omg i just got the preface for my book, a friend suggested he write it. i didnt even think of such but he said he wanted to write one so i said okay if its not too fancy.
its a bit too much text because the space is limited, but i was moved, wow. i really need to get this book done, asap.
taistelin Nokian ajureiden ja muun PASKAN kanssa (siihen oli syy miksi viivyttelin sitä!) jokusen tunnin ja jonotin Nokian puhelinpalveluunki 40-45min (tiedän liioittelevat asiakkaat, mulla ei oo tarvetta tehdä niin). se oli hyödytön puhelu. mutta nyt puhelin hetkellisesti ehkä toimii kun tarpeeksi taistelin ja päivitin ohjelmiston uusiks, vaikka siinä uusin olikin. olipas vitun hauska operaatio.
sain onneksi tekstarin siitä kissanhoitoasiasta, asia ok. onneksi. se on painanut mieltä.
miehen kanssa meillä oli vähän ikävä-sävyinen puhelu perjantaina, mutta tänään puhuttiin sekin kuntoon.
että jotain hyvää.
olkapäätä särkee kun liikuttaa, särkylääke tahi mobilat ei auta. se on kai tää vanhuus kun alkaa iskee :P
vittu nyt ei pysty enää edes nostaa kättä, saati muute liikuttaa. ja se on oikea käsi! onneks ei oo sama vika sormissa... no jos saan huomenna läppäri-repun selkään ni ehkä se riittää. Jukkapoika kerto kauhutarinaa jostain kortisoni tms piikistä olkapäähän, jonka se sai viime viikolle, suoraan nivelpussiin kai... ei hirveesti innosta. mutta luulen että sen olkapäässä on jotain pahemmin vialla ku mulla. tää menee varmaa ohi.
*etsimään puhelimen takuukuittia varmuuden vuoksi*
vittu tän allergian kanssa. pitäs ottaa vaan tavaksi vetästä joka aamu antihistamiini eikä jäädä odottelee että millä sekunnilla se hillitön niistäminen ja aivastelu alkaa. kun sit sitä taas kestää aikansa ennenku tilanne helpottaa. ja mitä mä valitan, ota se saatanan nappi ja ole jenni ihan rauhassa, ei tohon tautiin kuole. eikä edes lähelle.
Economist tipahti luukusta klo 8:45 aamulla... otin sen mukaan kun menin labraan, vähän arvailin että siellä saa tunnin odottaa. halusin olla siellä klo 9 kun se kilpirauhaskoe pitää ottaa klo 10 mennessä.
kelasin et menisin toimistolle töihin tänään, kaisaniemeen. paras kai ottaa metro kun noi ratikat menee mihin menee.
13:36 päikkäreiden jälkeen totesin etten mene mihkää toimistolle. sen sijaan aloin tekee töitä kotona. ja yritän päivittää puhelimen softaa jos siinä jotain päivitettävää on. ei tota oikkuilua jaksa. pitäs kans kattoo onko siinä takuuta. vaikka noiden elinikähän lasketaan silleen ettei se takuun alle ihan ehtis.
dropbox is one of the best ideas in a long fuckin time. probably the easiest way to share big (or small) files that ive ever seen.
it's still in beta/invite mode. and i have invitations left....;) <- !!
i still havent received my first issue of Economist. well they said "will arrive in 12 weeks". slow service. process the order and put it in the fuckin mail.
Economist is a good mag, honestly, economy but intelligent. still human too. balances my Adbusters and NewInternationalist subs.
i like watching Apprentice too. i always had interest for this stuff, because its very rational and logical in my opinion. practical stuff. and you can be smart or stupid, come up with great ideas, new ideas... its lovely. i was never into the money making too much, i dont want to work too closely with obsessive money making (which i think it often is in this world). i know how to make it, and if i work in a company, i use that knowledge to my employers advantage, but thats as far as i go. and thats why i want to work for a company that i think is fair and has some morals in its business actions and goals.
plus, the money makes the world go around. i dont need to like it, but its a fact, and thats why business is extra-interesting. to understand how the world works.
but Apprentice is interesting because its challenges are essentially usually simple, and i have my own thoughts about how things should go, and then see how brilliant or less brilliant these guys are, is fascinating. they're gooood. i could never do that job, but i can see the art in it.
lol one of the Apprentice episodes is called "pink is the new black". i know its a cliché, but thats what i slipped out of my mouth on friday as well, to Ella. she said nothing can beat black. well, i can sort of agree. black #1.
what to do with the rest of sunday? i already painted my toenails and i think ive watched enough tv (Apprentice) for a while. then again i often go on sprees without breaks, obsessively. and it doesnt matter one bit.
i should really continue with the book design stuff. yesterday i got Jukkapoika excited about making books, of his cartoons or drawings (hes great! talented), or even as christmas presents (calendars? theres plenty of options).
sunnuntaita viedään, ja mulla on hyvät 12 tunnen yöunet taas alla. näin alkuyöstä jotain pelottavaa unta jossa poltergeist vainosi mua ja kelasin että ei vittu olen kai tullut hulluksi, koska en usko siihen. hakeuduin sairaalaan tms turvaan, tai kertomaan että mulla taitaa olla päässä vikaa.
mitkään mun painajaiset ei sijoitu tähän asuntoon. en tiedä onko sillä väliä, eihän ne päivisin vainoa, mutta se on tavallaan kiva. painajaisissa olen aina vieraissa paikoissa tai siellä Heinolan landella, missä asuin ennen. se olikin kunnon horror-house missä asuin, vanha ja puinen ja iso. jossa hiiret veti kattohirsissä, yöllä kuului rapinaa. hiiret tosin on söpöjä, ja rotat. pehmeitä! vaikka niitä joutui myrkyllä siellä tappamaan. mulla oli 2 aavikkohiirtä lemmikkeinä pienenä. niitä ei tapettu myrkyllä, ne kuoli luonnollisen kuoleman.
joku kai ruotsalainen kärsimys-taiteilija on tulossa malleilemaan mulle. en nyt muista miksi näitä kutsutaan kun roikkuvat koukuista ja laitetaan neuloja. hitto mulla on jotain piuhoissa kun aina on sanat hukassa, mutta se on aina ollut näin. joskus ei muista mikä on se vihreä pitkä vihannes...eli kurkku jne. mutta tää ruotsalainen(?), siinä voi olla haastetta jos se haluaa roikkua ja ehkä jos sellasia kuvia haluan ottaa ni pitäs löytää teline ja paikka sille, ja sit veikkaan että siinä vaiheessa se tarvii avustajaa. olen kyllä neuloja laittanut malleihin, mutta eiköhän sekin oo sitä mieltä että isommat operaatiot jätetään ammattilaisille. sitä paitsi keskityn kuva-juttuihin mieluummin tossa tilanteessa.
