Do you know what is by far the best part about research? Going through the archive records and analysing them. Quantitative analysis is usually particularly fun, but qualitative can be good too. Analysing original written documents can be major fun as well.
Those are the sort of things that can get you to the flow. Like now I look at the time and realise that it is almost seven. More than three hours have gone just like that and I don't even feel any need to stop.
Too bad that the analysing part isn't precisely the scientific one. Or isn't necessarily. It rather depends on the questions of course. If this darling "dissy" of mine would be about historical basic research, it might actually be considered quite decent.
I wish reading the books would be fun too. But most of them are just so frigging boring. There are really books that have literally put me to sleep after two pages. Of course there are fun books too. I borrowed one today, which I'm expecting to be good. Miller's book on Feuds, Law and Society in Saga Island. That book has people in it, destinies and fates. It has stories. I suppose I have mentioned before that I need concrete events and people for things to be interesting.
Perhaps that is why I enjoy analysing the archive records and the documents. There is Gustavus III talking with all of his desires and dilemmas; there is the young judge Stenman making mistakes and arguing questions of precedence with the local nobility; the peasant Matts Andersson so horribly morally upset because his niece's husband has got him mingled in an expensive law suit. The peasants who seek justice in matters of land use and crime, the priests getting tangled in questions of procedure and execution, merchants seeking their claims...
There are stories. There was one I read this week, about a crofter whom his landlord wanted to evict without paying him compensation for all the work he and his father had done. It was like an 18th century version of Väinö Linna's "Under the North Star" - with the appeal court defending the crofter's rights against the abuses of the lower court and his landlord. That was a wonderful story, but what does it have to do with legal history? Not terribly much.
syyskuuta 21, 2007
syyskuuta 20, 2007
Should I go to the store?
This was not the best of all possible days. A couple of things that I need to get done have started to pile up. They involve talking to people and finding new places and so I've kept postponing them. It's just three or four relatively easy things, but they are starting to bug me. It's annoying that even such small things can disrupt my blissfully stress free state of mind.
The other thing was this get-together at the institute, a small farewell thing for a couple of people who are leaving. I was asked to come at lunch and so I decided to go. It's just that I didn't remember how awkward social situations are when you basically don't know anyone. Especially if you hardly speak the language. I mean, those things can be dreadfully annoying and stressful even if you do know people and speak the language. Yeah, let's just say that I left very early.
I wish I had chocolate.
The other thing was this get-together at the institute, a small farewell thing for a couple of people who are leaving. I was asked to come at lunch and so I decided to go. It's just that I didn't remember how awkward social situations are when you basically don't know anyone. Especially if you hardly speak the language. I mean, those things can be dreadfully annoying and stressful even if you do know people and speak the language. Yeah, let's just say that I left very early.
I wish I had chocolate.
syyskuuta 19, 2007
I went for a nice long walk
I am making pasta. I read through all my entries here a few weeks ago and noticed that I had promised already a couple of years ago to learn how to cook. I never did, so now my repertoire is a bit limited.
I've also managed to read through the first 175 pages of my dissertation now. I've thrown away some 20 pages and by some miracle I still have about the same amount of pages as I did before I started the pruning. It's weird. I guess it eventually adds up when one adds a paragraph there and another here to explain what all of these things are actually doing in the manuscript.
The first 130 pages or so were relatively easy, since I've gone through and polished that part at least five times now. But I've never touched this latter part so we'll see how that turns out.
I did the first forty pages today and I sort of got them to make sense, but only by twisting the question around. Now they are tied to the original question, which isn't so interesting. At least it isn't all that interesting anymore after seven years. If I do become a researcher after all, I will never ever spend seven years doing the same thing anymore. Not that it is even possible.
The pasta was good by the way. Olives and onions with tomato and basil sauce - very yummy even if I say so myself. Jup. I think I'll go write now.
I've also managed to read through the first 175 pages of my dissertation now. I've thrown away some 20 pages and by some miracle I still have about the same amount of pages as I did before I started the pruning. It's weird. I guess it eventually adds up when one adds a paragraph there and another here to explain what all of these things are actually doing in the manuscript.
The first 130 pages or so were relatively easy, since I've gone through and polished that part at least five times now. But I've never touched this latter part so we'll see how that turns out.
I did the first forty pages today and I sort of got them to make sense, but only by twisting the question around. Now they are tied to the original question, which isn't so interesting. At least it isn't all that interesting anymore after seven years. If I do become a researcher after all, I will never ever spend seven years doing the same thing anymore. Not that it is even possible.
The pasta was good by the way. Olives and onions with tomato and basil sauce - very yummy even if I say so myself. Jup. I think I'll go write now.
syyskuuta 18, 2007
First colder day
Today I've been to the movies. To see how the German Kinos work and to find out it I would understand the language. The result was that I didn't get quite all of it, but enough to be able to comfortably follow the story. Reminded me actually a little of the first time of going to the movies in the States. I didn't get all of it then either even though my English was better already then than my German is now.
I went to the movies after having just come from a bookstore, where I purchased a good grammar guide and a practise book. I can understand written German better and better, but I came to the conclusion that if I want to leave here speaking fluent German, I have to start actively practising. So now I have the books for that. We'll see how that works.
Jep, but what else. I booked the train and the hotel for the Augsburg trip yesterday. I have also tried to decide where else I would like to go, since there are lots of free weekends and quite a good amount of relatively cheap trips on offer. Oh, jeeee. It seems I am going to do all of the travelling that I didn't do during the past ten years during these four months alone. I am really going to get spoiled here with all these possibilities.
I have to figure out how it is possible to live with this stresslessness, this enthusiasm for new things and for learning in Helsinki too. It has to be possible.
I went to the movies after having just come from a bookstore, where I purchased a good grammar guide and a practise book. I can understand written German better and better, but I came to the conclusion that if I want to leave here speaking fluent German, I have to start actively practising. So now I have the books for that. We'll see how that works.
Jep, but what else. I booked the train and the hotel for the Augsburg trip yesterday. I have also tried to decide where else I would like to go, since there are lots of free weekends and quite a good amount of relatively cheap trips on offer. Oh, jeeee. It seems I am going to do all of the travelling that I didn't do during the past ten years during these four months alone. I am really going to get spoiled here with all these possibilities.
I have to figure out how it is possible to live with this stresslessness, this enthusiasm for new things and for learning in Helsinki too. It has to be possible.
syyskuuta 17, 2007
Monday, mooondaaaaaaaaaaaay
I am again very pleased with life.
I got the ticket to the Eisbrecher concert today. It found me even though I forgot to add the "absolutely necessary" order number when I paid it. So I am going to see Eisbrecher! Oh frigging yes!! I hope they do Dornentanz. I love Dornentanz. I love Rappunzel even more, but I bet they don't play that, since it is actually Megaherz and not Eisbrecher. Megaherz being the old band of the singer, so it isn't as far fetched as it sounds.
J and I signed the rental agreement for the apartment, so that is settled. Quite pleased about that too. Dear sisters, be prepared, since this means that I'm going to ask to you to go and do something about that mountain of clothes that got left behind in the living room. Will get back to you on that one.
I was also just now to listen to a Polish doctorand talking about her dissertation project. I'm almost sure that she was one of the people who I met at the summer course here few years ago. I'm not sure, so I have to go and see her to find out.
Yep, but the thing that added to the "I am again very pleased with life" was that I managed to get my mouth open and ask a couple of very basic, but relatively important methodological questions. The people who were so to say "running the show" seemed to appreciate them. I'm very big on reading body-language, you know. Difficult language, but I do claim I can interpret it relatively well. Jup, but it was not just body language. One of the organisers came to me right after the meeting was over, rather enthusiastically for that, and asked me if I would like to talk about my project. Yep, yep, yep.
I also finally re-introduced myself to Professor S - I know, I should have done that two weeks ago, but you know me, I don't like going to talk to people - and he seemed very pleased to meet me again and suggested we go have lunch someday. He also asked about common friends, so greetings from him!
I got the ticket to the Eisbrecher concert today. It found me even though I forgot to add the "absolutely necessary" order number when I paid it. So I am going to see Eisbrecher! Oh frigging yes!! I hope they do Dornentanz. I love Dornentanz. I love Rappunzel even more, but I bet they don't play that, since it is actually Megaherz and not Eisbrecher. Megaherz being the old band of the singer, so it isn't as far fetched as it sounds.
J and I signed the rental agreement for the apartment, so that is settled. Quite pleased about that too. Dear sisters, be prepared, since this means that I'm going to ask to you to go and do something about that mountain of clothes that got left behind in the living room. Will get back to you on that one.
I was also just now to listen to a Polish doctorand talking about her dissertation project. I'm almost sure that she was one of the people who I met at the summer course here few years ago. I'm not sure, so I have to go and see her to find out.
Yep, but the thing that added to the "I am again very pleased with life" was that I managed to get my mouth open and ask a couple of very basic, but relatively important methodological questions. The people who were so to say "running the show" seemed to appreciate them. I'm very big on reading body-language, you know. Difficult language, but I do claim I can interpret it relatively well. Jup, but it was not just body language. One of the organisers came to me right after the meeting was over, rather enthusiastically for that, and asked me if I would like to talk about my project. Yep, yep, yep.
I also finally re-introduced myself to Professor S - I know, I should have done that two weeks ago, but you know me, I don't like going to talk to people - and he seemed very pleased to meet me again and suggested we go have lunch someday. He also asked about common friends, so greetings from him!
syyskuuta 16, 2007
Summery days
How wonderful is summer. The weather continued great today, it was possibly even better than yesterday. According to the internet weather reports it was 23 degrees during the day and I have no reason to doubt that.
I went out earlier to visit this big city forest in the south part of Frankfurt. It's big; it's beautiful. I had a book, I had something to eat. I had jeans and a top on and it was hot. Those are ingredients for good things. Being able to sit outside and not be cold is one of life's great pleasures. If I said that already yesterday, then it is worth repeating. One of the great pleasures.
I am so going to get spoiled here and get used to a wonderful weather. Even thinking about the Finnish weather makes me shiver. Wääähhhhh...
Yup, but the food is starting to smell really good in the oven, so I think I'll go and eat now.
I went out earlier to visit this big city forest in the south part of Frankfurt. It's big; it's beautiful. I had a book, I had something to eat. I had jeans and a top on and it was hot. Those are ingredients for good things. Being able to sit outside and not be cold is one of life's great pleasures. If I said that already yesterday, then it is worth repeating. One of the great pleasures.
I am so going to get spoiled here and get used to a wonderful weather. Even thinking about the Finnish weather makes me shiver. Wääähhhhh...
Yup, but the food is starting to smell really good in the oven, so I think I'll go and eat now.
syyskuuta 15, 2007
Mainz
Today I've been to Mainz.Mainz is a beautiful city, nearly two thousand years old with remains still left from the Roman times. It's not very far from Frankfurt - it took only an hour and twenty minutes from my doorstep to make it to the main railway station in Mainz. All at the incredibly cheap price of 8,40 euros - there and back. Now that I call good service.
Mainz used to be a very important archbishopric from the Middle Ages on and there are still a number of impressive looking churches all around - intact, in ruins or renovated after the Second World War. There's the cathedral, which I managed to visit opportunely right at the time when a male choir was singing there. It sounded very good; the sound of their voices lingered in the air for seconds even after they had finished.
Then there was another church in ruins, where Johannes Gutenberg was said to have been baptised. It was really rather beautiful and very close to the river. I saw it right after I came from this Römisch-Germanisches Zentralmuseum, which happened to get on my way and was free. I've seen lots of beautiful objects today, I can tell you. Things that people have made during three thousand years or so - from four thousand years and more back to the early middle ages. Someone has made all those things, used them, wanted beautiful and totally impractical things around even thousands of years ago.
Yep. And then there of course was the river. Mainz is where Main - which goes through Frankfurt - meets Rein. The S-Bahn follows Main at the intersection of the rivers, so you can see it clearly. Very beautiful sight. And you can see so well how much bigger Rein is than Main. I didn't do any river cruises, but maybe one of these days yet.
Jep, but it was much, much fun. The day was - and is - beautiful: the sun shines, it's probably the warmest day in these two weeks and really feels like summer. And me do loves summer. I definitely had a vacationy feeling this time. I walked around the old town, which is much more impressive than in Frankfurt. I had lunch in a nice place near the cathedral and I sat a little while writing at the old Roman fortress. It was up on the hill, where it was peaceful, quiet and gorgeous.
I am so going to continue this travelling thingy.
syyskuuta 14, 2007
Freitag
Darned, I've sat on the computer so long already writing letters and translating that Emigrate article that I forgot I haven't been here yet. So, what should I write about today?
I haven't really done anything specific today, since I thought I'd tried to diminish the pile of unanswered e-mails a bit. Not that I got hardly anywhere. But I'll get there! Eventually. One day. Take a cup of coffee and wait patiently, please.
This "no television" -thing has still made it more understandable how in the olden days the people had time for all that unending correspondence with friends and families and the odd acquaintances of aunt Mildred's third cousins' from Upper-Nirgends-upon-Avon. In the usual life at home it takes me about six months to answer a letter, here my average time is more akin to a week. That, methinks, is considerable improvement. Prithee and all that to ye olden fellows.
I think I'll go read now. I'll report back tomorrow, since I have plans for this merry day of Saturn.
I haven't really done anything specific today, since I thought I'd tried to diminish the pile of unanswered e-mails a bit. Not that I got hardly anywhere. But I'll get there! Eventually. One day. Take a cup of coffee and wait patiently, please.
This "no television" -thing has still made it more understandable how in the olden days the people had time for all that unending correspondence with friends and families and the odd acquaintances of aunt Mildred's third cousins' from Upper-Nirgends-upon-Avon. In the usual life at home it takes me about six months to answer a letter, here my average time is more akin to a week. That, methinks, is considerable improvement. Prithee and all that to ye olden fellows.
I think I'll go read now. I'll report back tomorrow, since I have plans for this merry day of Saturn.
syyskuuta 13, 2007
Today's opus - var så god
I'm starting to feel as if I were on vacation. Not because I wouldn't be working, because I haven't worked this productively since last February, but because the stress levels are going down. That's the best thing about vacations - no expectations, no demands.
Here it is basically the same. No one knows me - except for J - so if I don't feel like socialising, I can stay in my room and it bothers absolutely no one. If I need to see people, I can go down to the library, head out to town or go see J and tell him I'd like to join him for lunch.
A stress-free state of mind is a very good thing. It releases so much energy that you can use for other things than just wasting the hours away. I find myself sitting by the river and scribbling down thoughts about my dissertation - big bonus, since usually that thing does not enter my mind during off-office hours except as a big looming monster. Now I am starting to think of it more and more fondly.
I am starting to like the city, which is a very strange thing indeed. That I like cities in general, that is, not Frankfurt in particular. Thus far I'm quite fond of Frankfurt, but I've never liked Helsinki very much and I wasn't quite sure if I could ever see myself as a city person.
Now I am wondering whether it is perhaps possible to live a stress-free life without escaping to the country and giving up all thoughts of some kind of a career? That is something to think about.
Yep, but anyway, today I went to have lunch with J again. Some of the German doctorands turned up as well and I had a chance to get to know some of them. I had a very nice chat with one of them on the way back in the U-Bahn. All in German, which made me realise that even though my spoken German isn't anywhere near perfect or even particularly good, it still doesn't suck totally.
