Oh, Blogger!

I promised myself and a couple of other important people to keep writing and here I am sitting in the moonlight with my excuses. The thing is that I have so much going on at the moment and there are only 24 hours in a day. These hours are well spent being a mom, wife, employee and student. If get stressed it surely should not be because of a blog!

Butcher Ballerina

When I was little I so loved to poke my fingers on cold steak that my parents thought I would make a pretty good butcher. Sadly, I did not become one, but maybe there is hope that someone else in the family will!

Stirring Soup

I should not complain, I got everything I asked for, and without delay. But does it all have to rain on me at the same time? The whole week I have been moving, unpacking, organizing, planning, prioritizing. I would rather have been eating, sleeping, reading (Harry Potter). I am trying to figure how to combine family life with work and study and not go mad at the same time. My husband kindly pointed out today that I have made the soup myself. Indeed, I should get the ingredients right or else it will become inedible for all. Oh, how I hate cooking!

Mother Tongue

I was kindly told off today by the school nurse who overheard me speaking English to my daughter at the waiting room! I learned that it will be my important task as a mother to nourish the Mother Tongue while the Father´s job is to polish the German and the school will take care of the rest. So no more singing my favourite nursery rhymes aloud? One last time...


There was an old lady who swallowed a fly
I dunno why she swallowed that fly
Perhaps she'll die
There was an old lady who swallowed a spider
That wriggled and jiggled and wiggled inside her
She swallowed the spider to catch the fly
But I dunno why she swallowed that fly
Perhaps she'll die
There was an old lady who swallowed a bird
How absurd, to swallow a bird!
She swallowed the bird to catch the spider
That wriggled and jiggled and wiggled inside her
She swallowed the spider to catch the fly
But I dunno why she swallowed that fly
Perhaps she'll die
There was an old lady who swallowed a cat
Imagine that, she swallowed a cat
She swallowed the cat to catch the bird
She swallowed the bird to catch the spider
That wriggled and jiggled and wiggled inside her
She swallowed the spider to catch the fly
But I dunno why she swallowed that fly
Perhaps she'll die
There was an old lady who swallowed a dog
What a hog! To swallow a dog!
She swallowed the dog to catch the cat
She swallowed the cat to catch the bird
She swallowed the bird to catch the spider
That wriggled and jiggled and wiggled inside her
She swallowed the spider to catch the fly
But I dunno why she swallowed that fly
Perhaps she'll die.
There was an old lady who swallowed a goat.
Just opened her throat and swallowed a goat!
She swallowed the goat to catch the dog
She swallowed the dog to catch the cat
She swallowed the cat to catch the bird
She swallowed the bird to catch the spider
That wriggled and jiggled and wiggled inside her
She swallowed the spider to catch the fly
But I dunno why she swallowed that fly
Perhaps she'll die.
There was an old lady who swallowed a cow
I don't know how she swallowed a cow
She swallowed the cow to catch the goat
She swallowed the goat to catch the dog
She swallowed the dog to catch the cat
She swallowed the cat to catch the bird
She swallowed the bird to catch the spider
That wriggled and jiggled and wiggled inside her
She swallowed the spider to catch the fly
But I dunno why she swallowed that fly
Perhaps she'll die
There was an old lady who swallowed a horse
She's dead, of course.

The Eagle Has Landed

The plane touched ground two days ago but I am still in the clouds! It is a wonderful feeling to be back in Finland and I am sure it will take me a long while until I realize that we are actually LIVING here now. My poor brain has so much to cope with at the moment...as I was walking around in town with friends yesterday I had an urge to buy this and that item made in Finland only because I was falsely thinking that I would be leaving again soon. Then standing in front of the Moomin-cup shelve at Stockmann´s I was wondering how many of those could I still fit in my suitcase! If only could I share this all with my love...

Packing It

Today I thought I better start packing because we will be flying in three days already. I started by sorting out the clothes and books I would like to take to Finland from those I will need there from those that will fit into the one single suitcase with a weight limit of 20 kg! Same for the child. We will be flying from Boston to Dublin to Zurich to Helsinki, and the baggage allowance is only one suitcase per person on the last connection. This will be a very small big move!

Lean On Me

Thank you for sharing your bench and letting me lean on you. You give me strength!

Mom Like Daughter

Pony Tales

Dear Annikki,

do you agree with me that it was not a good idea to rub sticky candy in your hair yesterday? I think your pony tails look sweet enough without added sugar!

Last Day

I turn my head and people and places become sweet memories. Too many goodbyes for one day!

Thank You!

Praise the Lord,
my soul,
and do not forget
what good He has done for you!

-Psalm 103-

Black Sausage

We are planning to spend the mid-summer weekend camping with our neighbours in Cape Cod. I am very much looking forward to sitting by a real fire (kokko) and the chance to grill some sausage. And that should be black sausage in my case so that I can get accustomed to the the Tampere diet in advance!

