Givskud Zoo

Givskud Zoo - Anders and I wanted to do something outside yesterday so we decided to drive out to the zoo. It's more of an outdoor zoo but the weather was gorgeous and we had lots of fun.

Rie and Water Buffalo

The flamingos starting fighting with each other - looked hilarious!

The bison are huge - bigger than Anders' car.

For most of the other animals, except the lions, we could easily have our windows down while driving in the "safari" but these guys would stick their heads in and try to say hi.

The wolves had just been fed - this guy looks pissed off!

A giraff and bright blue sky!

Rie and a dwarf-hippo - and some really ugly bird in the background.

The gorilla's looked very smug and just watched us watching them.

The lion cage reminded me of Jurassic Park and no open car windows allowed in this part of the safari. The lions could come and jump on the cars if they really wanted to. But these lions were lazy today - must have been the heat and the big meal they had a couple of days ago (see the skeleton?)

One of my favorite animals - the elephant. These two elephants were smooching just before we took a picture.

We had a fun day, had a picnic at the zoo, walked around, ate ice cream and looked at all the animals. Lots of laughs too. Anders is going to Copenhagen May 6 - May 16 for work stuff and if our budgets permit it, I'll go over there for a weekend and we're talking about going to the big zoo. We'll see what happens.

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WEEKEND!

It's finally weekend and after a long week of kids and teenagers, I'm ready to have a couple of days off work! Work is still really good, don't get me wrong, but it's definitely nice to get away from kids and teenagers for a couple of days!

It's supposed to be a sunny and warm day today so I'm thinking Anders and I will spend most of the day outside. Yesterday was super nice and it feels like summer so I hope today will be just as good!

Here are some random pictures. Anders' little brother, Soren, was confirmated last weekend and here's a picture of him and his close family. Anders, Inge, Soren, Tage and Jesper - trust me, they usually run away when a camera comes out but I got at least one picture of all them standing together.


Jonna and Mathilde came over Thursday morning and we spent a few hours together before I had to work. Jonna is usually the one taking pictures and doesn't have many of herself (I know the feeling!) so I took out the trusty camera and went to work. We did a mini photo shoot and we got some really good pictures - I hope she likes them! Here are some of my faves - this walkway is right across the street from my home and we thought it would make a good background.

Mathilde is a little camera shy -she's only around 2 1/2 months old so she has time to learn that the camera is not a bad thing!

I'm logging off again, have things to do, places to be and people to see.

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I feel so old....

...because I'm still so tired.

It was a rough week and I'm exhausted. Friday after work at JB, Lise and I had to work at the youth party here in Vejle until almost 1am. Not that many kids came - only 101 - so it was a long night but still fun. Saturday during the day, I needed to get some stuff done here at home before Anders came over. I haven't seen much of him all last week so it was super nice being able to spend some time with him. After having some alone time, Anders and I went over to Thomas and Claudia's for dinner - she's a great cook! - but I couldn't stay long because I had to work again Saturday night. Lise picked me up at 930pm and off we went to another youth party, this time with 500+ kids and most of them drunk. It went well, only one ambulance was called and only a little handful of teenagers were kicked out because of bad behavior. It was close to 3am when Lise and I got back to Vejle again.

It would have been nice to be able to sleep in Sunday morning but nope, I had to put on nice clothes and we all had to go to church because Anders' little brother had his confirmation yesterday. We're not churchy people at all so sitting in a crowded church for 1 1/2 hours was torture. And we couldn't even see Soren so I still don't know what the kids do when they get confirmated. After church, we all went to a nice restaurant here in Vejle - I think we were around 40 people - to eat and eat and eat. Drink too. It was fun and I think Soren had a good time. He looked exhausted when Anders and I left and trust me, so was I.

I better log off now and end this babbling session. I need to get some stuff done here at home - Thomas is coming over tomorrow to hang up my shelves and I'm meeting up with Didde tomorrow after work for dinner. Today is just work. I'm not off until 1030pm tonight so I doubt I'm worth much afterwards. Maybe I should go back to bed now and sleep an hour....

I hope you all had a great weekend!

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Happy Birthday Mom!

April 21, 2007 - Today is my mom's birthday! Happy Birthday!

Yups, April is a big birthday month and I hope my mom has a great day today. I know she's been pretty busy at work lately but I hope that she can take a break today and have some fun and just relax. My mom is pretty cool and I can't wait to see her again in August - we always have a good time together!!

Me and my Mom cuddling with the puppies - July 2006

My Aunt and my Mom - they look very concentrated (or confused!) - Aug. 2006

My mom and my brother!

My mom's friend Alli, me and my mom - having a girls day! July 2006

My mom! Seattle August 2006

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!

