Say It in Finglish

Culture Saturday

2008-10-04T18:23:00.004+03:00

Today I took some time to be with me and took me to some exhibitions. The first one was about Finnish art in 70's. I enjoyed it a lot. There were numerous works on paper and that, of course, always rigns the bells of my soul. The wood block print in the picture was one of my favourites.

The next exhibition me, myself, and I saw was from a finnish painter, whose works have never before really touched me though I've seen them. This time, the whole weird world the artist had created in a big exhibition hall was quite fashinating in almost a horror kind of way. I was impressed by real looking models he had made of existing buildings and it was entertaining to see how those models and paintings were parts of a same story, that was not really told from the beginning to the end - no point in that explanation - all the same, I kind of liked it.

Then I went to see Ars Fennica 2008 exhibition. Once again I have to say that though I have learned to watch art videos and even learned to like that art media - there weren't that many works in the exhibition that I found even a bit intresting. But I guess that's because of me, why would they show all that otherwise.

The last exhibition I saw today was by a photographer. Her works were beautiful. Beautiful surface. I didn't know if I liked them or not. I guess I had had my maximum dose of art for that day before her show.

Gardener

2008-09-13T11:24:00.002+03:00

Last spring I decided to plant tomatoes and see if they will grow at all. I am not known for my gardening skills, so I didn't expect much. Tomatoes started to grow and they created a green jungle on my balcony. None of the plants made a single tomato - until now, right before the weather is turning so cold that tomatoes will die, I found two little green tomatoes in the middle of the wild green jungle type of material. I doubt that they have time to turn red and become edible before minus degrees (Celcius) arrive. All the same, I am a happy balcony gardener.

Work!

2008-09-11T21:56:00.002+03:00

I wonder if there is still someone checking out if I ever write anything on my blog. I wouldn't blame anyone for not doing that. I have neglected my blog.

Things are fine - if you wondered. I am working at a museum and I love the job. Every early morning I am glad that I can go to work, and I am not natural born morning person at all. This all new to me. Until now I have basically done jobs I have disliked and going to work has been an on going pain - especially in the morning. Not anymore.

M was in Japan and returned home couple of weeks ago. He liked the trip and he said being there was like he hadn't been away from there at all. I think I would feel the same, if I went to Japan - and I will. Some day. The kid is still upset because he wasn't allowed to follow M to Japan. The kid is obsessed with Japan. But who wouldn't be.

Oh boy

2008-08-09T11:01:00.003+03:00

I made some minimum lay out tests on my blog and lost info I'd put on the side bars with a single click on the left mouse button. I guess I have to come back to this problem when I have more time and energy. And when the hell is that?

Happy worker

2008-08-08T23:12:00.002+03:00

I am working! It's a real job and I can do what I have been educated for. Oh boy, oh boy, it's fun!

M is in Japan for three more weeks. The kid has been VERY upset because he wasn't allowed to travel with M. He still misses Japan.

Summer Report

2008-07-17T16:20:00.004+03:00

It's summer holiday season in Finland. M has been on his holiday since the end of June. I am still unemployed for couple of more weeks so we have had time to do holiday things.

On the first week we went to camp in a National Park, which actually is in the same city where we live. It rained, but it didn't matter - our tent was waterproof (now it's proven). But that didn't prevent me freezing through the night in my sleeping bag. I get cold easily.

The next day three of us walked a 2 km's route in the woods. The kid was thrilled. The picture is taken from that walk.

I can warmly recommend Noux National Park to anyone who travels with kids and especially if you don't have to drag a stroller with you.

The weather hasn't been the best this summer. They say it's the coldest summer in 15 years. It's been raining a lot. Still there were couple of sunny days when we were able to go to a beach close by. The kid swam with his life saverlike a seal and the water was freeeezing cold. No force on this planet would have got me into the water, except an emergency, but thankgod there are always life guards on beaches to take care of that.

We spent a week at my friend's house in a small town, 2 hours north east from Helsinki. It's a great place: kids can run wild on the yard and there is plenty of room to stay away from them. M and me decided to try juice fasting there. We started detoxing five days before the actual fast: off coffee, off alco and off sugar. Coffee was the most difficult for me and thanks to caffeine withdrawal I had a splitting head ache for all those five days.

The fast is still on: the 6th day, so I can't say much about it yet. So far I have felt tired and sometimes quite weak and every now and then I have had sudden cravings for practically anything one can eat. Otherwise this isn't as bad as I imagined. Tomorrow we'll start eating again. We'll do it as we should: small portions and only veggies for two days. And then I'll have my first cup of coffee on monday. Mmmmmm, coffeeeeee.

Doing, doing, doing - nothing

2008-06-17T09:45:00.003+03:00

Oh boy I am glad to hear that I am not the only person who arrives to places WAY too early - greetings to Texas, by which I mean the state, not my smelly dog friend in Gothenburg.

Since I came back home, I haven't done much of anything. Of course I have spent time with the kid, but other than that... days just go by and the great cleaning project at home remains undone. It's sometimes nice to do nothing, even in the middle of a mess.

Oh, we did travel up to north last weekend. We took a night train on friday, spent one night at my brother's, and travelled back on sunday. When we returned home the train was full of rock festival people and while I looked at them I felt sad: I would have wanted to go to that festival too and only because Foo Fighters played there. Oh well, this was my second time when I choose to miss FF and then regretted it (a little) afterwards.

I have a profession

2008-06-06T11:57:00.003+03:00

I am now officially a paper conservator. It feels fantastic to be ready with the school. It's also a bit sad: I know I won't be meeting my school mates that much from now on. Thankgod there is the internet.

Friday, party time

2008-05-31T22:31:00.003+03:00

Yesterday I was at a party with my school mates (I managed to get to Sweden). I was the first to arrive - that's what you get if you dislike being late - and I do, so no real reason to complain, and still I think it's uncool to arrive first. I better start liking being late or ignore the fact that I am not cool.

When everyone had arrived we had a nice picnick on the lawn in backyard. A class mate had prepared a pie that made me loose my control: I ate at least half of it. It was utterly delicious. After eating we did some Sing Star karaoke and then went to a party at school. Then suddenly I became old and tired and decided it was time to go to sleep. The next day I was separately grateful for that decision.

Amnesia

2008-05-29T09:15:00.002+03:00

Very early this morning I went to the airport just to find out that my flight is tomorrow.

Walker

2008-05-24T10:16:00.002+03:00

Here's something on the internet my little boy apprecietes. We just peeled an orange.

I might have bragged that I am taking part in 10 km's run for women. I am a woman, so that part of it is nothing particular. But, when I signed up for the run in Janury I had a vision in my mind about how I'll be jogging regularly, the whole spring, few times per week and will be in a good condition in May when the run is taking place. I haven't jogged and the run is tomorrow. I am doomed. Fortunately there is a start for walkers too.

Party Season

2008-05-06T09:37:00.003+03:00

Thanks to the thesis panic I will miss a wedding party in Holland. I was very eager to go there and was also looking forward to see my friends from Japan (both the couple and guests). After few days of planning I realized that I was on a thesis denial, if I'd gone to the party, my thesis would have suffered and that would have been a bad choice: finishing the studies is the top-priority mission in my life at the moment. So, I had to make this choice. I hope you guys have a fantastic party next weekend in Holland!!!

This is a busy party season. Quite a many of my friends and family celebrate their birthdays this week. I wish you all happy birthday: the higher the number of years it is, the wilder the party should be! Cheers!

What?

2008-04-30T09:09:00.001+03:00

Days are getting warmer and longer. Summer is coming. That means the dead line for my thesis is also very close. Let me tell you: I am stressed.

