Saturday dinner out/Sunday work

We had a really nice dinner out yesterday. We went to one of our old favorites, the Beach House on Anna Maria Island. You can always count on a nice view there, as the restaurant is directly on the beach facing the Gulf of Mexico. I had a very nice grilled swordfish, and we just enjoyed a little relaxation.

Me with the Gulf of Mexico in the background

Sarah had brought all the dinosaurs she got at the Dinosaur World, so she was having a good time playing with those.

Sarah playing with her dinos

I still felt a bit weird after the fainting incident earlier in the day, but after an afternoon of resting it wasn't too bad.

Today is all about work. I need to get as much done as I can, this upcoming week is going to be grueling, since my deadline is Friday. They will extend until next Monday if need be, but it would of course be better to finish by Friday. So the more I can do today, the less I haev to do this upcoming week.

And to work we go...

Dinosaur World

We packed everyone up, including the dogs, and headed over to Dinosaur World in Plant City this morning.

The dogs were very excited, since they rarely get to come on adventurous. This park, owned by a Swede, actually, is very dog friendly. and they even encourage you to bring your canine friends.

It was a hot day, but the park (all outside) was situated in a very forested and shady area, perfect! It was pretty cool walking around all the paths, looking at the life size dinos. They are all recreated to look as close to what the researchers believe they might have looked, based on fossils.

Stan and Bob wondering what all those big creatures are over there

Hey, not every day you get to pet a dinosaur!

Sarah caught a Florida lizard (we have tons of these little things running around). She gave him a little kiss. He is after all a real relative to all those big dinos!

Oh no! It is going to swallow her!

Sarah had a great time, and after getting a few things from the git shop, she, myself and the dogs waited outside the entrance for Ken. As soon as he came out I noticed my hearing was all messed up. I could hear less and less, at the same time I felt nauseated and dizzy.

There was really no place to sit down, so I just wanted to make it out to the car, but as we were walking it just got worse. The last few feet I had zero vision and just very muffled hearing, I felt I had very little motor control. It was some really scary stuff! After getting into the car whatever that was quickly started to dissipate, and I soon felt much better.

I have no idea what happened, I was not tired, it was not too hot, I didn't feel sick, I had food and drink right before. Weird! The only thing I can image would be my low blood pressure. It has always been on the lower side, and I did faint a few times when I was a preteen. But this is the worst "fainting attack" (if that was what it was) since then! Very scary!

As soon as we got home I took a shower, and then I felt super tired, so I took an hour long nap. Now I feel OK, but still have that weird sensation in my ears, that the sound is a bit off. I think I better take it easy rest of the day, we are just planning on going don to the beach for dinner.

I guess my body i snot too happy that I have been feeling so good the last 6 months, it always have to be something, right?!

Upcoming Anniversary

On December 19 Ken and I will celebrate our 10th Anniversary. I can't believe we have already been married that long, time goes by fast! Since it is a bit of a milestone we have decided to celebrate with a little trip. We can't really take that much time of since Ken has his business, I have mine, and Sarah will be in Kindergarten.

But we figured a good alternative would be a cruise. There are several cruises that leave out of Tampa, and that would work great. Our thought was maybe a Royal Caribbean cruise leaving on December 18 (Thursday), with stops in Key West and Cozumel, Mexico. It is a 4 night, 5 day cruise, not too long.

Ken's dad works for a travel agency, and he has always said he can get us a great deal on a cruise, so we will definitely check that out. The best part of a cruise? Except for the Internet cafe on board, where you can use a computer for 50 cents a minute, there is NO wireless access, No cellphone coverage. So Ken would have NO choice than to actually be on vacation! That would be a first ;-)!

We are of course bringing Sarah, since it wouldn't be much fun without her.

As it is now, we will probably take the ferry to Playa Del Carmen so we can visit the ancient ruins of Tulum, the famous Mayan temples. Does anyone have any ideas for excursions in Cozumel?

Spore

Today it is the world premier of a new computer game called Spore - Creature Creature. We got it in advance a few days ago, and I have to tell you it is pretty addictive creating your own aliens. At only $10 it is a pretty cheap thrill. Of course, a more advanced game will come along later on that they want you to buy, but for now, this is pretty fun.

You can download a free version (limited what you can do), but for only $10 I think it is worth buying. Sarah is in love, she loves creating her own monsters and give them individual personalities.

This game is from the creators behind the wildly successful The Sims series, so you can imagine it is pretty well made.

Check out SPORE Creature Creator and build your own alien. Cool!

Keep it coming!

As you all know by now I work as a freelance translator. I have been doing this full time (as much as being sick and having a new baby allowed) for the last 8 years.

This year seem to have been my breakthrough year. Mainly probably because I am not battling my disease anymore, but I have just become more established and my name is in more translation agencies databases. I have a nice bunch of regular clients that are happy and keep coming back, and I get more referrals from happy clients.

This all translates into more work, which in its turn translates into more money for me. In the beginning it was not at all easy to make a living as a freelance. In fact, I would never been able to survive on my own, without Ken.

