I think I've wanted a dog since I was about 3, but of course my mum was allergic to anything non-human. And I do mean everything, dogs, cats, horses, rodents... I wanted to ride horses, I wanted cats, dogs, rabbits. But no. When my mum died, I finally talked dad into getting a cat, and that worked out well for a few years. Inevitably I had to move to go to school, dad got engaged and moved also. And I feel like I've been moving ever since.
I had a session with my psychiatric nurse the other day, and we talked about getting some activities into my life that does not involve work or books, movies and my laptop. She suggested walking. Which I loathe doing on my own. "You should get a dog," she said. That reminded me that I actually really want a dog, and now is as good a time as any. Yes, I do have a very small apartment, but in return I work 9 hours a week and have way too much spare time on my hands, and my social network is a tad on the small side - I could do with a friend.
My family hates dogs, my sister's allergic to them (but she lives 7 hours away), and my dad's secretly scared of them. I admit, I've never had a dog because I've never had the opportunity. But you have to start somewhere. I've had a poke around the mighty internet and found a few dogs, and today I made the leap and sent an email to a place 2 hours from here who wants to relocate a long coated dwarf dachs. Very cute. Now I'm sort of curious about the response I get - being unexperienced and living in a small apartment can't be the best selling points. But who knows?
Yes, I have to take it with me if I go somewhere. Yes, they shed hair. Yes, I have to walk it two-three times a day. Did it ever occur to anyone that this actually might do me good?
Friday, July 4, 2008
Saw a movie!
Again!
Yesterday I downloaded "Arn - The Knight Templar", the movie based on the Jan Guillou books. I saw it when it hit the cinemas, and have since read the books (again), so now I wanted to see it! Again.
I am aware of the fact that the movie got a bit of mixed reviews when it came out, but I actually liked it. Maybe I'm not inclined to be very objective, but none the less. I love the period it is set in, the clothes they wear, the intricacy of how religion, politics and kinship worked back in those days - and I dig a good sword fight. I remember when I saw it the first time the actor who portrays Arn Magnusson really didn't sit well with me, might be mean to say so but in just kept occurring to me that he looked a bit... daft. But now that I've seen it again that vacant, slightly lost expression really was in it's place, when he was let out of the convent after being there his entire upbringing he was bound to feel utterly clueless in the "low world".
Some has also whined about the movie being too "simple" and straightforward in contrast with the books - but this is the case in almost any film based on a novel. It might be especially obvious in this case, because in the novels people, clans, squabbles for honor and the crown, religion and politics are so intricately woven together that it's sometimes hard to keep up. But that one of the reasons why I love the Knights Templar series. It is one of the best books I've ever read, because I love historical novels, and I do genuinely care about the people involved, which to me is a crucial thing - if I don't sympathize or am intrigued by the characters involved I simply give up on them.
And I don't really care how historically incorrect they are, either - Guillou himself classified them as fiction, not pretending at that any of his characters were real. But some of the characters in the books are based on people who they know lived back then, and there are many references being made to key persons. Even thought the details and the plots of these novels are fiction, the general story of how Sweden originally were three kingdoms with kings chopping each other's heads off left and right, are based on reality. I for one feel I learned quite a bit about the general outline of the creation of Sweden.
It's definitely a movie worth seeing either you like epic battle scenes or a good love story. But I do suggest to anyone who doesn't flinch at the thought of picking up a book to read it instead. It's got everything; history, humor, politics, love and war.
Yesterday I downloaded "Arn - The Knight Templar", the movie based on the Jan Guillou books. I saw it when it hit the cinemas, and have since read the books (again), so now I wanted to see it! Again.
I am aware of the fact that the movie got a bit of mixed reviews when it came out, but I actually liked it. Maybe I'm not inclined to be very objective, but none the less. I love the period it is set in, the clothes they wear, the intricacy of how religion, politics and kinship worked back in those days - and I dig a good sword fight. I remember when I saw it the first time the actor who portrays Arn Magnusson really didn't sit well with me, might be mean to say so but in just kept occurring to me that he looked a bit... daft. But now that I've seen it again that vacant, slightly lost expression really was in it's place, when he was let out of the convent after being there his entire upbringing he was bound to feel utterly clueless in the "low world".
Some has also whined about the movie being too "simple" and straightforward in contrast with the books - but this is the case in almost any film based on a novel. It might be especially obvious in this case, because in the novels people, clans, squabbles for honor and the crown, religion and politics are so intricately woven together that it's sometimes hard to keep up. But that one of the reasons why I love the Knights Templar series. It is one of the best books I've ever read, because I love historical novels, and I do genuinely care about the people involved, which to me is a crucial thing - if I don't sympathize or am intrigued by the characters involved I simply give up on them.
And I don't really care how historically incorrect they are, either - Guillou himself classified them as fiction, not pretending at that any of his characters were real. But some of the characters in the books are based on people who they know lived back then, and there are many references being made to key persons. Even thought the details and the plots of these novels are fiction, the general story of how Sweden originally were three kingdoms with kings chopping each other's heads off left and right, are based on reality. I for one feel I learned quite a bit about the general outline of the creation of Sweden.
It's definitely a movie worth seeing either you like epic battle scenes or a good love story. But I do suggest to anyone who doesn't flinch at the thought of picking up a book to read it instead. It's got everything; history, humor, politics, love and war.
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