Doctor Visit...

So I have been allergy suffering for the past 4 days now. I have a date with brown eyed man tomorrow. I figured it would more appetizing to go out to dinner with a girl that can breath through nose properly etc. Also the paler than usual isn't pretty. I realized this morning that when my chest hurts this bad I usually have an infection, woo hoo. So I got my papers out for our Fastlege info, or GP. Johannessen was on the bottom of the page this is all I could read on it other than the address and my name. I called them at 955 and they were able to get me in at 1045. The receptionist said be here at 1045 cause we close early touday (its how she sounded) I asked if I need to bring in any info she said no and promptly hung up on me. So I walked the 10 minute walk down there wondering if it would be anything like my drs appointments in the US. I go in for this sinus/sore throat thing twice a year so I am used to it. Sometimes they like to take blood to see if 'anything else' is going on (I see a DO so he is thorough). I hope I am prepared for the blood work, I hate it, especially the finger prick I would rather you take it out of my cheek with a iv than prick me. I have small fingers. Also in getting ready to see the doctor I tried to look my best since I don't know any of the souls from Adam. I mean I look like a zombie all week so I had under an hour to brighten up. I even wore a short sleeved shirt knowing they would check my blood pressure. Well I even wore easy to take off shoes for being weighed.

So I get to the office after hoofing it up three flights of stairs. If I had know I might have taken the elevator. My heart was racing by the time I get up there. The office has no window for you to sign in or be greeted by a sweet teenager who sees everything on your chart and knows how you pay for the visit. I finally assume I am to sit and wait to be called upon. 10 minutes of sitting did not win one single angry bird three stars. Heart is almost settled and a young man mumbles my name in a Norwegian way. Then I hear Aangle-a. So I go with him and he shows me to his office. He introduces himself. Allergy brain me doesn't hear it but I shake his hand say hi in my most American way so he knows I don't speak Norsk. Also-- he is the first doctor I have been to personally that is younger than me... Max had an ENT that looked in his 20's. And he wore sneakers, jeans and a long sleeved teeshirt. So I felt like he was dressed to work at a coffee shop. Oh well I really don't mind the casual part. The age part- that is a mental 'growing older' problem I have to get over. Then he asks me in norwegian what the problem is. Blah blah blah later. I don't fill out any forms. He asks me no patient history questions. No tests, weight, what medicine are you on right now. Do you have any life threatening illnesses. Only personal thing he asks is did I move to his practise from another (this is my translation). I say no first time a dr here in norway. I also told him I had asthma but he didn't catch that one until after I mentioned my inhaler. Then he asked me about asthma. I guess all my blah was too much for him so he said- so what is the main problem. I said nose and my chest/throat. So he suggested nose spray. I guess that chest will heal on its own...I think to myself. He said that when you have symptom free asthma an infection can pop up and cause all this. Yes he is right. You know I just remembered he didn't ask me about fever either. I guess he is going to let my body work out that infection. Most doctors give me the awe inspiring Zpack. Its wonderful. I was kinda at loss after he started printing out the script then he asked how would you like to pay, credit card? So ofcourse his little card machine outside his office door doesn't take cards with No Chip. So I paid with cash, no receipt. I did get a quick bye from him as he dashed to his office. Took the bus downtown to the only pharmacy I know of. I sat waiting for the bus in the bus shelter and I got a dirty look from an older lady... thanks. I figured she was looking on me dismally cause I was sitting and usually the bench is for oldies. There was room for 3 other dismal angry old people. Then a guy who didn't give me a dirty look came up and stood next to me lit a cigarette then sat down. Gosh I hate being rude and moving but really I just can't breath well dude. He was black and this doesn't both me at all but more people in Norway are funny about color. Our relocation lady's husband is black and has had the cops called on him before when he was trying to break into his own home (locked out).

Anyway back to downtown pharmacy. Got my ticket at the door. Pharmacies here don't have fun stuff really like pharmacies do in US. I did see some bath colors for kids. They have pricey bandaids, breast milk pumps and old people. I was worried I needed my national id number or they wouldn't take my card without CHIP. My number got called and I gave her my printout and she followed with no words for 3 minutes typing info into computer. I twice reminded myself to bend my knees I didn't want to do that freeze fainting thing. Did I say I am having a hard time breathing? I was irritated fully by now. I should have manned up and asked for something to fight the infection off with. LONG 3 minutes later she told me they were out of the nose 'drip'. Well first she told me in Norwegian, then I smiled and said 'sorry I only speak English'. So they have the spray but no drip. First of all I don't like correcting people so I went along with it, secondly I wouldn't do the drip want the medicine UP in my nose. She said can order the drip. I said well I prefer the spray anyway. Then she had to get two people involved with the substitution. Then the pharmacist asked me about it all. She said she would call the DR for the change. I told them they close at noon so they should hurry. Luckily my dr was still there and said he miss entered the script. Wow I feel so much better now that my new dr miss enters a script. Its like going to an amusement park in a foreign country. So script in bag, I head home with hopes of feeling better and thoughts of irony.

So this is social medicine, warm fuzzies.

bad moon rising

that is a song right? Or I have perhaps messed up a word in the song? Well its 7:18am and Max is out of school today so he felt like waking early. He hasn't felt like waking early all week. I imagine 2 of the last four days he would have slept till after 8.... so I get his morning snack and drink and see that moon. It was bright all night you know, but 7am? Had to tell you about it... its ironic already today. Good day folks

Maunday monday

Hello. Its snowing out there world. Not here but its neat to know its snowing. Its fogging outside. I don't like foggy so fogging is the Norway version. I almost went on my morning walk but I figured i like my life as I know it. Even with my day glow yellow/green jacket I just don't think so. About a month ago there was a neighborhood effort to protect kids walking to school. At each intersection in there is an adult wearing a glowy vest waiting to help kids cross. Its a sign of civility that makes me smile when I see them.

So how am I doing on my new 'blog' plans. Well not there yet. I did move boxes out of the hallway that has been a good thing. I am going to bed earlier on a regular basis, thank you. I have crafted or created in the kitchen almost everyday. I have also added so fun 'homework' for max here in the kitchen area so we can hang out while I cook.

My favorite new craft is these cute little trees. I just need to get some basic yarn to make pompoms for the tree top. Made of paper bags and glue!

So Norway. Well last week Jeff was in the US so I got to drive the car all week again. It was nice I explored a bit more. I had a field trip to meet max at. Max had a playdate for me to take him to. We met some new friends for a playdate downtown for feeding birds, bowling & burger king. Jeff didn't like our car (second car we have tried) it was a baby room color blue. Jeff called him Blu from Rio. Jeff & Max get car sick so I guess it was making them car sick. Jeff had a new car ordered to swap with Blu. I had to pick it up from the dealer. Well, um. It was a comedy. Its still a comedy. First I didn't know how to start it, german car.... So you have to press the brake to start ignition. Step 1 done. It BEEPS WHILE BACKING UP. I have been in a car that beeps but it shuts off the radio- I love being micromanaged by a machine. IT BEEPS, and asks you on the dash board: have you looked to see if you have room? I want to ask it: is it safe to be reading you as I am backing up? It can ask all the questions but I don't have a recourse other than slamming it into a tree, which I won't do. I have to parallel park in front of our house and usually at parking garages there are parallel options. IT BEEPS when I am moving forward to and asks me inane questions on the dashboard.
So Step 1 Start Car. Step 2 drive car. Well got out of parking lot of dealer then couldn't get the hag car to accelerate. Gee. Did I have to go back in again, the lady laughed at the ignition issue. So got across a busy street and still the car is acting like neutral. So I park scream at the car, look around and see - + next to D. So I try + still nothing I don't have a place to park and now things are a bit scary too far from the dealer. Then I try to put it back in D and she takes off. Perfect, Step 2 put it in Drive. Step 3 drive without killing anyone. I did that by the way easily. Step 4 meander through traffic with ease. Should be easy this is why I only drive an automatic engine, I don't want to be playing footie games adjusting gears. No this car wants you to do something while breaking in traffic. If you are at rest for a few seconds with brake pressed the car shuts off, once you lift your foot off brake it restarts itself (odd it goes against step 1's lesson-foot on brake). So each and every time I stop for pedestrians the car SHUTS off. Did I mention I went downtown. I also parked in a tiny garage braking several times behind people who where maneuvering their vehicles. AH ha ha, Jeff is coming home today and will probably instantly figure it out. I did try this gear that is called S (standby maybe) and didn't stop the madness. I did figure out when to use + or - but that had little to do with the engine shut off. I do like the look of the car and it can zig around traffic at 90 km well I just want to know the engine shut off will end.