IS raportoi että "mökkejä myydään salaa venäläisille"... joo. no, ehkä siellä rajan tuntumassa ei muuten mene kaupaksi. minä myönnän olevani paskapää, ja siellä missä sukuni mökit ovat melkeen rivissä ja väleissä mökkitontteja jotka haluan että myydään, niin niitä ei myydä venäläisille. minähän en niitä omista mutta koska asia tulevaisuudessa koskettaa minua (kun perin oman mökkini ja kys tontit jne), olen sitä mieltä että saan päättää asiasta. ja onhan venäjällä järviä ja mökkitontteja myös. tässä on kyse ihmisistä joilla on rahaa ostaa tontti mistä tahansa maailmasta, ei varmaan tule itku jos ei nyt Päijänteen rannalle mun naapuriksi pääse. jos suomessa asuva maahanmuuttaja sen sijaan on kerännyt sellaisen kassan että voi ostaa rantatontin, myyn toki. ja oliskin kiva jos ne alkais saamaan asiallisia duuneja ja asiallista palkkaa, ettei lääkäreiden tarviis siivota Mäkin lattiaa. kyllä täällä sen verran duuneja on, etenkin tulevaisuudessa, että en usko että alkuperäisväestö kärsii (vrt. "vievät meidän duunit" väite). ja suomalaiset on muutenkin niin koulutettuja että pieni kilpailu somalialaisen kanssa ei, taas kerran, pitäs tuoda itkua silmään. vai onko se ikävämpää kun hakemasi paikan saa somali eikä suomalainen, jos et sinä?
mutta joo, mökkitontteja on myynnissä. siitä on mielipiteitä että kannattaako sellasia myydä, kun arvo säilyy ja jopa nousee, mutta minä olen tutkinut ja miettinyt asiaa, mitä voi olla vaikea uskoa, ja kyllä minun tulevaisuuttani ajatellen se mielestäni kannattaa. olen ja varmaan pysynkin tosi pienituloisena kun ei rahan tekeminen kiinnosta tarpeeksi, ja sit tulevaisuudessa maksaisin vielä omaisuus veroa jostain maalänteistä?! ja yrittäisin selvitä kaiken maailman paperibyrokratiasta. hv. on myös muita 'sijoituksia' joissa arvo säilyy kuin maa. suomessa se on ehkä #1 mutta hyvänä kakkosena tulee asunnot.
mulla on vielä huomiseen asti labrassa lähete siihen kilpirauhasen vajaatoimintakokeeseen... pitää mennä. tyroksiinia kun voi koittaa vaikka jos puoliks epäillään moista, siitä ei ole haittaa. kestää tosin pari kuukautta että mitään näkyy. silloin edellisen työpaikan lääkärihän oli vähän kahden vaiheilla et pitäskö ja sano sit et seurataan tilannetta. no mä nyt yritän seuraa sitä.
videoclips from Cuba, honestly just interesting for me... funny thing as it happens i shoot them for myself! i like the "eye" or "self" point of view, as is seen in my snapshots as well, but this video especially.
and a video of my hair being cut in march last year.
me and Ella stayed out late, until 3. but we did have a good time, and didnt drink too much.
the Tuska festival continued in the bar we were at. we realized this when the common population was switched to blackhaired latex-wearing population within a couple hours. not my type of music... yet we didnt go elsewhere. Virgin Oil had sparkling wine for 2euros per glass... and its pretty good, too. and to be honest its a comfy place. havent seen that many goths and metalheads in a long time. since last year :D somehow we ended up going upstairs with some people and watch the concert of Barathrum. thats probably the last band id ever choose to go see... i dunno how i managed through it. but, actually, it was an experience... so i dont mind in the end.
Tiitta stopped by today, cooked us too :) then i went to see Jukkapoika and Meeri and her belly grown a LOT since i last saw it...scary. shes due in a few months. but it was great to catch up and talk.
some photos from last night. 
and a short youtube video of the Barathrum concert;
vittu jotkut ihmiset on ärsyttäviä ja itsekkäitä. ai jotkut? tää on itsekäs laji, jenni. niin, ja minäkin olen vähän vitun itsekäs. mutta silti!
miten heräsinkin näin äkäisenä tänää. samat asiat mitkä eilen meni läpi ok tai harmitti niin tänään vituttaa. heräsin vielä sellaseen räkätauti-meininkiin. joka ilmenee räkätautina mutta onkin oikeasti allergiaa, ja antihistamiinillahan se hoitui. mutta mikä vittu sekin taas oli, että yhtäkkiä herään siihen että olen vitun allerginen, mutta illalla en enää ole? samaa paskaa vuodesta toiseen.
eilinen meni hetkeksi pilalle (ja ehkä tämäkin päivä?) kun sain tietää että kissojenhoitopaikassa vessan ovi oli menny kii ja siellä oli kissojen hiekkalaatikko... ne oli siis tehny asioitaan muualle. että ryssin sitten senkin... ekstra-ikävää siinä oli se että kaveri tekstasi että olisin voinut kyllä sanoa jos en niitä halua hoitaa, olisivat kysyneet jotakuta toista. joo, en halunnut ja kävin laittaa oven kii tahallani? ihan vittumaisuuttani? olen vähän vitun pahoillani tapahtuneesta, ilmoitin sen ja tarjouduin menee pesee istuintyynyjä tms mitä oli likaantunut, mutta en ole kuullut sen koommin. joo, no nyt on kaikilla paha mieli.
sitten puhelin alkaa brakaa...se on välillä ihan seis ja sitä jumitusta ja hidastelua olen jo sietänyt hetken mutta eilen se näytti kuin minulle olisi soitettu, mutta en pystynyt vastaa vaikka painoin luuria, ja kun soitin takaisin sille ihmiselle niin kävi ilmi että ei se ollut mulle yrittänyt soittaa. että ihan pieni viaton vika.
ja kaaduin eilen (en ollut humalassa...), reisi ja käsi paskana, ei näy mitään, on vaan kipeet.
Tiitta sano että tulee käymään :) tuo taideteoksia mukanaan, lupasin ottaa niistä kuvia jotta vois myydä netissä. kiiltävät pinnat on vaikeita kun ne heijastelee valoa helposti. ehkä tää tästä iloks muuttuu. ja sit Jukkapoikaa ja Meeriä tapaan iltapäivällä.
peräänkuuluttaisin vastuuntuntoa ja vastuun ottamista.
mitä vittua iPhone ja niiden kytkykauppa...
pieni sormus-mania meneillään. tein itse tollasesta...mitä lie ketjua, ni sormuksen ku siin oli se sellai kätsy-lukko. tohon vois sit vaikka hankkia jotain pieni roikkuvia juttuja... nii paitsi sit ne valuis sormen alapuolelle. eli ehkä ei.
miks näin turvonneen näkönen käsi? kangas-päällysteisiä sormuksia etsystä. ihan söpöjä.
Kuubasta, lasipäällysteinen ja kuvioitu sormus... maksoi kai 0.70euroa. siellä oli paljon kauniita käsintehtyjä koruja. ostinkin helmiä ym. mieskin löysi jotain kaulakorun tyyppistä.
ja sit korvikset by Nanda.etsy.com. nyt alkaa paypal cashit loppuu, shoppailun pitää loppua! :( :( mutta matchaavan kaulakorun haluan vielä.
