Monthly Archives: August 2008

The climbing of a mountain.

Posted on by Tomas Halberstad
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I have climbed a mountain. I have!
In an attempt to combine business with pleasure, all though I don’t know which is business and which is pleasure… Allow me to explain: What I did was do two things, or try to do two things; I was going to train by power walking up a mountain and then after I had descended and were on my way home was going to go to the post office to pick up a package. Now, I don’t train for business and it’s certainly not pleasurable and there is no pleasure in going to the post office…

Let’s start over.

One could say that I killed two birds with one stone… or at least I tried to do that. I had no ID with me. No ID, no package. So I killed one bird with one stone while I was trying to kill two. All in all a not very successfull venture.

The mountain I climbed was Ramberget. (A translation of todays pronunciation of Ramberget would be Mountain of frames but the first part of the name, Ram, actually should be pronounced with a short A, instead of the long one now used and then becomes a developed pronunciation of the old word Ravn which means Raven. The mountain is then Raven Mountain. I’ve learnt this from Public Service Television!)
Before you diss my climb, do it yourself!

Set sail, haul anchor and boat stuff…

Posted on by Tomas Halberstad
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In order to keep interest up I have to revise my post from yesterday, or if not revise my post than some, or one, of the claims I made in it.  

I said that I later would tell a tale of how I circumnavigated an Island. It now seem as though I was premature in my statement, not having all the facts because truth is: my tale, and reality, will be about how I circumnavigate, not one, but many a islands!

So until I have more time then the time to write post like this one: Hurrah!

I’m Mr. Boombastic.

Incoherent ramblings.

Posted on by Tomas Halberstad
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It feels likes there’s so much going on but nothing to tell. School is about to start, I am working on the Anger or stuff for it and then we have my training. Everything is in a bit of a blog hiatus. 

Music wise I think I can present something to you all sooner than later. Rob and I have a 6 point list of things to do before we are completely ready to do so and even though I, in completing the list, rely on some other people I think it all will come together soon.

In training I’m still in a bit of a slump. I feel tired and a bit worn out. The exercises bike down in the exercises room is broken. My mountain bike need a look over, something about the gears and the back brake. My shins hurt a bit when I run or stress them too much. The only form of exercises relay available to me right now is power walking. Not exactly hurrah. I did it today though. If you have something to thing about that helps. I might try to solve some problem. Anybody got a problem they want solved?

My beloved Arsenal took the easy root to UEFA Champions league last night. Crushing Twente with 4-0. Tonight at 1800h cet the draw for the group stage takes place. I’m hoping for the Cypriot team.

The fact that Cyprus has a team in the play offs and Roumania has two says a whole lot about the state of Swedish football (or what ever that degenerated style of ball kicking is called). Add to that the fact that there weren’t even a Swedish team in the third round qualifier and your given, and adding, insult to injury.

That’s about it.

Tonight Camilla and I are finally going to see Batman -The dark knight. I hope it’s as good as everybody says. I’m just afraid of the fact that when everybody says that it’s good it rarely is. I guess it has to do with expectation.

All day, every day.

The Anger gets a meeting.

Posted on by Tomas Halberstad
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Had a meeting with Rob O today. Since we’re done with The Anger, the album of mine which we’ve been working on for a while now, we need to figure out how to move on. When I say finished I mean we are done writing, recording, producing, mixing and mastering it. What we have to decide is how to present it to all of you and how all of you, as a mass, will become as large as possible. I want everyone to hear this album. I think it’s really great… of course I do, I’ve written it.

Ok. Got to go. It’s half time between Arsenal and Twente in the UEFA Champions League 3:rd round qualifier. Arsenal are up 1-0 which means 3-0 on aggregate. Hasn’t been the best of games. Hoping to see some hungry substitutes come on in the second half.

All right!

BOOOOOOOM!

Not easy.

Posted on by Tomas Halberstad
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I don’t know if inline riding looks easy, if it does, it ain’t. So instead of saying that inline riding isn’t as easy as it looks I’ll stick to saying that inline riding ain’t easy.

Camilla and I just came back from a test run of our new equipment (spoken about on a post below). I think we’ll have to leave the poles at home for a while and instead concentrate our efforts on finding balance and learning how to stop properly. It’s going to take a couple of tries but that’s ok. We’ll get there when we get there.

Diversity is the key.

Posted on by Tomas Halberstad
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I really think that, for me, diversity is the key to keep on going, and not giving up, with my whole work out thing. To do different kind of activities over the days and weeks help me stay motivated. It’s more fun and I don’t always know whats in store effort-wise, which is a good thing since my mental ability to push myself isn’t the greatest; if I know how tough a work out is going to be it has happened from time to time that I’ve given up.

So in line (pun intended) with these thoughts Camilla and I today went out and bought our selves each a pair of inlines. Not only that we also bought pads for our knees, elbows and wrists and I bought a pair of poles (there weren’t any in Camillas size, we’ll get them later.

I got my self a pair of CC SP700, depicted here below. A decent pair of entry-level fitness inlines.

