The Devils Itinerary

After a week of a bitter sweet Christmas in Gothenburg, its was time for my to head home to DC. I do have a lot of pictures from my busy week but I will not let them interfere with these breaking news.

Gothenburg

6:00

My mother knocks on my door (I am sleeping in the guest room) and tells me its time to get up. I head in the shower. (after one or two snoozes)

6:30

Breakfast is served! We are having eggs with caviar, grapefruit, sandwishes with Gouda cheese, tea and orange juice.

7:00

We get in the car and head to the airport.

7:30

Mom drops me off, I head to check in. The lady at the check-in forces me to check in my carry-on bag, although I have been flying without checking it in forever and it is only 1 KG over the limit.

7:45

I pass through security

8:30

After waiting 45 minutes, mainly occupying myself with a crosswordpuzzle, they announce that for some reason the intended plan has not arrived, and will hence by departing an hour late from GBG. I realize I am not going to catch my connection in Amsterdam so I exit the terminal and find a ticket office. So does everyone else flying on the same delayed plan. A que forms, and people forget how to stand in line. After being overlooked twice I finally get to talk to a lady who books me on another flight out of Amsterdam, the last one leaving Amsterdam to go to the US this year. Additionally I still get to keep my original check-in, in case I make the connection after all.

9:00

I pass through security a second time.

9:25

Scheduled take-off. No word or news of new departure time.

11:25

After two hours of “more information will be announced in 10 minutes”, I see the plane arrive and they announce that they have been having a technical difficulty. I see my bag getting packed on the plan along with everyone else’s. I feel ok.

11:40

They start boarding. When standing in line I see them unload my bag again. Helpless I can do nothing but stand there and watch. I call y mom, she reminds me it is just material stuff. And I do have insurance.

11:55

I am on the plane. It looks like I am leaving GBG today after all. The captain announces that the technical difficulty is more precisely a faulty air-conditioning. He proclaims that it is not a safety hazard, only a comfort issue.

12:45

Scheduled to leave Amsterdam for Washington but I am still in the air headed from GBG.

12:55

For the last hour the average temperature on the plane has been 30 degrees Celsius. This is indeed a comfort issue.

Amsterdam

13:45

Arriving in Amsterdam. Running to find a transfer office to get the boarding cards for the changed flight. I am now forced to go on a 10 hour flight to Detroit, before flying to DC.

14:00

Passing through security. The airport has the most comprehensive security procedure I have ever witnessed. After a 10 minute interview (at a desk) a have to sign a paper declaring that I have bought, payed for, packed and checked-in everything myself.

14:45

Boarding the plane to Detroit. Noone can tell me whether me bag can be located or will join me in Detroit. I am so hungry right now, and they don’t have TVs on the plane.

15:10

Scheduled arrival in DC. I should have been home in DC around now.

Detroit

6:00 pm local time (00:00 in Sweden)

17 hours after leaving Gothenburg, 10 hours after getting on the plane,15 crosswordpuzzles and lots of pretzels later, I land in Detroit with a newly acquired cold. Someone one the plane must be to blame.

As we are parking at the gate it gets physical. The passenger next to me hits another after a quarrel (I get where its coming from, I could probably punch someone too right now). They both hit the floor and roll around for a minute. Airport security and police is called to the plane and they refuse to open the doors. I refuse to miss my connection to DC, so when asked if I am a witness to the crime, I tell them I did not see anything, and I run of the plane.

6:30

I pass through boarder control and discover I have forgotten to report leaving the U.S. before Christmas. They forgive me.

7:00

I see my bag! It got here safe. Don’t care how and why anymore.

7:10

I pass through customs and boarder control. I refuse to check in my bag again and they let me keep it.

7:15

I put in my U.S. simcard and realize my phone is not working. I want to cry but I am too tired to produce tears.

7:30

I buy a Pepsi and sit down to solve another crossword puzzle. I have lost track of time and space. In order to avoid anxiety I have to let go of my love of making the best of the time that is given. I now see no value in time anymore. I look at my ticket and realize I am landing at the domestic city airport Ronald Reagan in DC, which is very close to where I live. I look again and realize it’s a mistake, its Dulles airport after all. But I don’t care, I see no value in time anymore.

