Top Three

Nice things about being in Finland:

1. Friends.
2. Food - plenty of it at my parents' place. Actually too much of it. I wonder if I will fit into my jeans when I am back to Tokyo.
3. Finnish language - I can use sloppy language and it's still perfect and I understand what people say to me. I think I do. At least most of it.

Not so nice things about being in Finland:

1. Weather.
2. Skin gets really really dry - who wants that?
3. Time goes too fast. Next week we'll fly back to Tokyo.

Gray Days

Helsinki looks very gray this time of the year. Weather isn't good at all. I pity people who visit Helsinki for the first time in November. I am sure they'll never come back.


The merry-go-round is at a square that didn't exist when I was here last time. Helsinki has changed a lot since I lived here.


This picture is taken at my favourite book shop in Helsinki. It's a place to be when days are dark and wet snow is falling on depressed people. Another wonderful place for such days is Yrjönkatu's swmming hall: they have a fantastic sauna. I haven't been there yet on this visit, but I will before my return to Tokyo.

Cough, Cough, Cough...

It is really frustrating to have a flu while you are travelling. I have to say, this is a very good place to be ill: my parents have a huge storage of medicine to everything, so I have made my being less uncomfortable with painkillers and such.

My friends from Gothenburg came to see us this weekend. It was so nice to see them!!!

Back in Helsinki

Ok. Now I am done with my 'tour de Finlande' and I will stay in Helsinki for the rest of my visit. Jetlag is gone. Yay. Though, there is another pain keeping me awake more than I would choose to stay awake: Vimme has a cold and so do I. I do hope I will have some conscious days here in Helsinki before we'll fly back to Tokyo.

I Want to Sleep

Jetlag and company of a 2,5 years old is a match made in heaven... if you are trying to loose your mind.

This and That with the Kid

We had a fun day yesterday: first we went to Ghibli Museum with another family and in the evening was M's lab's 10 year anniversary party in a restaurant in Shibuya. The museum was a fun place though it isn't really a museum in the same meaning like British Museum is a museum. The restaurant was a restaurant like any other restaurant. Vimme behaved himself relatively well.

Now I am starting to get ready for packing and doing the mental preparations before wednesday's 10 hours flight to Helsinki - alone with a 2,5 years old.

Ants

Nothing to do on your long dark autumn evenings? You can have hours and hours of fun by browsing through the Japanese Ant Image Database's pictures.

And - yes, I found the link on Geisha Asobi's ever so fascinating site.

Cleaning

My alterego, cleaner lady, payed a visit to our house hold today. I have to say, she doesn't appear that often. The move and the trip to Finland is getting closer, so cleaner lady's sense of resposibility is waking up from its' usual deep sleep. I wonder how well one has to clean the place before moving here in Japan. Is clean enough or does it have to look like no one ever lived here?

Tea Time

I was at a tea ceremony on sunday. I have to say it was a fantastic experience, if you don't count the fact that I had to eat three small japanese cakes that day. I don't like cakes that much, not even western cakes.

I got invited to join the ceremony when I was at the shodo lesson. The ceremony was held in a tea house near Kichijoji. Though the whole happening was quite formal, the atmosphere was more relaxed during the ceremonies than what I expected. And everyone seemed to be happy that an alien wanted to learn this way about Japanese culture.

Every detail in the ceremony was well planned and had a story in it: cakes, dishes, flowers, calligraphies - all. Here's a picture of the first cake, which was reasonably easy to swallow, two that followed this one in other ceremonies were tough ones. The obento box they served for lunch was excellent. Hah hah, this sounds like went there to eat. I might go to another tea ceremony, if I have a chance - I just have to come up with a trick to make the cakes dissapear with out me eating them.

Hokusai

I saw a fantastic Hokusai exhibition at Tokyo National Museum today. I went there early to avoid growds and in Tokyo scale I succeeded - I didn't have to wait for hours to see a glimpse of the Great Wave of Ganakawa. The exhibition was very good.

Materialistic Moments of Oblivion

Hey, I have become an iPod owner. M gave one to me today as a present for no special reason. Isn't that nice!

Other than that: japanese class - I had forgotten all I've learned so far, shopping - found joys of Muji. That shop reminds me of a shop chain in Sweden... the one that sells gray, beige and white boxes and dishes. I just can't remember what was that shop's name. Should I be worried about loosing my memory?

How to Party

Every night, right at the moment when Vimme is supposed to go to sleep, a car with a loudspeaker parks next to our house. They play a tune and then a women's voice tells us something we ought to know but can't comprehend. I have no idea what it is and why it shows up every night at 8.

