Milo and Lillie are on their way

We've been in the moving process for a while, but until this morning, it's been all paperwork and electronic plans.

We've filled out custom forms and picked up Elliot's medical records and made hotel and airline reservations, but today it really feels like it's all really started.

Today Milo and Lillie were picked up.  Milo is about 100 pounds and Lilie is about 60 pounds, so their airline crates are too big for any plane that flies in and out of the Stavanger airport.

So, in the exact opposite way they arrived, they left this morning.

Yesterday, a man drove from Oslo, spent the night at a hotel here, then came by this morning to drive them around the country today.  And tomorrow morning he will put them on a plane to Atlanta.

They will arrive sometime on December 2nd and will be taken to what I like to call "sleep away camp" where they will stay until about early January or so when we are somewhat settled in our house.

It's kind of odd that our dogs will be back in the United States before we are.

I have really mixed feelings* about leaving, but just today, Elliot and I had been in town for his last check-up and a great leaving lunch with some friends.  We were walking back to our car and we ran into some of our dearest friends.

Instead of just heading home, we sat and visited for much of the rest of the afternoon.

I'm not sure how often that will happen back in Atlanta.

So if you happen to be anywhere near a kennel in Southwest Atlanta over the next month or so, stop by if you have a minute and say hello.

I'd hate for our dear hunds to be lonely.




*In the ideal world, we would have stayed another year.  Our friends are fantastic and the travel has been  wonderful, but I miss the US and most of what that entails.  And we miss family like crazy, plus dear Elliot needs to know his cousins...

Lillie's Security Blanket (OR How the Hunds Spend Their Days)

Current obsessions #1-3

I've been slightly neglectful in my blogging.  While I like to keep everyone caught up, it's been a busy week.  

Overall, I've been slightly obsessed with a few different things:

1) Settling into our new home.

While I loved our first home from the start, over time, it became clear that it wasn't going to suit our needs, especially with Pickle on the way. 

Our old landlord had crammed every bit of space with her own things and we just needed more room.   

So we moved here:We're on the second and third floor.  

Take a close look at the bottom right window. 

A few days ago, in the early evening, Husband and I were taking loads of things into the house. As we passed by, there were two young men sitting at a desk facing the window. (And no, I wasn't being all Gladys Kravitz about it. The window was Right.There.)  

These two men were thin, with white shirts and dark skinny ties, staring at some papers intently.  Complete non-Norwegians.  (Trust me on this.) As we passed by, they both looked up and waved hello.  

When we got inside, I said, "Do you think they are Mormons or maybe Latter Day Saints?" 

(You know the look I am talking about.  Don't pretend you don't....Young, fresh scrubbed, sun light deprived, sincerely beatific and dressed in a crisp uniform... Plus, there were rumors of door-knockers in the neighborhood.) 

Husband laughed and said he hadn't noticed.  (He's not as good at the details as I am...) 

But on the next pass-by, I took a better look at the signs in the window... 

And what do you know? 

One poster is labeled "Mormon Heros, Joseph Smith" and the other is a giant picture of Jesus.

They seem nice, waving and friendly.  And I wouldn't mind if they popped out and carried my groceries, but I'm hoping they won't pop up for some "conversion time." 

Husband thinks it they will be great neighbors.* 

He suspects there won't be any wild parties or loose women running about (These days, we are like this because we are now mature, parents-to-be.) 

He also thinks they will be less likely to tell our landlords that we didn't correct their mistake on the number of dogs that live here... 

So really, while we're not into conversions, they are always welcome for dinner and the new season of "Big Love."

Ahhhh sunny kitchen and big back porch...

A fresh guest room all ready for Megan's arrival in a few hours.  And it will be perfect for BigD when she shows up post-Pickle....

And the sweet hunds are settling in nicely...

2) Getting ready for Pickle to show up...

Husband painted the nursery and put all the furniture together.  Look closely...you'll see that it's all going to be pretty blue (not baby blue...), stripes and giraffe print. You'll also see boxes of things that all need to be washed and put up.  I've been a little nuts about all of this, too.  

