I need to take a picture and show yall. He straightens the front of his hair, and wears the back long and messy with this waxy gel in it...Hes got some swag for his age. I wish I could bring him home too.
I always dogg on the parents that think their kids are "the best", then im visiting all these classes, and seeing all of my sisters and brothers, and I found myself thinking the same thing, and Ive only been here 3 weeks! its crazy.
Oh wow...today is Sweden and my 3 week anniversary!! waho000...haha! Were still in lust..or puppy love I guess you would say.
Well I know my post was kind of nerdy today, but I learned something about life I never knew until I saw these kids-and I thought I would share it with ya'll. Tonight maybe dinner and movie with Matilda and friends. I always feel bad going because then the girls feel obligated to speak english, and I know its not easy speaking a foreign language...(seeing how I took spanish for 6 years, and I cant make sentences, actually thats not true, I know more than I give myself credit)
Ok...talk to yall later this evening >
"work hard, play harder"
Shann
#1 on the field, #1 in your heart
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
"To dare is to lose one's footing momentarily.To not dare is to lose oneself." -Soren Kierkegaard
I'm back. so when I left I was riding my bike to the candy store, then I came home and went to practice. It was a good practice. I helped Ingrid with her pitching. Taught her the "back hand flip" cahnge up. Some other American had taught her another one...and it was not a change up. Im sure the other American didnt have a change up so she just palmed the ball and pushed a slower pitch across the plate. Probably got shelled in the US, but hey...I have had those games too :) None the less she picked it up quickly, and we will continue to work on it!
I came home and skyped my mother and Mrs. Nix...chatted it up a bit. that was nice! they were looking perky and beautiful as always...u know what I saw...Im the youngest in my immediate family, and on my dads side of the family. ive never been around little kids..but being around this family i noticed that Mothers much like girls in middle school have an akward stage too. example: moms with small kids...cut their hair short, always wear it back, dont wwear make up, gain weight, dont keep up with themselves for a short timewhile their kids are growing and cannot do anything for themselves. then...the kids get older, the moms have more "me" time, they get a hip hairstyle, they start wearing cute clothes again, they work out, they dye thier hair, they get cool glasses....and their back in business. just goes to show what parents will do for their kids. Probably why I shouldnt be a Mother. I was a good mother to my fish though id have to say...
ok so my quote is about this next story:
People rollerblade alot here... ppl that cross country ski will rollerblade during the summer with their poles, and kids will rollerblade for fun alot, much like biking. so at practice I decided I wanted to borrow My's rollerblades and go blading. Kristen said she'd come. so I get the blades go outside put them on...turn around Wilma and Pontus (bro and sis) are laughing at me try to get up off the ground and get in gear to blade...so embarrasing/funny too. So kristen and I start the adventure. I thought it would be easy to pick up, the last time I did this I was wearing Barbie blades and was 10 years old, but it cant be that hard? roamed around for about 20 minutes, I was doing good. then we came to the hill....
reminder: in europe ppl walk bike everywhere, so were not the only ppl on the biking trail..
Here i go...faster, faster, faster....I couldnt stop, slow down, change direction....i start screaming in english (the speak swedish) "move/I cant stop/watch out/Im coming/sorrryy" couples holding hands bailing, kids on bikes driving onto the grass, ppl walking giving me the deer and headlights look as they fly onto the grass. Finally to stop I run into the grass, but its not liek running with shoes, im running on wheels...so my feet r slippping and I am still motoring...so i tuck and roll....
hysterically laughing I look up... Kristen is holding her stomach crying/laughing, im laughing so loud I woke up every family in Sweden, and the ppl that I motored over on their "romatic night walk" r walking passed me pointing and laughing/trying not to stare. It was hysterical. I hope i dont make the front page Enkoping "unathletic section" in the paper. So... when i finally get back on my feet...after losing my bearings to say the least...i start blading, with grass in my hair/skates/mouth/everywhere, and im passing the same people that dodged me before, and they hear me talking to Kristen, and calmly get off the path for fear of me pulling another crazy move. Gawd. I laughed the whole way home. You know when you laugh so hard that you become weak? I had to sit down because I couldnt hold myself up I was laughing so damn hard. It was so funny. I guess i didnt pick up where I left off when I was 10, because I knew how to stop then. I secretly missed my barbie blades though... they were real nice, from ToysRus I think? I member going to pick them out with my dad on Saturday. You would have thought I got a new car, and then he spent all day trying to teach me. I was terrible, Taylor was really good...figures.
thats why i thought this quote worked for my title:
"To dare is to lose one's footing momentarily.To not dare is to lose oneself." -Soren Kierkegaard
Ok so then I came home and Mickey was putting a new bike seat on my bike...how sweet. The other day I biked so much my tail bone was sore, and he said it was probably the seat...he hooked me up with a new one! how sweet!!!
Now I am doing nothing...I want to run like 6 miles tomorrow maybe? I am ready for a long run I think... I will chat with ya'll tomorrow.
Love yall way too much.
laugh until you cant hold urself up...it feels soo good!!!