B-serkku menee miehensa kaa ens viikonloppuna mökille Sysmään joten menekin niiden kyydillä äidille, säästän yhden dösälipun, ja seurakin on parempaa ku yksinää.
katon Hells Kitcheniä pitkästä aikaa ja ite vedän pussipastaa. se pitäs tehdä maitoon mutta haloo...en ikinä osta maitoa kun en juo sitä... vesi saa kelvata. ihan hyvää se on. hetken mietin et oisin tehny ite safkaa, spagettia, mutta plää...
onks Alienilla ja Predatorilla molemmilla rastat? tossa yhessä leffamainoskuvassa näyttää siltä. mä luulin et vaan sillä toisella oli. mitkä lie roikkuvat hajunystyrät ne sit muka onkaan, mutta hei nähdäänhän me et ne on RASTAT!
no mitä sit? mitä vikaa rastoissa? ei mitää, mut on ne aika erikoinen tyylivalintana, sellasella predatorilla. itse asiassa ne on ihan naurettavat.
tällai kauhuleffa The Ruins on ihan decent. kerrankin 1 mielenkiintoinen hahmo, jolla logiikka pelaa pienen stressin ja verilöylyn alla.
voisin mennä kai ajoissa nukkumaan, nappia vaan naamaan niin kyllä se nukkuminna sieltä tulee. kuulostaako toi nyt tarpeeksi groteskilta ja minä lääkeriippuvaiselta? joo ja joo mutta en ole. ketä kiinnostaa? no minua itseäni, aika paljonkin. unilääkkethän on tosi riippuvuutta aiheuttavia, niitä ei kannata vetää paljon eikä jatkuvasti.
"my name is Elliot Moore and i want to speak to you in a friendly manner"... -the Happening
err, Elliot, you're talking to a plant. i want to talk to you in a friendly manner...here now...
pitäis käydä ostaa sellasta kumilankaa et saisin noista ostamistani helmistä tehtyä kaulakoruja. 4 leffaa päivässä on ihan ku vanhoihin hyviin aikoihin, nyt on sopivan ulalla maailmasta, mikä päivä ja valuutta. tää hiljaisuus ja yksinäisuus on ihan tervetullutta pitkästä aikaa.
mies alko ehkä vähän tukehtumaan, ja ymmärrän oikeestaan kun se sen sano, että mulla on sen verta vahva persoona että se helposti jäi sen varjoon, ei saanut omaa ääntään niin hyvin kuuluville. ei edes mitenkää hiirimäisesti, mähän en pidä sellasista koiranpentu-miehistä yhtää, mä vaan oon vähän dominoiva olemassaolossani. ja mies oli tai on aika myötäilevä, ei hae huomiota ja tahtoaan läpi ihan samalla tavalla, vaikka onkin usein ryhmässä huomion keskipiste. oli meillä ihan sillee tasapainoista, koska en tosiaan halua olla mikään pirttihirmu, mutta silti se mun perusolemus oli vähän liikaa. ja sitten olin nyt keväällä välillä niin kärttyinen, jostain elämään turhautumisesta tai muusta, että herranjestas. onneksi ei päässyt menee liian pahaksi (tulehtuneeksi) ja voi Kuubaakin muistella vaan hyvällä.
sitä monet kysyy, et no meniks Kuubassa jotenki asiat pielee. mut ei mitenkää erityisesti, enempää ku yleensäkää :D oli kiva reissu.
it started raining when i came home. refreshing. i also went to feed my friends kitties on the way. and tomorrow once more. then theres a change of shift.
i made a new employment contract as i intend to work a little more than before. also, we changed it from hourly based to fixed, so my pay is guaranteed. but im obsessively resposible, so if im supposed to work 30 hours a week, i will. i just have to hog myself more things to do. i also came up with a new job description/title. "customer- and web communications coordinator"... i just have to make it work in english, because the calling cards and everything is in english anyways. i wanted to be the the 'high priestess of the web' but that wouldnt do, hmm...
it seemed like it might get chilly in the morning (lol, just joking, its just chilly every fuckin day) so i wore pants after a looong break. they were still with the shop tags and all, too long of course, silvery grey dress pants. i cut them shoter with scissors, the cutting line gives that extra sparkle so they're not too offcial. i dont mind official if i have something to balance it with...but its not like i was going to sew them neatly this morning. or ever. i have another pair of nice dress pants, silky black, i think ill take them to Tiitta's, they could be kept neat.
Laura, ex-collague, was promoted a teamleader. i knew shes good :D also she's moving together with her bf this week, whom she found at work. i mean...that place is a... what do u even call that, never seen that many couples born at a workplace. :D many lovely couples too, i consider we were lovely. i remember people were happy for us.
i feel like watching movies again. im starting with the easy shit. "Made of Honor"....bs...but its good for traveling, doesnt take too much attention. then "Sex and the City", more bs. i did watch the series occasionally but kinda got tired, wasnt very exciting or fresh anymore. but i have list of movies waiting, horror and drama too.
cant believe its only 6 o'clock. and tomorrows friday. im supposed to go to mom's on saturday. i thik ill stay the night, i cant leave until the afternoon cos i have a work thing to do at exactly 4pm.
"the website is down"
vaguely reminds me of my old job
honestly, this webzine-site is weeeird (Gorgon magazine). 15 seconds was enough for me to go "wtf". k, not the weirdest shit ever, but definitely the symbols and all are freaky. okay maybe i can find something interesting there tho, it should be about "anthropology, satanism and religions". which all interest me. i wonder isnt satanism a religion tho? anyhow they're asking for me to contribute, want to include me in an upcoming theme issue. they're also gonna start writing in english. i have to look into this...
what would the world be like if Obama was leading the U.S.? just the same as yesterday, but it would cheer me up anyway.
i was looking at MMA again, after a long break. Diego Sanchez is awesome, i have to say. very aggressive and wild and improving constantly. download "ultimate fighter finale season 7 finale" (episode 13). theres also a great fight between Evan Tanner and my favorite Kendall Grove. i love humble fighters (or people for that matter) who show what they are about in the cage, or whatever their game is.
jesus, Wanderlei Silva's walk in music was Darude's hit from years ago, Sandstorm *rolls eyes*
ill save the good fights for F to watch later.
ive been thinking of the wall-art stuff. i personally prefer calming, easy-on-the-eye type of art on my walls. bunnies and stuff. i have my own "never hesitate" right by my desk, but even with the gun and fetishy side to it (i guess) i find it 'peaceful' or stoic sort of. now im thinking of Michel Winckler-Krog's 'Making Baby Jesus'... but its far from peaceful. i just love the piece, a lot. for the emotion, of course, but not sure if thats good for my wall...
tomorrow im going to Lahti again. meeting Maria next monday. Ella on friday. Jukkapoika on saturday probably, ill return the barrel bag.
ive been thinking about the Facebook thing. to me it came across as a place to meet with old or current actual friends. but now its grown, getting more hits than MySpace...and i guess its starting to be a valid comparison, Facebook is now getting crowded by companies and other things taking it further from the 'close social circle' feel. anyhow, my problem is that i first decided to only accept friend requests from people i actually know. which ive done. but i think fans are sending more and more requests too, im near to 100 unaccepted requests now. and the requests are often companied by actual written requests. so how to react, sometimes u might need to re-consider recisions, or ahjust to changes... if Facebook is like MySpace, why wouldnt i accept all requests? its not like i hold secrets in my profile. but i might need to separate a 'limited profile' that wont show photo albums... i consider that stuff for friends only. so, dunno. the amount of idiotic application requests doesnt bother me, i dont even look at the list, too much fuss and shit. no time for that.
