City Council

Daniel is a member of the city council. They have the monthly meeting today and tomorrow. It is usually just one day, but this month, it is two days so they will have the time to discuss the budget for 2026 as well as a lot of other items.

The meeting inspires Daniel to write in his blog. I find the meetings too boring to listen to, so I normally write about other, more interesting things. This blog post is an exception. I will find something else to write about tomorrow. Stay tuned! 

Political Murder in Mexico

A mayor of a municipality in Mexico has been shot dead. The murderers stormed a village hall where the mayor had a meeting. Two police officers were also injuried. 

This is not the first political murder in the area this year. 

Every murder is a tragedy. A political murder, however, is not just an attack on the person herself, but an attack on the whole community and the democratic system through which she has been elected. In this sense, a political murder is worse than many other murders. 

We feel for the family of the killed mayor, the whole municipality, and her dogs, if she had any. 

Preview of Midsummer Eve

For dinner tonight, Paula made a preview of the dinner for Midsummer Eve. There were pickled herring, salmon, eggs, cheese, and sauce. Daniel said he quite liked it.

Midsummer Eve is this Friday. It is oneof the great annual celebrations in Sweden, when we celebrate the Summer Solstice. Good food is a main part of the celebration. This is the part that allofoner us dogs love the most. Good food is marvelous. 

I look forward to Midsummer Eve. 

Fourth Time

Daniel mowed the lawn today. It was the fourth time this season, and the first time in June.

The mowing was needed, he had not mowed it in two and a half weeks. Now it is easier for us dogs to run around on the lawn again. Chihuahuas are small, we cannot den this, and we like a well kept lawn. 

The Seven Samurais

If Hailey or Polly would have still been in charge of the blog that Hailey started, it would probably be more blog entries about Japan and Japanese culture. It was, when they took care of the blog. As Shibas, they were more interested in the land of their ancestors than I will ever be. There are instances when I return to Japan in the blog, just because of Hailey and Polly. Today is one of those instances.

Tonight on Swedish television, SVT2 at 22.15, you can watch The Seven Samurais. This is a classic Japanese movie. I do not know much about it and I have never seen it myself, but it is so well known that I thought I would have to mention it in this blog. After all, iris a Shiba blog that I am just a care taker of. 

If you are interested in classic movies and have access to SVT2, do watch that movie tonight. Hailey and Polly would have wanted you to. 

Came Home

Daniel has been away from home for a few days, in the line of duty. He came home today. We all gathered around him and felt togetherness. It was the best thing that happened today. 

Life is always best when we are all together at home. 

The Sun Is Shining

The Sun is shining and it is warm weather. I like summer days like this.

Of course, Pepe and I agree that it could be even warmer. We would not mind some even warmer days. Swedish summers are all right, but we are decendants of dogs from Mexico. We could stand days as warm as they can be there. Do not ever come to us and complain that the weather in Sweden may be too hot. I have never experienced this in Sweden, and I think I never will. 

Let there be more days like this, this summer! 

Borders for Pets

New rules make it easier to travel with pets between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. While both places are parts of the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland has other rules for crossing the land border it shares with the Republic of Ireland.

This is not the only instance where the travel with pets follow different rules than travels without pets. The reason for special rules is normally to ensure the health of pets. It is still difficult for us, who are pets, that there are special rules for us. It is for travels between Sweden and Norway, as well. I wish pet health would be so good everywhere, that borders would be open for us. 

Qualifiers

World Cup qualifiers are on for net year’s football World Cup.

Of course, Mexico is already qualified, since it is one of the host countries. Pepe and I can spend the time hoping a little for Sweden and follow the results without being nervous. This feels good. 

Sweden just played a friendly game tonight, versus Algeria. Qualifying results were more interesting. 

Attempted Political Murder in Colombia

A Colombian Senator has been shot and is in serious condition at an intensiv care unit of a hospital in Bogotà. The Senator, Miguel Uribe Turbay, had hopes to become a candidate for the presidency. In Colombia, people get negative memories of a time not long ago with many more political murders and political violence.

We are glad Paula and her sister were able to move away from Colombia, where they were born, and settle in Sweden. 

Ring Stewards in Askersund

Daniel is responsible for contracting ring stewards to the Askersund Dog Show. He was done doing this a while ago, but there is always the risk that something will have to change. 

Late last night, Daniel read a message from one of the ring stewards with whom he had a contract. She wrote that she will not be able to make it. However, she had recruited another ring steward who could take her place at the dog show. This is the best kind of message that you will not be able to work, Daniel said. He contacted the new ring steward just to make sure he can send her a contract. 

Ring stewards are important for dog shows. It seems like this change of ring stewards will turn out well. I am glad it will. 

Not Much

Not much happened today. We just had a day off, everyone of us.

It is nice to have a day off once in a while. There are so many things you must do most days, that you can skip on a day off. This is what we did today. 

Meatball Celebration

We celebrated Sweden’s national holiday today with meatballs. It hardly get better, tastier, ormroten Swedish than that.

Sweden is known around the world for Swedish meatballs. This is what we had. It was great.

Long live Sweden! 

National Eve

Daniel pointed out that iris the Swedish national holiday tomorrow, and that this means that it is National Eve today.

Swedes normally celebrate holidays on the eve before the day. This is true for Easter Eve, Walpurgis Eve, Midsummer Eve, Christmas Eve, and New Year’s Eve. Thus, Daniel says, we should celebrate National Eve this eve.

We did celebrate, with sushi. Not very Swedish, but very tasty. It was good. 

Running Around Again

Daniel came home rather late tonight. As soon as he came home, he let us dogs out in the yard.

While both Pepe and I ran to get out, Pepe also ran around, once he was outside. Morran and I took it easy.

Once you have made it out and been able to do what you want to do, Morran and I see no point in running around again. Pepe enjoyed it, though. To each, what he or she likes. Running around again may be fun sometimes, but Pepe likes it more than me or Morran do. 

Open Door Policy

Daniel worked from home today. In the afternoon, it was warmer outside than inside the house, so Daniel left the door open. We could walk out and in as much as we wanted. Morran enjoyed sitting outside in the sun. 

The negative thing with this open door policy, was that some buzzing flying insects found their way inside. Daniel was really annoyed with this. When these insects had finally made their way out again, Daniel closed the door to prevent more insects to come in. This was a disappointment, especially for Morran. All of these insects who bugs us in the summer, are the only real downside with the season. 

We enjoyed the open door policy while it lasted. 

Open Window

It is warm enough outside now, that we can have an open window in the bedroom for a long time and it does not get colder. One of the windows was open for a long time. A little while after Daniel had closed it, Paula asked if it was still open. You could not sense any immediate change. It was nice to get a little fresh air in, though.

Now we just have to wait for the summer days when it is definitely warmer outdoors than indoors. There are never many such days in a Swedish summer, but we cherish the ones there are. 

A Few Meatballs

While we always have a decent amount of dog food, there is not always more food given. Today, Daniel gave us a few meatballs, though. 

Even though we did not get more than a few meatballs, it was always something. You should not complain that you get just a few meatballs, when you do have a lot of other food and the alternative could be no meatballs.

Life is good with a few meatballs.