Strippers wanted….

On my way back from my early morning duty I was listening to the local FM 100,3 radio station. There was a job opportunity for me. Strippers wanted in Dallas Forth Worth for the weekend. Announcement was that a 1000 strippers (not mentioning male or female) was wanted for the weekend as the lack of strippers in town for the Super Bowl weekend. OK…yes I know, nothing for me, never tried and never will, but to my surprise in this religious country no problem to announce the lack of stripers.

http://www.nfl.com/superbowl/45

So it is the BIG SUNDAY coming up the 6^th. The day the clock stop so all can watch the big game. This year it is the Steelers who meet the Packers at Cowboy Stadium. Seats will be occupied of 7% supporters from each team, but the rest will be local living Lone Stare staters that have purchased more than quarters of the seats according NFL.

The big sponsor PAPA JOHN PIZZA could be up for a challenge as well. Never have any of the Super Bowl games gone to overtime, so Papa John is offering a free pizza to any adult in the US if so happens (notice you have to sign up with them before the game).

http://www.papajohns.com/index.html

Laila is heading for Canada on Sunday, so I either have my TV up and running for the game, or it will be me at one of the local places to enjoy the game with some of the locals. Good I have no commitments until Monday night.

Another Brunch at Flora & Muse…

I thought we were to skip the brunch today, but changed our mind (my mind) after been thinking it over on the way out.

Instead of taking the walk straight away, we stopped for a Sunday Mimosa and Bloody Mary at Flora & Muse. There is as mentioned a lot of restaurants, but they all have different atmosphere and not all of them do have what I feel is the atmosphere for Brunch, Flora & Muse has. So before we started the 30 minute walk across Memorial Moll we had Texan Breakfast for Laila and Napa Valley Omelet for me. Texan Breakfast was not as big as you can expect, just a perfect breakfast for a “female” this time with scrambled egg, bacon, French toast and jam.

It was either to go to the gym today or enjoy a walk outside, and it ended up walking to the moll before we went to the grocery and bookstore. TV and radio was purchased yesterday, but we was lack of one cable so a good reason for a walk on a Sunday. The forecast had promised rain, thunder and lightning,  and we dressed up for it, but nothing and with a temperature above 20 deg C, a raincoat was not needed, just the short sleeves T.

The book “Stupid Texas” >idiots in the Lone Star State< that I take some parts from now and then is written by Leland Gregory who also is the author of Stupid History. Here is another of the many of his collections.

UP IN SMOKE

Cleburne residents Mr. a Mrs. David Pawlik were curious about the “blue flames” that flared up every time Mrs. Pawlik lit a cigarette, so David called the fire department to see if it was something they should be concerned about. An inspector told Pawlik not to light another cigarette, flick the lighter, or strike a match until he came over to investigate. Unfortunately, Mrs. Pawlik became nervous about having her house inspected and instinctively lit a cigarette to calm her nerves. According to a July 11, 2007, article in the Forth Worth Star-Telegram, the subsequent explosion killed her instantly. Investigators discovered that a natural gas leak underneath their yard had slowly filled the Pawliks’ home with gas.

Eat and drink cinema…

We were to the movie for the first time to tonight. And my first eat and drink cinema. After getting the Golden Globe for best movie we just had to see it as long as it was on just across the street. The King’s Speech, yes it was good…up to expectations. With Colin Firth as the main actor, as King George the 5^th ,and his supporting actors Helen Bonham Carter as his wife and Geoffray Rush as the speech therapist.

The two hours went quickly as a good movie should.  Well worth the 12 nomination for the academy award.

It was also our first adventure with an, eat and drink cinema. One thing is the bar before we went in, but here you could push the button and we could order food as well drink inside. Most did before the movie started. So the ticket price was not the cost here, it was the food and drink. Just under 10 $ for the ticket each is 2/3^rd of the price in Stavanger, but adding the food and drink that ended up in 45 we are above what we use for popcorn at “home”.

So next movie will be prepared for dinner out night with wine and food and a good movie, one that is coming up soon in early February I know I will see is “Just Go With It” with Adam Sadler and Jennifer Aniston, and I am ready for more eat and drink cinema.

