From Joh, a Guardian mood/poetry matcher. Weird. Nice poem, and the assessment of my mood is not widely off the mark. However, I’m not quite sure I see the link between the poem and the assumed mood. Which was also what Joh objected to too, in a way.

Anyhoo, a spot of Dickinson in the morning is no bad thing.

Mood assessment: “Sometimes you just feel like getting away from it all – to some pure, solitary mountain top where you can wander, free as a bird… but if you’re stuck behind a desktop instead, take some solace in this.”

And the “appropriate” poem:

These are the days when the birds come back

These are the days when Birds come back –
A very few – a Bird or two –
To take a backward look.

These are the days when skies resume
The old – old sophistries of June –
A blue and gold mistake.

Oh fraud that cannot cheat the Bee –
Almost thy plausibility
Induces my belief.

Till ranks of seeds their witness bear –
And softly thro’ the altered air
Hurries a timid leaf.

Oh Sacrament of summer days,
Oh Last Communion in the Haze –
Permit a child to join.

Thy sacred emblems to partake –
Thy consecrated bread to take
And thine immortal wine!

Emily Dickinson (1830 – 1886)

Ok, so I’m going away for the weekend. To Trysil of all places. It’s one of these winter sports places so what the heck am I going there for?

I dunno. I’m bringing my skis (cross country) seeing as I dragged them down from Trondheim for the purpose, but the forecast is -15 or worse, so I am also bringing Trivial Pursuit and picturing spending most of my time indoors in the cabin. Though, cabin… It’s a work-do thing and we’re all staying in the “cabin” which takes more than 35 people and has a spa bath thingy and a sauna in the basement. Which reminds me: swimsuit.

So. I am tying to pack. And to pack sensibly. Which is difficult.

There will be duvet-covers etc. provided. Does etc. include towels, I wonder? Surely? Oh, what the f&%¤, I can always buy one Saturday morning, there will be shops, and though I have a problem picturing Trysil as the shopping capital of the world, surely they must be able to come up with a towel.

This is what I have so far, tell me if there’s something I seem to have forgotten, will you:
skis
skiing boots
skiing outfit (long woollen stockings, knee-length trousers, fleece top, windbreaker, mittens and fleece hat)
various undergarments covering most eventualities except “I’ll slip into something more comfortable”
pyjama top
pyjama bottom (one I’ve finished wearing it for the night)
slippers
socks (a couple of extra pairs in case of wetness)
woollen socks
extra fleece top, for inside wear in case of cold cabin
a couple of t-shirts
one pair of “dressy” trousers for the Saturday evening meal
ditto dressy top (x2, couldn’t make up my mind)
extra book (THE book not being packed yet as I will want to read more before I go)
some cds
camera, extra lenses, etc. (hm, film? No, no extra film in fridge, I wonder if they’ll have anything useable in Trysil)

Am I bringing a teddy bear? I don’t think so. Once I’ve packed toothbrush and such (makeup? can I be bothered?), that’s it.

I’m contemplating bringing the tripod, but it’s kinda heavy, and I don’t know whether I’ll actually use it at all. On the other hand, new(ish) moon over Trysil? Sounds like the tripod could be fun. Provided I have enough film. I packed a black and white film, but new(ish) moon in black and white? I don’t know.

So, tell me, what have I forgotten?

Voice on the stereo: Alanis Morisette “These are 21 things I want in a lover” (bloody good song)

Over the last few weeks I have had 24 hits from people searching for Mysteriet deg. Now that I have actually put the lyrics up, is it asking too much that the occasional visitor leave a comment to say “thanks”?

Voice on the stereo: Avril Lavigne

Reading, web and whisky. New job, again. Finally learning to use camera. Otherwise: procrastination – business as usual. Still no kitchen.

(I’m number 694)

Up until this morning I thought the new Norwegian artist called… now, what was her name again? Maria something? I want to say that her last name is Madrugada, but that’s obviously nonsense. Whatever. As I was saying, up until this morning I was prepared to view her in a benevolent light. Her voice is good. The song is catchy and, though pretty simplistic, not too imbecile. However, after having had the lines of the chorus looping in my head like a broken record all morning (it was on the radio – again) all my benevolence is degenerating into abhorrence. There should definitely be a law against writing tunes THIS catchy.

Quick netsearch and I can tell you that she is, in fact, called Maria Arredondo (the song being called Just A Little Heartache).

1. Do you wear any jewelry? What kind?
Hardly ever. I’ve got a copper arm band (fits around my upper arm) that I wear on occasion.
2. How often do you wear it?
Dunno. Once, twice a year?
3. Do you have any piercings? If so, where?
No.
4. Do you have any tattoos? If so, where?
No. I’d never be able to make up my mind as to what motif to go for.
5. What are your plans for the weekend?
Laze around. Catch the plane back to reality on Sunday.

The Friday Five is back…
1. What was your biggest accomplishment this year?
Getting a new job immediately, resulting in all of, eh, one week of “unemployment” (or holiday).
2. What was your biggest disappointment?
My complete failure to get anything done with the kitchen…
3. Will you be making any New Year’s resolutions?
My ongoing resolution is to get a grip and stop procrastinating. Ah. Next week, perhaps. Or the week after.
4. Where will you be at midnight? Do you wish you could be somewhere else?
At midnight tonight? At my parents’ house. And, no, I don’t particularly want to be anywhere else. On New Year’s Eve? I have no idea as of yet. Somewhere in Trondheim. I have, however, armed myself with a Moet & Chandon, so I’ll be allright.
5. Aside from (possibly) staying up late, do you have any other New Year’s traditions?
Watching the fireworks (in Norway, New Year is when we do fireworks). Drinking Champagne.

In case you hadn’t noticed, it’s sorta, kinda, almost Christmas. Due to several different causes, mainly that I want to spend time with my brother and parents while I have the chance, there might not be a whole lot of stuff going on here over the next week or two.

I’ll drop by, though.

Voice in my head: Avril Lavigne – Nobody’s Fool

Lycos have published their annual list of “most searched for”. I am tempted to try some of them on Google to see whether I show up in the results at all, but have decided I have better things to do. In the meantime, someone found me by searching google for “Always look” + “10 kr”. Cryptic. One has to wonder what it was they were actually looking for. Suggestions on a postcard.

I seem to have solved the reading problem, at least for the moment. While discussing it with my brother (who arrived yesterday for a pre-Christmas visit), my eyes were scanning my shelves and alighted on Bloom’s Western Canon, which I’ve been meaning to reread, and I thought “Why not?”. I read the preface on the bus this morning, so the drought is alleviated. My thanks for the reading vibes sent my way…

Voice in my head: Elton John – Nikita (why on earth?)