...that's the good news. The bad news is...

Me:

I am having problems thinking. Today I spoke Spanish with a Galician and a Chilean. English? Yep. Norwegian? Yep. I wrote a poem in Spanish but phrases in Norwegian both inspired and confounded me.

And I'm far too tired.

Rainy, gloomy day. Walked around the center some. Took photos. Will take more. Tomorrow will be "fun". It's the national holiday.

I am slowly figuring things out.

And that's very good news.

I Bergen, Noreg. After 10 pm and still light. My body isn't quite sure what time it is.

Trip was uneventful but tiring. Met some nice people. I always do.

I'll stay in Bergen for two more days. Then head north through Sogn og Fjordane.

But now? Have 5o collapse.

...for an entry.

Barely slept last night and too much on my mind. Lots will need to be done once I get to Bergen. I'm exhausted.

ME:

Good thing no one is around. Pre-panic attack isn't pretty. Full-blown panic is worse...

I want flexibility. But traveling around Norway won't allow for that. Maybe if I were young, camping, hitching rides... but I'm not.

The minipris for trains is 199 NOK or around $35. At least two segments are over 800 NOK at normal price. I figure that I can save over $400 if I plan in advance. Argh... I like flexibility.

Hostels will be around $40-50 per night and breakfast is a steal at $10. Keeping cost to around $100/day will be tough.

So, I'll try not to let prices affect my decisions too much.

Coming back in the future will be even pricier.

Somehow this blog-challenge round has inspired Snow to a whole new level. I've been reading her blogs for years; but, this time she's using a style that reminds me of haibun and it's working! The phrase "goosing my muse" comes from a recent entry.

I can highly recommend reading a few recent entries;

ID: 1268197   (Rated: 18+) Snow Melt  Drop by drop the snow pack dies, watering the arid lands below. by Prosperous Snow

I told Shelly (edited):

Justice? Not likely in this world.

I think of all the young men charged with DWB (driving while black). In the Afro-American community there is Justice and just us. Anger? Sure. But some folks get beyond that because they have a life to lead and anger isn't going to help unless it leads to some positive action.

Black folks live behind those bars (institutions, neighborhoods, communities) not always by choice. White folks tend to live in front of them. Green folks (the wealthy) do as they please with few repercussions. But... unless you can change this... let go, breathe and live... preferably with joy!

ME:

Haven't accomplished anything yet as I got up after 8 (late). As long as I don't sit at home and do nothing... If I recheck my list of things to do or plan my trip, I'll be fine. There is Thursday and Friday and Hysteria-Day and Basket-case Day. Then I'm on the plane and at that point it won't matter.

Norway will be there regardless. Forecast for Bergen: 55º, for Sogndal: 49º. I'm packing my orange and maroon cashmere turtleneck (Salvation Army dumpster for free).

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Shelly wrote: "It's amazing to me that I have so many people that see my big picture more clearly then I do."

I responded "Remember this: when you are inside a box, it's hard to see the outside. Of course, also hard when you have clients to see in."

Boxes... itsy bitsy boxes. The life and death of us all.

If you were a follow-the-leader blogger what would you write to the entry title?

ME, Me, mE, me:

This is a green and orange entry for Party.

May 7, 1922: The St. Louis Browns defeat the Cleveland Indians 10-7. With a 14-8 record they are one game behind the Yankees. Ray Kolp is the winning pitcher. Hank Severeid has 3 hits and 3 RBIs.

Pittsburg Pirates (my grandfather was a Pirates fan) won 11-5 over the Cubs in Chicago.

Darren Gavin, Gale Robbins and my mother Rita Deuel Menztzell were born.

Note: in the 50s the Browns moved to Baltimore, changed their color to orange and black ...became the Orioles.

Boxes come in all colors: green, orange, brown, whatever... I could use a couple. In Missoula with free-cycle and all ...no problem. Here? Not so easy. If I see one... maybe an abandoned shoe box?

Cradle to crib to 3/4 beds to doubles and king size room size monstrosities. We move up in boxes. I bought a 80 cm covered foam mattress yesterday that fits nicely under my double bed (came with the place) that can be used by me or guests. Cost around $26. However a really good twin mattress costs over $100. Many Ticos make less than $400/month. Take 1/4 of your monthly salary/check and consider what you pay where you are. Costa Rica isn't cheap.

Big boxes. A study on myopia strongly suggests that children need 2 to 3 hours of sunlight for proper eye development. Reading isn't the problem, lack of light is. Maybe I shouldn't have played so much inside as a child. Maybe shouldn't have hid myself in the closet.

Little boxes. Apparently television can be a culprit too. In the sense that most folks don't watch television outside. Computers?

My apartment in Costa Rica is a medium size box. One bedroom, bath, kitchen, closet, livingroom. That's it. My Missoula place is two rooms (shared bath). My friend Marloes would find it spacious though. The Dutch live in truly tiny spaces.

Another reason they leave on vacation?