The guy I was having the chat with complimented me on my accent - or the lack of it. Which was nice, because even though my grammar sucks and my vocabulary badly needs improving, my accent is actually quite decent. Not that anyone would mistake me for a native, but my German still sounds much better than that of many people who grammatically and otherwise speak the language much better. I notice it even here in most of the stores. Frankfurt, you see, is very much a city of immigrants and a great majority of the shop clerks I've met so far have been non-natives.
Later I went to the Alsatian fair again. It's on until the end of the week, so I decided to go and redo yesterday. I sat there, had a glass of wine and scribbled some more. I knew it wasn't going to be as good as yesterday, so I wasn't disappointed that it wasn't. I was really happy there yesterday, you see, and you just can't purposely create those little moments of happiness.
Yep, but then I went to walk by the river for a moment, bought eight really tempting looking books for just nine euros on the way back and took the U-Bahn back home. Now I think I'll try translating an interview from German to English - to practise the language and to make a few people happy.
Oh, and J may just rent my apartment for the rest of the year. How perfect would that be. Money. No worries about someone ripping the place apart or making away with all my stuff. I could go travelling with a good conscience.
Here it is basically the same. No one knows me - except for J - so if I don't feel like socialising, I can stay in my room and it bothers absolutely no one. If I need to see people, I can go down to the library, head out to town or go see J and tell him I'd like to join him for lunch.
A stress-free state of mind is a very good thing. It releases so much energy that you can use for other things than just wasting the hours away. I find myself sitting by the river and scribbling down thoughts about my dissertation - big bonus, since usually that thing does not enter my mind during off-office hours except as a big looming monster. Now I am starting to think of it more and more fondly.
I am starting to like the city, which is a very strange thing indeed. That I like cities in general, that is, not Frankfurt in particular. Thus far I'm quite fond of Frankfurt, but I've never liked Helsinki very much and I wasn't quite sure if I could ever see myself as a city person.
Now I am wondering whether it is perhaps possible to live a stress-free life without escaping to the country and giving up all thoughts of some kind of a career? That is something to think about.
Yep, but anyway, today I went to have lunch with J again. Some of the German doctorands turned up as well and I had a chance to get to know some of them. I had a very nice chat with one of them on the way back in the U-Bahn. All in German, which made me realise that even though my spoken German isn't anywhere near perfect or even particularly good, it still doesn't suck totally.
The guy I was having the chat with complimented me on my accent - or the lack of it. Which was nice, because even though my grammar sucks and my vocabulary badly needs improving, my accent is actually quite decent. Not that anyone would mistake me for a native, but my German still sounds much better than that of many people who grammatically and otherwise speak the language much better. I notice it even here in most of the stores. Frankfurt, you see, is very much a city of immigrants and a great majority of the shop clerks I've met so far have been non-natives.
Later I went to the Alsatian fair again. It's on until the end of the week, so I decided to go and redo yesterday. I sat there, had a glass of wine and scribbled some more. I knew it wasn't going to be as good as yesterday, so I wasn't disappointed that it wasn't. I was really happy there yesterday, you see, and you just can't purposely create those little moments of happiness.
Yep, but then I went to walk by the river for a moment, bought eight really tempting looking books for just nine euros on the way back and took the U-Bahn back home. Now I think I'll try translating an interview from German to English - to practise the language and to make a few people happy.
Oh, and J may just rent my apartment for the rest of the year. How perfect would that be. Money. No worries about someone ripping the place apart or making away with all my stuff. I could go travelling with a good conscience.
syyskuuta 12, 2007
Very happy today
I've had a wonderful day. Work continued as good as it just possible to be and then - around fivish - I went out because I needed to see some life around me.
I had thought about finding a cafe somewhere and sitting around for a bit. Before I found a nice looking place though, I found something even better. A small Alsatian fair with a band playing French music, tables under a big canopy and people selling Alsatian wine, food and delicacies.
It looked perfect, so I bought myself a café-au-lait (yeah, I know, I don't really drink coffee, but sometimes one has to try new things) and a good looking pastry, which didn't taste too bad either.
The French - or possibly Alsatian - band kept playing and a woman with a beautiful voice was singing chansons. I ate my pastry and then decided to do some writing.
I started a new story yesterday and continued with it today. It was so much fun. I sat there, listening to the music, the tourists and locals laughing around and wrote and wrote and wrote. I think I was there for almost an hour and a half.
I made a resolution yesterday to write fiction from now on every day. It can be just a few lines if I don't have the time for more, but at least something. I think today I could add to it the resolution of trying to do that on a regular basis somewhere in public - in cafés, parks, restaurants...
I think I've mentioned before that writing is something I really love to do. That if I ever won the lottery and didn't need to worry about the paychecks...
But who knows. If I do write every day then in a year I could easily have five hundred pages written, even a thousand. When writing the dissertation even one page is often just beyond pain, but when doing fiction pages sometimes just float out of nowhere. Of course some of it is always crap and would end up deleted in the final phase, but...who knows. Maybe practice does make the master and one beautiful day I have something that could be out there for people to read. Perhaps not, but I suppose it isn't the main point either. The point is that writing makes me happy.
It was really so good. Sitting under the maple trees and just letting your pen fly.
I had thought about finding a cafe somewhere and sitting around for a bit. Before I found a nice looking place though, I found something even better. A small Alsatian fair with a band playing French music, tables under a big canopy and people selling Alsatian wine, food and delicacies.
It looked perfect, so I bought myself a café-au-lait (yeah, I know, I don't really drink coffee, but sometimes one has to try new things) and a good looking pastry, which didn't taste too bad either.
The French - or possibly Alsatian - band kept playing and a woman with a beautiful voice was singing chansons. I ate my pastry and then decided to do some writing.
I started a new story yesterday and continued with it today. It was so much fun. I sat there, listening to the music, the tourists and locals laughing around and wrote and wrote and wrote. I think I was there for almost an hour and a half.
I made a resolution yesterday to write fiction from now on every day. It can be just a few lines if I don't have the time for more, but at least something. I think today I could add to it the resolution of trying to do that on a regular basis somewhere in public - in cafés, parks, restaurants...
I think I've mentioned before that writing is something I really love to do. That if I ever won the lottery and didn't need to worry about the paychecks...
But who knows. If I do write every day then in a year I could easily have five hundred pages written, even a thousand. When writing the dissertation even one page is often just beyond pain, but when doing fiction pages sometimes just float out of nowhere. Of course some of it is always crap and would end up deleted in the final phase, but...who knows. Maybe practice does make the master and one beautiful day I have something that could be out there for people to read. Perhaps not, but I suppose it isn't the main point either. The point is that writing makes me happy.
It was really so good. Sitting under the maple trees and just letting your pen fly.
Again work related....
I love Bernhard Diestelkamp. Truly. I found this wonderful article by him (Die Durchsetzung des Rechtsmittels der Appellation im weltlichen Prozeβrecht Deutschlands), which I seriously should have read already six years ago.
He explains so beautifully in just two pages some very elementary things about the old "dinggenossenschatlich" jurisdiction and the difference between turning to an higher authority in the old system and the actual Appellation. Considering the topic of my dissertation these are the sort of basic "2 + 2 = 4" -type of things that one should really know by heart. I on the other hand have somewhere along the way made the mistake of starting right away with the higher mathematics. If you can't count 2 + 2, how on earth are you supposed to understand how derivation works? No wonder I've gotten so insanely frustrated sometimes.
I have to read a one or two of his other stuff in case he explains a few more elementary things. He writes such beautiful and simple language too, he does. Unlike Jürgen Weitzel, who has written a huge number of books that I really have to read. I'm not at all looking forward to that though, since his way of writing is totally impossible. Insane sentence structures and such language. If you are into science, where you job is to spread knowledge, you don't play with the language like that. That is for fiction, that is.
Weitzel's article was one of those that drove me insane last week. He writes basically of extremely interesting things, but the language... One of his books was the first one I ever tried reading in German a few years ago. It took me honestly an hour to read through two pages and I am not kidding or over-exaggerating here one single bit. Based on last week's experience I may have to start translating again when I finally gather the courage to pick up his works. Unlike Diestelkamp where I thus far have had to look up only one single word per five pages. Why can't they all write like him?
He explains so beautifully in just two pages some very elementary things about the old "dinggenossenschatlich" jurisdiction and the difference between turning to an higher authority in the old system and the actual Appellation. Considering the topic of my dissertation these are the sort of basic "2 + 2 = 4" -type of things that one should really know by heart. I on the other hand have somewhere along the way made the mistake of starting right away with the higher mathematics. If you can't count 2 + 2, how on earth are you supposed to understand how derivation works? No wonder I've gotten so insanely frustrated sometimes.
I have to read a one or two of his other stuff in case he explains a few more elementary things. He writes such beautiful and simple language too, he does. Unlike Jürgen Weitzel, who has written a huge number of books that I really have to read. I'm not at all looking forward to that though, since his way of writing is totally impossible. Insane sentence structures and such language. If you are into science, where you job is to spread knowledge, you don't play with the language like that. That is for fiction, that is.
Weitzel's article was one of those that drove me insane last week. He writes basically of extremely interesting things, but the language... One of his books was the first one I ever tried reading in German a few years ago. It took me honestly an hour to read through two pages and I am not kidding or over-exaggerating here one single bit. Based on last week's experience I may have to start translating again when I finally gather the courage to pick up his works. Unlike Diestelkamp where I thus far have had to look up only one single word per five pages. Why can't they all write like him?
syyskuuta 11, 2007
Old sagas are so interesting
Hehe, always believe horoscopes. That is the lesson of today.
I'm seriously loving being a researcher again - at the moment. Due to the whole discpline and "fix things or they will become much more messier" commands of the horoscope I outlined a scheme, rough chapters, for the dissertation and then started reading through the whole thing. I decided to make things a bit simpler, because otherwise I would never have gotten anywhere. Those slightly perfectionistic tendencies of mine, you know.
But it is just possible that there may be beauty in simplicity.
I love this phase of the research, when things are slowly starting to make some sense. I remember loving it when I was finishing the master's thesis and the licentiate thesis.
I'm not sure whether it means that I am cut out to be a researcher though. If it always means years of agony for a few months of clarity, then it isn't for me.
I'll go back to it now. And then later today I'll start writing fiction. After I've gone out for a walk, since for a change the sun is actually shining.
I'm seriously loving being a researcher again - at the moment. Due to the whole discpline and "fix things or they will become much more messier" commands of the horoscope I outlined a scheme, rough chapters, for the dissertation and then started reading through the whole thing. I decided to make things a bit simpler, because otherwise I would never have gotten anywhere. Those slightly perfectionistic tendencies of mine, you know.
But it is just possible that there may be beauty in simplicity.
I love this phase of the research, when things are slowly starting to make some sense. I remember loving it when I was finishing the master's thesis and the licentiate thesis.
I'm not sure whether it means that I am cut out to be a researcher though. If it always means years of agony for a few months of clarity, then it isn't for me.
I'll go back to it now. And then later today I'll start writing fiction. After I've gone out for a walk, since for a change the sun is actually shining.
syyskuuta 10, 2007
work, work, work
This has been a very work oriented day. I have worked and surfed the net always occasionally. Gone out for a walk so the cleaning lady could do her work. Worked and surfed some more and that has been it.
It's still been quite a positive day, since I managed to get quite a lot written. One or two quite sensible things too. I have to read through my dissertation very soon and start chopping off bits and pieces that are completely irrelevant. There are plenty of those, but I'm hopefully starting to have enough pages that the bloody thing will tolerate some heavy pruning.
Maybe I'll start tomorrow.
This makes me wonder, whether such an irrational and illogical thing as astrology might have a thing or two going for it. At one point today during my net surfing - as I was feeling just a touch more bored than usual - I checked an astrological site, which is a bit more serious than 99 % of those things. This won't even pretend to tell you that your love life is doing well today and you will win the lottery tomorrow; it's more about long term tendencies in your life based on actual astrological study - whatever that is supposed to be.
This one claimed that because of the movements of dear old Saturn, I am entering into a 2½ years period of order, discipline, determination and hard work - or some such thing. Now astrology of course has no change of working, except if you take it as a self-fulfilling prophecy. I will enter a period of discipline and hard work if I choose to believe that that is what I should do and therefore make it happen.
This is the same site that told me to have courage and make an important decision in the February of 2005, which was also pretty much the last time that I checked the site. Well, I may have been there twice since that, but no more. That decision however turned out to be a good one, so maybe I should actually try and develop some discipline. It did promise more confidence as a long-term reward. That doesn't sound bad.
It also said something about the benefits of soul searching and making important lifestyle decisions. I'll just go think about those now.
It's still been quite a positive day, since I managed to get quite a lot written. One or two quite sensible things too. I have to read through my dissertation very soon and start chopping off bits and pieces that are completely irrelevant. There are plenty of those, but I'm hopefully starting to have enough pages that the bloody thing will tolerate some heavy pruning.
Maybe I'll start tomorrow.
This makes me wonder, whether such an irrational and illogical thing as astrology might have a thing or two going for it. At one point today during my net surfing - as I was feeling just a touch more bored than usual - I checked an astrological site, which is a bit more serious than 99 % of those things. This won't even pretend to tell you that your love life is doing well today and you will win the lottery tomorrow; it's more about long term tendencies in your life based on actual astrological study - whatever that is supposed to be.
This one claimed that because of the movements of dear old Saturn, I am entering into a 2½ years period of order, discipline, determination and hard work - or some such thing. Now astrology of course has no change of working, except if you take it as a self-fulfilling prophecy. I will enter a period of discipline and hard work if I choose to believe that that is what I should do and therefore make it happen.
This is the same site that told me to have courage and make an important decision in the February of 2005, which was also pretty much the last time that I checked the site. Well, I may have been there twice since that, but no more. That decision however turned out to be a good one, so maybe I should actually try and develop some discipline. It did promise more confidence as a long-term reward. That doesn't sound bad.
It also said something about the benefits of soul searching and making important lifestyle decisions. I'll just go think about those now.
syyskuuta 09, 2007
First week is over
Atelierfrankfurt had open days today, so I went to see some modern art. They had very diverse pieces of art there, from video installations to graphics, from photography to more conventional paintings. Some very nice things and some that didn't do anything for me. It's a place where young artists work, so they had also provided an opportunity to take a look at the artists' workrooms - or should one call them studios. If one had been minded to, one could have also talked to some of the artists. I didn't.
After that experience I did some walking around in Frankfurt. There is this Green belt - Der Grüngürtel - that goes around the center of the city. I walked around for over an hour and managed to cover most of the area. I came from the direction of the Hauptbahnhof where the Atelier was and ended at the Main river. It's a very beautiful walk and I wouldn't mind doing it again some day soon.
From the river one could see the downtown with the skyscrapers. According to Wikipedia Frankfurt is one of only four cities in the entire Europe that has a greater number of big skyscrapers. I found that a bit surprising, but I suppose it's true. And understandable. Those thingies don't really fit just everywhere.
The river was beautiful. There were swans. There was a guy jogging, who looked really a lot like this actor who is in all the German detective series - usually playing the bad guy. Could have been him for all I know. There was this crazy American or British fellow who threw a ball into the river for his dog to catch. The dog jumped in in a heartbeat from a relatively high bank and really seemed to struggle against the current. The poor thing had to swim quite a way to get back to land. Looked awfully dangerous, I tell you.
