Photos of Sweden and Iceland have now been posted in the photo gallery of the website!

After being in the pleasant temperatures and balmy breezes of Sweden and Iceland, Boston feels positively tropical. Keith and I are always sweating here. Just walking home from the bus stop the last few days has been a sticky situation--literally. By the time I get home, my clothing is sticking to me from all the sweat as my cats dance around me begging for their mid-day meal.

After several days in the high 80s, low 90s (that's about 30-35 degrees Celsius for those of you who use metric) with a decent amount of humidity in the air and bright sun, I'm ready for fall. As I sleep in our living room the last few nights underneath our lovely air conditioner (unfortunately, one does not fit in our bedroom) I am dreaming of crisp fall air, apple cider, darker evenings, and colorful leaves. Crazier still, I'm looking forward to the return of the students and the absence of the tourists.

Even though it is a mere two weeks since we got back, it feels like two months. Work life has been steady but quiet--rather slow paced. After being back in the midst of travel where just talking and going places is a challenge, regular life seems downright boring. Crazy because we've done some fun things these last few weeks--going to two movies, reading the latest Harry Potter, attending a party, going to the Harvard farmer's market, having friends over... We're going to an F&M alumni function Saturday and Keith will be working on a lot of his freelance stuff.

Keith and I are still thinking of relocating someday to Sweden (no, that hasn't passed and I doubt it will for me at least) and I'm signing up for Swedish classes for the academic year at Harvard College(intermediate level, since that's the highest offered) to improve. I'd like to improve regardless, so, hey--why not. I think though that this weekend I'll spend less time thinking about that and more about long-abandoned projects--sketching out my family tree, organizing photos, maybe finally beating Harvest Moon. Maybe invite some friends over.

Next week the goal is to get back to the gym now that I am completely ear-infection free and I finished antibiotics. Both Keith and I have little moments when our throats spasm and we cough a little, but its practically gone.

If there's anything I can suggest to anyone on what to do with these last dog-days of summer is to go see "Sicko." Even if you don't like Michael Moore and his political polemics. I have never seen "Roger and Me" but this film seems to transcend political boundaries because the issue is something so far reaching amongst average Americans. Mr. Moore asks the same question that I've often thought of my compatriots in that "What have we become?" If its one thing I've never gotten about my native land, is the indifference and downright lack of empathy we feel for our fellow citizens here. Even if a socialized approach to medicine is never adopted in this country (and there are many ways to skin a cat--I think we need a uniquely American solution) I think we could all benefit as people by thinking more about our neighbors.

I'd like to say that blogs will be more regular this summertime now that we are not taking any classes or preparing to travel. But that'd be lying. We have so many other things to get done around here, so many other projects, and already I see the summer flying by now that our big summer vacation trip is past us. Keith for one has received offers for several after-hours projects to earn some money (helpful for paying for post-vacation bills and housing saving) which means I will be picking up more slack around the house accordingly.

First the good news--our trip to Sweden and Iceland from June 26-July 10 was tons of fun!
Now the bad news--we spent half of it sick. Not just a few sniffles sick either. Keith thought he was going to be burying me in Sweden around July 6th.

We did tons of things, I showed Keith tons of things and saw a few new things myself. That said, there were many things we missed. Considering it was 5 years between my trip in 2002 and this year's vacation, we will be sure that our next trip back is before 2012. I would certainly hope so, otherwise, I will be bringing at least 1 small child and possibly 2 in tow if that's the case. Which means a whole different sort of vacation--as stressful as air travel is these days, it must be mega-stressful with toddlers.

Also new was Iceland. Iceland is a surreal beautiful sort of a country. The people are super friendly and really like Americans, or at least American dollars. That being said, they certainly march to their own tune. Swedes are pretty punctual people. Not Icelanders as we found out. I guess its what comes from living in what is essentially the Nordic Outback. They reminded me of the differences one sees in Northeastern Americans and say, Americans from the Western U.S. We quickly figured out to let things happen at their pace.

So, now, I am back in my apartment having missed work yesterday and today as well as I am still recovering from the Viking Scourge (the available doctor at Holyoke diagnosed me with recovering bronchitis and the worst middle-ear infection he had seen (left ear) and a only mildly-heinous ear infection in the other ear) while Keith had recovering bronchitis only. Keith and I discovered the hard way that NyQuil or its equivalent is available only by Rx only in Sweden. Next time, we're importing a 3 pack and bringing a script if necessary. This American likes her cough syrup. After tasting the Icelandic version of cough syrup, I even think cherry NyQuil tastes pretty good (seriously, you ought to taste what the Icelanders have to take when they get a cough--now I know what one meant when he said "the cure is worse than the ailment"). Ghastly stuff. Both of us will spend good bits of our weekend hacking at home and getting back into a routine. Back to full reality for us both Monday *sob*.

I already miss Sweden though. Hell, I was missing Sweden already about two days into our vacation. Keith and I are giving some serious thought to maybe trying a few years there down the road. Keith can work there no problem, and would pick up Swedish quickly. I know Swedish, but would likely have to get more creative in thinking up an appropriate job. After all, higher education just isn't the same kind of industry anywhere else in the world as it is in the U.S.

So lots to think about while finishing up our photo scanning, video copying, and remaining summer road trips.