More fun stuff. I went a fair this week that invites crafts makers from throughout Europe to sell their wares. It was nice, its planned by PWC (old school Petroleum Wives Club, but I don't think they go by that anymore). They sell tea, coffee & cakes to raise money. Donate a cake if you want to attend early. I was busy in german car land so came later. I was impressed by a few of the booths but I guess its the economy or something I just wasn't wanting to buy the whole place. They had beautiful felted wool items. Now maybe cause I was hoping for more non-norwegian crafts. I bought the wool stuff too. I was interested in hand made table runners. Meaning the clothe itself was hand woven, I saw one for 150 USD, it was about 4 feet long. I was trying to find something for Serenity, she is so good at gift giving I thought this would be the year I got her something with a 'wow' attached. I found something, I just don't feel wow. I won't tell you just in case she actually reads this. I did see mens wool underwear, I really was confused I should have taken a picture. I am hoping it was curb appeal for the booth so people would stop by. It worked I couldn't see what else they were selling with all the people standing there. Ding BANANA BREAD done be right back. It wasn't just wool underwear it was colorful, gaudy. So, I am left with that question. There were three wood carvers there, this is a weakness of mine. I remember my mom stopping and drooling over wood carvings since I started to go to craft shows with her. He had wooden cups with handles like measuring cups with a leather loop through the flat handle. I could not give myself a reason I needed the 50 USD cup. The wood carvers made little smooth boxes with even smaller boxes inside. Ahhh I just sighed again. There were doll & little girl clothing booths. I really thought about an outfit for my nieces baby dolls but what to choose and would it fit.... I found a quilt booth with a very nice norwegian woman. Mom would have stopped there for a half hour probably. The woman at that booth saw me and said 'do you sew too?' and explained yes but not this nice and I didn't bring my sewing machine. She offered her card and the info on a local quilting guild. I think the cutest thing was the sheep that were felted over rocks, adorable. I think I walked away from that one, too bad.

I'll update you on the car soon ;)

Well going to clean up the abode so thanks for your time today. Its still fogging wonder if jeffs plane will be on time..

more rambles from me

a thought occurred to me tonight. I may have unlocked one more social difference. So today on the way home from the afternoon school bus stop. Max & I walked down our street and a new car was parked at the end of the street. As we passed it two people were loading the tiny compact car with frames and lamps. My next door neighbor (don't know them) is having the upstairs completely redone and I am sure this is the clean out stage. Anyway the mid 50's couple emptying it was less than friendly, like they had that 'funeral' look to them. Or like they were serious surgeons and need not smile. This is not unusual. I still get mildly disappointed with the frowns though (sucker I know). So later tonight I was on my drive home from the store and I realized: Back home: normally one smiles at strangers in a close neighborhood situation so you can trust their appearance in your close quarters. This smile is disarming and it usually should make one feel safer OR you see the lack of truth in their smile and you note this for later use. Its just a smile. I know but they looked like their were serious dental pain. I don't give a flip about the smile, but I don't like them frowning on my street. Take your frown and brass lamps out of Ole Bulls Vei dear, and return when you can avoid my look or smile.

Well now that mystery is solved on to powdered Vanilla, why can't it come in liquid form? Why did that shipping company person lift my 12 oz container of mexican Vanilla. Was she desperate for sugar and alcohol? Or has she been to norway and thought this would be a funny trick. This Vanilla joke affects more people than me, Jeff & Max like their sugar cookies, and I do plan on chocolate chip cookies soon. I will update you on the powdered vanilla, the update will most likely involve me giving up on my american baking recipes..... night all

I have been busy

SO I need to post pictures. Its on the todo list today :).

I have been baking, cooking, no crafting ;(, and planning more for this ole blog. Ole in norwegian is 'ola' btw.

Wednesday morning I remembered you again blog I was on the last half of my walk and enjoying the sunrise. I was smiling outright people, it was shameful ;). I was trying to figure out again where the sun starts and sets in our sky, then I was trying to imagine the earth and the sun exposure for Norway. I was in this though for 2 minutes strait (long time, I hang with a 5 year old) and crinkled my nose and thought 'this shouldn't be so hard'. I shook off the guilt with 'here comes the sun', and thought maybe its the brain drain of asthma. Yes thats what I will tell myself. I even kicked the leaves on the way to and from the lake wednesday, I was giddy not oxygen deprived then. Did I come home and write you... no sorry.

Today Friday... on the same o walk I remembered you again when I found my sweet leaves in a soppy hot mess on the sidewalk. This is a lesson: play in the leaves while you can. They need to see the mulch pile. So more about the walk today. Pooh tastic pooh all over the sidewalks today. Especially around the lake. I am thinking the sheep might have ventured out of their double fence inclosure to stand on the sidewalk/toliet and go back to their green grass to eat and mock me dodging the pooh. Thanks sheep. I know they can get by one inclosure. Have you ever watched Shawn the Sheep, its eye opening about the real lives of sheep. And now as the pouring rain beats the window I am thankful I walked earlier.

I have had our car all week with Jeff being in Belgium. So I have driven downtown finally, parked in a parkering garage. Yes its called 'parkering'. Once I finally removed the driving bandaid (only driven to 3 places) I feel like a freer bird thank you Bliss! My new partner in crime, TB (for That B, TOB didn't work) she and I went clothing shopping yesterday. It was the most normal I have felt in a while. Also speaking of normal, TB told me about how many moms hang out afterschool at the playground and allow their kiddos to play. So tuesday, wednesday & thursday max played to his hearts content!! He now calls it his recess. We will be able to do it next week since Jeff will be in the US next week. Boo I don't get to go, but I do get him to bring back a whole suit case full of home ;).

Well now the sun is out, la. Time for a walk if I could have seen the future.

bye folks

dark days are coming

So this summer I would hear many phrases about one subject: enjoy the nice days because there will be plenty of not nice days ahead. We did try to enjoy them. Now the sun is setting completely before 6. By halloween it will be setting at 4:45 (complete setting mid 5pm). So I am daily thinking of what to do with our time. Well let me change that- what to do with Max & I after school. And what to do daily so i don't wan't to go to stay in bed all the dark morning. In planning these activities I have become a www.pinterest.com addict. So I will see an activity add it to my ever growing list. Well every so often I will make or do something from the list and put in under a list 'stamp it done' and feel a bit of pride I finished something. Last night I was searching around for a few more ideas and found a decoration for halloween that I already have done :(. I don't know why it bothered me. Maybe I need to change my mind and alter my attitude. After some consideration I decided to get over it and start adding my joy of getting things done and 'max activities' to my blog. So if this bores you I am sorry. I am excited I was making lists last night for the new update to my blog I thought I would add the fun time of research food purchases with the language barrier.

