Blog
A map of hell
The other day I was listening to a podcast [again] - this time Outlook from the BBC. They were interviewing a woman whom they billed as "one of American's most respected mental health professionals" - a Dr. Marsha Linehan, who has created a treatment program for...
The most interesting part of human experience
Recently, while listening to The Moth [one of my absolute favourite podcasts], I heard the storyteller say this: The emotional dimension is the least interesting part of the human experience. I had to go back and listen again to make sure I had heard correctly,...
On guard
Sometimes I look at people, and I think: Somewhere along the line, that person stagnated. Their spirit congealed. Do you know what I mean? It doesn't entirely have to do with age, either. A person can be 18 and seem 38 in their demeanor and manner and way of speaking....
Taking a bow
Lately I've been fascinated by the way we perform different roles in our lives. Sometimes we cast ourselves in roles, sometimes they're thrust upon us, and sometimes other people cast us in roles that we have no idea we're in. Or we suddenly find that we're in a role...
In which things with Zuckerberg turn a little sour
When I first signed up for Facebook, I was delighted by what it offered me. During the course of my life I'd lived in so many places and made so many friends that I couldn't possibly keep up with everyone via traditional email [to say nothing of snail mail]. But with...
Home-made müsli with pecans and dates
As many of you no doubt know I have hitherto not been known for my prowess in food blogging (although I CAN cook - honest!) but as it happened I posted a pic of my freshly-made müsli on Instagram today (because that's what you're supposed to do with food, right?) and...
God bless Iceland
October 6th, wery wery significant day in Icelandic history. Four years ago exactly, Icelanders gathered in front of their screens and watched as then-PM Geir Haarde announced that this country was going to hell in a handbasket, national bankruptcy was imminent, and...
Happy International Translation Day!
It is September 30th, which the International Federation of Translators has declared International Translation Day . Here in Iceland, translations are such an integral part of life that it would spell absolute disaster if they were suddenly removed. Just think of all...
The bilingual personality switch
Earlier today I started a new discussion thread on my Facebook page regarding bilingualism and second-language acquisition. The topic has garnered quite a few responses and given me cause to reflect and analyze my own linguistic performance in different languages -...
A wee story about a teabag and 40 litres of tea (because in Iceland the customer is always wrong)
EPI and I went for sushi a couple of days ago, at a place called the Fish Market. Before I go further, let me unequivocally state that the sushi was really yummy. Anyway, we both order green tea with our sushi. We get a small tea kettle with a single teabag in it,...
What I have really been doing this summer (writing a novel)
OK. I'm not going to start this post with lame excuses about why I've been so remiss when it comes to updating this blog, nor get all bent out of shape with self-inflicted guilt or verbal self-flaggelation ... NO. Instead I'm going to tell you that there is a very...
In which I ramble about writing and angst and stuff
Well, I always suspected it was true, and now I know it is - it's a lot harder to blog once a week than to blog once a day. A lot of the blog gurus preach that you really don't need to update a blog very frequently. Once a week should be enough, if you are providing...
