When your parents ask you to be maid of honour; asshat actions on YouTube; association meme

[misscam]

Moment of total '...': Parents announce that they are in fact getting married as soon as they can, filling out the paperwork already and could I be mum's maid of honour?

Right then.

To get my slight 'bwhuh?' over this, understand that my parents have been lovingly committed non-married for over 30 years, and used to joke they never got married because all their friends who did got divorced. This non-marriage worked swimmingly for them, and so I rather got used to their attitude about it all. (Norway's got laws that more or less equal marriage and 'cohabitation', as it is know. Basically a sort of common law marriage.) I even got fond of using them as an example that it's love it's about, rather than ceremonies.

Of course, then it turns out they're getting married for pension reason. Figures. (The 'less' part in the equal is how pension are done when a spouse/partner dies, though this will be changed in law soon enough.) They liked being contrary too much for this to be some romantic gesture. (And dad's 'pre-wedding' gift to mum? A new shelf. My parents. I love them, truly.)

Still, my parents are getting married. And I will be maid of honour. This might be kind of cute. And weird. My parents. Marriage. Huh.

In non-cute news, this story about a boy that abused a cat on a vid he uploaded to YouTube makes me want to cuddle my cats lots. A text version of the story is here.

Association Meme: Comment to this post with 'comment!' and I will give you 5 subjects/things I associate you with. Then post this in your LJ and elaborate on the subjects given.

marcasite gave me:
Norway
BSG
News Headlines
Equality/Fairness
Finder of the Best Wank
Writing

(Six items, but I'll do them all anyway, heh.)

Norway. Mah home country. It doesn't take a lot of reading of this blog to realise I love my country a great deal. It's shaped me so much, been such a part of my life that it feels a part of me just like my family. And just like my family, it can drive me bonkers and make me groan. But I still love it. Fjords, mountains, snow, midnight sun and somewhat peculiar people. And also, I am lucky enough that my country is mostly a good place to live, peaceful, prosperous and fairly pleasant. 150 years ago, it was the poorest country in Europe. Times change. Improvement is possible. I like to take that as a hope for us all.

BSG. Battlestar Galactica. My lastest fandom and TV love. It started last April by randomly catching an episode on Norwegian television, which lead to buying some DVDs, which lead to a watching marathon, which lead to... Where I am now, essentially. BSG is to me a wonderfully written and acted show, depressing as fuck and still managing to be strangely sweet at times. I like it very much, and it reminds me at times of past love of mine: Babylon 5. Sometimes, it takes a show set outside our own world to be a mirror and window to it. BSG can be this. Also, Adama and Roslin are epic.

News Headlines. Heh. Well, I am a journalist by degree and it stays with. I read a lot of news and since my blog reflects me, I just got into the habit of linking to and sometimes discussing various news. It's stuff that caught my eye, and a lot of people have commented that they enjoy it and find stuff they wouldn't normally come across, so it's just stayed with my blog all these years. I like to know what's happening, and I like how many really unexpected things you sometimes find, both of the good and bad.

Equality/Fairness. That's an interesting one, and I'll take it as a compliment to be associated with it, really. I am a social democrat of the Scandinavian thinking. I believe life and humans can be terribly unfair, but that does not mean I just have to live with it in relatively unbothered privilege. I believe in making an effort. I believe humans are different, but equal. I believe we can all do a lot better. And I really loathe asshats that will use stupid bullshit (racism, sexism, homophobia, you name it) to feel superior. BITE ME.

Finder of the Best Wank . LOL. Oi. Me and marcasite know each other from CSI fandom, and I suspect her association here goes back to that. There used to be a lot of really, really stupid ship-related idicoy in that fandom, and after a time of rolling my eyes at it, I started pointing and laughing at it in this LJ. Yes, I am also mean at times. I nicknamed this 'CSI wankimplosion' and a lot of it is in my memories. Fandom gets silly at times. I laugh rather than cry. And I've been around fandom a while, I am curious, I read links, and I got stories of batshit. So yeah. I guess I find the wank at times.

Writing. I write. I've written for a living, I write for fun, I write or I itch. My father is a bit of a writer, and my mum is a heavy reader and between their genes, you got me. On this LJ, you mostly see the fanfic I write. Which I enjoy. It's certainly helped my grasp of English, and made me meet some smashing people online. I like language and the images you can create with it, the way it can flow and be poetic or instill powerful images with just a few words. Fanfic is a way to combine my love of language with my love of various other things (Doctor Who, BSG, nature, love, Norway, the meaning of life). I really enjoy it. If I didn't write fanfic, I'd probably write something else - my way of dealing with things is usually writing.

