Comitted to chaos

Ja tjenare. Jag är numera världsbäst på att övermöblera. Mitt vardagsrum har ungefär 1 kvadratmeter tom vägg just nu och golvytan vill jag inte ens börja räkna på. Att kasta morsans bokhylla var liksom inget alternativ - och när jag insåg att den var 2/5 större än min gamla så stod den redan i hallen. Att jag hittade en Hopen till på IKEA idag gjorde ju inte saken så mycket bättre. Sovrummet och vardagsrummet tävlar nu om att få plats med färst levande individer.

Annars försöker jag mest njuta av semestern från politiken och skolan. Jag är inte van vid att ha en massa tid över, men jag försöker utnyttja den till något positivt. Som att förälska sig i Adidas löparsajt, klara punkt 99 (shit, obey the power of Yamaha!) på listan och inhandla 3 nya växter (punkt 69) - varav den mest väldoftande höll på att grillas till döds i dagens solsken. Det blev förresten en... *upptäcker att de latinska namnen inte sparades på mobilen* får återkomma... bugger!

På jobbet sprang jag på två gamla favoriter vars kvalitéer fortfarande imponerar. Det känns som the good ol' days när jag springer på Anna i en skjutmastare och det känns som en skön nutid när jag lunchar med Nina. Två vardagsstjärnor vars UV-strålar träffar min mysgen.

Jag vet att det är semester, men såg ni att Reinfeldt fått tre gånger så mycket tv-tid som Sahlin? Reinfeldt som under ordförande Perssons styre gnällde över att fördelningen i tv var 55-45% mellan statsministern och honom själv. Sahlins "det är naturligt att statsministern får mer utrymme" faller mig mer i smaken. Hennes lugn kan i och för sig komma från att hon har 55 % stöd i en något viktigare undersökning. Aldrig förr har så många svenskar blivit (för)ledda av så få, så fel och så tafatt. När såg du Carl Bildt göra ett uttalande senast, när såg du Reinfeldt ha en åsikt senast och när såg du Andreas Carlgren över huvudtaget senast?

En rolig insikt är att DN tycker att Hans Blix analys av klimathotet är relevant.

"Men han sysslar ju nästan med kärnvapen... och liksom... kärnkraft! Seru
kopplingen? Och kraft handlar ju om koldioxid nu för tiden. Shit. Vi
måste ju få ett statement av Hans Blix om hur vi ska lösa klimathotet!
Varför har ingen annan tänkt på det!" - DN:s redaktion?

So you're a chef? Can you farm?, som Mitch Hedburg hade raljerat om han funnits kvar.

Störigast just nu förutom FRA-lagen och Moderaterna i största allmänhet är alla jävla pretentiösa semiintroverta översittare som stör sig på att bli addade av bekanta på facebook. Tycker ni att det är så jävla fel så stå för det och accepta inte friendshipen. Att gnälla i kolumner, forum eller på fikan med era "riktiga" vänner lär ju knappast hjälpa. Sugbulle - som Jonas säger.

Henke - "...vilket ben som är starkast? Kindbenet!"

Fighting fire with fire

Eller sleep now in the fire - som Hultsfreds bästa händelse i år skulle skanderat. Det jag hetsar upp mig över är såklart FRA-lagen. Vad fan har hänt medan jag har varit borta, ska man inte kunna lämna landet i två veckor utan att det spårar ur?

"Most common definitions of terrorism include only those acts which are intended to create fear (terror), are perpetrated for an ideological goal (as opposed to a lone attack), and deliberately target or disregard the safety of non-combatants." - Wikipedia

FRA-lagen skapar rädsla hos vanliga medborgare och är framtagen i ett ideologiskt syfte. Förslaget är alltså terrorism mot de egna medborgarna för att värja en påstådd terrorism som aldrig fått ett uttryck på svensk mark. Ett högst reellt hot för att värja ett inbillat. Hela förslaget är pinsamt. Jag instämmer inte alls i att hederliga medborgare inte behöver oroa sig då deras integritet krymper i sin omfattning. Frihet är ett av demokratins främsta mål och när demokratin handikappar friheten så har något gått snett. Jag kommer alltid vara emot sådana förslag.

