The "Global Warming" debate has been raging for some time. While most now agree that global warming is a fact and that we as a species are to blame - the debate still rages on. It applies to us all, one way or another. Kelly and I believe we have a responsability to eachother and the world to take this issue seriously.

Regardless of what the popular idea about Global Warming is is, there's still a lot of debate about what to do.
Should we act, shouldn't we?

The video I have posted puts an end to this debate. It is it's silver bullet so to speak. And approaches the question with simple logic we can all understand and relate to.

I recommend you take ten minutes off and watch it. Regardless of your personal viewpoint on global warming.
It applies to both "camps" as well as people who are yet to make up their mind.

Wedding photos from our Norwegian wedding are now available!

This is us at the party after church
And this is everyone who was present at the party
You can see the entire album here - or by clicking on either of the two photos.

Kidnapping and 'torture'
I guess you will see posts on my friends' blogs about this in the near future.
According to good Norwegian tradition the bride and groom will be kidnapped by their friends and severely humiliated before the wedding. As my friends did not have a lot of chance before my wedding it came now - before the blessing in June.

Kelly, Debra, Joe and Amanda all knew what would happen. So when my friends showed up with determination and stern faces they were not shocked.
I was, however.

I will publish more photos - and videos of the event when I get this from my friends.

In short, I was kidnapped and they had me do all sorts of things. Play with toys in a toy store, "Play" the flute (I can't play to save my life) at all the outdoor restaurants in Karl Johan's Street (Central street in Oslo). They had me interview people with incredibly stupid questions - and a sausage as a microphone...

And then, to top it off we played laser tag and paintball. At paintball I was given a protective vest, mask and a bunny mask. No marker (weapon). I was told to run, and the others were given markers.
And instead of paintballs they were loaded with rubber balls. Which hurt more than paintballs.

Despite the vest protecting my torso, my friends are good shots and sometimes decided to aim at unprotected areas. Hence I have over a dozen bruises like this:

Ok. This one is the worst one, but you can definitely see them all. And believe me, I could feel it when I was shot! Ouch!
Next time we play paintball I am wearing pants, long sleeved sweater AND a gun. Thank goodness for that vest though. Without it I would have many dozen bruises.

Stay tuned for more updates.

Smoked Mackerel SMUDI, anyone?

Smoothies are here! I am not sure if Norwegians have always had smoothies, but it sure seems like it is a new fad here. There are smoothie kiosks at the train station, smoothie fruit juice drinks at stores. I have seen food magazines, advertisement magazines, and parent magazines with smoothie recipes. The smoothie has indeed arrived in Norway!

At one of my jobs, I make smoothies almost weekly. When the idea of smoothies was first presented to me at this job, my colleagues made it sound like it was some sort of new thing. I have been making smoothies for over ten years. They are not difficult to make so I am not really sure why my colleagues would rather not make them alone... but would prefer that I and one other colleague make them.

In fact... I am not really that good. Far too experimental and health-focused. 10 years ago my smoothies tasted good. Now they just taste like nutritional supplements. :)

Vegar has recently started making smoothies for us. His first three tries were MUCH tastier than mine have been lately. I encouraged his new talent and urged him to continue advancing in this delicate artform.

I came home the other night from work. The first thing from his mouth... "I made the worst smoothie ever today! I couldn't even drink it all!"

"You didn't throw it out," said I; waste not, want not is my golden rule! Yes, he HAD thrown it out! "Well, what was in it! Maybe I would have liked it! I can eat anything, you know!"

He began to count out the items... "2 apples, 2 kiwis, 6 grapes..." and then comes the doozie... "half a smoked mackerel."

"WHAT?!?! Smoked FISH in a SMOOTHIE?!"

So, maybe Norwegians haven't exactly understood the pleasantly scrumptious meaning of a smoothie entirely. Maybe by changing the name to "Smudi" they have somehow changed the meaning into "anything that can be eaten, blended up and served as dessert."

I knew that Norwegians were crazy about fish... BUT...

Next time I am at the smoothie stand at Oslo S, I will be sure to say "hold the sugar... and the Mackerel!

Find one difference between the two pictures below...




No, it is not the dimentions of the photo...
Let me give you a hint, it's a machine that washes clothes.
A washingmachine! Yes. Kelly and I recently got our new Miele washingmachine.
A much better alternative to the laundry room used by everyone down in the basement.

It's heavy... 102 kg (225 pounds) heavy. Which is why i am very very happy it was delivered, and put into place by a someone else. To get it into it's place, the bathroom door had to get off it's hinges, and the machine itself had to be lifted over the sink. I am NOT looking forward to getting it out of there! I guess I'll have to ask some of my friends to come and help get it out.

But, it has it's benefits. It takes good care of our clothes, it's very very quiet - so quiet in fact that when we did our first batch of laundry I got up from the desk, and went to the bathroom to check if it was still running. Which it was.
So, for all those of you who will come to visit, you may now bring your laundry. It will be taken well care of at the K&V residence.