Jason Mraz – I’m Yours, live in Borlänge

In Sweden we like to sing-a-long, crazy. It’s like a karaoke show!

John Grisham – The Innocent Man

Was one of the books I read during my vacation, as a review from Robert C. Olson was really good, I’ll quote it.

“Ambivalence really sums up my feelings toward Mr. Grisham’s latest book. Depressing is another. I applaud Mr. Grisham in his attempt to analyze the hows and whys of just what happened to Ron Williamson during his hectic, confusing, and sometimes just unlucky life. From outstanding major league baseball prospect, to drug and alcohol abuser, to mentally unstable convict, to exonerated felon, Ron Williamson never really knew any peace off the baseball diamond. His dream of a major league career shattered he simply withdrew into his own private hell of dope, booze, loose women, honky tonks, and insanity.

Sometimes a difficult book to follow, the darkness that Mr. Grisham maintains throughout the book is at times oppressive. How many times must Ron Williamson have to exhibit mental instability before someone, anyone, gets him real help and not just temporary “band-aid” his CHRONIC mental problems. It is a wonder that he didn’t harm someone during his drunken, drug induced haze. Finally convicted of a murder he never committed, the complex judicial process to free him was very well told by Mr. Grisham. Ron’s years spent on “death row” were both illuminating, sad, and frightening all at the same time. His eventual release and exoneration was the ONLY happy point in an otherwise sad biography of a profoundly unhappy life.

Again, I was ambivalent about this book. This is not your typical light Grisham reading so be very careful. Be ready for a heavy, dark, oppressive book that while educating about the legal system, at the same time leaves one empty about the sad state of this nation’s mental health programs. This up close and personal view of America’s seamy underbelly will stay with you for quite awhile.”

While I’m a real sucker for stories like The Innocent Man I agree with some of the critical views in the review. Even so, I’d still recommend reading it, it’s a sad and compelling story of how a town hero can be caught in the US system and almost rot in hell for a crime he didn’t commit.

Liverpool complete £20.3m deal for Keane

20.3m sounds a bit much. It’s Rafa’s biggest signing of the season by far and Liverpool’s second largest transfer in history. The Tottenham and Ireland captain, and number 10 (!) has after much speculation finally put his signature on a Liverpool contract that stretches over four years. Keane is known to be a highly working forward that always reaches 15 goals or more every season, a much more complement to Torres and Crouch ever was in other words.

Keane has issued a statement, which read: ‘I would like to place on record my thanks to the board, players and fans of Tottenham for the past six years, which were the best and most enjoyable of my career to date.

‘I will never forget them. I would specifically like to thank chairman Daniel Levy for understanding, that, as a fan, joining Liverpool is a lifelong dream of mine and one I couldn’t let pass me by.”

One can only expect that Keane will join the likes of Gerrard, Torres and Carragher as the players who is not likely to rotate as much as other players during a season. Keane is most likely to take on the role that Gerrard has been hosting the past season, as an extra attacker behind Torres. This of course leaves Gerrard in a more central, commanding and playmaking role in midfield, allowing Liverpool to be more offensive than in past seasons. I really hope this is what’s going to happen. I also really hope that this indeed proves to be a solid buy.

Inget slår en svensk sommar, punkt slut

Var hemma i Sverige förra veckan, stack hem den 18:e och kom tillbaka till Dublin igår. Att leva i exil när det är som absolut sämst med andra ord, detta eftersom jag varje gång jag är i Sverige förstår varför jag älskar att vara svensk – Sverige är helt enkelt världens bästa land, inget snack liksom. Jag mötte Mia på Skavsta, tog över ratten (stort, jag vet) och drog ner till Skåne, Skillinge närmare bestämt. Karlbergsgården står ju nämligen klar där nere, det är morsans och farsans hus, eller som Jens gillar att kalla det ‘ägor’, varför är det ingen som vet. Det är en sjukt skön setup de har skapat, en oas och idyll långt ifrån stressen i Stockholm eller andra storstäder.

Det är egentligen kommentarer överflödiga över hela veckan, det blev en riktig relaxarvecka med sjukt bra väder. Vi var där samtidigt som Jens, Lotta och Cornelia (kid’et som redan jobbar på Google ni vet) så vi hängde på stranden i Borrby eller Kyl varje dag, lapade sol i 25-30 grader och strålande sol (vinden kan dock göra så att gåshuden kommer krypande ibland, nackdelen med Skåne), drack Mojitos varvat med öl och allmänt njöt av att inte göra ett skit. Det är så semester ska vara tycker jag, känslan av att inte göra ett skit är galet underskattad när turister springer runt medan de planerar dagen efter. Vi hade ingen planering, inga måsten, bara sol, öl och snack stod som en gemensam nämnare. Nice.

Nu är det bara börja titta på vart höstresan ska gå. Vi är sugna på Vietnam eller Mexiko, men det lutar nog åt att det blir Thailand eller Bali. Bara för att inte göra ett skit.

Lattepappor

Sjukt stort. Här kommer man hem från semestern och ska uppdatera sig lite löst på veckans fläck och annat hos Krille, men sätter snabbt snusen i halsen när man får läsa att både Krille och Kenne ska bli lattepappor! Stort grattis till er båda! Läckert.

En sjukt kreativ och sådär läskigt konstnärligt pysslande söt-kid samt en kattunge i ligistförpackning med tatueringar och bockskägg är således att vänta från respektive redan från start! Härligt.