Att vi, som alliansens företrädare under debatten påpåekade, i ett förkastande av lagen skulle sticka ut i världssamfundet ser jag inte som något dåligt utan snarare som något vackert och inspirerande. Sverige är ett av de länder där terrorism inte förekommer. Tänk över det en stund.

Prince - Raspberry Beret och The Hives - Try it again dominerar i nuläget men fem nya t-shirts, en ny live-DVD, en ny live-skiva och fyra glas cementerar min kärlek till Led Zeppelin i sommar. Mitt nya kanalutbud dominerar precis lika mycket i min TV. Al Jazeera, BBC och CNN is back! Så skönt att återigen passivt kunna matas med världsnyheter av bästa snitt förgyllt förpackade.

Sprang in mina skor i det svenska vädret idag. Sköna skor, sköna skor! Inte lika skönt tempo. Kilon har adderats over there, men ändå under kontroll. Återvändandet till miljölagstiftningstentan var värre än återvändandet till spåret.

Henke - Jetlaggad, fettlaggad och miljö(lag)gad.

Coming home

In a couple of hours my 30 hour trip back home will begin. I don't really look forward to the trip, but i can't wait to get home. I miss the people i love and the regularity of sleeping in my own bed.

The trip has been awesome of course, and today i spent my last Benjamins on a bunch of records i've wanted for a while. No reason to save any money, I'll be stuck at work for the rest of the summer anyways.

Watch Atonement. It's good for you. Put's things in place. I loved it. Perhaps I'm only sentimental and lonely... but still. It felt like a legendary flick.

After i get to unpack, if i ever get home - two days of hardcore studying awaits. So i hope you don't mind that i won't call around and talk my ass off as i usually do when i've travelled. We can sort it out over a beer (i miss european beer!) some hot summer night later this summer.

Oh and again. I love you guys.

Henrik - Take me home, cunt.

Guardian angel

Yeah - two last days left in the states. So what's on the schedule? Shoop, shop and compare! Some new outfits in the back. And some booze of course. Got the regular San Fran fog today. Decided to watch the soccer and go to the theater for Kung Fu Panda. Ska-deuche! My economy is in the basement but heeck - whatever. Money isnt really something to worry about. Todays fortune cookie at Panda Express (lots of Pandas today) said i will soon change my line of work. Interesting input, i'll see how i can make that one come true when i get back home. It dont really seem that far.

I don't really have the spirit to write that much today. Grandpa continued his journey yesterday and because of that im kinda mellow. But i've already handled that in a previous episode. Now he can watch over Sofia for me since we're all kinda worried about her. Todays teaching from a turtle: "yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift. That's why it's called present." I'm with my family, half the world away.

Henrik - Live for the living

Past Midway

Yeah... sorry i'm such a poor blogger at the moment. It's hard to energize myself into jotting all my adventures down on this homeless (actually thought about writing hopeless, but homeless was even better) MacBook. So what have i been doing since last time?

I am in San Diego now. Was downtown earlier and was on board of carrier U.S.S Midway. That was awesome. All kinds of naval aircraft was on the deck and i actually hugged the Tomcat. I also experienced a fighter jet simulator that took me for a 3 minute ride (mostly upside down!).

After that i was kinda dead on more demanding experiences so we ended the day with a movie. Prince Caspian. Enough said about that.

We are staying at Greg and Brittanie, both awesome although different characters with the most beautiful daughter named Maddie (Madison). I totally dig that little chick. If i could pack her, i'd totally steal her from them. They are living in this peaceful outskirt of SD called San Marcus. An awesome house with some other people staying at their upper floor. It's a cool way to meet new friends. Cheryl is wicked, and her and the others are starting to understand soccer! Holland did a good job inviting them. 

