Pogue Mahone

I just looked closer at the Britvic Jimmy Carr picture. Not Only was it closed to inhabitants of Northern Ireland (Racism...) but it also finished yesterday. So typical English!

I Think It's Nuts

Found some shelves loaded with British stuff at Harris Teeter last night. I am not pro British in any way, but when you are robbed from the option of having mushed peas or HP sauce with your chips for a couple of years Goldmines like this start to sound pretty good.

I snapped this picture, I wonder if the Jimmy Carr date is available over here in the land of the free and home of the brave.

'09 Revisited

Earlier this year I listed the most anticipated films of '09. The year is now coming to an end and it is time to double check the list:

• Terminator Salvation - Never saw it. It got terrible reviews, meant to see it on DVD - but couldn't be bothered in the end.
• Boondock Saints II, All Saints Day - Good film. Not as good as the first one, but no one expected it to be. I experienced my first (and hopefully last) full blown skull splitting migraine attack while seeing the film in theatre so the second part of it a bit hazy...
• Inglourious Basterds - Kicked ass! So good I had to see it twice in theatre. The second time I apparently fell asleep and snored my way through the whole thing, but that's beside the point.
• X-Men Origins: Wolverine - Liked this a lot. Saw it in theatre, bought it the second it came out on DVD.
• Watchmen - It was everything I expected it to be. Just another proof of the genius of fellow Northamptonian Alan Moore.
• Public Enemies - Johnny Depp delivered! This movie had everything a man can possibly desire: Bank Heists, 20's slang and Leelee Sobieski.

I've seen some trailers that make '010 look like another sweet film year, guess we have to wait and see.

Bon Pantalongs

I got myself a new pair of jeans yesterday. They look really good and are actually one size smaller than the last pair I bought a year ago, I guess quitting fizzy drinks and run some paid off. It's hard getting a good picture of the pants since I am the only one in the office, and no one can take my picture, but here's to give you an idea.

Rock n' Roll X-mas

This is how happy one can look when one's wife gets you just the right Kinks CD for Christmas.

Rat Bastard

At least now I know what's on top of my shopping list for tomorrow.

Rat Poison!

Dirty Stinking Rat

I was just startled by a couple of rats (or maybe mice, don't really know) in the washing room. Granted, it has been raining like mad for a couple of days and I know the little critters don't like water, but come on - do they have to seek refuge behind my washing machine?

Holiday Dioarama

Here are some photos to help describe the Erikson Christmas of 09:

Enjoying some Christmassy porter before the craziness begins

The Wife showing off one of her Christmas gifts

Myself having some puffs of the old Yule tide pipe

The family playing a New Moon trivia game, can't you just see the excitement?

Memory Schmemory

My (American) wife's grandmother just asked me if I was married to an Irish girl...
It sucks getting old.

Lets get this holiday started

We were all feeling somewhat stressed at work, getting all the paperwork done for the new year and what not. Due to this we all did what we could to get in the spirit of the holidays - which meant that at quarter to four me and Katherine (the lady with whom I share an office) sat at the bar at Ruby Tuesday ordering in pints...

Late Schmate

In honour of it being the day before Christmas (or maybe just me being tired) I decided to sleep an hour longer than usual and get in to work a bit later today. That was awesome but what really put it over the top was that everybody else in the office were either late themselves or off for X-mas, so if anybody asks - I've been here all morning.

Bedhair

Time For Tree

A couple of pics of our tree this year. They are a bit dodgy only because I took them with the phone since I am too lazy to charge the proper camera. Oh well, enjoy:

Gator Bait

Since the sun does not rise til seven o'clock nowadays it is really dark when I go for the old run at five! It is also proper cold now - so cold that you spend the first half hour running contemplating whether you should turn around to get some mittens, only to realise that you have run half the distance and is about to turn around in a minute anyway.
As if the cold and darkness was not enough - while reaching today's half way point in a posh semi-gated community one of my shoelaces came undone and I fell flat on my face! So the rest of the distance I had to run around gator infested ponds with bloody palms and knees, that sped things up!

