Long time, no blog. Let's just say I've been really quite busy these past few weeks. I started with my exam reviewing in the beginning of this month and feel rather good about that, as my first exams will be on Dec. 4. Uy. So, where's my confidence at? My reply in this case would be "no comment". A great big part of me just wants to get this over and done with.
Meanwhile, a small tradition of my unconsciousness has been to find a theme song for the days before and during the exams. Yes, it's a rather peculiar tradition of mine, which I really wasn't aware of until a few days ago, as so far I tend to get a song stuck in my head for no apparent reason throughout this time. It just pops up in a few weeks before exams. And it doesn't necessarily have anything to do with them or have anything related to overcoming an obstacle. My first semester here in Oslo I had a S&G song in my head, "Feelin' Groovy". Now this one has at least a connection with destressing, at the very least. Then there was... what was the song for my second semester, again? I kinda appear to have forgotten. I think it was a tie between A-Ha's "You are the One", Bananarama's "Nathan Jones" and Ylvis's "Reven på hønsejakt" or something. Now, I don't remember much of my 3rd or 4th semesters, but according to my YouTube list, I must have listened to Billy Joel's "River of Dreams" or something of the likes in my 3rd semester and Elvis and Céline Dion's "If I Can Dream" (still love it!), George Harrison's "Here Comes the Sun" (do-do-do-do) and a Josh Groban drum solo in my 4th. What's strange, however, is that I still haven't managed to find my song(s) for this semester. Wuzzupwiddat?
So far I've been going all Ralph Wiggum and John Lennon ("Ah-no-le-reeshee-gad-blee-bloochigoo", cf. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eONdc_qR3Mg; and the song in this clip didn't really appeal to me either). So yeah, I'm still searching for that one song. Or those songs.
Well, there's always Rob Thomas's "Little Wonders"... Or maybe not. But then there's Switchfoot's "Dare You to Move", which is also a very nice one... Maybe so. Josh Groban's "Caruso" or "Hymne a l'amour"? Europe's "The Final Countdown" (*whimper*)? Queen's "The Show Must Go On" (õ.O)? Kate Bush's "Wuthering Heights"? Kate Bush and Peter Gabriel's "Don't Give Up"? Yeah, I listened to that last one earlier today whilst doing yoga and I think that would be a potential candidate. Or maybe the Thrills' "Big Sur"? Potential choice as well. It'll come to me in due time, I reckon.
The Thrills' "Big Sur":
Kate Bush & Peter Gabriel's "Don't Give Up":
Not that this is the thing which should worry me the most. Of course.
Right. Off to Bedfordshire. Big day tomorrow.
Signing off,
Elise
Friday, November 21, 2008
Monday, November 10, 2008
Pray for him! || ¡Rogad por él!
I feel as if it's my duty to give you the URL to this moving blog:
http://philipgerardjohnson.blogspot.com/
His condition is heartwrenching and I ask for all the faithful reading this blog to pray for him that he may continue his life and become a living witness to the goodness and benevolence of the Lord. Please, keep him in mind during your daily (or otherwise regular) prayers as his condition is worsening. Additionally, in accordance with his wishes, please also pray for those who are suffering from similar pains and those who are doing much worse than himself. If it is possible for you to offer masses for him, please do so. He needs as many prayers as possible!
May God deliver him from his sufferings and grant him life.
Praying,
Elise
* * * *
Siento que es mi obligación que os doy el enlace a ese blog tan conmovedor:
http://philipgerardjohnson.blogspot.com/
Su condición es desgarradora y os pido a los fieles que leen ese blog que rueguéis para que pueda seguir viviendo y convertirse en un testigo vivo a la bondad y benevolencia del Señor. Por favor, tenedlo en cuenta durante vuestra oración diaria (o por otra manera regular) ya que su condición está peorándose. Además, según sus deseos, por favor, orad también a ellos que están sufriendo de enfermedades parecidas y ellos que tienen situaciones más graves que él mismo. Si es posible para vosotros a dedicar misas para él, por favor, hacedlo. ¡Necesita la mayor cantidad de oraciones posible!
