40 days and 40 nights

Hey everybody,

How have things been? It has been quite some time since I updated, perhaps I have been keeping myself busy with work, studies, e-mails, family, friends, travel...sheesh, you'd think I'd have time! :D

In summer I was able to go to Sweden and learn some more Swedish and Swedish history. I studied Uppsala, though I also got to go on some field trips to different places, mostly nearby (Stockholm, Falun, Gamla Uppsala, etc.)... I also visited a friend in Gothenburg! It was nice finally meeting her after over five years of a somewhat on-and-off-again friendship! :)

I then came back, though a sad event happened soon after I came back. Sadly, my grandfather passed, due to many things, though mainly cancer. There has been a noticeable emptiness in the house, though we try to think of all the good times with my grandfather and grandmother. May they both live better, wherever they may be.

A few weeks ago I went on a scientific cruise, attending neuroscience, physics, and some other kind of lectures. It was about a cruise ship, which seems unbelievable to people, but it did happen, haha. I did have a bit of free time to explore some cities, though I mainly spent my time at the lectures (as well as eating and exercising). I was also able to meet a friend in Valencia! :D

So now I'm back at work, trying to prepare for future studies, and keeping in contact with people here and around the world! :) Hopefully, it is definitely time to give an update concerning my goals:

I had a taste of my BIG goal when I went to Sweden and then went on the cruise and was away for a while on my own. Although this goal "required" a longer period of time, I think that this was close enough. As the due date is quite close, I'll say that I completed this goes satisfactorily, but not excellently. :P

My first SMALL goal was about achieving about a 90% average in French, German, Swedish, and Japanese...through online or in-person tests and have a sort of ease in the languages. My Swedish has definitely improved and my goals has been pretty much reached. I still need to improve a good deal, but I give a satisfactory for Swedish. French, German, and Japanese I need to work on. I have taken some French and German quizzes and have received good marks, though I need to practice on my writing. Japanese I need to definitely practice more. So, I will continue to January and let you know where I am at then.

My second goal was to be more social with people my age in "real life". Well, when I have been in Europe I did do that. Here in Brockville, I am sort of in the old routine with work, studies, and spending time with family, so I'll say that I have made an improvement. It is satisfactory.

My third goal...kinda non-existent. I need to work on it! The same with my fourth and fifth. I seem to not be able to get in the kitchen and cook a meal, which is a shame. And of course, my fifth goal is to keep up this blog, which has been quite...badly kept up, haha.

Yeah, so I'd say that I've completed the more complex goals, but still need to work on the others. I think most of my goals for 2011 will be an extension of this goal.

And there we have it!

Take care,

"Dr." John

TBC...

Hey everybody! I know this blog needs to be updated and I will...hopefully sometime this week! Lots happened this summer and I'll tell you guys about it soon! :)

Ha det bra!

John

Eternal Love

Dear everybody,

How have you been? At this moment I am thinking about love. Most people will have some form of love in their lives, perhaps parental love, brotherly/sisterly love, and so on. However, the love I am thinking of is one that is not "by default", but the kind that is...the one that has always been there, yet we may search for it all our lives.
I got reminded of it by seeing Prince of Persia and just now, Latter Days. It is the sort of love that makes you feel like it always was meant to be this way, and that the separation of time and space was merely a way to rediscover it again. Although the mind and spirit of the person is really the deciding factor, perhaps the physical side of things is like a cue.
Maybe in this world we go after people that we hope are our, reasonably enough, soulmates. Who we knew were out there, so we decided to try building relationships yet perhaps felt there was something lacking. I have thought that if I were to be in a long-term relationship, I would simply not settle for someone who was "good enough", but that person who I would feel that electricity with simply by a handshake or first sight. It would be as if "infinibytes" would be exchanged...because, well, everything was leading to this reunion.
We tend to dwell on past traumas, past triumphs, etc., maybe because that ultimate connection is just out of our reach. It would be like reading about a certain country you'd like to visit, but once you put that book down or minimize the webpage, well, it would no longer exist...you'd be back in your own world. So you would enjoy what was provided...hopefully a good family (or at least some decent family members), friends, acquaintances, good health, and hopefully much more.
Where is that True, Eternal Love? Where is that individual that, when you are in the presence of, it is like everything is concentrated into that moment of love? Where is that person, who would bring the best out of you, the One who would "allow" you to be more compassionate, loving, hopeful, and all that good stuff?
I can only hope everyone this love. I feel as though I have this feeling, though there is no one physically there. I have dreamt of such a person, though maybe the future has in store that person...in person. (No pun intended.) I think it is good to hope, because there is so much to experience.
It could be that this love is like a reminder of an understanding we are all connected to...as if it cracks open the door to the Limitless. Maybe that is a good thought. Eternal love is like re-establishing a connection with Eternity itself. Sometimes, we simply need the right individual to open the door to...that which cannot be accurately described in words.

