Tonight was a sort of a goodbye time for a friend of mine Guðbjörtu. She is leaving for Norway on Sunday, early in the morning and tonight was sort of the only time available for us to get together for a goodbye ritual. They came bicylcing in the hot weather and were quite exhausted after the ride, which I can understand. I showed them pitures from the wedding and also the video clip of me dancing, I have to highlight that. There does exist proof that I danced at the wedding. Then for old times sake we decided to play a little game of Monopoly. But just before we started Margrét, Guðbjörts sister, drew a little notebook from their bag. It was a little notebook from when we were little girls. Everything in it was written by me, and I must have been around 7 or 8 years old when it was written. It truly is a most wonderful jewel of a present I could have gotten. We were rolling around the floor basically of laughter, as this was the most hilarious thing we had seen in a long time. The spelling mistakes, the word use, the seriousness of it. It was done during our time of newletter making, I probably have from them somewhere similar notebooks. We were obviously praticing our icelandic and trying to be a little bit grown up as well, playing news-reporters, with little less then success.
Oh, dear old friends, nothing is more precious, because they have all the same embarrassing stories from youth as you did, and you remember each other hickups while growing up.
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
Sunday, July 23, 2006
Glorious food
Oh, I just had the most wonderful time with my friends Margréti and Guðbjörtu yesterday. We haven't seen each other for quite a while, and soon, all three of us, are going to be in three seperate countries. They are going to be lucky enough to just be barely four hours apart, one in Sweden and the other in Norway, but I will be an ocean away again in Scotland.
We went out to a new restaurant here in Reykjavik, called Indian Mango, it is amazing. Wonderful indian food, we had fish and chicken and bread and rice and wine and beer and dessert and a lot of water as well. We stayed there nearly three hours and didn't feel rushed at all, just brilliant in all ways possible. We went in with stomachs rumbling and came out near to bursting, but the night wasn't over yet. We next headed to the best ice cream shop in Iceland Álfheimabúðina, where we had icecream ala Bragðaref with assortments of icelandic candy added to it. Then we sat in the car talking and laughing and reminiscing of old days and speculating about the future. All it all it was the best time in a long time we have had together.
We went out to a new restaurant here in Reykjavik, called Indian Mango, it is amazing. Wonderful indian food, we had fish and chicken and bread and rice and wine and beer and dessert and a lot of water as well. We stayed there nearly three hours and didn't feel rushed at all, just brilliant in all ways possible. We went in with stomachs rumbling and came out near to bursting, but the night wasn't over yet. We next headed to the best ice cream shop in Iceland Álfheimabúðina, where we had icecream ala Bragðaref with assortments of icelandic candy added to it. Then we sat in the car talking and laughing and reminiscing of old days and speculating about the future. All it all it was the best time in a long time we have had together.
Saturday, July 22, 2006
Star Trek rediscovered
I started watchin Star Trek Deep Space 9 again, I am now on season two. It is amazing how I can watch these episodes again and again. I love the philosophy and the characters and the idea of Star Trek, and I just adore the Ferengi Quark, his philosophy is so bizarre but brilliant. I found this on the web, I was not nerdy enough to jot it down myself. THE RULES OF ACQUISITION
1. Once you have their money ... never give it back.
3. Never pay more for an acquisition than you have to.
6. Never allow family to stand in the way of opportunity.
7. Keep your ears open.
8. Small print leads to large risk.
9. Opportunity plus instinct equals profit.
10. Greed is eternal.
13. Anything worth doing is worth doing for money.
16. A deal is a deal ... until a better one comes along.
17. A contract is a contract is a contract (but only between Ferengi).
18. A Ferengi without profit is no Ferengi at all.
19. Satisfaction is not guaranteed.
21. Never place friendship above profit.
22. A wise man can hear profit in the wind.
27. There's nothing more dangerous than an honest businessman.
31. Never make fun of a Ferengi's mother ... insult something he cares about instead.
33. It never hurts to suck up to the boss.
34. Peace is good for business.
35. War is good for business.
40. She can touch your lobes but never your latinum.
41. Profit is its own reward.
44. Never confuse wisdom with luck.
47. Don't trust a man wearing a better suit than your own.
48. The bigger the smile, the sharper the knife.
52. Never ask when you can take.
57. Good customers are as rare as latinum -- treasure them.
58. There is no substitute for success.
59. Free advice is seldom cheap.
60. Keep your lies consistent.
62. The riskier the road, the greater the profit.
65. Win or lose, there's always Hyperian beetle snuff.
75. Home is where the heart is ... but the stars are made of latinum.
76. Every once in a while, declare peace. It confuses the hell out of your enemies.
79. Beware of the Vulcan greed for knowledge.
82. The flimsier the product, the higher the price.
85. Never let the competition know what you're thinking.
89. Ask not what your profits can do for you, but what you can do for your profits.
94. Females and finances don't mix.
97. Enough ... is never enough.
99. Trust is the biggest liability of all.
102. Nature decays, but latinum lasts forever.
104. Faith moves mountains ... of inventory.
106. There is no honour in poverty.
109. Dignity and an empty sack is worth the sack.
111. Treat people in your debt like family ... exploit them.
112. Never have sex with the boss's sister.
113. Always have sex with the boss.
117. You can't free a fish from water.
121. Everything is for sale, even friendship.
123. Even a blind man can recognize the glow of latinum.
139.Wives serve, brothers inherit.
