Posted on 12 April, 202312 April, 2023 in Easter, Family and Friends

Exhibition at the Met, Happy Easter, Spring break, Friends over, Cold Spring and Scandinavian Happy Hour :-)

Easter offered delightful weather with lots of sun and no wind gusts to talk about – even though the state government warned about the risk of brush fires on Saturday morning… And yesterday, there was smoke over NJ, when Olle, Vira and I were swinging on Pier 25, and we still have not found out the reason why…

Last Tuesday I met up with Suz at Franklin St. and we took the train to Columbus Circle. From there we walked through the park – so wonderful and all in bloom – to the Met on Upper East Side for the Avedon Exhibition. Richard Avedon, except for all the celebrities, he branched out into photographing patients of mental hospitals, the Civil Rights Movement in 1963, protesters of the Vietnam War, and later the fall of the Berlin Wall.

This was the same Tuesday as Trump came here for his indictment (here on Manhattan, and not in Staten Island 🙂 ) and also, Finland joins Nato.

We have, since like forever, had problems with a leak from Elvira´s bathroom ceiling. Finally (!!?) last Friday the craftsmen wrapped this project up. It took over eight months to get it ready, but now we hear that it´s done…

Last Wednesday, Elvira and I looked into the CAT, untimed. This is the California Achievement Test Practice that she will complete next week. Hopefully (and most likely) she will score high enough once she takes the real test, to pass the state´s requirements. 👍 ❤️

Thanks to Easter, you have an excuse for going to Allen Street and Bon-Bon for some Swedish candy. On Holy Saturday we bought some good stuff at the Essex Market and the Nordic Preserves; like gravlax, herring, knäckebröd and Kalles kaviar. After lunch, we arranged an egg hunt in the apartment. 🙂

Now it is like Swedish summer here in New York, with above 74 degrees F and warm winds. Last Friday evening we had some Swedish friends over – a fabulous, nice and very funny night with lots of laughter, good food and cool drinks. Thank you soooo much Staffan, Madeleine, Jasmina and Vendela for a full night out!

Johan, Vira, Staffan, Madeleine, Vendela, Jasmina and Olle

On Easter Sunday our family went to Grand Central Terminal and took the Poughkeepsie UpState train to Cold Spring. This is a charming little village on the Hudson River, with lots of picturesque shops, cafes and restaurants – and the mountains build up on both sides.

I´ve been trying to work out by running, both at the gym and and at the Hudson River Parkway, but the hamstring is really making it difficult… I go to Jay on a regular basis, but to be honest I do not see the progress I would have wished for yet. But however, I just learnt that “Jersey Girl” is not one of Bruce Springsteen´s original songs but Tom Wait´s.

Another thing that makes outdoor running more difficult this time of year, is all the people in the streets, parkways and river walks – it is almost like a Mikado game trying to find your way forward. 😉

Yesterday Johan and I joined the Scandinavian Happy Hour at Björk, and met some funny, but also some really peculiar people. 😂😂 Both Swedes and New Yorkers, it was a really jolly event.

We have 82°F today so the feeling is SUMMER! ☀️☀️☀️ This afternoon we have been hanging out by the water, and Olle did some plane-spotting via Fligthradar24. I have also spotted two butterflies, but unfortunately without any photo evidence… At noon I had an appointment with Hailey at hair salon. Always so nice to talk to her.

Tonight we will try the Locanda Verde, they have great food according to Johan who has been there twice with colleagues. So now – I will rummage through the closet for my flip-flops, paint the toe nails and Voilà – ready for a balmy night out on the city!
💃🥂☀️💅🏻🌇

Ps) Toffee hasn´t come home yet, as Andrew is still in California. I think she will come home this weekend. 🐶

Posted on 3 April, 20232 February, 2024 in Family and Friends

Family, running and sightseeing

Mom, Adam and Tilda came here on Mar 21, exactly eight months after we had left Sweden and thus just as long since I saw my mom! ❤️

In one of my latest runs something happened to my right hamstring, so I went to dr. Jay Heller to be assured of being able to run a race that took place last Saturday. I’ve been meaning to go for a long time, because something is wrong with both of my upper arms, and finally I made it to Johan´s chiropractor. After adjusting just about EVERYTHING, he just smiled and said -“Welcome to Chiropractic in New York.” Giddy, I left with a new appointment for the following week…

A couple of weeks ago Johan had his colleagues here from Sweden, so one evening the kids and I went to the City Vineyard for dinner, and got to sit in a dome. 🙂

On the 17th, Elvira and I took the train to 53rd St and watched the St. Patrick´s Day Parade. She also got study questions about this day, so we consider this day a good lesson in Social studies. 🙂

There is an abundance of materials, curriculums etc, so we have to settle for some topics in each subject. In math she has been working on integers and algebra and in ELA she is dealing with grammars and essays. The Civil War (except for Parade days) is being discussed in Social Studies and in Science we have had labs about density. In addition to all this, Elvira is reading an English book every weekday evening, working out, walking Toffee, doing a lot of grocery shopping, cooking and tidying her room (perhaps not as often as requested).

