I apparently am attractive to the drunks and possibly a man.

I've learned so much last night while at Taneli's for supper for Tim's birthday. For one - the reindeer was absolutely delicious. We cooked it with zucchini, egg plants and carrots and served it over mashed potatos with lingden berries - like a stew. Very delightful.
Thanksgiving is not celebrated here and is pretty much the only North American holiday not celebrated in Finland.
They do sell turkeys small enough to fit in the small European ovens here...however ham is the more traditional meal to have on Christmas Eve. Stores are closed by 1pm for the last minute shoppers on Christmas Eve. A rice pudding of sorts is served for breaskfast Christmas Eve morning, while in the early evening big Christmas dinner is served the same day.
Presents are opened late Christmas Eve night and then typically Christmas Day - people go to Mass.
(Tim now has an encyclopedia about Finnish culture - so if you have a question - now I can feel more confident about answering you!)

I've been hunting online for used items for the baby - as we don't want to buy everything brand-new when there were so many great quality and good conditioned items up for grabs on the Tori website. I power walked to Sohwi this morning for 8:20...I was to meet this guy for the stroller between 8:15 and 8:30. He showed up at 8:24, looked at his watch and loudly pronounced, "I am not late as I told you between 8:15-8:30". He's Italian. He then showed me the features of the baby's stroller and then proceeded to tell me he could reserve the car seat in the back of his white hatchback car - however I told him that was fine - as we don't have a vehicle and the car seat was meant for an older child (about 4-6 years old). He smiled and then decided to swing another way around the bush and then tried to sell me some toys that they have at home, "Very clean toys and very good condition like everything we have!" I said maybe and for him to e-mail me the photos of the toys. When I told him that I was interested in his crib he had up for sale online (plans changed with the previous crib we had in mind) - he was ecstatic and said he'll reserve it for me. He told me first he will e-mail me a picture to see if that's what I wanted or I could visit. I told him a photo would be fine and he rushed to explain that the photo is a little out of focus however I'll still get the idea (by this point I felt like he was talking to me like I was incompetent) - and he could not take a new photo because the crib was dismantled and ready to be sold. It comes with the mattress and he told me about the crib and I said sure. He then asked if I was walking back home - and I said yes - he THEN says, "Oh if I knew you were walking - I would've dropped this off at your home. But I have no time now as I have to go to work."
(Insert rolling of eyes secretly).
So I paid him 40 Euros (pram was only 25 but bank machines only dispense in 20s here as well) - and he started arguing that I was paying too much. I told him to bank the extra change towards the crib and he managed to shell out 10 Euros....so I said fine - bank the 5 Euros towards the crib - we'll probably end up getting it. He said instead he will put it towards the toys (or the crib) once I see the photos. (He has since sent photos and I don't have internet - but Tim said it looked fine to him - so hopefully my little Italian friend can drop it off tonight).
**He came by at "7-ish" aka 7:45pm....and "forgot" the screws to the crib. Ah well - tomorrow I'll get a screw driver to assemble it - to keep myself busy this weekend. He also brought a bag of toys for me to inspect...picked out a few - that was it and he will be back this weekend with a quilt and mattress sheets and pillows that go with the bed set - so I'm excited.

Meanwhile I've since had a nap and ran downstairs to meet Meervi (whom I thought was a male but was actually a lady with firey red hair and a beautiful black bow in it) whom I bought a really clean and great conditioned car seat for taking the baby home. I also snagged a blanket from her - that can probably be used by Tim - it's quite large and makes a nice lap blanket for now.

Loki is terrified of the stroller for some reason and a little cautious of the car seat as it rocks when touched. This should make things interesting when I want to go walking or jogging with both the baby and him tethered to the stroller. HA.
The stroller isn't for new borns unfortunately but that's okay - we're thinking a baby sling may be what we need during the earlier stages for now. Atleast we have most things sorted out right now.