Early Bird

The world is making all sorts of noises and I cannot get back to sleep. It is an interesting experiment to drink coffee at 4:50 am (my poor brain-and stomach!) I woke up to a group of birds singing frantically outside our bedroom window, as if they had been disturbed by something, and indeed soon it started to rain. Adding to these natural sounds my beloved ones began snoring, and so I though I might as well wash the kettle to make my share to this mad concert. Of course I recognize that the loudest noises are coming from within me and that is why I cannot find rest. Soon it is time for farewells and new beginnings...I am sad, happy, excited. Tired.

Exiting Closet

My IQ has been on a steady decline by two standard deviations a year since the day I got my wisdom teeth removed. It is very embarrasing to admit that for the past seven years I have had very little-if any-idea of what has been going on in the wide world around me. I have been living in a kind of vacuum because I do not subscribe for any newspapers or have a television. I have occasionally listened to the radio but Annikki ripped out the antenna recently.

Today I will buy myself a New York Times and exit my little closet forever. Wish me luck!

Names of Mine

Next time I let someone somewhere publish something relevant in my name I will make sure they get it right. One little "i" missing and I am not the same person anymore. I can count the people who get my name right the first time with one hand, whereas I can count the names I have been accidentally given with two hands and one foot! Nice try, but I am not: Annaliisa, HanaLisa, Hannalisa, Hannah-Lisa, Hanalissa, Hanna-Liisa, Hannaliesa, Hannah-Lisah, Lisah-Hannah, Hah hah haaa... and now to my surname!

First Publication

My life keeps taking unexpected turns so no time to get bored here. Yesterday I discovered that one of the doctors I had been helping out with a clinical study recently had put my name on a scientific article without telling me (of course I would have said no). I rarely drink champagne on a Tuesday but seeing my name amongst the world leading scientist justifies a glass or two, and it really did not taste that bad, either. I guess we have to open another bottle for Tobias when he eventually publishes something, too.

"The use of transient elastography (FibroScan) as a non invasive diagnostic tool to predict cirrhosis and portal hypertension"-sounds scientific enough?

Batteries Re-charged

Last weekend was very well spent doing not much anything. On Saturday morning we drove to the Singing Beach and spread our picnic blanket on the usual spot. On Sunday we took the T-line to Boston Common and made a journey with the Swan Boat around the pond. Batteries re-charged!

Carpe Diem

No, I do not have a carpal tunnel-syndrome. It is the carpal tunnel of the wrist that causes problems in people who write a lot. My tunnel is doing perfectly well right now, and I will only start worrying about it if I become a student again (which is actually part of my plan).

"Carpe Diem" is what I tell myself (and others) when I am going to seize the moment. Thinking back in my life, I have rarely spent much time pondering about the pros and cons. The bigger the decision, the less I ponder (so no logic there...) For example, when I met my husband, I knew I had to seize him quickly, or else somebody else would. And the list goes on. The best decisions I have ever made are those I have done fast and fearlessly by trusting God that things will turn out just fine.

About a month ago things really started moving. First, my mom suggested that she could look after Annikki should I need more time to read for my entry exam. Carpe diem-I booked a flight and here I am reading day and night (should I not pass it is because I fell asleep during the test). Then my dad told me about an interesting job advertisement he had seen in Hesari. Carpe diem-I contacted the company and will be signing a contract next week. In order to be able to start work in August, Annikki obviously needs full time care. I called several daycare centers and when I heard lthat the chances of getting a spot this soon are close to zero, I said "Carpe diem"-I am going to send her to school instead! She will start in the Kindergarten-group of the International School in Helsinki! I am jumping with joy!

Wash Your Hands

Today I feel good. Yesterday not so. Our neighbour took me to the Emergency Room during the night in a very dehydrated state after several hours of vomiting and diarrhea. So keep away from me and wash your hands, my friend, unless you want to get to know Bob the Nurse.

Finally Spring!

Little Håkan

My natural hair colour resembles that of a field mouse. Please don´t get me wrong, I think it is fine to look like a field mouse, really. Field mice are nice little creatures, and to prove my point let me tell you that I even had one once. His name was Håkan Laamanen and I brought him home in a shoe box without my parents´permission. During his first night Håkan ate his way out of the box and escaped, but fortunately I found him again and he agreed to stay. He lived a happy life and died at the age of two.

Anyway, my point is that unlike little Håkan, I feel no need to blend in with the rest of my surroundings, and so I thought getting highlights in my hair would be a good idea. Last week was extremely "lowlight" as I was alone trying to combine caring fo a sick child with work and study, and I thought getting these highlights would be the highlight of my week. But putting chemicals on mouse fur did not turn out very well this time (either) and so I look exactly as I did yesterday and the day before. The hairdresser told me she was indeed quite puzzled and said that the reason I could not see any change was her faulty mirror. Maybe she will use my dollars to buy herself a new one?

