For the past week or so I've made quick entries about the spectacular weather...afraid it continues yet some more. In a climate such as this, lovely weather is treasured more although foul weather never bothered me. En route home from work last evening (which is only 4 kilometers) I saw spectacular northern lights and again this morning. They were brushing up and circling the moon almost as if it were an object in a river. Despite the fine clear nights of the past week, I haven't seen such a display.

Today, the last day of February, is when all Icelanders get paid...automatically deposited into your bank account.

The other day I was driving along Miklabraut, a main feed to downtown Reykjavik, when suddenly a Fokker 50 shot overhead, so close that I could see the passengers. It was headed for nearby...very nearby...Reykjavik Airport originally constructed by the British at the start of WW II. Since then the city has grown up around the airport, and it’s supposed to move either to the international one at Keflavik some 50 kilometers away or to a site just outside town. The modest building is home to Flugfelag Islands which serves Iceland, the Faeroe Islands and Greenland, rather crumby, barely altered in all the years since I’ve been coming to Iceland. By reason of the airport’s current location, the city and nearby University of Iceland will grab the property asap.

Over the past week I've brought to what I hope is successful conclusion elements of an article for the Lectio page, that is, dealing with Hans Vaihinger's book, As-If. I read it about 4 years back, was impressed and took it up again 3 months ago. This coming weekend I have Monday and Tuesday off, a 4 day block of time, so may devote part of it to the article and perhaps finish it off.

Yesterday two wo co-workers remarked about the Taliban's attempt to blow up V.P. Dick Cheney in Afganistan. They weren't blood-thirsty nor wishing evil but saw Cheney as the power behind Bush and essential an evil, cunning person. I've picked that up here on occasion: common consensus is that Bush is dumb and that Cheney is smart and pulls Bush's strings.

Feb 27th. Yet another beautiful but cold day, this being about the 7th in a row. Right now we have a half moon which set at sunrise over the western end of Esja around 9am. I noticed the same yesterday but with one notable difference: it rises two hours later. I've seen this phenomeon often and figure it's due to Iceland's northerly position.

A friend and I were talking about her mother, now slowly dying with her father caring for her. People can go along well in their marriage as in this case yet at the end there is tragedy. When one spouse dies, the other falls apart and more often than not dies shortly afterwards. This is a sad state of affairs we recognize but never discuss. Too bad one's last days are taken up by such overwhelming grief.

I know a scholar here well versed in religious studies and a great inspiration. However, he (like many like him) start out their careers with a thesis or book which hits big. This is followed by an appointment to, for example, a teaching position which quickly makes his or her training degenerate. Now most one one's time is spent with administration, etc. During this process you become superficial by repeating previously acquired knowledge. Even worse, the reading one does is quick and without leisure (otium) for reflection, and here I think of lectio divina. So I wonder if it's possible in today's modern world that a person can have sufficient otium. Should a person go this route, his or job would be threatened; it can't tolerate what appears as slacking-off.

I was considering this phenomenon in light of how much of Western tradition has until around Decartes been a series of commentaries on ancient authorities such as Plato and Aristotle, let alone the Bible. This has produced the nutshell of wisdom common to us all expressed in short phrases as "know thyself" and "one day at a time." Since Descartes people have branched out into new fields which has been a short in the arm for the West, yet that spirit of inquiry is tainted by not having time to reflect as I just noted.

First Sunday of Lent which always conveys a sense of inauguration about it and ties in neatly with spring which is still 3 weeks off.

The Gospel (Lk 4.1-13) keeps in line with the theme of beginnings, if you will, where the devil tempts Jesus in the wilderness. Matthew uses "devil" (diabolos) as well whereas Mark has "Satan." The first verse is interesting despite the fact that it contains what you could call biblical "catch phrases." It reads, "And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit...was led by the Spirit for 40 days in the wilderness." I.e., being filled suggests something inside, not outside, so being led comes from within and does not necessarily mean having thoughts. The verse ends with "tempted by the devil:" not during the 40 days but "when they were ended" [vs. 2] or sunteleo, where the notion of ending is associated with completion, so literally we have "perfected with." This temptation is consistent with the end of 40 days which goes against the common assumption that Jesus was actually tempted in the desert. To prove this, consider vs. 9 where the devil took Jesus to Jerusalem, that is, took him from the desert. This, of course, stands in stark contrast with the Holy Spirit who led him into the desert. The Gospel ends with vs. 14 where we are reassured that Jesus still retains the Holy Spirit: "And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee."