9:00

Boarding the plane from Detroit to DC

9:30

Leaving Detroit

Washington DC

11:45

Arriving in DC.

12:30

Bus stops at Rosslyn station and I take my bag and walk home

Soon I’ll tell you about Christmas. Pics coming right up.

And if any of you dare to come visit me after this uplifting story, as always, you are more than welcome.

Hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and You have a happy new 2012.

2012 Years Resolutions:

1. Spend less, save more

2. Talk to friends and family back home

3. Get a great job!

Bright, cold and productive week

I told you earlier about the Chapel Ringer tuesday that didn´t really go as planned. This little construction is the result of numerous captain coke each later that night. The blurry guy is Daniel, a friend of Johans (ölänning).

Wednesday me and Therese went running after work. The plan was to go to a basketball game at George Washington University after but we both were so tired we just went home. I hate cancelling things. One point deduction for Emmys character. Thursday however, we had booked a table at Thai x-ing, a bohemian restaurant in Shaw (a dodgy area along the metro line where you are a little scared).As you can see the place look like a crossing between a thai chapel and a preppy townhouse.
The entrance is actually under the stairs and it works like this. you pay 40 dollars for 7 courses. What you get is up to the chef. Also beware; tables, chairs, silverware and china are all unique and you can be seated anywhere from in the office to the kitchen. Feels like stepping into the house of a mad thai-accountant.
First course; ginger, garlic and cabbage salad
2. cucumber soup
3. salmon muffin
4. fish. and that sauce is pure chili. I learned that the hard way.
5. pumpkin curry
6. some kind of meat. Johan thought it was to spicy.
more meat.
Notice the end of our table, the closeness to the kitchen and the chefs clothing.



7. dessert; mango and sticky rice. Recipe: brown rice boiled in coconut butter
Friday we went straight from Glögg-afterwork to Jessicas place.
Tacos
Swedish-American Christmas Baking ingredients
Cranberry, nut, choklad balls. With mistle toe garnishing. - Belly Mud
Chocolate dipped marshmallows. With mistle tow garnishing - Stickies

Peppermint chocolate cookies with white chocolate kisses. -

Knäckkonst. "Break-art"
The patience tester.
45 min later. Garnished with orange peals. KNÄCK
Friday night me and Therese went out to Madhatter to meet up with my friend Chris who works as a private equity consultant for a construction company that builds hotels across US. We left an hour after we came and went on to 18th street lounge. We began talking to the bartenders and now it looks like I am joining a team with ex-players from the Swedish women Allsvenskan. I better shape up and bring my soccer shoes back from Sweden. On the way home we met a Swedish girl and sister to someone at the Embassy and a uy that works right next to us at the American Research Institute.
Saturday we took the bus to Mount Vernon, George Washingtons estate in Virginia, outside of DC. It was a beautiful but cold day but I am really glad I went. Recommendation!
Chocolate makers.
The Pardoned Turkey.
Bull
Bull drinking water
Cheap
Nursery




Nils enjoying the sun sown by the waterfront. The sign dont step on the beach did not intimidate him.
The slave cottage
Horse Mill, invitended by Washington himself.





Is Therese and Joakim watching the sheep, or are the sheep watching Joakim and Therese?
Original
Finn 5 fel?


The mansion. We got a tour around the house where Martha and George lived most of their days.
Richard in a weird position.
Can Nils look into the future?

Saturday night was spent making pizza and watching the GOP Presidential debate at Columbia Plaza. After coffee end Eggnog ice cream I took the Metro home and went to bed early. This sunday I slept in, cleaned my room, went for a run and then met up the charity organization sunday suppers to volunteer. I stood in the freezing cold for 2 hours and handed chowder to homeless people. I did meet some friends though. Among them a guy named Kevin who owns a Limousing and Helicopter chartering company, and I guy from London named Suki who works for Booz Allen Hamilton here in DC. I caved in to McDonalds on the way home.

E