The kid has glue ears. That's what he got after the infection in both ears. He doesn't hear that much. But nothing to worry about. We wait and see a doctor in two weeks. In the meanwhile the kid keeps repeatting "What?" after any noice he thinks he heard.

A baby was born in Oulu (far away in the norther parts of Finland). I think I might go there to see the baby once the dead line is behind me. I might take the glue eared kid with me.

Sunny Days Are for Writing

2008-04-20T10:51:00.002+03:00

It's a sunny sunday. M and the kid went to see friends. I am supposed to write effectively my thesis while they are gone - not the whole thing though. My plan is to go through references for the chapter I am most unwilling to look at and that will make my last minutes future working much easier to do.

Last weekend I was in Sweden and I managed to sing karaoke. I did much else too, but karaoke always seems to be the most important of all activities.

Oh god - I better start working, so I won't think how much there is left to write and get panicked.

6 words

2008-04-05T22:53:00.003+03:00

Ooh Tim, what you gave to me? This one is difficult. I am tagged to describe my life in six words.

May the force be with me.

I guess that's it.

Of course I am maying the force be with you too.

I am tagging Elspeth, Joy, Nina, and lovely Sunny.

Antibiotics and Bob are in the house

2008-04-02T09:04:00.005+03:00

Yesterday I took V to a doctor. He had slept restlessly two nights in row and had a fever. The kid has an ear infection in both his ears and the doctor ordered him antibiotics. I didn't realize how sick he actually was - he was so damn genki (means about healthy or energetic) in spite of the pain.

Now I am at home with the kid again. He is watching the ever so entertaining "Bob the Builder". I have good intentions to let my alter ego "the cleaner lady" arrive here today; I can't write my thesis with the kid jumping around and one has to do some cleaning sometimes anyway.

A Short Report From A Couch Potato

2008-03-27T12:32:00.002+02:00

We started to watch Pushing Daisies. We have seen two episodes so far and there are several things in that lovely and silly series I like: cheese, knitting and dogs - among other things. I am looking forward to see more.

Snow, snow, snow & an unpaid commercial

2008-03-26T08:18:00.004+02:00

In Japan people are admiring cherry blossoms and here in Finland all we see is snow.

I am reading articles and sorting them out to those I can refer to on my thesis and those I can bring back to the high pile of paper I have on a corner table in another room.

We have two rooms and a kitchen. And that was just for the record. I don't want anybody to picture that we have rooms after rooms. Or why not. We are living in a mansion with 25 bedrooms and 17 servants. And a butler. Or was a boxer? Oh no, it wasn't a boxer, it was a half Irish Setter (other half unknown). Our crazy late dog, whose ashes are somewhere in Finland, next to a tall pine.

I better start reading and writing the thesis.

----------------------------------------------

That was not all I wanted to say, so here I go on writing.

Because of this lovely shirt I've got as a present from a friend, I have a nickname "Motherfucker" in certain circles. I find it quite amusing. Mentalwear have a fantastic selection of crazy t-shirts. You can easily order them anywhere on this planet. Who wouldn't like to wear a motherfucker t-shirt? I am wearing mine right at this moment.

Easter Promises

2008-03-21T09:59:00.003+02:00

Last weekend I was in Sweden, just for a weekend. Travelling with a small suitcase made me feel like a decent, average, sane human being.

I met my mentor (for the thesis I am writing) and had a meeting with another teacher and with couple of class mates. It was nice and relaxing to be in Sweden without "I have to stay here forever"-agony. On saturday I went to The Nordic Watercolour Museum for an opening. Exhibition was beautiful - go see it if you have a chance - and the dinner afterwards was lovely.
The picture is taken right next to the museum.

When I returned to Finland the kid had caught a cold, so he stayed at home with me until yesterday, instead of going to his daycare. I didn't get that much done when he was around, but once he went back to his daycare routine I started to read articles and I have to say: it's fun.

Now it's Good Friday. For me that doesn't mean so much, except that shops are closed and they play fantastic music on the radio: Pergolesi's "Stabat Mater" and Russian Orthodox church music, Bach's Matthew's Passion etc. M took the kid with him and went to his mom's place. I will follow them on sunday. I promise I will be a good student and work on my thesis until then.

Language Problems

2008-03-11T12:15:00.003+02:00

Sometimes there are weak moments when I think I should quit writing a blog in English. It's terribly embarresing to see all the language mistakes I've made (and published!!!) and sometimes things I try to tell don't make any sense - but the same thing happens in Finnish too, so that must be else than a problem with language.

But the fact is that this blog has brought good things to my life: I hadn't met such wonderful people as Tim and Jo if didn't have started to write this blog in English. Also, it's great to get comments every now and then and that way to hear how people, who still have a patience to read this, are doing with their lifes. Or at least hear from them. And I can always announce: this is Finglish. In Finglish you write like this.

I have started to write my degree thesis for the school. I am writing it in english (no finglish allowed) and I must say it's not easy. The longer I have been able to communicate in English, the less, I think, I can.

Five Years

2008-03-03T13:01:00.003+02:00

Now that I am in Finland it doesn't mean that I would be living home. Oh no. There is a massive pipeline renovation going on in our humble home, especially in the bathroom, and our family unit has been in exile at my parents. We will return home next weekend. Hopefully. It's been a while since I've been there - other than fetching things.

Today my lovely son has his 5th birthday. This is the first time we celebrate his birthday in Finland. We have a habit letting him eat ice cream for breakfast on his birthday - that's what happened this morning too. He seemed to like it as much as he did last year and year before that. That boy likes his ice cream.

Now I am off bake a cake for the boy.

Going home

2008-02-24T13:25:00.003+02:00

I will fly home to Finland tonight. I am extreamly grateful to all my friends who, once again, have let me stay at their homes in a middle of their busy lifes. It's unbelieable that I have had such a good luck with finding all these people and that they seem to tolerate my constant need for help and favours. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I can't thank you enough.

The kid will be sleeping when I arrive tonight. We'll see what kind of protest he will create when he wakes up tomorrow morning. I don't care, I want to be where he is. I'm his mother.

Meow

2008-02-20T13:16:00.003+02:00

Four nights left before going back home! Four nights left to party? Even a thought of partying four nights in row makes me feel extreamly tired.

Last night I was at a class mate's. We had a fun and loud "Singstar" session. My best performance was Duran Duran's "Rio".

Patterns

2008-02-16T16:33:00.003+02:00

I've been to Sweden for a week now. Another week to go and I can go back home and study there. I am looking forward to that, both being at home and studying there.

Last night was an opening here at the gallery (that's where I'm writing). I didn't count how many glasses of wine I managed to drink. Quite a many would be my guess, concidering the headache I have. Both me and the artist wore the same patterns. In the morning patterns had moved under my eyes and I guess they're there to stay. One can't fight wrinkles.

Mom's Birthday

2008-02-03T20:02:00.000+02:00

We celebrated my mother's birthday today by preparing her a dinner. She said it was terribly strange just to sit and wait while other people did all the cooking.

The kid announced at the airport that he hates me and that he doesn't want me to come to his home. Poor kid. I had missed him too. It isn't easy to be apart from each others for any of us. I still have to be in Sweden and back at least until the end of March. Wish us strength.

It's good to be back home anyway.

Home

2008-02-01T09:22:00.000+02:00

I'll go home tomorrow. I'll be at home a bit more than a week. M and the kid'll come to the airport to fetch me. I guess there'll "public tears"-moment ahead. I have missed the boy terribly much.

Back in Sweden

2008-01-23T20:20:00.000+02:00

The school started again. Everyone in our class gave a presentation on their internship - I did too, in so called swedish. I was brief. Phew, now it's done.

I didn't feel like coming back to Sweden at all. Who knows, maybe that's why my flight turned back to Helsinki right before landing to Gothenburg - an airhostess hit her lip on a microphone and there is no way an airhostess can work with a bleeding lip.

