Last days as free birds. And where do we go...?!

Last day as free birds! Tomorrow, the real big adventure starts – The Internship! I'm looking forward to it with great excitement at the same time as I am a bit terrified. But, it's all good.

And what could be better than ending this very long vacation with a brunch at Busboys? I kick started the morning with coffee, treadmill and some ab exercises and now I'm more than ready to devour a delicious brunch.

Have a good one, people. And think about MLK Jr. It's his birthday, if you have missed out on that one.

A new dear friend.

A few years ago, when Christmas was around the corner, me and my brothers and sister decided it was silly to buy so many gifts to each other and all the in-laws. Instead, we made up a system where we only give away one gift each. Since I'm the only one not pairing up (and getting married!) among us kids, I get to keep my gift for myself. How sweet, huh!

This year, my sister and her husband gave me exactly what I wanted. Really. Anybody remember that I've been saying for so long how much I would like to have an ipod? She claims she didn't read it on my blog and I do believe her. She probably just read it from me. Because that's how sisters work.

Anyway, the ipod is a new very dear friend. Now I can enjoy the treadmill even more. Today, for instance, I was in France, Italy, Hungary and Brazil and that trip sure made the indoor running a whole lot more fun.

Thank you, lovely sister, for this great Christmas gift!

Ps. I miss you.

Reunion – it's the 305 girls' night tonight.

Things are slowly but surely starting to wrap up and get back to "normal." The 305 girls will reunite for real tonight. Tattarn and Grandma have prepared a snack night and later on we will go out for dinner. It's about time to give each other updates on what has been going on these last three weeks.

Let the Roomie night begin. You never know where it's going to end.

A DC day from the eye of my Canon.

Being-a-tourist-and-enjoying-life-week has come to Thursday and the day, so far, went a little something like this:

Breakfast, reading The Post.

Back to the Newseum with my cool friend. 4D movie rules!

Loving the fact that safety comes first on the Washington Metro.

Walking around U Street. Where does this road lead? Dunno. Let's find out.

I will volunteer for the breasts.

As already established, I want 2012 to be dominated by here-and-now-me. And I've decided that that also involves do-things-I've-always-wanted-to-do-me. So just now, I signed up for the Volunteer Newsletter for the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in DC. It will take place in early May and I want to be a part of it.

For so long, I've been thinking that I want to volunteer. Do something. Anything. Stop thinking. Start doing!

1 out of 8 women in America runs the risk of getting breast cancer. Every 13 minutes, the disease takes a person's life. In Sweden, there is a steady increase of 1-2 per each year of individuals getting breast cancer. I'm a woman. I have a mother. I have a sister. I have sister-in-laws. I have girlfriends.

In October every year, I buy the pink ribbon to put on my jacket. This year, I'll try something new. Just to know that I have at least tried to help, if anyone I know would be that 1 out of 8. Or that increasing 1-2 per cent.

Stop thinking. Start doing. Let's walk.

The Newseum is THE museum.

If you are a museum liking tourist in Washington DC, you are at the absolute right spot. Here you can find the world's largest museum complex, the Smithsonian Institution, with all the museums you could ever want to visit. Almost. Most of them for free too, something very appreciated by a young woman living off a student budget.

If you are willing to pay to enter a museum, which I strongly believe you should be, the Newseum is highly recommended by your blogger. As it sounds, the Newseum is a museum about the news – and so much more! Okay, she is a journalism and public relations student and a news junkie, but this is interesting for everyone. "Journalism is the first rough draft of history," is written on one of the walls of the museum, and think about it: isn't it so?

The building, I believe, conveys a message in itself. It's clear, open and transparent. Kind of how we expect the news to be delivered to us, right? The six story building guides you through a long, informative and interactive journey. I am very convinced there is something for everyone. We are all part of world history and the news, aren't we?

Head off to Pennsylvania Avenue and dig in to the wonderful land of News History. Your blogger will do so again first thing tomorrow morning. There was simply so much to see – and one ticket is valid for two days.

Who? What? When? Where? Why? Everybody – just enjoy!

Freedom of Speech all over the world? According to this map, not quite.

Carpe Diem, Tattarn!

One of my favorite quotations is:

"Yesterday is history

Tomorrow is a mystery

Today is a gift – that's why they call it present"

One of my greatest flaws is trying to live in the mystery – the future, that is. I don't have any particular New Year's resolutions, but I do tell myself that I will try to live in 2012 this year. And as much as possible, stay in the present month.

When speed-forward-me takes over, I always have her think about all the wonderful things she will miss out on if her focus is not here and now. So, 2012 will be the year of here-and-now-me.

So far so good. Yesterday, I enjoyed an absolutely lovely Sunday, just as the Sundays are made to be. A tasteful and long brunch – with two cappuccinos. A long walk, no, try stroll, through Georgetown and all the way up to the White House and The Mall. And that was it. Simple. But simply wonderful.

This city is way too beautiful not to live in, now that I'm here. Tattarn, my dear friend, I know you think it's corny, but: CARPE DIEM [inser silly smiley here].

Cappuccino no.2.

Georgetown University. Or that Harry Potter school, I cannot really remember.

CutehousesinGeorgetown.com.

Mr. President lives here. And a few protesters always live outside.

And this is me – living today! Although, while writing, this picture was taken yesterday.

Honey, I'm home!

Eleven hours of travelling from Scandinavia. Several pages in my book, one movie, lots of sleep, thinking about those I left behind, mixed feelings, sitting next to Mr. Stoneface who didn't say a word – not even hi. When I landed at Dulles, I immediately started smiling. Hi, America!

It was a warm evening, compared to where I came from, and I felt like I came home. Again. To my current home. A random man gave me advice on how to carry my suitcase in the escalator to avoid getting hurt. Yep, there are certain things I simply love about this country.

Back in the US and it feels great. Even better knowing I have a week off for being a tourist and doing all those things I haven't done here yet. Happydays!

The tears of goodbye are not evil ones.

I left the Winter Wonderland with tears in my eyes. I didn't think I would. But I did. There's something about spending lots of time under the same roof with family that makes it so hard to say goodbye. Even though, with family, it's never goodbye. It's always see you later.

Hopefully, I'll see most of them later in Washington DC, where I'll land again tomorrow afternoon. I've had two wonderful weeks of simply – being. Kind of lazy. Now I'm all prepared and excited to go back to my current home and start working.

Thank you, lovely family, for giving me the Christmas break I needed. Thank you weather, for giving me the snow I wanted. And thank you sweet nephews for giving me so many hugs and kisses and smiles.

I don't think I'll ever be able to handle the tears of goodbye. But they are not really evil tears. They are simply tears of love. And, in the end, how can that be bad?

Respect the rules and regulations.

I believe rules are important. Wherever we go, whatever we do, whoever we're with, we form rules. Often without even thinking about it, we decide what kind of behavior we accept, what type of manner that is frowned upon or what actions that are forbidden.

I, personally, have my own set of rules for different types of situations. I think it's important to know what you stand for, what you believe in and what your moral values are. Other people might see things differently and here comes what may cause a conflict.

For rules and regulations to be effective, we often need to meet halfway. It's important to understand that sometimes, when we step onto somebody else's territory, we simply have to play by somebody else's rules. As long as it's all communicated, we can decide if we want to stay or move on to something we find more appropriate in accordance with our own values. The keyword is always respect.

Also, know that breaking the rules and regulations has consequences...