Started out happy, ended up sad.
Hello, kittens!
So long time, no see, eh? I've been traveling a lot, but even so I should have been more conscientious about updating on lj - if only for my own sake. I need somewhere to let out steam or to write down memories so I don't forget them. To use an extremely fan girlish term: I need a Pensieve.
Anyway, London was amazing! It's such an eccentric city (at one point we spotted a cab of all things adorned with the message: "Here's a tip, why not walk?") and especially Camden is as lovely as I remembered. People are friendly and very helpful, even the tourists. We visited many museums and saw many exhibitions, my favourite of which was the Gilbert & George exhibition at Tate Modern.
We also used the tube systems extensively, something which is much easier now that they've started using Oyster Cards.
At one point when we were wandering around in a station to get from one line to another, I spotted a this huge House poster with a wonderful picture of Hugh Laurie on it and consequently almost took a nosedive down the stairs because I was so busy adoring it I forgot to watch where I was going. I was saved by the timely intervention of my friends, so many kisses to them in thanks for looking after me when I get too obsessed.
I also saw a commercial for a TV adaptation of Terry Pratchett's Hogfather which had run this Christmas - I didn't even know they'd made that! I have of course since made sure to obtain a signed copy from paulkidby.com. *fan girls*
One funny thing we discovered about the cabs in London is that you can choose to get cabs with only female drivers (Lady Cars) or even cabs with drivers that are guaranteed not to judge lesbians or gays (Freedom Cars).
It was spring in London and spring in Oslo too when I got back to the mother country (it's still winter up here, further north). And I hate to say it, but people really are prettier in Norway than in England. I hadn't even noticed until I sat down in a park at home and took a moment to marvel at how attractive the women and men around me were. It made me a little happy and appreciative.
Today Ace sent my this link - it made me cry. I'm not kidding. I was sobbing and soaking my sleeves with tears at the end of it. My mascara's not even water proof, so I ended up looking like Alice Copper (something which is, all in all, not such a bad thing).
http://www.indigo.org/rainbowbridge_ver2.html
Two years ago I had to put my own dog to sleep and I'm still not used to being without him. I know this may sound redundant to some people, but he was like a son to me and I loved him very much and I miss him so much it hurts.
I was ten when I decided I wanted a dog, but my mom was smart about it and told me we should wait until I turned twelve and then talk about again if I still wanted it. What then passed was three years (not two as promised) wherein I read all the books about dogs our library could provide and also left some of those books strategically placed where my mom was sure to see them. When I was thirteen we'd come to an agreement about what kind of dog we'd like and how we'd raise him. And in the late autumn, when she and my brother come home from Oslo, they made a stop in Trondheim and brought with them my little treasure, Aron.
Aron was a West Highland White Terrier (Westie), and when he was a puppy he was so small he could fit into my cupped hands easily. He looked like a miniature polar bear pup and was so wonderfully smart and strong and stubborn - and incredibly loyal to his family. He grew up to be a strong headed, but trusting dog who would follow us wherever, while he still retained his independent spirit.
I remember this one time especially when we were caught by the fog and rain while we were hiking in the mountains and it took us almost 12 hours to get home, instead of the original 6 hours. We had to cross rivers that were overflowing and walk and walk until we finally found a safe way down, and the first thing he did when we got home was not to flop down tiredly, but to run happily in circles, following us around cheerfully.
Nothing made me happier than when he came running to me to say hello or jumped up into my bed in the morning to be cuddled.
Unfortunately, he became ill while he was still very young and developed a form of multiple allergy. Even though we had many blood tests done and made sure he ate nothing that could aggravate the allergy he became sicker and sicker. It was especially bad during the winter and he was in pain, which affected his behaviour to everyone except us - he would growl if they came near and wouldn't let them pet him.
It was late summer 2005 when I had him put to sleep. He was happy at the time and the summer had been good to him. I didn't want him to have to live with the pain the winter would bring. But even though I intellectually know it was the right thing to do, to this day I still feel guilty.
I wish I could have done more. He was a good dog. The best dog I could ever wish for.
Yeah... thanks for listening.
So long time, no see, eh? I've been traveling a lot, but even so I should have been more conscientious about updating on lj - if only for my own sake. I need somewhere to let out steam or to write down memories so I don't forget them. To use an extremely fan girlish term: I need a Pensieve.
Anyway, London was amazing! It's such an eccentric city (at one point we spotted a cab of all things adorned with the message: "Here's a tip, why not walk?") and especially Camden is as lovely as I remembered. People are friendly and very helpful, even the tourists. We visited many museums and saw many exhibitions, my favourite of which was the Gilbert & George exhibition at Tate Modern.
We also used the tube systems extensively, something which is much easier now that they've started using Oyster Cards.
At one point when we were wandering around in a station to get from one line to another, I spotted a this huge House poster with a wonderful picture of Hugh Laurie on it and consequently almost took a nosedive down the stairs because I was so busy adoring it I forgot to watch where I was going. I was saved by the timely intervention of my friends, so many kisses to them in thanks for looking after me when I get too obsessed.
I also saw a commercial for a TV adaptation of Terry Pratchett's Hogfather which had run this Christmas - I didn't even know they'd made that! I have of course since made sure to obtain a signed copy from paulkidby.com. *fan girls*
One funny thing we discovered about the cabs in London is that you can choose to get cabs with only female drivers (Lady Cars) or even cabs with drivers that are guaranteed not to judge lesbians or gays (Freedom Cars).
It was spring in London and spring in Oslo too when I got back to the mother country (it's still winter up here, further north). And I hate to say it, but people really are prettier in Norway than in England. I hadn't even noticed until I sat down in a park at home and took a moment to marvel at how attractive the women and men around me were. It made me a little happy and appreciative.
Today Ace sent my this link - it made me cry. I'm not kidding. I was sobbing and soaking my sleeves with tears at the end of it. My mascara's not even water proof, so I ended up looking like Alice Copper (something which is, all in all, not such a bad thing).
http://www.indigo.org/rainbowbridge_ver2.html
Two years ago I had to put my own dog to sleep and I'm still not used to being without him. I know this may sound redundant to some people, but he was like a son to me and I loved him very much and I miss him so much it hurts.
I was ten when I decided I wanted a dog, but my mom was smart about it and told me we should wait until I turned twelve and then talk about again if I still wanted it. What then passed was three years (not two as promised) wherein I read all the books about dogs our library could provide and also left some of those books strategically placed where my mom was sure to see them. When I was thirteen we'd come to an agreement about what kind of dog we'd like and how we'd raise him. And in the late autumn, when she and my brother come home from Oslo, they made a stop in Trondheim and brought with them my little treasure, Aron.
Aron was a West Highland White Terrier (Westie), and when he was a puppy he was so small he could fit into my cupped hands easily. He looked like a miniature polar bear pup and was so wonderfully smart and strong and stubborn - and incredibly loyal to his family. He grew up to be a strong headed, but trusting dog who would follow us wherever, while he still retained his independent spirit.
I remember this one time especially when we were caught by the fog and rain while we were hiking in the mountains and it took us almost 12 hours to get home, instead of the original 6 hours. We had to cross rivers that were overflowing and walk and walk until we finally found a safe way down, and the first thing he did when we got home was not to flop down tiredly, but to run happily in circles, following us around cheerfully.
Nothing made me happier than when he came running to me to say hello or jumped up into my bed in the morning to be cuddled.
Unfortunately, he became ill while he was still very young and developed a form of multiple allergy. Even though we had many blood tests done and made sure he ate nothing that could aggravate the allergy he became sicker and sicker. It was especially bad during the winter and he was in pain, which affected his behaviour to everyone except us - he would growl if they came near and wouldn't let them pet him.
It was late summer 2005 when I had him put to sleep. He was happy at the time and the summer had been good to him. I didn't want him to have to live with the pain the winter would bring. But even though I intellectually know it was the right thing to do, to this day I still feel guilty.
I wish I could have done more. He was a good dog. The best dog I could ever wish for.
Yeah... thanks for listening.