Que Dios le libere de sus sufrimientos y le conceda la vida.
Orando,
Elise
http://philipgerardjohnson.blogspot.com/
His condition is heartwrenching and I ask for all the faithful reading this blog to pray for him that he may continue his life and become a living witness to the goodness and benevolence of the Lord. Please, keep him in mind during your daily (or otherwise regular) prayers as his condition is worsening. Additionally, in accordance with his wishes, please also pray for those who are suffering from similar pains and those who are doing much worse than himself. If it is possible for you to offer masses for him, please do so. He needs as many prayers as possible!
May God deliver him from his sufferings and grant him life.
Praying,
Elise
* * * *
Siento que es mi obligación que os doy el enlace a ese blog tan conmovedor:
http://philipgerardjohnson.blogspot.com/
Su condición es desgarradora y os pido a los fieles que leen ese blog que rueguéis para que pueda seguir viviendo y convertirse en un testigo vivo a la bondad y benevolencia del Señor. Por favor, tenedlo en cuenta durante vuestra oración diaria (o por otra manera regular) ya que su condición está peorándose. Además, según sus deseos, por favor, orad también a ellos que están sufriendo de enfermedades parecidas y ellos que tienen situaciones más graves que él mismo. Si es posible para vosotros a dedicar misas para él, por favor, hacedlo. ¡Necesita la mayor cantidad de oraciones posible!
Que Dios le libere de sus sufrimientos y le conceda la vida.
Orando,
Elise
Thursday, November 06, 2008
Aletargada.
Un homenaje pequeño al presidente electo reciente de EEUU. ¡Nadie ha dicho que su nombre era fácil de articular! ¡¡¡Felicidades!!! Espero que no hayas mordido más que puedes masticar... (No sé si se puede decir esto en español - ¡corrígeme! Tengo ganas de comprar un libro de dichos y expresiones fijas en español, pero todavía no he tenido tiempo para hacerlo. Estoy pensando en comprar el de Espasa, ¿alguien sabe si ese es recomendable, o si hay otro mejor? ¡Estoy abierta por sugerencias!) Pues, el tiempo lo dirá, ¿no? Vamos a ver si se puede verdaderamente.
En otras noticias, los exámenes se acercan y estoy intentando a estudiar. Pero ahora NO TENGO GANAS PARA HACERLO. Entonces estoy escuchando música mientras exploro la red en vez de esto. Tal vez haré el yoga esa noche también - es decir, cuando mi cena ya se ha asentado. Ya verémos.
Bueno. Ahora no tengo mucho para escribir. Pocas noticias y esas son aburridísimas, entonces no voy a molestaros más con esas bagatelas. Entonces será mejor no escribir más por ahora.
¡Hasta el blog próximo!
Despidiéndose,
Elise
Saturday, November 01, 2008
Brainwashed or just easy to pronounce?
I'm going for the last alternative. That and because his family may have mentioned Obama's name a lot in the house. He's cute, though. I remember CNN showed this vid some 6 weeks back and I tried to find it on the net ever since. Now, as I'm taking a short break from SFG ("Systemic Functional Grammar, or rather "Sane Friendly Giant") I suddenly stumbled upon it. Yay. *tired and content*
Anyway, looking forward to seeing the results of the election. Although right now it seems that Obama's in the lead, it's only just barely. The official count on Tuesday's gonna be a real thriller.
Seeing and hearing Obama speak, I can't help but thinking how proud Martin Luther King, jr. would have been had he still been alive. It doesn't really matter if he becomes president or not, I think he'd still be proud to see that he reached as far as he reached.
Be that as it may, this election has to be one of the most thrilling and the most revolutionary election in the history of the US. May the best candidate win. Buena suerte a ambos!