Comments

[gypsyjr.livejournal.com]

I'd like some associations please. :)

[misscam.livejournal.com]

You got it.

Zombies
Icons and graphics
Awesome British things
Simon Pegg
Activist

[trialia]

w00t. associate me please? :)

also, does this mean we get pictures of Cam in a dress? *looks hopeful*

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Sure thing.

Multi-shipping
Overcoming
Drabbles
Adama and Roslin
Sexuality

Er. Possibly. I'd be more likely to be the one taking pictures of them, so not sure I'd bother with myself. Have I really not posted pictures of me dressed up? Hadn't really considered that something missing :P

[sinneahtes.livejournal.com]

Comment!

*gives her pets lots of hugs (or whatever sign of affection you can give fish)* I will never understand some people. :( I'm glad some action was taken and the kitty is being looked after, at least.

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Photography
Books
Celtic
Weather
Science

Yes, one hopes that cat can get a much better owner. Good grief.

[honorh.livejournal.com]

Parents getting married, eh? Well, congratulations to them, and I hope they have a lovely wedding.

One thing I don't understand, I suppose, is why, if cohabitation is treated the same as marriage, isn't it kind of, well, marriage by any other name? I guess I don't understand the appeal of not being married if it's exactly like being married. I'm not trying to be snarky; my brain just sort of folds back on itself regarding the whole matter, and it doesn't make sense to me.

[misscam.livejournal.com]

It's the same *rights* as marriage, it's not exactly like being married. You don't have to go through the same paperwork to be 'cohabiting' as when you get married, and breaking up as cohabiting couple is not the same as divorce - though if kids is involved, that does add a lot to the process. There is also not the religious connection - marriage does often get co-opted by various religions, even if this has lessened a bit.

Cohabitation is extremely common in Scandinavia. Some cohabiting couples get married after having kids, though not all. It's... an alternative, I guess you can call it.

[honorh.livejournal.com]

Okay, that makes sense. To each her own, I suppose, though I'm obviously a big fan of marriage. Hey, if I'm going to be picking up a guy's dirty socks for the next ever, I figure the least he can do is promise to love me forever in front of all my friends and family while I'm wearing a really pretty dress. ;-)

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Marriage is grand, if that's what people want. But to me, it's much more important that a couple are loving and committed than whether they choose marriage or not. This is probably a result of me growing up in Norway as cohabitation became so normal and we redefined marriage a bit.

I ain't marrying a guy that can't pick up his own dirty socks, I can say that much. In fact, I might even stick that in the vows, if I choose to get married. :P

[falena]

Congrats to your Mum and Dad, the not-so-newly-wed-to-be. :P
Will you get to wear some hideous pink, fluffy dress as a maid of honour? *g*

And meme me, please.

Today I had one of the bank managers do a listening exercise that featured a lengthy interview with a Norwegian. I kept thinking of your Dad, the accent reminded me of him.

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Hell no. It ain't that kind of family.

Languages
Lusting
Blond(e) fascination
Accents
Family

Aw, heh. My dad does have a fairly pronounced Scandinavian sound to his English. I hide mine a lot more.

[honorh.livejournal.com]

Aww, but the hideous fluffy dress totally makes the experience! Or, of course, some really stiff taffeta. And a butt bow. Can't forget the butt bow.

[lotus79.livejournal.com]

Aww, your parents are getting married, finally. And the reason is sorta awesome (says she who was baptised only so that parents could have a christening party for rellies visiting from the UK. My brother did not get baptised, hehe.)

Associate me, baby!

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Heh, I kinda thought so too. They amuse me so at times. The way this came up was pretty funny, too.

Yes, babe.

Water Rats
Draenei
Angsty relationships
Knitted caps
Singing

[lizbee.livejournal.com]

ASSOCIATIONS, PLEASE! *is bored on the internet*

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Book stores
Romana rules the world
Tim Tams
Bad summaries
Braxiatel in ur icons

[mademoisellenon.livejournal.com]

Congratulations to mum and dad. Though 30 years of marriage is already impressive enough. I am really very impressed by your parents, not the least the love they have for one another. You'll be a lovely maid of honor. Want to see pictures ;)

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Yeah, growing up mum and dad really has made me believe in love - a fairly realistic one too, I think.

