Sunday architecture

It has been a most satisfying weekend. Two things have been in focus, oh, maybe three, one and two being walking and architecture, and the third thing being educating myself on how to operate my new phone. (I have a question regarding that by the way. Why is it that when I take a photograph, the camera makes a sound like an old-fashioned camera, but when the phone rings, it makes all sorts of abominable sounds. There are various sounds to choose from, but alas, among them are not one simple ringing sound. I for a moment thought that I might as well through away the phone since the sounds were so obnoxious, but apparently I can download different sounds, so there is still hope.)

I'm very much into architecture. Yesterday I was contemplating whether I should buy a book about Frank Lloyd Wright or one about Eero Saarinen. I couldn't decide and ended up buying neither. But, even better than a book, I went out to look for some buildings designed by Paul Hedqvist. These particular buildings are rather famous, from 1933, and for many years I've been meaning to inspect them. Today finally I did. It was worth the wait. My only regret is that I didn't have the balls to knock on any door and ask if maybe I could have a look around inside. Hopefully I'll do that next time around.

If you want to look at some masterworks by Saarinen, here's a link for you.
Wright might be explored here, and of course there is always Guggenheim.
Links to Hedqvist were harder to find. Sorry.

Moody Evening

At last an evening by myself. And it has began to rain, which makes it somewhat less hot. Today was the last day before my vacation begins. OK, I have to stop by at work on Monday, but only for a short time, and then, freedom. Let's not kid one another, it has not been a good summer so far. Hopefully August will be better.

I bought myself a new phone today though. The first phone I bought, after everyone else had had one for years, was a cheap, simple Nokia, which I kept for maybe two years, after which I got a nice, slim, but still simple, Samsung. But last week I suddenly felt a craving for colour displays, cameras, and all sorts of things. I begun looking around for a new, flashy phone, but finally I settled for a Samsung with just a camera, no radio or MP3 or any such things. I thought it extravagant enough for my modest needs.

Here's a warning to Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo: The Spell Checker recognized the word Samsung, but not Nokia, instead suggesting "noise". Here's a warning to me: Some people are getting married, I'm getting a new phone, and could hardly be more excited.

Well, time to go to bed. Dinah Washington is singing What a Difference a Day Makes. I'll take her word for it.

The Death of a Politician

In 1996 I was in Albania, the week of the elections. The day before the election I was visiting a leading politician, Gramoz Pashko, and I and some friends had tea with him in his house. We talked about Swedish and Albanian politics. He was a pleasant man, but he had a lot on his mind. The next day we were supposed to travel around the countryside, visiting polling stations, but no one came to pick us up. I rang Gramoz, who had overslept, and I woke him up. He was not pleased, but eventually two cars came along and picked us up.

That was 10 years ago, but I still remember everything vividly, and today when I read that he had been killed in a helicopter crash, I was surprisingly touched by it. I remember him standing outside his garden, making a funny face because I made a joke about his vanity.

Rest in peace Gramoz.

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Here is an obituary from The Guardian.

The Marrying Kind

I got an e-mail today from my dear friend Doo Seon in South Korea. She said that her boyfriend had proposed to her. They will be married in January. I'm so happy for her, for them! My only regret is that I haven't met her husband-elect. She invited me to the wedding, I hope I'll be able to make it, Busan is not exactly next door.

It seems everyone is either getting married or getting pregnant, or, getting desperate because they are neither getting married or getting pregnant, or not getting any at all. I suppose it's because we are growing up and the older you get, the more you long for a family of some kind. Nobody wants to die alone.

I have twice been to Korea to visit Doo Seon. Those days are among my happiest days of later years. It's so great to meet someone with whom you are completely relaxed. Usually there is something between you and the other person, a line that can't be crossed, some touchy issues, some irritating habit, some need to impress, or to show off. But not with her. I tend to compare everyone else I meet with her, and it's very rare to find someone like her. She is my benchmark.

Underground parking

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Middle East

Yet another hot day, but it's even hotter in the Middle East, both figuratively and literally speaking. It makes me both angry and frustrated how things never seem to get any better there. Oh, women finally got to vote in Kuwait, and Dubai and Abu Dhabi are having a ball, but the rest.....

I suppose that when you live in that kind of atmosphere, with constant anguish, struggle, war, oppression and depression, it becomes less and less possible to act with calm, wisdom and moderation. Hezbollah, what are they doing? Is it Israel they are after, or do they want Lebanon to fall apart, so that their Syrian friends yet again can gain control of the poor country, with a nod of approval from Iran. There is nothing noble or worthy in Hezbollah's actions. I fail to see why this ugly power struggle and cynicism should be applauded by so many intellectuals and other westerners.

And Israel, what are they doing? Do they also want Lebanon to fall apart? Might it not be a better idea to work with the Lebanese army in hunting down Hezbollah, instead of running amok on Lebanese soil. Granted, the Lebanese army, or regime, isn't particularly powerful, especially not in the South, but that is no cause to strike at them, but to support them.

