Saturday 28 February 2015

It's Girly Night Day!!

Yaay!!

Now, what does that mean? Girly Night Day? It means exactly what it says. Today is the Day of my monthly Girly Night with my friend C. My friend D will sometimes join us too, as well as our friend E. C and I started this tradition just over 2 years ago, and I think there has only been 2 months in total that we for different reasons have not had it. 

So, what do we do on our Girly Nights? We take turns hosting it, and whoever's house it is at will be in charge of the planning of it. The planning consists of what food to eat, what films to watch and what face/hair masks to do. Regulars on our Girly Nights are pajamas, warm comfy socks, foot baths, no make up, no alcohol, and lots and lots of popcorn with a lot of butter (real butter, of course) and salt. 

As the attendee of a Girly Night all you have to do is put your pajama on, take your socks with you, and try to walk over the yard to the next door building without being seen by any of the neighbours, because, well you're in your pajama and you could get some strange looks if spotted, and once you're there; relax and enjoy. 

Let me tell you, it is absolutely AMAZING! We usually watch 2 films, chick flicks, chosen by the hostess, we have seen films we have cried of sorrow and of joy to, we have laughed and we have swooned (Magic Mike, this is the only film we have watched on more than one occasion). 

We always do a face mask, all natural from real food ingredients, and a hair mask, also with only real food ingredients. And we eat some nice food, before we dive into the popcorn bowl. The BIG popcorn bowl. We have warm baths for our tired little feet before we put our warm socks on.

The morning of Girly Night I always wake up with excitement, because I know this day will end in a perfect way. Most of my days do, but this way is on top 3 of my list on great ways to end the day. 

The morning after Girly Night I always wake up feeling relaxed and rejuvenated. 

One of my favourite films of all time is Girls Just Want To Have Fun, with a young Sarah Jessica Parker and a young Helen Hunt. And I sometimes still have a crush on the guy in it. I've probably seen that film a hundred times over the years, and it feels fitting to share the title track by Cindy Lauper. 

PS! Check out the hair dos!

Love//
Carina


Thursday 26 February 2015

A Walk With A View

After work today I went for a walk with my good friend T and her new dog B. We walked on the long beach along the Mediterranean Sea (it is actually the longest beach in southern Europe, on the mainland), the was dog skipping, playing, in sand around our feet, absolutely loving every second of, and the waves were hitting the beach just next to us. It was a bit cloudy, but the temperature was very nice and we wore long sleeve, thin jumpers; no coats or jackets were necessary. It was lush, beautiful, lovely, fun and energizing. It always is on our walks. Refreshing for body, mind and spirit.

T and I talk about life, about feelings, being in the now and about the future. It's always a very good time when we see each other, and time always fly. Too quickly. But I always leave our meetings feeling happier, stronger and more alive.

Today we went out on one of the piers along the beach, and I filmed the view, all around, from where we were standing. It is T you see in the clip. This is about a 25 minute walk from my house. This is one of the big joys of my life. The Sea, and the mountains in the background behind the houses. The sounds, the smell, the taste, the feelings. It's all giving me life.


Film clip from the pier in Carjaval, Fuengirola, Spain


The African coastline is just out of sight from here, but on clear days you can see it from the mountains behind us. I always think that is so cool.

By the way, next I'll try moving it slower. :)


Love//
Carina

Tuesday 24 February 2015

The Gift From a Fry

On the bus home from work today I was contemplating what to write here today. I have a few ideas to choose from, but I was in a slightly bad mood as it's freezing cold today, so none of my ideas felt right. It's really, really cold. In my mind played the idea of something called When Hell Freezes Over, because that's what it felt like. The post in mind was a rant about things that annoy me, like being cold, and annoyed. Being annoyed annoys me a lot. Like, A. Lot!

I got off the bus and checked my mailbox. Usually there's nothing fun in it at all. It tends to be filled with flyers, and letters from the bank. But today there was a handwritten brown letter from the States. The name on it said the name of one of my Home Free Home Fry Friends, or Frie(nd)s.. All excited I opened it up and took out a small envelope with my name on it, inside was a card with the words "Thinking of you" on the front. This is what it said on the inside:


It sure put a big smile on my face!! A BIG smile!

