Sunday, August 30, 2009

Ok, y'all know the Swedish Chef is the love of my life, but...

... Well, let's just say I wouldn't mind having a little sumthin'-sumthin' with this guy either...



*sigh* Nostalgia... Why can't we get Cartoon Network as it used to be?! Like, with the old cartoons as well as this kinda stuff? WITHOUT THE NORWEGIAN DUBBING?! AND WHERE DID JOHNNY BRAVO GO?! I seriously miss the dude. *tear*


Signing off,
Elise

Saturday, August 29, 2009

A day wasted academically speaking, but with lots of thoughts (brace yourself).

Hokai. Back again.

Just finished watching "Moonwalker" on TV, when I really should have continued writing my essay due Fri. It was ok, but you could see that Michael's vids had been pieced together. A little... what's the word... "synthetic"? I didn't really manage to catch the very beginning of it, but with all due respect, Your Majesty, the King of Pop, it just didn't quite... do it for me. I mean, his vids are basically stories in themselves, so trying to piece them together into one story might be too much of a tall order. I dunno. As I said, it was ok.

Furthermore, I'd just finished watching the last part of the televised funeral of Ted Kennedy as well, so by all means, my opinion could have been a little affected by that as well. Catholic as I am, it felt quite nice to see how the ceremonies in the States were in comparison to those here in Norway. Mostly the same, though with a few tweaks to the sequence. By tweaks I mean omissions. But okay. I'll leave it at that. All of the people of political importance in the States seemed to be there: President and Mrs. Obama, Pres. Clinton and Senator Clinton, Pres. and Mrs. Bush, Senator McCain, Senator... Oh, what's her name? You know, the "pigs-wearing-lipstick" Senator... Sarah Palin! Right, that's the one. And then Kennedy's family was there: the few remaining members of the Camelot era (to put it that way) and their kids and grandkids. The eulogies were so moving. They mostly followed the same layout in no particular order: first an address to the family members and the congregation, then impressions of the mass and/or personal sentiments with respect to Kennedy's passing, personal experiences with him, then an alternation between general sentiments and personal experiences before rounding it off. Clichéd to some extent, I guess, but it was interesting to see how alike his sons were to himself - as well as JFK. The latter kind of resemblance (viz. between that of Ted Kennedy's sons and JFK) was the most striking, albeit obvious in that he was their uncle (!). I mean, the eyes, the slightly nasal voices, the marked angular jawlines, and the pronunciation + intonation were striking. Again, it didn't really come as no surprise, but it was so incredibly fascinating to watch the similarities. I have to say, though, that President Obama's speech was for me the best one there, even though -- or perhaps because -- he had a slightly more distanced relationship to the late Ted Kennedy than being a family member.

Oh, and the thing that moved me the most were "Panis Angelicus" (Bread of Angels) performed by Plácido Domingo and Yo-Yo Ma (worldwide reknowned cellist) and "Ave Maria" (Hail Mary; Schubert version) by... some soprano who, due to ignorance, will remain nameless. It might be because I haven't been well lately that I was moved to tears by these performances, but seriously, they were indescribably beautiful. Especially "Panis Angelicus". My God, to think You've created such beautiful voices is just downright amazing!

But pursuing the topic of me not feeling very well, this basically started on Fri. I had 2 classes from 8am to 12pm that day, so at the end of the classes I hadn't eaten since 7:20 or so. So you can imagine I was starving by then. The sound even resonated throughout the classroom (not to the same extent as in ExPhil for those who were so unfortunate as to experience that! Again, sorry...), but it was somewhat uncomfortable for yours truly, at the very least. Anyway, as I had some time inbetween the end of class and doing lunch with a friend of mine, I decided to hand in the police certificate to the faculty administration (to make sure that my criminal record was clean before starting the teaching practice at the school). So after having gobbled down some cottage cheese with strawberry jam, I noticed that my head was still spinning a little. I was clearly hungry. Nonetheless, I had to hand it in, as I wanted to get the whole shebang over with once and for all.

(I'd received a general police certificate which the admin. didn't accept because the relevant articles on teaching in Norwegian law weren't specified. The police sent me a revised one instead -- this time with the wrong name, address and social security number (!!!). Then, after 2 weeks, I finally got the right one (with an apology for the inconvenience on a post-it note).)

So yeah, I handed it in, and after a little hesitance from their part and a bit of 'splaining/telling them off, the administration accepted it. Thank God! I so didn't need that, especially when I was tired, hungry and prone to be exceedingly cranky at that moment. Blargh! Not a good combo.