One practical note on all this...when a person has been on retreat, temptations may come. However, the real temptations come when returning to normal life. Nothing has changed there, yet the person who had been in the desert changed and hence is more subject to being tempted.

Looks like another beauty is on tap for today. I may get out for a walk but will have to squeeze in before 2pm because I'm invited to attend a service at Grafavogskirkja. My Lutheran priest friend who recently got authority through the Porvoo Agreement to function as an Anglican priest, is going to preside.

Feb 24th. So I did get out to the Nesgill area, unable to resist the wonderful weather to take a ride. I followed Karl's directions and got there after about 40 minutes. The road was excellent though when it got to a mountain pass, was twisty as spaghetti. At one point some ice on a steep decline caught me by surprise--and this is in the middle of nowhere--yet I managed to keep the car under control. It was much colder barely 40 kilometers in from the ocean but little wind. The landscape is typically dramatic, but what always grabes my attention was that transcendent look and feel: in between some mountains are those long sloping planes, some of which culminate in a glacier and of course, a volcano here and there. These planes somehow have the effect of swooping you off your feet and launching you into a different dimension. At several points I got out and walked around...dead silence, not even a bird. Then I descended towards Þingvellir with the large lake down below partly frozen. Along this western side of the lake are numerous summer houses and that most un-Icelandic phenomenon of them all, trees. Obviously they had been planted, mostly pine, which lent an unexpected green touch to the otherwise lunar landscape. I drove up to the geothermal plant bathed in steam, but it seemed uninviting. By that I mean cars were around, but there was a gate with cameras. Overhead were several jet contrails headed northwest, presumably going from Europe to the Orient over the North Pole. Their end-to-end streaks clearly revealed the earth's curvature, more obvious here due to the wide open spaces. En route home I saw Reykjavik way off in the distance down below; got the distinct impression it was an outpost, sophisticated as it may be, in this incredible landscape. Actually Reykjavik is such. When you think of it, there is no metropolitan area between Montreal and for example, mainland Scandinavia or Great Britain. My little venture took about 3 hours; would have kicked myself if I hadn't done it today!

24th Feb. Yesterday's weather was yet in another string of mild, sunny days. People were walking around in light jackets and coats; even saw one convertible with its roof down zipping along Miklabraut, the 4 lane motorway not far from the post.

On several occasions I've spoken about the Bonus supermarkets which many Icelanders use, often the butt of jokes. They have signs plastered everywhere, "ekkert bruðl" or "no extravagance." Certainly true and welcomed in this expensive-to-live country. They carry a lot of Europshopper items, a relatively new company which mass produces all sorts of foods: frozen, canned and other things such as toilet paper. The quality seems okay and certainly cheaper than name brands. Yesterday a co-worker and I were talking about this company, and quipped that soon we'll be walking around in Euroclothes driving Eurocars and living in prefab Eurohouses. Maybe he's not far from the mark. I've tried one frozen Europizza: never again!

People here follow American politics quite closely...not just the Iraq debacle but the pre-pre presidential campaign. From what I've gathered, a lot of folks favor Barak Obahma (did I spell the correctly?). Also found out recently that "Desperate Housewives" is extremely popular.

Feb 23rd. When doing the aftenoon shift, usually I get out at 10.30, but for the past few days it's been 10 or slightly before which is, of course, welcome. The post allowed me to attend Icelandic courses even during work, beginning at 6pm. However, I decided not to: though technically covered, I found that upon returning at 7.40, not much had been accomplished. So much for that; best to stay with my private tutoring from a good friend. Next week I'll look into Mimir which specializes in Icelandic for foreigners, though I heard mixed reports.

A few entries ago I said I was headed to a geologically active area but later decided against it, too windy. If this fine weather holds through tomorrow, it's a "go."

