Started the day revisiting an old project of mine. It’s been trying to work itself back into my mind for quite some time now. Normally I wouldn’t allow it to, not in the morning – before coffee no less! – and not when I’m in the middle of other things, but the timing was suddenly right. It’s a bit more arty than what I usually do, but I’m trying new things and this fits where my mind is presently. I decided to devote some time today, just me, some coffee, and a notebook. Might even go full on wannabe artist, and hang out at the local café.

Yesterday was slow, for obvious reasons, but I got some work done. I rewatched the first two Mad Max movies, something I’ve been meaning to do for some time now. There was something about the storytelling that I wanted to experience again, especially from the first one. Now I’m looking forward to Tina Turner (yes, I really am) in the third, and to see if Fury Road has grown on me, or if I still find it overhyped.

This was not written 7:30AM this morning, because that was when I went to bed. Things like “I’m to old for this shit” springs to mind, but as it turns out, I’m not. Slept past noon though, and I am nursing something resembling a headache at the moment, but still. It was a good evening that turned to night and morning, with great conversations, chess games, wine and whisky. Sometimes you need to make time for these things.

I like to write, as you probably know by now. It’s both part of my work, and a hobby. I also like to sing, play the guitar, write lyrics, play games (both digital and analog), and read. I do like to watch movies and TV shows too, and I like photography, art, food and drinks. I like multiple types of sports (badminton, almost any kind of billiards, golf, tennis…), and to lift heavy things at the gym, which still chocks me.

The list goes on and on, as I’m sure it does for you. These are all hobbies, or the like. I’m thinking a lot about what there’s time to do, what’s important enough to make time at the expense of something else, and things like that. Especially today, since I have a whole weekend on my own. What will I devote that precious time to, when I’m done with work each day? Priorities are hard sometimes.

Conference went well. Drinks and then dinner at Tako. All good. All exhausted. Today’s not exactly cancelled, but there’s not much energy going around. Some days are like that. Back at it tomorrow, then.

Today is all about an internal conference with the 24HR Malmö office. This is the first time most of the Odd Alice crew meets the Malmö office, so there’ll be some awkwardness before we hit the bar. Anyway, that’s my day, absolutely irrelevant for anyone not here. Sometimes life is like that. Most of the time, come to think of it…

Northbound again, for a longer stay in Stockholm this time. My schedule is what it is at the moment. I’ll stay over the weekend even, which is a first in a long time. Either that means I’ll sleep and work, or it means I’ll work and work some more. Some of that work is going to be writing, translating Ashen Sky to Swedish, which you know that I’ve been doing. It’s coming along nicely but had to take the backseat for a few days. Getting back into it tomorrow morning, if not tonight. Looking forward to it.

I had a lovely walk in the snowy landscape last Sunday. Photos of that are trickling out on my Instagram, which remains in private mode but you’re perfectly welcome to follow anyway. Just can’t be bothered with the bots and porn spam anymore, that’s all. Send a follow request and I’ll no doubt approve you. It’s not that kind of an exclusive club, after all.

Spent some time outdoors yesterday. Paazu (my shiba) likes the snow, and since we’re not seeing much of the latter in the south of Sweden, it was a good opportunity to play with him a bit. Snapped quite a bit of photos while out, they’ll trickle out on my Instagram this week, I’m sure. Some are already there, including this smug bastard enjoying a cigar by the sea in the evening.

That’s not what you want to see however, so here’s Paazu jumping for a treat, and something to print and put on the fridge. Maybe that’ll help start your Monday.

Well what do you know, there’s actually snow on the ground now. It won’t keep, most of it will be gone in mere hours. I appreciate the light it brings to the otherwise gloomy winter ambience that the south of Sweden is known for, but I could do without the wetness.

Yesterday was all about resting, although I did manage to hang some paintings in the house and whatnot, as well as swing by my parents for some smoked shrimp. Today, yet another Sunday, thus mean that I’ll have to do a ton of small things to catch up and prepare for next week. I’m looking forward to it.

This tennis racket is hanging on the wall in my home office. It’s a gentle reminder of absolutely nothing at all.

The snow is falling in the south of Sweden, where I am. Well, not falling really, more like calmly positioning itself from the low sky to the ground, like leaves from a tree from a stylistic movie. The ground is speckled with white, it’s not below freezing and it will all be gone in an hour or so. Birds are walking the rooftops, oblivious to it all.

Two things struck me this morning. One, I miss my Chemex (it’s in Stockholm). Even though I think Nespresso capsule coffee is convenient and pretty good, the black gold I brew in my Chemex is of a different stock. And two, I really like having a dedicated writing desk. That’s where I’m sitting now, not in my office (which also has a desk, obviously) but looking out over the sea, getting ready to start today’s translation sitting.

Things could be worse.

Woke up to photos of horrible driving weather, as in snow blindness and whatnot, from the south of Sweden. I hope that clears up by this evening, otherwise the drive from the airport will be horrible. So yeah, it’s Friday and I’m southbound again.

Speaking of weather, I’m a fan of the Carrot Weather app, where an (obviously fake, promise) AI gives you encouragement and wisdom at a glance. I use regularly, although I don’t think that Carrot has my best interest at heart. It’s just after 7AM, Carrot!

I haven’t written from a coffee shop in a long time. That’s the scene this morning though, because I’m early for a meeting. It’s a nice little place in central Stockholm, intentionally rough, which you either like or think is too much. I come here for the convenience, and the coffee, which is good.

This will be the first weekday in a while where I won’t be working on the Swedish Ashen Sky translation. While that’s bad, I’m very pleased with the fact that I now miss it. That writing habit might actually be coming back.

Stockholm, and the rest of Sweden, got hit by snow. Not a lot, but still enough to surprise some, and disrupt a lot of transportation services. For being a country this far north, we sure are poorly prepared for the winter weather.

I’ve just brewed the strongest cup of coffee yet, with the Chemex. It’s so bitter and yet still round, a real kick in the tastebuds. I need it today, to survive everything from data structure design to budgetary nonsense. All that will have to wait a little while longer though. Coffee and the Swedish Ashen Sky translation awaits.

Beware of black ice!

What a day yesterday… So much, just so much going on. Apparently, yesterday was the Blue Monday, where people are at their lowest in my part of the world. I can’t relate to that, but it is a pretty dreary month, this.

I think I’ll just leave it at that, and get going tackling today instead.

I snapped the photo below on my flight to Stockholm. This one on Instagram is even better, but without the blue hues.

I packed my big and bulky 15” MacBook Pro (yes, the one with the Touch Bar, which I like – it’s in my setup) for the first time ever. Usually when I travel I just bring the iPad Pro, or possibly my 12” MacBook. I’ve been using the latter at the office in Stockholm, so no need to toil with a computer, but this week is looking a bit different. There’s some print design work to be done, and since everyone’s a bit swamped I guess I’ll have to see how InDesign works these days. I doubt a 12” MacBook could power that to a satisfying degree, hence the workhorse.

This is the only remaining reason for me to use a Mac rather than the iPad. Well this, and sending newsletters, because web UI’s still suck on touchscreens. There are ways around it, it’s just more work than I’d like to spend at the moment. Writing and development, and all the daily stuff, can be done just as well – for me, I might add – on the iPad Pro. And yes, just as fast. It’s the outliers, the print files, the browser testing, all that jazz that I still need a Mac for.

I don’t miss traveling with a laptop, not one bit. My bag is so much heavier and bulkier, going through security is more of a hassle since I have more devices.

And yes, I’m whining, possibly because I’m flying to Stockholm on a Monday instead of a Tuesday. It’s going to be a long week. Better get started then.

Sundays often turn into catch-all days for me. There are things that needs to be taken care of, be it admin tasks for side-projects or chores around the house. I find that’s a pretty nice way to prepare for the work-week as well, to get some mental clutter out of the way if nothing else. This morning is all about that, and coffee.

I’ve been thinking a lot on the Hawaii missile scare. It’s so easy to create mass-panic these days. Someone will again, and people will get hurt or worse. What a horrible world we’ve made for each other. Beautiful too, which we tend to forget when it is at its darkest. Try to remember the good things, is all I’m saying. And hold on tight, we’re in for a ride.