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Somehow, I seem to find fantastic people wherever I go. I easily make friends, and even in a country where people are shy or stand-offish, I am still able to weed out friends from the masses.

Last Saturday I met a young woman at the train station who was on her way to Malmö as I was and we struck up a conversation. We instantly took to each other and decided to get together for coffee next week. She's a student in college, and to my surprise she was at the train station this morning when I got there early. We talked some more, and she is such a cute, positive and friendly person.

I am also really taken with my new friend Paul. Not only has he been wonderful in saving me from spending a night out alone, but he has also provided so much insight into my life, and "the difference that makes a difference." He is a compassionate listener, and the more I get to know about him, the more I really am struck with what amazing person he is.

Maybe I am not all that lucky when it comes to other areas in my life, but when it comes to friends, I am so very lucky.

All my friends reading this, know that I love you and appreciate you so very much.

Sweden isn't the sort of place where parents are very strict, as my friends describe it. With a little persuasion from Micke, I decided to let the kids start listening to music that I'd been prohibiting. The reasoning, when they were young, was that I didn't want them exposed to negative imagery of women.

They are getting old enough to make the decision on their own on what they want to listen to, so I took Micke's advice and let the kids start listening to what they wanted. Specifically Eminem.

Letting loose on the kids has been interesting. The first few weeks I allowed them to listen to music that I had been restricting them from before, they were cursing a lot. But, after a while, they've toned it down.

Now we all sing Eminem together. We laugh at each other about it too, because really you can't get much worse at rapping than the three of us.

This morning didn't turn out how I planned.

Alarms didn't go off, kids didn't wake up, and so at 8:15 when I woke up in a panic thinking that it must be late, Tyler started throwing a fit. She hates to be late, but this is something that has only started here in Sweden.

I had to put her in a bear hold because she was kicking the walls and thrashing. I told her the standard things. Then we breathed together until she was calm enough to get ready. She said she didn't want to calm down, but I told her she could and needed to so she wouldn't be even more late for school.

While she was still fussing, Helena asked her if she would walk Linnea to school, and then Tyler was completely calm.

I decided to sleep a little longer; I wasn't feeling very well. Inside my closet, there are no windows, so it is completely dark when I close the door. That's why I never wake up thinking it's late because of the daylight outside, and part of the reason I sleep so soundly.

Now it's 11, and I am going to have to rush. Ah well, as long as I make my 2nd doctor appointment at 2 pm, I think everything else will be fine.

The kids woke up with sore throats today. I emailed work that I would be home with them, reluctantly. I really don't want to miss much time.

Tyler toughed it out and went to school after that, which is like, great! give everyone else TEH SICK.

Tayler stayed home, but we couldn't get a doctor appointment until tomorrow morning at 8:30. I'm going to be seen too because my throat hurts too.

I got down this evening. A bit too much happened. This included Tyler having a huge fit about sewing and ending up hurting herself when she was thrashing on the ground.

It was 10:00 before she calmed down. The night felt wasted after that.

I am trying to think of a way to redeem the day, but there's really nothing.

477 tax increases:

http://my.barackobama.com/447taxincreases

This election needs to stay on track:

http://my.barackobama.com/offtopic

My mom mentioned in a comment that she later modified or deleted that I don't like closed spaces.

I really don't, she's right. If I was forced to crawl through a cave like some of the caves in The Descent for example, I think I'd probably hyperventilate and die.

I'm ok in elevators, and other regular small spaces, but for hide and seek, I could never stand hiding in a small closed space.

Which brings me to my closet/room. It's not a regular closet- it's a walk in closet big enough for a bed AND my things. So don't imagine me sleeping standing up. It's really not that bad.

I get annoyed with people who never lose things.

Before getting the pizza, Micke was walking around looking very puzzled. I asked him if he lost his keys as he was bragging about never losing his keys because he always puts them in the same place.

He said no, he hadn't lost his keys.

"I lost my... thing."

Helena and I cracked UP.

Helena was laying down in her room after just getting home from work and Tyler and Micke are going to get pizza. Me? I am relaxing.Yesterday was enough adventure for me.

Tyler wanted to get a Bratz doll and I said no. Linnea has a few and Tyler was wondering if Linnea might give her one.

"I don't even like Bratz dolls," Micke said.

"I like them," Tyler said and added, "Except for their heads are too big."

"Some parts of the body is too big and some parts of the body are too small," Micke said.

"That sounds like my body," Helena chimed in from her room.

"Yeah," I said. "Mine too!"