At work I had the chance to talk briefly with a few people about religion but quickly got into the sacrament of confirmation, a huge deal here among Lutherans, and not that far off. Already people are planning. This is a rite-of-passage which has ballooned out of proportion. The meaning is lost, and the confirmants view it as a competition, of who will receive the most and best gifts. Top of the list is to have a party at the famous old Hotel Borg, booked well in advance.

Feb 22nd. A bright, brisk day with moderate wind. At the post yesterday (Wednesday) I began, as many do, a midweek shift. That is to say, I started the afternoon shift at 2pm. The previous two days I had been on during the morning. I rather like this change, because it enables me to do various things in the course of a week: some things are best done in the morning whereas others in the afternoon. Furthermore, the pm shift is geared towards closing the foreign post, a clear goal in mind.

I've been in email contact with the director of a L'Arche community in the Boston area. L'Arche is a worldwide organization which has mentally handicapped people living in homes, trying to make them live as normal as possible. The director would like to get one such community going here in Iceland and contacted me. Actually, I was approached over a year ago through some friends who knew my connections with Iceland. With this in mind, the director comes for a week in mid May, and I've spoken with folks in a position to help her. I did warn her that she would be welcomed warmly, go home and think she has done well. Not so. Like any other endeavor from abroad, she must work on Phase Two and work on it right now. That consists of knowing about the Icelandic tendency to be enthusiastic and not follow through. If one is aware of this, then plans to initiate the project have a greater chance of success. In this case it means planning a second (and so forth) visit to Iceland even before you've come for the first time. I.e., take the enthusiasm in stride but don't bank on it. But if you do return...and this obviously means relying on your initial contacts...you'll fare much better. Besides, you've proved to Icelanders that you mean business. This is stuff you don't find in tour books.

Feb 21st, Ash Wedneday. Iceland has a peculiar custom for today. Children dress up is costumes and go around to various stores asking for candy. If they receive none, they hand over small bags of volcanic ash. However, this custom doesn't apply to homes.

Later today I go to Grafavogurkirkja for the weekly prayer meeting which takes place in a side chapel. That church has four priests, and usually 3 and sometimes all 4 show up along with a group of 6-8. It's a nice little break during the week, followed by a simple lunch. This custom started about 15 years ago and has spread to several (Lutheran) churches. The original idea was to set aside a brief period of sacred time and space for folks on lunch break. While there, I had a good talk with Gunnar, the youth leader, who´s studying to be a priest. He´s taking introductory Hebrew, required of all theological students, so we had a lot to discuss and will in the future.

I didn't get to the Nesgill area as planned yesterday but saving for this Saturday if the weather is reasonable. While the temp got as high as 10C around 4pm, the wind made it feel colder than usual. However, it was great to feel the sun's warm increasing rapidily each day, actually, by quantum leaps.

Feb 20th. Today, Mardi Gras, is known in Iceland as Sprengurdagur or Explosion Day. The idea is similar...eat as much as you can on this day before Ash Wednesday. However, the significance of this day is long-gone; same applies for tomorrow.

A definite lightening of the atmosphere towards spring but not quite there.

After work today...and I get out at 3pm...I think I´ll take a ride to the Nesgill area, about 40 minutes east of Reykjavik. That´s the place from which Reykjavik and environs receive geothermal power. I´ve seen it from a distance, Þingvellir, but never been there. Perhaps a brief checking out of the place may lead to further exploration later on.

As for exploration, there´s a local walking group which meets every Sunday at 10.30 am for walks in the area, and that includes Reykjavik to about a 30 minute drive away. If the weather holds, I may join them; has a website to mention their pending destination.

Feb 19th, Bolludagur or Bun Day which here in Iceland precedes Mardi Gras. More on that tomorrow...In preparation for Lent, all sorts of buns or rolls are served. While such a practice has its roots in religion, Iceland, which is secular-to-the-hilt, has lost all contact with the original meaning of these practices. A lot of it has to do with that loss of the sense of the sacred I noted earlier, chiefly through Lutheranism.