Spring, even if it feels like a tornado sometimes, is almost here – a wonderful feeling!

A lot of window cleaners around the city

We also had a really nice and fun evening at Liljert´s! Lots of laughter and the kids also had a great time. 🙂

We will soon have a LUS (Lunch Utan Slut) with Ulf and Mona at Felix, but since Johan had severe back problems, we had to take a raincheck last time. Instead I went up to Strand, I looove to hang there! And now I finally have bought a Strand Tote bag. 🙂

Amazing evening on our way to Peter Cooper Town

And so finally Annie, Adam and Tilda arrived! This was the first trip to NYC for my mom, so it was really amazing to show her our everyday life here, and also to do some sightseeing. Both Adam and Tilda had to study almost every day, so it felt like I had three kiddos in homeschooling… 😉

We managed a lot on the first day! Both the High Line, Chelsea Market and a rooftop drink at Johan´s work. And of course we had to introduce Toffee to the larger family. 🐶 In the evening, Elvira served us all a fantastic taco dinner.

Last Thursday, Annie and I also visited the Oculus, strolled around at Eataly, paid respect at the 9/11 Monument and went to the South Street Seaport.

Last Saturday I ran 10K in the Spring Fling race out on Governors Island. The weather forecast was precipitation with strong winds, so we planned for plenty of windproof clothing and umbrellas.

But as one of dr. Jay Heller´s more famous patients (both a cardiologist, runner and author) told Heller – there are no bad experiences in running, you just have to find the positive ones… And I just managed to finish the race before it started to drizzle. 💧💧💧

In the afternoon we tried to get into the MoMa, but everyone else must have had the same thought – so packed inside and the longest line up outside in heavy rain, made it impossible for us to enter. Instead we took the train home again and found ourselves a little spot at Broome Street Bar. 🙂

This Saturday also was Earth Hour. We tried to contribute, but as far as we could see all lights were on as usual over the city.

On Sunday we had lovely but windy weather and we made a little excursion up to Harlem and Columbia University and strolled down inside of Central Park.

On Monday we wandered around in both West and Greenwich Village, Little Italy and Chinatown and made a stop at Essex Market and in the evening all seven had a drink at the Manhattan Brewery.

Famous cronuts from Dominique Ansel Bakery – Adam´s favorite

Last Tuesday we had a really good dinner at Grand & Gelso, in the favor of Karin´s birthday back in Sweden! 🎂 🙂

The morning after we decided to go to Brooklyn to do some thrift shopping. Tilda marked out a bunch of vintages shops and then Adam, Tilda and I walked the Williamburg Bridge over to Brooklyn and there we met up with Annie and Elvira who had taken the train to Graham Av.

We started out with a lunch at a little place on Grand St called Rome to Brooklyn. This was one of the most funny lunches I have ever had! We started a conversation with the owner, a guy from Albania, who often visited Sweden because his brother, niece and nephew live in Solna. What a coincidence and a small world. 🌎🌍 We even made a recording of us speaking Swedish to his niece. 😂

For the first time, I finally came to visit the Swedish Church of New York. My mom and I walked the surroundings of Midtown and grabbed a coffee at the church, embraced Bryant Park and had lunch at Björk Café & Bistro and of course we said hi to Ulrica. It was really crowded, mostly because SVEA´s had made a reservation for a lunch gathering. I asked Ulrica about the difference between them, and the to me more familiar SWEA´s, but she couldn´t say either. 😉

Meanwhile, the big kids took care of the vermin exterminator in our apartment, who came to spray away some ants. Apparently they had never heard of ants on the 6th floor…

In the afternoon, Olle and I went to see Gloria at the Gouverneur´s hospital for, what we know, the last time. It is with a smile I will always think of her.

This was also the grand final evening for the kith and kin before one half went back to Sweden, so we decided to go to LENA for our last dinner together. Hahahha, what a night full of joy and laughter!

So, now both my mom and the big kids have left for Sweden and here spring is really showing its face. Almost 70 degrees Fahrenheit, soft winds and a lot of sun. And what´s more, we’ve survived this year´s April Fools’ Day, without any scams at all (that I am aware of, anyway). I have to post a nice attempt here below though. This sweet joke was placed on the windshields of Mari´s and Feffe´s cars back in Sweden. They were cheated in their own street. 🙂

Today I had another session at dr. Jay Heller´s. I totally love his genuine interest in sharing anecdotes. He is really into 60´s and 70´s music, and today I learned a little about a singer/songwriter called David Bromberg and also got some info about his violins.