Today Vimme showed that he knows how to party: Finland-club had a halloween party. Vimme parked himself next to a candy bowl and ate candies like a maniac. After a while he was high on sugar and behaved wildly. Then he ate some more candies. That made him puke on the floor. Then he passed out.

A Good Bike

My finnish blog doesn't work right now for some unknown reason. But I guess you couldn't care less - who can read finnish anyway. Finglish is so much easier to comprehend. And now I am talking about english that a finnish person is producing, not the other finglish. Ok, let's quit this and go to the point.

I accidentally rode my granny bicycle about 16 kilometers today. I estimate distances wrong and ended up riding forever. Vimme sat behind me on his seat and he fell asleep at some point. I have to say that if the road is smooth and wind isn't blowing hard, my granny bicycle is an excellent vehicle.

Mama's recharged

I've had a luxury weekend: M was with the kid and I was allowed to roam around free.

Yesterday I saw a photo exhibition with a friend at Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography and today I hiked at Miurakaigan coast with the same friend plus another one. It was very nice! Now again I have energy to be a parent for a 2 & ½ years old.

Hairy Toyota

This car would be at home in Tokyo, what comes to its' overwhelmingly pink habitus, though the local everlasting humidity would ruin the fake fur in no time.

Puke Smell

Some fruits are falling from trees now and they smell like puke. The road through the campus, that we walk through quite often, is covered with them the odor isn't pleasant at all. Or, who knows, maybe it is time for annual student parties and the puke smell comes from actual pukes.

Lessons and Shaking

I didn't go to my japanese course today. My teacher said last week that she wouldn't be there this week - that's why I am sure they didn't miss me that much. Instead of the language lesson I went to a shodo lesson. It was fun to hold a brush after a long break.

Last night we had an earthquake again. While the house was shaking I kept on wondering if I should do something. Before I did anything, the shaking started to fade away. I have a feeling I will never get used to earthquakes.

Hayflower and Quiltshoe

Vimme saw his first film at a theater today. A friend of mine asked if we could take our boys to see a Finnish children's film 'Hayflower and Quiltshoe' now that it's shown here in Tokyo. I said yes, though I was afraid that Vimme is too little for cinema. To my surprise he saw the whole film and didn't act out at all. I might concider seeing another movie with him - as soon as they show another Finnish children's film in Tokyo. That may not ever happen though.

The film was cute. I have always liked the way director Kaisa Rastimo builds her scenes. Lots of colourful details and unusual characters. The film had only Japanese subtitles, so no use to see it in Tokyo unless you know your Finnish. Or Japanese.

How to Spend a Rainy Monday?

It is really hard work to hold an umbrella and push a stroller at the same time. And to peel off the rain gear when you enter a place and put it back on when you go out - again and again and again. Still I went to city twice today. First to buy flight tickets to Finland (yes - me and Vimme are going to delight our relatives with our presence) and then later to buy some stuff from Bic Camera (with M). The kid wasn't 100% co-operative during these trips - 35% co-operation would be the right figure. Anyway, now I am exhausted.

One is Enough

The woman in the picture must have secret super powers or there is something seriously wrong with her (ok, she is a church person). She just delivered her 16th baby and she says she wants to have more babies. Someone please help her.

Sprouts and Pees

This is what we ate the other day. My brother calls me Sister Sprout. He isn't exactly a vegetarian himself and I think he looses weight every time he visits us.

Yesterday we went to extend our visas. Offices make me really really nervous. I must have read too much Kafka. Anyway, now we are supposed to receive our new visas in a month or less. Hopefully less. I have travel plans.

Other than that: Vimme had his first day totally without diapers today and I proudly announce that he didn't pee on himself more than once.

We'll Move Next Month

Hey ho! We heard today that we've got a new flat! We'll move in the end of November. The flat is in Odaiba - the man made island in Tokyo Bay. It is twice the size of this one where we live now and the rent isn't that much higher. We'll have a room for guests and place to live for the rest of our time in Tokyo. And what's the best: there is no bloody wall-to-wall carpet to create unnecessary tension during our daily meals.
Boy, am I glad.

We Saw It

We went to see the Finland Cafe yesterday and they had all kinds of wonderful finnish products there to sell. Like Finnish beer. I didn't have my Lapin Kulta yet, but I am planning to go there again before it closes in the beginning of November.

It's a rainy day. Vimme and me are sneezing. So our wonderful plan that M would take Vimme somewhere and I would stay at home alone won't happen today.

Finland Cafe

Finland is in Tokyo! I guess I have to go and have a look what Finland Cafe is.

It Starts Early

Vimme reminds me of Tony Manero: he dances and women sigh.

