Thursday, February 14, 2008

Baby Love, My Baby Love

A couple of years ago, Don thought long and hard about what to get me for a Valentine's Day present. He put a lot of consideration into getting me something that I'd really like and use. He settled on a high-quality Henckels frying pan.

He's still hearing about it.

But this year, he got me something that made me start bawling right off the bat, and I'm talking tears of joy (and hormones):


He ordered personalized pacifiers for our impending tyke, three little nuggets of plastic and silicone that each have "Thud" inscribed on the front. From all of this naming business emerged Thud, courtesy of my dad, who suggested something Scandinavian, Viking-like, strong, like Thor, but with a unique twist. Thud! Perfect! So, that's what we've been calling him the last several months, though we do have the real name already picked out and buried deep in an anonymous field in far-flung Denmark.

It's terribly hard to describe, but when I saw these little things, it hit me in a funny place when I wasn't ready for it. And I've forgotten all about the frying pan.

Monday, February 11, 2008

WE! GOT! A! CAR!

It's true, what you've heard: WEGOTACAR! WEGOTACAR! WEGOTACAR! WEGOTACAR! WEGOTACAR! WEGOTACAR! WEGOTACAR! WEGOTACAR! WEGOTACAR! WEGOTACAR! WEGOTACAR! WEGOTACAR! WEGOTACAR! WEGOTACAR! WEGOTACAR! WEGOTACAR! WEGOTACAR! WEGOTACAR!


After a year and a half without a car, we are now the proud owners of a Peugeot Partner. She's metallic burgundy, and painfully chic. MEOW!


On Sunday we took Bella -- who has her very own compartment in the back -- to the "hund skov" (dog forest) near our town. We had the place to ourselves...



A gorgeous sunny day, but gotta take care of those muddy tootsies before getting in the new ride!

Friday, February 01, 2008

Tongue-Tied

So, I am a little embarrassed to admit that, after a year and a half in Denmark, Don and I are not fluent in Danish yet. We are, in fact, far from it. However, we are in a twice-per-week language course, taught by a woman whom we rarely understand. But, we dutifully attend our classes, nod enthusiastically and hope for the best.

This morning, on returning from walking Bella, I ran into our very sweet neighbor, who looked anxious and told me she was off to see the dentist. I told her not to worry, that it would be fine, and then, in my heartiest Danish, I wished her "God Jul!" I was so sure I said "Good luck," but instead blurted out "Merry Christmas!" Yeah. Still working on it.

And sometimes the best communications happen in my own native tongue. I had my hair cut today by Kenneth, a German guy who is wicked good at what he does. He lives in Germany but works in Denmark, because the cost of living is so low there, but the pay here is at least double, if not triple. Anyhow, ol' Kenneth worked my coiffure ferociously for a very long time, styling, styling, styling, curling and swirling as if our lives depended on it. I watched as my hair got bigger and curlier and tendril-ier by the minute; it really looked like Venus in her clamshell should be rising at any moment from the bouncy, foamy swirls. My. Hair. Was. Huge. Really gravity-defying and lovely. All I needed was a satin sash, a rhinestone tiara and some tears.

After 20 minutes of this, he was finished. I have never seen my hair like this before, and I knew my head would never look quite this spectacular again. I looked in the mirror and said, "Wow! Kenneth! This is so... TEXAS!"

You know what he did? His face lit up, he smiled wide, put his hand on his chest, bowed a little, and said, "Oh, THANK YOU!" Now that's taking pride in your work.