Thank you ahead of time for your patience with my new changes. I hope to meet all my new expectations but since I haven't been all that successful with blogging thus far I do admit that this is a work in progress.

The direction of my projects:

1- Make ahead meals. Yes we have all done this. Now wait and see my freezer & fridge though it is 'american style' (meaning all in one), but the freezer is small and not convenient for frozen casseroles etc. So I am trying to freeze quick meals, snacks & breakfasts that can be warmed up in the oven. I made a list of pre made foods that I buy at the store and fast food meals. I am going to try to recreate these at home in easy individual portions. I admit I have done the premade meals cause its easy and I don't need to learn all the ingredient names in norwegian. Dry Active Yeast was my search last night.

2- Crafts & Recycle crafts- AKA upcycling. This is fun for me. Jeff has been nice about it so far. I have a few pieces of wall art to already add to the old blog. I will tell you shopping for simple craft items has been hard at times and easier than I thought other times. Mostly it takes the planning of translating before you leave the house for the store (I don't have wifi outside of the house so I cannot translate on site at store). Luckily craft stores employees are some of the nicest people I have met here so I can ask them but they don't always know the term from my english explanation.

3- Go to bed at a decent time 8-10pm. I have dreams of better skin, healthier body, clearer brain, and sleep is the answer supposedly, we will see. I am working on it. Though the sleeping through the night process is still difficult so yes you will see me online at midnight on my blog or fb. Max grinds his teeth at night so I get to listen to that if I wake up through the night. Yes Max sleeps with us :/.

4- Continue to explore the new digs. I have a new partner in crime here, she will be known as The Other B, or TOB. She has a little one that isn't in school but we will still have adventures. I hope to continue to describe foods & events from this Oklahoma girls slant.

So this new post was my goal for the morning. Now off to the grocery store- lesson #1 in grocery shopping if you shop at 8-10 am stores will slowly restocking. Slow is an understatement. They are very small stores so very few employees so don't take this as a slap at their workers. Its just I am used to overnight stocking. So on monday morning when I went after Max's busstop I found no cilantro. I was not frustrated though knowing that 'today is not the day for..' that meal. I am hoping that 10:30 will be a better time at this particular store. Oh and I don't know if I have said this yet but we have opted to drive one vehicle here. So most days I walk or bus everywhere. So the store is 700meters away (thank you google maps), 10 minute walk each way. I don't complain about the walk but sometimes I get passed by a person on a bike and then I get grumpy temporarily. I am a horrid biker, I am trying to get gutsy and just bike to store, update you later on that. Well I better go get my warm rainy gear on and scat!

Brrrr

Good afternoon people!

So today I went on my normal shopping trip downtown. I go to Sentrum (downtown) once a week usually. Yes I broke down and had a McDs chicken salsa meny (like a jr chkn sandwich meal, it has salsa & chips on the sandwich). I took the bus there and planned on taking it back but I missed it twice, then I gave up and walked home.

The walk home was the normal thoughts spinning around in my head. So let me try to spin them on paper, or pixels. I didn't mind the reason for the walk I met a fellow american momma at the grocery store, I heard her talk to her toddler in american and I finally asked her if she knew where to find nutmeg. She's two weeks new here. She has done an expat stent in australia also. So as unpleasant the walk up a few big hills I had a smile about meeting someone new. So then back to the thoughts on the walk. I saw the not so unusual young dad walking his toddler home from barnehager (preschool). The usual trash was here and there on the paths, little tiny pack of 'snuff' or something, they are like individual packets the size of a thimble but flatter. I saw the regular gross condom on the ground. Ew. I don't understand why the sidewalk is the discard place for that. Which brings me back to discarding. To trash your left over food OR to leave it strewn about on the table. Its not an instinct with all to throw their food away. EVERYWHERE! McDs, parks, sidewalks, playplaces (like pump it up), and I am not talking a few food items, a family of 5 leaves a table scattered with ketchup drinks, wrappers etc. Half way to home I realize when I saw bird poo on a car I forgot to do the poo check after I walked by the birds in the sentrum gathering place. Awe man I talked with that new woman and gave her my email and I probably had bird poo on me!! Did the check and cleared my crazy self. Then I was like self what where you thinking? Well self reminded me that I was in awe of the three HUGE ships in the harbor. I don't have a word other than HUGE TITANIC GIGANTIC HUGE. How did all three fit? I also considered in the last third of the trek to stop at a white house and say I'm home. Then a humorous group of 40 adolescent bikers rolled by and it guilted me into keeping the faith and walk more. I say humorous because its windy rainy and chilly so what are these people doing? Biking. No black cat crossed my path this time. Last week a black cat crossed my path, then waited for me to pass. It was beautiful, and a kitten. It looked at me and gave me that look 'Okay, if you want to take me home, its okay with me'. It waited there, I turned around three times looking at me like 'your cats back home will never know'. Haunting little imp. Hope its warm. Most cats here are kinda farm cat like, they have outdoor cats here and they all look scraggly with fur issues and fighting scars. This cat was fluffy and clean looking- meant to be an indoor little creature next to the fireplace. YES its a long walk, lots of thoughts. So there was a teenager walking home from school with a younger boy with downs, they were talking about time (yes I figured out the norwegian). This is when I am again reminded of public school getting out early afternoon, I can't remember its like 1230 or so.

So now you know why I don't blog daily its painful for me to regurgitate this stuff!! Its silly a the ramblings of the idle.

I must Max chat next time I open the blog!

Takk

Le Eiffel Tour

Le Eiffel Tour

Was Eiffel tower beautiful? Well is a new baby perfect? Is death peaceful? Is sugar sweet?

Yes I know it's brown metal, a bit different from the famous depictions. I don't know a way that it's not a beauty. Again I got to see my friend scary guards with superior guns. I had melon sorbet. They had gellato but not the choice of Jeff & Bliss frambroise. Peddlers wandered around offering champagne, I thought that was a cool touch. You know I'm lucky to be there as a young adult, I figure this is the life. Then I see people enjoying it like it is an everyday thing. There were people that are there playing Frisbee with friends. There's a whole park area that people are just sitting on the ground trying to get their own once-in-a-lifetime picture. They are mostly sitting on plastic sacks cause of the wet ground. We found one, I had a rain jacket so Jeff & I sat. Ironically I imagined where do you take a first date to in Paris? I like the family factor at the tower kiddos everywhere. Jeff & I missed Max like crazy those days in Paris. There was a family, mom dad & little girl. Little girl was smartly pushing a stroller with her baby doll. Her purse was on one stroller handle. It was again a smart black purse. She had a bracelet, watch, necklace & earrings. She didn't need reminded to keep up with her parents she was bold. I thought of my niece when jeff & I saw her. Jeff wants another baby so that was hard to see that.

Seriously I'm at that cafe noir (inside) and a cute little Jack Russel puppy runs inside directly and turns to run behind the bar. The owners wife squeals and the puppy jumps up to her. Funny. Funny. Then bad little puppy runs out then back again and gets in trouble from his young man owner. Ha!

Back to Le Eiffel, yes we went there on the 10 year observance of 9/11, so I wad prepared for it being closed etc. So it was nice that we had free reign of the grounds. We didn't ride up in it. I'm not a person that has to do EVERY experience I just have take it by the eyes usually. Jeff said we would take Max up there some day.