Jackie did it…

Coming home after picked up Laila from work and done our grocery shopping for the day the new remote controls for the gate was there. One for each of us, so the earlier promise for Monday Jackie managed to do better, and supply before the weekend was here. I hope she did not read my blog.

It remains to see the remotes will work on the gate, but I have faith.

To tease you back “home” in Stavanger, it is forecasted above 20 deg C this weekend, it was around 23 yesterday, so one more picture from our pool take yesterday do not hurt.

Yesterday I charged my camera, the Nikon, and I am glad I brought it with me for a walk around in the area. Just outside the entrance to the apartments was a line of care any could be jalousie about.

http://houstonmotorclub.com/

They all belong to Houston Motor Club. Nice to look at, I am sure they are nice to drive as well, but I am sure I will not join them (I want my own). But then it will be in Italy and not on the many floors of roads in Houston.

A new shop open yesterday in our area, I am sure the girls visiting us will pop in and have a look, selection was more for the younger once than them above our age, but there was a variance, so just go for it.

http://www.freepeople.com/vintage-loves

Fantastic entrance door they have. Real touch of class, inside as outside. So Free People will have more visitors from Norway than me.

Sorry girls…

The Administration (office) at Domain where we live are 5 girls, call them girls, and must be 30 years or less. Taking care of the people that lives here during the day and visitor’s during the day.

I have a problem first of all with the remote control for the gate to the parking. Fine I got a code for the gate, but it only on place for me to enter the code, on the outside when I get in, no push buttons on the inside…I can’t get OUT…sorry girls I just need a new remote…..

And then when we got the key’s for the apartment we only got one remote, the remote also have a thing it is a sensor for the doors after opening hours and the doors to the clubroom/coffee shop, the gym, the business centre etc.  Hey girls I need the second remote, I can’t follow my wife everywhere.

Please girls don’t show the lack of inefficiency, be proactive and keep your customers happy..I am not at present.

Finished with the blond girls I noticed we have a drive-in across the entrance for the parking.  I am used to the Mc D… drive-in not far where I lived in Stavanger and I have noticed the drive-in bank they have in US before, but now I also have seen the drive-in mail box.

I make sure I have some small items to buy at the grocery store every day, to get my exercise. As you may understand, there is not that much walking around( I am to the gym 2-3 times a week and the yoga class twice, so I am a good guy).

Popular in US…

I am pleased to see that many in the US is following my blog, surprised that 3 times as many is following me in US compared to my ”home market” in Norway.

Yes intention with my blog was to keep family and friends at home updated with challenges and what was going on with this ex-pat ”wife” as we moved. Interested myself to see how it develops. Yesterday I looked into pages for what to see, what could be of interest to visit when we have friends and family across, so it will be prepared with a Houston City Pass.

Some will go to the Downtown Aquarium and some will head for the Houston Zoo or maybe both. Sure the Space centre will be on the list and so will the children’s Museum of Houston be.

Yesterday we went to a social get together at our place where we live. Club room at the Domain, it should be wine tasting, but it was more get to know your neighbor sponsored by a local restaurant that will have more guests from the Domain environment. OK for me, they did their job perfect and I am sure not only us will head to taste their food and environment. There really is a hard competition in the restaurant business in Houston. But there is a lot of good restaurant around as well.

I will post some pictures later as my wife brought the camera I used with her to the seminar she went to for the day. Seminar located in the local hotel Sorella, so it was no driving for me this morning, just hope she find her way home. She does not have the best sense of direction as well she needs the key to get in the door. Will be waiting for the SMS.

Tonight it will be wine tasting

So we join others from the resident in the clubroom for a wine tasting. Hosted by Brenner’s Steakhouse. Light Modern Music by world renowned DJ, just hope there will be some food as well. I better have some up my sleeve for the evening.

Looked at the Brenner’s Steakhouse web page and it looks like a nice place so if the wine tasting goes well I am sure we will try it out.

http://www.brennerssteakhouse.com/bayou/default.htm

When I look around for different places I get more and more familiar with Houston. I can see how easy it will be to get around. That I miss some exits when driving I am sure, but it is just recalculating and just put it in the backpack as an experience.

Stomach muscles is a bit sour today, wonder why, no gym before tomorrow.