Either way, I arrived at the cafeteria to meet my friend, I sat down, took off my jacket and waited. I remember feeling a little cold right then, but I didn't pay much attention to that. It persisted, though, and I really started to get a little worried, as my head was still spinning a little and my limbs felt like lead. So after having eaten and chatted a bit, I went home. I literally spent all of that evening lying on my bed, head spinning, limbs feeling extraordinarily heavy, muscles aching suspiciously more than usual after my first workout, and body temperature seemingly alternating between hot and cold. It was normal, though. I just couldn't understand what was going on. Was this a case of the swine flu? Knock on wood! Again, my temperature was around 37C, so I wasn't really sick per se. Just to be on the safe side, I took some paracetamol as I was lying there gulping down tea, chamomile infusion and orange juice (the last few deciliters I had left in the fridge) and tried to chomp on some bread for the sake of getting some solid food in my gut as well. Better to nip it at the bud if it were to be a case of a fever or flu. Didn't work. So before I went to sleep I took another paracetamol tablet and prayed for it to pass. Seriously, right now I don't have time to get sick! I have to have enough energy to finish up my essay!

Right now, after having alternated between sleeping and going to the bathroom during the night and after having spent too much time taking it easy when I woke up to make sure it was all out of my system before I did anything else, I feel much better. I know what it was, but what caused it is up for speculation. I reckon it was probably a combination of unexpectedly much wind and rain, me not eating regularly that day, sitting under a vent in the cafeteria, my sweating after having scurried back and forth from home to campus and around campus, and too much lactic acid in my muscles after my first workout. Mmm... lovely. I'm sure many of you can relate to something similar to this. It's not exactly cloud 9, to put it that way.

Besides uni and a new course program, there's also another issue that's been keeping my mind occupied. About 2.5 weeks ago, I got a text from my mom that a close family friend found a tumor in her uterus. The doctors said it was the size of a child's head (I guess by this they meant the size of a baby's head). They weren't sure if it was benign or malignant, but after having taken a CAT scan they could at least determine that it wasn't spreading, nor was the tumor growing. As this was a delicate matter -- and since she had told this to my mom -- I didn't want to talk to Mom's friend just yet to express my sympathies and support for her and her fam.

Yet just recently I plucked up the courage to send her a text, at least. By that time Mom 'n' Dad had just visited her and her husband, so I thought that she must know that I know about it by now. Anyway, I sent her a message expressing my shock and that she was in my prayers, trying consciously to avoid expressing pity. That's the last thing she needs at the moment. In such cases you want to tread carefully. Support, yes, but pity, no. I rounded it off elegantly with "big hug, Elise". Anyway, she really appreciated it and even told me "if only you knew how great hugs you give, Elise!". A tad awkward as this was more of a virtual hug rather than a physical one (I haven't seen her for ages), but ok. It was nice to get that verification that what I wrote didn't offend her in any way. You never know how people may react in such cases. Anyway, she told me she was doing fine and that she was going to have another run of tests in about 3 weeks time. Apparently the doctors don't want to take any tests of the tumor until they have extracted it completely. This to prevent any potential spreading of any cancerous cells. When this will be done, I don't know as of yet, but I reckon she'll either tell me or Mom about it. For the mean time they try to think as little of it as possible.

There are times like these when you get a slight wake-up call. We aren't as invincible as we'd like to think. We are but mere mortals. You think that these things only happen to those outside your circle of acquaintances, not to those within it. The thing is, they can. That's the cynical, cold, hard truth. I know this from experience, and those of you who have really stuck by me for eons know what I'm talking about.

When I think about this even more, I find that life in itself is basically a constant struggle for survival. You never really think about it when you're in the middle of it, but with every action, be it done consciously or unconsciously, you really are just ensuring that you'll continue living. The thing is just that there are only a few things that are under your control. To put it a little figuratively, you never know what will happen to you when you turn a corner. As Forrest Gump's mom always said: "Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you're gonna get." This could never sound truer right now. But the key is -- as we all may be aware of -- is to just take what comes your way and deal with it when it comes. To worry too much about what comes around the bend will result in too much worrying and paranoia. Then again, to worry too little about it is apathetic and cynical. So the golden rule is basically to worry, but not worry too much. All things in moderation. And appreciate all the good things that happen to you, 'cause these are your life's little gems.

Man, this was deep. Heh, again, news such as this kinda gets you thinking.

