Loud Creatures in Forest

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.