The Most Important Day - The Evening

The pizza gone, waiting for the fireworksy ice cream.


My free ice cream, the fireworks all gone, but the ice cream still there. (On this pizza place they bring you a ice cream dessert if it's your birthday, and it has this sparking fireworks thing in it, making it all flashy and obvious for all the guests that yes, it is your birthday today... They used to sing for you as well, but this one didn't at least.)


My lovely parents enjoying to be back after some west coast travelling.


The empty ice cream glass, picturing the spark-thing that accompanied it. (English speakers, do you have a name for that? Would be nice to make myself understood on a later occation with the use of less words than "sparkling fireworks thing". Happy 4th to some of you, by the way!)

The Most Important Day - The Morning

Looking all surprised by the morning visit of the singing troubadour, with a tray full of food and a fresh song on his sleeve. 


The tray of food I was awakened to enjoy, notice in particular the tea-candle placed in the rice, and the straw of strawberries looking all yummy and good. 




My micro-on-the-day-party out in the sun. Me, Øyvind, Annis and Marie. David, the famous photographer, is busy snapping the picture. 

Thank you!

I just wanted to give a big thank you to all of you who made my birthday a joy and a happy time.

 

David for making me breakfast, singing me songs (he even wrote one for me. For the occasion!), driving me places (my very own private chauffeur) and making it a fun day in many ways.

My mom and dad for taking us out to eat pizza at Peppes, and doing so even after driving for more than 8 hours to get there.

Annis, Marie and Øyvind for coming to my micro-on-the-day-party. It was really fun having you here.

All relatives, uncles and aunts for giving me gifts. Thank you, thank you! 

All friends and family for sending me emails and comments on the Internet.

Jordan and Ruth Silje for giving me phone calls on my birthday. Really meant a lot!

And, the biggest group: All those of you who sent me SMSes. I don't think I've received this many SMSes on any birthday prior to this one, so thank you all a whole lot!

I am now starting to feel like one of those musicians who do these long endless thank you speeches, and bending down low to the microphone, looking all crippled and weird as they're doing so. So I will stop here, and let the pictures speak what words cannot express.

The most important day of the year is approaching!

July 3rd.
I will not be shy, and I won't put under a chair, that in my mind, this is maybe the most important day of the year.

23 years ago, I was born in Hamar hospital, on July 3rd, a healthy little boy, 52 cm wide and 3550 grams heavy. Boy, have I grown since then...

I just wanted to make sure the whole world knew, since some have forgotten and some have been three days early.
Comments are welcome.
But gifts and SMSes, letters and phone calls are extremely welcome.

And, if you thought this was a cheesy way of promoting my own birthday - you're perfectly right!

PS! Birthday wishes are given upon request.

Risking it all, life and health, in order to perform the longest jump...

The Roadtrip

I left Skien together with Ruth Silje on a sunny Sunday, headed for Stange, my home place. We decided to have all the time in the world on the way home, and we stood by that decision all the way.
The first place we stopped was Siljan Rastepark. It's a place for tired drivers with or without whiny kids in the back seat. I've always wanted to stop by as I've been driving past it, and this was the time we had been waitng for. The word "raste", is a ultra-Norwegian word for the pauses you have in your driving, when you don't stop at a gas station, but rather at something like a "rasteplass".
We also stopped at a over-the-highway-restaurant, at McDonalds eating a perfect McFlurry, filling gas, and other random fun roadtrip-places.

We came to Stange late, but with many new experiences and a really fun day.

Enjoy the pictures!

-paulie

Showing off.


Ruth Silje showing off as well.


Showing off even more...

Don't ask me what happened here. Driving fast has its scary moments.

Above one of the largest and fastest roads in Norway, there is a restaurant, By the Way. That's the name of the restaurant, by the way.

Sitting on top of the center of Siljan Rastepark: A root.


So that it would be no one coming to us saying: "You haven't been in Siljan rastepark, you're only pretending."


Ruth Silje is happy to be alive, and even more happy to be in Siljan Rastepark.


Ruth Silje and me.


My room before leaving

Last day in Skien

Today was my last day in Skien, at least in working with YWAM Skien for now.
I have been trying to finish up all my work here now these last days, and I think I made it...

Tomorrow, the car heads back to Stange with me in it. And suddenly, the summer came.

Just thought you'd all like to know.
To all Skien-people: I will miss you.
To all you others: Yeah.

-paulie

Our brand new family photo

 
Seriously.