Winter sports and hints of spring

[misscam]

Well, the Biathlon World Championship is over, and Norway got four gold, two silver and three bronze in ten events. (For those unaware, Biathlon is cross country skiing and shooting.) Very good. Of course, Team Poiree did even better - medals in nine out of ten events, and seven of them gold. Team Poirée consists of Norwegian Liv Grete Skjelbreid Poirée, who is married to French Raphael Poirée and both are kickass Biathloners. Geez. Nine medals. I hope they have a large trophy case.

Been great weather these last few days, with bright skies and much snow. Winter here in Norway is beautiful, even if it's fricking freezing and wet. But I am looking forward to spring now. Warmer weather, brighter days, the first hints of green... Spring always seems so hopeful to me, even if I know it's an illusion.

Speaking of illusions - I heard a quote on Saturday about Norwegians that amused me - 'Norwegians have an ongoing romance with their souls.'

I'll let you all figure out whether or not that is true of me.

Comments

If you don't mind my asking...

[(Anonymous)]

(Sorry, random passerby here ^_^;) You obviously have quite a bit of pride in Norway (and it doesn't look like I can blame you) - mind if I ask if you'd recommend to an American study abroad student who's staying in Europe for five months that they visit any part of Norway for a few days in April or May (provided that they haven't blown all their money on other things before then)? Like is it really nice during either of those two months, or are the people too fed up with America to be very welcoming to Americans? I've been wondering where might be good places to try to get to while I'm here after visiting my friends and had a really random dream about being in Denmark and Norway (though I know zilch about either country) and woke up thinking, "Hmmm..." ^_^;

Thanks. ^_^
(plasticgastropod@hotmail.com)

Re: If you don't mind my asking...

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Well, May 17th is Norway's National Day, and we *really* celebrate it. Might be worth checking out - it's madness in Oslo.

May is actually a good month for a Norway visit. It's springtime, and quite beautiful. April might be slightly cold at times, but will offer good spring skiing up in the mountains.

If I could reccomend a place, it would probably be the fjords in Western Norway. Oslo can be a bit dull, and for big cities, Copenhagen in Denmark is better. You could take the ferry from Copenhagen to a Norwegian port, that might be a nice trip. Or if you like to be active, take a trek across a Norwegian mountain (there's plenty of public cabins about).

We're not American-hating or anything (just fed up with your government), so just avoid singing out praise for Mr. Bush and Scandinavians should like you just fine.

Re: If you don't mind my asking...

[(Anonymous)]

Thanks muchly, I appreciate it. ^_^

Wouldn't sing praise for those I have none for, so I guess I'm fine there. (Interesting to have noticed out here that most of the Americans I've met abroad really, *really* hate Dubya. There's more ranting about him from us than the locals.) I'm just a bit on my guard about everything after hearing to be careful as a foreigner (of any sort) in certain cities around this area of the world. But I guess that's always something to be seen in the world even when your government isn't led by morons.

Thanks again,
plasticgastropod

Romance with Souls?

[tookbybirth.livejournal.com]

How in the world do people have a romance with their soul? *is wondering* If it's possible, I'm probably doing it without realizing it, I'm a romantic at heart. As in, I was all in a twitter when Lina and Gimli started doing their thing. ;-)

BTW, loving the new year. It's very...entertaining. *evil grin* My personal collection of "Oh-great-I-misspelled-something-again" black market mini-Balrogs love reading it.

And my referances to Toey are driving my friends insane during our IM sessions. *giggle* But the darn thing HAS to be around here somewhere...I keep misspelling things like..."lkie" and "mroe" and "teh"! Heh heh...

Peach out, Miss Cam! (Not "Cam" or "Cammie" or "That scary lady". :-D )

~Took

Re: Romance with Souls?

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Well, you'll have to ask the lady who made that remark. She was talking about Norwegians' sense of ourselves and our country, so in a sense I think she meant Norwegians have an ongoing romance with being Norwegian. And that I think is most certainly true.

After all, we're so little, so who else would care about little Norway and love us?

Re: Romance with Souls?

[git-the-goddess.livejournal.com]

Don't feel too bad, Took.
I know geeks that actually SAY "Teh" instead of "The".

Then again, I have said "Roffle Mayo" out loud...

[rachwrites.livejournal.com]

'Norwegians have an ongoing romance with their souls.'

I'll let you all figure out whether or not that is true of me.

I imagine that would be true of anyone who could prima facie conceive of having a romance with their own soul... I would hope it's not the same as being "in love with yourself" though, at least in the Australian sense. ;)

Anyway, I noticed it's your birthday today - happy birthday and best wishes for a spectacular year! :)

Re:

[misscam.livejournal.com]

:P

Thank you! I hope to have a very merry year as a 24-year-old.