Beyond mediocrity

“Mediocrity is a form of madness, a dream embraced by the masses because it makes just getting by an acceptable — sometimes applauded — social art form. What is excellent requires extra effort. To agree to sleep our way through life is to lose everything, because it rules out the possibility of our soul’s awakening.”

-Guy Finley

Reflections of winter

The above quote sums up why I haven’t been here so much lately. I am striving beyond mediocrity in my career for the time being. My new position is making demands on my creativity, problem solving ability, mental and physical energy. However this quote describes why I still love doing this. It is becauseI am constantly challenging myself to grow and to learn, and to do things I am not quite sure I can I can’t be equally active in all areas of life, however. So if I don’t post as often as I feel I should, or would like, I hope you know that I am still here and following along anyway

Oslo Blog Gathering promises lots of summer fun

On Thursday we had the pleasure of meeting up with five blogger friends to plan for the Oslo Blog Gathering 2010 which is taking place this summer in August. We have had so much fun meeting others who enjoy blogging as much as we do that we decided to invite as many as possible to hook up with us for 4 days of fun here in Oslo. Last summer we were lucky enough to be invited to visit Claudie and Pierre, and we had TorAa with his wife Anna, and Mrs and Mr Lifecruiser staying there as well. It was really a great deal of fun to meet people which we have had contact with over several years in person and have some off line experiences with them too. I suppose bloggers are pretty social people by nature, otherwise we wouldn’t be putting ourselves out on the net all the time in order to meet and share with others.

And so the plan was hatched, sometime in 2008 that we would invite some friends the summer after we visited Claudie. The list grew and grew, and we naturally invited Tor into the planning since we have had contact with him even before we started as bloggers. It wasn’t very long before we realized that we could not have this event at our home, because we simply wouldn’t have room to invite everyone we wanted to meet. So the search began for accomodations.

Norway is currently the most expensive city in the world to live in or visit, so this made it a challenge to find a good place to stay at a price which was affordable for everyone. After searching high and low, and a lot of telephone calls we finally found a hotel which was excited about our project. First Hotel Millennium seemed really to understand what we were trying to do. In addition booking could go through VisitOslo, our local tourism bureau, so that we don’t have to get involved in the money in any way. We don’t want that responsibility, thank you very much!!

Planning party for the Oslo Blog Gathering 2010

Renny has also worked on the program and convinced VisitOslo that this was a project worth their time and creativity, so we have brought them on board as well. There is a little fee to join the gathering, but I hope everyone understands that we are not involved financially at all. The fee covers things like the reception at the city hall, and VisitOslo’s assistance including the OsloPass which gives us access to all museums and public transportation for free! Plus they threw in the guided bus tour which will pick us all up right in front of the hotel.

What I am looking forward to most is to meet everyone. After writing to some of these bloggers for many years it is really exciting thinking that we will get to meet in person. It seems to be more and more common for people to meet in real life after having contact online. I have never been disappointed meeting my online friends. In fact most of the time I have been pleasantly surprised that we have even more in common than I originally thought.

This time was no different. We met up with Corinne from Northern Natterings, BB from A Canadian in Norway, TheWriter1978 from An Alien in Copenhagen, Cairo Typo from Wandering the World, and of course TorAa from TorAas Mirror was there too. With a little tapas and a little wine the enthusiasm was high from both the bloggers, and the hotel staff. Believe me, this will be an event you will remember!!! Hope many more decide to come!!! If you want to meet some new friends from around the world, then come join the party! Like reading blogs but don’t have one yourself? It’s okay for you to come too, blogging will of course be a theme but we are open to active users of other social media like Facebook and Myspace as well. Just get in touch if you are interested, okay.

For more info on Oslo Blog Gathering 2010 click here!!!

Photo hunt on the icy beaches of Oslo, Norway

This weekend we had the most incredible weather. A steady wind from the North has brought us a perfect winter this year. First we got a good coating of snow from the 23rd of December through the New Year, which have been combined with very cold weather. (-15 degrees to -22 degrees Celsius.) These conditions create beautiful scenery when the entire world is coated in snow and ice, and looks almost magical.

Slunrise over Kalvøya

Saturday morning we got up ‘early’ (sunrise about 9:10 am hahaha) the temperature the first day was -20 but we know how to dress for the winter conditions so we had really a lovely time outside. We went to take pictures of Kalvøya island, in the Oslo fjord at sunrise, and then since the sun rises so slowly in the winter time we also went to Frogner Stranden, a harbour area on the outskirts of Oslo. I had suggested this place because I noticed the icy fog on the water the day before and I hoped that we would have as good conditions again.