"Shopping at Bonus is like shopping at an East German store." Words from Fannar at the local bank when we were swaping shopping stories. I noted that analogy earlier independent of a person informing me, so it must be a current joke around here. As for shopping, I bought another Icelandic necessity, second only to lysi or fish liver oil, and that is a vitamin C concentrate. While the sunlight has increased dramatically, people advice taking this drink. I started during the darkest time and noticed an improvement, more energy.

The weather has been very mild but windy.

-Feb 17-18^th. Intermittent rain with moderate wind last night though mild. At noon I`m off to þorlakshafn to take the ferry to Westmann Island, a 3 ½ hr ride, my third trip by boat, once having flown. This time I will drive to þorlakshafn and leave the car, not taking the bus. Since I`m about 10 minutes closer from the bus station, this trip should take about 40 minutes. The only problem is that the road goes over a mountain pass…nothing much but sufficiently high to cause problems if the weather is foul. I`ll stay overnight with a good friend and his family to discuss future projects, etc. The novelty of taking the boat has worn off, so this time I bring my laptop to work onboard. It might be a bit on the rough side, but we`ll see.

-Actually things are going well…writing this on Herjolfur (name of the first inhabitant of Westmann), the ferry, which can carry several dozen of cars and trucks along with 400 passengers. However, not many on this trip which departed on schedule at noon. Got the normal ocean swells, nothing more. Quite a lot of fishing boats doing their thing…not small ones but rather big trawlers. Exceptionally fine weather as we cruise along the coast with snow-capped mountains and volcanoes to our left. On one trip I read but felt minor sea-sickness coming on which, I found out later, can result by reason of your eyes trying to focus on the text. Will see if the same applies to a computer. What always strikes me about the Icelandic landscape is how it stretches or sweeps along gradually seeming to touch the heavens. I think the low-lying clouds have something to do with this, always created a transcendent effect.
-Today is the Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, the last `ordinary` Sunday in quite a while because Ash Wednesday is the 21st. In today`s Gospel (Lk 6.27-38) Jesus gives a list of difficult tasks, actually impossible by human standards. Often we have some success in carrying out one but are stuck with regret for not having done it well, let alone the other injunctions. This remorse sets the stage for what can be a vicious circle of failure and guilt. The clincher is vs. 38, `For the measure you give will be the measure you get back.` However, there is a way out of that vicious circle (vs. 35): `for he is kind to the ungrateful and the selfish,` two classes with which most of us can identify. As in many instances, the Gospel is rather vague as how to do these impossible things; we`re left to figure them out for ourselves which, in a sense, is a defect. By that I mean the door lies open for some to take the high moral ground and dictate to us, even with good intentions. One can easily see how gnosticism got off the ground almost before the evangelists` ink had dried, for it gave methods and theories as how to interpret a lot of Gospel injunctions which are presented in a straight-forward manner. Maybe that`s where lectio divina comes in, a practice which I`m quite gnostics shunned. The reason for this lies in the fact that lectio takes us right to the core of Jesus` teaching and softens the edges of difficult injunctions while at the same time revealing deeper meanings difficult to transmit verbally. Take, for example, vs. 35 just quoted where God is `kind to the ungrateful and the selfish.` The Greek preposition epi (on, upon) is used which intimates a certain detachment from those who cause us grief. The invitation here is to `be epi` or `be upon` difficult people and circumstances while being in their midst. To do this is more in tune with the text and allows us to better incorporate Jesus` injunctions. The difficulty is disposing ourselves for it, an ascetical discipline, but different from the ones we`ve grown accustomed to think of. Reason is that no `denial` nor `mortification` is involved but an inner gesture which is more appealing which others can quickly dismiss as not genuine enough. For that point of view, it seems the harder the better.

-Today, Sunday, Kari and I walked a little over a kilometer from his house to the harbor to catch the 8am ferry. Soaking rain…so much that I boarded Herjolfur I was thoroughly soaked. Should arrive at þorlakshafn around noon. The usual Grafavogurkirkja prayer meeting at 8 this evening.

