the gladiator who threatened my mother with a sword outside the Colosseum when he misinterpreted something she said and informed her that all Americans are rude when she tried to apologize for the misunderstanding.

Did...your mother *time travel*?!?

(No, I get the gist; it's just amusing to imagine a ye olde gladiator brandishing his sword at a lovely American woman.)

Heh, Teppy! The Colosseum was filled with locals dressed as Gladiators hoping to make money taking pictures with tourists. My mother mentioned to a tourist that they worked only on tips, hoping to encourage them to tip well, and the local misinterpreted it.

Sean, Pix is right. I know how easy it is to interpret things negatively when fighting depression, but I am sure the locals have adored you.

Oh, and in puppy news, the foster mom emailed to tell me that she and her sister are getting spayed today, and the vet is also taking a look at a slight limp she's had on and off these past couple of weeks. They think she may have a bb gun pellet embedded in her shoulder. WTF is wrong with people? If it's true, he'll remove it tomorrow and she'll be fine. But boy am I glad this rescue saved her from whatever hell she was in her first couple of months. Makes me want to bring her home and snuggle and snorfle her even more.

Aww, poor puppy. People suck.

When my grandmother and Iw ere on the best of Britain tour we ended up with like 2 1/2 days in London. We went to the British Musuem and spent the whole day. It was so worth it. Especially for me and to see my Grandmother geeking out about the stones and things from Bibical era.

The Rosetta Stone was a special exhibit but still dead cheap, one pound I think.

The other thing we did was the Sherlock Holmes Museum. It was close and fun. This was at the end and we didn't have that much time in London but it was still cool.

Well, except that I got us lost the first night and we had to take a cab back to the hotel.

Oh, and in puppy news, the foster mom emailed to tell me that she and her sister are getting spayed today

She... did mean the dogs, right?

I hope the shoulder heals up quickly.

Aww, poor puppy. People suck.

Chloe's tail is docked, and not cleanly. The Boy is the 4th owner to have her, so he has no idea how she lost it. Now, given her propensity for lingering in the doorway as the door closes, it's very possible a heavy door closed on it. Although if that were the case, I would think she'd be skittish in doorways and not linger.

We don't know if someone was being cruel and cut it off, or tried to dock it but did a bad job, or what. But she WILL NOT let anyone touch her nubby tail (or hindquarters in general).

And all I can think is, if someone deliberately did that to her, I'd like to get ahold of them and whip out some equitable payback.

Kato was abandoned in a ditch as a puppy, and The Boy happened to drive by and see him. He (Kato) was playing happily, so he might not have known he was being abandoned. And he's the most good-natured dog I have ever met. He would be perfect with kids, because he'd be so tolerant of them hanging on him or poking him or doing other kid stuff.

Chloe would probably eat a child.

t edit And I tell him (Kato) all the time that anyone dumb enough to abandon *him* must be in the dumb hall of fame, because he's awesome. (If I haven't already made that clear. Heh.)

It's true that Londoners aren't known for their effusiveness and friendliness.

Heh. Somewhere Pete is grumbling, and doesn't know why. (Grumbling in a completely different way than his usual grumbling, I mean.)

Sean, go to the V&A. If you want to make me really jealous, go to the fashion section and then post about it.

Jilli, have you ever seen that exhibit in person? You would love it.

Aww, poor puppy. People suck.

Some do, yes. The awesome thing is that they are balanced out by people who so do NOT suck, like this foster mom. She and her family have fostered and placed 120 dogs (pups and full grown) in the past 18 months. How awesome is that?

Heh. Somewhere Pete is grumbling, and doesn't know why. (Grumbling in a completely different way than his usual grumbling, I mean.)

Heh. Hee hee hee.