This afternoon Johan, Elvira and I met up and went to the Li-Lac Chocolates on Greenwich Av in West Village, to buy some Easter Eggs for Passover. It´s Manhattan´s Oldest Chocolate House, founded in 1923 – so 100 years old by now. 🐰🐣 🐇 🐤 🐥 🌸 🌼

Tomorrow Suz and I are going to visit the Met for the exhibition on Avedon, so looking forward! And he was born in 1923, the same year as the Chocolate House was founded. Funny coincidence.

And most people are very excited about tomorrow’s verdict in the indictment against the former president, Mr. Trump…

Posted on 13 March, 2023 in Schools!

Homeschooling in NYC

I am constantly learning new things here! We have finally decided for Elvira to enroll in homeschooling. This puts more press on the educating parent, as stated on NYC Department of Education’s website;

“Homeschooling is an education model in which parents educate their children at home instead of sending them to a traditional public or private school. In homeschool, the parent or guardian is responsible for the education of their child. They choose the subjects to be taught (based on a child’s age and ability) as well as the curriculum and methods of teaching, plan the schedule, and teach or facilitate instruction. Homeschooling is independent, parent-directed, and parent-funded education.”

The things she will be missing out on are friends and a social network. But for these coming months, it is a small sacrifice compared to what she gains from this since she has had a really hard time. (Which of course has effected the whole family). So now we have already decided curriculum for her, and she has even drawn a schedule with all subjects sorted into blocks and time slots. She is content and happy, actually for the first time here. ❤️

And as read in the schedule, dog walking now can be a frequent feature in our everyday life! This whole new approach feels so good, and I really hope for Elvira to feel confident and much, much more satisfied from now on.

Fastest ever – took from submitting Friday evening to being approved by Monday afternoon

Last Sunday was one of the best days! A sunny and windy day. First we watched the Vasaloppet in retrospect (Heja Emil!) and then I went for a walk, came home and got a text from our Swedish friend Anette, who wanted to meet up. She was at Jack´s wife Frieda with her husband Martin and their cockapoo Lily. We went there and strolled down to the Essex Market, and then grabbed a coffee at the Think Coffee on Broadway.

At Essex Market we also found Nordic Preserves Fish & Wildlife Co. Good to know when planning for the Midsummer Feast!

This weekend we also sang to Adam, who turned 26 last Friday! ❤️ Saturday morning started out with a walk up to Grand Central Terminal and later in the afternoon Olle and I ran down the Hudson River in a lovely, but windy sunset. In the evening we watched Mello. 🎵🎵

Sunday afternoon, Johan and I went down to City Vineyard for a drink. I also registered for a race -The Spring Fling 10K on Governors Island on Mar 25. 🏃‍♀️ This is like a marker (one out of many) for my time here in NYC! So the day after I went to Fleet Feet and bought a new pair of Brooks.

There are a lot of wooden piers in the Hudson River, interesting reading about the old pile fields.

I have just picked up my newly sewn up trousers at the tailor´s and have also had my third last Mixed Collage Media class. The rest of the week contained dog walking Toffee, homeschooling, dinner at Rezdôra, where we finally managed to get a reservation 🙂 and lunch with friends.

Last Saturday Camilla, Basti and their kids Emmy and Ludwig came over to dinner! They will stay in New York for at least three years, and have moved here from Münich. We had a great evening, and we are invited to come over to them in White Plains and do a BBQ soon. 🙂 In the afternoon we were at Anette´s and Martin´s place in Williamsburg. We were invited to their Mello party and drinks, music and disco lights were promised. 💃 So we went there in nifty clothing – and I even bought a boa and hopefully we cut the mustard. 🙂

Some days ago, Andrew texted and was curious to hear if we were interested in adopting Toffee´s brother! Aaaawww, almost hard to say no…

Last Thursday I had lunch with Malin at Friend of a Farmer, a really nice place on Irving Place in Gramercy Park. In the evening I ran my first 6 miles outdoors, must be equivalent to a 12 miles run on the treadmill! Too windy to feel comfortable, but still. Hope for a more calm race day on Governors Island in a couple of weeks. 🙂

Now Elvira and I also have been to the public library and borrowed one book each.

Yesterday was Sunday and all we did was run a few errands and take some walks. Also the daylight saving time began here in the USA and in Canada, so we had daylight until 7pm!!

