In 3 weeks and 4 days, I'll be in Belgium. Mad times. For those who are not aware, I'm going there for student exchange and will be staying for about 7 months. I can tell you that everything is happening really fast for me right now.

I feel like I've been living in some bubble called "a well-balanced life" these past few months. Everything's been so totally ok for me for so long, I'm half starting to suspect it may be some kind of brain malfunction. Maybe it really is about time for change.

So, Christmas is coming, and it'll all be happening at the new! enhanced! parental home. I look forward to it. Their new big kitchen and big living room with fireplace seem to have been especially designed for idyllic family Christmases.

Also, I'm going to see Eddie Izzard this Wednesday!

( And also some stuff I made. )

Apparently, these cats' names are Sparkle Pony and Trouble.

That is all.

These are so cool.

You need to cross your eyes so that you see three pictures, and then try to focus on the middle one. It takes a while to get it the first time!

When I was a kid, we had a book of "Magical 3-D Images" - the kind that just look like a pattern but contain some kind of hidden shape. I got pretty good at looking at them.

I also had my first 3-D movie experience last Friday, when my family and I went to see Pixar's "Up". I always thought that 3D-glasses-in-the-cinema stuff seemed kind of silly - what's next, vibrating seats? - but it was actually kind of fun. The movie itself was completely amazing. The only problem was, it turned out to be the kind of movie that makes you cry like a bitch in places. Especially if you're me. And, well, imagine yourself trying to hold back sobs while wearing red-and-green 3-D glasses.

In other news, I'm sick and hoping it's not OMG TEH SWINE FLU. This flu is pretty bad and annoying, but it's not that bad, I'm still capable of getting out of bed and even going out, so I'm guessing it's probably not.

(P.S. Lemur!)

Ok, so I admit that I find going through old lolcats to be a great way to spend my saturday evening.

I also just spent like an hour reading this comment thread, and I recommend it!

Wow... I'm going to repeat what someone already commented with:

Issues much?

What pleases me about it is the note of desperation in their whining and tantrum-throwing and trying to include as many words like "perversion", "abomination" and "malfunction" as possible. It means their side is losing. :D

I have moved to a cheaper place.

It's right next to my school and almost right next to a small lake. The area is one of those cute ones where you assume a lot of families with kids and charming young couples live. I share an entrance hall and great 5th floor balcony with three people, two of whom I've met. They seem normal.

( Photos! )

I have other pictures I mean to post, too, like the ones from Budapest and some other stuff I have lying around. Clearly my LJ hasn't been enough of a visual window to my wondrous life lately. :D

Hi there! Seeing as I post here so often, you're all probably wondering why I haven't done so in the last few days. Well, I'm sorry, but the wireless internet in my Budapest flat was switched off apparently, because, I don't know, the neighbour went on holiday, so... I'll be disconnected for the rest of my stay. It's okay though. I'm currently sitting in the fabulous Café Eckermann which offers free Wi-Fi. (And delicious breakfast. But not for free.)

Am having a great time! :D

I borrowed a movie called The Woodsman from the library. I thought it would be good, but it wasn't really exceptionally well-made, or anything. Kevin Bacon did do a good job.

The movie basically seemed to say that almost everybody in the world is a pedophile, and guys molest their own children or siblings all the time. But also that it can be okay, some of them do get better.

I didn't quite buy it. But still, I don't exactly feel great about the world right now.

Just called the landlady to confirm that I'm moving out.

Despite the axe-wielding maniacs and the neighbour who plays really bad songs on a cheap keyboard really loud, and the rent that I can't afford, I'm not happy about this.

Today is the kind of day when I shouldn't be picking anything up. If I do, I'm just going to drop it. It's especially the kind of day when the things I drop tend to make a particularly bad mess, like a box of loose makeup powder, or a great amount of diced tomato and zucchini in the kitchen where the floor was really dirty in the first place. I also knock stuff over.

I haven't posted an update about what's going on in ages. Well... all kinds of things have been going on. :D Like, every day, thousands of things. Would you believe it?

I keep having lots of stuff to do, especially project-type stuff, and pretty much all of the projects are great, or would be if I could get on top of them. How to get on top of projects isn't my area of expertise.

I'm excited about this summer, because I've got this internship project coming up that consists of making all the graphic material for an event promoting basic-level arts education in the area. I'm actually going to be working on it independently for the entire summer, two and a half months. Maybe this means I'll have time to get on top of it? Also, I've booked a studio apartment in Budapest from mid-June to mid-July. I'm hoping it'll be an inspiring environment!

The only problem with the summer is, this house is getting a pipe job and the work in my apartment is going to last 11 weeks, starting from late June. So, I'll have to move out, put my things in one of those "storage hotels", go to Budapest, and hope I'll have another apartment when I get back. The student housing company tells me it's probable.

Anyway. Lastly, I want to look back on Värinää Art Festival, which took place last month. It was great. I actually had more to do than any of the previous years. The first evening I was part of, I sang a three-part series by Joonas Kokkonen, and made two paintings to Jolivet's Chant de Linos, a flute and piano piece, which were projected on the front wall. They've actually been sold now to a strange lady who seems to like the way they look in her bedroom.

( Read more... )

And then there was this concert:

( Read more... )

And then, on the last night, a relatively massive and exceptionally theatrical show built around pieces from operas and musicals. I was a bit uncomfortable with my singing there, for various reasons, and I've actually heard two recordings of the concert, based on which I can say that it sounded pretty difficult too. But, oh well.

Can't wait to go to bed. The sleepiness I felt a few hours ago just needs to come back.