The Kings of Convenience are coming...

...to Umeå, that is. Erlend and Eirik are not making any forays into Stockholm this time, but I'll keep my fingers crossed. If they do come here during the spring, I will have to use my charms on Tord and see if I can convince him to see them with me.

For those of you who aren't familiar with the Kings of Convenience, they are a fantastic Norwegian duo whose music I fell for around two years ago. The first song I ever heard by them was "I'd Rather Dance with You". I was in Vienna at the time, celebrating my birthday and enjoying a change of scenery. I liked the song so much, I went out and bought their "Riot on an Empty Street" CD. Fantastic album! Loved it so much, I bought "Quiet Is the New Loud".

Whenever I start a new writing project, I make a playlist of music to listen to as I write. Songs by the Kings of Convenience have figured prominently in the last two playlists I've stored on my iPod.

Well, I will keep my fingers crossed and hope they come to Stockholm soon. If they don't, well hey, maybe I should just go to Umeå? Nah, who am I kidding? I'm a wee bit too lazy to go to Umeå just for a concert. And yet--just a few days ago, I was considering going all the way to Copenhagen to see Neil Young until I found out that only tickets available cost 350 Euros. I like Neil Young but not that much. Hell, I don't like any band enough to pay that much for a concert.

So as I write this I am listening to my iPod and flipping between Word and Blogger. I am trying to write a new scene for my latest project and listening to Robyn sing "Bum Like You". Maybe I'll skip forward to the next Kings of Convenience song in the playlist... I think the next song on the playlist is something by the Police... yup, "Can't Stand Losing You" but I am not in the mood for it. KoC's "I'd Rather Dance With You" is calling me...

Right, time to get back to work on my novel...

It's January...did you make any resolutions?

A long time ago I decided I would stop making resolutions at the start of every year. Why? I never keep them. Or I forget I made them. Or I decide they were stupid resolutions to begin with and find something far more interesting to do instead.

This year I haven't made any resolutions. Instead, I have simply decided to continue with what I started last year. So what did I decide last year? Well, I decided to take up my Italian lessons again--a wise decision, I think, since I really enjoyed studying Italian and Tord and I spend so much time there. I have already looked into lessons and found some that start in two weeks.

Something else I decided last year was to repaint my hall. I was supposed to start painting a week ago but I spent more time running errands than picking up paint. I've got it pencilled in my calendar now--buy paint on Monday--and the hall will be a lovely shade called "oregano"--ooh, still Italian. Do all roads lead to Italy?

Next on my list, finish the first draft of 2007's Nanowrimo novel. That should be done fairly soon. I like the story, even it's a bit schmaltzy. I don't care. As I said in a previous post, I like pop fiction and I like love stories--even the sappiest ones can make me happy. Will this road lead to Italy--well, there is a writers' conference there in September...mayhaps I will have it revised in time for it...?

Other decisions from last year...? Yeah, the driver's license decision. Still haven't got far with that one. Could be that I have developed motion sickness lately. I feel nauseous when I am in a car too long so maybe it's better traveling by foot or public transport. We'll see... :)

What else...? I have started ridding myself of clothes I never wear anymore. No point in keeping them if they've been hanging in my closet for more than two years and I have never worn them. Going to get rid of some shoes I no longer like or wear anymore, plus some old bags I bought many moons ago and have more than served their purpose. Out they go. Ditto goes for anyone and anything that makes me feel negative. Out they go. I don't have time for putting up with that anymore.

Anything else...? Ah yes, start treating myself to massages, manicures and pedicures more often. That should be easy to continue with. I deserve it.

Right--next decision--must stop writing this now because it's soon time to start preparing dinner. And Tord has requested corn-fed chicken roasted in butter, onions, lemon, garlic and a wee bit of olive oil. I made it yesterday. He loved it so much, he wants it again. No problem. It's easy as pie!

Off I go! No resolutions, just continuing with everything from last year.