Just finished reading Frank Herbert’s supreme Dune, and now pushing straight through C.G. Jung’s Modern Man in Search of a Soul. My brain is bathing in bright thoughts.

I’m so excited for this Arduino class that’s coming up! With my Christmas-gifted sewing machine, you better be expecting some flashy electronic fashion coming this way.

And as a postscript to last post, I decided to tackle a much more intense knitting project than those fingerless gloves. I’m almost done with a freakin’ dragon for my nephew, Jake, who has already decided on it’s name: Mexican Hat. Represent.

Of course, work is keeping me busy. InDesign, Flash, and even some photography are being called for currently. It feels good, being busy. I’ve also joined the International Game Developers Association and I attended my first Make:Philly meeting. I’ll have more on that in the future, promise!

The last few days in Denmark…

Family, beautiful weather, good food, and Tivoli!

I didn’t update for Sunday or Monday!

Sunday was spent researching schools.  In the evening I went out with Mom and Will for dinner.  The walk home was excellent – We stopped for ice cream.  I got mango and chocolate, the latter of which was the best I’ve ever had.

Monday, yesterday, I went shopping with mom and bought some fun things, like gifts and gloves.  That night we went to Krog’s, a really fancy restaurant.  My food was amazing and my body felt like butter afterward.

I’m writing even though it’s day time because I need to calm down after an explosion of embarrassing moments.  Do not wear skirts and do not gamble in Denmark.  Otherwise, the walk around was nice (even though I didn’t find what I originally set out to see).  More later.

So we said our goodbye’s to Farmor, which is never easy. The trip to Copenhagen was delayed for various reasons, but we made it. This hotel is magnificent! We had drinks and appetizers in the Library Bar here, one of the top ten bars in the world. Then dinner at a very good pub. After walking around a bit, I came back and got a hold of Anne. While I was getting ready to go out we saw fireworks from Tivoli – what a view! Anne and her cousin Tilde took me to a bar and then two clubs. What a night!

Woke up and got ready for Lønstrup.  Visited Helle’s grave.  Had lunch (pizza and fried shrimp).  Walked to the beach.  Went shopping.  Ice cream.  Farmor’s to pick up supplies and Anne’s number.  Back home for Biksemel.  Ice cream trip again.  Ever so tired.

Woke up early today for another bike trip to the bakery for rolls, this time with Lynn and Jake.  It was the most beautiful day thus far, with much clearer skies and sunshine. We went to the beach after breakfast.  After finding a niche in the dunes, Mom and I went for a swim in the refreshingly frigid water.  Jake is growing brave with the waves.  We all took the small walk back and got ready, then uncle Joja picked us up so we could all drive to his house at once.  Methe had prepared a lovely arrangement with tea and cakes and cookies. I told her I felt like a “real lady.” But really, it was so sweet.  We chatted and then walked in their beautiful garden.  When we came home I fell asleep on the couch sitting up and then went back to the beach with Lynn.  We went swimming and the water was colder now that it had warmed up.  Brian and Will came eventually and then we headed back for a light dinner.  I shared the pictures I have taken so far.  Is it obvious I’m very tired from all the sunshine, and thus rushing through this?  I wish I could write more, but I’m wiped and happy to be so, for a good night’s rest.  Oh, some things to note:

Farmor and Bebar were married in 1949 in November.

The first summer they were engaged, they would take their bathing suits and dinner of brown bread, butter, brown sugar and milk to the beach after work every single day because the weather was so unbelievably nice that year.

Joja can remember it was morning and the day the Germans came to occupy Denmark, and he was only 6.

Note: Upon reading this over, it occurs to me that I should explain the title and the inclination I had to use it at the time. While Farmor told me these stories, she added: “You know, Leigh, you are my only grandchild with blue eyes. That means you are a real Danish girl!” Needless to say I thought the logic was sound.

A funny day, today.

I woke up late after trying to reconcile a disconcerting dream to no avail.  Another marvelous Danish breakfast and then Lynn, Brian, Jake and I drove to Farmor’s to call dad and drive to Skosoen (forest and sea).  It was a place I had been to with my Dad when I was younger, and I remembered it as the most beautiful place I had ever seen.  When we went, though, it was a lot different.  Trees had been cut down and the beautiful golden lake was covered with lily pads, murky with dirt.  It was a remarkable moment for me to experience such a contrast from a childhood memory.  As Farmor said, everything has to be done with money these days, and this beautiful little haven had been cut from the budget.  Nonetheless, it still holds some magic yet.