and hmm, i dont want random "yay" comments from random people on my profile page. some things are sacred? why so, why do i make it so? its always with the internet, u need to draw lines as to how much you give of yourself. i know compared to many people out there, i give a lot, sometimes im reminded of it when people go "whhhaat, your name and photo are on the net?!" i dunno, im with the generation to whom its natural. anyhow, i dont feel like i give that much, there are people who have even less borders, people who have less privacy cos i decided so. i am myself when i give something, but everyone needs privacy. i dont find it too hard to draw the line usually. so why this big fuss over a damn Facebook? dunno. its one of those things, u cant go back once u open the gates.
having your wallet stolen in Ireland: 300e
loosing your passport in Romania: 700e
having your boyfriend leave you in Finland: priceless
okay that doesnt sound as funny as it did last night. sounds bitter, which im not. anyhow, im looking forward to a decent day. gonna go pick up my new ID finally so i dont have to carry around my passport. last night the bartender asked to see my ID. i was thrilled of course. the age limit there was 24, but still.
my new red hair. i didnt know it looked that messy from the back/side. cool.
last night on my way home i dropped by in this small bar.
heräsin taas aamuyöllä juomaan vettä. se on kai se mun pelastus, ettei tule krapulaa. en muuten ikinä heräile öisin.
eilisilta meni vähän erikoisesti, muiden kuin minun osalta. vaikka mikä nyt on erikoista, elämää se vaan on kaikki? itseni kohdalla elämä oli vaan tyypillistä, otin pari salmaria liikaa kotimatkalla. pysähdyin yhdessä baarissa kadullani, jossa meidän piti miehen kanssa aina käydä mutta ei saatu aikaiseksi. sitä piti joku brittimies. toivottavasti bisnes skulaa, oli niin halpoja salmareita että mietityttää (3e). sit soitin nk kännipuheluita miehelle... just ton takia kelasin et ei saa juoda nyt. herranjumala. antaahan se anteeks mutta silti. ainakin otan sen pois pikavalinnoista nyt. enkä juo tolleen hetkeen. pystyn onneksi lopettaa ajoissa jos vaan etukäteen päätän olla tarkkana, mutta enpä taas eilen kiinnittänyt asiaan huomiota.
kun päivä tästä valkenee käyn ruokkii kavereiden kisut ja teen töitä.
ravintola Nuevo Latino on uhkaillut ruokailijaa joka kritisoi kokemustaan (lyhyesti: ruoka hyvää, palvelu huonoa) netissä, eat.fi. lähettäkääs mullekin joku ukaasi, mä nimittäin tässä netissä nyt sanon että....että...en tule ikinä teille syömään. ihan mahdotonta käytöstä kun ei mielipiteitä sallita. pitäis varmaan laittaa se ravintola kiinaan tai johonkin missä sananvapautta ei ole eikä kukaan uskalla valittaa. no tuleeko se uhkaus hä?
ehkä se tulee kiinalta...
hs-artikkeli ed mainitusta
kosmetologi (karvojen valotuksessa) eilen kommentoi 'keep calm and carry on' kaulakoruani ja tykkäsi siitä, sanoi että "sulla on aina kaikkia kivoja juttuja" :) menen nyt vielä kerran heinäkuun lopussa ja sitten olen kai tällä erää ok. kainaloiden ajelua ei tarvitse juurikaan miettiä enää, jostain syystä olen reagoinut superhyvin kaikilla alueilla tuohon. olen saattanut itseni perikatoon tolla. se on vaan että sitä ei kannata kesken jättää oikeen. mutta ei kaduta. kyllä tästä suosta vielä noustaan ja on ollut ihan sen arvoista. pitää vaan tehdä töitä...
hah, tajusin just et nyt kun meen tapaa neiti R:ää ni on mun eka iltana ulkona sinkkuna. mitäs mitäs, miehiä pokaa? hah hah. en ole ikinä ketään baarissa tavannut, ja enhän niissä nuorempana juuri käynytkään. ja itsestäänselvyys kai on etten voi nyt oikeen kuvitella olevani kenenkään muun kanssa. mies ja minä kyllä aloitimme taipaleemme baarissa, mutta eri asia koska oltiin työkavereita kuitenkin. en tiedä mitä sillon tapahtu, mulla kai napsahti päässä, mutta olen kiitollinen että niin kävi.
nyt mennään sit eteenpäin, vaikka kontaten. välillä painetaan pää maahan ja kuunnellaan maan ääntä, onko siellä mitään? lepuutetaan päätä turvallista kaikkeutta vasten. mitä kaikkeus edes on? kaikki, mutta tyhjyys. tyhjyys on lohdullista. monet ei ajattele samalla tavalla, kai. tyhjyys ja kuolema ovat rauhoittavia ajatuksia, koska elämä on niiden vastakohta, ei tyhjä eikä kuollutta... että jos elämä ei kiinnosta niin aina on vaihtoehto. valinnan vapaus on tärkeä juttu. ei ole pakko jos ei huvita. tämä tieto motivoi aina, jos tulee välikysymyksen paikka.
kyllä mua sitäpaitsi nyt huvittaa. viime viikko oli aika paha, mutta ei ole mun juttu ehkä yrittää kuvailla sitä graafisin sanankääntein. ne on ne graafiset kuvat mitä mä teen.... lol.
eh. nyt pitää mennä :)
i think this week im ready to see friends. last week i did see Tiitta though, and Arttu of course. but the others. miss R and Ella, who were with F last weekend celebrating midsummer, Sebastian and Johanna L perhaps. Tony also wrote me an email last week, saying hes missed me and wanted to meet up. i asked if this week is okay but havent heard of him since.
i havent visited mom in ages either. so i think ill go this coming weekend. and my aunt called and shes coming to Helsinki in a couple weeks, i suggested we meet then.
i got an ISBN for my book. so, now i just have to get the book done, hehe. ill definitely give my local library a copy. and maybe the main library. i have been a frequent customer of their in the past.
Antony and the Johnsons is sooo awesome. cant get enough of it, the voice and the emotion... youtube video
my skin is still peeling. id call this slow.
did some work.
then decided to put together some photos of F and me, for him. and then i figured why not for myself as well. so i made them into a cheap small book with Blurb's software. 10e a piece. now its in covers, the story, told in color photos.
going through the photos kinda brought emotions back to surface. but it needs to happen, a certain number of times i suppose, and ...thats just the way it goes.
hair removal was scheduled today. is, i mean. the legs are done for now i think, i dont really need to think of shaving more than once a month, and i think the result is good for now, but my intimates and armpits are still under work.
id like some new art on my walls i suppose. something inspiring.
i was inspired and updated my cafepress-shop with new stuff. maybe one day ill make a few bucks, that wont even nearly cover the time i spent arranging those things for the sale. lol. then again what is time worth? perhaps i can decide. and consider it worth it. as honestly... i wouldnt have done that in the first place if i didnt know it was pocket change at best. its worth more to have someone with a shirt of my work, than 5 or 15$. but maybe only because im still sooo naïve.
