Max temperature today has been +10C. It snowed in the morning until 2-3pm and it was cloudy the rest of the day. They have predicted nice weather from tomorrow though. Weeee.

I have been darned effective at work today and I event went yoga classes at furuset with jorunn S. That was fun.
At night I chatted with Dionne and she is pregnant!! Dionne is my canadian host sister for those of you that did not know that. She lived at my familys house in Arendal, Norway for a school year back in 1991/1992. She is expecting in august :) GREAT NEWS and CONGRATULATIONS DIONNE AND GREGG.
I even managed to keep the secret for long enough for her to tell my family !

I also spoke to Meghan and Oneshi from USA. They were both in Costa Rica the same year I was there and we have kept in touch ever since that wonderful year in 1993. We lived in the same city and have managed to keep contact ever since. Pretty good concidering its been 13-14 years and we live in different continents.
Great day !

Sunny with some scattered clouds. Finally. Max temperature of +10C but all in all a great day. This predicts that we are getting closer to summer. Finally no more snow !!

Ive been quite good today. I walked all the way from work at Lysaker to the train central station.
It took me an hour and a half and I just enjoyed the walk so much. I will definately try to walk home more often. It is a great excersize in a calm way. I have to start slow.

I also read a funny book called The Worst-case Scenario Survival Handbook: Dating and Sex .
Ex: How to determine if your date is an ax-murderer or if it is a male of female.
Quite fun !

Temperatures went up to +18C today. It felt soo wonderful. No clouds but a cold wind shows us that summer is not here yet.

Apart from being at work today I also got to read two more chapters in my book Monkeys are made of chocolate:
Bats in the attic... Pigs on the plane... Hey ma, the wells gone dry and
Deforestation, reforestation and regeneration.

On my way home I walked in to the city. Same as yesterday. I do notice in my legs that It has been quite a while since last time I did excersize. Passed 10000 steps today.
Tired when got home.

Weee Same temperatures as yesterday. I am so happy about the sun and +18C. It feels soo wonderful. Almost summer. I miss Costa Rica less on days like this.

Today has been great. I read 2 more chapters of my Monkeys are made of chocolate book by Jack Ewing:
how much is a tree worth and Please Dont Feed the Crocodiles
I also walked from lysaker til alnabru.. I felt pretty much like dead beat after that. It takes around 2,5 hours. And concidering it was my 3rd day in a row with long walks... Hehe. But I had my pedometer count my steps and I passed 19000 today.
It is said in Norway by Health specialists that you should walk 10000 steps every day. With an Office job that sometimes is hard.
I stayed up watching movies till 9:30 and was happy to go to bed.

Except from the cold wind today was gorgeous. Really great. Around +18C as max temperature but it felt way colder with the wind.

Last night I got 2 couchsurfers from Hong Kong to stay at my place. They took off for touristing purpose around 10am and I had planned to meet Jeff and Myriam, Ricard and Celine from Couchsurfing at 2pm to hike around Sognsvann and have a BBQ party in the forest. That turned out great !
We had a lot of fun after we met up at JernbaneTorget (Oslo Central station).
Janice and Karen (Hong Kong girls) tipped us that Oslo County Tourist office gave away Oslo Passes for free. We tried remembering it but it slipped our minds and we did not remember until we were suddenly in the forest.
Jeff took off and had a run while us others hiked in a nice tempo. We even got to parts where it was snow on the ground. Chee. I Thought we were done with the snow by now. hehe.
I started off in shorts but soon changed over to warmer clothes. We camped by a lake and made fire with a one-time-barbecue (typical from Norway). I was glad Jeff had a girlfriend that normally freezes easily and has learned to come prepared. I got to borrow one of the 3 jackets they had brought.
We had a nice feast with sausages and salads and other typical summerfood. We even had beer and wine deep in the forest.
As it closed up on 7pm it got too cold to stay out there anymore and we headed home.
A really nice day.

I got home and watched some TV and did some e-mail corresponding before Karen and Janice got home. Then we watched pictures before going to bed. I am so happy about my new couch and even more about the redecorating of the living room I did a month ago. That way the surfers almost has their own room. Wee

Today was +10C. It was blowing pretty hard, but sunny most of the day.

Janice and Karen left this morning and we grabbed the train together down towards oslo downtown where we had to split. I had to get off to work and they for the airport.
I had lunch with John at Wilhelmsen and it is a gorgeous day. I do think I have a bit of what we call the new-job-blues. I must admit sometimes I do miss some of my old collegues and the daily contact with one of my best friends Linda.

