To the Moon

or Titanic?
People are fussing about the Moon.
I find the Moon boring. It's like I can see it up in the sky... It's like always there...

I might have asked you already but let's make it one more time:
if you were to choose would it be to the Moon or Titanic?

It's obvious to me: Titanic.
I think there have been more people to the Moon recently than to Titanic. And I don't understand why. I think Titanic is one of the most interesting places to ever visit. One of the reasons might just be so that there are not that many people who really have experienced Titanic today. I wonder why...

To me it seems so much easier reaching Titanic than the Moon. Well, hello! The Moon is, like,
385 000 kilometers away, and Titanic is just something like 4 000 kilometers deep in the ocean. And what's there on the Moon to look for? The Earth? Unlike the Moon Titanic provides us with a field of 8,0 km * 4,8 km containing hundreds of thousands of items, such as pieces of the ship, furniture and personal items. It's like a ghost town - and I like it!

If I ever want to see and feel Titanic I have to act fast. It's been estimated that within the next 50 years the hull and structure of Titanic will collapse entirely, eventually leaving only the more durable interior fittings of the ship intermingled with a pile of rust on the sea floor. And if you are ever to visit Titanic promise me not to leave your trash there. Titanic is becoming this huge landfill - just like the Moon. (sources: http://archive.archaeology.org/1205/features/titanic_shipwreck_jean_charcot_site_map.html, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RMS_Titanic)

Behind the Wheel

Yesterday I was driving all the way to Ulvila.
Had a business meeting there (fyi).
I think that I was out of my comfort zone in, for at least, to ways.
First, I was driving a car.
Second, I was listening to some random radio stations.
But, looking back, everything went just ok. I didn't smash the car and I heard this song.
You should have seen me tapping the wheel and singing along (even though I didn't know the lyrics, yet). Have a listen, Punaisessa talossa.

Punaisessa talossa

päätien varrella

ei ole enää, ketään kotona

Lumet luomatta

jo monta kuukautta

laatikossa, jotain vanhaa postia

Hän lähti, tiedetään

jonnekin etelään

etsimään, uutta elämää

Musta aukko ammottaa

kaipuun koura kurkottaa

kohti yksinäistä kulkijaa

Kun kaikki muut lähtee

yksi vain jää, ikävä

se ei lähde mihinkään

muut lähtee

yksi vain jää, ikävä

se ei lähde mihinkään

Punaisessa talossa

ajan saatossa

haalenneita, valokuvia

Varjo seinällä

huoneen kylmänä

eikä kukaan, enää tulta sytytä

Punaisessa talossa

päätien varrella

oli hän, josta laulan lauluja

Jossain kaukana 

sumuisena iltana

hän ehkä kuulee

sen hiljaisuudessa

Ikävä, se ei lähde mihinkään

tbt (14.5.2015)

We all look so dapper...
Back then we didn't know anything about Internet. Or sms. We didn't know there will be things like YouTube and Facebook. Have we ever heard about dvds, digital cameras, or selfies? Did we miss Emojis or Instagram? I think we were pretty happy with what we had.

ps do you find me in the photo?

tbt (26.3.2015)

It's Thursday again.
This Thursday I want to take you to the streets of Munich, Germany. We are leaving for clubbing and I definitely look wasted. I don't remember when this shot was taken, maybe five, six or seven years ago. But I think I still look the same when wasted.

tbt (4.12.2014)

I've been listening to Pet Shop Boys a lot - not just now but even earlier. I can some how relate to their song called Winner. Not the part where they sing "I've been a loser" but "But don't forget all / The love and laughter / Now the world is at our feet". That's why I want to dedicate this song to my family and friends. It took m e a long time to feel this happy in my life but I'm there now! There is no one thing that I would want any other way. It's amazing how things finally click and you've got all the things that really matter, to you.

ps Unfortunately you are not able to see the green leather jacket that I'm wearing in this picture. I believe it was another party in Flogsta, Uppsala, Sweden (in 2001). There are Ulla, Andre, Dmitri, Marc etc. in the photo.

