Hemmi and Guðlaug's Wedding

Saturday, October 6th, 2007

Davíð

Lindsey and Ívar

Ditta

Íssak and some other guy

Guðlaug

Hemmi

Lindsey and Ditta - fighting for the flowers

Us

Einar and his girlfriend

good snacks

Strange Food

and more food

Lindsey trying to look normal

bad timing

I wish I could remember his name...
ah, must not be important

This guy is studying in Germany, he doesn't have a name either

Lindsey and ívar

again

Davíð eating all those tasty strawberries

The greetings, everyone kissing each other

What is this picture about?

Ditta - a bad one, picture I mean

The Wedding Family

I was only actually tyhere from about 5 to 7:30 because I had to get back to work - but it looked beautiful and it sounds like everyone had a great time.

Thanksgiving

A pumpkin less Thanksgiving is still Thanksgiving.

If only for one day I year it is good for me to stop complaining. I do not think I was completely successful, but I tried and was semi positive for a day.

It was a strange feeling.

Tomorrow the whining will start up again - in full swing!

Today

It is Stefán's Birthday party today! (Just a reminder)

I have lots of stuff to post - but it will have to wait until tonight!

Prepare for pictures!

Blogger Play

Thanks to Blogger Play, I know I am not the only one who takes bad pictures!

There are a lot of good ones too.

Welcome Home Iceland

Thanks to Diane for showing me this - it is amazing!

Another Newbie

Diane - a pal through facebook, has been in Iceland less then 2 monthes and now she has a blog too.

It really is the only way to keep in touch with everyone when you live so far away.

http://tucsondi.blogspot.com/

Stupid Bank!

I am crazy with anger at my bank today.

I have not been able to transfer money between accounts, it was always saying no account symbol.

Today I called and I guess my account is not set up right in the computer and I will need to go back down to the bank and get a new secret number.

This might be fine except that I work all the time and it should ave been done right the first time. I remember picking out the number - but no one put it in the system.

Now this is my problem, or rather, Davíð's because I can not transfer him money for the family and I am working all weekend.

This is not the first problem either. A month after I had my account I had to go in and get my online banking sorted out because for some reason I could only see my balance and it said I was not allowed to view transactions.

I am now thinking that anyone can get a job at Kaupþing - you do not need to do anything right...

OK, I think I feel better now.

A little venting is good for you.

Homes Away From Home

Where I spend all my time:

1. Hotel Smári - I work six days a week, anywhere from 12 to 16 hours each time. Do not worry, it is not nearly as bad as it sounds. When I start work at 3 or 7 in the evening, I am done all the 'work' well before 11:30, when I can close the reception. That means I can sleep from midnight until 7 in the morning. If I am lucky it is an uninterrupted sleep. I have a toothbrush here now, extra socks, underwear and a coffee cup. I finish and leave work at 7:30 in the morning.

2. Sunnuhlíð - I work at the nursing home 3 - 5 days a week from 8 - 2. I consider this my exercise job, because I do not spend the entire thing sitting down, I need that. This job is the most stressful because I am not allowed to speak English so I feel stupid a lot, but it is getting better. I am glad they have a uniform for me there. I have not been there long, but already I have a few old friends, fabulous little old ladies.

I miss my real home - I miss my pillow! I miss the boys, although I can bring the kids to the hotel when I am going through some kid withdrawal. Kasper loves sleeping over.

The most unfortunate thing is that even working this much, I still only make half of what Davíð did in a month. We have about the same skill and education levels, the only difference is that he was employed in a male dominated industry, and I am employed in 2 female dominated industries.

Canada and Iceland both seem to be behind in the times.

A week of

Wednesday - Kasper gets sick with the flu, a very messy flu. I do not think you need any more details...

Thursday - Kasper stays home, still very sick.

Friday - Kasper is still very sick and stays home again.

Saturday - Kasper starts to get better, but still sleeps most of the day and has no appetite.

Sunday - Kasper is almost back to normal and Stefán starts puking.

Monday - Kasper is back at School and Stefán is home - sick, sick, sick.

Tomorrow - Stefán will be home and I am not looking forward to what the next few days bring.

Davíð and I can not get sick- It just can not happen!

A Bad Joke

Our new neighbour came over and asked Davíð how to use the washing machine. Davíð called me and I told him that he needs to pull out the drawer on the top of the washer, then add the soap, pre-wash soap and softener in the appropriate spots. I though I had explained it well and in detail.

The next time I go to do laundry, the washer is fine. Then I get to the dryer. I pull out the part that holds all the water to empty it, our dryer saves the water- then we pour it down the drain.
The container is full of ...... not water but laundry soap!

ahhhhhhhhhhhh......!!!!

I do not know where to even start trying to get all that laundry soup out. The dryer does not work well when it is full of soap!

So I went to get angry. I am still a little upset - between the two of them someone should have figured out which one was a washing machine and which one was a dryer.

Now our newest neighbour thinks Davíð did it on purpose, as a joke. He, the new guy, say: Good One!

I am not convinced it is a good one.

When you go overseas..

be sure to find your club at Canada Clubs in Europe

I thought I found mine at Canadians in Iceland, but it loks like they have moved on.

I guess I will just have to be happy with facebook for now - but I will keep looking!

Forget Alberta, Move to Iceland

WOW! There must be others around here somewhere...

at least here for work.

It is true, Iceland is looking more and more like Alberta.

If you ask someone where they are from, they nearly never say Alberta and usually say Saskatchewan, or another province.

If you ask someone in Iceland where they are from, several will say Iceland, but a lot will say Poland, Philippines or another country.

I like it - there is so much more to learn!

Davíð

Davíð is writing a blog now for school.

The main focus is on environmentally sustainable energy sources.

There is a lot of stuff on home renovations for a more green home.

Check it out at:

http://djr1.blogspot.com/

Snail Babies

The snails had some babies the other day and I was so proud.

Then the fish started eating them, and I was a little disgusted.

The survivors have grown and I am even more proud because although we may never know how many did not make it, we have about 50 left. At night they cover the glass.

Soon I will be looking for a home for these little guys. I will keep some - but not that many!

So if you want some, let me know. They cost a few hundred in the pet store and I share for free- what a deal.

From a cloudy or clear mind

depends how you look at it

These are, as of now, my favorite complaints from my second job, in no particular order.

• Why are you always trying to feed me dog shit? (the food might look bad because it is blended for people who have no teeth, but I am sure it tastes fine)
• Everyday, no matter what time it is, all there is to watch is porn. (The channels are all scrambled because his family does not pay for him to get channels)
• Do you know what my salary is? I have been here over a month and no one has paid me. (Thinking they have a job at the home, rather then live there)
• Are you trying to kill me? (While putting your socks on?)
• Have you been drinking? I am sure you have been drinking. Are you retarded? People like you should not be allowed to work here. (It would take a lot more then that for me to even bat an eyelash)

I can see how this job could be a bit much for some people, it certainly give some clarity to the Grumpy Old Men bit, but I kind of like it.

Sure the pay is terrible, you have to do a few yucky things, and the verbal abuse is on a level of its own. But there is something rewarding in the job, sometimes, the grumpy old people can even be happy.