141. Only fools pay retail.
144. There's nothing wrong with charity ... as long as it winds up in your pocket.
162. Even in the worst of times someone turns a profit.
177. Know your enemies ... but do business with them always.
181. Not even dishonesty can tarnish the shine of profit.
189. Let others keep their reputation. You keep their money.
192. Never cheat a Klingon ... unless you're sure you can get away with it.
194. It's always good business to know about new customers before they walk in the door.
202. The justification for profit is profit.
203. New customers are like razortoothed grubworms. They can be succulent, but sometimes they can bite back.
211. Employees are rungs on the ladder of success. Don't hesitate to step on them.
214. Never begin a negotiation on an empty stomach.
218. Always know what you're buying.
223. Beware the man who doesn't make time for oo-mox.
229. Latinum lasts longer than lust.
236. You can't buy fate.
239. Never be afraid to mislabel a product.
242. More is good ... all is better.
255. A wife is a luxury ... a smart accountant is a necessity.
261. A wealthy man can afford anything except a conscience.
263. Never allow doubt to tarnish your love of latinum.
266. When in doubt, lie.
284. Deep down everyone's a Ferengi.
285. No good deed ever goes unpunished.
286. [Quark's rule] When Morn leaves, it's all over.
1. Once you have their money ... never give it back.
3. Never pay more for an acquisition than you have to.
6. Never allow family to stand in the way of opportunity.
7. Keep your ears open.
8. Small print leads to large risk.
9. Opportunity plus instinct equals profit.
10. Greed is eternal.
13. Anything worth doing is worth doing for money.
16. A deal is a deal ... until a better one comes along.
17. A contract is a contract is a contract (but only between Ferengi).
18. A Ferengi without profit is no Ferengi at all.
19. Satisfaction is not guaranteed.
21. Never place friendship above profit.
22. A wise man can hear profit in the wind.
27. There's nothing more dangerous than an honest businessman.
31. Never make fun of a Ferengi's mother ... insult something he cares about instead.
33. It never hurts to suck up to the boss.
34. Peace is good for business.
35. War is good for business.
40. She can touch your lobes but never your latinum.
41. Profit is its own reward.
44. Never confuse wisdom with luck.
47. Don't trust a man wearing a better suit than your own.
48. The bigger the smile, the sharper the knife.
52. Never ask when you can take.
57. Good customers are as rare as latinum -- treasure them.
58. There is no substitute for success.
59. Free advice is seldom cheap.
60. Keep your lies consistent.
62. The riskier the road, the greater the profit.
65. Win or lose, there's always Hyperian beetle snuff.
75. Home is where the heart is ... but the stars are made of latinum.
76. Every once in a while, declare peace. It confuses the hell out of your enemies.
79. Beware of the Vulcan greed for knowledge.
82. The flimsier the product, the higher the price.
85. Never let the competition know what you're thinking.
89. Ask not what your profits can do for you, but what you can do for your profits.
94. Females and finances don't mix.
97. Enough ... is never enough.
99. Trust is the biggest liability of all.
102. Nature decays, but latinum lasts forever.
104. Faith moves mountains ... of inventory.
106. There is no honour in poverty.
109. Dignity and an empty sack is worth the sack.
111. Treat people in your debt like family ... exploit them.
112. Never have sex with the boss's sister.
113. Always have sex with the boss.
117. You can't free a fish from water.
121. Everything is for sale, even friendship.
123. Even a blind man can recognize the glow of latinum.
139.Wives serve, brothers inherit.
141. Only fools pay retail.
144. There's nothing wrong with charity ... as long as it winds up in your pocket.
162. Even in the worst of times someone turns a profit.
177. Know your enemies ... but do business with them always.
181. Not even dishonesty can tarnish the shine of profit.
189. Let others keep their reputation. You keep their money.
192. Never cheat a Klingon ... unless you're sure you can get away with it.
194. It's always good business to know about new customers before they walk in the door.
202. The justification for profit is profit.
203. New customers are like razortoothed grubworms. They can be succulent, but sometimes they can bite back.
211. Employees are rungs on the ladder of success. Don't hesitate to step on them.
214. Never begin a negotiation on an empty stomach.
218. Always know what you're buying.
223. Beware the man who doesn't make time for oo-mox.
229. Latinum lasts longer than lust.
236. You can't buy fate.
239. Never be afraid to mislabel a product.
242. More is good ... all is better.
255. A wife is a luxury ... a smart accountant is a necessity.
261. A wealthy man can afford anything except a conscience.
263. Never allow doubt to tarnish your love of latinum.
266. When in doubt, lie.
284. Deep down everyone's a Ferengi.
285. No good deed ever goes unpunished.
286. [Quark's rule] When Morn leaves, it's all over.
