pyrrhite In reply to oskila [2014-09-19 00:45:09 +0000 UTC]

I've been busy! Not much of a presence on dA myself these days--working a new job since May and not drawing at all.
But I still check in and am delighted to hear from you. Fatherhood suits you I presume? Your little girl is a beauty.

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oskila In reply to pyrrhite [2014-09-20 13:44:58 +0000 UTC]

Fatherhood suits me tremendously well I'd say. I've been on leave since mid-june and will be until April or so which suits me perfectly since I've never been much of a career person anyway, even disliking having to work for money even when the job itself is great and fun.

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pyrrhite In reply to oskila [2014-09-21 00:58:49 +0000 UTC]

I was never fond of capitalism myself. Poorly designed, inherently inhumane, top-heavy system in my opinion.

But the young years are so much fun! I'm glad you're enjoying the experience. 

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oskila In reply to pyrrhite [2014-09-21 20:15:37 +0000 UTC]

We had general elections last Sunday, and the conservative-capitalist block finally lost office after eight years of foolishness. Some politicians (mostly green and feminist party) have openly supported the idea of six hour workdays with maintained salary and also the idea of unconditioned basic income which would of course be the optimum for people like me who don't live through their jobs.

The big downer on the other hand is that the Sweden 'democrats', a populist party sprung from the neo-nazi movements of the 80s, got 13% of votes and thus 48 seats in parliament. None of the other parties want anything to do with them though, so the politic situation is a bit tricky. 

But there's still the baby. She's a laugh all day. Yesterday she learned to hi-five from grandma

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pyrrhite In reply to oskila [2014-09-24 11:48:52 +0000 UTC]

All-consuming jobs are fine for those who want to immerse themselves in work 
but it strikes me as inhumane to expect everyone to fit life in around a job instead 
of the other way around. Of course you can't run a first world economy without 
everyone's noses to the grindstone.

I think political factions operate like a pendulum over time, waxing and waning,
and just like 'the poor will always be with us' so will the extremists and the haters.
But they get creepily close to mainstream or in charge, now and then.

The early years are so fun! I'm glad you're getting to enjoy parenthood.

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oskila In reply to pyrrhite [2014-10-06 10:03:07 +0000 UTC]

I work for a living and in order to afford the things I enjoy - I do not live to work.

the socialist democrats and the greens seem to have agreed on a governmnet at last. I'm rather chuffed to have the greens in any kind of minister office for the first time, even though I voted feminist. The downer is that the extremists, as third largest party, had to be given the 2nd deputy speaker of parliament post and speaker and deputies can't be sacked.

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pyrrhite In reply to oskila [2014-10-09 17:14:28 +0000 UTC]

I'm in a constant struggle with pro-solvency forces and the call of things that are much more interesting than wage-earning>
Oh well. My own fault for not being born rich.

Hope the tide shifts before anything drastic happens. I think of Sweden as a prime of example of how to properly run a country and it would be sad to see that change.

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oskila In reply to pyrrhite [2014-10-12 08:54:11 +0000 UTC]

I didn't get born rich either, and I also failed at marrying rich as my wife is also a teacher

The running of Sweden has been suboptimal in my opinion for the last eight years (the government hated governmnent owning and monopolies and sold stuff and decided anyone should be allowed to open a pharmacy, kinda hard to reverse) so I certainly hope that things will change for the better even with more of the racist yokels in parliament. If not I guess we have to hit rock bottom and work our way up from there.

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pyrrhite In reply to oskila [2014-10-15 01:47:43 +0000 UTC]

What, you mean to say teaching isn't the surest path to a life of luxury and wealth?
Because being an art major certainly isn't...

That is disheartening to say the least, if even the countries that get it right
have to muck things up now and again. Good luck with that. 

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oskila In reply to pyrrhite [2014-10-16 20:29:41 +0000 UTC]

well, we try. Some of us even go as far as saying that teachers should be as well paid as economists (same amount of university credentials, entry level salary $800 higher.) Yes, there's more cash in motion around economist workplaces, but without teachers there would eventually be no economists

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pyrrhite In reply to oskila [2014-10-23 22:39:19 +0000 UTC]

It's a curious thing that we place a high value on the quality of the education of our children
but are reluctant to pay the people on the front lines. Certainly true here.