Soon I'll be leaving to meet a lady at her home to look at some cloth diapers and liners she had posted online. She had some of the expandable ones online for 8 Euros (which is great considering they have different buttons to adjust the size as the baby grows and usually go for about 20-35 Euros a piece at the Eco-store) and some other ones and the liners or fillers for them as well. (Got 10 cloth diapers and 29 liners for 105E, and I did get lost going to her home).
I also got hit on by a drunk. I was walking from the bank machine on my way to this lady's home (who took forever to let me leave as we had great conversations although I was border line sweating- her house was so warm)....this guy called out HELLO while I was power-walking by and tapped my shoulders (I had my iPod and thought that was a good enough sign to leave me alone - apparently not)...I shook his hand with a firm "g2g - please don't talk to me" hand-shake...and that wasn't a good enough sign either. He asked my name and couldn't string a sentence in advance (by atleast 5 seconds) together. So he asked my name and while talking to me - he continued to roll his eyes up to the sky like he was preaching and kept trying to shake my hand multiple times. Ewww. Finally I told him my name is Ashley and that I really had to run to meet somebody (which was true - sorta)- then as I ran to cross the street - the light turned red. But he didn't pursue - thankfully. How do people know I speak English anyways? Is it because I don't have blonde hair and blue eyes?!?!?! I wasn't even walking towards the guy - I came from behind him!

I think I'm finally settling in with the idea of having a baby. I know this may sound funny as I've only been pregnant for the last 8 months - but I think it's starting to come true and I'm starting to realize it now that there's a stroller, a blanket and a car seat in the living room.

I had posted an ad online for more cloth diapers (previous to getting them today) and someone asked to meet me to learn English in exchange to learn Finnish.
This is what the E-mail started with:

"I found your announcements from Tori (University of Jyv�skyl�). At
first, I'm sorry but it may be that we don't have any baby stuff to sell
to you, but I have a little question. Would you (or maybe your
wife/girlfriend) like to meet me and talk with me in English?"

How does one write a response to this politely?!?! Sure I'll meet you - but the wife will be at home....oh dear.

Dear Sciatic Nerve - please go away....

Dear SN:

I look awfully silly and have made my dogs jump atleast 5 times this afternoon as I sit here enjoying the connection I have today. My poor pooches wanted a rub and instead one got his toe stomped on and the other almost smucked up-side the head because my left hamstring/butt cheek had a spasm and I wasn't expecting it.

That is all.
Thanks,
D.

___________________

In other news - got a baby car seat for 40 Euros and a baby blanket (will have to see what it looks like first) for 5 E. The guy offered to drop them off during his lunch break tomorrow - more pictures to come soon.

A four-leaf clover, a new toque, an invalid phone number, some funny dreams and so on...(in no particular order either)

I went to the library yesterday as I received an E-Mail notification that a book I reserved had come in. It was about felting - so that made my day (any English literature is very exciting for me these days - especially at the grocery store).
While there I got a text from Tim saying that he was in the cafe in the bottom floor of the library with Taneli and his son, Sulevi.
Once my book was checked out I went to join them and Sulevi was quite excited to see me. Everybody in the cafe now knows my name - LOL.

After a visit I decided to mosey on over to Poppeli where I found some beautiful blue yarn....it's wool and it's the same kind as my brown flower/slouchy hat - but blue. I only needed 2.5 balls to make a snug toque - which my ears are thankful for. A couple nights ago when I went walking with the dogs - my brown slouchy hat was letting in too much cold air. I finished the blue hat with a bit of an orange trim - the same colored yarn from my paternal-twin mittens.

Yesterday I didn't have any internet whatsoever - so I apologize for the delay in updating my blogs properly.
The night before last I had the oddest dream. The mothers that are reading this - know what I mean. I had dreams before that I was having a boy - just one or two and it involved getting peed on and the frustrating task of not being able to put a clean diaper on, as he kept ripping it off in all of his pride and glory. Well this dream was different. I had a girl (and no there aren't any twins in there!!)and breast feeding didn't hurt whatsoever (sorry guys if you're reading this). I find this interesting because it's my first dream that I had a girl, yet my second dream about breast feeding a baby not hurting.
Now according to a friend of mine who recently had her baby - she found it quite difficult. In fact many of them did and only one or two had actually said it worked for them right away. Time will tell I suppose.

Oh and yes I did call the nurse at the Neuvola (the public maternity service behind my building) - and she gave me an invalid phone number. ARGH.
Baby's still moving and grooving - so I'm thinking I'll be carrying full term - not overly worried in all honesty.

