'God Jul' from inside the Arctic Circle

It's that time of year again - and for once I will not travel north
for the holidays; I am already there.

This last year has carried a couple of very welocome changes.
Last summer I moved back north. I am now living some 50 km
north of the arctic circle, to a land, climate and culture that suits
me a lot better than most other I have tried. 2 km in this direction
and you have to cross both a fjord and a 1000m mountain range.
2 km in that direction and you are in the mountains. 2 km in
that direction and you are up in the glaciers. Last week when I
commuted by car to work, I was almost caught by snow drifts
across the road, caused by gale-force winds. The kind of stuff
one usually encounters high up in the mountains.

I have a couple of mooses more or less as house pets; a cow
with yearling calf has stayed in the area this autumn and I find
their tracks across the driveway and in the garden at least once
per week. And yes, mooses are a genuine hazard. A few days
ago I spotted two of them (same trip; two different occasions) on
my wat to work and another the same day, on my way
back home. Kind of fun as long as one does not hit them,
as my boss did, a month or so ago.

The major change was  job. Now I have the kind of job I always
wanted: As data analyst in an industrial plant. All the fun of
solving puzzles and problems, without the hazzle of having to
come up with the New, Brilliant and Revolutionary New Gadget.
That's for somebody else to do.

During the last 15 years prior to taking this job, I had two - 2 -
instances where something I said or did was genuinely useful to
somebody else than myself. Well, to anyone, *including* myself...
Here I have two to four such instances per month. I have several
times sat in meetings of 4-6 people trying to decide who 'the
stupid one' was, without luck - which might very well mean
it was me.

So right now I am enjoying the winter solstace - from now on days
will get lighter and brighter - and look forward to see the sun
again over the mountains some time in early / mid February.

Rune

On Sun, 19 Dec 2010 20:16:36 -0800, Rune Allnor wrote:

> It's that time of year again - and for once I will not travel north for
> the holidays; I am already there.
> 
> This last year has carried a couple of very welocome changes. Last
> summer I moved back north. I am now living some 50 km north of the
> arctic circle, to a land, climate and culture that suits me a lot better
> than most other I have tried. 2 km in this direction and you have to
> cross both a fjord and a 1000m mountain range. 2 km in that direction
> and you are in the mountains. 2 km in that direction and you are up in
> the glaciers. Last week when I commuted by car to work, I was almost
> caught by snow drifts across the road, caused by gale-force winds. The
> kind of stuff one usually encounters high up in the mountains.
> 
> I have a couple of mooses more or less as house pets; a cow with
> yearling calf has stayed in the area this autumn and I find their tracks
> across the driveway and in the garden at least once per week. And yes,
> mooses are a genuine hazard. A few days ago I spotted two of them (same
> trip; two different occasions) on my wat to work and another the same
> day, on my way back home. Kind of fun as long as one does not hit them,
> as my boss did, a month or so ago.
> 
> The major change was  job. Now I have the kind of job I always wanted:
> As data analyst in an industrial plant. All the fun of solving puzzles
> and problems, without the hazzle of having to come up with the New,
> Brilliant and Revolutionary New Gadget. That's for somebody else to do.
> 
> During the last 15 years prior to taking this job, I had two - 2 -
> instances where something I said or did was genuinely useful to somebody
> else than myself. Well, to anyone, *including* myself... Here I have two
> to four such instances per month. I have several times sat in meetings
> of 4-6 people trying to decide who 'the stupid one' was, without luck -
> which might very well mean it was me.
> 
> So right now I am enjoying the winter solstace - from now on days will
> get lighter and brighter - and look forward to see the sun again over
> the mountains some time in early / mid February.
> 
> Rune

Well, it sounds like wishing you joy in your new job would be redundant 
-- have a good 2011!

-- 
http://www.wescottdesign.com

Rune Allnor wrote:

> It's that time of year again - and for once I will not travel north
> for the holidays; I am already there.
> 
> This last year has carried a couple of very welocome changes.
> Last summer I moved back north. I am now living some 50 km
> north of the arctic circle, to a land, climate and culture that suits
> me a lot better than most other I have tried. 2 km in this direction
> and you have to cross both a fjord and a 1000m mountain range.
> 2 km in that direction and you are in the mountains. 2 km in
> that direction and you are up in the glaciers. 

