...I live on the second floor (sing it with me, now!)
Since our beloved Luuk has fallen (last he was heard from was end of December with his host Jean, and neither of them have been heard from since-Jean, I really hope you're ok sweetheart), allow me to introduce you to Luuka.
Luuka is Luuk's little sister (thanks, Tiffani!) She is a native Swede (which means she likes to drink and knows all the words to the Abba songs).
We hung out and bonded a bit in the snowy Swedish wintertime (which meant we drank coffee and watched a DVD together).
Luuka is now off to Simon, and then will be making her way amongst the blog readers, who take pics of her and post them on their sites (or mine, if they do not blog). My goal is to link a seperate Luuka page to my site, but right now my current pc sucks a clown's ass, so that will have to wait. Luuka has a little travel journal going off with her-just sign it, leave her a message, a train ticket stub, whatever to help her remember where she's been.
Let's work it thus: I have a list here, and we will have this be the "shipping to" list. If the timing is bad or whatever, we can move names around. But otherwise, this is the order in which the little Luuka sees the world. If she sees a town more than once, that's totally OK, and in fact great! It's about perspective-what is it that makes your town great for you?
That, and the bear is just so damn cute that of course people want to host her...
OK, I am starting over with the list, since so many people have come and gone from my site. So if you want her, then let me know-just leave a message with your name and city in the comments, and we proceed from there! I will start with the first two names that I am sure of. We used to have a long list ready to host Luuk, but now we have Luuka, so let's start over, yes? I know in my last post Meg, Miguel and Guinness all indicated that they were ready for her, so let's start afresh-again, if you want Luuka, comment below leaving your name and city, and she will be shipped in the order of the comments. And I am going to leave it to you guys to arrange-contact the name before you and have a dialog, ti send addresses and whatnot.
The "to" list:
Simon in Hong Kong.
Brass in Colorado (Brass, email Simon with your address!)-I know you were so keen to have some time with Luuk in January, is February ok? You promised to teach Luuk snowboarding, now let's have Luuka kick some ass!
And now, if you will excuse me, I am still throwing my guts up. It it -4, snowing like a maniac, and yesterday I had an "incident"-my body woke me up, the way only a body does, needing to throw up. I leaned over the land it in the very clean and ready-to-go bucket that Partner Unit thoughtfully placed next to the bed for me, but realized in horror that curled in the bottom of the bucket was one of my precious kitties.
I just couldn't throw up on her! So I dashed out of bed, ran to the bathroom...and hurled all over the bathroom floor.
Last time I checked that damn cat was still sleeping in the bucket.
-H.
PS-I need some assistance, too-a friend of mine is taking his children to Florida for vacation, and has 3 days to spend in the Miami area. Any ideas on fun things to do with two childre (ages 6 and 11) in that area for 3 days? Thanks!
I think Luuka should come to Brisbane twice! :)
Posted by: melanie at February 1, 2004 11:54 AMYou are all on the list!
And Clancy I love your blog. I check it daily. Suz, if you ever tell me your site, I will check it, too. Blogs suck in the beginning, pure and simple. Mine sure did (and sometimes sucks now).
Posted by: Helen at January 30, 2004 07:52 AMWhile many of the lady-folk of Hong Kong will be upset poor Luuk will not be joining us, we look forward to Luuka coming instead. If she gets here in time she'll even be coming on holidays for a week and a half. Unfortunately that means she'll be sojourning in Asia for at least 3 weeks. Selfish - yes. Do I make apologies? - No. Who knows when she'll be back here again?
Posted by: Simon at January 30, 2004 06:25 AMLuuka in Calcutta, India. I'm sure she would have a nice time and I'll be happy to take her all around.
Posted by: plumpernickel at January 30, 2004 04:52 AMI would love to have the chance to host Luuka! Although from the looks of the list it will be sometime next year *g* I'd show her all around the Northeast!
Posted by: Onyx at January 30, 2004 04:39 AMWow. So, I'll be like.. dead before Luuka can get here. But.. If it's possible to get her over here to Australia one day, I'd dig it enormously.
She'd chill in Brisbane for awhile, and, of course, Surfers Paradise, where all the tourists MUST go beachin'. I'm sure Luuka would appreciate the nubile semi-clothed boys with boards around here.
Aussie, Aussie, Aussie and all that.
Damn you, flu, for not allowing me to comment before half the free world beat me to it.
Posted by: Meg at January 30, 2004 04:01 AMI think Luuka should spend some quality time in the mountains of Beautiful British Columbia! It will be a million years before she gets here, i'm sure :) but I'd like to give her a tour of Golden! I'll take her up the gondola and have dinner with her at the highest mountain in north america...and yeah...that's about all we've got. But she'll have fun! I promise!