Yesterday we played bowling and i came kinda dead last, handicapped by Budweisers and Millers. Jonas was sober so his good result was pretty much cheating, but Brit, Rachel and Amy impressed me. We also visited Encinitas earlier, the place where all cool boarders come from. I could totally live there. Awesome beaches and nice bars. And loooong legs and looong hair. Nice scenery indeed.

The day before that we visited Sea World. An awesome way to spend a day. Shamu!!!! Im gonna get on your nerves with my new Shamu-moves when i get back home. That Orca was awesome. It was also cool to realize that they've actually trained our small-landish animal, the otter.

Did i mention Quiznos... it's still alive! And their Traditional is still awesome! I could eat like a hundred. And Cold Stones berry berry berry good is still fantastic. I've never enjoyed ice cream like that before. I did weight myself yesterday and is around 200 pounds. So it's not as bad as it sounds. hehe. 

Ah well, i dont have stamina to write any more. Stay cool peeps. I love you and miss you!

Henke - starting to miss Sweden (Sweden 2-0! YEAH)

Vanishing Vegas

Swedish music is everywhere at this place. Ceasars, The Cardigans, Eagle Eye Cherry, Ace of Base (people still like them???). Its insane and refreshing at the same time.

So... first half of the day i spent in bed of course, sorting the scrambled eggs following yesterdays mayhem. Jonas tried to wake me up at 10 or so but i couldn't really formulate a clear answer (probably not a clear thought) so he left me to my misery. Two hours later i woke up and hit the pool area. Its been around 100 degrees so its kinda hot, especially for a hung over pink pig as myself. But i survived until it was time for some cruisin. We hit our Toyota and visited some awesome casinos that we'd missed out on earlier. The Palms, with their Playboy thingies was fun. Behind the counter in the Playboy shop we found a swedish double D bombshell... typical huh? I found it quite hilarious. And at one point, everyone in the store except for this one Hillbilly was actually swedish.

After the Palms we hit Mirage, as i wanted to inspect the crime scene from my Kim experience 3 years ago. It was exactly the same and i remembered many of the scenes at it was yesterday. Our discussions in the bar, us switching to the second bar and finally my long goodbye chat out at the taxi. It felt good to still know that i have all the memories in my head somewhere. Waiting to be rediscovered. 

Then this amazing thing happens. I'd say it's someone sending me signals again. As me, Lasse and Jonas are running between the casinos, tryin to make it to our dinner on time, she shows up. Kim shows up! On the skywalk between Excalibur and Luxor she actually pass me on my left side. It's one meter between me and her and as i look into her eyes for a second - i know its her. The same intensity and glow as last time, with the same bitter dead glare. A soul made in such way that i cant resist it. Draped in a mainly red colour dress with rainbow details. Probably a few pounds heavier. My world stood still for a second, but it felt like hours. I almost tripped and fell but since we where in a rush i just kept going.  She lives. And she's the same. I don't know if that made me happy or sad. I still don't know how i feel about it. But i love her, with all of my heart. Kim and William. God bless.

After the dinner we rushed to David Copperfield. The show was alright and impressive although i did expect more. Christian and Linda watched Cirque de soleil's Ka instead and  i think i would have appreciated that one even more. But it'll hopefully still be here when i get back. But sure - mind reading the audience, making people and vehicles vanish and stuff fly and dance is quite cool. Too bad it aint for real.

Tomorrow we are leaving for San Diego and I'm actually quite happy about it. Four days in Vegas is hard on me. New adventures in California awaits. Take care of yourselves. I love you!

Henrik - Skywalk Success     

Void in Vegas

Hardcore time! If you don't like me in my hardcore mood. Stop reading. Cos day 3 in Vegas got out of hand.

First i went to the pool. Sunblockless. HARDCORE. Therefore i now have a decent pink tone on my back and legs. Not like Cambodia or Barcelona though. Just regular pink. When i was done fryin the bacon - we went shopping. For like 5 hours or so. 3-400 dollars wasted on shoes, jeans, shirts and stuff. HARDCORE.