Did I say it was beautiful? Did I say jeff even gave pause to the lady? We both had our moment of visual ecstasy. I wanted to see it slowly. I found it through tall trees that were probably 80 years old. Jeff want to speed walk to it and take in it's achievement in deifying gravity. Admittedly I saw it from the plane earlier and jeff & I spotted it out before we got on the train to it from our hotel. But "golly" (it's the Oklahoma girl) it was worth it all, worth it all. Worth some crusty Norwegian moments. Worth missing max this week. Worth missing TU OU game, maybe missing OU FSU. I will miss OU UT in person (my dad got tickets!!!!!), so ask me then :(. Eiffel was like hearing Vivaldi. In pictures of Eiffel it's like seeing the notes of Vivaldi, but seeing Eiffel in person is like hearing the notes preformed. Okay I'm leaving cafe noir for the last time. Au revoir.

Warm day in the country side of France

Warm day

I couldn't have asked for more thank you. I wouldn't have traded 400 euros for this warmth. I feel like this is that day that is filed under wow.

I'm back at yesterday's cafe noir. The nice lady behind the counter is talking politics with a older gentleman in a warm heavy suit. it makes me think of that song... Piano man. Thank you Billy Joel. While I'm thanking the peps I should thank Steve Jobs (I always thank him every time his iPhone helps me through the dentist). Thank you Cliff for teaching me to explore music. Thank you jeff for teaching me to not give homeless people money.

So the louvre.

Jeff & I got to go there. I realize I'm not going to put a polish on the place like art authors have so I come from a complete humble place. Did I see my second favorite artists work? Yes, Mona was in house. I got close enough. But not to make a connection that I'm sure Da Vinci was planning. I did get closer to some his other works. He had a way of paint women. I'm not sure I'd like to have the great Da Vinci over to my home for a long stay, maybe as a family member. He's an obvious perfectionist. I realize not just anybody gets to be a mind like his but his painting in person was all I needed to see. It's like my friend says"I don't trust anyone who doesn't have pets", well I can't imagine how he made his art with out any sign of brush stroke. Also no complaints on the crowd in front of the Mona Lisa. I hope Da Vinci gets to smile at that.

Guns at the Louvre. Yes I like to talk guns at foreign places. Well I found out the night before at another tourist site they don't have AKs. Perhaps cause its a German gun?? I wouldn't know who to ask. Also it's not the google search I want on my FBI file. So I'll just imagine it all. I will look up the weapon though so I can smile next time I see it rather than get the question mark look. Yes anyway, there were security walking around the louvre in certain spots, mostly the French wing :(. None at the entrance so I was actually a tad bit surprised to see it finally at the last bit of our walk through the museum. There police don't dress up like the overdon Italian police/military. The French police or louvre guards (uniform didn't scream a name) were in dark dress that made me feel a bit safer being 10th anniversary of 9/11.

Also btw there's a guy stalking around the outdoor cafe like a scary Mr Rogers. He was drinking a cafe when I sat down. He left 15 mins later. He came back and I saw him eating a kitkat like chocolate but the entrance to the indoor cafe. Now I saw him again. Nothing against mr Rogers, this guys working the cardigan. Anyway I'll update you if he gets a plastic spoon out starts committing crimes.

So I saw another artist right before we left. Vermeer. Wow. There was a whole wing of paintings from the Netherlands . So sadly by the time I got to Vermeer the light that he puts in his paintings were so subtle. Or my feet were killing me. But the two vermeers I saw were perfect like the first time I saw them at 20 in a book.

A book - a museum. Thats an interesting topic. Can you learn better from the museum? I still want to say yes because the size, texture and portions are exactly what the artist had in mind. Though.... I would add that the artist probably never had in mind it going on a wall with 3-10 paintings. That's the allure of the book. It's like internet changed the world, well when art could be sent anywhere a book could. I learned more from my books. My emotional connection was not stronger because of the in person connection. I did learn of so many similar artist to my favorites. Like books the rooms are in chapters. The artists share something so the eye is relaxed as it looks painting to painting similar in some range of time and medium. Jeff asked "I wonder if the artist say, really... I have to paint Jesus again...how will I make it different???". Well I know it's a bit repetitive but most of these great works were in "the art" in a single church, paid for or "commissioned" by the local rich person. Like how rich people still fund art, like ballet, I wish I had money like toilet paper I'd do that too. Back to the repetitive art, I'd seen so many Jesus' that I saw on with a plaid diaper and Mary (don't know which Mary) had a plaid shaw over her shoulders. I called him Norwegian Jesus, in retrospect it's more like Scottish Jesus. either way if the louvre had blown up right after that Jesus might have not cared for the remarks. I have since said many sorries for my funny. It did scream a late night talk show humor that I was trained on.

Okay... Yes I haven't said super things about the louvre experience yet and Jeffs head would explode if that's was my only opinions. So cool things... The train (metro) to louvre takes you to the lowest floor of the museum. So when you leave the smut of the metro debris you walk by a stone wall. It covers it floor to ceiling. It's the frigging base of an old castle. The old castle base is pretty intact actually it's the base of the whole museum. So I got to see what an old castle would look like. Huge by the way!!! Another surprise was the sculptures rooms. Yes I went to rome so it's hard to top that sculpture experience. The museum has recreated an outdoor sculpture garden. It looks so natural you light hear birds flying by. It's inside on the first level of the building on the Richie side. I found out that sculpture is Jeffs favorite medium. Interesting. No clue whats my favorite. I don't have a dislike, knowing jeff him having a favorite means a distinct lack of like with other mediums. There's a McDs at the train station for the louvre (this is a very nice train station wipe your memory of any other). I still wouldn't want to take my kiddo for my only day at the louvre. But if I had many days to attend then yes take those kids.

I'm inside the cafe now so no updated on Mr Rogers scary cousin.

There a Starbucks in the louvre. There's a cafe called Paul. It's yum yum yum butter yummy. Yes I said butter. I only thought butter had its place in baking sweets. But butter. Butter. Butter. Butter. I had a typical bliss sandwich tomato mozzarella yum. I offered the last bit to jeff. He offered his. Did I say butter? His was a ham & cheese I picked it out for him. I learned before I got here that ham is jamon. Anyway, they made this with butter. I assumed mayo, you see it everywhere. No butter was the choice sandwich grease. It was crazy good. Like I could see myself moving fat choices around just so I could taste this thing called butter. Jeff said it was probably unpasturized. Yea, don't care. Bring me more. I wanted to lick the bit o butter that was trying to escape the bread. I'll let you decide what I did.

So I enjoyed the louvre and you can ask jeff about it but all I can tell you is he is a good guy for getting me there.

Back to the day here in small town France, Chantilly actually. Nice people. There was a sad beggar that spoke English though that I deferred to help. I forget about beggars in Norway. I only had two weeks warning I was coming here so my french is almost non existent. Sorry. Merci is the hardest one right next to ja voudrais.

So music that would be on my french soundtrack..... Yes I know you were wondering.

Counting crows -Mr Jones
Beatles- blackbird
Beatles- obla de obla da
Mumford & sons - the cave
Snow patrol -chasing cars
Tom petty -free fallin (definitely)
Country strong - give into me
Pink- glitter in the air
Katy Perry- Firework
Enimen & Bruno Mars- lighters
Lady A- Just a kiss
My chemical romance - Sing
Beatles- here comes the sun
Katy Perry- last Friday night
Kenny chessney- you & tequila
Percy Sledge - When a man loves a woman
JJ Heller- What love really means

I wonder what Mr creepy Rogers would pick for his album?

Okay today's ramblings are over.

best laid plans

This was my research for the morning plans:

Green line into chatlet halles

Blue line to 'orsay ville', really just to Norte dame.

