KSena's Journal

So... Last stop on my busy summer story... If that is even a word.

And before this event, I had started work. And dude. STRESSFUL!!! I'll get to that shortly, but important to know is that I was stressed out as hell. Don't think I've ever been this stressed out.

Anyway, so with that in mind... of course the giftcard I'd ordered from IKEA (which the brides wanted), was late. Very stressful. And I just about managed to get time off to go to the wedding. More stressful.

In other words, it didn't look like I'd end up enjoying my trip. Luckily, that was wrong. I had a LOVELY time!

The two brides are my long time friends silvestris and chigrima. None of them very active on LJ anymore, but it's their fault I have one! It all started here and on silvestris's website! She's an amazing artist, and that's why they hung out online talking. :-)

And, not to forget, chigrima and I wrote our masters thesis together.

I swear, I would never have managed to get a masters degree if it wasn't for her. And I told her as much in the speech I held. chigrima is the most academic person I know. For serious. (Her brother and sister agreed with me on that, as it turned out, since they pointed it out in their speeches to! X-D)

But I'm getting ahead of myself. :-)

My wonderful wonderful best friend spicehobbit was also invited. And since she lives quite close by, we borrowed mom's BIG car (a Volvo V70, they're huge) and took the ferry over to the island Gotland where silvestris and chigrima lives. Unfortunately that meant we had to leave Borås at 5am in the morning, so I got up at 4am... Less fun, but we managed.

There's one bigger city on Gotland only, Visby. Where the big Medieval Week is heald in beginning of August every year. Me and spicehobbit has spent so much time there, so as soon as we got of the ferry and I saw the great stone wall of Visby, I squeed and all the stress just flowed off of me.

As soon as we found our hotel, which was really close to where we got off the ferry, me and spicehobbit wanted to explore Visby and remember all the good times we've had. Poor peting73 didn't have much choice but to come with. Alexandra was going in her pram, and was quite content with watching all the strange things going on around her. She was mostly pleased with the sheep shaped jersey barriers. Gotland is famous for all their sheep, so I would guess that's why they’re sheep shaped. *grin*

So Friday was spent shopping and exploring Visby and having a really good time. Alexandra was quite well behaved, even when at the restaurant we found to have dinner at. Not the best one, but hey... they had meatballs and so the kid was happy. *lol*

Next day when we'd woken up in our rooms after sleeping for 10 hours (!). Our room was HUGE by the way! One bedroom, one kitchen/seating room with a kitchenette and one small bedroom for Alexandra... So perfect for us! Such a great hotel! Almedalen Hotel, if you're interested. ;-)

So next day, Saturday... and the day for the wedding... we first made our way to the church ruin where they were getting married to see how long it would take for us to walk there. And to find the way. Then we explored some more. Gotland might be a flat island, but Visby REALLY is not. *lol* So many steep streets and narrow alleys with medieval cobblestones... You need good shoes in that city!

We found a nicer restaurant and Alexandra promptly started "flirting" with one of the waiters, who totally played back with her! Was hilarious! And so cute! He was a great guy, and got a good tip! Food was GREAT to!

Alexandra also found a softie sheep and promptly wanted it, so a sheep she got. *grins*

Then we went back to the hotel and got all snazzy looking and stuff. :-) peting73 went the whole nine yards and even styled his beard and mustache. SO HANDSOME!!!! Me and spicehobbit had bought our dresses from Modcloth, and they looked quite nice, if I do say so myself. :-)

Then we made our way to the church ruin again where friends and family of the brides had gathered.

We got let in, and got a little wedding program from the brother of one of the brides, one each, and then we found a seat in the church. About in the middle or so, so we could still see quite well. I lifted Alexandra up so she could stand on the bench to see better.

And when the brides walked down the isles, Alexandra got all excited. “Princess, mommy! Princesses!” X-D Yeah, so… They are now and forever Alexandra’s princesses. *lol*

The wedding ceremony was great! Short and beautiful. The brides had written their own wedding vows and walked out to my all time favorite song: Bette Midler’s The Rose. There was a lot of happy tears among the guests, let me tell you!

After the wedding we got invited to a walk through beautiful Visby and listen to the long and colourful history of the city. Well, parts of said history anyway. Until we ended up at Fenomenalen, a science center for kids of all ages. Very old. Or very young. ;-)

Before we got seated, the families had arranged for a little competition among all the stuff in the science center, before we got a chance for food. *lol* Was a lot of fun! Kids and adults working together!

