photo: mother & child

photo: baby blue eyes

My newest model :-)

snowflakes!

I look out the window this morning and see big fluffy snowflakes slowly falling from the sky!
There are only a few of them, and it only lasts for a little while, but it is definitely a sign of things to come.
There is nothing more tranquil snow falling. Maybe it`s because I have lived half my life in the southern states, but snow still fascinates me.

You might have to remind me of that come January/February, when I am cursing the snow at 6 am when I am trying to dig out my car ;-)

cycling to work

It`s getting darker. It`s getting colder. It`s getting wetter.

Cycling to work is not just putting on some cycling shorts and heading out the door. The amount of layers of clothing and additions to the bike has increased in the past few weeks. So far, this is my wardrobe:
-long sleeved thermal top -
-bike shorts -
-a long legged outer shell that is semi water/wind proof in the front -
-a windproof vest over that -
-a winter bike jacket -
-a waterproof bike jacket over that (yellow for more visibility) -
-a latex-like head cap underneath helmet (windproof) -
-water-resistant booties over my shoes -
-winter gloves -
-reflective strips around my legs.

In addition I have added a blinking white headlight on the handlebars and a blinking red light under my seat.
On rainy days I have a yellow plastic cover for my backpack which is waterproof and has a reflective strip.

I am waiting with the studded tires... but they are right around the corner.

At this point it probably would be faster just taking the subway... but there`s still something satisfying about riding to work.

triathlon memories I

Gøteborg Triathlon - June 16, 2002

I drove down to Gøteborg with Ole and Clive to compete in my first ever triathlon. It was the olympic distance and I finished in 2:34:52.
I have competed in it 3 more times after that, but my first one is still one of my favorites, and Gøteborg Triathlon will always have a special place in my heart.

bikes vs cars

It almost happened again.
I am riding my bike to work, still slightly dark and a little bit of rain making it slippery. Coming down the hill from Bryn I am crossing the crosswalk in pretty good speed. I have a blinking light on my handle bars plus reflectors on my legs. Still, this car wants to take a left and cross the crosswalk even though I am now almost halfway over!!
I have to break really hard and start sliding. The car stops and honks in anger. I manage to stop, and continue to ride over in front of the car who has now stopped. My heart is racing and I got pretty scared, and really angry. By the time I turn around he is already gone.
What an idiot.

thank you NAF :-)

As I am riding my bike home from work I see 2 people from NAF (Norwegian Automobile Association) handing out free reflectors. When the lady saw me on my bike she gave me a headlight as well.
Now I`ll be lit up like a Christmas tree on my way to and from work.
Hopefully the cars will see me now.
Thank you NAF :-)

run: nøklevann rundt

This Saturday I decided, at the very last minute, to run the 9.6 km Nøklevann Rundt. It has sort of become a tradition for me since my first one in 2003 and has become my "end of the season" run. And with the Nøklevann Rundt plate as the finisher prize, I now have 6 plates in my collection. Woo hoo!
My pulse was a little higher than normal, and my pace a little slower. Not very surprising since my training has gone downhill at a rapid pace. But it was a beautiful day with sunny skies and a chilly fall temperature.
Not sure what I`ll be doing from here on in, but in the meantime I can study my pulse/pace from the race.

the female nude

I have finally gotten the lighting to work.

still seeking tolerance and acceptance

I was simply appalled and amazed after reading the negative reactions that TV2 have received because they have included a gay participant in the "Jakten på Kjærligheten" (Search for Love) show in Norway. The show tries to find a parter for a girl or a guy and has, until now, had heterosexuals on the show. Now that they include a gay man on the show it is causing a stir and people do not wish to watch this on tv.
I would expect this negative reaction (or at least not be surprised) from the southern states in America, the so-called "Christian bible-belt", where they love to pull quotes from the bible about how man is not supposed to be with another man. But I really thought that this sort of prejudism was gone from today`s Norway.
Not long ago it was declared legal for same-sex marriage in Norway, which was a great victory for the gay community. But there is still a lot of gay-related violence (gay bashing) in the streets of Oslo.
I can only imagine how difficult it is to "come out" and accept that one is gay, and how reports like this will make it even more difficult... not just to accept that one is gay, but feel comfortable with it and to feel accepted. I simply do not understand why people still cannot accept a persons sexual preference an instead look for ones inner beauties.
We are all simply looking for love and acceptance. Whether this is with a person of opposite sex or not is irrelevant.

The article, in Norwegian, can be read here. What is even more scary are the reactions written in below the article. The article does not state the number of complaints that were called in to the station... I just hope it is a minute number.

fall colors: updated

The colors didn`t pop out the way I had wanted them to in the first one, so I spent some time in Photoshop, like I should have done in the first place.

fall colors

The fall colors are starting to come out.

lutefisk

Lutefisk... the fish is prepared using caustic lye soda! It does not look good or smell good, but it tastes incredibly good!
Add the obligatory fixins, like bacon bits, stewed peas and boiled potatoes and you`re golden. Of course beer and aquavit isn`t bad either.
I ended up consuming 3 portions of this.

photo: advertising

photo: texture