Back, blue line to Charles de Gaulle, exit at chatlet halles toward green line to orry da ville

Then the hotel front desk girl gave me an itinerary for the local bus & train, well its not the paris metro whoops well I decided to stay put.

I had considered going back into Paris and seeing arc de triumph & orsay museum/Notre dame. Nope I'm hanging out in a small French town instead.

So I'm postcarding rights now. Drinking black tea at a sidewalk shop, it's a bookstore too. I could stay here forever if max could be here. The food is crazy fresh here. The zucchinis at the store yesterday where gargantuan I could make a whole zucchini lasagna with ONE!!

I called my mom back in Norway and max wore mittens today to school. Yikes!! So the sun is blinding me as the clouds roll by. I ate at a Cuban tapas bar last night. The tapas plate was interesting... I remind the reader I'm not a seafood eater. So I tried all the fried goodness. First the potato cake, it had peas, green beans (frigging fresh too!), and I hope no fish cause I ate all three! Then the probable tuna or pate fried stick. Guacamole & salsa (pase style) with chips (even the corn in the chips jumped out and scream fresh). I ate all three fried long sticks with a fish leg or tentacle in it, dipping helped. Then there was one shaped like chicken nugget (mcd style), nope not chicken, or at least I think. The mood and cigaret smoke added to my five senses. Perhaps the sixth sense, the sense of humor. There where two girls story telling and squealing with laughter at times, made me miss my girlfriends. There was a older set 4, double dating? They were at a busy cafe and impatient (seriously, they just sat down). The waiters weren't all that intent on returning to your table after bringing your stuff to you. There was a token weird girl alone... She didn't speak French ;) she wore her favorite new polka dot top and favorite gold flats.

It may not be kosher to tap away on your phone at a cafe. I get a few looks... don't care. Well I'm off to mail some postcards. Au revoir.

Paris!

In a cafe on a corner in a small French town. These ramblings start here. I'm in cafe noir, Chantilly France, mid september. It's a warm 25degrees leaves rustling by, cars & moped rolling on my left. I'm in the entrance of the coffee shop, the doors ate open so I smell the fried food from a shop five doors down. The wind has most people's scarves horizontal. It's even sunny. The cafe has hand drawn wallpaper border. Some panels are like if you took the side of a brown cardboard box and drew on it. It's nice though don't let my explanation frown on it.

It rained earlier. I was trying to eat a sandwich at a park. I mustered on through the rain it was like a light mist, I was mostly protected by the trees above me.

I have walked half the town. It's what a French town should be. Today is Monday so almost no businesses are open. Bars, cafes, grocery stores, travel agencies are open though. I'll have to wait for tomorrow, Mardi, for everything to open. I'm really hoping for chocolate shops to open.

Before the window shopping I got go to a nearby town. Jeff needed a dress shirt. So I took a taxi there & back, not cheap :(. It was a 'mall'. It had a large store inside it called Cora. It was like a target with a store credit card!! I got his shirts, I will never forget euro shirt sizing to USA sizing after today. I also got a new curling iron. Found a speedo for max, no I didn't buy. Saw some boy underwear also.... Um it had a tuck, or stitching that was unusual to say the least. I can't explain it, I even have a question on my face now thinking about it! I went to a store like a small sephora, found jeff some needed cologne and Tate some mini make by bourgeois.

So I am loving France. I realized I hadn't said it yet. The weather is better here. Food is crazy good & fresh. Farmland everywhere. Tall trees, I haven't seen cows yet.

I do miss max I could see him living this. And saying where's McDs?.

Okay battery going. I'll update more back at the hotel. Ha, I didn't say it yet, its the best western! It's nice though. Softer mattresses than Rome too!

We are back folks!

Hi, I have been back for almost two weeks.

So a few fun things Max started school this week. He's being brave at school and I'm being a sappy mom missing my big boy. He asked me last night do I cry with out him there? I said I did cry, but mostly I miss him and think about him all day. He told me 'you be brave like you told me to be brave at school'. Cute huh? Its a sweet school. It was an American school, but now its an International school, its in a group of other accredited international schools in Europe mostly. So its pretty normal school wise but in Norway the weather makes for few differences. His school supply list was

Supplies-8 count crayon box, lunch box, 2 european folders, & a water bottle.

Clothing- KINDERGARTEN Rain suit (jacket & pants) and boots - trousers must be able to be pulled over the boots by the students; Snow suit (for winter time), warm boots, hat and mittens; Indoor shoes;P.E shoes with non-marking soles (can be
“indoor shoes” as well) with velcro fastenings; Full size back pack/school bag - but no rolling backpacks please; Extra set of clothes to be kept at school

Still need the snowsuit & boots.

So other stuff. I have been driving. Yes, I haven't messed up yet. The laws here are quite opposite at times to what I am used to. Mostly the round-abouts are the stressors for me. Then theres the yielding to the cars on the right, which seems simple, but no. If you are driving down a street and the streets that intersect are the cars that I have to yield to. THEY do not stop they just speed through!! AAAAAH, then there are the peoples and kids, the bikes blah. So like I said I haven't messed up yet. Yesterday on my way home from dropping him off at school I saw a police van blocking two lanes (thats a big friggin road by the way) of traffic to allow a little swan cult to cross the road. Then there is the bus. He has been taking the bus home from school since the first day (yes I allowed that control to leave my fingers). Its a school own/chartered bus its really nice. Its like a huge new tour bus. I have even seen some that are 'double decker', his is not. He has had the neighbor girl help him get off on the right stop. She won't be on the bus after this week so I may ride with him on monday just to help him figure it out, mostly to help me and my heart.

My heart, I should be in heaven now with this nice weather here. I know this warmth and sunlight is fleeting but I have been unloading boxes. Now that the boxes are unloaded, now its the finishing step of organizing. EEEee, I have purged, I have purged, I have purged. I did not prepare myself for needing to purge here. I did it. I just think I have purged so much that it should be numb, but I feel raw now. They have a organization like salvation army here, their logo is the same shape/script. Its called Fretex. I dumped one box earlier tonight, I have another one filled.

Boxes and more boxes- as Henry Sappenfield said after my wedding, 'Mistakes were made'. So still looking for knife block, um all my white dishes. One silver flat shoe. Oh well, I did find ziplock baggies, rotel, black beans, canned chiles, so I can't complain. We have decided to guess the dishes are in storage. I have fit everything into my new kitchen though, that is a huge bonus.

To sum the note, I feel more whole after getting my kitchen & closets together. I am excited to have my things close by and organized.

Well next note might be about all the bright flowers the summer has brought to southern Norway.

Night.

Sorry! Heres a short note about Rome

Well this blog is very over due.

I feel so lucky to be here I want to start my note today with this. I feel lucky that my parents never tamped down my hopes and desires to walk the great walks of this world.

I feel like fitting Rome into to one note would be under representing it. So I may return sentimentally to this subject in a later note... Rome. The stories my dad has been telling me about the ancient city were I nice foundation to see modern Rome. Flying into Rome, the country side is beautiful, the OCEAN was light BLUE!!! The country side had soft greens trees and yellow grasses like a Van Gogh painting. The airport has this warmth inside it just teasing you to leave and enjoy Italy, but you must stand and wait for your luggage one of the MANY luggage runways! People impressions: Italian men dress very well, even uniformed men (bus drivers etc).

