submiss.net - home of a shy exhibitionist... the other kind! This is the online home of Helene Troedsson. Welcome!

I was raised in a small village in the middle of the woods. My parents are the best! They managed to give me just the right mix of freedom and boundaries and I love them dearly. My older brother Troed has always taken care of me and although it sometimes stings to hear the truth, it is always well worth it when the truth comes from someone who loves you.

As the Libra I am, I love to read - in fact, I always need more books - and I love music. I am lazy. The colors blue and red (and pink, but don't tell anyone) are my favourites. I'm far too easy to push around and I am lucky to have a mature and confident man in my life who doesn't need me for a doormat. It took me a while to find him but he was well worth the wait!

I am somewhat of a pagan. I have a very strong faith - that's how I know I'm pagan, heh - but it's hard for me to be specific about it. I just know it makes sense to me, and that's all that matters. I do not understand why anyone would want to convert people. Faith - either having a religious faith or not having one - is so personal. What is right for me is not right for my friend. In fact for her, Christianity is the way to go, which is definately not the way for my other friend who is an atheist. No right or wrong here. Just different planes, different backgrounds, different needs. And before you ask: yes, my faith is my "blankie". I know this. I'm open and upfront about it and as far as I know, nobody's getting hurt by it.

Growing up I've found myself in very complicated - some even dangerous - situations. Someone once told me I was so much stronger than I thought. I wanted to dismiss this as "a load of crap" but when he told me what he meant by it, it made sense. Of course I am. How else have I gotten through so much that initially made me want to end it all because I thought it was all too hard to work out?

I am thankful for each and every heart-breaking experience I have ever had to go through, because that is what has molded me into the person I am today. And I am proud of who I am.

He's not the most traditionally romantic guy you can imagine, but that's OK. I can be sugary-sweet for both of us. He still makes me feel completely secure and there's nothing I like more than being with him. Even though we've been together for six years, the thought of him still makes my heart pound and the sound of his voice makes me weak in the knees. Since I'm not the type who can put her foot down and demand a grown-up partner, it was nice to find that he was in fact already a man when I met him. This man and the life we share is definately the greatest thing that has ever happened to me. We got engaged on April 18th 2004 and no, we have not set a date for the wedding yet.

The bestest cat(s) in the whole world! Unfortunately, Damien - the grey one on the left - isn't with us anymore. He left us on March 13, 2007 and we miss him terribly.

...with rhododendron, daisies, roses, fruit trees, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries...

Both old ones (even though I'm terrible at checking up on them and telling them how much I love them) and new ones. If you want to be a new one, check out the site info to find out how to contact me.

Right now I go through them at a pace that makes it impossible for me to keep an updated list.

Little known facts about little ol' me

• Whisky - I am not very ladylike when it comes to whisky, I guess. The ones I drink are the ones that make you sound like Leonard Cohen. Except the number one favourite of all time: a "Sherry Wood finish" (matured in sherry casks) 10 year old Glenmorangie. Mmm, yummy! But other than that, any old single malt, Islay whisky will do. Almost. You can never go wrong with a nice Laphroaigh or a 12 year old Bowmore. No ice, just a few drops of water. Thank you.
• Music - When it comes to music, Debussy's La Mer always manages to soothe and calm me. Absolutely beautiful. If I'd pick a song (you know, with lyrics), I'd probably pick "Music of the Night" from Phantom of the Opera, sung by Michael Crawford. *swoon* Or possibly Sarah McLachlan's "Dirty Little Secret". I love the sound of her voice!
• Coffee - One should never joke with a submiss who hasn't had her morning coffee yet. Never.
• Studies - I'm trying to learn shorthand, the Melin shorthand system. Because it's cool. And I'm struggling with PHP.
• Weather - Rain is my favourite weather. Except when it rains all summer and my garden is eaten by slugs.
• Who whatting how with huh? - When I was little, I drank gasoline. 

I admit, I have songs I hum to myself (during workdays "They're coming to take me away" always manages to creep into my head) to make me feel more comfortable if I am anxious or worried or nervous. And I have quotes to make me feel like taking on the world.

The one quote that has been with me for several years is this: per aspera ad astra. Translated, it means through hardship to the stars.

Another favourite of mine is from a song called All the fun of the fair (by Anthony Stewart Head and George Sarah):

Everything that you've done in your life
Every experience, every thought, every moment
Has led to this, has led to now
Everything that happens is for a reason
Every success, every defeat, everything
Nothing is an accident