"work hard, play harder"
Shann
#1 on the field, #1 in your heart
I came home and skyped my mother and Mrs. Nix...chatted it up a bit. that was nice! they were looking perky and beautiful as always...u know what I saw...Im the youngest in my immediate family, and on my dads side of the family. ive never been around little kids..but being around this family i noticed that Mothers much like girls in middle school have an akward stage too. example: moms with small kids...cut their hair short, always wear it back, dont wwear make up, gain weight, dont keep up with themselves for a short timewhile their kids are growing and cannot do anything for themselves. then...the kids get older, the moms have more "me" time, they get a hip hairstyle, they start wearing cute clothes again, they work out, they dye thier hair, they get cool glasses....and their back in business. just goes to show what parents will do for their kids. Probably why I shouldnt be a Mother. I was a good mother to my fish though id have to say...
ok so my quote is about this next story:
People rollerblade alot here... ppl that cross country ski will rollerblade during the summer with their poles, and kids will rollerblade for fun alot, much like biking. so at practice I decided I wanted to borrow My's rollerblades and go blading. Kristen said she'd come. so I get the blades go outside put them on...turn around Wilma and Pontus (bro and sis) are laughing at me try to get up off the ground and get in gear to blade...so embarrasing/funny too. So kristen and I start the adventure. I thought it would be easy to pick up, the last time I did this I was wearing Barbie blades and was 10 years old, but it cant be that hard? roamed around for about 20 minutes, I was doing good. then we came to the hill....
reminder: in europe ppl walk bike everywhere, so were not the only ppl on the biking trail..
Here i go...faster, faster, faster....I couldnt stop, slow down, change direction....i start screaming in english (the speak swedish) "move/I cant stop/watch out/Im coming/sorrryy" couples holding hands bailing, kids on bikes driving onto the grass, ppl walking giving me the deer and headlights look as they fly onto the grass. Finally to stop I run into the grass, but its not liek running with shoes, im running on wheels...so my feet r slippping and I am still motoring...so i tuck and roll....
hysterically laughing I look up... Kristen is holding her stomach crying/laughing, im laughing so loud I woke up every family in Sweden, and the ppl that I motored over on their "romatic night walk" r walking passed me pointing and laughing/trying not to stare. It was hysterical. I hope i dont make the front page Enkoping "unathletic section" in the paper. So... when i finally get back on my feet...after losing my bearings to say the least...i start blading, with grass in my hair/skates/mouth/everywhere, and im passing the same people that dodged me before, and they hear me talking to Kristen, and calmly get off the path for fear of me pulling another crazy move. Gawd. I laughed the whole way home. You know when you laugh so hard that you become weak? I had to sit down because I couldnt hold myself up I was laughing so damn hard. It was so funny. I guess i didnt pick up where I left off when I was 10, because I knew how to stop then. I secretly missed my barbie blades though... they were real nice, from ToysRus I think? I member going to pick them out with my dad on Saturday. You would have thought I got a new car, and then he spent all day trying to teach me. I was terrible, Taylor was really good...figures.
thats why i thought this quote worked for my title:
"To dare is to lose one's footing momentarily.To not dare is to lose oneself." -Soren Kierkegaard
Ok so then I came home and Mickey was putting a new bike seat on my bike...how sweet. The other day I biked so much my tail bone was sore, and he said it was probably the seat...he hooked me up with a new one! how sweet!!!
Now I am doing nothing...I want to run like 6 miles tomorrow maybe? I am ready for a long run I think... I will chat with ya'll tomorrow.
Love yall way too much.
laugh until you cant hold urself up...it feels soo good!!!
"work hard, play harder"
Shann
#1 on the field, #1 in your heart
"Either you reach a higher point today, or you exercise your strength in order to be able to climb higher tomorrow."-Friedrich Nietzsche
WHOaaaa.....do ya'll remember me? I'm Shannon Johnston, daughter or Randy and Bridget Johnston...haha I wont go on. But sorry. I have not blogged in a while. I kind of got bored blogging, it was like I had nothing to write, or nothing entertaining to write about. I was just typing for the hell of it, and "anything worth doing, is worth doing right." haha- My dad taught me that, he was probably telling me that out of the womb. I know a few things about myself, and one is :once i get bored...i completely disengage from the activiity. hince the reason I never enjoyed schoolwork. Just so boring, so basic. Everyone at home is doing the same work the teacher sent home, so everyone is going to be the same? ehh...not for me. But today I was excited to blog...so here I am. I have had a never ending headache for 5 days but its felt like 5 years. My head is pounding and I think I might be losing brain cells and memory. Today I forgot my way around via bike...mayb it was a sign I needed the work out. Anyways... Monday I did nothing but have a headache, and go to practice. Tuesday I did nothing but have a headache, go into town for a ficka with Matilda and gabby---fun. They took me to the drug store to get a cure for the ache in my head. I was glad they took me because everything was in Swedish (obvi, I am in Sweden) so they told me what words meant "pain" and directed me to the best meds! so nice of them. I was expecting to see some huge bottle of Advil...not so much. they sell packs of 24 or 30 pills of medicine. Maybe only Americans buy pint size bottles of drugs. haha-reality check...not every country relies on meds/drugs to cure their stressful lives...here, they just stay unstressed. what a concept?
I woke up today...NO HEADACHE! I was shocked. I had some yogur and berries, then hopped on the bike, rode around town, then headed to the softball field for sprints, lunges, body squats, and abs. It felt good! The bike ride home was hell because it was uphill...but I made it! haha. I came home and did some laundry. I know how to work the wash machine now, but I have a hard time getting the clothes out because the door is broken. A knife sits on top of the washer and you use it to get the door open. One of the kids broke it. Its normal to them to just grab the steak knife and open the thing up...I am not to acustom to this sort of thing, so it takes me a minute. haha.
