Instructor training

This weekend SiT idrett hosted yet another instructor training. Group fitness is very popular, and the demand for new instructors seems never ending. I have been educating new instructors since the fall of 2005. This time around Ida Mjøsund and Marit Anne Holten are the other education specialists on the team. Ida is a physiotherapist with a bachelor degree in sports science and Marit Anne is a teacher who holds a master's degree in natural sciences as well as a one year study in sports science on University level. I am blessed with talented and knowledgeable colleagues. Not to mention how we become good friends as we work closely together!

I've added movie clips of Ida in action. Enjoy!

National Constitution Day

Here in Norway we celebrate the National Constitution Day by gathering in the city centers. Central to the celebration is cheering, small flags, hot dogs, soft ice cream and heliumfilled balloons going off into the distance (with a similar number of desperate parents, tending for their devastated child). The day starts off with a children's parade where they walk with their school class and teacher. Afterwards there is a public parade with organizations, theatres, sporting teams and soforth. The last parade is for the "russ", that is the graduating class in high school. For some reason we have a tradition that the russ dress up in red or blue overalls, based on the classes they've taken during
high school (blue is economical classes...go figure..), and in some areas of Norway they add a lab coat decorated with art - and wear this for about three weeks while partying and drinking, until they have their final exams. Ingenious?

Tradition for us is breakfast with champagne at our friends' house, sometimes we make it in to town for the second parade, other times not... This year we saw the public parade, where in fact there was a crowd of foreigners as there's recently been a World Beard and Moustache Championship in Trondheim. Pictures below ;).

Oh -and I almost forgot. We dress up in the bunad, our national costume.

Men's choir: "Vi har fuktet truser siden..." = "We've moisted panties since..."

Afternoon snack!

C-H-I-C-A-G-O

Last year one of my best friends got married. The last time I saw her was in fact in my own wedding in 2007, but we've stayed in touch through emails and I've seen her mom in Atlanta in the meantime. You know the type of friend where you don't see them for a long time, but once you're in a room together you're back in the comfortable 'best friends relationship' within minutes? Well, that's Kalle for you. Knowing how much it meant to me to be present on her big day my husband gave me this for my birthday:

Now - what was this? A puzzle! He'd laminated a picture of the Chicago skyline, cut in into pieces, and I was completely taken by surprise! It should be evident by now that Kalle and her chosen one live in Chicago. Their wedding, however, was in Savannah, GA, and because of my internship situation I wasn't able to get time off from work (for a long time I didn't know what hospital I'd be in, and thus didn't know who my employer would be -which makes it kind of hard asking for time off...). Kalle and I had agreed that the better option was to come and visit them in Chicago, and get to hang out. In April we took off - and spent two weeks in the US. Kalle and Micheal were great, and we had the best time.
Day 1: Rune had arranged for Kalle and I to go to a spa! He knew that I'd been going through some rough time, and that this vacation was a much longed for break from everything. And to start the vacation with the best massage ever cannot be described in words... Afterwards we did what Kalle and I do best: went for a cup of coffee! And obviously - shopping...!
Day 2&3: Weekend time! The four of us hung out in the city of Chicago, going out for brunch, walked in the park, along the beach...chilling and enjoying ourselves!
Day 4-7: Our hosts had jobs to attend to, so Rune and I got out the GPS and selected our next destination. It was time to visit Elvis. Our rental Lincoln towncar headed due south towards Memphis, and Graceland was our first stop. It was interesting, and kind of fun to have been there - but I've never been to a more commercial museum in my life. After two hours we'd had enough, and waved Elvis goodbye. The weather in Memphis was great, and we spent the next day in downtown Memphis, visiting the cotton museum and simply hung out. The next day we headed back to Chicago and our hosts.
Day 8-10: Kalle and Micheal had rented a lake house in Douglas/Saugatuck in Michigan. Although the weather was cold and it rained most of the time we had a great time. The house was unbelievably nice, the hot tub out on the patio much appreciated, the wineries interesting (ice wine, anyone?! ;) ), the food satiable, and of course the best part: our company :).
Day 11-13: Wrapping up the vacation back in Chicago before we boarded our plane back to Trondheim. Did I mention we had snow in Chicago? We couldn't believe it - traveling from cold Norway to Chicago in the spring... Oh well, not that it made a difference. Spending time with Kalle, and getting to know Micheal was our mission, and I've gotta say. Mission accomplished! We don't see each other often, but when we do, it is like we've haven't been a day apart since high school.






New EOS 60D

SiT BeneFiT -Group fitness charity

A lot has happened lately. In fact I'm at the point where I feel mostly empty, and I cannot begin to explain how much I'm looking forward to our upcoming vacation (more on that in a few days). A week ago my aunt died in the hospital. She was full of vitality and her spirit was filled with an intention to live. However, the cancer was brutal and eventually she gave in. The funeral was on Friday. The following day I had the pleasure of co-hosting a charity event at our gym. Eight instructors had prepared a 2,25 hours aerobic class; high intensity aerobic, Afro dance and zumba. The participants paid an entrance fee, and all of 1500 dollars was collected. The sum in full will be given to an organization that helps cancer patients exercise by providing/ building small gyms in the hospital area. It is called Active against Cancer,and was founded by Grete Waitz. The benefit meant a whole lot to me personally! Check out some of the instructors below :).

Friday - free time!!

Friday was my day off. And I spent it the best way there is: out in fresh air on skis! Luckily a good friend and colleague had the day off as well (unfortunately she works all weekend), and she is the prime reason we went telemarking and had a ball! Who would have thought we'd get great conditions and on top have Vassfjellet ski center practically to ourselves!

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Coolest cousin ever!

Can you imagine...double flip...I'm proud! His physique has been amazing ever since he was a little kid, and I guess it's paying off! Awesome.

Step 3: finished blanket!

And eventually the blanket was finished! Now, ready to commence a new project...