A Wonderful Card from a Wonderful Friend

Today I received the most wonderful card from an old friend.

You always know how to make people feel great, M! I'm so grateful to know you and I hope everyone around you knows what a fantastic person you are. I'm sure they do! Thank you so much for such fantastic wishes for a safe journey. I'll write you a card. Promise! And I will blow you "a kiss from the dizzy heights!!"

In loving memory...

... of the world's coolest grandfather.

I will always be so proud of him. The world is a poorer place without him.

Rest in peace.

Discovered!

Nina, you really made my day! I am incredibly honoured by receiving the Excellent Blogger Award. It feels great that someone's actually reading my daily ramblings (apart from Prince Charming - I've made my blog his starting page and I'm not sure if he knows how to change it). The moment I realized I knew that the award must go on to the blogs I visit on a daily basis. And it's extra fun to have an award like this come from someone who's blog I read every day. So I hereby award the following blogs the Excellent Blogger Award (in addition to Nina, of course :) :

UnderbaraClara (in Swedish)

StyleBytes (in English)

The Glamorous Librarian (in Norwegian)

Haustljos (in Norwegian)

Ylvan (in Swedish)

The top four already have tons of readers - they are really good blogs. Y I write about all the time here. She's the girl I'm going to Nepal with and she's much better than me to write about our preparations.

Have a great day - I will!

Supergirl - or Just Do It!

http://www.eightieschild.com/category/80s-films/

Today I had a "I wish I was perfect"-tantrum. I wish I could work fulltime, train cardio three times a week, strength twice a week, yoga twice a week, climb at least three times a week and go away skiing or hiking or climbing every weekend. But I can't. Or rather - I won't. I don't want to give up having a life, evenings with Prince Charming, planning the Nepal trip, (window-)shopping and the old lounging on the couch from time to time. I'm not content with giving up all that and settle for 4 hours of sleep a night. But I wish I was. Aargh! It's so annoying I can't (or won't) Just Do It - or be happy with my life as it is. I wish I was perfect.

Baggu!

These Baggu Bags are wonderful! I've been looking around for a shopping net to use instead of those plastic ones piling up at home. Canvas totes aren't really my thing and I most often go grocery shopping on my way home from work. These Baggu Bags, however, are made just like a normal shopping bag but out of nylon so they pack down really small. They even come with a small pouch so you can easily carry it around in your handbag. I know I'm not supposed to buy anything but these are good for the environment! And I won't have to spend NOK 1,- per plastic bag to take my groceries home. I know they're all excuses but these ones are worth it! AND they're very cool!

Swedish Comedian with the truth

UnderbaraClara posted this youtube video on her wonderful blog. It's in Swedish and about equality between the sexes and how we're raised. Magnus Betnèr has a very good point here!

The Dentist..

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/aboutus/vintagephotos/19501954archive/

I really don't like going to the Dentist. And it's SO expensive! I can't believe I was sitting here yesterday promising myself to save money from now on and today I have to go to the Dentist! I hope it's not a big deal, I just tend to get a bit hypocondric when it comes to my teeth...

Seriousness

John Jones

Photography: Timothy Greenfield-Sanders

Since we're in the Serious Corner I'd like to bring your attention to the current exhibition at The Wetterling Gallery. Timothy Greenfield-Sanders exhibition «Alive Day Memories: Home From Iraq» shows photographs of former US Soldiers after they have returned home from Iraq, showing us what we don't want to see. His goal is to awaken politicians and the rest of us to see what war really is. You can see more of the photographs at Nettavisen. I hope they'll inspire you to think twice about these issues we see in the newspapers daily.

Christmas Present

These days most people have started shopping for Christmas Presents. When giving away things to people you love and care about why not help someone else at the same time? There are lots of Organic (Økologiske), Ethical and / or Fair (Rettferdig Handel) products out there. An example of how you can help someone by choosing your gifts wisely is the book pictured above - Det hvite hotellet ("The White Hotel") by Jo Nesbø. The money from the sale of this book goes to Redd Barna ("Save The Children"). You can buy the book at http://www.reddbarna.no/ or one of the following shops: Akademika, Ark, Bokklubbene, Haugen bok, Libris, Norli, Notabene, Tanum and Tronsmo bokhandel.