Then I showered, and....my headache came back. I was wandering when it would grace me again...took meds, now Im back in action.
Last night Luisa (5 yr old) told Karen "Karen, Shannon understand what I am saying because she smiles and nodds her head" haha...how cute. She comes in my room and likes to sit on skype when I am on the computer.
Nothing else has really been going on... My (15 year old who plays ball with me) just got her hair done. she has a reddish brown hair color with blonde highlights. I really like it. Her mom said she was scared to show me, but I saw her through my window getting off her bike, and ran to tell her how much I liked it! Her and her friends laugh at me alot. I think they laugh because I am really animated? and probably my accent is funny? I dont say many funny things, so I'm not sure what it is..but its nice that they are smiling around me. haha...
ok...Kristen just called... "Shannon, I was going to see if you wanted to go to the candy store?" hahaha....these people know me too well already. I will blog more later, I have some more blabbbbingg to do!
xoxoxo
"work hard, play harder"
Shann
#1 on the field, #1 in your heart
I woke up today...NO HEADACHE! I was shocked. I had some yogur and berries, then hopped on the bike, rode around town, then headed to the softball field for sprints, lunges, body squats, and abs. It felt good! The bike ride home was hell because it was uphill...but I made it! haha. I came home and did some laundry. I know how to work the wash machine now, but I have a hard time getting the clothes out because the door is broken. A knife sits on top of the washer and you use it to get the door open. One of the kids broke it. Its normal to them to just grab the steak knife and open the thing up...I am not to acustom to this sort of thing, so it takes me a minute. haha.
Then I showered, and....my headache came back. I was wandering when it would grace me again...took meds, now Im back in action.
Last night Luisa (5 yr old) told Karen "Karen, Shannon understand what I am saying because she smiles and nodds her head" haha...how cute. She comes in my room and likes to sit on skype when I am on the computer.
Nothing else has really been going on... My (15 year old who plays ball with me) just got her hair done. she has a reddish brown hair color with blonde highlights. I really like it. Her mom said she was scared to show me, but I saw her through my window getting off her bike, and ran to tell her how much I liked it! Her and her friends laugh at me alot. I think they laugh because I am really animated? and probably my accent is funny? I dont say many funny things, so I'm not sure what it is..but its nice that they are smiling around me. haha...
ok...Kristen just called... "Shannon, I was going to see if you wanted to go to the candy store?" hahaha....these people know me too well already. I will blog more later, I have some more blabbbbingg to do!
xoxoxo
"work hard, play harder"
Shann
#1 on the field, #1 in your heart
Sunday, June 6, 2010
“I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're going to feel all day.”-Frank Sinatra
HI! I have missed yall. Yesterday I did not blog, but I can explain-not that excuses make it ok, but they give us an understanding. haha
I am going to go through yesterday and today in one blog, so if i start to bore you, like always just stop reading and get back to facebook stalking, or eating hamburgers like the rest of America who is not reading my blog. haha.
So we woke up, drove 2 hours to the games. played 2 games. It was nice. I pitched the first game...We run ruled the team, I struck every batter out but one that I faced. I was getting in a grove, its like a "pitchers high" I like to call it. But then second game I had to play first, and yall know how much I like playing a second position. I got alot of hits, but I dont remember what exactly. I think hitting is kind of boring, but probably because I havent been a hitter in 4 years. OH WELL!
We drove home, and then the team had a cookout at Ingrid's house. She is the coach when American's are not here to coach. Really nice of them to have us over. Karen (mom) got us out of there early though so that I could come home and get ready for my first night out in Sweden! She knew I was really nervous, so when we got home she chatted with me while I got dressed and did my make up. We drank wine because she said I needed some alcohol before I got to the party. haha I thought that was kind of cool. Then a knock at the door. It was Matilda and Maria...they came in just as I was finishing getting ready. I was so glad. They knew I was nervous, so they came over to losen me up a bit. It was so sweet, and made me feel so excited to go over there and meet a house full of partying Europeans! haha. Matilda introduced me to all her friends, they were all so sweet and welcoming. Her house was really nice too. We drank the night away, and then called cabs to go into downtown Enkoping to the club they go to. It was nice!!! Matilda's best friend Camilla (i dunno spelling) was really shy to speak english, but she losened up once we downed some vodka together and she spoke really well! I was excited because they all warned me that she might not talk alot bc she sucks at english. But everyone there spoke really fluent and I could communicate well! Its crazy how other countries know more than just their language, and dumb American's only learn english in school. Were too good to learn someone elses native language I guess, but that also brings me back to the US being the #1 obese nation in the world...good job USA!
I met one of Matilda's friends Natalie, and she lived in Flower Mound, Texas for a year. She said the family she stayed with was really religious and kind of strict... I told her and all the girls to come visit the states and stay at my parents house... I really wish they would. So we had a blast all night. Matilda and I got a cab home, and it was light outside when I was coming in the house! haha...weird right?