I thought the plan was in place and getting done, but it wasn't, so I had to rejigger some plans.  My dear dear college friend Patty is going to make a baby quilt for me using the fabrics. She wins awards and knows how to do things, and has shifted things around to really help me out.  I couldn't be more fortunate.  

And dear Big D is dealing with some other things, so finally I know it's all going to get done.  

But per usual, it's going to be cut down to the wire.  I just hope it all arrives before we go to the hospital to collect the little guy, because before that moment, I really care.  

Afterwards, apparently I will not, so Pickle may always live in a half-done room, which really is not the most welcoming way to start off as a brand new person.  

Also, I have been weirdly obsessed with our new Brio Go, which arrived yesterday.  

All stroller sorts of things in Scandinavia are SUV-serious.  They can roll over cobblestones, on sandy beaches and through the woods for family hikes.  

(Guess how many of those choices the Durel family needs?  If you only guessed one for sure, perhaps, two, you'd be right on the money.  If you cannot choose which two, check out our last hike for clues.) 

The choices are limited to start with...and the vast majority are difficult to put together and to use.  Not this one.  It all goes click, click, click...

(Plus, I think this film is so soothing, too.  I wonder how soothing it will be once we pop in a howling Pickle...So I figure, lessen all stress that we can control...Click, click, click...)

3) My feet

Nope, I cannot see them either.

*In any case, they beat the heck out of our old neighbors, with the junkies and the "open for business" window.  More on this later....

Proof Lillie Loves Husband as Much as Lillie Loves Me

Since we've had Lillie she's destroyed my hiking shoes,

my jeweled flip flops, brown suede flip flops, running shoes and an old pair of moccasins. Most of which, with the exception of the hiking shoes, happened when she was a true puppy.

A consummate foot licker (of her own as well as mine, when I let her) I suspected that my shoes were the second best thing when I was nowhere to be found.  Especially ones that tended to be well worn, if you know what I mean. 

But never once has she ever gotten even close to one of Husband's until a few days ago. 

(Those are/once were ultra expensive English leather from Selfridge's. Not a happy day in House Durel.  Though a funny one.  Poor Husband.  Poor swanky shoes. Poor Lillie.) 

The Devil Made Me Do It

Happy Halloween, peoples....

Though  I suspect that if there's any true devil in our house, it's this one....

The Pack at the Park

Or at least 3/4 of us...

How's Milo?

Occasionally I'll get a note saying, "We see you, Husband and Lillie all the time, but what about Milo. How's he doing?"

And the answer is, "He's fine."

For readers who don't know, Milo is my step-dog.  He'll be seven on his next birthday, which he shares with me as well as my sweet nephew James (if you believe the date on his adoption papers.)

He's been living with Husband since he was about 6 months old.  So clearly he's been around much longer than I have been, but we've been fast friends since the very beginning. 

We became The Pack about four months after Husband and I began dating when we decided that we needed one more. So we added Lillie, who we (meaning mostly me) refer to as our first daughter. 

(She came home with us on February 16, 2007, which is exactly one year before our wedding.)

 

So while Lillie is my constant companion and dear household clown, Milo is well and happy, too.  

He appreciates you asking of him, though. 

We went to the dog park a few days ago.  

Both of them spent some time running about and making new friends.

Then the hunds were parched.

(Milo first because he's lead house dog or as Lillie might say, "Age before beauty.")

Then sweet Lillie, but Milo had some more as well...

Then we all posed for a minute before it was time to go home. 

One of the Few Times I Will Ever Discuss Bodily Functions

Our sweet Lillie is an American Bulldog. 

(American Bulldogs have occasional skin issues.  This is one of those times.  She is wearing a cone until one of her paws heals. Poor sweet Lillie.) 

For those that aren't familiar with the breed, those dogs tend to be overwhelming good-looking, fiercely loyal, slightly clownish and just smart enough.  

They also often have slight issues with flatulence.  

When we lived in Atlanta and (Not Quite Yet) Husband worked from his home office, Lillie and Milo would lie at his feet and slumber peacefully all day.