Signing off,
Elise
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
A very enlightening conversation of nothing of consequence, i.e. "Much Ado About Nothing" (#2, i.e., the sequel)
Just a quick post before I embark on yet another academic journey into the lands of Systemic Functional Grammar (or Hispan. Lit... Or Conversational Spanish... we'll see). As me and Jalita were obliged to divide our marathon into two laps last week, there were a few things we had to clarify. To be honest, as far as yours truly is concerned, the humor of it all faded a little as we proceded to the end of this message conversation. Note also the interesting development of "etc." to "&c.":
* * * * * * * *
Me:
My dear Ms. Christiane,
The purpose of this post is to hereby thank you - yet again - for having bestowed upon me your presence in this by no means complete cinematic marathon (which, incidentally, was not concerning physical exercise, unless one takes into account the muscles used for laughing). I enjoyed myself indeed and I hope this may be continued on a future, albeit not too distant, occasion, so that we may gaze upon Mr. Firth's fine eyes, utterly justifiable pride, somewhat odd-looking pants, exceedingly long side burns and - lastly - wet shirt.
Mary: "Misfortunes, we are told, are sent to test our fortitude, and may often reveal themselves as blessings in disguise."
Lydia: "Lord, I'm so hungry!"
Yours etc.,
Elise of West Frontier Hall (yes, I do have an exceedingly small hall, and yes my windows are full west, but that is of little matter)
Jalita:
Dear Ms. Elise,
Indeed, it is I that should be thanking you for the most excellent party you held in honour of 'Pride and Prejudice.' Yes, we must and shall continue the immense pleasure that comes from gazing upon a television screen when such beautiful pictures of times past rolls across it.
I have an inquiry about our next meeting. Will you be hosting the movie marathon, or will you be as good as to call upon me? I wonder for you have never before been invited to my humble abode. Though I do not possess a television apparatus, I am the proud owner of a laptop on which I can play digital video disks.
So kindly think carefully about my proposal, and I beg of you, to answer as quickly as possible! I hold my breath in suspense. My poor nerves! You don't know how I suffer! But then I never complain!
Yours e&.,
Ms. Christhiane of See-Around Cottage
Me:
Dear Ms. Christhiane,
I humbly bestow upon you my sincerest gratitudes for your most speedy reply of yester-day, and can only wallow in my own shame for not having had any opportunity to send you a more swift reply than this. However, rest assured, it will pass. No doubt more swiftly than it should.As for your kind request for hosting the sequel of our cinematic cerebral and ocular extravaganza, I accept it with great elation and eagerness, since - as you have so considerately and justly observed - I have never had the pleasure to call upon you on your most agreeable place of residence. I can answer for myself, I have no fixed engagements besides yet another day of extensive reading and taking turns (it's so refreshing!). Thus, I hereby give you leave to exhale. To have an apparatus which does not coincide with the regular definition of a television, is of little matter to me. I shall be quite content with viewing it on a carriable personal computer.
Pray, when are you available the remainder of this week? As you may be well aware, I am obliged to attend a lecture to-morrow from 12 to 14, but - I flatter myself - I will be vacant the rest of this week apart from this mandatory seance. Due to our rapid discussion the other day upon your departure, would Friday be most convenient for your person, perchance?
I await your reply with great enthusiasm, dear friend, and deeply apologize for having caused so much trouble with respect to your nerves and for having vexed you greatly. I notice from your previous letter that you are quite put out. However, I am sure that this will swiftly pass as well.
Yours &c.,
Ms. Elise of West Frontier Hall
Jalita:
Dear Ms. Elise,
I thank you for your quick reply. Let me than you for your excellent suggestion, for Friday is a highly convenient day for a visit, although I do have a few priory fixed engagements. I myself am obliged to do household necessities, take a turn about the room, and to attend a group meeting at three to four in the afternoon, but thereafter I shall have no more engagements, unless, of course, we fix this date for the continuation of our Pride and Prejudice cinematic marathon.
At what hour would you be so kind as to come to me? I was pleased with meeting at 6 last time, and meeting at this hour shall provide me with the ability to get myself in order after finishing the obligations outside the home this day.