This week, Johan´s co-workers are coming in from Sweden for a full DanAds week. For the kids, and to some extend for myself, the week is filled with a lot of school work. However, we started this Monday morning with a lot of carpenters in our apartment, for them to integrate a plastic cover into Elvira´s bathroom ceiling…

Four carpenters here, the floor is covered and constant Spanish on the phones!

Spring is in the Air!

Posted on 8 February, 202314 February, 2023 in Family and Friends

Spring in the air, Chinese New Year and even more new friends!

Time flies at the moment. New semesters, along with new friends, sunny days and awaiting visits from Sweden. 🙂

Finally we all have recovered from Covid, sinusitis and colds and I think all four of us see to the future with confidence. Both Olle and Elvira have new topics on their schedules and Vira for instance, is doing Dance this semester, which she is really happy about! February is Black History Month which is given much attention, especially in Olle´s school.

Last week was Lunar New Year and Chinatown celebrated the year of the Rabbit whole week thru.

Mission complete – the over Christmas leaking radiator, is finally removed and we have got a new one installed. However, the chemical smell during heating is still quite heavy…. Now we are only waiting for the painter to come and cover it in white. Though, we have another typical New York problem with the heating system’s loud cling-clanging during winter. Below follows the explanation. 😂🤣😆

What Is Steam Banging?

Trapped Water

Steam banging often wakes up tenants early in the morning or late at night, as that’s when radiators are heating up to greet the day or give people one last blast of heat before bed. This sound has been described as a hammer banging on pipes or someone knocking on the radiator, and it’s maddening to people trying to sleep.

What causes the banging noise? Once the steam has entered your radiator, it eventually condenses and must return in the form of a liquid to the boiler, where it can be heated up again to start the process anew. But if water becomes trapped in the radiator — or a section of the steam piping — it can start duking it out with the steam rising through the system, creating that terrible racket and reducing the efficiency of the radiator as a heat source.

There’s often a simple fix for this. Sometimes the radiator sits level on the floor when it should actually be tilted toward the intake valve, which sits between the steam supply pipe and the radiator, near the floor. If a level shows that your radiator is not tipped slightly toward the intake valve, you can increase the incline by shimming the far end of the radiator.

Usually, a wooden door shim or a couple of paint stir sticks purchased at a hardware or home supply store can be positioned under the other end of the radiator to tilt it forward. About a five-degree change should be sufficient. If this doesn’t do the trick, it may be time to call in the pros to see if there’s another cause for the noise.

I started my new online class in Mixed Media Collage last Tuesday and I completely love it! I have never worked with colors so much before, and it is quite a challenge but I immediately get into those flows once I hold the brush in my hand. 🙂 And Elvira´s pencil drawings are so amazing. 🎨

Feeling strong again, so I have hit the gym a couple of times and have also run down the Hudson River. And it seems that things are going well for Johan and DanAds too! They have hired a couple of new employees over the last months, and Olle and I went over to the office and said Hi to two of the new guys last week. 🙂 Go DanAds!

Olle and I have also paid Gloria at the Gouverneur Hospital our monthly visit, this time for Olle´s first HPV shot. 👍 Elvira also has been to a doctor at MinuteClinic for some tests, since she was so ill for over ten days. Nothing showed anything so now we are glad to see her lively and alert again.

Last Friday Johan and I went to Björk for a little HH. It was really nice to be back at the Swedish bistro, and also to say hello to Ulrica and some more newfound friends. I also got into a conversation with a totally new acquaintance, Karin with her little baby girl Mimmi. Two really cool girls! It resulted in them coming home to us this Monday for lunch and then a coffee in Brookfield Place. It was extra cozy, ‘cos Olle and Elvira had a day off of school, so they hanged with us all day. Next time, we will meet up at Karin´s in Park Slope in Brooklyn.

Something fascinating about the use of strollers here. Karin of course brought one with her when they came to us for a whole day, but when I first met them, she had Mimmi in a baby carriage because so few stations in the subway are ADA-accessible. Actually, the most stroller residents are DOGS! And they are not so seldom rather chubby…

This weekend we also had brunch with Malin, Pär and their sons Hampus and Jacob at Lido in Harlem. 🙂 Afterwards all eight of us strolled around in the borough and also went to Colombia College, established in 1754, you could actually feel the wings of history!

Last Friday I had a lunch date with Suzannah at Dante. I have walked by this restaurant so many times and it always looks so nice and cozy, and now I am happy to inform that the food pared up too! And in the afternoon Joy and Tim arrived here and will stay with us over the weekend. 🙂 Short visit, but so lovely to have them over. ❤️

Elvira hosted a three-course dinner the evening Joy and Tim arrived. Saturday was freezing cold (not like Christmas Eve) but fortunately not so blistery and the sun was shining from a clear blue sky. We went to Eately, which was the first time for me! A really nice place, and a soft oasis!