After a quick shower we took a limo to Hard Rock Cafe. And that's where it really got out of hand. The guys started ordering shots, and you all know me, I aint backin out of that game. So a couple of beers, Samboccas, Jaegers, Purple Haze's later, I'm deep into the mist. After charming Heather, our waitress, she let me give a short speech to the entire cafe starting off our national anthem, as i found that suitable on our nationaldag. It was much appreciated and we got loads of applause. Later on i tried to charm Heathers clothes off but i was totally unsuccessful, especially since she turned down my offer to buy her transformers sweatband for $20. HARDCORE.

When the other guys left i stuck around for another beer and then started walking towards the strip. It's actually quite far but i mean, its something i tend to do when I'm tanked. Get some milage out of everything under the hood. HARDCORE.

Back at the strip, leaving my fellow walkers (some dudes from Boston) behind, i went to Luxors nightclub LAX. An awesome place with awesome company. Found myself a girl in Slayoms taste (read black) who's tiny ass i rocked for a couple of hours on the dance floor. Somewhere in between the constant dancing i bought some more beers, whiskey (they didn't have JD! But they had Glenfiddish, wtf is that?) and some $8 bottled water. Must have been angels tears or something in it. Somewhere after the dancing me and that girl who's name i cant remember passed out at a table which resulted in me getting thrown out and her chatting her way out of getting thrown out. 4 dudes escorted me to the outside, just as nice (but firm) as last time it happened three years ago. I mean, you gotta stick to your traditions. Especially since it's HARDCORE! I even got stamped "VOID", them making sure i wouldn't get back in. Oh, and yeah... i also broke my camera again. That's a DEUCE and I'm OUT! Hardcore style.

Enrique - say it with me.. HARDCORE!

More Grand than Grand

So, day 2 in Vegas meant getting out of Vegas. Absolutely fantastic, even if it would have been for bingo or Keno, as they are fond of over here. But getting out also meant Grand Canyon. And let me tell you - Grand Canyon... is GRANDE Canyon. You should go, you should all go. I almost bit my ears of smiling so hard when i jumped around like a happy 5 year old with a lollipop. Time and size as concepts where changed forever. I've never felt so small and insignificant in my entire life. It was mind blowing.

To get there we rented a Sebring convertible. It was blue when we began but 10 hours later it looked more desert camouflaged than blue. 7 swedish miles of dirt roads does that to a vehicle. But it was hella fun drivin it.

Back to the canyon... did i mention it was GRANDE? We saw a sightin called Eagle Point. The rock was shaped as a giant eagle, with it's wings spread and searching for something. The hualapa indians used to believe that it gave them protection -  and when i stand in its presence, i cant say they where wrong.

Oh and yeah. We saw Hoover Dam as well. It would have been awesome if the Canyon wouldn't have been so amazingly unbelievable (i know, i dont use strong words... but man. GRANDE!). But in comparison the dam was nothing. Man don't really get close to mother nature when it comes to scenery. Mother natures giant crack (that came out wrong, didnt it?) can't really be compared to anything.

Back in Vegas, rejuvenated by the visit to GRANDE canyon (i just love saying it) we dined at Sahara (Hotnights! just had to say that aswell). A brutal buffet including chicken in all different versions, pasta, ice cream, sallads, pizza, desserts, fresh fruits and so on. Food for all tastes. After that we cruised the strip in our camo Seabring and i ended up at Excalibur playing craps til 5 am. Kinda wasted i fell asleep an hour later or so, with my empty glass of vodka n lime that had joined me through 4 different casinos. 

Henke - GRANDE Canyon  

Victims in Vegas

Aloha! This is gonna be a long one since i haven't given you any updates for a couple of days. I hope that's okay. I'll try to sort it out as good as i can, but some parts are quite blurry.

Vegas - Day 1 (written late 3 nights ago)

I'm sitting here staring out at Mandalay Bay's black and gold facades from my room at Luxors 18th floor. The pack (Hanna, Jonas, Lina, Lasse, Christian and Linda) are out gambling, enjoying what this city has to offer. Myself - i'm longing to get out. This city is eating me up from inside. I hoped that it would feel different this time, that i'd be wrecked enough to enjoy it. But that was not the case. This city still burns. Slowly corrupting my soul, reaching towards my soul with it's poisonous daggers.

