The Day Flies Off Without Me

The planes bound for all points everywhere
etch lines on my office window. From the top floor
London recedes in all directions, and beyond:
the world with its teeming hearts.

I am still, you move, I am a point of reference on a map;
I am at zero meridian as you consume the longitudes.
The pact we made to read our farewells exactly
at two in the afternoon with you in the air
holds me like a heavy winter coat.

Your unopened letter is in my pocket, beating.

John Stammers

I had to read this poem twice, the second time slowly - and when reading it the second time it became really beautiful. Read more about the poet here.

God jul!

Yesterday ("julaften") was the big day in Norway, and it was a splendid day for us. Girlfriend made an excellent juleribbe, we drank "juleøl" (Christmas beer) and a little bit of akvavit. We celebrated with my parents, and they were very pleased with not having to cook themselves. Even my father, who is 83 and don't have much of an apetite these days, really dug in. It was good to see.

Today is kind of a boring day - in a good way. Some people go to church, some visit their family. We stayed with my family yesterday, and girlfrend's family live too far away to go on a short visit. And we're not going to church. So this year, today is dedicated to relaxation. Girlfriend announced she was going to sleep as long as she wanted to. Currently she's succeeding. Me, even if I decide to sleep REALLY long, I'm usually awake around 11 am. So I've been listening to the radio, and reading the papers that I haven't had time to read earlier. Lovely:-) It happens too rarely, but it is SO great with a day with absolutely no plans. Except eating more marzipan and Christmas cookies and drinking tea. And maybe a whisky.

God jul alle sammen! Hope you're having a great day!

Lutefisk

Yesterday I tried lutefisk, and I lived to tell the tale! Actually, it wasn't as bad as I imagined it would be. According to the experts (those who have eaten lutefisk more than twice), the lutefisk I ate yesterday was really good. Still, it's weird to eat fish that has the consistency of jelly.

Eating lutefisk around Christmas is a common tradition in Norway. I'll probably eat it again - next Christmas. Once a year is definately enough.

---
From Wikipedia:

Interview with Jeffrey Steingarten, author of The Man Who Ate Everything (translated quote from a 1999 article in Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet:)

"Lutefisk is not food, it is a weapon of mass destruction. It is currently the only exception for the man who ate everything. Otherwise, I am fairly liberal, I gladly eat worms and insects, but I draw the line on lutefisk."
"What is special with lutefisk?"
"Lutefisk is the Norwegians' attempt at conquering the world. When they discovered that Viking raids didn't give world supremacy, they invented a meal so terrifying, so cruel, that they could scare people to become one's subordinates. And if I'm not terribly wrong, you will be able to do it as well."
"But some people say that they like lutefisk. Do you think they tell the truth?"
"I do not know. Of all food, lutefisk is the only one that I don't take any stand on. I simply cannot decide whether it is nice or disgusting, if the taste is interesting or commonplace. The only thing I know, is that I like bacon, mustard and lefse. Lutefisk is an example of food that almost doesn't taste anything, but is so full of emotions that the taste buds get knocked out."

I don't like Campari

... but perhaps I should give it another try. Thank you After Ellen.

One doesn’t have to share every dream

HB: I had this dream last night.

Girlfriend: Yeah?

HB: I was kissing a woman. Not you.

Girlfriend: Really.

HB: And I sort of knew that I shouldn’t do it, you were skirting the edges of my mind.

Girlfriend: I’ll bet.

HB: But then she leaned towards me, and I simply couldn’t resist. I put my hand on the back of her head, and pulled her towards me, and then we kissed for quite some time. It was wonderful. Really, really good.

Girlfriend: Huh.

HB: Afterwards I knew that this could never happen again, because I’m together with you. So you see? Even in my dreams I’m TOTALLY devoted to you!

Girlfriend: Right. Totally.

HB: *cough* Yeah, well, anyway... Good night, darling. Uh... sweet dreams.