Hamsters

Our neighbours' hamsters stayed with us for few days. The other one worked hard on his escape plan, but didn't manage to eat his way out through the bars. Vimme was thrilled about the little creatures - so much that I had to move the cage from floor on a cupboard. His attention towards hamster was a bit too overwhelming to my taste. Now the cage and its' inhabitants have returned to their owners. I am sure that hamsters are reliefed.

Hel Looks

Tokyo in Helsinki.

We got a pile of Finnish magazines and in one this site was mentioned. There are pictures of 80 Helsinki-jins whose out fits are somehow stylish and individual (people who took the pictures are judges about that). Japanese influence seems to be strong among teens in Helsinki.

A Day by the Sea

We spent a day on Sarushima island. It was fun to go there again. It's off-season for beach life now, but the weather was still warm and pleasant. Vimme and his friend dipped into the water and didn't seem to freeze at all. I refused to go there - but it is a well known fact that I don't swim unless the water is pee-warm.

Triennale at Yokohama

We saw Yokohama 2005 International Triennale of Contemporary Art today. I really enjoyed seeing it all, though the kid was a handfull and even managed to step on an artwork, which itself looked like wall-to-wall carpet. Fortunately there were some child friendly artworks too, so it wasn't all 'no this and no that' with the kid. B u t - I would have enjoyd the visit more without him. Sorry Vimme.


Luc Deleu's container sculpture.

At two huge warehouses, where the exhibition is taking place, were many huge installations (among other things) and some of them were really fantastic and well done. I warmly recommend going to see the exhibition to anyone who is in Japan now.

But I didn't Clean the Mess

I was supposed to clean the mess here at home today, but I didn't. The one who expected me to do so, was me myself. What did I do instead? I did laundry, washed dishes, prepared few meals, went to a food store and to the post office, took the kid out to play and stared at a wall while the kid took his nap. Ok, I surfed on internet while the kid slept, but it almost equals with staring at a wall, doesn't it.

Days go by in high speed, which is good, housewifing is potentially quite boring activity.

Congratulations

Happy birthday to a one year old little girl in Gothenburg!

Lounge Lover

I found Richard Cheese on Sunny's music list and downloaded some of that music home. Vimme heard the music and become a big fan immediately. He says: 'put the funny music on' and then he starts dancing. I wonder where his taste of music will lead him. To a lounge?

New Music

While M went to see if they had a certain DVD at a shop, I listened to a recently released CD from Capsule (I had never heard of them before). I bought the CD right then and I haven't listened to anything else since that.

It's my first Japanese CD.

A Dip

The kid fell into a fountain today. Boy did we all get scared. Fortunately it wasn't a deep one and the fall wasn't high, but for a brief moment I had the worst scenario in my mind before I dragged my screaming son out of water. My friend had extra clothes for a 2 year old with her, so Vimme got something dry to wear for the way home. I am still very grateful for that.

A Barfly

I've become wild. I was out again! One saturday after another. Where will this lead? To the total moral destruction?

I met a friend of mine and we went to an opening at a gallery. Art works the artist guy had done were quite magical - photos and a video. We had a glass of wine there at the gallery and then took a train to more central realms of Tokyo. After a nice italian meal we went to Shibuya to have another pint in a pub. I remembered seeing this sign there sometimes.


So that's where we went and I announce it to my favourite bar in Tokyo - so far. I haven't been to that many.

Good Hair Day

Secret of my fantastic hair today is that I accidentally put facial cream to my hair instead of hair wax. Which summeries clearly the present state of my consciousness. I did wake up 05.45.

Finglish + Japanese = Helluva Mess

I read what I wrote yesterday on this blog. Some Finglish. But I am not going to correct my yesterday's words. No use to do that - I would propably make the whole note worse.

Today I was at the Japanese class again and it was fun. I like my teacher. She has a good sense of humour and she is very patient. Vimme wasn't very co-operative at the class today so I couldn't focus on learning as much I'd wanted to. But hey, I value the fact that I can study at all. It's great there are volunteer people willing to teach their mother tongue to random aliens and one can even take her little monster with her.

Early Bird

Jesusgod I hate waking up 5.30 in the morning. I would propably join any crazy religious cult that promises good night's sleep and waking up time at noon to their followers.

Sunday Activities

I had an honour to carry a portable shrine, Mikoshi, on sunday evening.


The Portable Shrine.

All of us carriers got a uniform to wear: a happi-coat, shorts and these marvellous shoes, which we were allowed to keep after carrying. Before carrying we were served onigiris (rice balls), tea and sake. A guy told us how to carry the shrine and what to shout while carrying.


The carrying itself was a tough job. The shrine was heavy and though there were more than 50 persons to carry the shrine it didn't feel light even for a brief moment. Some smaller women hang from the shrine instead of carrying it. In spite of that it was fun. And the shouting was really really good for the soul.

