Can't wait to move!!!

Why? Mostly because there are boxes piling up, and as soon as I get something packed I am going to want to use it. Seriously we have boxes piled up to the ceiling in the bedroom on one side, and my suitcases, a table, and another box blocking the window on the other side of the room. It is moving madness! I am happy to announce that the hubby says that the job of decorating the new place will be solely my job. What more can a girl ask for? It'll be my influence everywhere!


Boxes in the bedroom where we cannot
open the door all the way


Boxes in the living room waiting to be packed!

You'd think we were chain smokers with all of the boxes that we have. There are Marlboro's, Pall Mall's, Belmont Red's, etc. boxes everywhere! It is also turning cold already and guess who has already packed all of her warmest clothes for the move? Yup, that's right, I am going to freeze. Last night it was 40 degrees outside and I crowded the hubby in bed. When he'd move, I'd move closer to him! The problem is I don't know which box the warm clothes are it. Good luck there Stacy!

Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter

Ok...so I know it is a little cheesy collecting comic books and all, but the hubby got me addicted to certain comics that he reads and collects. Well, it just so happens that one of my favorite fiction authors now has a comic book to go along with her books. Obviously, I had to have the first copy, so the hubby bought it for me as part of an early birthday gift thing. I have often wondered while reading the series what the characters would look like if they were illustrated, and now I am happy to say that I know first hand. Well, not all of the characters because the comic is 'to be continued'. It just gives me something to look forward to!! That along with the new book that I can't wait to buy!!


My new comic...Yippee!

Meet our pet!

Insert: Sorry for such a long post. I just had to get it out of my system!

In actuality it is really one of my bils. The one that lives with us. Not for much longer though, thankfully as the hubby and I will be moving in mid-September. No, he isn't a bad guy, he is just incredibly irratating! He does absolutely nothing at the apt except make a mess. Occasionally he does wash his clothes, but that is about it. There is a clothes hamper in the bathroom that he uses, and pretty much just lets his clothes build up. When I can stand the stench no longer I wash his clothes for him. Sad! He daily routine (that I observe anyway) consists of going to work, coming home and doing nothing except for eating, playing on the computer, and watching tv and perhaps complaining. You see, he doesn't really like living with me either, which is fine by me. I really could care less to tell you the truth. I think it is the fact that he can't "be himself" when I am around or so the hubby says. Now, when I am around he leaves dishes in the sink unwashed, leaves pans on the stove unwashed, leaves his used snotrags (kleenex) around the apt (everywhere), leaves his clothes he's worn on the backs of the kitchen chairs, leaves his socks in the couch, he sleeps on the couch even though he bought a bed to help with his back problems...the problem there is that he either sleeps in just his underwear or naked and he is one smelly somebody, he spits his tobacco in the sink and doesn't always wash it out which means it is left there for me to find, he is an extremely loud and obnoxious eater...I can be in the other room with the door closed and hear him eating through the wall! gross, and when he has a conversation it is all about what is happening to him. Nobody but him. Personally, I just leave the room so I don't have to be around him, and he's always farting and burping without taking anyone else into consideration (an excuse me would be nice). Maybe I'm being harsh, but I'm sure I'll like him much better when I don't have to live with him. Although this place is going to look like a shithole when we leave because he is never going to clean it and that translates into me never coming to visit. It'll still be the hubby's apt though since the place is in his name. We should find a way to make him clean it. I don't know how long he'll manage to stay here anyway considering how poorly he manages money. He really sucks at it. I don't mind slightly disheveled but I definitely do not do NASTY! I am happy to announce that I have 2 sils and another bil who are not in the least bit like the one we live with. They're great! Anyway, enough of my ranting and raving...this has wore me out mentally!


Not a great pic...."our pet" in his underwear sprawled
out on the couch in all his glory! Eww!

Peace and Quiet?

