Play It Again, Plume
I have been extraordinarily tired the last couple of days. It might have something to do with the fact that I ran out of medicine. I was caught offguard, didn’t have any refills. I’m taking two kinds of pills now of course. I ran out of the original ones. So for two days I have only had the new ones. Those were the ones that made me so exhausted when I started taking them. So I figure that might be the explanation.
Some good news: I seem to have gotten myself a ticket for the Tina Dickow concert. A while back I made a copy of a video tape I had with old Tina stuff for another fan. And now she has tickets to spare. So if it all goes through like it’s supposed to then I’ll be seeing Tina live again. On Wednesday. Crossing fingers.
I forgot to tell you about the first day that Magnethe had her kids. When I got to the playground they were happy to see me. I like that. I’m a part of the community there, so much that when they get new goat kids then they talk about me too, they’re excited about how excited I’ll be. Anyway, I went into the goat stable and there was Magnethe. She was sitting in the chickens’ compartment. That’s between the sheep compartment and the goat compartment. But the chickens were moved and Magnethe got their spot. So I went in there and sat down and wondered at the wonders. Took pictures and made videos and petted the little new guys and told Magnethe how great she was doing. Meanwhile the staff was cleaning out the goat compartment. Removing all the old hay and junk. And then suddenly Kurt came in with a big bale of hay. A big square one. And he dumped it down next to Magnethe and said “There you go Lasse, there’s your hay”. I didn’t get it at first. I thought that the hay was for Magnethe and he was just joking around. But then he went “no, no, it’s for you. To sit on”. Hehe. So that bale of hay became my chair. And then a little later on they came and removed the wooden board that seperated the chicken compartment and the goat compartment. And now the goats have one big place and the chickens have been moved somewhere else entirely.
Speaking of the chickens, today was a big day at the playground. All the birdies were allowed outside again. I guess the bird flu scare is over. Or at least downgraded. So suddenly there was a flurry of feathers and wings a-flapping. Chickens and ducks and geese taking back their territory. Nice to watch. It especially pleased one man. He is like the chicken version of me. Meaning that he seems to love the chickens like I love the goats. He walks around with them. He even talks to them, making chicken noises. Sometimes he sounds a little like the Chef on the Muppet Show. Bork bork. He’s a nice guy. I don’t think he speaks much Danish, maybe that’s why he likes to talk to the chickens. Animals always understand.
Deb asked how the playground made money to feed the animals. It’s a completely free place for everyone. You can just walk in off the street and spend time there. It’s a goverment institution. Part of our great welfare system here in Denmark. If our new government doesn’t manage to ruin it.
They don’t have a lot of money, but they’re getting by. Once a year they have a period where they register everyone who uses the playground and then they’re granted a certain amount of money.
It’s a wonderful place. Kids can come there after school, often when their parents aren’t home to take care of them. There are groups of daycare children. Or school classes. There are people like me who come and see the animals. Old people who can go and talk to the staff and get a cup of coffee. It’s a very social place. And the kids get to take care of the animals. They can have their own bunny that they are in charge of. And they have to do chores, keeping the place clean and running. Coupled with the positive effects of the animals and the nature. To me it really is like an oasis in the middle of the concrete desert.
But enough preaching.
Still, I would recommend it to anyone. Especially social phobics. Or just lonely people. Find a place with animals. It’s a great step forwards. Potentially at least.
Loneliness: There is no organ that can take it all
Currently reading The History of Love.
Now it’s weekend. I have around 70 videos, totalling more than 400 megabytes, from the playground. I shall pick out a few to post. I love the sounds the goat kids make. All their little grunts and groans and yelps. Even their screams when someone holds them in a bad position. I almost feel like a masochist, but it just sounds so cute. Even cuter is the sound of their breathing quieting down, while their eyelids slowly drop and they fall asleep in your lap. That is sweetness bottled.
*content sigh*
April 28th, 2006 at 23:50
I’m happy. We stopped in at the neighbors house to see if there were any more pygmy goat babies. Yes! Two more – I got to hold both of them. They are mostly white with dark spots in various places. A male and a female. So now there are 4 of them, the other two are gray with black legs, white muzzles, and white ears. There was also a baby donkey. It trot, trot, trotted around, with its little head up. Really sweet.
Lasse, thanks for anwering my question about the playground and funding. Sounds like a wonderful place for people to get together and have fun with the animals. So glad the kids have a safe place to play after school, etc. And nice for adults after a stressful day.
Congrats on the Tina Dickow concert tickets. Will there be pictures??? Have a good time, okay?
Hey, mark it on your calendar a week before your prescriptions run out to get more. Some kinds of medicine need to be taken about the same time daily to get the full benefit. Don’t sell yourself short by missing a dose or two unless your doc says it’s alright. Enough of the lecture!
Have a good weekend-it’s always a pleasure to read your entries, whether it was a good day, a bad day, or a “super” goat baby day. Thanks for writing, it’s nice to know other people feel the same way about animals like we do.