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oskila In reply to pyrrhite [2014-10-23 23:00:48 +0000 UTC]

It gets stranger; Due to some convoluted plan the government before the last had, which snowballed out of control during the last administration, private schools are not only allowed to charge tuition fees (which is kinda expected of them) - they're allowed to make profit. There are horrible examples of private kindergartens where the parents pay through their noses but the kids get bread and water for all meals for a week because the owner has lined his pockets. 

And because of some nice rule implemented because of the above system, teachers salaries at private schools are lower on average - even in old and rich schools.

Because of the profit rules highly specialized small private schools pop up everywhere these days. Untrained staff, insufficient books and materials but plenty shiny leased technology, until the owner is overcome with al longing for the Caribbean. Declares the company bust, loots the corpse and scurries off.

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pyrrhite In reply to oskila [2014-10-30 00:02:00 +0000 UTC]

It's true here as well that private school teachers earn less than public school ones. Never investigated the reason why.
I also have heard of private preschools where it's so competitive that  it's like trying to get into a Harvard for 3 year olds.

I hope you're teaching at a public school.

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oskila In reply to pyrrhite [2014-10-31 08:26:22 +0000 UTC]

I doubt any of the private schools would have a bushy lefty-environmentalist like me  

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pyrrhite In reply to oskila [2014-10-31 20:55:57 +0000 UTC]

Young hippies, the world needs them.

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oskila In reply to pyrrhite [2014-11-24 20:41:40 +0000 UTC]

Agreed, but old hippies are useful too

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pyrrhite In reply to oskila [2014-11-24 22:46:16 +0000 UTC]

Yes, to bring along the young ones!

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oskila In reply to pyrrhite [2015-03-25 21:11:34 +0000 UTC]

and buy booze

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pyrrhite In reply to oskila [2015-03-30 13:11:08 +0000 UTC]

Somebody's got to. O.o

Crawled out from under the snowpack have you? Because I'm not sure I have. There's still plenty of it out there.
How's daddyhood treating you?

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oskila In reply to pyrrhite [2015-03-30 20:43:34 +0000 UTC]

We didn't get a lot of snow. In fact, I think we had the warmest winter since they started taking notes.

Daddyhood is treating me just fine. We moved Olivia's crib to her own room today. Mum and dad are a bit nervous, but she couldn't be bothered less it seems The only real cloud is that I have to start looking for a job. On the other hand a job might be good to have - bringing home 550 dollars a month in parent support  isn't much fun.

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pyrrhite In reply to oskila [2015-04-03 21:15:20 +0000 UTC]

Oh jobs.

Meanwhile we had a cold winter with the snow not yet gone off our hill.
People thought it was an aberration but in fact it's only what normal used to look like.

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oskila In reply to pyrrhite [2015-04-03 22:02:48 +0000 UTC]

There's been bouts of snow here this week after two warm months. Not sure how the wildlife will handle that. Some of the songbirds around here clearly haven't recovered since the harsh winter of '10.

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pyrrhite In reply to oskila [2015-04-07 21:48:43 +0000 UTC]

Wildlife can be pretty flexible generally speaking. I think habitat loss is harder on them than 'normal' weather fluctuations. I'm always amazed despite how it can be frigid cold, howling wind and snow one night and the chickadees are chirping and busy as ever the very next morning.

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oskila In reply to pyrrhite [2015-04-08 20:07:06 +0000 UTC]

That is usually the case, but (and I suspect this is because Goldcrests' main fare is spiders and not seeds) it's been put on the national redlist of endangered species. :/

A birder in the club once told stories about a man up north who when the temperature dropped below -40 C went out with a box and picked all the hypothermic titmice he could see like apples from the trees and let them spend the night in his heated garage

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pyrrhite In reply to oskila [2015-04-11 00:01:05 +0000 UTC]

Oh this is weird, or at least it is to me and my uneducated ways--I Googled to see what -40C was in Fahrenheit and wouldn't you know?? Well that's pretty cold by any measure. Poor little titmice--we have tufted titmice who manage Vermont winters along with the jays and the chickadees and slate-colored juncos, plus a handful of robins and bluebirds these days,  but they seldom have to contend with 40 below in our neck of the woods. 