May everyone reconnect,

John

Birdday Lurv

Dear everybody,

How is everybody? I hope you had a wonderful day! My day went not too badly, had a nice time with my family and went for a bit to the States. There is a place not too far from here called Ogdensburg and it appears that people enjoy going to that area. However, when we went, we were seriously wondering what there was to actually do there?! So we asked a lady and, well, she admitted there was not much to do at all. Then we asked a guy at a recruitment building and he, and this will be forever in my mind, said: "Not a f***ing thing!" My sister, as lady-like as she is, asked what he said and so he then said: "Not a thing!" God Bless America, haha. We ended up eating at a restaurant that more or less did not make anything themselves, but used "quality ingredients", headed back over the border (holy crap "Brockvegas" seems oddly amazing after going to Ogdensburg), and then rented a DVD called "Extract". No late-night partying for me...I have to get up "early" (well, I like to get a good sleep) to work.
My goals are progressing more and more. I think now a trip to Sweden will be taking place in the summer. Still have to sort out some things, though this will not be a "long long" trip, only for about a month. So, my "BIG" goal is "half-checked". I will travel more not too long after, so then I can fully check it.
I got a great book from my Aussie friend that teaches you cooking techniques and of course how to make various dishes. So I really should get in the kitchen and cook up a storm. My language knowledge is improving...I think the only problem for me is that I tend to focus on other things, like helping others with English or just trying to answer e-mails, exercise, etc., that I simply put off reading. I need to take more time to read! Anyway, it is getting better! Social-wise, I am talking to others more, in a manner of speaking. I mean, I have no problem talking to customers at work, random neighbours, or strangers looking for pen pals, though friends around my age, "in real life"...is a bit difficult for me. I can make acquaintances and so on, but I find the general interests and maturity level incompatible with my own. However, I am talking more to others, though online, who have not requested "pen pals", so it is great that they, at least for the moment, feel like I am interesting enough to keep replying!
Oh God, that book I have been slacking on. And this blog a bit too! I am working a bit more, so I need to be reminded that I should update this, read, and type on the weekend! All right, I hope to hear from you guys and girls! Feel free to read my older posts, as the newer ones from this year may be a little more focused on regular things, rather than the philosophical topics I tend to enjoy writing about. I will do moreso next time!

Tack för läsning!

John

Kalends

Hey everybody,

How are things? Ok, so it's been a busy time. Easter, Vaters Geburtstag, work, usw. So, here I am updating on the progress of my goals. Been reading more German and I'm finally getting some of the noun cases in my brain. So there is some progress there! The BIG goal is still in the works. Maybe I'll cook an Indian dish soon...maybe for my birthday, haha. Oh God, need to start typing more for book. Social-wise, well, it's sort of the same in some ways, but not really in others. What I do is talk to people over Skype often enough, so I feel like I'm more or less meeting friends. I don't know what it is, lol, but I make friends (who are my age) very easily who are not in my area. Maybe it is because most of the people here are local and I am more of an international kind of guy. So I think that as I talk to more people "live", it is progress!

My friend Jan made me this calendar over a year ago and I thought I would share some of the photos with you. There will be some months missing, because "the innocent" will be protected, haha!

Ciao!

John

Monat

Hey everybody! How are things going where you are? It appears that a month has passed like a laxative through one's body. Is it me, or does time seem to pass quicker rather than slower? It is the long hours that seem to pass by at light speed and then it is certain moments that seem to last forever.
My question for this entry is: What would you say time is physically, mentally, and metaphysically?

I will definitely type sometime in the next week and inform you about the progression of my goals. For now, though, I should hit the sack (or move it aside).

Take care,

John

Blague

Bongiu! How are you? All right, time for an update! I think that my goal to travel and study in Europe or the States is making good progress. I should know within the next 4-5 months the where, what, and whens. I need to focus on my languages, so tomorrow I'll definitely take some time to go over them. Social aspect...actually, it has been improving over the last year, I just didn't realize it. Book...I'm thinking of new ideas, but I'll try to start typing away next week. Foreign food...well, I have a book, so now it's time to cook! And the blog is, well, as it is.
I've been doing some early spring-cleaning and wondered what clutter you need to clean out (figuratively and literally speaking)?

Saudade!

John