Why the heck would I bother to post anything if we’re on vacation?  To be honest, I have nothing better to do right now.  Ørjan is pretty much wasted (sleeping off a long day) and I don’t want to go out alone.  Everything feels so good down here.  The heat is fabulous, the shopping (we’ve gone way beyond our budget!) is fabulous, and the food is just fantastic.  We’ve been making it a point to dine at places that we don’t have up north and we’ve been trying to be minimal with our junkfood intake.  We spent the past two days shopping for home decor and finally got around to ordering wallpaper.  FINALLY.  We also made a quick IKEA trip and bought the essentials.

Photos will come later.  Much later.

I think it’s time for some wine before bed.  Across the street a live band/performance is playing and it’s actually quite nice.  I do believe I will enjoy this evening.

I can’t believe it’s been two weeks since I last updated but you’d better believe I’m happy that time is just flying by.  We have a toddler(s)-free mini vacation planned from the 28th until July 2nd.  We’ll be in Trondheim eating, sleeping, eating, shopping, (insert something intimate here), and sleeping.  After our brief getaway we’re heading back up north to Onøy for a family reunion.  It’s a bit of a shame that we’ll be missing some of the festival this year due to my work schedule and our travel plans but it’s not the worst situation.

I’m really trying to think about something to write here but I’m much too distracted by an episode of Oprah featuring a Sex Dr.  Oh dear god.  I like these type of episodes but haven’t we heard this all before?  If you’re wondering why I’m even mentioning this is because I’m home - I’m home during the middle of the day because my shift doesn’t start until 1.  Rare, but extremely lovely.  I’ve been working like crazy and some days I’m too exhausted to function but I’m also bringing in more money than before and I/we live much more comfortably.  Renovation projects are being completed, supplies are being ordered and paid for, and for once I actually have money in my secret vacation fund.

The kids are doing well and there’s not too much to worry about now.  Last week however Sophie was at the hospital.  Now before you start gasping it isn’t what you think.  I wish I could explain it, but she woke up one morning and her left arm was limp and sore to the touch.  After some x-rays the doctor explained that some children only experience joint dislocation once, but some children can suffer from it several times.  This news didn’t offer any kind of relief by the way but at least she’s back to her old joyful self.

If only this weather would improve.  It’s mid-June and it’s only 11°C.  I need some heat!

Holy crap I’ve been sick.  I was so excited because the Pinse holidays meant time off to relax but I spent most of this time in bed hacking and aching.  This is my second day off work which means it’s serious - I NEVER TAKE TIME OFF!  At least with all the rest I’ve been getting  I woke up without feeling dizzy.  Tomorrow I’m pushing myself to go back to work for an early shift and if I can manage it I’ll do the same for Friday.  Saturday is my first real day off in months and I can’t wait to take advantage of it.   On to the lists because I have no patience to actually write…

TO-DO:

• make hair appointment (Saturday 6th, 11am)
• call NAV to have dates changed
• call NAV about last payments
• new skattekort for work (Why?  Don’t ask!)
• move into the sunroom
• make hair appointment for Magnus
• Sophie’s healthstation appointment
• book hotel stay (What an awesome budget hotel!)
  
• reserve train tickets to Oslo
  

Good News:

• Holy weight-loss Batman!  I have no idea how and when it happened, but I’ve lost some weight and it shows.  It started out as a few measley kilos but I stepped on the scale last week to see that it’s actually 6 kilos!  I couldn’t believe it so I ran upstairs and started to try on jeans that I haven’t been wearing lately.  I’ve been wearing my uniform(s) to work and usually throw on a skirt and sweater when I get home so little did I know that my body was changing.  Jeans (THE skinny jeans!) from over 4 years ago fit well again, old jackets that barely buttoned up (thank you pregnancies!), and dresses that could barely be zipped up are back in my wardrobe.  Although I’ve dropped some weight I can’t say that I’m 100% satisfied with how I’ve done it.  My schedules have been slightly rough and I haven’t been eating well.  Either I don’t have time to eat or I grab something terrible to scarf on during my breaks.  I’m on my feet all day which means movement and exercise, but I feel sick just thinking about some of the things I’ve eaten.  I think now that I’m down a few pounds I’m going to use this momentum and do it right in the next couple of weeks.
• We’re also taking a small vacationto Trondheim.  When I say we I mean just Ørjan and I - no babies! This will be the first vacation since 2007 that we’ve had child-free.  I had actually made plans for Paris (Norwegian.no is fabulous) but with my work schedule and the hours I apparently? volunteered to take, it meant only one real week of vacation and it means that we can’t travel too far.  4 nights should be sufficient for shopping, restaurant-hopping, and sleep.  I can’t squeeze anything more in and don’t plan to do much except enjoy myself/ourselves for once.

Ahhhh… I’m sure there’s more I want to say but I can’t be bothered right now.  I’m still woozy and my tissue trail is starting to annoy Ørjan.

I like these songs much better than some of the favourites.

Russia: Anastasia Prihodko - Mamo
This song makes me cry and I don’t care who knows it.

“Mamo, a ti ž menі kazala jak ne žadaj
Mamo, a ja ž todі ne znala de ž ta bіda
Mamo, a ti ž menі kazala čas jak voda
Mamo, mamo, mamo
Ljubov – bіda”

Estonia: Urban Symphony - Rändajad
Just such a gorgeous song. If I were going to name my top girl crush for 2009 it would be Sandra Nurmsalu.

Hells yeah we won!

Og gratulerer med dagen Norge!