Anyhoo... boxes can be physical, emotional or mental. Traveling gets one outside of one's comfort zone ...a sometimes confining and stifling box all its own. The coffin or urn isn't necessarily the smallest box one will ever know.

me:

It isn't easy to truly know someone else. It's worse if you aren't sure about your own-self. There's an internal code that can remain hidden for a life-time. Not that one is totally unaware, only that there are depths that remain unfathomed. It may take two lifetimes to dig that far.

Tonight I'm nervous for no reason.

The reason may too deep to find.

I've been reading more blogs (not quite like I used to, but more).

So ...considering my personal life isn't exactly shareable and my blog entries haven't exactly sparkled, I thought I'd repost what some of my blog comments were today:

ID: 1804791   (Rated: 18+) Brother's Blog  Words of a 1/2 wit..Try reading it twice. by Brother Nature

: The pic is a hoot. Great story. My relationship with police is "complicated". Have had friends on the force, have seen them be very helpful ...have also known them to be mean, carry a grudge and downright spiteful.

Toss it into the lake.
Ain't nuthing here to see, sir.
Beer bottle bobbing.

ID: 1391383   (Rated: 18+) Partyof5's Even Groovier Blog  Groovy Blog v 2.0 by partyof5

: Yep. A very kind and loving depiction.

I save plants. Root them. Plant them. My success rate isn't very high but some of the geraniums I saved from Autumn 2008 were still blooming when I left. I don't know whether Jaime will be able to get them through the Summer-in-Montana snow though...

Plastic bags? Here I wrap and double wrap everything. Eventually they become garbage bags. I should learn how to make them into "purses". I have many colors...

Like your dad's cheese. Except cheese does not last around me.

ID: 1004356   (Rated: 18+) The Path  This is a journal to mark the path towards being published and in between. by Dawn☆Embers

: But you're actively writing and editing and reading and...

Okay, now I'm exhausted.

I have multiple blogs too, but I really only post in one. FB is my home where I can "twitter" all I want. Plus it's great for sharing pictures. I even put up a video!

En serio... although I have many non-writing friends it's the WDC folks that visit and comment most. I made daily entries in April and hope to make frequent entries when I visit Norway. And link to FB. Still, few read my entries and fewer comment. It takes lots of time and effort to keep it all up.

Like ... I should enter contests if only to inspire me to write in new directions. But then ... I go off traveling for 4 days here in Costa Rica and writing isn't the main focus.

If I look back over a period of time (week, month, year) I can truly say I'm accomplishing something. Case in point: my handwritten "journal" started December 9th, 2003 is on page 3,035.

ID: 1544127   (Rated: GC) A Haunted Place  My first blog! by Ghostranch

: I tend to be avoidant. Except around cheese. I tend not to trust. But I'm off to Norway next week and someone I've only talked to will be looking after my place.

I talk like a parrot but I keep places inside me hidden.

I don't work. How I ever worked is a mystery to me!

So, like you, there are good things: I travel, take photos, write, engage with myriad people (just not intimately); I'm even entertaining at times!

My therapist was suggesting CBT but I moved out-of-state. I cope within the framework of my existence (which is not dependent on outside opinion).

Death is my friend and has suggested we go for a trip a few times. But I don't think he's going away so I'm willing to be patient to join him.

ID: 1827046   (Rated: 13+) Shellyville Continues  The place to be for positive reinforcements! by ShellySunshine

: Reminds me of the 1980s... lots of dinners and parties (less in the 90s up to '03 ...almost nothing since). Nothing fancy. It was the getting together that I miss.

: I have a friend here in Costa Rica who has an identical twin. But one has allergies, the other doesn't. One is straight, the other gay. Look the same, same parents, same upbringing, dressed the same as children... yet different personalities and current life situations. Their birthday was yesterday.

Each one has his own burdens, his own gifts, his own joys.

So... may that positive energy fill you to overflowing (I could use some...).

PS: ...oddly I had posted that poem I wrote for you three years ago on facebook today. You were on my mind it seems. The connection with Jackson? That may be his gift.

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...blogging so I can do other things tomorrow...

Me:

Didn't leave the house when I should've. Johnny came over in the morning and we had a nice chat while he washed his clothes. I got busy on-line and then at 3 it started to pour. Quiet now but very late.

So... looks like Chris arranged her flight to San Jose and should be here on the 12th to stay at my place while I'm gone. I leave for SJ on the 13th for an early morning flight on the 14th arriving in Frankfurt the morning of the 15th and in Bergen by noon.

Glad computer is working better as I'll need to confirm my flights at Lufthansa.

Did read a few blogs today (not like I used to, but...) and spoke to my mother. Her birthday is Monday and I must remember to call.

I didn't do much else. Ate potatoes, an egg-cheese sandwich. Didn't get my gallo pinto and I really like to eat one every day. I don't feel hungry if I do.

Apparently the puppies came through the storms yesterday. One was trapped away from its mother ...for hours and the neighbors weren't home. Wet hungry puppy = ... It bothered me all night.

Other snews? Santos beat Saprissa 1-0 and go on the futbol championship here in Costa Rica. The local team only has to tie Sunday morning against Herediano to join them. Ah ...me alegro.