Saffron & Mustard

Some new pics; myself showing the yanks how to celebrate st. Lucia and Mr. Mustard making sure no one else can use the couch.

Three Busey Moon

Woke up up at 10 and couldn't fall back at sleep, so after spending half an hour reading comic books in bed I decided to get up and make myself some espresso. I am now enjoying Frosty the Snowman on ABC, while the Mrs is still enjoying one of her two new favourite pastimes (the other one being eating).
Speaking of favourites, here is one of the coolest t-shirts I have ever seen:

Now, if only someone would make one with Christopher Walken...

Awesome website

Sketchy Santas

Doodles

Just had a two hour meeting...

Songs that remind me I am going to be a father

1. Father and Son - Cat Stevens.
My favourite Cat Stevens song. Awesome, moving lyrics without being sappy.
2. Cat's in the Cradle - Harry Chapin.
Again - somewhat sentimental, but still Rock n' Roll enough to sing along to.
3. Landslide - Fleetwood Mac.
Not really about being a parent as much as having one (or contemplating your relationship with Lindsey Buckingham), but it is a beautiful song and the line about children getting older always makes me think.
4. I wanna pick you up - The Beach Boys.
Maybe a bit obvious, but I have to mention this Brian Wilson gem from one of the most inconsistent Beach Boys albums ever.
5. Jasså du, man ska bli farsa (Oh, I'm gonna be a dad)- Paul Dennis.
Wouldn't be a complete list without this 70's classic with lines such as "Gråter du? Det är ju ball. Det är klart, visst blir man snopen. Men rätt glad i alla fall" (Are you crying? This is cool. Sure, I'm surprised - but somewhat happy anyway.)

Flying Fish

I have made myself a Christmas tree at work.

Fish and Fish...

Got some 'Swedish Fish' from a coworker

Office Decorations

The girls at work thought I should have this fashionable name sign on my office door, ignoring my attempts to explain my name isn't Sven...

I have decorated my desk in my own manner though - I put up a nice picture of George Best (The Santa Claus of good football and heavy drinking)!

Outrageous

For some unexplained reason PBS said 'bollocks to tradition' tonight and is airing Celtic Woman Live at Powerscourt. It, of course, could have been worse: I enjoy Irish singing and fiddling as much as the next man and I have very fond memories from Powerscourt myself. It is a beautiful estate and a stone throw away from Ireland's highest waterfall!
Here are some pictures to make sure everybody is updated with what goes on in Casa de Erikson:

Myself flipping through a year old Newsweek

The wife preparing her Thanksgiving stuffing

Mr. Mustard enjoying having the whole of the sofa for himself

Versus...

Just got an invite to go over to North Charleston for a little shin ding. The trouble is that at 8 o'clock it is my weekly Sherlock Holmes hour on PBS. That is then followed by Keeping up Appearances, so it is more like an hour and a half of British top-of-the-line entertainment.

Dark Run

I went for my first run in quite some time yesterday. It was a spur of the moment kind of thing, and it came on late in the afternoon - so late that half way in to the run the sun set. I still managed to find my way home (there were no lights, at all!) and finish with 50 minutes under the soles.

Rock it Daddy-O

The wife and myself have always prided ourselves in being quite Rock n' Roll, we are a cool young couple who goes where the wind takes us. So today the inevitable question appeared to me: Can I be a good parent and maintain a certain level of Rock?
In desperate need of confirmation that so is the case I remembered My Parents Were Awesome, a blog dedicated to remind youths of their hip predecessors.

This picture is one of my favourites, I think because it sort of remind of my own ma' and da'.

I then realised that both of them are pretty cool still, so I think we are good...

Big News!!

Had a phenomenal birthday yesterday, everybody got just the right things, so I have loads of cool stuff now.
Although I think the wife took the cake when she informed me that we are going to be parents! That's right, there is a wee one on the way - should arrive at the end of next summer.

