How Mickey Got Her Groove Back

Without Kaleb here to wake us at the crack of dawn, we slept in til 9am.  Of course, we were up until one in the morning, so we needed the sleep.  Kory’s was trying to figure out his I-pad and I’ve got plenty of learning curves with my new Macbook laptop, so we were both attempting to understand our technological advances, but I’m afraid we didn’t make it too far since it was so late and our brains were fuzzy.

As soon as I got dressed this morning I had to run over and buy some bread before it was all gone since stores are closed tomorrow and Kaleb will need a sandwich in his lunch on Monday for school. Our freezer is so small we can’t buy much “inventory”, but it’s pretty darn handy to have a wonderful bakery just outside our door.  All I need to do is put on shoes.

Tante Kari needed help with some things today so Kory headed over to her place after breakfast while I slipped on a backpack and hopped on my bike.  There is a school about a mile and a half from us (maybe two) that was having a flea market today.  Flea markets are few and far between in this neck of the woods and they always produce incredible bargains and really cool old Norwegian stuff, so I was pumped and ready to go.  Kory was pleased we actually didn’t have our car available as he was sure I’d buy too much, but since I had to lug everything I bought back home, he knew it was safe to let me go alone, especially since the ride (mostly walk) back home is uphill.

The brakes on my bike squeak something terrible.  I arrived a little early at the school, and there was already a line of people waiting to get in the door.  The squeak on my bike made everyone look at me, but that turned out to be a good thing since our old neighbor, Tone, was in line (Sabina’s mom), and she saw me and came over to give me a hug.  I would have never seen her in the crowd otherwise.  She was thrilled to know we were back, so we arranged a time to get together.  Other than seeing Kaleb’s old school principal who was one of the volunteers, I didn’t see anyone else I knew, but it seems most of the people that go to flea markets are immigrants, so that explained it.  Norwegians are happy to throw out all that old stuff and they aren’t about to pay money to bring it back in their homes.

When the doors were opened there were so many people packed in that school gym (see photo) that I couldn’t even see the stuff on the tables.  The fire marshall in America would have NEVER allowed that kind of mob scene to happen.  I had to squish my way through the river of people and just stick out an arm and try to reach a few things.  It was insane.  When I put my backpack down to reach for my camera to take a picture, someone grabbed my backpack, as if it were for sale, too.  I found a box to put the things in I wanted to buy and when I sat it down to get a better grip, there were people reaching in the box to take things out.  Later, when I set my camera down to put the stuff I’d bought in the backpack, someone grabbed my camera. I’ve never experienced anything like it. 

Even though it was a claustrophobic and slightly scary experience, I was pleased with some of the cool things I bought – none of them costing more than $2 (see photo of some of the pewter items.)  I also got an old milk tin, some table linens, candlesticks (see photo below – they match the planter I bought last year), lots of metal trays and pewter vases, doilies and some kitchen items.  I was tickled pink, but most happy when I got out of there.  I even got Kaleb an almost new pair of Head ski boots (made in Italy) for $10.  I’m sure I could resell them for ten times that amount if I were so inclined.

After I got home and showed Kory my stash, he decided to walk back down there with me to see what was left.  One of the workers there told me everyone comes the first hour, then no one comes after that, so it was open at 11 but would be closing by 3 and the last hour they practically give stuff away.  They sell grocery bags for 50 kroner (less than $10) and that pays for whatever can fit in them.

When we went back there were only a handful of people in the gym (see photo) and it was actually possible to see the items on the table.  Kory found a very cool old leather backpack, I found more table cloths, pewter items and hand made wall hangings.  I was well pleased with all our “stuff” since we got two bags stuffed full to the brim for $20. 

I figured I walked over six miles today so I was good and tired when we got home. (The first photo of the day shows our condo on the left – top floor.) It took nearly half an hour each way, plus I was lugging quite a bit of merchandise.  I so wanted to just crash on the couch and relax and think happy thoughts about all the bargains I got, but I had to stand up in the kitchen and make dinner.  While I was cooking, Cousin Ketil (Odd’s other brother) came by with his wife to welcome us to Norway and invite us to dinner next week.

I made dinner tonight for Odd and Turid (see photo) along with Turid’s daughter, Sara, and her new baby, and another friend of ours, Rolf-Inge, who went with us on the Caribbean cruise with Turid’s uncle.  It was a lovely evening and I made some yummy food, so that was the topper on the day.  

