Winter storms and Olympics, plus a flight of an eagle

It is - again - time for the Winter Olympics. I am definitely glad about living once again in a climate that has actual seasons. Last night was a stormy night. I went to get some supplies to the local store late in the afternoon, before the weather would come howling in. The hissing, or swishing sound of a fine shower of dry snow landing on trees and earth is one of those things that will get your skin tingling. I could smell the firepalaces and perhaps wood-fired saunas (the best kind) coming from the villas in the area. Later the snow would come down in an almost horizontal manner. I've missed this. A leisurely Sunday morning opened with a fast-paced jog into the sunshine and fresh powder in the forest.




As I've been missing downhill skiing, I've been watching the alpine disciplines on TV. Sweden has a long time alpine tradition of success, but this time aroud we got some serious entertainment. Sweden's veteran skier Anja Persson - who has a number of Olympic medals in her pocket already - suffered a very dangerous fall after a flight of sixty meters into which she was launched from a high speed. Miraculously - or maybe due to her superb ability to control her body - she came out from it with buises only, and continued undeterred to a bronze medal next day. She has one cool head.

Doing it the old fashioned way

After some years of living without a TV I now have found myself with quite a flat screen in my living room. And what do I see? People who visit teh gym 6 times a week advertising a device that stimulates abdominal muscles. Electronically. Bzzzt!

The promise ususally going along these lines: "Just 2 minutes per day while watching this commercial in the privacy of your home you will get flat stomach/dream abs/long awaited success in life/whatnot..". Body fat is not discussed at all.

The really serious implication of these advertisements is that there must be a buying audience for these products, otherwise they would not be aired. Abasement. In any case, the best way to get ruthlessly fit is to get in touch with mother nature:



Fitness you must, and I cannot think of a better way than doing a run on a cushioning blanket of fresh snow in the winter forest. Since my skis and tillbehör are in another country, running it must be.






A giant bubble has landed in the forest. My god!








Strictly no horseplay. But skiing is quite alright. Be sure to be dynamic, though.




A troll gym:








Rules of the stadsskog: