Sognsvann is surprising in March

"Your calendar is based on Jesus, ours is based on the sun" said the Iranian guy to me tonight. Despite the darkness of night, and the lack of city lights illuminating Sognsvann at the north-western edge of Oslo, I could see by the bonfire-light that a hip Persian youth was kindly sharing his culture with me. His hair: some kind of rad Eastern mullet style--product-spiked top, shaped sideburns, and a cascade of black to the back.
His heavily accented and broken English conveyed a description of the event I chanced upon tonight, after walking to the frozen lake to wind-down from all-day thesis writing. Under the grove of conifers at the snowy lakeshore, a half-dozen fires crackled, and 100+ people encircled. An amp-ed music system was projecting the soundtrack... unknown language, and melodies for me... but upbeat and vibe-y music. Many danced in a large group, with the core of the people tossing blue-green scarves into the air.
My Iranian informant told me that this was the annual celebration before their calendar new year's day, which happens with the return of Spring's sun, or the Westerner's March 21. Tonight features fires--a holy symbol, he told me, but not religious. They dance around them, and jump over them...for good health, and a positive new year. He excused himself from my company after the brief but generous conversation sharing with me the celebration's cultural meaning. I am certain that regular circumstances will never associate us socially. And I am simply happier for receiving such an unexpected gift of experience tonight.

another day, another ...payout from the ch-Ching! of a rich world we live in...

I sympathized with the trees... as each exhalation quickly became a web of crystallizing vapors over my face. My eyelashes and nose hairs accumulated extensions of crusty ice. The fog that was seen enshrouding the forests outside my window this morning, had frozen lace-like over all tree twigs, branches, and trunks.

I went for a run around Sognsvann this afternoon to investigate the phenomenon more closely. As I set my pace, I quickly felt a part of the scene. And I imagined...myself becoming covered in frozen fractals of water, were I to stand as the trees. And, I thought about the character of the trees too...standing so, straight and tall! These trees haven't had a rough life at all! Growing up, just like they do. And they looked good...under the fine, frozen fog.

My breathing was heavy--inhale, exhale--as I pushed my body to jog in the stiffening cold. I believed this, conclusively: the trees like to have us amongst them! For: they give us oxygen and we give them carbon dioxide. It seemed a strikingly simply, and happy thought about the relationship I was maintaining...

from blah to Ahhh...

I've experienced some manias within the past four days. It began with completing a reading of Robert Pirsig's book, Lila. And, it culminated with tonight's long-jog of 45 minutes. I can't remember ever running for that long consecutively. It was grrrreat! And, i'm really tired now!! I went for the run after chauffeuring Grandma to church. I felt the heathen as I let her go alone. But, after completing the run I felt like I had done my own part to keep the world on the right track. I made the extra effort of saying some prayers en route. So there, God.

yesterday was better...

...than today's endless deluge of cold rain, here in St. Louis.
But they can't all entail: a productive morning of thesis research with french press inspirations; a walkabout Longview Park followed by a picnic of my brown bag lunch under a crisp, sunny-blue sky with sweet autumnal smells in the air and warmth yet on short-sleeved arms; afternoon errands; a bike ride from Gramma's to Whole Foods to get a Pumpkin Beer to drink whilst I computer-worked the afternoon away on their sunny patio; a detour on the bike ride home to collect a gallon-sized bag of ripe persimmons from a feral tree; evening with gramma...dinner and newspaper word puzzles.

a day so sweet it've sated a sugar junkie.

where am i again??

oh yeah, San Francisco! two weeks before i go to St. Louis to begin my masters thesis fieldwork towards "A Phenomenology of Taste". and, returning to Oslo for round 2 in November.

weeds are where it's at

i took a walk a few evenings ago, to catch the sunset and hunt for some of the springtime tender, edible weeds i've seen around Oslo. it was a beautiful evening, but i finally chickened out in plucking the dandelion, stinging nettle, and "skvallerkål" (?) i was hoping to bag. i did get to see this though, speaking of chicken...what? where am i? chicken bones on the sidewalk? is this oslo or market street, SF?! a somewhat charming sight.

days have passed, and i finally gathered the green + lively comestibles tonight after a run along the Aker river. i had been worrying about picking plants from ground in the city that most likely had been pissed on by dogs, or was filtering streetwater run-off. i had to choose the weeds carefully, to appease my mild neurosis and prevent myself from a carelessly contracted food poisoning. lucky for me i found a sweet, old secret garden tucked amongst some residential buildings and an old preschool. i got a few meals supply of vibrant greens. here's the assortment, (photo'd on my table):



<< "brennesle" = stinging nettle



<< "skvallerkål" = (don't know the name in english)
<< "løvetann" = dandelion


...they all add up to deliciousness in my body! nutty and asparagus-like flavor of nettle will be added to pasta sauce tomorrow. the bit-of-sourness and zing in the skvall. was added to a cabbage slaw for smoked fish nachos tonight. and the dandelion was chopped and added raw to my packed lunch for tomorrow, in a salad of grated beet+grated carrot+minced garlic+mustard+balsamic vin+salt+pepper+coriander...and is accompanied by avocado, a hard-boiled egg and knekkebrød.

spring in steps again.

some spring things...

Today is the second, calendar day of Spring in Oslo. I awoke to sunshine and strolled along the Aker River through the city. Old snow still lingering, but plenty reason to feel a season change (including ducks playing in the river, more people enjoying the outside, sunglasses, smiles, good smells in the air, green things poking out of the soil from buried and sleepy flower bulbs...). This afternoon brought in gray skies and some cold rain. Still: springtime is coming on strong.

Had (another) great Sunday brunch at Revolver with Alix. My usual fix: black coffee, egg sandwich, potatoes. Alix's choice: black coffee and the "vegan" english breakfast (an oxymoron? no way, it's 2009 kids!).

Other things... I'm trying my darndest to be inspired in writing a term paper for "Development and Environment: Theory and Policy Challenges". Freedom of topic and ample time have simply allowed for too much procrastination, but will be attempting some productivity today.
Writing on the development of "Bondens Marked" (farmers market) in Norway.

Thursday night, 19 March: witnessed the magic of music-maker Fever Ray. Truly magical. And i can't stop listening to the released full recording. Lyrics and melodies to make me go "hmmm" and "uh huh".

Monday night, 9 March: got myself to the performance of the Rubies--San Franciscans shine on Oslo! Deeeelightful to soak in "home".

s'all i got for now...