Ok, so then I got up this morning around 11:38, and had some juice upstairs and visited with my mom. She asked all kinds of questions, she was so curious. I was eager to answer them. Usually I wake up with all my roommates and we go over and laugh about the night for a couple of hours...(sometimes in college we did this hungover during the boring weekend practices) but anyways, I was glad I had someone to recap the night with. Matilda texted me and told me to come hang out, so I went back to her place and chilled. ate some chips, talked about how toasted we were and how much fun it was, and then made moves. We decided to hit the lake but not until we got some good fattening food in us...so guess where we went? MCDONALDS!! Ofcourse the only fattening resturaunt....has to be American. haha. it was delish though, I had a McChicken sandwhich and fries. Matilda, Maria, and I ate our food, complained about how fattening it was, and then left for the lake. We met gabby, and 2 of their guy friends there. Plopped the towels down, and layed out all day. It was so relaxing. 70 degrees, a nice breeze, and good company. What more could you want on a Sunday? It was fun. Maria drove us to the lake...and she drives like a bat outta hell-rollercoaster, hands up kind of driving. so lets just say I rode the TX Giant at Six Flags today as well. haha!
I came home, had a snack...Maceroni that Karen made (with no cheese? i dont get it haha) and then took some tylenol for my headache I got at the lake and napped upon Karens request. When I woke up it was dinner time. We had meat, salad, potatoes, bread, and cheese! It was yum... Lisa taught me how to count to 10 in Swedish, we went through the numbers about 4 times. I dont have it down yet, but its a start.
This weekend I also learned some words yall should know.
shot=shot, but with short o..kind of sounds like shoawt.
cheers=skoal, but prounounced like skowal kind of.
casta=throw
i learned sunglasses, but i cant remember. (so I guess I didnt really learn it, haha so I take it back, but I remember being taught it...does that count?)
I had such a good time with Matilda and her friends. It was great to meet people, to get out a bit, and to losen up. Everyone was so welcoming and I felt so happy Matilda included me in the parttayyyyy and everything. Shes great. I want her to come to the US so she can come out with our Dallas crew of partiers...she would absolutely love it.
I dont have any pictures bc I forgot the camera...so ill take the loss on that one:(
Today I skyped Andrea, and Stephy...so good to see both of them. I got update emails from Taylor...Glad she is tucked in houston in her new apt. wishing her the best of luck at her new job...knock em dead girl...
Some things I think I need right now:
I need some new clothes, and some new shoes...
I need to wash my sheets I think
I need to not have 3797 mosquito bites
I need a drink of water
I need my Dad to take me for icecream (summer ritual)
I need a manicure and pedicure
That is all for now. I had a good first weekend out in Europe...Matilda is my kind of girl..so glad shes my neighbor, and excited for this week because she is off work :)
goodnight world-
Love yall to the stars and back
"work hard, play harder"
Shann
#1 on the field, #1 in your heart
I am going to go through yesterday and today in one blog, so if i start to bore you, like always just stop reading and get back to facebook stalking, or eating hamburgers like the rest of America who is not reading my blog. haha.
So we woke up, drove 2 hours to the games. played 2 games. It was nice. I pitched the first game...We run ruled the team, I struck every batter out but one that I faced. I was getting in a grove, its like a "pitchers high" I like to call it. But then second game I had to play first, and yall know how much I like playing a second position. I got alot of hits, but I dont remember what exactly. I think hitting is kind of boring, but probably because I havent been a hitter in 4 years. OH WELL!
We drove home, and then the team had a cookout at Ingrid's house. She is the coach when American's are not here to coach. Really nice of them to have us over. Karen (mom) got us out of there early though so that I could come home and get ready for my first night out in Sweden! She knew I was really nervous, so when we got home she chatted with me while I got dressed and did my make up. We drank wine because she said I needed some alcohol before I got to the party. haha I thought that was kind of cool. Then a knock at the door. It was Matilda and Maria...they came in just as I was finishing getting ready. I was so glad. They knew I was nervous, so they came over to losen me up a bit. It was so sweet, and made me feel so excited to go over there and meet a house full of partying Europeans! haha. Matilda introduced me to all her friends, they were all so sweet and welcoming. Her house was really nice too. We drank the night away, and then called cabs to go into downtown Enkoping to the club they go to. It was nice!!! Matilda's best friend Camilla (i dunno spelling) was really shy to speak english, but she losened up once we downed some vodka together and she spoke really well! I was excited because they all warned me that she might not talk alot bc she sucks at english. But everyone there spoke really fluent and I could communicate well! Its crazy how other countries know more than just their language, and dumb American's only learn english in school. Were too good to learn someone elses native language I guess, but that also brings me back to the US being the #1 obese nation in the world...good job USA!
I met one of Matilda's friends Natalie, and she lived in Flower Mound, Texas for a year. She said the family she stayed with was really religious and kind of strict... I told her and all the girls to come visit the states and stay at my parents house... I really wish they would. So we had a blast all night. Matilda and I got a cab home, and it was light outside when I was coming in the house! haha...weird right?