Tuesday will be YOGA and then Soup

The week will get its rhythm. I have noticed the yoga will be from 6.30-7.30 indicating it will be an easy dinner after. One reason there is no more energy left to make the dinner. My first time at a yoga class and I feel great. Great means that I feel I have used some muscles I did not know I had. Stretches in the longitudinal direction have not been me. Prepared for changes is our motto and be sure it looks like I am. 29 years of heart and when some months are gone I will have a body like one too, wonder who is happy for that (must admit it is not so bad start).

With regards to the soup, just look at what Signature café serve with chef-inspired soup at the grocery.

10-12 different choices so in a 3 months period I can serve different soups every Tuesday.

Other days there will be more than enough from the seafood selection or meat selection at my local favorite grocery store, just look at the pictures.

On my way home from the store I noticed it was like autumn in end of January, jumping over winter as we have 18 degree in the forecast for the weekend.

To the gym today…again

Best to take it slow in the beginning and not overdo it, second time to the gym and the muscles seems to like it better today than last time.

And today we went to get Laila new jogging shoes and for both yoga mats. Yes tomorrow we have Restorative Yoga Class, Tuesday and Saturdays, it will be interesting, for me special who never have been to a yoga class. What is it these ex-pat wife’s do?

I let you know how it goes, strange people deserve an applause.

Other than the gym today it was a lazy day with grey sky and rain, so no other fun that reading over the book of Stupid Texas and here a couple of new stories:

Under where?

On August 8, 1840 a Comanche war party attacked the port town of Linnville, burning, looting, and rampaging. Most of the settlers escaped in small boats, but Juliet Watts and her husband, Hugh, ran back to their house to save their possessions. The Comanche killed Hugh and kidnapped Juliet. Days later, as the retreating Indians were attacked and defeted by a posse at the Battle of Plum Creek, Juliet was shot in the breast with an arrow. One thing stood between the arrow and certain death for her Mrs.Watts: her corset.

Presumed Ignorant

In a Houston courtroom in April 1994, Arthur Hollingsworth was on trial for the armed robbery of a convenience store. Hollingsworth waived his constitutional right to remain silent and testified in his own defense. Harris County prosecutor Jay Hileman eventually got Hollingsworth to admit that he was, in fact, in the Sun Mart convenience store at the time of the holdup. Hileman then got Hollingsworth to admit he had taken a gun into the store with him at the time it was robbed. Hileman then moved in for the kill.

Hileman: “Mr. Hollingsworth, you’re guilty, aren’t you?”

Hollingsworth: “No.”

Hileman: “Mr.Hollingsworth, you’re guilty, aren’t you?”

Hollingsworth: “Yeah”

Just like ”back” home…

We visited the local IKEA today, yes you all know when you move into a new place there is always something needed and the place to go and find it is IKEA, and IKEA is worldwide, thank God for IKEA.

Putting together the few items we bought there and managed to bring some of our paintings on the wall, it gets a bit cozy. But we will for the next 4 weeks miss the furniture for the dining area, not at least for the standing buffet at dinner time.

My desk area is ready too, just waiting for the arm chair to arrive on Tuesday, we also put up a small table along with the entrance so we know where the keys will be, shame on who will put them any other place.

After our trip to IKEA and starting put the furniture together we went for Brunch. I had seen a notice from STRAITS at CITYCENTRE and thought we would have a taste as we never been there. Mimosas and The Bloody Mary for me is Sunday Brunch. Got used to it 6-7 years ago in New York, not any reason to drink it because of hangover from the day before it is just good food. On the Brunch menu this Sunday we went for French Toasts and Asian Crab cake. Not many people today, it was an Asian style restaurant and the menu showed it could have some interesting food, but brunch was not the ting we would go for again on this place but I am sure we will be back and taste the dinner menu.

Ready for Saturday Night..

Girls make themselves ready for Saturday night. So do the dogs too in Houston. At least the one we met today. Not sure what she was waiting for or of if she was too happy with it all, but ready and dressed she was.

Earlier today we were across to Memorial Moll. It is big and I suddenly felt better with the moll  this time than when I visited in November. Some items are missing, but most of what you look for you will find here. Sears, Target, Macy, Dillard’s of larger chains. And in the middle of everything a play ground for the kids. Look forward to it kids, and parents a lot for all of you.

