Wednesday, November 26, 2003
Two things:
1. Women should never talk on the phone and try to do anything else. I'm sure this sounds a little sexist, but I'll be damned if everytime I see a woman on the phone while attempting to ride her bike she doesn't cause an accident. I was not involved in one, but on my way home from the basketball game tonight (which was hugely entertaining) I was behind this girl, who while riding her bike along the dimly lit trail, with a gusting wind blowing 15 degree weather in her face, was talking on the phone. She was swerving in and out of her side of trail (which is not very wide at all) which made it impossible for me to pass her. Finally, I saw an opening and I took it.
I guess it must be a Finnish thing; being able to withstand the severe cold and to talk on the phone. An ear needs to be exposed to hear anything, right? If my ear was without cover for 10 seconds I would be afraid that it would fall off. Today I went to the CityMarket to remedy that problem - the ear in the weather, not the girl on the phone. I bought a new pair of gloves, leather ones with fur on the inside (Sorry Vegies, but it's really stinking cold here and synthetic just won't cut it). I also got a new cap, one with reinforced ear guards and flaps for the cheeks that snaps under the chin. They have designer ones with real rabbits fur on the inside, but reinforced synthetic works for the ears, but not the fingers. Next up, boots and lots and lots of wool socks.
OK, number 2.
I am now a big fan of the Kataja Basketball Team, Joensuu's local club. Today's game against one of the best teams in the league was a blast. Kataja won with 1.2 seconds left on the clock and the crowd was really rowdy for the first time in the 5 games that I have attented. Kataja was up by 20 at the half and then started to let the game slip away so that the opposing team took their first lead of the game with 2 minutes left. It went back and forth and I thought the game was lost with 17 seconds left, when down by 1, the opposing team was at the free throw line. This is where I come in.
The crowd was in a state of shock at what had just transpired and no one was making any noise. The player would shoot two baskets and could really make a comeback difficult if he sank both. So amidst the relative calm, I shouted, "You suck, Kimi! Miss it!" And then everyone joined in with the Finnish version, of course. The crowd became so rowdy it was almost as if they served beer at the game. No alcohol, only coffee and candy, which makes for a less than rowdy arena, but is safer for everyone involved, if you know any North Karelian Finns. Well anyway, Kimi missed the first shot and everyone roared. He made the second shot and with 15 seconds left, Kataja tied the score. And finally, with 1.2 seconds on the clock, Kataja's best player was fouled and he made both shots.
This was the first game that I have been to where the game was closely played until the end. The other games were blowouts, which are fun, unless you are a fan of the other team. And the best part happened on the ride home; with new gloves and a new cap I was as cozy as one can get while riding through the dark, freezing cold trapped behind a crazy inferno woman swerving and talking at the same time.
Hey, Happy Thanksgiving everyone. I miss you all.
hb
1. Women should never talk on the phone and try to do anything else. I'm sure this sounds a little sexist, but I'll be damned if everytime I see a woman on the phone while attempting to ride her bike she doesn't cause an accident. I was not involved in one, but on my way home from the basketball game tonight (which was hugely entertaining) I was behind this girl, who while riding her bike along the dimly lit trail, with a gusting wind blowing 15 degree weather in her face, was talking on the phone. She was swerving in and out of her side of trail (which is not very wide at all) which made it impossible for me to pass her. Finally, I saw an opening and I took it.
I guess it must be a Finnish thing; being able to withstand the severe cold and to talk on the phone. An ear needs to be exposed to hear anything, right? If my ear was without cover for 10 seconds I would be afraid that it would fall off. Today I went to the CityMarket to remedy that problem - the ear in the weather, not the girl on the phone. I bought a new pair of gloves, leather ones with fur on the inside (Sorry Vegies, but it's really stinking cold here and synthetic just won't cut it). I also got a new cap, one with reinforced ear guards and flaps for the cheeks that snaps under the chin. They have designer ones with real rabbits fur on the inside, but reinforced synthetic works for the ears, but not the fingers. Next up, boots and lots and lots of wool socks.
OK, number 2.
I am now a big fan of the Kataja Basketball Team, Joensuu's local club. Today's game against one of the best teams in the league was a blast. Kataja won with 1.2 seconds left on the clock and the crowd was really rowdy for the first time in the 5 games that I have attented. Kataja was up by 20 at the half and then started to let the game slip away so that the opposing team took their first lead of the game with 2 minutes left. It went back and forth and I thought the game was lost with 17 seconds left, when down by 1, the opposing team was at the free throw line. This is where I come in.
The crowd was in a state of shock at what had just transpired and no one was making any noise. The player would shoot two baskets and could really make a comeback difficult if he sank both. So amidst the relative calm, I shouted, "You suck, Kimi! Miss it!" And then everyone joined in with the Finnish version, of course. The crowd became so rowdy it was almost as if they served beer at the game. No alcohol, only coffee and candy, which makes for a less than rowdy arena, but is safer for everyone involved, if you know any North Karelian Finns. Well anyway, Kimi missed the first shot and everyone roared. He made the second shot and with 15 seconds left, Kataja tied the score. And finally, with 1.2 seconds on the clock, Kataja's best player was fouled and he made both shots.
This was the first game that I have been to where the game was closely played until the end. The other games were blowouts, which are fun, unless you are a fan of the other team. And the best part happened on the ride home; with new gloves and a new cap I was as cozy as one can get while riding through the dark, freezing cold trapped behind a crazy inferno woman swerving and talking at the same time.
Hey, Happy Thanksgiving everyone. I miss you all.
hb
Monday, November 24, 2003
The snow has been coming down like crazy. I don't think that we will be able to ride our bikes into town much anymore, it's just too brutal. Fortunately the bus stops very close to our house, not so close to the office, but close enough. Walking in the city is easier than biking through the forest trails.
K and I went for a walk yesterday (Sunday - Sunnuntai) at around 4 pm and it was completely dark outside, except for the snow on the ground which lent the scenery a very eiree quality. We walked to the lake which is only a five to ten minute walk away from our house and I swear we could have been on another planet. The lake had a thin layer of ice covering it so that essentially the horizon was nothing but white, going up into space. The sky was slightly pink at the corners and dark in the middle. The perfect environment for a spacecraft to land, or for vampires to call home. Always thinking about the film job now, and these are definitely to genres of film that could do very well here.
We both need to get better gloves and socks and I need to get a winter hat and some better boots, ones with some fur inside & I also need a heavy duty hat. My winter caps that I have will not cut it here. Everything else is very warm. My coat is crazy hot. I could have a tank-top on underneath it and I would still be quite cozy.
It's going to be funny to go back to Helsinki and Turku in a few weeks, seeing how those places are warmer than Joensuu and everyone we know has a car so we won't have to bear the elements. It will be nice to see everyone again. I hope to be able to have a large gathering. I could use a party with good friends as opposed to the get to know you party that we had here the other night. No complaints, mind you, but still, there is a difference.
Oh, I'm teaching a class for K next week. She's bogged down with a lot of lesson planning and this class is teaching English in a business environment. I'm a little nervous about this one, as I am about the independent film courses I'll be teaching in Feb, but that's at least a subject that I like to talk about and I have an idea of what I will be teaching. What the hell do I know about business English? Have you read this journal? My grammar sucks, and it's bad too. Not to mention the fact that I have no idea how to spell. But fake it till you make it as Daniel Sunshine once said to me. I intend to.
good night.
hb
K and I went for a walk yesterday (Sunday - Sunnuntai) at around 4 pm and it was completely dark outside, except for the snow on the ground which lent the scenery a very eiree quality. We walked to the lake which is only a five to ten minute walk away from our house and I swear we could have been on another planet. The lake had a thin layer of ice covering it so that essentially the horizon was nothing but white, going up into space. The sky was slightly pink at the corners and dark in the middle. The perfect environment for a spacecraft to land, or for vampires to call home. Always thinking about the film job now, and these are definitely to genres of film that could do very well here.
We both need to get better gloves and socks and I need to get a winter hat and some better boots, ones with some fur inside & I also need a heavy duty hat. My winter caps that I have will not cut it here. Everything else is very warm. My coat is crazy hot. I could have a tank-top on underneath it and I would still be quite cozy.
It's going to be funny to go back to Helsinki and Turku in a few weeks, seeing how those places are warmer than Joensuu and everyone we know has a car so we won't have to bear the elements. It will be nice to see everyone again. I hope to be able to have a large gathering. I could use a party with good friends as opposed to the get to know you party that we had here the other night. No complaints, mind you, but still, there is a difference.
Oh, I'm teaching a class for K next week. She's bogged down with a lot of lesson planning and this class is teaching English in a business environment. I'm a little nervous about this one, as I am about the independent film courses I'll be teaching in Feb, but that's at least a subject that I like to talk about and I have an idea of what I will be teaching. What the hell do I know about business English? Have you read this journal? My grammar sucks, and it's bad too. Not to mention the fact that I have no idea how to spell. But fake it till you make it as Daniel Sunshine once said to me. I intend to.
good night.
hb
I don't know why it is, but whenever we have company, no matter how much time we give ourselves to prepare, we are always way behind the eight-ball despite our best intentions. I was hoping that everyone would be fashionably late, at least 30 minutes so, but at 7 exactly, as I was rushing out the door to drop off the last bit of trash, our first guests arrived - Karoliina's boss and her two daughters. Not more than 10 minutes later we had a full house.
But let me start off a few hours earlier. Karoliina and I were frantically cleaning and finishing the setup of the house, which is now complete. This party was the ultimate deadline for us to finish moving in and it worked. We've got this awesome little vaccuum cleaner that sucks in dust from everywhere and makes sweeping so much easier than using a broom it's hard for me to believe this little thing isn't in everyhouse worldwide.
We put the turkey in at 4:40, 40 minutes later than I wanted but shit happens. So that gave me an hour and a half to: go get the beer and vegetables; chop the vegetables for the spinach dip (carrots, cucumbers and bell peppers all into sticks); put the rest of the things in storage that needed to be there; and to help straighten the rest of our clean house.
So a few minutes before the turkey was ready I began to get the bread ready - we served ready-made turkey sandwiches with a cranberry jam that K made - 32 sandwiches needed to made with cranberry on one side and butter on the other - and we were running out of time. K still needed to make the icing for the sweet potato pie (our substitute for pumpkin pie and it turned out great) she also need to set out the food and make the pineapple vodka drink. And, of course we needed to clean the kitchen up after we were finished with everything and on top of that we still had to get ourselves ready.
I felt like I was back at Chick-Fil-A during the holiday season lunch rush. I had an assembly line going, making 4 sandwiches at a time. Meanwhile, I put some of the chicken we had marinating into the oven to make some more sandwiches in case the turkey wasn't enough, which of course it was. We still have 10 sandwiches or so left over, along with an entire sweet potato pie and several bottles of red wine, that people were nice enough to bring over and almost 18 beers. I was the only one drinking beer, who 'da thunk it?
I don't know how it happened, but we were ready for the party when it happened and everything went well. My boss came over with his longtime girlfriend, our friends Tapsa and Pirjo and their Norwegien dancer friends who were visiting, Harri, the guy I plat basketball with (he and I are meeting with the local team's manager to try to persuade them to change the music at the games, because it is awful if not laughable - I don't think Ghostbusters gets 'em going the way it used to). I think we had close to 20 people and that is about all the place can hold. Before the booze set in, everyone was in our main room sitting around the table being pretty quiet and then it happened. People began to have fun, myself included and the party went on in full effect for another 5 hours. My future boss was the last to leave. I think this will be a good working relationship. He mentioned to K that he wanted to give me a more lucrative and long term deal, but could not do so right off the bat, so I'm looking forward to getting things started and renegotiating.
One of my favorite aspects of this party was the cleanup, minimal at best. We used paper plates and plastic cups and when we woke up this morning I could hardly believe that we had had a party last night. Normally when we have just 2 guests over for dinner the cleanup is worse than it was for the 20 people we had over last night.
That's all I can write, the Cowboy game just ended and I need to read about it. I can't believe this season, they are 8 and 3 and I haven't seen a game in 2 months. Figures, all my teams are going to become real good just when it happens that I can't watch. All right, now I'm upset. Nakemiin - See you later.
hb
But let me start off a few hours earlier. Karoliina and I were frantically cleaning and finishing the setup of the house, which is now complete. This party was the ultimate deadline for us to finish moving in and it worked. We've got this awesome little vaccuum cleaner that sucks in dust from everywhere and makes sweeping so much easier than using a broom it's hard for me to believe this little thing isn't in everyhouse worldwide.
We put the turkey in at 4:40, 40 minutes later than I wanted but shit happens. So that gave me an hour and a half to: go get the beer and vegetables; chop the vegetables for the spinach dip (carrots, cucumbers and bell peppers all into sticks); put the rest of the things in storage that needed to be there; and to help straighten the rest of our clean house.
So a few minutes before the turkey was ready I began to get the bread ready - we served ready-made turkey sandwiches with a cranberry jam that K made - 32 sandwiches needed to made with cranberry on one side and butter on the other - and we were running out of time. K still needed to make the icing for the sweet potato pie (our substitute for pumpkin pie and it turned out great) she also need to set out the food and make the pineapple vodka drink. And, of course we needed to clean the kitchen up after we were finished with everything and on top of that we still had to get ourselves ready.
I felt like I was back at Chick-Fil-A during the holiday season lunch rush. I had an assembly line going, making 4 sandwiches at a time. Meanwhile, I put some of the chicken we had marinating into the oven to make some more sandwiches in case the turkey wasn't enough, which of course it was. We still have 10 sandwiches or so left over, along with an entire sweet potato pie and several bottles of red wine, that people were nice enough to bring over and almost 18 beers. I was the only one drinking beer, who 'da thunk it?
I don't know how it happened, but we were ready for the party when it happened and everything went well. My boss came over with his longtime girlfriend, our friends Tapsa and Pirjo and their Norwegien dancer friends who were visiting, Harri, the guy I plat basketball with (he and I are meeting with the local team's manager to try to persuade them to change the music at the games, because it is awful if not laughable - I don't think Ghostbusters gets 'em going the way it used to). I think we had close to 20 people and that is about all the place can hold. Before the booze set in, everyone was in our main room sitting around the table being pretty quiet and then it happened. People began to have fun, myself included and the party went on in full effect for another 5 hours. My future boss was the last to leave. I think this will be a good working relationship. He mentioned to K that he wanted to give me a more lucrative and long term deal, but could not do so right off the bat, so I'm looking forward to getting things started and renegotiating.
One of my favorite aspects of this party was the cleanup, minimal at best. We used paper plates and plastic cups and when we woke up this morning I could hardly believe that we had had a party last night. Normally when we have just 2 guests over for dinner the cleanup is worse than it was for the 20 people we had over last night.
That's all I can write, the Cowboy game just ended and I need to read about it. I can't believe this season, they are 8 and 3 and I haven't seen a game in 2 months. Figures, all my teams are going to become real good just when it happens that I can't watch. All right, now I'm upset. Nakemiin - See you later.
hb
Wednesday, November 19, 2003
I forgot to mention, Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad. Love you.
This "Thanksgiving" party is taking on a entirely new shape and one not very pleasing to the pocketbook. K and I had been thinking that we would serve chips and dip and some wine, beer and booze. You know, you're typical party. But it seems as if the people we've invited - all work associates - have forgot that on our invite, we specifically mentioned that we have no Thanksgiving type of spread to offer, because on all of their replies they mention how excited they are to experience a Thanksgiving party. So now we're scrambling. Turkey sandwiches and cranberry sauce/jelly, sweet potato pies and whatever else we can put together at the last minute.
I suppose one of the other reasons that we should offer a little more is the fact that these people never do this type of thing, the work people that is. This will be the first gathering of employees not at the office in forever. This will also be the first time we will have company in our now 99% moved-in-to house. All that's left is to finally get the home computer up and running and to get a ground line. Sure we need some new stuff, and we might need a completely new set up kitchen electronics since our power converters aren't equipped to handle the big prong, little prong of the plugs on all our stuff. What the hell is up with the big prong little prong thing? I'm thinking about filing the big prong down to size, it's getting a little attitude, thinking it's better than the little prong. And it's causing our blender/food processor, our food steamer and hand blender to sit unused in one of our many cabinets.
Speaking of many cabinets, it's funny that in Brooklyn we had no room so it was relatively obvious where to put shit. But now, with some many drawers and cabinets it grows ever more difficult to decide which location is the most functional for what appliance, dish, or cup. I think we've managed to put things in an appropriate place, but it certainly hurt my brain thinking what to do with all this space.
Another difference between this place and our place in Brooklyn is the fact that this place is built well. I mean it's like 25 degrees outside and I am in shorts and a tank top and I am still hot. Sure, I've always been like that (Howie alway hot), but in Brooklyn when it was this cold outside it felt the same inside, thanks to all the drafts and holes in the walls and other stuff. So we would have to wear sweaters and long pants and stuff. I guess I don't need a pair of flannel pants this year for Chanukah, I need more shorts.
That's all folks. Gotta go.
hb hot, can you believe it? Snow outside, ice on the ground, no sun to speak of and it's friggin hot!
I suppose one of the other reasons that we should offer a little more is the fact that these people never do this type of thing, the work people that is. This will be the first gathering of employees not at the office in forever. This will also be the first time we will have company in our now 99% moved-in-to house. All that's left is to finally get the home computer up and running and to get a ground line. Sure we need some new stuff, and we might need a completely new set up kitchen electronics since our power converters aren't equipped to handle the big prong, little prong of the plugs on all our stuff. What the hell is up with the big prong little prong thing? I'm thinking about filing the big prong down to size, it's getting a little attitude, thinking it's better than the little prong. And it's causing our blender/food processor, our food steamer and hand blender to sit unused in one of our many cabinets.
Speaking of many cabinets, it's funny that in Brooklyn we had no room so it was relatively obvious where to put shit. But now, with some many drawers and cabinets it grows ever more difficult to decide which location is the most functional for what appliance, dish, or cup. I think we've managed to put things in an appropriate place, but it certainly hurt my brain thinking what to do with all this space.
Another difference between this place and our place in Brooklyn is the fact that this place is built well. I mean it's like 25 degrees outside and I am in shorts and a tank top and I am still hot. Sure, I've always been like that (Howie alway hot), but in Brooklyn when it was this cold outside it felt the same inside, thanks to all the drafts and holes in the walls and other stuff. So we would have to wear sweaters and long pants and stuff. I guess I don't need a pair of flannel pants this year for Chanukah, I need more shorts.
That's all folks. Gotta go.
hb hot, can you believe it? Snow outside, ice on the ground, no sun to speak of and it's friggin hot!
Tuesday, November 18, 2003
I seem to be a bit of a cash cow these days, with the new job and the letter I received from the unemployment agency that I will receive unemployment from the day I applied - 10.14.2003 until I start the new job. Apparently my reason for leaving my last job was determined satisfactory enough to receive unemployment benefits. You won't catch me complaining one bit. All this combined with the fact that my tax rate is considerably less than I thought it would be, 28%. I suppose I was thinking it would be closer to 50%, but again, you won't catch me complaining.
Another potential stroke of luck is the fact that while signing the contract for this new position, the director laid out his thoughts about a renegotiation at the end of February for an extension. I don't want to get too far ahead of myself here, but that would be a welcome negotiation, one in which I would ask for several weeks vacation to be taken this spring and next winter. I don't plan on missing many more Thanksgiving dinners at home.
speaking of Thanksgiving dinner, we are having some 10-20 people over this weekend for a Thanksgiving party, without the turkey, stuffing, broccoli casserole, sweet potato casserole or whatever new dish gets added to the menu. I think we'll be offering our guests, chips and dip and plenty of booze. A real family-style event. I wish we had a video camera so I could set it up all inconspicuous like and film the festivities as they happen. This is one party for which I will set my expectations very low, in order to exceed them, or at the very least, meet them.
I'm about to go buy an alarm clock; the one we have definitely has terrorist connections. It strikes fear into the hearts of ordinary people with it's blaring noise that is something cross between the radio and an alarm. This is a far cry from the alarm clock we had in Brooklyn, one with the sounds of the ocean that start off soft and increase volume gradually. Who the hell prefers to wake up thinking that they are under attack rather than thinking that you dozed off while relaxing at the beach?
Switching subjects to television. We watched this show last night that may have been the most depressing thing I've ever seen. Man's crazy wife kicks him out, takes children, he gets fired and on and on and on. My question is this, Why show this depressing shit right when winter is beginning? Why remind your audience, as they escape the routine of their normal lives just how miserable things can be. As if the lack of sun wasn't enough, I need my television programs to kick me in the head? Why not show episodes of summer in the winter to remind people what it is like, because winter here can take away those memories pretty quickly. And then in the summertime, when people are happy and all Swedish-like, then get them depressed, when the depression won't last more than the show itself. I think TV programmers are to blame for the state of depression here in the winter time. Maybe I will do study of TV programming linked to national happiness, or mood or whatever you call it.
I'm going to get my hair cut today, first time in a couple of months. Definitely the first time in Joensuu. I'm just hoping to find a salon where the person speaks just enough English to do the job. I'd hate to have some smiling jackass ruin what is left of my hair. Although I did stop using Rogaine when I moved and have not noticed a difference at all, what a rip-off in addition to the embarrassment of having to go out and get it. Yeah, I'll be taking this Rogaine and ah, yeah these condoms.
