Crazy Christmas

Literarily dropping out of the sky, or the clouds to be precise, today's snowfall brought a somewhat bizarre paradox to my mind. Most people, at least most of my friends in Norway, wish for a white Christmas. Not in terms of the absence of alcohol (quite the contrary, I guess), but in terms of snow--they, myself included, would like to have snow laying on the ground on Christmas. And as far as I know, they don't seem to mind the snow falling. However, most people, at least that I know of, do not feel equally fond of rainfall during summer, or spring or autumn for that matter. But snow and rain are the same thing...! So why is it that we seem to love a snowfall when it's already cold and freezing outside, yet we despise the rain that can actually do some good and chill us down on a hot summer day?

I think I found the answer right now: people are not made for living in water, and snow is fairly dry matter.

It's Christmas!

While you think about that, or drop the thing altogether, you may ponder upon the silly fact that human kind actually grow threes so they can bring them into their homes and dress them up beyond recognition. And some of us doesn't stop there, but we also walk around it singing songs! I am one of the crazy guys, and put this Christmas three up in my apartment last night. >>

Wish you all a merry Christmas!

First skiing trip!

Cross country skiing!

Last night, just before my dinner guests Gunn and Karl (who married in Rome in April) was about to leave, my sister sent me an SMS asking if I wanted to join her (and Ole Kristian) for cross-country skiing today. As she asked, it was snowing nicely outdoors, and I was really set for a trip in fresh air the following day. But I also had to go to work, and had originally planned swimming (before work). After negotiating a bit, we agreed on me calling in the morning and take it from there. So I did, and about an hour later we were on our way north towards Sjonken in Romeriksåsen (the hill of Romerike). The sun was shining, it was a chilly eight degrees minus, and with the fresh powder snow and tracks prepared this morning, it became an amazing trip!

For the record: I went to work after I got back home. Afterwards, Antoine from Strasbourg came by my place for dinner, passing through Oslo this weekend. On the menu: leftovers from yesterday.

Hooked on France?

A few years ago, I met a girl who said she was hooked on France--she was a "Francophile". She loved France and French culture, she spoke French (she probably still do), and as far as I can recall she wouldn't mind living there. I haven't seen her since, but that doesn't matter. What matters is that I thought being hooked on France, or any country for that matter, was a freaky or at least strange thing. How do you get obsessed by a country?

I don't know if I already am a "Francophile", but some things certainly indicate that I am becoming one. It started Christmas a couple of years ago, when my aunt Arnny (my mom's sister) gave me a book about French cuisine; "Le Cordon Bleu--Regional French". I tried a couple of recipies, including the duck in orange sauce (which I am serving tomorrow, by the way). As any inital sample, this introduction (to French cuisine) got me totally hooked and I ended up writing my master thesis in Strasbourg. Back home in Norway, I am taking French classes, and I have started on a plan that may be the seal labelling me a "Francophile":

Unless I break another bone (I tend to do that...), I plan to visit Strasbourg by bicycle next summer. Yes; this means travelling from Oslo to France (Strasbourg, of course) by bike. Based on experience from this autumn's trip to Barcelona, I will put a lot more effort into the planning this time, both in terms of mapping the route and physical exercise. Cheating a bit, the journey will be approximately the same distance as Strasbourg--Barcelona, as I plan to take the ferry to Denmark and start from there. The idea is to arrive in Strasbourg a couple of days before July 1st, when the pros sets off on their Tour de France. In other words, to experience the circus of Le Tour de France and re-visit "Strasbourg ville." :-)

I love...

Ville de lumiére

Strasbourg!

This statement is strong enough on its own. But not even with support from the pictures does it cover the events that made Strasbourg such a wonderful place for me this week-end, so here goes:

First of all, I was staying with my former cohabitant (or "colocataire") Jan. In his absence, I was let in by one of his very kind flat-girl-mates Anne-Lohr. Friday night then followed with home-made dinner, and an attempt to have "fondue à la chocolat noir" on La Cloche a Fromage for dessert. But as they stop serving at ten, we shot the city lights before having a drink in the fashionable bar 22:30 (of which none of our Strasbourgoise friends seems to know).

Saturday was spent writing Christmas shopping lists, visiting the Christmas markets, shopping through the list and preparing for the night: first, a nice, french (i.e. social) dinner with Jan's flat-girl-mates' friends (fondue a fromage), and later, the housewarming party of Stéphane, Arnaud and Franck--a great event with great friends!

After a few hours of sleep, Sunday was all over the place. Or we were: first at Laurent and Kristina's place, who hosted an amazing Christmas cookie workshop with some of the other party-people from last night. Afterwards, we had a coffee with Line Mai at the café l'epicerie before I left for the airport. (Leaving Strasbourg by tram one hour before flight departure, Line Mai was a bit nervous that I might miss my flight--all for no good as I checked in and was strip-searched with time to spare before driven off to the plane along with all the other passengers.) The last thing I did on Strasbourgoise soil was to fall asleep as the plane was about to take off.

I had a plan of revisiting Strasbourg and the vineyards next autumn . This was updated to include a visit for Tour de France, which starts in Strasbourg next summer. Now, I might find my way back to this wonderful city and my great friends before that. Time will show...

Finished reading Lunar Park

Last night I got lost in Bret Easton Ellis' latest book Lunar Park, and my body feels like it got pretty late before I flipped the last page. But the book wanted to be read (as opposed to American Psycho, which according to Mr. Ellis wanted to be written). I even did put it down and tried to get some serious sleep, but it was impossible.

So, the book was exiting. Unfortunately, I cannot say how good it really is (or is not), because I have been reading it sporadically on the tram back and forth to work for a couple of weeks. But it is definitely worthwhile reading! I think I should read Glamorama once more...

Madrugada in Oslo Spektrum

Madrugada on stage

What I thought was going to be a somewhat dull concert turned out to be really good! My anticipation is the result of previous concerts in Oslo Spektrum--the acoustics has never proven more than modestly okay there. But the producers of last nights concert corrected that bad image; the sound was really good! Maybe because it was filmed for a DVD...

The band played very well, but for some reason the mood among the audience, myself included, did not tak off into the skies. At least compared with other concerts I've been too at Rockefeller Music Hall. One thing struck me though: while Madrugada did not put up a great show, I would like to see an entertainer like Robbie Williams (or equally good) on stage. So please don't hesitate to tell me if he or some other great artist is on stage near you!