Posted by: Laura at January 30, 2004 03:31 AMCrap, my day job got in the way of fun again as I couldn't check this site until now. But maybe if I am lucky, I'll see Luuka around Christmas 2004. Send Luuka here to the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains.
Posted by: Marie at January 30, 2004 02:41 AMwetwired is still wanting to host...
Posted by: pylorns at January 30, 2004 02:02 AMYou know, I think that is one of the coolest things I've ever heard...to have a stuffed bear travel the globe with a little travel journal.
I have not put myself on the list for Luuk or for Luuka at this point because I have no idea when she would get to me and where I'll be.
After September or October, I will have a MUCH better idea and if Luuka is still traveling, I'll put my name on the list then.
In the meantime, I can't wait to see the places she goes.
Luuka can come up here to Idaho to do some team roping and accompany me to a track meet if she would like...I promise I won't make her dig potatoes or anything!
Posted by: Tami at January 30, 2004 12:36 AMH, You know I'll be happy to host Luuka in New Orleans (that is one fabulous bear!), but I think there are other New Orleanians who have already signed up, and there's only so much debauching one bear can take!
Posted by: Jennifer at January 30, 2004 12:03 AMSuzanne,
It sure feels that way in the beginning doesn't it? I've been tinkering with mine for weeks now and it still feels extremely lame. And my own writing diappoints me. It looked better to me before I opened it up for the world to see...
I'd love to host Luuka here in Indiana!
Posted by: Sue at January 29, 2004 09:28 PMKeep me on the list! If she isn't with Sean at Mardi Gras, I can take her to Tucks with me, or have her experience the Bachannalia of Jazz Fest, or just booze it up on Bourbon Street....
Posted by: Carlene at January 29, 2004 08:00 PMI can't wait. I even take Luuka to meet her long lost cousin, now living at the RoCo.
Posted by: Guinness at January 29, 2004 07:03 PMNo bear for me thanks. It wouldn't do for a guy in his late 30s to be carrying around a stuffed bear. Now if it were a real bear, I'd be in. :)
Posted by: Solomon at January 29, 2004 06:16 PMI would love to host her here in D.C., where she could visit the Big Bears at the Zoo. We wouldn't go to the Museum of Natural History because I think all that taxidermy stuff is scary for little bears, even when they are already stuffed.
As for children and Florida, my experience is that if you let them spend the whole day in the hotel pool, they think you are the Best Parent Ever. We took my daughter to Orlando - went to Disneyworld, went to Sea World, etc. -- and her favorite day was the day I was in meetings and her dad let her spend the whole day in the pool.
Posted by: Cait at January 29, 2004 06:02 PMI'd love to have Luuka come to stay for a few days. Maybe when she's finished touring the 'states.
Now, why exactly is there a cat sleeping in the bucket? Is it just the law of maximum inconvenience at work? Or is it a sinister kitty plot?
Posted by: Pixy Misa at January 29, 2004 05:47 PMI would love to host Luuka. We will visit Philadelphia. If she comes in the fall I will try to take her to Swedish heritage day when Philadelphians remember that the land they live on was once a Swedish colony. Failing that, I will find a bit of old Sweden in the new world in South Jersey.
Ted K.
Posted by: Ted K at January 29, 2004 05:42 PMLuuka and Mom are both welcome at my humble abode.
Posted by: Sarah at January 29, 2004 05:01 PMi would have her here, but the thign is, you will hopefully be in the UK anyway so i think she will see enough of it : )
hope the flu leaves you alone soon,
abs x
Wish I could suggest something about Miami, unfortunately all the stuff I do there is very...adult, heh. I would be glad to host Luuka on a Mardi Gras float this year. ;)
Posted by: sean at January 29, 2004 04:34 PMLittle 1nes and FLA. Disney World sounds in order, albeit Orlando is a bit of a road trip from Miami.
Of course, there's always sunny Cali. You can't miss us, we're the 1nes who barbeque every day. :)
Cheers man.
Posted by: Curator at January 29, 2004 04:06 PMHelen,
I commented in the Lunatic Luncheon Club that I still wanted to host Luuk's successor. Does that in any way move me up the list?! If not, no worries. I am still interested in hosting Luuka in KC. And if she can't come till August, that's really fine too. I am heading to the Outer Banks of NC then. She could come along for the ride!
Love to you and I hope you are feeling much better soon.
Suzanne
PS - I have started a blog, but it's still the lamest site in the blogesphere, so I am keeping it to myself until it is fit for public consumption.
Posted by: Suz~ at January 29, 2004 04:01 PM*sigh* back to the bottom of the list. but yes, i want to host lukka! she's so cute! :-)
ugh, and i hope you feel better soon. barfin is no fun at all.
Posted by: kat at January 29, 2004 03:45 PMYou are all on the list!
Thanks for the Miami hints, Amynah-I think it will come in handy!