The dinner and everything was served on the second floor of the science center, which was…. somewhat crowded to put it mildly. Which made sure it ended up very VERY hot up there! Us and another family with slightly older kids (like my brothers, I’d say) ended up closest to the stairs down to the toys. Apparently we were all LARPers, and all though that family was friendly and all, I just got the… to-much-feeling from the mother. She was so chipper, giggly and overly supportive of her daughters, I had to take a step back and wonder what she was on…

Apart from that, we sure had a great time! Alexandra kept it up until 9pm, which was very impressive! She’s just 3 years old, and the trip and the wedding was a huge adventure for her. She was doing great!

When the brides left it was only 11pm, so me and spicehobbit decided to go for a drink. astroflammante, skarvsladden (and husband) and tekiila who were there for the wedding to, decided to join in. So we went to a really nice little pub and nightclub in Visby, The Munkcellar. We had a GREAT time talking about chigrima and discussing the wedding. And, of course, the good old days at the Student Union pub where I meet these awesome ladies.

After that me and spicehobbit our back to the hotel and our rooms. Collapsed and slept so DEEPLY! And, at least me, very very happy for the beautiful brides. :-)

Sunday we had more of the great breakfast, after Alexandra woke up. She slept until about 9am, which was GREAT! Then breakfast and… you guessed it… more shopping and exploration of Visby. *lol*

Most of the shopping we did was at Kränku. A tea/coffee/and random stuff associated with the same -store. *lol* Family owned! They mix their own flavours of tea there, which is AWESOME! SO MUCH YUMMY STUFF!

We bought peting73 some kick ass whiskey coffee! (So expensive!) And a gift for MIL since she’s taken care of our cats while we’ve been gone. A nice metal box to keep coffee in. And Kränku’s special roasted coffee. :-D

Once it was time, we gathered us all in the car (with all the packing!). Drove spicehobbit to one ferry terminal, since she took the ferry towards Stockholm to meet up her parents there. We? We took the ferry back to Oskarshamn and then drove for four hours back here to Borås. We arrived somewhere between 11pm and midnight. Alexandra slept the whole way. Was perfect.

The whole trip went so much better than I thought. And I had SUCH a great time!

And, of course, I am RIDICULOUSLY HAPPY for silvestris and chigrima!!!!

This entry is crossposted between LJ and DW. Comment where you are comfortable.

Sweden Rock Festival is one HELL of a festival! And, as I learned, is perfect for a festival-beginner like myself. :-) Since the average age at the festival was... 37. So there were a lot of older people there. And families. I saw a lot of prams and young kids. They have this rule that you can't bring kids under the age of 3. And if you have kids with you between the age 3-13, they HAVE to have hearing protection (big bulky kind), or they won't be let into the festival grounds. Good rules! :-)

All this meant it was a very friendly and happy atmosphere at the festival. No fights, no angry drunks. Just happy silly drunks everywhere. I saw the guards lead ONE visitor out while I was there, since he was so drunk he was almost unconscious. ONE! And there were around 33'000 to 34'000 people there. That should tell you something. :-)

But I'm getting ahead of myself. Let's start from the beginning, sorta. :-)

I figured getting up early and taking a shower BEFORE going was a great idea. ;-) So I did that, and then woke up Alexandra so she got to daycare at perfect time before breakfast there. She's not a breakfast eating kid, but she eats better at daycare in the morning, so it's all good. :-) She was a happy kid, and I talked to her both during Thursday evening and in the morning that mom is going on a short trip and it's just her and daddy and mom is coming home tomorrow... She seemed to get it, and said OK and daddy picking up and all that, so she was a happy kid Friday morning. :-)

Then home, some makeup on and then the BIG backpack I had packed the night before. Reason it was heavy as fuck and big as well, was I had a tent in it. And an old air mattress. Yeah, that weighed a ton. Even if it is a lightweight tent.

I had a scare at the beginning of my trip though. I went by cab to the train station, because I'm lazy like that with a heavy backpack and such. Plenty of time and everything. First track was to go to Gothenburg with a bus and then catch a train to Lund from there, and then onwards to Sölvesborg where the festival is. BUT! Of course the bus was late. To the point I was sitting there on the bus and thinking, I will miss my connecting train... And I almost did. The bus-driver was a saint though and stopped at a red light next to the trains at the train station, so I could jump out and RUSH (with heavy bag, mind) to the train... I think I had LESS than a minute to spare... o.O

But I made it and ended up sitting on that train with some LOVELY people that I talked to for that entire trip. Made sure the time flew. :-) The rest of the trip was uneventful. No problems at all. Had lunch (with a glas of wine) in Lund while waiting and then last track to Sölvesborg.

