FMC what are they

Is it Food Machinery Cooperation? It looks like, I remember the industrial juice machines, but many have seen their equipment at the airports worldwide. FMC Measuring I used to work with at Kongsberg some years back and in the mid 80’s supplier to some of the first subsea templates for oil production installed in the North Sea. For me it is subsea equipment they are famous for and a world leader in technology.

But Friday night it looked like they also participated in the BBQ World Championship. I was looking for old colleagues but could not see any. What a shame, I thought we could come to the BBQ event and get some real taste of the local BBQ.

But NO, it was privet parties all over and it was for sponsor and friends to the sponsors. This I was not prepared for so ending up with, what it was I do not know, just know never again, BIG DISSAPOINTMENT.

Fun to have a look around and going for making the right connection for next year event’s if it is on.

There were a lot of people, and when I say a lot, I MEAN a lot of people.

We managed to find parking, and we managed to find the car later. Good thing I am now prepared for the concert with Trace Adkins on Wednesday as well OTC in May that take place at the same Reliant Stadium and Park area.

Look forward to the next two weeks and the Rodeo I am sure we will not have the same disappointment.

RODEOHOUSTON….

Is the world’s largest rodeo, we all have heard about a rodeo, but few had the possibility to attend and watch what is going on.

Next week it start, or I may say it starts today with a Texan -sized picnic to launch the annual event, The World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest. It is three days of cooking, competition, eating and dancing. The sweet aroma drifts over Houston metropolis, drawing crowds like bees to honey. A record 221,229 guest joined the feast in 2010. Live musical entertainment is provided at the Miller Lite Stage at The Garden with room for dancing.

Today it will be wild salmon for diner, it looks like it will be meat at least Saturday. Look forward to the weekend and the BBQ Championship and next week it will be the rodeo along with a concert.

http://www.rodeohouston.com/concerts/index.aspx

There is a concert almost every evening at the Rodeo. I picked out one, Trace Adkins. Not that I know his music so much, but I saw him at the Apprentice and thought he was a great guy.

A new evening with YOGA

Yes yesterday it was a new evening before diner and soup. To my surprise we were 50/50 men and women. Including the instructor, so 4 men and 3 women from the Domain participating at the class.

I am getting there, but if you expect to see me like this:

Or like this:

Forget it, I am close to this position, but mainly because I am on to the gym for extra exercise.

I feel the calories just run off. Also at the gym, so the food I am talking about visiting different restaurants is not an issue (at present).

Moving here to Houston has been good for my body, taking on the challenges and do things I have had hard to make time for at “home” have changed. It is the availability and access to the gym and bringing on the challenge of going to yoga that has made it. And when I see more men participate it is no hassle at all get ready for it guys, you are welcome to participate, but the view could for sure be better and it would with some extra girls.

Lunch with two good friend

Angelo in town at the same time Sidsel, two great persons I worked together with back in 1996/97 when I was chasing Africa and Middle East in the early days of Upstream.

http://www.upstreamonline.com/

Upstream is an Oil & Gas newspaper, owned by Norwegian but an international business paper with great journalists and sales people. Just two years back Upstream got a sister paper in Renewable, Recharge and it is there Angelo and Sidsel work today (the two big bosses).

http://www.rechargenews.com/

Both papers have a sales office in Houston at 5151 San Felipe St. For me easy to get to as I just had to drive along Memorial and follow San Felipe. Get to know the city now.

The office was empty, here it is President Day. People complain about all the holidays in Norway, it looks like they have the same amount if not more in America.

It was nice to see the guys again next time will be in March in Stavanger and at OTC in Houston. But first we had a nice lunch at Ninfa’s Mexican Restaurant at 1650 Post Oak Blvd.

Understand that it is the lunch place for the Recharge guys, ok and nice priced. Not many people at lunch today due to the holiday so we could make a conversation.

Always fun to see those guys and love to share what is going on.

See you soon…

Brunch at Bistro Alex today

Bistro Alex Brings A Taste of New Orleans to CityCentre every Sunday. A Brennan’s Family Restaurant has a Jazz Brunch that channels the sight, sounds and taste of New Orleans. Relish in decadent menu items like Smashed “Beef Debris” Po Boys, Eggs Benedict, and Chicory Coffee Duck & Butternut Waffles. Indulge in the ultimate Bloody Mary bar (special when I can do it myself) with a myriad of seasonal vegetables, seasoning and Gulf Coast ingredients to customize my cocktail to taste. Sway to the sound of the legendary jazz musician Yvonne Washington, who captivated audiences for years at Bistro Alex sister restaurant, Brennan’s of Houston.

Josh Scott (the Food and Beverage outlet manager) to be proud along with the rest of the staff at Bistro Alex, I am not sure if we will be categorized as regulars if we do one Friday a month and one or two Sundays, but for us it will be a regular visit these 2-3 years we will stay in the area. Both the Friday a week ago when was in for dinner and today ensured us that Bistro Alex have a very relax atmosphere that suit us.