This is the moment we'll remember

Every day for the rest of our lives

Time may rush us, hurt or love us

But on this day we have arrived

It's been a long time coming

We've been in the running for so long

But now we're on our way

Let the ride just take us

Side by side and make us

See the world through new eyes every day

You're a winner

I'm a winner

This is all happening so fast

You're a winner

I'm a winner

Let's enjoy it all while it lasts

I've been a loser

I've paid my dues

I fought my way up from the ground

Now at this moment

The crowd acclaim us

Will you just listen to that sound

It's been a long time coming

We've been in the running for so long

But now we're on our way

Let the ride just take us

Side by side and make us

See the world through new eyes every day

You're a winner

I'm a winner

This is all happening so fast

You're a winner

I'm a winner

Let's enjoy it all while it lasts

It took us so long

And we worked so hard

We came so far just to compete

But don't forget all

The love and laughter

Now the world is at our feet

Looking back on all the times

We felt downcast

Didn't think we were going anywhere

Just living in the past

But in that desperation

You get inspiration

You're a winner

I'm a winner

This is all happening so fast

You're a winner

I'm a winner

Let's enjoy it all while it lasts

'Cause you're a winner

Took so long

We worked so hard

We came so far just to compete

But don't forget all the love and laughter

Now the world is at our feet

You're a winner

I'm a winner

This is all happening so fast

You're a winner

I'm a winner

Enjoy it while it lasts

'cause you're a winner

Pet Shop Boys: Winner

tbt (27.11.2014)

If this photo was in colors you would actually see the cactus that I'm holding. It was a gift.

Merouan was going home while we were both studying in Uppsala, Sweden. We are standing in the hallway in one of those corridors in Flogsta. That cactus blossomed later, bright pink flowers.

If you see this, Merouan, läget?

Röllyn matkapäiväkirja: päivä kolme Rauhalahden kylpylässä Kuopijossa

Tämän päivän epistola:
vesijumppa, kahvakuulatreeni, juoksulenkki ja vesijuoksu.
ps vähän venyttelyjä...

Röllyn matkapäiväkirja: päivä kaksi Rauhalahden kylpylässä Kuopijossa

Moon liika laiha.
Ja mus o liika vähä pläskiä.
Mut muute mä oonki sit timmis kunnos.
Sain pyöräälytestistä arvosanaks "erinomaane".
Mä en ny ehri kirioottaa enempää, ku lähren viä kelluttelemahan kylypylän puolelle.
Kuvis vähä täm päivän tuntemuksia.
ps ei oo näläkä!

Me pelatahan kurlinkia. Muv vooro nakata.

Me lakaastaha. Tuo punaane, ja erityysesti sem musta keskusta, on nimeltänsä "nänni".

Vähä seinäkiipeelyä. Mun eka kerta. Mulla jäi vähä hampahan kolohon ton yhyren seinän kans. Mä meev viä koittamaha.

Kattokaa! Mä osaan polokia iliman käsiä. Ja puhua samalla, ku polojen.

Röllyn matkapäiväkirja: päivä yksi Rauhalahden kylpylässä Kuopijossa

Moon aiva räyryksis!

Telkkari toi äänen ja kuvan hotellihuoneeseeni aamukahdeksalta. Emmä jaksa...
Suihkun kautta biksuihin, nokka kohti vesijumppaa.
Äitini harrastaa vesijumppaa, ja nyt voi tytärkin sanoa kokeilleensa. Pötkylän kanssa tehtiin erilaisia harjoitteita: jaloille, käsille, kropalle. Tärkeintä oli pitää raajat vedenpinnan alapuolella, mikä oli verraten hankalaa, kun vesi oli alimmillaan 120 sentissä. Kuumavesialtaan (veden lämpötila 37 astetta) kautta suihkuun. Huomenna saatan kokeilla kylmävesiallasta (veden kylmyystila 7 astetta). Tai sitten en.

Aamupala ja ensimmäisten päiväunien aika.

Päiväunien jälkeen, kello 11.15, kuntotestejä, joissa testattiin motoriikkaa, lihaskuntoa sekä liikkuvuutta. Kaikkien testien perusteella huippukuntoinen likka... Tosin ennen testejä arvioin oman fyysisen kuntoni "huonoksi", sillä kuntosaliharjoittelu on jäänyt minimiin (lue: ostin jumppapallon ja katsoin parin minuutin pätkän jumppapallon käytöstä Youtubesta). Tutustumista kuntosalilaitteisiin, joissa lähdin heti tavoittelemaan kuuta taivaalta... Jalkaprässiin oma pr - eikä noussut. Ja katajaan kapsahdin... Tietysti peripohjalaiseen tapaan lähdin syyttämään vehkeitä. Ja kyllä minä niin sille jalkaprässille vielä näytän!

Lounas ja toisten päiväunien aika.