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random pictures for the fun of it

I went to the gym yesterday. And then I went to the grocery store and only got healthy food. Wow, I must not be feeling well. Christa and I have decided to start training together and we started yesterday at her gym. She was training before but fell off the training wagon when she went on vacation in Thailand a month ago so now we're getting our shit together. We decided that the extra exercise would be good for us and Lise will probably be joining us too. Nothing all too extreme and we don't want to get all crazy about training and eating healthy, just enough to make a small difference and to have some fun.

Nothing else is new here. Work this week is crazy. I have my usual shifts at JB plus I have to work at a no-drinking party Friday night here in Vejle until 1am and then the big party in Jelling (with alcohol) Saturday night until 230am- both parties are for the teenagers in the local areas. BUT, I have to go to a confirmation party with Anders' little brother Sunday and we have to be at church at 11am. Church? Yeps. almost everyone in 7th grade here gets confirmated in church and then has a huge party so we'll be going to church and then doing the family thing on Sunday.

Here are some random pictures...

My aunt, my mormor, my mom and my bebba - picture taken April 10 during the bday weekend at my grandparent's place.

Jonna and baby Mathilde, the last time they were here.

Rie at work at JB. These are some of the girls from the youth club - we're just hanging out, drinking coffee and gossipping.

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Happy Birthday Brian!

April 18, 2007 - Today is Brian's birthday! (Taettere paa 30 end vi er paa 20!!)

Happy Birthday Brian! The story behind Brian.... He pretty much grew up with Anders and they have been friends for many years. When I met Anders (a long time ago), of course I met Brian and we've been friends ever since. Brian and Jonna hooked up (a long time ago!) and now they have 2 beautiful daughters and have bought a house outside of Vejle. I don't get to see them too often but we try to get together every once in a while and catch up.

Tillykke med dagen! Jeg ved at I har det travlt med huset og pigerne men jeg haaber du kan tage en pause fra arbejde i aften og nyde din dag sammen med din familie!

Jonna and Brian - my 25th bday!

Brian and Anders - the only pictures I have of Brian is when we party together!

Happy Birthday Brian!

Brian and Kenneth drinking a couple of beers.

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I love Sundays!

It used to be Mondays that I liked to call "Rie Day" but after getting a full-time job, my "Rie Day" has been moved to Sundays.

Yesterday was pretty fun. I met up with Tine for brunch and after we ate too much, we went to see Thaiboxing and to cheer on some local boys fighting in the Danish Championship. Thomas is one of my good friends so of course we had to be there! Unfortunately, he got knocked out in his first match in the second round because he got hit by a lucky punch. Really sucks but that's the way it is sometimes. I didn't really get any pictures that are worth showing - it's hard focusing on two men jumping around and trying to beat the crap out of each other but I did get one of Thomas doing some sort of funky jump and trying to get a good shot in. As I said, not the best quality but it's the best I got this time. (Thomas is in red) The second picture is of Anders and Igor, the main trainer, giving Thomas some advice and doing the usual pep-talk stuff. (Anders is not going bald - it's the way the light falls on his head!

The other two guys from Vejle did great - they both won in their weight class and can now call themselves Danish Champions in Thaiboxing. It was a long day but still fun. We'll always be there to cheer on our friends and the local boys!

It's easy to see that Vejle Muay Thai is still very much an amateur club but that could easily be changed if they got their shit together regarding advertising and information about the club. Everyone who came to see these fights yesterday were people affiliated with different clubs - and as Tine pointed out, there were more people from Odense than from Vejle! No one in Vejle knew about it other than us who knew someone fighting in it! Tine knows her way around sports clubs and how to draw positive attention to matches via advertising and has offered her knowledge, time and help to Vejle Muay Thai and to be very blunt, it would be suicide if they don't take it.

After seeing sweaty men beating each other up, we went out to get something to eat. But it was only dinner and then home again because we were all quite tired - no wild parties this time around. Relaxing on the couch watching Rush Hour 2 on TV sounded like a good way to end the day!

Now I'm home again. Anders is out enjoying this great spring weather playing golf and I'm having my "Rie Day". I'm not sure what my plans are yet but dishes are definitely a top priority. And Skype tonight with the parents and the brother. Hopefully Glenda will have time to pop in to say hi - it's been forever since I last talked to her!

OK, it's official. Heidi and Rie are going to a Metallica concert!!!! We have the tickets and now all we do is wait until July! Yay Heidi for getting the tickets and sharing her love for music with me!

HAPPY SUNDAY!!

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public transportation - POO!

I can't believe the busses are striking - AGAIN! I know the drivers want better working conditions, ie. money, but still, do they even realize how much of a pain this is?

Grrrrrr!

By the way - unless Heidi has played a really mean April Fool's Day joke on me, her and I will be going to a Metallica concert in Aarhus this summer!

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Happy Birthday Mormor!

April 10, 2007 - Mormor's Birthday!

Today is my grandmother's birthday! Happy Birthday! I'll admit, I'm jealous. My mom, my aunt and my grandparents are together in Ontario and I wish I could have been there. I'm sure they're having a great time, eating lots of food, going on walks and just enjoying the fact that they are together. I'll have to wait my turn but come August, I will be there for the family gathering!