Sunday offered really nice weather without any winds, and lot of sun. We started our walk down the Hudson River on the west side all the way down to the Battery and continued up to Pier 17 and Tin Building on the east side. Our final evening together we spent at Tamarind, an Indian restaurant i Tribeca.

Joy and Tim went to Sweden last Monday and I have done my third online Multi Media class. Yesterday all four of us had dinner at Björk, lovely Swedish dishes like Räksmörgås and Smörgåsbord!

For the first time, I am going to participate in an event hosted by Swea! Today Malin and I are going to a pop-up opening for Maxjenny. 🙂 And tomorrow our neighbor Andrew is coming over for dinner, with little lovely Toffee. 🐶

Posted on 5 January, 20236 January, 2023 in December, Family and Friends

Christmas and New Year´s Eve – in New York City – with all the kids!

It is with a little gloomy feeling I am writing today. We have had such a lovely time during the holidays, and I already miss them. Adam, Emma and Tilda went back to Sweden last Sunday, on the first day of the new year of 2023. It all got so quiet and with a realization that the four left of us, actually are living here. 😉 Of course I know our stay is timed, but nevertheless – at that particular moment, time is not quiet counted normally.

Something nice here – the weather! 63°F and sun, RealFeel like April. ☀️

We have experienced a lot during the holidays! We started out with a lunch at the Tavern on the green in Central Park, all seven of us. Absolutely good food, but I had missed the little thing about them only serving Christmas Eve menu on Christmas Eve with fixed menu prices… 😱. Also, Christmas Eve was sooooo frigid cold with nasty winds. Almost no people outside, but the sun was actually shining from a clear blue sky. ☀️

We celebrated “julafton” on Christmas Day on Dec 25, with homemade meatballs, herring, Kalles Kaviar, Janssons, salmon, knäckebröd, red cabbage, sour creme and small sausages. It was really great and later on in the afternoon we opened up our presents and in the evening we played lots of board games, which we did throughout the holiday. 🙂

Really boring was that Vira got sick in the evening and lay in bed the following five days 😦 She caught the flu, but happily she recovered just in time to celebrate NYE. 💯

While Vira stayed in bed, the rest of the gang explored the city from west to east and from north to south. We walked the High Line, and also did our own special walk from Spring Street entering the Williamsburg bridge through the Hasidic neighborhood of Williamsburg, climbing up the Brooklyn bridge down to the City Hall park, taking a left and checked out Pier 17 with the Tin Building and the market.

We also wanted to try some ice skating, in ANY park… We checked out the rinks at Central Park, the Rockefeller Center and the Bryant Park, but all of them were sooo fully booked and apparently the New Yorkers really love to queue! The weather offered a feeling of spring though.

Looks like a icy lake – it is the amazing sky!

We are getting closer to New Year´s Eve, so Johan and I went to Whole Foods for some shellfish, cod and veggies. We found everything we wanted, lobster for starter, scampi to the cod and with Elvira´s luxurious chocolate fondant for dessert! After dinner and a bunch of fun board games, we decided at 11.45 am to go down to our favorite local dive bar, Broom Street Bar. What a Party!

So, the big kids went back to Sweden last Sunday and since then some of us have had some tough times… Schools in New York commenced on Jan 3, basically one week before all Swedish schools do. This is the first year Olle will be in school on his birthday.

We are starting to become friends with our neighbor Andrew (with puppy :-)). He offered his air bed for the holidays, which we really appreciated when Vira got sick! We are soon giving the bed back, together with a good bottle of wine. I would love to walk his little dog Toffee. 🐶 😉

Tomorrow we have a birthday boy, already turning 17. 💗

Posted on 22 December, 2022 in December, Family and Friends

Merry Christmas everyone & Happy Holidays!

Wow, yesterday on Dec 21, we had lived here for five months already and the Winter Solstice also occured both here and back in Sweden! Today is a rainy day and the forecast for tomorrow shows strong gusts and heavy rain, followed by a sharp drop in temperatures and the Real Feel will go as low as -8°F. 🥶🥶🥶 Tomorrow also is one of the worst days to travel, so it will be SO, SO wonderful once Adam, Emma and Tilda arrive tomorrow afternoon in the apartment!

In the last couple of weeks, I have finally got to the gym more frequently again and am feeling well. The kids have however been home with cloggy noses and sore throats, but for the moment we are all on top. Except for Elvira who had a backlash and feels more homesick again. 😔

Last Sunday we had dinner with our friends in East Village. It was all four of us visiting Ilze, Jannie and their youngest daughter Lara. Such a pleasant, fun and experiential evening.