Päiväunien jälkeen, klo 14.15, oli aika keskustelujen aiheesta "liikunta ja paino". Keskustelujen jälkeen oli vuorossa happihyppely hotellin ympäristössä. Paikallisia kiviä ja kannon nokkia. Muutama juoksuspurtti. Venyttelyt sekä manikyyri.

Päivällinen ja hyvää yötä!

tbt (13.11.2014)

This shot was taken in Gamla Stan, Stockholm, in 2001. We took a day trip to Stockholm from Uppsala. It was gals all around the world: Austria, Italy, Spain, Finland... We sure had some fun sightseeing and doing some shopping! I find this photo quite funny: my hair looks so short, and I don't even know where that red Marimekko shoulder bag is today. Maybe I need to ask my sis... 

Yleisönosastokirjoitus (Kurikka-lehti 10.5.2014)

Esitin huoleni valtakunnan mediassa (levikki 4 740).

tbt (24.4.2014)

Me drinking a Cosmopolitan, yuck!
I was sitting in t h a t bar shown on Sex and the City, Aidan's bar.
We were shopping and sightseeing in New York City, me and my friend Kathrin, a couple of years ago. I love the city!

tbt (27.3.2014)

Young and innocent - I think!
This pic was taken at Littlerock High School, Littlerock, California, USA. 1 9 9 5 - the year of graduation. It's me, John, Narisa, Yanina, and Gilbert. Correct me if I got someone's name wrong.

I believe we just became members of the International Thespian Society. I did drama in high school. I sucked at acting. It was unbelievable difficult remembering your lines in English so I did one play where I spoke Finnish. And that's another story.

tbt (13.3.2014)

Someone's taking a nap.

It's me, you fool!

tbt (6.3.2014)

That's me in the middle, wearing a Superman t-shirt.

This picture was taken in Uppsala, Sweden. It was in 2001 'cause Jen left for St. Joh's before Christmas. Jen's on my right side. A dear friend at that time, I haven't seen her in ages. Now that I look at the picture I think I still look the same, my hair is now a bit lighter. At that time I did both make up and hair (and you can really tell)...

tbt (27.2.2014)

Well, I don't remember anything.
I mean I have no clue of what's going on.
Except for that this pic was taken in 2002, Upsala, Sweden.
PEACE!

Our Backyard This Morning

It's been extremely cold for a week already.
And by cold I mean something like -27 C (-16,6 F). I do have to admit that our backyard looks pretty beautiful early in the morning. And that's mr. Ukko and his new toy, a kettlebell (originally for horses). It's his new favorite!

tbt (2.1.2014)

Well, what can I say? 

A thousand words? 

Just one photo?

This photo was taken on our prom night in '95. I'm wearing a gown that my host grandma had sewn a couple of centuries ago. She used to work as a costumier at the Universal Studios... 

I still remember us hunting for that perfect dress in Los Angeles, California. We went in to like a thousand stores and boutiques and came back Canoga Park empty-handed. We just could not find anything that would fit me, or something that I liked. And then we had a look at grandma's closet and I found t h e dress.

Yeah, I do know that my dress stands out in the crowd. But all the other girls got their dresses at the stores that I didn't... I still have that gown in my closet at my parents'. And it fits me, and (don't tell anyone) I try it on every once in a while just to make me feel pretty.

Say "hi" to Yanina, Saori, Narisa, Akiko and all the others!

That's me on the right - hello there!

The best part starts at 1:28.

tbt (26.12.2013)

It feels like a Monday.

We've been partying, again.
If you recognize yourself in this pic, give yourself a tender pat on your shoulder.
It was one time that our paths crossed.
Thank you for that!
Thank you for being in my life!

Cheez - that's me on the right. In Dmitri's arms.

tbt (19.12.2013)

It's that time of the week, again.

Now it's time to give some love to my dear cat, Aune. I had her for almost 15 years by my side. She was my true friend. There was no night when she didn't cuddle with me. She helped me with my homework. She always had her eyes on me. She never left home.

When I was staying in Uppsala, Sweden, in 2002, I got a phone call very early in the morning. I had been partying the whole night and was still a bit drunk when I heard my phone ringing. It was my mom. She was crying. Aune had passed away in the morning. Peacefully. 

I knew my friend was leaving for Finland in the evening. I called her and asked if I could join her. I could. The very next day we held a small funeral for Aune with my mom and dad. Everytime I pass her tombstone I cannot help but cry. She was my first love. I miss you so much, Aune!