Wednesday 22 March 2006

Self Portrait

Dad called me today and poitely noted that the previous picture had been up for a little too long, and that it was high time I posted something new.

So here you are: a self portrait taken with my iMac Photo Booth accessory. I purposely used the gelled lense option because, well, none of us is getting any younger, right? Photo Booth is a fun toy...hours of entertainment for the whole family.

As you all can see I am not only holding our famous cat Mio (who had his picture in the paper twice in the last weeks) but I have quite a big belly. 8 months/35 weeks preggo I am! Baby could come any day now, theoretically. I'm working on finishing my teaching credential studies in concert with the upcoming birth, but of course baby is priority number 1,2 and 3. I'm nesting like crazy on top of all my research, practice teaching and essay writing, so our apartment is undergoing alterations, both big and small. It's all about organization and practicality, but with a sense personality and style.

Blogging may be spottier than usual with all this going on, but I'll do my best to keep fresh photos coming in the months ahead. But for now, ta ta!

Wednesday 15 March 2006

Snowtime

No, this is not Iceland. This is a shot of my sister Addy and her husband Dan's "cabin" in the California Sierrras (just west of Bear Valley ski resort, about a three hour drive from San Francisco. There is more snow on the bumper of the SUV in the photo than we've had all winter long here in Reykjavik. As my Dad says, this could be a good time for Icelanders to start investing in palm trees...

Speaking of my Father, Thor Roff, who took this great shot, its his Birthday Today! March 15th! Yaayyy!

Til Hamingju Með Afmæli, Pabbi!

Friday 10 March 2006

Family Stroll

Taking a shortcut across the frozen Reykjavik town lake with the City Hall and downtown area in the background...

(It's been cold here lately and is, as a matter of fact, snowing as I type. We might need to be prepared for a drawn-out winter after all.)

Lovers


A sweet and private moment captured on digital...

The boyfriend in this tourist couple had to seriously encourage, and then coerce, his girl to step out onto the ice. She was not going to do it. I was with her all the way: not having experienced a lot of pond walking growing up in California, I was trepidatious to say the least the first time someone tried to get me out onto the Reykjavik town lake as an adult. Even after being told the lake is only about shin deep, I was wary...it's just not a natural thing for a valley/beach girl to do! Once on the ice and firmly attached to her gentleman's arm, though, this young woman seemed to enjoy the adventure.

Tuesday 7 March 2006

Thingvellir

In honor of the small but jolting 4.6 earthquake that struck the Reykjanes Peninsula yesterday, I give you a photo of the Mid-Atlantic Rift as seen from national park Thingvellir. The gorge seen the picture is actually the separator between the North American Plate and the Eurasian Plate, meaning that the people seen on the right hand side of the photo are standing on North America...just kidding. Some people, though, see this ever-growing rift as symbolic of Iceland's divided loyalties: are we Europeans or simply another capitalized US holding? Both, I'd say. But playing two side to gain the middle is always a risky venture. Ask anyone who lives in an earthquake zone...

Oh, and here is a simple, concise report on the Rift for the geology buffs among us.

(Photo courtesy of the Linköping University )website.

Thursday 2 March 2006

Prime Real Estate

I'm investing in real estate: a sweet home with a wonderful ocean view.

Thankfully, it's not this tin shack on Ægisíða in West Side Reykjavik (the road running along the sea on this map). Instead, it's the great 3rd & 4th floor apartment I've lived in for the past 6 1/2 years (minus year or so) on Baldursgata, in central Rvk. Lucky us, my parents, who own the pad, are giving us a great deal (with the understanding that that takes care of any inheritance I might have coming!!!). And even more lucky, our friend Jónas bought my apt off me, the one that's on the first floor of the same building. One big happy family!

In other news, I've been invited to represent Reykjavik on European City Blog, a cool glimpse into life in a number of major Euro locations. Be sure to click by for a visit...