The Joy of a Street Corner

There are many ways to define the benefits of a new job; more pay, a promotion, the corner office or a fancy title. For people living in San Francisco and commuting down to the South Bay each and every day, putting up with a lot of traffic, crazy amount of traffic or 'it is Thursday and everyone heads out early to go to Lake Tahoe' traffic, a simple phrase explains it all; South of Market. 

Wait a minute Mr Daddy? Are you implying that you are changing job? Nope. Even better, my lovely wife is! I couldn't be happier for her! Happy because it is a great position at a great company. Happy because I know how hard she worked to get it. And more than anything, incredibly happy that she will now be working in the SoMa district, at Pinterest. 

The Big Sister

Imagine a beautiful, sunny, Disney sponsored morning. Squirrels running along tree branches and birds singing an a cappella 'good morning' while a baby deer appears in a sunlit meadow. Also imagine an innocent boy, unaware of the dangers of life, sitting quietly minding his own business, munchkin on some candies. Nothing would ever be the same. 

Because into the scene enters the big sister, sitting alongside the young boy. She happily informs him of this new, exciting game that they have to play. It is very simple; the person that is able to give away most candy to the other person, will win. I still have problems talking about what happened next, but let's just say that I won. Big time.  World record.

The Analog Toilet

Defining myself as brave might be pushing it, but I do think I am a pretty open person in general. I will eat almost anything when it comes to food, I adjust to most cultural situations, and even though I will obviously judge you for the music you listen to, I accept almost any music style. Yes Sexy Mom, you can continue making jokes about Justin Timberlake, but the man has some good songs... and can dance! In the rain!

So I must say I was a bit shocked when I realized that there is one surprising area where I accept no negotiation. I simply will not cross that line under no circumstance. I know I should be open to different cultures, and it is not fair to judge if you haven't tried, however I simply cannot find strength to take the step. Call me old-fashion, but I want an old-fashion, analog toilet.

The Family Keeps on Growing

There are days when amazing, life changing things happen. News so big that you have no idea of how to communicate it as any words just are too small in comparison to the impact of the news. I am still pinching my arms every now and then to make sure it is real. And it is. 

Surprise!!

The thing I like most about surprises is not the part where you jump up behind the sofa screaming 'surprise' and you have Marilyn Monroe jump out of a cake singing 'Happy Birthday' (considering personal preferences, in this case it would probably have been Dennis Lyxen in a bikini). No, I love the part where you freak out the person that is going to receive the surprise. It is kind of like when I tickle Miss Cupcake. The funniest part are not the tickles themselves, but to attack slowly from far away, her knowing what is coming, and bursting into laughter even before I have reached her from all the excitement. 

Cupcakium

First of all, do not try this at home, this is an extreme sport and done by a professional with years of experience. The blog 'A Kid From Grubbe' will take no responsibilities for any damages or injuries from trying this without previously having consulted your physician and lawyer.

Today, we will present how to get Miss Cupcake tired. Yes, if you thought that handling and controlling Hydrogen was risky, they have not come in contact with the highly electrical and durable, very durable, element 'Cupcakium'.

I repeat, please kids, do not try this at home.

Jamming

The other day Miss Cupcake and I we went to the beach, I mean, did the tax return... whatever. You know what I mean. On the way there, I put on some Velvet Underground, obvious choice of music when you are with a toddler. Miss Cupcake sits in silence, looking out of the window as the pastel colored San Francisco houses passes by, before she all of a sudden looks at me and bursts out; 'papa - rock n roll'!

Enjoying the Tax Return

The consequence of saying something out loud is often devastating as it has a tendency of making the object to be commented on to disappear. So I am going to use a code name James Bond style. 

'Sunny weather' is from here on referred to as 'tax return'.