But Lillie just can't help herself.

I would often get a text from (Not Quite Yet) Husband that would read simply, "Ack, Ack. Am choking on Lillie fumes. xo."

But Lillie is an integral part of The Pack, so we (meaning me especially) tend to overlook her few flaws, including the flaws we (meaning me especially) would find repugnant in almost any other creature. 

We (meaning me especially) even tend to think of the small "pffffsssstttttts" that escape from her hind regions as special little fragrant blown kisses. 

We even find them amusing when they are slightly louder and she'll spend several minutes startled and befuddled, wondering where did that come from???

We (meaning me especially) tolerate because this because we love her. 

These days, because I do not currently have a J-O-B, often I am at home much of the day.  And while the sweet dogs slumber (punctuated by Lillie's air kisses), I sometimes keep the television on in the background. 

I favor a mix of CNN and Norwegian Children's television. That way, I am either learning about what's happening in the world, or subconsciously adding to my meager Norwegian vocabulary.

Right now, this is the commercial that is on practically every single second and it drives me nuts. 

Imagine it dubbed into Norwegian, if you can.  

Lillie Update

In case you've been wondering what The White Menace has been up to lately...The answer is: Not much!

Chicken, Shrimp and Swans

Stavanger is the fourth largest town in Norway, with a population of approximately 180,000 people in the general area, and about 115,000 in the town itself.

That means that the population of the general area of Stavanger is similar to the population of the greater area of my hometown, Gainesville, Georgia.

And population is not all they have in common.

Right off the square in Gainesville, is a tall obelisk. Perched on the top is a (relatively) small chicken.



This is because Gainesville, Georgia is the Chicken Capital of the World. For reals.

Years ago, there was a gentleman named Jesse Jewell who made up ways to preserve and pack poultry on an assembly line, forever negating the need to go out back and behead the evening meal. (You're welcome.)

About once a year, some enterprising pack of teens steals the chicken. Mayhem ensues, at least until it's recovered.

And as one can imagine, before Norway tapped into its the mother lode of oil, the sea provided the basis for much of the economy.

Now, Stavanger is called "The Petroleum Capital of Norway," but once it was all about the ocean.

Hence, the giant statue of the shrimp in the harbor, which I think is more proportional to its base than the chicken.



The giant shrimp statue is situated at the most inland point of the harbor in the center of town, which serves not just as the geographical center, but also the social center of Stavanger. On sunny days, the cafes lining one side become packed with people soaking up the rays with a pint of beer. On weekdays, Husband goes to his office on the far side of the water. And the "downtown" is built around it.

Yesterday, Lillie and I went on a walk around the harbor. Though she grew up in Atlanta, she really was a homebody. But now that we don't have a backyard, she has to take her breaks on walks.

So, I am trying to acclimate her to city life and all that entails, for instance people, cars and swans.

First Day at the Beach

This Sunday we went on our first pack outing.

Husband is a surfer.

He started dabbling in it in South Carolina when he would visit his friend Matt in Foley Beach. Then, after moving to Norway the first time, took a few weeks at a place called Surf Experience in Portugal. And on clear days, in his last Norwegian incarnation, he headed out to Solastraden (which means Sola Beach), which is a few miles out of Stavanger.

He's been watching the weather, refreshing the webcams and longing for the water, even though it is still well below freezing.

So last Sunday, we loaded up the surfboard and Lillie and Milo and piled into the car.

When we got there, there was not a wave on the water. At least not nearly enough for Husband to put on his wetsuit and wade in...


(Oh no, Husband. Watching really really intently will not make the waves come.)

But it was okay and we hung out for a while anyway.





No Lillie is not lounging. She just fell down.


Then when it was time to go, Husband grabbed the poo. Gotta love that.

How the Pack Began (and A Small Life Lesson)

I'm still in Gainesvegas where Big D is starting to feel just a smidge better.

She's still connected to tubes and won't be able to lift anything that weighs more than about ten pounds, with the exception of her arm, which does not weigh ten pounds but cannot be lifted either. The bruises have changed from a deep purple the color of grapes to a lovely mottled rainbow.

