Not only have I let my photography skillz slide by not taking pictures, but my blogging skillz have diminished along with my following, not that I had this monstrous following anyway.

This summer has flown by, which is great because I hate summer—it means no income.

So what have I (not) done? Glad you asked.

• Not taken nearly enough pictures
• Did not get a part-time job where I only worked 2 days and then was never called again
• Did not email said employer who gave me an excuse of having people who worked there longer and needing to give them work first before me after giving me false hope by saying that he was in need of a part-time employee who could fill in here and there and then more once school starts.
  • I did not groan after reading that mail and immediately cry at the fact that I will, once again, be penniless over the summer.
  • Year effin’ 5 of this shit.
  • Trust me, I am done applying for jobs in this country.
• Did not surf the net and lose track of time.
• Did not dream of moving to an English speaking country.
• Did not think of packing up and moving back home.
• Did not look at linguistics and literature PhD programs.
• Did not fight terrorists in my new shiny crime fighting suit.
• Did not drink a lot of coffee.
• Did not gym 3-4 times a week.
• Did not start watching The Gilmore Girls, again.
• I never vegged out on the couch.
• Did not clean the apartment like I promised myself I would do.
• I never decided to stop making myself promises that I know I have no intention of keeping.
• I never complained that 29C (84F) was too hot.
• I never wore capris and sandals outside when it was 18C(64F).
• Did not, not improve my Swedish skillz.
• I never upgraded my 3g to the 4.0 software.
  • I did not immediately regret that decision.
• …and I never ate Dumle for breakfast.

So, what did or didn’t you do for summer?

FINALLY!!! The latest video from Origin Blood.
Enjoy.

Totally Not Work Safe!

…or so I hope. As some of my four faithful followers may know, I thought that when I went to university that I would study International Migration and Ethnic Relations (IMER), however, I don’t enjoy refugee law and regulations as much as they think I do. I really thought that the courses would be more on migrants who move on their own not forced migration. The only thing I can come up with is that the school is trying to prepare its students for working in the land of “we let everyone in”  AKA Sweden. Not the place I plan on being forever. Not that I don’t like Sweden. I have adjusted, some what, but it just isn’t the place I want to live for the rest of my life.  No way. But that is another entry.

So, back to me finding my calling…I switched my area of study to English Studies which encompasses both literature and linguistics.  Nice, well-rounded education. And from the one course I have taken in this area, not as flighty as the IMER classes (thank a deity). I have been looking on the net for the past 2 months at literature masters, trying to find something interesting, but seriously, what can one do that hasn’t already been done? Really? Then I started looking at linguistics masters. I can find both right here at a very good university 30 minutes from me. Option 1. Then I started getting down because I really want to study criminology but the courses here are only offered in Swedish, which makes sense since this is Sweden and criminology is specific to regions because it deals with law. Still, slightly perturbed at myself. By chance I typed in English and Criminology and found, what I believe, is my calling…Forensic Linguistics (the obligatory wikipedia link) and now for the trustworthy link: here. Their  course is the one I am actually considering since it is completely distance or one can take partial distance and go to Birmingham a few times a semester.  I am just scared of the price.

So now that I am completely excited about finding a way to combine my two loves, crime and the English language I can’t wait to get started at school. I have also started adding forensic linguistics books to my wish lists on Amazon UK and on a Swedish book site. Yes, I am overly excited however, I was this way about the IMER program too and look how that ended up. I am not going to buy anything until I am sure this sticks.

/add on: After a little more research I am thinking the best way to approach this is a Masters in Linguistics, find a job in England (or where ever) and then do a second masters in Forensic Linguistics. So it looks like Lund University.

So I actually went and talked with some of the girls from the derby team and they were nice. My dreams of being laughed at and told to come back when I am not so fat were not a reality, which is good. I need skates, duh, but other than that, they would be thrilled to have another person. WEE! And the fact that my Swedish isn’t so great is not a problem.