The rain held off all day until Kaleb was due home, but he got a ride from his friend’s dad so he didn’t have to get soaked.  That was a good thing.  He had a great time with his friends and fell fast asleep after dinner, so I’m sure they didn’t get sleep much last night.

It was just another day in paradise for us all.  Does life get any better?

Let the Parties Begin!

Today was my first day of hosting friends at our place since we arrived (see photo) – other than those that just stopped by for coffee or tea.  Two pals from my Norwegian course came for lunch!  Sandra, from England, came with her little miracle boy Karl-Alexandar, who I prayed much for even before he was even conceived.  Sandra was flying to Latvia three times a year for in-vitro since Norway wouldn’t pay for it because she was too old (45).  She’d been trying for ten years but once prayer became part of the picture – she got pregnant – a total miracle.  She initially had twins, but lost one so it was another miracle that Karl survived.  Oh, how I prayed he would.  Then her water broke 10 weeks early so I prayed again that he’d hold fast.  In Norway they don’t force labor like in America, so she was in the hospital for 3 weeks until he finally started showing signs of stress and they induced her.  I was praying like crazy during those three week, so he was only 7 weeks early and even from the get-go, they said he was like a full term baby.  He’s never been sick or had any problems at all.  Just one miracle after another.  I feel very attached to that cutie pie (see photo below).

Melinda, another friend from Romania, also came with her 7 month old baby girl (see other photo above).  It was rather chaotic trying to have a meal with a 20 month old and a 7 month old at the table, but we managed to get in several laughs about our Norwegian class days.  In catching up with them and who they still keep in touch with, it seems every woman in that class now has a baby.  They were all newlyweds 2 ½ years ago, so they didn’t waste any time.  

I made a “typisk norsk” lunch – shrimp sandwiches (see photo), just like in the cafes around here.  They loved it – and so did Kory and Kaleb.  I also made a salad, but Norwegians never eat them, and apparently, neither do some of the imports.

Kaleb chowed down his lunch quickly then took off on his bike to go have a sleepover with Andre – his friend that will be coming to America this summer to stay with us for three weeks after we get home.  Andre is bringing his whole family with him (I’m friends with his mom).  Kaleb was pretty excited to hang out with him and the other kids in that neighborhood.  I won’t see him again before dinnertime tomorrow.

When I was at the grocery store this morning I had to dodge all the supply carts since their pump got repaired and they were starting to stock up all the shelves again with food.  It’s so unusual to have shelves stocked during the daytime hours but no one here works the night shift, so it gets done when shoppers are in the store.  It’s kinda messy and awkward, and I ended up taking several things I needed right from the supply carts as I didn’t want to stand around waiting for them to put stuff on the shelf.  My ugly American nature came shining through.

When Melinda left this afternoon I hitched a ride with her down to my favorite thrift store and then I walked back home in the rain.  Being able to buy things at a reasonable price is good for my soul.  I’ve been going through sticker shock at the grocery store since prices are about 10-20% higher now from when we lived here - just factoring kroner vs. kroner, but when factoring in the devalued dollar, and what that will buy, it’s an additional 30% more just for that, so I’ve nearly had heart failure every time I go shopping.  We are good about buying just what we need, but it’s no fun at all to spend so much money on food.  A little “used” retail therapy reset my happy button.  Most everything I bought was 10-20 kroner ($2-$4) which is well within my price range and it’s all handmade Norwegian stuff.  The economics of things here is so weird. I also wanted to see what things are available in that store before I hit a flea market tomorrow.

Kory started drawing again today, so that made my heart glad.  He also went down to the car licensing place because they sent him a message our plates were in, but by the time he walked there, it was just before 3pm and they were closing, so he couldn’t get the darn plates!  They also told him we have to register with the “people register” place a little further down the street, which was news to us, so we’ll see what happens there.  It’s also the same place we turn in our taxes so I need to get the 2010 tax info assembled this weekend so we can take care of two things in one long walk on Monday.

Kory and I didn’t know what to do with ourselves tonight with Kaleb gone and no wheels to take us anywhere, so we invited the two aunts to come on over for coffee and crème brulee (Kaleb made some for my lunch guests today and we had leftovers.)  They were thrilled with the invitation.  Kory got out his new i-pad to show them what modern technology can do and they just rolled their eyes.  I showed them my Kindle and they just said, “unbelievable.”  Then they asked what Facebook was, so I gave them a little tutorial on my laptop as I logged into my account and showed them all their grandchildren that I’m friends with and what their status is and what photos they’ve posted.  Let’s just say that I’m sure some of those grandkids had NO IDEA their grandmas would be looking at their Facebook photos someday…so there were a lot of laughs and giggles over that whole portion of the evening.  Then Tante Kari figured out right away what a great spying tool Facebook would be and she asked me to check on some of her ex-daughters-in-laws to see what photos they have posted and what the new loves in their lives look like.  Now, that was funny.  Women in their 80s sleuthing around behind other women’s backs.  What a hoot.  I guess you never get too old for some things.