Then, in Helsinki I waited for odd number of hours to catch the day's last flight to Copenhagen. That mission was successfull and in Copenhagen I had a chance to enjoy ever so lovely airport athmosphere for couple of hours before I got into a plane to Gothenburg. I arrived to Gothenburg long after midnight. I was supposed to be there 6 pm.

The kid cried his eyes off at the airport. He screamed: "DON'T GO!!! DON't LEAVE ME". Boy, I felt like a piece of shit. Now that I have Skyped him, he sounds all content and doesn't cry at all.

It's been nice to see school mates. It's been nice to see friends. If there weren't all the friends' kids testifying how time flies - they have all grown so much - I would say, I haven't been away from G at all.

2008

2008-01-02T20:09:00.000+02:00

Happy New Year to everyone.

We had a nice and peaceful christmas time at M's mother (the beautiful christmas tree in the picture is from there). As you all may know already, we Finns have the biggest xmas season's celebration on christmas eve. Joulupukki (Santa Clause) brings presents and everyone eats too much. It was lovely to see the kid enjoying his christmas. After the little town christmas we came back to city and spent time with my family.

When we returned home from our visit round, I and the kid got a cold and that was happening on New Year's Eve too - so we didn't have a party.

Now I have a bit less then two weeks left of my wonderful internship at museums. Then I have to go back to my studies and back Sweden and I have to say, I am not happy about it. I want to be at home. BUT, I am determined to finish my studies as soon as possible and then start looking for a real job in Finland and for that I have to go to Sweden.

I haven't made any real new year's resolutions, but I made a deal with my sister to run Naisten Kymppi this year. If I want to do that I better drag my behind up from the couch every now and then.

A House

2007-12-22T10:18:00.000+02:00

Here's the house and here's the kid. The house wouldn't be good for living, especially not here in Finland: too many holes in walls, but I guess it's good enough for christmas spirit. The kid is looking forward to eat the house.

I will pack my bags and follow the rest of my pack to a smaller town where M's mother lives. We'll spend our christmas there this year. M and V took a train there yesterday, hence I had a luxurious sleep in morning today.

Merry christmas to everyone.

Gingerbread time of the year

2007-12-15T19:12:00.000+02:00

Today the annual gingerbread baking took place. The kid ate tons of dough and still we got material left for a gingerbread house. Now we just have to build it.

I am getting anxiety of the knowledge that my fantastic internship time will end soon and I have to go back to school and back to Sweden. Darn!

Swedes!

2007-12-12T19:19:00.000+02:00

In Uppsala (Sweden) it is forbidden to speak Finnish if you work for the city. Two Finnish speaking workers were chatting in a corridor, in Finnish, when they were told that they are not allowed to do that at work - anywhere in the building. I don't know what it is with Swedes when it comes to hearing Finnish spoken. "We can't tell if you are talking about us", has been the reason I've heard. It's intresting. If I hear people speaking a language I don't understand I never begin to ponder upon if they are speaking about me or not. If someone wants to speak about me, s/he will do it anyway - they just make sure I won't be hearing it. If it's forbidden to speak Finnish, it should be forbidden to whisper too... how can you tell what people are whispering about.

A Hag Unleashed

2007-12-05T22:48:00.000+02:00

Oh boy. I was at a christmas party last night. I danced there like a maniac. At some point I took my dress off (I had a-dress-n-jeans-outfit) and danced away in a tiny tank-top. Tank-tops aren't exactly flattering on me so I guess I didn't make the best impression on people who happened to look my dance-attack. Anyway, it was hot. Thanks to all that sweating on the dancefloor I drank gallons of water between all those glasses of white wine and that way I didn't have a hang-over the next day, which was today.

Otherwise it's dark and rainy most of the time. Tomorrow is a national holiday: Finland has its 90th birthday. Congratulations Finland.

A Luxury Morning Ahead

2007-12-01T22:26:00.000+02:00

I managed to lock myself in a hallway today. My keys, my money and my coat was in an office that was locked. Then I had a fantastic hour and half in the hall way waiting for my boss to come. And then I finally got started with the payed job I occationally do. The job needs my inner cleaner lady to appear. Anyway, it wasn't the best saturday ever, but no worries; I have a luxury morning ahead. M took the kid with him when he travelled to see his mom and that means: tomorrow morning I can sleep as long as I like. Happy-happy, joy-joy!!!

Happy - not so happy

2007-11-25T22:50:00.000+02:00

Hello from the chaos that's also called 'my everyday life'.

Before I start whining I have to underline the fact that the work at museums is fantastic. I keep on being happy 6.30 in the morning, knowing I am on my way to the exciting world of conservation.

And the kid is the best. Today he wanted - volunteerly - wear a neck tie when we went to see my parents. I think that's quite style conscious of him, knowing he isn't even 5 years old yet.

Some reasons to whine at the moment are:
- unfairly bad hangover today after drinking practically nothing on saturday night
- a cell phone that I dipped into a not so clean toilet and that stopped working
- my unability to be in touch with people I care about - godknows what happened to my old enthusiasm to write; even the blog isn't updated frequently now adays.

But that's the whining for now. Good-night-sleep-tight folks.

Brrr

2007-11-15T20:24:00.000+02:00

Here's the kid in his short hair. Now when he sees his long-haired pictures he says he looked like a girl. He thinks it's funny.

In the same picture are two prints of mine I framed the other day. Let's see how long it will take before they finally are hanging on walls. Things tend to take time these days.

I am still enjoying my museum work. This week I have worked with few other conservators, re-framing huge photos that will be shown in the next collection exhibition. It's been challenging and very intresting. I am looking forward to tomorrow when I will go on with the same project.

It's cold. I don't get how I will survive real minus degrees if I am about to deep-freeze now already. And it's only -1 degrees C. I will run out of warm clothes.

Here's a picture I took in Helsinki the other day. Snow has arrived.

C

2007-11-06T17:08:00.000+02:00

Oh f*ck, I said Viggo's film is a Carpenter film. How embarresing mistakes one can make. I have done the same slip before. Many times. Carpenter and Cronenberg both start with C, so it isn't a wonder, is it. Grrr anyway.

I have wrapped stones and harvested wooden crops this week. Contemporary art brings you all kinds of fantastic things to do.

Busy, Busy, Busy

2007-11-03T00:16:00.000+02:00

Do I ever blog these days?

It's November already. My internship is halfway done. I have been busy. Now I see how much time I had before to spend on things like blogging. But I am not complaining. Life is wonderful and I have a very important task on my 'things to do'-list: to see Carpenter's 'Eastern Promises'. As we all know, Viggo is naked (for a while) on it. Ok, there is blood, core and internal organs too on the film; it is a Carpenter's film, but who cares as long as Viggo does his thing.

No hair, no money

2007-10-24T21:05:00.000+03:00

Kid's hair is short again. We cut it last sunday. He seems to like his new very short hair. I like it myself simply because it's easier to take care of. And he does look cool in it.

In the picture you see a portion of spaghetti. Would you like to have parmesan with it?

Today I got a letter that told me: I won't get no student-money in Finland either. Last spring I was told that Swedish system won't give me any money. So... I shall go on living on M's good will.

Art

2007-10-20T10:13:00.000+03:00

Here's another self portrait from the road. The frame is for a large beautiful aquarelle by a Finnish painter. The thing is that when you work with contemporary art you may end up handeling works of art that look like pieces of crap in your eyes and still you have to treat them well and with respect (oh, what a wonderful metaphora for meeting us people too). I have truly enjoyed my time at the museum. I'll be working with new art at least until the end of this month and then I will go back to older stuff.

