Tulips from mom | epiphanies | spring break | Haruki Murakami’s What I talk about when I talk about running | plus degrees outside | seeing friends | naps whenever I feel like it | hearing birds chirp and snow melt when I open my window | watching hours upon hours of MJ dvd’s & youtube videos | dancing around to Warrant’s “Cherry Pie” | encouraging words from my therapist | Laurence Fishburne in CSI | getting acquainted with Feldenkrais (have any of you tried it?) | cleaning up massive mounds of old papers | adjusting one’s thinking | going for a jog for the first time in a year | being asked about my MJ tattoo, and told that it was “awesome” | pulling myself out of bad moods | getting answers to questions that have been bothering me | Michael Jackson, full stop.

What about you?

…spring
…Easter
…big changes
…hard times
…happy moments
…responsibility
…life.

P.S. I haven’t seen the film yet, but I strongly recommend the Alice In Wonderland soundtrack.

I had some time between my last exam and my life-skills class on Thursday, so I started with going down to the harbour (10 minutes from the University) and looked at the frozen sea. Here are some shots that I liked.

As much as I like these particular pictures, I’m hoping this will be the last or at least second to last winter-themed post this spring! Melt, snow, melt!

Have a wonderful weekend!

I want this book!

Unexpected hugs from nice people | having the strength & energy to study | my parents | dreams featuring singing rabbits and foxes | Jared getting married & Jensen’s birthday (why yes, my name is Geek) | getting ready to write an essay on a subject I care a lot about: homosexuality | almost warm weather | exam overseers who smile sweetly at you | THIS and THIS post by Gala, about body image! | absolutely humongous, delicious avocados | spring break next week | being done with my exams | fun, inspirational, thought-provoking life-skills course | wandering around the Academic Book store for over an hour | smiling at myself in the mirror first thing in the morning | Get Real - the movie.

What about you? What are you loving?

My basket o’stuff.

Shortly after starting this blog in October, I blogged about my new-found passion; knitting. I was so very excited about having learned how to knit, to be able to create usable things with my own hands, and to have the meditative peace of doing so.

Now, as I mentioned in the TILT two weeks ago, I have also learned to crochet! I am, I believe, if not more than at least equally excited about having mastered this craft (though of course, I have a long way to go in both knitting and crocheting - but I know the basics and a little more besides).

Since I’ve not said much on either subject, other than a quick mention in a TILT every now and then, I thought I would dedicate a post to it. I follow several blogs by talented people who knit and/or crochet, and they are a constant inspiration to me. Some blogs are not directly related to the crafts, but feature candid shots of needles and yarn, and even those gladden me and warm up my very soul (I kid you not!).

Crocheted rounds - working without pattern, hence the disuniformity.

By my counts, I have knitted four scarves; one for myself, one for both of my parents for Christmas, and one as a present to my friend. In addition, I’ve done one square for the Ravelry Knit-Along (which means I’ve already fallen a month behind!), plus the leg warmers I showed you about a month ago. Crochet-wise, I have made one belt which I love to bits, and cannot wait to wear in the spring-summer months, plus a pile of rather non-uniform rounds, from which I intend to form a quilt.

The only complaint I have regarding these two crafts, is that they are a rather lonely business. They don’t have to be, of course, but I’ve had a rather hard time coming up with people who to engage in this hobby with. It seems to be harder to find free time to get together and knit or crochet, than it is to go out for a cup of coffee. And there are more people who drink coffee than there are those who knit or crochet!

January square.

The point is, that while it is wonderful to just wind down and meditate by knitting or crocheting by yourself, it would be even more satisfying to have someone to share your passion with, and to get together and talk and do your thing. Where are all the craft groups in Helsinki, I ask of you.

Nevertheless, as I am currently neck deep in deadline season at Uni, and thus also neck deep in course literature and essays, it is wonderfully liberating to just sit down with a hook and some yarn and use your hands instead of your brain!

Crocheted belt!

Do you knit or crochet, or do any other crafts? What are your favourite blogs on the subject?