The tax return this year is being amazing! I am enjoying the tax return in a way that I haven't done in years, and I can only hope that the tax return will not go away - ever! Our favorite place to appreciate the tax return is on Baker Beach, just west of the Golden Gate Bridge, where you can really soak in the nuances and warmth of the tax return. 

'I Love Cable Cars'

Personally I have a 'love & hate' relationship for the famous cable cars running through San Francisco. Love because it is very idyllic to see them pass by the living room window. Hate because while passing it makes a ridiculous amount of noise. Love as they represent an important part of the history of the city. Hate because it has now converted into a turist attraction at six bucks a ride.

This Christmas will be remembered as the "Cable Car Christmas". On one hand as while the family was visting from Spain, we got the monthly pass so they could use the cable car without having to sell a kidney to finance the trips. Miss Cupcake was on the cable car on a daily basis. On the other hand, the grand parents made it part of the daily routine to pass the Cable Car museum that is just around the corner. The overdose of cable cars has come to the point where you can ride the cable car with Miss Cupcake, and she will tell you where to get off to get to the museum. 

A Star has Been Born

It is no news that when you go on vacation, you disconnect from work. By definition, vacations is when you are not working, so why keep the information in your head, right? At the dentist the other day I was asked for my telephone number for example. Had been deleted from the hard drive. I had to look it up on the Internet.

So then it not weird that things like this happen when you come back to work: I get up as always on a work Monday, walk down to Van Ness and take the shuttle bus to the Yahoo! office in Sunnyvale. So far so good. I wake up as always at the same batch in the road just before the bus takes a turn and I wipe the drool off my face to get into the office. Nothing weird so far. The weird stuff happens when I get up the the second floor. 

Giving into my Roots

When you are a parent, you end up doing all kind of things you never imagined, or hoped to do. Like saying 'I told you so', or cleaning your child's cheek by licking your thumb first. Combine that with being Swedish, and you end up with these photos that I just 'had to take'!

For those of you that are not familiar with Swedish traditional dresses, which you of course all are, Miss Cupcake is wearing the Swedish folk costume.

Top 10 of 2011

I have mentioned it a number of times already, but 2011 will be surely remembered as 'the intensive' year. Between preparing, executing and settle into our move to San Francisco we also made sure to keep Uncle Sam busy with all kinds of forms to get a social security number, bank account, driver's licence and green card, as well as finding and decorating an apartment and getting Miss Cupcake into day care.

Pull!

Especially after a year like this one, that makes Red-Bull seem like an infusion for relaxation, the last Friday before going on holidays is greeted with a huge smile on my face. Especially when the day includes working from San Francisco, taking a walk in the wonderful, crisp and sunny winter weather to have lunch with Sexy Mom and Lucas Grassi at a wonderful Dim Sum. My smile will be eternal for two and a half weeks.

However, all of a sudden, that smile goes numb. Literally. Say hello to two of my wisdom teeth. Also know as Mr. Asshole and Sir Douchebag. Mr. Asshole is the one to the right. Notice the hook... They used to be in my mouth, where they have dedicated themselves to bullying the rest of my teeth; smoking, harassing the ladies, drinking too much and being loud and obnoxious. 

Spin that turntable

There are two concepts that Miss Cupcake was really quick to learn; 'no' and 'mine'. She is frequently using both concepts, and has no issues whatsoever in applying them at the same time. She is in the end a girl and can do two things at the same time. 

The problem is that she is starting to use them in occasions that, at least in my mind, there is absolutely no need whatsoever to infest the situation with negativity. When I put on music for example. So you all know by now that I am a member of 'Music-o-holics Anonymous', and I plan to be a lifetime member. Even though it seemed that lately Miss Cupcake was going in the footsteps of her old man, she has lately been very clear what she thinks about Bob Dylan; 'not like'.

One year anniversary

We did it! We managed to survive one year in the US! Yeah! Or should I say 'awesome'? I still remember landing on San Francisco Airport to embark on a new adventure. A mix of excitement, nerves and to be honest, a tiny bit of fear, invaded me but as we saw the skyline of San Francisco, it was replaced by a strange, familiar feeling. 

