Saving dumbsels in distress

Thanks to Albena for setting me with this story and inventing the word dumbsel, and to Petra for waiting for me at the garden.

Today, my closest friend here (come to think of it, she is one of my closest friends ever), was flying home to Bulgaria. I was charged with the honorary task of getting up at seven and making sure she wakes up. I was considering escorting her to the bus station... just to be sure that she was fine and on her way. Morpheus and Hypnos, however, had other plans. So, after waking her up, hugging her good-bye and wishing a safe flight and nice holidays, I succumbed to the temptation of Dreamland. At half past ten, my phone ran with the familiar melody of Nightwish's Moondance. There is only one person in the world that I have set this ringtone for. Yes, her.

It turned out, that she missed her bus for the airport with about two minutes. The next one, due in half an hour, arrived late and she was on Arlanda airport 25 minutes prior to take-off. The Austrian Airlines, God bless them in their helpfulness, refused to check in her luggage or to take her on the flight and leave the luggage behind. She was stranded on the airport, without a single coin in her pockets. And then she gave yours truly a call. Mounting my trusted steed, I reenacted several of the more breath-taking scenes from Mad Max, squeezing myself between cars and busses, people and buildings, traffic lights and excavating machines (don't ask). Upon arrival on the Uppsala train station, I realised I have covered the distance from home to the station in exactly seven minutes, lungs aching and legs trembling.

I locked my bike among the herd of other bi-wheeled pedal-powered vehicles and proceeded towards the building with a steady Captain Jack Sparrow pace. Once inside, I realised the next train to Arlanda was due to leave in exactly 3 minutes. I teleported myself at a cashier's desk, ordered a ticket with the best James Earl Jones voice I could manage and ran towards the train. I like running through crowds: when people see a two meters tall giant, wearing a leather jacket, leather gloves and leather military boots, run with gargantuan strides towards them, they step aside immediately. Several seconds after setting my foot on the train, we were off.

Twenty minutes later I was at the airport. I met with Albena, bought her a new ticket, checked her in, postponed my date for the afternoon and took her for a lunch. We got a huge plate of kebab meat and fries, enough to satisfy even my hunger. Somehow I managed to eat my lunch without even for a second seizing to talk complete and utter nonsense. It did a fine job, keeping her mind off what has transpired. Another person was sitting on our table, a cheerful elderly lady who desperately tried to eavesdrop on our conversation. It was not that hard, considering that we were talking loudly and laughing even louder, but... well, it was in Bulgarian. Not a very common language among Swedes, I might add. In the end, she could not take it any more and joined in, showing remarkable English skills. We had a nice laugh for about an hour and then parted ways.

After seeing Albena personally through the safety check, I realized it was 4 minutes until my bus back to Uppsala. This time I was not running, but my strides were still gigantic. Bumping briefly into a friend (it is a very small world, believe me) I rushed towards the bus station. Finally on the bus, I was actually able to read a bit, before disembarking in Uppsala. I called my date, met her for the arranged walk in the botanical garden and then went home with her for movie and a pizza. The botanical garden was actually still under reconstruction and hence closed for exhibitions but... let's say I had an inside man. Man, I love pulling strings.

When I remember my adventures with airlines from last year, I can truthfully say that waving someone good-bye can be just as perverted as actually traveling. But then again... what are friends for? I am eagerly looking forward to seeing mine in two days.

Random musings

There now. The Microbiology exam is over. I have spent the last two days recovering from an intensive study/work life and trying to tie up loose ends from my other activities. So now I have finally cleaned my room. It was such a jungle here, I could hear the war cries of small dust mite tribes clashing in titanic clashes under the contiguous layer of my notes. The epic Battle of the Seminar booklet is one to be remembered for generations to come. Or at least it would have if I had not "accidentally" vacuumed all the war monuments. It was actually thanks to my classmates that my room resembles a human lodging and not the lair of some ancient beast. I thrive in my chaos, but had to clean up a bit when they came for studying.

I attended the Nobel prize lecture this year (as well as the two previous years, but then I was not blogging). The three laureates received a prize for a discovery made twenty years ago, and some of them have spent more than half a century in the lab. This is sort of discouraging. I mean I would like to have my prize sooner and not when I am on a good way to being a walking dead. Note to self: get Nobel prize before turning 50! After the lecture I had to rush off to the castle, where the Nobel lunch was held. I actually served the coolest guy, prof. Oliver Smithies (the announcer at BMC called him "Smithers", to the utter delight of all Simpons fans). Now I can show off with that. Go me!

It is a harsh and beautiful winter evening outside. The sky goes from pastel blue to green-yellowish, and the moon is already in its zenith, halfway to full moon. According to some, this is the best time for magic, when the night illumination is divided in half, representing the duality of human nature. The trees are stretching bare branches, awaiting the spring with a patience only a dendrite possesses. Here I am, quietly mediating, listening to Christmas carols and staring into a candle flame. Tomorrow will be another busy day, full of tasks that need to be done. But right now time has stopped and there is a whole eternity of delightful seconds to experience. Be well, everyone!