Saturday, August 18, 2007



Which Harry Potter Character Are You?

You are Fred and George. You're a joker at heart, but when push comes to shove, you know what's important.
Find Your Character @ BrainFall.com

Tuesday, August 14, 2007



Which Pixar Character Are You?

You are part Nemo. Your are the rebel in the group. You do things differently, not
because you think they should be done that way, but because your Mommy
told you not to do such "bad" things. This is cool if you ask us,
and we are pretty sure your friends agree.
You are part Dory. You are naive and gullible. Wait, that's a good thing. Your ability to
trust any stranger is a trait not many people have, but be more cautious
next time a stranger offers to buy you lunch or you might find yourself in a fishy situation.
Find Your Character @ BrainFall.com


Which Heroes Character Are You?

You are part Jessica. You are a two-faced bitch most of the time. Friends are friends, and enemies don't want to be your enemies. No one messes with you.
You are part Claire. You're naive and still getting used to your abilities. Some more experience and assertiveness would be good for you.
Find Your Character @ BrainFall.com

Saturday, July 21, 2007

RANTASALMI


I am heading to Rantasalmi this afternoon, where my sister and brother-in-law have their summer-cottage by Lake Saimaa, the biggest lake in Finland. The twins had their 6th birthday yesterday and this evening they are having a party. So this weekend is filled with fresh strawberries, swimming, sauna, boat-rides, fishing, trampoline-jumping (keep your fingers crossed, that I do NOT break my neck!) and giggling. I have been knitting like a maniac, but I am afraid, that the sweaters (black for Antti and purple for Ada) won't be ready :( All the parts for the two sweaters are ready, but I do not have the time to put two sweaters together (maybe one, but that would be unfair).

Good news is, that I finally got my camera last Tuesday ! I've been waiting for it since last March. So I am the official B-day photographer :)

Here is a clip from Antti's and Ada's favourite movie "My neighbour Totoro". After they got this movie, I've had to play Totoro with them. I am the biggest Totoro and they are the smaller one's :)




Saturday, July 14, 2007

THE HELLACOPTERS in HELSINKI JULY 12th

What a night ! I'm still on cloud nine ! I have seen the Hellacopters at least 20 times, but it still is a treat to see them live. I could not wipe the smile out from my face during and after the show (well, I am still smiling, it is starting to feel like I am turning into the Cheshire Cat...). And it looked like the band enjoyed playing to a sold-out Tavastia crowd, too. I have to continue cleaning; my friend's from London are staying over for a couple of nights.

Here is "Carry Me Home" from "By The Grace Of God"-album:


Thursday, July 05, 2007

Take this test at TickleMY SIGNATURE CITY



Your signature city is New York

Whether you like to have lots of options at your fingertips or you like to be in a metropolitan environment that's buzzing with energy, the Big Apple is the perfect place for you. Maybe you like to mix and mingle at some of the edgiest restaurants, shops, and clubs in the world. Or maybe you like to be in the middle of it all — in the bright lights and big city.One night could be dinner and a show on Broadway, a stroll through Central Park the next, or a trip to the Met the next. From Grand Central Station to Greenwich Village, New York's got some of the biggest and edgiest things to see and do anywhere in the world. No wonder a trendsetter like you would be right at home in the Big Apple.


What's Your Signature City?

Brought to you by Tickle

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

THE KILLERS SHOW

I went to see The Killers yesterday, despite the fact that my head is full of space-snot, I had a little fever and was feeling like crap :) I had bought the tickets months ago and wasn't going to be paralyzed by a stupid summer-flu. Thanks to Ibuprofen and a yummy cranberry-mojito (I bet it was yummy; I really couldn't taste it), that Mika and Tania forced me to drink, I was able to enjoy the show. At the moment I do not feel like million bucks, but I do not care.

The show was excellent and they played all my favourite songs and it felt like they were playing just for me and my friends (the gig was at Helsinki ice stadium, so there were few other people, too...) Or then it was just the mojito doing it's magic :) They played TWO encore's, I do not think that I've ever experienced that. Believe me, I've seen hundreds of gigs. The sounds were really massive and they had nice blue and red lights on the stage. It was really sweet, that they played Frankie Valli's "Can't Take My Eyes Off You". OK, I'm not that naive, that I would think, that they played it only in Helsinki, but it was a sweet, sweet gesture.