After work I walked from Lysaker to Skoyen (30 minutes) but I had to give up my walking excercize project for today cause after so much walking these last days my muscles are soooo sore.
As I arrived my home Kari rang and reminded me that I had forgotten about an appointment for a massage. SHIT. And I would so much need a massage today.

The rest of the afternoon / night was spent in the sofa feeling sorry for myself. Tired

During the morning we had some heavy clouds but most of the day it was pretty good. It was around +11C.

This morning I started out good. I hopped off the train at Skoyen to walk to Lysaker. It is about 30 minutes - not bad at all. Then I continued my exercise program by walking the 1,5 hour from Lysaker to Oslo downtown as well. And went straight for a beer at Asylet with my CouchSurfing friends. We had a lot of fun and I enjoyed the evening a lot. I even got home a couple of hours after my decided time. Hehehe.
Fantastic.

Another partly cloudy day. Must admit I miss the steady, WARM, sun of Costa Rica a lot. About +10C today.

The big fun of today (after work of course) was hurrying in from Lysaker by train to meet my Dads wife, Marilsa. We had dinner together and I got to see the first pictures of the new baby arriving in October. Baby is about 10 cm long now. Looks cool. They dont know what sex the baby is yet. Its too young for that.

Marilsa and I had a fantastic dinner at an Italian restaurant where we stayed for hours before visiting my brother in law, Christian (sis was not home). Marilsa left with the 20:15 bus to go home (3 hours of a bus ride. Poor thing).

I read one story in my monkeys are made of chocolate book - Great weather for bare-throated tiger herons (the only chapter I did not find online so far) before arriving my house.

Max temperatures reached +9C today but most of the day it was pretty cold. It even snowed for a bit. Not long and it didnt stay on the ground.

I got to read a couple of new chapters in my book (monkeys are made of chocolate) again today - The tapirs of the sirena and A bad trip into the magic world of the giant toad.

I had big plans on going for a Pilates session at my Gym but I had a terrible stomach ache so I just stayed home. I did call some of my Costa Rican friends though. It is fantastic with free IP phone.

Wee, sun is back and we were up at +18C as a max temperature. Wonderful weather.

In the morning I walked from skoyen to work and then from Lysaker to Oslo City again when I finished off at work. I managed to read 3 more stories in my book as well: moon lore: method, magic or madness, the law of the jungle, survive if you can and those dangerous eco-nuts. Great stories. Read them by clicking on the links.
When I got into the city I met up with some of my old collegues from Astrup Fearnleys for some beers and we had a great time. Svein, Morten, Asbjorn and I were the only ones that managed to show up but we decided to repeat this and I hope we will get more people joining in next time.

We had a maximum temperature today of about +18C. It was hardly any clouds at all but some cold wind.

With the beautiful weather we had I enjoyed the weather a lot. I was outside FINALLY doing some long lost gardenwork that I should have done a month ago. Trimming the hedge before all the leaves grow out. What I did notice was all the birch pollen that flew around me as I cut of branch after branch. Oh, so I would regret on that after I was done.
This season is predicted to be one of the worst pollen seasons for many years due to an early spring and hot winter. NICE.

I had to cancel all my plans for the day and stay home. I had been invited to a private film festival at one of my best friends house and I was so much looking foreward for it but I got so sick after cutting the hedge that I was not even able to get to the store to get some food for dinner. Less eating it.
I just lost all energy and got an inmense headache pluss being nauxious. I just felt very sick. I hate pollen !!

I did get to watch movies though and went very early to bed.

A new clouded day with some snow. EEEK. Just to add. YES, I DO MISS Costa Rica. Max temp +11C.

I just stayed in and did some house-keeping today. Sunday is as good a day as any day.
Around 4pm Jenn and Dominykus came to stay for 2 nights. Jenn is a couchsurfer from Lituania that is also Dominykus ski-coach. They have been in Hovden, a Norwegian ski-paradise, to compete.

Jen and I stayed in the living room conversating and Dominykus spent his time in front of the computer where he watched The Simpsons on DVD. We all had a great time. We made pasta for dinner that came out really good.

Max temperatures of +17C and some clouds. Windy. Still pretty good day.

On my way to work today I got to read 2 more stories in my book Monkeys are made of chocolate: close encounters in the slow lane and the story Extremely beautiful - extremely toxic. I did not locate the last story online. Sorry folks.