Have a wonderful, relaxed Sunday!

• Strong, bright spring sun.
• New Rooibos flavours. So far cream caramel is my favourite. Just the sound of it is delicious!
• Slow cooked spelt porridge. Mmm.
• New music: I’ve discovered artists such as Amanda Jenssen, Miss Li, Lars Winnerbäck, Frightened Rabbit etc, in the past week!
• Getting to decide what you do with your day, without any consequences. go to class, or don’t go. Stay at home, orgo somewhere! I’ll be sure to appreciate it.
• My thrifted jacket; I got it a few weeks ago for 4e. It’s short, black velvet, with pouffy, padded shoulders and lots of golden buttons, decorations and threading. Makes me feel like a gypsy!
• Hercule Poirot. They’re showing 1h segments on television, every day at 5pm! Ahh, i’ve loved him for years, books& film alike.
• Puppy cam. Omg! I’m so late, I know. But god, that’s cute. I wish I could have a camera installed at my parents’, that would record the movements of my own puppy!
• Michael Jackson’s This Is It dvd came out in Finland yesterday, and someone has told me they will get it for me! i can’t wait to watch it again & have it available to me.
• Making money. Been sent a couple of translations in the past week or so, and gosh, I really needed that money too.

What about you?

P.S. Only one person has introduced themselves to me! Please, please do say hi, if you see this.

Okay, I personally love seeing what people have in their bags, I’m all over that stuff. So in lieu of better content right now, I thought I might let you see what I had in my bag a few days ago!

My very old and worn, but loved, bag, and its contents, which include (from top left):

- Hand disinfectant
- Lecture notes for my history class, and course literature for Great American Novels
- Keychain
- Wallet
- My collection of meds, which I noticed was quite heavy on the painkillers.
- Stuff for That Time Of The Month
- Paper napkins
- A lone hazelnut and a token coin
- Water bottle
- Self made pencil case
- University calendar
- Old receipts (I always find like ten of them)
- Hands-free/radio cord for my phone
- Bus pass
- Passport (which I use as ID)

And that’s it! Kinda boring, but what can you do, unless you’re going to cheat, which defeats the purpose!
It’s just snowing and snowing and snowing. It’s also very windy and stormy and traffic is all jammed up & I should do some studying for my upcoming exams.

Happy Tuesday!

Here I come posting again, though I said I’d probably only do TILT this week! I suppose this is good?

This weekend has been dotted with bouts of stomach ache again, as if a remainder that it isn’t over yet. I do know that, but I was hoping, of course. The wind outside is freezingly cold, and temperatures have sunk to -20 on several occasions, making me stay inside.

But, the reason I’m writing this is, that I would like to know a little something about you. Whoever you are, reading this right now. Whether this is your first time here, or if you’re a frequent visitor, whether you think I know you or not, please tell me something about yourself. Whatever you wish, but I’d love to know your name, where you’re from, how you spend your days (i.e. what you “do for a living”) or if you have a blog!

In short, I would like to ge to know you.

Some pictures I’ve been snapping in the past weeks when going to classes.

(I can feel my inspiration returning, now that I’ve handed in two of my essays!)

Being over the worst of my Uni stress (for now!) | a much improved valentines day | my radical self love totem | libraries | exciting and challenging plans in the near future! | SUB (english major Uni group) overall party on monday | dancing, dancing, dancing | being social | long walks | rediscovering old favourite songs | purple nailpolish | new thrifts | Supernatural getting renewed for a 6th season (despite the controversial feels I’ve had, I’m very much leaning towards happiness) | long email discussions about personal styles | perseverance | Gala Darling & the Radical Self Love project (surprise, surprise) | sloppy, long dreadlocks | knitting and crocheting | seeing the good instead of the bad | a kind body and stomach | being pleasantly surprised | Cavaliers, especially my own | two gorgeous American longhaired brunettes sitting in front of me in history class.

What about you? How did the Valentines week and day treat you? How did you treat YOURSELF?