And here is one of my favourites, For Reasons Unknown, please enjoy:

Midsummer

I took the bus last Thursday to my grandparents summer cottage by lake Lummene (yup, the Finnish cosmetics company Lumene took it's name from our lake). The bus-ride wasn't as bad as I thought it would be; it only took 2,5 hours to get to the "city" of Kuhmoinen (population 2805...). I thought I would be stuck at traffic for hours and hours, after all most Finns left for their summer cottages on Thursday. My brother, sister-in-law and niece Aino had already left on Wednesday. Which was good, cause I could ask them to heat the sauna and was able to go to sauna straight from the bus. I love that sauna !!! My Granpa and Dad built it in the late ´60 and it gives the best löyly (=heat) ever, very soft and pleasant. It is an old-fashioned sauna, which is heated by real wood (no electricity) and that gives a nice smell. And I love swimming in the lake during my sauna-rituals (after all sauna is a sacred place for Finns). Your skin and hair gets extremely soft in that lake. The lake is full of ulpukka (=yellow water lilies), imagine yourself swimming there at night (well, we have the midnight sun at the moment, so it doesn't get that dark).

The cottages (we have three: sauna with a small room, where I sleep, kitchen hut and aitta (=shed, where my brother's family sleeps) are very basic and simple; we do have electricity, fridge and radio, but no tv, no shower, nor a modern toilet (we have a "outhouse" in the middle of the forest). I have spent most of my childhood summer's there swimming and exploring the forest with my family. It is so much fun to spend time there now with Aino and "teach" her about the forest :) Well, kind of, after all she is just nine months old, but she is VERY interested in the conifers; she loved to touch the mänty (=pine) and kataja (=juniper). I have to get myself a book about the Finnish wildflower's,me and my sister-in-law got really frustrated, cause we could not identify the half of them. But I was very proud to recognise vanamo (=linnaea). And if Aino takes after my brother, we are going to be in serious trouble in a few years, 'cause she starts asking about the flower's, trees and birds. My brother had a severe "mikä tämä on" (what's this)-phase (well, so did I) as a kid.

So we spent a lovely couple of days there, but on Saturday Aino got really sick, her temperature was 39 C (102.2 F) and she became a little delirious. She still wasn't crying (that munchkin smiles all the time), but you could tell, that she wasn't feeling good at all. When she started refusing to eat and drink, we decided it was time to get her to see a doctor. We packed our stuff and drove back to Helsinki and took Aino to ER. It turned out to be an ear-infection, she got her antibiotics and she is feeling OK now. But I'm not... I have Aino's flu now... I have a day off from work (I went to see The Killers yesterday). Thank heavens, I do not have a high fever (only 37.3 C), but it still feels like somebody beat me up really badly :) But the Killers show was worth it !

I'll post pics from Lummene after I get the cd from my brother.

Sunday, May 20, 2007

First Flip-Flop Day of the Year

Hooray for the first flip-flop day of the year ! It is + 16 C (= 61 F) and I just wore my flip-flops (the monkey flip-flops that I got from Anniina last year). I still have to decide my toe mail-polish colour... I'm feeling baby-blue or maybe light green...



Friday, May 11, 2007

TRIPLE A


Ada, Antti & Aino last Easter at Kesälahti.

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

WELCOME EUROVISION 2007 !

Monday, April 23, 2007

WHAT PHILOSOPHY DO YOU FOLLOW ?

You scored as Utilitarianism. Your life is guided by the principles of Utilitarianism: You seek the greatest good for the greatest number.

“The said truth is that it is the greatest happiness of the greatest number that

is the measure of right and wrong.”

--Jeremy Bentham

“Whenever the general disposition of the people is such, that each individual regards those only of his interests which are selfish, and does not dwell on, or concern himself for, his share of the general interest, in such a state of things,

good government is impossible.”

--John Stuart Mill



More info at Arocoun's Wikipedia User Page...

