I have to admit, out of all the months October has to be my second most favorite. (The first being May, because of my birthday.) I love October because it never fails to amaze me how the leaves turn colors, how the seasons change, how the air smells differently, how you just feel differently. It makes... Continue Reading →
Return to sender, address unknown.
As a child I always got excited when someone would send me a postcard or a letter, even when it was advertising material - as long as it had my name on it, I was happy. This excitement didn't fade with age, I still get giddy coming home and opening the mailbox. Even if it's... Continue Reading →
Circus-date anyone?
As a child I hated circuses. How could you not with those scary clowns and their big feet? Who loves to go to a place with big scary horses, big scary camels and big - but not so scary - elephants? I wouldn't have entered a circus, even if you promised me a truck load... Continue Reading →
A little care goes a long way…
When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it. - Paulo Coelho It took me almost a year to get where I am at right now. I am not going to lie about it, it was freaking hard work. I probably grew 10 years older during that time and to... Continue Reading →
What’s next…?
The last year has been a complete blur. Realization finally caught up with me, whispering in my ear, "You're in Oslo, you are freezing... ALWAYS." The better half of me knows, that it would be best to just move to a warmer place, where winter-coats are not required in the middle of July but the... Continue Reading →
A true hero
As far as tragedies go, this last year has been a crazy roller coaster-ride. Sadly, A recently learned that his grandfather died. It came to us as a shock, but things happen and we have to fight through it and hopefully come out stronger, at least that's the plan. But this is easier said... Continue Reading →
The revenge of the skinny jeans
These past few years have been horrible, fashion-wise, if you ask me. I feel confident making this statement, because that's what I studied in school: fashion. I understand the history and meaning of fashion and I understand that Mr. Bieber is also part of the reason, why so many youngsters squeeze themselves into skinny jeans... Continue Reading →
Scrabble me ‘vacuum-cleaner’
You know how your parents number-one-advice for relationship issues is always, 'you have to compromise'? Every single time, they ALWAYS say that. I asked my mom how they divided up the household chores, when they first moved in together and she plainly answered, 'Your dad takes care of the gardening and everything that goes on... Continue Reading →
24 faces and a hamster
When a person really desires something, all the universe conspires to help that person to realize his dream. (The alchemist, Paulo Coehlo) If you would have told me a year ago, that I would be living in a wonderful apartment, in the center of Oslo, Noway, together with my little hamster Hamie (who, judging by... Continue Reading →
Our 3rd date
I took it upon myself to plan our third date, I wanted it to be a memorable, magnificent, special day for the both of us, I wanted it to be the very last third date we both would ever experience (but then again, the same goes for the first date, the second date, the first... Continue Reading →
17th of May
I promise you, you have NEVER - EVER - IN YOUR LIFETIME experienced something quite like this, unless you have been in Norway for the 17th of May, that is. A little bit of history, before I go on: it is Norway's national holiday, or as A wants to remind me, 'Constitution Day'. The constitution,... Continue Reading →
The wheels on the wall go ’round and ’round.
I will start off this post by saying: Wow. Happy birthday to me indeed. I had the most wonderful time with my beloved A and my little hamster (who preferred to rather sleep than celebrate with us). We were treated with tons of sunshine, which in Oslo, we came to realize, is kind of like... Continue Reading →
Best memory ever…
If someone were to make a movie out of your life, which episodes would you include? Of course the big moments, right? Senior Prom, College graduation, first real job, first vacation in an exotic land... Anything else? Yes, of course, you would put in some amorous moments too, wouldn't you? The first kiss, the first... Continue Reading →
Something old, something new…
A and I just moved in the most wonderful apartment (something new) in city center in Oslo and we absolutely love it. The parks, the cafés the restaurants, the nice little houses close by, it's almost like living in the suburbs but in the heart of the city. We discovered some nice little places (or some bigger... Continue Reading →
Greek Easter
As Easter is right around the corner, I can't help but think back of my first Greek Easter with A's family. It was April 2009, the day after I first was introduced to lovely Ms. G and brother C. As I entered the kitchen this particular morning, I was greeted by a lot of confusion,... Continue Reading →
How A ruined (and saved) Christmas… or “Meeting my parents”
A - up to this point - only heard about my family, from what I told him about them, which in fact were only good things. I mentioned that my dad and I talk about God and the world (but not that we in fact talk about EVERYTHING), I mentioned that my mom and I... Continue Reading →
What if…?