First the motorcycle drivers are crazy, second the taxi drivers are crazy, third the bus drivers are calm and extremely accurate. These three things were my first impressions driving into city center. City center food: this pizza thing is totally everywhere. I wonder if aliens land only in Rome they will think thats all humans eat. Oh yes and Gellato, gellati! Its seriously on all corners, some really good and some okay, but its still a great way to cool off. Toast sandwiches are big 5x5 inch white bread with turkey and cheese and its toasted on a panini, pizza sandwiches are salami & cheese (thats it). The food prices are very decent if you go to little shops that don't have sit down space. Food is not so decent around big touristy spots like the Colosseum. Hotel impressions: okay lower your standards for your stay in rome or spend a shameless amount of money to be barely satisfied. Our first hotel was almost 40 mins bus ride to center, but it was decent, and bussed us for free. Public water, tap, fountain: GREAT! Especially the fountains all along the walk to the Colosseum & the Spanish Steps, its cold and crisp! Bring your empties!! Beggars: yes, its a city of 5 million so it has its range of sad humans in need.

Transportation: YES I took the subway, called Metro. Its not a complicated system. It is a choice for the young tourist or the everyday roman workforce. Its gritty but in a silly romantic way, it has musicians playing at the busiest locations, the echo of the music just made me want to video the scene. The last metro we took was home from the Sistine Chapel and a violinist played vivaldi on the the train itself, OH can I just tell you I was trying to stop the tears of utter joy. I am tearing up now. Jeff was there for that trip so I have validation that it actually happened. Politeness of the general downtown population: kind and quiet. Everyone seems pretty easy going. Even the nutty driving, doesn't seem to tense the general population.

Okay this moment is brought to a close by the sweet musings between me and a 5 year old. Again, he has been successful in sucking the Rome memories from me. Oh well I did type out a bit of my fun time. Next installment will be about is new Norsk friends! Night all.

to perservere

God Dag! The walks around the lake are working a mini miracle on me. It is giving me time for reflection, duh I know everyone says that, its true though. I find things each walk that make me curious and not drowning in my usual sadness from this change. The lily pads that line the edges, they are also in one little nook of the lake that the water doesn't get wind. So the lily pads have taken over that part. The water barely bobbles up and down on that side of the lake, it must make lily pad growth easier. The perseverance of the lily pads throughout the other edges of the lake are fascinating. They have these thick vines that connect them to... I actually don't know. I am still a little, a lot actually, freaked about swimming with fish.

Then there are these beautiful swans. They take my breath away. Yes, update, there are two, they are obvious mates. They have little growing babies, cygents, yes I did research that one. So first glance, I saw a big bird that was gliding through the water. Second siting was of the swan with its mate and babies fighting over bread crumbs. Mean giant swan knocking other ducks away from its territory of food. All in the water. I wonder how its looks waddle, I wonder if it can pull of mean out of the water. It will turn his beak into the water towards the duck and give a swak! Then if the duck is persistent then the swan dips its head under the water and tips the duck over by tapping under the breast of the duck. Its kinda national geographic mean. I know that sounds silly, but maybe its their beauty, or their size. You just don't expect them to go WWF on the other ducks. I almost think its like seeing beautiful people be ugly. I am drawn to beauty, and when its ugly in the same moment, I have very little understanding. I could call it irony. Irony is an adventure for my mind, whether it be visually ironic, or less obvious. I like dressing ironic, like I think red and light blue are perfect mates, or orange and lavender.

So back to the lake. The happy cows, why do they sit there in the rain and today in the warm 60's (F) do they walk around and eat? Now this one is obvious. Warm grass. Warm grass under foot, warm breezes to clean their fur. Sunlight must feel like a hot bath to them. Back to the rain though yesterday I was walking looked over my left shoulder to see and sleeping cow and she opened her eyes to me the second I looked at her. You know that completely freaks me when humans do that, not the sleeping thing but when you look their way the look yours. So the brown with white spots cow looks at me through her left eye, like she is waiting for my steps to disappear so she can get back to dreaming. I wonder what cows dream about. This goes back to do animals dream? Do animals go to heaven? I'll get back to you when I discover that tidbit.

The slugs are amazing all over Stavanger. They are big, knarly, nasty slugs. I want to describe them as amazing, if it weren't for them being so ugly. They have bumps on their backs, very small, if there weren't slimy I would say its fur. Their antennae are big and as bold as there bumps/fur on their backs. I haven't seen a slug in the middle of a path yet. It makes me giggle to myself and do "how does the chicken cross the road" jokes, like how did the slug cross the road. I think the chicken flew across the road btw (genius! I know!). Back to the slugs, they are not small, I would say as long as a leaf (leaves are normal sized here!!) from stem to end. They cannot be missed, I hope not at least- I don't like slugs at all, but I have barefoot stepped on a few and its left me feeling very dirty so I prefer not to have any contact with them, even if it is with my shoe. I also wonder why would the slug cross the road? Its not like there is enough nutrients on each side of the path. Maybe its why would someone cross the ocean... just to get to the other side. So the size of the slugs make me think of gulivers travels. I must read that story. Like the people are bigger here, the slugs are, and I am small here in this land.

Okay the Gulivers Travels is a separate subject. I am finding once I read the book I will have more perspective on my current move. Guliver made friends and alliances in each world, he grew and the people he met grew. He adapted to the world, he quickly saw the flaws in the world he was in. It always took him time to enjoy the world & make friends, then just like summer camp, leave & miss his newly found friends. I would have to say I am at the misery summer camp moment, sad its not the afternoon on monday, with only 4 days left. Gulliver should be out taking in the sites etc but instead he's fighting the reality of his current state. Its like a Dickens book, no need to be subtle just tells the story like it is: "Stop being silly and smell the roses of reality".

Reality is a fuzzy thing right now. Let me list it in a non literary way: Sleep-um odd, I now wake at 6 am lay around to later hear Jeff turn off his alarm at 6:40, not to mention 11pm feels like 8 pm. Food- okay lots, lots of weird stories could be filled in here, but this is the one that I cannot get over, my pee smells different... I hate it. Language- I am learning to live in calm happy introspection. Price- I add this to the list because it sucks, along with the fun mental game of 'what is this USD', its okay frozen pizza 10, 0.25 ounces of deli meat 6 USD, road toll 8 US dollars, bottle o water 10 USD. Back to fuzzy reality moments: manners- this is the one that makes me grit my teeth, max & I walking down the side walk, four young teens walking towards us don't move over, not one of them think or motion to move for a Woman & Child, same thing with Jeff, Max & I and adults one day, Jeff moves in front to make more room for them & us to pass easier, I actually had to put Max in front of me so I didn't have to squish him into the wall next to me (this goes back to the Beautiful Swan acting Ugly).

I must sign off now. My optimism of the walk has shaded into a growling tummy ache for home. I promise to pick up next time with some fresh talk less jaded. My title of this note was to show I am pushing through the cloud. As you have read, the fog of reality is setting back in. Night. Its dark here now, just in time its almost 1 am.

b

week 5

Hi um I am home! Its a nice place. NO complaints I am just trying to settle in. Jeffs company worked hard to get us a better neighborhood and a place that would be best for little man Max.

So last night was the first night we stayed here. The apartment was emptied yesterday!! So all we are waiting on is all of our shipments. I awoke to Jeff too sick to go to work so we have had a pj morning. I told a long walk after lunch and took some picutres. I was a little more inspired to write when I arrived home from walk but I instead did some coloring with Max. Sorry people! All I have is pictures.

