Norway Musings

I spent Christmas in Oslo. I had thought about traveling abroad over Christmas ever since my friend Jessica had planned a trip to Estonia over Thanksgiving. I can't remember why or how I settled on Oslo, but I'm so glad I did because I loved it.

When I started reading blogs and such about what to do in Oslo, lots of people stated that Oslo was an ugly, boring city that should be skipped. Especially at Christmastime because Norwegians take their Christmas seriously and everything would be closed for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Second Christmas Day (Boxing Day), and maybe even more.

Everything WAS closed while I was there. I arrived the evening of Christmas Eve and, while people did start coming out Christmas Day night and on the 26th, lots of stores and such were closed until the 27th (some even closed all the way until the new year!). It wasn't until the morning of the 27th that it seemed like people were out going to work; the garbage trucks were out!

Regardless, I had a great time. What I enjoy about experiencing new cities is just walking and getting a feel for it. I like trying to get a sense of what it is like for the people who live there. How do they get to work? Where do they grocery shop? How do they meet up with friends? 

Most everyone in Norway speaks English. I asked a girl at a travel shop about this, and she said that most Norwegians learn english while in elementary school; while Norwegian is their language, she said it's not super useful when traveling abroad because no one else speaks it! Everyone was helpful and kind, but they aren't overtly kind - they'll keep to their business but are quick to be helpful when needed. 

Merry Christmas in Norwegian is God Jul. It's a wonderful time to be in Norway! Christmas is important, but Norway is kind of secular so there didn't seem to be over-concern about keeping the religious part of Christmas intact. Their decorations are understated, and lights are very important since it's dark a big chunk of the time. The biggest decoration is lighted stars in the window - they were EVERYWHERE and I was obsessed. The standard was yellow/white lights, with nary a multi-colored string in sight. It all makes for a lovely aesthetic.

Everyone keeps their window blinds open. This was especially noticeable in Tromso as we took a fjord tour. Our guide explained that since Norway lacks density, the windows are left open and lights on for anyone that would be out in the woods and needed help. This seemed to translate to Oslo as well, and I am a big fan of the custom. I think I'd fit right in in Norway. As I look out at the apartment windows across from me all of the blinds are closed. I bought a lighted start that I put in my window that is shining bright for all to see. 

Since Oslo is so far north, the sun doesn't shine much in the winter. It rose around 9:30 in the morning, but it never rose above the horizon before setting in almost the same place around 4:00 p.m. It'd be completely dark by five, which really messed with my internal clock!

The biggest negative of Norway is that they do not have Dr. Pepper. Coke and Pepsi, a smattering of Mt. Dew and an orange drink called Solo are what's available. While I would love to live there, I'd have to think long and hard about not having Dr. Pepper (which I don't even drink that often, but it's my go-to when I have a headache and it's really the only carbonated drink I drink).

I'd go back in a heartbeat, and would really love to see it during summer and rent a car to drive along the coast. I'm hoping to post separately about specific things I did while there, so stay tuned. 

Christmas 2017

Since I was in SLC just over a week ago, my trip for Christmas this year was short and sweet. I got in a little after midnight on Christmas Eve and left at 5:30 a.m. on December 27th for just three days with family and friends.

But I made the most of those days! Emily and I enjoyed watching several (some good, some not so good) made-for-tv Christmas movies.

Christmas Eve was spent with my mom and, later, Jorge, Jose and Athena. We all went to Olive Garden to fill ourselves with food. When the waiter brought the after-dinner minutes, Athena quickly opened about ten of them and stuffed them in her mouth! I was wearing my light-up cat sweater from my work Secret Santa and everyone loved it (the waiter made cat-puns, and other waiters told me they loved it).

Em, my mom, and I watched the Sound of Music while eating Harmon's cheeseball and intermittently falling asleep. It started to snow a little bit Christmas Eve night, but nothing like last year. We had opened presents earlier in the day - Em was excited for the Soul 2 Soul tickets I bought for her! Em bought mom a new purse.

My dad and Debbie came up from Vegas to open presents and have lunch at my brother's home. Athena loves dinosaurs and has lots of them!

To close out the night, Em and I took Jorge and Jose to the movies. We saw All the Money in the World.

The next day I was lucky enough to get to hang out with two awesome friends - breakfast with my Kansas friend Janae, and then lunch, a movie and the afternoon with Pam. Pam and I went to the Broadway (my favorite theater!) to see The Shape of Water, then checked out Barnes and Noble. 

