Off

When both parents are sick, parenting is a real challenge. We tried to get Charlotte to watch TV with us one day last week before dinner. She wanted dinner NOW! Not after TV. We said we would be eating in 20 minutes, which was after the show would be over. She looked at us for a second, and then marched up to the TV and turned it off. Show over, right? We looked at each other and laughed. But... she did not have any tricks up her sleeve for how to make the pasta boil faster.

Liking alternatives

We have lived in Norway for about 9 months now. Things I missed from the States and could not do without are slowly finding themselves replaced. Like Cheerios. I am still pretty astounded that 'yellow box' cheerios as they are called do not exist in Norway (I wrote Nestle who distributes Cheerios here). Maybe you do not get a craving for Cheerios like I do, but, now I have found a great cereal called Mini Fras which is a fun substitute. And ziploc bags. They are expensive here and come in 1-2 sizes... not the fantastic array I was used to. But, we found that the plastic bread bags here work for most things, and if not, we use more tupperware-type containers than before. But it is funny how you get attached to silly things. We saw an American movie, and when Nils saw someone in the movie using a garbage bag, he realized... hey those American garbage bags were good! I miss those.

Movie theater for two

We had an anniversary date to remember. We had an entire movie theater just for ourselves! Just the two of us! THAT is how to have a date.

I passed!

I passed my driving test! The 'sensor' as he is called in Norwegian said I was an 'effektiv dame' which is an efficient lady. He meant I drive a little too rushed and fast. But otherwise I am 'trafikk sikkert' which is traffic safe. And he said I did a good job. The rules here are not that much different, but one has to learn new rules for roundabouts (which lane to be in, when to blink) and also to watch for who has the right of way. Unless there is a yellow diamond sign on the road you are driving, you have to yield to people coming from the right. It feels really unnatural after driving in the states for 12 years. And... no right turn on a red light!

Do you remember your first field trip?

How old were you? Where did you go? Charlotte had her first field trip today to the "Sensory Center" where she rode on a bus (no idea how the daycare leaders did this with so many carseats) and got to play with instruments and listen to music, touch all kinds of things with different texture, smell, see (of course), and probably taste a thing or two. I was surprised they dare to take little ones ages 1-3 out, but I commend it.

Driver's License

Sometimes you do not know what you have until it is gone! In Norway, there is very low tolerance for traffic violations. Driving while under the influence can result in losing your license... for good! And speeding, even maybe 10 mph over the limit can result in a suspension of your license for several months and steep fines. The moral is, follow the rules. Two of my colleagues just got their licenses back after 2-3 months suspension. I do not even have my Norwegian license yet (driver's test next Friday!) so I think I would be wise to be extra careful. Not cool to lose your license before you even get it!

Happy Birthday, Jason!

How much would you pay for chicken?

If you are vegetarian, I am guessing the sum is pretty low. But I have to ask, because I was surprised at myself that, without giving it a second thought, I purchased 4 chicken breasts for about the equivalent of $30. Just plain old chicken breasts at the grocery store. That is how much chicken costs in Norway. And the even more surprising thing... I still keep buying it!

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Fove

Charlotte is running around lately playing pretend sleeping. At home at various times throughout the day she will say "fo-vah?" which is her version of "sove" which is Norwegian for "sleep." She burrows into the couch cushions and asks for a pillow (pee-yo) or tugs a blanket to cover part of her. Or she pats on the couch cushion and looks at me and says "Mamma..." "fo-vah?" and guides me down to the couch where I am to close my eyes and wear a pillow on my back. She puts her dolls to sleep, her stuffed animals, her little newborn cousin Mikkel, us... anything that looks somewhat living. And in the car sometimes, she closes her eyes and squints and "takes a nap."

Tattoo

Our intranet where I work had a great April Fool's Day prank. We received an email - just as we normally do when there is a new posting on the intranet - regarding our new company logo that was just launched. We have recently had a lot of focus on our values and giving prizes to employees who embody our values (such as customer-focus prizes and enthusiast prizes). The intranet posting advertised our new logo and offered 10 giftcards that would cover a tattooing of the logo! It was actually strangely believable, since the text went on and on about how we are a young organization, we are a breath of fresh air in the market, and how a tattoo is a way to make our logo more visible and recognizable.