We carried the Mikoshi to a gate of a shrine (a real unportable one) and there a blessing took place. Then we carried the thing back to where we strated. It took about 3 and half hours. The carrying is suppose to bring blessings and good luck to the whole neighbourhood - and in my opinion there are never too many blessings in this world, so I was happy to be part of that. Oh, and there were five other Mikoshis on the run with us. Some of them were visitors from other parts of Tokyo. It was all a big parade and there were lots of people watching the whole happening.

After the carrying we carriers were served more food and more sake. And the best of all: beer! Once we finished our out door meal we went to a public bath. It was my first time in such (I've been to a mountain hotel where I had a bath in onsen, but that was more private) and I enjoyed it a lot. They even had a small steam sauna. And no one kicked me out, though my tattoos were visible all the time.


Bruises.

At the bath I noticed that my shoulders were marked by the Mikoshi. Now I am still quite exhausted, though I've slept two nights after carrying the shrine. I seem to do all kinds of physically tough things here and Japan in a middle of all this housewifing. I wonder what'll be the next mission.

A Hair Dryer & A Dinner

I have always had a feeling that something is missing from my life and I had no idea what it was. Now I know: It's a pistol shaped hair dryer. I don't have it yet and it sure looks like something everyone should have. Doesn't it. This product was sold - of course - in a toy store.

Last night I had a nice dinner with Jo in Japan and Timorous Beastie. It was a pleasure to meet them both and to see who is the person behind the words. And the best of all I had a chance to tell about my gorgeous kid and his latests acts to new defenceless listeners! Muahahahaaaaaa.

Life's Getting Easier

Weather is getting cooler. It's still hot, but you don't need an air conditioner to get a little cool air and draft to the flat - you can simply open your windows.

Phones and Their Users

A guy talked on a cell phone on a bus. He did it very unnoticeably and quietly. After a while the bus driver said something through his loud speaker and the guy hid his phone quickly and he looked quite embarresed.

In general people here don't talk on their cell phones on busses or on trains - they do surf on the internet. If someone talks on the phone, that person gets legions of dissapproving looks from the people around him/her. Or that person is a gaijin who doesn't know/care about anything anyway.

In Finland and in Sweden people use their phones anywhere. It isn't only once or twice that I've heard someone talking very loud about something very intimate on a public place. Especially in Sweden when someone talked in Finnish and thought that no one understands her/him. Ha ha - I did and enjoyed my eavesdropping a lot.

Return Of The Lazy Student

My Japanese language course started again. I inherited my friend C's private teacher, now that she's returned home. The teacher is very nice. But you know, it's the dark side of these nomadic international circles: you meet people you really like and then soon you have to say good bye to them.

Anyway, I hadn't done my home work during the summer break and I could say very little in japanese. Shame on me. But, I am determined to go on studying there: Vimme seems finally to be enjoying himself playing with japanese grannies, while I repeat new sentences in japanese to my teacher. And it's better to learn little than nothing.

Mama's Feeling Guilty

I wonder if there are any 2 year olds that are always like sunshine itself and who's parents never loose their temper with them? It's amazing how something so gorgeous can be so tiring at the same time. I feel really bad every time I have found myself shouting at the kid and every now and then I find myself doing exactly that. I wish he'll be sane when he's grown up inspite of my lack of patience.

Oh, by the way, he has a tiger.

Out of Sight

All of a sudden Vimme's five packs of play cards and Crayons needed a rest - eternal rest if you ask me.

Spammers - Stay Away From My Blog

I have turned on the word verification on comments. I got some spam on my Finnish blog and I wanted to make sure I won't get any on this Finglish one (I still can't say I write in English).

Spammers really really piss me off. I wonder who they are. I'd like to see a person who is an actual spammer and I'd like to hear his/her side to the story. Are they only desperate people trying to make some fast money or some serious minded family men who try to make their living.

All the same, spamming works as well on me as a turd with an ad on it left on my porch.

A Dinner by a River

Cicadas are becoming quiet. Autumn is here I suppose, though the weather is still warm.

I was out last night with a group of Finnish women. It was nice.
The restaurant was quite close to Futagotamagawa station, by the river. From the distance it looked like a barrack - and I guess it was one. Interior was decorated to look like a "european" restaurant and torches illuminated the terrace. It was very cosy. There weren't any buildings right next to the restaurant and that made the whole place very unusual in Tokyo standards. 'Spacious' is hard to find here. Food was OK, but not a reason to go there again. The reason will be the unusual location and the great atmosphere.

A Cold

The kid has caught a cold. He had high fever on wednesday, which fortunately lowered and I didn't have to take him to a doctor. He is still coughing and we are still staying at home, indoors, like we've done all week. I really wish he'll get well soon.