Then the next morning I was off, very early, to the airport to head home to Denton. I love being with family and getting to see friends, but Denton is my home. Quite literally, my home is here. Along with Biscuit and Chance, friends, my work, and everything I love in this charming little town.

Christmas 2016

I left for SLC on an evening flight from Love Field on December 21. Three of my nieces and nephew (the ones that live in Seattle but were in SLC for Christmas) came with my mom to pick me up at the airport. My five days in Salt Lake was spent with family and friends. We celebrated Athena's fifth birthday. We went on a light tour on the Provo River. We went bowling. We even had a white Christmas.

Ivy, Elliett and Koko at Grandma's

We made snowflakes

Jorge works at Rumbi. Proud of him. 

I traveled downtown (by bus!) to hit up Toasters...

...and "La La Land" at The Broadway

Public art in downtown SLC

Ivy, Jorge and I went to a Christmas Eve showing of "It's A Wonderful Life" at The Broadway

Christmas morning

My presents to the family

This year's Christmas Day movie was "Rogue One". The boys all loved it. 

Denton Holiday Lighting Festival

Friday night was the Denton Lighting Festival, a yearly tradition to celebrate the start of the holiday season with the lighting up of the tree on the Square. But this being Denton, we don't just light up the tree and call it done. We have live music all night long. And funnel cake and corn dogs. And Wassail Weekend. It's magical and awesome.

My coworker and I decided to hit it up together, each of us experiencing it for the first time. We were excited for the wassail. It's like a chili cook-off, but with wassail. A list of all the businesses participating in Wassail Weekend is provided, and signs that say "Wassail Station" in a stop sign are posted on their doors. Everyone goes around and gets tiny samples from each place, eventually voting on their favorite one. Some were citrus-y, a couple too cinnamon-y, and one that was my favorite.

After getting some sustenance from the Parks booth, it was time to enjoy the live music. This is one of the things I love about Denton - music is always a part of everything. And we have some pretty darn good musicians from Denton (some are even Grammy winners). I love the atmosphere of these music events - everyone is just happy. Couples dancing, kids dancing, nearly everyone clapping or moving their body in some way to the music. It's joy and happiness and contentment and I love it.

My co-worker asked if I sometimes felt like I lived in the world of "Gilmore Girls." Yes. Sometimes I do.

How To Get Free Ice Cream From the Airport

My flight out of SLC was at 10:30am, and to make sure I didn't miss my flight like the last time I flew out of SLC, I got to the airport with plenty of time to spare. The check-in process was fast, the security area was amazingly speedy, and I was then left with time to walk to the other end of the airport to get a Jamba Juice. As I was drinking my lovely cup of Caribbean passion, the time for us to board came and went. The lady working the gate kept assuring us that we were just waiting on our flight attendants, who would soon be landing and making their way over from two gates down.

Well, we kept waiting and waiting. And no flight attendants showed up. The gate-lady called over a man in a striking red blazer, who was clearly some sort of supervisor/hot shot. After gate-lady told him the issue, he made some calls. Apparently the flight attendants assigned to our flight were re-reouted mid-air but did not get the message. So they were likely off property enjoying their three hours of downtime in amazing Salt Lake City (I added the amazing). Red blazer guy told us that flight attendants have a two-hour call time, so the earliest we would leave would probably be 1 or 1:30. It was currently 11:30.

I hung out in the gate area for awhile, then decided I should take advantage of the Cafe Rio in the airport and get something to eat. I asked gate-lady if I could leave and the plane wouldn't take off without me. She assured me that no one would be left behind.

I returned to gate B10 after making the trek to Cafe Rio and lunching. The waiting area was clear of the people who were on my Kansas City flight, which I thought was strange. It was only 12:35. Gate-lady was also gone, but then she showed up a few minutes later (everyone needs a lunch break). The screen at first showed the info for my KC flight, but then it changed to information for a flight to San Antonio. I politely asked gate-lady what the status was for the KC flight. Without missing a beat she said, "That flight left."

I was a bit startled and got up to stand at the counter. She said she had left to get lunch and was assured by her replacement that no one would be left behind. They would make public announcements to make sure everyone got on. I was in a different concourse and clearly missed my PA. She felt very bad because she had assured me I wouldn't be left behind. And the plane had only left about ten minutes ago.

At this point I could feel myself starting to get frantic, thinking I'd have to wait for an 8pm flight, which would be awful. Gate-lady immediately booked me on a 1:55 pm flight to KC, which coincidentally I had nearly purchased but had decided to go for the earlier flight so I wouldn't have to drive in the dark if it happened to be bad weather. Also, my friend Kate was on the 1:55 flight to KC.