12/12/22 and our 14th wedding anniversity – time flies 💞 Our first dinner one-on-one since we moved here! We had a lovely evening at Quality Eats in West Village!

On Dec 13 – Lucia, I finally received my Social Security Number.👍👍 Actually don´t know if and when I´m going to need it, but anyway it´s a cool thing to have! Johan and I had tickets for the Lucia procession at SACCNY on Thursday night instead of Tuesday. It was a nice event with open bar, snacks and some Swedish lusse-songs.

Last Saturday I walked all the way up to Columbus Circle throughout Hudson River Park and via Rockefeller Center and Bryant Park on my way home. There are lots of buildings, views and attractions to be amazed by in this bustling city.

On the fourth of Advent we all went up to Fabrique for some fika, also the same day Argentina won over France in the World Cup in football in Qatar.

This last week before Christmas, there are some preparations to take care of. For instance I am trying to get hold of some Swedish Christmas food, not the easiest thing. Not that we neeeeed to have it, but somehow cozy!

We have put Christmas cards in the lobby tree for Chris and Nelson. Cards which, by the way, we have bought to support two girls in Elvira´s school for their upcoming European trip in April. 🙂

Elvira showed me another Swedish bakery, a place her Advisor found near school! So from there we now have herring and Annas pepparkakor. 🙂

Last Tuesday we had dinner with Johan´s American colleague Curtis and his adorable wife Jenny. They live in Denver, but Curtis is here in the office from time to time and this time Jenny came along. We tried the Standard Grill, a really cool place with the best burger I have ever had. Jenny, just like Olle (and I) loves Korean movies and series!

Yesterday evening we went to the movies and saw “Puss in boots” at the AMC Theater on 34th street. It was more scary and dark than fun, but with a intriguing story and a thematic statement.

At Little West 12th St in the Meatpacking District

Today I have shopped some Christmas gifts for the youngsters and soon the Holidays are here! I attach a card, originally sent to DanAds from their lawyer. 😂

Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year!

Posted on 6 November, 2022 in Family and Friends

75 degrees Fahrenheit in November, appointment at the hair salon, new friends, clocks fall back and NY Marathon!

Since Halloween is such a big deal here, I just have to post some more pictures even though it´s over for this time.

View from our window – the Halloween Parade

Last week started out with all of us, except Johan, catching a cold so there were some inactive days and the kids didn´t go to school. This Friday I had some highlights done at the Fox & Jane Salon (took like three and a half hours!) and there I learned a lot. My stylist was really great in telling about Americans´ social behaviour etc. She was born in California and had just moved here from Berlin, Germany where she had stayed for three years, so I think she felt a little bit like an European. 😉

Like why Americans like to talk in the elevator, it´s not because they are really interested in you, but more because they feel an urge to say something and want to fill out the “awkward silence”. It´s kind of funny, since for a Swede – it´s more embarrasing to say something in the elevator and break that awkward silence. 🙂

She also told me about public schools, they (of course) get government money for each child who attends school. The school misses out on some money every day a child is absent. No wonder they are really eager to have Vira in school every day.

Last Wednesday was Doctor´s Day! Olle and I went to the Gouverneur Hospital to see Gloria once again. This time they only checked his weight and gave him his first shot of Varicella, since he had never actually had Chicken pox!

Our next visit to Gloria is on Thursday, when Elvira is going to do her health examination. This week, public schools are closed on Tuesday Nov 8 (Election Day, Midterm) and also on Friday, Nov 11 due to Veterans Day. Wednesday is an early day in school for Vira, due to so called school Conferences – a focus on learning, although behavior and social concerns might be discussed. The teacher will review your child’s progress, including strengths and areas in need of improvement. You also might talk about standardized test results, individualized education plans (IEP). Looks a bit similar to the Swedish arrangement and here it´s also a 15 minutes long student-led session.

Last week was also last class of Drawing. I really liked it, and will probably do another round soon. 🙂

This day the kids also finally got their own bank cards. It only took an hour with our bankman Tamba at Chase 😉 This weekend has been full of hangin´out, first on Friday evening, Johan and I had an AW with Anette, a friend of Lotta´s, at Local 92 on Mulberry Street. A really nice acqauintance. 🙂 By Saturday, Vira and I were window-shopping for four hours… and in the evening Johan and I met up with Suz and Carl for an amazingly tasty dinner at Moustache, a Middle Eastern Cuisine on Bedford St in Greenwich Village. They gave us tips to some jazz clubs like jazz at Lincoln Center, Mezzrow and the Smalls. Hopefully Olle is allowed in some place, despite his age. I will now do a little investigation 🙂

Today is Sunday and time for the New York Marathon 2022, with over 50,000 runners! We started off in Brooklyn on Bedford St, and just in time for Olle to see Katta, a friend of Mari´s. All the rest of us missed her, so we continued our tracking and spotted her at 61 St, 1 Ave on Manhattan 🙂 So fun to see her, and a lot of Swedes were running. It was a true festive atmosphere all over the city, and almost the same temperature as at the Swedish Marathon in June… We have also set the clocks back 1 hour, so again Sweden is 6 hours ahead of us.

