I've been running my new computer through a battery of tests as I've been setting things up. I have a sinking feeling its memory is faulty.
11:55 AM
I finally received my shiny new Macbook Pro! I am sure its screen is gorgeous, if I could only see it through all the reflections.
05:14 PM
I woke up really late this morning. Things are just plain silly when you can't use the brightness outside to gauge the time of day.
02:25 PM
It's one of those things that sounds great in theory, but requires too much effort to upkeep; like relationships.
10:58 PM
After nearly a month of nurturing, I decided to shave off my goatee this evening.
10:54 PM
A lot of humour just doesn't work when the gender of the person involved is apparent.
12:59 PM
English desperately needs a gender-ambiguous singular pronoun for referring to people.
11:13 AM
I got my ticket checked for the first time on my way to work today. Is it wrong for me to notice that the ticket-checker lady was cute?
12:36 PM
And rather than be excited by this, I'm nervous as to how much more I've hidden away that'll eventually be forgotten, forever.
11:04 AM
As I've been unpacking, I've been finding money stashed into various nooks and crannies.
11:04 AM
Winter clothing is for wimps. Body fat has all the insulation anyone would ever need.
09:18 AM
I finally figured out what the Norwegian word for "bag" is. So now, I don't reply "I'm paying by card" when asked "Would you like a bag?"
06:57 PM
I've begun to realise that telling people "people are really nice to me" is a self-reinforcing, self-fulfilling prophecy.
12:48 PM
I can hear my hotel-room neighbour snore across the walls. Damn my super-sensitive hearing.
02:02 AM
I'm spending a couple of days at Lysebu, which is situated on a hill outside Oslo. The view of the city while getting up here was gorgeous.
07:12 PM
I can't walk in heels. How is it that I came to that conclusion? Why, aren't we the nosy sort.
02:13 PM
I'm preparing for a move over the next couple of days and my tummy's beginning to feel all queasy. I fear change.
04:56 PM
I was rudely awakened by this obnoxious hammering noise. Screw the financial sector, it's carpentry that needs strict regulation.
10:16 AM
And it took an economic meltdown to make clear a simple fact us cynical pseudo-intellectuals were born with.
06:43 PM
"... and the answer is that we're not smart enough as people." -- Alan Greenspan
06:43 PM
It's a pity men can't pull off dangly things as well as women can.
10:44 AM
Slowly sipping my steamy soup as I stare out into the cold rain.
04:27 PM
I really need a hair cut. I guess that means I need to ask someone what the Norwegian word for "barbershop" is.
05:31 PM
That doesn't mean I'll stop being the conceited son and stop making fun of my dad for "not doing anything real, just tallying numbers."
09:15 PM
I just realised that balance sheets, derivative securities and other esoteric commercial things are actually interesting objects.
09:11 PM
Nearly all my day was spent on chores. Bah, who am I kidding? All my day was spent on chores.
06:27 PM
When in the U.S., I was never asked once (at 7:45 PM no less) if I was "working late for the day." This place is so much fun.
07:48 PM
I ordered me one of them (ridiculously) shiny new Apple MacBook Pros; 2.8GHz dual core, 4GB memory, 320GB hard disk.
03:04 PM
I have that sick feeling one gets the evening before taking a test they aren't prepared for. Amn't I too old for that?
08:43 PM
People think that if they casually throw around words like "expert," they can get you to opine on and do things you otherwise wouldn't.
09:05 AM
You know you’ve become really old when you only remember its your own birthday after someone else wishes you.
09:38 AM
I've started talking to myself again. (Full-blown conversations actually.) That can't be a good sign.
05:50 PM
The independent kid leaves the pack to go off exploring on his own... only to get eaten by a bear.
05:30 AM
If I could be anything, I'd be a gentleman of leisure; which is probably British for unemployed.
01:24 PM
The brand of mouthwash they sell around here (not Listerine) doesn't burn my mouth every time I use it. I don't think it's working properly.
08:40 PM
I just returned from a delightful outdoor-activity-filled evening out. It ended with being served reindeer meat for dinner. Outré.
10:14 PM
After an entire night of poking, probing and (controlled) dropping, my computer boots again. Now it's time to restore all my data. Yuck.
08:38 AM
My mac (which failed quite spectacularly today) made sure I backed up regularly; saving me from losing the data it tried to eat. Huh, what?
10:57 PM
Why yes, my cellphone does have one of those clock thingies built into it.
06:24 PM
My watch battery drained the first week I got here. The cool thing is that I haven't missed it once.
11:11 AM
You know, so the whole "finding a home" exercise could then become moot.
01:39 PM
It's funny how the support staff (whose help I've enlisted in finding a home) seem to be more interested in me finding a "nice Nordic girl."
