That picture of a Delft blue sky, Wil. Cold but clear. Amazing, you're so lucky. I loved this essay, reminded me greatly of Tim Dowling, in the best way. I do enjoy a window into another world.
It really can be beautiful here, Elle..then again, when it starts to warm up again and all the snow melts in march and it's all brown mixed with gravel it's bloody ugly. Thanks for reading. I'm enjoying this diary thing. Fun to write.
I know Finnish is a difficult language, but if it’s any comfort, it’s not impossible to learn. Just last month, I wrote about a man who became fluent in Finnish in four years. Of course, I don’t know what kind of plans your family has for the future.
How are you coping with the darkness? It’s usually something many people from abroad find challenging.
A Finnish friend of mine lives in the UK, and when she and her British partner talk about possible places to live in the future, the first thing he says is that he couldn’t handle the darkness in Finland.
Moi Marika. Kiitos kommentista!! Oon aina iloinen kun saan mahdollisuuden puhua suomea mun kommenteissa. No, mä oon asunut Ruotsissa ja Suomessa melkein 10 vuotta nyt eli Suomen pimeys on aivan normaali mulle. Tykkäät siitä. Pimeä on... Miten sanoo cosy suomeksi??
We used to have a Finnish neighbor and liked making us giggle by simply saying “Happy Birthday.”
Pivoting, I recently read an article about Finland’s well developed underground bunker system. What’s it like deep down there? Just wondering … I’m in California where fire and earthquakes define our disaster preparedness, not Russian invasion.
"Hearing I’m handsome from a thing as cosmologically perfect as my son, beats the yes of any request for a date I’ve ever had."
William. Wilhelm. Wilhemina. How dare you write a sentence so perfect. Love it. Love you and your precious people.
I've also decided to invite learning a complex language, largely spoken by a people with a reputation for bluntness, into my life (and I'm nowhere near a B yet). Not even for any reason of practicality. And I honestly think there's a part of me that enjoys the self-flagellation...
Your writing coaxed a cackle this morning, thank you. And at least your dog was only holding a poo in his mouth….not liberally smeared in human excrement having found it and rolled firmly in it. I gave heartfelt thanks to the Dogs Above that day, that it was not MY dog who had done the rolling; and who had to be wiped clean with whatever was available in order to be allowed into the car (where she still stank) to be taken home for a bath. (It was not a local forest.)
I would often play "Is It Dog Shit or Human?" on my way to work at Zuni Cafe every morning. I got really good at it, because there were so many examples to choose from.
I really enjoyed reading this, Wil. You're onto something.
The lines about your daughter’s language skills are interesting. People often complain about immigrants not assimilating or learning the language, but who cares. They do or they don’t or they end up mangling it, but their kids will learn it easily and soon enough they starting sounding like little Ockers or Finns. People need to stop with the racist bs.
That picture of a Delft blue sky, Wil. Cold but clear. Amazing, you're so lucky. I loved this essay, reminded me greatly of Tim Dowling, in the best way. I do enjoy a window into another world.
It really can be beautiful here, Elle..then again, when it starts to warm up again and all the snow melts in march and it's all brown mixed with gravel it's bloody ugly. Thanks for reading. I'm enjoying this diary thing. Fun to write.
I know Finnish is a difficult language, but if it’s any comfort, it’s not impossible to learn. Just last month, I wrote about a man who became fluent in Finnish in four years. Of course, I don’t know what kind of plans your family has for the future.
How are you coping with the darkness? It’s usually something many people from abroad find challenging.
A Finnish friend of mine lives in the UK, and when she and her British partner talk about possible places to live in the future, the first thing he says is that he couldn’t handle the darkness in Finland.
Moi Marika. Kiitos kommentista!! Oon aina iloinen kun saan mahdollisuuden puhua suomea mun kommenteissa. No, mä oon asunut Ruotsissa ja Suomessa melkein 10 vuotta nyt eli Suomen pimeys on aivan normaali mulle. Tykkäät siitä. Pimeä on... Miten sanoo cosy suomeksi??
Aa, pimeys on tuttua! Monesti olen lukenut kommentteja, että ensimmäinen pimeä talvi on vaikein (oli se sitten Ruotsissa tai Suomessa).
Cosy kääntyy suomeksi “kodikas”, joka tarkoittaa suurin piirtein: “feels like home.” Pimeä tai pimeys on kodikasta.
Ai niin! Toki! Koti/kodi-kas. Niin fiksu.
We used to have a Finnish neighbor and liked making us giggle by simply saying “Happy Birthday.”
Pivoting, I recently read an article about Finland’s well developed underground bunker system. What’s it like deep down there? Just wondering … I’m in California where fire and earthquakes define our disaster preparedness, not Russian invasion.
Most of our bunkers, the ones in apartment buildings and libraries, are normally just used as bike storage rooms. Not very Intretesting I'm afraid.
"Hearing I’m handsome from a thing as cosmologically perfect as my son, beats the yes of any request for a date I’ve ever had."
William. Wilhelm. Wilhemina. How dare you write a sentence so perfect. Love it. Love you and your precious people.
I've also decided to invite learning a complex language, largely spoken by a people with a reputation for bluntness, into my life (and I'm nowhere near a B yet). Not even for any reason of practicality. And I honestly think there's a part of me that enjoys the self-flagellation...
AH! thank you sweet friend. What language is it? Is it Finnish? Is that what you're hinting?
Hebrew! Because apparently I need to know three different alphabets...
Good on you..good on us!!
Your writing coaxed a cackle this morning, thank you. And at least your dog was only holding a poo in his mouth….not liberally smeared in human excrement having found it and rolled firmly in it. I gave heartfelt thanks to the Dogs Above that day, that it was not MY dog who had done the rolling; and who had to be wiped clean with whatever was available in order to be allowed into the car (where she still stank) to be taken home for a bath. (It was not a local forest.)
That is a nightmare. Dogs are cool and that but man do they do nasty stuff sometimes. Glad to have made you smile India!!
I would often play "Is It Dog Shit or Human?" on my way to work at Zuni Cafe every morning. I got really good at it, because there were so many examples to choose from.
I really enjoyed reading this, Wil. You're onto something.
Can I send you a picture next time? Direct number please. (Also, thank you, buddy. Was nice to read this today. X)
It would be the best thing that's happened to me all week.
Poor Wil.
The lines about your daughter’s language skills are interesting. People often complain about immigrants not assimilating or learning the language, but who cares. They do or they don’t or they end up mangling it, but their kids will learn it easily and soon enough they starting sounding like little Ockers or Finns. People need to stop with the racist bs.