-Feb 16th. Yesterday I returned to the new Kronan supermarket in nearby Mosfelllsbæ simply to change my diet. Most people use Bonus (they`re everywhere and the cheapest markets) but have what many call a lower quality of goods. I haven`t found it that way but still desired new stuff as from Kronan.

-Some years back the 30 year old daughter of a friend married a fellow from Nigeria and had one child. Recently they got divorced, and she didn`t inform anyone for 2 months, including her parents. As part of the divorce package, they arranged for joint custody of the child which means he can bring this child to Nigeria. Once there and enmeshed in that culture, the daughter will never see the light of day. I can go on with other tragedies here in Iceland; seems there`s no limit to them…not that they differ from cases in other countries but by reason of the smaller, more closely-knit society.

-Several of us are involved in planning a retreat this August in Snowmass, Colorado. Most of those going belong to Grafavogurkirkja`s prayer group, about 20 or a little more. There could have been at least 10 additional participants, but they can`t come due to commitments that recently came up. At first we were disappointed but then thought it best to restrict those going to the Grafavogurkirkja group. They know each other and have been coming together since 1990. I.e., additional participants would detract from the group`s spirit.

-Much rain this morning but mild at 9am, 6C.

-Feb 15th. A Big Wind has come on the scene about 9am and supposed to continue for a day or two. However, the weather is relatively mild, about 8C. I have four days off now and plan on visiting friends on Westmann Island. I would love to fly (only 25 minutes) but weather is problematic, hence the ferry. Because my friend and his family reside on Westmann, they`re entitled to discount ferry tickets, so her made the arrangement for Saturday, overnight. This will be my 4th trip there.

-Local news had a piece about teenagers addic ted to video games, popular here among that crowd as anywhere in the world. Sad part is that a local 15 yr old went out and stabbed an elderly man (killed him) to see if it was similar to the game he was playing.

-I enjoy keeping up with world news through CNN and BBC on the television. Of course, much is about Iraq, and the image I`ve formed is of American troops kicking in doors to private homes. They are on virtually every night along with the daily dose of suicide bombings.

-One fellow in his mid 20s called Geir helps me out with the foreign post. Both of us have been scrounging around for Icelandic mailbags, in short supply. Not just that, they are virtually non-existent. We figure that those which have been sent abroad for Christmas haven`t returned. At first I thought no problem, but the fellow who handles foreign mailbags, especially from small countries, waits a while to collect a bunch and return.

-Feb 14th. St. Valentine`s Day doesn`t exist here, not even a whisper. Yesterday I was listening to a western Massachusetts radio station talking about an impending snowstorm. The announcer and meteorologist took delight in it (glee would be a better term), relishing every word about the event. They relished being in a position to warn people, treating them as children. Quite a contrast to Iceland. Here they blandly but clearly relate weather conditions. It`s obvious that announcers are adults speaking to adults, not children. When a storm hits, you don`t have idiot reporters strategically located around the city digressing on the quality of snow, etc.

-Birthdays in Iceland are considered big events. We have them every so often at work, and people go out of their way to offer their congratulations. It`s even more special when a person reaches a milestone birthday such as 60 as one worker did on Monday. At first I thought it artificial but soon discovered it to be an important part of daily life.

-I`ve mentioned how important English football or soccer is to many Icelanders. Though I`ve been coming to Iceland for many years, this discovery has taken me by surprise. For example, someone at work was in the process of bidding online for what he called a rare team shirt from 1995…Liverpool, I believe. He was checking EBay every five minutes against someone in (well) Liverpool. Don`t know the results. Then there are screen savers on computers: most are football `clubs` as they call them in England, most of which I`ve never heard of. Sometiimes I wonder if I`m living in Manchester or Reykjavik.

-Yesterday`s weather was so pleasant that many people were out and about soaking in the strengthening sunshine, jogging, biking and sitting on park benches. The temperature was about average, 4C. You have to remember that although the sun is relatively weak, it has a stronger affect due to the air`s clarity.

-Feb 13th. Suddenly…and I mean suddenly…it has become lighter later. I`ve been watching this over the past few weeks and noticed a quantum leap over the period of just several days. As I had noted earlier, probably this is from Iceland`s northerly position compared with `bulkier` parts of the globe.