Cats and casks

Some pictures of things that makes life a little more fun:

Mustard getting himself tangled up in fresh laundry

In America Bulmers Cider go by the name of Magners. It is confusing because there already is a Magners back in the Old Country (very popular in Northern Ireland). The ales on the sides are awesome!

Almost 28

The ladies at work decided to celebrate my birthday a couple days early. I got a shirt and a pair of pants. Sweet.

Return of the Vamps

The wife, her sister and myself went to the midnight showing of New Moon last night. As a result of distinct lack of sleep I almost fell asleep during a meeting this morning. The film was good, it had more funky vampires and quirky dialog than the first one. Now I need to re-heat some old coffee, so I can finish the day.

BOI Strikes Again

While on the topic of funny things with an Irish accent - Here's Matt the Dragon. He may not be as cute as Jenny but keep in mind he has a flash name and a shitload of money!

Sometimes big ears are a good thing

Had a pot luck at work today, where people brought in different autumn or Thanksgiving themed dishes. I made scones.
Here is a classic: Jenny the Elf

Dreams

Had a dream last night that I pissed off little known actor Per Eggers' even lesser known Chinese looking brother and ended up on the set of 'My Name is Earl', which was shooting in a British suburb.
Obviously, in an awake state, I do not think Eggers has a Chinese like brother or they're shooting American sitcoms in Slough...

Coffee Comeback

Finally got a janitor up to the office to unlock the coffee cabinet today. I have been celebrating by not going a single minute without the bean juice.

Cat Burglar

Just tried to jimmy the lock to the cabinet that holds the coffee. I thought it was going alright until I broke off one of the paperclips inside the lock. I have now managed to get it out and given up any aspirations of having any java today...

No Coffee Wednesday

It's Veteran's Day so loads of people have the day off. I am alone in the office, which is cool. I can get some work done and at the same time space off on the Internet if I want to. The first thing I did this morning however was to accidentally lock the cabinet that has the coffee in it! I now have an empty coffee maker standing next to my desk, taunting me...

Breakfast For Dinner

Came home full of energy, planning to hit the old private gym. I soon realised that doing so I would tire myself out and fall asleep shortly afterwards and miss FlashForward again. So I made some waffles instead. Below is me taking out the crap from Mustard's litter box.

Making it Big

Charleston has been named as one of the top ten cities to visit 2010 by Lonely Planet.

Take that, everybody else!

The Tide is High

Things are starting to slow down at work, so I now have some time to update the old blog.
Some Highs and Lows:
Highs:

• Cosmic Egg, The new Wolfmother album. The closest thing you can get to real rock nowadays. The Wife and myself have been looking forward to this album for years now.
• My new job. I had almost forgot what it was like to like your job...
• V. ABC premiered the remake of the old 80's classic yesterday, pretty awesome. It will be up on Hulu on Saturday.
• Potatoes. There is nothing you can't do with these heavenly spuds, last week I made a pizza...

Lows:

• I just today realized that Wolfmother played in Charlotte, NC yesterday...
• I got some crazy strong solvent to put on my foot growth to kill it. That would have been a good thing had it not been for me spilling the stuff over my gray pants, staining them for good.

Halloween

So the weird and strangely provocative holiday of Halloween is upon us again. I was in charge of taking the nephew trick-or-treating, he was dressed up an the Dark Lord of the Sith (awesome). We filled up his bucket with candy, so out of a seven year old's perspective it was a success. I was slightly disappointed though that no one picked up on my fabulous costume as a 1916 Irish Freedom Fighter...

PC Load Letter

I finally quit my job today. It felt awesome to once and for all leave that mess spelled Xerox behind me. Tomorrow I start the new job, and we will see what is up with that. Now it is definitely time for Matt's Homemade Espresso and Parking Wars.

Bad Day

Premise:

• I had to work late and couldn't get a lift home so I had to take the bus.
• I've got blisters and stuff growing on my left foot so I cant walk proper.
• Due to it being Friday I stopped at the gas station and bought myself a tallboy.
• Attempting to lift the old spirit I listen to Brian Wilson's masterpiece Smile on the Ipod.