last night i picked up the pencil too, after many years. tattoo sketches dont count. i always had the habit of not finishing drawings. i would make them halfway through... and well, a sketch is allowed to be...sketchy i guess. 
olen nyt siitä kirjasta vaahdonnut täällä yksikseni viime yön ja nyt päivällä. ihan hyvää vaihtelua tuohon ajatusten downward spiraaliin... tutkin että miten saan kirjaan ISBN:n, ajattelin et jos tehdään ni tehdään sit ees melkeen kunnolla. pitäähän nyt viivakoodi olla, onkohan siinäkin se 666 olevinaa? tutkin ton viivakoodien 666-asian kerran ja niin paljon ku se siltä näyttääkin (et keskellä, ja alussa ja lopussa ois kutosen merkki, ni oikeesti se ei oo identtinen. viivakoodin suunnittelija (muistaakseni) on kirjoittanut asiasta aika perinpohjaisen artikkelin. mutta piiloviestejä ja salaliittoteorioita on tietty just siellä missä niitä haluaa nähdä.
pitäs sopia uus päivä sille jättipupun kuvaukselle. ja vähän muitakin pupu-kuvauksia. hitto jonain päivänä julkaisen vielä pupukirjankin, lol.
olen saanut pitkin juhannusta 'newsfeediä' tekstareilla miehen ja ystäviemme biletyksestä, hauskaa siellä on ollut ilmeisesti. toi vois laittaa niin katkeraks että se on jo huvittavaa. olen nyt kuiteski ok ton juhannuksen kanssa. joskus menee näin. ja onhan mun kirja tärkeempi. mutta kiinnostaa toki kuulla vielä tarkempi raportti mieheltä että mitä ja missä. huomasin just soijarouheet tuolla hyllyssä, keittössä, pitää jossain vaiheessa kysyä voisko se vielä kokkaa niistä jotain niinku oli tarkoitus. vai etinkö minä netistä ohjeen ja yritän jotain. se kyllä jää tekemättä.
tylsää.
i forgot this a couple days ago.... i knew Marianne could do amazing stuff. she launched the DIVA look book. see, the world is not all about size XS. and shouldnt be.
what im suggesting (and we will see if it happens) is that she would also feature stuff about how to pimp and re-style your old clothes. or buy old ones and make something out of that. i know im a horribly unecological consumer, but at least it wont change unless we try. besides, as i commented to her, not everyone can afford keep buying all the time. plus things are much more cooler sometimes when they are unique or handmade. not that one neds to care, i dont care if everyone has teh same H&M skirt as i. but i know i dig my unique pimpred ones much more. our brains are so comatosed anyway, using some imagiantoin sometimes and creating wouldnt be a bad thing...
but we'll see were the DIVA thing goes, either way its very cool. now, what we need is a similar thing for the people in between! not XS and not XL...
thinking of making a book, now that i checked out blurb.com. surely there have been services like this available all the time... i dunno. i guess im just (wonder why??) in the search of new ideas and something inspiring.
i get occasionally asked why no book is yet available. well, unfortunately i dont think i got enough nice photos together for a book. but now i think, if it was just a small book, cheap...maybe i should give it a try. for the experience. i can only order like 10 or 20 even. i know can easily sell a small amount of books, maybe i shouldnt make it a big fuss and stress? i think a book should be worth the money so i really want it to offer something, thats were i hesitate. the idea needs work... plus i suck at layouts... so i would need help with that i guess. dunno.
we went to Arttu's parents house last night, they werent home. i am glad i went, got soem 'fresh air', mentally. Arttu tried to first make me watch Naked again, but not surprisingly i blew my fuse quite fast. the guy definitely needed some meds (benzo's?), and the goth chick was on the wrong meds, or so she seemed, and the other chick (Louise?) i think would benefit from some serotonin reuptake inhibitors... usual stuff. then we watched Calamari Union (bout time, been on my list for years). the movie tells a story about 15 Frank's making their way from one part of the city (mine) to another, and the trip is not easy...its full of dangers... just imagine trying to make it through from Brooklyn to Manhattan. it was hilarious.
finally, when i was ready to fall asleep Arttu tried to sneak in Three Colours: Red. there was no way i could keep my attention in it. so much for that. sorry fine art!
i fell asleep on the couch.
view from last night.
im really glad we went there, as i said. new thoughts, views... i even thought of photography a bit. and still do i suppose, hence the book idea.
after a break up or upon a new relationship your supposed to change your hairdo? cant remember which one was it, and i guess it wont matter, i asked Arttu yesterday to pick up something red from the grocery store, mine is so small they dont really have hair dyes. i just said it shouldnt shift to orange, i have enough of that. not sure if this will change the color i got much, but whatever. eventually ill go back to black anyways. cant keep dyeing the roots red. 
so its saturday and i need the time to pass further... and further. "keep calm and...". quite an adventure i had, froma co-worker to dating and all that was in between and related. love. im happy thinking about it.
of course, in this situation though, im not happy in general. but i know that it is very likely that one day i will be again. boring but true. trying to count on it.
i went and bought 'fair trade' cane sugar from the nearby grocery store. its not brown but since its very raw i assume its good enough to test it in the shower. lacking soap, cuban women use it, and i decided to try it out too. maybe today would be a good time, my skin needs a good scrub. some of it is peeling off due to the burn in Cuba. symbolism...i was burned while still with F, playing in the sea, and now the skin is coming off as im alone.
last night i went to F's and we talked about ...stuff. he cooked and i felt like eating. i think it cleared out quite a few things. and if im not completely illusioned, i think i feel better today. i think ill eat today as well. i know ill feel down for still quite a while, but i believe its manageable. just have to wait. F said hed come see the kids one of these days. im saddened we never got a third one. and im sorry for everyone who thinks the kids-stuff is bullshit, sorry for they are wasting their time in judging others.
ill probably meet Arttu today as well. watch a movie or something.
im thinking peoples reactions to our break-up showed me news sides or confirmed me some things about them.
the photography festival thing in the fall is getting closer (its in Portugal). i will give a lecture, and a workshop in a school (16-18 yr olds) during that. and have my work printed on the spot, from where it will travel to different exhibition locations. theres many countries presented, from Syria to Poland to Indonesia. im very happy to show what little weird Finland has got ;)
laitoin vahingossa päälle paidan jonka noudin eilen Tiitalta, se on tuunannut niitä mulle. niissä on kissapölyä joten ensin pitäs pestä. hetki meni kun mietin mistä tää helvetillinen nuha tuli.
paidat on hienoja.
tää valkoinen huppari on varmaan mun suosikki. Happy Bunny paitoja kun saa lasten kokoisina helposti ja halvalla niin ostin niitä, ja annoin Tiitalle taiteellisia vapauksia siinä, kuinka sovittaa ne paitoihini.