Since she felt bad, gate-lady gave me a food voucher to use in the airport. A PinkBerry was located right next to my new gate, and I stopped there to get some coconut frozen yogurt. I ate it as I sat and waited and talked with my friend Kate. And it all worked out.

Ready to Go

I have a very early flight tomorrow morning out of Kansas City. So early that I need to leave Topeka around 3:30am. However, I'm not very tired right now.....

I left work early because there was absolutely nothing going on. I hit up the local used bookstore and made out like a bandit with books for me and books for people I love for Christmas. I cleaned up my home and cleaned out my fridge. I have put my Christmas gifts in a single backpack that I intend to carry on the plane with me. This traveling for Christmas is sort of a logistical nightmare--I also have goodies I'm trying to take.

I hate packing more than just about anything. I over analyze what to pack and therefore over pack. It's also supposed to be zero degrees at 4 in the morning, so catching the shuttle bus from the parking lot is going to be super awesome.Also, I've been sneezing a lot, which is a sure sign that I'm getting sick. Which is so very lame.

Christmas 2012

Christmas 2012 was white and merry, just the way I like it. Although, it can stop snowing now that the holiday is over (it's been snowing since early this morning).

I got a sewing machine! Now I'm gonna get my craft on with all those things I've seen on Pinterest. I really want to make a quilt of all my old t-shirts from races and travels and random events. We'll see how that goes.....

A Perfect Weekend

This weekend was the absolute best way to get ready for Christmas. There was a Peter Breinholt Christmas Concert downtown, which is always beautiful and perfect. Afterwards, mom and Em and myself had a delicious dinner at the Olive Garden, followed by a stroll around Temple Square taking in all the lights and wonder. We capped off the night with a drive around the Avenues and Federal Heights neighborhoods to see the houses decorated with Christmas and Hanukkah lights.

Sunday we celebrated my niece's first birthday with family and friends. It was perfect.

After a few hours at work, I am now home finishing up the last of my Christmas goodies before heading out to Jared and Jojo's for Christmas Eve and Christmas morning. And with the newly fallen snow, it really is quite perfect.

Merry Christmas and I hope your Holidays have been joyous.

An Afternoon With George Bailey

My local independent theater is showing It's A Wonderful Life now thru December 27th. I of course could not pass this up, as it has been three years since I last watched it on the big screen. I absolutely love this move. So much. Everything about it is perfect.

The Christmas Spirit

This week has been spent Christmas shopping for loved ones and baking goodies. I love having the free time to do these things. It culminated today with my work Christmas party at City Hall. We had the best chicken cordon bleu I've ever had, followed by white elephant gift-giving. I love laughing with my co-workers and getting to know them better.

I left work and headed to the Gateway, where I bought my almost-last present and was helped by a very nice (and cute) dude at the Fanzz Store. Everyone, from shoppers to employees, were smiling and in a good mood. I love that the holiday season does that.

A last stop at Harmon's to get the last of my needs for goodie-baking brought it all home. I've always loved the Salvation Army Bell Ringers that pop up this time of year, and I made it a goal to always put at least a dollar in each one I passed this year. This particular bell-ringer had a boombox blasting Christmas music, and as I put my dollar bill in the bin and he said a very genuine thanks I was overcome with the Christmas spirit. I had to fight back tears as I entered the store.

Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa--they're all wonderful and worth celebrating. So Happy Holidays to everyone who reads this!!

Gingerbread Houses

I think we started a new Christmas tradition: gingerbread houses. The kids had a lot of fun decorating their houses with all sorts of candy and chocolate and snow (cotton candy). I love seeing how creative they are and the concentration on their faces as they contemplate where to put that candy cane or rolo. They all turned great!

On top, from left to right: Ivy, Elliett, Moses. On bottom, left to right: Jorge's mansion, Josue's.

New York Christmas Trees

Tonight the tree at Rockefeller Center was lit up. I moved to the City in September, and that first December I was pretty excited to see the tree. I didn't have my blog at that time, so I'm going to share some pictures from then. I'd share some memories, but I have an awful memory and pretty much remember just feeling like it was magical.

 

When you don't live in New York, you tend to think that the tree at Rockefeller is the tree of the city. But it's really just one of many. I really liked the tree at Lincoln Center, which is lit up at Winter Fest, an event full of music, lights, people and hot chocolate. 

The next year, before leaving for Salt Lake to work with Sundance, I went to the tree lighting at Bryant Park. I like how each of the trees are distinct from one another.