Ah the 4 leaf clover - before I forget. I got a book from the library a couple of weeks ago called "The Love Letter" by Cathleen Schine...I chose this book because I saw a brighter colored book called, "The New Yorkers" by the same author and there were all these rave reviews about the first title. So I happened to snag them both in hopes for some enjoyment when I'm sharing my laptop with the husband. Well The Love Letter is a little bland but keeping me on my toes thus far (only in the 3rd chapter or so) - so I'll try and stick with it.
Anyhow - I was reading on the couch while waiting for the chicken/veggie/rice soup to finish cooking when I flipped to the next page and voila - there was a flattened 4 leaf clover. It's taken sanctuary in one of the un-used cubicles of the massive book shelf we have in the living room. I find this exciting because growing up we had clovers grow in the back yard - but they all had 3 leaves.
So I'm hoping that with the dreams I've had lately about having a boy (and/or a girl - no preference - I don't think...) and breast feeding will be easy and then finding this 4 leaf clover -is a sign. Wishful thinking - I know.

Well time for me to get cracking on some gifts for Tim's birthday. He's turning the big 3-2 and I need to finish felting his card and start making more cards while I have the motivation and the peace and quiet (dogs are asleep on the bed)!

I'll let you know how the reindeer tastes later.

I'm almost 24 and got ID'd....

Ok - so due to the possibility of going into labour early - I've decided to carry my passport and ID# with me everywhere I go...just in case.
Thankfully I had it with me today. No I didn't go into labour or have contractions...but at the grocery store (went to a huge one called Prisma with Jessica) - I spent over 50 Euros - and they asked for ID. I had no idea this was a regular process. I thought they only asked when I was using a credit card (which has happened to us before) - but even when using the Visa Electron card ("Debit") - if you spend more than 50 Euros in one load - then you have to supply ID which I think is pretty neat (this is the banker in me).

I looked in a baby store called OZ...it's a more expensive store Jessica told me - but even still - there were some great deals. There was a crib for 99 Euros (but I think we'll be borrowing one instead) and some bouncy chairs for under 40 and one of those bouncy sling chairs that hangs from a door way or a ceiling....for about 30 Euros!
There's an online market on the University website - so I've been checking that out (thank goodness for Google translate) and there's a lot of good stuff online.

At the grocery store - I picked up reindeer meat. "Poro" in Finnish. Tim's birthday is this Thursday and he really wanted to try reindeer meat (Supposedly it tastes like beef?) - so I wasn't sure what kind of package it came in...or if I was to go to the butcher in the back to order some. But they sell it in bags in the frozen section and it's in strips like stirfry meats. Apparently it's traditionally cooked here like a stew and then it's served on mashed potatos with ling-den (sp?) berries. Ling-den berries are sort of like cranberries. I've had them in a desert and it was very good. A little tart like cranberries - but not quite.

Got a mop (forgot to pick up a bucket - duh), 2 metal bowls for the dogs' food (my poor mixing bowls are now cracked and beyond repair) a massive package of chicken pieces (already marinated and I'll probably just freeze the rest in even portions) along with other things that we needed for the home.
I finally caved and picked up a tin of vaseline (it's in a big flat disc like lip balm)...I couldn't justify spending almost 3 Euros for a tiny tin of vaseline but at Prisma - it was much cheaper.
It was nice to just get up and away from what I knew - and to walk around such a huge store. I definitely got my exercise for the day in!

Well it's 7:05pm - I think I'm going to layer up and take the dogs out for a walk - in hopes for some peace and quiet with Loki tonight.

Painted toes by 4...A White-Tie Event at 6...a lonely drunk at 1am..And some things I learned (at the bottom)

Tim was invited to see someone defend their phD yesterday afternoon. I didn't go as it's not really my thing and I honestly would not understand 90% of it I'm sure. Not that it was in Finnish - because it was in English - but because philosophy is not my thing. The only time I really talk philosophy is when Tim talks to me about it - a lot of times after events in which alcohol is consumed (on his part) and he manages to explain things to me quite well. Haha.
I managed to paint my toe nails a deep purple with the same skill level as prior to pregnancy - and if it wasn't for q-tips and nail polish remover - yeah I'd be toast.