I have also been researching skates. It seems that with my *ahemweightahem* getting the Rebel Skates or the R3’s would be stoooooo-piiiiid seeing as how I would probably snap them in half within a month.*le sigh* This means I need to go toward the more profession style of skates if I don’t want to be buying skates every few months. So I am looking at the Wicked Mojo from sincity.com. There are difference Wicked models but the Mojo is mid-priced and has PD Aluminum plates which makes them stronger. And let’s face it, they look cool.  I believe the wheels are outdoor wheels (88a) but I need to do some research. If they are I will need to buy a set of indoors (but not sure what surface as of yet). If they are indoors then I will need outdoor wheels. lol Regardless, I will need to buy new wheels.  Anyone ever used the Sugar Hybrids? Or any of the hybrids? Then there comes the pads (wrist guards, elbow and knee pads) and helmet (this is going to get expensive). You don’t want to buy cheap pads because they won’t protect you. Helmet has to be good, I mean, that is your brain in there (and I want black matte that way I can get my name on it). Oh and a mouth guard (don’t want my Derby name to be Toothless Fairy) and all the little things, wheel kits, lubes, bearings, extra wheels, the knowledge of how to fix things, toe guards, extra toe stops, the list goes on and on. Hey, TBS told me to get a hobby–an active hobby. I have jewellery making which I do when I am feeling creative, I read a lot, started working out too. It was either Derby or biking……and biking is a lot more expensive

Oh and my name….I have it. Not going to say it here since it isn’t registered but I do have it on my facebook page now.  I like it. There is another one I am kicking around in my mind. I might turn in two names.  And the teams colours? Purple and yellow. YELP! oye vey.

I wish I knew someone with skates that I could borrow for a while just to get up on them, but I don’t. So for now I just dream that I  remember how to skate and fall correctly.

As obsessions go, I guess I am always looking for something new and exciting to get all *squuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuue*ey about .  This new obsession of mine also has added weight loss benefits. Roller Derby.
Yes, you read that right my faithful four readers. ROLLER DERBY.
Don’t you all laugh at me! I will tell you, when I was but a young lassie I used to be a pretty good roller skater. I speed skated. I went to the rink just about ever week. Drove my mother insane with my “take me to The United Skates of America mom” demands. I loved being on 4 wheels and hated getting off of them to the point that mom actually bought me a pair of outdoor skates (you know, the ones with the metal wheels).  Then they tore down the rink. *insert sobbing* I was devastated but quickly went on to something else and promptly forgot about skating. Then, after I had moved to Sweden, my hometown got a roller derby team.  Can you say PISSED OFF?! Yes I was. I moved to nowhere land and my little po’dunk city gets a roller derby team and I can’t participate!? *grumble*

Granted, I haven’t been on a pair of roller skates in YEEEEEARS and don’t have any money to even buy any right now but it is something I have been thinking about for a while since I found out Copenhagen has a team.  However, that also involved learning Swedish a lot better so that I could understand Danish. Not something I was looking forward to . Then, this May, Malmö started a team!!!  They are small, just starting out but I am excited.  I am in no shape or form to even go to practice right now but the little spark is there. Along with the very horrible picture I have hanging next to my bed to motivate me to go to the gym, I now have the prospect of being a derby girl to think about it. This has totally changed how I look at myself.  I am signing up for cardio classes, biking more during the day, going to the gym and actually getting a good workout. My hope is to be able to get a pair of skates in September or October. Of course, Malmö doesn’t have a place that sells them. I am going to have to go to London or down to Germany.  I could get them on-line but I don’t know what size to get. If I can find someone here with skates in my size, I could try them on and see how they fit. But then I wouldn’t get to go to London for the day now would I? …hmmm…

I have been looking at a few skates. I really seem to like these Rebel skates and I like Jam R3, vegan skates. But of course I need to try them on.  And naturally I have no frakin’ clue what I am looking at so hmm…yeah. I guess I will learn along the way. Of course I am reading everything I can find on it so I am an informed buyer *choke cough hack*

And now the fun part….a derby name.  There is actually a list of registered names that you have to check against before sending in your name.  Who knew!? Naturally all the ones I have thought of are already there or have major similarities to others.  Great for the creative mind *ahem* So I enlisted the help of my befrie and she came up with some good ones, some that were taken, but a lot of them were not. Total cred man! These are my top picks, for now:

• Nicci Mustachio (for my mustache tattoo. Sounds mobster too which is great considering the team is called The Crime City Rollers. love it)
• Nicci Pavarotten (I love Pavarotti)
• Mia Trampslapper
• Psycho-gen-Nic

Still trying to come up with names so if you have any ideas go ahead and tell me. I kind of want it to be mobster like, but short. Nothing that I can’t put on a helmet. Granted by the time I get on the team, next year, they may already be taken so I am keeping a list of multiple names I like just in case that happens.

TTFN!