Result:

As dusk set over West Ashley there was an angry foreigner limping through the neighbourhood grinning and swearing while humming along to Heroes and Villains, carrying a brown bag containing a bottle with 32 ounces of cheap beer.

ICAnder & MonICA

It has been raining for a couple of days, so I have had the opportunity to sport my new parka. Together with my H&M pants and Doc Marten's I look surprisingly Mod.

Hummer?

To the list of exotic animals one might come across in the South I can now add Humming Birds. Saw one this morning going from flower to flower, elegant yet effective.

Now, to this you might say "Matt, surely you are fibbing. A Humming Bird in October?". I would then reply "Shut up! I know what I saw."

Baltimore Bombers

So the mother in law and myself are planning a road trip to Maryland this Saturday. There we are supposed to have a Rendez-Vouz with some friends from New York, give them one of Ma's dogs and then head back to old Chuck town. I have ridiculously high hopes of seeing some fall-coloured leaves along the way and look forward to making some Clark Griswald-esque memories.

Cat in the Kitchen

Time for some more cat pics. some things just never gets old, like mustard hanging out in the kitchen sink only waiting for someone to turn on the water. He is also pretty cool just posing.

Need Some Sauce

Just had some of my homemade pytt i panna. It was delish, I made it with chorizo meat to spice thing up a bit - Awesome.

All I needed was some HP Sauce, but apparently that doesn't count as a staple over here. The American equivalent - A1 - will never even come close.

Better Late...

Due to cutbacks I am now forced to take 2 hour lunches, which means that I now have time to get myself updated in the Foreign TV department. I noticed that there is a documentary show about the Swedish airport Arlanda and the people who work there. It is a good idea, although a bit late, was it TEN years ago now that we saw the Luton and EasyJet shows on ITV?
For all you Yanks: ITV is a bit like SPIKE TV, but a little bit classier... because it is European.

ChuckTown Padres?

I ran into a Chaplain this morning (He wasn't in uniform, so I didn't get to do my "Hello Father!!") who wanted to talk to me about The Troubles. I of course wasted no time to tell him about the evil ways of Reverend Ian Paisley. After that it started to get weird when he wanted to tell me why we all need God. I left when he said he liked my shirt so much I should give it to him.

Facts that makes it painstakingly clear I'm not in Ireland anymore

• People here do not hesitate to say "purty" for pretty - without being ironic.
• Whenever I see a priest I shout out "Hello Father!!" and only get slightly scared looks back.
• It is the end of September and still warmer than at the height of Irish summer.

Cheeky Friday

So far today I have been complemented on my:

• Hair (twice)
• Eyes
• Face
• JFK Tattoo (twice)
• Posture and demeanor

Nothing like a little ego-boost to finish off the work week.

Spell Check

"...So instead of saying 'Hello Matt' I would say '-H... R'"

A coworker trying to explain his own system of abbreviations.

Backyard Baby

Today the semi stray terrier that has been roaming our backyard decided to bring her puppy. It is a sweet little thing, although he could do with some grooming.

Mr Mustard was not happy to share the attention.

Metal Chicken

Here is a new commercial featuring the old band Dokken.

Driving

Had to drive myself today to work using the mother-in-law's SUV with the shift stick up on the dash board, behind the wheel. It all had a very 50's feel to it.

Cousin Sara!!

The 2009 Swedish televised Christmas Calendar is going to star Sara Edwardsson as Supersnälla Silversara. Awesome!
It won't top Allram Eest's macical performance a couple of years ago, but still.

In The Year 199X...

The Fist of Lingering Regret and Certain Death!

Pretty much the coolest name of an episode ever!

Anime Forever

Now it is time to watch Fist of the North Star online.

Spud Gun

Whipped up a spectacular bash of potato buns last night. It takes about three hours to make so I was well pleased when they came out alright - not like last week when I had the splendid idea of boiling the little suckers instead of frying them. Needless to say, mashed potato doesn't boil well - and a whole weeks supply of potato was made in to soup...

The Cat In The Sink

Here are some pics of what happens when you have a water-crazy cat who feel he needs to cool down.