Ok, so then I got up this morning around 11:38, and had some juice upstairs and visited with my mom. She asked all kinds of questions, she was so curious. I was eager to answer them. Usually I wake up with all my roommates and we go over and laugh about the night for a couple of hours...(sometimes in college we did this hungover during the boring weekend practices) but anyways, I was glad I had someone to recap the night with. Matilda texted me and told me to come hang out, so I went back to her place and chilled. ate some chips, talked about how toasted we were and how much fun it was, and then made moves. We decided to hit the lake but not until we got some good fattening food in us...so guess where we went? MCDONALDS!! Ofcourse the only fattening resturaunt....has to be American. haha. it was delish though, I had a McChicken sandwhich and fries. Matilda, Maria, and I ate our food, complained about how fattening it was, and then left for the lake. We met gabby, and 2 of their guy friends there. Plopped the towels down, and layed out all day. It was so relaxing. 70 degrees, a nice breeze, and good company. What more could you want on a Sunday? It was fun. Maria drove us to the lake...and she drives like a bat outta hell-rollercoaster, hands up kind of driving. so lets just say I rode the TX Giant at Six Flags today as well. haha!
I came home, had a snack...Maceroni that Karen made (with no cheese? i dont get it haha) and then took some tylenol for my headache I got at the lake and napped upon Karens request. When I woke up it was dinner time. We had meat, salad, potatoes, bread, and cheese! It was yum... Lisa taught me how to count to 10 in Swedish, we went through the numbers about 4 times. I dont have it down yet, but its a start.
This weekend I also learned some words yall should know.
shot=shot, but with short o..kind of sounds like shoawt.
cheers=skoal, but prounounced like skowal kind of.
casta=throw
i learned sunglasses, but i cant remember. (so I guess I didnt really learn it, haha so I take it back, but I remember being taught it...does that count?)
I had such a good time with Matilda and her friends. It was great to meet people, to get out a bit, and to losen up. Everyone was so welcoming and I felt so happy Matilda included me in the parttayyyyy and everything. Shes great. I want her to come to the US so she can come out with our Dallas crew of partiers...she would absolutely love it.
I dont have any pictures bc I forgot the camera...so ill take the loss on that one:(
Today I skyped Andrea, and Stephy...so good to see both of them. I got update emails from Taylor...Glad she is tucked in houston in her new apt. wishing her the best of luck at her new job...knock em dead girl...
Some things I think I need right now:
I need some new clothes, and some new shoes...
I need to wash my sheets I think
I need to not have 3797 mosquito bites
I need a drink of water
I need my Dad to take me for icecream (summer ritual)
I need a manicure and pedicure
That is all for now. I had a good first weekend out in Europe...Matilda is my kind of girl..so glad shes my neighbor, and excited for this week because she is off work :)
goodnight world-
Love yall to the stars and back
"work hard, play harder"
Shann
#1 on the field, #1 in your heart
Friday, June 4, 2010
“If they ever do my life story, whoever plays me needs lots of hair color and high heels.”-Charleize Theron
Hello Beautys!!
it is getting late, so I am going to try and make this short, but you all know how I get on my soap box...
So I went downtown to the graduation with Matilda. Alot of her girl friends were down there, and I met them. Theyre great! The graduation is so different then the states. They get johndeers, and tractors and all kinds of big trucks to pull trailers. they fill the trailors with graudates and they drive around downtown drinking, playing music singing...EVERYONE in the town lines up along the roads (its so crowded) and throws roses, champaign bottles, flowers, streamers, everything. Like the US entire families come to the festivities. its awesome. then after that they get off the trailers, and they get into cars, convertables, nice nice cars, i saw a porche, lambo, old old historic cars, more trailers with coutches and graduates sitting down. where they honk, wave, drink, and get recognized again while they leave out of down town. it is like a huge party. Needless to say i wanted to be a European graduate today. haha. US graduation-0, Swedish graduation-1. hahe we lose, our graduations are boring theirs are...well BAD ASSS.
Matilda was so sweet for asking me to ride into town with her, and then explain the graduation, and introduce me to all her friends.
So, I came home, had some yogurt for lunch, then off to practice, biked back home, and had taco dinner and wine. I visited with the rents for a bit, and then came down to my room to chat with you crazy Americans. Talked to my Daddy-ooo on skype, saw his Porche driving cirtificate. that was pretty bad ass. Maybe we can start some sort of driving school in the culdi-sac. We can start with the family, since we have stacked up a couple of accidents through the years. FAIL for the Johnston's. But then I chatted with Stephy, got to see her pretty face, and glad to see shes doing good, talked to Brianna, shes doing good-a little under the weather, but still had good convo, and chatted mom a bit too! Glad yall are all doing good. Got another headache tonight, I think its because I am missing America, or maybe need to get out to the bar...hopefully its the bar, because America has to wait. DAMNIT..i guess ill drink to that! haha...
OH i forgot to tell yall, Luisa (5 yr old) came back to our house from being at her moms for a week. She colored me a picture. Its a picture of our house. SOOO sweet. and she sat by me at dinner. Shes the sweetest thing ever. Can i be 5 again, I promise ill be sweet instead of a brat this go around. hahaha
OK so 2 games tomorrow, then cookout with the team, and then PARTYYYY with Matilda and her friends. I am nervous about meeting all of her friends, but I hope it goes well! What should I wear? How should I wear my hair? What jewelry should I wear? The only answer I have is what I will be drinking. haha...so I guess it's GO TIME! haha.
I miss yall, and I will let yall know how the games go...I really miss not hearing my Dad tell me to "stay long, throw the ball hard", or "way ahead, mix it up", or when its a good pitch and the umpire doesnt call it he says "ahh nice spottt" haha. Just when you think im not listening...I AM. GOTCHAAA!! my highschool coach used to say "lets go shooter" i like that one too.