IKEA's Everywhere

IKEA will open two stores here in Japan next year. Then I won't have any reason left for returning to Sweden.

Oh well, there's always my ever lasting course at Gothenburg's University that I'd like to finish some day.

Anakin's Hair

I saw Star Wars, Episode III and I couldn't stop thinking how awful Anakin Skywalker's hair was. Ok, Luke Skywalker's hair was quite bad too - in every episode - so maybe it's in their genes to get a bad hair cut.

Otherwise the film was ok.

Visitors

This typhoon seems to stay away from Tokyo. I don't mind. I am not that keen on getting first hand experiences of nature catastrophies.

A friend came by with her two sons (2 and 4 years old) today. I have to say that days are more fun when you have someone adult to talk to. And boys had fun playing together once Vimme got over his territorial crises.

Never Alone

Right now I find it very difficult that I have no time to be alone. If I only could have an hour or two totally alone, I'd be a much nicer person towards everyone.

City Hike

Because someone woke up 5 o'clock this morning we decided to go to Tsujiki Central Wholesale Market. The place was worth seeing and I had the best sushi ever there. Jesusgod it was good!!!

After the sushi breakfast we started our city hike. It was fun and totally unplanned. On our way from x to y we went to a sky scraper, Anpanman store (that's where the picture was taken - more pictures on my Flickr), a park close to Tokyo Tower, Roppongi Hills Mall and a park close to Hiroo station. Then we took a train home and now we all are very tired. I hope the kid will sleep a bit later tomorrow morning. Or even a bit more later.

Tough World

Both the hurricane in New Orleans and the stampede in Baghdad Iraq make one go very quiet. So many people are - again - suffering.

No Raw Fish

If you don't like raw fish you can always try Kooki Sushi. Thanks for the link J.

Tired

Either the Fuji climbing is still effecting me or I have some unknown serious disease, not to mention the old age - I have been dead tired today. That fact combined with Vimme's energy and no napping hasn't been a match made in heaven.

Today's fun part was to meet Finnish Tokyo mothers again after the summer break.

A Multicolored Pudel

I didn't see this dog live and I guess it's best for the owner's physical health, because I think there must be something seriously wrong with a person who makes her/his dog look like this. And a person like that shouldn't have any pets. When I become the dictator of the world dogs won't look like this.

Oh well, on the other hand... the owner might treat the dog really well otherwise and dog doesn't mind looking stupid, so the only one suffering in this case would be me.

Cowboy Walk

I have a feeling that I walk now like a regular John Wayne. My legs are still really really stiff and aching. We live on the third floor and no elevator. You won't see me outdoors today.

Seen It Done It Been There

I survived Fuji-san! Every muscle in my body below my waist is aching and I slept 14 hours last night.


The climb was much harder than I thought and I did think it will be a tough one. At some point around sun rise I thought I might have to stay on the mountain for the rest of my life, because there wasn't any will or strength left in me to take another step upwards. But somehow I managed to reach the top.


At the top the wind was blowing hard and the whole top was covered with fog. I didn't see the crater. But let me tell you - I won't climb there again to get a glimpse.


Once you are at the top and happy you've done it that far, you begin to remember that you have to get down too somehow. So, already tired and ready to sleep for a week the climb down started. It was a long walk.


The group of Finnish mothers I climbed with was great. And I am really really glad we did it, though if I'd known how tough it is, I would have said no to the whole climb.

A Napless Day

The kid didn't take a nap today. Bright side of it was that he fell asleep in no time at his bed time. The dark side is that I didn't have my coffee break. That makes me mean.

Tomorrow I will climb Fuji with five other finnish mothers. We'll climb through the night to see the sun rise on the top of Fuji-san. Then we'll roll down to the nearest station and sleep in the train back home. I'll report how it was when I am back.

Mother Ship's Wondering

I am planning to climb Fuji-san this weekend. It seems like Typhoon #11 is taking place at the same time. I wonder if I am really into that kind of extreme sports.

Kafka Meets Bach

Everytime I send a parcel at the nearest post office, I get totally 'lost in translation'. My fantastic ability to ask someone in japanese if they have children's shoes doesn't help at the post office's counter at all.

Now I thought I'd figured out what to say and do to avoid seeing that very tired look on post person's face, I found a brand new situation: the person asked me in his apprixomate english (not finglish this time though) if I wanted to send the parcel as an express mail. I said yes - he made it sound like I had no choice. 'Ooops', I thought when I saw what it costed but I didn't want to take my hard decision back. Then the guy asked me (my guess) what's inside the parcel and I told there are a dog's Happi coat and two handkerchiefs. He pull immediately out a very important looking paper with many different little boxes to fill in with addresses, desriptions, numbers and maybe even crosses... 'Oh boy', I thought and once we'd managed to fill in all that was supposed to be filled in, I left the post office promising myself not to tell what's in parcels I send or to send them express.