On that note, I leave you to plow through the ice, which has returned. Kind of missed it, at least everything is now white instead of grey.
hbcold again
Another potential stroke of luck is the fact that while signing the contract for this new position, the director laid out his thoughts about a renegotiation at the end of February for an extension. I don't want to get too far ahead of myself here, but that would be a welcome negotiation, one in which I would ask for several weeks vacation to be taken this spring and next winter. I don't plan on missing many more Thanksgiving dinners at home.
speaking of Thanksgiving dinner, we are having some 10-20 people over this weekend for a Thanksgiving party, without the turkey, stuffing, broccoli casserole, sweet potato casserole or whatever new dish gets added to the menu. I think we'll be offering our guests, chips and dip and plenty of booze. A real family-style event. I wish we had a video camera so I could set it up all inconspicuous like and film the festivities as they happen. This is one party for which I will set my expectations very low, in order to exceed them, or at the very least, meet them.
I'm about to go buy an alarm clock; the one we have definitely has terrorist connections. It strikes fear into the hearts of ordinary people with it's blaring noise that is something cross between the radio and an alarm. This is a far cry from the alarm clock we had in Brooklyn, one with the sounds of the ocean that start off soft and increase volume gradually. Who the hell prefers to wake up thinking that they are under attack rather than thinking that you dozed off while relaxing at the beach?
Switching subjects to television. We watched this show last night that may have been the most depressing thing I've ever seen. Man's crazy wife kicks him out, takes children, he gets fired and on and on and on. My question is this, Why show this depressing shit right when winter is beginning? Why remind your audience, as they escape the routine of their normal lives just how miserable things can be. As if the lack of sun wasn't enough, I need my television programs to kick me in the head? Why not show episodes of summer in the winter to remind people what it is like, because winter here can take away those memories pretty quickly. And then in the summertime, when people are happy and all Swedish-like, then get them depressed, when the depression won't last more than the show itself. I think TV programmers are to blame for the state of depression here in the winter time. Maybe I will do study of TV programming linked to national happiness, or mood or whatever you call it.
I'm going to get my hair cut today, first time in a couple of months. Definitely the first time in Joensuu. I'm just hoping to find a salon where the person speaks just enough English to do the job. I'd hate to have some smiling jackass ruin what is left of my hair. Although I did stop using Rogaine when I moved and have not noticed a difference at all, what a rip-off in addition to the embarrassment of having to go out and get it. Yeah, I'll be taking this Rogaine and ah, yeah these condoms.
On that note, I leave you to plow through the ice, which has returned. Kind of missed it, at least everything is now white instead of grey.
hbcold again
Saturday, November 15, 2003
So I've had a pretty productive week thus far. As I mentioned on Monday I was offered a job teaching at the adult education center. This will begin in February and last for approximately 6 weeks. On Wednesday I was offered a position at the East Finland Film Commission, to help get the commission off the ground. The offer came through Karoliina and I have no concrete idea as to what my role will be, but I am enthusiastic nonetheless.
The bitch of it is that this is a two-month trial period. Time enough for me to show my teeth and form a good working relationship with the other members of the team. This is a wise move considering the language barrier and other obstacles. However, this basically means that I will have to forego my anxiously awaited trip back to see the family. It's only been 6 weeks, but K and I were hoping to spend a couple of weeks at least. Her schedule would allow it, but now it seems as if my schedule may be the obstacle. Odd to think that I now have a schedule. In 6 weeks I have found employment that will take me into March. And neither of the jobs has anything to do with teaching English, which is the only job I thought I could attain here. For the first time since graduation I will be using my Film degree professionally. Go figure.
I suppose I was hesitant to write this on the journal until things became a little more certain. They haven't yet, but since I was able to communicate the news to mom, it's a little easier to write about it here. I didn't want bad news to be travelling through this blog instead of coming straight from me.
Nightmare on Elm Street is on right now. I'm not watching but, boy is it a scary movie. I watched the Exorcist the other night and that is hands down one of the scariest movies ever made. That and the Omen. Which reminds me of the time I was watching the Omen Part II in mom and dad's room with Jen. I went to bed right after the old woman was killed by the crows with that image fresh in my head. After finally settling down, maybe 10 minutes later, my lovely oldest sister came bursting into her 9 year old brother's room to scare the living Jeebus out of him. Come to think of it, Hey! screw you Jen, I was 9!
Funny thing about that story is that I don't remember much of it, but one thing I remember vividly is the shirt I was wearing. I think it was one of Dad's rejects. Big, white with green and yellow stripes, one of those that you can fit your whole body into. Weird the way the memory works.
Back to movies and the job, I am going to pitch an idea about a documentary on American basketball players here in Finland. Telling stories of the pioneers and the lot that is here today. I think it could be a real interesting peice, maybe 30 minutes long and there is even an all sports tv channel here that could generate an audience. I told the idea to the guys I play b-ball with and they all seemed to think that it was a pretty good idea. One of the more entertaining aspects of the peice would be the culture shock and the transition of daily life for the players. I spoke with the coach of the visiting team on Wednesday, Gerald Lee, Sr. and he was one of the first American players to come to Finland and has now lived here 29 years in a small town near Karoliina's summer house.
I don't want to get too far ahead of myself here; simply having an idea that could turn into something has been satisfying enough. Yet if this turns into something I could work it into a way to spotlight American players all over Europe (read: free trips) Could be a real interesting project and it could be the exact international type of collaboration that the Film Commission is looking for. Who knows, but I will make the pitch sometime very soon.
So I'm going to turn in for the night. I think it's almost 1 in the morning, though it looks the same as it did at 4:30. It's getting darker and it is so wet outside that I need windsheild wipers for my glasses.
I almost forgot about what else happened this week. We were supposed to have our television ready to be picked up at the store this Monday. We purchased a nice 28" TV which is a vast improvement over the 13" POS we've been using since what feels like forever. Well, we called on Monday to see if it was ready and they told us that there was some sort of shipping error and the TV went to a warehouse instead of to the correct store and that it would not arrive until the 25th. Of course this conversation took place in Finnish I was slightly helpless to do anything, but I was so pissed because I had been looking forward to watching a television I could see, although programming still sucks, it just sucks bigger and louder. So the next day I went all over the city on my bike, in the misty rain - which is a chore, and went to all the other places that sell TV's. It turns out the one we want was the best and at the cheapest price and this pissed me off because I wasn't in the mood to give them my money anymore. Well I didn't know where this place was. I had gone to other areas of town that I had never been to before and decided to return home via another route. As luck would have it I ran smack dab into the store Gigante. I went inside, told them I don't speak Finnish (in Finnish), asked if they spoke English and then began to complain as politely and as sternly as I could manage after having biked 15km. I told them that I had no intention of waiting another 2 weeks for a TV, we already waited patiently for 2 weeks. A few minutes later I was told that it would be ready on Thursday and yesterday our living room was decorated by an entertainment center. So now we can watch Bold and the Beautiful the way it was meant to be watched, boldly.
