Laala is loving today

I have started to write positive things about each day into my calendar. It didn't start consciously, but I noticed what I was doing and made it a part of my daily routine. It's nice to look at the pages at the end of the week or at times when I need cheering up.



I've only been awake for three hours, but today already has lots of little positive notes.


+ The day started with us watching Mundy's gig on DVD and Himself played some guitar afterwards
+ Himself is cooking his famous spaghetti bolognese (Which gives me a break from cooking)
+ Our friend is joining us for dinner
+ Junior got home safe from London and we saw him in the mall earlier
+ I finished reading a book that made me happy
+ I bought Angel Therapy by Doreen Virtue
+ I'm going to see Angel Girl after work, which means I'm going to have a good time and don't have to spend the evening alone while Himself is gigging
+ I was wearing the MBTs while foodshopping and they didn't hurt
+ It's payday

Have a great Saturday! :)

Simple, free fun

We have been very good lately. Instead of nightclubs we stay at home and have brilliant nights in. It's cheaper, you don't have to wait for your drinks and it's usually more fun as well. (And the music is better!)

There has been lots of movie nights, bit of chat and sing-songs. But the biggest hit has been a cardgame I learnt from my dad when I was small. Everyone who comes to the flat is made to play one game. And after that they're always asking for more.

The game is called "Sevens" and it's quite simple really.
-You need at least three players.
-You deal the whole deck to the players. (without the jokers)
-Whoever has the seven of clubs starts.
-The next player can put down either any other seven or a six of clubs.
- The seven of any suit has to be down first, then the six of the suit, then the eight; Five of suit goes on top of the six, 9 on top of the 8. But after 6 and 8 are down, you can go either higher or lower.
- Aces are the lowest card, Kings the highest; When you put these down, you get another go (if you wish to continue)
- If you can't put down a card, you have to ask the previous player to give you a card.
-The winner is the one who gets rid of their cards first

The best part of the game is the talk. There's speculation on the subject "Which one of you has the six of hearts/seven of spades?" etc., sly comments ("I've nothing, gimme a card please"), badly hidden smugness and an awful lot of slagging.
Sometimes the simplest things are the most fun!

My new toys

I got my first pair of MBTs a few days ago. They're supposed to be the cat's pyjamas, the "anti-shoe" and all that.

It says on the leaflet, that they help with back and joint problems (which was my main reason for getting them), burn calories and tone up the muscles. They even come with a DVD, which shows the right way of walking.

So I got my feet measured, picked a pair, paid and brought my new "physiological footwear" home. Of course I took them for a test drive straight away. And got blisters after the first ten minutes.

I've been wearing them every day for short periods at a time. And the blisters just keep growing. Of course the DVD just shows smiling nurses and big-shot business-people walking happily for hours. My walking experience so far has been more gritted teeth and cursing.

I'm not giving up though. I can already feel my muscles getting more work and my stomach getting flatter. I also have a personal pit-stop crew in the form of Himself, who has the plasters, scissors and cups of tea ready on my arrival. My goal is three steps without a "#£***!" by the end of the week.

I'll keep you updated.

A different morning

It started normally enough. I had my breakfast and a cup of tea.
The only difference was, that instead of my usual morning rituals (relaxing for a while, watching a movie) I met Angel Girl around the corner.

We went to the tattoo place yesterday and she got her ears done. She also booked an appointment to get her tattoo sharpened up. The appointment was supposed to be next Friday, but she got a phone call while shopping and was told there was a cancellation. So I decided to go with her and see how it's done.

The artist is a lovely fella from South Africa. AG asked if I can watch, and he was like; "Come on in then!" I said I'd watch from the door and your man says, that either I come in or stay out. So in I went.

The thing that worried me the most was that I'd be put off from watching. That definitely didn't happen! It was very chilled out, and I was just amazed when I watched him work. The fact that AG already has a good few tattoos and wasn't nervous/shouting/screaming made it look very painless. She did make a few faces, but was giggling a while later, so it didn't look too bad.

I've been looking through the tattoo designs while waiting. And now I really want to get my first picture done... (I've been planning it for the last 7 years, maybe it's time!)

The "In-between Project"

People got quite alarmed when I posted on the day of the Giant Ball Of Blue Wool. I hope this helps... :)

I heard there was a special offer on yarn in the 2 euro store, so off I went. And got a bag full of yarn, in different colours.

The start was slightly difficult, because the wool was slippery and I couldn't really see the loops. I kept starting and undoing (x10 +some strong language), until finally something clicked.


