Morning Sushi

We are having guests from Finland at the moment. I went to Tsukiji this morning with our adult guest and we ate at the same sushi place as we ate with M last summer. Boy, it was delicious again and luckily my friend didn't like sushi that much, so I ate half of her portion too. Yummy. There's never too much sushi in my life.

Sweat Instead of Sweets

I have never really liked eating anything sweet, since I got over every healthy child's candy obsession. And that was decades ago. After Vimme came in to my life there has been an exception: chocolate and especially Finnish Fazer's Blue. Guess who's got her dose of that stuff today. Yummy.

Yesterday I had fantastic moments at the gym with my new best friend: the running machine (godknows what it is called for real in english). Running went smoothly and I felt like the king - or queen - of the world, running indoors, watching the night scene of Odaiba. I eagerly wait for our next meeting. It'll be a sweaty one.

Unisex Shoes

I know there must be a shop in Tokyo selling women's shoes that even a bit big boned drag queen could wear, so I shouldn't be worried, but I have to say it bugs me that an average shoe shop doesn't sell bigger shoes for women than size 38 (US 7.8). As a lazy person I propably end up buying another pair of unisex sneakers.

A Film and Black Beer

Yesterday I saw Ang Lee's 'Brokeback Mountain'. I really liked the film (I have never seen anything from Ang Lee that I haven't liked). The story was very touching. I cried. But that's no news.

After the film I had a pleasure to drink as much as I could just for 1000 yen. And I did drink. It was fun. I met new people, drank 'Black Beer', and I managed to wake up 6 o'clock this morning with the kid without a headache. I would call that a wonder.

Good Day, Sun Shine

What a nice day! I slept until 8:30. Vimme spent few hours at friend's and me & M were on our own at Shinjuku. That was the first time we did anything without the kid since fall 2004. I booked a time to get a new tattoo (yay - I'll get a Tokyo tattoo). After the luxury time on our own, we had a nice walk at Yoyogi Park with the friend and kids (hers and ours). There were some bands playing at the park and Vimme performed some spontaneous dancing to music. That made him very popular among young women passing by. Now V is sleeping and we're going to watch a film.

I'll order more days like this.

Thursday

Yesterday we went to see our japanese friends in Yokohama. Vimme and I both enjoyed the visit: good company and delicious food. Kids seemed to like each other's company, though they didn't have a common language. My friend's 4 year old daughter is the cutest little girl I've ever seen. I would voluteer baby-sitting her 24/7, if I could speak japanese.

M is trying to sneak-teach Vimme the periodic table: he'd shown this site to him and Vimme seems to like it alright. And he is saying things like: "All this contains carbon!", while browsing the site. I bet he'll be a ballet dancer or a truck driver instead of a scientist, but with good knowledge in chemistry for sure.

Finally!

Finally: a warm spring day! Have I been waiting for this! It's like half of my stress is gone once sun starts shining and overcoat isn't needed outdoors. I am sure there'll be some cold days left before the real thing, but today was a promise of the coming warmth, the coming summer.

A Party Sunday

We had a housewarming party and Vimme's birthday party on sunday. It was fun to have guests. I would arrange parties all the time, if I wasn't so pre-occupied with house-wifing/parenting.

Happy Birthday Vimme!

Today Vimme become 3 years old. We gave him an icecream breakfast- which he liked - and later I took him to National Children's Castle. He seemed to enjoy himself there.

Now we are at home and he is having an icecream again and so am I. Like I didn't freeze already.

All the same: Happy birthday my lovely boy.

A Pope at Home

The kid is telling me that M is a pope. I do have my doubts. He is not catholic and he happens to be married. If the kid is right, then M is a pope with super powers - other wise he couldn't make it home every night from Vatican - and major poker face - all that money in his back pocket and me not wearing Prada.

Other than that, my friends are gone and I am having a laundry day.

Five Food Challenges

I got tagged by Jo.

Here are my Five Food Challenges:

1. The biggest food challenge is to prepare healthy meals the kid doesn't refuse to eat.

2. I drink too little water. I should drink more. A friend of mine told me that when your body is lacking a half a liter of water, you get unfocused and don't function in general as well as you could. And when your body needs a liter of water that you haven't drank, because we people don't drink enough, then you feel the thirst.

3. I don't eat meat. It is a tough job to ask people in food stores if the product I'd be intrested to buy has meat in it or not. As you might already know, I can't read Japanese and most Japanese people don't speak english.

