Khaled is our Swedish contact and the closest link to the world we once knew. He's from Uppsala and just graduated from U-WMilwaukee with his MBA. Khaled, along with his partner, at DK agencies set me and Fanta up with this opportunity.

 

They're trying to get American players, not just those on the National team, to come overseas and play professionally. Fanta and I are their first experiment.

 

Now Khaled doesn't know this, but Fanta and I have been counting the days until his arrival. Why? Because he promised to take us to his favorite Greek restaurant. But alas when the young man from Uppsala met us for lunch with our coach Magnus, he attempted to weasle his way out of the ordeal, sighting some problems with a cold.

 

He seemed perfectly healthy to me at the lunch, but then the next day we received emails describing a full body rash and temperatures of fatal proportions, which would deny him the opportunity to take us to dinner that evening.

 

I have never been stood up for a rash. This must be some European excuse; one that I'm not buying sweetcakes. And the longer you procrastinate with this cold business, the more dinners you'll owe us.

 

And in the case that you might actually be sick; then I'm just joking and hope you have a speedy recovery.

 

 

 

 

So my former assistant coach from Purdue is here staying with me for the next ten days, creating contacts and recruiting Swedish players.

 

And when I tell you this has to be the quickest planned trip I've ever seen, believe me, it is. I think I got about two weeks notice and then after that no flight No. or basic flight itenerary. Look at me, I sound like my parents. Anyway, on the day of her arrival I received a phone call from Finland.

 

"Sue what the heck are you doing in Finland?"

 

Thus began my true worry.

 

In all honesty I don't know how Sue made it to my doorstep. All she had was an address and a city. But yes, she's here, safe and sound. No luggage, but here nonetheless (it got lost somewhere in between Finland and Stockholm).

 

And I'll have you know that I have perfected my hostessing skills. I fixed up Sue's room and laid out towels and maps and tourist information. I cooked, I escorted. Anna was highly impressed with my presentation skills.

 

Poor Sue though. I believe they call it jetlagged. However, the concept does not apply when you arrive here in Sweden. You are to be carted around to meet everyone in the neighborhood. There are dinners and social obligations. community functions, kids running around, and things to be done. Sue's actually sleeping right now. So I'm being extra quiet as I press the keys on the computer so as not to wake her. Eventhough I think half the house could be bulldozzed and she wouldn't flinch.

 

And I tried to include a picture of my new guest, but she refused, sighting some nonsense about getting more beauty sleep before her picture was boadcast across the internet. I'll provide a glamour shot once she's had the opportunity to get her hair and makeup together.

 

So in closing, don't worry people, I'm taking good care of my new guest. All is well and she's still alive. Oh, and the luggage has arrived safe and sound. . .

 

Me and all the little kiddies in the neighborhood, along with some parents, went to see Star Wars at the movie theatre. I think there were about 10 or 12 of us all together, maybe more. We bought our tickets in advance. And here the tickets are like theatre tickets, they have assigned seats, which is kind of nice.

 

So we sat down and then an endless array of commercials started playing. 15 minutes later the curtains closed, only to reopen moments later, to signal the start of the actual previews and then the movie. So you see it was like a 30 minute introduction.

 

Anywho, they showed a preview for the Chronicles of Narnia, you know the Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe. I'm not even gonna lie, I was more excited about it than the kids. It comes out Dec. 21 and I guarantee I'll be there in the opening week.

 

Sorry I got a little sidetracked.. .where was I?

 

Yeah yeah, so the movie begins and I'm in a row with Oscar, Gustaf and Mats. And anyone who's ever seen a Star Wars movie knows how they start, "In a galaxy far far away. . . ". So the words start to scroll across the screen, "akdfja adskflaj asdkfl . . .".

 

NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!! (I start screaming to myself). I hadn't prepared for the onslaught of Swedish text.

 

Instantly, I'm leaning over my armrest begging Mats to translate; like when you're too young to read the subtitles on the screen and your parents have to whisper them to you. Thank god that was the end of the translation session. The rest was in English with Swedish Subtitles.

 

So the movie was pretty good in my opinion. A little romance, a little fighting, very little acting and a few stars. Good Hollywood fun. However, not all parties shared the same resolve. Oscar, 6, who had not anticipated the 2 1/2 hour campaign of sappy romance and politics, was less than amused with the film. He repeatedly climbed out of his chair and paced back and forth in front of his seat. He would then cling to his father's arm and make faces, asking when the movie was to end. He couldn't understand the English and had little use for the storyline. When the credits began to roll, he happily looked for his father's hand and skipped toward the exit. He was happy to leave.

 

But when he saw the excitement of the older boys, who were now running around outside pretending to have lazer fights with imaginary swords, Oscar somehow changed his opinion of the film and joined in on the hoorah. Suddenly, he turned into Dark Varder and looked like a boy who had just seen the film of his life.

 

It's ok Oscar, your secret is safe with me . . .for now (wink wink).