Some might be asking this because I haven't appeared on AIM In some time now. I've decided that AIM is a huge distraction in my life and there are times where I'll sit in front of it for hours hoping someone will log on, or I'll sit there and play with someone for hours and get nothing done. There's nothing wrong with this actually, except the fact that I allow my self to do it far more often than I should. That's where it leaches into the realm of addiction rather than a good social tool.

So, to rectify this I've turned it off when I'm at work. I can't let this thing get me fired cause it shows me being unproductive. So I no longer log on while I'm there. I've also stopped logging on all the time when I get home that way I can play a game without little breaks for each "blreep" I get on AIM and I can play straight for a few hours. Lastly, when I'm drawing or writing I have it turned off as well as there it's also a distraction and doesn't help me keep my mind focused.

I'll pop on now and then! Don't think I've disappeared, cause I haven't. Just expect this blue scaled rear to be more of a rare sighting ^..^

I've been walking down a lot of them. It's never really hit me, even now, that I'm in an entirely different part of the world. Even when I got here with people yapping in other languages I couldn't even begin to comprehend, I didn't feel like I'd stepped out of my bounds of home. There are probably a few really good reasons for that, those of which I'd rather remain in the dark.

Visually, the difference is incredible though when you take the time to look around here. Buildings aren't solid verticle blocks that tower into the heavens, and there really aren't any buildings that do tower into the heavens. Nothing like what you might find in major cities around the USA. "Sky scrapers" here don't even compare to my home town of Raleigh Durham. It's odd, and yet nice. I think most apartment buildings might reach 5 stories, I know the one I was in reached 9 but those were one bedroom apartments with shared kitchen/shower areas.

I think the major distinguishing feature though is that the buildings are straight verticles. There's a little detail there to each and every one along it's corners or the grooves. I don't recall any gargoyles, but certainly a viking or two on the corner ends or even over the front doors of larger more important buildings. This city definitely has an old feel to it, which I find rather enjoyable. There's also the extreme attempt to add green to the entire city. I don't mean the color green, I mean just plant life in general.

Now why aren't you seeing any of this? Well, my camera has broken down so I really can't show anything. I'm hoping with the next paycheck I might break down and buy one seeing as I'll be off to Sweden to meet an awesome person. I found out her name is Kate! I seem to have this attraction to women who's names begin with a K... I'll have you know her online character starts with an A! So, maybe there's hope no?

Either way, the trip to Sweden excites me and I hope it goes well. If the Norwegian government hops on the ball here and gets my address sorted out I'll have a credit card and be on my way. I'll stop talking about Sweden though as I think this is the third time I've brought it up. I'm sure you're all bored to tears of it.

Anything deep and moving of late? Not really. I live, and move on as I always have. Day to day, and one day at a time for sure. I have had a lot of thoughts about how much my life has improved by moving here and why it has, though such ramblings are not for here and most likely for another time. It's fun though, walking down Foreign Streets.

I'm hoping, though it may be too soon to note it, that I've landed and am just now becoming stable in Norway. Thank, freaking, god!!! Or whomever might be concerned. I now have an apartment and some roommates as well as, and most importantly, the internet!!! Which means I can get online and be my wierd self with my friends!!! It feels great hehe.

So, now to get crackin' on actually doing stuff. I've said that a lot but rarely produce. I feel kind of dumb for doing such but I will get on my feet and do it. I don't have my scanner hooked in yet, which now leads me to another rather heart breaking yet humerous story.

My main chatting PC is now broken sadly. You see, silly here tried to plug it in with the american power supply setting rather than the european one. Umm.... thankfully I didn't kill myself, but unfortunently the computer took the hit and it no longer works. I'm hoping it's just the power supply but maybe it's the whole thing. I'll find out when I feel like hooking it up!

For now, I have my gaming rig and it's perfectly capable of running art programs as well. Furthermore, all my art was on an external hard drive, so I didn't lose any of that.

Ta ta for now!

I've decided to start considering some of my pencil work as "deviations" because ... well... they are truely my only real art work for the moment until I finally learn how to color and make finished products. I don't really consider my "pencil" work as finished work but, I want to start putting more things in the deviation section. I'm tired of them all being in scraps. Maybe in a way this is me coping out on having to finish anything fully, but my coloring skills are not up there yet. YET... They will be, oh they will... *twiddles talons together*

Anyhow...

I'm trying to do a few things a week, I've found myself to be far more successful here in Norway doing that than I was back in the states. However, I tend to work on about 3 to 5 little brain storms at a time so I may not post but every week to two weeks. To top it off... I still don't have internets at home... *fumes* And that prospect is looking like it's going to take some time. As Norwegians, and Anarchy is notorious for putting it "Some minutes" or in this case, "Some weeks." or "Some Months" *Growls*

So far at least. I don't have internet at home which is driving me batty! So the only interaction I'll have for some time is still the work office with those folks back home. However! I have received my items and set them up in my new apartment. All is well and they work great! It's so nice to have all my toys back and in working order. I just need to get family from the states to ship me my video games. *sighs*

Still making some really good friends out here within the office. Joel and Andreas are the newest by far. Joel is from Australia originally, and I absolutely love his accent! He's been here for about 3 or 4 years I believe and he's some awesome ideas rolling about his head. Andreas is also an awesome person I'm getting to know a little better. He worked for a gaming magazine before working in the gaming industry. His points of view on the whole thing are well educated and fun to hear.

Anyhow, unlike back home, it's great to be around all these guys who talk about games as passionately as I feel about them. It's great to finally hear other educated points of view on the field and fun to tussle with them about what's hot and what's not! So, this whole Norway thing is looking up I must say.

It's a strange country though, that's for sure. Their customs and ways of doing things are amusing and I'm slowly learning how they work. An example would be last night at the cinema, my first time here in Norway. You actually buy tickets with a seat number on them. It's assigned seating! Very strange for me, where you buy a ticket and fight for your seat in the theater. I must say it was nice having it decided for you and it prevents fights. The cinema was incredible though. According to Christoffer, a Norwegian I'm quickly becoming acquainted with, his father was a part of the reconstruction team and they were going for a coliseum style to it. It even has the oculus at the top, though it's covered so the moon/sun can't shine through.

Either way... freaking impressive!

Laterz!