All right, I am definitely going to bed now.
hb
The bitch of it is that this is a two-month trial period. Time enough for me to show my teeth and form a good working relationship with the other members of the team. This is a wise move considering the language barrier and other obstacles. However, this basically means that I will have to forego my anxiously awaited trip back to see the family. It's only been 6 weeks, but K and I were hoping to spend a couple of weeks at least. Her schedule would allow it, but now it seems as if my schedule may be the obstacle. Odd to think that I now have a schedule. In 6 weeks I have found employment that will take me into March. And neither of the jobs has anything to do with teaching English, which is the only job I thought I could attain here. For the first time since graduation I will be using my Film degree professionally. Go figure.
I suppose I was hesitant to write this on the journal until things became a little more certain. They haven't yet, but since I was able to communicate the news to mom, it's a little easier to write about it here. I didn't want bad news to be travelling through this blog instead of coming straight from me.
Nightmare on Elm Street is on right now. I'm not watching but, boy is it a scary movie. I watched the Exorcist the other night and that is hands down one of the scariest movies ever made. That and the Omen. Which reminds me of the time I was watching the Omen Part II in mom and dad's room with Jen. I went to bed right after the old woman was killed by the crows with that image fresh in my head. After finally settling down, maybe 10 minutes later, my lovely oldest sister came bursting into her 9 year old brother's room to scare the living Jeebus out of him. Come to think of it, Hey! screw you Jen, I was 9!
Funny thing about that story is that I don't remember much of it, but one thing I remember vividly is the shirt I was wearing. I think it was one of Dad's rejects. Big, white with green and yellow stripes, one of those that you can fit your whole body into. Weird the way the memory works.
Back to movies and the job, I am going to pitch an idea about a documentary on American basketball players here in Finland. Telling stories of the pioneers and the lot that is here today. I think it could be a real interesting peice, maybe 30 minutes long and there is even an all sports tv channel here that could generate an audience. I told the idea to the guys I play b-ball with and they all seemed to think that it was a pretty good idea. One of the more entertaining aspects of the peice would be the culture shock and the transition of daily life for the players. I spoke with the coach of the visiting team on Wednesday, Gerald Lee, Sr. and he was one of the first American players to come to Finland and has now lived here 29 years in a small town near Karoliina's summer house.
I don't want to get too far ahead of myself here; simply having an idea that could turn into something has been satisfying enough. Yet if this turns into something I could work it into a way to spotlight American players all over Europe (read: free trips) Could be a real interesting project and it could be the exact international type of collaboration that the Film Commission is looking for. Who knows, but I will make the pitch sometime very soon.
So I'm going to turn in for the night. I think it's almost 1 in the morning, though it looks the same as it did at 4:30. It's getting darker and it is so wet outside that I need windsheild wipers for my glasses.
I almost forgot about what else happened this week. We were supposed to have our television ready to be picked up at the store this Monday. We purchased a nice 28" TV which is a vast improvement over the 13" POS we've been using since what feels like forever. Well, we called on Monday to see if it was ready and they told us that there was some sort of shipping error and the TV went to a warehouse instead of to the correct store and that it would not arrive until the 25th. Of course this conversation took place in Finnish I was slightly helpless to do anything, but I was so pissed because I had been looking forward to watching a television I could see, although programming still sucks, it just sucks bigger and louder. So the next day I went all over the city on my bike, in the misty rain - which is a chore, and went to all the other places that sell TV's. It turns out the one we want was the best and at the cheapest price and this pissed me off because I wasn't in the mood to give them my money anymore. Well I didn't know where this place was. I had gone to other areas of town that I had never been to before and decided to return home via another route. As luck would have it I ran smack dab into the store Gigante. I went inside, told them I don't speak Finnish (in Finnish), asked if they spoke English and then began to complain as politely and as sternly as I could manage after having biked 15km. I told them that I had no intention of waiting another 2 weeks for a TV, we already waited patiently for 2 weeks. A few minutes later I was told that it would be ready on Thursday and yesterday our living room was decorated by an entertainment center. So now we can watch Bold and the Beautiful the way it was meant to be watched, boldly.
All right, I am definitely going to bed now.
hb
Monday, November 10, 2003
I had a great meeting this morning with Juha, I forget his last name. Yeah I have his card in my wallet which is right here but I'm lazy. He's one of the adult education directors at the community college. He and I agreed that I will teach a course on indie-films and indie-filmmaking. It will be two lectures on the general subject that people from all around can attend for free, followed by 6 more specific and more costly classes covering the subjects in depth.
I am pretty excited about this opportunity. It will give me something to busy myself with, which is very important with the winter onslaught approaching. You know it's bad when the gloves that were way too warm in Brooklyn are now not enough and it's still the middle of fall. This is going to be a rough one for sure.
I was also excited about the fact that on the signup sheet for the computers here at the library
were two names that are either British or American. I thought that I would meet these guys and get to know them. The problem is that they are pimply-faced little boys and it might seem a tad strange if I were to approach them and try to befriend them.
Speaking of friends, K and I will be throwing a party in a couple of weeks and you're all invited. We live at Tuppikuja 2B 12 it's right next to the Siwa on the main street. You can't miss it. Call if you get lost and I will come out to meet you. Well we're inviting all the teachers in K's program and some of the people from the film studio. This could make for a good film in and of itself because apparently these people don't get along so well. We decided to say screw it and allow for the uncomfortable feeling to seep in rather than exclude anyone from the invite. Better that they dislike each other than dislike us. I think our place can hold a good amount of people and I am hoping for a large turnout. K was saying that this is not the norm and parties such as this at people's homes are a rare event. Which could mean that everyone will come or no one. We shall see.
Hope everyone is well and I look forward to hearing what is up with you.
hb
I am pretty excited about this opportunity. It will give me something to busy myself with, which is very important with the winter onslaught approaching. You know it's bad when the gloves that were way too warm in Brooklyn are now not enough and it's still the middle of fall. This is going to be a rough one for sure.
I was also excited about the fact that on the signup sheet for the computers here at the library
were two names that are either British or American. I thought that I would meet these guys and get to know them. The problem is that they are pimply-faced little boys and it might seem a tad strange if I were to approach them and try to befriend them.
Speaking of friends, K and I will be throwing a party in a couple of weeks and you're all invited. We live at Tuppikuja 2B 12 it's right next to the Siwa on the main street. You can't miss it. Call if you get lost and I will come out to meet you. Well we're inviting all the teachers in K's program and some of the people from the film studio. This could make for a good film in and of itself because apparently these people don't get along so well. We decided to say screw it and allow for the uncomfortable feeling to seep in rather than exclude anyone from the invite. Better that they dislike each other than dislike us. I think our place can hold a good amount of people and I am hoping for a large turnout. K was saying that this is not the norm and parties such as this at people's homes are a rare event. Which could mean that everyone will come or no one. We shall see.
Hope everyone is well and I look forward to hearing what is up with you.
hb
Saturday, November 08, 2003
I normally wouldn't write about this, but I have to say something to someone outside of this apartment (I'm thinking of starting to call it a flat, we'll see how it goes). This apartment - flat - by the way which is really beginning to take shape. I'd say we're close to 80% moved-in and wow does it make a difference. We still need to get a ground telephone line. International calls with the family are not that clear. Jen and I were cut-off after basically saying that the connection stinks. That is something that will make a difference. It would be nice talk with everyone at least once a week and to do so with a clear connection. It'll happen, but it just takes time.
