Thumbprint Art

Looksie what I made.  It's quiet large, about 2 foot by 2 foot and hanging in my dining room currently.  It's so "Happy" to look at.

I just took string and tied a piece around the canvas every two inches vertically and horizontally, until I had a complete grid pattern.  Then with a light pen marked every intersection of the grid, so I would be able to evenly space my thumbprints.  I removed the strings, and started pouring paint and making thumbprints.  It was a good time.  It was like being a kid with finger paint all over again.  Not too shabby a result.  I wish I could take better pictures of things I made, so you could get the full effect.

Job Hunt, Take 1

For the last 2 months, I've spent my time moving in (almost done unpacking, almost)  and spending time with my husband's 12 year old son.  Today my first weekday of freedom. And today I decided to get a job.  Ok, Ok, I decided I needed a job along time ago.  But, with my newly found empty nest; I'm actually going to do it.

Everyone I meet says I'll be able to find a job easy, even though I don't speak Norwegian. This is because of my previous oil field experience.  However, I'm slightly skeptical.  I met a girl with offshore experience who couldn't find a job here for a year, and ended up taking a rotational position into Nigeria.  I will say her experience was specialized, but still.  

Since I know nothing about the job market, and really don't know how much I'm worth or what my experience is really valued at here;  I walked into a Head Hunter / Oil Field Recruiters office today.  It went well, he seemed happy enough with my experience, and told me he would start sending things my way.  We'll see.  Wish me luck.

p.s. As a reward for my aggressive nature towards employment today, I have allowed myself to drink one of my coveted Dr Peppers.  Oh the joy.   Yummy yummy in my tummy.

Almost Legal.

The joy, oh the joy.  Yesterday a letter came in the mail, my immigration letter. It said, I was to go to the police station with my passport.  So off I went to this place called UDI this lovely windy cold morning.  Of course, I was told that they would have to book me an appointment, and that I would have to come back on February 6th!!! The first available appointment.

About to walk off in disappointment the lady said "oh, now you go to the tax line."  "The tax line?", I say.  A little smirk started to come out in glee.  She said "for your number."  "Oh, yes of course, thanks", I'm sure my joy was overcoming me by this point.

After waiting in the tax line, a very lovely pretty darn cute young man told me that "no, no number today,  but you will get one in the mail. Along with information on getting a doctor."  He told me in less than 1 week, I should have my number.  However, I highly doubt however that I will get anything in the mail for at least 2-3 weeks.  Immigration is notoriously slow about everything.  And, he says, that I can start working immediately if I wish.  Work!  Finally!  Now I just have to find a job!!!

The joy a letter and almost a number can bring.  Now I can think about work.

Bored? Nope. Oh, how life has changed.

My husband's son has been staying with us over his Summer break in Australia,  6 weeks.  Usually he despises going into to town for errands.  Yesterday he was up and ready and enthusiastic about our trip to town.  He told me he was ready to go because he was "Bored."  Once we got home, yep, he is "bored" again.  Apparently only so much fun can be had from jumping around the house like a mad man between PS3 games and Legos.  He got this real miserable look on his face, like "save me from the torture, I have nothing to do."  Other than play outside, play his endless video games, use his PS3 to facebook and everything else out there in that internet world, he especially likes you tube surfing,  read, put up his stuff from the pile he made on the living room floor.  Of course he had nothing to do.  Silly me, for thinking anything differently.

Then, I realized.  I don't get that feeling anymore.  I remember being a kid, and getting that painful feeling of boredom.  Like the hours will never pass, because I have nothing to do.  At least nothing I wanted to do.  I don't get that anymore.  Not at all.  Even though I have been in Norway for almost 3 months now without a job, I keep myself busy.  The closest thing to boredom that occurs is the time between paintings sitting on the kitchen counter, when I have to get up the gumption to bring out another idea I can only see in my head and no one else understands yet.  That can take a while of be pondering and procrastinating; it feels mildly like boredom.  Of course, when I'm staring blankly into the fridge wondering what to cook for dinner.  Then sitting down pondering it.  Yah, it's kinda like boredom, but not really.  When I stare out the window procrastinating laundry or the dishes, or hanging a painting.  That is kinda like boredom,  but more a lovely quiet time to enjoy peace and watch the neighbors.

