..for a while anyway. We will definitely have more snow before winter is over. And that is Okay as long as Nature pauses it all for a while. I spent Christmas day shoveling snow. I spent Boxing day shoveling snow. The snow was so deep I could not finish so I have spent a couple of hours today as well, so now it is all cleared. The problem when there is so much snow coming down in a few days is where do I put it all? It piles up and it gets more and more difficult to get it out of the way.
Well I'm done and the weather man says no more snow this year. I choose to believe him. I suppose it is a survival strategy.
The good thing is it is so beautiful outside. And it lights up in an otherwise dark period of the year. I mean not mentally dark, physically dark. But we're heading towards lighter times. The day has become 2 minutes longer since midwinter, i.e. December 21st. It's a start!
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Boxing Day
I have said this before. I love these tranquil mornings. Pause for thought, time to communicate with the world. Or just some contemplation.
"Pause for thought" is one of my favorite expressions. I have it from BBC Radio 2. They had, and might be they still have, their Pause for thought in their morning shows. 5 minutes or so.
BBC Radio 2 used to be my favorite radio station. Remember I went to university in Manchester, Britain. During summer vacation I had summer jobs as a fisherman on board one of these Norwegian ocean traveling purse seiners emptying the oceans for whatever species there might be.
As you can read in my book I have plowed the Barents sea, Norwegian and North seas. In the North and Norwegian seas usually just west of The Shetland islands, Hebrides/Orkneys or thereabout and alone on the bridge on night watch I used to listen to Radio 2 on BBC. I'll never forget their jingle at the time; beautiful music and then: "You're in tune with Radio 2" by a soft and gentle female voice.
Today is Boxing day. We wanted a white Christmas and the Law of Attraction works just fine. (Yes it still works, and according to the weather man it will not stop working till this afternoon). A white Christmas we got. We forgot to put any limits on the loads of snow we wanted, so it has been snowing since Christmas Eve. I was shoveling tons of snow from our driveway yesterday (it's rather long and fairly steep). I mean, we cannot risk we won't get a car to our house until April or something. Today I have to do it all over again. Just as I had done the job yesterday it started to snow again. The snowing paused while I did what I had to do, probably to make sure I kept my motivation on top. So when all the snow was cleared - room for more. Yeah!
No worry that I will gain any weight this Christmas.
"Pause for thought" is one of my favorite expressions. I have it from BBC Radio 2. They had, and might be they still have, their Pause for thought in their morning shows. 5 minutes or so.
BBC Radio 2 used to be my favorite radio station. Remember I went to university in Manchester, Britain. During summer vacation I had summer jobs as a fisherman on board one of these Norwegian ocean traveling purse seiners emptying the oceans for whatever species there might be.
As you can read in my book I have plowed the Barents sea, Norwegian and North seas. In the North and Norwegian seas usually just west of The Shetland islands, Hebrides/Orkneys or thereabout and alone on the bridge on night watch I used to listen to Radio 2 on BBC. I'll never forget their jingle at the time; beautiful music and then: "You're in tune with Radio 2" by a soft and gentle female voice.
Today is Boxing day. We wanted a white Christmas and the Law of Attraction works just fine. (Yes it still works, and according to the weather man it will not stop working till this afternoon). A white Christmas we got. We forgot to put any limits on the loads of snow we wanted, so it has been snowing since Christmas Eve. I was shoveling tons of snow from our driveway yesterday (it's rather long and fairly steep). I mean, we cannot risk we won't get a car to our house until April or something. Today I have to do it all over again. Just as I had done the job yesterday it started to snow again. The snowing paused while I did what I had to do, probably to make sure I kept my motivation on top. So when all the snow was cleared - room for more. Yeah!
No worry that I will gain any weight this Christmas.
Friday, December 25, 2009
Christmas
A very happy Christmas to you all. May it be peaceful and a time for reflection and relaxation, refueling for the new year with new challenges.