Weather is getting cooler and days darker. It must be about the same time of the year as it was when I returned to Finland last fall. A year has gone by quickly.

Eyes for Art

2007-10-03T22:02:00.000+03:00

Now I have worked with contemporary art at one of the museums. It's been fun, like all I've done during my internship so far. Only to be in museum interiors makes me feel happy and special. It's nice to spend one's time in spacious rooms and with objects of beauty - or at least objects of intrest.

As you can see I have special eyes for contemporary art.

A Paid (cleaner) Lady

2007-10-01T00:01:00.000+03:00

Oh god. How did I end up in here - again? My now-a-days rarely seen alterego 'the cleaner lady' is earning money (no one else in my multipersonal me isn't). Today when I polished a toilet in a location I wondered, first of all: how the hell that shit turned into dark brown concrete had ended up on the wall behind the toilet thingie, and for second: how come am I cleaning again? Will I be a cleaner for money when I am an old lady, if I become an old lady to begin with?

Oh well. Maybe this is my call.

Meanwhile I am enjoying my non-paying internship at art museums a great deal.

Loud Creatures in Forest

2007-09-24T18:12:00.000+03:00

This weekend we went to a friend's place about 50 km's from where we live. We had lovely time: we picked up mushrooms, had a bath in sauna and ate well. In the forest the kid made the perfomance above.

Do I Blog at All Anymore?

2007-09-21T17:06:00.000+03:00

Life seems to be so full that there is no space for the internet-lifestyle I used to have. I run to the museum every week day morning - well, I do take a bus. I come home, cook and try to go to bed early; otherwise I am half dead the next day. And that's about it. Fortunately the time-consuming work-part of these actions is fun. Working as a conservator at an art musem is fun.

This weekend I'll travel away with the kid; first to my parents' place Helsinki and then to a house in a small village about an hour's drive from Helsinki. Nice, I say.

Thursday

2007-09-13T22:48:00.000+03:00

Here's the kid on last weekend. We had a nice, though quite a windy day on sunday and we went to a beach near by to throw stones into water, which is always fun to do. Just try and you'll notice.

I've been enjoying my practice at a museum. Days just rush by - a phenomena that hasn't occured in my working life so far that often. One could draw a conclusion that I have finally found my thing to do. Unfortunately I haven't got time or energy to do any other projects, like a painting project I've planned to do this fall. All the same, I am having fun.

Killer

2007-09-08T13:41:00.000+03:00

I have a mission: I suspect that a huge group of Attagenus woodroffei individuals has a cosy dwelling in our wardrobe and I am to go through all there is in it and exterminate every single one of those little creatures. Hours of killing is next on my scedule.

It's been fun to be at the museum. I am looking forward to another week at work.

This picture was taken this week at my friend's exhibition's opening. Wall papers on the background are part of her art work. It's a fantastic exhibition. If you happen to be in Helsinki go and have a look. The gallery is Huuto at Uudenmaankatu

New Phase

2007-08-29T07:42:00.000+03:00

Weekend in woods was lovely. There were berries and some mushrooms to pick and there was a sauna, also a table full of food and silence. Japanese ladies liked it at least as much as I did.

Our guests left and cooler weather arrived. They did say that they tend to bring the good weather with them, but they never said anything about bringing it back home with them.

Now I have started my practice at an art museum and it feels good. The only shadow side is that I don't get payed for the fun, but I will work hard to learn new things about working with art on paper and to create a good reputation as a conservator.

My e-mail correspondence is very slow now a days. Please bare with me even if it seems I never write. I will write eventually.

Trying Desperately Get Better by Tomorrow

2007-08-24T10:47:00.000+03:00

Here's a picture taken by my Japanese friend. It's seldom one documents everyday moments at a food store.

I managed to catch a cold. First the kid was sick and I stayed home with him and then I got the cold myself and stayed home while my guests had to entertain themselves the best they could. I intend to feel better by tomorrow. A cottage in woods is waiting for us and I would love to be there. If I am not able to drive tomorrow M will be the chauffeur for the ladies.

Touristing in Helsinki Area

2007-08-19T19:15:00.000+03:00

I have been busy experiencing Finland with our Japanese quests. It has been fun and I have been to places I never been to before, like Vartiosaari, where we had a bath in sauna. Today we went to Nuuksio National Park and "hiked" on a 2 km's trail - which was exactly the right length for us who dragged along a 4 years old and a 1,5 years old. Nuuksio is fantastic.

Old Cars Have a Soul

2007-08-15T20:47:00.000+03:00

This is my father's car. I use it every now and then, like today. I was suppose to help a friend to take her art work to a framing store. The picture was too big, so she had to call a taxi, which was a good thing to do: all of a sudden the car refused to start. I tried all the tricks I knew plus some extra ones but nothing helped - not even the opening of the distributor's cover, which I am proud to announce I did. So, I called my father and he told me he'll come as soon as he can.

When he arrived, the engine started - of course - and my father's theory is that old cars have a soul and the car wasn't just used to me yet. So he told the car to be nice to me. What can I say to that.

Yesterday we finally took the kid to Moominworld (we had been talking about going there since beginning of June). It was worth the 2 hours drive (both ways), 18 euro's entrance fee (even the kid) and four hours hanging out with other parents-, granparents-, and kid-units. The kid loved the place. Fortunaltely one doesn't have to go there every week.

Today arrived our Japanese guests (the 1st unit - tomorrow comes the 2nd one). The lovely H had grown a lot and wasn't a baby anymore; she had become a little girl. It's nice to hear Japanese again and it's very nice indeed to spend time with friends.

While Having a Cup of Coffee

2007-08-06T07:42:00.000+03:00

It's fun to become 40! People come to visit and bring wonderful presents to you. And; I think one becomes more relaxed about the panic of getting older once 30+ years are gone. The other day I told M that obviously things that can be achieved by youthfull looks aren't that important any more and that's why one expresses a mental 'hi there' to her mirror image instead of a psycho-scream.

I am having my morning coffee here in all peace and quiet. M went to work and took the kid to the day care. I have three weeks open scedule before my practice period begins at the local art museum. I will have visitors from Japan - which I am eagerly looking forward to - and there are some things to do, but most of this time I can sit and stare at the wall, if I want to. And sometimes I do.

So, I'm 40

2007-08-01T10:06:00.000+03:00

I got waken up before seven this morning and my little family gave me a present: a new laptop! I didn't expect that and I am extreamly happy to have my own personal computer again (it's a PC; me and Mac don't function well together). So, today I am 40. Where am I now?

- I am still a student (which I secretly think is luxury).

- I have a kid who is only 4 years old, which means his worst puberty and my state of menopause will be here at the same time. Oh, those bright future days!

- I am seriously concidering taking a part time job as a cleaner after swearing I will never take a shit job again - but hey, who would make a better cleaner than a conservator (student)?

- I don't have any property. Well, I do have a computer. I guess I lied then.

- I have been married to my computer provider for almost 20 years now - not a bad deal at all.

Am I middle aged? I am not young anymore, but I don't feel old either. Definitions are therefore officially unnecessary.

More Awake and Dogmas

2007-07-27T09:38:00.000+03:00

Now we have worked our way through the first season of Heroes. We can say good bye to mornings when our eyes don't seem to open at all and days when we are too tired to function. It is a good thing there are only 23 episodes for every season of a TV serie.

I am into saying my opinions like they were a dogma to live according to - for everyone. In other words; I am always right and I always know better, and it's my taste that is the best.

A friend of mine reminded me of telling everyone some time ago, loud and underlined, that I would never wear a dress and jeans at the same time, because I thought it looked plain stupid. When she told me this, I did happily wear that out-fit. So, if I say something, I do mean it - BUT, I change my mind all the time.