I don't know when my life changed.  When my life went from including boredom, to boredom being more a time for quite reflection before the next big project or task.  Boredom is now the joyful time that is hard to find time for.  No matter how much or how little we have to do, boredom as a 12 year old knows it, no longer exists in my life.

Mona Lisa's Toosh

Stavanger is full of "street art".  One of the great parts of walking through town is running across works of art like this.

Doesn't that make you just smile.  I can't find a story or anything behind Mona, I'd love to know more about her.  But she makes me smile just the same.

Canning Museum

I asked some other expat ladies what the Canning Museum was like.  The answer a resounding single word answer, "odd."   Followed by, "it's great, I've been 5 times, you have to go."  This was repeated and reinforced by more than one lady,  "it's odd, you just have to go to see, it's just odd, and great at the same time."

In a different age sardine canning has been Stavanger's Golden Ticket and when the fish mysteriously went away, it caused much hardship and despair.  Stavanger has a museum inside a former canning factory and it's definitely a sight to see.  It's a bit different than a normal museum, not much reading signs and see things behind glass shields.  Machines, tools, and displays of a different era are viewed up close.  The museum is set up with little plastic sardines, so you can actually see how the fish were decapitated, smoked, etc.  I know it sounds odd and gruesome.  But, it is really really was interesting.  If you go on Tuesdays an Thursdays in the summer, or the first Sunday of the month they have some true life demonstrations of canning.  I can't wait to go back an see more.

Racks for the fish to be processed on... I found it hard not to poke the fish with my finger.  Weird little plastic fish everywhere...

Fish being smoked...

Sardine Can Labels, some very interesting marketing. These bad boys kept be entertained and spinning the squares around in circles for way longer than appropriate for any adult.

Go have a look; it's definitely and "odd" museum.  I'll be going back myself.

Mesmerized by a HORSE

We took a drive up north on E39, as far as the first fairy to Bergen. So many wonderful farms and isles.   I was mesmerized by this lad's glory and had to stop the car say "hi."  He loved having his picture taken, pretty sure he knows how handsome he is.  lol

Pink Cow NYR #8

I've been so busy pumping up all my wedding posts from last year, and filling in the holes.  That I have totally been ignoring the "here and now."

Plus, I have another excuse.  My husband has been sick, so we haven't been getting out much.  Not that being sutck at home hurts my feelings too much, the rain kinda puts a damper on my desire to go conquer the world.  Or leave the house basically. lol

As part of trying to decorate our new house here in Norway, I took the opportunity to get to painting.  Here is my cow.  And whats extra great about him, I started to conquer my New Years Resolutions.  #8  Paint Pretty Pictures.

I really like him.  He is going to be a very proud hung cow, once, I find a place for him.  :)

Drive to Snow (Sirdal)

On the weekend, after sleeping in most of the morning, we decided to take advantage of the Sunny day.  We drove to see SNOW.  Yes, it is very odd to us that we moved to Norway and have no Snow,  apparently this is almost normal in Stavanger.  We decided to drive to Sirdal, it's a ski field about 1.5 hours from Stavanger.  It was a beautiful drive. We traveled up valleys, with lakes, rivers, & villages frequently breaking up the views of the wonderful cliffs along the way.

Although, the sun went away and the fog came out the further we got from Stavanger.  It was really a lovely way to venture out and see the scenery from the comfort of a warm and cozy car!  When I got out to snap this picture,  the freezing wind was blowing so hard I could barely hold the camera in my hands.   It looks like a calm and relaxing town, hey... not....

Then, all of a sudden, there was snow.  Not a couple inches, like 3 feet (a meter) of SNOW!  It was gorgeous and beautiful and white everywhere.  It made me want to get out and make snow angels, of course I was enjoying the comfort of a warm and cozy car, thus didn't dare.  We made it to the Sirdal resort,  saw tons of people cross country skiing with their children and it seemed a lovely resort town full of people enjoying what Norway has to offer.

This was another one of those quick snaps trying to escape the cold shock after emerging from the comfort of a warm and cozy car.  What's amazing is it's taken in COLOR.  Just the serenity of all the snow and water washed the picture out.  It really was like this, so white everything was taken aback by it.  I like how it's blurry due to my quick snapping, it makes it almost seem fake or like a painting. 

Not too bad, for a last minute trip to get out and see the scenery.