Tiitta oli käynyt ottaa uutta mustetta. kuva ei tee ihan oikeutta, perhoset oli tosi kauniita. Tiitallahan on koko kroppa tällä teemalla pitkälti, mutta ei silleen että isot alueet ois mustina vaan just elegantteja yksityiskohtia ja muotoja jotka liittyy toisiinsa. tatuoinnista tulee mieleen että mulla on tuo musta tähti nyt kantapäässä/nilkassa, joka muistuttaa paitsi viime vuodesta niin miehestä myös. hyvä muisto.
imuroin ja pesin pyykkiä, reipas tyttö. pari juustosiivua ja tomaatti. otin kyllä multivitan ettei mene kaikki ihan päin helvettiä. Arttu kyseli jos haluaisin juhannuksena tehdä jotain, mutta siinähän se on päivä missä muutkin, en kai mä mitään erityistä halua. siitä pitää vaan selvitä läpi. ongelma on se ettei mikään jaksa kiinnostaa. elokuvat on vaikeita kun musta on tullut nyt parin vuoden aikan niin tunteellinen jotenkin. pitää katsoa huomenna asiaa uudestaan. oikeen odotan yöunia niin siirtyy taas päivä yhdellä eteenpäin. nukkuisin jo mutta on tarkoitus nyt illalla puhua miehen kanssa juttuja, mulla on tarve käydä asioita läpi, aina, kun ne mulle on tarpeeksi selviä niin voin ehkä antaa niiden olla.
taas vastentahtoinen herätys klo 7.
voisin hakea vaikka kuvallisen ja sirullisen henk. kortin poliisi-asemalta tänään, mutta haenko? tuskin. ehkä imuroin kuitenkin.
näin unta talvisodasta ja taas jotain matka-juttuja myös. tuossa muutamaan yöhön en muista nähneeni unia lainkaan.
jotain töitä pitäis tehdä tänään. maailma, tai ainakin pari miljoonaa naapuria, valmistautuu juhannukseen ilmeisesti. en viettänyt juhannusta ennen tota suhdetta joten luulis olevan helppoa palata entiseen.
tänään vois syödä jotain? jännä juttu kuinka kroppa toimii, ettei vaan oo nälkä. söin kyllä 2 porkkanaa eilen, jääkaapissa ei juuri muuta oo. ja 2 juustosiivua. ehkä ihan hyvää vaihtelua näin, mulla on kaapissa parit farkut joihin en mahdu, heh.
Kuubassa oli isäntäväelle kai turistit jättäneet Economistin numeroita (ja paljon erikielisiä kirjoja), ja sain muistutuksen että pidän kys lehdestä. nyt kun Hesarin sivuilla on 24e/12nroa tarjous niin päätin ottaa sen. olisin halunnut vaan nettiversion ehkä (ekologista enkä pääse paperiroskasta eroon muutenkaan), mutta se oli suhteessa nyt kalliimpi...jos jatkossa otan vuositilauksen niin sitten. tylsää kyllä, että immateriaalinen maksaa enempi. ei siinä tietysti ole sellaista katetta että sitä kannattais myydä varmaan (jouduin hinnan jne kaivamaan niiden sivuilta erikseen).
vielä pari tuntia unta pliis.
heräsin taas jo kasin jälkeen. en ole käyttänyt kai kuukauteen farkkuja mut nyt näyttää siltä että pitää kaivaa ne kaapista. suomen kesä :)
äiti ei kai vieläkään voi puhua kun ei siitä ole kuulunut. soitin sille viime perjantaina mutta ei sen ääni ole oikeen palannut joten puhelu jäi lyhyeksi.
isä soitti lauantaina ja kertoi että tulee elokuun toisella viikolla sen Joelin kanssa. Joel on nyt varmaan...who knows, 6vee? tai 5 tai 8... olin paikalla kun yksi niistä syntyi mutta en muista kuka. jos Joel on noin nuori niin sit se oli kai se. intoilin isälle että se tapaa sitten miehen samalla. heh. no suunnitelmat muuttuu joskus.
*kädet ylhäällä*
i got an appropriate mail delivery today. some jewellery from etsy.com, made by thecharmlady.
this made me smile, i had no idea how fitting it would be when i ordered it. but i liked the idea to begin with. the pendant is really just over 4cm high, not huge.
more pendants and a ring. made of clay and covered with polymer i guess.
this photo was taken an hour or 2 before we broke up. my feet are certainly tanned, with lines from the slippers.
woke up at 6, and could not sleep until 7. i went to bed at 9, so.
friends have sent me supportive messages from many directions which i greatly appreciate. i dont feel like talking to anyone yet. later this week maybe.
we still have contact with F, that helps me. to know what he is doing and thinking, while i get adjusted to the new distance.
i need to go to work. im thinking of stepping-up my work effort to 3.5 days per week, a half-a-day increase. i need the money, and well, i like my job anyway.
monday almost over. thank you.
now id be happy to sleep until i have to wake up for work again tomorrow morning.
pesin hampaat kuten kunnon ihmiset ainakin. siinä vieressä oli miehen hammasharja vielä, tietty. ja miehen kaljatölkkejä jääkaapissa. vara-vaatteet se otti aamulla mukaan mutta luulen että jotain jäi. laitoin pyykitkin koneeseen. arjen pitäs jatkua jne.
ilmoitin juhannus-seuralle tekstareilla että en tule mukaan ja syyn. tajuavat sitten olla mieheen yhteydessä jatkossa sen järjestelyistä. kyselivät tietysti että "mitä helv?" mutta mitäs siihen sanoisi. "tällä viisiin tällä kertaa", ei sitä nyt huvita tai halua analysoida tai toistella muutenkaan.
olen nukkunut melkein koko päivän, mutta jossain kohtaa varmaan tulee raja vastaan ettei uni maistu. ikävä kyllä. ja huomenna pitää mennä töihin ja olla fiksu.
puhuttiin illalla puhelimessa jotain. että mitä oltiin tehty, minä päivittänyt fecabookin statuksen ja tekstannut sille ja tälle, se oli puhunut puhelimitse joidenkin kaa. tulevaa "kaverijakoa" ounastelin. Arttu kävi mun luona pikasee, liian aikaista että järjellisistä sanoista olisi iloa mutta se että välittää miten mulla menee on tärkeintä.
jossittelu on aika pahaa. ja syyllisyys. saiskohan vielä unen päästä kii.
i did not have the energy to go shoot the giant bunny today. did not sleep much last night as it was spent with me and F breaking up. he wanted to continue his life alone. we were very (too) different. but i do feel guilty about this. hopefully not forever, it aint a good feeling.
he left in the morning. so, not the best of days, feels surreal. i sit here, but everything is different from yesterday.
i changed my Facebook status, heh. i wouldve had to do it sooner or later. i miss seeing his name there "in a relationship with..."
i remember well thinking this whole thing will end in tears, and coincidence or not, but it did. i also accepted it, assuming it'll be worth it. and it was. beautiful 1,5 years, or more, with some setbacks in the beginning. when i felt i could not go on further with him or itll kill me when it ends. but surely, it does not. life goes on, i know.
geez, the 'american corn vodka' is not freezing. is there anything else that could prevent this or do i have to accept that its 40%? whats wrong...
living at Heathrow
a day in the office - video
we're going to see F's parents today, out of impulse. and tomorrow i have a photoshoot with a belgian giant bunneh in Espoo. yay.
i was notified this horror magazine interview is now online www.horrormagazine.it
can't say i appreciate mixing an old calender photo of myself there, but not going to bother complaining either. its yrs old, taken for a deviantART calendar, they wanted self portraits that may be linked to the style of work...and lying in a pool of fakeblood might not tick everyones sense of irony or humor but whatever... i just dont think it belongs there with the actual photography.
the interview itself was interesting. i dunno if they published all of it, my italian is not exactly...well, existing. but the original questions by Dany Caputo, and my answers, are below;
1. So, Jenny, why don't you tell us something about your future projects concerning your art?
i am now actually in a bit of a tough spot regarding my photography, ive been having a nasty photographers block for a while now. very frustrating, but what can you do?! as for solid plans, i am just going to have to try one way or another to break this pattern and get on track. i am just taking it one step at a time, scheduling one shoot to a week from now... I have one SuicideGirls set shoot coming up.. thats about it really!
