It is me,

Well I am still keeping out of trouble, well most of the time anyways. I got my updated drivers licence, now I can drive taxis, buses and take paying customers. I am still looking at travelling to Minneapolis for the INL convention. Travel out of Iceland is so darn expensive I am not sure if I can make it. Work is still taking up mist of my time, but the end is in sight. I will only be caretaker in the school for another 6 weeks. I think the work in the hotel will be increasing so it will make up for the lost hours in the school. I have not had much time to go out, when I do I get into trouble. A couple weeks back, I went out for supper with my friend Villy and after supper we went to a bar and had 1 beer each. Then he dropped me off at the hotel and I went to sleep. I woke up a few hours later and realized I had lost my phone. I borrowed a car from the hotel and went to look for it. I did not find it, I tried phoning my number a few times but no one answered. Villy tried it once and someone answered. I had an address and we went there to pick up the phone. It was an older couple and he asked me if I knew where I lost it, I had to tell him no. He said I must of been pretty drunk, I told him I had only had 1 beer but he did not believe me.

Feb. 11th was Bollurdagur, puffed pastry with whipped cream filling, yummy. Feb.12 was Saltkjot and baunir (Salt meat and Bean Soup) Day, still yummy. Feb 13 was Askur Dagur (Ash Wed) and left over salt kjot, no problem. I survived my first teaching day, well how difficult is it to show a video."Lagningadagur" conference, workshops and the like went on for 3 days, Feb 13th to 15th. There was no regular classes, but there was lots of things to do. The students had a cafe set up, with live entertainment ( some teachers) included. I was able to take a crash course in FrontPage, so now I have a web page www.mh.is/~kentb It has taken some work to get the photos to work but everything seems to be working now. I also have another job lined up for June, I got a call from Isafjordur, the Sunnukor (the Sun Choir) and they want me as a tour guide. I met with Urval Utsyn, a big tour operator in Iceland and things look promising.

The owner of the hotel made it back from Brazil so I was finally able to get a few days off. I borrowed a car from the hotel and travelled north. I was able to visit the remains of a farm of my ancestors, Steinsstadir is a famous farm and in looking up information about it it is also historically important in that it was the first place in Iceland that swimming was taught. Kind of weird since I taught for so many years. From there, I made my way north to Hofsos www.hofsos.is the weather got weird and I was almost in white out conditions. It was cold at Steinsstadir but sunny and bright. There was lots of snow, on the ground and falling in Hofsos. It did get sunny later so that was nice.

Feb 18th I attended a special Mason meeting, it was the 49th anniversary of the founding of Mimir Lodge in Iceland. It was a nice meeting and a extra special meal afterwards.The people that visited Canada last summer still rave about the trip so I am glad about that. Now they just keep asking when I expect visitors from Canada, like my Mom and Dad. Hint Hint!!

I was figuring out my hours the other day, from Jan 15th to Feb. 15th I worked 168 hours in my regular job, I worked 128 hours overtime as caretaker and I was on duty at the hotel for 150 hours. Sure am glad I don't have to keep a log book any more it would be kind of tough to log all those hours.

I had a fairly quiet weekend last weekend as well. Did a little touring andon Sunday I was at a church in Hafnafjordur attending a christening of a friends', Svavar Sigurdsson's (Kid From Iceland) twins( more kids from Iceland) It was a nice time and fantastic reception afterwards.

I went out for supper with another Canadian last night, Donica Olafsson. It was nice, we went to the Salad Bar downtown and had a nice visit. I got word today that the sales rep and I are going to Isafjordur next Tuesday, It will be a quick 1 night trip but it will be nice to see my cousin Thordis and family and hopefully take a few photos. I am attaching a few photos but please check out the web site as well as I will have and will be adding photos there regularly.

Kent Larus