Now we just wait for the good weather than off we go!

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Type-casted.

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This story suggests that “At least three people have been arrested in the US over an alleged plot to kill US Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama“.
A Swedish newspaper continues with publishing pictures of two of the arrested men. 

Now it might be that I have seen too many episodes of The Simpsons, and in particular this character, but wouldn’t you think that if there were some people wanting to kill the first man of colour having a true shot at the White House they would look exactly like the guys below, and I’m not judging by appearance, I’m just saying…

And by the way: the guys below are the actual guys arrested. 

Tharin Gartrell och Nathan Johnson är två av de gripna männe

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Two days of rest and clean underwear.

Posted on by Tomas Halberstad
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First let me explain the latter part of this posts headline.

One of the greatest feelings in the world is this one: You’ve been out for an hour of training. You’ve done your stretches. You’ve taken your shower and then it happens. You get a clean pair of underwear on. I don’t know what it is about that feeling. I think it, the dressing act, really points out to you that you’re done for the day. No more training, no more must do activities. Just calm and rest. I love that feeling. Ad to that an oversize t-shirt and a pair of shorts, preferably loose fitting, and your off. You can walk around your home and just kick it. Super!

Ok. Two days of rest? Yes! My legs are pretty beat up. I haven’t rested for more than one day at a time any time this month (doing my train for three days then rest for a day thing). Today Camilla and I were out running intervals. That could be one of the reasons why I’m so done for. It was the hardest workout I’ve had in my short work out career.

Still; do not feel at all happy for me for taking a couple of days off. It’s not like I won’t have anything to do. Tomorrow for instance I have been ordered to clean the bathroom… thoroughly!

Crap… In more ways than one.

Third week of training done…

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So it’s been three weeks. Have no idea if it’s starting to show and to be honest with you I don’t feel it all that much. I guess I’ve reached my first slump. This might be because of a lot of things but mainly I think it’s because of food, or eating. 

A couple of post down I mentioned that Anna and Andreas were moving out and Camilla and I went to dinner at their place, I also mentioned that my sister Angela had a birthday. Well, at the first event I ate too much home made pizza, drank beer and had too much candy. At the second event I had a Vanilla Brioche. Not good.

It’s not like I’m going to stop eating things that I find delicious but the first events excess in candy which the second event built on was not a good combo. Had I just had some candy it wouldn’t have been half bad. This is what I have to work on; the food part. September is going to be tough.

Still, there is a whole week until then and I won’t start obsessing just yet. I have plans for what I am going to do. How hard I’m going to do it depends on what the scales say on September 3:rd.

Fat cat eats a rat then fat cat becomes more fat!

Post Punk of Country reu(o)nion!

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We had a party. This is in reference to this. I did not have my camera at home. It was with Camilla in London. All the pictures on this post are courtesy of Lars-Martin and his mobile phone.

I’ve talked a bit about the party here. Now to the pictures.

I’ve decided that in order to see how the evening developed we should follow bass-man Anders on his escapades.

First off: Anders came to the party. I have no picture of this but I can tell you that he sat down in the sofa and started to watch a football match. Then he went to sleep:

Anders had been out partying the night before and the football match obviously wasn’t to his liking.

Anders then found my bath tub. This must have been around 2200h or 2300h. As I’ve previous mention Anders and Lina (his girlfriend) have left the Gigantic Rock ship. In doing so they left their, for Anders at least, beloved bath tub. Anders used to take baths three or four times a week.

He asked me if he could use mine. Which he could. So he dropped of the partying for a while:

We then proceeded to party, talk and listen to music with me eventually, due to my extreme weight, broke a lawn chair just sitting on it.

Anders then went home:

Anders has said, in a text message, that he will arrange the next, and therefore second Punk of Country reu(o)nion. He’d better or else he’ll never use my tub again!

Do you hear that!?

NEVER!!!!!!

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A sad day…

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Fulham 1-0 Arsenal

By Phil McNulty

Brede Hangeland celebrates putting Fulham ahead against Arsenal

Brede Hangeland’s first-half goal gave Fulham their first win of the season against a disappointing Arsenal.

The giant defender stabbed in Jimmy Bullard’s cross from close range after 21 minutes.

Emmanuel Adebayor headed Bacary Sagna’s cross against the post shortly afterwards, but Arsenal rarely turned possession into clear chances.

Bobby Zamora almost added a second after the break as Fulham’s commitment earned a deserved three points.

BBC SPORT | Football | Premier League | Fulham 1-0 Arsenal

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Last supper at Anna & Andreas place.

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Seems like every body’s jumping ship. First it was Anders & Lina and now it’s Anna & Andreas.

In 1992, at 13 years of age, my mother and I moved back to my native Orust after 5 years in Göteborg. We moved to a small community called Varekil. Since then, 1992, Andreas and I, apart from one and a half years, June of 1998 to April of 2000, have lived very close to each other.

In 1992 we both lived in Varekil, in 1993 Andreas got an apartment in Uddevalla and in 1994 I moved very near by. Then in 1998 I moved to Göteborg while Andreas stayed in Uddevalla for a year and a half more before he in April of 2000 moved to Church Village and I moved there in May.

