I am back in Sweden. I walked off the plane at Arlanda and was greeted by drab gray skies (it was in the 90s and sunny before I left in Greeley), a concrete building right next to the plane (which just added to the gray really) and a people that thinks it’s ok for men to wear Capri pants (it’s not for those of you straddling the fence on this issue).
After taking the requisite public transportation back I walked into a somewhat stinky apartment. Due to a various reasons, one being the decaying plants that I neglected and the other a fish.
Now I consider myself a half-way intelligent person. I read a lot. I did well in school. I can carry on a conversation about most things without sounding like an ignorant lout. But sometimes I make some choice that I look back on and wonder about.
The day I left Sweden I made one of those choices. Instead of flushing the fish down the toilet or trying to find someone to take care of it while I was away I came up with a brilliant little scheme. I put it in the bathtub. Full of water of course. And lots of food. I had been plotting this before I left and was dreaming up little contraptions that would be hooked to an alarm clock that would feed Poseidon every day. Then I remembered that I am not an engineer. And rely on my brother to fix my computer whenever something goes wrong.
So instead I bought a bunch of slow release food and normal fish food and just tossed them in. I gave Poseidon the proverbial slap on the ass and sent him on his way. I expected fish bones when I got back. But Poseidon is hearty and he lived through the ordeal. Kind of a strange reddish color that has since faded after getting fresh water and some fresh food. A little haggard but better for the experience I’m sure.
The smell was coming not from a dead fish but instead the nasty fish poop clouded water in my bathtub. Nothing a quick rinse out and shower couldn’t fix.
And so here I am. Back in Stockholm, Sweden, still searching for something. But at least the fish is alive.
Welcome back to Sweden.
Welcome home
ReplyDeletethanks
ReplyDeleteWelcome back! err wait, I'm in the US, so I guess it would be... good riddance?
ReplyDelete;)
not nice jd.
ReplyDeletegross, can't believe the fish lived!
finally :)))
ReplyDeletetell me about sweden and the USA in comparison :P
@jd - well said.
ReplyDelete@anonymous - seriously. that fish was not messing around.
@costin - indeed. and the comparison between the US and Sweden is enough to write a book about. but stick with me because who are we kidding, thats what most of this blog is about.
but I will say it is very obvious that Im in a different country again. living here has opened my eyes a bit more to all the differences that I never paid much attention to when I was just visitng for a little while.
Welcome Back!
ReplyDeleteThanks. And welcome back to the blog everybody.
ReplyDeleteI'm amazed-as I told you at the time, I was sure little Poseiden would quite dead when you got home. Afterall, I can't keep them alive in a clean well aerated tank. Well done!
ReplyDeleteI expected to come back to fish bones to be honest... and yet I still put him in the tub.
ReplyDeletethe funny thing is that in the US I have a hell of a time keeping fish alive in my fish tank. maybe I need to take a more laissez-faire approach and let them fend for themselves in a huge tub of water.
although I must say, Poseidon (who is a Beta) looked haggard. Just kind of tired looking. And very red. He's usually blue. Although, in a testament to biology and fish, after a full day in fresh water and regular feeding he's already blue again.
Finally a post! And it was a funny post with a happy ending (eventually).
ReplyDeleteit's true. I was pretty pumped that he was still alive. and amazed. its crazy how resilient some things are.
ReplyDelete