Eventually I got back to the city centre. I saw some of the famous landmarks and walked slowly towards my U-Bahn station. I didn't feel like going home just yet, so I went to get the movie program for the week. I sat for a while near Hauptwache - that's the station - and watched the people running past. There was this event today for raising money for AIDS-work. People were asked to run for five kilometers around the city and there were different sort of activities going on around the Alte Oper. I ran into them while I was on my Grüngürtel-tour and managed to catch a piece of the musical entertainment. It's a lively city this one, Frankfurt is.
After that experience I did some walking around in Frankfurt. There is this Green belt - Der Grüngürtel - that goes around the center of the city. I walked around for over an hour and managed to cover most of the area. I came from the direction of the Hauptbahnhof where the Atelier was and ended at the Main river. It's a very beautiful walk and I wouldn't mind doing it again some day soon.
From the river one could see the downtown with the skyscrapers. According to Wikipedia Frankfurt is one of only four cities in the entire Europe that has a greater number of big skyscrapers. I found that a bit surprising, but I suppose it's true. And understandable. Those thingies don't really fit just everywhere.
The river was beautiful. There were swans. There was a guy jogging, who looked really a lot like this actor who is in all the German detective series - usually playing the bad guy. Could have been him for all I know. There was this crazy American or British fellow who threw a ball into the river for his dog to catch. The dog jumped in in a heartbeat from a relatively high bank and really seemed to struggle against the current. The poor thing had to swim quite a way to get back to land. Looked awfully dangerous, I tell you.
Eventually I got back to the city centre. I saw some of the famous landmarks and walked slowly towards my U-Bahn station. I didn't feel like going home just yet, so I went to get the movie program for the week. I sat for a while near Hauptwache - that's the station - and watched the people running past. There was this event today for raising money for AIDS-work. People were asked to run for five kilometers around the city and there were different sort of activities going on around the Alte Oper. I ran into them while I was on my Grüngürtel-tour and managed to catch a piece of the musical entertainment. It's a lively city this one, Frankfurt is.
syyskuuta 08, 2007
Forgot the titel, but all fixed now
I found my way to IKEA today. It required a bit of extra effort, since a section of U2 was under reparation and I needed to first find and then walk to the bus stop a station too early. That turned out to be quite easy though, since all the U-Bahn and the bus stations have really good maps.
The driver of the U-Bahn even came to help me, when I was checking the map to find the right bus stop. He was really friendly and took the bother of checking the U-Bahn announcements, because he thought that I should have gotten off already at the previous station. There are announcements, you see, both on the U-Bahns and buses as to which lines you can change to. He was wrong about the bus, but that was still terribly sweet of him. In the end he advised me to take the bus they had arranged to take the passengers to the next station, but I decided to find the bus that went directly to the IKEA anyway. Which, as said, turned out to be very easy because of those maps.
I got some stuff to make the room look cosier. Candles, flowers, a pillow, a blanket - all the usual decorative girly items. I do appreciate the aesthetic viewpoints of life and like beautiful things around me. Beauty – I suppose goes without saying – is naturally a very subjective matter.
After decorating the room I checked what was going on in Frankfurt today and went to see a small street festival here nearby. There was music and food and street vendors and lots of people. I walked around a bit, listened to the music, did some shopping and came home. It wasn’t a breathtaking experience, but quite nice still. What is very nice though is how fast you can get from here where I live to the city. I had no problem going out twice today, which is something I would never do home.
Yep, but now I need to go and eat. I’m getting really hungry.
***********************************
Currently listening to: Don Huonot – Pieniä sieviä sieniä
The driver of the U-Bahn even came to help me, when I was checking the map to find the right bus stop. He was really friendly and took the bother of checking the U-Bahn announcements, because he thought that I should have gotten off already at the previous station. There are announcements, you see, both on the U-Bahns and buses as to which lines you can change to. He was wrong about the bus, but that was still terribly sweet of him. In the end he advised me to take the bus they had arranged to take the passengers to the next station, but I decided to find the bus that went directly to the IKEA anyway. Which, as said, turned out to be very easy because of those maps.
I got some stuff to make the room look cosier. Candles, flowers, a pillow, a blanket - all the usual decorative girly items. I do appreciate the aesthetic viewpoints of life and like beautiful things around me. Beauty – I suppose goes without saying – is naturally a very subjective matter.
After decorating the room I checked what was going on in Frankfurt today and went to see a small street festival here nearby. There was music and food and street vendors and lots of people. I walked around a bit, listened to the music, did some shopping and came home. It wasn’t a breathtaking experience, but quite nice still. What is very nice though is how fast you can get from here where I live to the city. I had no problem going out twice today, which is something I would never do home.
Yep, but now I need to go and eat. I’m getting really hungry.
***********************************
Currently listening to: Don Huonot – Pieniä sieviä sieniä
syyskuuta 07, 2007
Weekend approaching
Damn, almost forgot to write today. I was checking how to get to IKEA and the internet is such a time-thief.
Yesterday I was having a bad day, so I just didn't feel like writing. I basically got nothing done. I ended up reading a boring and badly written article and despaired already because of that. I had a meeting with the director of the institute and I was worried about that beforehand, since meeting new people always makes me nervous. He turned out to be really nice and patient though and we had an actual discussion in German, which made me happy for awhile. The other highlight of the day was reading Paolo Coelho's "Veronica Decides to Die". It was sad and a bit scary book. Few people realise so well as Coelho how scary and hopeless life can sometimes be. But in the end it made a bad day a whole lot better and confirmed my decision to decide what I want out of life. Also made me decide to read everyone of Coelho's other books I can get my hands on.
Today was work wise a good day. I also went to the local bank and now have a German account. In addition I fiddled with the Finnish account and if everything went well, I now have a ticket for an Eisbrecher concert. That band, you know, which is second on my list of favourite bands just after Rammstein. The concert takes place in late October and is the only gig they have during the time that I'm here. So I couldn't be too picky about the location, which is not Frankfurt, but Augsburg. That should be a nice, old town though, with more to see than just Eisbrecher. Hehe, I'm doing some traveling for Halloween.
Yesterday I was having a bad day, so I just didn't feel like writing. I basically got nothing done. I ended up reading a boring and badly written article and despaired already because of that. I had a meeting with the director of the institute and I was worried about that beforehand, since meeting new people always makes me nervous. He turned out to be really nice and patient though and we had an actual discussion in German, which made me happy for awhile. The other highlight of the day was reading Paolo Coelho's "Veronica Decides to Die". It was sad and a bit scary book. Few people realise so well as Coelho how scary and hopeless life can sometimes be. But in the end it made a bad day a whole lot better and confirmed my decision to decide what I want out of life. Also made me decide to read everyone of Coelho's other books I can get my hands on.
Today was work wise a good day. I also went to the local bank and now have a German account. In addition I fiddled with the Finnish account and if everything went well, I now have a ticket for an Eisbrecher concert. That band, you know, which is second on my list of favourite bands just after Rammstein. The concert takes place in late October and is the only gig they have during the time that I'm here. So I couldn't be too picky about the location, which is not Frankfurt, but Augsburg. That should be a nice, old town though, with more to see than just Eisbrecher. Hehe, I'm doing some traveling for Halloween.
syyskuuta 05, 2007
Saw a nice cemetery today
It feels like I had been here already for far longer than three days. There's been something new every day, so the conception of time changes too.
Today I went to the University with J for lunch. There's no cafe or diner at the institute, so the people who work here need to go someplace else to eat or alternatively bring their own lunch. I of course can use my own little kitchen.
One needs to take the U-Bahn to the university, but it was still closer than I remembered. We went there to eat once or twice also that time when I was here for the summer course - in 2003 if I remember correctly. It was good to have a Finnish-speaking guide, because each and every university cafe is different and it always takes awhile to figure out their policies.
I also met one of the researchers here, who obviously didn't think much of my German. He switched into English after just one sentence. He seemed really nice though and introduced himself only by his first name, which is something that I really appreciated. Means that one can "duzen" and doesn't need to use the polite You.
I realise it's a German habit and correct and polite and all that, but it seems somehow so hierarchical. I tend to cringe when people in Finnish use the polite you, too. Some sales people do that. Especially if one is wearing something bit more formal. I guess that is one of the reasons why I don't like it actually. If I go to a store wearing jeans, sneakers and a t-shirt, I don't get the polite you. Do the same in high heels and a blazer, and they pretty much always address you formally. There is something fishy about that.
Today I went to the University with J for lunch. There's no cafe or diner at the institute, so the people who work here need to go someplace else to eat or alternatively bring their own lunch. I of course can use my own little kitchen.
One needs to take the U-Bahn to the university, but it was still closer than I remembered. We went there to eat once or twice also that time when I was here for the summer course - in 2003 if I remember correctly. It was good to have a Finnish-speaking guide, because each and every university cafe is different and it always takes awhile to figure out their policies.
I also met one of the researchers here, who obviously didn't think much of my German. He switched into English after just one sentence. He seemed really nice though and introduced himself only by his first name, which is something that I really appreciated. Means that one can "duzen" and doesn't need to use the polite You.
I realise it's a German habit and correct and polite and all that, but it seems somehow so hierarchical. I tend to cringe when people in Finnish use the polite you, too. Some sales people do that. Especially if one is wearing something bit more formal. I guess that is one of the reasons why I don't like it actually. If I go to a store wearing jeans, sneakers and a t-shirt, I don't get the polite you. Do the same in high heels and a blazer, and they pretty much always address you formally. There is something fishy about that.
syyskuuta 04, 2007
Post 2
I did promise a second post today, didn't I? This won't become a habit though. Even if there isn't a TV and I have to get a life to cope with that.
Today's work related activities went quite well - I've transcribed, I've written and I've read. I've had a minor revelation about the importance of the temporal context in the dissertation...
Yep, and then when I thought I had worked enough and the room was getting too small, I headed out. The U-Bahn station is almost directly outside the institute and it doesn't take that long to the city center either - something like 10 to 15 minutes. I did buy a Monatskarte, so I have to use it too. Wouldn't want to waste my money.
The cultural portion of today's activities consists of seeing one church (St. Katharinenkirche) from the inside and the Alte Oper and Frankfurter Börse from the outside. I've also discovered one beautiful park more and come to the conclusion that this is really a very green city. I also went shopping - bought a couple of novels to improve my German and a new CD. It's called Emigrate: the solo-album of a guitarist of this relatively well known German band. You can all guess which one.
Luckily I only had something like 30 euros with me when I went shopping. Otherwise I would have come home with much more than just that one CD. I think I've mentioned it before, but the Germans make the best music in the world by a long shot. I found a local Saturn, you see, and there was this amazing section of Metal/Dark wave/Electronica. There were all these wonderful bands and the CD's cost generally less than in Finland. I have to watch myself or I'll end up spending hundreds of euros there.
................................
Currently listening to: Emigrate - New York City
Today's work related activities went quite well - I've transcribed, I've written and I've read. I've had a minor revelation about the importance of the temporal context in the dissertation...
Yep, and then when I thought I had worked enough and the room was getting too small, I headed out. The U-Bahn station is almost directly outside the institute and it doesn't take that long to the city center either - something like 10 to 15 minutes. I did buy a Monatskarte, so I have to use it too. Wouldn't want to waste my money.
The cultural portion of today's activities consists of seeing one church (St. Katharinenkirche) from the inside and the Alte Oper and Frankfurter Börse from the outside. I've also discovered one beautiful park more and come to the conclusion that this is really a very green city. I also went shopping - bought a couple of novels to improve my German and a new CD. It's called Emigrate: the solo-album of a guitarist of this relatively well known German band. You can all guess which one.
Luckily I only had something like 30 euros with me when I went shopping. Otherwise I would have come home with much more than just that one CD. I think I've mentioned it before, but the Germans make the best music in the world by a long shot. I found a local Saturn, you see, and there was this amazing section of Metal/Dark wave/Electronica. There were all these wonderful bands and the CD's cost generally less than in Finland. I have to watch myself or I'll end up spending hundreds of euros there.
................................
Currently listening to: Emigrate - New York City
Started work
I’m feeling very positive about this German experience today. Especially work wise. My identity as a researcher – which was already lying on its deathbed during this summer – is rapidly recovering. Lawyer I am not, but a researcher I may still want to be. I’ve discovered some nice books – all thanks to P of course. I have that little thingy of Schröder’s in my hands right now and already after one and a half pages I’m feeling terribly motivated again. He’s writing about Justice (Gerechtigkeit), you see. And I think I’ve mentioned before that law as such doesn’t do terribly much for me – that it was justice that lured me into the law faculty in the first place.
Now I have to go and see what Schröder actually wants to say and whether that opens up any new horizons so within the immediate endeavour.
I'll probably get back to you still this evening. I figured out a way to go around this "banning blogger in the rooms" -thingy, you see. I'm assuming that the ban is there for security reasons (to stop viruses from these popular sites etc) and so I just plugged the modem into my own laptop and the whole world is open to me again. I should probably go and ask if it is okay to do that. Or maybe I'll just try to get through that insanely technical "what you cannot do with your computer" paper and if they don't directly say it's verboten....
Now I have to go and see what Schröder actually wants to say and whether that opens up any new horizons so within the immediate endeavour.
I'll probably get back to you still this evening. I figured out a way to go around this "banning blogger in the rooms" -thingy, you see. I'm assuming that the ban is there for security reasons (to stop viruses from these popular sites etc) and so I just plugged the modem into my own laptop and the whole world is open to me again. I should probably go and ask if it is okay to do that. Or maybe I'll just try to get through that insanely technical "what you cannot do with your computer" paper and if they don't directly say it's verboten....
syyskuuta 03, 2007
Frankfurt
Haha, ich bin hier. Mein ”deutsches Erlebnis” hat begonnen (angefangen ? ; losgegangen ??) und ich sollte eigentlich auf Deutsch schreiben, nicht wahr? Um die Sprache zu lernen und alles das. Aber, aber...ich glaube nicht, dass das passieren wird, nicht in der unmittelbaren Zukunft!
Aber ich bin hier. Wer hätte das gedacht?
That’s one of my favourite sentences in German. Wer hätte das gedacht? „Who would have thought of that.“ It sounds beautiful. Which may have to do something with the fact that the singer of my second favourite band (Eisbrecher / old Megaherz) has been known to have said that sentence a couple of times and he has one lovely voice.
But anyway, I am here. The first day is almost over. The flight was okay, a bit late, but otherwise fine. Finding the institute wasn’t a huge problem – just a bit sweaty, since I of course didn’t want to part with my money to the degree of taking a cab. So I dragged the 30 kilos through S-Bahns and U-Bahns. It was raining too.
I got to the institute and was shown to my room, which is not too bad at all. There’s a little kitchen, a bathroom and the actual room, which is maybe around 25 square meters with a bed, a small dining table, a desk with a computer, a shelf for the books and a cupboard for the clothes. No TV though, which means that one has to come up with alternative ways of spending the evenings. There is however plenty of free floorspace, but I haven’t found out yet what they think of guests staying over.
Anyway, after a couple of hours of unpacking and relaxing I was given lots of papers to sign and a short tour of the instute. All in German, I am happy to say. It went better than I had feared. I understood almost everything and I actually managed to say a thing or two – even if I also did a lot of nodding with „Okay, gut, genau“ -type of commentary. But Frau Z was just happy that I spoke German at all – insisting that her English was not at all good – and Herr G actually complimented me on my German. Which was really terribly nice of him, even if not very accurate.