I Remember

Remember me when I am gone away, Gone far away into the silent land; When you can no more hold me by the hand, Nor I half turn to go yet turning stay. Remember me when no more day by day You tell me of our future that you plann'd: Only remember me; you understand It will be late to counsel then or pray. Yet if you should forget me for a while And afterwards remember, do not grieve: For if the darkness and corruption leave A vestige of the thoughts that once I had, Better by far you should forget and smile Than that you should remember and be sad. -Christina Rossetti-

I remember and am sad...

Very Tasty

Tasty Microphone

Just Asking

I like asking my 3-year old to tell me how old she is because I find it so cute when she says "three" and shows me her four fingers. However, I realized yesterday that she must have grown out of this phase: - "Hei Anki, can you tell me how old you are?" - "Mom, why do you ask my age again? Are you a neighbour?" - "No, I am your dear mother and you are growing way too fast."

Impulse Behaviour

My home-sickness got so bad last week I acted on an impulse, and with a simple double-click of the mouse I sent my CV with a cover letter into the cyberspace. It landed on the desk of the Head of Clinical Operations of a transnational company with a branch in Finland. I just received a nice email praising me as "an interesting candidate with a great potential of creating a career" at the "World´s Leading" CRO. Why not?

By The Window

The 111th Boston Marathon took place today, despite of very stormy weather conditions. Shoud I have been the event organizer, I would have just cancelled the whole thing. The same wind that prevented planes from landing to Logan Airport kept steadily pushing soaked and hypothermic athletes past my living-room window. As our house is not far from the goal, most of the runners I saw were not running but awkwardly limping and looking like they badly needed the loo, while it seemed that others had used the loo in their own pants already. My muscles are still aching from a 5 mile walk yesterday. I wonder what brings a person to Boston to run 26 miles and 385 yards in heavy rain. That there are tents filled with bagels at the Finish is only one explanation... This is a Marathon picture taken two years ago.

The Pattern

Soon I can proudly say I have read through the entire production of Henning Mankell. The only book remaining is as heavy as a brick and so expensive ($25), that I will consider asking my husband if he could please get it for me as a present. I deserve it, and Mother´s Day is approaching, and it would be good to have somewhere to hide after the party is over... it can also be used as a weapon of self-defense in the unlikely event of a burglary to the house.

Perhaps I have been consuming too many detective stories within the past few months since I am beginning to detect a pattern in each book I read. Regardless of who gets murdered, by whom, where, when, or why, the pattern is always the same:

1. Introduction of the Victim
2. Introduction of the Evil
3. Police arrives at the Scene
4. Wallander throws up

Last weekend, as I was mentally recovering from my own little tragedy, I saw a similar pattern! The scene was a local restaurant...

1. I ordered fish
2. I detected a long worm inside my fish
3. The waitress arrived and told me that my fish is a haddock and haddocks can come with worms, would I like something else to eat?
4. I felt unwell and ran into the restroom

Now I am all paranoid. Who put the worm in my fish? Who would want to harm me? Why use a worm? Why put it in a fish? Why me?? I can never eat fish again!

Only Friday

It is only Friday. But Sunday is coming. This is the message of hope I took home from church last week.

We visited our local church on Easter Sunday. I often hurry past this old building,on my way to work in the morning, thinking it looks much like the Hogwart´s School of Witchcraft and Wizardry with its colourful windows, towers and arches. (Yes, I have read some Harry Potter). And so it was no surprise to me when one of the first things I saw when inside was a group of short people in long, black gowns. And it really was kind of magic: When one of them began to wave his wand, I turned into an Easter person! I hope to stay this way for a while.

Time for Nap

It is not uncommon for the little people to get a little tired while going shopping with the big people. But this is a bit out of the line!

The Nest

When I was a little girl, my dad told me that the wind can make itself a nest in a tree. To find the winds´ home you just need to search with your eyes high up between the branches, and with some luck what you might see is a curious big bundle made by the wind. Someone else told me once that this odd woody ball is in fact an illness of the tree, in which some of its branches just turn into a huge knot. My husband is convinced this phenomenon is just a bird´s nest. I am 32 years of age and I think it is time to find out the truth now.

About the Author

The author of this blog is a Finnish woman who has lived some ten years abroad without rye bread and salmiakki. These are the two food items Finns miss the most when in a foreign country. Both of them can cause loose stools if consumed in large quantities, from which you can conclude that the Finns rarely have problems with constipation.

As you are reading this, the author is probably making herself a cup of tea and planning her next move. The move back to Finland.