viking fridays – the best things.
June 13, 2008
These things are thought the best:
Fire, the sight of the sun,
Good health with the gift to keep it,
And a life that avoids vice.
- The Hávamál
Simplicity, it seems, was a concept embraced by our Viking friends. Simplicity, and good, honest living.
I mean, really, what more do you need? A fire to keep you warm and cook your food, sunshine to cheer you up and help you grow your food, and good health.
Hopefully, all of us have that. Now – go forth and live a good, honest life.
People will remember you, and sing your praises.
(Don’t pillage and burn, in spite of the temptation to do so.)
So there you have it. Give thanks for what you *do* have today, and be a good person. Go make someone else happy. It will make you feel good.
Tonight, I will have a fire, and give thanks for my good health, with a glass of wine.
Awww…Brett.
Can’t I pillage and burn..just a LITTLE bit?
Brett
You forgot an alcoholic beverage of some kind (to ward off the demons!)
Friar’s last blog post..The Dog Nobody Wanted
@Friar,
That’s just part of the fire, goes without saying
Brett,
I have to avoid vice? Darn.
Where they lived it was pretty darned cold. I’m not surprised fire and the sight of the sun came first.
I was thinking as I read this, Viking bon mots are wonderful when you chunk them out, but how huge is the Hávamál? I bet when you read it more than a bit at a time you get kind of overwhelmed.
Another good one. I look forward to Viking Fridays!
Regards,
Kelly
Kelly’s last blog post..Guy Kawasaki Wrote Me an Email Today
@Kelly and Brett
I bet you when you read the Hávamál in its native tongue, it probably rhymes better and rolls off the tongue more easily.
Yonga Dørga Hyurgen
Bar Yorn, der Flinga Ósker Dü
Känga Vorden Jurgen
Horken Ósker Pü.
Børk! Børk! Børk!
Friar’s last blog post..The Dog Nobody Wanted
Geez, I finally got down here to leave a comment. First I clicked off to go visit Kelly’s site and then got distracted finding out who this Guy dud was…then..I thought Oh yeah, I was on Brett’s site, got to go back and say hi… so then I read it again, Got to Friar’s comment and clicked off to read the saddest story about a dog I have ever heard of. Tears..sniffing..the whole bit.
Finally…I got back here. Now what was this about again? I swear, I’m not reading it again, god know’s what rabbit hole I’ll fall into this time. It’s Friday, I need to focus! I need to get used to having kids home for the summer!
Have a happy weekend. ( How’s the writing?)
Wendi Kelly’s last blog post..Once Upon a Time
Weird, my feed readers aren’t getting all your new posts! I was wondering why you guys weren’t posting! Pays to check every now and then.
As for your post: here, here! I feel inspired!
steph’s last blog post..eureka?
@Kelly,
Just for you, I’ll make an exception…
^ ^
. .
^
o
It is a pretty long poem, for sure. There’s lots of stuff in there that makes me laugh too (verses about not trusting “maidens” and so forth…)
Thanks – I look forward to writing them!!!
@Friar,
It works better if you put it to a Viking metal soundtrack.
@Wendi,
Don’t feel bad, Friar’s dog story is very good (I got a sneak preview of it a while ago).
In a nutshell – be thankful for what you have, and live a good, simple life. But you know that already
May you also have a great weekend – the writing is coming. Slowly this week, as I’ve been writing “work” stuff… *sigh* can and will, then I’ll be out of here.
@steph,
Hmm, not sure why that is – but you know, I’ve noticed the same thing recently with a few people. So I just drop in to visit manually
Go forth, and do good things.
Brett, I have a blog coming soon on Can & Will. Since it is picking up steam and turning into a club now…it’s time to give credit to the woman who inspired me with the motto. Her name is Beverly Buffini and she was a member of the 1988 US National Volleyball team in the Olympics in Korea. She wrote a book called I can, I will, I believe. Very inspiring, and so important that the BELIEVE …or FAITH is a very important part of our CAN & WILL. More to follow when the blog article is finished. But I wanted to say to you:
I BELIEVE in you Brett.
Wendi Kelly’s last blog post..Once Upon a Time
Wendi,
Wow – thank you. I am looking forward to that post, and it will be nice to read about where that motto comes from – because it is such a powerful one.
Thank you. I BELIEVE in you too. We will get there!
@Brett: You have no idea how perfect your last line to me is.
steph’s last blog post..eureka?
@steph,
Glad you liked it – hey, I liked your latest post – you’ll get there.
Nice and simple Brett. Love it.
My ‘thanks’ is that my Hell Week is over. The 6 month contract is over. I am free. I shall celebrate with a vacation ‘cleanse’ (with many Mai Tai’s). And I’ll come back to many plans and goals. Feels great.
If I don’t pop back here before Sunday I wish all of you a fabulous 2 weeks. Keep believing. Aloha!
Karen JL’s last blog post..A Little Hell Week Potpourri
@Karen JL,
Thank you very much – and congrats to you for kicking a$$ this week. Have a safe and happy trip, enjoy the sunshine and we’ll see you when you return
(PS – any room in your suitcase for me? I’m 5′9″, weigh about 200 lbs.)
@ Brett
Hmm..maybe in the carry-on…
Karen JL’s last blog post..A Little Hell Week Potpourri
@Karen JL,
I have an idea, we could save weight and space by just taking my head in a jar
sort of like a Futurama episode…
Hey back in town for Viking Fridays! Cheers! Glass of wine is going down nice.
Yes, I know our fellow humans can and usually find ways to piss us off royally, but it’s not usually a good thing to burn bridges. Notice I said usually.
That’s all we really need. A warm friend and fire. It seems that we always get caught up in wanting more, but you hit the nail on the head.
Hope you are having a good night. E
Ellen Wilson’s last blog post..Great Photo Tips From E
Raising my water in toast!
Brett, you are so right, we don’t need much and are often happiest when we have the least. No sunshine today, lots of rain and humidity but I am darn thankful and happy. Thanks my kilted wonder friend for the encouragement.
Can and will!
Karen
@Ellen,
Glad you could make it – and cheers to you as well! We’re going to have some wine right now, actually… you’re right, usually not a good idea to burn bridges. But sometimes, you can’t resist…
That’s just it. Nothing like being cozy, really. Perhaps that’s why I like the fall so much. It gives me that feeling, there’s an edge to the air, and yet a nice warm fire makes it all better. I’m going to be a happy old man as long as I have a fireplace
We’re having a great night, and I hope you are too (I see from Twitter that you have some cookies coming your way!)
@Karen Swim,
Even the rain can make us smile sometimes, because it brings life. You are welcome, and thank you for all *you* do. It has been a good week. May you have a great evening – can and will!
Yeah, but I don’t like cookies and wine. Yuck.
One or the other!
I like fall too. Nice crisp air. Good colors. Can’t beat it.
I like the changes between seasons.
May you always have a fire, my friend. To warm your feet and old bones.
Ellen Wilson’s last blog post..Great Photo Tips From E
Agreed, cookies and wine do not mix – even with a blender…
cheese, though – a nice cheese would go well with this wine.
You’ve got my mind thinking now – crisp air, a fire… the feeling of change, Samhain. I can’t wait
Thank you, my friend. Someday soon we’ll sit by a fire together, I think.
cookies and wine? no…but chocolate and beer. That’s my little wierd combo that I love.
Wendi Kelly’s last blog post..CAN and WILL…and BELIEVE
@Wendi,
Chocolate and beer – I’ve had that and agree, it is sort of good…
Chocolate and beer? That sounds just revolting enough to work!
r.l.david02 – TKD Happiness’s last blog post..Whoops!