Journal of Tormod Haugen

Today there were some handing out of new years gifts. First I went and got my children some new jigsaw puzzles, two with a hundred pieces and one with two hundred pieces. Then I also got my sister a I’m sorrypresent; she got a CD with Stevie Ray Vaughan for Christmas - but thought it to be too country-ish. Now she got some Beethoven to relax to. Lastly I got myself a blue Acer Aspire One, it being on sale and me needing a portable browser and notebook. Here’s to productivity, I hope.

As I came home with the loot, my sister dropped by to deliver a book she had borrowed, the charger for my DS and a new woollen hat my mother had knitted me. Now I got my Meathead hat (with pocket and a button) and this new Shedir hat (in the picture: Tesha © 2009 ). Both are probably uncommon enough; according to my mom (and Ravelry) the Shedir is one of just a few like it - world wide.

It is soon 2009, and time keeps rushing by. I’ve already resolved to look forward in small steps, in order to keep from breaking down due to too many promises. To myself and others. In order to get set for this, I’ll try and blog a bit more regularly. Like multiple times a week. Perhaps even every weekday.

Now, forward isn’t the only direction to look in all the time, you should also keep in mind what has gone before. I’ve met up with friends and family this christmas. Not only those that I don’t see too often - but also those that I see all the time. In a shelving section in my parents’ house I found some tapes with games for my old Commodore 64. These gems kept me occupied for a while a long time ago, for example Spitfire and Saboteur II.

Saboteur II was kind of innovative; it contained platform game features - a 700 screen big level with multiple entrances. You played a female ninja - weak, and low on power. Ammo was found as wrenches, ninja stars and other miscellanea. Your best weapon was your brain, learning where to enter the level, noting where you could go safely, and where you needed weapons to enter. Failure meant just that. Try again, armed only with what you learned the last time around.

Now, to be honest, games like that exist today. They sometimes are high profile games too, though that seems to be more and more seldom. One game that reminded me of this style, somehow, was Portal. Not that it is alike, but the way you play a female protagonist. Unarmed and weak, with the power to move around - armed only with what is lying around. Not in boxes, but just the boxes. Learning all the way. Missteps means death - try again, armed with what knowledge you gained the last time around.

I’m not sure how much I like Christmas season. Other than a time of relaxation and reflection. For it works well like that. Sitting down and reflecting. For me this is a bit of how things should be, perhaps. Less stress, if you let it. More family, if you want it. I’ve kind of relaxed on my projects. I still sit here at the computer a bit. Thinking. But it doesn’t count. Does it?

I’m starting anew in a bit. I’m formatting a harddrive for backup purposes. I’ll clean out my computer. Reinstall, refresh, switch it out, perhaps? But formatting a 500 GB disk with NTFS is … slow. I should have thought about it before I stared. But it gives me time to reflect. And write this post.

I sure can use the practice…

Well, I might not be the most religious person in the world, but I still look upon Christmas with a (deeply buried?) glee, a promise that smells of cinnamon, ginger, blackcurrant and rice porridge. And cartoons, old films and choirs on the TV. And snow, pine trees and a fire in the fireplace. I’m not sure this fits with reality any more.

My wish-list is neat and small:

• A woolen meatloaf cap. (I’ve wished this from my mom - she knits)
• A simple usb keyboard. (To replace my PS/AT(?) one)
• One or another nice t-shirt. And sis: I’m a XL - just FYI
• Two front (white or yellow) lights that can be mounted on my bike.
• Hoodwinked on DVD. We’ve lost our copy

There. That was it. I guess it will accrue with time, but this is the essential. I guess I’m old when I mainly wish for practical things. Well, I can be young at heart if I want to. I’m not all lost yet.

Are you so old that your wish-list is mostly practical things? Do you have one small, childlike wish? I’d like some Star Wars Lego. I don’t know what I’d do with it - build it and put it on a shelf. But there it is.

Today the local newspaper wrote a piece about my favorite local coffee bar. It was really positive, as it well as it should be.

The coffee bar is run by the Pioneer church, a liberal Christian congregation. They have a passion for God, coffee and culture, and is something I as an agnostic really appreciate in a church. Not sure what you belive? Come to us, we won’t pressure you. is what they say, and even then the coffee bar is even more open. It’s just a regular place with jazz, pop, rock and classical music in the air, mingling with the sweet smell of coffees and food.

Not all who seek are comfortable with the brand of Christian, and that’s ok; it isn’t really the point. You choose your own way when seeking God. Call yourself whatever you want!