Tillykke med dagen, Mormor! Jeg haaber virkelig at du har det godt og at du har en god foedselsdag i dag! Jeg taenker paa dig og glaeder mig meget til at se dig i August. Jeg kan virkelig godt lide billedet hvor du ligger paa sofaen med Woody og derfor skal have det med i dagens foedselsdag hilsen! Du maa have en rigtig god dag!

Woody and Mormor are relaxing - It's a good thing the couch is big enough for the both of them!

My Mormor and my mom - Mother and daughter!

Morning routine - Mormor gives Woody a good cuddle!

Happy Birthday Mormor. I can't wait until I can sit around the kitchen table with you guys!

My mormor can beat up your mormor!

Tillykke med dagen Mormor. Jeg elsker dig!

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Faelles Birthday

It's my grandparents' birthday weekend - My grandfather has his on April. 6 and my grandmother has her's on April 10 which means April 8th is the common day to celebrate their birthdays! Complicated? Not really.....

My mom and my aunt came home to my grandparents to celebrate the birthdays and I'm sure they're all having a good time.

My aunt is still in her pj's, Bebba is wearing his new sweatshirt and hat and my mom has found her way into a nice warm sweatshirt too. They look good and they look happy!

My grandparents - Mormor and Bebba!

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Happy Birthday Bebba

April 6, 2007 - Today is my grandfather's (min morfar, BEBBA) birthday! I hope he has a great day today with lots of good food and lots of birthday greetings. I haven't seen my grandparents in a long time - around 13 years - but we still keep in contact via emails and phone calls. I will be seeing them in August where the whole family will gather to celebrate my grandparent's diamond anniversary and I can't wait! It'll be great seeing them again and just being able to sit around the kitchen table as one big happy family.

Tillykke med foedselsdagen, Bebba. Jeg haaber du faar en rigtig god dag og at solen skinner. Jeg glaeder mig meget til at se dig og mormor til August - det er jo laenge siden vi har kunne sidde rundt om bordet og bare snakke og jeg glaeder mig!

Last year's birthday!

My grandfather can kick your grandfather's butt!

I love this picture! Bebba is a photographer and has spent lots of time behind the camera lense.

Bebba and his trusty companion.

I have pretty cool grandparents!

Happy Birthday Bebba!

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Yay vacation!

I am now officially on Easter break! I enjoyed my first full day off work - all the jobs! - and had a great day yesterday. (Lille) Lise came over during the day and helped me rearrange my bedroom and then we just talked and painted.... She's an artsy type person too so we had a good day. Christa came over later on in the afternoon after Lise went home and we ended up talking all evening - and spending some money on an impulse drive to Bilka (Bilka is a large department/grocery store in Vejle).

Everything is good here - the sun in shining, I have my windows open and enjoying the spring breeze. I'm in the middle of doing dishes (which I seriously hate) and just bumming around my home. Anders is coming over later on today and I'm not sure what the plan is. I think we'll head over to Christa's place (she lives right across the street from me) and have a couple of beers to celebrate life. Life is good. Tomorrow is free food day - Anders' parents invited us over for an Easter lunch and that usually means lots and lots of good food. Perfect for someone like me who doesn't really have the greatest eating habits. But it's hard since I worked everyday and evening where dinner consisted of something quick and easy to make in our 1/2 break at 530pm. I'm not sure what my plans are for the rest of the Easter holidays - Tine is back in business after being sick for the past... LONG TIME.... so I hope we'll get a chance to hang out. Heidi has an amazingly busy weekend so I don't think I'll be seeing her this time around. Lena and Laine have invited us to visit them in Kolding so maybe I should give them a call and take them up on their offer. Other than just hanging out with friends, I don't have anything planned. Maybe a couple loads of laundry and a few late night movies...

Deeds wrote a post on www.facebook.com and I'll have to agree with her. It's kinda fun re-connecting with old friends and seeing what people have been up too lately. I haven't had the chance to really play around with that site yet but so far, so good. Not that many Danes on it yet but that'll come, I'm sure. So to anyone who hasn't heard about that site, check it out and see what it's all about!

Ok, I've babbled enough and I'm trying to avoid doing my dishes so I should just get my shit together. Everyone - HAVE A GREAT EASTER!!!

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I missed my skype night!

I usually chat with my parents and little brother Sunday evenings but I logged on Skype way too late and they were all gone - bummer! Totally my fault and I couldn't even call them because I left my calling card at home.

Anders and I spent the afternoon enjoying the great spring weather (which is why I didn't notice what time it was). We went for a nice long walk, a drive to get some pizza and then for coffee at the local cafe with his parents. It was all kinda spontaneous things to do and it was a great afternoon/evening.

Work Monday and Tuesday and then my Easter vacation! Yay me! I don't have to work again until Tuesday after Easter and I can't wait!

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