The sirens outside feels right at home, and it scares me. No other place i've been to has this overwhelmingly present feeling of death. While the stench crept under my skin earlier today, the rain fell heavy on my body. Someone is trying to remind me, trying to bat me right. I'm thankful of it.

I can't stop thinking about Kim. Wondering if she's out there, if she's dead or if she finally got out. I hope one of my guardian angels will answer my call and protect her instead of me. She changed my life and i'm in eternal debt for that. So grandma, please lend her a hand - one fallen angel is one too many.

We had dinner an hour back. The pack were complaining about the service, although Joe (our waiter) ran between the tables and did everything he could. All the mistakes that were made was a result of our weak communication. I saw it, but i guess gluttony and pride got in the way for some of the others. Along with the rest of the seven sins. I wish i would have been strong enough to buy Joe a drink, ask about his day and his family. Instead i ended up ashamed and embarrassed by our behavior.

I really miss my queen. She would have felt the same, shared my pain. Perhaps even felt it worse than me. People craving this city has lost something. Something important. There is no bread and no theaters that can numb the dark, cold and lonely feeling that make me shiver. Las Vegas.

Right now i just wanna hit the streets. Wait until the tolls have been claimed and the dust has settled. Many tears will fall and no one is there to listen. Unfortunately i don't have any strength left. I'm exhausted and drained of my ability to heal. The thought of an eternal rest for our sins is appealing. But i won't go down in flames. Like last time, i'll ride out the storm and come out improved in the other end.

Henrik - Sitting in one giant tomb

Coaster Junkie

Rock my furry ass to Vegas! Man, Six Flags Magic Mountain was awesome! All you guys that know me realize what a place like this means to me. It's heaven on earth. And that was pretty much what i expected to begin with, so I was quite afraid to end up disappointed. But let me tell you, if you ever go to LA without visiting this place - i'll string you up and give ya 50 lashes with my new Hot Topic belt. Point 38 on my list was rocked to hell! I rode... um, lets see... 13 new coasters today! Including two on water, which isn't really coasters in my view, but still neccessary to give the scrabled eggs in my head a chance for rejuvenation. Cos that sure was a demand.

You should watch this shit. X2! i mean... rotating seats, a 90 degree drop and backward corkscrews... did Jesus come back to the world as a coaster? Not to mention my other favourite, Tatsu. A orange ride where you hang underneath the track, lying down, head first! Loops, corksrews, straight drops... it scared the shit out of me, and i fell in love.

Ninja, Log Jammer, Roaring Rapids, Superman, Colossus, Revolution, Goliath, Batman, Scream, The Riddler's Revenge and Viper wasn't bad either... but the top two was mindblowing. Engineering at its best! Don't ever bring this up during a party with me cause i won't stop talking about these babies. They are in my heart forever.

We ate at Panda Express aswell, just as awesome as i remembered it. Kung Pow Chicken is food for a Coaster King on vacation.

After the mayhem we went to the mall and i spent a couple of Benjis on clothes. My budget is screwed for the rest of the trip, but luckily i've got some savings at home that i'll use. I mean, we are going to Vegas tomorrow!

I must say i miss Jesper over here. Every night we go out my blood begins to boil and i want to party. Jonas, Hanna and the other guys are great, but not really my type of "out of the line/get to know new people"-people. If you catch my drift. So Jesper sure would have been a great addition. The babes (some say white trash - i say pure rock'n'roll) over here seems to love swedish guys so i think he would have had some fun aswell. Or perhaps they only like me... *shrugs*

Oh well, gotta hit the sack about now. Vegas comin up around the bend.

Henrik - Coaster craver

American Studios

Yeaah!