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
The Big Day
We took it easy in the morning, woke up slowly and just enjoyed relaxing a bit. Took a shower and around 11am started dressing and putting make up on. The Wedding started at 2pm so we went to Chows on Byres Road first for lunch and then headed to the church. The weather was really nice, although it was a bit windy, which is quite unusual in Glasgow, but as long as it isn't raining everyone is happy. We arrived at the church, a beautiful church, and stood around not knowing what to do with ourselves, I didn't know anyone. I had seen his parents once three years ago, and they were dressed decidedly different then than now. So it wasn't until Lewis showed up that I actually felt relieved, we said our hellos and I introduced him to Hrafnhildur. It was obvious that he had been practising with her name and it was quite impressive to hear him say it, he got it in the first attempt. The ceremony was nice, although way different from back home. The priest didn't allow any pictures to be taken during the ceremony, which was not very nice, because, even though the guests didn't take photos he might have allowed the hired photographer to snap some pictures but NO. We felt the priest was a bit creepy. The hymns sung and the passages read were really weird and I am sure there were a few things gone awry in translation because some of the verses really made no sense. Also it was all a bit chauvinistic, where she should obey and sit in his shadow and all that kind of stuff, and the priest actually stated that this was the right kind of wedding ... a heterosexual union. All very really religious stuff and all, something that we as Icelanders (unless we belong to the Krossinn) kind of shy away from. Not very up our alley so to speak. But it was nice and probably something that they are used to. I managed to take a few pictures of the bride and groom .. or Mr. and Mrs. Meek outside the church in the wedding car (Brúðarbíl), really cool, car and the Bridesmaid and Best man also had their car. Then Hrabba and I grabbed the first taxi we could hail and went home to collect the presents and Hrabbas camera before going to the reception and dinner. The reception was held in the Hunter Halls at Glasgow University, which for more than just strange for some of us because we were used to sitting there during our exams and this was something new. We sat at the Crocus table, every table was named after some flowers. We sat eight at our table, Hrabba and me, and Jo (a girl) from Australia, Alaine (pronounced Alan), ? (can not for the life of me remember his name), Naomi (called Nimh), Monzie Olaf Ragnar (half Irish, other half both Norwegian and Swedish) and then there was Fraser who sat on my right at the table. The first course was a starter course of Salmon paste and salad, with oat bisquit, bread and butter. The main course was chicken wrapped in bacon and cheese filling wiht mustard sauce, also potatoes and vegetables. The dessert was just heaven, it was a chocolate dessert in a wee cup, not quite a mousee because it was much more smoother than that and with bit of whipped cream as well. Lovely. You would think that this was enough, but no, there was also coffee, tea and after dinner mints. After that the fun started. It was a bit daunting to watch, but after the first two dances, I hurried out onto the dancefloor, because I wanted to try it, and Alaine was nice enough to draft Ewan into service as my dancing partner. I got to dance the Highland Fling dance, called "The Gay Garden" (translated as Glaði Garðurinn and not the other way). It was incredibly fun, but darn it, I was not exhausted after it, I was dead. I felt a few times like my legs would cave from under me, this dance lasted like five or six minutes, but it felt like it was never ending. I really wanted to dance more, but decided not to because I felt me knee go wonky, also a few minutes after my dance I started to get bruises on my knee, not too good. Hrabba got to try as well, her partner was Fraser and she got to dance the "Spin the Barrell" which was one of the first dances I got to try a few years ago. It was fun watching her being twirled away like I had been then. Then there was a small break where they served the wedding cake and sandwiches. The bar had also opened, so people could by cokes, wines and spirits, not to mention water. This is probably the only wedding I have ever been to where water was the most popular beverage. 2 litre bottles were just flying off the shelfs by the dozens. Then we said goodbye to the newly weds and then started dancing again, or watching the dancing at least. The ceilidh lasted until 11:30pm and then we said goodbye to both sets of parents and headed home to pack for our journey back in the morning.
Monday, July 10, 2006
Bollywood Scotland
The fourth and last day of shopping started with us in Marks & Spencer, sort of where we left of from yesterday. Hit a few of the nearby stores as well and then had lunch at the Pizza Hut, where we got a starter course, main course and dessert with pepsi and free refills for under ten pounds. When we had finished all our shopping in the city center we hit the Little India part of Glasgow. Always such fun to go there and browse through exotic material and clothes. Hrafnhildur even did some bargain shopping, she now has material for two Salwar Kamees, one royal blue and the other light peach with white as well. Since we finished shopping we came home around five-ish and while Hrafnhildur was browsing on the internet I fell asleep. Woke up around seven and she was nowhere to be seen. She had snuck off to her room for a wee nap as well. We then got dressed and put on our pretty faces and went out to eat at a very nice and cozy restaurant called Ashoka on Asthon Lane. Brilliant food and brilliant service. Hrabba said she was waiting for the moment when everyone would start singing and dancing on the tables and chaning clothes a la Bollywood films, it was that nice. A few days ago I saw in a bookstore that they had The Ashoka Cookbook, and really wanted to buy it but decided not to. Well, they were selling a copy at the restaurant so we decided to buy a copy each. Now I decided to be a pushy tourist and asked the waiter (who was just funny and very nice, and misunderstood me whe I was telling him that I wanted to buy the cookbook and he brought me a toothpick instead), but yeah, I asked the waiter to sign my book and he did, the manager signed Hrafnhildur's copy. And possibly because we left a very generous tip we got the cooks autograph as well and his picture is on the back of the book. So this was just brilliant dinner for us. When we left the restaurant it was starting to rain so we basically ran to the next bar, not much else to run to there, it was kind of crowded, possibly because they had live music and it was a tiny bar (didn't know they had tiny bars in Scotland), so we went to The Loft, huges place and hardly anyone in there but a nice respite from the rain and we had one drink before we went home after a very satisfying day.
At home we wrapped the wedding presents into beautiful wrapping paper and than I got gray hairs trying to figure out something nice to write in the cards. No wonder they invented Hallmark.
But tomorrow is the big day and I have go my camera ready, my clothes all picked out and the are presents are waiting for delivery. By Gods might and will it is gonna be a beautiful day.
At home we wrapped the wedding presents into beautiful wrapping paper and than I got gray hairs trying to figure out something nice to write in the cards. No wonder they invented Hallmark.
But tomorrow is the big day and I have go my camera ready, my clothes all picked out and the are presents are waiting for delivery. By Gods might and will it is gonna be a beautiful day.