The dinner was held at 6pm and being a white-tie event - I figured I'd wear black. Mostly because someone else was bound to do the same thing and I'm pregnant - so nothing I had with me that was fancy enough, fit anyways. I proudly wore my brown flower slouchy hat on the way there - and it was surprisingly warm. Tim and I discovered that one of his dress coats fits me!!! With the zipper up. I was so happy as it was quite chilly out.
The dinner was held in the same building as Tim's office but on the bottom floor where a very large class room is normally. Everything was decorated with white table cloths and black napkins. Some people wore tuxedos, some wore suits and many ladies wore fancy dresses.
The food was great - I had olive bread for the first time and thought it was wonderful!! Main course being salmon with lemon and dill - which is funny because Tim is starting to get accustomed to fish. Yet I haven't cooked it since we've moved here.
I got to see Sulevi, Jessica and Taneli (Tim's prof's family - as they were away for a month) and was very happy to see them. I think Sulevi may have been more excited to see us! He saw us come inside and squealed to the nines.
After the dinner we chatted with Taneli and I learned a lot in regards to health care.

On our way home - after several discussions with various people (I was exhausted!) - we were on the main street before turning onto ours (we still had quite a ways to go) - when a fellow stopped us and asked if we knew where "Rameteki" was. We're like uh no. So someone stopped her bike and pointed the direction for him and he knew where it was - he wanted someone to walk with him home! God he was so drunk.
Thankfully Rameteki was left of where we had to go - and we told him we "lived on the very top of the hill" (which was a lie - but nonetheless) - and he was very friendly - asking if we'd walk him home, had cigarettes because he drank too much and only smokes when he drinks...and blah blah.
It was to the point I thought he was going to walk US home - and I wanted to knock him out.
So finally we walked him to the lights and said good bye several times - and he kept referring to himself as a Finnish dude...asked where we were from and if we were a "Kappa". We're like huh?
And he goes "Oh a kappa is 2 people who live together and be together". He meant couple.
And then he wished us "So one". I think he meant "So long".


Maternity health care is free here. Public appointments cost 11 Euros for the first three of the calendar year and after that it's free until January of the next year. Public appointments typically take a month to book in advance unless it is urgent.
But if you're willing to pay 40-50 Euros for private health appointment - then you get in immediately.
Public and private is the same quality and competency we were told.
If I was to go into labour now - because my application for Kela is being processed - I would be covered.
Kela is also the public insurance company too. So once our application is approved and we have our Kela cards (like an insurance card) - when we pick up a prescription - the pharmacy automatically deducts the insurance coverage immediately at time of purchase. So you don't have to pay in full and then submit a claim. Unless you don't have your Kela card with you - then you would file a claim and then be credited to your bank account.
There is a tiered system of 100, 80 and 60% coverage - something like that - and depending on the type of medication you have prescribed - determines how much you pay. Apparently anti-biotics are typically only covered 60% by Kela. Hopefully my inhaler is covered!!

Well - time for me to make some food - "SO ONE" for now.

Walks, yarn, burgers and blonde little kids....(get your Friday chuckle here!)

I decided to take Loki with me - it was a heavy debate as Blue rarely gets one on one walks because of his aggressive attitude (he's merely curious at meeting other dogs - but the barking, jumping and growling does tend to scare people away and stop traffic)...and the fact that I'd be leaving him outside of a yarn shop for 2 minutes - could be life or death. He doesn't bite - he just barks like a maniac and everybody thinks he's a holy terror.

Anyways - the walk downtown was great with Loki - we didn't bump into a single pooch. Until I got to the yarn store. I tied Loki up outside to a post - where I could still see him and run to if necessary - but he did great. I heard a yapping when I was inside grabbing the brown wool yarn I needed for my hat - took a look and Loki was just sitting and waiting for me very patiently.
When I got outside I saw a pretty blonde girl with her little white pooch and she smiled and said hello - so I figured - okay - she's not scared to meet another dog that's 5x the size of her own.
She was great and adored Loki. Asked what breed and whatnot - her English was great. Her dog was a scaredy-cat. He wouldn't come near Loki and kept barking but running away from him and Loki just gave up.