Oh by the way: we have a beautiful thunder roaring just above us right now and I happen to listen to Bach's Toccata and Fugue. They are perfect together.

Talking Japanese

I managed to ask today at a shop if they have shoes for children - in Japanese (or at least I think so). The salesperson seemed to understand what I ment and showed me the way to the right department. I guess I should start learning more words... god knows when I have time and where I get the energy to do that.

Early Bird

Today I wake up early to chat online with few friends. It's funny to chat on sunday morning to people who are still spending their saturday night.

Pros and Cons

One of the best things about living in different countries is that you meet new people from all over the world. One of the saddest things is that you soon have to say good bye to those wonderful people you just met. I will miss you, C & the boys.

Detox Started

We spent our first pacifier free night last night and I have to say I am very tired. As you can easily guess, Vimme didn't sleep that soundly. Now that I have decided to go through this detox I'll suffer all the badly slept night it takes.

Mama's Tough Moments

Some days are just tough. Usually on those days, I am tired to begin with. And when I am tired I am not very patient. And when I am not patient Vimme gets cranky... well, you get the picture.

Today was one of those days. Among other things, today included one of the worst scenarios: Vimme pood in his pants while we were at a toddler pool. Let me tell you: it wasn't fun at all and I didn't do very well coping with the situation. I ended up throwing Vimme's swim pants into a garbage bin. In the park. And the stuff he had so marvellously produced was spreaded all over the place.

Tomorrow I am going to buy swim diapers.

Metropolitan Nature Phenomenons

Today's earthquake was a bigger one. Its' centre wasn't in Tokyo, but it felt strong even here. I was out with the kid - at Children's Hall again - when it hit and I am glad I was in a room with loads of japanese people and their kids. They all seemed so calm and no one concidered the quake as a reason to quit with what ever they were doing right then. So, I didn't panic. But it was a bit scary.

Weather today reminds of a bathroom where someone has just taken a long hot shower. But I am not going to complain. I prefer sweating before freezing.

A Broken DVD Player

Crap! My computer's DVD player stopped working this morning. There goes my few peaceful moments: I had just discovered the pleasure of kid watching small children's animations while I cook, read, clean or have a cup of coffee. Now I am back doing these things accompanied by Vimme's occational screams. Oh well - too much of watching and sitting isn't good for kids anyway.

Five Books

I went to 'Good Day Book Store' today - alone - and ended up buying five books. I could have bought more, but got a moment of enormous self-control all of a sudden while browsing. Here's what I bought:

1. Kanji ABC
Wishful thinking from my side to buy a book like that.

2.The Essential Rumi
Poems... what can I say, must be wishful thinking from my side again.

3. Hugh Prather: Notes to Myself
The usual new age nonsense that I like reading.

4. Marianne Williamson: Illuminata - A Return to Prayer
The same cathegory as the previous one.

5. Margaret Atwood: Wilderness Tips
Atwood is one of my favourite authors. Happiness is to find a book from her that I haven't read before.

Now I can keep on wondering will I ever have time to read these books.

The Usual Whining and Some Softer Thoughts

Aah!!! Weekend and shared parenting is here again! I know many people who have more children than I have and less help from their partners than I have, if any partner at all. So, I should have perspective to this matter and see how easy it is to parent one child, but let me tell you: I am exhausted every friday and my wish for weekends is to have a moment or two alone.

But parenting isn't all about tight nerves and being tired. I think I have never loved anyone the way I love the boy. The love I feel for him is a blessing, if I may use such a loaded word. I wish I will always be able love the whole package of him the way he is right then.

An Artist and the Art of Tiring

This beauty (on the left) gave us a private concert the other day. A loud private concert. I tried to go out to the balcony to take a better picture of it, but it got disturbed and flew away. True artists are so sensitive.





Today we (3 mothers and 5 little monsters) went to Kodomonokuni to tire the kids. The mission was accomplished successfully and it was really fun to be there.

Mama's Tired

Mercer Human Resource Cost of Living Survey reveals that Tokyo is the most expesive city in the world. No kidding?

Other than that, our every day living has been relatively tantrum free, until this morning. Vimme wanted something to happen faster than I was able to do it and started to scream. At that point I told him nothing is going to happen, because he screamed. And then I went on my Gandhi-like "stay-calm"-mode (could be called a zombie mode too) and waited V's anger to pass. It took an hour. We survived again, but I am totally drained out of energy now.

Dreams and Reality

I woke up to an earthquake last night. I had dreamed about an earthquake just few hours before. A bigger one, the kind you don't want to experience. Quite spooky.