For desert today we had flambé Bananas, I got the way he did it so who knows maybe I give it a try at home, Laila ready with the fire extinguisher.

Saturday with new changes of routines….

In a way yes in a way no, just that our Friday buy at IKEA arrived and we went for putting furniture together and not Yoga. As many know it takes time, patient, and some f.. words before we normally finish doing that kind of work. But when finished we was very pleased with the result. So no “our” granddaughter Kitty Elise are very welcome in April together with her parents, the guest room is ready for them.

We also got up the last pictures on the walls in the living room, waiting with the pictures that will surround the dining table until that arrive this coming week.

My African mask is on the wall at the balcony giving us the African atmosphere along with the Moroccan candle burning lamps. We will get some new as well along with some flower decorations, at least my favorite’s roses and hibiscus.

In the evening yesterday after a well deserved treatment at the SPA, Laila for Facial and me for one hour of deep tissue massage. I asked her to use the power and not be to soft and gentle, so today Sunday I still feel that she listened to me.

So in the evening we headed for RA, the local Sushi restaurant. After waiting in the bar for some minutes the table was ready. The food was just excellent, as we have mentioned for many of the restaurants, it is a pleasure to dine out, but one real obstacle at this place was the music. We enjoy talking and it was not possible. It sounded like a disco, I asked some Asian people at the table next to us as we was leaving what they felt about the music, but they did not notice, OK we getting older.

Will be back and try the lunch, was told there was a more relaxed music than, and yes I noticed the Saki this morning.

Change of routines

Usual on a Friday we are out for dinner, and had planed to visit RA Sushi restaurant across the street today.

But no, today we ended up with 3 glasses of Mimosa (with no Orange juice, just the Prosecco) and Wasa flatbread with cheese at home on our balcony, temperature 25 degree C and watching the Lone Star in the sky.

It ended up as a wonderful day, just what we had expected in Houston, but I must say, it is nice when you feel the heat and you enter the car, see the 83 F degree on the sensor leaving IKEA.

Yes today we finished the guest room. A full queen and child bed 160 cm long should do. Along with night table and a lot of other stuff we managed to fill up our car. Waiting for the parts and the madras to arrive tomorrow, than we are done almost, just need some lamps. We also got a table and some chairs for the balcony in addition to what we have bought. That was also the reason we did stay home tonight and not out for dinner.

Tomorrow it will be Yoga again, waiting for the truck from IKEA and the nice treat, facial for her and a good deep tissue massage for me.

What a life, it could be we chasing the car as well, depending when IKEA arrive.

Happy Birthday…

Have to make this day for my daughter that home in Stavanger today celebrate her 23 year birthday. She put up my blog as she has her own experience with blogging.

http://vici-loves-vintage.blogspot.com/

She is the youngest of the 3 greate loving daughters I have Camilla and Jeanett is the oldest two. Twins and soon to be 29 (April)

In March I will be home and celebrate Victoria’s wedding, look forward to it and it will be a great day for all of us. One thing for sure, my present will not be a new tattoo, today it is shoes from Heels.com, yes as she wanted Jessica Simpson Dany Shoe, but she will not get them before I am home, sorry Vicky, Either or…HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Barber Shop disappointment

Yes it got to be a big disappointment yesterday when I headed for the Barber Shop to have a shave.

Sure I have no problem with my Gillette razor, but passing this local Barber Shop every day I walk to the grocery I thought it would be a good idea just to have tried it.

Seen it in so many movies made me ready for it, and hoped for some pictures, but no, the guys in the Barber Shop told me.

They had stopped shaving due to problems and challenges. I did not start to ask why, just I was very disappointed, and to please my wife I had to walk home and do it myself this time as well. Hoped I could avoid the cuts and the unwanted smaller drops of blood. I am not a machine guy I will stick with my Gillette razor.

It is Valentine’s Day

The first we have spent in US together and here it is a big thing. Watching TV yesterday and we learned that some cards of memories go back to the 1680’s. It is a different culture we are living in. It do not have to be caring only for the one and only, but for people in general and not at least family.

There is only one that can have that treat here and based on the e-mail I got today from her about what was going on at her work and all the girls got their flowers and cup-cakes and whatever it would be of jewelries, I am happy she do not want too much, hope she will be happy with some flowers, a nice card, chocolate dipped strawberries for desert after a nice healthy dinner.

Flowers are waiting at the door

Desert

Flowers are waiting for her at the door. So we will see if she is ready for the gym before dinner, after there will be no gym.

In addition we started to furniture the balcony today, just that the two chairs needed we have to wait a couple of weeks for, we getting used to it and the balcony started to look nice in the sunshine.