I have also got a tip about the Art Gallery Crawl and even found artnet.com by myself. I would like to visit a gallery, like go to an opening in black turtleneck, sip a glass of red and just “hmmm…, hmm…., Ahh”! 🙂

Now the first little sunflower is accompanied by the second 🌻

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Just went down to Trader Joe´s and I have never had a thought about how the Brussels sprouts grow…

Posted on 21 October, 2022 in Family and Friends, Halloween

In-laws and new friends

Fall, with all its wonderful colors, pumpkins and apples has thrived these two weeks. Degrees around 55 and the sun is still shining most of the time. I note that many birds of various sizes and shapes, fly by outside our windows, wonder if they are planning to leave for warmer latitudes.

Sunrise is just after 7am and sunset at 6.10pm, so still there is much daylight. Here clocks change backward 1 hour between Nov 5 and 6, and the earliest sunset is at 4.28, in Dec. The latest two weeks have been filled with in-laws and some new friends and aquaintences.

Last week, Karin and I went to MoMA and Roosevelt Island. Two interesting places, and it was real fun to take the tram way from the island back to Manhattan again! This week was also full of Google- and Zoom school meetings and also an appointment for Vira to get her MenaCWY at the MinuteClinic. Still no drawing class, due to their miss of adding me to the roster.

We also went to the movies at Angelika Film Center, and saw a Korean film called Decision to leave. We all liked it and it brought up some questions, so we had a little discussion about the film afterwards at Broom St Bar. 🙂

Last Sunday Olle hanged with some new friends from school! They went roller skating in Brooklyn and it seems like he had a great time. 🙂 At the same time, Elvira and I met up with a new Swedish girl and her mom for lunch in Central Park. It was a nice lunch and afterwards Vira and I strolled all the way back home (with a stop at Ulta Beauty on Broadway ;-)).

This evening we had dinner at Lena, a charming little French restaurant at Morton St. Elvira also texted a girl from class, and they will hang out on Friday. So happy for the kids´new friendships. 🙂 She also has picked a new advisory at school, since the people she talks to are there. I have booked her into the same hospital Olle was at, and to the same wonderful doctor, for Elvira to do her Health Examination in addition to her immunization program.

Still foreign to us Swedes, the message is however clear….

Karin went to Sweden last Monday and Lars-Erik and Eva came on Tuesday. We started out with a pizza night at home, and then we made some plans for the rest of the week. On Thursday we went to the Fire museum, halfway between our apt and their hotel.

In the afternoon I finally made it to my Art class in drawing at the Art Studio NY! It started out with a 30 minutes private catch up from last week (when I was at the wrong address, but actually not my fault). Then we painted the entire paper with charcoal, and used a kneaded eraser to subtract. The opposite of adding colors, you create highlights and reflecting areas with this eraser. I think next time is about perspectives. 🙂

This weekend is Open House New York, October 21-23, the 20th annual OHNY Weekend will unlock almost 300 places across the five boroughs through talks, tours, and behind the scenes access. Unfortunately we have no tickets (didn´t know there was a lottery to sign up for) but hopefully we can be in there somewhere.

Saturday is going to be an exciting day! First, we will go on a Whale Watching Cruise (!) in the morning and in the evening, I and Vira have signed up for a painting class called Hogwart’s Starry Night 🙂

Next week is Spirit week and in Elvira´s school it ends with a party on Friday night. On Monday Oct 31 the Village Halloween Parade will take place right outside our building! Exciiiting 👻👻👻

Posted on 10 October, 2022 in Danads, Family and Friends, Schools!, Sports

Events, hospital visit and renting a batting cage at Chelsea Piers

Friday before last, Peo was the first in line of DanAds´co-workers to come to New York for a week of “office warming” party, meetings, dinners and the big event Self-Serve Summit 2022. I think they were so happy and satisfied with all achievements and for me, Olle and Vira it was fun to participate and say Hello to both DanAds´ people and also to some of their clients.

I do a lot of walking 😉 Still, these views at the Hudson River are the best. Walking here is like a refill of peace to the soul.

