Northern Star

Now here’s something I haven’t done in a long long time. Icons! Let me know whaddaya think? Grab and credit please and indulge me with the information what you took specifically :) Thank you and enjoy!

++ 14 valentines icons (red, white, hearts)

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How was January for everyone? Mine was the same old, same old. Pretty boring month, I house-sat for three weeks for my aunt & her family while they were in Spain, got some nice souvenir goodies for that though (spices, coffee and wine bottle – coffee is the only thing I haven’t tasted yet). And for the same three weeks I was forced to wake up almost every morning at 8.30 to the extremely loud and annoying drilling sounds made by the not so lovely renovation people in three neighbour apartments, so we’ve tried to come up with something to do until 2-3 pm and stay away from home so we wouldn’t have to listen to the noises.

Job front is pretty quiet, although I’ve been asked to release my Tilda Swinton fansite’s layout as a WordPress theme. Which got me thinking that I should translate my portfolio to English as well (and toss in the theme there too), since it just might bring me a bit more work. I just have to find out more about that WP theme publishing stuff first, I pretty much hand code everything and use only the essential WP snippets.

I’ve been thinking of going back to school too. Since it’s seems so damn important to have that Bachelor’s Degree in almost every single job I’m interested in, so why not getting one? The one I’m interested in is: Degree Programme in Communication – Bachelor of Culture and Arts: Option of Visual Communication (Media Artist). It is 4 years long but when you consider the alternative: the odd freelance jobs now and then and otherwise pretty much unemployed or getting stooped by folks who only want free workers.. the school doesn’t sound that bad or does it?

How hard it’s all of a sudden to type 2010, instead of 2009, heh. Has everyone arrived safely to 2010 then? I had a nice time on the last day, my aunt with the usual crowd. I was very happy to see them all, especially Sebastian because I didn’t get to see him at Christmas. We watched the fireworks (official fireworks arranged by city was already at 8pm – so that families and kids can watch it but we missed it lol), ate potato salad, sausages, salt crackers, cheese and drank some wine. Poor Sebastian was getting a bit bored though, our apartment isn’t really fun fun fun for kids – apart from few Harry Potter DVDs, maybe I should get something.

I did decide that I wouldn’t make any resolutions, I’m not very good keeping them cause I stress out and take them way too seriously sometimes. So I made New Year promises instead ;) First of all: blog more. I always make mental notes to blog about something but then push it forward and forward, then it becomes this one huge gigantic extra long post that nobody ever reads entirely. Second promise: Comment more, I do read a lots of blogs very often but never got around commenting, I don’t know why it’s so hard to comment – maybe because everything useful has been said or I don’t feel that my comment would be very helpful. But I do promise to comment more from now on – make a mark saying “Yes, I read your blog!”. Third promise: Get back into good shape. This is something I haven’t talked about much, just because I didn’t want to admit that I’m a lazy bum or had been for the last few months of 2009. It started good first with our long walks but due my aunt being pregnant we had to take a break and it’s been prolong for too many months already. I’ve tried to lure Jari to take walks with me but he isn’t really into that stuff at all. So I just have to do it myself then! I won’t allow myself to gain any more weight, my body is already screaming for help and this is my last attempt to rescue it. I’ve watched The Curvy Girls channel on YouTube and before that I’ve followed Jenn with her weight loss battle as well, just so I know that I’m not alone here battling. Fourth: Be more efficient with job hunt (regarding permanent job & freelance jobs), I’ve been slacking there recently too but now it’s time to get a grip! We’ll be definitely needing more money now that Jari is been laid off in few weeks.

Oh and that trainee thing I already got excited about and wooed over at FB. Well let’s just say that it wasn’t what I thought it was. First I was let to believe about something that sounded good (job description and length of the trainee period) and after meeting with the person who offered me the job, description changed to something that wasn’t good – assignments or the length of the trainee period was changed to something I’m not interested to do at all. There were definitely some misunderstandings and problems with communication but it ended up with me coming out as a liar and I was told by this person that my choice of career (web designer) is all wrong for me (“I’ve had enough ‘training’ with that”) and I should have come as an intern to this place (“and do some actual work”) instead. I was warned about this person (who offered me the place) but I deeply regret now that I didn’t listen to those warnings and now I got burnt, told off and accused of something that isn’t true. I should have learnt my lesson by now, especially after with the incident with the three stooges last year but no, I didn’t learn my lesson. I’m too gullible. I should do as my sister always tells me “Don’t believe it’s true until you actually see it for yourself”.