Sunday, July 09, 2006
Fortune for 30p
Day three of shopping went better than expected. We started by walking to the Subway, because even though it looked like it might rain it was nice enough that we wanted to be out in the nice warm weather. We stared in Buchanan Galleries, where we had light lunch and then we hit the shops. The shopping bags soon started to pile and we went through all the shops in the Buchanan Galleries and then down Buchanan Street all the way to Marks & Spencers on Argyl Street. At that point the shops were starting to close so we decided enough was enought, since continuing would mean breaking and entering, not to mention looting. Because we were at the complete opposite end of town where we wanted to go for dinner we took a taxi there. The destination was All You Can Eat China Buffet, where we spent a good while of the evening and took it slowly. On the way out, we saw a jar full of Fortune cookies for 30p so we had to have one each. But we didn't open them yet, because we had an appointment with Cineworld to keep. We bought tickest and got really good seats where we fit with all our shopping bags and sat and waited. It was Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest that we were coming to see and boy it is great. I laughed myself silly, probably someone noticed as well. Oooh, and Árdís! There is a new Orange Wednesday's add with Steven Segal, brilliant, they also had the classic of "Bob, c'est ton oncle". From there the evening and the film just got better and better. Don't regrett these three hours of my life.
When we came home we opened our Fortune cookies, mine read "You will soon be surrounded by good friends and laughter", I liked that one, Hrabbas read "Take advantage of an upcoming opportunity" so it will be interesting to see what is in store for her. So, can you trust a Fortune bought for only 30p, but whatever the outcome it was worth it and also just for fun.
Well, am off to bed now, have to get up early tomorrow again for the last day of shopping.
When we came home we opened our Fortune cookies, mine read "You will soon be surrounded by good friends and laughter", I liked that one, Hrabbas read "Take advantage of an upcoming opportunity" so it will be interesting to see what is in store for her. So, can you trust a Fortune bought for only 30p, but whatever the outcome it was worth it and also just for fun.
Well, am off to bed now, have to get up early tomorrow again for the last day of shopping.
Saturday, July 08, 2006
Day Two: Edinburgh Adventure
We took a taxi to Queen Street Station just before 11am today and bought tickets to Edinburgh. Usually the train ride takes about 50 mins, so we were quite optimistic of having a good time of shopping, but no. Due to engineering work at the last stop before Edinburgh Waverly Station we had to take the scenic route into Edinburgh and entered it "from behind". This took us 2 hours so we were quite late at arriving in Edinburgh so we just threw ourselves into shopping like crazy people, although I didn't manage to spend very much. I did managed to buy myself a feather-hatlike-comb-y-thingy that I can possibly wear at the wedding on Tuesday, but I think I will need some imagination to pin it to my head and expecting it to stick. So...we'll see. We stopped at Hard Rock Café for lunch and then continued shopping. I was getting quite tired after being awake for 20 hours the day before and waking up early today. Also shopping, takes a bit of steam out of you, so when we stopped at La Senza I left my friend browsing and took a pose by one of the shelf-rack thingies they have and took a nap. SURVIVAL TIP: When waiting for someone in an underwear department a push-up bra is a very good pillow to use for a nap. Comfy, but soft and cushiony. I was almost tempted to buy it as a travel cushion.
We tracked on and on and on, we probably walked most of Princes Street in Edinburgh and let me tell you, it is not the shortest street in the world. When we reached the end we decided to go to the next street and walk by the pubs and on towards a Moroccan restaurant that had Belly Dancers perform on Saturdays. The pubs we walked by were just brilliantly well named, quite appropriate for Scottish bar-humour. The first one was named Bad Ass, which was next to Dirty Dick's and further up the road was Filthy Mc Nasty's, and if you don't believe me, I took pictures to prove it.
We finally found the Morrocan restaurant and we were the first in off the evening. We ordered delicious food, I took a dish of chicken with dried apricots and almonds with coriander and cinnamon, while Hrafnhildur had Chicken something with a kind of salsa sause and salad and rice. Very nice, when we had almost finished our meal more people had started to arrive, and it was then that the belly dancer started to dance, so we decided to have desserts as well just to have more time to watch. Hrafnhildur also ordered some Moroccan Mint Tea ... it tasted and smelled just like Wrigleys gum, I found it hilarious, but just too confusing to drink.
We ended the night by taking the train home to Glasgow just before ten o'clock and are now getting ready to go to bed. We will continue tomorrow shopping and I hope I will be able to buy something more tomorrow. I would feel a bit stupid for taking a huge luggage bag with me and actually not buy anything to fill it with. That is something I am not known for.
We tracked on and on and on, we probably walked most of Princes Street in Edinburgh and let me tell you, it is not the shortest street in the world. When we reached the end we decided to go to the next street and walk by the pubs and on towards a Moroccan restaurant that had Belly Dancers perform on Saturdays. The pubs we walked by were just brilliantly well named, quite appropriate for Scottish bar-humour. The first one was named Bad Ass, which was next to Dirty Dick's and further up the road was Filthy Mc Nasty's, and if you don't believe me, I took pictures to prove it.
We finally found the Morrocan restaurant and we were the first in off the evening. We ordered delicious food, I took a dish of chicken with dried apricots and almonds with coriander and cinnamon, while Hrafnhildur had Chicken something with a kind of salsa sause and salad and rice. Very nice, when we had almost finished our meal more people had started to arrive, and it was then that the belly dancer started to dance, so we decided to have desserts as well just to have more time to watch. Hrafnhildur also ordered some Moroccan Mint Tea ... it tasted and smelled just like Wrigleys gum, I found it hilarious, but just too confusing to drink.
We ended the night by taking the train home to Glasgow just before ten o'clock and are now getting ready to go to bed. We will continue tomorrow shopping and I hope I will be able to buy something more tomorrow. I would feel a bit stupid for taking a huge luggage bag with me and actually not buy anything to fill it with. That is something I am not known for.
