DianeCA Congratulates Obama on inspiring Peace

I almost couldn’t believe it when my husband RennyBA sent me a text message while I was at work congratulating me, and telling me that Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize! First I have to admit that it really was a surprise to me because I have been so wrapped up in my own little world that I didn’t realize it was time for the peace prize again hehehe! And then I thought it felt good to be an American again. As an American living overseas I have to admit that the Bush years were quite tough. I didn’t much care for Bush – ever- and he was really unpopular here in Europe.

DianeCA congratulates President Obama

Obama on the other hand is someone who I voted for. Someone who I like representing my country and one who has dreams and ambitions which I can agree with and stand for. This is why I think it is appropriate that he receives the Nobel Peace Prize. There is a lot of discussion here, some are saying that he hasn’t earned it yet, he hasn’t done anything yet…but that isn’t true in my opinion. He has set a standard that we must live up to. He has set the frame for peace, he has opened his hands, and America’s hands to the rest of the world and said that we must work together.

This is a very big change from the politics of recent years. I believe the prize will encourage Obama to fulfil his commitments to peace, and give strength to his vision of the future. It will also put more power behind this vision of peace because the world is saying – hey we’re with you!

Quoting Muhammad Yunus (previous peace prize winner for microfinance) “The first thing Barack Obama has completed is to get the world on the right track for peace and multilateralism.”

President Obama has captured America’s and the world’s imagination because he so strikingly embodies an America that the world yearns for – an energetic, diverse, inclusive America that is determined to lead the world, but with the world’s interests in mind.

While no one person can ever bring peace to the world, that isn’t what the peace prize is about, it’s about inspiration. It’s about ideals, and it is about creating a peaceful world a little bit at a time. We can’t do that without a vision…and I believe the Barack Obama has that! Well done, Mr. President!

Your comments are as always welcome, hop on over and visit RennyBA’s Terella to get his thoughts on this day.

Jesus Christ Superstar impresses at Den Norske Teatret

Thursday this week my girlfriend and I went to the rockopera “Jesus Christ Superstar” set up by Den Norske Teatret (the Norwegian Theater) in Oslo. Turbonegro vocalist Hans Erik Husby Dyvik was fantastic and powerful in the role of Jesus. The entire production was like a powerful rock concert, with a well known and yet modernised story at the base. The play takes a modern twist på the story of Jesus and presents it as what might happen if Jesus came now in modern times instead of 2000 years ago. It places the focus on Jesus as one who makes us see the society we do not wish to look in the eye, one who sits at the far end of the table and seeks contact with the weakest most vulnerable human being in the room. The protector of the repressed and outcast.

The entire production had a rock concert feel about it. There were these cool electric guitar players who were on stage all the time, both as part of the background actors and at the same time whaling out this fabulous rock guitar music. It was really so much more than I expected and nothing like the Jesus Christ Superstar production I saw at a local theatre in New York in the 80’s.

Husby in the roll of Jesus Christ, photo curtesy of Oslopuls.

Just as raw and controversial as the play was in the beginning the new setting and hard rock angle which Den Norske Teater used was extremely good. Charlotte Frogner who played Mary Magdelena was an excellent contrast to Husby with his ‘large’ heavy metal presence. Frogner’s roll, while clearly that of a prostitute in this production is repressed, shy, and with a meek feminine voice sings out her love and admiration for Jesus’ character with a surprising tenderness.

Frogner praises her colleague Hans Erick Husby Dyvik saying in an interview with VG that he adds a whole new energy to the scene. He is really a great guy, and easy to feel safe around…and it is easy to go to work when you know it is going to be a raw rock concert each and every day!

Husby has said that it was tough to play Jesus, because he sees so much of his own history in the story. He has been involved in narcotics and the underworld life, and then achieving a rapid rise to fame at least in Norway he has quite a following. So he could use his own experience of oppression, substance abuse and poverty in interpreting his role. He says that these things have in many ways not gotten better since Jesus lived, but have in fact gotten much worse in some parts of the world.

Click here to see a video from NRK

At the same time the play caries a positive message that hope and joy is possible on the other side and all is not lost. For those in Norway with the opportunity to see this production I recommend it as the best theatre experience I have ever had…and for the rest of you who cannot come to Oslo…I am terribly sorry. Because I don’t think Jesus Christ Superstar will ever be presented in this way anyplace else in the world at any time…it was really a once in a lifetime experience. Unless of course I drag along Renny and see it one more time before it closes!!