Here's what I've managed to get done so far.

The yarn is lovely and furry, so I though it would make a nice scarf.

I'm just hoping to get it done before the summer...

Killing time

I finally found a calendar.
I picked up this plain navy A53 instead of an expensive one.

Obviously I got bored with it after few days.

I used cardboard from a giftset box for the frame,
blue paper from my activity set for the background,
glitter pens for the writing
and silver stars of different sizes for decoration.

Loving my one-of-a-kind calendar. :)

Survival kit

Himself left early in the morning, and I stayed in bed. I was woken by the buzzer and behind the door I found the postman with a parcel. The poor man is probably terrified of our house, because he always manages to wake me up and I never have the time to make myself presentable. The first thing he sees is my hair, which usually enters the hallway a
good few minutes before me. I also can't speak properly before my first cuppa, so I just croak "thanks" before escaping back in. He most likely thinks I'm either a) a complete waster or b) some crazy lady with twenty cats. I'm seriously considering putting up a warning sign with my picture on it, just to give the poor people a fair chance. Beware of the Laala. Hmmm...

Anyway, the packet included a little survival kit for me. It was put together by my lovely stepsister.

There was some chocolate, two packets of salty liquorice and some dried rye bread "buttons".
I had to take a picture of the bread, because I was so excited. See, I've tried all sorts of ways to get the stuff into the country. I've had people send it to me, I've brought it over in a suitcase and asked everyone coming here to do the same. I've gone to every shop in town looking for rye bread, only to come home empty-handed. The bread in the Polish shops is close, but not close enough. Himself looks at me standing in front of the shelves, muttering "Not dark enough.... Too soft..." and just can't understand my point.

And since we don't have a freezer, I can't store large quantities. It doesn't stop me from buying them, and so I spend the few days after holidays eating rye bread on rye bread.
That's why these little things are absolutely brilliant. Since they are dried, they keep for ages. Now I'll get my fix of proper bread every day and know what to bring home from Finland next month.

Wonderful world of learning

I've been keeping very quiet for a few days, and this time it wasn't because of laziness!
I finally sat down in front of my laptop, ignored the internet and finished the exercises for the course I'm doing. I ran straight to the post office with the printer-warm sheets, and FINALLY sent them to Dublin.

Since it's going to take them a few days to correct my work, I bought something to keep us occupied during the wait. A 2-disc CD-ROM "Teaching you 31 languages of the world".
I might not go as far as to study Vietnamese or Swahili, but I thought it might come in handy as a reminder of the languages I used to study. At least with this I get the chance to see and hear Swedish, Russian and Spanish again. (I think I've given up on Arabic already.)

It's also for Himself, who wants to learn Finnish. I'm trying to teach him, but sometimes it's easier to learn these things from a random person on a computer screen than from someone you live with. And I'd say the CD-ROM uses better language than what he'd learn from me!

The thing seems good, installed it today and had a quick look. You hear the words pronounced, which is good.(There should be video as well, but I have to look into that...) There's reading, writing and different games and activities to help you learn. And it was only 15 euro!
We'll see how it goes.

Good news

Yesterday I was told they are going to increase my hours at work again. I was so relieved I nearly hugged the person delivering the news!

When I got home, we had our daily chat. We started counting all the good things that are going to happen this year, and the ones that have already happened, and agreed that it looks like year 2009 is going to be a brilliant year.

The things I look forward to most this year are my dad's wedding, (hopefully) an engagement of our two friends and a baby (or possibly two) in our close circle. Then there's the everyday joys of life; to be able to work more, cook for Himself every day (well, I'd say there might be a sneaky take-out or two...), go for walks with Angel Girl and other little things that really make me happy.

I also have some goals I've set for myself for the year, and I'm excited to see how I get on with them. I'm trying to create more things in different ways, keep the flat tidier, learn new recipes and complete a few sections of my studies.

All in all, the start of the year has been so good, I can't wait to see what happens next!

Wedding bells and snowmobiles

For the last few months Himself has kept asking me, if we could visit my parents soon. He sounds like the ideal son-in-law (to-be), doesn't he?
He does like my Dad a lot, but the real reason behind these queries is snow.

The snow in Ireland isn't really the real deal. We might get the odd flake (if we're lucky), but they soon melt and the rain starts again. So Himself is fascinated with the idea of proper winters and listens to my stories about skating, skiing and other similar activities like a child listening to a bed-time story. And he can't wait to have a go on a snowmobile.

