Ich habe Sauerkraut in meine Lederhosen

I have acquired an extra family (potential in-laws) that love Germany.
And I have decided that if I am to go on vacations to Germany every year in my future (and bring my future kids?), I can't keep having my boyfriend translating the restaurant's menu for me every single time.

So I'm teaching myself German.
I'm not going all out, I just want to be able to read signs and menus and to understand what the lady behind the counter is asking me (other that if I want a bag, I know that one. Eine Tüte bitte).

I feel mighty clever.
Though the thing I thought would make things easy (that the language is so similar to Norwegian) is actually making it harder. I have to learn which words are just versions of the Norwegian ones and which is completely different. And I'm no good at choosing the correct article (das, der, die), but I'm getting there.

Soon I'll be able to tell you more than that I have pickled cabbage in my leather pants.

Look. A picture that shows how committed I am (the German word sticker) and my boyfriend's painting skills!
(I got it as my Valentine gift this year. It's originally a painting by Picasso that means a lot to my boyfriend. Isn't he clever? :) )

Theatre is Evil

For over a year ago I mentioned Amanda Palmer's kickstarter in a blogpost. And later I posted how I was waiting for her new album. But I never blogged about the album itself after it came out.

I think the reason why is I don't know where to start and I feel like I have to say something about Amenda Palmer the person too. This is a person that I really admire. There's so much to say about her (biggest girl-crush ever). But I need to tell you that her album rocks so I'll make this post about that.

Theatre is Evil is different from her earlier work, but it's still her. And the whole thing feels so real.
I have already shown you my absolute favorite track (Want It back), but I'll show you some others. This to me is the kind of album where one song jumps up and hooks you completely and the moment you're starting to feel done with that song another song jumps up and do the same. Even now, it's been over a year since I heard the first released song from the album, I'm still stuck on it and have now been swept away by the b-sides.

Here's a really sad and beautiful song. Which I love. And even though Want it Back is my personal favorite, I think this one is her best and most beautiful work.
The Bed Song - by Amanda Palmer and the Grand Theft Orchestra




This is the B-side song I'm currently obsessing over.
From St.Kilda to Fitzroy - by Amanda Palmer and the Grand Theft Orchestra




And I love Melody Dean and Massachusetts Avenue and Olly Olly Oxen Free and and and...
You can get it all here. For whatever price you want (even for free).

And I'll embed a video illustrating how cool Amanda Palmer is. And a link to her blog which really is worth reading.

WIPs

This is sort of an announcement for everyone wanting to see my crafting projects in progress.
I usually like to show off my pieces when they're finished, but since people have been asking to see my progress I have made a wip-page at my crafting blog, collecting all my unfinished projects.

You'll find it here.

(And did you know I have a crafting blog? fruitsofmymagic.blogspot.no)

:)

så skal jeg ikke mase mer.

I'm a librarian.
But 10 years ago I was certain I would work with commercials. I wanted to be an Art Director. I wanted to make short films to amuse people.

Now, I know most people change the channel once they cut to commercial, or mute the TV or go to the toilet while waiting for their program to start again. But I'm weird; I actually watch the commercials. And I'm fascinated by them. Not the "Bang, and the dirt's gone"-ones. But the funny ones or sometimes epic ones  (yes, commercials can be epic, I'll show you some later).

To me most of them are just as good as the silly/weird/totally illegible short films you'll find running in art museums. If the museum ones are considered art, then why not the ones that make sense.

So. I'm gonna show you some of my favorites. I promise there wont be any "trust pink"-ones ever. Just the good ones. (There will be mostly/only Norwegian ones of course, 'cause I'm mostly watching Norwegian TV)

And since I'm going flying soon I'll start with this one (even though I'm not traveling with Widerø):

mokrbkao

I made myself a bookmark!
I'm creative and productive, yay.

I got thousands of bookmarks already (alright, not thousands, but a whole lot) and I'm using them all.
Yes, I'm that kind of crooked person who reads several books at the same time. (Which is why the book list on this blogg is called "Books I finished in 20xx", and not "Books I read...")
And the other day I was one bookmark short. (using postcards, receipts or napkins as bookmarks is too boring ;P)

So I found some of the lovely printed paper I got for my birthday (Thank you, E2) and I stole (I said please) some Aida from a friend (thank you, Vilje) and I made myself a bookmark.
And I feel mighty proud 'cause it's been a while since I made something on a whim like this.



For those curious: the book in the picture is The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett.

Should I comment on the new layout?

(posting this didn't even cross my mind untill I read E2's comment...)

I just felt like changing it.
I was growing tired of the old one and even though I liked it, I always felt that the old layout was a bit scrambled.

This isn't really a new-new layout though. It's a color-scheme and background image I once made for my imvu profile back when I was active over there.

(Yes, I got an account at imvu.com. I know it's a stupid money-consuming site which washes away your brain and basicly encourages cybersex. But if you look past that; It's paper-dolls/dress-up for grown-ups. And if you're interested in clothing and styling and hair; it's really addicting).

I was always very happy about that profile-page. I still feel that these colors and this background, all though it's kinda pale and cold, suits me.

Draw with Me

This one is a year old or so, and there's a big possibility that you've all seen it already.
But isn't it beautiful?
Story and Animation: Mike Inel
Music and Sound: Daniel James

eldfjall

Because of the hot weather these days I've left my window open all day and now, I swear, the air in my bedroom smells kinda like dirt. Or sulfor as my mother suggested without giving it any deep thought untill later.
It's kinda sick isn't it? It happens miles away in Iceland and it affects my little bedroom in a Norwegian forest. o.o

Speaking of the Nordic countries.
if you hang around at DeviantArt sure you've all stumbled over Humon's comic "Scandinavia and the world"? Isn't it somewhat hilaroiuos? I love it. It's so stereotypical and I actually think Norway is pretty well represented.

You can find it here.

And. At school today I learned that one of the reasons that the Finnish people are so good at school is because of their excellent libraries. Maybe I should go to the library during my visit this summer, for the sake of my profession? XD