The conversation Jen and I had reminded me of the conversation I had with Kelly during the blackout. I had been trying him for maybe 10 minutes straight, which is a lot of dials when you stop to think about it and finally I got through. We were so excited that we our phones actually worked we spent the entire conversation revelling in it and after 10 seconds of self-congratulations the phones went dead and we weren't able to speak to each other again until power came back on. This wound up being a very good thing considering he was telling me not to walk back to Brooklyn, but to simply take the ferry to Jersey. My journey home was a measley 4 hours and I was home and showered (thank God I still had running water) by 8:30; whereas Kelly wasn't home until midnight thanks to the hordes of people crowding the ferry and the fact that he was dropped off miles from home. Lesson here folks, skip the shit and get right down to it.
So, the news is this: we have had two of the best dinners I've had in a long time these past two days (Friday and Sat.). Last night we pan-fried two nicely sized pieces of a fish similar to flounder, but tastier and more fluffy. Karoliina simply covered them in flour and cooked with a little butter and oil, salt pepper and lemon, which she cut into small slivers and cooked with the fish.
Meanwhile, on the other end of the kitchen (and after 3 years of a kitchenette it is nice to be able to say that) I was preparing a mozzerella, tomato and basil salad. Granted the cheese was dramatically better in Brooklyn - it was so fresh at the Italian store, sometimes less than an hour old and it milk would gush from it when it was cut into, damn that was some good cheese - but we make do with what we got. We topped it off with a nice bottle of wine (our Alko has a decent selection of very affordable wines), a very unique Spanish fruit which was a looked like a tomato and tasted like candy and a kick-ass pasrty that I wish we had more than one of. Wow I ended that sentance poorly and I'm not sure if I spelled sentence right, sentance?
And tonight we tried our hand in Asian soups. We were really missing the wonton soup we could get at Red Hot on 7th Ave and 10th St, so we decided to make our own. Immediately we experienced setback, noodles, there were no fresh noodles and we couldn't spend all day making the wonton so we put some farfalle in instead and just made meatballs. We made the meatballs with ginger, soy, cornmeal, shallots, pork/beef and minced shrimp. We cooked them halfway and placed them in a simmering pot of stock and then added the half cooked pasta with leeks, cabbage and some red pepper and mustard to taste. Those of you who have had this mustard know what I'm talking about.
We were wanting to go see Kill Bill tonight, but work got in the way so we will see it sometime this week. Tomorrow we're meeting with Lasse, a director of the film commission here. We're hoping to convince him to give me a job sometime in the near future, but we will see. On Monday I'm meeting with a director of adult education. I will be teaching some classes next year on indie-filmmaking, which should be fun and challenging.
Oh, for some reason I cannot spell check when I am working on K's Mac, but I can when I'm on a PC, so please excuse the errors, I will correct them soon enough.
It's getting late here and I've been giving thought to waking up sometime in the night and game-casting the Longhorns, but that could be slightly ridiculous. I think I'll turn in for the night. So long. hb
The conversation Jen and I had reminded me of the conversation I had with Kelly during the blackout. I had been trying him for maybe 10 minutes straight, which is a lot of dials when you stop to think about it and finally I got through. We were so excited that we our phones actually worked we spent the entire conversation revelling in it and after 10 seconds of self-congratulations the phones went dead and we weren't able to speak to each other again until power came back on. This wound up being a very good thing considering he was telling me not to walk back to Brooklyn, but to simply take the ferry to Jersey. My journey home was a measley 4 hours and I was home and showered (thank God I still had running water) by 8:30; whereas Kelly wasn't home until midnight thanks to the hordes of people crowding the ferry and the fact that he was dropped off miles from home. Lesson here folks, skip the shit and get right down to it.
So, the news is this: we have had two of the best dinners I've had in a long time these past two days (Friday and Sat.). Last night we pan-fried two nicely sized pieces of a fish similar to flounder, but tastier and more fluffy. Karoliina simply covered them in flour and cooked with a little butter and oil, salt pepper and lemon, which she cut into small slivers and cooked with the fish.
Meanwhile, on the other end of the kitchen (and after 3 years of a kitchenette it is nice to be able to say that) I was preparing a mozzerella, tomato and basil salad. Granted the cheese was dramatically better in Brooklyn - it was so fresh at the Italian store, sometimes less than an hour old and it milk would gush from it when it was cut into, damn that was some good cheese - but we make do with what we got. We topped it off with a nice bottle of wine (our Alko has a decent selection of very affordable wines), a very unique Spanish fruit which was a looked like a tomato and tasted like candy and a kick-ass pasrty that I wish we had more than one of. Wow I ended that sentance poorly and I'm not sure if I spelled sentence right, sentance?
And tonight we tried our hand in Asian soups. We were really missing the wonton soup we could get at Red Hot on 7th Ave and 10th St, so we decided to make our own. Immediately we experienced setback, noodles, there were no fresh noodles and we couldn't spend all day making the wonton so we put some farfalle in instead and just made meatballs. We made the meatballs with ginger, soy, cornmeal, shallots, pork/beef and minced shrimp. We cooked them halfway and placed them in a simmering pot of stock and then added the half cooked pasta with leeks, cabbage and some red pepper and mustard to taste. Those of you who have had this mustard know what I'm talking about.
We were wanting to go see Kill Bill tonight, but work got in the way so we will see it sometime this week. Tomorrow we're meeting with Lasse, a director of the film commission here. We're hoping to convince him to give me a job sometime in the near future, but we will see. On Monday I'm meeting with a director of adult education. I will be teaching some classes next year on indie-filmmaking, which should be fun and challenging.
Oh, for some reason I cannot spell check when I am working on K's Mac, but I can when I'm on a PC, so please excuse the errors, I will correct them soon enough.
It's getting late here and I've been giving thought to waking up sometime in the night and game-casting the Longhorns, but that could be slightly ridiculous. I think I'll turn in for the night. So long. hb
Thursday, November 06, 2003
I met two very different Finns tonight and fortunately I met the better one last. The first Finn was Mikka and damn was he a character. He spoke about as much English as I do Finnish which led to an extremely long and tedious conversation. He works as a border patrol officer on the Finnish-Russian border. We talked about this and that, and certainly not in any depth whatsoever, until a black dude came walking bye and then it seemed as if his English took on an educated, if not Klan inspired type of vocabulary. He asked me point blank, "What do you hate about nig--rs?" I wasn't too sure that he said what he had just said until he reiterated the question again. I laughed and grew abit uneasy and replied, "I think that in the States it's a bit different and I don't dislike black people at all." To which he responded that he didn't understand what I said and asked again about my hatred towards the nig--s. Again I laughed at the uneasy directness of his question until I then turned the question around and he told me that he hated them because they were all criminals. It was at this time that I thought about leaving the International Party because it seemed as if the whole idea of the gathering was lost on this redneck. I was glad that I didn't.
The next person I met was Marku, a Finnish documentary filmmaker who had just completed a short about a man who lost both legs and still overcame adversity to become a dancer. This was a guy who liked to learn and listen to others and to understand their unique perspective on life, regardless of race or gender. He has a girlfriend who is currently in Singapore singing in a touring opera. Not too sure if the Finnish language is conducive to an opera but here's my benefit doubt, take it and run with it.