In the Nature

2007-07-22T20:18:00.000+03:00

We went to Nuuksio area today with the kid and my parents. V truely enjoyed himself in the forest; he picked up blueberries - again - and followed after my mother who was looking for mushrooms. She did find some and we had a lovely mushroom dish for a dinner today. And, we baked blueberry muffins too - me who is not into baking at all. But what can I do? The kid loves baking. And M loves muffins.

Here in this picture my father and the kid are looking at a lake in the Nuuksio area.

We have started to watch Heroes with M. We are hooked. Once I am done with this note, we'll watch another episode.

A Role to Play

2007-07-17T19:19:00.000+03:00

Today I went to Suomenlinna fortress island with the boy. It is a very popular place to visit and among all tourists there were lots of Japanese as well. I wore a tanktop and my kanji-tattoo was very visible. I wonder how many Japanese descreetly were as they didn't notice it - I would find it hilarious if someone outside Finland would carry a Finnish text on their shoulder, telling about the facts of their stay in my country. Oh well, I don't mind being a clown as long as I've chosen the role myself.

Oulu and Raahe

2007-07-12T10:56:00.000+03:00

We were away from home, up in the north for a week. My brother lives in Oulu and that's where we were. He was an overwhelmingly good host: lovely dinners, lovely wine and good company.

Here's a picture of a playground visit in Oulu. I remember these wooden rocking boats from my childhood (I spent my early childhood in Oulu) - hadn't seen them since god-knows-when. Vimme said that it's his cradle and stayed on the boat in this position for a while.

Here is a picture of the town where I spent my youth and school days, Raahe. I used to think it's the worst rat hole on this planet, when I left it and headed for elsewhere, for my fresh new adult life. Now the town looked very nice and peaceful. I wouldn't mind going there every now and then. If my financial situation was a bit better, I might get myself a summerhouse up there - there's nothing like feeding myself alive to mosquitoes.

Now were are back home. I am working on a mountain of laundry.

On the Road

2007-07-01T18:45:00.000+03:00

Today we went to a forest next my my mother-in-law's house and let the kid pick up blueberries. When we lived in Tokyo we picked up our blueberries in a shop's freezer, here in Finland we can pick them up anywhere we find them, as long as the spot isn't on anybody's back, or front, yard. It's lovely.

M started his 2 week's holiday on tuesday. On wednesday my parents came home from Zambia, where they spent six weeks working as volunteers. We prepared them a Finnish summer meal (fish and potatoes) and they seemed to be very happy about it.

We borrowed my parents car (an old loud Saab from 1970's) and drove to stay with my mother-in-law. I had never been to her house in summertime, so I hadn't seen her lovely garden before. Unfortunately it rained most of the time, so we didn't have a chance to spend time doing things one shoud do in lovely gardens, like reading good books by blooming peonies.

On saturday we drove to our friends garden party in Hämeenlinna. They had invited people from a gang that existed about 20 years ago. I saw many faces I hadn't seen since then. Someone asked me afterwards, who I thought was most touched by the time between, concidering the looks, and I had to say; it's the face I see in the mirror. People looked good.

Tomorrow we hit the road again and head for the northern Finland.

Back and Gone Again

2007-06-24T20:25:00.000+03:00

We came home today from a small town, one and half hours train ride away from Helsinki. Our friend's granparents empty house is there and we had a pleasure to stay there over Juhannus, Midsummer's Weekend. Weather was nice, company was good and kids ran wild outdoors - indoors as well.

M will have two weeks off from his work now and we'll be doing some more travelling around Finland to see friends and relatives.

A Long Day

2007-06-20T19:18:00.001+03:00

Tomorrow is the longest day of the year and up here in north long days are indeed long. Though, from Finland's perspective Helsinki isn't in north. The real midnight sun summer is further up to the direction of the Arctic Circle.

Friends came over yesterday evening to have a dinner with us. Their 16 years old boy insisted to come along and that I find very flattering. He is such a cool kid. I have known him since he was 3 years old and we have always got along fine. Now he is much taller than me and there isn't much left of the kid he was. Still he is the same funny and charming boy he was when we first met.

Alter Egos

2007-06-18T22:11:00.000+03:00

The kid has watched 'Madagascar' again after a longer break and he is truely enjoying it. I too have watched it for the n+1st time and there are still some scenes that make me laugh like there was no tomorrow, so I am not wondering why that film has made such a strong impression on him.

When we waited for our bus this afternoon, he sat beside a spooky looking older lady and they started to talk(!!! - my kid never talks to stragers!!!). I listened to their dialogue and acted like nothing. She asked him what is his name and he told his name to her, but added, that today he actually is Kowalski (the tough penguin on Madagascar).

Isn't he charming!

Today M and me been married for 19 years. Congratulations us!

Parenting

2007-06-14T22:33:00.000+03:00

Being a parent for a 4 years old seems to be more time consuming than what I expected; I have no time to blog! All the same, I will try to do my best to blog every now and then anyway.

It has been both extreamly wonderful and terribly demanding to be back at the parenting post. The kid is both lovely and a handful. He is clever, charming and about explode for any given reason. I know it's easier to have a kid like this than a partner like this so I am not complaining.

Summer Finland

2007-06-08T20:20:00.000+03:00

We went to a beach with the kid today. Water was cold, +16 C degrees. An older lady coming out of water said though that water is now perfect, but she turned out to be a winter swimmer; a person who jumps into a hole in the ice and enjoyes(?) the refresing feeling of icy water. That's so not me.

It's lovely to be at home. It's lovely to be in Finland. It's lovely to be in Finland now that it's summer.

The kid is like I hadn't been away at all; both in good and in bad. I feel priviledged to be his parent. He is the best.

Best Places to Eat

2007-06-05T21:29:00.000+03:00

I have been tagged by Mr. Craptastic, Sunny Jimmy, the one and only. I am suppose to reveal Gothenburg's best places to eat and I am going to do that, on this eve of my departure.

Super Sushi, Drottninggatan 50

Huge sushi pieces with a fair price. I've bought my lunch there at least twice a week. It's close to my school.

Sunset Falafel, Kungstorget

Another fantastic lunch place. Cheap and good.

Restaurang Bombay, Andra Långgatan 2

Good Indian food.

My friend Canadian's private kitchen, I won't reveal the address

These people have have fed me with wonderful meals in their kitchen since I arrived to Gothenburg in January. They both are fantastic cooks and there always seems to be nice wine with meals too. An excellent place to eat! I will hire these people to cook me when I am filthy rich.

Cafe Japan, Viktoriagatan 8

A very nice place to dine and drink. They sell fantastic Swedish porter there too.

I am tagging Nix, Joy, Jo, Boo, and Timorous Beastie

The list

Nicole (Sydney, Australia)
velverse (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
LB (San Giovanni in Marignano, Italy)
Selba (Jakarta, Indonesia)
Olivia (London, England)
ML (Utah, USA)
Lotus (Toronto, Canada)
tanabata (Saitama, Japan)
Andi (Dallas [ish], Texas, United States)
Todd (Louisville, Kentucky, United States)
miss kendra (los angeles, california, u.s.a)
Jiggs Casey (Berkeley, CA, USA)
Tits McGee (New England, USA)
Joe (NE Tennessee, USA)
10K Monkeys (Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA)
Big Stupid Tommy (Athens, Tennessee, USA)
Newscoma (Weakley County, Tennessee, USA)
Russ McBee (Knoxville, Tennessee, USA)
Atomictumor (Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA)
Oh Really? (Oak Ridge, TN, USA)
Mark Steel (Knoxville, TN, USA)
Swanky (Knoxville, TN, USA)
Humuhumu (Seattle, WA, USA, and Silicon Valley, CA, USA)
swankola (Edmonton, AB, Canada)
Craptastic (Calgary, AB, Canada)
Say It In Finglish (Gotheburg, Sweden)

La Dolce Vita Plot

2007-06-04T22:40:00.000+03:00

An unhappy and confused guy tries to figure out what to do with his life - other than shag. People are wearing sunglasses all the time, except when the sun is shining. Jesus flies. Decadent aristocrat and intellectual characters have lots of lines. Anita walks in a fountain. People are tearing a tree apart. Nico wears a helmet. Children are killed. The guy wears a white suit. The end.