Utilitarianism

80%

Existentialism

80%

Kantianism

70%

Justice (Fairness)

65%

Hedonism

55%

Strong Egoism

35%

Apathy

20%

Divine Command

15%

Nihilism

5%

What philosophy do you follow? (v1.03)
created with QuizFarm.com

Saturday, April 21, 2007

FINLAND ROCKS

Here is Kotiteollisuus from Lappeenranta, Karelia:



For some reason or the other, my 6-month year old niece Aino loves them. She starts to "sing" immedeately when you put on a Kotiteollisuus cd. Seriously. Last Easter when we went to our summer cottage in Kesälahti and put on the Kotiteollisuus cd when we reached Lappeenranta (old family tradition), Aino started to sing. The little munchkin just sang, giggled and sang the rest of our road trip. I do not know, have they inserted some hidden baby-activating components to their songs, that adults can not hear ??? Or is Aino realising on some level, that "this dude sings the same language as my Mom and Dad (and favourite auntie, of course !) are talking". Aino is certainly used to metal-music, as my brother and sister-in-law are listening to it a lot. Well, basically all the time. Aino "sings" along other metal-bands, too. But the strongest reaction is always to Kotiteollisuus. Strange, huh ???


This song "Jos Sanon", is from "Tomusta ja Tuhkasta" cd (published 2000). I simply love this song because of the lyrics:
"Jos sanon, ett taivas on musta
se on niin musta kun tahdon sen olevan ja
jos sanon, ett maailma ei pyöri
se ei silloin pyöri, jumalauta"

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Sunday, April 15, 2007

BUSY, BUSY, BUSY
This one is for Anniina:
The new job is very interesting and I am loving it ! My team books flights, hotels, cars etc. for religious and humanitarian organisations involved in missionary and relief work. Our customers include many churches, ministries and development organisations. The destinations are mainly in Africa and Asia and I better start reading my Atlas as I am not so good at African geography :) There are lot of new things I still have to learn, but I can finally use the huge flight route map inside my head. And it certainly helps, that I know so many airport 3-letter codes. The invoicing system is a bit complicated than the previous one I used, but I'll learn it. And it still is a blast every morning, when I open the reservation system (insert standing ovations for Amadeus here) and I'm so happy, that I do not have to work with "the-one-whose-name-we-do-not-mention"-system no longer.
My co-workers seem nice and I am sure I'll enjoy working with them. I know most of them from my previous job from Töölö and it was like getting home. I wont'be socializing with them after work as much as I did (and still do) with the "kids" from Kilroy, but that is ok. I have 35 co-workers (3 + me in my team) and it is fine with me. I do not like working in big organisations, when you do not know all the people.

So everything looks ok at the moment, but I still do not know, when you can come and pick me up from Newark. Couple of the women at work have noticed my super-cool Vans-slip on's and I've already got 2 Vans orders for their kids :) The black-out period for the BA flights is July 1st - August 15th, but I still haven't talked to my boss about my summer holiday, sorry !

Friday, April 13, 2007

Personal DNA: I'm a Dynamic Director






My Personal Dna Report

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Palm Reading Test
What Does Your Future Hold?

Katja, your palm reveals you are especially good at Living each day to its fullest

Our psychologists were able to confirm what palmists have known for centuries: the lines in your palm reveal many things about you — including details about your future.Your palm shows your overall outlook on life is positive. Hand analysts believe that the way you use your hands directly affects your relationship to the world; in your case this shows you tend to move easily through life.

http://web.tickle.com/tests/handanalysis/index.jsp

Saturday, March 17, 2007

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY !



Off to Dublin in the Green by the Dubliners.

Monday, March 12, 2007

QUIZ: What Time of Day Are You?

You Are Sunrise

You enjoy living a slow, fulfilling life. You enjoy living every moment, no matter how ordinary.
You are a person of reflection and meditation. You start and end every day by looking inward.
Caring and giving, you enjoy making people happy. You're often cooking for friends or buying them gifts.
All in all, you know how to love life for what it is - not for how it should be.

Sunday, March 11, 2007

FRUSTRATION

I've been trying to clean my apartment the whole morning, but I am getting more and more frustrated. The clutter here is unbelivable. I live in my grand-parents old apartment and I still have most of their stuff (they bought it in 1941) packed together with my stuff. I do not have a heart to throw their things away, but since my dad and my aunties are showing no intrest to their heirlooms, I probably have to. I simply can NOT throw away over 400 old books... Anyone interested ??? Old paintings ??? Coffee cups ???

Thursday, March 08, 2007

REAL JAPANESE NAME CREATOR

My japanese name is 中村 Nakamura (center of the village) 歩 Ayumi (walk, deeper meaning: walk your own way).
Take your real japanese name generator! today!
Created with Rum and Monkey's Name Generator Generator.

