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.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Friday, June 3, 2011
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
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
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
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!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)