But I think the language thing may be okay. I was reading the Frankfurter Allgemeine in the plane and could actually understand most of the articles that I read without bigger problems. Speaking is still a problem, because my grammar sucks and my vocabulary is very limited, but on the other hand I still seem to be able to communicate – even if people have to finish my sentences for me. Thus far they seem quite willing to do it too. Maybe it’s because the Germans seem to like Finns. Everytime I do the „ich komme aus Finnland“ -thing, they get a big smile on their face and repeat happily „aus Finnland?!“ Plus at the institute there is the added advantage that lots of people here are on very good terms with my „Doktormutter“ so they seem pre-disposed towards liking me too. And I of course like anybody who likes me, so that might make things easier.
After all the bureaucratic stuff I went for the first of hopefully many walks. There is quite a big park that starts directly from the institute and follows a small river. There’s some sort of smallish bird reservoir on the other side and plenty of very lovely looking places for a person to sit down with a book. Looked altogether very promising. I also found a store and discovered that at least food is cheaper here than in Finland. Germany also seems to be one of those countries, where you can get wine for less than 2 euros from the grocery stores. So I’ve celebrated my birthday with a nice mozzarella salad, a glass of white wine and some of the chocolate I got as a present yesterday. The other present is waiting for me and I think I will go and keep Paolo Coelho company now. Thanks by the way for the party yesterday and Ä for taking me to the airport. All very nice!
Now I’m going to go and see if I can still get into the library to post this. I have a computer with an internet connection in my room, but the good people of the institute have seen fit to ban certain sites. Like blogger, myspace and youtube for instance. Schade.
Aber ich bin hier. Wer hätte das gedacht?
That’s one of my favourite sentences in German. Wer hätte das gedacht? „Who would have thought of that.“ It sounds beautiful. Which may have to do something with the fact that the singer of my second favourite band (Eisbrecher / old Megaherz) has been known to have said that sentence a couple of times and he has one lovely voice.
But anyway, I am here. The first day is almost over. The flight was okay, a bit late, but otherwise fine. Finding the institute wasn’t a huge problem – just a bit sweaty, since I of course didn’t want to part with my money to the degree of taking a cab. So I dragged the 30 kilos through S-Bahns and U-Bahns. It was raining too.
I got to the institute and was shown to my room, which is not too bad at all. There’s a little kitchen, a bathroom and the actual room, which is maybe around 25 square meters with a bed, a small dining table, a desk with a computer, a shelf for the books and a cupboard for the clothes. No TV though, which means that one has to come up with alternative ways of spending the evenings. There is however plenty of free floorspace, but I haven’t found out yet what they think of guests staying over.
Anyway, after a couple of hours of unpacking and relaxing I was given lots of papers to sign and a short tour of the instute. All in German, I am happy to say. It went better than I had feared. I understood almost everything and I actually managed to say a thing or two – even if I also did a lot of nodding with „Okay, gut, genau“ -type of commentary. But Frau Z was just happy that I spoke German at all – insisting that her English was not at all good – and Herr G actually complimented me on my German. Which was really terribly nice of him, even if not very accurate.
But I think the language thing may be okay. I was reading the Frankfurter Allgemeine in the plane and could actually understand most of the articles that I read without bigger problems. Speaking is still a problem, because my grammar sucks and my vocabulary is very limited, but on the other hand I still seem to be able to communicate – even if people have to finish my sentences for me. Thus far they seem quite willing to do it too. Maybe it’s because the Germans seem to like Finns. Everytime I do the „ich komme aus Finnland“ -thing, they get a big smile on their face and repeat happily „aus Finnland?!“ Plus at the institute there is the added advantage that lots of people here are on very good terms with my „Doktormutter“ so they seem pre-disposed towards liking me too. And I of course like anybody who likes me, so that might make things easier.
After all the bureaucratic stuff I went for the first of hopefully many walks. There is quite a big park that starts directly from the institute and follows a small river. There’s some sort of smallish bird reservoir on the other side and plenty of very lovely looking places for a person to sit down with a book. Looked altogether very promising. I also found a store and discovered that at least food is cheaper here than in Finland. Germany also seems to be one of those countries, where you can get wine for less than 2 euros from the grocery stores. So I’ve celebrated my birthday with a nice mozzarella salad, a glass of white wine and some of the chocolate I got as a present yesterday. The other present is waiting for me and I think I will go and keep Paolo Coelho company now. Thanks by the way for the party yesterday and Ä for taking me to the airport. All very nice!
Now I’m going to go and see if I can still get into the library to post this. I have a computer with an internet connection in my room, but the good people of the institute have seen fit to ban certain sites. Like blogger, myspace and youtube for instance. Schade.
syyskuuta 01, 2007
Saturday
The house looks like a mess. I've started the packing, but have mostly only succeeded in throwing out half of my clothes. Which pleases me to no end, since I have far too many clothes. And now luckily quite a number less of those, which I never use anyway.
I also have a new pair of shoes. I like walking and I'm planning to get to know one or two parts of Frankfurt by taking nice long walks there. It seems that in addition to the river there are lots of very beautiful parks and other natury-type areas around. I'm very much looking forward to that. It also pleases me that in Frankfurt it is as warm in September as here in August, as warm in October as here in September and so on. Some sunshine to look forward to!
What I find less pleasing are the types of shoes that are sold to women. I wanted something that would look nice, be comfortable to walk in and would not cost the world. So I went looking for something like sneaker type of walking shoes. And what do I find? All women's shoes of that type are either white, red, ultra silvery or have very strange pink lines all over. In a word they are pretty damn princessy. If one wants plain, simple, black-greyish, yet fairly elegant walking shoes one is in trouble. Unless....da-daa... one goes to check men's shoes. They make so much more beautiful shoes for men. I've noticed that before, but have not drawn the proper conclusions before today. Which is that if they make more beautiful shoes for men, BUY men's shoes! Which is what I ended up doing.
We have then also switched to Digi-TV today. The analogical side still functions too, since I live in a cable household. There were still differences though: the digi insisted on giving the radio channels to me instead of TV and a number of new channels had appeared. Channels, which are not supposed to be free, so I'm wondering what that is all about.
I also have a new pair of shoes. I like walking and I'm planning to get to know one or two parts of Frankfurt by taking nice long walks there. It seems that in addition to the river there are lots of very beautiful parks and other natury-type areas around. I'm very much looking forward to that. It also pleases me that in Frankfurt it is as warm in September as here in August, as warm in October as here in September and so on. Some sunshine to look forward to!
What I find less pleasing are the types of shoes that are sold to women. I wanted something that would look nice, be comfortable to walk in and would not cost the world. So I went looking for something like sneaker type of walking shoes. And what do I find? All women's shoes of that type are either white, red, ultra silvery or have very strange pink lines all over. In a word they are pretty damn princessy. If one wants plain, simple, black-greyish, yet fairly elegant walking shoes one is in trouble. Unless....da-daa... one goes to check men's shoes. They make so much more beautiful shoes for men. I've noticed that before, but have not drawn the proper conclusions before today. Which is that if they make more beautiful shoes for men, BUY men's shoes! Which is what I ended up doing.
We have then also switched to Digi-TV today. The analogical side still functions too, since I live in a cable household. There were still differences though: the digi insisted on giving the radio channels to me instead of TV and a number of new channels had appeared. Channels, which are not supposed to be free, so I'm wondering what that is all about.
elokuuta 31, 2007
The summer is over
The summer is over and it's only three days until my plane takes off. Frankfurt - here I come.
In honour of the forthcoming three months and some three weeks in Germany I've decided to resurrect my blog. One remembers things so much better when one has marked something down, don't you think? At least I do. I think I've mentioned it before, but I have an appallingly bad memory when it comes to past occurrences - and all sorts of things in general, actually.
It's much nicer when one remembers things that have happened, instead of some years being just more or less total blanks. People mention things that have taken place and then the memory of them sometimes comes back to you, but so actively I can't remember them. Like today someone brought up a trip to Lapland we took a few years back and it took me a few seconds to dig up the memory of that. I remember the trip now, but some of it gets mixed up with another one that took place around the same time and partially in the company of the same people. And there are so many details that I can't remember at all. The thing with the memory is that if you can't remember things, it's almost as if they haven't happened at all.
I wish to remember Frankfurt. I wish to remember this summer too. There were some great moments. I loved painting the summer cottage, I loved that one evening sitting in the swing when everything was beautiful enough to cry for, I loved last Sunday evening in Kaipiainen with candles burning, music playing and a fire in the fireplace. You know, the wonderful, stress free moments when all the demands of the world seem very far away.
This has been a good week too. Monday to the movies and out to dinner with the girls, Tuesday and Wednesday to Vaasa and yesterday to see S and her new baby - and today the farewell party at work (thank you btw to everyone who came and for the beautiful present) and then sitting two hours at the hairdressers, which was very relaxing. Now I have a weekend of packing and cleaning up to look forward to, since I haven't even begun.
I should also practice my German. It's still viel zu schlecht and I'm a bit worried about it. More than a bit actually. I'm a touch perfectionistic about languages and would really prefer to use them only if I know them well. I suppose that goes for everything actually. But I think I've said that before too.
In honour of the forthcoming three months and some three weeks in Germany I've decided to resurrect my blog. One remembers things so much better when one has marked something down, don't you think? At least I do. I think I've mentioned it before, but I have an appallingly bad memory when it comes to past occurrences - and all sorts of things in general, actually.
It's much nicer when one remembers things that have happened, instead of some years being just more or less total blanks. People mention things that have taken place and then the memory of them sometimes comes back to you, but so actively I can't remember them. Like today someone brought up a trip to Lapland we took a few years back and it took me a few seconds to dig up the memory of that. I remember the trip now, but some of it gets mixed up with another one that took place around the same time and partially in the company of the same people. And there are so many details that I can't remember at all. The thing with the memory is that if you can't remember things, it's almost as if they haven't happened at all.
I wish to remember Frankfurt. I wish to remember this summer too. There were some great moments. I loved painting the summer cottage, I loved that one evening sitting in the swing when everything was beautiful enough to cry for, I loved last Sunday evening in Kaipiainen with candles burning, music playing and a fire in the fireplace. You know, the wonderful, stress free moments when all the demands of the world seem very far away.
This has been a good week too. Monday to the movies and out to dinner with the girls, Tuesday and Wednesday to Vaasa and yesterday to see S and her new baby - and today the farewell party at work (thank you btw to everyone who came and for the beautiful present) and then sitting two hours at the hairdressers, which was very relaxing. Now I have a weekend of packing and cleaning up to look forward to, since I haven't even begun.
I should also practice my German. It's still viel zu schlecht and I'm a bit worried about it. More than a bit actually. I'm a touch perfectionistic about languages and would really prefer to use them only if I know them well. I suppose that goes for everything actually. But I think I've said that before too.
kesäkuuta 03, 2007
Life and literature
It’s been ages again, since I’ve been here last. The spring has gone so fast.
I’m sitting at work, even though it is Sunday. I needed to get some documents printed out and finally finish the seminar paper for next Tuesday. Most of the seminar participants should have arrived in Finland by now and we are going to have the opening dinner in couple of hours. And a cruise tomorrow night. That’ll be quite fun – hopefully and with the weather allowing – since I’ve actually never properly seen Helsinki from the sea. Ferry trips to Suomenlinna – or Stockholm and Tallinn – just do not count.
So a few more days and then I’m going to head to the lake and the garden for a couple of days. I hope the weather continues warm, because I want to do some digging and lawn mowing and reading in the sun. I am looking forward to that.
I need to come back to town for a couple more weeks after that, but after Midsummer I’m so out of here. I think I’m going to vacation for most of July and August. Technically, you see, I’m not getting paid for those two months, so I don’t feel too tempted to work either. I’m really not that obsessed about work. No, no sirree.
I was going to work my butt off this year, but things have been postponed again. I was appointed to the office of the assistant in legal history, you see, which means that there will be bread and butter on my table for the next five years. So I will head to Frankfurt in September for the rest of the year and then come back and spend the beginning of next year still on the dissertation.
Even though I haven’t worked my butt off, I have still been quite productive. I have written almost as much as in the previous five years altogether. I’ve taken a literature class, which was basically for fun, but turned out to be helpful work wise as well. Now I finally have some idea as to what deconstruction, post-structuralism and the linguistic turn are all about. It was really good to participate once again in a course, where things are taught from the beginning and where one can ask elementary questions without feeling dumb. I discovered an active participant in myself and realised once more that one can’t produce innovative things unless one is really interested in the subject matter.
Yep, that course was good. Especially the last part that had to do with literary theories. And also writing the prose paper. The teacher really liked it, you see, and that hasn’t happened in a while. It reminded me of the time long ago, when I was an exchange student in the States. I had this course on Greco-Roman Civilisation – with the best teacher in the world, Pam Brown – and I remember writing an analysis on some ancient story about Odysseus’ bow, which name or author I can’t anymore recall. But I will probably forever remember Pam Brown telling me that what I had written was exactly what she had hoped that others would produce too.
I loved that course – and her Latin class, which I took as well. It was quite enough to make me hundred percent certain that history was what I wanted to do too. But of course I didn’t – for all the wrong reasons. Now I have been thinking about that again – the course, analysing that story, analysing the book for this current literature class and all those literary theories. Because Pam Brown’s class wasn’t really so much about history as it was about literature. Because I’m not sure anymore that history is ultimately meaningful either. Because maybe it is literature after all – and perhaps music – which is the answer. The way to discover the undiscoverable. Speak of that which cannot be spoken about. Touch the universe and the fears, which rule us.
Yep, yep, something to think about.
---------------------------------------
Currently listening to: Treibhaus - Unsterblich
I’m sitting at work, even though it is Sunday. I needed to get some documents printed out and finally finish the seminar paper for next Tuesday. Most of the seminar participants should have arrived in Finland by now and we are going to have the opening dinner in couple of hours. And a cruise tomorrow night. That’ll be quite fun – hopefully and with the weather allowing – since I’ve actually never properly seen Helsinki from the sea. Ferry trips to Suomenlinna – or Stockholm and Tallinn – just do not count.
So a few more days and then I’m going to head to the lake and the garden for a couple of days. I hope the weather continues warm, because I want to do some digging and lawn mowing and reading in the sun. I am looking forward to that.
I need to come back to town for a couple more weeks after that, but after Midsummer I’m so out of here. I think I’m going to vacation for most of July and August. Technically, you see, I’m not getting paid for those two months, so I don’t feel too tempted to work either. I’m really not that obsessed about work. No, no sirree.
I was going to work my butt off this year, but things have been postponed again. I was appointed to the office of the assistant in legal history, you see, which means that there will be bread and butter on my table for the next five years. So I will head to Frankfurt in September for the rest of the year and then come back and spend the beginning of next year still on the dissertation.
Even though I haven’t worked my butt off, I have still been quite productive. I have written almost as much as in the previous five years altogether. I’ve taken a literature class, which was basically for fun, but turned out to be helpful work wise as well. Now I finally have some idea as to what deconstruction, post-structuralism and the linguistic turn are all about. It was really good to participate once again in a course, where things are taught from the beginning and where one can ask elementary questions without feeling dumb. I discovered an active participant in myself and realised once more that one can’t produce innovative things unless one is really interested in the subject matter.
Yep, that course was good. Especially the last part that had to do with literary theories. And also writing the prose paper. The teacher really liked it, you see, and that hasn’t happened in a while. It reminded me of the time long ago, when I was an exchange student in the States. I had this course on Greco-Roman Civilisation – with the best teacher in the world, Pam Brown – and I remember writing an analysis on some ancient story about Odysseus’ bow, which name or author I can’t anymore recall. But I will probably forever remember Pam Brown telling me that what I had written was exactly what she had hoped that others would produce too.
