I stood contemplating our pin map , which hangs in the entryway of our flat. It was my first anniversary present to Jonathan. Red pins for the places we've been and green pins for the places we want to go. There's a little plaque at the lower lefthand corner that reads:…
Magnificent: Norway Time Lapse Video
I live in one of the most beautiful countries on earth. I suppose there are many countries which have incredible landmarks and geographic features. The United States of America, my home, boasts 59 national parks, all of them spectacular in their own ways. Yellowstone is my favorite, followed closely by…
Octobering
October is my favorite month, and this year, it's going to be an especially good one. I'm finally in the swing of things as a new masters student in the English Literature program at the University of Oslo . Getting used to the class schedule took a few weeks. The assigned…
Biscuits like Julia's
Baking with Julia is one of the cookbooks I received from my optimistic relatives in the weeks leading up to my wedding. Good news, it's been much used and loved over the last ten years. By far the most used recipe is the one for Baking Powder Biscuits . In fact,…
It's been a long day...
It's been a very long day. Sometimes, on days like this, I forget who I am for a second. I forget that I've made promises and commitments, grand predictions about my own future. I forget that I've eaten and what I like to eat and what makes me gag and…
Finding the Midnight Sun
Journal entry from 20 July 2014: This morning the wrinkles of our sweatshirts smell like pipe smoke and DEET. We left the hytte at 20:30, slathered in bug spray so that our cheeks shone in the late sunlight. Stopping to watch fish rise in the river--just a slip of…
Writing A to Z: Creative Writing Basics -- A 1-Day Workshop in Oslo
I'm proud to announce Writing A to Z: Creative Writing Basics , a one-day workshop in Oslo this September. I'll be teaching alongside my friend and fellow writer, Zoë Harris, founder of the Oslo Writers League . For the purposes of this fun, introductory workshop, we'll focus on both the craft and…
Tinfinity: 10 Tips for 10 Years of Married Love
Apologize for stuff. Forgive immediately. No, faster than that. Forgive before you get the apology. But always apologize. Beyond try-not-to-do-things-that-result-in-a-need-to-apologize, these are the two most important rules you can live by in a relationship. Say thank you for everything, all the time. In our house, this includes "Thank you for…