Pretending

I have been pretending to be a paper conservator today. I repaired a book Vimme had destroyed and I am still working on another. I do have very good japanese washi for repairing, but the glue I've used isn't really even close to professional. I will never show the result at school once I return there to finish my studies - to become a paper conservator.

A Man Made Happy

M is happy: we received a big bag of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups today. He was in extacy. Thank you Erin & co.

HELSINKI HELSINKI

A local guy on a train wore a t-shirt that said 'HELSINKI HELSINKI' on it. I wanted so desperately take a picture of it, but I didn't dare to ask him if it was ok. So, no picture. I wonder if he had been to Helsinki or if found the t-shirt at a flea market.

Monday

We made a nice one day trip to Sarushima Island on sunday. It was fun to sit on a beach and the kid loved swimming in the ocean.

Today is monday and my birthday.

Luxury Day

I napped for 3 hours today! That I call luxury.

Entertaining

We've been watching 'Desperate Housewives' lately. It's a very entertaining TV series. Thank god there are ways to watch TV without opening the TV!

Loud Insects

Local grasshoppers are really loud. I call them grasshoppers - god knows what they actually are. One morning our family unit stopped all together to listen to a very strange sound that came from outside. The sound was closest to a sound of a very powerful wire grass cutter, the thing you use to shave those part of the lawn the mower didn't reach - god knows what that is called. My vocabularity is limited. Anyway, it took us a while to understand that it was an insect that made the noice.

A Secret Revealed

The secret to my everlasting youthfull appearance is Cow Beauty Soap.

Rice on the Side Walk

A Rice Field.

Another thing I like here in Tokyo: people put flower pots on side walks front of their houses and no one touches those plants, except those who take care of them. Both in Finland and in Sweden those pots wouldn't survive a weekend. Someone would break the pots and throw plants all over the place.

Typhoons

Typhoon is coming closer to Tokyo. I haven't experienced that weather phenomenon before. I am curious to see how it is. Hopefully not too strong.

My own personal home typhoon has his tantrums daily now a days and I must say it takes a lot of energy to stay calm and adult when he is in that state. I could easily sell my soul for a week under a palm tree, drinking cool alcohol drinks and watching the horizon.

Dark Side of Parenting

I understand why parents sometimes feel like they could slap their kids, but I honestly don't understand parents who actually do it. And for some people slapping kids doesn't even seem to be something that they should be ashame of. I've seen japanese parents (usually mothers) slapping their kids in public places quite often. And it's not only japanese that keep on slapping their kids: M talked to a neighbour who happily told a story that included her hitting her 3 years old kid. Jesusgod I find it disturbing.

I think most situations where kid-slapping takes place are caused by parents themselves. I can see it in myself. When I loose my nerves with the boy, it's usually when I do something that I shouldn't even try doing when the kid is awake, like writing e-mail. Of course kids can be a handfull, but nothing that a grown-up couldn't take care of without using any kind of violence.

Another Earth Quake

Today's earth quake was the biggest so far during our time here in Tokyo. We were on our way home from a store and walked through the campus when it hitted. It didn't feel strong out there. A big building next to us made a big 'bang'-sound and tinkled for a while. I'm sure it would have felt stronger if we'd been indoors.

Food and Languages

I still find japanese food stores quite exciting. You never know what you'll find there. Even stuff you see everyday stays unspecified to you, unless you know japanese - and I don't.

Yesterday we had a visitor who knows japanese. She kindly showed us which button to push on TV's remote control to make american movie stars to speak english again instead of japanese. Though I must say, last night's film's only highlight was to see and hear Sly Stallone speak macho-japanese.

High Fever

The kid got sick yesterday: he threw up and had a high fever. While he slept and slept and slept, I went through all the worst scenarios in my mind. Now he is feeling better and the fever is gone. I must say I am feeling grateful for V getting better to the Force, to the Universe, to Gods and Goddesses, and to the Holy-What-Ever. Thank You.

Cold Versus Hot

When weather is hot like this, you get easily feeling of a really hard work out when you ride your granny bicycle up and down hills. But I am not complaining. I prefer hot before cold, unless the cold is really cold and snow piles are high. And well heated home is close. And sauna is ready. And hot drinks wait for me... Am I making myself home sick on purpose?

Cockroach Spotting

Cockroach.

Today I spotted my first Japanese cockroach - outdoors. I wish I won't meet any of them creatures in our flat. Ever.

Unintresting Person

Now that I have a kid I have noticed that it makes me totally unintresting in some people's eyes. Especially when I reveal that I am a house wife. I first found it very disturbing and extreamly unfair. I was put into 'unwanted' category without any chance to prove what a jerk I can be. Argh.