I loved that course – and her Latin class, which I took as well. It was quite enough to make me hundred percent certain that history was what I wanted to do too. But of course I didn’t – for all the wrong reasons. Now I have been thinking about that again – the course, analysing that story, analysing the book for this current literature class and all those literary theories. Because Pam Brown’s class wasn’t really so much about history as it was about literature. Because I’m not sure anymore that history is ultimately meaningful either. Because maybe it is literature after all – and perhaps music – which is the answer. The way to discover the undiscoverable. Speak of that which cannot be spoken about. Touch the universe and the fears, which rule us.
Yep, yep, something to think about.
---------------------------------------
Currently listening to: Treibhaus - Unsterblich
maaliskuuta 08, 2007
Spring...sleep
Spring is now definitely making its first move towards this direction. They've promised degrees above zero for the next few days, which pleases me greatly. An occasion for a bit of a spring-dance, me almost thinks. Except that I don't really dance.
I am tired again. It's not even eight o'clock and I'm already tired. Yesterday I fell asleep on the couch around this time, struggling through a German book about early modern procedural law, which was just a touch too much for my language skills. But I have to practice if I am going to manage in Frankfurt later this year. That's my excuse for hanging on the German forums. Just learning the language...
I went to see "The Painted Veil" today with the girls. I rather liked it: a somewhat modernised version of W. Somerset Maugham's book by the same name. Extremely beautiful scenery, good acting (Edward Norton, Naomi Watts, Liev Schreiber) and an enjoyable plot. I haven't actually read the book, but I did some googling just now. After the literature class it is really easier to notice how tied to their time and context books are. The story in the movie is apparently pretty much the same as in the book, but the morality is that of the 21st century. As it has to be to speak to the people of this time and age. It's only when reading old books that one notices how different values people really had before.
Bugger. Too tireeeeeeeeeed. Can't form a sensible thought anymore. Maybe I'll watch some TV and put the last brain cells to sleep.
I am tired again. It's not even eight o'clock and I'm already tired. Yesterday I fell asleep on the couch around this time, struggling through a German book about early modern procedural law, which was just a touch too much for my language skills. But I have to practice if I am going to manage in Frankfurt later this year. That's my excuse for hanging on the German forums. Just learning the language...
I went to see "The Painted Veil" today with the girls. I rather liked it: a somewhat modernised version of W. Somerset Maugham's book by the same name. Extremely beautiful scenery, good acting (Edward Norton, Naomi Watts, Liev Schreiber) and an enjoyable plot. I haven't actually read the book, but I did some googling just now. After the literature class it is really easier to notice how tied to their time and context books are. The story in the movie is apparently pretty much the same as in the book, but the morality is that of the 21st century. As it has to be to speak to the people of this time and age. It's only when reading old books that one notices how different values people really had before.
Bugger. Too tireeeeeeeeeed. Can't form a sensible thought anymore. Maybe I'll watch some TV and put the last brain cells to sleep.
maaliskuuta 06, 2007
Winter vs Spring
Yuck! I baked muffins and now I'm as stuffed as an owl in a bio class. Why does one always have to eat too much of the sweet stuff?
I stayed home today to finish the seminar paper. Ended up being a bit of c&p job from my disseration, but I did manage to write something too. And I have to say it was much more fun than I thought it would be. Just as easy and fast to write as the poetry paper. I think that is due to the fact that I've finally gotten around to reading and analysing the actual cases from the 18th century and therefore I actually have something new to say. Yup, yup, yup... Research at its best is a fun thing to do.
After finishing the paper I went out for a walk. At a right and proper time too. The sun was shining - mostly - the birds were singing and it almost felt like spring. It was a couple of degrees above zero and here and there you could actually see that the snow was trying to melt. Unfortunaly after a couple of hours it was again snowing - or perhaps sleeting - so it wasn't much of a spring. But the hope of a spring is already there and that is already enough to make one feel a little joyous.
I have mentioned that I am not a winter person, haven't I? Although this winter I have - for the first time in probably about fifteen years - gone to skiing. Altogether three times. Thanks to my sister. Yep, I actually bought a pair of skis and have practiced outdoor winter sports. Who would have thought of that.
I stayed home today to finish the seminar paper. Ended up being a bit of c&p job from my disseration, but I did manage to write something too. And I have to say it was much more fun than I thought it would be. Just as easy and fast to write as the poetry paper. I think that is due to the fact that I've finally gotten around to reading and analysing the actual cases from the 18th century and therefore I actually have something new to say. Yup, yup, yup... Research at its best is a fun thing to do.
After finishing the paper I went out for a walk. At a right and proper time too. The sun was shining - mostly - the birds were singing and it almost felt like spring. It was a couple of degrees above zero and here and there you could actually see that the snow was trying to melt. Unfortunaly after a couple of hours it was again snowing - or perhaps sleeting - so it wasn't much of a spring. But the hope of a spring is already there and that is already enough to make one feel a little joyous.
I have mentioned that I am not a winter person, haven't I? Although this winter I have - for the first time in probably about fifteen years - gone to skiing. Altogether three times. Thanks to my sister. Yep, I actually bought a pair of skis and have practiced outdoor winter sports. Who would have thought of that.
maaliskuuta 04, 2007
Computers and writing
Well, well, well...now it's really been a while, since I've last been here. But - thanks to the lovely comment of S - I'm once more sitting in front of this familiar screen clicking the buttons. (Thank you muchly, brought a smile to my face! :D) But alas, I am also sitting in front of my desk and not on my lovely couch, the common abode for my scribbling activities. This is due to the sad fact that the new computer - which I purchased just before that merry event called x'mas - decided before it had quite turned a month old that it did not like to function.
Since I am as lazy as ever and apparently destined to remain so, the computer has sat on my couch at work now for quite a few days, weeks and soon months waiting to go and see a nice computer doctor. The old computer still works - thereby not hastening my need to take the new one to the aforementioned nice computer doctor - but since it is already old and cranky, it needs to be held steadily on an object such as an table and not precariously on one's lap. Otherwise it will soon claim that it is not getting enough power and will end up deader than a spitting spider in a cow's stomach. Not a happy condition for blogging or any other sort of computer-related writing activities.
And writing is what I've been doing and what I should do. Writing at work is at the moment going quite well (that pesky dissertation you may remember). I've also managed to produce the first poetry analysis for the literature class I've been taking with my sister, and yesterday I finally took the Classics test. Now I've analysed heroism in Kalevala and the man's dualistic nature in Kallas and feel, ah, so wise. Bothersomely I also feel troubled by the annoying fact that I had much more fun writing the freaking poetry essay than I have contemplating writing the paper for the doctoral seminar, which should have been done by Wednesday... Which I was supposed to be writing today... And did I? As if!
I have been writing this weekend, but just not anything I should. I started a new story yesterday, but couldn't bring myself to continue it today. So I dug up an old barely started story, which goes by the name of "Hell hath no wrath like a woman scorned". Isn't that original? I started that one already a couple of months ago, feeling pissed at a certain otherwise lovely male person in the wonderful world of forums, who chose to call me boring. In retrospect he may have had some reason, but at the time I needed to vent my feelings and so a charming little revenge fantasy was born. Or a beginning of one. It only has ten pages so far, but maybe this baby will have the chance to mature.
I think I will post yesterday's scribblings in "Pieniä ajatuksia elämästä ja kuolemasta". In Finnish, I'm afraid, that one.
Since I am as lazy as ever and apparently destined to remain so, the computer has sat on my couch at work now for quite a few days, weeks and soon months waiting to go and see a nice computer doctor. The old computer still works - thereby not hastening my need to take the new one to the aforementioned nice computer doctor - but since it is already old and cranky, it needs to be held steadily on an object such as an table and not precariously on one's lap. Otherwise it will soon claim that it is not getting enough power and will end up deader than a spitting spider in a cow's stomach. Not a happy condition for blogging or any other sort of computer-related writing activities.
And writing is what I've been doing and what I should do. Writing at work is at the moment going quite well (that pesky dissertation you may remember). I've also managed to produce the first poetry analysis for the literature class I've been taking with my sister, and yesterday I finally took the Classics test. Now I've analysed heroism in Kalevala and the man's dualistic nature in Kallas and feel, ah, so wise. Bothersomely I also feel troubled by the annoying fact that I had much more fun writing the freaking poetry essay than I have contemplating writing the paper for the doctoral seminar, which should have been done by Wednesday... Which I was supposed to be writing today... And did I? As if!
I have been writing this weekend, but just not anything I should. I started a new story yesterday, but couldn't bring myself to continue it today. So I dug up an old barely started story, which goes by the name of "Hell hath no wrath like a woman scorned". Isn't that original? I started that one already a couple of months ago, feeling pissed at a certain otherwise lovely male person in the wonderful world of forums, who chose to call me boring. In retrospect he may have had some reason, but at the time I needed to vent my feelings and so a charming little revenge fantasy was born. Or a beginning of one. It only has ten pages so far, but maybe this baby will have the chance to mature.
I think I will post yesterday's scribblings in "Pieniä ajatuksia elämästä ja kuolemasta". In Finnish, I'm afraid, that one.
syyskuuta 10, 2006
It's getting late
I have not written in more than two months. A mountain of two months that one needs to dig one's way through to reach this very page. And then the question remains whether one should pour the mountain back here or whether it's okay to leave it behind and just start fresh.
Choices, choices.
Well, if I'm going to tell you about my summer, it is not going to be today. I'm going to listen to a few more songs and build up my favourite list on You tube - and then today will be fast on its way to yesterday. I have just discoverd You tube properly, so my fingers still itch. Or rather my ears. More importantly than discovering You tube, you see, I've discovered In Extremo, Oomph! and Unheilig. I really have a serious thing for heavier German music right now. Bloody brilliant.
During this weekend I've also had the chance to listen to other kind of music. I went to another dissertation party yesterday, but this was not totally traditional. The new Doctor of Laws was from Cameroon and therefore we got treated to Cameroonian music, dance and food. It was really quite fascinating. I bet this was the only disputation party I'll ever attend, where God's blessing was asked for the occasion. I also got to be one of the people who were asked to dance the first dance before opening the floor to everyone. I was paired with the current or the former president of the Cameroonian association in Finland. I think he was the current president; a very polite guy.
Cameroonian food was also a very exotic experience - some of it very good, some very hot and spicy, some with a taste that would take some getting used to. Yeah. I'm very glad I got invited to the party. Not something you see everyday.
I had a small party today too, at home in honour of my birthday. Which, of course, was already a week ago, but better late than never. I was at my grandparent's summer cabin anyway last week to celebrate my birthday - staring at the lake and pretending it was still summer. That has gotten pretty much impossible this week. Cold and rain.
Yes, autumn is here. Start of a new year. In many ways autumn - the beginning of a new school year and my birthday - is much more a beginning of a new year than January ever is. What better way to start it than with a nice birthday party.
I'm 32 - not really old, not anymore young.
Quite a nice age.
Choices, choices.
Well, if I'm going to tell you about my summer, it is not going to be today. I'm going to listen to a few more songs and build up my favourite list on You tube - and then today will be fast on its way to yesterday. I have just discoverd You tube properly, so my fingers still itch. Or rather my ears. More importantly than discovering You tube, you see, I've discovered In Extremo, Oomph! and Unheilig. I really have a serious thing for heavier German music right now. Bloody brilliant.
During this weekend I've also had the chance to listen to other kind of music. I went to another dissertation party yesterday, but this was not totally traditional. The new Doctor of Laws was from Cameroon and therefore we got treated to Cameroonian music, dance and food. It was really quite fascinating. I bet this was the only disputation party I'll ever attend, where God's blessing was asked for the occasion. I also got to be one of the people who were asked to dance the first dance before opening the floor to everyone. I was paired with the current or the former president of the Cameroonian association in Finland. I think he was the current president; a very polite guy.
Cameroonian food was also a very exotic experience - some of it very good, some very hot and spicy, some with a taste that would take some getting used to. Yeah. I'm very glad I got invited to the party. Not something you see everyday.
I had a small party today too, at home in honour of my birthday. Which, of course, was already a week ago, but better late than never. I was at my grandparent's summer cabin anyway last week to celebrate my birthday - staring at the lake and pretending it was still summer. That has gotten pretty much impossible this week. Cold and rain.
Yes, autumn is here. Start of a new year. In many ways autumn - the beginning of a new school year and my birthday - is much more a beginning of a new year than January ever is. What better way to start it than with a nice birthday party.
I'm 32 - not really old, not anymore young.
Quite a nice age.
kesäkuuta 27, 2006
In town for a change
I'm back. Briefly.
I came to the conclusion that I was originally right after all. About the city not being the place to spend the summer. Therefore I am planning to head back to the countryside pronto - like tomorrow or the day after at the latest.
Gardening, you see, is at least as much fun as sunbathing and reading a good book. Extremely relaxing too.
Not that there aren't things to do in the city too. Like going to the movies. None of the city things are specifically summer things though and these couple of months are just too short to waste. So back it is, to the lake, lawn mowing and possibly little painting. I'll miss the net though.
Oh, and speaking of movies, I finally saw Brokeback Mountain. That was one sad story. Very good and very, very sad.
I came to the conclusion that I was originally right after all. About the city not being the place to spend the summer. Therefore I am planning to head back to the countryside pronto - like tomorrow or the day after at the latest.
Gardening, you see, is at least as much fun as sunbathing and reading a good book. Extremely relaxing too.
Not that there aren't things to do in the city too. Like going to the movies. None of the city things are specifically summer things though and these couple of months are just too short to waste. So back it is, to the lake, lawn mowing and possibly little painting. I'll miss the net though.
Oh, and speaking of movies, I finally saw Brokeback Mountain. That was one sad story. Very good and very, very sad.
kesäkuuta 20, 2006
Packing
The move at work is now over. Books and folders have been shelved, computer connected, new pillows on the window ledge. No couch yet though.
We are going to unpack the books of the legal history's own library still next week, but otherwise my packing and unpacking is done. Haven't really done much else these past two days. Yesterday morning I baked a little - muffins and danish pastries - to feed the folks who had been volunteered to pack the aforementioned library. It's much more fun to "volunteer" if you get something to eat, don't you think? We had fun. At least I did.
Tomorrow we are going to take off to Kaipiainen. Early start to the Midsummer festivities. S gets off from work at three and we'll leave after that. We already went to pick up my car today and did some grocery shopping. We still need to get some stuff from Kouvola, but it won't take as long and means less waiting-time for Maija in the car. The weather is supposed to get colder on Thursday or Friday, which would be quite typical for Midsummer day, but one can always hope that they are wrong!
I should pack for tomorrow, but I think I'll eat some cake instead.
We are going to unpack the books of the legal history's own library still next week, but otherwise my packing and unpacking is done. Haven't really done much else these past two days. Yesterday morning I baked a little - muffins and danish pastries - to feed the folks who had been volunteered to pack the aforementioned library. It's much more fun to "volunteer" if you get something to eat, don't you think? We had fun. At least I did.
Tomorrow we are going to take off to Kaipiainen. Early start to the Midsummer festivities. S gets off from work at three and we'll leave after that. We already went to pick up my car today and did some grocery shopping. We still need to get some stuff from Kouvola, but it won't take as long and means less waiting-time for Maija in the car. The weather is supposed to get colder on Thursday or Friday, which would be quite typical for Midsummer day, but one can always hope that they are wrong!
