While awake...

I will send you off to...

Inklings
The Stockholm Spectator Blog
A Misspent Life
Outer Life
Victor Davis Hanson
Butterflies and Wheels
Timbro report about EU vs. USA (June, 2004)

That's what three cups of coffee past 8PM will do to you...

While awake...

Peter Elk discusses the joys and feelings of returning to Finland (for a visit, mind you), and has made observations similar to those I have made when visiting the "Old Country". I tried to post a longer comment, but since only 1000 characters were allowed I will post my "extended version" here below. Go and read Peter's blog, yeah it's in Finnish but so what? You'll pick it up pretty quickly, trust me on this one!


Oh-my-God, you're SO dead on! This is exactly how I feel whenever I return to Finland.

Especially the "Where the hell is everybody?". Landing in Helsinki amidst all the bright green womb-like (yeah, eh, that is really what it sometimes feels like) thicket of forest, this enveloping and continuous nature in all shades of freshness and lush, really makes me realize how incredibly unpopulated this country is. Wow.

The roads are empty. I remember when I used to freak out whenever I had to drive to Helsinki because I had to drive on a "freeway" as I approached the city. What if I couldn't keep up? What if I got lost? Little did I know that I later on would learn how to eat, put on make up, chat on the phone (ok, rarely!), and study my Thomas Guide all while driving on the 405 in the middle of the worst rush hour...

Regarding clothing choices. Finnish men are in desperate need of some "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" advice. On the other hand, some Finns are taking the whole metrosexual thing a little too far which makes them look a bit too gay unless, of course that's what they are going for. Stop wearing tight white T-shirts and short shorts! Speedo swimtrunks are for Olympic swimmers only! Loafers must not be worn with any kind of sportswear, unless you are part of the Russian mafia. Hmm, and some Finnish women would look so much better with longer hair, but they all seem to want to cut it short. It's those pesky Finnish winters with all that static electricity making long hair styles impossible... or could the women simply be too lazy to keep a long hair style ???

Getting drunk still seem to be the only way for many Finns to open up - so I suggest some kind of boot camp in communication skills for the vast majority of the population (all generations included).

And yet... it is absolutely wonderful to return every once in a while to a corner of the world that remains quiet and subdued. I do, however, notice that every time I come back Finland has changed a bit, it has become a bit more "worldly" and metropolitan. And whenever I return to California it always takes me a few days to process the whole experience. Mostly I think back on how people I have spoken to seem to view the U.S. (and many times, the rest of the world) through some kind of odd prism that has been shaped by a rather one-sided media outlet. I always tell people to travel, and stay away from home for a good while. It really helps.

While awake...

Michelle Malkin makes such sharp and good observations. Found her through the Inkling who, by the way, has written the most brilliant "Missing" note about Brit Hume (who has not been seen on FOX for a few days, and thus is sorely missed). Go and read it. And if you do know where Brit is, make sure you tell Inkling.

We have to get to the destination by driving along a freeway we're not familiar with. I have an idea of the overall location and quickly can determine a good route as we approach some very complicated intersections and freeway exits. I know that some of the others can't probably do it as quickly, since they won't notice it. We get to the destination.

A bit later I am in the same situation -- again we have to drive to the same spot. This time I think the others will take the route, since I've now told them about it.

While awake...

I am finally getting a chance to do some summer reading and I am beyond thrilled to have found
The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. I am literally savoring each word, barely wanting to let go of each page, and fearing the end... it really is that good a read. God, I love this story.

I began my summer vacation with
A World Lit Only by Fire by William Manchester. What a wonderful portrait of the absolutely dark and difficult Medieval times.

I am also reading
The Crisis of Islam by Bernard Lewis. I like to read it alongside the Medieval book by Manchester.

And - a book I definitely want to read (with a box of Kleenex ready) is
When Character Was King by Peggy Noonan. I read part of it already and it is very captivating.

I also have an additional pile of books eagerly waiting to be read. A sometimes smirks at me for not finishing books, but I do! I do finish them when the time is right. And now when I have time I will spend a considerable amount of time reading - it will be a delight!

Up in the mountains. I am visiting some Hollywood people's house. Maybe housesitting. I have a piece of plastic that I need to throw away, and walk outside to find the trashcan. The rows of blue, green, and black trashcans are there near the steep street. Each trashcan is labeled with the house number and I can't find the house number of my hosts' house. I see some neighbors who are standing around talking, and I ask them. They point to a can and I throw in the plastic bag. A woman asks me if I want a tour of her house. I say why yes, and I follow her to a large entrance. As we enter I realize it must be some kind of showroom that is fully furnished. It does look pretty but everything is rather dark, and I wonder if they both live there and have it for show. I am asked to walk upstairs, where the bedrooms are. Each room is very small. I tell J, who is with me, that these homes as element homes, premade and put together on location. That's why each room looks similar in each house. We peek into a room that must be a child's bedroom. It's small and the ceiling is low.

I get a laptop computer. We have to stay indoor. I am frying hamburgers on the screen of the laptop! The screen must be very hot because the burger meat is spitting and making that frying sound. Then I begin to wonder if I really should be using the screen for this purpose. I see the grease covering the screen and am now pretty sure this can damage the inside. I remove the burger patties and wipe off the screen with a paper towel. Just when I am done I see some electrical sparks inside the screen -- I think I removed the meat just in time, and I might just have saved the whole damn laptop! I hope the owner won't be mad with me.