Hey all - greetings from Norway!

My trip to by:Larm started Wednesday around 6PM EST, as I hopped on a flight from Newark International direct into Norway.

The flight was as one could expect: it wasn’t that long, wasn’t that bad, but I had moved my seat from the back of the plane (sitting between to people) to a window seat in the seventh row. I was really excited about the seat until I realized that I was sitting right by the door; not near it, next to it. In fact, part of the door was on my leg the whole flight and I could feel a cold draft the entire time.

That’s scary. Even bundled up in a sweatshirt and a blanket, I was too cold and barely slept, thinking that at any moment, that door is flying open and I am getting sucked out into the Atlantic.

Imagine how I felt when some crazy looking Nordic dude with greasy long hair and plugs in his ears was HOLDING HIMSELF UP on the door like he was going to faint. If buddy slips, we all die. He resigned himself to collapsing in a heap on the floor in front of it, which was fine with the staff at Continental.

*GULP*

When we got to Oslo, I had directions to the train, so that went off without a hitch. Basically, I followed signs. That I can do. Once I got into downtown Oslo, though, I was screwed. I headed too far West, then I headed far to North and had to be quickly ushered out of the area by an 80-year-old woman with my suitcase and two messenger bags.

Not good for the ego.

I would have been mugged in Queens, so I am just happy that Norwegians don’t act shady until after dark.

I found the hotel, registered for the conference (and got my sweet bag of neat stuff) and that was that. I figured that I had a few hours to rest before I needed to be downstairs to see the Keynote Speaker, Jello Biafra of the Dead Kennedys.

Yay for punk rock!

…I missed it when I laid down for a “cat nap.” Damn you, jet lag.

…I also missed that “You’re Here, Now What?” seminar which was supposed to help us out a lot with getting our bearings, venue and stage locations. Good thing I left the TV on standby mode so it could wake me up, eh?

Just around “dinner” time here in Oslo, I ran to the mall to buy the European converter to charge my accessories (the video camera, phone and laptop) and I got ready and headed out for some music.

Eventful? I think it will be, but most of all, this trip is good for my head, I think. Getting laid off from your first record label gig ALMOST an entire year from your start date is pretty lame. I hope I stumble into someone from PASTE Magazine while I am here. I want to pitch them an article about my first and ONLY conversation with the President of the label.

Funny stuff.

Back with more later. I will see if I can get some pretty words together.

Before I go -

- I will state it as fact that Norwegian girls love that I have no concept of their money. I have to count it like a child, which I am sure is endearing.

- I have only seen about 20 black folks here (I can’t tell their descent or country of birth from accents) and half of them were hot, smoking hot prostitutes. It’s gross to be lost in the same area I was lost earlier this afternoon, but it is a little worse that every woman is “Hey Baby”-ing me. I don’t want sex. I want to watch cool bands, meet some people and relax a bit. Besides, the US Dollar is so weak, it has got to be $200 for a handjob. Ha.

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