I have been trying to curb his enthusiasm, because I'm not sure if I'm able for all the snow anymore. Then my Dad started telling me he wants to get married to my stepmom. Which is quite understandable after 15 years, and we're all very excited about it. So yesterday we sat down, surfed the Net and found brilliant (read: REALLY cheap, 35 euro/person) flights for next month. I called Dad and he seemed happy enough. Now I just need to ask for some time off from work tomorrow.

It's so nice to have something like this to look forward to! Himself dreams of sauna and snow already, and I keep myself entertained by threathening him with icefishing.

"I'll make you an offer you can't refuse"

No, I haven't been watching The Godfather lately. I just got a call from Mother, and couldn't help getting mental pictures of De Niro's scary smile.

See she has too much time in her hands nowadays, and she uses it to make plans for my life. I don't mind, but usually her plans are a bit out there. Impossible is another word you could use to describe some of the crazier ones. It's sweet, in a way, because she seems to think I can do absolutely anything. But me working in a highly paid job that involves good math skills, for example, is just not realistic. I usually tune out when the talk of brain surgery starts...

Todays plan, however, made sense. That might be because she got the idea while driving at ten o'clock, which is 8 in the morning our time. She knows there is no point whatsoever to try to talk to me that early, and that gave her time to think.

So she called and said, that she'd give us her lovely two-bedroom apartment for 200 euro a month (which is absolutely nothing!) if we moved back to the good old homecountry and I'd continue my studies. She even said the other bedroom would make a lovely music room. Clever lady, I must say.

The best thing about the apartment for Himself (apart from the music room) seems to be the great kebab place just around the corner. The best part for me is, that the place was my very first home. That's where I was brought from the hospital when I was only a few days old.

I counted, that we have to stay here for another year and eight months. Himself needs to graduate and there's no point going over before I'd start studying again. It didn't stop me from looking at the education possibilities already and deciding what I want to study, though.

Did I mention I get excited quite easily sometimes? :D

This is why I need more windows...

As you can see, I wasn't joking when I said the movie collection takes more space than I do.

It started harmlessly, with my friend sending me a DVD for Christmas 2007. It was Santa Claus and the Magic Drum. That is a movie we used to watch every Christmas, and she wanted me to keep some of the traditions.

After that things happened quite fast. I got a few more DVD-shaped presents and then started buying them every now and again.

When our local movie rental shop started a special offer, 2 for 7 euros, things got out of hand. I admitted on having a problem, but it didn't seem to take me anywhere closer to getting cured. I came home with huge bags filled with movies, which is the kind of shopping Himself wholeheartedly accepts.

Thankfully the offer has ended. I had to start hiding some of the boxes into the cupboards, which causes Himself great pain. (Literally, because they keep falling onto his toes when he tries to find the spices)

Oh, I probably forgot to mention, that this is only my collection. Himself also has a movie or two.. Or maybe a little over a hundred. Then again, we don't own a telly, so they really come in handy.

(And we still have nights, when there doesn't seem to be anything to watch...)

Lovely, shiny things

Today we decided to do a bit of retail therapy. I was planning to buy myself a nice dress or maybe a pair of boots, but as it goes the shoes were all either size 3 or size 8 and the dresses looked wrong somehow. The universal law of shopping; When you go into a shop with a certain thing in your mind, your size is gone, the shop is closed or the line to the checkouts goes twice around the building. So obviously my approach to todays trip was all wrong. I even took some money with me, which to the gods of shopping is like waving a red flag in front of a bull.

I found nice earrings, though. I know they might be a bit too big, but I just could not resist! I love earrings in any shape or size, and finding a new pair is always a treat. (I justify buying them with the fact that I've currently got seven piercings in my ears, and therefore really,really need everything I can find!)

I had more success in the grocery store, where I found those little animal shaped foam stickers and a bag of gems. I have no plan for them yet, but I'm sure they won't go to waste. They are already giving me great joy, not only because of all the possibilities, but also because of the funny-looking eyes of the animal stickers. I am very easily entertained, I know!

I also learned a new knitting pattern from Angel Girl (our hostess from Saturday night), who came in for a cup of tea and stayed for five hours. We love random visits, so that really was the highlight of our day. (Himself even made her one of his Famous Omelettes to make her stay longer!)

So today was filled with lovely, shiny and wonderful things in many shapes and forms.
Himself seems to have made the tea, which probably is a sign for me to stop writing and get into my jammies.
Nighty night!