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oskila In reply to pyrrhite [2015-04-11 00:15:03 +0000 UTC]

-40 is a bit extreme. I'd say this occurred at least 500 miles north of here. I seem to recall us having -23 here some 20 years ago. That's the coldest I've experienced.

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pyrrhite In reply to oskila [2015-04-11 18:52:19 +0000 UTC]

That's about the same for me. We had quite a bit of it or thereabouts, relatively speaking, this winter.

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oskila In reply to pyrrhite [2015-04-11 21:49:19 +0000 UTC]

Today I had to dig out a sun hat for Olivia. Spring has been a bit sudden

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pyrrhite In reply to oskila [2015-04-15 00:09:07 +0000 UTC]

You're a good dad.

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oskila In reply to pyrrhite [2015-04-15 20:54:25 +0000 UTC]

I like to think so, yes Also, I know it's horrible to be out in the wrong headgear. Last spring I couldn't find my cotton patrol cap so I had to wear a tweed flat cap for sun protection for the entirety of april and may. (buying a new patrol cap was never an option of course )

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pyrrhite In reply to oskila [2015-04-16 11:50:48 +0000 UTC]

Here's me having to Google patrol cap.

Ok, right stylish, a guy can never go wrong in a nice camo patrol cap I see,
but for myself  I'm more inclined to reach for a tres chic baseball cap instead.

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oskila In reply to pyrrhite [2015-04-16 13:10:48 +0000 UTC]

I wear black patrol caps, to go with the rest of my wardrobe

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pyrrhite In reply to oskila [2015-04-21 19:53:56 +0000 UTC]

I hadn't pegged you for a Goth. O.o

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oskila In reply to pyrrhite [2015-04-22 22:07:55 +0000 UTC]

By Swedish standards I'm certainly not a goth (needs frilly 18th century clothing and lace gloves for that) but I've come to the conclusion that the American definition is a bit broader. I checked my facebook albums for a good example of my dark-but-cheerful style, but can't seem to find any.

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pyrrhite In reply to oskila [2015-04-24 00:16:34 +0000 UTC]

My son favors various shades of black in fashion choices and he's not Goth either. No eyeliner or 19th century boots or anything. Now steampunk style might be something to aspire to.

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oskila In reply to pyrrhite [2015-04-24 13:12:49 +0000 UTC]

I've been known to don a steampunk getup from time to time www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbi… but since Olivia made her entrance there hasn't been much time for that kind of shenanigans.

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pyrrhite In reply to oskila [2015-04-24 15:58:54 +0000 UTC]

My god how young you are. I knew this already but still.
The steampunk is a dashing look and suits you but more importantly
I finally got to see a picture of wee little nerdcuisine jr---she's a beauty.

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oskila In reply to pyrrhite [2015-04-24 21:08:06 +0000 UTC]

Well, the picture is from Halloween 2013 and I'd say I've aged considerably since then I like steampunk clothing, but for everyday wear it was easier to get away with as a student, especially of archaeology. If dressing up like that for teacherin' I'm sure the cravat and watch chain would get caught on stuff all day

And yes, she's awesome in every way (except perhaps around bedtime )

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pyrrhite In reply to oskila [2015-04-26 16:11:20 +0000 UTC]

College is often the golden age of personal eccentricity, one of the things I loved about it.

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oskila In reply to pyrrhite [2015-04-26 19:02:34 +0000 UTC]

And if one feels the need for more of that, there's always graduate school

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pyrrhite In reply to oskila [2015-04-26 19:17:31 +0000 UTC]

Great minds and all that,

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oskila In reply to pyrrhite [2015-04-26 22:05:07 +0000 UTC]

Aaand finally got around to the actual hunting of the horses. 

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