Smelly Dog

2007-06-03T00:55:00.000+03:00

I have spent this lovely saturday evening with the dog in the picture. He would be a fantastic companion if he didn't smell like the worst fumes from hell. Guess who isn't going to sleep next to me tonight.

Four nights to my return to Finland. I will see my kid soon!

School

2007-05-29T23:45:00.000+03:00

We had a print identifying test today. It was tough and it was fun. I have a feeling my wild guesses didn't exactly hit the bull's eye, but it was a fastastic chance to see so many different kinds of print techniques on the same table and to see how difficult it is to identify prints.

A book I have worked with become ready today. Now I have two framings left to do and then I am done. Except that the conservtion reports wait someone to write them ready. Any volunteer?

Mental Teenager - Can't be Good

2007-05-28T22:36:00.000+03:00

I have been very determined to avoid doing anything effective tonight. There are certain things I should be doing, like reading "How to Identify Prints" for tomorrow's indentifying test or writing conservation reports. I have browsed the book. I guess I just put it under my pillow and let the knowledge ooze to my head while I sleep. That works, doesn't it?

Another thing (than spacing out) I have been intensive about is listening to P J Harvey. For some reason she sounds better in my ears than ever before. I feel like a pathetic, bloody teenager: sitting in my room (friend's flat this time), listening to music and pretending I'm studying. What next? Acne's comeback?

Faces

2007-05-27T22:32:00.000+03:00

The face on the left is from a chinese painting that was conservated at a studio we had our lessons last week. Another face is me having a closer look.

A Colon

2007-05-26T20:26:00.001+03:00

Find your own pose!

It's good to know, now that I am heading for the bed, that I am a colon. Isn't it just great that there is a test on internet for everything!

One and half weeks left before returning home. I have never been this eager to be someone's mother than what I am now. And that someone is - of course - Vimme. I wouldn't like to be a mother to anyone else.

A Mental Note

2007-05-22T22:19:00.000+03:00

My friends gave me a bicycle for the remaining two Gothenburg weeks. While I worked my way up the hill to where I stay, I made a mental note: don't ride the bike if you go to a bar - you'll never make it back home the same night. The ride down to city takes about five minutes. The ride back takes at least a half an hour - a tough half an hour.

Last night I was at a bar with a class mate. A very weird Finnish progressive rock band played and old Swedish TV commercials and Bollywood dance scenes were showed. Can a monday night get any better?

Origami

2007-05-17T23:08:00.000+03:00

Here's a picture from a book I am conservating (hah - funny to use that word, I could have said repairing instead) at the moment. The book is from 1910 and is in quite a good condition. So far I have gone through the whole object, noted what ought to be done, and started with reparing pages.

I got inspired by Nix to make some "New Season Resolutions" (New Season is anytime, so why not to make resolutions every now and then).

- I will focus more on what I'm saying, foot-in-mouth keeps happening to me
- I will drink more water
- I will e-mail my friends more frequently

Oh yes, another thing: 20 nights to my flight home!

How to Get a Free Flat in Gothenburg

2007-05-15T22:09:00.000+03:00

I am rather here than in Greta's position in the picture, but I still can't say I am having a good day. I am all pee-em-essy and touchy. I am tired of trying to communicate in Swedish, though everyone would say to this "but you are speaking so well!", which means people most of the time understand what I am trying to say.

I moved today - hopefully for the last time before I return to Finland - and I have a priviledge of being on my own again. My friends who live here are in Finland and they will stay in my parents place, while stay in Helsinki, and my parents are in Zambia. So, send your parents to Zambia and you get a free flat in Gothenburg.

Always Something to Be Happy About

2007-05-13T20:05:00.000+03:00

I'm watching the hockey game. It doesn't look good. Canada is leading 2-0. Finn boys have to work harder and sit less on the penalty bench if they want to win. Fortunately I can comfort myself with the fact that I have such a fantastic birthday date and therefore these great qualities - according to Blogthings.

Your Birthdate: August 1

You are a natural born leader, even if those leadership talents haven't been developed yet.
You have the power and self confidence to succeed in life, and your power grows daily.
Besides power, you also have a great deal of creativity that enables you to innovate instead of fail.
You are a visionary, seeing the big picture instead of all of the trivial little details.

Your strength: Your supreme genius

Your weakness: Your inappropriate sensitivity

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

Stockholm and Thereafter

2007-05-13T02:08:00.001+03:00

My time in Stockholm was lovely. Prejustices I've had towards Stockholm are getting weaker and weaker, though they do still exist. Stockholm is posh and I am not.

The course in Stockholm (about digitalisation) was very good and I had good time with my class mates after lessions. One night we ate sushi at one class mate's boyfriend. I worked hard to empty a big box of white wine and was very tired the next day.

Before travelling there I though I might call an old friend who lives in Stockholm and we could meet up, but thought then that my time will be going to sitting at lessons and socializing with my dear class mates, so I didn't call her. But I met her at a food store right before I caught the train back to Gburg. It was great! What are the odds?

The social life has been busy lately. Yesterday I was at an opening of an exhibition and to day I watched the Eurovision Song Contest in a bar with bunch of people. It was fun and I think (we) Finns made a great show.

Tomorrow is the Ice Hockey World Championship finals and Finland will be playing for the gold medal, against Canada. I'll be watching that game and I expect Finland to win.

Brrrrr

2007-05-07T23:37:00.002+03:00

Where the summer is? I am constantly freezing and that is a sure sign of the fact that summer's not here yet. I can't stand freezing and I feel cold easily. Someone! Do something!

On the other hand - now that I concentrate on thinking of it - I am back in Northern Europe where summers can indeed be cold.

I'll find a hot sauna and stay there for the rest of my life.

Early tomorrow morning I take a train to Stockholm and stay there for few days. I hope it will be merrier than what I suspect it will be. For some unexplained reason I don't like Stockholm that much.

Half an Hour's Walk

2007-05-01T21:42:00.000+03:00

This is what I see from my (borrowed) balcony at the moment. Bunch of famous xylitol producing birch trees and birds are singing like there was no tomorrow. Still I am half an hour's walk from the city center - walked there today, so I know.

I had a nice dinner with my friends earlier tonight and I was given pair of vintage sneakers, that has been originally bought to a quite famous model/actress. She never wore them, but it delights me greatly to know that we share the same shoe size: canoe. You never know what happiness is brought to your life next.

A Scandinavian Boozing Day

2007-04-30T16:23:00.000+03:00

I made myself a MySpace page. Have a look and if you have one, become my MySpace friend. Hey ho!

Today is a huge drinking day both in Sweden and in Finland. I am going to avoid crowds and will cook some Thai-food at my friends. I am sure there will be some drinking ahead too, but not so heavy that I wouldn't be functional tomorrow.

Last friday was an opening at the gallery where I sit every now and then. If you happen to be somewhere around Gothenburg, go to see the exhibition. It's worth seeing.

It's All About Me Again

2007-04-24T23:12:00.000+03:00

1. PICK OUT A SCAR YOU HAVE, AND EXPLAIN HOW YOU GOT IT

This is my right knee. I rode my bicycle on a cold winter morning about 23 years ago, took a tight left turn and soon found myself lying on the icy road with a bleeding knee. I was in hurry so I didn't have time get stiches, hence the scar.