Back to the house where Hanna, Niels Anchor, and Carsten visited for coffee.  Then Farmor had brought some dinner (she really can’t keep us from keeping her from cooking).  Frekedele and potatos au gratin – mm mm.  Brian was drunk and funny.  Some chit chat and now Farmor is sleeping here in my room just like when I was a little pige (Danish girl).

She told me stories of her youth.  She met Bebar on a Sunday (can you believe she remembered the exact day of the week?) when she was out for a walk.  Bebar had just had his afternoon coffee at the sea men’s bar in Hirtshals and was standing outside. They struck up a conversation and walked for a bit.  He asked her to a dance that night in Hjorring.  Three weeks later they were engaged.  She was 22 and was with Helle before she turned 23.  At the time before she had met Bebar she had been in Copenhagen working as a maid in a big house with her friends, but her father had called her back home to help with his business.  She told him she would help him as long as he found another helper by summer. Then she met Bebar.  Tonight she told me she never thought about going back to Copenhagen again.  That’s love.

Woo!  I just beat a computer at chess.

So today I wanted to wake up early and bike into town to buy some rolls for breakfast.  There’s something really satisfying in fetching food and keeping it safe in a bike basket on the ride home.  I could tell it was going to be a beautiful day from the start.

Another awesome Danish breakfast, and then we all rode into Hirtshals.  The ladies (and Jake) went shopping while the guys checked out the bunker museum.  I exchanged some money (yikes, the dollar better get stronger) and bought a necklace, scarf and sweater.  While I had been excited to go into Savannah, I’ve either outgrown their fashion or the store has taken a turn for the worse.  Either way, I found a nice store.  I also bought some King’s Blues after trying Claes’ cigarettes and some postcards for Dad, Kristen, Conor and Nymph.

We ate at a cute restaurant near the center of town called Lilleheden.  Funny, I don’t often eat at restaurants in Denmark because my relatives are always providing.  But the food was awesome!  I cleared my whole plate of smoked salmon sandwich.  Mom and I stopped into the book store before we went home.  The bike ride was awfully windy and slow this time, and it hasn’t let up.

I fell asleep under a wool blanket and comforter out on the back porch, which is partly nestled into and protected by the dunes.  We all (sans Will) went for a walk down to the beach and Lynn and I lagged a bit behind so we could finally have some sister time.  It was an easy dinner today, but yummy of course; liverpustai, rollapousa, sunflower bread, some wine, and lots of sugary sweets for dessert.  We all talked for awhile after, then mom and I watched a Danish film.  It was all right, but it was even nicer spending time with mom.

Now the whole house is creaking with the wind – kind of creepy.  Jacob is crying a bit.  I wish I could go in there and snuggle him, but it’s a weird balance in whether you should disturb him or let him tire himself out.

No question, I want to move here.

Finally tuckered myself out by playing a ton of computer chess.

A grey rainy day.  Cards, some reading, and a Danish film (the name escapes me but it was directed by Susanne Bier I think?)

We rented bikes today!  I think mine is a cruiser and I really love riding it.  I convinced mom and Will to drive into Hirtshals with me – it only took about 10 minutes (+5 for the quick stop to say hello to some cute cows).  We visited Farmor who gave me some sunglasses that were my great-grandmother Abalone’s and they’re awesome.

Tomorrow I have to wake up bright and early to bike to the bakery.  I really am so glad we are renting bikes.  I feel like a real Dane now and it’s much easier to experience the ambience of Hirtshals.  My lungs are finally breathing in the fresh air at full capacity and it smells like green and dew and sea.  I postulated that my name meaning meadow may have something to do with my fondness for the wildflowers and rolling hill landscapes.  We saw a neat bird that can hover and even showed off, catching a mouse as we were riding by.  I thought of Conor because I think his favorite bird is the osprey.  Also, I won rummy and the second round of the memory card game.  And I can’t believe it’s only Monday.  I feel like I’ve been here for days and days, so I’m really glad that I still have so much time left to explore.