2. What do you think about censorship in the artistic field? Have you ever been censored?
i am lucky to not have been in the eye of the "censor" much. of course it all depends on which fiend of art you work in and where you showcase yourself. internet is easy as a new media and for the choice of venues you can use to present your work in. i know magazines that came to me wanting to make a story, but changed their minds when the editor said its too drastic for the general public. but i dont mind stuff like that, if i did, i wouldnt be taking these photos.
3. I know you don't like to label yourself as an artist, but you can't ignore the fact that worldwide magazines are interviewing you and putting you on their cover... and also that on YouTube you can find videos about yourself. How do you feel about all this fuss?
all in all, i think anyone who creates, appreciates their work being showcased and talked about. i cannot complain at all, i am merely thankful. it means a lot to me that people like my work and are interested in reading about me. at the same time, one should never be dependent on it, as "artist" (using the word just for you ;)) it all begins within yourself and the need to do what you do. you do it whether its liked or not. if its liked, and creates discussion, you are very lucky. thats how i feel about it anyway.
4. You travel a lot all around the world. I read you've been to Asia, India, America, and often you've met other artists there, Do you find it important for an artist to get into contact with so many different cultures?
well important is a difficult word. it depends. there are many great artists in the history (not that i compare myself to them) that did not travel much, but i think for many that create it becomes natural to want to see what else is out there. exceptions excluded, artists tend to have exceptionally open mind in some aspects at least... and a big part of learning your craft is usually seeing what others do, comparing and evolving yourself based on what you see and what you admire and so forth. i dont think traveling is a necessity at all... and luckily with the internet the world gets closer to you. but some people, like me, seem to get something out of it. traveling for me is not mostly for artistic motives though, i just like it as a person and know creative people at chance because i meet them through art websites etc. traveling has changed me as a whole and affected my photography in that way.
5. As an artist, and please allow me that, how would you like to be remembered, when your time comes?
if i am remembered (not necessary at all, with my outlook on life)... ...let it be for i uncompromisingly did what i wanted to do. and let it be for mixing pop culture elements and "darker" elements in way that made people feel something and opened their minds perhaps.
6. Movies have always inspired you a lot. If you should tell us three names of the most beautiful horror movies ever, what would they be?
beautiful horror movies, well. bram stokers dracula, sleepy hollow, honogurai mizu (the original asian version of dark water), alien 3, texas chainsaw massacre (2003)
7. You have designed the cover of Mark Benecke's book "Vampires Among us". Lately, at least here in Italy, there's much talk about vampires, with movies and books that tell us about them. Do you like this phenomenon?
vampires have always been a great source of mythisism and stories etc... the books, paintings and movies tell their story. i dont really have anything to add to that, i have used vampires as inspiration as well, as you mentioned. the phenomenon is therefor fine by me ;)
8. You love cats and collect items about them. Have you ever wondered how the two very different parts of you - the one that takes photos of brutal things and the one that loves fluffy animals - can live in the same body?
it seems to puzzle everyone else but me. how could there be such beautiful things in this world, as little kitties, love and nature, and at the same time so much horror, violence and pain? it seems as if the photos make me seem aggressive or hateful... but i am just researching the topics, of which some are considered scary. im just a girl. and i appreciate the good things. well that varies for people, but for me kitties and bunnies are the bestest.
9. If you should tell us 3 terrible secrets, forgetting about all the readers who are now in front of their computer, what would they be?
1. one of the first horror movies i saw and that affected me a lot (good way? err) was Prison (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095904/), after it i just sat in my bed, my back against the wall, lights and radio on and could not let myself fall asleep because i was so terrified. i probably passed out some time in the morning. i was probably around 10yrs old at the time.
2. as if the kitty item collection was not schocking enough, i sleep with 3 stuffed animals in my bed that i consider my children; Bianca (brown bunny), Little Tiger (white/black striped tiger) and Buena (white bunny).
3. When i read in the groupie forums online that Peter Steele of Type O Negative is submissive... thats when his sex appeal collapsed for me. i think im still upset over it and secretly hope its not true what they say. although what is it of my interest? good question, well im just a girl and that was a secret!!!!!
10. Can you give some suggestions to the wannabe photographers who are reading this now?
wannabe photographers of the world: as boring as it sounds, no shortcuts exist. just keep shooting. a longer take on the subject here:
http://suzi9mm.deviantart.com/journal/7718028/
11. Do you find easily your models or are they scared because of all the blood and the violence?
these days actually a lot of models contact me to be photographed and not the other way around. so i think that somewhat answers your question ;)
12. What do you think of controversial musicians like, for example, Marilyn Manson, who labels himself as the "AntiChrist"?
controversy and doing something different is usually good and refreshing. i dont personally care if an artist calls themselves an antichrist or whatever. i have read M.Manson's biography he wrote with Neil Strauss and he came off as a very smart and expressive person, the controversial stuff is just pushing the limits and different type of expression from what i could see. nothing supernatural or evil there. its still not my favorite kind of music though :D stirring things up a little takes bravery, i appreciate it.
(Havana Cemetery) The Necropolis Cristobel Colon is a huge, beautiful cemetery with tons of monuments on nearly 1 million graves. and what do they do there? right next to the grave site, if you bother walking 20 meters to a hill, you will be walking on bones. theres a huge hole in the ground where they've thrown tons of them. a graveyard employee showed this to me. normally the casket is removed from the grave 2 years after burial and either relatives or the staff cleans the bones off anything left of the corpse and clothes, and the bones are put in a box, which (despite what locals insisted telling me) are not permanently closed in any way, its simply a box made of cement or similar, with a board on top. the boxes are piled up in buildings in the cemetery area, and relatives go there, sometimes move the cover and put flowers inside. even saw lizards making visits to one. the employee said that the 'massgrave' of bones is for people with no money to pay for the box. and the locals told me the box is so cheap, practically free, that anyone can afford it. and knowing Fidel's ideas, im sure this is the case. anyhow i dont think its according to catholic standards to treat the skeletons like that, i dont personally care, but i know they do, and hence im saddened that this would happen. our hosts were surpised over the photos, showing them to friends coming by and all, everyone was shocked. ironically, the b&b is right next to the cemetery...so you never know what is going on right under your nose. anyhow im sure its not according to policy in any way to have sceneries like that in highly religious countries like Cuba, u go to a cemetery and suddenly your walking on bones...i couldve taken that female/teenager rib by my foot easy and taken home. anyone could. maybe they do. i threw it in the pit, which i think they should do to all the rest thats out there on the grass...not sure if its any better in the pit than under my sandals, it just feels weird to step on someones dentures...