Having had a warm and sunny Christmas last year in Florida, we are in for a white and at least much cooler Christmas this year.
A dream Christmas with snow falling on Christmas eve, and Christmas day morning as well for that sake and now in the evening. We celebrated Norwegian Christmas together with Ingunn's family and then we had a bit of American Christmas as well at home only the four of us this morning.
Good traditional food is part of the celebrations, and I realize as I get older that the traditions, the food and the possibility for a pause for thought is much more important than the presents.
Christmas day has been fun. Ingunn, Philip and Tia has been out playing in the snow. Philip snow boarding with his new snow board and Tia and Mom tobogganing. While I have cleared a ton or two of snow from the driveway. 10-15 inches of snow that have blessed us since yesterday. And as we are blessed with even more snow this evening, I'll have to do it all over again tomorrow.
Tomorrow we will have Ingunn's parents for dinner. Very typical western Norway Christmas dinner, cured lam ribs, steamed for hours and hours. Served with almond potatoes and mashed rutabaga.
I decided to give away my book as a Christmas present to people on our list and to people on Facebook and Twitter. It is the e-book version. I have enjoyed noticing where all the people downloading it are living. Apart from South America all continents are represented which of course makes me proud and gives me great satisfaction.
Enjoy your holiday!
Having had a warm and sunny Christmas last year in Florida, we are in for a white and at least much cooler Christmas this year.
A dream Christmas with snow falling on Christmas eve, and Christmas day morning as well for that sake and now in the evening. We celebrated Norwegian Christmas together with Ingunn's family and then we had a bit of American Christmas as well at home only the four of us this morning.
Good traditional food is part of the celebrations, and I realize as I get older that the traditions, the food and the possibility for a pause for thought is much more important than the presents.
Christmas day has been fun. Ingunn, Philip and Tia has been out playing in the snow. Philip snow boarding with his new snow board and Tia and Mom tobogganing. While I have cleared a ton or two of snow from the driveway. 10-15 inches of snow that have blessed us since yesterday. And as we are blessed with even more snow this evening, I'll have to do it all over again tomorrow.
Tomorrow we will have Ingunn's parents for dinner. Very typical western Norway Christmas dinner, cured lam ribs, steamed for hours and hours. Served with almond potatoes and mashed rutabaga.
I decided to give away my book as a Christmas present to people on our list and to people on Facebook and Twitter. It is the e-book version. I have enjoyed noticing where all the people downloading it are living. Apart from South America all continents are represented which of course makes me proud and gives me great satisfaction.
Enjoy your holiday!
Sunday, December 20, 2009
4 Days to Christmas
It will be a white Christmas this year, and don't we love it.
December started with rain and very miserable weather, but turned around for the better or should we say colder. I am not a big fan of dozens of freezing degrees, but this time of year it is better than rain. And the snow brightens it all up. Yesterday Philip and I was a trip to Lillestrøm, that's half an hours ride outside Oslo where Ingunn's parents live. We were going to pick up their car so we could get around a bit to fix a few things. It was 5 degrees and windy. Philip and I had to walk from the train station to their house and we were almost freezing to death. The temperature, the wind and the humidity made it. But it has turned milder so now it is only 20 so it almost like you want to go swimming.
We did go out to buy a Christmas tree this week, and it could just be that a little bit of Americanism kicks in and we decorate it a day or two before the evening of the 23rd. It could just be. The family tradition has been to decorate the tree on the above mentioned evening after the kids have gone to bed. The they could wake up on Christmas eve to a big WOW! Possibly not so this year.
Today we paid "our" (i.e. Ingunn's) grandmother, Philip and Tia's great grand mother a visit. She is 101 years old and has been a few days in hospital. She has been living at home on her own up till this day, well a week ago anyway. Impressive. All is well, and we are all happy to have made the trip ti visit.
It is still rather cold for would-be Floridians, it is snowing lightly. Three more days at work before we can take 11 days Christmas vacation. We all need that rest.