And I thank you again for your relatively quick reply yesterday, and I bed of you to make haste once more as the day, I hope, we now have agreed upon, is fast approaching.
Yours &c.,
Ms. Christhiane of See-Around Cottage
Me:
Dear Ms. Christhiane,
Yet again, I humbly thank you for your most cordial reply. I dare say I would be honored to call on you upon the sixth hour tomorrow. Shall we perchance encounter ourselves on the carriage stop - I believe the less archaic term for it is "tube station" - of your home? As I am not accustomed to the area surrounding your most agreeable cottage, I would be very much obliged to encounter your person on that point instead of walking around aimlessly speculating if the passing-by redcoats are here to subdue the discontented populus or to defeat us against the French.
I humbly implore you for providing a hasty reply, as even now our date of encounter is hard upon our heels - make haste, make haste, make haste!
Yours &c.,
Ms. Elise of West Frontier Hall
Jalita:
Dear Ms. Elise
I am sorry to say, but there is a slight problem meeting at the carriage stop. If everything has its due course, the masses spilling out of the carriages will most probably prevent you from catching sight of me and not be carried with the wave. I therefore propose that you choose a seat at the very front of the carriages. When you reach the destination, follow the flow of folk down the flight of steps, under the underpassage, over the road, down another staircase, and you ought to see the green sign of the convinience shop, Kiwi. I shall meet you there when you descend from the stairs.
Yours &c.,
Ms. Christhiane of See-Around Cottage
Me:
Dear Ms. Christhiane,
That of which you write is of little matter. I am certain that given the circumstances surrounding the disembarkment of the carriage I will be able to maneuvre myself towards the great green sign of the all-too-familiar convenience shop. I look very much forward to seeing you there to-morrow.
Yours &c.,
Ms. Elise of West Frontier Hall
Postscript: It has come to my attention that there was a slight error in my last letter. Notably, the passing redcoats are not to "defeat us against the French", but rather "defend us against the French". Surely redcoats are not that cruel to their own countrymen. "I remember once when I fancied a redcoat myself - and I do still, in my heart..."
* * * * * * * *
*LOL* This is the longest conversation I've had with this kind of language. Really great fun!
Signing off,
Elise
* * * * * * * *
Me:
My dear Ms. Christiane,
The purpose of this post is to hereby thank you - yet again - for having bestowed upon me your presence in this by no means complete cinematic marathon (which, incidentally, was not concerning physical exercise, unless one takes into account the muscles used for laughing). I enjoyed myself indeed and I hope this may be continued on a future, albeit not too distant, occasion, so that we may gaze upon Mr. Firth's fine eyes, utterly justifiable pride, somewhat odd-looking pants, exceedingly long side burns and - lastly - wet shirt.
Mary: "Misfortunes, we are told, are sent to test our fortitude, and may often reveal themselves as blessings in disguise."
Lydia: "Lord, I'm so hungry!"
Yours etc.,
Elise of West Frontier Hall (yes, I do have an exceedingly small hall, and yes my windows are full west, but that is of little matter)
Jalita:
Dear Ms. Elise,
Indeed, it is I that should be thanking you for the most excellent party you held in honour of 'Pride and Prejudice.' Yes, we must and shall continue the immense pleasure that comes from gazing upon a television screen when such beautiful pictures of times past rolls across it.
I have an inquiry about our next meeting. Will you be hosting the movie marathon, or will you be as good as to call upon me? I wonder for you have never before been invited to my humble abode. Though I do not possess a television apparatus, I am the proud owner of a laptop on which I can play digital video disks.
So kindly think carefully about my proposal, and I beg of you, to answer as quickly as possible! I hold my breath in suspense. My poor nerves! You don't know how I suffer! But then I never complain!