I reached into the brown envelope to take out what else was in there. It was a Home Free Bottle Koozie, you know like a warmer/cooler for bottles. This one;




Yaaaay, I got a Home Free merchandise!! Of course, I already have my Home Free Travelers Mug (Best Mug Ever!), but more is always better when it comes to Home Free Merch! Obviously!

And then, then I turned the Koozie around. And I swear my heart stopped for a split second, because THIS is what I saw;


Yup! It's AUTOGRAPHED!! By all the Guys!! For real! (Please insert time for fainting right here!) Told you these Guys make you a total fangirl!

Seems silly to you? Just imagine getting the autographs of your biggest idols.

As I came inside I obviously Thanked my amazing Fry Friend right away, and while messaging back and forth with her I got an email from Patreon with the link to the Home Free Patron exclusive song, for reaching another milestone.

All in all! This day is now called When Hearts Defrosted! This gift means so much since I have no idea when I get to see them in real life. This will certainly help me until then.

Thank you again, Linda! You rock!

Love//
Home Fry Carina, a grateful fangirl

Sunday 22 February 2015

Music Sunday

So, this is my second post for the day. Here's the first one. Yeah, I know, but don't you just love it!

Since it's Sunday it is also time for another music video. Today's choice may have come your way before, you may or may not have checked it out when it has. I saw it pop up on my Facebook feed quite a few times before I actually looked at it. Of course it was late at night when I did, and so I ended up in the YouTube Hole. Once you fall into it it takes hours to get out. One video always lead to another and voilá, four hours later you find yourself still awake and the alarm will wake you up way too soon.

The good thing about the YouTube Hole is that you always discover new things, new artists, new songs. Or old songs and old artists.

Anyway, these two guys do a mash-up of two different songs. They sing one of the songs each, at the same time, and they blend them together perfectly. Not only is the mash-up done very well, their voices are amazing. I particularly love the voice of the guy on the right, Casey Breves, you should check him out on his YouTube channel, he's got some pretty good original songs there, along with a few covers, including a Whitney Houston medley. Yup, and it's good too. I hope and think we will hear more from him in the future. The guy on left, Sam Tsui, also has a great voice and is definitely worth checking out on his channel, as well, he's got a good mix of both covers and original songs there.

Hope you have had, or are having, a great Sunday!

Love//
Carina


My Dream of Writing

Did I ever mention I love writing? Yeah, I think I did. And I do. When I was a kid I dreamed of writing, like all the time. I was a blond, cute little tomboy who loved climbing trees, playing military, reading and painting. 

As soon as I learned how to read I spent as much time as I possibly could doing it. I read comics of all sorts and books, I preferred mysteries or crime. I read wherever I was, even at birthday parties if I could sneak away and hide in a corner somewhere. I had my nose in a book, a lot. And I dreamed about writing. How cool wouldn't it be to spend all of my time reading and writing? 

Of course, grownups told me differently. Writing was not cool, and it was not practical. It might be something you do in your spare time, if you have any. They told me to stop dreaming and live in the reality. I didn't like the reality, but I didn't really have a choice. And since it was always very hard for me not to get to write and dream full time, I stopped doing it all together. Sure, I still dreamed about a lot of different things, and from time to time even about becoming a writer, but that's all it was. Dreams. And dreams were just not supposed to come true. They were dreams. Not reality. Big difference. 

And so wrong. I knew it wasn't right, but who was I to say. Who was I to tell the grownups they had it all wrong. So I kept quiet. I spent the next 20 years or so hiding my dreams away. Until I finally came to realization that dreams are there as a guideline to your happiness.  

Still, looking back, the dream about writing was always lurking underneath the surface, and sometimes it would show itself. Looking back I realize that every time I moved in to a new home I had a vision of where I would sit and do my writing. I would even take that into consideration choosing a home. And sometimes I would start writing, but then reality caught up with me and I stopped. 