-Over the years I`ve gotten to know many Lutheran priests here in Iceland. I can testify that they are an outstanding bunch of men and women. As for the later, some 20 years ago (I recall when but not the exact date) they came on the scene, at first greeted reluctantly. However, women have moved into the ministry and are doing a terrific job. Surely there are problems when it comes to ecumenical dialogue (Catholics), but judging by the fruit, I see more good than harm. That`s looking at the situation as objectively as possible. I can also better appreciate the struggles the Catholic Church has with integrating women into ministry. While unqualified to speak on the matter, I see that dogma and rhetoric that take up a lot of space, clouding the issue. And I think we prefer that cloudiness out of some vague desire for conflict. As for the Icelandic clergy I know, even superficially, all have spoken highly about things Catholic. You get the sense that just the right nudge in just the right place would tilt them in that direction. You can sense that Icelanders as a people are Catholic at heart burdened with Lutheran clothing. So you see these people struggling to be Catholic, their native soil, under a Lutheran guise…and that guise is essentially foreign to Iceland. I sense that already they have a sense for the sacred and wish to cultivate it better; Lutheranism is in the way as an inconvenience. After all, Iceland is sacred physically speaking; you pick this up immediately even a short distance from inhabited regions…and traditionally Icelanders love being in such places.

-Feb 12th. A young fellow at work, one of those English football lovers, has a few shirts of Manchester United: very proud of them. He explained in some detail their significance, some of them dating back to times when that football club had different color schemes, etc. Although football is utterly foreign to me, it`s fascinating to hear someone explain his passionate love for the game. I mentioned him earlier, of how he joined a group of Icelanders for a match in Manchester. We talked about England in general, of how run-down and tattered at the edges it is compared to Iceland. `Down right filthy is how I’d explain it!` was his response. Here in Iceland we receive a lot of broadcasts from England which involves local news. You get a clear impression of its grubbiness even from quick shots on the news. While glad to have been abroad for just 3 days, my co-worker found England depressing and cold; looked forward to coming home to Iceland.

-At work quite a lot of mail comes to Iceland by similar `I` countries: Ireland (above all else), Indonesia, Israel and even Iraq and Iran. What surprised me about the last country is the large amount of LL Bean and Victoria Secret catalogues it gets. Seriously. Though someone else processes them, that person has to put in a bag which I then process on the computer.

-Feb 11th, Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Jer 17.5-8, Today`s Gospel (Lk 6.20-6) contains the beatitudes, and Luke gives us four delivered not on a mountain but upon `level place` [vs. 17]. Jesus delivers them to his disciples: `and he lifted up his eyes on (eis, into) his disciples` [vs. 20]. The word used to describe `blessed` is makarios with its alternate meaning of happiness. However, that doesn`t quite hit the mark, provided we take into consideration the Hebrew verbal root `ashar. This contains the fundamental meaning of straightness from which the relative pronouns are derived (who, which, that). And so the adjective `asher suggests something in motion or transition from here to there. After the four beatitudes Jesus gives four `woes.` The Greek word ouai is more an exclamation. In light of the Hebrew relative pronoun just noted, we could say that ouai suggests no movement but being static. In other words such a woe as mourning will continue for all eternity without a let-up.

-Off to work at 11 this morning, out at 5pm or perhaps an hour earlier which sometimes happens if things go well. Although I finish my computer work in plenty of time, I like to put it off because chances are I`d be called upon to put mail in boxes, etc, so everyone could leave on time. Even should they not complete their work, I`m entitled to leave without waiting. By the way, that pizza (extra large!) for 30% off was great! I give the website (they deliver in case you want this…): www.papinos.is

-Feb 10th. Every six weeks or thereabouts I do the weekend at the post: Saturday from 8 to 2 and Sunday from 11 to 6. This is at the end of a regular work week and stretches until the coming Wednesday when I have 2 days off plus the weekend. Actually the weekends are slow, don`t mind it a bit. When there aren`t many people around somehow the place speaks to you even though it`s a large, modern building. You see empty work places lacking the normal hustle and bustle. Such times allow you to pause and take in a larger picture, and I apply this to any place one happens to be. The post, for example, takes in mail from the entire country. You get a clear sense this place is a kind of ground zero for Iceland.