Yours e&.,
Ms. Christhiane of See-Around Cottage
Me:
Dear Ms. Christhiane,
I humbly bestow upon you my sincerest gratitudes for your most speedy reply of yester-day, and can only wallow in my own shame for not having had any opportunity to send you a more swift reply than this. However, rest assured, it will pass. No doubt more swiftly than it should.As for your kind request for hosting the sequel of our cinematic cerebral and ocular extravaganza, I accept it with great elation and eagerness, since - as you have so considerately and justly observed - I have never had the pleasure to call upon you on your most agreeable place of residence. I can answer for myself, I have no fixed engagements besides yet another day of extensive reading and taking turns (it's so refreshing!). Thus, I hereby give you leave to exhale. To have an apparatus which does not coincide with the regular definition of a television, is of little matter to me. I shall be quite content with viewing it on a carriable personal computer.
Pray, when are you available the remainder of this week? As you may be well aware, I am obliged to attend a lecture to-morrow from 12 to 14, but - I flatter myself - I will be vacant the rest of this week apart from this mandatory seance. Due to our rapid discussion the other day upon your departure, would Friday be most convenient for your person, perchance?
I await your reply with great enthusiasm, dear friend, and deeply apologize for having caused so much trouble with respect to your nerves and for having vexed you greatly. I notice from your previous letter that you are quite put out. However, I am sure that this will swiftly pass as well.
Yours &c.,
Ms. Elise of West Frontier Hall
Jalita:
Dear Ms. Elise,
I thank you for your quick reply. Let me than you for your excellent suggestion, for Friday is a highly convenient day for a visit, although I do have a few priory fixed engagements. I myself am obliged to do household necessities, take a turn about the room, and to attend a group meeting at three to four in the afternoon, but thereafter I shall have no more engagements, unless, of course, we fix this date for the continuation of our Pride and Prejudice cinematic marathon.
At what hour would you be so kind as to come to me? I was pleased with meeting at 6 last time, and meeting at this hour shall provide me with the ability to get myself in order after finishing the obligations outside the home this day.
And I thank you again for your relatively quick reply yesterday, and I bed of you to make haste once more as the day, I hope, we now have agreed upon, is fast approaching.
Yours &c.,
Ms. Christhiane of See-Around Cottage
Me:
Dear Ms. Christhiane,
Yet again, I humbly thank you for your most cordial reply. I dare say I would be honored to call on you upon the sixth hour tomorrow. Shall we perchance encounter ourselves on the carriage stop - I believe the less archaic term for it is "tube station" - of your home? As I am not accustomed to the area surrounding your most agreeable cottage, I would be very much obliged to encounter your person on that point instead of walking around aimlessly speculating if the passing-by redcoats are here to subdue the discontented populus or to defeat us against the French.
I humbly implore you for providing a hasty reply, as even now our date of encounter is hard upon our heels - make haste, make haste, make haste!
Yours &c.,
Ms. Elise of West Frontier Hall
Jalita:
Dear Ms. Elise
I am sorry to say, but there is a slight problem meeting at the carriage stop. If everything has its due course, the masses spilling out of the carriages will most probably prevent you from catching sight of me and not be carried with the wave. I therefore propose that you choose a seat at the very front of the carriages. When you reach the destination, follow the flow of folk down the flight of steps, under the underpassage, over the road, down another staircase, and you ought to see the green sign of the convinience shop, Kiwi. I shall meet you there when you descend from the stairs.
Yours &c.,
Ms. Christhiane of See-Around Cottage
Me:
Dear Ms. Christhiane,
That of which you write is of little matter. I am certain that given the circumstances surrounding the disembarkment of the carriage I will be able to maneuvre myself towards the great green sign of the all-too-familiar convenience shop. I look very much forward to seeing you there to-morrow.
Yours &c.,
Ms. Elise of West Frontier Hall
Postscript: It has come to my attention that there was a slight error in my last letter. Notably, the passing redcoats are not to "defeat us against the French", but rather "defend us against the French". Surely redcoats are not that cruel to their own countrymen. "I remember once when I fancied a redcoat myself - and I do still, in my heart..."
* * * * * * * *
*LOL* This is the longest conversation I've had with this kind of language. Really great fun!
Signing off,
Elise
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)