2. WHAT IS ON THE WALLS OF YOUR ROOM?

My room is in Finland and it is usually occupied by two males; my son and my husband. They have a periodic table on the wall. Where I stay now walls are white and I haven't been bothered to put anything on them; I'll be moving soon anyway.

3. WHAT DOES YOUR PHONE LOOK LIKE.

4. WHAT MUSIC DO YOU LISTEN TO?

Right now, at this very moment, I am not listening to anything, but I have listened a lot to Sahara Hotnights, a cool Swedish group. Their "Difference Between Love and Hell" has been my favourite song this week. I love the guitar riff in the song and the singer's half whining voice.

5. WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT DESKTOP PICTURE?

Vimme in Tokyo. I like this picture a lot. The kid looks so calm and Tokyo skyline is nicely in the back ground. From Northern Europe my whole time in Tokyo seems so distant and dreamlike. And so does motherhood... God, I miss my kid!!!

6. WHAT DO YOU WANT MORE THAN ANYTHING RIGHT NOW?

Well, just look at the last sentence before the sixth question and you will guess what I want the most at the moment; to be with my kid.

7. DO YOU SUPPORT GAY MARRIAGE?

Yes! All the people should have an equal right to get a divorce.

8. WHAT TIME WERE YOU BORN?

01:00 am

9. ARE YOUR PARENTS STILL TOGETHER?

Yes.

10. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO?

Erm... nothing. Should I be listening to something? A strange question. If I am writing I usually don't try to listen to other than music at the same time and that music question we already went through. Oh well - I should make my own meme then.

11. DO YOU GET SCARED OF THE DARK?

Sometimes. Twin Peaks used to scare the poo out of me in 90's. I had to have toilet company after seeing an episode (I had to see them all of course). I was sure someone else than me would stare at me from the mirror if I entered the loo alone. That feeling was usually gone by the next morning.

12. THE LAST PERSON TO MAKE YOU CRY?

I drank wine with a good friend and we talked about all kinds of emotional stuff. I did shed a tear or two, but she wasn't really the one who made me cry. I guess I am easily teary now that I am so faaaar away from the kid.

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE COLOGNE / PERFUME?

14. WHAT KIND OF HAIR/EYE COLOUR DO YOU LIKE ON THE OPPOSITE SEX?

Erm... what difference does it make?

15. DO YOU LIKE PAIN KILLERS?

When I am in pain I do love them.

16. ARE YOU TOO SHY TO ASK SOMEONE OUT?

Shy? No, but I don't ask people out for dates... or raisins. Yeah, I know; I should go to sleep.

17. FAVOURITE PIZZA TOPPING?

Blue cheese.

18. IF YOU COULD EAT ANYTHING RIGHT NOW, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

Nothing. I am not hungry.

19. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU MADE MAD?

It must have been my kid. He doesn't like "No!"s. Or then it was M and for the same reasons.

20. IS ANYONE IN LOVE WITH YOU?

Anyone? Go on then, just confess!

Grandmother

2007-04-21T18:49:00.000+03:00

Here is a picture of my already late grandmother. The picture is taken sometimes in 1910's in Helsinki. I think she looks unbearably cute in this picture.

Many of her generation's women, she included, lost their men in war and they had to rebuild their lifes alone, without husband's support. Her life wasn't easy.

I have inherited her handicarft skills and like her, I have only one child and I have her nose.

A Doer

2007-04-18T19:29:00.000+03:00

Here's an old technical drawing I have worked with today. It is fun to DO things instead of listening lectures about how to do thing in case you do something. I like to get things done.

I have also started a cautious try to teach myself a habbit of running again. (I haven't that for a year now). Cautious in that sense that I won't be saying: "yes, running is my hobby" before I've done it for a month. Or for a year. Let's see what happens. Maybe I get tired of the whole process on the first rainy day.

I guess I don't understand today's respected Finnish male painters

2007-04-14T16:34:00.000+03:00

We were at the Nordic Watercolour Museum with my class mates yesterday. We listened to few minor lectures and saw the present exhibition at the museum. The exhibition was mainly about the dualism of flesh and spirituality in us humans; can these both aspects dwell in us at the same time (the guide told us this). The Finnish chap's (yes, a fellow Finn) works "..explore masculine sexuality with a cynicism and honesty rarely seen." Numerous painting of ugly penises in other words. I was told that he is very respected artist in Finland today. My next thought was: do I have to live in a country where respected male artists paint mud coloured ugly penises for their living?

The pictures is taken close to the museum. A cute little town it was.

Back in Sweden again

2007-04-11T21:45:00.000+03:00

Here's my lovely kid ruling the world from his throne. It was - again - so very sad to say good bye to him. It doesn't seem to get easier, no matter how often I do it.

So, I'm back in Sweden, back at school. I am living at my friends who are away from the town most of the time, so I can pretend that I am actually living somewhere on my own.

Tomorrow I'll be listening to lectures about what to do with all the valuable museum and archive object after a catastrophy (fire, flood etc.). My first reaction would be to throw all that crap away, but that can't be a good attitude for a future conservator. Maybe I will think differently tomorrow.

Home Sweet Home

2007-04-05T13:09:00.000+03:00

I am at home! Soon I will go to get the boy home from his day care. I would have gone there already, but I know kids are napping at the moment, so I wait for a bit more and rush then to get the boy home.

We had a nice week at school: we made some salt paper and cyanotype prints. I used pictures I've taken in Japan & after Japan; some of them looked really good. I am secretly planning to do more prints at home on some bright future day. That shouldn't be a problem - I do have a personal chemist to provide me the chemicals I'd need.

What will I do with my long weekend in Finland? Well, I do my best to be at home as much as I can, now that I am finally at home.

A Hot Date

2007-04-01T15:28:00.000+03:00

It's another sunny day in Gothenburg. M was over for a long weekend. He had a job meeting here and he decided to stay two extra nights, so we had a chance to spend some time together - just two of us - for the first time since the boy was born (4 years). We stayed in a small hotel. It was quite weird, but in a nice way.

I will see him and the kid again on thursday when I'll travel to Finland for easter.

Piko 1990-2007

2007-03-26T22:36:00.000+03:00

Last saturday I was in Finland to be there when our old dog was taken to his last walk. He walked on his own wobbly feet, sniffed some bushes and even did some territorial markings before arriving to the vet. Me, M and M's mother were there and stayed close to the dog until he was gone. It was utterly sad. But I am glad I had a chance to be there on his side when he died. He lived a long and eventful dog's life, of which he stayed 14 years with us and the rest with M's mother, where he got totally spoiled, which - I think - was a perfect way to spend a retirement years for a good dog like him.

Rain or Shine or Both

2007-03-19T22:41:00.000+02:00

This morning we had heavy snowing and in the afternoon a beautiful sunny day. If we'd had some rain and a good thunder storm too, I would have been able to say: an ordinary Gothenburg day - weatherwise. If you want to be prepared for all possible weather option while being in Gothenburg, you better take your whole garderobe with you, any season.

The picture is from Linnestan. A nice part of G. The broken bike has been there at least since I came here in January. Let's see if it still there when I leave in June.

Saturday Morning in G

2007-03-18T10:43:00.001+02:00

I seem to be able to move pictures from the previously mentioned memory card to my computer if iTunes is not on. Computers work in mysterious ways. So, just because I can I give you this picture of the cat I live with right now.

Yesterday I browsed "The Optimistic Child" while I sat in the gallery. In spite of the fact that some terrible 60's animal tests were described and half end of the book was basically just forms and tests, there were some essential thoughts put in words. The main idea was that optimistic view to life helps a child to cope with dissapointments (life) easier than a pessimitic view and that parents pass their views to their children. I have to watch myself - I have a tendecy for occational pessimism, which I have tried to get rid of.