Rognan?

> Last week when I 
> commuted by car to work, I was almost caught by snow drifts
> across the road, caused by gale-force winds. The kind of stuff
> one usually encounters high up in the mountains.

Had the same problem last week, I barely managed to keep the
mountain bike going on my way home from the job - and this
in the warmest region of Germany! Great fun!

> I have a couple of mooses more or less as house pets; a cow
> with yearling calf has stayed in the area this autumn and I find
> their tracks across the driveway and in the garden at least once
> per week. And yes, mooses are a genuine hazard. A few days
> ago I spotted two of them (same trip; two different occasions) on
> my wat to work and another the same day, on my way
> back home. Kind of fun as long as one does not hit them,
> as my boss did, a month or so ago.

Sounds like the place I'd like to live ...

> The major change was  job. Now I have the kind of job I always
> wanted: As data analyst in an industrial plant. All the fun of
> solving puzzles and problems, without the hazzle of having to
> come up with the New, Brilliant and Revolutionary New Gadget.
> That's for somebody else to do.
> 
> During the last 15 years prior to taking this job, I had two - 2 -
> instances where something I said or did was genuinely useful to
> somebody else than myself. Well, to anyone, *including* myself...
> Here I have two to four such instances per month. I have several
> times sat in meetings of 4-6 people trying to decide who 'the
> stupid one' was, without luck - which might very well mean
> it was me.
> 
> So right now I am enjoying the winter solstace - from now on days
> will get lighter and brighter - and look forward to see the sun
> again over the mountains some time in early / mid February.

Well, all the best to you| Thanks for the update.

Tschau
Andreas
-- 
Andreas H�nnebeck | email: acmh@gmx.de
----- privat ---- | www  : http://www.huennebeck-online.de
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On Dec 20, 9:36=A0am, Andreas Huennebeck <a...@gmx.de> wrote:
> Rune Allnor wrote:
> > It's that time of year again - and for once I will not travel north
> > for the holidays; I am already there.
>
> > This last year has carried a couple of very welocome changes.
> > Last summer I moved back north. I am now living some 50 km
> > north of the arctic circle, to a land, climate and culture that suits
> > me a lot better than most other I have tried. 2 km in this direction
> > and you have to cross both a fjord and a 1000m mountain range.
> > 2 km in that direction and you are in the mountains. 2 km in
> > that direction and you are up in the glaciers.
>
> Rognan?

Close enough. Similar latitude, but at the coast.

Rune

On Dec 19, 11:16=A0pm, Rune Allnor <all...@tele.ntnu.no> wrote:
> It's that time of year again - and for once I will not travel north
> for the holidays; I am already there.
>
> This last year has carried a couple of very welocome changes.
> Last summer I moved back north. I am now living some 50 km
> north of the arctic circle, to a land, climate and culture that suits
> me a lot better than most other I have tried. 2 km in this direction
> and you have to cross both a fjord and a 1000m mountain range.
> 2 km in that direction and you are in the mountains. 2 km in
> that direction and you are up in the glaciers. Last week when I
> commuted by car to work, I was almost caught by snow drifts
> across the road, caused by gale-force winds. The kind of stuff
> one usually encounters high up in the mountains.
>
> I have a couple of mooses more or less as house pets; a cow
> with yearling calf has stayed in the area this autumn and I find
> their tracks across the driveway and in the garden at least once
> per week. And yes, mooses are a genuine hazard. A few days
> ago I spotted two of them (same trip; two different occasions) on
> my wat to work and another the same day, on my way
> back home. Kind of fun as long as one does not hit them,
> as my boss did, a month or so ago.
>
> The major change was =A0job. Now I have the kind of job I always
> wanted: As data analyst in an industrial plant. All the fun of
> solving puzzles and problems, without the hazzle of having to
> come up with the New, Brilliant and Revolutionary New Gadget.
> That's for somebody else to do.
>
> During the last 15 years prior to taking this job, I had two - 2 -
> instances where something I said or did was genuinely useful to
> somebody else than myself. Well, to anyone, *including* myself...
> Here I have two to four such instances per month. I have several
> times sat in meetings of 4-6 people trying to decide who 'the
> stupid one' was, without luck - which might very well mean
> it was me.
>
> So right now I am enjoying the winter solstace - from now on days
> will get lighter and brighter - and look forward to see the sun
> again over the mountains some time in early / mid February.
>
> Rune

Congrats on finding a job that you really like. And happy solstice
too. Of course early on Dec 21 we are having a nice sygygy. This is
our (North American) first total lunar eclipse in 3 years. I'm just
hoping the clouds stay away long enough.