-The post had free tickets at large local skating rink, so I got them today and gave to a family which can use for both this afternoon and tomorrow; includes free skate rental. The ponds and lakes have ice but too thin for skating.

-Received a flyer in the mail from a local pizzeria, Papino`s Pizza. The owner once worked for Domino`s which has a fairly extensive chain in Iceland, got fired, and decided to open his own. The ad said 30% off all pizzas, so why not?

-Helicopter rescue is very common here, especially pertaining to fishing trawlers at sea. The other day a copter had to rescue a crew of 5 from a trawler north of here, rough waters not far from Greenland. As for Greenland, a smallish freighter pulled into port from Nuuk this morning. You see native Greenlanders walking about town on occasion: not unlike American Indians though shorter and more Oriental in appearance.

-Feb 9th. I`ve come across a few Icelanders whom I`d characterize as embodied with a spirit of gratitude. They manifest it in a quiet fashion, nothing flashy, but if you pay close attention, it jumps out at you. One of them has a whole mess of personal problems which to ordinary eyes would militate against being grateful. He, along with the others of similar mind I know, have an unworldly air: not disembodied but unconditioned by events about them. At first glance they appear a bit passive but upon further inquiry, I take it as way of being sensitive to the source which makes them grateful. Some of these special people aren`t what you would call religious, conventionally speaking. However, I`d say there were religious in the truest sense of acknowledging a higher power outside their control.

-More great northern lights, especially around midnight. I`ve gotten acclimatized to seeing them on clear nights, familiar friends.

-Feb 8th. Like the past few days, yesterday was full of bright sunshine albeit low on the southern horizon. However, there is a noticeable difference each day, gaining several minutes. During work I stood outside and soaked up the relatively weak rays but warm enough to feel. This is something I normally don`t do, but it sure felt good.

-The crazy, wild driving ways of Icelanders continues unabated. I used to note it more often but do so less because I`ve gotten used to it, sort of. The new Icelandic license provides a kind of psychological shield; i.e., I feel more confident being out and about, because if I get into an accident, I`m more of a resident now in the eyes of the law. Small comfort in a way yet important in other ways.

-At work in the post not far from my office is a place where mailbags from abroad are sorted. This is considered the lowest job, way in the corner out of sight. For the past few months an older fellow has been there; he seems a bit retarded, staying by himself all the time not communicating much. But I discovered an interesting fact about him which says a lot about Icelanders. This fellow has or is about to publish a volume of poetry and comic books. I understand there`s no other society like this one which has its citizens engage in various forms of intellectual pursuits. You never know who is doing what along these lines; makes for interesting relationships.

-Feb 4th, Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time. The first reading (Is 6.1-8) has Isaiah`s vision of the Lord and seraphim in which he exclaims, `I am a man of unclean lips.` Isaiah says this after five chapters of speaking. Most prophetic books begin with words like `the word of the Lord came to…` Not so with Isaiah who sees the Lord after five chapters, not hears him. During the vision, a seraphim purifies Isaiah`s mouth (i.e., the unclean lips) but not his eyes. The Gospel (Lk 5.1-12) parallels Isaiah in that Peter recognizes Jesus` divinity: no cleansing is involved though this excerpt is followed quickly by the cleansing of a leper.
-People here are disgusted with what`s going on in Iraq, especially the recent bomb blast that killed around 130. Much anger is directed against Bush though is muted. I believe Icelanders still relay upon their physical isolation and country`s name to keep distance from world politics, though there seems a growing sense that those days are over. As for Iraq, I get a kick out of those reports saying that Iraq is `slipping into civil war` and another study that the situation is `precarious.` Someone must be making big bucks for that.
-Yesterday mostly consisted of off and on snow showers, nothing major, but at least they whitened up an otherwise dun-colored landscape.
-It`s a good feeling to have an Icelandic driver`s license chiefly due to the crazy driving habits here. Should I get into an accident…and I fear that all the time…at least I would have proper identification.