a journal that featured me, should be able to understand it now that i just got a crash reminder in Cuba... but i doubt i bother
i didnt get much done today, finally got my new visa and replied some emails and notes... called mom and discussed work atuff with Arttu... thats about it.
im so tanned i look like a different person. damn. but in a few months ill be back to my old self, or close.
i put photos of the trip in flickr, as usual.
we stayed in a bed&breakfast type of place, as Cuba now allows private people to rent rooms (max. 2 rooms). no worry of them getting rich though, they pay big sums for the license. the family was friends with Maria's relatives so we were in good hands. would have been anyway, they were quite awesome and made our stay enjoyable. in fact id go as far as to say that Caridad, the hostess, was one of the most importabnt aspects of making this trip so successful. with her translator background in the Un and Vuban politics, and 3 degrees, shed seen much more of the world than the average european. and her knowledge of the history and politics were astounding, not only of Cuba, but the latin america and world in general. i had great discussions with her and getting into the Cuban mindset and culture was great for me, more than sightseeing i like to just hang out and talk with locals. also my history knowledge is not as strong as it could be, but face to face its always interesting. while there, i also read Che Guevara's second book from his travels in latin america (the first is the one the movie is based on), based solely on his diary and letters to close ones. so i got some more insight on him as well. some good, some bad.
the Cuban people really love their Fidel though, and the future without him is not looking super bright. Raoul does not enjoy full trust, as he has a military background, whereas Fidel is a romantic humanist.
anyway, it was abnormally hot for the time of the year, i was told, it was 30C daily, or more, and naturally the humidity added its nuisence too, just cos im not used to such conditions. being sweaty for 12 days in a row...yes im quite happy sitting here all dry. our room had air conditioning, so all good, but it was too noisy to keep on 24/7. also of course i wanted to try survive the heat, but its hard to get used to the skin being soaked all the time. but yes, i would not travwel to such places if i didnt want to feel different things. i wish someday to go experience the cold too, to antarctic or northern siberia maybe.
as our travel guide (which Arttu gave me) said, the food was (sorry to say) unbelievably bad. i was curious about the claim, as i am known to eat anything and everything and rarely complain. snackfood from the kiosk, pies from the indian streets, brain, blood sausage, or the other high-end; caviar...i eat it all and im less likely to complain than others. but cuban food was horrible in general. at best, it was okay/good, and that would be at our b&b (Casa Vera), Elio, the man of the house, cooks pretty well, perhaps to suite the western tastes. we were always happy to eat dinner at the house. also, i had a decent seafood pasta in the restaurant of an expensive hotel, and the price was about10 fold compared to average pasta meal. not that many places would have it, anyway. there is a lack of ingredients, among other things...so most restaurants only offer a couple dishes, and the other might be half a chicken, with somke burned crisps on the side, and the other a fish filler, also with burned crisps. no sauce or anything in that direction. one restaurant we had to queue for, only had hot dogs. corn bread and a sausage. ketchup available if asked. well it was moderately priced, but i dont think the average cuban was still gonna afford to eat the hod dog.
soft drinks are bad too. and you will not go to a grocery store and buy food either, they might have canned beans or a candy bar, and you can get fruits from the market... but theres really nothing you can do. and yes, its understandable in the situation. to differ from many poor countries though, Cubans are very healthy and educated, and the plentiful and prosperous days are still remembered, it was not that long ago. but for 50yrs now Cuba has been living as in war time, with nothing. one soap per person per month. which leads to women often using brown sugar for washing, apparently its good for the skin, i promised to try at home. theres a shortage opf supply of pretty much everything. the shops are empty. milk is highly expensive as the cows dont succeed in the climate. the cows i saw where so thin theyll die of anorexia. private cow owners have to work hard to keep the cows alive though, theres a fine to be paid if u loose the cow. you cant sell the cow either. so if your a cow owner, tough. so, all meat of pig or chicken. the chicken is okay, since im not picky, but what would Gordon Ramsay say? dry, old, too fried...
when the travel guide or anyone at all says that Cuba is expensive, they are wrong. yes, wrong. unless you go live in the 5-star hotel by the sea front and eat in their restaurant with all the other Che-shirted tourists. even then, it is only about the level of Paris in pricing, which is a bit less than in Finland. a meal and drinks in the average local restaurant is around 2-4 euros, if that. granted, its bad, but if you cant stand it for a week or 2, don't go to Cuba. a soft drink from a kiosk is about 1euro. beer is the same or less. rum is almost free. liqueur stores dont carry much besides rums and beer. red wine perhaps, starting from about 2euros. i made the mistake of buying liqueur when i saw a bottle. not hard to guess what it was made of... i almost puked and donated the bottle to our hosts.
if im not picky with food, i compensate in drinks. i cant drink beer, rum or whisky for the life of me. and thats not a good spot to be in, if in Cuba. i can have a mojito actually, and pina coladas are nice, but im a not a big fan of cocktails. so i stuck to red wine and the weird "american corn vodka" i found in one store. 1liter plastic bottle. supposedly 40% but i swear... it cannot be. im just proving it now by having put the bottle in my freezer. if 40%, it would not freeze. but it was about 4euros per bottle, so its still a good deal and i bought those.
"Since the turn of the century, a law has been passed in the United States of America that restricts entry to anyone who has visited Cuba. This stops the individual from entering USA territory for another 15 years."
source: wikipedia
Cuba does not leave a stamp on your passport :)
Cuban beach. theres an endless amount of these, and the water is remarkably clear and clean. im not a beach person as is known, but i dont mind visiting sometimes, this being my 2nd time. Maria and his relatives actually invited us to go with them so we had a true Cuban beach day. warm water, white sand... and yes i burned. was in shadow most of the time but the sand reflects.
heräsin 12 jälkeen ja pari tuntia hurahtikin työasioissa jotka vaativat huomiota asap.
mutta Nordea oli sentään saanut Visan valmiiksi ja hain sen konttorista. teki mieli sanoa pirteälle asiakaspalvelijalle joka esitteli korttia minulle kuin se olisi hienokin juttu, että ei se nyt niin upea saavutus ole kuukautta sählätä sen kanssa. sillä matkallahan se olisi vieläkin ellei asiakas itse olisi vaatinut selvittämään mikä kestää. että onnitelkaa vaan itseänne. tänään jos jaksan niin katson Aktian verkkopankin, että kelpaako se mulle.
ja vakuutusyhtiöstä pitäs kysyä korvaako ne sen mun passin-hukkaamis-hässäkän kulut (matkavakuutus), parikin ihmistä on sanonut että näin ois. nyt vaan mietityttää olenko maksanut viimeisintä laskua... terveisiä Pohjolasta, ne mitään korvaa.
taas väsyttää. nukuin vaan reilu 6 tuntia.
back home again.
we traveled for nearly 30 hours, and it was a bit much, especially the 7 hours on what turned out to be hell on earth, aka Paris CDG airport. Jukkapoika has F's car when hes traveling and always picks us up...that was nice, considering we arrived at 1am... i really wasnt too interested in wondering how to get home. now, a shower would be in place. i already checked emails :) i hope i'll reply them too...some time.
Cuba... i wouldnt know where to begin. very good trip.
need.to.sleep.
Posts