Once in Sölvesborg things got interesting. Saw a few cabs, and lazy me I wanted a cab to the campsite, Rosenlunds Camping. It's the calmer of the campsites around the festival area. Hence I booked my night there. :-) I would not want my tent to be run over or something... *lol*

Anyway, it's a rock-festival. I didn't expect it to be quite or anything. So I got there, found a spot that looked moderately calm. Next to the road, but I didn't mind that. Some music-nerds as neighbors on one end. And some older dudes on the other. Once I had put up the tent (which was very easy) my last neighbors showed. A bunch of rowdy 20 somethings... Crap, I thought to myself. So much for my beauty sleep after the concerts...

And the first thing they ask is if I wanted to see a real cock. *raises eyebrow* I calmly told him I'd seen plenty of those and was sure his wasn't that interesting nor very big. He pulled it out and sure enough, it was tiny, which I told him. I calmly asked him how old he was, and he drunkenly proudly boasted he was born 1982. Little boy with your little dick... You're younger than my little brother, I informed him. I swear he made a squeaking sound when he promptly put his dick away and to the laughter of his mates, went to get another beer. X-D

Man, I love my mother who taught me how to handle things like that. And I find it hilariously FUN to do that to! X-D

I was still worried they'd be noisy during the night though.

Once the tent was up and I was pleased with my camp, I went to buy some drinks and get some cash, wish you could withdraw right there at the campsite. For a fee. MAN! You had to pay a fee for EVERYTHING! So I made sure I had plenty cash for food and drinks, and then I followed the stream of people towards the festival.

Wasn't hard to find, the closer you got the more tents that sold food, drinks and just STUFF there was around the place. I found the entrance, but you couldn't get your festival-bracelet there. And everyone I asked gave me different directions to where to get said bracelet which had me go to the wrong place first. Not very fun. But eventually I found my way, could get my bracelet and got in. :-)

And it was amazing. :-D First music I was drawn to was a older band, which I later found out was called Dokken. So I stopped at that stage for a bit listening to them. They were really good! Then I got hungry and man... There was SO MUCH FOOD you could buy everywhere! So I found a place selling moose kebab (no joke!) and got some energy. Then I went to buy a Mötley Crüe t-shirt, since I didn't want to miss that. And good thing I did. It was still early, around 5pm, and they'd already sold out almost. So I got one of the last ones in XL. o.O And I got a Sweden Rock t-shirt to! Of course. ;-)

Securing the t-shirt to my bag, I started walking around some more. Looking at people. Having a drink of cider. Looking at more people. Eating more food. Listening to music. Ended up in a tent at one point where these moderately young guys played heavier rock dressed in fantasy-clothing... Got me curious and they were funny when talking between songs to. Later figured they were called Gloryhammer. They were not bad, but not quite my taste in rock.

I then just walked around, enjoying the festival atmosphere. I got stuck drinking, sitting on the grass and enjoying a cider after that for a bit. And listened to a band that was... really boring and... odd, if you ask me. They were called Opeth, and I don't even know why I stayed at that spot listening to them for a while, but I guess I was comfortable.

I'd found a place that sold really good toasts with a swedish cheese called Västerbotten cheese and chanterelles. And OH MY GAWD! It was sooo good, I had to go back several times.

At one point when waiting in line for a toast (it was constantly a long line there), there was this little kid there going ALL IN playing the air guitar with an inflatable guitar at a booth next to the toast-place. They were playing Mötley Crüe (!) in that booth, so he rocked out and HARD to the music! To the point of a guy joining him. Kid rocking out might be... 11 or 12 maybe? And the guy joining him on his own inflatable guitar somewhere around 25. And they pulled off quite the show! To the point of gathering a crowd that cheered for them and all that! So that was fun!

And when I was waiting for a toast (again!) I had these fun older guys behind me laughing and having fun, saying they'd eaten food at the festival that were better than orgasms... and lasted longer to! Since they were so cheerful, I just couldn't keep my mouth shut, and said I agreed! Orgasms usually don't last very long! It ended up with me and them four older guys having a HILARIOUS discussion about orgasms and growers and showers. X-D The younger of the four (probably just slightly older than peting73) said I was his future wife since I was that cool. I had to decline though, since I am already taken! Was SO MUCH FUN!

