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Weekends just go too damn fast. No matter how relaxed I try to be about them, they zip right by. Here it is Sunday evening already. Sigh.

Sweden is being very Sweden-spring-like right now. We've run the gamut of weather today: sun, clouds, rain, snow, hail, wind, back to sun. The hail came pounding down and was bouncing off the grass. Martin took a video for me.

I took the last little fish over to the neighbor's today and left it a bowl. Turns out they don't have an aquarium full of little tropical fish...they have a huge aquarium full of rather large, dangerous fish: a mini-shark, a giant angelfish, etc., who Jessika said would consider our tiny Tetra as a snack. She said her brother has an aquarium with little fish so maybe he would be willing to come get it. I hope so, but now it's no longer my problem (unless she brings him back, in which case, he will live in a flower vase or something) because I have already emptied the fish tank.

All the gravel has been cleaned and is drying on the counter, prior to being bagged and stored. I will clean the tank itself this week, hopefully and scrape it thoroughly. Then Anders will move the whole shebang back up to the attic. Maybe the kids will want an aquarium some day. It's sort of sad, but I'm glad to not have it weighing on my conscience.

Did my U.S. taxes today and was disturbed to realize that because of the exchange rate, I made nearly $12,000 less than I made last year, even though my salary in Swedish kronor was approximately the same. Having to file U.S. taxes is so aggravating. I still have to do FBARs but I have until the end of June for that. We actually have tax bills for BOTH kids this year, even though it's like a dollar that they owe. It's something to do with their savings funds, Anders told me, as I couldn't figure out why either of them would owe taxes to begin with.

I can't wait until the stupid U.S. election is over with. I can't take much more of this level of completely idiocy. It's making the idea of renouncing citizenship slightly more palatable, I can tell you. Especially if the unthinkable happens and Americans actually elect Trump. Please tell me that won't happen. Please?
mood: calm
music: Poema—Enough Messing Around


Perhaps it's just wishful thinking but I feel as if Trump fever has cooled ever so slightly. Our primary is this Tuesday and all the press makes it sound like there won't be any surprises, like everyone just wants to coast to the convention. I really wish the whole election cycle could be whittled down to three months or less, everyone is so tired of it all at this point it's hard to be enthusiastic about any part of it.

How long did you have fish for?

We had fish for FOREVER. At least that's what it felt like. We've been in this house for 14 years, and I think we've had them most of it. High time to get them gone!

And if Trump fever is cooling, WHY IS HE STILL LEADING??

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We had snow last night - we couldn't believe it, but there it was. This is starting to get crazy.

I hope your fish find a home. Your neighbour is quite right in that a tetra is just a snack for her fish. We had a big aquarium with freshwater tropical fish, but never the neons, as pretty as they are. They'd never have been compatible with our selection of gouramis, red tailed sharks, clown catfish, angel fish and cherry barbs.

Ugh on the taxes - always a pain no matter which country you are in. A double pain for you as you file in two countries.

The US election circus is certainly full on. I'd hate to actually live there and have it shoved at me everywhere. I was vaguely amused by Trump standing in the beginning, figuring he'd provide a soundbite or two worth a good laugh. But people are voting for him. That I really did not expect. But then people voted for Bush. More than once...

Damn it. I've tried another link, we'll see if it works.
Ugh on the taxes is right. It's actually not the tax part that is such a pain, it's the bank reporting that is a nightmare. Except that I'm required to file taxes for a country that gives me NO REPRESENTATION.

Snow here too (Scotland), just showers of snow & hail but lots of them, & more forecast tomorrow. If Trump gets elected... I don't even want to finish that sentence! My nephews aged 11 & 13 have already declared they will come to live with their Scottish cousins, wise young Americans that they are! My sister became a citizen so she could vote there but I think she was hoping for more than joke candidates.

It's been sleeting and snowing and absolutely FREEZING cold here all day. Spring, where have ye gone??

They're all kind of joke candidates, aren't they? Depressing.

From Megsie

Your ditching the fish? It is a relief, that is for sure! We still have a tank in the basement--just in case--but it probably will either go home with a kid some day, or will be given away.

This election is interesting isn't it? I am embarrassed that Trump is getting votes and winning delegates. It is scary. Bush was bad, but this is so much worse. I will be interested to see how it all pans out. I don't do much thinking about the election until September, but I hope by then all the crazy people will be weeded out.

Re: From Megsie

YOu have a tank in the basement? Are you down there a lot to enjoy it? If our tank hadn't been in plain sight, I would have probably gotten rid of it much earlier!

From Megsie

Oh, the tank is EMPTY. It is in storage. Again, may I repeat: EMPTY. Gah!

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