I can also mention that we have since 1992 attended the same schools then worked at the same place (until January of this year, 2008, when I started to study).

But all good things must come to an end. Andreas and his pregnant girlfriend Anna and there child Elin need a bigger place some they decided to move and in that decided to build a house and to do that on our native Orust.

So yesterday we had a kind of moving away dinner. Camilla and I went there for home made pizza and lots of candy (Andreas has the same quality as I when it comes to buying just the right amount of candy, the right amount being way too much). 

It was a nice calm sugar rushing affair.

Next time we will go to Anna & Andreas for dinner it will be at there house. All my friends are growing up so fast. Feels like I’m growing down.

Happy Birthday Angela!

Posted on by Tomas Halberstad
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One of my sisters (I have two, that I know of) has her birthday today so congrats to her. Hipp Hipp! Normally I would post a picture along with a birthday text but all of my pictures of Angela is in my other computer, my PC. I am going to transfer them over to my Mac as soon as I get myself a external HD.

But let’s not take anything from Angela. Today is her day (all though we celebrate it tomorrow and tomorrow I’m going to post some pictures, or a picture).

Hurra! Hurra! Hurra!

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A gun-man at NK?

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Nothing much happened today. Nothing but one thing.
Camilla and I went in to town to buy some necessities. We took the tram into town before getting our morning coffee so we decided to have a coffee at Espresso House at NK. 

Well there, sitting in the lounge chairs facing the Östra Hamngatan entrance, he walked in: Seb Larsson, the Swedish international in football.

Sweden had played France at Nya Ullevi the night before, a match which Sweden lost 2-3 but who cares, so I guess Seb had stayed over a night in Göteborg and now had the urge for some shopping, if not him then maybe his girlfriend who accompanied him.

Now I’m not normally starstruck, and it’s not like I ran over to him asking for an autograph today, but fact is that before Seb, who now plays his club football for Birmingham, did that, he played for Arsenal and though he did not quite cut it when he got his chances at first team football (mainly I think that was because he got his chances at left back and Seb is a midfielder) it’s something to see a Gunner in the flesh.

Kind of makes me regret that I didn’t go to Nya Ullevi to watch the meaningless friendly. On the pitch and on the bench there were 5 or 6 Gunners or ex-Gunners. Oh well. One of these days I’m going to fly over to London and see The Arsenal live. 

Lucky me I don’t live there. I would be ruined. Tickets are really expensive.

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Dentists and death… or something.

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So I dragged my dentist phobia ass to the dentist today.
I had an appointment and as I’ve already written: nothing serious, just a routine check up.
Here’s how it went down:

  • I was on time (as I always am, people not getting to appointments, meetings or other on time are disrespectful and should be killed… eh… or something).
     
  • A dentist nurse informed the two other people sitting in the waiting room that they were running a bit late. Why she did not inform me I have no clue. Maybe she thought that I would kill her… for running late… eh… or something. With them running late though I got to catch up a bit on my popular science reading. There was a magazine there on the coffee table. I learnt that they now have ruled out that the dinosaur T-Rex is an ancestor of our reptiles and instead is a relative to our birds. I also learnt that some scientist believe that ancestors to the elephant were creatures who lived in the see, therefore the trunk, it’s a kind of snorkels. many scientist refute this though.
    Ok. Back to dentistry.
     
  • 20 minutes late I was shown into the room and sat in the chair with the sharp light blinding me.
     
  • The whole thing was over in 15 minutes and at least 5 of those were spent by the nurse demoing the new computerized photo equipment to me.
     
  • There was nothing wrong with my teeth and it all was over and done with without any pain.
     
  • My dentist informed me that I had a 150 sek government discount on the price. This fact cheered me up because going to the dentist always leaves a dent in the wallet. Especially for a student.
     
  • I went to the counter, happy, to pay for my appointment.Small recap: A maximum of 15 minutes dental work. Nothing wrong with my teath (in fact I got a thumbs up, and I have that in writing, for taking good care of them).
  • 700 sek! 700 sek! And that is with the discount. Are you fucking kidding me!?  That’s 850 sek without the discount! That is 3600 sek an hour! This also means that if I pay for the dentists time, that I payed 233 sek for computerised photo equipment demoing! 
    A-R-E Y-O-U F-U-C-K-I-N-G K-I-D-D-I-N-G M-E-!-? 

I’m going to be a dentist and then I am going to take your money and if you’re late I’m going to kill you… eh.. or something.

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The Anger is a master!

Posted on by Tomas Halberstad
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It’s been a few couple of quite weeks music wise but now were back on.

Just got a mail from Rob O in which he says he’s done with mastering. This means that we have done all that we should: written, recorded, mixed and mastered. Nice!

Now we don’t know what to do. We have no idea what to do with the material, how to get it out there, out to you. We will find a way. We are going to sit down next week and have a bit of a talk, a talk about ideas, ideas on how to move forward… or backwards.

It feels good.

Finally done!

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