Eclipse details here:

http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2010/17dec_solsticeecl=
ipse/

Here is a pic I took of the last good one: http://www.claysturner.com/eclip=
se/lunareclipse.jpg

Clay

On Dec 20, 10:14&#4294967295;am, Clay <c...@claysturner.com> wrote:
>
> Here is a pic I took of the last good one:http://www.claysturner.com/eclipse/lunareclipse.jpg

stunningly detailed pic, Clay.  congrats.

looks like there is no hope of a viewing tonight in Vermont.  totally
overcast.

r b-j

On Dec 20, 10:14=A0am, Clay <c...@claysturner.com> wrote:
>
> Here is a pic I took of the last good one:http://www.claysturner.com/ecli=
pse/lunareclipse.jpg

stunningly detailed pic, Clay.  congrats.

looks like there is no hope of a viewing tonight in Vermont.  totally
overcast.

r b-j

On Dec 20, 10:14=A0am, Clay <c...@claysturner.com> wrote:
>
> Here is a pic I took of the last good one:http://www.claysturner.com/ecli=
pse/lunareclipse.jpg

stunningly detailed pic, Clay.  congrats.

looks like there is no hope of a viewing tonight in Vermont.  totally
overcast.

r b-j

On Dec 20, 10:14&#4294967295;am, Clay <c...@claysturner.com> wrote:
>
> Here is a pic I took of the last good one:http://www.claysturner.com/eclipse/lunareclipse.jpg

stunningly detailed pic, Clay.  congrats.

looks like there is no hope of a viewing tonight in Vermont.  totally
overcast.

r b-j

On Sun, 19 Dec 2010 20:16:36 -0800 (PST), Rune Allnor
<allnor@tele.ntnu.no> wrote:

>It's that time of year again - and for once I will not travel north
>for the holidays; I am already there.
>
>This last year has carried a couple of very welocome changes.
>Last summer I moved back north. I am now living some 50 km
>north of the arctic circle, to a land, climate and culture that suits
>me a lot better than most other I have tried. 2 km in this direction
>and you have to cross both a fjord and a 1000m mountain range.
>2 km in that direction and you are in the mountains. 2 km in
>that direction and you are up in the glaciers. Last week when I
>commuted by car to work, I was almost caught by snow drifts
>across the road, caused by gale-force winds. The kind of stuff
>one usually encounters high up in the mountains.
>
>I have a couple of mooses more or less as house pets; a cow
>with yearling calf has stayed in the area this autumn and I find
>their tracks across the driveway and in the garden at least once
>per week. And yes, mooses are a genuine hazard. A few days
>ago I spotted two of them (same trip; two different occasions) on
>my wat to work and another the same day, on my way
>back home. Kind of fun as long as one does not hit them,
>as my boss did, a month or so ago.
>
>The major change was  job. Now I have the kind of job I always
>wanted: As data analyst in an industrial plant. All the fun of
>solving puzzles and problems, without the hazzle of having to
>come up with the New, Brilliant and Revolutionary New Gadget.
>That's for somebody else to do.
>
>During the last 15 years prior to taking this job, I had two - 2 -
>instances where something I said or did was genuinely useful to
>somebody else than myself. Well, to anyone, *including* myself...
>Here I have two to four such instances per month. I have several
>times sat in meetings of 4-6 people trying to decide who 'the
>stupid one' was, without luck - which might very well mean
>it was me.
>
>So right now I am enjoying the winter solstace - from now on days
>will get lighter and brighter - and look forward to see the sun
>again over the mountains some time in early / mid February.
>
>Rune

Congrats on the changes!   It's always good to hear that somebody has
improved their situation.

You're probably close enough to HQ that you can sub-contract for Santa
once in a while.


Eric Jacobsen
Minister of Algorithms
Abineau Communications
http://www.abineau.com