4. Good coffee is hard to find.

5. I haven't been able to find Swedish anjovis anywhere in Tokyo.

Scientists

Having a scientist as a house-pet, I found this ever so entertaining. Here is a quote from the site: To me, a scientist is bald and has hair coming out of the sides of his head. . . . Scientists live in their own world and the rest of society puts them there.

A Night Out

Yes folks, last night I was out clubbing. It was my first time here in Tokyo, which itself tells lot about my present life: I have lived here over a year.

Me and my two friends went to a gigantic club at Shin-Kiba to enjoy a reggae night, which itself wasn't that good. Too much of a "show" (read: japanese DJs shouting) and too little music to dance. And it sort of bothered me that I could have been any other party-person's mom there - by the age. I have to choose a better age-blender place for my next Tokyo clubbing experience.

Chewable Coffee

For those who wonder, it didn't taste good.

Finnish women vs. American women

This amused me. I don't know if it's true or not.

No Sightseeing

Plum trees are getting wild with flowers. The kid is screaming and testing his limits more than ever. I am getting new gray hair every day. I don't have nerves to follow my friends to Tokyo sighseeing with the crazy kid. And mind you - I have tried.

Good news is that summer is closer day by day.

A Kick

A moment of getting a kick: I found my name mentioned on The Internet Movie Database. Me and Viggo on the same database. It's like we almost knew each others.

Oh well, maybe everybody's there anyway.

Other than that: a good friend of mine is coming to visit us with her son. That'll be the reason for my less frequent blogging during the coming next two weeks. But, if something very important comes up, you'll be updated. I love you all.

What Was That?

Ok, first kid is OK all morning. Then suddenly he gets quite a high fever and sleeps for four hours. Then the fever is gone and he is OK again. What the hell was that?

Happy Valentine's Day

An Easy Way to Get Space at a Gym

Eat a box of sushi a bit too late before training. Once you start sweating, you'll produce hefty burbs that drive away both fellow trainers and my guess is that even evil spirits will be gone. Sushi is good for you.

Shibuya Sunday

It's been a cold day again. I saw this giant mannequin in Shibuya today and watching it made me freeze even more than I already did.

Few years ago we got "Ge-Ge-Ge-no-Kitaro" book as a present from our friends who visited Japan. Today I bought two following books and it was about time - I haven't bought any cartoons for so long that even I myself started to get a bit worried about that fact.

Acne Scars

I am reading Barbara Kingsolver's 'Animal Dreams'. I enjoy reading the book and I try to read it slowly, to make it last a bit longer.

My eyes stuck into this sentence while reading: '...with the kind of face that's made more handsome, not less, by the scars of teenage acne.' I have always thought that teenage acne scars are good looking on a man's face. I won't feel odd because of that from now on.

Born Again Cap

My old worn-out cap got a new life with this fabulous Pushkin Patch Sunny sent me. Thank you!

Yay!

Today we were away from home for six hours. During our outing the kid didn't wear a diaper and he didn't wet his pants. I think this is the beginning of a new wonderful diaperless era. Boy, am I glad!

Shopping

The other day when I loitered around with a friend, I bought a sketch book and two good quality pencils.
Do I have to start sketching now?

Fortunately I managed to avoid buying any of these beautiful brushes - I wouldn't have place in my life for a serious calligraphy hobby.

I Want More

What a wonderful day! Sun shone and I went to see two exhibitions at MOT. The other one was contemporary art from Eastern Europe. I was positively surprised how good works there were. For example: a video of deaf people's choir singing was very touching and a thick velvet mattress with holes full of intimate female voices was quite a funny one. I've had a prejustice about Eastern European art being totally gray and sad, but it obviously isn't only that. Another exhibition was about comtemporary japanese paintings and that was a fantastic exhibition to see. I seldom see so many new paintings that I like and that manage to wake any feelings in me. It seems to me, that japanese painters are more free to produce pictures they happen to like, without any notions to recent trends. I like that.

After that I saw a friend and we had some quality time together, meaning kids were at home with their fathers. I want more days like this.

Setsubun

According to the traditional Japanese calendar it's Setsubun, day before the beginning of spring. Today one is ought to throw soybeans at home, both in- and outdoors and shout "Oni wa soto, fuku wa uchi", while throwing. And that would mean something like "Demon out, good luck in". After throwing your beans, you should eat as many beans as is the number of your years. That way you'll be healthy during the passing year.

Have I done this? No. It's not my tradition, though it sounds like fun. And February the 3rd has been always been another special day as long as I remember: my mother's birthday. Happy birthday mom.

Thursday

Today we went out after a week and half indoors. We didn't do anything exiting, just walked to the food store and back.

