HB COLD

The old man of winter finally seems to be withering away, but not without throwing one or two last good punches. That's the state of things right now. The sun is shining more and more, now out and about well past 6pm and showing its face as early as 6am. But there is still a lot of snowfall and even worse gusts of wind. Last year at this time it was already above freezing, but we are still at least a week away before the long, wet thaw begins. It's getting a little old to tell you the truth. I've decided to protest. I have shelved my heavier winter coat and mittens and have returned to the same jacket and gloves I was wearing in September and October. We are going to Turku again this weekend - 4 day holiday - and will see a Spring in the South that will not reach Joensuu until mid or late April.

Other than the weather there is not much happening in these parts. Karoliina and I celebrated her birthday weekend with chicken and mushroom enchiladas, guacamole and refried beans, with a mint chocolate brownie and vanilla ice cream for dessert. We will now need to exercise every day this week to burn it all off. We barely left the couch the whole weekend. I went to the basketball game yesterday and, with the season on the line - win and it's the playoffs, lose and it's the end of the season - the home team came through in dramatic fashion. They took their first lead of the game with 8 seconds left to play and sealed the deal. The place went wild. I am trying to arrange a meeting this week with one of the hometown American stars in order to discuss the documentary which I hope to be working on by the time the next season begins - October.