My dad had a bureau that I loved, not for how it looked, but because I could see myself sitting there, writing. As a child I told him I wanted it, every time I was there, and he told me that when he died it would become mine. Unfortunately, it is now mine. And, unfortunately, it is not here in Spain with me. It is in a storage room back in Sweden. I'm hoping this will be the year I will be able to bring it here. Because it is a part of me, and my writing, and my dream.

So, my breakthrough when it comes to writing came a few years ago, and then I got scared and stopped again. But now, finally, I am there. I am writing, I am putting myself out there. In the line of fire. And, no, I am not yet making any money doing it. But I know it is only a matter of time. 

As a step on my writing journey I've set up an account on Patreon. Patreon is a crowdfunding platform where fans can pledge any amount to artists they enjoy and would like to help out in reaching their dreams. In return the fan, Patron, gets a reward. And the pride and satisfaction of helping someone live their dreams. The pledge can be as little as you wish, even less than 1 dollar, or as big as you wish. It's all up to you. It is per month, so you will never be charged more than what you choose to pledge. You can at any time, up until the money is withdrawn from your account at the beginning of the following month, withdraw your pledge. You are not obliged to stay on as a Patron even a minute longer than you want to. Just cancel it, at any time. And come back, at any time. Change how much you pledge, at any time. It's all your choice.

As a Patron to several other artists I know that it works. I have tried it all. And I know that I personally love being a Patron, knowing that I make a difference in someone's life, and dream.

I would love and appreciate any support you want to give me, but even if you don't want to become a Patron you are more than welcome to check out my Patreon page. I will sometimes put some stories on there that I will not post here, for everybody to see. Of course, I will also put other stories on there that will be for Patrons alone to see. My first personal goal will be to bring my dad's bureau to me. To bring it home. To bring me home.

And, of course, any support is welcomed, even if all you can do is to follow this blog. I appreciate it all.

Love//
Carina


Thursday 19 February 2015

All About That Band

So, I love Home Free. I mean, I really, really love them. What's not to love? They are a bunch of good looking, funny guys with incredible talents, all around. They make me swoon, laugh, smile and sing. And I have made a whole lot of new friends through their music.

Home Free is a country a cappella group who won my heart about 6 months ago when I first stumbled upon the video of their rendition of Johnny Cash's Ring of Fire. The mix of the smooth tenors, the reggae beat, the deep bass and the fantastic arrangement got to me from the first listen. I spent that whole night looking at their videos, and other's videos of them (their Sing-Off performances and fan videos), and the following day, week, month  as well. I'm not kidding. I hardly slept at all that first month. They are completely, and totally addictive. I'm not alone in it, I know this much after speaking to my new found friends. I turned into a fangirl, at the age of 44. Maybe even more than I ever was in my teens.

Home Free is five guys, using only their mouths, making awesome music. The group was founded in 2000 by the brothers Chris and Adam Rupp, and 3 other guys. Over the years the other three guys have left and been replaced by bass singer Tim Foust and tenors Rob Lundquist and Austin Brown. Chris Rupp is the band baritone and Adam Rupp is the vocal percussionist, the beatboxer. The blend of them is out of this world, in my opinion, and so are the individuals. 

I will, over the next few weeks, introduce them each in individual posts, so I'm keeping this post dedicated to the whole band. 

Home Free used to sing at Fairs, Colleges and Cruise Ships, before they won the Sing-Off, season 4 in fall of 2013, on national television in USA. By doing so they were discovered by a broader audience, and they started to find their way into people's hearts all over America (now spreading to the rest of the world). They released their Crazy Life album about a year ago, an album that is still selling very well. After the Sing-Off tour they kept entertaining at Fairs and Colleges, with the difference that the audience now came out to see them, they didn't have to pull the people in anymore. During the fall of 2014 they went on their very first headlining tour, Crazy Life (although they actually didn't perform the title song, go figure), almost immediately followed by their second headlining tour, Full of Cheer; a Christmas tour named after their second album, Full of Cheer (and, yes, they did perform the title song on this tour). They were now singing in sold-out venues and even a sold-out arena in their home town of Mankato, Minnesota.