Update on Glasgow Trip
Last night when I had said goodnight to Hrafnhildur I went to see Dinesh. He is still here, not moved out yet. I was very happy to see him again, and we talked for a long while about our families and what was happening in Sri Lanka. After a long while of chatting I finally said goodnight to him and went to my room and to my very very nice bed, where I slept like a log until 9 am (8am Icleandic time) and shortly thereafter I realized my mistake. Well, Hrabba and I had sort of decided to wake up at 9am to take the 10 am train to Edinburgh, everything fine with that except, I think I forgot to ask her to change her clock before she went to bed or at all throughout the day. So, right now I still think she is asleep. But that means we will be going to Edinburgh an hour later than we had originally intended but that is no biggie, just a funny screwup. The sun has started smiling through the clouds, it is supposed to be a lot more cloudy in Glasgow than Edinburgh today, so we are hoping it will be nice there. Also I need a jacket, so I am hoping it won't be to cold or rainy.
Friday, July 07, 2006
Dead on our feet
We have been awake now for roughly 17 hours and quite exhausted. As soon as we landed in Glasgow we went straight to my place. Ooh, that has such a nice ring to it. We took a little breather there, deciding what to do before we headed into the city center via the subway. We started with getting something to eat, so that we wouldn't drop dead from lack of substance. Then we hit the stores, did major shoppings at Boots, so I think they will soon give us the key to the city. Then we swept through St. Enoch Centre with our credit cards and finally ended at TGI Fridays around six o'clock for early-ish dinner. Managed to crawl into a cab afterwards and finally collapsed in front of the television watching the newest addition to my DVD collection.
Tomorrow we aim to take Edinburgh ... and of course after that, the rest of the world. News on that later.
PS. Damn am I glad that Magni didn't get kicked out of Rockstar: Supernova first. Hope he does well.
Tomorrow we aim to take Edinburgh ... and of course after that, the rest of the world. News on that later.
PS. Damn am I glad that Magni didn't get kicked out of Rockstar: Supernova first. Hope he does well.
Thursday, July 06, 2006
Going to a Wedding
I must say, that by getting more and more blog sites I seem to have much less to say. But hey, it's fun. In barely five hours I have to wake up to go to the airport. Why ... because I am going home to Glasgow for a few days. My friend Hrafnhildur is coming with me to keep me company. We leave tomorrow and come back home to Iceland on Wednesday and the wedding is on Tuesday so it's gonna be a busy schedule for us. We are even going to try to go to Edinburgh on Saturday and just mainly to have lots of fun.
I am going to try to blog during our trip but we'll see if that is actually a viable option or not.
Other news;
I stayed up last night to watch Rockstar:Supernova just for the fun of it and also to be able to keep up with conversations today at work. I also felt I should vote a couple of times, just for the sake of calling myself an Icelander. Personally, I didn't like the song Magni sang, mostly because it has such a limited vocal range in it and I know Magni can do a lot more, but still he did manage to get the crowd, but in no way like the way I have seen him do it. I just truly hope that he won't be eliminated at the first round, because this is a great opportunity for a guy from Iceland. Good luck, Magni.
I am going to try to blog during our trip but we'll see if that is actually a viable option or not.
Other news;
I stayed up last night to watch Rockstar:Supernova just for the fun of it and also to be able to keep up with conversations today at work. I also felt I should vote a couple of times, just for the sake of calling myself an Icelander. Personally, I didn't like the song Magni sang, mostly because it has such a limited vocal range in it and I know Magni can do a lot more, but still he did manage to get the crowd, but in no way like the way I have seen him do it. I just truly hope that he won't be eliminated at the first round, because this is a great opportunity for a guy from Iceland. Good luck, Magni.
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Another one
Elin has a new blog. Yes, another blog. Like I don't have enough of them, but I am just so popular. But don't worry I will not be quitting any of the other ones. But since a lot of my friends and acquaintances have been signing up for MySpace so I had to get one too, especially since they won't allow me to keep tabs on my friends unless I sign up. And I am just way too nosy to not sign up. The link to the new one is here on the left side or at LadyElin , come and take a look.
I also finally got money from my loan institute, so that now I can start living the good life and spend money without having major issues about not having enough money on my account for the next kreditcard bill. But such worries are over for now. Unless I managed to spend it all in the next few months, which if I do ... Skamm Elín!, not good. But I won't.
I woke up very early this morning, the sun was shining through my blinds into my room. I was completely bathed in sunlight, it must have been about four or five in the morning and I just kept thinking how nice this was. I really like waking up with the sun in my face and knowing I can go back to sleep for a few hours before going to work. It invigorates you. I miss this when I am in Glasgow. People keep asking me how I can go to sleep or even sleep during the summer time because of the sun, but it is just something so nice to have everything light around you when sleeping, it makes the sleep lighter, softer and more relaxing, no doubt about it. I am so relaxed.
I also finally got money from my loan institute, so that now I can start living the good life and spend money without having major issues about not having enough money on my account for the next kreditcard bill. But such worries are over for now. Unless I managed to spend it all in the next few months, which if I do ... Skamm Elín!, not good. But I won't.
I woke up very early this morning, the sun was shining through my blinds into my room. I was completely bathed in sunlight, it must have been about four or five in the morning and I just kept thinking how nice this was. I really like waking up with the sun in my face and knowing I can go back to sleep for a few hours before going to work. It invigorates you. I miss this when I am in Glasgow. People keep asking me how I can go to sleep or even sleep during the summer time because of the sun, but it is just something so nice to have everything light around you when sleeping, it makes the sleep lighter, softer and more relaxing, no doubt about it. I am so relaxed.