I think not! I was hoping for a day of tranquility to do some things around the apartment, such as pack and clean and read, and what should decide to happen outside my window? A protest or concert of some sort that lasted for 6 hours (2-8). I did a little packing, a little cleaning, though hard as I tried I could not read. I had the world's worst headache by the end of the day. According to my hubby the people "jamming out" outside our window were anarchist. Yeah, ok...so whoever they were, they were loud and that was my only problem. It isn't like I could understand what they were screaming to begin with, so therefore I wasn't too concerned with that aspect. I ended up closing up the apt. on a extremely nice day just to shut out the noise. So when my husband came home and asked me how I liked all the stuff that happened during the day I complained. Why? Because I felt like complaining. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for having a concert and whatnot, but right outside my window, on that tiny patch of green in the middle this tiny circle where we currently live is not the place. In the future, please consider having your concert/protest, whatever it is somewhere else. Thank you!



People gathering in the street



The police (they're a little hard to see) watching
the goings on



A band setting up

...

Well, the weekend is here at last, which means that my slacker b-i-l will be off. Gah! Come on Monday!!! I like my b-i-l, I just like him more when he is not around. Anyway, not a lot planned for today or the weekend. I might call home to the States later. Kai and I are going to watch the Matt Damon movie, The Bourne Ultimatum, when he gets off work. I guess that'll be our weekend thing. He has to work from 2-9 tomorrow. I wish he were working his normal hours, but I don't mind so much. I hope Big V has some plans though because I'd like to have the place to myself for a while. Hmm...I'm whining...not a good sign. Looks like it's time to find something constructive to do!!

Edit: I most definitely recommend the Bourne Ultimatum! Went with the hubby to see it and loved it. It was my fave out of all three movies. And of course it was a Matt Damon movie...what can I say! *sigh*

A shopping we will go!

I went shopping with my 15 yr. old sister-in-law (Maaria) this past weekend because she was visiting us here in Helsinki and wanted to get stuff for school which started for her today. We had a marvelous time. Three whole days of shopping and a movie. We saw Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. Yes, it did just now come out in theaters here. We got her some really cute shoes and an adorable gray jacket amongst other things.

While we were out though I couldn't help but shop for some baby clothes. Jessica, my bf, is having a little boy in November and I will be "Auntie Stacy". I am thrilled about this and am planning to buy her tons of baby stuff. I found two cute little outfits and some itty bitty socks that matched them. So of course they made their way to the kassa (cash register or checkout). These are just the first of many a purchase to come. In just a few more months Mrs. Chloe over at ETP will be getting the same treatment! I am hoping for a girl C!! Break the Minyon male cycle!






Alas, while we were out the Finnish Bookstore in Kamppi had a sale going on and I spied HK. So I made a small detour into the store and walked out with just a few small items. Yes dear, they are quite useful. I've already filled over half of one of the two photo albums I purchased with pictures that were given to us by the in-laws and with pictures that Kai had floating around of one of his visits to the States. See, these things were strewn everywhere, but now they have a proper home. I'm also sure that I'll find plenty of uses for the other items as well!





The refrigerator magnet Maaria brought me home
from France! It's too cute!

Going out and about!

I don't normally look forward to just going out and doing nothing but looking around at stuff, but today I am. I am just happy that I am getting out of the apartment. Maybe that is just due to the fact that it is sort of hot indoors, I would say that that is a good possiblility. I also have a promised care package that I need to finish getting together. I am sending one to my friend, Jennifer, who is in the navy. I probably won't be able to get it in the mail until Sept. but that is just fine. Who knows, maybe I'll find some stuff to send to her while we are out today.

Oh yeah, and after just one month I have a puppy fund update. I started it on July 5, and now it is just a month later and I have 109 euros saved to go towards my doggie. The hubby says that when I reach 500 euros he'll get me the dog! Maybe I'll have a couple of good months!!

Blah...