The Not-So-Early Bird

In Texas, the federally funded organization Advocacy, Inc which promotes the rights of the disabled, sued the Austin Travis County Mental Health and Mental Retardation Centre in 1994 for getting up too early. The lawsuit forced the centre to change the time of their board meetings from 8 a.m. to no earlier than 9 a.m.

George W. Bush was the first governor in Texas history to be elected to two consecutive four-year terms, and the first son of a president to be governor.

Bank of America

We got it, without a social security number we got our bank account established at the local bank in our area. To be on the safe side we went to the challenge of visiting the social security administration to start the process of getting a social security number. Application was done in advance so it was to get a number in the line and wait.

We had been pre-warned it could take some time and best would be to bring a book to read. It did not take that long 45 minute of waiting time was spent viewing the various amount of people for one reason or the other was there.

When A516 was called (our number) we were ready for the challenge. Can’t say that the woman behind the desk had a great smile on her face, I guess it looked like what we could expect.

Either or, me as an ex-pat wife and spouse did not have what I needed with me. Warning for whoever comes after me, bring your wedding certificate. We brought it with us to Oslo for the visa application, but it is also needed for the spouse if you have an E-1 visa and apply for a local social security number in the US. I need to go back and wait another 45 minutes or so until I can be approved with one number. After that it takes at least 4 weeks prior we get one.

Finished at the social security administration for this time we headed for the bank. Yes I picked Bank of America. They had not gone down the drain during the financial crisis and we hoped it will be up and running for the years we intend to be here.

To our surprise it was easier to get a bank account with debit card then what was expected. We brought our passport and the sweet girl who assisted us did a very clever job. In the end after 20 minutes we could walk outside to the ATM machine

and even do our first $ 100 deposit at the ATM machine. Next deposit will be 15^th February and from Norway.

There was one person who understood that is not so easy for foreigners. The girl in the bank, but she was from Bangladesh.

Uno per due

BRIO, our Friday night dinner place is not quite up to it with its Italian style. One thing is the menu where appetizers are primo and not  antipasti, another is to understand our way of sharing one dish for two people. Uno per due and just look below on the picture, I say it is just in the Texan way of doing it.

The Beef Carpaccio was just heaven, so was the Chicken limone

and my Shrimp and Lobster Fettuccini.

We really have started our way through the menu and booked the table for next Friday as well.  The BRIO is always full of people Friday night.

February will be a busy month…

I am two weeks away to head for Sweden. It looks like the "ex-pat wife" will be busy the first two weeks in February. Just days away from the announcement that our family run business is in the “semifinal”/"final race" to be presented at an investor gathering at London Stock Exchange the 14^th. First we will, as one out of 25 that ended up in the final race (there was 80 in total) of the Nordic Cleantech Open participate the 5 and the 6^th February at Trolleholms Castle close to Lund in Sweden.

The castle is 450 years old and open exclusively to members. The Nordic Cleantech Open have the entire castle for this weekend, with facilities such as meeting rooms, sauna, massage, jakuzzi at our full disposal. The top 25 contestants are invited to this workshop where they will get the opportunity to meet qualified mentors and jury members, have individual meetings with them to work on and develop their businesses. The invited individuals have been targeted based on the profiles of the finalists.

For me it will be interesting to meet Lassi Naponen, partner of Cleantech Invest. Lassi was chairman of the board of Winwind where he managed the founders and investors exit and 120m€ equity fund raising from Abu Dhabi (MASDAR). In 2009 this was the largest clean tech deal in Scandinavia. In 2009 Lassi was inducted to the Cleantech Scandinavia Hall of Fame.

Heading back to Houston with the early flight 7th February to catch up for the late afternoon reception with the Royal Norwegian Consulate General Dr. Jostein Mykletun at his residence on the occasion of Norway’s Participation at Arctic Technology Conference, the Visit of the Mayor of the City of Stavanger The Honorable Leif Johan Sevland, and two related Norway-US Seminars on Oil Spill and Space & Energy.