4 and a half months, that's how long it has been since I saw A last in August of 2009. December ever so slowly has finally crawled upon us and I was confused, excited, thrilled, scared and just all over the place. This would also be the first time for my parents to meet A.... Continue Reading →
Sharing meals
This is the story of first impressions. A story of a lot of many expectations and much preparation, a story of first hand shakes, a story of first hugs, a story I will tell my children and grandchildren about. In April 2009, a few months into dating A, I was invited to met A's mom... Continue Reading →
The weirdest thing you have seen on a train
Ugh, that's a tricky one. I'd say a dog in a suitcase in Dublin. Later on, it turned out that the owner of said suitcase was just really good at imitating a dog, he had a good laugh to my expense... I was very close to calling animal shelter. My second choice would be inappropriate... Continue Reading →
The folded up mattress
Remember the rolled up mattress? I promised you guys, there will be a follow-up and here it is. Just fyi, both A and I forgot our cellphones this particular day, so sadly, there are no accurate pictures available. However, A and I made a plan Friday night, to get up uber early Saturday morning, pack... Continue Reading →
The rolled up mattress
Certain things are important to know before I tell the story: A is not particularly fond of mass-produced furniture. He appreciates the antique (read: old) and unique (read: handcrafted) furniture way more than anything IKEA ever produces. Sometimes A even makes his own furniture, because he believes in 'do it yourself'. That being said, A... Continue Reading →
Home sweet (new) home
Wow, wait a second, is it March already? Time is flying by. The last few months have just been extraordinarily interesting, crazy and just... wow, to sum it up. As you know a week ago we received the keys to our wonderful new apartment and now, for the first time ever, am I blogging from... Continue Reading →
The keys to happiness…
Yesterday marks a memorable day, not only because it was my brother's birthday (also meaning my birthday is only 2 months away.....!) but also because yesterday marks - yet another - milestone for A and me. We have lived in Oslo for a little more than 6 months in a wonderful apartment and have up... Continue Reading →
…1…2…3 years.
We met on a Friday night, not looking for love, not looking for a soul mate, just looking for a dance partner and looking for fun. Instead we found ourselves amazed and stunned at the same time. I found my better half, my partner in good and in bad times, I found my best friend... Continue Reading →
Rough patch…
Every relationship goes through ups and downs. It's the way of life. I don't know a single couple that not at one or another time had some rough patches. It usually starts small with some kind of disagreement, that evolves into something bigger, something unbearable, until one day you either get over it or you... Continue Reading →
…6 months into.
They say that it only takes 10 seconds to like a person, about 11 seconds to form your opinion about that person and about 15 to know whether or not you actually would like to get that person better to know. As you all know by now, it took A only a few minutes to... Continue Reading →
The first Christmas?
A few days before Christmas A and I headed back to Oslo. We were getting ready for our very own first Christmas together. Being a family-person, I always had big Christmas celebrations, many people coming over, having dinner together, playing games, just being merry together, fun, arguments, too much to eat and what ever else... Continue Reading →
The Polar-Brussels-Light-Show
Norway doesn't get much light during the winter (yeah, quite shocking, isn't it?). We are thankful for every extra minute, every extra second, every extra light - sometimes a flash light does it. So when traveling to Brussels we noticed that - quite to our amazement - they don't have that much more light in... Continue Reading →
The Pissmastree
One thing A and I got to do for the very first time together: buy a Christmas-tree. A, having watched 'When Harry met Sally' one too many times, had this idea of us carrying the Christmas-tree together and it being uber romantic. So mid December we headed (more or less - slid) down the icy... Continue Reading →
…that’s our thing.
This will be our third Christmas together. We have 'always' been together on Christmas. We - however - have never been together on either of our birthdays. We have never managed to be together on our anniversary, nor were we ever together on President's day or Thanksgiving. So when A and I do get to... Continue Reading →
How do you spell heaven? W-A-F-F-L-E
A and I went through a little rough patch in November, not so much because of us but because of the circumstances. A got the the amazing opportunity to study in Maastricht, while I - got the almost as equally amazing opportunity - to stay in Oslo and study Norwegian, which, of course, was amazing... Continue Reading →
At the Polish embassy
How did we ever end up there? It all started about a month ago when A forwarded an email from his boss. To be honest I didn't read it, all I read was A's p.s. "free beer and food, you in?" And of course I said yes. I didn't even finish reading the p.s. when... Continue Reading →
Daheim, home and hjem.
On days like today I miss Daheim. Daheim is in Austria, with my family. My parents, my brothers, my grandparents, my friends, my old roots. Where I grew up, where I was a child, where I started to evolve into the person I am today. I miss it because after all it's my family and... Continue Reading →
…a matter of seconds.
