Expat Jon takes on the world (well... Sweden)

I must admit, I didn't think it would happen.  I thought I would always be the guy screaming from the "radical left" that America needs to get with the program but it will never happen because our government blah blah blah... Then I got the text from Swedie that it was official.  The Supreme Court had made it illegal to ban the marriage of homosexuals.  Just like that it was over.  You can't appeal higher than that.  A broad smile was plastered on my face.  I was ecstatic.  There was one less thing that foreigners could say about stuck-in-the-past America.  We did it.  We really did it!  I told Swedish people.  Most of them didn't even know that it wasn't allowed yet.  It's been legal here since 2009 (legally recognized unions since 1995, but the term "marriage" applied in '09).  To them it wasn't a big deal.  Whoop-dee-doo.  Welcome to modern times. I knew I was in favor of marriage equality.  I knew I su...

I was in that kind of mood today.  An Oldie Goldie mood.  I wanted to hear some songs that brought me back to Grandmother's house when the grownups had a great time in the den with the music blasting and all of the cousins made up games in the kids room.  Those were the days.  The music could be heard in the kids room and we loved all of the songs that were popular when my mom was a kid.  When I hear Al Green howling or Teddy Pendegrass aggressively commanding, I smile and reminisce.  Some Temptations or Isley Brothers songs take me back too, but nothing like those O'Jays. I know they're not the most popular group ever, but there's something about the O'Jays.  You probably know some of their songs and don't even know it's them ("Love Train", "For the Love of Money"and "Backstabbers" were hits).  They had a smooth groove to their music.  You could dance to it and marvel at the heavy, distinct voice of the lead singer Eddi...

I may be the most patriotic person that I know.  You know what, I take that back.  My boy Mike Jones is the most patriotic person I know.  He makes people take their hats off during the national anthem.  People he doesn't even know.  And sternly too.  Like it's not even a choice.        - Ma'am, take off your hat!  Show some respect. So yeah.  It's Mike Jones and then me.  I'm the second most patriotic person that I know.  My friends here think I'm brainwashed.  Bro-in-Law says that I would be considered a racist here if I said things about Sweden that I do about the US.  It is what it is.  I love my country.  I think my country is great. I was willing to die for my country.  Tears welled up in my eyes as I saluted B-1 bombers before they departed to demolish Iraq at the beginning of that unjust war.  I get chills as I think about that moment.  I get goosebumps when I hear "The S...

I do a lot of reflecting throughout each day.  A lot of it happens in the shower and ends with me shaking my head in disbelief.        -How could I have done something so stupid? Most of these shower moments are related to social situations.  I think back on them and wonder how someone with my social skills could embarrass myself like that.  I'm surprised that I don't reflect on situations that could have been really life altering.  Mistaking someone for pregnant isn't nearly as big of a deal as accompanying a home invasion/assault with a pistol, but somehow I get more chills thinking about the former. There are things I've done in the past that could have gotten me in huge trouble.  Each time it's something easily avoidable.  But like most young men, I thought I was invincible.  I'm lucky that premise wasn't tested.  Now I'm older and wiser and less inclined to go on an adventure.  There's one instance in the past t...

My overall feeling about my very young stand-up experience is encouraging.  People laugh when I tell jokes on stage.  That's a good sign.  I think I have the luxury of having felt like I've been on stage my entire life.  My family is full of funny storytellers.  Every time I'm home, my aunt asks me to tell a funny story that she's heard before.  She laughs every time.  Different people are around every time.  I began to learn to pull the humor out and time the punchlines of the story just right.  It's almost like stand-up comedy boot camp.  The main difference is the real audience.  These family members and friends didn't come over expecting one person to make them laugh.  Plus, my aunt is setting up the jokes.  Stand-up is normally one person setting the jokes up and following through on them.  Lots of responsibility. My first sets went well.  Last night was my tenth time out and it may have been my best. ...

I consider myself a tipper.  Not an especially big tipper, but I am generous when good service comes my way.  It's always been a part of my personality.  If a person takes that extra effort to make my experience better, then they deserve a few extra bucks.  I like the system in the US for tipping.  It sounds messed up on the surface.  Service employees make below minimum wage (normally around $2.10 per hour), which is supposed to be the incentive for that employee to work extra hard and be extra nice to get 15% of your check.  I knew the game and I played the game.  Any good service deserves my money.  As a matter of fact, if I'm just satisfied with my service I give 20% (partly because the math is easier).  You blow my mind and I really  hook you up!  Swedie has told me to chill out before.        - She was good Jon but calm down with that. The system doesn't work like that in Sweden.  In Sweden se...

Now that Bash has started day care, we want to be sure to keep the schedule.  Eventually he should figure out that weekdays are when we will drop him off with those other kids and those nice ladies and then weekends are when he gets to have Mommy and Daddy all day.  I knew this would happen. My mom used to have a day care.  I saw it every day.  I never thought about it from the parents' perspective though. Leaving Bash every day is tough.  I'm glad I'm able to do it every morning because I think it would be extra difficult for Swedie.  He's a very happy kid normally.  That's not the case when I drop him off, though.  As soon as I say, "Bye Bash" and head for that door, he breaks down into real sobbing.  It makes my heart heavy.  I know he is in good hands.  It's just that I know that I can't explain that to him yet.  He doesn't get the concept of Daddy coming back.  He just gets that Daddy is leaving.  And technical...