Even though they are an a cappella band, singing country style songs, people who have never before liked country or a cappella find themselves loving their music. There's just something about them!

Home Free have just finished recording their up-coming album, and a whole bunch of new videos, and are now on tour again. There doesn't seem to be an official name for this tour yet, so it unofficially goes under the popular name of the Spring Tour Tour by the fans (Home Fries). 

Speaking of videos, you can find a whole bunch of them on their YouTube channel as they have been releasing 1-2 new videos per month since the summer. They just released one a couple of days ago, but I am not going to share that one today. Instead I will share my favourite video. It is the amazing cover song/video of Meghan Trainor's All About That Bass. This video just won the 2015 Popcrush Fan Choice Awards for the Best Cover Song Performance, crushing their competition of big names like One Direction, Meghan Trainor, Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran. This hilarious video is directed, filmed, edited and developed by the talented Kristine Slipson, keep an eye out for her name as well.

After, or before, you watch this funny video, check out the original here. You see, it's not only a countrified cover of the song, but also a countrified cover of the video itself. And after you have watched them both, head over to Rachel Cheng's blog post where she compares the two videos side by side. It is really, very clever. And fun! Did I mention these guys have a great sense of humour?

I hope you enjoy it!

Love//
Home Fry Carina, a fangirl



Wednesday 18 February 2015

Fiction; The End


It’s been eight years to the day since Simon had passed away. Ruth was sitting outside a restaurant by the beach, in a town on the Sunny Coast of Spain, thinking back to that very day.

The sun had hardly risen over the horizon when she heard a big thump in the kitchen. At first she had thought nothing of it; it was probably just Simon dropping something. He had been getting a bit clumsy lately, constantly dropping things. Ruth put it down to old age. After all, they weren't youngsters anymore, even if they weren't all that old either, at least not in their own minds.

After a few minutes she noticed the silence. Normally, she would hear his slipper dressed feet lightly dragging in short steps over the floor, a cupboard door opening or closing, water running or even heavy sighing going on. But there was nothing. Only silence. Ruth called his name, but the only answer she got was more silence.  She called again, a bit louder this time. Still nothing but silence.
Ruth rolled over on her side, to get in position to get out of bed. Even in her worry she noticed the smoothness of the clean, crisp sheets she had made the bed with only the night before. She put her feet over the edge and got up to a sitting position. She stopped for a few seconds to catch her breath before she called out her husband’s name yet again.

 -   Simon?!

There was still only silence echoing her call.

Normally his name felt like fresh peach juice in her mouth; sweet, full and tasty, but at this particular moment it tasted more like sour grape fruit juice. Tart and nasty.

Ruth used her strong will, and her love for the man she had spent the last 41 years with, to get up walking. She had an urge to run, but the complications after her hip surgery, made it impossible. When she reached the kitchen door she stopped, took a deep breath, and braced herself. She knew, but yet she had no idea, what to expect. For a split second Ruth felt confused.

Simon was on his back on the floor, blood slowly running from the left corner of his mouth, he didn't move a muscle, but his grey eyes moved to look at her face, searching for her eyes.

 -  Simon! Ruth screamed. - Oh, Simon!

She felt tears rising through her body, all the way from the pit of her stomach. She fell on her knees, hip completely forgotten, and gently caressed his cheek. She looked straight into his eyes and all her fear and sadness suddenly left her. All she felt was the deep love she had for this loving and caring man. She remembered the sparkle in his eyes the time he had brought her that ticket to go see her favourite band live; and the love and fear in them when he had gone down on one knee after that very concert to propose to her. She saw the love for her, for their three children and the joy of their grandchildren. She saw all the laughs and tears they had shared. The good times and the bad times. She saw their whole lives together. She saw it all in his eyes. She felt it deep within.

 -  I love you with all my heart and soul! Ruth said quietly as she saw the life in those same, loving eyes go out. 