Waiting for the chairs

New test on the local restaurant Friday

We have tried to get out and dine on Friday evenings and so we did this Friday. No reservation was made so our intention this evening was to just pop into Yard House and see how a dinner would be there, but at the door we noticed a long line of people waiting. We took the extra minute to walk across to Bistro Alex. The Bistro Alex is in connection with Hotel Sorella, if this is the reason there was not 100% filled up I don’t know, but I must say the atmosphere was very relaxing so we felt immediately it would be a nice evening.

We started with an “uno per due” for the starter. It was the Butcher’s Plate consist of Lamb and roasted garlic terrine, foie gras torchon, shaved Tasso ham served with pickled okra, red onion jam, Creole mustard and artisan crackers. We just loved it. At home we used to have beef on Friday with red wine. The pick from the menu at Bistro Alex got to be the Grilled Black Angus Filet of Beef, Roasted Garlic Yukon Gold potato mash, Caramelized onions and mushrooms, truffle mushrooms butter with port reduction. All well enjoyed along with a Pinot Negro from Monterrey, however the dessert, a Cherries Jubilee Cheesecake I could be without, I prefer the home made.

All in all a place to be back to, both for the relaxed environment as well for the good food.

Saturday is movie day, reservation for seating was done and preparation for our pizza, wine and movie at the Studio Movie Grill.

Pizza was ok, we did not go to have a gourmet dinner or pizza, but to enjoy a fun movie, and it was. In Just Go WithIt, a plastic surgeon, romancing a younger schoolteacher, enlists his loyal assistance to pretend to be his soon to be ex/wife, in order to cover up a careless lie. When more lies backfire, the assistant kids become involved, and everyone heads off for a weekend in Hawaii that will change all their lives. First of all the movie consist of Adam Sandler, Jennifer Aniston, but also well plaid by Brooklyn Decker and the kids Bailee Madison and Griffin Gluck. In addition Nicole Kidman joined in the end of the movie at Hawaii. It was fun, fun movie and great eating, drinking and movie. Welcome Stavanger do it.

Today Sunday we could enjoy the warm and real warm weather again. We are talking about 22 to 23 degree plus. After housework at home cleaning it was time for brunch, ending up today at Yard House for good food. Sounds like the only thing we do in the weekend is to eat and drink. I almost must admit it, but ok we do a bit other things as well, but what is worth of writing this weekend is the visit to the restaurants.

After lunch we went shopping. First Laila got a Nook, than we got our bought our terrace furniture and at last some seafood for our dinner tonight.

Yes Laila has been waiting to buy a Nook, so today she went for it. Easy to bring with her if she is on travel as well bring it to the bed without needing a light for her reading. Maybe I follow her, borrow it and in the end maybe fight for it, than I have to buy one myself, but not yet, I just need to get myself an American cell phone. To make sure to find the Nook if she leaves it someplace, she got a pink cover. It is great to have Barnes and Noble bookstore on the way to the grocery.

Early morning wake up…

My wife got a very nice gift from the people she has worked with over the last 5-6 years at Statoil in Norway.  But I am not sure if they had some thoughts in the back of their heads when they ordered it. Maybe it was to make sure that I was awake in the morning so nothing happened when I was driving her to work.

It was two beautiful cups to enjoy the morning coffee as many does before they enter the car and go to work.

Artwork by Gustav Klimt with Adele Block-Bauer and my cup Judith 1 so for those who have seen the artwork they will understand, but for you all to see I took a picture of the cups. Yes I enjoy my coffee not only in the morning, but during the day and I enjoy art.

It has been a couple of interesting days.

Yesterday a great visit to NASA, and we got a real congressmen tour. Just look at some of the pictures, I am a bit sad as I had problem with my flash during the tour.

Todays controlroom

Just amazing all of it and I am sure that all that joined the tour from the Stavanger delegation was impressed.

APOLLO 13 Controlroom...WOW

No words needed

Inside Soyuz

In space at present

The spaces station

After NASA we visited Oceaneering Space department, a part of the company that in a way transform their subsea ROV department in to the same activity in space. Oceaneering also develop the NASA robots as well the suits the astronauts use.

In the evening it was reception at the Petroleum club including all activity going on related to the Norwegian delegation including Oil Spill conference, the OTC Arctic Conference and what I was involved in Space and Energy.

Today the workshop took place including a fantastic presentation by Mr. Cox, engineering manager from Apollo 13. The 80 year old man had amazing stories to tell about what happen behind the scene. Either you are looking at history or not interested in space at all, his stories just hit home with all.

End of story, Innowind have now two local communication partners on material for the harsh environment in the Mexican Gulf, East Coast US and the far North Sea and arctic. These two companies are heavily involved with NASA and material science to that respect. We look forward to the next steps. Soon time to pick up my wife, late arrival from Canada tonight and cold outside, hope no ice. By the way, it was great to be congratulated by the Mayor of Stavanger, Mr. Sevland for our spot in the Nordic Cleantech Open.