I had a quite easy and effective day at work today and I walked all the way to Oslo Sentralstation on my way home. It takes 1,5 hours.
I was home around 6pm and Jenn and D came home around 8pm and we made dinner together.
A delicious pasta dish with lots of vegetables.
Dominykus stayed in front of the computer today as well to continue watching The Simpsons on DVD. We heard him laughing a lot. Jen and I watched TV on Animal Planet from the rainforest of the Amazon. It is so beautiful. As Jen is more interested in the snow I dont think she is quite as impressed as I am with the rainforest. hehe.
No problem.
They have been great to host at least and I told Jen she was welcome back anytime. :)

Max temperatures of today was up to +16C and some wind. Fantastic for being outside though.

I did quite some reading today on the way to work. I managed to read 3 new chapters. It might not sound a lot but I really spend the time to learn and not just read. The chapters were: alien invasion: exotics, non-natives and invasives, hateful devil the ants wont even eat and burgers versus biodiversity in the mangrove.

In the afternoon I met Jorunn to go to Stovner center to do some shopping and we had a lot of fun whilest doing so :)
I also got my first salary in months today ! Weee. Not that 2,5 weeks is much to brag about but at least I get to pay my bills this way :)

Todays max temperatures were around +18C. Pretty good day.

This morning I got a great surprise. Some Oystein Sunde show tickets popped into my life. Weee. This day turns out to be very good. I quickly arranged for Jorunn S to be able to go with me.

After work I took the early train to Oslo City and then I changed for metro. I got to there quite early so I wandered around at Oppsal mall for about 15 minutes before going towards Karis Clinic. I had an appointment for reflexology massage, back massage and acupuncture. Ohhh. That is fantastic. Though I must be kinda masochistic because much of the stuff hurts pretty bad. Kari does not do tender massages. hehe.

I planned meeting time with Jorunn and got ready to go home when I decided to check out the show start time again and realized I was in deep shit. I did not have time to stop by at home to shower or eat or anything. Oups. So much for that. hehe. Had to go as I was. In my Search and Destroy hoodie. Man I felt strange hehe. Jorunn and I met up at Tveita on the metro again and I had 2 hot dogs before we went downtown. We did manage to actually get there in time and have some drinks before the show started.
It was a great show with lots of good laughs and we even had a couple of drinks out on Onkel Donald after the show. A marvelous day and lots of fun !

Sunny nice day. Although cold winds and max temperatures of +15C.

At work I was busy most of the day in meetings. And I had lunch with John at Wilhelmsen. It is great to actually have some of your friends around where you work. I love having lunch with my collegues but it is always great with a variation.

After work I took the train in to the city and met one of my best friends, Linda. It is kinda confusing when you have both a sister and a best friend called Linda. More confusing still - 3 best friends called Jorunn (Easier for me to remember), one called Mariann but we do have Ornella as well that definately sticks out from the crowd and Hilde.

It was great to see Linda again. She still works at Astrup Fearnleys and with all the work she is doing for the time, in lack of people, we dont see each other much. Hope that will get better soon.

I also had big hopes for Pilates classes today but no way Jose. Ive been very tired after the pollen season kicked in for full. I went back home to sleep instead.

Sunday
We were up to +17C again today. More or less the same weather as yesterday, cloudy in the morning with some sun and in the afternoon more and more sun.

Half awake I registred that Linda was standing looking at me for a couple of times. When she saw that I was not responding she went and came back for a couple of times. No way that I was gonna be able to sleep in.

Daddy left at 9pm to prepare for a new days work at the home and sparetime fair where he is trying to sell lots and us two girls went on to watch movies and having pancackes for breakfast. At midday we prepared for meeting Jorunn and Margaret again to visit Lindeberg farm again. Today is the day of the horse, with horseback riding, drawing competitions etc. We spent some good hours at the farm again and fed the birds and rabbits, Linda got to ride a horse and participate a sledge ride as well. I think she had a blast of a time.
Our 2 sister ingrid came up there with one of her friends, Silja and Linda throwed herself around her neck when she saw her. It is so great to see that she loves us so much !. She is a wonderful KID.

When Jorunn and Margaret went home, Linda, Ingrid, Silja and I went back to my place to have a barbeque in the garden. It was amazing with the sunny weather to be outside. My friend Frank came by as well and before we knew it we were many. When my dad came from the fair we fed him as last before he and Linda had to go back home. Linda was wondering why she couldnt live with me for another couple of weeks and I tried explaining to her that I had to work and that mom and dad would be sad if they could not have Linda with them. But that she could come back when ever she wants to later. She is the cutest.

Ingrid and Silja left and Frank and I chatted and watched pictures from my costa rica trip before he left as well.