Beautiful morning sky

Our trip was so successful, with literally hundreds of photos to choose from, so we had to take another trip out today. We knew that this kind of conditions might not last, and they make for perfect photographic conditions. Many others were outside today enjoying the sunshine and the crisp fresh air along the coastline.

Magical ice crystals

We went first to Bygdøy in the area of the Shipping historical museum, Kon Tiki Museum, and the Polar Expedition Museum. Here there is a nice water area where we took a lot of nice photos, and I took some video of Renny. He was really down at the edge of the water, fascinated by the ice, and apparently not worried about any risk to himself! Well, he did not fall, and eventually I was drawn down to the waters edge by my own competitive nature, but icy it was indeed. Here is a little video of Renny challanging the elements.

Afterwards we went to Huk beach on the other side of the same island. Here there were many more families enjoying the natural surroundings and the remarkable weather. As you can see the photographic conditions were outstanding too, and there is a bit of video from there as well.

Romance in winter

Photohunting

Both places are near Oslo, and will be easily available for the Oslo Blog Gathering. Of course it will also be a bit warmer in the middle of summer. I recommend that you drop in and visit RennyBA to see his catch of the day, in our photo hunt of course! And enjoy the wonderful weather wherever you are!! Here is one last video from Huk!

Huk

DianeCA wishes you a Happy New Year 2010

A poem as the new year approaches.

Happy New Year 2010

“At the sound of the tolling midnight bell a brand new year will being. Let raise our hopes in a confident toast, to the promise it ushers in.

May your battles be few, your pleasures many, your wishes and dreams fulfilled. May your confidence stand in the face of loss and give you the strength to rebuild.

May peace of heart fill all your days, may serenity grace your soul. May tranquil moments bless your life and keep your spirits whole.”
Unknown

Wishing you all a wonder and safe New Year’s Eve. Thank you to everyone who makes this blog so special to me!

Romjul peace in Sweden

In Norway the week between Christmas and New Years has a name, something which I think is quite handy, it is called Romjul. In earlier centuries Norway celebrated Christmas from Christmas eve to Holy three Kings day (January 6), and Romjul were the days from the Holy Christmas days until January 6th. Now however most of the celebration lasts only until January 1.

Snowy trees in Mariestad

Romjula for many in Norway is a time for Christmas peace at home, many take vacation, and the schools are closed. Many families use this time for visiting and enjoyig special Christmas foods like rice porridge, gingerbread and glazed toasted almonds. Romjula can be a quiet time indoors with a lot of eating, but also walks outdoors for fresh air, reflection and contemplation play a roll. Many families go skiing or enjoy their holiday at their cottages in the mountains.

Before, it was also customary to visit the neighbors singing Christmas songs and receiving cookies and cakes in return for the concert. Now a days the newer tradition is to crush and eat the gingerbread house the family has made during Christmas. More and more people in Norway travel abroad for Christmas and New Year celebrations, and romjula has become the high season for many resorts.

Fireworks and Sweets at Åkes

Each year we spend romjula in our vacation home in Sweden. Even if there is snow the trip went slow but safe over the boarder to the place we call our little Paradise. My two sons are along for the trip, even though my oldest has moved out to study, he is now home for the holidays. We use this time to rest up after a hectic season before Christmas, and to build bonds and good memories with the family.

Among the activities which are the highlight of this period is the annual New Years Party which is a fast event here. We gather with our neighbors and everyone takes something with them to celebrate the evening. We usually provide some champagne and the fireworks. Hop on over to RennyBA’s Terella to see how we buy the fireworks which we send up ourselves!

Pretty pink Swedish godis

While in this shop buying fireworks I found something else to take pictures of as well. Christmas is also one time of the year many loosen up their health restrictions and eat a bit of candy, Sweden is king of loose candy, or godis as it is called here. The Swedes are considered the best in the world to eat and make bulk candy. Each Swede ate approximately three kilograms of candy per person last year, a total 24,000 tonnes.

Just about one quarter of the selection

I didn’t buy any of this pretty candy, I just liked the colors for photographic purposes. I don’t crave this kind if candy but if it is in the house I will eat it! So we will buy a little bit tomorrow to celebrate New Years Eve but when it is eaten up it isn’t invited back into the house for a while! Mostly because Renny and the boys can eat a bit and leave it however I sneak out to the dish time after time.

Pretty colors, lots of sugar

We are enjoying a peaceful vacation – well except for the boys who are hold up in their room with their playstation 3 blowing people up in some video game or another….this I will never understand. However they did play online with a friend they have known since they went to the same babaysitter together when they were small, a friend who lives in NY while they were here in Sweden, and that part of it is kind of nice! Hope all of you are having a lovely holiday season, or Romjul as it is called here.