-Feb 7th. Just yesterday two co-workers independent of each other happened to share the same story, of how they are struggling to balance their budgets. Both rent and consider their monthly payments as money out the window. Beneath the surface of normality is a entirely different world, one of constantly worrying about bills and rent. If you dig more deeply, you discover that most people spend foolishly and on impulse. As I`ve noted elsewhere in this blog, such behavior is typically Icelandic. For example, one of these co-workers, a girl in her late 20s, said he has just taken out a loan to pay off a loan and may be forced to take out another, something I found difficult to comprehend. What also amazes me is the blasé attitude people have; they just do it.
-Another attitude I`ve found since coming to Iceland over 30 years ago is the attitude towards death. I`ve seen families and individuals handle death, along with people growing old. While health care is excellent here, there seems to be a lack of anguish concerning Last Things. Difficult to put my hands on because it`s something you don`t discover immediately. At the same time those dying (to put it awkwardly) and those caring for them simply lack that fear and general depression associated with death.
-Yesterday afternoon I visited my friend Ari who runs a well-known bookshop which borders on the antiquarian. It`s been a landmark for years and frequented by the chess player Bobby Fisher who lives in Iceland. To date I haven`t run into him but given the smallness of Iceland, should soon!

-Feb 3rd. Last evening the rain beat hard against my windows facing west, I`d say gale force, and changed to a few minutes of blizzard after which the wind died down abruptly. Then again, if this were New England, the storm would make the news because it`d down power lines and cause property damage. No so here: the wind simply blows through. Yet another example of that `wild yet oddly domestic` observation about things Icelandic. As for weather, people here are taking seriously the global warming report issued recently. Fortunately we have lots of renewable energy, and the report is an impetus to push this forward a bit more quickly.
-The daughter of a good friend of mine is getting divorced (what`s new?) shortly. My friend is into his second marriage, and she her first. And the current marriage isn`t going well despite appearances. There seems to be a more rapid turn-over of relationships here in Iceland compared with other places. More fundamentally, there isn`t that stigma of being divorced. I attribute some of this to the smallness of Icelandic society where everyone is related to everyone else. This observation came to the fore last evening when I visited a well-known professor at the university. He was married 28 years, has a family, and had several girlfriends. We talked about this for about an hour, concluding with the fact that living alone or remaining unmarried (celibate) is an alternative state with unique values not appreciated nowadays. It`s also a new if not outrageous idea in Iceland.
-Two workers at the loading dock, both in their late teens, were telling me how they planned to get drunk this weekend and sleep until 3pm. Very typical, something for which Iceland is famous. First reaction is one of disgust and repulsion at this widespread phenomenon which occurs each and every weekend. Here we are dealing with something that can only be comprehended from within the society itself. In this blog I`ve tried to present glimpses into Icelandic society, something you don`t hear about that much in the wider world. I am convinced that this binge-type drinking is yet another manifestation of Icelandic simplicity I noted often. When you`re with such people day in and day out you get insight as to how this characteristic manifests itself, and drinking like there`s no tomorrow is one.

-Feb 1st. Continued `Irish` weather: off and on rain showers only this time punctuated with a bit of sleet, nothing special. Peoples` spirits seem to be higher with the rapid increase of sunlight though the sun doesn`t rise until after 9.30. I miss the snow which has since long washed away because it brightens up the atmosphere. The basic colors this time of year are a dull brown and slate.
-Two nights ago Iceland was barely defeated by hated Denmark in handball. This sport is very popular here and has a lot of fine players. Iceland lost in overtime by one point. I happened to be at work, and people were glued to their radios throughout, especially during the last 15 second when Iceland blew it. Very exciting atmosphere, to be sure.
-My positive experience of last Saturday when watching the news continues. That is to say, suddenly I was able to grasp a large chunk of the news. Strange how that happened all at once which means my subconscious practice is paying off. By that I mean each time I`m in the car I tune into a station where people are talking, even ads, which are just the same as in the US. Much of the time I`m not focused on what people are say, naturally so when driving, but this constant listening process has had a cumulative effect.