View from my window, February 2006. Winter has been winter this season. You can´t ask more. The remarkable effects of the changing of seasons is the best feature of this country, and I would think it is like this in other countries at similar latitudes around our planet. Right now I am looking forward to going to Lemonsjøen tomorrow. Departure will be at 08H55, 2 April 2006. I will be awake, I will have had my breakfast: 1/3 juice of a grapefruit and 2/3 orange, two pieces of toasted bread with St. Agur and a large mug of tea.
Do not underestimate Massive Attack, Madrugada, Josh Rouse and the mighty Tom Waits. Respect and understanding. Good night and good morning!
Born 250 years ago today. Vielen dank!
Gratulerer med 7-års dagen Ina!
Concerning my previous post (december 2005) I have now had time to (sort of) catch up on my miserable "cinema-life". Not that I have been able to update so many of the holes from "myfilmfailures..2005" - but at least I have been to the cinema twice over the holidays. I saw "King Kong" and "The Legend of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe" within a period of 24 hours as a much needed break in this rather "festive" season. In addition to cinema-activity i have also watched "The Aviator", "Ghost Dog: The Way of The Samurai", "Kung Fu Hustle", "Hitch" (well, of course it counts - Eva Mendes is in it) on DVD... so I feel a little bit better about it now - still have to keep on updating though...
Last night I put my Orhan Pamuk "Mitt Navn Er Karmosin" (original title: "Benim adim Kirmizi") on hold, to read my new-bought book by Jo Nesbø "Frelseren". It was (as usual with Nesbø) extremely captivating as a crime-novel - no, actually; as a Book, and I managed to read it through from 19H00 to 05H00 in the morning (yes, I admit that I am still on some sort of vacation after the holidays - read: working on my projects when I am not sleeping or seeing friends). So culturally it has been a good start to my 2006 - I believe it continues. Now I have to get some more sketches done for a new project - in addition to finishing some of my files/projects that follows me from last year - so I´ll stop now...
The house on the photo is december at one of my neighbour´s house, seen from my window. Winter in the inland lake-districts of Norway. Cold but beautiful.
"Sweet Jane" (Lou Reed) with the Cowboy Junkies playing in my ears (mind and heart), Sufjan Stevens "For the Widows in Paradise, For the Fatherless in Ypsilanti" is a fantastic piece of work - and what a songtitle! "Ghost of a Shark" by Tom McRae is dark, yet utterly uplifting, and I think life is going to be marvellous - not all of it, of course - but good things do come at intervals. "Somebody Got Murdered" by Matthew Ryan is a fantastic cover of The Clash, and now I have to stop.
It is that time of year again. Running around the shops with my list on potentially fitting presents for everyone that expects (and perhaps deserves) one. So I have a system; a system that in my opinion should be considered. I only buy presents I would like to receive myself. However, easy as it seems - a budget [and I do have a budget] still limits the options. And it should! Most of us are spending too much, and before christmas everyone is pushing it a little bit further. I know that I shouldn´t generalise, but it does seem that way. Shopping is a ambivalent experience. As member of our certain species (Humanus Collector) I am a natural collector. I want a lot of items on offer - but can I live without most of it? Luckily, yes. Go smell the fresh air, or sit down at your favourite spot. Take it easy!
