Doesn't my sister look like Cher? Can I get a witness? I remember when I was a child my mom kept my hair super long. Besides always being asked if I was a boy or a girl, the next popular question was, 'Where's Sonny?' However I so did not look like Cher. It was just the super long straight hair. I was never as girlie looking as my sister. 

Ok. Is anybody else bothered by the nipple? It was just a little bit creepy. I think that Mr. Tumnus was always keeping one of them covered. I had a theory that it was the one that would be closest to Lucy. However, as one can see in this photo, it is clearly not so. Uhm...is he lifting her skirt? Anyway, their relationship comes across well in the book. I mean, it seems sweet. However, on the big screen it is just isn't. Well, it is but there is an underlying ickiness to it. 

I was about to say that today, I had my first big fall of winter. However, I remember in December a few weeks before I went back to the US for a visit, I ran outside to walk my dog and slipped on the ice and cut my hand. I wonder if the scar left on my palm has somehow changed my fortune.

So, I can say that today I had my first major fall of this year. Again, I was out walking the dog and as I was crossing a snowy field, I went down and twisted my ankle. That doesn't usually happen, the ankle bit. Well, I got up and shook it off and continued a bit further and then turned back. After all, she had already pooped.

This is me right after I stood up and looked around to make sure nobody saw me bite it. My ankle didn't really start to hurt until now. Ouch. 

Next time somebody gets something in the post and we have to walk 900 meters to the R-kioski to pick up one's package in the freezing -18 degree Celsius (0 degrees F) weather, drive instead. What was I thinking? Oh yeah, I was thinking we couldn't drive because I am overdue at the katsastus and would get a ticket if I were caught. And well, after all 900 meters is not even 1 kilometer. However, with the windchill it was -26 degrees Celsius or -16F. When we finally got home, I had to ask if I still had my ears on my head. Oddly enough, we weren't the only ones walking down the road carrying packages picked up from R-kioski, which is acting as the temporary local post office.

About that speech the tasavallan presidentti gave, here it is. Actually, that was the only video I shot. Just this tiny bit.

Out out, perkele, spot! Gosh. You see that Merimekko Unikko Orange dinner napkin? Well, I warn you now, never use them to wipe up something from a white refrigerator door. I stupidly did so and now have this bloody yellow spot that refuses to wash off. Any suggestions? I had decided to hang my new Harry Potter calendar up there with one of those suctioning hook things. So, when I moved my catwoman and harlequin magnets, I noticed some smudges which I idiotically wiped away with said napkin. I know what you are thinking, why not hang the calendar on the wall, why put it on the 'fridge. Well, it takes the hammer of Thor to be able to pound something into my concrete walls. Also, nothing sticks to the paint on the walls. To clean the stain, I tried Cif Powercream kitchen and bathroom (with bleach) mixes, lemon juice, vinegar and dishsoap. I guess it has faded but it is still there. At least, it is hidden behind the calendar.

Have you seen this film? "Star Wreck: In the Pirkinning". I found it to be highly amusing. I really liked it. The movie a sci-fi parody, cleverly and craftily made by some Finnish people. When you go to the website you will see that you may download the film free using bittorrent. It is Finnish and it is subtitled in English. The translation is much better that one sees on some television shows. Well, go to the website and read more about it. You can also, download the trailer to get an idea of the movie.
From the website, " There is no major production company behind the film, but five students and unemployed people from Tampere, a bit of blue linoleum and a few home computers." Right on, let's hear it for independent films.

I had just left the booksale at Akateeminen kirjakauppa when I saw a crowd gathered in kolmen sepänaukio. It was Finland's president, Tarja Halonen giving a speech and handing out autographs. It was cool to finally get shots of her that close. I had been in a belly dancing class with her which is a picture I would never take. I mean, just out of respect for her. It always gnawed at me that she was that close and I couldn't take her photo. That is my hobby, taking photos. So, before when I was going to the bookstore, I had seen her bus driving around and thought it amusing and so got my camera and took a few shots. I was really excited to see her there giving that speech. Only if I had a better camera, one that would give me more control over my photos and allow me to frame shots better when I shoot from above my head. Something, like...the Canon Powershot A620. Yes... a new camera.

Dang it. I just made a blog post with Picasa and it somehow got lost. So, now shortly without any of the fun humorous bits from before. Here is the film of my schools 'kuusi joulu' and my immigrant groups 'joulu juhla'. Click here, "Joulu Juhla 2005" to start watching it, or right click and save it to your computer for viewing without hassle.
Also, included in this film are some amusing bizarrities which are at the end. That tok tok tok dancing chick is the one who I previously mentioned was nagging me about burning a dvd and the emailing. Some of my other classmates were laughing so hard they were crying, but I had to cut out some of that out because it was possible the tok tok tok chick would watch it too. I still haven't gotten around to sending any emails. 

It all started sometime in September or October. My teacher began to request that I make some sort of presentation to show at the end of the school year. So, with my limited ability to actually understand what she said. I set forth to accomplish this task. Now and then, as the class was nearing its end in December, she would mention this endeavor. She would talk as if I was doing a Powerpoint presentation and I would inform her that I was thinking more along the lines of a little film. So, after the initial begining, I lost some steam and stopped working on. However, as I realized that the end was nigh, I realized I had to get my ass in gear and completed it. I rethought it and reworked it and finally came up with the final version.

Now, all this time, I labored under the impression that this film was going to be shown at our end of year immigrant group party. I put up with her demands to cut some of it when she said that 17 minutes was too long. I refrained from poking her eyes out when she said it would be played actually at our school graduations ceremony. However, I couldn't stop myself from flipping out about it. How stupid was I? All this bloody time, had she been telling me that and had I misunderstood her. Why did she never correct me? I told her no, I won't play it at the grad ceremony only our private party.

Somehow, she never listened to me and was annoyingly insistent. Damn it. Having the ego that I do and after the praise it received at its screening at our immigrant xmas party, I consented to have it showed on graduation day. However, I washed my hands of any worry of setting up the video. I just gave her a copy of it. Well, she still managed to make a fuss and try to throw me into a frenzied panic by telling me I had to come early and I had to make sure it worked. In the end, I arrived to find it already playing in the lobby of the school and her telling me everything went well and everybody loved it so, that they played it twice. Did she think I was some temperamental artist that needs that kind of reassurance?

I don't know, all I know is I forgot my goddamn candle that I made sure to buy. I had to borrow one which struggled the whole time to stay lit. I didn't even get to watch the crowd as it played because by the time I got back from putting my coat and laptop (which she insisted I bring) away, it was over. Well, the ceremony went ok, but that is another movie entirely.

Click "Lukuvuosi 2005" to stream this movie, , or right click and save it to watch later after it has downloaded. Afterwards, we had coffee and cake. As we were gathering our coats and saying our goodbyes this one chick in my class kept nagging me about burning her another DVD of some footage I took. She wouldn't stop insisting that I email the teacher who would email her and blah blah blah. I told her look, that is my email, you email me and I will get back to you. With that I literally ran out of the classroom. I don't know if I was so annoyed or I am not so good with goodbyes. In my defense, I was leaving for California the very next day. That night I had to take my dog and cat to there babysitter. Also, I had to rush to the työvoimatoimisto by Hakaniemi to show them my todistus. That is my graduation certificate which read at the bottom, "Special mention; 'Her movie about our immigrant group's school year was played at this year's graduations ceremony'". Wait a minute, before you get all sympathetic for her and disapproving to me. I must tell you that at our xmas party, my film wasn't even on the bill. It had to be squeezed in near the end. I guess that had to do with me misunderstand the whole thing.