[lily-winterwood.livejournal.com]

Associate moi?

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Enthusiasm
Drawing
BSG
Canon
Mary Sues

[sparrowinsky.livejournal.com]

Heh, I want to comment but I post so infrequently you probably don't even recall who I am :p However, your dad's wedding gift is awesome. :D One can never have too many shelves! (Or, well, I can't, but I've got way too much stuff, too, so...)

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Hey now, you've been on my flist a fairly long time, so it's not like I go 'huh?' at your name :P Though I might associate you with a lot of fandom things.

Shelves are indeed awesome - I need more of them constantly. Stuff and books pile up...

[sparrowinsky.livejournal.com]

Well, in that case, consider me commenting. :D

I'm moving from my room to our garage, and I've already decided that at least two walls need to be almost entirely shelves. Maybe then I'll finally have enough space for all my books and other miscellaneous junk.

...probably not, but I can hope... :)

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Doctor Who
Staying up late
Dance
Nano
Curiosity

As long as there's life, there's hope, isn't that how it goes? ;)

[stringertheory.livejournal.com]

Aww. That's hilarious about your parents. And kind of adorable (A shelf! XD).

"Comment!"

[misscam.livejournal.com]

;)

Lord of the Rings
Neil Gaiman
Monty Python quotes
Music
Evil Overlord list

[y2jdingo.livejournal.com]

Comment!

(Ha, hard one.)

And indeed, congrats to your parents.

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Brisbane
Wrestling DVDs
GAFF
Ask Me Anything
Dragons

[starbuck042786.livejournal.com]

Ok so that youtube news story makes me very sad. Whoever can do that to a poor little animal needs the exact same thing done to them. Take him out back and beat him against a shower! UGH!

[misscam.livejournal.com]

It's disturbing in itself, but so many kids that start up torturing animals, move on to humans when adults, so... Get that kid some help, possibly.

[rhipowered.livejournal.com]

Congrats to them, if that's their thing!

[misscam.livejournal.com]

I didn't think it was, but apparently pension makes it so. Go them, I guess.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

Congratulations to your parents!


As for that freaky kid - here's a good lesson not to brag about being a twisted sicko. People *will* be motivated to make sure you face the consequences!

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Yeah, there are certain things you don't get away with even on the Internets. At least not if you're so dumb you let it be traced back to you.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

Especially when you've given thousands of people motivation to drop everything and go hunting.

[visp.livejournal.com]

When will idiots learn that posting their deeds on the web isn't a good idea? Well, hopefully never, or we couldn't catch them as easily.

[misscam.livejournal.com]

The world is full of stupid, sadly - and sometimes, that's good too.

[qwercus.livejournal.com]

Give me a little

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Russia
Photographs
History
Folklore
Cyrillic

[iman00b.livejournal.com]

That is just...awful! I've only got a whale to cuddle, but still!

Congratulations to your parents - I understand the whole marriage-of-conveniency-thing. My parents got married because of bureaucratic reasons. My mother was wearing her old raincoat and jeans, and my dad was wearing something equally relaxing. I had no idea they were married until last year!

Associate me, please? I realise this may be hard, as I'm not that active on your LJ.

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Hah, that sounds a lot like mine. I expect fairly casual, quite frankly.

Narnia
"Russ" (det norske ordet, altså)
Music
Norwegian (the language and the nastionality)
Monty Python

[iman00b.livejournal.com]

Whoa! Hvor snek ordet "Russ" seg inn hit? xD
Music? Now you have me wondering!

[laurandbillever.livejournal.com]

a shelf??? (^_^) I soo want to see that hihih... have fun at the wedding! :P

[bloodanna.livejournal.com]

Hee. Your parents are awesome, that is all.

Poor cat. I love that the viewers of the video went all CSI on it though and helped find the kid by matching backgrounds, that's just kinda brilliant. I really hope the kid does get charged with something and that cat gets a wonderful home.

Consider this a meme comment.

[rivrea.livejournal.com]

My congratulations to the happy newlyweds-to-be! Their idea of a wedding present seems to show some true Norwegian understatement. :)

[crackpig.livejournal.com]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY