viking fridays – the unwise man.
May 2, 2008
The unwise man
is awake all night
worries over and again.
When morning rises
he is restless still,
his burden as before.
- The Hávamál
Welcome to the first installment of Viking Fridays!
With all of the chatter and tweeting back and forth about horned* Viking helmets, kilts, and running marathons in funny shoes, I thought it might be fun to start a new tradition here.
Each Friday morning, I’ll throw up some Viking words of wisdom that can be applied to modern life. If there was one thing the Vikings understood, it was the value of life.
I chose this quote today as it really is timely and relevant. Dave Navarro wrote about this in his post about going to sleep with a smile – how important it is go to sleep knowing you did a good job that day, and with a clear mind, so that you can prepare for tomorrow. Don’t worry about things when you should be resting, or when you are with friends and family for that matter. The sun will rise in the morning, just as it has for many seasons. If it does not – guess what – you’re probably dead and won’t have to worry anyway… 
Please also give a warm welcome to my guest artist and good friend, the Friar. We’ll be working on this together, which is kind of cool, and you should go check him out, as he’s a really funny guy.
(No, that is not the artist’s rendition of our Beltane celebration. My wife would tell us to get our own damned beer, and rightly so…)
*yes, I know that Viking helmets didn’t have horns, and that’s half the fun of this 
Excellent poem. I will have to read more of the Havamal. How do you get the dashes above the letters? I should know this, I’m getting old now. But I have forgotten and am to lazy today to look it up. I did try, once, in my special little keyboard WordPress provides us; they have about 10 variations of little dashes.
Long live the Fridays of Friday and Vikings.
Welfurnac Valhalla, my friends.
Ellen Wilson’s last blog post..Smoking Weeds
What a lovely idea. You know, I’m not too familiar with Vikings but I’m inquisitive enough to find out more. When I was a kid I read the “Asterix” series of comics which are based on Vikings but I’m not sure whether they exist in the English speaking world.
Friar did a great job with the artists rendition too. So clapping is on order.
Dave has it spot on. I also try to go to sleep by being thankful for the good things in life and it helps to wake up in good spirit too.
Monika Mundell’s last blog post..Writing Queries – Freelance Writing Guide
@ Brett, I think this “Viking Friday” installment is a great idea! I’m looking forward to contributing more artwork in the Fridays to come. .
@Monica. Asterix RULES! I grew up reading every Asterix book umpteen times. I even know the specfic Viking story you’re referring to: “Asterix et les Normands”.
Yes, Asterix is available in English. The translation is pretty good, but I prefer to read in French. The jokes work better in their original language.
Friar’s last blog post..How to Take Good Meeting Notes…
I grew up with Asterix too! They had a cartoon too…
Brett – this is a great idea! I need more Viking Notes in my life.
First off, thank you everyone for stopping in today for the inaugural Viking Fridays!
@Ellen: I really liked it too, there is much wisdom in the words, isn’t there. The dashes – I used good old brute force and engineering logic – I copied it from a web page and pasted it right in, and it worked!
I thought about trying to figure it out, but it was easier to do it this way…
Yes, Welfurnac Valhalla.
@Monika: I’m glad that you like it! To be honest, I’m sure there will be a bit of artistic licence taken here e.g. horned helmets, in the interest of having fun, but I’ll try to have some historical elements as well. They were (and still are, as their lineage lives on) an interesting people.
Asterix – one of my favourites, and I read it in English and in French.
@Friar: and I am looking forward to showing off your great artwork, and having you throw in some words of wisdom of your own. The pictures you were working on last night are priceless!!!
@Sandie: thank you very much! You can never have enough Vikings in your life, so I’ll be happy to oblige… I promise this will be a lot of fun, and appeal to the geek in everyone.
Thanks again everyone – eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die!
Hurrah for a post for insomniacs. It will not help me sleep, but it will make me feel guilty about not doing so. Long live Viking Fridays!
Where’s my sword?
Tei’s last blog post..Option Bonk
Brett
Your words please me. For a Main-Lander, you speak the truth.
If I ever pillage your city, I promise that your death shall be swift and painless.
Now, let us burn something to celebrate.
NYAAAAARGHHH!!!
The unwise man
is awake all night
worries over and again.
When morning rises
he is restless still,
I sat fighting numbers till late and woke up dreading them every morning. Tuition classes at 5 am thank you very much!
Kind of reminds me of high school math. Surprisingly, the things that I worried about most were never the things I was successful at. Things that I had fun doing, are the things that earn me my sandwiches today.
vimoh’s last blog post..What my name is
Viking Fridays sounds like it will be lots of fun to come. I look forward to it.
What time do we get to start raising the glasses?
(she asks, empty glass already in hand…)
Wendi Kelly’s last blog post..Slow Cooking Frogs
@Tei: your sword is right by your side, as it belongs, Rogue Viking Warrior! I’m still cracking up about Option Bonk… I love it
@Olaf: I wondered if you might make an appearance today. Yes, a swift and painless death befitting a Viking is what I seek. Beware the Wrath of the Norsemen…
@vimoh: that is what so many of us seek, and will find – find what you love, and do it, for it will bring you sandwiches.
Hey, that describes an almost perfect life.
Do what you love, and the sandwiches will follow.
@Wendi: my glass is already raised to you, fair Wendi! Alas, I am still at work, so it is just water.
But it is Viking Water!
@Vimoh – when I read Thunderfruck’s comment I thought you were a made up entity. Now I see that you are real and your name is not Viking. Welfurnac!
I really need to contribute some real old Norse words, eh?
@Brett – Thanks for the little dash tips.
Ellen Wilson’s last blog post..Smoking Weeds
@Ellen,
You are welcome – I figured I should give away my “secret”
hey, I’m a very practical person… whatever it takes to make it work!