Visited Universal Studios today. "THe show must go on - Open as usual" was their message after the fire that devastated a large area of their filming environments. They actually made the ruins a part of the tour. It's so Hollywood it's lame. But the Studios was cool. T2 in 3D, Shrek in 4D, Jurassic Park water tour, The Simpsons Simulator, Waterworld show (with famous actors) and The Mummy Roller Coaster. Obey the power of movie makers.

Cheesecake Factory was another awesome experience. I visited it last time i was in the states as well but this time i tried a new dish - turkey with spenat. Freakin awesome. Couldn't even fit some dessert into that belly of mine when i was done. And yeah - if you're ever in Sherman Oaks, visit their Cheesecake Factory and give Ashley C a hug from me. That babe was awesome, in every way imaginable!

Tomorrow i'm gonna hit the Magic Mountains and their 14 (!) coasters with some new friends i made today. Jonas and Hanna are going to an interview and to find an apartment and i'm not really into Santa Monica beach so i took the other offer and is looking forward for some thrill rides.

And yeah, i got the lip gloss from Victoria's Secret and my belt from Hot Topic. Shoop, shop and compare.

Henke - Still in love with this state   

Day(two)na

K, second day on my well earned vacation. I hoped that it would mean an instant comeback from the bad vibes during the first day, but i can't say that came true. Our goodnight Inn is more like a skabbigt day inn. It's the kinda hotel you probably rent per hour. But i'm not complaining, in this country you get what you pay for. We decided to visit Universal Studios, and 3 hours later we heard they suffered a major fire. We are still going there today but i heard the Jurassic Park went... well... extinct again?

I also drove for the first time over here. Constantly 15 MPH over the speed limit - but hey, i was followed by a mad bus driver! Automatic gear aint a favourite when you've gotten used to the real thing. Especially when you're constantly bothered by the lady voice in our GPS. A GPS we bought from a high 15-year-old on a parking lot outside 7/Eleven. hehe. Legal? Guess not.

Yesterday evening we visited a schoolmate of Jonas who had his graduation party. Awesome people for sure. I know it's the american style but i instantly felt at home... perhaps because of the beer, pot and margaritas mixed into the hot night. Christy, Darren, Rob, Freddie and Leslie will be welcome anytime in sweden. Some real stars in that mix. A pot-smoking mom with a "vote Obama" sign outside her house. California is liberal for sure.

Henrik - It's all about the cake!

Flygplansfauna

Okay - i'm writing in english since Hannas MacBook aint got our beloved dotty letters.

I'm finally here, downtown San Fran - kingdom of full floor 80-ish carpets. Let me start by saying the trip was a complete disaster. First off i got an offer of earning $1000 in Copenhagen by doing nothing. An overbooked flight meant a chance to get a top notch room, an earlier flight tomorrow and some cash. Unfortunately i had to pass because of our tight schedule. It hurt my small-landish heart.

Then it was the basic yucky things... worst spot ever, in the middle of the mid seats, chatty people around me and brutal turbulence while writing the green card and eating. Resulting in a suspiscious home land security officer and dotty cotton pants. Staying 16 hours in two different metal tubes don't make you smell that good either. Second tube had some problems with the landing gear so we got delayed by 30 minutes before we could land and the old mexican woman next to me started ramblin religious stuff, shaking frenetically - in total belief of imminent death. I dont speak spanish so i just held her hand, and she squeezed the last drops of water out of me.

I did see the end of mine and Bellas movie 28 dresses (was it 28?), did see the bucket list as recommended by Nina and also Shine a light as totally neccessary for myself. Last one was awesome. Keith is Keith again in that one, as portraied in the latest issue of Esquire. A must on DVD later this year. Rock'n'roll won't be the same when these guys quit/die. "It's good to see you. It's good to see anybody!"

Don't buy a chipotle chicken wrap... EVER. Tastes like vomit and more important. Smells like vomit. Double blah!

Tomorrow we're going to Los Angeles. Birthday party and a seven hour trip - will be a piece of cake after the 30 hours of hell i've just been through.

Miss you guys from home! Love ya!

John Henrik Andersson - Legal immigrant