But at the same time, I can't help but feel that anything that stir things up is a good thing, since the status quo of endless hostility is in nobody's favour. If the war on Iraq had been planned with any intelligence and if sufficient number of soldiers had been deployed, maybe the invasion in 2003 would have been a good thing, the push to really change things for the better. But alas, the situation in Iraq seems to be getting worse by the hour.

So what now? Well, I try to be optimistic, but I can't see how things might improve. If perhaps more pressure could be put upon the dictators to allow more freedom, and more debate, and if more moderate Islamist thinkers, writers, and leaders where to be given more space and air time, then maybe things might get better. But will this be done? Perhaps something like an earthquake in Iran, which doesn't kill civilians, but only destroy their nuclear facilities, is needed. Maybe man is not man enough for the task of solving the Middle East crisis. Unfortunately, nature can't be forced to do it either.

The Truths About Cats and Dogs

I am not afraid of dogs, but I don't like it when they chase me. Dog owners often fail to understand this. Once a small dog came running towards me when I was on my bike. The creature ran around me, and in front of the wheels. The owner did nothing to call him back, the only thing he did say was that I needn't be afraid since the dog was harmless. Yeah, well, I fell of my bike anyway. But still, dogs that are not running towards me with their teethes showing are OK. My lovely L. has currently access to Dexter, an Irish Terrier, and he is ever so nice.

But I prefer cats. When I was younger I was afraid of them. I thought them mean and unpredictable. I'm not scared anymore. I would like to have one, but since I live in a small apartment on the 16th floor, and am very seldom at home, the cat might not like it. My cousin has two cats, Elvis and Elvira, and I can always visit them when I need some feline feedback. Me and Elvira have a routine worked out. After dinner I lay down on the couch, and she jumps up and snuggle up right next to me, and then we fall asleep. It doesn't get more relaxed or cosy than that.

Words

I do so love words! Strange words, like Quinquagesima. Beautiful words, like daffodil. Ugly words, like infringe. Words that are surreal, like hippopotamus. Words that have a certain poetry about them but, unfortunately, are very seldom used, like abominable. Funny words, like flabbergast, or fuddy-duddy (which is preferably used together with humongous). Or my friend J.'s favourite: artichoke.

Speaking of words, the spell checker on my blog didn't understand the word "blog" the first time it came across it. Of the words mentioned above, it caved on Quinquagesima, fuddy-duddy and humongous. Instead of humongous it suggested unionizes, which I would say is something slightly different.

There are more wonderful words to be sure, but it's late, I'm tired, and tomorrow is laundry day. I'm thrilled.

Lonely or alone?

I'm often alone, but lonely I am less frequently. Or am I? Perhaps I'm only kidding myself. I have spent some hours with darling J. today, and it felt great, but it also felt great when I was alone, reading a book in the cooling breeze. Of course I need both of these feelings of "greatness", but are they both equal in size and shape? More and more, I'm beginning to feel that feeling good being with someone is a greater feeling than feeling good being alone, and also, that it is less hard being depressed with someone, than being depressed on your own. So regardless of how you are feeling, togetherness is preferable to oneness. And even though I may long for time when I can be alone, when that time actually appears, it isn't all that jolly as I had imagined it to be. Isn't my nervous and stressful disposition due to loneliness, or at least to lack of company? I don't know, but I do know that I'm often more relaxed with someone than alone. Does this mean I should move in with somebody? My my, what will I think of next?

Enid Blyton

I have spent the weekend at my parents country house. It was nice, and I ate a lot, which is usually the case when visiting my parents. I also reread some books I liked as a little boy, books by Enid Blyton. I can readily understand why I read them with such eagerness. They are about children who, in beautiful surroundings, meet kindhearted adults who live in wonderful houses. When they are not sleeping or eating delicious meals they are walking in secret tunnels or playing around with cute animals. It surely must be every child's idea of paradise. It was mine in any event, and even today, when I can see through the simplistic plot lines and dull characterizations, and even be annoyed by the patronizing view of anyone who isn't a beaming Englishman from the better classes, I can still feel drawn towards this world. Damn it, I want to be a part of it.

It has been yet another hot day, I wonder if it ever will cool down in my apartment. Maybe I ought to invest in air conditioning. Now I'm going to have some ice cream, and maybe put my underwear in the freezer. Marilyn did that in The Seven Year Itch, and what's good enough for her is good enough for me.

Books

The other day I helped a friend move a bookcase and the many books it contained. Working with books is always satisfying, even though reading them is more satisfying that carrying them. I have a very special fondness towards books. I need them around me. Cicero said that the only thing a man needs is his garden and his books. I don't know about the garden, but I couldn't survive one day without books.

No Benny Goodman today, Hoagy Carmichael instead, so Stardust instead of Moonglow. I go either way.

Benny Goodman

It's quarter past 10 in the evening. The sun has just set, and there is a lingering redness over and beyond the clouds. Dusk outside, but the dawn of a new blog. Ideas, images and thoughts will be posted on an irregular basis. So stay with me, I can't do this alone. It's like the question about the tree that falls in the forest. If no one heard it fall, did it actually make a sound? There is no point in me writing if no one reads it.

The moon is not visible outside, but on the stereo Benny Goodman is playing Moonglow. I think that'll do for today.