December started with rain and very miserable weather, but turned around for the better or should we say colder. I am not a big fan of dozens of freezing degrees, but this time of year it is better than rain. And the snow brightens it all up. Yesterday Philip and I was a trip to Lillestrøm, that's half an hours ride outside Oslo where Ingunn's parents live. We were going to pick up their car so we could get around a bit to fix a few things. It was 5 degrees and windy. Philip and I had to walk from the train station to their house and we were almost freezing to death. The temperature, the wind and the humidity made it. But it has turned milder so now it is only 20 so it almost like you want to go swimming.
We did go out to buy a Christmas tree this week, and it could just be that a little bit of Americanism kicks in and we decorate it a day or two before the evening of the 23rd. It could just be. The family tradition has been to decorate the tree on the above mentioned evening after the kids have gone to bed. The they could wake up on Christmas eve to a big WOW! Possibly not so this year.
Today we paid "our" (i.e. Ingunn's) grandmother, Philip and Tia's great grand mother a visit. She is 101 years old and has been a few days in hospital. She has been living at home on her own up till this day, well a week ago anyway. Impressive. All is well, and we are all happy to have made the trip ti visit.
It is still rather cold for would-be Floridians, it is snowing lightly. Three more days at work before we can take 11 days Christmas vacation. We all need that rest.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Christmas Snow
Will this be this year's Christmas snow? It has become remarkably colder, and yesterday and this morning it has been snowing, so we probably have about 4 inches of snow. When I returned from work this afternoon it was about 23 degree. That's not too bad.
Looking forward to some Christmas vacation now, as funny as it sounds. But these people in my getting back to work course really drain me. But I recharge on the bus home in the afternoon and in the evening like now, blogging a bit and listening to Christmas music. I think I love December.
Today Tia lost her first tooth. It has been loose for a while, so today she just pulled it out, and was rightfully so proud. So we expect the tooth fairy this night. Tomorrow morning will show.
Looking forward to some Christmas vacation now, as funny as it sounds. But these people in my getting back to work course really drain me. But I recharge on the bus home in the afternoon and in the evening like now, blogging a bit and listening to Christmas music. I think I love December.
Today Tia lost her first tooth. It has been loose for a while, so today she just pulled it out, and was rightfully so proud. So we expect the tooth fairy this night. Tomorrow morning will show.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Festung Oslo.
It is one of these pristine mornings again. It is fairly dark outside because all the snow has gone. Been very mild the last few days, so it all melted away. The forecast is for colder weather now, but then there is a chance for a not so very white Christmas. We can still hope.
Festung Oslo is back to normal. Obama is back home, we can relax. Good to see him, he came - and he won. I think he felt
welcome. He probably held one of his most important speeches ever. I am glad that was in Oslo.
For all the critics: No peace price; no opportunity for that particular speech, and the air would have been much duller. It was one of those speeches that will set the standard for foreign policy, diplomacy and the like for many years ahead. For Europe and the US alike.
And... it was a proud American that received the Peace prize. So this couple took Norway with storm as we would say.
It would not have been the case with the former president. I think it is better for the US to be part of the world than on the sideline and on your own. So welcome back. The world needs you, you need the world.
A good and a challenging week. Ingunn finally got started in her new job. And she is thrown right into it all. Which of course she likes very much, but also is a bit scary. As you might know she got this job offer a while ago, but declined because the contract was way too rigid. I think the disappointment was equally big on both sides. So they came back and asked if there was anything they could do. So Ingunn got the job to draft an attachment to the contract that took care of her interests, our interests.
All accepted. She will prosper, they will prosper.
The challenges have more been on my side. Coaching, teaching, helping people that do not want help, even though they really need it. They don't see it. Don't want or dare to face reality. How can I crack the code? "These things are sent to try me and I shall probably emerge as a nobler soul from the experience". That's my mantra right now.