I have realized this weekend that you get really tired from taking care of kids !! They want your attention all the time. But they are great.

Saturday
Today was colder, +14C but still the same wonderful sunny weather. The wind was what made it so cold. Some clouds in the morning but mostly sunny.

Suddenly I woke up from a creepy feeling of beeing watched. Then tickled and Lindas childrens voice asking me if it was ok to watch TV. I was still half asleep and replied: Soon my child. Go sleep some more (it was only 6:30). Then half an hour later she came back to check on me again and I had to give up on sleeping. Daddy was already in the kitchen where he was making breakfast. He had to take off pretty soon. He had this exhibition he worked on all weekend to try to sell Lots in his new project. He has 75 lots for sale and the place is gorgeous.

So the 2 sisters were on our own again. We had a lot planned for the day. Taking the bus, going to an open farm with animals and then visiting Jorunn and Margaret again before going to the movies. We started out taking the bus to meet J&M and hiked to Lindeberg farm where we spent quite a few hours. It was really nice to look at the hens, chickens, ducks, geese, picking eggs, holding rabbits, feeding goats, looking at the huge mama pig and 2 smaller baby pigs (though small? hehe. Not exactly). We also saw 3 cats, a dog, 6 cows and many horses and sheeps. The kids even jumped in the hey and got hey everywhere. We drew horses for a competition and enjoyed a lot before having lunch at Jorunn and Tors place.

Then we took the metro. Linda lives a place where they do not have trains or metro nor trikk so all this was very exiting for her. We hopped off at the National theather station and straight to the movies. We bought our tickets and Linda even got a diploma for her very first visit to a cinema. We saw My neighbour Totoro. A japanese anime film (dubbed into norwegian of course). Both Linda and Margaret loved it and I think I can guarantee that both Jorunn and I liked it a lot.
Totoro is a forest spirit that little Mei, and later her older sister Satsuki, encounter in a giant camphor tree near their new home in the countryside. Although their father, a university professor, is with them when they move, their mother is in the hospital, recovering from some unnamed illness. When Mei hears that her mother's condition may be worsening, she resolves to visit her all by herself. When everyone realizes she's missing, only Totoro knows how to find her!

After the movies all 4 of us went to Aker Brygge to have an ice cream and let the kids play a bit before going home. It was already 7:30pm when we went back to the house where Daddy was waiting. It had been a very nice day for the child and she was telling both daddy and mom (over the phone) about all the exiting things we had done during the day.
The kid was exhausted when finally going to bed, falling asleep on the sofa.
Even I was exhausted and made the sofa to go to bed myself.

Friday
+18C and beautiful sunny weather today. Windy but gorgeous.

I got up very early today. I had to be at work at 6:45am to be able to work good for some hours before my 5 year old sister Linda was dropped off around 10am at my work.
I had not seen her for quite some months (almost 6 to be more exact) since I was working way more than healthy is before I left for my 3 months vacation to Costa Rica, nor after my vacation since I have just started up my new job and I am expecting my first salary !

My dad dropped her off and she spent 4.5 hours with me at my work before we could head home. She drew, she chatted and she make pearlnecklaces. My little assistant worked as hard as I did. We had lunch with my collegues but sister is pretty shy so It was not so fun to mingle.

When we left we took a stroll down to the Lysaker Harbor enjoying the warm fantastic weather before taking the train back home where we played for quite some time with cars in the grass (burying them under grass - making houses for them to hide from predators that would wanna catch them. We were in the jungle must understand). Then we went looking for (and picking) flowers.
When my kitchen was full of glasses with small flowers we went over to visit Jorunn, Tor and Margaret. Jorunn and Tor are some of my best friends and Margaret is their daughter thats 8 years old. Linda takes some time to warm up, but when Margaret found one of her teddybears that could sing when touched, we all held hands and let go until hear bear started over again, she finally melted and ran off to play.

We stayed at Jorunn and Tors place until our dad picked us up at 8:30 and went home where we watched childrens movies and had some dinner. We were quite tired.

Beautiful sunny weather today and +17C. A gorgeous day.

This morning I started off calling grandma Ingrid for her birthday. Its her 84th bithday today:) Shes doing good and thats great.
After work I walked in to Oslo S from work. My regular 1,5 hour exercize for the time beeing. Its a great walk next to the shore side in towards Oslo.

I also checked in on a friend of mine, Simone, that also celebrates her birthday today, sendt a couple of e-mails, watched TV and went early to bed. Not much to write about though.