He and I talked for two too many beers about his ideas and about how I could help him out. It turned out to be a productive conversation and perhaps a friendship will come of it. It did however lead to a very loud and curvy ride home, but I gotta have some fun sometimes. It was like that episode of Seinfeld when Kramer adopts the highway and turns three lanes into two and later on Elaine is driving bye and soaks in the new and improved lane size. Well that was me, singing very loud and swerving like mad. I suppose I could have my license suspended but fortunately I was on a bike and there wasn't any forest patrol out and about. For that matter there wasn't anyone out and about. I did think that my loud voice could arouse a moose, but I was pedeling so fast that I could have outrun it, unless it got the angle on me and then I would be SOL.
So the International Party didn't really lead to any International meetings, but it was a success nonetheless. Thank you and good night.
The next person I met was Marku, a Finnish documentary filmmaker who had just completed a short about a man who lost both legs and still overcame adversity to become a dancer. This was a guy who liked to learn and listen to others and to understand their unique perspective on life, regardless of race or gender. He has a girlfriend who is currently in Singapore singing in a touring opera. Not too sure if the Finnish language is conducive to an opera but here's my benefit doubt, take it and run with it.
He and I talked for two too many beers about his ideas and about how I could help him out. It turned out to be a productive conversation and perhaps a friendship will come of it. It did however lead to a very loud and curvy ride home, but I gotta have some fun sometimes. It was like that episode of Seinfeld when Kramer adopts the highway and turns three lanes into two and later on Elaine is driving bye and soaks in the new and improved lane size. Well that was me, singing very loud and swerving like mad. I suppose I could have my license suspended but fortunately I was on a bike and there wasn't any forest patrol out and about. For that matter there wasn't anyone out and about. I did think that my loud voice could arouse a moose, but I was pedeling so fast that I could have outrun it, unless it got the angle on me and then I would be SOL.
So the International Party didn't really lead to any International meetings, but it was a success nonetheless. Thank you and good night.
Wednesday, November 05, 2003
I guess I'm good luck for the basketball team, they've won both games I've been to. I was about 10 seconds too late to approach the one American on the team. I was riding bye the parking lot on my way to this International Party, where I am currently writing this, when I saw him get into his car. I thought it might be a bit too much to shout at him to stop, who knows, in a couple of days I may just shout at him.
So like I said I'm at this International Party, hoping to see some Internationals and so far no good. But at least they have this internet connection so I don't seem like an English groupie or something. I figure I'll stay an hour, what else do I have to do? Nothing, that's what.
Tomorrow I'm going to send out some resumes and see what happens. Hopefully something will come up. I'd like to busy myself sometime soon. Since we don't yet have a computer at home full-time, I'd like to get out and socialize in any capacity. Karoliina's networking for me at the school and I may have a gig teaching indie filmmaking to the adults here in Joensuu, now that would be interesting. Perhaps an English gig or two will come along. My Finnish classes will start at the end of the month and it would be nice to get something going before that.
Not too sure how much longer I can be here at this terminal so I'll check out for now. Adios.
So like I said I'm at this International Party, hoping to see some Internationals and so far no good. But at least they have this internet connection so I don't seem like an English groupie or something. I figure I'll stay an hour, what else do I have to do? Nothing, that's what.
Tomorrow I'm going to send out some resumes and see what happens. Hopefully something will come up. I'd like to busy myself sometime soon. Since we don't yet have a computer at home full-time, I'd like to get out and socialize in any capacity. Karoliina's networking for me at the school and I may have a gig teaching indie filmmaking to the adults here in Joensuu, now that would be interesting. Perhaps an English gig or two will come along. My Finnish classes will start at the end of the month and it would be nice to get something going before that.
Not too sure how much longer I can be here at this terminal so I'll check out for now. Adios.
It's the 7th day in a row of grey weather and there doesn't seem to be an end in sight. Not one ounce of sunshine in 7 days, but pounds and pounds of mist. It makes riding home at night, through the forest not only a battle against the elements, but also a battle against imagination. The light posts illuminate only a few feet in diameter around, but because of all the mist the light never reaches the ground. So it's a few specks of foggy light enveloped by extreme darkness and because it's so calm and quiet out, imagination works against itself. It's almost as if I become transported to Crystal Lake and Jason or, more likely, a moose is going to jump out and attack.
Like tonight for example. I'm going to a basketball game and then to an International Party at the CNB Bar. Get it, See & Be. Well I'm excited to see what this will be like. But the problem is the ride home, which will most likely be after 11pm. Not that that makes a difference as it gets 11pm dark at 4pm so I suppose the ride to will be just as bad as the ride back.
One thing I like to do while riding is listen to music and sing out loud, regardless of how I sound or if I know the words or whatever. It's fun to have the old fogies look to see who the hell is making all that noise. And besides, there aren't too many people here for me to talk to, so I wind up talking to myself, sometimes in public places.
Gotta run to the store to get stuff for breakfast tomorrow. I'm really thankful that we have a store right across the street. If I had to get dressed and get on my bike and pedal just to go get some coffee I would be pissed. So this is better than that. I see people biking 10-15 minutes just to get to our little store and I take a little pleasure in seeing that other people have to do just what I said I would hate having to do.
Oh well, I'm outta here.
Like tonight for example. I'm going to a basketball game and then to an International Party at the CNB Bar. Get it, See & Be. Well I'm excited to see what this will be like. But the problem is the ride home, which will most likely be after 11pm. Not that that makes a difference as it gets 11pm dark at 4pm so I suppose the ride to will be just as bad as the ride back.
One thing I like to do while riding is listen to music and sing out loud, regardless of how I sound or if I know the words or whatever. It's fun to have the old fogies look to see who the hell is making all that noise. And besides, there aren't too many people here for me to talk to, so I wind up talking to myself, sometimes in public places.
Gotta run to the store to get stuff for breakfast tomorrow. I'm really thankful that we have a store right across the street. If I had to get dressed and get on my bike and pedal just to go get some coffee I would be pissed. So this is better than that. I see people biking 10-15 minutes just to get to our little store and I take a little pleasure in seeing that other people have to do just what I said I would hate having to do.
Oh well, I'm outta here.
Monday, November 03, 2003
OK, after almost 4 weeks here I can say this as fact: Finnish television sucks. We have about 12 channels, two of which show inter-active video games that apparently a lot of people play. Another two are the same euro-MTV channel and the rest are either in Finnish, German or Swedish. Occassionally an American show comes on like Six Feet Under or the Sopranos, the problem is that they come on at the same time on competing channels. I know this goes against the description I just gave, but exaggeration makes for a good story. Did you want me to give an exact description? OK, so there. Tuesday's are good, with Friends, Will & Grace and the afore mentioned programs, but that is it. Fortunately, it's not dubbed, so I can watch and listen to this crap instead of simply puking.
The best Finnish show on TV is their version of American Idols. It's the exact same format and it's fun to watch these kids from the middle of nowhere, like where I live, perform songs that they should never be singing. Karoliina translates what the judges say and we have fun making fun of these kids. Some of whom are quite talented, others are quite something else all together.
Right now one of the Governor of California's finest is on, "The Sixth Day", apparently the voting population of California didn't watch this one.