But now it seems to produce a regular, decent income! I am so happy, worrying about money is never fun. Yesterday I landed my biggest client as of yet. To start I will do 120,000 words, and that is almost $15,000. In a couple of months! And it seems it might be more coming from that client as well. To top it off nicely the agency manager is very nice and easy to work with, the project is fairly easy, they have a good reputation as to their payment practices (after all, what good is it to make money if they don't pay me?)


I got the first 20,000 words yesterday, due next Friday. This means full time summer camp for Sarah next week, and full speed for me. I should still be able to take time off for both my Swedish visits coming up, first cousin Mari on August 28 and then my mom (grandmother) and aunt on September 21.

And this is on top of regular work that I will be doing to. My plan is to pay off a high interest credit card I have. I am not sure what happen, I know I am not the only one, but all of a sudden interest rates on credit cards just started to go up a LOT! So this gets me a chance to get rid of that. Then I have to pay a large chunk of payroll taxes and some of my student loan that is due in the end of August.

But this gives me a fairly good position for spring to work and put away money for another trip to Sweden... I just wish it was as cheap to go to Sweden as it is for Swedes coming here!

It is a nice feeling knowing I will have money this fall. They say money doesn't make you happy, but it sure make me very happy! :-)

Summer Boredom

So what do you do when your 5 year is whining "I'm booooorrreeeedd, mommy"? Well, if you like me are trying to work, you get frustrated.

So we took a break and went over to Target, we had to start stocking up on school supplies for Kindergarten anyway... I found this cute little play tent in the clearance section. It had been $39.99 and was now just $5. A pretty good bargain! Sarah has now been busy setting up her new "clubhouse" and playing in there. Perfect on a rainy day like this! Turned out to be a good investment...

Roadkill Bob

I know Bob is on the plump side. And that he doesn't move a lot... but today he was apparently mistaken for roadkill!

Sometimes I let him hang out on a leash in the front yard. He loves basking in the sun, and I can see if anyone tried to go up to him from my window (not that he wouldn't bark their head of first).

So when he started barking this afternoon I figured it was just a kid on a bike that went by or something. To my surprise I found to vultures ("gamar" in Swedish) walking around Bob in circles. There were no other roadkill or anything else nearby that I could see as being interesting to them. They saw Bob and saw a meal. Poor thing! Check them out below:

Dentist

Siting here and waiting for my dental appointment. Have to fix 3 small cavities, the kind that only shows up on X-rays and is between the teeth. I hate drilling. Luckily I very rarely have cavities...

Sarah is at Summer Camp all day today. This morning I felt so tired so I went back to bed after she and Ken left at 7:45 AM. Slept for another 1½! That was a long time since I did that! I knew I only had a few smaller projects that are easy to deal with for work, so I didn't feel that bad.

The only positive thing about going to the dentist in the middle of the day is that I can blame that for not having time to clean. Aw shucks! Darn, and I who just was looking forward to cleaning sooo much...

Cypress Gardens

We took the little longer, scenic route to Cypress Gardens, which is located in Winter Gardens, in the mid central Florida. It took us almost 2 hours to get there, but I rather look at farms and pastures than the boring I-75 and I-4 highways roadsides...

We had a very nice day, riding rides and enjoying the beautiful surroundings along Lake Eloise (I can't keep from singing that Swedish "dansbandsdängan" "Eloise" when I hear that name.. Eeeeelloooiiiiss!

We even got Ken to ride several roller coasters, which is extremely rare! There was one of those things that takes you really, really high up in the air and then just drops you in a free fall. Sarah and I went on that, and I was like shivering jell-o after that one, but Sarah didn't mind, even though she didn't like the ride. She got nerves of steel, that kid! On one of the roller coasters Sarah and I stayed on 4 times in a row, since the line was so short.

The scariest ride by far was the "Pharaoh's Boat", you know, one of those ship things that slings you high up in the air until you think it is going to topple over. Not that the ride itself was that scary, no, in the middle of the ride all of a sudden I felt a sting! I look down inside my shirt, and out flies a hornet. Ouch! Right on my boob! That looked a bit swelled and painful for a few hours, but now I just have a faint bruise where the stinger was. But don't get stung on a boob, I don't recommend it! ;-)

Before we left we took a stroll to the beautiful butterfly garden. One of the butterflies took a liking to Ken, as you can see here below:

Sarah and I on our way up in the Ferris Wheel, we got a bit crazy in the rain!

Ken and his new friend.

Sarah and one of the classic "Southern Belles" that stroll around the Gardens.

Crikey!

Just came back from picking Sarah up from summer camp. I had just finished the last work project for the day and figured it was a great stopping point for work, it being 4:15 PM and all.

I did hear the thunder storm outside, but I normally have no problem with thunder, in fact, I love it!

That is, when I am safe and sound at home... Today I had Ken's car, a convertible with a fabric roof... Those lightning bolts were coming from all over and I saw several hit things along the road! I drove all hunkered down in the car, as if that would do much good if some lightning came my way. The dogs were with me in the car as well, and they were just as scared as I was. It didn't help that the rain was so bad I could only see a little bit in front of the car...

I guess Tampa Bay is not called the "lightning capital of the world" for nothing... Apparently 10 people die from lightning strikes in Florida every year. And the statistics say people in their 30s are the most likely to be hit! Yikes!