Then I remembered how I was before the boy came into my life. Most kids just annoyed me. And most mothers too - oooooh, especially mothers! All they did was talk about their kids, about how tired they were, how they had gained weight, and anything totally trivial.

So, I am not reacting to negative actions on that front anymore. I understand where people with the 'unwanted'-stamp stand. I am simply letting negativity pass by and I will keep my eyes open for more tolerant people ...who want to know all about my adorable little boy. Muahahahahaaaaa!

A Horse Park

You can meet horses.

Today's entertainment included a visit to Baji Park that "...was the arena used for the Tokyo Olympic Games in 1964 and has been used for many equestrian games ever since". The sky was gray and weather cool, which was nice. We saw horses and kids played at two of park's three play grounds. It was all very nice. When I came home, I noticed that my shoulders were all pink pink pink. Damn! I have to start wearing sunblock all the time to be safe. Even indoors.

Sunday's Program

First I check that this is my english blog and I am writing in english (read: in finglish).



Ok, now I can tell that today we went to Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography. The work above was there (Toshio Iwai, Time Stratum II) and lots of other pieces of art. It was a fine museum, worth visiting.

At the museum was World Press Photo 2005 exhibition. While seeing it I made a mental note not to enter a press photo showing ever again in my life. I think it's discusting to watch other people's suffering in an exhibition hall. Ok, sport photos were good, but tsunami, Bezlan, Haiti etc photos were just painful to watch. I won't forget all that though it isn't rubbed on my face.

After that we went to Good Day Book Store, that is quite close to the Museum. I will go there again. They had a great selection of english books - second hand and new and prizes were OK. There was a sign on the wall, that said: 'Unattented children will be sold as slaves'.

Then we went to today's third nice place: Good Honest Grub restaurant. They served nice vegetarian food. I had an avocado & tofu wrap - it was just plain delicious.

This is a Scandal!

I apologise my non-finn readers about my accidentally published finnish post. I was in hurry and on my way to spend some relaxing time at an onsen, so I saw my mistake first today. This is how life gets when you are doing bilingual tricks.

The onsen was great and I finally had a chance to have a bath in Japanese way. It was so nice. I recommend it to everyone. Now, after three hours in a bus and in several trains too, we are at home and all I want to do is to rest after all relaxation we did.

Why, why, why, oh why?

I am sad and angry because of London's bombs. I can't understand what the bombers think they will achieve by this. Do they think that everyone now will say: yes, we give you what ever you ask for?

Hate creates hate, violence creates violence - what can we do to stop this vicious circle?

Reasons for Moving

I found Hanoi Rocks' album at the local 'rent-a-CD'-store. I had to rent it though I have never really liked the band. It wasn't any better this time. Too glittery.

Someone told me that there is a group of Japanese women still living in Finland (not all of them together though). They immigrated to Finland in 80's because of Hanoi Rocks and ended up staying there for good. I can't think of any band that would make me to move to another country. Or even a block away.

A New Place to Entertain the Kid

Today we visited a children's play centre called "Loghouse" (well, it was a loghouse). Vimme liked it, though first, when I turned my back, he climbed too high and saw up there a woman with an eye patch and got so scared that he just screamed. Once he got over that shock he ran around like little boys do. When we got back home I remembered that I didn't bring a ball back inside. Vimme threw one out of a window. Damn - and I told the ladies that I will. I hope we'll be welcome there again in spite of that.


A Running Boy.

Sunday shopping

We went to Daiei department store today. It's not far away from where we live - by bicycle that is. Strangest thing I saw there was a 2 inch long beetle in a little terrarium (unfocused picture included).



I didn't buy one, though I used to have a pet tarantula when we still lived in Finland. Spiders are nicer than giant beetles.

I did buy a small kettle, which I dropped on a stone pavement right when I stepped out the store. Now I have a brand new kettle with a dent.

At home I managed to drop a bowl of noodle on my lap. I did say some really bad words and then I had a priviledge to hear a little boy voice echo saying those words again and again and again.

When will I learn?

A Museum

We went to Museum of Contemporary Art today. It was a fun place to see. We had a perfect timing with Vimme's nap and had a chance to see the exhibition without either of us running frantically after the little monster. When he woke up, we showed him the parts we thought he might like. He seemed to like the museum. So did we.

Yes!

Yes, weekend and shared parenthood is here! I am separately grateful that I am not a single parent, though in a magazine I read today a single parent said, that it is better to a parent without a partner than parenting with a bad partner.

I wonder if I should get myself a Japanese housewife apron. I am tempted to buy one and ride my bicycle to a food store wearing the apron - like locals do - and see if I can do it with straight face. Oh, they do have other clothes under the apron, so this fantacy isn't as kinky as it first appeared to be - sorry.