Simon was gone. Just like that.

As Ruth sits there, remembering, she feels grateful. Grateful she got all those years with Simon. Grateful she had experienced true and deep love in her life. Grateful that Simon had died knowing her love for him. It’s been eight years, but it felt like 88. It wouldn't be too long now before she would join him, the doctors had said, but until then she was determined to enjoy life to the fullest.

Ruth took a deep breath, looked up at the warm, bright sun; smelled the saltiness of the Mediterranean Sea, and ordered a cold beer. As she took her book off the table she could hear the waves hit the beach, and the people around her talk and laugh. Life!

 - Soon, Simon, soon! She whispered; and she smiled. 


Written by Carina Lindberg



Sunday 15 February 2015

Music Sunday

It's Sunday. I love Sundays here in Southern Spain, on the Costa del Sol, because (more or less) all the shops and supermarkets are closed. The only places open are restaurants and bars. Sundays are days of leisure, of resting and of catching up with yourself and your family. Some people find this stressful, but I think it's fantastic, and I think it should go back to being this way everywhere. There's too much stress in the world today. To me Sundays have become a day of nurturing my inner peace. And I think we all need more of that.

Anyway, one of my all-time favourite films out there is Pitch Perfect, and as most of you know, there is a sequel coming in May. Until then, we can all re-watch and re-listen to this video and song. This video speaks to me, as it is about following your heart and dreams, it's all about nurturing yourself.

Have a great Sunday, everyone! I'll see you next week!

Here's Cups (When I'm Gone) with Anna Kendrick from Pitch Perfect.

Love//
Carina


Saturday 14 February 2015

Happy Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day is an important day for a lot of people, even though I don't think of it in any other way than I think of most days of the year. And however way you think of this day is good, as good as the way you think of it makes you feel good. If you get anxious or sad or depressed you need to re-evaluate what this day means to you, and why. 

The reason I don't think this day is any more special than most days is because I celebrate love every day of the year. In one way or another. Not only the love in my relationship, but the love in all my relationships. To me it's not about big gestures, but about the small acts of every day. And not only to people, but to everything around me. My job, my cats, my things and most importantly, myself.. 

So, today, I am taking it easy, except for a quick try on my rower when I had set it up. I am doing some writing, because it's love to me, I am listening to Home Free, because it's love to me, I am resting, because my body is tired after a week when I slept bad (I usually don't sleep enough when I work the late shift two weeks in a row). It's all good. I enjoy doing nothing. And I enjoy my time writing. And I will certainly enjoy my time rowing, as well.

Anyway, off track a bit. 

I really just wanted to say HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY, and remind you to celebrate your love every day, not just today. 

Today's choice of music brings you the incredibly talented Peter and Evynne Hollens. This is a cappella. This will give you goosebumps. And we love goosebumps, don't we! 

Walk in love, friends!

Love//
Carina




Thursday 12 February 2015

Far Away Land

Ok, so bear with with me here. This is the first poem I've written in, well, 500 hundred years or so. I'm not even sure it is any good, but I still like it, and that's really all that matters. And a girl's gotta start somewhere. I don't know if I will keep working on poems, or if I will just stick to my short stories/flash fiction. Time will tell, hopefully I'll do A Litte Bit Of Everyting. (See what I did there, Home Fries?) Anyway, here it goes;



Far Away Land


In the distant dream he held my hand - and he whispered he’d take me to a far away land.


With the desire of bodies entwined together - a place made of passion - to live forever.


Where the touch of each kiss, is a deep, truthful bliss.
And the look of an eye will make sure you don't die.


In this land far away, a place where few get to go.
There’s a love that is deeper than a mountain of snow.
And there’s this warmth in this land that melts every heart.
With the promise that not even death will do love apart.


Oh, it hurts deep within and I start to scream - the far away land is now forever a dream.
Parted by death - too early, too soon - our far away land is as far as the moon.


But in my distant dream – in the far away land –
He whispers:

“My love, I’m still holding your hand
In this place made of passion – we will live forever.