Ever have one of those days where you just don't know what to do with yourself? Feel kind of restless? Yeah, me too, today! I cleaned the apt., cooked, washed clothes, did pilates, recycled bottles for the puppy fund, and got the trash up around the apt. Yeah, so I did stuff. I just don't know what to do with the rest of the day. I feel like I want to do something but I don't know what and it completely sucks!!! Grrr...the hubby is off tomorrow so maybe we'll go outside and get some exercise. Maybe it'll wear me out.

The Things that can go Wrong.

We lost our internet here for a couple of days just a few days ago due to a cable fire right across the street from us. There were fire trucks and police all around directing traffic around the whole block. It was neat getting to see all of these different service people, I hate that it took a fire for me to see them though. Anyway, it was a tram line that caught fire and the fire people sprayed foam everywhere. I took some pictures from the window because it was raining out and I had to walk a block out of my way to get home. I wouldn't have minded so much, but it was in the rain. Anyway, I am so happy we have the net back now. I'm not good at getting along without it anymore!!! I'm too dependent these days!



Fire Trucks across the street



Firemen right next door.



Closer picture of the fire trucks across the street.

What's a gal to do?

Kai and I were meandering about the Kamppi and made our way down to the ground floor and came upon one of my favorite stores. The Tiimari. They had Hello Kitty items on sale, and I adore HK. So I broke down and bought 11 Euros worth, which really isn't a lot, but it will keep me satisfied for the moment. I only have a 100 euro a month allowance so I am trying to keep myself away from the Blippo (or something like that) store where they have quite a few HK items. Honestly, I am so juvenile sometimes, but I just couldn't help myself. On my little shopping spree I purchased 2 HK pencils, a pencil sharpener, a small notebook, a pencil case, and an eraser seeing as how the pencils did not come with them. Hm..I might add that my day began with just a quest for rechargable batteries for my camera. We found them after the Tiimari! I'm just glad they didn't have anything more or I would truly be broke!!

Welcome to Finland!

That's what the lady at the Immigration Police department told me after we handed over some more paperwork and money today. It went a lot smoother than the hubby and I were expecting. She said that since the process had started I do not have to leave the country. We have to call back in 3 months though. Probably have to go back to see them again as well. She did say that at most my processing should take 6 months. So I guess we'll see. She also told me not to tell anyone that I am from the US because they'll speak English to me. She told the hubby that he needs to speak Finnish around me and not English, and he is taking her pretty seriously! He has notified me that tomorrow he will be speaking to me in Finnish. What have I gotten myself into?!? LOL! Not that I mind (completely), because I do want to learn the language as much as I can, but wow! Suddenly turning Finnish on me after all this time? The hubby has informed me though that if I don't understand something and continually look at him like a deer caught in headlights that he will explain to me what he is saying in English. Good for him!

Pie is Square!

I love pie, and I wanted to try to make a pie. I found everything that I needed for my Grandma's recipe except the pre-made pie crust. So I had to find a recipe that told me how to make crust. That out of the way I decided I was ready to commence pie making. So I did. I realized once I started though that I did not have a pie plate, so I used the next best thing that I had. A casserole dish! Now I had made a square pie. I laughed about this for a while. Yesterday I went out and purchased myself an actual pie plate so from now on pie will be circular, not square. The hubby thought that it was good, and when I make the circular pie there will be more crust. I am just happy it worked! Thanks for a delicious recipe Grandma!!

Wine from a box anyone?

Kai was given some wine for some promotional thing at work. Funnily enough it came in a box. Not only that, but when you open the box you find a bag with it's own push-button plastic tap. It was unusual, so of course we put the box in the refrigerator and then tried it. It actually wasn't too bad, but I just don't get the box and bag thing. Maybe it is for people who have a difficult time trying to pop a cork? Who knows...either way the rest of it is still in the refrigerator. Knowing us it will stay there for a while!




The box of wine!



The bag that I found when I opened it!