Alright time for bed for me...haha the picture is of Matilda and some of her freinds. She is wearing all black...so blessed! g'night yall. think of me tomorrow, hopefully throwing Swedish meatballs right by them...
"work hard, play harder"
Shann
#1 on the field, #1 in your heart
"Life's a long headache in a noisy street”
Good Morning ya'll! WOW, sorry I did not get any blogging in last night...I had a serious headache, and once I sat down to look at this computer screen it turned into a migraine! It was painful. I could not sleep. tossed and turned, until I magically passed out on the floor with a rag over my forehead and a pillow covering my face. Pathetic!! None the less I could not blog.
So yesterday was boring, Ill explain short and sweet. I woke up, ran to the soccer field, ran, ran home, took a nap, layed out, started feeling dizzy and sick. layed down. While i was napping though, my sister My came in and asked if I would teach her how to pitch. She set a time and we biked off for the fields to practice. We threw for about 30 minutes. I only taught her the snap, but she caught on quickly. I was so excited she wanted to learn! So we had practice, and biked home. The way home is uphill, so my head was POUNDING. Came in ate dinner...and came in my room due to the dizzyness and headache. I didnt take any medicine for fear of the fact they would give me herbs to rub on my head or some natural remedy that I just couldnt handle at the time.
Now I have woken up, showered, and am going to get ready to go down town with Matilda to watch the graduation festivivties. It is huge here. everyone in the city goes down town to line up in the streets and see all the graduates. The students grad. have rented nice cars and stuff to ride in, they have champaign breakfast and all kinds of celebrations! So that is where I am at today!!
Sorry for the boring blog, but Ill be on tonight, maybe something exciting will happen at practice!
love yall,
"work hard, play harder"
Shann
#1 on the field, #1 in your heart.
PS-good luck HHS softball.
here is a link...it made my day-
http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/high-school/post/_/id/1217/hebron-hopes-to-complete-dream-softball-season
So yesterday was boring, Ill explain short and sweet. I woke up, ran to the soccer field, ran, ran home, took a nap, layed out, started feeling dizzy and sick. layed down. While i was napping though, my sister My came in and asked if I would teach her how to pitch. She set a time and we biked off for the fields to practice. We threw for about 30 minutes. I only taught her the snap, but she caught on quickly. I was so excited she wanted to learn! So we had practice, and biked home. The way home is uphill, so my head was POUNDING. Came in ate dinner...and came in my room due to the dizzyness and headache. I didnt take any medicine for fear of the fact they would give me herbs to rub on my head or some natural remedy that I just couldnt handle at the time.
Now I have woken up, showered, and am going to get ready to go down town with Matilda to watch the graduation festivivties. It is huge here. everyone in the city goes down town to line up in the streets and see all the graduates. The students grad. have rented nice cars and stuff to ride in, they have champaign breakfast and all kinds of celebrations! So that is where I am at today!!
Sorry for the boring blog, but Ill be on tonight, maybe something exciting will happen at practice!
love yall,
"work hard, play harder"
Shann
#1 on the field, #1 in your heart.
PS-good luck HHS softball.
here is a link...it made my day-
http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/high-school/post/_/id/1217/hebron-hopes-to-complete-dream-softball-season
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
The great gift of family life is to be intimately acquainted with people you might never even introduce yourself to, had life not done it for you.~KH
warning: This quote seems weird, but you will realize why I chose it today when you are at the end of my blog.
Last night I stayed up way to late, but I was skype chatting my sister, and Brianna, and tweet messaging Joey. I was so glad to talk to all of them esp my sister! It was worth the loss of sleep. either way that is my excuse for sleeping in until 11. It felt GREAT!!!!
My day started off good. I ran to the soccer field and did sprints and a gut check 300 yard shuttle. It was a good work out. I saw my brother, Pontus, bc his class was playing on the field next to the soccer field. That was pretty cool, infront of all his friends he waved to me, and said "Hi Shannon" in english. I felt special. Then I ran home.
I put my swim suit on and layed out on the deck for a little while. It was so relaxing, but then I got the text...
It was Kristen asking me if I wanted to go to Upsalla with her (city near by with a university and lots of shopping, very city like) She said we could shop around. So I agreed, and we rode our bikes to the bus station and hopped on the bus. We shopped for 20 seconds...and then it all went to hell... we ended up sight seeing the entire time. I can appreciate the cathedral and the church, but to look at every building and stuff. come on now...thats not me...I was annoyed. At first it was funny, then i got annoyed, then I got so frusterated I wanted to walk home alone. No joke. People my age were at the bars along the water, having ficka, drinking beer, enjoying life...and i was climing a 350 mile hill to go look at a building. I was heated! so mad, all i wanted to do was leave/go join the millions of ppl my age enjoying their "wet wednesday" along the waterfall.
During the duration of my 20 seconds of shopping, I did manage to pick up a pair of very cute skinny white jeans for sumemr time. very appropriate and I cant wait to rock them with some wedges, gold jewelry, and my black hair. totally stoked about the jeans.
