While working at the cabin, I couldn't find my water bottle. I looked all around the cabin and a couple of workspots around it. When I asked my wife if she had seen it, she pointed right at the bottle at another workspot, where I had been working most recently. I immediately said "Tankspridd" which is Swedish for absent-minded.
Although I read a Swedish book or newspaper now and then and listen to a Swedish radio podcast, I haven't really used Swedish as a daily language since we lived in Sweden 1970-1974. I think I've thought of the word "tankspridd" now and then, mostly in my own head. Still, it was a bit startling that an older memory popped out while I had to dig for a more recent memory.
While double checking my translation, I came across Tankspriddas Riksförbund (National Association of the Absent-Minded). http://tankspridd.se/~/ According to this site, 99% of us are absent-minded.
Oh, yes! Forget about the stereotype of the "dour Swede". The Swedes have a very good sense of humor and tell lots of jokes and funny stories.
Showing posts with label absent-minded. Show all posts
Showing posts with label absent-minded. Show all posts
Sunday, May 26, 2013
Monday, October 24, 2011
A sour hour
Speaking of cell phones, I spent over an hour worrying about the whereabouts of my cell phone. I didn't think I had left it on the table at a potluck last night. I couldn't find it in any of my pockets, pants, jacket, or shirt. It wasn't in the car. It wasn't on the dining room table or buried in the stack of newspapers. I couldn't find it on our dresser. I couldn't find it on my cluttered desk, even when I moved the clutter around.
I called my cell phone and received immediately the message: "Either my phone is turned off or I am driving. Please leave a message and I'll return your call as soon as possible." Because it answered immediately it was turned off.
OK, I guess I'll suspend service. I went to Verizon's website, signed in, and suspended the service.
For some reason I wondered about the charging unit for the phone. I looked at an outlet on my desk's backboard and saw the charger plugged in with the cord dangling down. At the end of the cord was my cell phone, hidden by one of the freestanding speakers for my computer.
I went to Verizon's website and restored service. I called our home phone with my cell phone and the former rang right away.
As my wife says often, "It's around here someplace."
I called my cell phone and received immediately the message: "Either my phone is turned off or I am driving. Please leave a message and I'll return your call as soon as possible." Because it answered immediately it was turned off.
OK, I guess I'll suspend service. I went to Verizon's website, signed in, and suspended the service.
For some reason I wondered about the charging unit for the phone. I looked at an outlet on my desk's backboard and saw the charger plugged in with the cord dangling down. At the end of the cord was my cell phone, hidden by one of the freestanding speakers for my computer.
I went to Verizon's website and restored service. I called our home phone with my cell phone and the former rang right away.
As my wife says often, "It's around here someplace."
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