I should pack for tomorrow, but I think I'll eat some cake instead.
kesäkuuta 18, 2006
Sunny Sunday
The summer continues hot. Today we went to Tervasaari with Maija and M. I had never been there before, even though it is so close by; then again it is often the places, which are close by, that you don't get around to visit. Usually because you think that you have the opportunity to go there whenever you wish - in this case though because I didn't know what Tervasaari was all about. Which in essence is about enjoying the summer, lying around on the grass or the rocks, listening to the sea and worshipping the sun.
The walk there along Pohjoisranta felt a little unreal. That part of Pohjoisranta for some reason feels to me as if it would better fit in Paris or some other South European city, not Helsinki. We strolled back, ate ice cream and I felt like a tourist on a holiday. It was good and I rather think Maija enjoyed it too: she did some swimming and digging and growling at other dogs who looked too closely at her rock.
M stayed to eat and to play with Maija for a little while. We master chefs made some pasta-salad and opened the wine bottle. Again a little "touristy". I cannot follow any of my routines here, which is probably a very excellent thing.
I'm enjoying the evening now and sipping tea. Maija on the other hand is in the bedroom, trying to learn not to bark at neighbours. This appears to be a thing she is not learning very well, because she has had quite a few lessons today. I hope the neighbours are patient. And love dogs.
The walk there along Pohjoisranta felt a little unreal. That part of Pohjoisranta for some reason feels to me as if it would better fit in Paris or some other South European city, not Helsinki. We strolled back, ate ice cream and I felt like a tourist on a holiday. It was good and I rather think Maija enjoyed it too: she did some swimming and digging and growling at other dogs who looked too closely at her rock.
M stayed to eat and to play with Maija for a little while. We master chefs made some pasta-salad and opened the wine bottle. Again a little "touristy". I cannot follow any of my routines here, which is probably a very excellent thing.
I'm enjoying the evening now and sipping tea. Maija on the other hand is in the bedroom, trying to learn not to bark at neighbours. This appears to be a thing she is not learning very well, because she has had quite a few lessons today. I hope the neighbours are patient. And love dogs.
kesäkuuta 17, 2006
The new look is working...
I have now stayed at my sister's for two nights. They are in the States to visit M's family and I'm minding the dog, Maija. Maija's been quite good, although she occasionally manages to annoy me. Like when she barks at the newspaper delivery guy/gal at night, even if we don't get the paper. Or when she barks at anyone walking in the corridor. But mostly she has been very good.
I'm liking my stay at my sister's. It's very lovely to live in the middle of everything. One can do things spontaneously, you see. When one comes home from work it doesn't mean one has to get stuck on the couch to stare at TV or the computer. Instead one can go out, on the spur of the moment, spontaneously so to say. Jup, spontaneous is the word.
And I'm happy to report that I've been spontaneous. You see, the eight miracle of the world happened yesterday - in the middle of the day, in a dog park. A genuine Finnish male of appropriate age, sane mind and reasonable looks asked yours truly out. Yes, you heard me, asked me out on a date. The thing which you are not going to believe is that I said yes.
Now those of you who do not really know me will ask "so what?". A reasonable looking lass, she propably gets asked out always now and then and says yes to at least some of the offers - even if she is now going to do the obligatory complaining of "I've not been out in ages". This usually in papers and tv-series means something along the lines of "Can you believe that I have not gone out in entire two months?!!"
How that always makes me laugh. I checked, you see, and it has been four years and about four months since my last date. That I consider to be long enough to merit a moan of "I've not been out in ages". Especially since it's been almost as long again since my date previous to that one.
Yesterday was also the first time I've ever been asked out by a Finnish guy. That is a rather interesting order of affairs, don't you think? I would love to say it tells something about Finnish guys, but I'm afraid it says more about me.
Well, the date was yesterday too. Spontaneous, you remember? It was interesting, it was educational, it was for the most part very entertaining and fun, but so in retrospect also little disappointing and confusing. Mostly because of the educational part and because I haven't yet had time to process everything that this date tells me about me. And before you ask, no, you do not have any hope of seeing him. It ended traditionally with very different expectations of the course of a first date and no hope for a second one. He did rather return some of my faith in men though and I think that in the future I won't let another four years pass before the next date.
Yeah, it was fun. The couple of weird moments, which I thought were going to need a little careful editing of memories, are going to end up in a story somewhere. As examples of things not to say, if you are trying to sound sexy or seductive. At least not if the girl in question is a full-fledged, even if cynical, romantic.
Yeah. Yep, yep, yep...
Oh, and today we went to Suomenlinna, our beautiful island fortress, with Maija and M. Maija was happy to see her, since I'm apparently the boring auntie. The fourth annual "Culture Festival of the Enlightenment Era" - say that with the pompousness it requires - was on and so we spent couple of hours sunbathing and listening to 18th century music and excerpts from the texts of Voltaire and Frederick the Great. Ahem, romantic, remember. Maija on the other hand spent the time barking at seagulls and digging holes in the ground.
I liked today very much too. Now I've been reading Milan Kundera - my, he is good - drinking wine and tea, eating chocolate, being generally happy and watching a silly romantic comedy.
I'm liking my stay at my sister's. It's very lovely to live in the middle of everything. One can do things spontaneously, you see. When one comes home from work it doesn't mean one has to get stuck on the couch to stare at TV or the computer. Instead one can go out, on the spur of the moment, spontaneously so to say. Jup, spontaneous is the word.
And I'm happy to report that I've been spontaneous. You see, the eight miracle of the world happened yesterday - in the middle of the day, in a dog park. A genuine Finnish male of appropriate age, sane mind and reasonable looks asked yours truly out. Yes, you heard me, asked me out on a date. The thing which you are not going to believe is that I said yes.
Now those of you who do not really know me will ask "so what?". A reasonable looking lass, she propably gets asked out always now and then and says yes to at least some of the offers - even if she is now going to do the obligatory complaining of "I've not been out in ages". This usually in papers and tv-series means something along the lines of "Can you believe that I have not gone out in entire two months?!!"
How that always makes me laugh. I checked, you see, and it has been four years and about four months since my last date. That I consider to be long enough to merit a moan of "I've not been out in ages". Especially since it's been almost as long again since my date previous to that one.
Yesterday was also the first time I've ever been asked out by a Finnish guy. That is a rather interesting order of affairs, don't you think? I would love to say it tells something about Finnish guys, but I'm afraid it says more about me.
Well, the date was yesterday too. Spontaneous, you remember? It was interesting, it was educational, it was for the most part very entertaining and fun, but so in retrospect also little disappointing and confusing. Mostly because of the educational part and because I haven't yet had time to process everything that this date tells me about me. And before you ask, no, you do not have any hope of seeing him. It ended traditionally with very different expectations of the course of a first date and no hope for a second one. He did rather return some of my faith in men though and I think that in the future I won't let another four years pass before the next date.
Yeah, it was fun. The couple of weird moments, which I thought were going to need a little careful editing of memories, are going to end up in a story somewhere. As examples of things not to say, if you are trying to sound sexy or seductive. At least not if the girl in question is a full-fledged, even if cynical, romantic.
Yeah. Yep, yep, yep...
Oh, and today we went to Suomenlinna, our beautiful island fortress, with Maija and M. Maija was happy to see her, since I'm apparently the boring auntie. The fourth annual "Culture Festival of the Enlightenment Era" - say that with the pompousness it requires - was on and so we spent couple of hours sunbathing and listening to 18th century music and excerpts from the texts of Voltaire and Frederick the Great. Ahem, romantic, remember. Maija on the other hand spent the time barking at seagulls and digging holes in the ground.
I liked today very much too. Now I've been reading Milan Kundera - my, he is good - drinking wine and tea, eating chocolate, being generally happy and watching a silly romantic comedy.
kesäkuuta 14, 2006
Should I do something useful?
I am so full of chocolate that I feel ill. Healthy life is not going good at the moment.
The weather on the other hand is perfect. Summer is truly finally here (at least for a couple of days) and as luck would have it, I was at Imatra to enjoy it. Spent last night at the summer cottage, managed to shed the winter coat a.k.a go swimming. The water was +20 degrees and not yet really warm, but not cold either. In other words very refreshing.
It was quite windy, but not so much as to stop me from sunbathing for hours. I can so well understand why the ancients worshipped the sun. Now there is a goddess, which gives you happiness. I try not to complain when she demands her price and I die a few years earlier because of skin cancer. I do think that I am willing to give her couple of years though. There is nothing like lying by the lake on a sunny day with a good book and the sun warming your back. Summer is without any doubt the best of all the seasons.
The weather on the other hand is perfect. Summer is truly finally here (at least for a couple of days) and as luck would have it, I was at Imatra to enjoy it. Spent last night at the summer cottage, managed to shed the winter coat a.k.a go swimming. The water was +20 degrees and not yet really warm, but not cold either. In other words very refreshing.
It was quite windy, but not so much as to stop me from sunbathing for hours. I can so well understand why the ancients worshipped the sun. Now there is a goddess, which gives you happiness. I try not to complain when she demands her price and I die a few years earlier because of skin cancer. I do think that I am willing to give her couple of years though. There is nothing like lying by the lake on a sunny day with a good book and the sun warming your back. Summer is without any doubt the best of all the seasons.
kesäkuuta 10, 2006
Congratulations A!
The defence of A's doctoral thesis is over - has been over for couple of hours already - and I didn't bother to go home again. The party will be starting in about three hours and so I am eating grapes at work and waiting for the hours to pass.
I have been putting books in boxes and going through my papers in preparation for the move to Porthania. It's actually quite fun - and useful. I have managed to throw away a huge amount of completely unnecessary papers that had just piled up over the years. It's quite interesting the things that one has saved for some unfathomable reason. Or the things that one finds - like my English dictionary.
I still have a few piles to go through so I think I return to them now. Have a nice weekend!
I have been putting books in boxes and going through my papers in preparation for the move to Porthania. It's actually quite fun - and useful. I have managed to throw away a huge amount of completely unnecessary papers that had just piled up over the years. It's quite interesting the things that one has saved for some unfathomable reason. Or the things that one finds - like my English dictionary.
I still have a few piles to go through so I think I return to them now. Have a nice weekend!
kesäkuuta 08, 2006
Blogger's playing up again
Today I wasn’t cultural, I went shopping instead.
We have another dissertation-party coming on next Saturday and I felt in need of some new clothing. I couldn’t find a nice dress though and didn’t feel like spending a hundred odd euros on a dress I didn’t particularly like. Therefore I bought a new bolero to go with an old dress of mine. Finding one was surprisingly hard work, since it seemed there was none in any of the stores. I’m sure there would have been in some of the small boutiques, but I hate boutiques. Shopping requires anonymity and freedom from overly helpful patronising sales ladies, who are tschk-tschking at your clothes the minute you turn your back.
I’ve also been thinking about memory. I have a fairly bad memory. Or alternatively I’m not interested in too many things. I read an article, you see, which says that you remember the things that interest you, things that you can associate with previous experiences. I’m constantly surprised by people who seem to remember “everything” they read or hear, the strangest little things. Through my head, on the other hand, experiences just pass without leaving any mark of themselves. An exaggeration of course, but I do have a bad memory. The good thing, according to the article, is that you can practise your memory. The long-term memory is apparently nearly limitless and you can remember huge amounts of information. The only thing is to be interested and to associate.
I can also report that I seem to live in some sort of “weak bladder” –neighbourhood. For two days in a row I’ve now run into a guy peeing on the sidewalk. Two different guys that is. What is that all about?
We have another dissertation-party coming on next Saturday and I felt in need of some new clothing. I couldn’t find a nice dress though and didn’t feel like spending a hundred odd euros on a dress I didn’t particularly like. Therefore I bought a new bolero to go with an old dress of mine. Finding one was surprisingly hard work, since it seemed there was none in any of the stores. I’m sure there would have been in some of the small boutiques, but I hate boutiques. Shopping requires anonymity and freedom from overly helpful patronising sales ladies, who are tschk-tschking at your clothes the minute you turn your back.
I’ve also been thinking about memory. I have a fairly bad memory. Or alternatively I’m not interested in too many things. I read an article, you see, which says that you remember the things that interest you, things that you can associate with previous experiences. I’m constantly surprised by people who seem to remember “everything” they read or hear, the strangest little things. Through my head, on the other hand, experiences just pass without leaving any mark of themselves. An exaggeration of course, but I do have a bad memory. The good thing, according to the article, is that you can practise your memory. The long-term memory is apparently nearly limitless and you can remember huge amounts of information. The only thing is to be interested and to associate.
I can also report that I seem to live in some sort of “weak bladder” –neighbourhood. For two days in a row I’ve now run into a guy peeing on the sidewalk. Two different guys that is. What is that all about?
kesäkuuta 07, 2006
hfhgia eritivu ri
I continued my cultural excursions today and went to Ateneum to see some art. They have free admission every Wednesday 17-20. Do you notice a pattern here? Yeah, I like free things. And having done a little research it actually appears there's plenty to do for free in a city the size of Helsinki.
I enjoyed most of the same paintings that I always do. I rather like Per Ekström, Werner Holmberg and Magnus Enckell for instance. I also realised that I really like sculptures and "grafiikka" - is grafiikka graphic arts? Google fails me as does my dear friend dictionary.com. I really should get a dictionary. I do check out words often, the spelling or synonyms at dictionary.com, but that is no help if one doesn't already have an idea where to start from. Let's pretend grafiikka is graphic arts.
My, my, I'm feeling a little full now. I've just eaten half a kilo of grapes.
I enjoyed most of the same paintings that I always do. I rather like Per Ekström, Werner Holmberg and Magnus Enckell for instance. I also realised that I really like sculptures and "grafiikka" - is grafiikka graphic arts? Google fails me as does my dear friend dictionary.com. I really should get a dictionary. I do check out words often, the spelling or synonyms at dictionary.com, but that is no help if one doesn't already have an idea where to start from. Let's pretend grafiikka is graphic arts.
My, my, I'm feeling a little full now. I've just eaten half a kilo of grapes.
kesäkuuta 06, 2006
Football commercials are annoying
Long day today. Squash in the morning, then full day at work and in the evening I decided to fight boredom by going to a concert. A piano concert at the Sibelius Academy - Liszt and Brahms mostly. They have this series "Music and Philosophy" going on and this was apparently part of it. Couldn't figure out what the philosophy part was supposed to be, but the music was good. And all for free. If you ever wish to hear classical music in Helsinki, Sibelius Academy is a good option because they often have free concerts - even by (locally) famous performers. Personally I'm planning to go more often, since I've decided to become more cultural.
I've read some interesting (and entertainingly sarcastic) internet articles about the number of the beast, since today is the 6th of June 2006 a.k.a 6.6.06, which for some is close enough to 666. According to most articles the number of the beast refers to emperor Nero (not a great favourite among the bible authors), but there was an interesting alternative numerological explanation.
The prophecy apparently says something like that a false prophet will come, cause the downfall of Christianity and thereafter the end of the world. Whether that means the Christian world or the world altogether is another question entirely. Anywho, if you take the number 666 and interpret it numerologically according to the Hebrew alphabet, you get WWW (since in the Hebrew Alphabet the number 6 corresponds to the letter W). And so, asks the article, "Is this the real prophecy? Is the WorldWideWeb the real ‘beast’, the ‘entity’ whose rise will cause the downfall of Christianity and the beginning of the end times? Is it the advent of the Web that has acted as the false prophet?"
