LA-life..
..is good life.. hot life.. laxed life.. Yeah! We still like it. Actually, let me rephrase that, because; LOVE it, is a more suitable term.
So I guess it’s time for a new blog! And here we go! A lot has happened since we picked Shelia up at the airport! And I’ll try to give a brief summary of the highlights 
The dog has gone through some changes since she arrived. She has, pretty quickly, adjusted to the LA-life-style, she likes the heat and her strolls! The biggest change, except for the climate change, happened three weeks ago. Three weeks ago our lab’ got spayed! This is something that is required by law in California, if you live in a complex like we do. So now it’s settled: no puppies for Shelia. Kinda sad, but that was never our intentions anyway.
After the surgery, Sheila had to wear a collar for 2 weeks.
Since Shelia came over, she and Norah has developed a great friendship, a friendship they both enjoy. Maybe because Norah has a tendency to give Shelia whatever she’s eating? Nevertheless, the dog is certainly alert when Norah is eating a roll or a cookie! Shelia is “working” Norah by giving her THE eye (you know those irresistible eyes a dog can have, right?) whenever food is in the picture., saying: “Feed me, don’t you wanna feed me? Can’t you see I’m starving?” Regardless of whenever she got her meal. And Norah is giving in for Shelia’s strategy. Norah actually wants to give everything she eats to Shelia. Throwing food from her high chair onto the floor, saying: “Dila Dila!” Or just not saying anyhing at all.
It is really cute watching them together. Norah can almost do whatever she wants to do to her. That’s entertainment. Belive me. If it gets too though on Shelia, she just go to her hiding spot. Kinda saying : “this is no big deal, but I really want some privacy now, ok?” The arrogance from that dog is to touch and feel, while she’s acting it out..
As I mentioned earlier, Shelia had to get spayed.. Here it is actually recommended, while in Norway it is recommended not to do so. I think you have to have a really good reason for doing so in Norway. Furthermore, a spay-section is said to enhance the possibility for cancer in Norway, while in the States it is said to reduce the risk. So, what to belive? I guess we’ll have to trust the vets here in California! We don’t have a choice, do we? Who said that knowledge is static and not dynamic? You might argue, that the animal hospitals are more of a business here compared to Norway ~ for each surgery the hospital gets: money – money – money… On the other hand, USA is a bigger country, and probably have come further regarding research..
Well, that’s the biggest news Shelia-wise. A lot of other stuff has also happened. Fun stuff. Nice stuff. Weird stuff. The unormal happenings in the beginning has become our everyday life. The normal.
Playa Vista in "June gloom"-weather...
Me, Norah and Shelia has gotten our lives on track in Playa Vista. We have even met some of the local moms and their children. We’re participating a group which meet up once a week. We haven’t done too much of that yet, but the plan is to become more active. I have to say, putting Norah Frances in her stroller is really something else. Not “twenty” layers of clothing, including wool and raincoats ~ yeah, something else! Not having the apartment steaming from the dog and the stroller after taking the girls out for a stroll, is neither wrong! All we have to remember, for our strolls, is sunscreen, sunhat and sunglasses. (What a hazel, huh?)..Yeah, something else!
One week ago we went to San Diego. In San Diego we had a play-date with Trond’s Norwegian (!!) cousin and family: Hannah, Johan, Emma and Jorunn, in “San Diego Zoo“. What a great park! What a great company! We really enjoyed meeting some family, and someone who understands what’s it is like to move from Norway to the States. It is so fun to exchange experiences, experiences which are very alike after analyzing it: someone who interpret the American life as we do, sort of.
Well, that was just a digression. Anyway, we started out with a bus-ride throughout the park, this ride gave us the opportunity to see a lot, and pick out where we would like to go back, as well as funny comments from the bus-driver and information about the shows. After the bus-ride we went to see a tiger getting fed, but the day we went there, they changed the routine; so we could watch the tiger NOT getting fed. Of course. But we got some information about the tiger, and that made it worth participating anyhow. While at the park, we also got the chance to see an amazing bird show! It was so cool. That really left us speechless.
Elephant in San Diego zoo. Didn't take a picture of hippos in action 
After browsing the park, looking at koalas walking around (these bears sleep 22 out of 24 hours, so we caught them at the right moment), hippos making love (oh yeah.. in front of everybody.. they have no shame these animals… hehe), elephants eating etc, our time at the zoo was over. The distance between San Diego is about 2 – 3 hour. And to get home to get Norah to sleep at a normal hour, yeah and to be sure to tune in to our favorite tv-show: TRUE BLOOD, we could not stay any longer.
As you could see, here we’re talking about time, not miles, when we’re talking about distance.. (one of the first lessons Trond learnt we he arrived LA, and one of the first things he told me…). To give an example. When we drove, very early, from LA to San Diego, we spent approx. 2 hours on the distance, but when returning we spent approx. 3 hours… See? (The distance is the same as Stavanger – Bergen ++).
Trond and Norah at Santa Monica Pier.
This weekend we went to Santa Monica pier and Santa Monica beach! Just to browse and look at all the people and all the life! At the beach we even got to see some gymnastics work out. Pretty cool. Why work out inside when you can work out outside! Fresh air, people to watch you (..).. I guess that’s how they do it here. Maybe I should get my brother and his football over, have him work out at the beach for everybody to watch! I’m not sure he is UP to it though… 
Well, I’ll just say: “that’s how they do it in California ~ get used to it”