The wise woman
stays up ’til two
editing over and again.
When morning rises
she feels like crap,
but the post rocks.
I suspect this happens to Vikings too,
Brett may have tried it once or twice.
Thank Odin for coffee.
Regards,
Kelly
Kelly’s last blog post..Inspiration Points: With Laser-like Focus, He Went the Wrong Way…
I thirst for blood
Red and warm
I shall decend
Like a swarm
Upon your castle,
You all will die
And I shall scream
My Viking cry
NYAAAAARRGHHHH!
GNARRRGG! HARRGHHH!
Now, let us FEAST!
(Chomp, chomp, chomp…!)
@Kelly,
O wise woman,
thine post doth rock,
Brett hath done that a few times,
o yea,
Thank Odin for coffee.
And Fridays.
^ ^
. .
^
o
@Olaf,
Let us feast, you twisted bugger
must be Friday
I just do not have enough Viking lit in my world. That’s what’s been missing all this time. Thanks, Brett!
Kelly’s last blog post..Brand Propheteers: Part One – Golden Opportunities and “I’ll Have What She’s Having”
Ah perfect series to start off each weekend. And educational too. I never knew Viking helmets didn’t have horns.
Ooh, a new blog tradition, Viking Fridays. I always look forward to Fridays (I’m not sure why anymore) and now there’s something extra to look forward to!
Melissa Donovan’s last blog post..Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson
@Kelly: then, fair maiden, more Viking lit you shall have! I think with help from Friar, and Olaf
I will have plenty of material for all…
@sterling: I am happy that you liked it, and thanks for stopping in today. I figure Viking helmets should have had horns – they look cool. We will take artistic licence and put horns on them!
@Melissa: I know for me, I look forward to the “drink” part of “eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die!”
I must sound like an alcoholic Viking… but I’m drinking Chianti, so I guess I’m a refined alcoholic Viking
Drink and dance and laugh and lie -
Love, the reeling midnight through.
For tomorrow we will die!
- But alas, we never do.
- The always wickedly morbid Dorothy Parker
Tei’s last blog post..Option Bonk
Oh Tei, that is awesome! Thanks for sharing that here, I love it
(It goes well with my drink.)
::grin:: My other favorite is “Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.” I can’t quite recall, but I believe that one’s Ben Franklin.
Tei’s last blog post..Option Bonk
Ben Franklin was a wise, wise man…
I keep testing that one, again and again, and I’ll tell you this:
God loves me, and wants me to be happy.
@Tei – Good one (s). Dorothy Parker is grand. And so is beer. I just wish cigs were. Ah, me.
Ellen Wilson’s last blog post..Smoking Weeds
Tei,
Dorothy Parker is one of my favorite dead people. A genius, totally independent, don’t-care-who-gets-it, and wistful at the same time. Right up my alley. Glad to know another fan.
(She got her wish, finally.)
Until later,
Kelly
Kelly’s last blog post..Brand Propheteers: Part One – Golden Opportunities and “I’ll Have What She’s Having”
@Tei and Kelly, Dorothy Parker is one of my favorites too
What a wry wit she wrote…
Melissa Donovan’s last blog post..Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson
How appropriate that I read this post just before I head off to bed, Brett! I love this concept of Viking Fridays. What a great way to celebrate the shift into the weekend
amypalko’s last blog post..Links Less Ordinary 2
@Kelly – I love that, “one of my favorite dead people.” I have more favorite dead people than alive people. Probably because I’m not exposed to everyone of their stupid little quirks. And, if I choose to look it up, it’s interesting. ‘Cause they’re dead.
Now that I think of it – most of you are exposed to my little quirks. Great.
Ellen Wilson’s last blog post..Smoking Weeds
@Sterling – I will take credit for something. Yes, Viking helmets did not have horns. Also, check this out…they might have been smoking marijuana instead of tobacco in Elizabethan England.
The things we don’t know.
Ellen Wilson’s last blog post..Smoking Weeds
@amypalko: thank you Amy! I thought it would be a really fun way to end the week and get us in the mood for bonfires and feasting, so I’m happy that all of the Vikings out there like it
Have a good rest, my friend…
Oh, one more thing…no Sterling, my latest post has nothing to do with marijuana consumption. It’s illegal in Michigan.
Ellen Wilson’s last blog post..Smoking Weeds
@Ellen,
I think it is our quirks that make us interesting
and if all of you can survive my quirks…
I read about the marijuana thing too, and I’m not a “gardener” either, so I think there is some truth to it.
Ellen,
I have way more favorite dead people than living people, due to being a huge-huge-huge reader, a former English major, and a completely addled classic movie fan.
Of course, you get a larger selection that way, too, so it’s not entirely fair.
Later,
Kelly
Kelly’s last blog post..Brand Propheteers: Part One – Golden Opportunities and “I’ll Have What She’s Having”
@ Friar: so cool, thanks for clearing that up. It is great to see that many here know and love the Asterix series.
I actually read them in German and they were hilarious. Therefore I can’t even make any cool references either. All I remember is Obelix and his “hinkel stone” as well as the troubadour and his “zauber drank” (magic drink)
Unfortunately all this would be lost from the original I’m sure.
@ Brett: I certainly look forward to broaden my wisdom with your Viking Fridays.
@ Olaf: you crack me up with your responses. I’m always amazed at how some people can just throw together some references to comics, movies and poems. Keep it up!
Monika Mundell’s last blog post..Writing Queries – Freelance Writing Guide
@Monika,
Deal! You can come here to learn about Vikings and stuff, and I’ll visit your blog to learn about freelancing… hardly sounds like a fair trade, but hey, if you ever decide to become a Viking, it will come in handy…
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