I can tell you about the walk though. I almost circled the small lake by my house is little stokka lake (translation). I walked past the lake to where the path ended and back to the lake where they have a gravel path close by the shoreline. Half of the lake is surrounded by tall yellow grass that looks like wild wheat. The wind gives the grass volumes!! then there are lily pads littered all around the edges of the lake. Then on the path I found cute geese. Then to my surprise I found sheep in the distance, along with big healthy cows! I guess I haven't seen enough cows in my life, cause all of them were sitting. Must ask jeff why. It was like the California cheese add for happy cows make great cheese. Then I wasn't prepared for the swan. I saw something white and huge in the distance that was odd, I figured it was a large white rock in the water, or a boat, but I got closer and saw this large swan. It was alone though I hope it has a mate. To call it beautiful would be a bit contrived, but it was just beautiful. I saw big black slugs! I found huge towering bedrock that interrupted the view and made me feel like I was in a dark forrest. I found a bush that grew from the top of one of these large stones.

Okay well I am fighting with max about the couch not being a jungle gym, so I have lost that loving feeling of gab. Night all!!

Thursday and counting

So no house yet. Things are looking up though, our Relocation/Realtor has been more helpful. Norwegian law discovery number 56: landlords have little hope of kicking renters out so they are very particular about who rents from them. I hope to have one soon, uh soon so we can plant and get out and enjoy Norway & Europe.

Speaking of exploring. I took the bus successfully today to the mall. That was fun... just don't look at the price :). It was a nice sized mall bigger than the Tulsa promenade I would say. It has these cool escalators, they don't step up like I am used to they angle up and down but are completely flat so you can take your stroller on it. I got max new swim trunks, he is very excited to go and swim at Grandmommies pool. I was able to also shop and buy a jacket that looks great for wind!! Max was happily distracted by a balloon from the baguette place, if I knew they offered balloons to kiddos I would have stopped there first! There is a swim, underwear store called Dick & Daisy. Its got man panties of every color/pattern. I have seen these before at a store by the harbor with a hunting scene on it. I did not stop a shop there for the record. I did find a store to get leggings in 20 colors. I also got max & I hats at the sporting goods place. Yes its late May and I am buying hats! His is a wide cotton head wrap, I see all little kiddos wearing them here, its got a monster on it ofcourse. So more about the mall.. it had a bank, and you need to get a number when you walk into the bank. They had two grocery stores inside the mall. They did have mall food, I didn't try it. They had a Body Shop, and mulitiple toiletry shops, some were higher end with perfume or make up. One that I went into had a pharmacy with chairs for each patient, I am assuming you needed a number ticket too to sit down. I got suckered into buying max a round plastic ball about 4 inches diameter with a mickey sticker on it. It had a lolly pop and mickey arm bandz, 20 kr/4 usd.

I bring up the leggings because this is a fashion must have item around here. First of all, the young women & teens still wear denim shorts, just with fancy patterned pantyhose and probably with high top tennis shoes (think Michael Jackson in the 80's). Then there is the skinny jeans, jeggings, leggings every woman of ages below 50 are wearing skinny pants.

Okay so I want to get good pictures of things all over town. Like the construction company called Stangeland. I want to laugh out loud at the irony. Or the road bumps/humps are call Farts, or Farts Demple. There are signs in front of them that say Farts! Max knew farts was an impolite word when we first said it about the bumps. Now thats our favorite thing to say before a bump. Dolly Dimples is a pizza place. PB is a pizza place too. I think of peanut butter every time I see it.

I went to Ikea on tuesday with Max. That was a better bus ride than mondays. We did try to go to another place but we gave up, the wind was awful, and we just walked to Ikea. Aaaa Ikea, it has a ball room for the kiddos to go play, really this is awesome I think. No it gets better. I can leave my sweet spawn at the play area and go shopping. I did not though, I don't need uninhibited shopping time, once again don't look at the price... Smile & Wave. He was very happy to play with others. He mentioned to me after wards that none of the boys he played with spoke eeenglislsh, they didn't know engleesh, he kept on repeating this fact to me in a medium volume. Then we went to eat at the restaurant, food good, price good, but probably won't be rushing back to eat there.

Tuesday was a windy day so I didn't notice the dust. They closed the airport intown, along with airports in Germany and other w Euro countries. This was due to the volcanic action in w Iceland. It wasn't anything like the one last year, but it seems airports are playing the safety game. I saw on the new they have these lasers that shoot straight into the clouds (sounds silly yes, but it was dry crispy BBC info, no joke) to test the dust. So I spent the day inside coughing and avoiding the outdoors. Max needed a day inside too.

I am still waiting for my national ID number, THEN I can get a norwegian bank card. Until then I get to play a game called

Bliss "I dont have a chip"
they say "No cheep?"
Bliss "no chip"
They "you sign"
They "o ahh signator"

Its like a chip in the bank card then you use your PIN number and the money taker does nothing, so I make them work...

So I saved the best news for last... I am getting my biggest birthday gift ever. I am going to Rome!! AHH! I was actually shopping plane tickets for rome for my bday, when Jeff looked helplessly for a way to let me down gently. So I gave up on it for the moment. Then he gets an invite to a Trade Show there the week before my birthday. So this is a happy thing.

Well bye guys for now. Stay safe from crazy oklahoma storms.

Adventures in busland

Hello, I have been here now for three weeks. Max & I have been relying on Jeff to drive us anywhere outside Stavanger Sentrum. So we can do many things here in the sentrum. It is also pricey (hello its very smart to charge more next to a harbor). I finally took max down to the bus station. First I went to the train station, nope, wrong place!! Walked on to the Kolumbus Bus Station. Walked through the tolken people smoking directly infront of businesses. So walked in, got my ticket, even though no one was in line at any teller. Then I started the process of getting a buss card, I got a Flexi pass for one month I can bus all over Kolumbus routes. One weeknights (after 5pm) and weekends I can take max & Jeff with me for free. I couldnt get Max one of these passes so I just got him a card with credit on it. Then drama with my card and putting my birthdate on it, my american drivers license said 6-12-1979, thats what she put on my card, Norwegians do DD-MM-YYYY so then I needed a new one, blah blah. It didn't take as long as it seemed for me. You see I have control issues, so letting go and getting in a bus and following a route in another country stretches my mind. I also am taking my kiddo with me so it makes me feel very uneasy about relinquishing control.

Next, we are standing at the stop, I'm trying to keep my cool and trying to act like this is completely normal for me. Max is holding his bus pass with excitement and mulitple questions in a normal voice (he might have been just as nervous). Bus #1 arrives, I follow the directions the lady told me about using Max's card. That works and the bus driver is very short with me (perhaps he cause he is a man my size!). I hand him max's card and say going to Forus, and he scans it and explains I have money left on the card (I knew that, I was the person who put the money on it), can't understand the short mans words. I nice english man behind us explained I used 16 kr for the trip. Then my card, it didn't work. The driver just said doesn't work, well I am blocking the line, already paid to get max on the bus. So I ask to use Max's card, no, shorty tells me "you pay" (just like the nail salon people). So I ask him how much, I did have some coins on me. 31 kr, then shorty loudly helps me count my Kroner coins. Laughs when I pull out a 1 kr. Finally I get my half kr coins back and am sitting with max. Now I realize I just paid 700 kr on that card that he said was no good. AND I need at least 31 kr to get back home from our destination (IKEA, Max's choice). Ah man, this wasn't even part of the worries that I had. At least I am off on an adventure right? Well an adventure with more excercise (we will have to walk 1.4 km instead of taking another bus to ikea. Boo. Just to pop your bubble of excitement or keep you interested... Ikea wasn't there. I don't think it moved since last week, I just don't think my address book likes me. I wish the address was something I double checked before I left (like the bus routes, I spent 30mins this morning and 30 mins last night). One more adventure touring stavanger without cell roaming.