I'd rather start my day with a cup of tea...

I feel like an old-fashioned lady at the moment. The kind that takes to a darkened room when things get bad. I'm writing this laying on the sofa, curtains in front of the window.

Yesterday my arm started to ache. I laughed it off, until it spread from my neck to the tips of my fingers. At that stage I couldn't do anything anymore. Himself sprayed me with Deep Heat, to the point when people said that being in the flat started to remind them of when they were young and had to go to soccer practise in the mornings.

I slept for a few hours and woke up crying. Himself usually lets me have my own way in these things (because he knows how stubborn I can be) but this time he announced that we were going to see my doctor. And, for once, I listened.

Doc took one look and stuck a needle into my back. He gave me a few prescriptions and sent me home. I still don't know exactly what's wrong with me, but the labels are telling me I'm not allowed to operate heavy machinery. Just as I was about to find the nearest building yard and take a spin in a digger, damn!

This also means that I'm taking my very first sick day from work ever! It's a strange kind of feeling... Oh, sorry, I think it might be just the medicine making my head a bit fuzzy....

(P.S. I think I shouldn't really even operate a laptop in this state of mind! I'll do us all a favour and get some sleep... )

A sceptical Starperson. I wonder how that works?

I'm not superstitious. I walk under ladders, don't mind if salt is spilled and don't worry about Friday the 13th either. Everyone thinks we have a live-in ghost in the flat, which doesn't bother me at all.
I might do certain "rituals" in some cases, but it's mostly a habit from my childhood. Like pressing thumbs together with a person, if we say the same word at the same time. Nothing major, though.

However, I have started to believe in signs lately. Or good omens. Or whatever you want to call them. I don't go around looking for them, but for some reason they have found me in the past few weeks.

People have started to tell me about higher powers, just mentioning them in conversations. Starting from a friend who said he likes to light a candle for us when he goes to the mass. That kind of thing used to annoy me when I was younger, now it just gave a nice, warm feeling. My Father has been giving me subtle reminders of the presence of something bigger when we have been talking. Of all the people, he knows that he couln't have done that a few years back. But he sees the softening in my opinions better than anyone else would.

The strangest thing is, that within two weeks, I've heard about Angel readings twice. I had never heard of anything like that before our party, where a friend of ours told me about her belief of Guardian angels and messages from them.
Yesterday another friend invited us for dinner in their house. We had our dinner, watched a movie and played games. The usual stuff. Then I noticed a book on the table. I can't look at a book without starting to read it, so that's just what I did. Our hostess noticed my interest and exclaimed out of the blue: " You're a starperson!" She then started to explain the whole thing to me. And gave me an Angel card reading. Himself was a bit wary, because he doesn't like the doom and gloom of fortune telling and the likes. After hearing these cards don't include bad things, he settled down and continued playing the guitar.

So our lovely hostess gave me my first deck of these calming cards. (She told me you can't buy them for yourself)
I still don't know much about them, I don't know how to take the whole thing and I haven't thrown myself into something new completely.

But I do think there can be no harm in getting a few positive messages in these times. No matter what form they come in at.

I'm so Rock 'n' Roll...

Yesterday I got this strange urge to go into the handcraft shop.
And this 400g ball of wool came home with me...

First Billy Jr. got a new hat.
Doesn't he look so much happier now that he isn't freezing?
(I just needed to practise different techniques)

Little bracelet for me. :)

Baby slippers, take 1.
They look a bit strange, since I'm using trial and error as my instructions...
Had enough of crochet for one day and started knitting.

Himself went to check out a music video shoot. I stayed at home. Knitting. I really don't know what's wrong with me... :D

First post of the year (It hasn't sunk in yet)

Yesterday's celebrations were nice and chilled out. At the end, I fitted into my dress! And found shoes as well, just to abandon them under the table as soon as we started dancing.
The hotel had decorated the tables with party hats, masks and other New Year's necessities so we were quite a sight at the end of the night!

I heard an interesting belief about New Year's Eve once. A few years back my boss had gotten a phone call from her mother, telling her that whatever a person is doing when the year changes, they'll be doing it for the rest of the year as well. She was changing a nappy and just laughed it off. And soon had her third child and was, indeed, changing them for a year and a good bit over that as well.

I don't really believe in things like that, but I still try to be with nice people and have a laugh when the year changes. And of course give Himself a big kiss after the countdown! Just to be on the safe side...

I hope year 2009 will bring lots of love, laughter and kisses!