This year has been without a doubt the most intense year of my life between installing ourselves in a new city far away from home, all the paper work, very intense work situation, more paper work, Sexy Mom finding a great job at eBay and Miss Cupcake starting daycare. 

Boys are stupid

'Oh, look at her', you might say. So cute looking out of the window on-top of the little red piano which she plays 'twinkle twinkle little star on' with the trick or treat bag in her hand. Well, actually Sexy Mom plays and Miss Cupcake sings, but the fact to remember is that it is a children's song, ok?

Don't let her fool you I say! This is in the end a future woman we are talking about! This is not some innocent game. She is not playing I tell you, she is, again, flirting with the waiter at the French restaurant next door. She climbs up on the piano, waives at him while he takes a break to smoke, and screams 'hello' (so far she has not learned how to say 'bonjour', but it is only a matter of time). Then she will show him stuff that might lure him in, today the trick or treat bag. 

'How Can I Tell if He Loves Me So?'

There is a picture of myself in a bathtub with my cousin when we were about two or three years old, and we are giving each other a kiss. It is a very sweet photo, and reminds me of a time when the two of us would actually fit in a bathtub, and the summers we spent at my great-grandfather's place in northern Sweden; this amazing house next to a lake in the middle of nowhere. Just the most perfect summers ever. 

When I see pictures of little Miss Cupcake giving kisses to boys, and apparently enjoying it very much, a bit too much, I instinctively start looking for sharp objects... I am fine with it. I really am. Don't get me wrong. Especially considering that she now gives kisses to mom, to boys at daycare and all animals in her books, but not to dad. Considering shaving off the beard...

My Brain Wears Sunglasses as Well

Let's be honest, as a human being you want to be appreciated for your looks and for your brains. The looks have already been covered in the press (yes, I did include the word 'swoony' in my CV), so it was about time that the brains got some headlines as well. 

I work with something called 'Search Engine Optimization', which really comes down to trying to promote content in the organic search listings. You search for 'Brad Pitt' in Google, (admit it, we all do!) and it is my job to make sure the Yahoo! content appears as good as possible in that search listing. I know, makes no sense.

Friends of Mine

As you already know, I sometimes find my inspiration over at GoldenGateBabies. It does not happen often, but sometimes I cannot help but to copy, I mean, get inspired and write something similar (the same) here. I also have the excuse that I am really helping the English speaking community understand what my lovely wife is telling in her blog.

Anyways, alongside my beautiful published poetry-writing wife, and not to mention my own incredible addition to the history of literature, we have some very amazing and talented friends scattered across the globe. Like the actor/dubber/musician/poet/life-enjoyer Nacho Aldeguer for example, who is not only appearing in all TV shows and movies, but is also known for the best porn mustache in history, and had a career high point with the "DJ-drummer" duo 'The Establishment' he had for some months with some extremely attractive and talented Swedish guy...

What I really wanted to mention today though is the duo Medelia, or as we know them, Elia Maqueda and Pablo Medel. They are currently in a small town in Spain freezing their asses off while recording their upcoming album. We really hope that it is all going great, and that their inspiration and talent is not located in their behinds... We cannot wait to see the final result, especially considering that Miss Cupcake chewed up the EP they sent us, her way of showing appreciation. You might want to consider going for plastic this time...

'Take me Down' - Medelia

P.S Anyone spotted the Adam Green reference?!?

Twinkle Twinkle

Women always go on and on about how they are great at doing two things at the same time. Not going to go into that here, but there is almost an air of superiority watching Miss Cupcake take a stab at the classic "Twinkle Twinkle Litte Star"; she is probably singing in English, but could be mixed up with Chinese, she is reading at the same time, and to top it off, she gives herself a huge applaude because she is just that damn good.

I have to agree with her.