It’s -11f or -23c this morning. Makes one long for spring already.

Another excellent post by the Lizard.

Yesterday Wisconsin Democrats turned in what they claim is a million signatures for the Scott Walker recall effort. In light of the claims of fraudulent signatures the Democrats may need all 1 million just to have enough signatures to move forward. However, my issue is notthe fraud and money spent by unions and democrats to oust Walker, its that they are going the recall route at all. Read the rest of this entry

Ok then, it’s been a while since i blogged on the trip. Mostly due to me being busy and some due to lack of net access.

So what has happened so far? After CDG we arrived in Arlanda, Sweden and were picked up we stayed at my niece’s place and it felt like we left on the boat to Finland right away..

We got a ride to the harbor from my brothers neighbor and settled in to our cabin in the boat. the boat ride was uneventful, very few people on the boat due to a midweek run.

When arriving in Finland my brother had arranged for a small bus to take us to the hotel. On the way there the travel exhaustion and bumpy ride caught up with Barb, I felt so bad for to be feeling ill. Thankfully it has passed by now.

Anyhow, my mom’s “service” was conducted with a smallish number of friends and relatives. On snowy and cold winter day here in Nakkila, Finland. Personally it was was tough moment, and it still is feel a bit “raw”.

We went to bed early, I was exhausted, I think more emotionally than physically. We just got up and now I’m just updating the blog.

I’m hoping to update the blog from the boat as we get there and there will be photos too as I get to them.

Landed in Paris (Charles de Gaulle) and to my astonishment the plane was in the middle of the tarmac. We had to de-plane and get on a bus. It seemed that everyone on the plane were crammed into the same bus. The bus drove around and around for what seemed to be an eternity but in reality was more like 5 minutes. It dropped us off at a mostly deserted part of the terminal.

We got off and started to look for the transfer desk…. Well well the french decided to hide it and refused to have any sizable signage in English. After some looking around we found the transfer desk and picked up our boarding passes. Then came the question where to now… Where is our gate and where is the lounge so we can get some coffee!

Everyone just pointed further and further out and kept saying the lounge is there the lounge is there. This place is properly huge!!! If one ever wants to lose anyone this would be the place, no one talks in coherent language and a good number of them while helpful were hard to understand. There are people everywhere and everyone is busy!!!

We finally found the lounge and its ok. It was crowded first but I guess a flight left and so did everyone so now it’s nice and empty. It’s cookie heaven, lots of cookies and strong coffee.
Barb is snoozing right now and I feel like I could too but also feel like one of us should stay awake. Guess I’ll be “it”.

Ok… I didn’t think I would ever hear the announcement that I just heard a moment ago. Mind you we are somewhere just crossing the Canadian coastline over the north Atlantic.

BING “Is there a Doctor onboard? We could use one on the right side of the aircraft.”

Then a moment later.

BING“Is there anyone onboard who is fluent in Nigerian and English”

Wow, what can I say. I thought shit like that only happens in movies.
From what I could see it was a lady with a massive hairdo and bible in her hand that did not feel too good. Too bad since there is like six more hours of this flight left. Idont know if they found a Doctor or not but they must have.

OH! We have our seats in economy comfort with 4 more inches if legroom and free booze.. I couldn’t give a rats ass about the booze but holy shit the 4 inches makes a huge difference!
No individual TV’s… That blows. The plane seem to be a bit older. It’s a Boeing 767-300ER. Seats are a bit worn but serviceable.

It’s interesting how everyone who finds out about the trip says “how wonderful! A trip via Paris. So nice to be traveling” No it’s not! Traveling sux. especially when one is going to a funeral.

Lets start from the beginning, somehow I must look like a criminal or something cuz every time i go thru the security checkpoints they give me the stink eye… look at my shit extra long smack their lips. Asking stupid questions like “hmmmm… going to travel eh?” Like i would be standing in the line here waiting to be questioned for fun? Seriously the competence level seems to be between I can eat on my own and hey lookie here I just learned to tie my own shoes.