So we went on our merry ways and decided to hit up Grilli 21 for a bacon burger.
Well Loki was just thrilled - there were little birds (they help with the crumbs - kind of like nature's bus-boys) for him to watch and garbage cans 1/2 filled with food he could devour. But he held off - thankfully.
I ordered my bacon burger and sat down beside Loki. He then thought I wasn't quick enough to put it in my mouth (it was quite hot so I was blowing on it to cool it off) and decided a nudge to the elbow was necessary...
You know those slow moments you see in the movie - where everything is moving so slowly - that one should be able to stop or prevent whatever is about to happen next?
Yeah - I had one of those. My burger flew out of my hand and all over the table, my backpack and the ground and chairs....the condiments were mostly all over my sweater and in my lap (and they pack a lot in those burgers!) and Loki knew he was in crap. All I had left in my hand was 1/2 a bun - no wrapper - no napkin...just half a bun.
I didn't yell and I didn't smack Loki on the nose like he deserved. He knew he was in crap when I said, "Loki" very quietly and calmly. Nobody was around except behind Grilli 21 there was a tour for the seniors of some monuments and such. They were all staring at me. Clearly not at the monument in front of them but the lady in black with the dog who just smacked a burger out of her hands.
I cleaned up what I could and ordered another burger. The lady was working on her own and thought I was crazy. I just smiled and explained that my dog ate my burger - which was going to be the truth - as I don't think birds are into big patties and massive buns that are 20x the size of them.
So I gave Loki the burger in pieces and he appreciated every bite. I only say this because he kept his head down and he looked awfully sad for what he did - but he knew I wasn't going to eat anything off the cobblestone ground.

Alright - blonde little kids part. Loki and I began the trek home and cut through a school play ground (past Tim's office) and 3 little blonde girls came running towards me screaming something in Finnish. I'm like, "Sorry? I don't speak Finnish". Well you'd think my face was bashed up and I was bleeding with a chain saw in my other hand. They ran away.
I'm sure they were asking if they could pet Loki - which I would've been fine with because he would've been tired out and whatnot - but I didn't think of that until after I said "Sorry I don't speak Finnish". So we kept walking.
I felt like a monster - I reek of grease, ketchup and onions etc.....thankfully I wore black and it's all in the wash as we speak.

Needless to say - I wish I brought Blue - it would've been worth the girl probably giving me a dirty look and the Poppeli lady thinking my dog was a monster just to have to only buy 1 burger.

Maybe if I stay up long enough - I'll get pics of a beautiful sunrise...

Dear Mother Nature:

It is presently 5:14am on a Friday. I have a month and 2 days left until my due date. All I had to do was get up and use the bathroom and have a sip of water.
But no - we couldn't leave it at that on a Friday morning could we, at 4:30am?
With the threats of a potential leg cramp and with hip cramps already having a fiesta - and a puppy that's really not a puppy anymore stretched out lengthwise on my side of the bed - you had to keep me going.
I promoted myself to the couch in the dark with nothing but my pillow in hopes for a blissful sleep - which was the norm. I usually can pass out on the couch comfortably as it's an old, well-loved leather couch and cool to the touch (great for the cramps if you didn't know already) and dog & husband free. Today - was not the case.
I used to brag to my other pregnant colleagues, "Oh no I sleep like a baby - even with a couple bathroom breaks in the middle of the night." Now I'm ashamed to say - I may have insomnia? Who knows. It's supposed to hit 75% of pregnant women.
I'll try to go back to sleep - but I know that you live life on the edge and enjoy teasing us in various ways throughout life. Knowing my luck - this would be one of them.

As if having an alien in your tummy bounce on your bladder, like a 4 year old tugging your hand to go to the playground with their friends - wasn't bad enough.
The pregnancy-brain moments (The title of this post originally was "Maybe if I stay up long enough - I'll get pics of a beautiful sunset"), the cramps, the Braxton Hicks - nothing like a good April Fool's joke everyday during the final weeks of pregnancy.....the cravings (mine have been controllable - thank goodness), the constant bladder interruptions, the stretch marks ("Tiger stripes are cooler than lions - they don't have stripes" says the husband) and the raging hormones....and the aches and pains....the list goes on - but eventually - you forget it all once you hear the first cries of your baby. So they say.

Not that I'm a negative person - but more so - a realist. I've been keeping a journal for the baby of things that have happened throughout the pregnancy. I think it's because I don't want to forget any of these things and that somewhere deep down inside my confused brain - I kind of like knowing that my baby will have a great chuckle at my expense some day down the road. I know I have while reading earlier entries.

So now I sit here in the dark - hungry as anything (but don't want to wake the husband with my crashing in the dark attempting to make a PBJH sandwich) but I will survive.
I will attempt to fall back asleep...I think that's why nobody is writing me back on MSN haha.

Long story short? Thanks Mother Nature - the baby will be worth it - I know.