Saturday, June 24, 2006
It's a sad, wretched life
I hope I will never become as pitiful as the people I saw last night. I went with my friends to a pub in the city center last night, to say goodbye to a friend of a friend, who had been visiting Iceland for a few days. I have never gone "pubbing" in Reykjavik before, even though I am 27 years old, it was just never my "thang", so to speak. But I have also been living for 3 years in Glasgow, so I have been to a few bars and pubs, so I kind of know what to expect. But nothing, prepared me for what I saw. If I have said, that I find it quite bad in Glasgow, it is much worse here. In Glasgow the only thing you have to be aware of is, where you go, like if there are a lot of neds around the place or if it is sort of shady. But here it was enough to stand on Laugavegur and be afraid of your life. I don't like this kind of brutal way the people here are "entartaining" themselves. Dólgsháttur og læti. I didn't even feel safe where I sat with my friends, and if you had to get from A to B inside the places you basically, didn't get to be nice and polite, you actually had to just wade, and climb over people to get there. Ewe, uck, touching people where you don't know where they have been! Not something a Lady likes to do. Because I was tired, but mostly because I wanted to get out of there, I excused myself early and went outside to wait for mom to pick me up I saw way to much of Reykjavik city life than I ever want to do again.
Drunk people, holding hands so drunk that even though they aim for the broad side of the house, they still miss it because they are so wobbly, almost getting hit by a car at the same time. Walking over moving cars, yelling at everyone that walks past, laughing histerically because they find their own drunkenness so damn funny that they end up puking their guts out in the next flowerpot. This is so sad, and wretched, a selfmade hell for these people that find this exciting and something to hunt down every weekend. I hope I never become this human garbage that I saw there last night. Scary!
Drunk people, holding hands so drunk that even though they aim for the broad side of the house, they still miss it because they are so wobbly, almost getting hit by a car at the same time. Walking over moving cars, yelling at everyone that walks past, laughing histerically because they find their own drunkenness so damn funny that they end up puking their guts out in the next flowerpot. This is so sad, and wretched, a selfmade hell for these people that find this exciting and something to hunt down every weekend. I hope I never become this human garbage that I saw there last night. Scary!
Thursday, June 22, 2006
What a day
I finally recieved my official exam results letter from Uni, so I hurry with it to the Loan Institute (afectionately known as LÍN ... or not) to hand the letter in so I can get some money, so I can go party. Well there is this sort of air-duct on the street itself, where you walk and because some lousy jeep parked right in front of the door, I had to cross this duct. Well, not good news. Those who know me, know that I only walk in loose fitting long skirts so now you can just call me Marilyn Monroe of the 21. century, because like in the famous picture taken of her in a similar situation, my skirt flew right over my shoulders. Hopefully not to many noticed. But like my friend said, it must have been a real kodak moment for those that did.
Well the day isn't over and what do you think happened when I came back to work.
This morning a customer gave me candy, but not ordinary candy. It was candy that colors the teeth and tongue bright blue. We were hoping a co-worker would "gleypa við þessu" take one for himself but no, and here the bad things turned worse. Coffee-break and we left the candy lying around, thinking that another person who knew about it would say something for the chosen few that were not to have it, but no she didn't. I came back from coffee-break earlier than my two cohorts, and I got a light shock. One of the candies was missing, so I asked her who took it. It turned out to be our boss. Oooops. I run back outside to tell the girls, almost having a heart-attack at the same time. The look on their faces, was ommigod, and we burst out laughing like crazy people. We went inside and looked in through the office window of our boss trying to see if he had eaten it allready. Then the next in charge caught us where we were hanging outside our bosses door, so he took us inside and we asked our boss if he had had any candy, and he sheepishly said yes, and then grinned. Then he stuck his tongue out at us, and it was bright bright blue. We laughed so hard that I still ache in my jaws, thankfully he wasn't going to an important meeting or anything, and he could see the humor in it as well, so he laughed as well, but damn that was so embarrassing. But at least it taught him not to sneak into the candy bowl unless you know what you are getting.
Well the day isn't over and what do you think happened when I came back to work.
This morning a customer gave me candy, but not ordinary candy. It was candy that colors the teeth and tongue bright blue. We were hoping a co-worker would "gleypa við þessu" take one for himself but no, and here the bad things turned worse. Coffee-break and we left the candy lying around, thinking that another person who knew about it would say something for the chosen few that were not to have it, but no she didn't. I came back from coffee-break earlier than my two cohorts, and I got a light shock. One of the candies was missing, so I asked her who took it. It turned out to be our boss. Oooops. I run back outside to tell the girls, almost having a heart-attack at the same time. The look on their faces, was ommigod, and we burst out laughing like crazy people. We went inside and looked in through the office window of our boss trying to see if he had eaten it allready. Then the next in charge caught us where we were hanging outside our bosses door, so he took us inside and we asked our boss if he had had any candy, and he sheepishly said yes, and then grinned. Then he stuck his tongue out at us, and it was bright bright blue. We laughed so hard that I still ache in my jaws, thankfully he wasn't going to an important meeting or anything, and he could see the humor in it as well, so he laughed as well, but damn that was so embarrassing. But at least it taught him not to sneak into the candy bowl unless you know what you are getting.
Monday, June 19, 2006
I am soooo lazy
I didn't think I would be this lazy. Since coming home I have hardly written anything, and nothing really interesting. Even though I have been trying to and I have no trouble finding stuff to write about, but as soon as I sit down infront of the computer, I am dead. I just came home from a cafe shop, where I met my firend Árdís and some of her friends, as it was her birthday today. Soo much fun, because I had almost met all of them at one point or another, which made it all easier for me.
