With all this time, and not much to do then to sit and wait to get from A to B, I had to find something that helped time go by faster, so I decided it was time to start reading books again.
I remember when I was working at Ringnes E.C. Dahls Bryggeri A/S, I used to listen to audio books a lot, and I really miss that, so after searching around a bit I found an application for my iPhone that suited my needs called Stanza. Seeing as I have my hands free at the bus and train, I figured I could save storage space and time by reading eBooks instead of audio books, and for this Stanza is perfect.

So far I h ave managed to get through some books already, so here’s a short review of what I think about them:

Dan Brown – The Lost Symbol

No doubt a very intriguing book, and reading it made time just fly by in seconds, but during the entire book, one thing kept bothering me. Dan Brown is mocking every conspiracy theorist that disagrees with what he means is correct, through his character Robert Langdon. Why does he do that? Sure, he might disagree with them, but to openly mock people thinking that the Freemasons where something more then just a society of great men really bothers me. In example, there are people that believe Freemasons where satanic worshippers, and they are in their liberty to believe that. Not to be told that they are stupid to think like this by a character in a book.
The story itself was very good though, very typical Dan Brown-esque, with crime, action, mysteries and a touch of romance. Just the way we like it.

The graveyard book

I have been wanting to read this book ever since it came out, and Alina have the book, but I usually never get around to picking up a book when I get home, and I hate lugging books around with me when I’m out, so getting this book as an eBook right away was kind of predestined. The book is classified as a children’s book, but it should really be classified as “for all ages”, because this book is just as entertaining and fun for an adult as a child.

That’s the books I have been reading so far, and right now I’m currently reading this book:

World of Warcraft: Arthas: Rise of the Lich King

I have really not read much of this yet, but the first chapter seems promising. I have a feeling that I’m going to read through this book in no time, as I love the Warcraft lore.

Also on my list of books-to-read are these (in no particular order):

Stephen King – The stand
Neil Gaiman – Anansi boys
Max Brooks – World war Z
Mel Odom – Hellgate London
Terry Brooks – The Landover series
Robert Jordan – Wheel of time series
Grahame-Smith Seth – Pride and Prejudice and zombies
Yann Martel – Life of Pi
Terry Pratchett – The colour of magic
Brent Weeks – The way of shadows
Orson Scott Card – Enders game

There are more as well, but these should keep me busy for quite a lot of work days.

Today I got up at around one, had a good long shower and fixed myself up for the evening to come. Mom had made rice porridge which is custom in our family and of course the almond was in place in a random bowl of porridge (well it was really a peanut, seeing as mom didn’t have any almonds, but who’s picky). And of course, after just two bites, it was mine! All mine :D And the reward, a marzipan pig and a scratch ticket. Sadly I didn’t win, but it was fun non the less.
After watching the obligatory Christmas movies, like the Disney Christmas, Tante Pose and of course the butler and the countess which is also a tradition to watch here in Norway., my grandfather shows up and it’s time for dinner.
As is tradition in our family, we have rib for Christmas, and rice pudding. However this year the rib wasn’t particularly good. It was way too much fat on it and was just sickening if you ate too much. The meaty parts were ok though, but I’d really wish it had been a bit better. Still, I ate until I couldn’t eat any more, so I guess it wasn’t that bad :p

After relaxing a bit, trying to get the rib to settle, it was of course time for the coffee and cakes. Man we eat allot on Christmas…..Anyway, after a few sips, my brother can’t stop nagging about opening presents, so my mom gives the go. He runs for the presents and starts throwing them to everyone as fast as possible.

I got quite allot of stuff actually, especially seeing as my age kind of makes people stop buying presents for me. Being old sucks…

Anyway, this is what I got for Christmas:
- 3000kr.
- A warm wool sweater.
- wool underwear.
- 007 – On her majesty’s secret service.
- A book called “Drageløperen” or “The Kite runner” in English.
- A couple of dvds my brother made with various shows on them.
- And the best present of the year in my opinion:

A very snazzy teapot with glasses :D

I also got a tea called “Høstflørt” (Fall flirt) with them. I’m sure Alina will love them as well, as she’s just as much a tea drinker as I am.

Now I’d just like to post a few pictures I’ve taken in order to properly give that Christmas feel.

This is our Christmas tree, for being the first time ever where I wasn’t the one cordinating the decorations on the Christmas tree, I think it turned out pretty good.