Isn't life full of interesting and ever so important questions? ;-) You can ponder that. Does the web enlighten us, make us question stated authorities and take us to a Godless Era? And if it should do that, is it good or bad? I guess it depends on whether you like people to think for themselves and whether you think morality is somehow tied to religion or not.
I've read some interesting (and entertainingly sarcastic) internet articles about the number of the beast, since today is the 6th of June 2006 a.k.a 6.6.06, which for some is close enough to 666. According to most articles the number of the beast refers to emperor Nero (not a great favourite among the bible authors), but there was an interesting alternative numerological explanation.
The prophecy apparently says something like that a false prophet will come, cause the downfall of Christianity and thereafter the end of the world. Whether that means the Christian world or the world altogether is another question entirely. Anywho, if you take the number 666 and interpret it numerologically according to the Hebrew alphabet, you get WWW (since in the Hebrew Alphabet the number 6 corresponds to the letter W). And so, asks the article, "Is this the real prophecy? Is the WorldWideWeb the real ‘beast’, the ‘entity’ whose rise will cause the downfall of Christianity and the beginning of the end times? Is it the advent of the Web that has acted as the false prophet?"
Isn't life full of interesting and ever so important questions? ;-) You can ponder that. Does the web enlighten us, make us question stated authorities and take us to a Godless Era? And if it should do that, is it good or bad? I guess it depends on whether you like people to think for themselves and whether you think morality is somehow tied to religion or not.
kesäkuuta 05, 2006
Empty places between minutes
Sometimes there are boring days (or rather evenings). I guess it is up to oneself to decide whether boring days beget more boredom, or whether they become catalysts to ensuring that the next day won't be a boring one.
I want more!!
I want more!!
kesäkuuta 04, 2006
The sky is red-striped
Quite a good week this one. On Thursday we had the summer party of the institute. I went a bit early to help out, make the salad and generally carry stuff around. The party was good: we played some darts (or rather tikka, don't quite know what it is in English), ate more than enough and drank sufficiently. E played the guitar and the rest of us - or most of us anyway - tried our hand in singing. Lovely. I like our traditional summer parties. Last year I got invited too even though I was at the ministry at the time. It was one of the things that made me really realise that I missed the university and the people there.
On Friday was the last graduation day of this spring. The post-graduation event of the Lawyer's Association was one of the better ones. I went there in my new style, which I'm starting to like more and more, and actually got invited out to lunch. Probably not due to my new style, since it was not a date-type of invitation, but anyway. After the event I decided for once to spend some money on myself and went and bought two new coats. Did some clearing up later that day and managed to throw away a few pieces of clothing - you know those that haven't been worn in years, but somehow it's been impossible to get rid of anyhow.
Yesterday it rained all day long, so I did nothing but sit inside, clean a little, read a little and play a little. Today I went to town and saw a movie - "Lucky number Slevin", which was pure action-entertaiment, but very enjoyable. After that I walked to my sister's to get some house- and dog-sitting tips. They are heading to the States in couple of weeks and I will be staying at their place to take care of the dog. It will be interesting to see if living in the centre - even if for just couple of weeks - will have any effect on my use of time. Oh, and thanks for dinner! It was great.
On Friday was the last graduation day of this spring. The post-graduation event of the Lawyer's Association was one of the better ones. I went there in my new style, which I'm starting to like more and more, and actually got invited out to lunch. Probably not due to my new style, since it was not a date-type of invitation, but anyway. After the event I decided for once to spend some money on myself and went and bought two new coats. Did some clearing up later that day and managed to throw away a few pieces of clothing - you know those that haven't been worn in years, but somehow it's been impossible to get rid of anyhow.Yesterday it rained all day long, so I did nothing but sit inside, clean a little, read a little and play a little. Today I went to town and saw a movie - "Lucky number Slevin", which was pure action-entertaiment, but very enjoyable. After that I walked to my sister's to get some house- and dog-sitting tips. They are heading to the States in couple of weeks and I will be staying at their place to take care of the dog. It will be interesting to see if living in the centre - even if for just couple of weeks - will have any effect on my use of time. Oh, and thanks for dinner! It was great.
toukokuuta 30, 2006
The move is approaching
The faculty will be moving to Porthania in a couple of weeks, now that the renovations are done. Or nearly done. We went to see our new wing today and the building was still full of people trying to get everything ready in the remaining three weeks.
Porthania does look all shiny and light now. I've never really liked Porthania as a building, but I'm almost ready to change my mind. Everything looked so much better even though they haven't really done all that much to the place. Especially the rooms looked nice with the new shelves and big window ledges. I'll be getting a room all for myself, which is great. I'm very much looking forward to decorating it - pics on the walls, pillows on the window ledge, flowers and a quilt or something for the couch, which I am apparently getting too. And yay for that, since couches are the best place for reading.
I'm almost sorry that the summer vacation is coming to interrupt the enjoyment of the new room.
Porthania does look all shiny and light now. I've never really liked Porthania as a building, but I'm almost ready to change my mind. Everything looked so much better even though they haven't really done all that much to the place. Especially the rooms looked nice with the new shelves and big window ledges. I'll be getting a room all for myself, which is great. I'm very much looking forward to decorating it - pics on the walls, pillows on the window ledge, flowers and a quilt or something for the couch, which I am apparently getting too. And yay for that, since couches are the best place for reading.
I'm almost sorry that the summer vacation is coming to interrupt the enjoyment of the new room.
toukokuuta 29, 2006
light, dark and heavy
I've returned from Vaasa and Imatra and it's back to business. The first day at work since my change of style and I did get a few "OMG, what have you dones?" and also plenty of compliments. I am liking my new look.
We had the monthly legal history -lunch and I presented my "work in progress". That went quite alright. I also heard a piece of sad news, which I had managed to miss, since I didn't watch the news yesterday and had already cancelled the paper for the summer.
One of our professors was murdered last week and his body found yesterday in his apartment. I didn't know him personally, had only said hello to him maybe once or twice, so it wasn't a big shock on a personal level. Not a pleasant thing at all though, especially as the way he died was apparently rather gruesome. They've already arrested two men for the murder since he was seen leaving with them from a local gay club on the night it happened. Strange the things that happen every day. You go out to have fun and by the morning you've been manhandled to death. Why does it feel like that is something that only happens in books and movies?
On a far, far lighter note - today I weighed for the first time in many, many, many years less than sixty kilos. Healthy life is going good.
We had the monthly legal history -lunch and I presented my "work in progress". That went quite alright. I also heard a piece of sad news, which I had managed to miss, since I didn't watch the news yesterday and had already cancelled the paper for the summer.
One of our professors was murdered last week and his body found yesterday in his apartment. I didn't know him personally, had only said hello to him maybe once or twice, so it wasn't a big shock on a personal level. Not a pleasant thing at all though, especially as the way he died was apparently rather gruesome. They've already arrested two men for the murder since he was seen leaving with them from a local gay club on the night it happened. Strange the things that happen every day. You go out to have fun and by the morning you've been manhandled to death. Why does it feel like that is something that only happens in books and movies?
On a far, far lighter note - today I weighed for the first time in many, many, many years less than sixty kilos. Healthy life is going good.
toukokuuta 23, 2006
It's still raining
Greetings from Vaasa! The Guest house now has an internet connection, so one no longer needs to forgo the pleasures of surfing.
I have taken already nearly four thousand pictures. Like this one. You'd think it was a piece of cake, but after few hours I could really feel it in my back. The pic needs to be steady, taken from far enough to fit the entire text into the shot, but close enough to be able to read it properly, the light needs to be right so you need to lean in and peer through the camera but can't sit in order to avoid the shadow... In effect it kills your neck and shoulders.
The hazards of archive work.
I think I'll make some tea now and read the tabloid (a.k.a Ilta-Sanomat). Lordi is still the news of the day - and not just in Finland. Google news -search gives you 736 hits for Lordi. Some of those claim that we are a highly self-conscious nation. Like in that joke about the elephant - one version of which goes like this:
A Finn, an Italian and a Frenchman met an elephant in Africa.
That would make a fine steak, thought the Frenchman.
That would make a nice bag, thought the Italian.
I wonder what that elephant is thinking of me, thought the Finn.
I'm sure everyone wonders at times what others think of them. But are we as obsessed with the idea as to be "highly self-conscious". And if so, why? Don't we already in this year 2006 have a good and clear enough image of who we are? Or do we still need the others as mirrors to form our national self-image?
Individuals need others as mirrors to form a healthy self-image and self-esteem, especially as children. But we are not a child anymore as a nation, are we? Or maybe the image that we had formed of ourselves in our infancy was no longer to our liking. Now we are trying to re-form it to something that appeals to us more and for that we need the others' opinions as mirrors. In order to believe in ourselves as a nation capable of success we need to see that image reflect from the eyes of the others.
I have taken already nearly four thousand pictures. Like this one. You'd think it was a piece of cake, but after few hours I could really feel it in my back. The pic needs to be steady, taken from far enough to fit the entire text into the shot, but close enough to be able to read it properly, the light needs to be right so you need to lean in and peer through the camera but can't sit in order to avoid the shadow... In effect it kills your neck and shoulders.
The hazards of archive work.
I think I'll make some tea now and read the tabloid (a.k.a Ilta-Sanomat). Lordi is still the news of the day - and not just in Finland. Google news -search gives you 736 hits for Lordi. Some of those claim that we are a highly self-conscious nation. Like in that joke about the elephant - one version of which goes like this:
A Finn, an Italian and a Frenchman met an elephant in Africa.
That would make a fine steak, thought the Frenchman.
That would make a nice bag, thought the Italian.
I wonder what that elephant is thinking of me, thought the Finn.
I'm sure everyone wonders at times what others think of them. But are we as obsessed with the idea as to be "highly self-conscious". And if so, why? Don't we already in this year 2006 have a good and clear enough image of who we are? Or do we still need the others as mirrors to form our national self-image?
Individuals need others as mirrors to form a healthy self-image and self-esteem, especially as children. But we are not a child anymore as a nation, are we? Or maybe the image that we had formed of ourselves in our infancy was no longer to our liking. Now we are trying to re-form it to something that appeals to us more and for that we need the others' opinions as mirrors. In order to believe in ourselves as a nation capable of success we need to see that image reflect from the eyes of the others.
toukokuuta 21, 2006
Sunday morning
We won! Who would have thought that? Our monsters actually won. They liked us. Or rather they liked Lordi, but by association they liked us, the crazy Finns. Lovely. Now we have to keep an eye on the news and see if they have discovered life on Mars or that the hell has frozen over (both of which were said to happen before Finland would ever win the Eurovision song contest).
Oh well, back to reality. What should I do today? Except go for a long walk since I put on half a kilo during yesterday's "Eat and root Lordi to victory" -fest. Hmm, I'm going to have to pack. I'm going to Vaasa for three days, you see, to the Archives to get some more material. That'll be nice. It's somehow very relaxing to be cut out of the world for couple of days.
I think I could try to do some writing today as well. I haven't written anything in such a long time. Now which story should I continue with?
Oh well, back to reality. What should I do today? Except go for a long walk since I put on half a kilo during yesterday's "Eat and root Lordi to victory" -fest. Hmm, I'm going to have to pack. I'm going to Vaasa for three days, you see, to the Archives to get some more material. That'll be nice. It's somehow very relaxing to be cut out of the world for couple of days.
I think I could try to do some writing today as well. I haven't written anything in such a long time. Now which story should I continue with?
toukokuuta 20, 2006
Rain, rain, rain
It's raining. Water from the sky. We were supposed to have a picnic today in Suomenlinna (nice island just outside of Helsinki with a fortress from the 18th century), but since it is raining and just +8 degrees, we decided not to.
Instead we are going to gather tonight at my sister's to root Lordi to victory in the Eurovision song contest. It's a national duty after all. I haven't watched the Eurovision song contest anymore in years; we used to when we were children, every single time. It was really quite an event. I can still remember when The Herrey brothers won with "Diggiloo-Diggiley" in 1984. It brings to mind a summer day in Rovaniemi, where we used to live then; me in our balcony blowing soap bubbles.
Eurovision song contest is a little like bying a lottery ticket. Every time you get ready to win and everytime you get nothing. In the end you don't believe you can win anyway and so it becomes a bit of a masochistic experience.
Instead we are going to gather tonight at my sister's to root Lordi to victory in the Eurovision song contest. It's a national duty after all. I haven't watched the Eurovision song contest anymore in years; we used to when we were children, every single time. It was really quite an event. I can still remember when The Herrey brothers won with "Diggiloo-Diggiley" in 1984. It brings to mind a summer day in Rovaniemi, where we used to live then; me in our balcony blowing soap bubbles.
Eurovision song contest is a little like bying a lottery ticket. Every time you get ready to win and everytime you get nothing. In the end you don't believe you can win anyway and so it becomes a bit of a masochistic experience.
toukokuuta 19, 2006
HAIR
Well, I have new hair. I haven't quite decided yet how pleased I am with my decision. I was happy with it at the hairdressers, then despaired during the day. When I got home I just had to put on some make-up and try different hairstyles to convince myself that I had made the right decision.
The thing is, you see, that the new style is a touch eighties. Much more eighties than I had planned. "Needs a bit of time to get used to" -eighties. The problem with the hair is also that if not combed right it makes my head look like a big ball. It also - as short hair always - makes me look fatter than I actually am. It's good that my healthy life is at the moment progressing well.
The hair doesn't tolerate skipping make-up either. That's actually one reason why I decided to go for short hair. The fact, I mean, that I had been feeling beautiful enough to go to work for a couple of weeks without makeup. That's always a good sign. This hair though makes me look tired and sickly pale without make-up (see pic to the left). Short hair draws attention to one's face and reveals all the little and not so little imperfections.
Short hair does also offer more possibilities of trying out different styles. At least for a lazy person, who won't do anything with the hair unless it is absolutely necessary. And with short hair it is. Now I just have to get used to all those different possibilities.
toukokuuta 18, 2006
watching TV
I ran into a nice wicker chairs and a couch combination last Saturday. It was on sale and so I decided to buy it for the balcony. Now it has arrived. I had to find space for one of the chairs in the living room, since my balcony is really quite small. It does look nice now and I'm hoping that the weather gets warm enough soon, so I can have breakfast on the balcony.
It has been ridiculously cold after our short spell of summer. One day earlier this week it was only +6 degrees. Very annoying when you have to be wearing gloves in May. It is beautifully green though. I went out for a walk in the morning and it was gorgeous in the forest. The birds were singing and sun shining. Lovely.
I also find it lovely that I was thinking about my dissertation all the way through the walk. I've finally found the approach to it that really interests me. That makes me want to get to work in the mornings. Before this week I had never experienced flow when writing work stuff. Now I have. I wonder if that has anything to do with the fact that the stuff I'm reading and writing now is sort of anthropological and theoretical stuff. What do we learn from this - do the things that interest you, not what others expect of you.
It has been ridiculously cold after our short spell of summer. One day earlier this week it was only +6 degrees. Very annoying when you have to be wearing gloves in May. It is beautifully green though. I went out for a walk in the morning and it was gorgeous in the forest. The birds were singing and sun shining. Lovely.