Last Monday Olle and I went to the Gouverneur Hospital to, what we thought was only to receive his first vaccine doses. Two hours later we walked out of Dr. Gloria Perez´s examination room after a physical exam, had a form filled out of mental health status, titers done and two shots taken (Tdap and MenACWY). His next appointment is in the beginning of November, and then we will find out if he´s immune to e.g. Chickenpox or need a few more doses. We had another approach with Elvira, so she got her first dose of the Varicella at the MinuteClinic inside a CVS Pharmacy. Hopefully that is enough, or we have to arrange for her to visit the hospital as well.

Poor son. Like his big brother, Olle got really dizzy after the two vaccine doses

Hurricane Ian came to New York last weekend, decreased in strength but with heavy rain and winds.

There are still difficult times for the children, especially Vira, and I am hoping for a new “good enough” week as from tomorrow when schools start again. Today they are closed due to Italian Heritage and we are planning for Karin to come here tonight!

Olle is quite impressive considering he is not feeling too happy either, on this day off he’s made a schedule for today´s homework and also for a run at the Hudson. Also, he and I have a nice thing to look forward to, on Nov 22 we will go see Stromae at MSG! 🙂

At Chelsea Piers you can try a lot of sports and last Saturday we rented a cage to perform as baseball batters!

I follow Elvira to school in the mornings and almost every building has a cellar with entrances from the street. This creates regular holes in the sidewalk and I always feel like I’m going to fall down like Alice in Wonderland 😉

We have been here for almost three months already and I know time passes quickly. I really love waking up to a new day and my biggest hope is for the kids to feel comfy and happier.

We have a zoom meeting tomorrow evening with Vira´s school about a new platform called Jumprope and then on Wednesday a Google meeting for 11th graders at Olle´s school.

And I am so looking forward to Thursday, when the first drawing class will take place. 🙂 On Sunday, Elvira and I will have lunch with a Swedish girl and her mom, hopefully it will be a good aquaintance!

Still waiting for the sunflower to blossom… And finally, these two gentlemen are to die for! 😻😻

Posted on 3 September, 2022 in Settling in

A week in Soho – featuring the Trio

Johan went to Sweden and Elevira and I went to the Fox and Jane Salon to highlight and cut some hair! I checked her out FOUR hours later.

On Tuesday we found a new grocery store, Brooklyn Fare, just a ten minutes walk from home. Love the range, but a loaf of Brioche costs $10,99 😲. This was a hot day, so we went down to the river and had a Coke and Cold Brewed Coffee at Drift In.

We have the luxury of having a cleaning lady, Alma, who kind of comes with the deal. She is here for 7-8 hours every second week and this Wednesday she came early, so the little family took the 1 train from Hudson St to Times Sq and then we walked into Central Park and found the AMC on Upper West Side where we had tickets for “Super pets” 😹. No stiff chairs, only comfy recliners!

Cilla has earlier talked about some webcams at Times Sq, so we tried to find the spot where I could be filmed. And HAHAHA, there I am, in a picture from Cilla´s cell phone in Sweden!!

We still have not heard anything about the schools, I have tried to call and email the FWC and now also emailed the actual schools without any success. It is Labor Day on Monday and schools start on Thursday, so…

Friday was an active day! I took a power walk down the river as usual while Olle and Elvira were still asleep. Down in our lobby I started talking to Chris, our charming and forthcoming daytime doorman (we also have Nelson on evenings and weekends). We came to talk about neighborhood safety and whether the kids should ride the train alone in off hours etc. His wake up comment “not to scare you, only as protection – I think it would be good for them, or at least your daughter, to carry mace or pepper spray” and him later on handing over a yellow post-it note with where to purchase it, made me order a couple of sprays. With the hope of never having to use them!

Then Olle and I took a run by the Hudson River, it´s the best! Water, sun, nice people and good music in my ears. 💪🎶🏃‍♀️☀️🤗

In the afternoon Elvira and I went to the gym and found a little machine. Hahaha, we will probably never be able to do even ONE chin- or pull up…😂

This day I waved to an earthcam on Mulberry St and Cilla took my picture once again 😂. So funny, and so excited about where I will appear next time! And Mulburry itself is a really charming street in Little Italy. It even has its own Christmas Shop – open all year round 🙃

Today it is Saturday and I have just seen Moa run both 400m and 400m hurdles in Finnkampen! 🇸🇪 💪 And then I took a walk up the river, so many people out on weekends!

Tonight Johan will come home after a hectic week in Sweden. We are planning to eat at some nice restaurant before he collapses into bed! I have googled for drawing classes and found the Arc Studio NY, which looks perfect. Would be so much fun and think I´ll sign up tomorrow!

And finally, look at these cute sunflower stems 🌻

Taby goes SoHo

Reality check – relocating Taby, Sweden to Manhattan, the USA

Tag: NYC