Well after the terrible day in Upsala we rode the bus home, which took too long, I got a head ache. All i wanted to do was call my mom. Hahaa-Im 22 and I wanted to call my mom. I wanted to text someone, I wanted to hear someone speak english to me, I wanted to EAT SOME AMERICAN FOOD...i was frusterated from head to toe. Actually I wanted to get on a plane and fly my ass to 4211 Harvest Hill Court Carrollton TX, lay in my dads recliner with his slippers on, listen to my dog bark at shadows in the back yard, and complain about how hott Dallas Texas weather is. but no....I had to wait on that bus and THEN not only wait, but peddle my ass back home on a bike when I got to the train station. AWESOME DAY SHANNON. i could have cried. literally.
(oh and I forgot to mention...during my freak out, I thought some candy would help (i need candy intervention)...so I went to the candy store in the train station while waiting for the bus...NO CANDY I LIKED. NONE!)
Ok so got home, walked in my room and changed,,,to my surprise I hear Karen calling for me and saying hello. The last thing I wanted to do was go explain my LOVELY visit to Upsalla. But ofcourse I booked it up to the kitchen, and much to my surprise they all said hi to me, and Karen told me they saved me dinner in the fridge. I opened up the fridge and it was a plate with my name on it...grilled salmon, baked wedge potatoes, and caviar dressing. All I had to do was heat it up! I about died. It MADE my day. I felt apart of the family. Through all of their hustle and bustle they didnt forget about me during dinner time. I am apart of the family! When im not home for dinner my mom does the same thing for me at home...I just felt so blessed to have such a great family. It was a relief to be home. For once I felt like this was home. and I got excited, the food was amazing. I loved the caviar dressing. Mickey made it. it was delish..and I was so hungry.
im exhausted from staying up until 5 am chatting with you American people at home enjoying real life civilization, and also from walking 987 miles up hill to enjoy scenery :) and no candy :( but I did end on a good note...i came "home" to my family. "In time of test, family is best"
Tomorrow is a new day :) I love yall. Mom/Dad miss yall. Although I have been living in MD for 4 years, this is the first summer away from home > its like summer camp, only everyone speaks jibberish and none of my friends came with...nice camp I chose? haha... talk to yall tomorrow.
sending all my love!
"work hard, play harder"
shann
#1 on the field, #1 in your heart
Last night I stayed up way to late, but I was skype chatting my sister, and Brianna, and tweet messaging Joey. I was so glad to talk to all of them esp my sister! It was worth the loss of sleep. either way that is my excuse for sleeping in until 11. It felt GREAT!!!!
My day started off good. I ran to the soccer field and did sprints and a gut check 300 yard shuttle. It was a good work out. I saw my brother, Pontus, bc his class was playing on the field next to the soccer field. That was pretty cool, infront of all his friends he waved to me, and said "Hi Shannon" in english. I felt special. Then I ran home.
I put my swim suit on and layed out on the deck for a little while. It was so relaxing, but then I got the text...
It was Kristen asking me if I wanted to go to Upsalla with her (city near by with a university and lots of shopping, very city like) She said we could shop around. So I agreed, and we rode our bikes to the bus station and hopped on the bus. We shopped for 20 seconds...and then it all went to hell... we ended up sight seeing the entire time. I can appreciate the cathedral and the church, but to look at every building and stuff. come on now...thats not me...I was annoyed. At first it was funny, then i got annoyed, then I got so frusterated I wanted to walk home alone. No joke. People my age were at the bars along the water, having ficka, drinking beer, enjoying life...and i was climing a 350 mile hill to go look at a building. I was heated! so mad, all i wanted to do was leave/go join the millions of ppl my age enjoying their "wet wednesday" along the waterfall.
During the duration of my 20 seconds of shopping, I did manage to pick up a pair of very cute skinny white jeans for sumemr time. very appropriate and I cant wait to rock them with some wedges, gold jewelry, and my black hair. totally stoked about the jeans.
Well after the terrible day in Upsala we rode the bus home, which took too long, I got a head ache. All i wanted to do was call my mom. Hahaa-Im 22 and I wanted to call my mom. I wanted to text someone, I wanted to hear someone speak english to me, I wanted to EAT SOME AMERICAN FOOD...i was frusterated from head to toe. Actually I wanted to get on a plane and fly my ass to 4211 Harvest Hill Court Carrollton TX, lay in my dads recliner with his slippers on, listen to my dog bark at shadows in the back yard, and complain about how hott Dallas Texas weather is. but no....I had to wait on that bus and THEN not only wait, but peddle my ass back home on a bike when I got to the train station. AWESOME DAY SHANNON. i could have cried. literally.
(oh and I forgot to mention...during my freak out, I thought some candy would help (i need candy intervention)...so I went to the candy store in the train station while waiting for the bus...NO CANDY I LIKED. NONE!)
Ok so got home, walked in my room and changed,,,to my surprise I hear Karen calling for me and saying hello. The last thing I wanted to do was go explain my LOVELY visit to Upsalla. But ofcourse I booked it up to the kitchen, and much to my surprise they all said hi to me, and Karen told me they saved me dinner in the fridge. I opened up the fridge and it was a plate with my name on it...grilled salmon, baked wedge potatoes, and caviar dressing. All I had to do was heat it up! I about died. It MADE my day. I felt apart of the family. Through all of their hustle and bustle they didnt forget about me during dinner time. I am apart of the family! When im not home for dinner my mom does the same thing for me at home...I just felt so blessed to have such a great family. It was a relief to be home. For once I felt like this was home. and I got excited, the food was amazing. I loved the caviar dressing. Mickey made it. it was delish..and I was so hungry.
im exhausted from staying up until 5 am chatting with you American people at home enjoying real life civilization, and also from walking 987 miles up hill to enjoy scenery :) and no candy :( but I did end on a good note...i came "home" to my family. "In time of test, family is best"
Tomorrow is a new day :) I love yall. Mom/Dad miss yall. Although I have been living in MD for 4 years, this is the first summer away from home > its like summer camp, only everyone speaks jibberish and none of my friends came with...nice camp I chose? haha... talk to yall tomorrow.
sending all my love!