Our souls – entwined – by our love – together.


By Carina Lindberg


So, did you finish reading it? What do you think? Please, tell me your honest opinions, they will help me grow and learn.

Oh, and did you see the story I published on My Patreon page the other day? It's public and for free, so head on over there and have a look. 

Love//
Carina

Wednesday 11 February 2015

Exercise Is Joy With An Exercise Toy!

I love exercising! I love how it makes my body feel and how it gives my brain some rest. Unfortunately, I love being comfortable and lazy more. So, I hardly ever exercise. Every spring and fall I start going for walks, sometimes it even grows into a little bit of jogging. For real! And I love that feeling. But then it gets too hot, or cold, to do it at a decent time of day, I use the word decent loosely here as it is really just down to my own laziness, and it runs out in the sand, so to speak. 

Also, I work different hours every week so it is impossible for me to the same thing, at the same time, on the same day, every week. That is both a good and a bad thing, because it would totally bore me if I could. 

I've been thinking about getting an exercise bike, or a home gym, but I just know I wouldn't use any of them. I love biking, but because it takes me places, and my knees usually don't agree with exercise bikes, and it wouldn't take me anywhere. I have a normal bike, but let's face it, I'm in Spain, people don't really know how to drive here. Seriously! I get scared riding it, and I can't ride it as fast as I would like too, anyway. I love the idea of a home gym, but I don't really like the kind of exercise you do in a gym, so I probably wouldn't use it beyond the first month, well week if I'm honest. If I had enjoyed doing gym exercises, I probably would actually join a gym. 

That's where it hit me, where my string of thoughts took me, that the only machine I have ever enjoyed using at a gym is the rower. When I think about going to the gym and it gives me a good feeling it is the rowing machine I think about. Not any of the other stuff you can do in a gym, but the rowing machine. The rower gives an excellent full body exercise, I can put it on my roof terrace, I love the movement of it,, it doesn't hurt my knees, I can do it at any time of the day without leaving home, I don't even have to do it for long sessions at a time for it to be useful. If I row when it is dark I can watch an episode of one of my favourite series, or my favourite YouTube videos, if I want to. 

So, last night I ordered one from Amazon. It is to arrive by Friday, maybe even on Thursday, and I'm really looking forward to it. I just know I will love it. This particular one I can also use for some gym-like exercises, if I want to. Or if my son or my boyfriend want to. It is not only about rowing with this one. 

This is what I'll be singing to the excess fat on my body;



I am going to put the rowing machine on my roof terrace facing the mountain. That will give me a fantastic view while rowing. I will post some photos once it is all set up. I will let you see what I get to see looking up at the village I looked down from last weekend. Meanwhile, here is a video of how you can use the rower I just bought. This video is a bit like it was made in the 80's, but hey, who cares! 

What do you think, would you use one of these?


Have a great day, y'all!

Love//
Carina





Monday 9 February 2015

A Cappella Won a Grammy

Well, not a cappella as a genre, but the most successful a cappella group in the world, Pentatonix (PTX in short), They won the GRAMMY for Best Arrangement, Instrumental Or A Cappella together with the fantastic arranger Ben Bram for their arrangement of this! Wow!! Remember, No Instuments are used! 

This talented group won the Sing Off a few years ago, the season before, although it was 2 years in between, my favourite group Home Free won it. This Grammy is important, it means a cappella is getting recognition in the music industry, and it means it's getting accepted. And since I am a fan of a cappella I think that is amazing.

I am not going to get more into it right now, but I'd like to share another Home Free video with you, this time it is an amazing cover of Johnny Cash' Ring of Fire, and joining the Guys of Home Free is bass singer Avi Kaplan from Pentatonix.

Make sure you have got some nice head phones on, because you need to feel, and hear, the bass.

Happy Monday!

Love//
Carina



Sunday 8 February 2015

Music Sunday

Every Sunday I plan on posting music that I like. I found these two young, extremely talented and cute sisters last summer, and I fell in love. It's been a while since I heard anything from them, but a few days ago they released this new video. They love what they do, and they love each other. And it shows. Have a look and a listen!


