Thanksgiving at OTB

On Thanksgiving I naturally went and did some off-track betting. I believe this is what most people do. For those of you not so familiar with OTBs – they are gaming worlds for adults where you go to place your bets if you can't get to the track

Glass House

I visited the über famous Glass House by Philip Johnson. For obvious reasons there are no medium-sized stones in the vicinity of the house - only pebbles, and rocks too heavy to pick.

Music

The other night I went to Bowery Ballroom in New York to see Soulsavers (featuring Mark Lanegan). The venue is nice, although it's sort of a cheap copy of Tavastia in Helsinki.

Caruncle

Since I own a car and since I have two nephews - I must be a caruncle. Not especially flattering.

Coffee in Finland

These are the types of coffee I drank during my trip to Finland (in no particular order). I consumed a minimum of four cups a day, which is below the national average.

Awkward in finland

These two things felt slightly awkward during my recent visit to Finland:

I've gotten so used to leaving a tip at restaurants that I felt somewhat uncomfortable not leaving one.


The cover of the main newspaper is dedicated to advertising.

Bears in Massachusetts

Reach

There seems to be a slight difference in the way that Finns and Americans think about reaching for things. While in Finland:


"The one who reaches for the spruce tree...


...will fall onto the juniper"

in America they recommend you:

"Reach for the stars!"

MSG

I went to see my first sporting event since my arrival to US - Knicks vs Pistons in Madison Square Garden. You can tell that the home team is not doing great when the loudest cheers are given to the guys shooting T-shirts to the crowd during breaks. I think I've got to get one of those - I mean one of those cannons that shoot T-shirts.

Wedgie

As defined in Wiktionary: Noun, 1. (slang) A prank in which a person's underpants are pulled up sharply from behind in order to wedge the clothing uncomfortably between the person's buttocks

This belong to the category of expressions that I didn't really need to learn - and yet I wish I could start the elementary school all over again and launch this noble activity in Finland.

Pigeons

Some things are exactly the same in Finland and in the US - pigeons among them. A couple of them (I presume they are a couple) like to spend their days on the ledge right behind the window by my desk at the office. Having studied these mundane creatures for quite a while now I have to say that I find them quite beautiful.

PJ

I thought I'd start posting every once in a while about my very favorite things in America. I have to say that I've fallen in love with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. (This jelly is what my English teacher would have called jam.) Amazingly enough these godly creations are practically unknown in Finland.

President & Deodorant

This is what they sell at Union Square in Manhattan. Makes sense to me: it's going to get real' sweaty before Obama gets the Cap and Trade system passed.

Numbering

While the measurement system in America (inches, miles, pounds, ounces...) gives me a headache, they have definitely figured a better way to number apartments here. (I think even you non-Finns, non-Americans can figure out which one it is.)

Green Card

It's my second anniversary of living in Ameriikka today (as documented here - the same, oddly familiar madness is on right now). I was thinking about the most memorable moments during this period and I feel like there is one above the rest: the day when I got my long awaited Green Card. The incident would have been memorable as such but it became an all time classic when my wife tripped over and broke her finger as we were rushing out the house to make it on time to the court house. It took hours before we were done with the process and she got to see a doctor. Is there really no gain with no pain?

Ball Games

I've been wondering how are there so few American men among the people I play volley ball with – while there are plenty of American women. I think I get it now: volley ball is a game for sissies that no self respecting grown up man should play.

Now, you are of course wondering how can it have taken me so long to figure that out. I guess that just goes to show how much of a sissy I am.

Broadway Show

Yesterday I got to see a Broadway Show for the first time (Guys and Dolls - I kind of feel like seeing the movie version next). The show was good and the theater very glamorous - I especially liked the way the fire hoses were hidden. I'm sure the firemen will appreciate it too as they rush in to save the building.

Upright vs Canister

Some days ago I made a mess at the office and I had to get the vacuum (I used to call it hoover but the only thing hoover around here is the damn dam). This was my first encounter with an upright vacuum - and I hope it was the last one. A co-worker said diplomatically that he thinks people get used to what ever they grow up with. But that's not true! Anyone who has tried a canister vacuum has gotta love it!

Snow

The good people of New Haven (and the rest of the Northeast) faced snow fall of a full foot today. Some liked it better than others.

Fuel Economy

I suppose this guy likes flags.

Tennis Balls

Oh my - now I've been in America so long that I can't even tell if this is something that they only do here, or whether they do the same thing in Finland. I feel like every single walker I see around here has tennis balls stuck under the back legs. I suppose they are there to make the legs glide easier (for those not familiar with these devices: the front legs have wheels). It is mind boggling that this issue has not been solved in the design of the walkers. Do these people decide every morning whether they put them on depending on the weather or something?

Twist-off caps

Today, after a tough day at work (okay, okay - it wasn't that tough) I felt like having a beer at home. One of the things I seem to never learn is that some of the local bottles come with a twist-off cap. When I then go ahead and open them with my highly masculine kitchen knife technique, the result tends to be catastrophic. Luckily all that happened today was that the cap disappeared magically. A few minutes later I found out that the cap had in fact landed on my head which is at the moment covered with thick winter fur.

pillows

A lot of Americans like to put a ridiculous number of pillows on their beds. Yes, ridiculous. I'm afraid the reason for this behavior is not the popularity of pillow fighting. In fact I have no idea why they do it. Anyone?

Let's write american!

White House - 3 a.m. - Jan 21 2008

A great day in Ameriikka! Boy - these two are going to need some sleep.

Snow Shoeing in Vermont

This would be a definite hit in Finland! (To you non-Finns: no-one snow shoes in Finland - it's all about skiing there.)

Bump

Helsinki


New Haven


New York