But then again; (almost) all who meet at Totalen, for that is the name of the building of old, love and enjoy coffee. Or the company. Isn’t then coffee almost it’s own religion? Or just a gateway leading to people that seek the same as you do?

If you drop by Haugesund and have time for a cup, why not drop by? Just ask anyone where Totalen lies. They’ll know.

I’ve had my computer crash a lot on me recently. More and more often, and I finally caved in, pulled it out on the floor and opened it. Two questions hit me:

1. What is the cause of these crashes?
2. Is that a used vacuum cleaner filter, or the fan of my graphics card?

…

Right. At least I hope that was the problem. I guess the next few days will show if it was that or still is a problem. My new card is a big, fanless monster I inherited. It’s better than the one I picked out of the computer. Really looking forward to see if it changes my experience in games.

Beaut of an ATI 9800 pro; it even required a separate power chord.

I really should think about adopting a new box.

Then again; there probably should be a better title for this blog post. I was hooked into irc with some Norwegian bloggers today, and I realized that I didn’t have a blog post since early October, and that time was running out.

I promise to blog more this evening. Promise!

I feel different about different types of public transport. It all starts with the bus. The bus is something that might or might not be on time. If I am early, it will probably be late, and if I’m a bit late it will be on time, disappearing down the road as I’m running for the ’stop.

The bus to Bergen is different. It is relaxed. It only goes every other hour, and takes three hours to reach it’s destination. I have to plan ahead to get on it, because I probably need to sleep over before heading home again. Well, I don’t take it much now, and earlier it was the other way around. I mean, I took it down to Haugesund, then back (home) to Bergen later - over the weekend or something.

I can read on that bus. When going downtown, a 15 minutes ride, I have to look out for my stop so I don’t overshoot it. It doesn’t matter that much, distances aren’t that great once I arrive, but I don’t trust those buses. It is easier now; there is a loudspeaker and a sign informing of the next stop in almost every city bus.

The bus company is called Kolumbus, and are based in Stavanger. Stavanger is the next city south of Haugesund, and thus the loudspeaker woman has got an accent (She says Gadå instead of Gata - street). The woman on the picture was spotted on the bus this weekend. She was probably heading downtown to listen to the jazz - Haugesund hosts the Sildajazz festival each year (celebrating the herring. Nope, not the red one…).

Trains are better. Night trains between Bergen and Hønefoss(Hen (water)Falls - don’t ask me why) is nice. In the same way as the Express busses, these are plannable, and forces you to be on time. And they are even more precisely on time when you are at (or near) one of the ends. Lots of time to read or work if you take the train by day, and not so much time lost if you sleep on it by night.

Planes on the third hand are a hassle. You have to get to the airport. Check in luggage an get through the security station. Wait. Actually, wait some more - because you had to wait earlier as a consequence of being early. The airways companies require you to be there earlier than you want to. And then you board. And find your seat. And wait. And wait. And you’ll probably have to switch planes at the next airport; and if one of your flights were international you’ll collect your luggage and check it in again. And wait. And get away from the airport.

I like trains, but we don’t have one here.

My bike is better than all - for shorter distances. Don’t want to use it for international travels, though. And it isn’t much fun in the rain. Or strong headwinds. And it hasn’t got fuzzy hair in front of me.

Today is the last day in my vacation. I’ve spent the bigger part of the day watching children play in the daycare center where my three year old son will be going until he is ready to start school. During this time it struck me that being unemployed would be nice… apart from not paying much.

I guess this is a symptom many parents share. You really don’t get that much time off during vacation anyway.

I need to set up backup at home, play a bit more with this blog, code on a few private projects and a few more things. This is stuff I planned to do this summer, but time flies.

I’m happy about how this summer turned out anyhow.

This evening we’ll be attending Endelig Mandag(Finally Monday), a presentation held by Karin Fevaag Larsen. It is [...] a exciting, colorful and inspiring presentation with humor and feed for thought. (my translation). She’s a quite popular coach/motivator here in Norway, and I’ve heard much good about her from friends, too.
Read the rest of this entry »

Yesterday saw an eventful evening at the “cabin” of one of my co-wokers. Johannes invited us to share an evening at his place in Skjold, where we were served shrimps, mussels and salmon. The food was delicious and the weather was really nice.

We participated in some activities, walked a bit round the local flora and fauna, saw the sights and ate some more. In addition to meeting our co-workers out of office, we had the chance to meet our / their significant others.