Another point I want to get across. I'm a nerd, and I like it. I am now sitting infront of the television watching a show my mom taped for me while I was at the birthday party. Yup, can't miss something as exciting as this. Now, some of you might think Lost, Prison Break, Amazing Race, Project Runway, Americas Next Top Model, but NO. It's Secrets of Stonehenge. I am such a nerd, and I am loving it.
A few older news;
17th of June, our Independence day was celebrated as usually with rain. Although it didn't rain the whole day, and not overly much, but still, tippically shitty Icelandic outdoor celebration weather. I went to the city center with my brother, sister-in-law and niece, walked all over the Miðbæ and then bought my niece a nice balloon and saw a few minutes from a stage show of Lazytown, before we headed over to Grandma's for coffee and cakes. Later we all headed home, where mom cooked wonderful food and we ate until we were "so sad we could spring" or near bursting anyway.
Day after I went shopping, woowee I like shopping. First with mom and dad, and then they left me alone in the shopping center where I waited for my friend to show up and we continued. We were bying a wedding present for a friend of mine. We finally decided on very nice things for the home, that I think everyone could be pleased with.
I still haven't started reading enought for my dissertation. Mostly because I like cramming things and ideas into my head, and I haven't had the time to do anything like that in any seriousness. So I am still trying to regulate myself a bit, but it just doesn't seem to be working, because there always seems to be something that comes up.
But I will have to start soon, considering how long it has been since I came home, and time flies, so it isn't so long until I leave for Glasgow again, that I will have endless time to give to the dissertation so it is soon that I have to put myself into the get-going-girl mode before I go crazy with selfblame of not having started earlier. It is just always so easy to say, oooh, I'll do it tomorrow.
Another point I want to get across. I'm a nerd, and I like it. I am now sitting infront of the television watching a show my mom taped for me while I was at the birthday party. Yup, can't miss something as exciting as this. Now, some of you might think Lost, Prison Break, Amazing Race, Project Runway, Americas Next Top Model, but NO. It's Secrets of Stonehenge. I am such a nerd, and I am loving it.
A few older news;
17th of June, our Independence day was celebrated as usually with rain. Although it didn't rain the whole day, and not overly much, but still, tippically shitty Icelandic outdoor celebration weather. I went to the city center with my brother, sister-in-law and niece, walked all over the Miðbæ and then bought my niece a nice balloon and saw a few minutes from a stage show of Lazytown, before we headed over to Grandma's for coffee and cakes. Later we all headed home, where mom cooked wonderful food and we ate until we were "so sad we could spring" or near bursting anyway.
Day after I went shopping, woowee I like shopping. First with mom and dad, and then they left me alone in the shopping center where I waited for my friend to show up and we continued. We were bying a wedding present for a friend of mine. We finally decided on very nice things for the home, that I think everyone could be pleased with.
I still haven't started reading enought for my dissertation. Mostly because I like cramming things and ideas into my head, and I haven't had the time to do anything like that in any seriousness. So I am still trying to regulate myself a bit, but it just doesn't seem to be working, because there always seems to be something that comes up.
But I will have to start soon, considering how long it has been since I came home, and time flies, so it isn't so long until I leave for Glasgow again, that I will have endless time to give to the dissertation so it is soon that I have to put myself into the get-going-girl mode before I go crazy with selfblame of not having started earlier. It is just always so easy to say, oooh, I'll do it tomorrow.
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Dazed and Confused
I have been waiting for my exam results for more than a month now. Every day, since I came back home I have logged into WebSurf at Uni to see if there is any news. Until yesterday, nothing happened. And today, I got my final exam result. Which means I now don't have to check WebSurf every day any longer, which means I am out of a job. Now I have no idea of what I should do when I go on the internet. I do the usual check my e-mails, but lately there has been nothing exciting going on there and when I am at work, I don't have much time to devote to my friends on msn, and in the evenings I am too tired to lift a finger and almost everyone is off-line as well. So now I have to find myself a new hobby. But I already have one. I passed my Old Irish exam which means they are going to let me continue into fourth year so I can now start working on my dissertation essay. FUN!
Will write soon to let you guys know how I am going with it and if I still have my sanity.
Will write soon to let you guys know how I am going with it and if I still have my sanity.
Sunday, June 11, 2006
So far so good
I had a really nice weekend. On Friday I got to see my friend Margrét, she just came home from Sweden on Monday, and had been working all week, but was going to stay awake so we might get a chance to see each other and Guðbjört, her twin sister. I came by their place shortly after eight o'clock and we took a wee game of Trivial Pursuit Disney in their kitchen. They also gave me a birthday present that had been delayed a bit because she hadn't been able to get home before my birthday and Guðbjört hadn't had hers on her when she was dropped off from her trip, when she came to my birthday party. I got amazing stuff, perfume, a book with photographs from India and wonderful photoalbums made from old sarees. And we spent quite a bit of the evening remembering old times, when we were small and a lot more simple thinking than we are today, somewhat at least.
Yesterday there was a family day at the local Farmyard Animal Zoo thingy we have here in Reykjavik, sponsored by my company for the people who work there. Even Stephanie from Lazy town was there to entertain the children. My niece was awestruck watching her, but she sometimes had to put her hands over her ears because there was too much noise. We walked about the park, and saw the collection of old antique cars there and my niece took a ride on the slides a couple of times as well, almost dragged me on one as well, but I resisted ... I didn't want to get stuck halfway down. ;)
After we left the park we went to a motor show, where they had on display crazy cars. It was amazing, Porche, Ferrari, Mustang, special made, custom cars, and motorcycles, boats, plains and helecopters. It was nice. I saw a 49" tire, it almost reached me at the shoulders, I would not like to have to climb into that car, I must say. But I do like cars, as long as it is not Mitzubishi, Suzuki, Subaru or Porche I am kind of okay.