ARCTIC MONKEYS - When the Sun Goes Down

Their CD is on top of my "CD's I have to buy"- list

Monday, March 05, 2007

HEIAN SHRINE GARDEN


Friday, March 02, 2007

PLUM TREE

Friday, February 16, 2007

KYOTO



Tomorrow morning I'm travelling (finally !!!) to Kyoto. Butterflies in the tummy at the moment...

Thursday, February 01, 2007

THE MOST CONFUSED LITTLE TONTTU IN FINLAND


When I wake up and see this picture I start to smile immediately. Look how tiny she is compared to my hands :)

Sunday, January 21, 2007

Joe Normal

26 % Nerd, 17% Geek, 4% Dork

For The Record:

A Nerd is someone who is passionate about learning/being smart/academia.

A Geek is someone who is passionate about some particular area or subject, often an obscure or difficult one.

A Dork is someone who has difficulty with common social expectations/interactions.


You scored less than half in all three, earning you the title of: Joe Normal.

This is not to say that you don't have some Nerd, Geek or Dork inside of you--we all do, and you can see the percentages you have right above. This is just to say that none of those qualities stand out so much as to define you. Sure, you enjoy an episode of Star Trek now and again, and yeah, you kinda enjoyed a few classes back in the day. And, once in a while, you stumble while walking down the street even though there was nothing there to cause you to trip. But, for the most part, you look and act fairly typically, and aren't much of an outcast.

I'd say there's a fair chance someone asked you to take this test. In any event, fairly normal.

Thanks Again! -- THE NERD? GEEK? OR DORK? TEST


Link: The Nerd? Geek? or Dork? Test written by
WHAT COUNTRY ARE YOU ?

India

Your country is 43 concerned with morals, 67 prosperous, 62 liberal, and 54 aggressive!
You are a massive, sprawling country that has some issues with its neighbors. As a whole, you're doing OK in the economy department. Work on consolidating your life and toning down that curry.


Link: The What country are you? Test written by cactusoftheeast on OkCupid Free Online Dating,
99 Things I may or may not have done.

01. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
02. Swam with wild dolphins
03. Climbed a mountain
04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
05. Been inside the Great Pyramid
06. Held a tarantula
07. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
08. Said “I love you” and meant it!
09. Hugged a tree
10. Bungee jumped
11. Visited Paris
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
14. Seen the Northern Lights
15. Gone to a huge sports game
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. Touched an iceberg
19. Slept under the stars
20. Changed a baby's diaper
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
22. Watched a meteor shower
23. Gotten drunk on champagne
24. Given more than you can afford to charity
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
27. Had a food fight
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight -
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
32. Held a lamb
33. Seen a total eclipse
34. Ridden on a roller coaster
35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
39. Visited all 7 states and territories in Australia
40. Taken care of someone who was drunk
41. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
42. Watched wild whales
43. Stolen a sign.
44. Backpacked in Europe
45. Taken a road-trip
46. Gone rock climbing
47. Midnight walk on the beach
48. Gone sky diving
49. Taken a train through Europe
50. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
51. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger's table, and had a meal with them
52. Milked a cow
53. Alphabetized your CDs
54. Sung karaoke
55. Lounged around in bed all day

56. Gone scuba diving
57. Kissed in the rain
58. Gone to a drive-in theatre
59. Started a business
60. Taken a martial arts class
61. Been in a movie
62. Crashed a party
63. Gone without food for 5 days
64. Gotten a tattoo
65. Got flowers for no reason
66. Performed on stage
67. Been to Las Vegas
68. Recorded music
69. Eaten shark
70. Buried one/both of your parents
71. Been on a cruise ship
72. Spoken more than one language fluently
73. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
74. Walked the Sydney Harbour Bridge
75. Had plastic surgery
76. Survived an accident that you shouldn't have survived
77. Wrote articles for a large publication
78. Lost over 50 kilos
79. Piloted an airplane
80. Petted a stingray
81. Broken someone's heart
82. Broken a bone
83. Eaten sushi
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Parasailed
86. Skipped all your school reunions
87. Shaved your head
88. Caused a car accident
89. Pretended to be "sick"
90. Surfed in the ocean
91. Saved someone's life
92. Fainted
93. Been in the room while someone is giving birth
94. Hitchhiked
95. Adopted a child
96. Been caught daydreaming
97. Been to Ayers Rock
98. Called off a wedding engagement
99. Donated your blood