Brass-thanks :) Just go to Simon's site (over there on the right) and email your address to him, darling!
Miguel-flu here, big time, unfortunately! I even missed my lovely curry lunch with Best Friend today because of it!
Posted by: Helen at January 29, 2004 03:38 PMHelen,
Luuka is more than welcome here. We have plenty of Boardin' Betty's to show her the ropes and with a ratio of 5 guys for every girl she's gonna be very popular.
Brass.
P.S. hope you feel better.
Posted by: Brass at January 29, 2004 03:31 PMI would love to show Luuka around the "Old West" in other words....Oklahoma. I live in Tulsa, and she can see the famous Gilcrease Museum (Best collection of Thomas Moran in the world.)and I could take her to a real live Pow Wow....
Posted by: jennifer at January 29, 2004 03:29 PM"I am still throwing my guts up"... whats with all the sickness, hangover or are you sick? Miguel.
Posted by: msd at January 29, 2004 03:28 PMHelen,
I´m brave enough allright. The problem are the tickets... there aren´t any left. But we can watch the games in public squares, lots of big screens will be available, I think. I´ve seen weirder stuff in football/soccer games. Luuka would blend in perfectly. But maybe I could ask my g/f to carry her, mmhhh....... yes, probably best ;). Miguel.
I'd love to have a visit from Luuka! I'm in Saint Marys, Georgia. We could go and visit an SCA Event, and I'll even make sure that she has garb.
Hi,
I grew up in Miami so I think I might be able to help you out with things to do for two children :)
1. Take them to the beach! It's wonderful for kids of all ages! South beach is the nice trendy spot and it's not too bad for kids during the day. But there are tons of beaches around the area. Just let the frolick about!
2. Monkey Jungle! I loved it there. So many fun monkeys to see :)
3. Parrot Jungle! Yes, there are quite a few jungles and such in Miami aren't there ;)
You're more than welcome to send me an email if the kids have any specifics wants or needs. Like, if they're not into animals :) Having lived there for 20+ years I'm sure I can figure out other things they'd enjoy.
Hope this helps!
Posted by: Amynah at January 29, 2004 03:10 PMPut me down for Luuka. Depending on how far down on the list I wind up, we (GF & I) may take Luuka anywhere... Delaware is a small state, but it's close to lots - Luuka may spend a day in Manhattan, Philly, Baltimore, DC - or even some time on a Delaware beach away from those nasty Jersey (as in NJ, Rob, not your pretty little island) Beaches.
Posted by: Clancy at January 29, 2004 03:03 PMVirginia, Virginia, she really wants to come to the country in Virginia. Horseback riding, driving a tractor, planting a garden, floating the James River in a canoe. She'll have to take a mini vacation when she leaves, cause there is soooo much to do.
Waiting for her arrival.
Karen
Posted by: Karen at January 29, 2004 03:03 PMH~
I'm glad you liked the name! And of course I want her to come to Cleveland. I'll take her maybe to see Labron James. But, she'll definitely go to the Rock Hall. I can't wait to meet her!
Posted by: Tiffani at January 29, 2004 03:01 PMI'd love to show Luuka around the South Carolina Lowcountry. I'm sure she'd enjoy a relatively warm day (compared to Sweden this time of year) on the beach in Charleston.
Posted by: imabug at January 29, 2004 02:57 PMBring the bear to Long Island. I will build a sand castle for her. I will also promise to try to remember to pull her from the castle before the tide comes in :)
Posted by: Drew at January 29, 2004 02:47 PMIf you let me host Lukka, I will take her to see Elvis!
Posted by: wench at January 29, 2004 02:25 PMYou are all on the list (you too, Jim)-and Miguel, I know that Luuka is a soccer (ahem-football!:)) fan! The question is-are you brave enough to take a teddy bear to watch a game?
:)
Posted by: Helen at January 29, 2004 02:12 PMI'd be happy to host Luuka. We can have a drink to toast my old pal Luuk. We'll do it Irish style - get shit faced then pray.
But seeing as I already had the pleasure of Luuk's company, put me down a bit on the list to give some other folks a chance to host an Everyday Bear.
Posted by: Jim at January 29, 2004 02:11 PMmore than happy to entertain Luuka. Any time is a good time. Miguel, in Lisbon/Portugal.
p. s. - does Luuka like soccer? We´ve got euro2004 coming up here...
Luuka is welcome anytime to stop in for a rocket launch - ground crew, not astroLuuka. :)
Posted by: Ted at January 29, 2004 01:33 PMdangit...poor Luuk...ahh, well....the offer of taking a River Boat down the Tennessee River still stands...
Posted by: eric at January 29, 2004 01:16 PMOoh ooh bring the bear to Jersey, bring the bear to Jersey!!!
Posted by: robert at January 29, 2004 01:07 PM