The meds are tapering off slightly and she's started sneaking out of bed. Her orders are a little less meek and much more bossy and she's been a little sassy. So, while we wait for the pathology report, all is about as well as it can be...

I worry about how my sister will handle it all alone, but am working on a plan for that. It will all be in place before I take off on Thursday afternoon, which brings me to the next bit...

I am so excited about going home. Not only will Husband be there to pick me up at the airport, our sweet fur peoples, Milo and Lillie, have arrived.

Milo has lived with Husband for the past six years or so, since he was a pup. This is his second arrival in Stavanger.

Milo in his best fancywear



Then there is sweet Lillie ...... AKA The White Menace AKA Lillie von Hundenberg AKA Princess Sassypants AKA the Poot Factory AKA My Very Favorite Furball in the Entire World.

Lillie, almost a year old



We had been dating about three and 1/2 months and Husband started talking about getting another dog. We visited the Atlanta Humane Society several times and almost settled on an adult dog named Dora. She had been returned several times for being untrainable and anyone who knows Husband knows he believes in order, so there were no worries that we could deal with her.

But I wanted a puppy or at least younger dog.

And while I think Milo is handsome and dignified, I was longing for a solid square faced monster. But on every single visit, there were none. And we believe in getting shelter dogs, so we weren't going to go to a breeder.

So after one fruitless visit, we stopped by the PetSmart, who hosted dogs from the Georgia Humane Society. And there she was, squirming with a few of her brothers.

They told us that she was a purebred American Bulldog, which is a cousin of the English Bulldog....In any case, she was sweet and clumsy and the cutest animal ever; I loved her instantly, but knew it was up to Husband.

So I deposited her into his lap and sat back. And he sat and visited with her. And we deliberated a bit. And then he was silent for a while. After an hour or so he looked up and said, "Okay, what next?"

It is one of the few snap decisions I've ever seen him make.

This is from the very first afternoon.

Lillie's baby picture


For a while she would travel with me between Husband's home and my apartment. Then my mean crankypants downstairs neighbor* decided that she didn't like having a dog around, so she got sweet Lillie evicted. So Lillie moved into Husband's full-time. I didn't want to put the double dog burden on Husband, so I would pop around more often.

And that is the story on how The Pack began. Exactly one year later, to the date, The Pack became official when when Husband and I got hitched up...

Milo and Lillie have been living in a kennel waiting since February 10, waiting for their blood tests to come back. They flew into Oslo last week by way of Amsterdam. Then this morning were driven around the country to our front door.

And after months of waiting on the two of them, now they're all waiting on me.



*A small life lesson: Being a crankypants downstairs neighbor gets you nowhere except your own little dark apartment where you can sit and think your mean crankypants thoughts. But, having a crankypants downstairs neighbor sure did work out for me. So, thanks Jody! I didn't appreciate it then, but do now.

Fish and Guests

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Whenever I tell people that we live in a renovated sardine factory, they inevitably ask "Does it smell like fish?"

And the answer is "No. No more than a renovated factory loft in SoHo smells like sewing needles or the sweat of exploited workers."

Norway is so far north in the world that over the course of the year, the amount of sunlight varies radically depending on the time of year....In the winter, there is very little sunlight, often just four or so hours. And those hours can look like twilight when the sun doesn't get very high over the horizon.

In the summer, there can be as many as 18 or more hours of sunlight...

Also, it rains. Alot.

So, having dark sleeping quarters is just as important as having ample windows. So you can both soak up as much sun as possible, while still having enough darkness to sleep.

Which are only part of the reasons why I love our house. It's on a hill, so the downstairs, which is storage, sleeping and bathrooms is pretty dark. Then upstairs is an open layout with high ceilings and windows 3/4 of the way around.


(No, all that furniture is not ours. Neither is the dog. His name is Rufus and belongs to our landlord's girlfriend. Lille and Milo will be here soon...)

Plus, it has a red and blue door. And you're welcome anytime.