Thursday, July 26, 2012

SEX!

OK, just kidding, but I couldn't think of a title for this post. I bet I get lots of hits, though.

What I really wanted to do is to point you to this great article on the Scandinavian dichotomy. It's from A.A. Gill writing for Vanity Fair, and he really nails the Scandinavian ethos. Well done, and this from the guy that wrote the single, sickest most fucked up book I have ever read, called Sap Rising. 

http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2012/08/scandinavian-culture-aa-gill

And, just because it was pretty, a picture I took of the Oslo harbor from the water.




Friday, July 20, 2012

Beguinhof

IMG-20120720-01669.jpg by karlakp
IMG-20120720-01669.jpg, a photo by karlakp on Flickr.


My favorite place in Amsterdam. Beguinhof.

Thursday, July 19, 2012

d'oh!

IMG-20120719-01661.jpg by karlakp
IMG-20120719-01661.jpg, a photo by karlakp on Flickr.
I'm in Amsterdam. A lovely day, flight was (relatively) smooth, all going well, when about 20 feet from the hotel front door I rolled my ankle and it went "pop!" very painfully. Dammit, I haven't popped my ankle since college. This is not good, I just got here! I staggered in to the hotel, checked in, holding back tears of pain, they were very nice and got me ice and an Ace bandage. I gimped up to the room, helped by a porter, and ...wow...this room is really cool, with the craziest bathroom. It's like a glass cube, raised, set in its own room, which is the same size as the bedroom, and you can walk *around* the glass bathroom cube within the room. Both rooms have windows that are at least 8 feet tall. Light everywhere, I LOVE light rooms. A view of old Dutch canal houses and trees and sky. Everything in the room is art deco wood from the 1910's-1920's.


So I am now ensconced in relative, if lonely, luxury (Rich is going to London as he is Amsterdam'ed out) on this big four poster bed with the goose down pillows and high quality sheets, playing with the wifi and icing my ankle down again.  Later I will go down for the three course tasting menu in the hotel bar. (Entire dinner with wine to cost less than 200 Norwegian kroner.) If you're gonna sprain your ankle I recommend doing your recovery like this. Greetings from Amsterdam!

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

sickness

IMG-20120710-01647.jpg by karlakp
IMG-20120710-01647.jpg, a photo by karlakp on Flickr.

A portion of my jewelry wall. Yes, I said portion. Yes, I have a problem.

Saturday, July 07, 2012

Svalbard, 2008 (Random photo)




This was in Svalbard (Spitzbergen) in 2008. One of the most amazing experiences of my life. Also, I turned 40 during that trip. Not many people can say they turned 40 as close to the North Pole as one can get and still be on (well, near, I was on a boat) land. As 40th birthdays go, I think I win on that one.

If you want to read more about my adventures as a North Pole Adventurer (not a pole dancer, an adventurer, you naughty kids) there's lots of stuff here for the month of August of 2008:

http://karlastories.blogspot.no/2008_08_01_archive.html

Thursday, July 05, 2012

old


I wore a dress to work today that I have had since I was 18. It fits perfectly, after all these years. The dress is still in great shape and is somehow a classic sundress that never goes out of style. Plus, I love the fabric, it's a cotton batik print of dragons. And I can skip wearing a bra with it as it is somewhat backless yet very supportive. And it has pockets. And is comfortable. What is not to love?

Then I realized, I bought that dress the same year as my coworker, Becky, was born.

Which means the dress is just a little bit older than her, and she is a walking/ functioning, job-holding tax paying adult.

I feel old.