Still have a few hours to go before it’s 2010. Christmas went by so fast and it was okayish. I got lots of useful presents, nothing wow or exciting really but I’m happy with the ones I got. It was the time that I spent together with family and closest relatives at Christmas Eve much more precious than any gifts. At Christmas Eve we started off with the usual trip to the cemetary – where we saw Eija and her farther too, my grandparents (from dad’s side) grave is right next to her own mother’s grave, strange isn’t it. After that we went to my mom’s first, ate dinner there, exchanged gifts. And for remaining part of the evening, we went to my grandpa’s house, where was also my godparents (my uncle & his wife), my aunt with family, my mom, littlesister and me + Jari. My cousins weren’t there like they usually are, cause they were spending Christmas abroad and elsewhere. There was coffee and some Christmas goodies and after that we exchanged gifts. For some reason this Christmas wasn’t so exciting and shiny like last year was, I was only waiting for it to be over really. Following Christmas day and the following weekend we spent with Jari’s parents, nothing exciting there either, it was just usual good & comfy Christmas time. Check out the pics! How was your Christmas?

Today we’re spending New Year’s Eve at home, we visited my mom earlier but for the evening my aunt will be visiting here with her husband and my god-daughter and I’m excited to see her again. Jari has made some delicious potato salad & garlic mayonnaise, we also got some sausages, cheeses, wine & grapes to go with them. I’m not sure will they be staying with us for the whole evening, but at least we’ll get to eat properly. I know this won’t be a happy new year to all but still let’s hope 2010 will be a better one! Peaceful and happy new year to all, see you in 2010!

I don’t know why it’s so hard for me to get my thoughts typed down to this blog. I always make mental notes that I should blog about this and that, but I never remember to! I have updated my theme here to a more Christmas-y one, do you like it?

Even now I’m multitasking, watching 24, blogging, surfing, upgrading several sites to WordPress 2.9. and uploading photos! Geez. And the best of all? I should be in bed sleeping because I have a very early wakeup next morning. I’ve promised to help out Eija with emptying her office and at the same time we’ll celebrate Christmas with a nice lunch. But still here I sit.

Well a lot of has happen since last time I blogged. There was a dog, who couldn’t get a long with our cat or actually our cat couldn’t accept it at all. There was dog poo, dog pee, growling, hissing, barking, meows, lots of crying and few sleepless night. It all ended when I was forced to take the puppy back – it was the hardest decision I’ve ever had to do. It still tears my heart to even think about it. It was something I’ve wanted for a long time and now that I had the chance to get it, I couldn’t keep it. Maybe later, it all depends about everything really.
I turned 29 years old, wopee. There wasn’t much of a party – it was right after the dog incident and I wasn’t in party mood, so it was just dinner with my aunt, her hubby & Vanessa + cake & coffee on Sunday for my grandpa & parents.

I’m now a godmother, or is godparent more current title? Anyways, my godchild is my aunt’s baby girl Vanessa who is also my cousin. Her christening was on 13th of December and I had the honour of holding her for the 20 minutes it all took. And oh my god how hard it physically was! My hands were shaking so much after just 5 minutes and I can’t remember a thing the priest said, I was only waiting for the last song so I could hand Vanessa back to her parents, heh.

Jari is now on “Christmas vacation” though he only has 2 days of work left next year. He doesn’t have a new job, yet. He wasn’t a happy camper at all when he came home on Friday. There’s a few things that we have to clarify before we can be sure that are we going to manage it financially for now. Sure my unemployment money goes up, but how much and what do we have to do again to have it checked and most importantly, how long is it gonna take this time? Please keep your fingers crossed that either one of us would get a job!

My best friend, with whom we’ve been friends for 10 years now, is moving 600 kilometres away from me after Christmas. And I’m really scared that life will pull us apart and we won’t stay in contact. She graduated from her school and now has a job and apartment in southern Finland. Amazing how easy it is, when you choose the right career/job. (Female in a job that is suited/expected for a female – mine isn’t!) But I’m nothing but happy for her. I know she is 6 years younger than me and has different interests at the moment, but still I cherish and love her as my friend no matter what. I’m seeing her next Tuesday, most likely for the last time this year and for a long time otherwise.

So all around – for a change – it’s been quite shitty, only positive thing being a godparent to a wonderful cousin. But hey, only way can be up now, right?

I’m sorry for the depressive post, but I had to get this off my chest now. Oh and than you so much to all who have sent me Christmas cards! There’s so many of you that I can’t even remember to list you all here, but your cards have been received and they’re at my fridge door now. I shall post a picture later on :D I sent 20 postcards and 6 of those went abroad. I also sent out my TFL Staff Secret Santa gift – way too late which is totally my own stupid fault, I hope the gift reaches it’s destination before the year ends.

Happy Holidays to everyone!