Love//
Carina





Friday 6 February 2015

My view this weekend!

My Sweetie and I are on our 5-year anniversary weekend. We're only 20 minutes away from where we live, but it's still away from home. This is the view from our hotel room balcony in the small, picturesque village on the side of the mountain. We have a view of this village from our own roof terrace. It's nice to look down instead of up for a change.

Fiction; The Memory of Laura

The smooth, deep voice hit Laura's ears like a car in full speed hits a brick wall. She couldn't see the person owning the voice, but she didn't have to. She knew who it was. She had hoped never to hear it ever again, at least not in real life. In her head she could hear it every day. And every night. There was no escaping it. A cold chill went through her, and she shrugged as the hairs all over her body stood straight up. She was too afraid to turn around and look at him. She didn't want him to see her. She didn't want to see him! Ever again! At this point she didn't think he had seen her, and she wanted to keep it that way. She was glad she had new clothes on, including the hat she had bought just yesterday. It was the type that goes down and covers your ears, and ties under your chin. It would make it more difficult for him to recognize her. 

Thank God for winter! Laura thought to herself, shivering.

The commute train came to a stop and Laura got off, using all her effort not to run or draw attention to herself. It wasn't actually her stop, but she needed to find safety. Fast! Her heart was beating full speed, like if it was trying to leave her. Like it was trying to get away from this body that knew him. As the train left the station Laura turned around and looked in through the window, not being aware that she did so until her eyes met his. All air left her and her knees weaken. Laura felt as if she had died. She almost wished she did.

After what felt like an eternity and yet only a second all at once, but what actually was about five minutes, a train came going the opposite direction of where she had been going. Laura got on it. Still in kind of a haze, with her mind all blurry, but she was in survival mode now, escape was the only thing on Laura’s mind. To get away from this place, from him.

She had done it before and she can do it again. 

- Steve, he found me, Laura said to the man on the phone. I'm leaving here, where can I go?

Steve was the clever, gentle and handsome agent from the witness protection department that had helped her get a new life after she had witnessed against her father in the murder trial. Laura had seen her dad first strangle her mom, then brutally rape her dead body before sawing it into tiny pieces. Laura had been tied up with her eyelids taped open so she wouldn't miss a thing. After he was done he had fallen asleep, drunk, and Laura had managed to escape, thanks to him leaving the saw he had used on her mother close enough for her to move the chair over there and saw the ropes around her wrists off. Since Laura and her mom had been on the run from her father for years before he found them, and since she had seen what she had seen, she was now in the witness protection program. Laura wasn't even her real name. She wasn't really a brunette under that new winter hat.

The police was never able to find her mother's body, so it was Laura's word against her dad's. And even though the cops believed her, the evidence wasn't strong enough, and her dad was a complete charmer when he needed to be, so the jury had not convicted him. They had loved him. Everybody did. Except for Laura. And maybe Steve The Agent.

And now, he had found her. 

She rushed down the street to the waiting taxi, with her rucksack on her back, pulling her biggest suitcase, Laura got instructions from Steve on what to do and where to go. She nervously looked around her and told the taxi driver to drive her to the Airport. A brief moment of safety came over her, but it disappeared as soon as it came. She was far from safe yet.

Laura woke up a few hours into the flight, and squeezed herself out of her seat by the window. She was in big need of the toilet right now.

Oh yes, there's no queue! she cheered in her head while approaching the open door. 

Maybe I can finally start feeling safe! Laura thought. No way her father knew where she had gone.

It was Laura's last and final thought in life. As she entered the toilet a tall, blond man came up from behind and pushed her in at the same time as he slit her knife with a sharp plastic book mark he had smuggled in through security check. 

- Sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite. He whispered in his smooth, deep voice, when he closed to door from the outside.

Before anybody had noticed he had left it, he was back in his seat again. The flight was about to land.