I’ve totally been working my butt off due to the  atrocious work schedule I just completed.  I’ve been doing openings and baking at 6am Monday to Saturday and then dragging myself over to Prix to take some extra shifts.  Working 6am-5pm/8pm has not easy but  I pushed myself.  Why?  Money.  We’re completely comfortable right now but I’ve been putting every little bit of extra aside for something big I have yet to mention to Ørjan.  Having to train someone new also irritated me to no end as well.  I write this publicly: I don’t think it’s going to work out. It hit me hard on Wednesday and I finally broke down and sent a text message with “I hate my life, I miss the kids” to Ørjan.  Needless to say I barely had any time with them and my heart was starting to ache.  At least my crummy work schedule is now over and hopefully I can get some more time at home.  Anyhow… who wants to read some good news before some bad?

The Good:

• My fun power walks to work in the mornings revealed that I’ve dropped a size or two.
• My secret money pot is overflowing and I can totally afford the big surprise and then some… but I think I’ll still wait!
• My work situation has improved with a vengeance!  (I just like saying that.  Oh yes.)
• All the freebies (and the consumer reimbursements) I’ve sent away for have arrived.
• Forgot to mention that Kim has moved in!  I’m so happy to be hosting her.
• I think I might finally have some time for a much needed hair appointment.  (Is one haircut per year really sufficient?)
• My Norwegian is improving… sort of.  I think I might be letting dialekt slip in too often.
• I started re-reading my French textbooks from university during breaks and now I feel so much better.

The bad:

• I think I might have eczema?  I have a few strange small to medium-sized patches on my arms.  I have no idea how I got them but they itch and I haven’t been able to wear a short-sleeved tee in public.
• Our craptop (Crappy Laptop?) that Ørjan insisted on buying two years ago has finally given up.  After countless hours of trying to save it I just took a fist to it and smashed a few keys off.  It felt good.
• Ørjan still isn’t back to work.
• The cat had a really bad scratch/sore under his tail from a scrap with the evil neighbour cat.
• My English stinks.  (It’s bad… we’re talking hot garbage here!)
• There is a tiny pack of cigarettes in my purse.  I was really stressed out during the last two weeks and somehow someone offered me one and now I’m smoking up to three a day!  I must quit!  Luckily it’s only been a couple of weeks but it still doesn’t make me feel any better after being smoke-free for the past three years.

• Print new ads and menus for work
• Organize and overhaul flickr account(s)
• Design suggested menu1 for the BOF festival (so excited!)
• Upload a zillion+1 photos
• Submit birthday order for mum
• Send sis her moving-out/housewarming package
• Submit H&M order (yay for -%25!)
• Revise current CV
• Send package to Øyvind
• Send surprise to mum
• Wash clothes and iron in tags for daycare
• Submit new time schedule for work
• Laundry!
• Organize lunches and dinners for the next weeks
• Transfer funds for the big win
• Work like a maniac and completely abandon my sanity
• Buy Ørjan’s birthday gift

• Ok.  I promise.   For real.  Next week after my body eases up and accepts my new work schedule I’m back to doing some serious cardio in the evenings.  Since I have to be at work for 6am (alarms goes off at 04:45!) and I can barely get there on time I’m thinking I should turn my walk to work into a serious 10 minute run.  Also, no more caffiene!
• I just realized Ørjan is reading this blog daily.  What for?  Who knows…He lives with me and experiences everything I write about.  (Kanskje du tror jeg skal snakke om hot sex mellom oss?  Eller kanskje du prøver å finne noe hemmelig?  It’s not gonna happen!)
• I dyed/highlighted my hair over the weekend to the colour I usually like only this time I didn’t care for the results much.  I think when I book my next hair appointment I’m splurging and getting a real cut and colour.
• I’ve been meaning to drag out my old textbooks from university but I still haven’t found the time.  Why?  I took French for 10+ years and today my fluent status is a joke.  I had a dream (in French) the other night and when I answered the boy back I answered in Norwegian!
• Our summer holidays are looking sweet.  Details later.
• I really need to get up the two sites I’ve been working on for months.

It’s a very bright and sun-shiny Thursday afternoon and I’m still lounging around in my nightie. My hair is a greasy-product mess, my breath smells like liverpate and bacon, and I’m loving every minute of it. I just ordered about $400 worth of home products and clothes for myself and the kids from H&M and I don’t feel guilty about it. I really needed this holiday like you wouldn’t believe. We didn’t really make any plans to go away for Easter (like many Norwegians do) and I was the one that insisted on staying home this year because I wanted some time off. It’s not really a vacation if you’re going away and you have to pack two extra suitcases for your toddlers and stress the entire long weekend. Now I can sleep in, lounge around an indulge in some Sims, and do some baking and cake decorating experiments that I’ve been wanting to cross off my list for some time.

Unfortunately for me I have to be back at work for 7am on Saturday because it’s not actually a red day and we’re bound to have an overflow of customers  since it’s the only day we’re open. I don’t mind since it won’t be all day, but it marks the first of my shifts that will be starting earlier.  *E’’s new job starts April 15th so I’ll be covering the opening hours from now on.  My job is still flexible enough but I’m dreading having to wake up at 5am and walk to work without an drop of coffee in body.  I least I’ll still have Saturday night, Sunday, and Monday to relax before my new schedule begins.

Our dinner plans will be simple this year.  I thought about turkey and the usual Ukrainian Easter food, but I really can’t be bothered this year.  I’ve been too busy to even give it a second thought and for once I don’t feel disappointed about it.  Ham, potatoes, veg - It sounds ok to me.  For our Easter breakfast Monday morning I’ll probably put in much more effort, but to ask me what I have planned yet… Who knows.  Waldorf salad and the usual breakfast items I put out?

If you don’t hear anything from me for a while it’s probably because I’ll be either in the house lounging or outside enjoying the weather.  I hope everyone has a great holiday.