A Roll in the Universe

When I first became a professional (i.e. got paid for finding my way around a file cabinet) in California, the stereotyped security guard posted in the reception area would watch TV on the one screen not watching the building. Yesterday, when I left work, I heard our security guard chuckling at his single screen and since I knew it wasn't TV (we don't have any), it had to be the internet. Ah, yes, times have changed. Upon inquiry as to the source of the merriment, I was informed that Jeremy Clarkson's description of Norway was an absolute riot. It is. See for yourself. (Don't let the part about the Mercedes throw you.)

For a while I gave up Blogger, recreated my blog a Geocities webpage, and then started fresh at Blogger again. Tonight I did my version of what a friend calls "sorting nails": A relatively mindless though not useless job that keeps you occupied and gives you a break from worries or allows you (and other family members) a bit of alone-time. My friend would go into the garage and sort nails, hence the name of the activity. So now my nails are sorted: All posts from the Geocities page are now here and archived. And boy, does Blogger look different in Firefox! I usually use Safari.

I had seen her once before, a tad incongruous with her grocery cart, fur coat and purple-brown hair, and sunglasses, feeding the ducks. When she left, I took this picture: Today I saw her again, her grocery cart full of bread. I stopped and looked at the huge crowd of mallards surrounding her, and she noticed me. "Enjoying the view?" she cheerfully asked and I said yes. When she was done feeding the birds, she started to chat with me. I learned that she started feeding the ducks when the cold weather came, that she came twice a week and chose days when she knew others wouldn't be feeding the birds (like on Fridays), and that she had regular contact with the local ornithological association. As we chit-chatted about the regulars that inhabit Ortuvann, the pond we were standing by, we realized there were no gulls, and Bird Woman said she hadn't seen any gulls since Christmas. I wondered why; they are everywhere (also in my picture above). The ducks surrounded us whil

Reading other people's blogs, and clicking on links without knowing what they lead to, can lead to this .

Or perhaps it's more accurate to say: It's frozen. Today was one of those bitter, cold days that midwinter can cough up. A leaden sky cast gloom all day and made the air feel raw. The wind was so cold and strong that it has polished the thin layer of snow on rocks and parking lots into ice. What was I doing out in this weather, freezing my ears off? Heading for the gas station to buy batteries for a remote, while dropping off metal, glass and plastic at the recycling bins, skidding across a beforementioned parking lot. And discovering this icicle.

My hairdresser, Trond, is out sick. He caught the extremely contagious strain of pneumonia that has reached epidemic proportions in Bergen, and is on sickleave until February 1. So my hair was cut today by one of his other employees, Sonja. The only one who can cut my hair to my satisfaction, is Trond himself, but last fall I felt like a change was due. Sonja did a decent job (just a cut), but more importantly, we hit it off chit-chat wise. I feel at ease in her company, so I'll be talking to Trond about bringing her up to speed with my hair so that he has a "stand-in", and I'll have more options. Trond himself is always so busy. So there I was in the city, with a fresh haircut, and realized that I'd left my camera at home. There are things to photograph that most people don't notice: Like the green, corrugated metal sheds on the wharf that have incongruous, carved, stone pillars. Or the handwritten "SALE" sign in an oriental shop done in such a wa

I knew I needed to blog because it's been a while, but what about? So I came across this meme at ultraviolet's . No, she ain't tagging and neither am I. Anyway: 1. When you look at someone what is the first thing that you notice? The little things, like a stray lock of hair. 2. What is your favorite, if any: dark, milk or white chocolate? White. 3. River, lake or ocean? Ocean. 4. Have you ever been streaking? I'm going with ultraviolet's answer on this one: God, no. I'd freeze to death! 5. What music do you like to hear when on a romantic date? Music? 6. Do you ride horses? Versus eating them, you mean? 7. If you could own three vehicles of your choice what would they be? A Segway, an industrial strength helicopter, and a Toyota Prius. 8. Do you hate your job? Not once. 9. Do you like the nine to five grind? Yes! If only it actually was 9 to 5, but my boss would rather I show up around 8. 10. What would be your dream job?

En kollega som surfet på Bergens Tidende kunne fortelle at det brant hos meg. Hjertet hoppet i halsen på meg, men heldigvis kunne jeg se av bildene på bt.no at det ikke var min blokk. Men kollegaen lovte aldri å ordlegge seg akkurat slik igjen.

I bought a Page-A-Day Calendar for myself. I decided that I wanted to excercise the noggin' (to stave off memory loss, Alzheimer, his misspelled twin Altzheimers, and general brain-leakage) and picked up one that read Mensa Puzzles. (I've already discovered I've forgotten all my algebra and that used to be my favorite type of math.) The publishers let you sign up for an online version of same or for another calendar, using the special code that you don't discover until you unwrap the printed calendar. (I did open it on January 2nd; I keep it at work.) So I'm browsing all the other Page-A-Day calendars, trying to make up my mind. I finally settled on these two calendars and am now trying to decide which one to subscribe to: Duct Tape 2006: "From Jim and Tim, the guys who turned duct tape into a publishing phenomenon, it’s a nutty new year of tribute. Celebrate The Tape with hundreds of quotes, tips, Stump the Duct Tape Guys challenges, Wacky Duct Tape Uses

A rather unusual light column drew extra attention to New Year Day's gorgeous sunset, photographed over Lysefjorden, south of Bergen. UPDATE: I've just learned that it's a phenomenon known as a sun pillar .