01:39 PM
I awoke once more from a recurring nightmare; one in which my mom signs me up for singing classes and I bow out of it in some scary fashion.
09:14 AM
My mysterious-looking office keys seem to have gone mysteriously missing. Mysteriously, the rest of the key-bunch is still intact.
10:32 PM
Buffy the Vampire Slayer is the greatest television show ever made. Ever.
08:10 PM
I think it's unfortunate that mouldy cheese has a bad rap. Someone really ought to stand up for the cheese.
07:54 AM
I've never seen anyone with more pairs of shoes than she has clothes before. I always thought those sorts of needs scaled uniformly.
09:10 AM
I'm spending a couple of days in a tiny town called Åsgårdsstrand: the home of the world famous (in Norway) painter, Edvard Munch.
08:59 AM
I actually saw a real life flame thrower today. It's a pity it was this itsy-bitsy thing that was being used to burn away some weeds.
10:06 AM
As I stepped out at 8 pm to go see Wall-E (which ended up being sold out), I noticed that the sky looked like it did at 3 am in summer.
10:32 PM
Her grand idea of a sweeping career change was for me to shift my focus to fluids? Great, now I get to deal with unimaginative voices.
09:11 AM
"Abandon solid mechanics," a strange, disembodied voice whispered to me in semi-sleep.
09:05 AM
I'm walking with a limp; I think my right knee is busted. Perhaps the sports-injury fairy failed to notice I haven't ever played a sport.
09:11 AM
Tabula rasa: If there was a button I could push to erase every memory I have, I'd probably push it.
04:38 PM
If I spend any more time in my bathtub, I'm going to have to consider giving up my lungs in favour of gills.
11:18 AM
Everyone lies, including soup. First she claims to make you feel all better, then she waltzes in and burns your tongue.
01:26 PM
It's gotten a lot colder (and wetter) in the week I was away, and it's made me really sick. Ugh.
02:42 PM
I arrived home safe and sound to be greeted by my first ever salary statement. (Which would be exciting if I knew how to read it!)
11:11 AM
Just woke up after a delightful evening out. Need to pack and such and hop on a bus to a train to a plane... back home.
09:23 AM
After probably one bus ride, two train rides, one plane ride, three more train rides, and one taxi ride, I finally made it to the institute!
07:52 PM
I spent most of my evening looking for a bag to use on my upcoming Germany trip. All I have to show for it is a new umbrella.
11:58 PM
Got drenched on my way home. Can't believe I forgot my umbrella in Ann Arbor.
07:15 PM
I woke up snickering to my own comedy routine in a dream. Now that was bizarre.
07:31 AM
Broke my first glass at work. It's a good thing only everybody was there to see.
03:40 PM
Of course, that emotion was sparked by an enchanting-little woman, but what isn't really?
09:55 PM
For a moment last evening, I actually regretted leaving Ann Arbor. Actually, it's strange that this hasn't happened before now.
01:32 PM
Stripping for cute nurses is always fun!
12:02 PM
Yesterday, I left a bunch of useful books at home. Today, I forgot my computer's power adaptor. I really need a better mnemonic system.
09:40 AM
It's Sunday evening already? There's never enough time to do all the nothing I want.
08:01 PM
If I watch or read anything even remotely evocative right before going to bed, I sleep extremely disturbed. If you can even call it sleep.
09:16 AM
Oh, did I say repeatable? I meant it happened once.
06:19 PM
Finally arrived at a repeatable system to cook fluffy, tender, non-mushy rice without making too much of a mess.
11:35 AM
I believe I just opened a bank account. Now to work my way out of penury, so I have something to put into it.
12:16 PM
Faking it everyday. It's the modern way.
10:17 AM
If I had to pick just one of green, red or yellow apples, I'll have to go with yellowish-green. (Yes, I cheated, but they're delicious!)
04:39 PM
Guess I'm working from home today; completely drenched from both earlier attempts to head to the lab. No subsidised lunch for me.
10:59 AM
I suck at pool. But changing that scenario is what post-docs are for.
08:12 PM
I just found out my travel expenses to Oslo are being reimbursed. Happy happy joy joy!
01:05 PM
Found out what Bergamot is, and why it makes my tea delicious.
07:59 AM
It looks like it's going to pour. Should I chance it?
04:43 PM
I managed to shave without cutting my face. I should have bought one of these fancy razors a long time ago.
10:01 AM
Buffy the Vampire Slayer on Hulu. There is reason to live again!
10:27 PM
I believe it's time for breakfast, and it's nearly noon. Maybe I should be waking up earlier.
11:43 AM
I think I just worked in this stream into my web site!
07:39 PM
@jackdaw Sweet!
11:10 AM
Probably need to work this Saturday, considering I spent most of yesterday on chores around the home.
11:01 AM
I signed up. Am I one of the cool kids now?
10:56 AM