The weather has become warmer, but as a sceptical person I don't believe that spring is already on its way here. I am prepared to freeze two more months, then spring better be here.

Thank You Texas

I bow deep to the direction of Texas. I am being overwhelmingly grateful to our friends there sending us a packet full of books. Thank you Erin & guys.

You Are Orange Monkey

If you don't know your character in Doubutsu Uranai fortune telling system, you better find out as soon as possible. How would you know otherwise what to do with your life? I am Orange Monkey.

Uninvited Guests

A running nose, coughing, headache and even fever are here as my uninvited guests. I hope this goes away soon and other members of my little family unit will avoid getting this. Atchoooooo - there's nothing like Tokyo winter.

A Meme

I got tagged by Sunny. Here I'm doing shamelessly the same by this meme.

Four Things

Four jobs I've had:

* Bottle filler at a brewery
* Translator
* Avocado picker
* Cheese seller

Four movies I can watch over and over:

* Star Wars Episodes 4-6
* Casablanca
* Lord of the Ring trilogy
* Some Like It Hot... ok, 8 movies

Four places I have lived:

* Raahe, Finland
* Helsinki, Finland
* Gotheburg, Sweden
* Tokyo, Japan

Four television shows I love to watch:

* Firefly
* Desperate Housewifes
* X-files
* Star Trek - all variations of it

Four places I have been on vacation:

* Athens, Greece
* Here and there in South Africa
* Coast to coast in US of A
* Dublin, Ireland

Four of my favourite dishes:

* Sushi
* Veggie Thai
* Veggie Indian
* Pasta

Four websites I visit daily:

* Tenki
* Bloglines
* Helsingin Sanomat
* Flickr

Four places I would rather be right now:

* In my solitude
* Helsinki
* In a bar, tipsy
* Somewhere warm

Four bloggers I am tagging:

* Elspeth
* Jo-in-Japan
* Timorous Beastie
* Mikki

Whining... I Can Whine Here: It's My Blog

Crap. It feels like I am getting a cold after all this still ongoing freezing. I just don't get it: I come from a land of the ice and snow (yeah, I know, Immigrant Song) and I have taken there my dog out when it has been -25 degrees of Celcius cold outside and done it without complaining - and freezing. I have played icehockey, skied on a frozen sea against the wind, played out as kid in so cold winter weather that you never have anything like that in Tokyo. And still - I have never been this bloody cold in my life. What's wrong with me?

Rentable Pets

In Tokyo you can rent a pet by the hour:
"Puppy the World in Odaiba has more than 50 breeds of dog, mostly kawaii small dogs like toy poodles to French bulldogs. After taking the pooch for a walk, you can groom it or take it to the canine café, Puppy’s Dining." (Metropolis).

I have actually walked by the shop several times without realising what is it for. I don't dare to think what happen to those puppies once they are too big for their job.

Mama's Airing

Here I am, ready to rock'n'roll. This is another self portrait before leaving for an airing with few other mothers.

If you are a housewife with a kid, you better find other housewifes with children to go out with sometimes: in their presence no-one blames you if you talk only about your kid and about how tired you are.

Parenting is a Tough Job

We had a nice walk at a park today. Vimme rode his tricycle and we stopped at a playground. That all sounds nice and harmoniuos - and that it was. We both got enough energy to scream the rest of the day.

The kid is really testing what he is allowed to do and what not. I am trying to remain calm and sometimes I manage to do that, but today I ended up screaming at him as loud as he screamed at me. Or maybe not that loud, my ears are still ringing after a powerful mega scream he made just next to my right ear.

I need a holiday.

Accidents Happen

There is no reason to wonder why gray hair have started an invasion to my head. If it goes on this fast, I'll be a natural (silver)blonde in no time.

Yesterday evening Vimme hit his head to a corner of a cupboard. He has an inch long cut on his forehead now, right under his last year's scar. We didn't take him to a doctor this time. I patched it myself with pieces of band aid. Vimme is fine, I am not so sure about myself.

Toilet Paper

Soon I will wipe my butt on Hello Kitty's face.

A Scary Moment

Vimme decided to run away from me while I packed a shopping bag on my bicycle. He headed straight to a crossing. Traffic lights showed red for pedestrians and a bigger van was driving to the same direction as Vimme was running to. I left my bag and ran as fast as I could after the crazy kid. I caught him and we managed to reach the other side of the crossing unharmed. Bloody hell that was scary.

I don't know if the kid got me when I told him that it was extreamly dangerous to run like that and I didn't like at all what he did.

I will never leave this house again with him.