And today I went SHOPPING, ohh, it was soooo nice. I spent M O N E Y ! ! ! I bought a birthday present for my friend, I bought a very nice Eva Peroni hairband for my self, and some shampoos and thingys. OOOh, it felt nice. I think I might be a shop-aholic.
Later we went to my uncle's for a wee birthday bash, he turned 50 years old a week ago, but he was in London at the time with his family so we didn't see him then. We gave him a nice painting and also a wee gag gift just for laughs, although it turned out his sons beat us to it.
But I have to say, it has been a very nice weekend.
Yesterday there was a family day at the local Farmyard Animal Zoo thingy we have here in Reykjavik, sponsored by my company for the people who work there. Even Stephanie from Lazy town was there to entertain the children. My niece was awestruck watching her, but she sometimes had to put her hands over her ears because there was too much noise. We walked about the park, and saw the collection of old antique cars there and my niece took a ride on the slides a couple of times as well, almost dragged me on one as well, but I resisted ... I didn't want to get stuck halfway down. ;)
After we left the park we went to a motor show, where they had on display crazy cars. It was amazing, Porche, Ferrari, Mustang, special made, custom cars, and motorcycles, boats, plains and helecopters. It was nice. I saw a 49" tire, it almost reached me at the shoulders, I would not like to have to climb into that car, I must say. But I do like cars, as long as it is not Mitzubishi, Suzuki, Subaru or Porche I am kind of okay.
And today I went SHOPPING, ohh, it was soooo nice. I spent M O N E Y ! ! ! I bought a birthday present for my friend, I bought a very nice Eva Peroni hairband for my self, and some shampoos and thingys. OOOh, it felt nice. I think I might be a shop-aholic.
Later we went to my uncle's for a wee birthday bash, he turned 50 years old a week ago, but he was in London at the time with his family so we didn't see him then. We gave him a nice painting and also a wee gag gift just for laughs, although it turned out his sons beat us to it.
But I have to say, it has been a very nice weekend.
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
Monday, June 05, 2006
I bought a painting
I went with my mom and dad and grandmother for a Sunday ride yesterday, we ended up in Hveragerði, in Eden to have coffe and cakes. I was the best idea in a long time. There was an exhibition by an artist, my favorite, Bjarni Jónsson, and he does beautiful paintings that appeal greatly to me. A few years ago I was lucky enough to aquire one of his paintings and I have since treasured it greatly. Well, yesterday I got painting number two. It is called the Elf City and it contains such incredible depth and perception that I was captivated by it. I almost lost the opportunity to get it if I had been a minute too late to ask for it. Thankfully it now sits proudly on my wall, right in front of me, where I can disappear into unknown worlds for hours on end in search for inspiration and tranquility.
King Kong
I finally had a chance to see the film. I refused to go with my friend to see it when it was shown in cinemas. Then she saw it and said it was crap, I concur. Her dad bought it in China for pittance and she loaned it to me, in case I was curious. Well, curiosity killed the cat or should I say King Kong. I watched it last night and the end this morning. What a load of crap. Why do I feel like I was watching a remake of Jurassic Park rather than King Kong. It was only Jurassic Park with an ape instead of dinasaurs, although they did have a minor role in the film anyway. And finally when I felt the emotional tear-jerking chord being struck they killed it off with Jack Black spouting off his stupid philosophy "It wasn't the airplains. Beauty killed the beast!" Then I felt like throwing up. Completely and utterly pointless even on the entertainment level of a movie. I sat stupified watching the screen with about fifteen minute intervals ranting what a crap stupid film this was. Not good. And on top of that, I haven't seen such a crap film since I sat through War of the Worlds. Which is unacceptable since I like this film genre but hey, the films need a story line that is remotely catching for the audience, and I don't need it to be plausible for me to enjoy it, I like the fiction of it as well, but this is not working boys. Work harder on your scripts if you think of trying to sell more movies. Because your names in front of a movie title does nothing for me if the movie doesn't sell itself first.
Sunday, June 04, 2006
Long time no write
It's been a while since I have written anything readable here so, I am going to try.
I' fine, just steeming a bit because I still haven't recieved exam results and it is more than a month since I finished school. I find this totally unfair, since the same crap shouldn't apply for students from abroad, since we pay full tuition so we should get full service, so strikes and other actions taken by the teachers and staff shouldn't apply to us, but that's just me. We live in an unfair world and they just crap all the more over us if they had the chance.
In May I went twice to the cinema even though it is horribly expensive, saw The Da Vinci Code, which was a fine entertainment but no masterpiece and X-men which was all right as well as entertainment, but I didn't find it as entertaining or as much fun as the last two of them.
Mom's calling in all for lunch, so I'm bailing for now. Later ...
I' fine, just steeming a bit because I still haven't recieved exam results and it is more than a month since I finished school. I find this totally unfair, since the same crap shouldn't apply for students from abroad, since we pay full tuition so we should get full service, so strikes and other actions taken by the teachers and staff shouldn't apply to us, but that's just me. We live in an unfair world and they just crap all the more over us if they had the chance.
In May I went twice to the cinema even though it is horribly expensive, saw The Da Vinci Code, which was a fine entertainment but no masterpiece and X-men which was all right as well as entertainment, but I didn't find it as entertaining or as much fun as the last two of them.
Mom's calling in all for lunch, so I'm bailing for now. Later ...
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