Random Thoughts

Interesting Visual of the US Budget.  Dealing with big numbers. Here is the interesting video.

Within the last week in my work travels I have seen two households flying the American flag.  I don't think  that is the proper thing to do.  I don't know what the rules are concerning flying a foreign flag in another country.  I think that one must fly the Swedish flag on top with the American flag below it.  That would be OK.  It shows respect for the country one is in.  Also your less likely to offend your neighbors.  It is just common sense.  But, maybe not so common.

I am soon approaching another birthday.  And I inevitably get the question "What would you like for your Birthday?"  At this point in my life "things" don't matter much. What is important to me is to know that I am loved and appreciated.  To know that my relationships with family and friends have touched and somehow enriched their lives.  I guess I am looking for validation.  I hope I have done the same with my family and friends.  I probably need to do more.  I'm sure I do.

Since I moved to Sweden I have had culture shock.  Why are Swedes this way and that?  It is not how I think it should be.  Why are Americans this way and that?  It is not how I think it should be.  And so forth.  And in the end we are different cultures with historical roots that made us that way.  It is the difference that I enjoy and in the end it is this difference that makes me love being in Sweden and that makes me appreciate having lived in America.

My working relationship with my neighbors has improved tremendously.  They have been very tolerant with my culture adjustment.  And I have learned to embrace the difference.  I appreciate them very much.  They have been true friends through thick and thin.  I also feel that I have learned enough of the refrigeration craft to feel that I am giving them some breathing room in their business.

It is amazing to me how this "war on drugs" has caused so much pain for so many people throughout the world.  The cost and suffering in trying to control this human behavior has been huge.  There would be less suffering in the world if we just stopped these efforts.

We often get emails and send emails to friends of jokes and or interesting news items and we don't write a little note asking how they are doing.  Well today I inadvertently hurt a good long time friend with an email.  I will never do that again.  I did not know his situation because I did not ask how he was doing with enough frequency.  We need to keep in touch in more personal ways.  I am sorry I hurt my friend.

We need to keep in touch with our friends and family more often.  We need to tell them how much they mean to us.  It can never be to often.

Our granddaughter Linnea is spending a week in Florida taking a culinary class.  She loves cooking and is quite possibly looking to become a chef.  She makes me happy.