Already? You're Kidding Me.

This drawing was on the kitchen table last week. Could it be the early emergence of the adolescent poetic soul. God, I hope not. She's only ten.

Oh Christmas Tree!

To Plantasjan we go to hunt down our Christmas tree! After comparing tree upon tree, we finally found one that didn't make someone cry. A victory for mothers everywhere!
The whole process was just like at home, down to folks tying tree to the tops of cars and cursing at tangles of holiday lights.

The lights, however, cost more than the trees, with a signal set of white lights topping the expense list at $35 each. Zoweee Momma! Welcome to Norway.

The Dentist Appointment Two

Well, we went back to the dentist. And had another adventure trying to get into the dentist office.

Upon arriving we hit our first roadblock. As you see in picture two, the entrance into which we walked last time, was just gone. The little entrance way just drops off and the place where the door used to be, is now a window.

So, we continued down the driveway to the side of the building. There we found seven locked door. Finally, one opened. And into a different dentist office we came. But, the waiting room was empty and the the inner door was locked. No bell to ring either.

So, we went to another door, another dentist office. And, there was no one there. I even went into the inner office and hollered, "hello". No one.

Then to a wine store. Where no one spoke English.

So we went to a dry cleaners. There was no one there either. So, we walked through a construction site and saw...miraculously... a set of stairs! And behind them, an entrance! But, alas, the stairs were blocked off at the top with orange fencing. And, even if we hopped the fencing, it was 3 feet of nothing between the top stair and the entrance door.

After 15 minutes and walking around the building, no exaggeration, we found a small break in the fence where we squeezed through to a back door to a pharmacy. No one even looked s us strangely when we emerged from the storage room.

Once in the office, we found that we were supposed to be able to get in through one of the first seven locked doors. Somehow it had been locked to folks from the outside. Bad for business. But, hey, its free, so they don't care!

New Bathroom!

This is the pictureof the bathroom that I promised ages ago...

Enjoy!

St Lucia's Day Procession

So, all things Swedish aren't horrible to Norwegians. One of the rare things is the celebration of Santa Lucia on December 13. Santa Lucia (Lucy) was a virgin martyr from Italy who is said to be the Queen of Lights. Rumor has it that "peaceful" Vikings traveled to Italy in the fifth century and brought stories of a woman of radiant beauty who bears food for the starving people of Sweden.

Wearing virgin white and a red sash, Lucia traditionally travels from home to home in a city, bringing baked goods and lighted candles to the townfolk on the darkest night of the year. When she returns home at day break, the long nights of winter over.
Nowadays, and in the Norsk spirit of privacy, many families have a lussibrud (Lucy Bride) who wakes her family in the morning on December 13, wearing her costume and bringing saffron rolls and coffee to the rest of her family. Often, in school, younger kids have a procession through the other classrooms. Boys wear long white shirts and cone hats. They are called "Star Boys."

We had our own procession around the apartment complex. Breaking all social more's of Norway, the kids, in costume, went from door to door, delivering baked good like the olden days. Literally half the people didn't' open their doors to our knocks, though we knew they were home. But those who did peek through their cracked doors were gracious, surprised, and seemed genuine.

Amusingly, I introduced myself to four people and not one of them offered me their name in return.

It felt good anyways!

Check out Peter's voice at the end of the song Culture Vulture at http://www.myspace.com/likeratsfromasinkingship
He sounds so sweet doesn't he?

Just Tryin' to Get Around

Folks here in the wild and wooley countries of Scandanavia have learned to marry function with fashion. Hence, the Ski Board. Totally Norsk. Totally Hip. Totally Impossible to Do.