A Sure Sign of the Coming Spring

I have never seen so many bright coloured European fast cars at the same time than what I saw today. They obviously had some sort of a gathering right in the front of our house. Most owners were well beyond their 50's. Some of the cars looked like space ships and they had names of pasta meals. It was all quite fashinating. What I didn't like was the sound they made when driver stepped on gas pedal. The sound reminded me of a dentist drill.

A Good Looking Site

Now I know where I will get a new tattoo, if I decide to have one here in Tokyo. I am still looking for a picture.

In a Good Company

We met another mother+kid(s)-unit today and took our little monsters to a park to play. Then we stayed at their place for the rest of the day. It's great to have another adult to talk to and kid companions for Vimme. He has learned many necessary life-saving social skills from these two brothers, like saying 'No, you don't take it!' and 'It's mine!'.

Right Fertilizer

As I thought, the book was too short. I tried to read it slowly, so that the joy of reading it would last for a bit longer, but I couldn't. It was just too good to put away. I recommend it to everyone. Read it. You will love it.

Other than that - we watched short videos of Vimme we'd shooted last year this time. Boy, has he grown! I have noticed that clothes have been getting smaller, but I didn't realise how much he has developed in his speech and physical skills before I saw those videos. We must be using the right fertilizer after all.

Story Too Short & Some Whining

I am reading a fantastic novel: 'The Time Traveller's Wife' by Audrey Niffenegger. I have the latter half of the book left to read and I am afraid the story will end too soon. It's one of those books you wish would go on forever.

I really miss the library in Gothenburg. They had good selection of books in Swedish (of course), in English, and in Finnish. Plus in legion of other languages I couldn't read. There was always something good to read. Always. Now I am living in a constant deprivation of literature. It's one of those shadow sides about living in a country where you don't comprehend the language. Libraries here don't basically have foreign collections - and if they do it's all from the 'movies made to books' department - and I won't be bothered to learn to read japanese with a kid running loose in my life.

Sigh.

I Gave My Vote

In Finland it's time for the election of the president. Conan O'Brien is doing his own campaign for Tarja Halonen, the sitting president of Finland. He wants her to stay on her throne, because they look alike. Cute.

Yesterday we went to the embassy to vote. The kid ran around the room while me & M went to a booth - one by one - to write a number on a vote card. And that was it. Not that exciting. And I guess it won't be half as exciting to follow the vote counting as it was when George Double-U was elected in US of A. Finland has a history of counting all the votes in time and also the canditate who gets more votes than his/her fellow canditates, will win.

Dezomeshiki

Today's highlight was Dezomeshiki, "a centuries-old New Year tradition that gives the public a peek at the latest firefighting and rescue techniques". My absolute favourites of the show were the acrobatics doing their tricks on ladders. It was my last chance to see the parade so I dragged myself and the kid there to see it. Next year this time we'll be back in Europe.

A Dialogue

Me: French potatoes please. Medium size.
Girl: japanese - japanese - japanese...
Me: Wakarimasen (Don't understand)
Girl: japanese - japanese - japanese...
Me: Gomen nasai (Sorry) Wakarimasen (Don't understand)

The girl dissapears and comes back with a boy.

Me: French potatoes please. Medium size.
Boy: Anything else?
Me: No thank you.
Boy: Thank you.

The girl comes back and hands me a tray with medium French fries on it.

Me: Can I have ketchup, please.
Girl: Ah...

The girl goes away, comes back and puts another French potato portion on my tray. I look confused.

Me: Can I have ketchup, please.

I get my ketchup and my mind remains totally blurred as I go to my table.

2006

Happy New Year everyone!

Let the year of the dog be wonderful. Let the world find a way towards a better future for everyone (and let the world follow that way too). Let us love one another and let us not be afraid of anything. Let us be here and now.

Cheers, Kampai, Kippis and Skål.

He Doesn't Like Ladies

I have propably already told you that Vimme has a tendency to perform a Psycho Scream when ever an innocent Japanese lady is looking at him. The situation gets worse, if the lady says "kawaii" - and they say it a lot - or tries to pinch Vimme's cheek. Tokyo is full of ladies who have nightmares, thanks to my little son.

Today we entered an elevator packed with teenaged football (soccer) players. Vimme looked at them like he is expected to look at those admiring Japanese ladies. One of the boys even said that forbidden word "kawaii" and Vimme answered "konnichiwa" to him. I guess Vimme just doesn't like ladies.

I spotted this wonderful sign today. I'd love to see how people are having a sporty night out at Disco Pants. Maybe even in Disco Pants.

Better Life?

