When Jonathan and I decided to move to Norway almost three years ago, we knew only a few things for certain: We'd be able to travel more. We'd need warmer clothes. And we'd likely never receive any visitors. This last, we understood, because, unlike France or Italy or Switzerland, Norway…
The Best Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
It's hard to say what the best thing is about Oatmeal Chocolate Chip cookies. I mean, is it the amazing flavor, or the wholesome aroma (which takes me straight back to my mom's kitchen in Newark, California... and the sound of her hand-held electric beaters inside a large, orange plastic…
Expatriating: Culture Shock
Being a first time expat is a lot about being swept up in various excitements. Everything is new. Everything is beautiful. But culture shock is not only real, it's an important part of the expat experience and transition. Everything is a little scary, too. Everything is different. There's also the…
The Bloody Rock: What it means to protect Yosemite
I recently read an article in the Wall Street Journal by Tom McClintock titled Yosemite National Park: Closed for Preservation , a rant instigated by the following legal action against the National Park Service: Environmentalist groups such as Friends of Yosemite Valley and Mariposans for the Environment and Responsible Government challenged…
Moving to Norway with Pets: Drama Trauma Drama
Bringing our cats with us from California to Norway wasn't a difficult decision, but it turned out to be an arduous process. Three years ago, Jonathan was beginning his interviews with the Oslo software company he works for now. It felt like such a long-shot at the time. We didn't…
Sponge-phobia
I hate sponges. The kitchen kind. The sea creatures are fine by me, and shower sponges and loofas are cool, too. (A girl needs to exfoliate.) But kitchen sponges, sitting soggy beside the sink, stewing in the accumulated foody-filth of numerous counter-wipings and dish-scrubbings, are awful. When I clean my…
The Ease of Human Failure
It's so easy. Too easy. A man sins, breaks his vows, lies, gets caught, denies it all, gets confronted, confesses, apologizes, begs for forgiveness... and we judge him. Disgusting. Unworthy of the public trust. And his wife holds his hand. Forgives. Steps with him back out of the spotlight. Helps…
Oslo by Instagram
On the perfect Oslo day, the air is warm. The sun, up since 3:30am, swings slowly overhead. Trees sway gently in manicured rows. The air is sweet with the scent of freshly clipped lawns and flowers blooming in window-boxes. Today was just such a day. After writing at a…