The Road to Oslo (Via Telemark)

What a day. When things shut down for the holidays here, they really shut down. There wasn’t even a newspaper printed today and the TV channels this morning just had a test pattern on them – no local news as the Easter holiday has official began. The word they use to describe this “Maundy Thursday” (as Lutherans refer to it), translates as “Cutting Thursday,” so I’m not quite sure what it means and why it’s such a special holy day, but it sure is here in Norway. We were the only ones in the hotel last night, except for an airplane crew from SAS. It was pretty funny, as usually there is a HUGE spread of food every morning for the free buffet breakfast, but this morning there were just a few plates of things sitting out. They knew the headcount, and we were pretty much it. As we were driving away a little after eight this morning, most of the traffic lights in town were shut off and there wasn’t a soul in sight. It was as if rapture had happened and we were left behind. Not a single business was open, no cars were on the streets. And Kristiansand is the fifth largest city in all of Norway, so it was a very clear to me as to just how serious these Norwegians are about their Easter holiday. It made for nice driving however, as we had the road to ourselves. If it weren’t for the traffic cameras every few miles keeping our speed limit in control, we could have made good time to our destinations.

One of our targeted stops for this entire road trip was in Telemark, at the farm where Kory’s dad grew up (see photo of Kaleb throwing a snowball in front of the “old house” where Kory’s dad was born). We visited the Slaatthaugen farm near Lunde, in the year 2000, but Kaleb was only two then and didn’t remember it, so we wanted him to visit the farm and meet the cousins living there now. We would have liked to have stayed longer, but they had company coming for a holiday dinner (we were invited but couldn’t stay), and we needed to get to Oslo to meet my girlfriend Paula Meredith, who flew in today from the States. The day went by too fast, but at least the weather cooperated and we had a few nice relaxing hours visiting the relatives sitting outside in the sun at Slaatthaugen. Halvard, Kaleb’s second cousin that currently owns the farm, has a huge Leonberger dog that kept him entertained while we chatted. There was still snow on the ground so Kaleb and I had a long lasting snowball fight and I enjoyed playing catch with the dog as he ate every snowball I threw to him. It was quite warm out today so it was fun to play in the snow when no coats were required.

The Slaatthaug side of the family is quite different from Kory’s cousins on his mother’s side in Aalesund. Kory’s dad’s side is a bit more serious about things and they are all incredibly crafty and talented. When we first visited the Slaatthaug farm in 1990, Kory’s cousin Gunnar still lived there with most of his ten children. As we sat around the table eating a meal together, I noticed that both the parents and most of the kids were missing fingers, parts of fingers, half a hand, you name it, many had some part of something missing. The mom got her hand caught in a loom, and lost a finger, the dad lost two fingers in farm machinery, one of the girls cut off half a finger with a power saw, another son lost his finger on a dare as his sister chopped it off with an ax (I guess he didn’t believe she was serious). It was so odd to see them all together, having suffered such similar fates. Then I nearly lost my lunch laughing (although it wasn’t meant to be funny), when the father, Gunnar, was bragging about his kids and how talented they are (and they really are), and then he said, “Us Slaatthaugs have never been really good with our brains, but we’ve always been good with our hands.” And I saw, from the evidence before me, that maybe the two should go together. Kory and I still laugh about that one as I often tease him that he IS a Slaatthaug and therefore, better with his hands than his brain, although he’s proud of the fact he still has all ten fingers intact.

I was thinking about that tonight as we drove to Oslo to meet Paula, and we drove around Oslo for TWO hours trying to find the hotel. Kory wouldn’t stop to ask for directions, and we didn’t have a map. All we had were step by step directions, which were only good if we would have been able to see the name of the streets we were supposed to turn on, but most of the streets in town were missing street signs, so we got completely and utterly lost. I had a total melt down as Paula had flown in from Colorado and was waiting to eat dinner with us, and I told her we’d be there in five minutes, just as we entered the city. Two hours later she had just finished dinner when we finally found the hotel. I was so frustrated with everything by then I just wanted to cry. But we made it, and Paula is here, and now I’m happy again.