Our flat has an internet connection with a very strict "collective" firewall (god knows what that is really called). Thanks to that I can't listen to Radio Helsinki, or play on-line games, or use messenger properly, or even to Skype without a teeeerrible lag. This is all very frustrating. So, instead of hanging on the net I go to house's gym. I guess this all is actually good for me.

This is Tokyo

A shop that sells small clothes. For kids maybe? Let's have a look. Hmm... all clothes have four sleeves?!? Oh well - the whole store full of dog clothes and some of them are more expensive than any of my clothes - which doesn't tell that much.

Happy Merry Christmas

With this terribly unfocused picture I wish you all Happy Merry Christmas (christmas can't be anything but happy merry here in the land of the rising sun). As you can see, in Japan the spirit of christmas dwells even in sushi boxes.

No Major Damages

We visited M's sensei's house today. Hospitality was overwhelming, food was delicious and wine glass was full all the time no matter how hard I tried to empty it. And the best of all: the kid didn't manage to break more than one paper screen.

Too Windy

This morning I looked out the window and saw that it was a very windy day. I decided avoid Dorothy's destiny - though Japan itself is quite a magical land - and stayed home all day. I didn't even go to a food store, therefore I was forced to prepare a dish called 'what-ever-was-in-the-fridge'. It turned out to be quite delicious.

How ever glad I am about the fact that I didn't go out, I have to say: days indoors with a two & half years old are relatively long.

Ginger Bread House

I've done my chrismassy thing for this year: I made a ginger bread house. It looks like a ginger bread house from outlet store of outlet stores - all the same, I had fun making it. Oh yes, it is suppose to be a Moomin house.

Suspicious Alien

Our flat is on the second floor. I am grateful for that. I wouldn't like to live high above the ground here in Japan, though new buildings ought to be quake resistant. I have been right being suspicious about that fact. Who knows if this is the only case of fake resistance data.

About a Book

I am reading a book that won Runeberg prize 2005 in Finland. The author, Zinaida Lindén, is originally from Russia. She writes in Swedish and lives in Finland. I can't but admire someone who writes novels in another language than her mother tongue. And her Swedish is immaculate.

The story takes place in Russia and in Japan. The main character has some moments of fear while pondering upon the possibilty of a devastating earth quake in Tokyo. I found it easy to relate to that. I am not prepared at all to meet nature cathastrophies of any kind. But how well can you be prepared if a really strong quake hits the place you are right then. The best thing to have would be a communicator where to holler: "Beam me up Scotty".

Meccano House

This house is Fuji TV's headquarters. It's a good example of various sci-fi scenes in our new neighbourhood. I think it's great that we have a chance to live in such a strange envinronment as this one. A year in a peaceful village-like atmosphere of O-okayama area was a good too. Our stay in Tokyo will be a little bit of this and a little bit of that.

Brrrr

We Finns don't like freezing. Our country is, as we all know, dark and cold in winter time. That's why our houses have a proper heating and our kids are wearing thick clothes while playing outdoors - as well as we adults are.

Here in Tokyo isn't cold enough, which means houses are cold indoors and kids run around in their shorts all year long - not to mention women in their short skirts and little shoes.

I am freezing. All the time. I am reliefed this is my last winter in Tokyo.

Free Earplugs Anyone?

Today I had a pleasure to go to City Ward Office to fill some papers. It could have been a fantastic opportunity to see good old smoothly working Japanese bureaucracy in all peace and quiet. But it wasn't. I had the red-faced howler-screamer with me and he aired his lungs in full power everytime I tried to talk to someone. After huge effort almost everything was clear. Almost everything. Only that I have to go there again tomorrow. I guess I better start handing out earplugs as I enter the office again.

A Howling Kid and Arnie

Vimme isn't happy about our move to this new flat. He spends lots of time screaming and howling, for any reason. None of us is enjoying the situation, but I am sure everything will be fine again once we all get used to living here.

A friend sent a link to this site. Watching the video didn't make me like Arnold even a bit more. I wonder who is it done for? Arnie's mother?

Don't we all want to move to Gothenburg?

I bought a t-shirt at Mentalwear in Finland ("Soon I will move to Gothenburg"). I know some people who would like to have a "Soon I will move from Gothenburg"-t-shirt instead of this one.

Back in Business

Yesterday I retuned to Tokyo with my two and half years old companion. On the plain I didn't sleep at all. I bet it will take some time before I am a functional individual again. Damn jetlag.

Our new home has new fantastic instruction signs. I wonder how I can use the toilet without actually flashing other than toilet paper.

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.