This weekend has been wonderful, having the computer and internet at home. Tomorrow K goes to work and will take this computer. So I will be at the library. I'm exciting for tomorrow because we are going to go shopping for two items of clothing I need, a speedo and a pull over winter outfit. There's an old one at the second hand store that I've had my eye on. The winter suit, not the speedo. I couldn't imagine wearing another man's speedo. Interesting thing about speedos, they come in two styles. One is the style that everyone knows, and the other is like a tight boxer short, which is more to my liking, but the problem is that this style has no support for the boys. So it's either support and slinky or loose and stylish. I'm not too sure which one I prefer, but that's why there are fitting rooms. Which means I probably will be wearing a speedo that someone else has worn. Lucky me.
The best Finnish show on TV is their version of American Idols. It's the exact same format and it's fun to watch these kids from the middle of nowhere, like where I live, perform songs that they should never be singing. Karoliina translates what the judges say and we have fun making fun of these kids. Some of whom are quite talented, others are quite something else all together.
Right now one of the Governor of California's finest is on, "The Sixth Day", apparently the voting population of California didn't watch this one.
This weekend has been wonderful, having the computer and internet at home. Tomorrow K goes to work and will take this computer. So I will be at the library. I'm exciting for tomorrow because we are going to go shopping for two items of clothing I need, a speedo and a pull over winter outfit. There's an old one at the second hand store that I've had my eye on. The winter suit, not the speedo. I couldn't imagine wearing another man's speedo. Interesting thing about speedos, they come in two styles. One is the style that everyone knows, and the other is like a tight boxer short, which is more to my liking, but the problem is that this style has no support for the boys. So it's either support and slinky or loose and stylish. I'm not too sure which one I prefer, but that's why there are fitting rooms. Which means I probably will be wearing a speedo that someone else has worn. Lucky me.
Sunday, November 02, 2003
It's been a couple of days and here's what I learned. First of all the guys I play basketball with are pretty darn good and they play euro ball, organized defense with good passing skills and movement without the ball. There are some distinct differences between the Finnish game and the American game, namely fouls. Everyone is so honest about who fouled who and there is never any arguement. Nor is there any tough guy act, by not calling fouls. These guys would all be killed in a street game if they called the silly fouls that they call, but since it's on everyone and there is no exception, it works.
Another interesting point of the game is the fact that these guys don't really speak English. Of course they can speak English, but they don't, except for on occassion, but certainly not when the game is going full speed. And since 5 on 5 requires a lot of communication to play effectively, I am not the most effective person on the court.
First of all I don't know when a foul has been called, because they say something in Finnish, which varies all the time and so I just keep on playing until I realize that I'm a fool and that they are all watching me. Second, I have no idea what the score is, even though I know the numbers pretty well. It takes me too long to figure out what the hell they just said that I wouldn't be able to concentrate on the game. So I just play, which in the grand scheme of things isn't that bad.
I've played with the guys twice since Thursday and I was hoping that I would improve after shaking the rust of a few years from my sneakers, but that was not the case. I stunk it up pretty bad, missing more wide open shots than I care to admit, plus my fair share of layups. But the good news is that I didn't have gas today. It may be because I ate smarter today before the game. I had Chinese beforehand on Thursday and that left me a with an unexpected obstacle, and a bit of a turbo boost at times that I was really wanting. And you can't blame gas can you? Today I had blisters on my feet but I toughed it out, I'm the only American and I guess you could say I did it for my country. Can't have these guys thinking that I'm just some pussy American. Hopefully soon I'll write about a good game of basketball, just like the good game of badmitton I had.
It took a couple of losses in a row before the old techniques started coming back and I won the last two sets we played. I think this will be a regular thing and hopefully I can join some sort of competitive league. Not that I'm so good, but playhing the same guy over and over and over again can become a chore and not fun.
Sorry for nothing but sports updates here, but I've been doing pretty much nothing but lately. And now that we have the internet I spent the weekend reading up on the Texas rout of Nebraska. I sure would like to have seen that, but I get a show where a random panel of four famous Finns watch music videos and then grade them. Fair trade off, no?
We're just about living in our house they way we would like. We're washing all the dishes, by hand (my kingdom for a dishwasher) and the laundry needs to dry either in the sauna or wherever the hell it fits, which isn't easy with a king sized duvat cover. But boy does that fabric softner smell good and loads better than the mothballs that it was packed in.
The weather has been ok. It's in the 40's and cloudy, which blows because when I heard about the solar bursts coming our way I thought for sure I would see some Northern lights, but NO we had clouds instead. Another fair trade off.
So that's that. I called the folks today and it was nice to hear their voices and the little guy's voice to. That Samuel, mmm. Too bad that the calls can't be longer. Soon enough though.
Lots of love everyone,
hb
Another interesting point of the game is the fact that these guys don't really speak English. Of course they can speak English, but they don't, except for on occassion, but certainly not when the game is going full speed. And since 5 on 5 requires a lot of communication to play effectively, I am not the most effective person on the court.
First of all I don't know when a foul has been called, because they say something in Finnish, which varies all the time and so I just keep on playing until I realize that I'm a fool and that they are all watching me. Second, I have no idea what the score is, even though I know the numbers pretty well. It takes me too long to figure out what the hell they just said that I wouldn't be able to concentrate on the game. So I just play, which in the grand scheme of things isn't that bad.
I've played with the guys twice since Thursday and I was hoping that I would improve after shaking the rust of a few years from my sneakers, but that was not the case. I stunk it up pretty bad, missing more wide open shots than I care to admit, plus my fair share of layups. But the good news is that I didn't have gas today. It may be because I ate smarter today before the game. I had Chinese beforehand on Thursday and that left me a with an unexpected obstacle, and a bit of a turbo boost at times that I was really wanting. And you can't blame gas can you? Today I had blisters on my feet but I toughed it out, I'm the only American and I guess you could say I did it for my country. Can't have these guys thinking that I'm just some pussy American. Hopefully soon I'll write about a good game of basketball, just like the good game of badmitton I had.
It took a couple of losses in a row before the old techniques started coming back and I won the last two sets we played. I think this will be a regular thing and hopefully I can join some sort of competitive league. Not that I'm so good, but playhing the same guy over and over and over again can become a chore and not fun.
Sorry for nothing but sports updates here, but I've been doing pretty much nothing but lately. And now that we have the internet I spent the weekend reading up on the Texas rout of Nebraska. I sure would like to have seen that, but I get a show where a random panel of four famous Finns watch music videos and then grade them. Fair trade off, no?
We're just about living in our house they way we would like. We're washing all the dishes, by hand (my kingdom for a dishwasher) and the laundry needs to dry either in the sauna or wherever the hell it fits, which isn't easy with a king sized duvat cover. But boy does that fabric softner smell good and loads better than the mothballs that it was packed in.
The weather has been ok. It's in the 40's and cloudy, which blows because when I heard about the solar bursts coming our way I thought for sure I would see some Northern lights, but NO we had clouds instead. Another fair trade off.
So that's that. I called the folks today and it was nice to hear their voices and the little guy's voice to. That Samuel, mmm. Too bad that the calls can't be longer. Soon enough though.
Lots of love everyone,
hb