"work hard, play harder"
shann
#1 on the field, #1 in your heart
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
"As your coach you can repay me by showing other work ethic, after that replace my name on the record board, then give opportunity back" -Unknown
hej! (hello in swedish)
So in college (mainly freshman/soph year) we had a the for every day of the week. Tuesdays was "tanked tuesdays". Well...are yall tanked? me either... so today I woke up at 7:30, some of my friends from Dallas were just getting in from their Memorial day festivities...so ofcourse I took every opportunity to chatt it up. talking is healthy and burns more calories than you think! ok then I got ready, and went to coach the kids!! wahoo!! I was not enthused. Then when I got there, and saw how excited they were to see a foreigner...I felt kind of relieved. They thougth the world of me, so I kind of thought the world of them too. My feelings changed on accident, but it was a good accident. Good and accident do not go in the same sentence alot, so I considered myself lucky to be there. None the less these kids were worse than horrible. I mean look at them in the pic? they look like stellar athletes huh? jeans on, hair down, sharp players... :( man they had the time of their life, they just wanted to learn. They all wanted to hit. and when they hit the ball, their face lit up. It was like my face when I was little and got a peice of mint chocolate after eating at Luby's. Ha...I dont think I ever told anyone how excited I would get. I didnt want to be "the fattest kid at camp" haha. Anyways...it really clicked today, I loved giving back to those kids, and I had a second where I reflected on all the opportunity I had growing up to be a pitcher, and to take opportunity in order to be successful. Some kids dont get that, and to give them that for the 2 hours I had with them today...was really neat. Basically if the ball was hit past in the outfield, it was an in the park home run. And even the kids playing defense in the field would stop chasing the ball and watch the batter touch home plate for the "home run celebration", then they would chase the ball and throw it in. I was like...uhh..."no big, they just hit an in the park grand slam off a pop fly to the short stop" Skill... they sure did "one up" me. haha.
well anyways then I came home...had a sandwhich and apple and went for a run. I found a realy cool hill to run up. so I did that a couple of times plus a few miles! some push ups, and abs! pretty good work out. I enjoyed it! Then I showered, and biked around a bit...stopped in this one shoe store, then left and.........got some candy- hahahahaahaa....I dont have to explain again do I? good.
Then i biked back home, and my Dad skyped me. I was excited to see him before he headed out on his trip. He was ofcourse drinking his coffee, which he never finishes the same cup. Since I was a kid he has one that he carries around the house in the morning, continues to microwave the mug, take one sip when he pulls it out, and set it down. Then poors a to go cup for 2 sips in the car, then goes to starbucks. haha, he was wearing his Colorado Fireworks shir though, which was my favorite summer ball tournament.
Ok then I rode my bike to practice. We taught the girls do or die today, staying behind and back on a fly ball, and taking angles. then worked some hitting. It was overall very successful. My (sister) is so good. I really wish she would come back to the states with me. I want her to play for Rapid Fire, and I want to coach her. Today she told me she would love to learn the mechanics of pitching, but she doesnt know if she would want to be a pitcher. She's awesome. I love how I can fire her up! It takes alot to get a Swedish person in the zone, aggressive and all...and sometimes I see that in her. Really neat. So My and I rode back home, i bitched about riding uphill the entire time, while My laughed at me. No one was home when we got here, they all went to Tove's soccer game. (futbol in swedish) So My and I heated up what the fam ate for dinner and had a nice dinner date. We ate a Swedish meal, I do not know how to spell it. I will get back to yall. I learned that milk is mjolk. pronounced: Meuyoik. kind of I think? and I learned excuse me which is ursakta. pronounced: uksakta. they say it fast I dont think i really heard the R. wouldnt bet the bank on it though.
Ok then I did the dishes and My and I chatted it up. I like talkin to her. She teaches me stuff, and I teach her stuff. Mostly about culture and how we do things differently, or how her life is different than mine and vice versa. We talked alot about college in the states, I always talk about that with her bc I want her to come to America and see what we got! She's only 15, If I have a place by the time college comes for her..i'll take her in!
Then I came down to my room and vedged out! chilled. Ate some of my candy. haha skyped Brianna and Stephy! it was nice. Well nothing else is new, I havent heard from my sister in a few days,,,Im sure her memorial weekend got in the way of the little sister accross the globe, I probably missed out on some fun! I miss my better half- shes moving soon, so everyone send her off with good voodooo. hahaha.
I guess that is all for me on Tanked tuesday! Tomorrow it is supposed to rain, so who know what I will do. Ill certainly be back tmr night though, wouldnt want yall to skip a beat without me!
love yall
"work hard, play harder"
Shann
#1 on the field, #1 in your heart
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