I also find it lovely that I was thinking about my dissertation all the way through the walk. I've finally found the approach to it that really interests me. That makes me want to get to work in the mornings. Before this week I had never experienced flow when writing work stuff. Now I have. I wonder if that has anything to do with the fact that the stuff I'm reading and writing now is sort of anthropological and theoretical stuff. What do we learn from this - do the things that interest you, not what others expect of you.
toukokuuta 15, 2006
Beautification
Today I've spent the day running in libraries, getting books on rationalism, relativism, theory of knowledge and primitive law. I was planning to finish von Wright's book on "Science and Reason", but instead I've spent the evening reading on what is my right colour (I'm apparently a summer type) and wondering whether I should cut my hair. Really, really cut it and go for the short, spiky style. I have a really long hair, to my waist, over 60 centimeters and in a way it would be a shame to cut it. But it is the sort of wild nature girl -look and lately I've been thinking that it is perhaps already time to grow up.
Yeah, but if you see me next time with a short hair, don't scream. Oh and just so you know, as soon as the autumn comes I'm going to get a tattoo. I decided that already some time ago. I'm not getting it now, because you have to avoid the sun for about a month after taking the tattoo and there is now way I'm going to risk any sunbathing opportunities. I'm thinking of a tribal tattoo on the lower back. I've seen some on people at the gym and they are very beautiful.
This was the update on the on-going work on my New Year's resolution to find my own style. Thank you for listening and good night!
Yeah, but if you see me next time with a short hair, don't scream. Oh and just so you know, as soon as the autumn comes I'm going to get a tattoo. I decided that already some time ago. I'm not getting it now, because you have to avoid the sun for about a month after taking the tattoo and there is now way I'm going to risk any sunbathing opportunities. I'm thinking of a tribal tattoo on the lower back. I've seen some on people at the gym and they are very beautiful.
This was the update on the on-going work on my New Year's resolution to find my own style. Thank you for listening and good night!
toukokuuta 14, 2006
Happy Mother's Day
It's been a busy weekend. Yesterday we went to Svenska Teatern to see stand-up comedy in Swedish, André Wickström in "En kvälls grej". I was a little worried about being able to understand it all in Swedish, thinking that stand-up comedy would probably use a lot of clever wordplays and verbal tricks. But no, it was quite easy to follow and I only missed two or three jokes.
It was absolutely fabulous. I had never been to listen to stand-up before and I hadn't expected to be laughing with tears in my eyes. My previous experience of stand-up was from my exchange year in the States, where my first host-family used to watch a lot of stand-up from TV. I remember not liking it at all then. I experienced it as vicious instead of funny, lot's of malicious seeming jokes on the expense of minorities like gays, blacks and jews. No, not to my taste then. Yesterday though...it was completely different, funny and smart, and I can't remember when I have for the last time laughed that much.
Today we went to the movies. Woody Allen's Match Point. I'm not a huge Woody Allen fan, but this was quite a good movie. It was, I assume, trying to be some kind of modern version of Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment. On the way home I was trying to remember which fate befell Raskolnikov and if that was an indication of what eventually lay in store for the "hero" of the film. It was such a long time since I had read the book that I couldn't remember for sure though. Thanks to Google and Wikipedia my memory has now been refreshened - leading me to wonder whether Allen is trying to say something with his movie about our time's egoism and (in)capability to feel remorse as compared to the 19th century. Maybe it's a statement about the "end justifies the means" -approach to life and, with leaving the question open to different interpretations, he is trying to force people to think for themselves. Hmm, it's perhaps a cleverer movie than appeared at first sight.
Oh, and I just found an excuse for all my sudoku playing. I was googling a word to check the spelling and I found this. We do always believe BBC, don't we?
"Doing 'brain exercises' such as watching Countdown, playing Sudoku or taking a shower with your eyes closed can make us all up to 40 per cent cleverer within seven days, according to research by a BBC programme this week."
Guardian Unlimited
It was absolutely fabulous. I had never been to listen to stand-up before and I hadn't expected to be laughing with tears in my eyes. My previous experience of stand-up was from my exchange year in the States, where my first host-family used to watch a lot of stand-up from TV. I remember not liking it at all then. I experienced it as vicious instead of funny, lot's of malicious seeming jokes on the expense of minorities like gays, blacks and jews. No, not to my taste then. Yesterday though...it was completely different, funny and smart, and I can't remember when I have for the last time laughed that much.
Today we went to the movies. Woody Allen's Match Point. I'm not a huge Woody Allen fan, but this was quite a good movie. It was, I assume, trying to be some kind of modern version of Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment. On the way home I was trying to remember which fate befell Raskolnikov and if that was an indication of what eventually lay in store for the "hero" of the film. It was such a long time since I had read the book that I couldn't remember for sure though. Thanks to Google and Wikipedia my memory has now been refreshened - leading me to wonder whether Allen is trying to say something with his movie about our time's egoism and (in)capability to feel remorse as compared to the 19th century. Maybe it's a statement about the "end justifies the means" -approach to life and, with leaving the question open to different interpretations, he is trying to force people to think for themselves. Hmm, it's perhaps a cleverer movie than appeared at first sight.
Oh, and I just found an excuse for all my sudoku playing. I was googling a word to check the spelling and I found this. We do always believe BBC, don't we?
"Doing 'brain exercises' such as watching Countdown, playing Sudoku or taking a shower with your eyes closed can make us all up to 40 per cent cleverer within seven days, according to research by a BBC programme this week."
Guardian Unlimited
toukokuuta 12, 2006
Friday, the 12th
We had an unofficial recreational day at work today. Bowling, dinner at a Chinese restaurant and then drinks at a bar nearby. It was fun. I was wearing my Rammstein-shirt and more than one person confessed to liking them. They do have a very large academic fan-base. It's nice that people who actually understand German are able to understand and appreciate the irony, humour and intelligence in their lyrics.
I've been taking the bus to work now for a couple of days and walked over from Vantaa to Helsinki to catch the bus. It saves money and provides some much needed exercise. Twentyfive minutes to one direction, about 3000 steps. Can you tell that I finally got around to buying that step counter? Healthy life didn't progress all too well in the past couple of months due to all the traveling and stuff and I needed a bit of extra motivation. With the exception of one day I've reached my daily dosage of 10 000 steps and am back on right track.
Very tired now. Can't write anymore.
I've been taking the bus to work now for a couple of days and walked over from Vantaa to Helsinki to catch the bus. It saves money and provides some much needed exercise. Twentyfive minutes to one direction, about 3000 steps. Can you tell that I finally got around to buying that step counter? Healthy life didn't progress all too well in the past couple of months due to all the traveling and stuff and I needed a bit of extra motivation. With the exception of one day I've reached my daily dosage of 10 000 steps and am back on right track.
Very tired now. Can't write anymore.
toukokuuta 11, 2006
postman came calling
I have a sponsored child.
There was an excellent article in the last week's monthly supplement of Helsingin Sanomat about a reporter, who had gotten a cow as a x'mas present. The cow in question was donated to a family in Uganda through the World Vision organisation and the reporter had travelled there to see how his cow was received. He managed to convince me that one cow truly made a huge difference to a family down there, so I did some useful surfing for once and went to see how much donating a cow would cost.
I didn't buy a cow in the end, but decided to become a sponsor through World Vision instead. I was a little hesitant about World Vision, since they are a Christian organisation and on their english website you can't avoid noticing that. For obvious reasons I don't want to promote converting people. The Finnish site on the other hand emphasised that they are a charity organisation, not a missionary one, and I decided to take their word for it.
I got a package from them today.
And so now I have a sponsored child. Her name is Sheila, she is seven years old and from Kenya. In the picture she doesn't have any hair, but she is very beautiful. She smiles like Mona Lisa, as if she knew all the secrets of the world.
Beautiful child.
There was an excellent article in the last week's monthly supplement of Helsingin Sanomat about a reporter, who had gotten a cow as a x'mas present. The cow in question was donated to a family in Uganda through the World Vision organisation and the reporter had travelled there to see how his cow was received. He managed to convince me that one cow truly made a huge difference to a family down there, so I did some useful surfing for once and went to see how much donating a cow would cost.
I didn't buy a cow in the end, but decided to become a sponsor through World Vision instead. I was a little hesitant about World Vision, since they are a Christian organisation and on their english website you can't avoid noticing that. For obvious reasons I don't want to promote converting people. The Finnish site on the other hand emphasised that they are a charity organisation, not a missionary one, and I decided to take their word for it.
I got a package from them today.
And so now I have a sponsored child. Her name is Sheila, she is seven years old and from Kenya. In the picture she doesn't have any hair, but she is very beautiful. She smiles like Mona Lisa, as if she knew all the secrets of the world.
Beautiful child.
toukokuuta 10, 2006
Since I got started...
Look at that, three posts in two days. I just hope I can keep this up. ;-)
It's been a long day. I went to work early and ended up going to this seminar in legal anthropology, which lasted until eight o'clock. Very fascinating. Different cultures and social groups, their values and practices can't really fail to be interesting. The speakers had some excellent points on cultural relativism, on how a subject is constructed culturally and on how legal order defines identity. I have to find out more about anthropology.
And then it ended up taking about fifteen extra minutes to get home, because the train decided to lose its brakes in Pasila. Better then than in full speed, ay? You can believe that the next train was full.
I'm going to watch Dr. Zhivago now. The tv-movie version from 2002, which means that there are a few too many plastic-faced pretties and immaculately dressed workers, but I'm hoping that the story is good enough to cover that.
Edit: This is pretty hopeless. Lot's of quite decent actors, but still this doesn't feel real. Well, leaves one time to do some extra surfing on the side. I've been checking the application information of some of the faculties for next year. Social- and cultural anthropology, history and literature... Oh just imagine having studied one of those, how fabulous that would have been. Now if one could choose, which one of those would one pick?
It's been a long day. I went to work early and ended up going to this seminar in legal anthropology, which lasted until eight o'clock. Very fascinating. Different cultures and social groups, their values and practices can't really fail to be interesting. The speakers had some excellent points on cultural relativism, on how a subject is constructed culturally and on how legal order defines identity. I have to find out more about anthropology.
And then it ended up taking about fifteen extra minutes to get home, because the train decided to lose its brakes in Pasila. Better then than in full speed, ay? You can believe that the next train was full.
I'm going to watch Dr. Zhivago now. The tv-movie version from 2002, which means that there are a few too many plastic-faced pretties and immaculately dressed workers, but I'm hoping that the story is good enough to cover that.
Edit: This is pretty hopeless. Lot's of quite decent actors, but still this doesn't feel real. Well, leaves one time to do some extra surfing on the side. I've been checking the application information of some of the faculties for next year. Social- and cultural anthropology, history and literature... Oh just imagine having studied one of those, how fabulous that would have been. Now if one could choose, which one of those would one pick?
toukokuuta 09, 2006
Pics from Iceland
By request, a few pictures from Iceland...
The Gullfoss falls. These used to belong to an Icelandic family of farmers some hundred odd years ago. At that time there were lots of foreign businessmen in the country trying to purchase different falls so they could turn them into hydropower plants. Some of these businessmen - British, methinks - came to the farmer Tomas and asked to buy Gullfoss from him. Tomas refused to sell: the falls had been in the family for as long as anybody could remember and he didn't think it was right to sell them. The businessmen then asked if he would rent the falls to them for a hundred years. Tomas considered, decided there would be no harm in that and rented the falls.
When he got home he took the time to read the contract thoroughly through - note, dear people, that this is something you should do before signing contracts or you can find yourself in a heap of trouble! Tomas noticed that in the contract there was a clause, which gave the businessmen the right to turn the falls into a powerplant and which effectively meant ruining the falls. This upset Tomas mightily, but since he was a man of his word, he didn't think there was anything he could do about the situation. His daughter Sigríður however was of a more stubborn kind and swore to save the falls. She put on her shoes, packed her bag and commenced her journey towards Reykjavik.
She walked through the difficult paths until she reached the capital and spent weeks looking for someone who could help her. Finally she found a young lawyer who listened to her. They went through the contract and the law books and found a rule, which stated that if the businessmen should be late in paying the rent, the contract would be null and void. The businessmen had already by this time fallen behind in their payments and so Sigríður managed to get the falls back to her family. And so, happily everafter, they remained free for the future generations to take pretty pictures of.
The crater with a lake. Not too far live some of the "hidden people". The short version of the story here is that God went to visit Adam and Eve one day. Eve had been busy and had had the time to wash and tidy up only some of their children. She didn't want God to see the dirty ones, so she told them to go on and hide. Then God comes along, visits the family, admires the children and asks Eve if these are all their children. Eve is still embarrassed and tells God that yes, these are all of them. But God is not to be fooled and he then utters that what is hidden from his eyes, shall be hidden from the eyes of humans as well. So the dirty, unwashed children are turned invisible and they become the "hidden people", who live in the rocks and hills.
They geysir Strokkur, which is the most active of the current geysirs. It erupts about every four minutes. The biggest of the geysirs is called...da-daa...Geysir! It's on its way to becoming dormant so these days it goes off only about once or twice a day. Didn't get to see that. The geysir-area is very impressive even if it does slightly smell of rotten eggs there.
The big Geysir didn't look very impressive as nothing was happening, so I'll just give you little Geysir. It was boiling away quite happily.
And last, but not least another falls, which name I never came to know. But I liked the look of them, which is why you'll get to see them.
The Gullfoss falls. These used to belong to an Icelandic family of farmers some hundred odd years ago. At that time there were lots of foreign businessmen in the country trying to purchase different falls so they could turn them into hydropower plants. Some of these businessmen - British, methinks - came to the farmer Tomas and asked to buy Gullfoss from him. Tomas refused to sell: the falls had been in the family for as long as anybody could remember and he didn't think it was right to sell them. The businessmen then asked if he would rent the falls to them for a hundred years. Tomas considered, decided there would be no harm in that and rented the falls.When he got home he took the time to read the contract thoroughly through - note, dear people, that this is something you should do before signing contracts or you can find yourself in a heap of trouble! Tomas noticed that in the contract there was a clause, which gave the businessmen the right to turn the falls into a powerplant and which effectively meant ruining the falls. This upset Tomas mightily, but since he was a man of his word, he didn't think there was anything he could do about the situation. His daughter Sigríður however was of a more stubborn kind and swore to save the falls. She put on her shoes, packed her bag and commenced her journey towards Reykjavik.
She walked through the difficult paths until she reached the capital and spent weeks looking for someone who could help her. Finally she found a young lawyer who listened to her. They went through the contract and the law books and found a rule, which stated that if the businessmen should be late in paying the rent, the contract would be null and void. The businessmen had already by this time fallen behind in their payments and so Sigríður managed to get the falls back to her family. And so, happily everafter, they remained free for the future generations to take pretty pictures of.
The crater with a lake. Not too far live some of the "hidden people". The short version of the story here is that God went to visit Adam and Eve one day. Eve had been busy and had had the time to wash and tidy up only some of their children. She didn't want God to see the dirty ones, so she told them to go on and hide. Then God comes along, visits the family, admires the children and asks Eve if these are all their children. Eve is still embarrassed and tells God that yes, these are all of them. But God is not to be fooled and he then utters that what is hidden from his eyes, shall be hidden from the eyes of humans as well. So the dirty, unwashed children are turned invisible and they become the "hidden people", who live in the rocks and hills. 
They geysir Strokkur, which is the most active of the current geysirs. It erupts about every four minutes. The biggest of the geysirs is called...da-daa...Geysir! It's on its way to becoming dormant so these days it goes off only about once or twice a day. Didn't get to see that. The geysir-area is very impressive even if it does slightly smell of rotten eggs there. 
The big Geysir didn't look very impressive as nothing was happening, so I'll just give you little Geysir. It was boiling away quite happily.
And last, but not least another falls, which name I never came to know. But I liked the look of them, which is why you'll get to see them.
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