I made plenty travels to the portable toilets during the day, and that was an experience in and off itself. Because they had one big area with just portable toilets. *lol* Well run and all, but damn. That was a lot of portable toilets! X-D

I made sure to have a drink in my bag and fresh from the portable toilets, I went looking at Backyard Babies, which are REALLY good! I really really like them! Such entertainers!

I kept to the back a bit in the audience though during their concert, because right after them the main event of the evening was to take place. So some time before their concert ended I made my way towards the main stage at the area. And, since I was alone… I made my way all up to the front of the stage!!! OH MY GAWD!!! I very very rarely go to concerts. And I’ve NEVER been that close to the stage before! Cue me nervous!

Anyway, it was still quite long a wait, so I talked a bit to an older couple that was next to me. And last they’d seen Mötley Crüe they’d been 16 and newly in love! SOOO COOL! But not so strange. Mötley Crüe has kept it up for more than 30 years. Had a good time talking to them, although the man in the couple was… VERY drunk. Which apparently amused his wife. Good thing I had someone to talk to, because we had to wait long. But the crowd just kept growing. And grew HUGE behind me!

I think not all, but most of the 33’000 - 34’000 festival goers were there. It was incredible.

Once Mötley Crüe entered the stage, I first wondered if I had to regert going to see them, since it took a bit for them to get the audience going. But once they did, oh my… What a feeling! I sang along to most of the songs and reached out for them when they got close to the stage! The sea of people moved, so even though I’d started at Mick Mars side of the stage, I ended up at the middle having the midstage in front of me after a while.

Vince Neil had problems with his earpiece and microphone at the beginning of the concert, and sadly they gave up so he had to go change, in the middle of Dr Feelgood, one of my absolute favorite songs. :-( So that was sad. Gladly though they did many other classics, like Kickstart My Heart, Smoking in the boys room, Livewire, Girls girls girls, Looks that kill, Wild Side… I could go on. :-) What made me happy was that they had a few from their latest album, Saints of Los Angeles and Mutherfucker of the year. I really like that album, so that made me happy. :-) And they had one encore, Home Sweet Home. Oh my gawd, the WHOLE audince sang along then, it was one hell of a moment.

And yeah, most of the audience sang along to all the songs. I did to, when I knew the lyrics. *lol* What annoyed me though, was that I had a gang to the left of me that kept complaining about the concert. Throughout the concert. While standing in the front. WTH? If you are going to complain, you don’t like the band… WHY would you be in the front, uhu? To destroy for us that WANT to be there? Makes no sense to me.

During the concert, although I have a HUGE soft heart for Nikki Sixx and Tommy Lee, I was mostly impressed by Mick Mars. I mean, I know he has struggled with his disease, Ankylosing spondylitis his entire careerer. But to actually SEE it! See how seriously destroyed his body is from his disease. But how very quick and clever he is playing the guitar and that he still loves to be on stage... That impressed the hell out of me. Rock on, old mutherfucker. Rock the fuck on!

Anyway, I loved being able to see them. I had fun. It rocked. The whole crowd moved with the music… It was incredible. And I’ll definitely remember it fondly. (Can you say that about a rock-concert? *lol*)

After Mötley Crüe had left the stage, it took a bit for the crowd to open up, but when it did I started to make my way to the exit. There were still bands playing, but I was exhausted, so I started making my way back to the camping ground.

It is quite a long walk, 800 meters, and my feet were VERY tired even though I had my good BIG Docs on. So it took a while since I walked slowly. Was easy though, there was this literary stream of people to just follow. On my way, I felt a nagging need for something sweet, so I found a booth that sold belgium waffles. And HOLY HELL! o.O They were GOOD! SO nice! I need to learn to make these… So I nibbled on that while walking.

Once at the camping ground, I got my toothbrush, then stood in line for bathroom and took care of all that.

Back around the tent however it was… silent. Except for the road, but not many cars there either. To my SHOCK the crazy ass 20-somethings that I thought were going to be loud and noisy all night… were knocked out apparently. X-D Only ones awake were the old guys who bid me a good night when I crawled in my tent. Kids these days… *lol*

After a bit of a fight I got myself in my sleeping bag and I was KNOCKED OUT! Next morning I fought my sleeping bag again. (I sleep VERY well in it, but I have to fight the zipper every time!)

Once ready I got out of the tent and located breakfast, taking a seat with some other guys (who had driven 12 hours to get there!) and talked to them while eating.

Back at the tent, I packed up cheerfully cheered on by the older guys, who after that offered me breakfast. AKA moonshine and Coca Cola. X-D I’ve had moonshine before, many times. And this was the GOOD kind. Looked like water and I could barely smell it at all.