As of today we have been together 938 days, a few days short of 1,000. People often say things like, 'Today is the first day of the rest of my life'. Every now and then you meet a person who meant what they said and you see huge changes within them. You see how much... Continue Reading →
What?! Really?? No way…
So let me get this right, you left the US 2 months ago and you're still paying for gas and electricity? Your car is not paid off yet? Really? I thought you were done with it. I mean, it's not like you're still living there. Come on... Well, see, nobody - and I mean NOBODY... Continue Reading →
The vicious tomato can
I am not much of a cooker. That's why A and I are so perfect together, because he loves to cook... In fact one of the first things I told my mom about A was, 'I hit the jackpot... he cooks.' It's not that I can't cook, I actually enjoy cooking very much, it's just... Continue Reading →
The Martinsens
The Martinsens were a nice couple, I imagine. They've traveled quite a lot and have been all over the place, at least according to all the framed pics and some of the artwork that we took off the walls.One of the Martinsens was a musical genius, or at least somewhat good and loved the violin... Continue Reading →
First impressions, first expressions
We got the basics fairly quick, takk and vær så snill, unnskyld meg. Nonetheless we are far from having a normal conversation with a native. A and I still are playing the 'I'm an American, therefore I speak English' card, which so far didn't exactly put us in good standing with the natives but at least they... Continue Reading →
I’m a country-man alright.
Monday, August 8th6 a.m., A and I just finished breakfast and are headed down to Pennsylvania, 12 hours of a car ride. The goal: to get to A's brother asap to crash on his couch.To be honest I barely remember what we talked about that night and what we have done, I just remember children... Continue Reading →
The headache, the back-pain and the vacation.
By the end of July A and I both were so burnt out, we were suffering severe headaches and back-pains and just being super whiney about everything. Needless to say we couldn't wait to get down to Georgia. Granted, a 12-hour car ride didn't exactly appeal to us, but knowing that we were heading south... Continue Reading →
A thank-you note
Thank you everybody. No, seriously, thank you everybody. Neither A nor I can express how thankful we are for all of you, who supported us, thank you for being there for us. Mentally, physically, daily and always. Thank you for your open and caring hearts. Thank you for believing in us. Thank you for your... Continue Reading →
The things couples don’t talk about…
Yes, we finally made it. We don’t have to say goodbye anymore. We don’t have to miss each other anymore and fights can finally take place without any skype delays. Lucky us. No one ever told me that insomnia is contagious or that my sleeping preferences might differ from A’s. No one ever bothered to... Continue Reading →
The really really ridiculously good looking Mars-bars-super-hero.
When it comes down to it A and I are still just a bird and a fish - but every good story needs a super hero. Neither A nor I possess any super hero traits or powers unless being OCD or the ability to eat a gallon of ice cream in one sitting counts as... Continue Reading →
The heartbreaking silence…
When you were married for several decades, there is most likely not a single day you remember being without the other person. You also don't remember all the fights about the most ridiculous things but you remember the big days, the big nights, the happiness. But what if one day you wake up and it's... Continue Reading →
The good, the bad and the extra income.
I do not own a lot. I own a few but valuable books, some pictures and photographs that I created and took, some school records... I have to admit though I do own many DVDs and yes, VHS, tons of CDs and yes, some cassettes. I own a dresser, a sofa, a bookshelf and a... Continue Reading →
Only an email
When I sat down in my seat in a tiny airplane on my way to EWR, my heart stopped for a second. All the memories of the US customs came rushing back to me. The mean custom officers - usually frustrated males - with their dark uniforms, with their shiny badges, their tired eyes and... Continue Reading →
I dare you to say goodbye.
We finally made it. We finally got here. We're finally moving in together. We're finally packing our things, finally throwing the last few bits and pieces into our suitcases and finally driving off to the airport... But hold on a second there. We've been anticipating this moment for - dare I to say it? -... Continue Reading →
Jaws.
The plot: Martin Brody is the new police chief of Amity, an island resort town somewhere in New England. He has a wife named Ellen, and two sons named Michael and Sean. On a Summer morning, Brody is called to the beach, where the mangled body of Summer vacationer Chrissie Watkins has washed ashore. Shark... Continue Reading →
Spoiled milk.
If I would have to compare our relationship, I'd say it's a lot like a milk carton sitting in your fridge for weeks and weeks... but in the best possible way.Soooo, why would anyone in a happy and functioning relationship ever compare their bonding to something so gross?See, when milk spoils it doesn't get worse. It's spoiled, you... Continue Reading →
…the best of both worlds.
A Chinese tale tells the story of two lovers who were never able to be together. They are called night and day. In the magic hours of dusk and dawn they touch lightly and meet almost, but it never really happens. If you listen carefully, they say, you would be able to hear their groaning and see the sky redden by their rage. The tale says that the gods were kind enough to grant them a moment of happiness from time to time and therefore would have created solar and lunar eclipse, in which they could love each other. It was about 4.30 am and I was sitting in the yet still cold sand and gazing into... Continue Reading →
A bird loves a fish 