Now, a little request for you readers out there who might be Christian/Catholic or religious in any way. You might have guessed it by now. Could you please include this family friend of ours in your prayers? Both she and her family need all of our support right now. She's being brave about it all, though, despite all of this. But still, what else can you do but be brave in such a situation? Who wouldn't have to accept what life throws at you? You'd be a fool if you didn't. As she told me: "Life isn't a cakewalk, but you just have to make the most of it."

I know your prayers help. Thanks.



Signing off,
Elise



Ps.: Here's Plácido Domingo's performance from Ted Kennedy's funeral plus the choir singing "Let Nothing Ever Grieve Thee" (Brahms). Domingo starts his performance during the Communion, at about 2:04. You can perhaps see/hear why it moved me to tears.

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Eye and ear candy. Mostly ear.

This is the song I've had in my head the past few days:



I love this sound. And the vid itself is very artsy fartsy. Love the lighting in it.

And for any of you Simpsons fans out there, one of my favorite characters and one of my favorite scenes from the movie:



Will write more once I get more time.


Signing out,
Elise

Saturday, August 08, 2009

Small talk, metablogging and something to get y'all through the weekend.

It's been eons since my last blog. I should get a grip on myself! Seriously.

Finally some time to ever-so-gently place my arse on a chair and sit in front of the computer to blog. Although I don't really feel much like blogging. Or, well, I do, but a complete willingness within is not present.

Aunt, uncle and cousin headed home for about 2 hrs ago. The house is so quiet now. Suddenly now it feels like something's missing. Like our family is not complete without them. Strange, but it'll wear off after a while. Besides, I'll be heading back soon myself so definitely no worries there.
I'm still feeling kinda unprepared to go back to uni. There are a few things that I feel I need to get done before I can really get started. Actually I feel kinda nervous thinking about which school I'll do my teacher training in. How will it turn out? How will the pupils act?

I seriously hope they won't be like the way we were in Elementary + Junior High. *shiver* Mind you, we gave our teachers a really tough time, Maths in particular. We (or rather, some of the guys in our class who shall remain nameless) wore out one teacher after another until we graduated with one teacher who simply refused us to get at him. Patient to the extreme, he was. Bless him. Never raised his voice once. Not sure if I want to be that kind of teacher, though. Keep everything cooped up inside and not letting your students know how infuriated you are with them. Patience is of the essence, yes, but when someone stretches it enough, I'll snap. One way or another.

Anyway, worries aside, just got back from our stay at the cabin. Really nice trip. Even though it wasn't perhaps as quiet as we'd reckoned it to be, it was still very fun. Playing Scrabble and singing our hearts out with our Magic Microphone (the Filipino near-equivalent to Singstar), fishing, sleeping as long as we wished (almost), laughing like heck, and driving around enjoying the scenery. Virtually no disturbances at all. *sigh*

Hm. I don't really have much to say at the mo. I blame that speck of unwillingness to blog. Sometimes when I blogged, I used to end up writing endlessly long posts. Have a look at some of my earlier posts and you'll know what I mean. Now, however, not so much. Strange. It just doesn't come to me as often as before, I guess. The wish to really write something, I mean. Nowadays it just seems to be small talk. Such as this. There are tons of thoughts just waiting to be written down, philosophies on life, love, work, etc., but for some reason I never have access to a computer whenever these thoughts crop up. Bah. Just my luck, I guess.

So, what's my answer to that? Isolate myself from the rest of the world for hours a day in front of the computer waiting for these thoughts to emerge from my subconsciousness? Obviously the answer is "no". So what do I do? Accept it's just a matter of timing? Yeah, why not?

Ooh, randomness! Don't think I've posted this before, but just found a clip from early SNL, from a skit called "Coffee Talk" with host Linda Richman. Yes, it's Mike Myers, the guy behind Austin Powers and yes, he speaks Yiddisch (*heart*). Apparently he based this character on his ex-mother-in-law. Gotta love the accent!

A third affirmative: Yes, Madonna and Roseanne Barr are on the show as well. Watch, laugh and watch out for schpilkes in your genecktickezoink!



Another one with Linda and Barbra Streisand, her idol. If this doesn't get you verklempt, I don't know what will. :-P



*rofl*

Oh, and check out ("Mrs.") Stephen Fry's blog too, while you're at it: http://mrsfrysdiary.blogspot.com/ Definitely a source for some laughs -- or at least a chuckle or two. ;-)



Signing off,
Elise