So I had a drink with them, and they were really nice. Mötley Crüe fans as well, so we talked about them. And they were impressed I’d gone there alone. I told them about the greeting I’d gotten from the 20-something guys with the cock. Which had them laugh merrily and then I ended up in ANOTHER dick-discussion! MY GAWD! X-D It was all in good fun though, and some serious to since we talked about illnesses you can get in your dick if you're a guy. :-D They were REALLY sweet older guys, two friends that had visited Sweden Rock for years. Had I stayed another night, I would have loved hanging out with them and just talking. :-) They were really nice.

Once packed up, I made my way to the entrance and tried calling for a cab, but had no connection so I found a staff member who helped me call for a cab. My feet were so achy so there was no way in hell I was walking to the buss-stop at the festival entrance 800 meters away.

The rest of the journey home was uneventful. Trains that was on time and everything, so I had no problems. I didn’t have any fun company like I did on the way there, bu they… That’s what I had my smartphone for and my magazines that I’d bought for. ;-)

peting73 and Alexandra was both very happy to see me when I got home (a cab from the trainstation as well… hey, I’m old and my feet were achy).

All in all, going to Sweden Rock was one HELL of an experience! Seeing Mötley Crüe was wonderful! Slash was there playing this year, and if he comes back? I might consider going again. :-) It was such a great festival. Very friendly and happy an atmosphere and some seriously good music! :-D

If you wanna see the photos that turned out OK, you can go to my Instagram HERE. There’s a clip of Mick Mars playing on stage… and of the little kid rocking out with the inflatable guitar there to. ;-)

And now I’ll shut up. For now. ;-D

This entry is crossposted between LJ and DW. Comment where you are comfortable.

It was Mothers Day in Sweden today. And I had a moderately good day. :-)

Sat up all night last night to finish off the post about ruchirahni's visit, obviously. ;-) Which has been done for quite a while, but I hadn't added the photos for it. But it felt good to get it posted. :-)

Been very busy at work though. Last weeks of school before summer holidays, and things are INSANE when you're a school-librarian. Try be a school-librarian when you're responsible for 6 schools(!)... And things get a little insane. Same thing when school starts. It'll get insane then to. Fun times. Not. :-P If I could skip the last few weeks before summer holidays and the first few weeks after summer holidays, then working as a school-librarian would be bliss. :-P

Anyway...

My insane summer continues. ruchirahni has been here to visit (which still blows my freaking mind, to be quite honest...) and on Friday I am going to see Mötley Crüe live in Sölvesborg on the Sweden Rock Festival. I'm 38 years old and I've never been to a music festival before, and now I'm going to one of the biggest festivals in Sweden... and I'll spend the night in a tent. Alone. X-D A very tiny tent, to be honest, so there's no room for more than me in it, but still. I MUST be nuts! X-D It'll be worth it though, since this will most likely be the last time ever that Mötley Crüe plays in Sweden what with splitting up after their world tour.

Sorry, Tokio Hotel. If you come to Sweden this year, I'll have to say no thanks. You're young. I'll go through hellfire to see you when you've played together for 30+ years. ;-)

Today we spent at the zoo, which you can see on my Instagram. Weather was... odd to say the least. At least it wasn't raining. :-P And we were all in a good mood. First time today that I managed to walk through the whole zoo without crutches. YAY!

It was after that that it became less fun. Of course peting73 was the one that wanted to go to the zoo the most... and in the end his back gave up on him and he didn't bring any painkillers... Because it was fine before we left. *sigh* Which ended with him being cranky as FUCK and almost impossible to talk to when we, out of necessity, had to do a quick stop for some grocery shopping on the way home. (Lunch for next week and such.) He'd promised me a delicious mushroom chantarelle risotto, but it takes time and is complicated to make, so I told him to just fuck it... which made him even crankier, so... That was less fun.

Once at home he took painkillers and just went to bed. A good thing, if you ask me. *grump* When he got up to make dinner though, and he did make me the risotto, he was in a MUCH better mood. Because well, painkillers. Which he should have taken way earlier... *sigh* I'm seriously considering having some of his painkillers in my bag as well. For my own peace of mind. :-P

So the day ended well at least. :-) Tomorrow it's back to the grind at work. OH! And I was offered to work full time after summer. Of course I said YES! It'll be busy as FUCK! But I hope it'll be worth it. :-D Despite the problems at that library, I like workign there. Quite a great deal. Better than working in the school-libraries in town. :-)

Now bedtime!

This entry is crossposted between LJ and DW. Comment where you are comfortable.