Other than that: I think zits should stay away from a face that begins to have a fair amount of wrinkles on it.

Good News and Bad News

2007-03-15T16:47:00.000+02:00

I took the memory card out of my camera and put it into a hole on a side of this little laptop of mine and the computer shut itself down immediately. The function has worked so far like an angel and now suddenly it stopped co-operating. That means: no recent photos on this blog until I know whats going on.

Today I've had a day off from lectures. I have done some school work too, but mostly I have just waisted my time doing nothing productive.

Yesterday I heard that I will get the practice place in Finland I applyed for. The practice will be in autumn - the whole semester - and I will be able to live at home when I do it. That is ultimately fantastic!

Our ancient dog will be taken to the better lamppost sniffing realms on the 24th of this month. I have booked a ticket to Finland so that I will be there when it happens. Sad, sad, sad.

Weaker Option

2007-03-12T17:16:00.000+02:00

Today is the first real spring day here in Gothenburg. Fantastic!

We had lectures on archive blah blah blah this afternoon and will have some more until thursday. I guess one has to have some boring lectures sometimes, otherwise it isn't real studying.

Weekend went by. On friday I went out first with my class mates and later with my Finnish friends. In sweden they sell both "strong beer" and less strong "between beer" (terrible translations, I know) and so far I've always ordered the strong option at bars and had a headache next morning. This time I ordered the weaker beer and felt great the next morning and still had beer after another the night before. Long live the "between beer"!

Otherwise I spend my weekend missing the kid. It's terrible to be away from him, in case I haven't mentioned that yet.

Talking is Difficult

2007-03-08T21:39:00.000+02:00

I guess all people who in daily bases use another language than their own have met the situation where you tell a person about a topic and after a while you see a look on listener's face showing that she (or he) doesn't get a word from what you are saying. It's frustrating.

I saw The Queen tonight. It was a good film. Go and see it.

Pain Goes, Pain Comes

2007-03-07T21:45:00.000+02:00

The worst pain of saying good bye to the kid has eased a bit for now. Though today's report from home told me that he has a fever. Let's hope he gets well soon.

Today I had a chance to repair some old leather covered books. Before that I repaired a well read Moomin book, which appeared to belong to one of our teachers and she was happy to have the book back in a good condition.

The home exam keeps annoying me. I tried to talk to M about how frustrating the whole thing is and what my attidute towards the exam is and I ended up feeling stupid and shit about the whole thing. Never expect a scientist to object a fellow scientist in a cost of compassion for an accidental student.

New Week

2007-03-05T19:00:00.000+02:00

Oh god it was sad to say good bye to the kid.

M's and the kid's way home went well and the kid spent today at my parents. My mother went to a food store alone with the kid and says that she won't do that again. I must have warned her sometimes about not doing that, but I guess she has to see to believe.

Here are some books I made last week. This week we'll be focusing on book conservation, plus we have a "home exam" to do before friday. Sounds like lots of work, which is good, the more I work the less I think about sad absence of the kid in my life.

Congratulations

2007-03-03T20:12:00.000+02:00

Happy birthday my lovely son!

Only in Japan

2007-03-01T09:26:00.000+02:00

I'm sure you can't find dog yoga in Sweden, like you can't find a place to rent a puppy for few hours - at least not legally - but in Japan you find all this. So, you bored North European dog owner: do yoga together with your pet.

Fun at School

2007-02-28T21:19:00.000+02:00

The kid is coming here tomorrow!!!

At school I've been busy bookbinding. I had never tried that before and it is now officially something I'd love to do more. How will I combine all my favourite things to do into a profession that would also bring money to my household? Time will hopefully tell.

I have a slight feeling of an arriving cold/flu in my bones. Let's hope this one will decide to skip me. I don't want to get sick.

Puffy Eyed Printer

2007-02-23T22:00:00.000+02:00

Never watch a sentimental two-out-of-five-stars Hollywood film about mothers, children, and family issues when you happen to be a longer time apart from your own kid, unless you want to have extreamly baggy, puffy, and pink lined eyes the next morning.

Other than that, we did have printing lessons this week after all and it was all very intresting and fun. I am developing a serious urge to make more fine art prints with my own originals.

Why Can't Japan Be Any Closer?

2007-02-19T22:18:00.000+02:00

Oh GOD I miss Japan!

I just watched the first part of Karin Muller's documentary 'Japanland' and begin to long to Japan so much that I even had accidental tears in my eyes while enjoying the film.

I miss japanese food, both slow and fast, polite people, odorless elevators (one can sense a strong odor of urea in any given elevator in Metro of Helsinki), wonderful people I met there, places, Tokyo Elvises (didn't know them personally I must add), the beauty of Japanese people and, and, and...

Oh well. I can't do much about that longing right now. I am house-sitting at my friends here in Sweden and I'm also taking care of their old dog - the one I already shared my bed with earlier. He doesn't smell any nicer but he is a good dog and I like him.

Today we were supposed to start a course about certain prints at the local Art University. When we got there, the chap who we expected to teach us told us that his superior had forbidden him to teach us the course, because of god-knows-what. He refused to tell why exactly, but it had something to do with the fact that we are from another faculty. We could clearly see that he wasn't happy with the situation and that he was really sorry about all that.

So, no lectures. What we did? We watched 'Little Ms Sunshine' at school on class mate's computer. Not a bad way to spend a monday afternoon.

Fluffy Cat

2007-02-17T17:51:00.000+02:00

Here I am in Sweden again. This time I have stayed at this adorable fluffy cat's home - some people are also involved, but the cat is the only one I am publishing here.

We had a nice course on fine art prints last week at two different studios and next week we'll have three more days of prints. Fun fun fun.

The kid and M have both been sick back home in Finland (a bad cold or a flu). I can't do anything about that from here. I just hope they'll get better soon. Well, they both sounded happy today when we talked on phone, sick or not.

I haven't been sick, other than homesick, but that doesn't count.

Last night there was an opening at the gallery where I sit every now and then. I stood by a counter selling wine to people and drank the same poison myself with my both hands. It was fun and I only had a slight headache this morning.

I talked to lots of people in swenglish, finglish, swennish and findish. I have no idea if anybody understood a word I said, which sometimes can be a good thing.

Today I've been baby-sitting a little princess who lives here with me and the fluffy cat. She has the cutest fairytale voice and she is telling all kinds of fantastic two years old's things with that voice all the time.

Winter Weather

2007-02-06T21:28:00.000+02:00

Oh boy, oh boy, it's cold!

But I am not freezing, like I did in Tokyo. I can sit at home without layers and layers of clothes and feel nice & comfortable. Thankgod for the fantastic central heating system!

I remember when I was a kid up in northern Finland, the lowest temperature limit for out door sports at school was -21 °C (-4.36 Fahrenheit). There we skied our faces frozen. I hate skiing.

Tokyo Is Far Away

2007-02-04T17:47:00.000+02:00

Here are my friend's dogs in their bag, which I bought in Tokyo when I still lived there, which seems now so long ago.

I wish Tokyo was closer to Northern Europe, so that it would be no big deal to fly there for a long weekend. I wouldn't mind having sushi washed down with Japanese beer and once another piece of sushi wouldn't go down then I'd be heading for two hours of Karaoke and more beer.

Oh well... One can do that in Helsinki too, but it's not the same as in Tokyo.

Happy Birthday Mom

2007-02-03T11:21:00.000+02:00

It's nice to be back at home. The kid is fine, though he had a high fever yesterday, which seems to be gone by now.

We are on our way to my mother's birthday party. Congratulations mom!