Next day visits to the NASA Johnson Space Centre (NASA - JSC) and Oceaneering

in the evening Stavanger Reception: Westin Galleria Hotel with Mayor of Stavanger, Leif Johan Sevland

9^th February the Conference and Workshops, the conference part will focus on overall opportunities and challenges, and lay the framework for the workshops. Several of the talks will discuss the exciting opportunities and challenges that arise when one has to deal with four different cultures at the same time: Space, Energy, the US, and Norway. We are challenging material used in space technology also to be used in our product related to the harsh environment in Gulf of Mexico, East coast of US and the North Sea.

If I also need to go to London 14. February it will be me crossing the Atlantic more hours than I get to see Houston and prepare for visitors coming across…sorry about that, but it needs to be so.

Someone spread their love around….

I do not want to use the f.. word. So I try to be nice listening to the local news yesterday, or I did not listen I was at Yard House for lunch. Location more or less the same building as Hotel Sorella, http://www.yardhouse.com/TX/houston/ and with a beer menu that will make you have challenges to choose the beer you want. I think I can have a new taste every day for the rest of the year if I only went to this place for lunch. Second time this week so not that many recommendations yet, food are as all the other places in the area, just excellent. Environment is more for the laid back. Choosing the news, sport or business channel to watch for the 30-60 minutes I am there.

OK, it was the news from Memphis Tennessee yesterday that 90 girls at one High School was pregnant at the same time. WOW, what kind of education is there in this country? Just hope it is not down to one guy, but spread around with 90 boys as well.

Either or they will have a tough start in life. I did not listen to the news I just saw the head line and I just had to make a note about it, in the same way I will tell you some other stories like:

REPORT THIS !!!

An eighteen-month investigation by Texas State Library and Archive Commission, reported by the Houston Chronicle on October 29, 2007, concluded that the state government requires too many reports. Approximately one-fourth of the more than 1600 reports were duplicates of existing reports, were issued to agencies no longer in existence, or were prepared annually even after evidence surfaced that they went unread.

The commission issued its findings on the plethora of reports in a 668-pages report.

Wonder if the same happens in Norway?

Sorry for delay

But we moved in yesterday to 811 Town and Country Blvd app 337. Yes from today we are settled down in our new apartment that will be our home for the next 2-3 years or so. Some furniture missing, but we will survive until all the furniture us in place. Now it is easier to see what is missing of those smaller items like lamps and carpets and the outstanding items in the kitchen for me to make the dinner. I love by the way the grocery store, not that I will use it so much, but perfect semi finished product that just need the extra touch of creativity to make a perfect dinner to my wife and me.

Now after a week I see those things that could be challenging for an "ex-pat wife" like me. First of all social security number, it is needed for some important issues like cable TV. It is not in the deal with “Relocation”. Had a chat with AT&T yesterday so be aware cable and cell phone. Cell phone they (at least AT&T) will charge you $ 500 in deposit the first year as soon as you get a cell phone, ok first you need the social security number and according to company it will take 4-6 weeks after you have visited the local authorities for your application submission.

What will we do? We can live without until then; we have been used to the one channel of NRK before. Plug in the laptop to the TV and watch the Norwegian news and “Nytt på Nytt” or whatever is possible to download.

Another issue is some local rules in US for driving, most goes fine, but when you are to choose who is driving first when all four sides have a STOP sign, not easy. I understand it is forbidden to use the horn so just follow your stomach feeling of who is right or wrong; no one should honk the horn at you. What I will do is to take a course for local driving, I need to get a local driving license so best to prepare, I have time for it.

With regards to driving I have my comfort zone until now. I am within Kathy Freeway in North, to Westheimer Road in South, Texas 6 in west and West Loop in East. Get to know our neighbouring area by driving some on Memorial Drive East and West crossing most areas we are in to.

Than next challenge for an "ex-pat wife", what about the car? Best not say too much, but efficiency is not a top priority. The company had a list of pre approved cars, with long delivery, so second option was to find one ex stock and submit the application. The company that arrange the lease need to contact the dealer you have chosen to arrange a deal that are within your car allowance. That take a week, so if it is not, you have to start all over again. There should be a figure of a selling price for a car indicating the lease cost for an 18 or 24 months deal for lease to avoid the uncertainty in waiting for the good or bad news. Hope that we have the good news today. We have another week to go with the rental we have now, what happens next week. Picture will show you later.