After I broke the news to Max the Ikea is no where in site. You have to understand its in a industrial park/car sales lots. All the buildings are 2-3 stories and I'm the size of short bitter bus driver. So I figured if I followed my maps directions it would eventurally appear. At the end of the 1.4 km walk on a nice paved path through warehouses we found the tire place, so we decided to turn around and walk back 1.4 km :). Poor brave little cold boy!! So we get back to the bus stop and we miss it by a minute tops. I think I needed that time to ponder. Max played on his phone. I tried ignore the only other soul at the stop. She was quite involved with chewing her fake nails off and spitting them out. Thankfully, she was spitting opposite of Max & I, but still she spit them towards the bus wall, glass with spit & nails were very clear. The bus arrived on time. My card worked this time. Ah shorty bitter driver might have been wrong. So back at the bus station I got a refund and they checked my card and it was fine. I wonder what shorty is calling me in his blog right now...

So I treated my tired self to McDonalds. I didn't know how much the coke would make most of my pain slip away. I did meet an american there that works there. He may have spotted out that I was trying to put my food away, people usually leave their fast food out on the tables. Its very sweet.

The McDonalds did its job, I am much more kitten like about my day now. And also I am getting my birthday wish. I have been trying to work on Jeff taking a family weekend trip. I have looked at Scotland, Ireland, Denmark, Nice, Rome. Rome seemed the most reasonable btw. So I was trying but since we still don't know about our house stuff I knew it would be a dream. Jeff was asked to participate in a meeting in Rome june 6-10!! WOOhoo!

So tomorrow with better directions to our destinations. Max & I are going to take the bus again. Maybe I'll see my new friend shorty. So max will have another adventure!! I love that he wants to go to IKEA, I have a perfect kid. That is a good note to end on... PEACE!

God Morgen

Hello, so we looked at a house yesterday and I am having a large amount nervous energy about it. I don't think I really like it. Jeff reminds me its not permanent, but a year is a long time.

So I am writing to help me with my nerves.

We got to attend a work function last night with Jeffs company. It was call Orienteringsdag, um it was like a scavenger hunt in the woods. These are woods that medieval movie directors would love. Tall tall trees, all about less than 3 feet from each other. The ground is crazy soft, you sink a little if you leave the path (it was made of wood mulch). It was sponge like. There are even lucky homeowners who live on in this forrest, Rogaland Arboretum. There are parts to the forrest that the sunlight completely disappears. We did okay on the hunt, I should have tried to see if my phone compass would have worked :(. I don't get service outside the apartment so I don't consider using anything other app.

Just an update: I have checked my email 3 times during this letter to see if the landlord of the apartment has agreed to our offer. I just am having bad joo joo feelings about it and we already put in an offer. Stupid thing I know, but I just... ahh back to distracting letter about Norway.

Max did really good on the hunt. He only fell once. He got all his energy out for sure. Max can now get himself fully ready (minus the button/fly on pants). He's been able to for a while, but now he even can do it with out direction from me. Yesterday when I told him we are leaving in an hour to see the house, but I needed to get ready first. Next time I see him he has picked out his shirt and pants, he had his shirt on and was pulling on his pants. It makes me happy, but as with every step a bit sad. Silly me my emotions are pretty out there lately.

So some cool things: I can use my Maps app on my phone to find places around town, thats not new. What is cool I can use the bus option on the maps, I thought it would be simple. Its even cooler, it routes my trip and finds the bus number that would take me to my destination. Crazy fun, I have had the hardest time getting an English bus route for the area. I just need wifi outside of this place. So I don't get to the mall and forget which bus I need to take home. Ikea awesome by the way. It has all the things I expected and more. Its got a kid play area. Its got a small grocery store, mostly frozen meals & meats. I want to move in to my local Ikea, its like the walmart girl in that movie Where the Heart is. It has a restaurant, serves meals from breakfast to dinner till close at 9pm. Um last fun/cool thing cars here. That will be a whole letter once we start that shopping (after house, ahhh now I am thinking about it again). In Stavanger they have some new brands that Jeff and I are unfamiliar with, Opal is one. And his brand called peugeot, its brand looks like a Porshe ha.

Um still trying to stay sane here, I should also preface the house choice with the face that I want a place when my stuff gets here to Norway. Our shipping company, hmm not a big fan of the person handling us so far. I might have been looking down the cruel reality of wanting things now being perhaps desperate for facial products, running shoes, rainboots. I just want my pantry items too. Like have this amazing mixes that will turn canned tomatoes (they sell that here) into amazing salsa. I would like Max's videos. ahh so now I am complaining. Well I will update you later. I need to do some laundry and feed max grapes.

Peace!

Two Weeks in Norway

God Dag! Two weeks and I figured I should possibly have some sort of diary of my family adventure. It does seem like wonderland at times, then it just seems different, then I am tired of caring.

Yes its a beautiful place here, after a little bit of sightseeing I have one conclusion the phrase "now this is Gods country" (Jeff uses it about Oklahoma) is absolutely wrong. God was really busy, he even had the for thought of making destructive objects like glaciers. The rain is making the harbor dissappear in the distance. The mountains are hidden by fog (max told me that earlier).

Everyday life is going on but we have been holding our breath till we find our new home here. We have been staying at the company apartment in downtown Stavanger (Sentrum in Norsk). Its nice with 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms (a luxury I wont have in the next probably). Heated floors in bathrooms are amazing. Nice kitchen with a half full pantry too. Tv/internet are also nice for everyday life. Max watches Disney in Norwegian. The majority of channels are in english with subtitles. On sundays there is a MASH marathon. I can access my Itunes account through a little device (LOVE it) called Apple TV. So movies/tv shows can be purchased or rented thru itunes.

People here are very kind about the language problem. I just need a CHIP in my visa, most places take my card without it, but it would be much faster. I have been to the post office, you need to take a number to get service. Jeff says the same thing is at most public places, police station etc. We have to get our Norwegian ID number at the Police station. He says its cause they don't know how to wait in line. :) I have been to the grocery stores, in Sentrum Stavanger they are inside malls, with flower shops (they are everywhere!), convenience shops, vitamin/drug stores, bookstores, clothing, coffee shops, and household shops. The hours are posted like this Meny 10-20 (18) meaning 10am to 8pm weekdays, 6pm on saturdays. Meny is a store Jeff found where he bought a dinner with reiendeer balls, and ate it with out knowing its meat origin. Now I am here and I use Google translate, and also don't buy mystery items.

So shopping on monday Max decided he needed to go number 1 and I asked an employee for a Toalett, and he said theres one outside the store, darn. Well so after speaking with an employee at another store they pointed to said restroom. It looks like a fire exit, big metal door that looks like a fire door. The second employee told me I have to pay. SO I did have coins on me. I tried, I gave it 11 kr, for its charge of 5 kr, we still couldn't open the door. Max let me finish shopping then we went home and he made it with out incident.

Jeff gets home earlier than he used to, 6pm most days. Norwegian employees have a strict 37.5 hour work week. He is still an American employee. He is excited about moving out of the apartment so his drive will be better. There is parkering (parking garage) under our building. To get to it you go down a winding spiral drive down. There is a car wash mid way down the spiral drive. A gas station at the entrance to the parkering, along with a convenience shop to pay for gas. 13.50 kr per liter, 2.6 liter in gallon, so 35.10 kr per gallon, 1dollar to 5.58 kr so 6.29 us dollars per gallon here :) nice. I won't tell you my rent it makes my eyes explode.

Well That is all for now. I hope I have fun here. So if I seem to start sliding and being ungrateful some one please shake me out of it...

Bliss