This is a bowl of nuts, go figure :p

And last, but not least, a crackling fire (all tough taken with a very slow shutter speed, so it looks kind of fancy and purple-like)

Tomorrow is the big drinking day here in Skien, so I’m going over to a friends house with around 13-14 people and will no doubt drink until I can’t see straight, then of course head out on town and drink some more. I am however not looking forward to walking home afterwards, but I’ll probably manage.
Hopefully I’ll have enough to drink on though, I’m getting some beers from my stepdad, but that’s it really. I’ll probably mooch a bit of my friends though, some vodka or something, so there will no doubt be enough intoxication ;)

Well, it’s due time for some sleeping now. Even though it’s just as late as it was yesterday. Man I sure hope I get my sleeping patterns adjusted by the time I’m heading back to Trondheim, otherwise I’ll have a hard time getting to work.

Good night, and Merry Christmas to you all!

Onwards to Hamar
Hamar next stop. I’m about an hour on my way now, and I’ve had some food, a drink and read a couple of chapters in my book, world of warcraft: tides of war. I’s really interesting, as it involves how the different alliances were formed, both alliance and horde, and how the war in hillsbrad foothills fared.
Reading these books, I thought I’d get really into gaming again, but it’s not as bad as i thought. I believe it’s much more of a therapy then an agitator, and besides. I love fantasy novels, and the Warcraft world is so vast, with so much going on, that it’s more then enough reading and making oneself a part of the story.
I just realized by the way, I forgot headphones…. Which means I won’t be able to watch movies on my laptop on the train from Hamar to Skien, unless I 1: get some headphones in Hamar, or 2: borrow some headphones from a guy i know that is heading to Skien as well, or 3: that I’ll be alone in the wagon. I’m kind of hoping for the latter :]
Ah well, I still have my books if all else fails.Just one more thing before I’ll be sending this post.
People whom are forcing themselves into being nice towards strangers annoy me! Jeez…

At last, Skien
Or, well partially. I’m on the train towards Skien. I also set up my computer next to this guy I know that’s also heading home, and we’re chatting allot about sci-fi shows. Makes time go allot faster :)
Oh, and we almost lost the train for a second. The train warden blew his whistle and the alarm went off, so I pulled the guy with me in and we continued inside the train instead. Just seconds after the train starts moving and we’re off. Scary :]
And to top it off, my stomach kind of hurts :(
Well, I’m in Oslo now, home soon!

After some rather painful minutes of walking, we end up at the station 08:24, run to the train and jump on. Turns out the train was 5 minutes delayed however, so we got some time to catch our breath and say our goodbyes.
So, catching the train was one thing, finding my seat an entirely different matter. I stumble around the the train trying to find my seat, and after a while find it. Turns out there’s this woman sitting in my seat, she excuses herself of course and scuttles along down the corridor to her assigned seat. After sitting there for a while, a new woman appears, claiming that the window seat is her seat. As the gentleman I am, I of course let her have the seat. Just for the hell of it, I check my ticket again. 69 window it says. Anyway, I’m not the one to quarrel, so I let her have it.

Well, sitting around bored on trains is really not my thing, so I wanted to know if there was any comfort seats available (That’s the ones with extra comfy seats, a power outlet and some coffee), but alas no, they were all taken. And I had even brought my computer and everything…ah well. So I end up sitting next to previously mentioned lady and twiddle thumbs. After a while I fall asleep, and wake up 2 hours later. Great! First time in ever I’ve actually managed to sleep on a train.

With some good sleep to my eyes, I want to read something. So i finish up my “The Invisibles” comic, then start on the “Stardust” book by Neil Gaiman. After quite some hours, totally mesmerized in the book, it´s finished! Woah, I mean the start was pretty slow, but the last part, oh joy! I can’t wait to watch the movie now. Actually, I even started reading it a second time on the train from Oslo to Skien, just because it was that good.

And this has to be said, the trains between Oslo and Skien are getting worse and worse by the year! I mean, the train I went with today must have been pre-WW2!, it was in army green and beige inside, with horrible seats and the toilets was old as dust. It’s only a matter of years before they simply close down that line completely. Makes kind of sense though, the last hour before I came into Skien, I was the only one on the train…

So, now I´m at my mom and step dads place. They set in a new bed which is twice the size of the old one, and twice as comfy. We have ironed our shirts and pants, and we’re all ready to go around 9:30 tomorrow for the funeral.
Apparently I’m the one waling in from, carrying the casket with my uncle.. Hope I don´t screw it up :s

Now I really need to get some sleep. Horribly tired and getting up fairly early tomorrow. I’ll probably post a new post tomorrow evening after we’re all done.