Why is it so difficult for me to get myself over to the cinema?The brilliant people at Uncut (take 104, January 2006) provide their list of best films of the year 2005, and I am immediately informed that I have missed out completely. I have been sleeping. Real hard! Well, this isn't exactly a "I have not seen any of them" statement, but it's so close...Uncut-best-film-of-the-year-2005 is "A History of Violence"... and nope, haven't seen it..., #2; "Downfall"! ...nope, failed again... however, all the way down at #20; "Wedding Crashers"; so 1 point (and even though I liked this film, the fact that I have seen it doesn't give me comfort seeing the rest of the list after having read reviews throughout the year but still failed at going to the movies to see them), #24; "Maria Full of Grace"; 2 points (this probably should score more than a single point, but I restrain myself from being too generous). And at #29; "The Aviator" - at least this one is "on hold" in my bookshelves, before finally finding its place in my DVD-collection. (1/2 a point then - and 2 1/2 in total). Weak! Weak!So I have a job to do in the coming period. First of all, I should put a lot more emphasis on actually getting myself over to the local cinemas more often, and secondly; I will have to spend huge amounts of money on buying DVDs in 2006.Thanks Uncut (not!!!) - for giving me this sense of failure at popular culture. But a million thanks for always keeping me updated on what I miss out on in the world of cinema, DVDs, books and music every month. I wouldn't be the same without your perpetual quest to inform! It is not my lack of interest, it is really a lack of time. And aren't we bored with always saying that we don't have time. Everything has to be so convenient - convenient is never easy.Priority in the coming period:1. A History of Violence / 2. Downfall / 5. Sideways / 10. Sin City / 12. The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou / 18. 2046 / 19. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang / 25. Hotel Rwanda
I just had to add this photo to my blog. This beautiful lamp can be found somewhere in Lillehammer, Norway. Have a look around town - and tell me about it when you find it!
This photo - of "gåsunger" - as a contrast to this season. Spring will arrive come april here in Norway.
So - where is winter? I wouldn't mind a crisp, clear, cold november-day that slowly turns itself into a misty, snow-filled afternoon. I don't mind mild weather, but now - now it is time to skate ( Motorpsycho said that ) and now it is about time us looking out the windows seeing a snow-covered, white and pure landscape ( I said that ). As mentioned - I don't mind mild weather, but the dark surrounding us at this time of the year is in need of a contrasting white ground. Anyway, nobody can do anything about the weather - at least so we say - however, we have probably already done too much about it. Then again, maybe it is not too late doing some more (read: less) - at least something better and with a little bit of care for the times ahead? We could spend less, re-cycle more efficiently, re-use and take better care of our belongings - and be critical about what we purchase. Every time! Every single time. Does everything have to be new? Does everything have to be bigger, better, more expensive... enough about that, here are some...sights and sounds that helped me through last week: Sounds first; Elbow / Bob Dylan / Madrugada / Bill Evans / Stevie Wonder / deLillos / The Afghan Whigs / David Bowie / 10.000 Maniacs / Abba / Cowboy Junkies / Kanye West / Monica Zetterlund / Ryan Adams / Drive-by-Truckers ...then still- and moving images; "Finding Neverland" / "The Wizard of Oz" / "Lawrence of Arabia" / + various family-photos (bien sûr)
Ina on the trampoline, july 2005.
Ina´s new sandals.
La Rochelle, july 2005, next to the town hall in this beautiful French city. We were waiting for Opa to finish his business at the cashpoint at La Poste, and Ina and her cousin Alexandre both ran around the square in the summerheat in Charente Maritime that evening. Michel, Maryvonne, Cécile and me (Trond) relaxed next to the statue on the square.
I fell for the adverts (again) - well, I am not the one who is able to turn down offers of "free" books! Bokklubben had some interesting books to offer, both for myself (and my daughter I think). She really likes books, so I am not afraid of going wrong by ordering "Teskjekjerringa ordner opp", "Knerten" (Alf Prøysen) and "Mio, min Mio" (Astrid Lindgren) for her. Of course I should have gone modern, but those works of art are classics, so she NEEDS them in her library too... For myself I accepted their offer on "En tid for alt" by Knausgård (I know, I should have had time to buy it by now...), "Hamsun - erobreren" by Ingar Sletten Kolloen and "Ut og stjæle hester", Per Petterson (and of course, these two are way overdue as well... but finally I'll be able to read them too). In addition to the mentioned books I am also looking forward to receiving "Kina" - Torbjørn Færøvik, "Kulturhistoriske årstall" - Jakob Brønnum and "Latin" - Tore Janson. So I am ready then! The summer can fade - and resurface as autumn. Colder evenings are welcome, the cooler air can force us indoors. I don't mind sitting down next to the fireplace, with books at hand. Mentioning the fireplace... that reminded me that I still haven't purchased one! I will have to discuss this with Summer. Maybe it can hold on for another month or so - until I have sorted out this fireplace-issue?