We're heading towards Christmas, I need the 11 days of rest. (This is Norway). When it is Christmas we celebrate Christmas.
Have a good one.
Festung Oslo is back to normal. Obama is back home, we can relax. Good to see him, he came - and he won. I think he felt
welcome. He probably held one of his most important speeches ever. I am glad that was in Oslo.
For all the critics: No peace price; no opportunity for that particular speech, and the air would have been much duller. It was one of those speeches that will set the standard for foreign policy, diplomacy and the like for many years ahead. For Europe and the US alike.
And... it was a proud American that received the Peace prize. So this couple took Norway with storm as we would say.
It would not have been the case with the former president. I think it is better for the US to be part of the world than on the sideline and on your own. So welcome back. The world needs you, you need the world.
A good and a challenging week. Ingunn finally got started in her new job. And she is thrown right into it all. Which of course she likes very much, but also is a bit scary. As you might know she got this job offer a while ago, but declined because the contract was way too rigid. I think the disappointment was equally big on both sides. So they came back and asked if there was anything they could do. So Ingunn got the job to draft an attachment to the contract that took care of her interests, our interests.
All accepted. She will prosper, they will prosper.
The challenges have more been on my side. Coaching, teaching, helping people that do not want help, even though they really need it. They don't see it. Don't want or dare to face reality. How can I crack the code? "These things are sent to try me and I shall probably emerge as a nobler soul from the experience". That's my mantra right now.
We're heading towards Christmas, I need the 11 days of rest. (This is Norway). When it is Christmas we celebrate Christmas.
Have a good one.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Sunday Morning on the Hill
I wake up early in the mornings. And especially these week+end mornings now before Christmas I have great joy sitting down contemplating and listening to Christmas carols and sipping my coffee. It is something with me and Christmas carols. I do love them. All sorts and varieties. Ingunn, Tia and Philip asleep, dark outside, these days lit up by a little snow that will go away in a few days because it is getting milder. As I sit here listening to the low music not to wake up the rest, I wished it would last for ever. No work, no school no nothing just me, my family getting a good rest. Well, that's not how it all works. And what makes it exciting is that it does not last for ever. And I don't really want it to either.
I have written it before, we have a beautiful view of Oslo. That's one of the benefits of living in a hilly country. Not that Oslo is hilly, by no means. But we live at an altitude of about 600 feet, which helps.
So next week Obama is coming. Looking forward to that. Not that I am going to meet him. But Norway is one of The US' most reliable allies, so it is good he's been here paying a visit. Clinton came. Bush never did, he did not like us, we asked a few questions regarding the Iraq invasion. Well, we did participate for a while. And we are present in Afghanistan, and we should.
Yesterday was the traditional advent party at Ingunn's parents house. Full dinner, singing, playing, games, fun presents etc. We were 15 people so it was quite a pack.
A rarity has happened in the family. Philip has a sore throat. He is never ill, but this week end his throat has been very sore, a little fever and painful to swallow. We have to see if we should get him to the doctor today. he has to stay home from school tomorrow. That's for sure.
I have written it before, we have a beautiful view of Oslo. That's one of the benefits of living in a hilly country. Not that Oslo is hilly, by no means. But we live at an altitude of about 600 feet, which helps.
So next week Obama is coming. Looking forward to that. Not that I am going to meet him. But Norway is one of The US' most reliable allies, so it is good he's been here paying a visit. Clinton came. Bush never did, he did not like us, we asked a few questions regarding the Iraq invasion. Well, we did participate for a while. And we are present in Afghanistan, and we should.
Yesterday was the traditional advent party at Ingunn's parents house. Full dinner, singing, playing, games, fun presents etc. We were 15 people so it was quite a pack.
A rarity has happened in the family. Philip has a sore throat. He is never ill, but this week end his throat has been very sore, a little fever and painful to swallow. We have to see if we should get him to the doctor today. he has to stay home from school tomorrow. That's for sure.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