Update! As many have read on RennyBA’s blog we did go and see it again and he loved it as much as I did. I just found this great video from the NORWEGIAN PRODUCTION – its an add for the one we saw, and I am putting it in here for your enjoyment. You REALLY get an idea of the provocative, cutting edge, controversial and totally rocking atmosphere this show had. It was so awesome!

The beauty of fall filling our lives

Fall is the time for leaves flying off of branches, blowing in the wind, and painting our world in yellow and golden reds. This week is fall vacation and we have a visit from our little friend T. We took her with us to our vacation home in Sweden for a long weekend and some quality time with the family.

Crisp apples and fresh picked pears

Even though the warm summer sun is gone it is still wonderful to be outside and enjoy the nature. Digging in the sand is not just for midsummer beach trips, children love to play with the natural elements all year long as T can well show you. She sat for hours singing and digging in the play area, while we together with our neighbors raked the leaves and prepared the outside area for the winter season.

Digging in

On Sunday we took us a nice walk in Mariestad and were fortuntate enough to stumble over a fall cultural exhibition. This weekend is the fall culture festival in Mariestad and some of the oldest houses in the old town are open to the public. These are not museums, they are privately owned, but are protected also as cultural monuments and some of the owners allow us a look at this time of the year.

Historical courtyard

There was one beautiful enclosed court yard open to the public and it was a real treat to see this place as it normally isn’t open to the public. I have always dreamed of having a garden like this, a peaceful place to forget the daily stress and eat my breakfast or take a cup of coffee in the afternoon. These gardens are of course a lot of work as well, and this one was as well taken care of as they come.

Give me a cup of tea and solitude

Hope you have accepted that fall is here and gotten out into the fresh air to enjoy it while it lasts!! Have a great week!!!

Fall is sneaking up on us!

Fall is truly arriving in Norway now. Summer is definitely over. We can tell by the cooler temperatures and first hint of yellow on the birch trees.

Still warm enough for the kids to wade but the colors are changing

There are other ways to see that fall is here. Fall is the time to harvest fruits and berries. Nature’s abundance is waiting just around the bend. On a recent walk in the woods we discovered lots of wild cranberries growing along side the trail. This is obviously a good year for cranberries! They do not grow as well each year, they tend to have good and bad seasons. Maybe it is because we have had a bit of a cold summer that they grew so well? They are a northern berry after all.

Fresh fall cranberries. I love them! The man isn't bad either LOL!

Another sign that fall is here is that the apples are already changing color. I used to love picking apples in the orchard. Now I don’t get the chance as often but I still like them as fresh as possible. The first of the local apples have been harvested now, and I could just smell that they were wonderful. Apples which have been shipped and stored don’t smell much like apples, but these smelled just glorious! So good in fact that I was inspired to bake!

Seasons first apples!

Here you see the end result: A typical Norwegian apple cake. Although I am used to making apple pie from growing up in New York, making a Norwegian apple cake is much easier! No pie crust to roll out! Needless to say the results were good enough to eat!

Norwegian Apple Cake...yummmm

Whenever I make anything with apples I am not sure if it tastes or smells best…the smell of baked apples is just so good. I can still smell it in the kitchen and it reminds me of my childhood. Hope you all have a good weekend! And are enjoying the season wherever you may be.

Thank God for weekends!

I mean it when I say it, thank God for weekends. I have been very busy all week, my new job takes up most of my time and energy…and of course I have my family and home too…so again I haven’t had much time for blogging. I am now so happy that the weekend is finally here and its time for some rest and relaxation!!

So since it’s friday and we are relaxing let me take you on a little tour of the French Alps. I have to admit that I am so worn out that I don’t have much intellegent to say…so can we pretend its wordless Wednesday and let these pictures stand alone??

Majestic alps

I love the flat fields with the mountains in the background

We ate our lunch at this idealistic little lake

Let the fresh air of the Alps take your breath away!! Anybody else feel like singing from The Sound of Music??? I had the urge several times during the trip but I restrained myself, fortunately for the others on our trip.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!!!