BTW. Most of them wear slip ons or velcro shoes.

Delta however seems to be on the ball, the lounge is nice but wifi sux and most likely because it’s provided by tmobile.

I like the idea of flying, like planes and aircraft a lot and would give my left nut to be accomplished pilot. But the sad truth is that being 6’5″ and not a beanpole makes travel a pain in the knees, literally. Airline seats seem to be made for tiny people.

I’ll take some more pics and posting from the road as I can.

What can I say. This year began with the longest winter ever. Transitioned into the windiest summer ever. Bought a new hobby…

We lost Bonkers He was a good cat and we will always remember him.

The year kept puttering along and pretty soon it was october and we took a trip to Sweden. The trip was good but it felt like I saw my mother for the last time. Visited my sister and her family and wished I could have spent more time with my siblings but I spent it where it counted visiting my mom.

And December 6th she passed away. Now we are going back again to lay her ashes to rest…

It can only get better from this point on. Wishing everyone a better 2012.

Sadly, my mother-in-law passed away at the beginning of December.  Thankfully we had the chance to visit her one last time when we went to Sweden for a couple of weeks in September and October.  She has been on my mind often, even more so since she’s passed.  This little woman from Finland…

The first time I met Miikka’s parents was a week before our wedding, and I was so afraid they wouldn’t like me, especially his mom.  I know I wouldn’t like it if someone married my child and moved them half a world away.  I was so relieved by the warm welcome into their family by both his parents, that worry was instantly gone.  And even though I didn’t speak a word of Finnish and she didn’t speak English, we never really had much of a problem communicating.  I remember one time as she babbled on in her language she handed me a bowl of un-whipped whipping cream and a hand whip… I knew exactly what she wanted me to do!  I had never whipped cream by hand before, but I didn’t want to disappoint her, so whip it I did!  If she had only known how afraid I was that it wasn’t going to whip into stiff enough peaks, lol.

She was such a generous person.  Every time we were at their home, if I complimented her on something, tell her I liked a knick-knack, before I knew it, it was mine.  It didn’t take me long to realize I had to be careful of what I admired.  A few times we went shopping with Miikka’s parents and she always managed to buy me something, a bracelet, earrings, anything I would have wanted I felt she would have given me.  Again, I had to be careful not to admire too much.  I think some of the things she gave us that we appreciate more than anything are her recipes.  Every time we make Swedish pancakes or Finnish oven pancakes, we talk about her.

One trip we took with Miikka’s parents was to his sister’s house.  His mom and I were in the back seat of their van together, and I was tired, so I covered myself with my coat as a blanket and just as I was falling asleep I felt his mom tucking my coat around me.  It made me smile because Miikka likes having his blanket tucked around him and I had just discovered why.  But when I really and truly felt like an accepted member of the family was later when we were at Sari’s.  Esa and Marja-Terttu had gone to bed and the rest of us were up quite late visiting and having a good time.  All of a sudden there was a stern voice coming from their bedroom scolding us and telling us to keep it down.  Nothing says “love” like getting scolded!

There are many more memories I have of her, but my mind always ends up at the last time I saw her.  I remember thinking that I hope she knows that I realize what a great mother she is, or Miikka wouldn’t be the good man he is.  I hope she knows I appreciate how unselfish she is by letting him go and supporting his decision to move to the USA.  I hope she knows how much I admire her… this little woman from Finland.

Right before we left for the last time she watched me finish drinking my water from a bottle that had one of those snap up tops.  She asked me if she could have the bottle, and of course I said yes.  When we had gone, Miikka said he thought it was funny because he knew that she just wanted something of mine because she liked me.  I hope she knew that she had much more than my water bottle, she had my love.

There are no words to describe the loss I feel. Sleep peacefully mom, I miss you.