Nobody noticed Laura’s dead body until everybody had left the plane. It took a few hours before Steve found out. He cried for her when he was the only one attending her funeral. Laura never made any friends during her haunted life on the run. She had always been too afraid to get close to anybody.

No matter how scared and haunted someone on the run is, from now on I will always tell them to live their lives, to have fun, love and laugh, Steve decided while driving home. I'll do it as a memory of Laura.

/Love Carina

Thursday 5 February 2015

Writing is Joy! Creating is Fun!

One of my favourite things to do is to write. My dream is to write a book. And to make money writing. When I write I feel uplifted, and I breath easier. Not that I am having any problems breathing otherwise. It's just how it feels. It's how I feel. Writing is Joy! It's Love, and it's Hate! And it's Fun!

I am currently doing an online course in creative writing at The Writer's Bureau, I started it about 6 months ago, and I got stuck on my second assignment. Not the writing part of it, but a part where I am supposed to analyse publications before writing. That part is boring. And not all that easy as I live in a country where English is not an official language. Finding publications of the sort I need to find, in English, is, it seems, impossible. So, I have to find other ways to get what I need. And I will.

I am thinking about becoming a Creator on Patreon, as a Blogger and a Writer. I think I might do a series of flash fictions, for Patrons alone to read. If you have never heard about Patreon it is a wonderful place where creators of different kinds of art can share their work with their fans. The fans can choose to pledge a small, or big, amount of money in support and appreciation for a reward. It is a place of love between artist and fans. You should head over there and have a look for yourself. At the moment I am a Patron of Home Free, that did that awesome song and video I shared in my last post, and also my son Robin, who is an aspiring composer. Check them out, and help them out. Here is a link to one of my favourite songs by my son. He wrote this little piece for me, for my Birthday last year, and I love it.

I'm also writing on a book now. Actually, I started this particular book almost 5 years ago, but lost my inspiration and put it aside. Ever since it has been in the back of my head, puttering. It is written in Swedish, and I prefer writing in English, so I have just let it be. Until a couple of weeks ago when I bought this new laptop and the background when I started it up was a picture that shows exactly how my book begins. I dug out on my trip to Sweden 2 weeks ago, and I read it on a train ride. I sobbed my way through it. So, I will be busy in the future. Writing, Creating. Sobbing. Laughing. Loving my Life!

See you soon!
Love// Carina

Sunday 1 February 2015

Welcome to Carina's Joys of Life!

I have been wanting to create a new blog for a while now. It's been clear in my head what it should be about, and what I should write about and post on this blog, for some time. What has not been clear was the name. Which is quite funny since the whole time I've been thinking about this blog I've been thinking about it as my joys of life. That is what I will be sharing with you here. The Joys in my life. And still, the name didn't come to me. I'm sure I've thought about it, this particular name, and I think someone might even have suggested it to me. But it just didn't speak to me. And then, all of a sudden, there it was. THE NAME. And it feels just right. It's all about the state of mind and timing, I suppose. 

So, finally, here we are. 


I'm sure you are curious about what I will be sharing here. I'm anxious to get started so you ought to be anxious for me to start because it will be fun. 


I will be sharing some of my favourite things in the world. My favourite music, my favourite books, my favourite foods, my favourite moments, my favourite anything. Whatever makes me happy. 


I will write some flash stories for you to read, because I LOVE writing, and flash stories intrigue me. And they're short, very short. 


I will start out by sharing one of my favourite songs, by my all-time favourite band. You will be hearing a lot about them, but I assure you it is worth it. 


If you have not heard them before, let me introduce you to Home Free Vocal Band, also known as simply Home Free. They are a country a cappella group, meaning they don't use any instruments, although it is very hard to believe when you hear them. They do a lot of covers of all sorts of songs, not just country songs, and they put their own twist to them, but they also do original songs. You can tell that they love what they do in everything they do. 


They released a new video, to one of their original songs from their debut album Crazy Life, only a few days ago and it has a message that I love. Watch it, and let me know what you think. 


Until next time, remember to make someone smile everyday! :D