meme & asks

Picture from PIxabay.

Answers to today's questions at http://f.riday5.com/2022/02/04/friday-5-for-february-4-the-full-spectrum-of-human-experience/

1. What is the best sandwich?

Wheat bread buttered, topped with thin lunch meat slices, small pineapple chunks, blue cheese chunks and grated pizza cheese at the very top, heated in oven until the pizza cheese has melted and is golden brown.

2. What’s the one thing you own that you really should throw out?

I cleaned out my closets about a year ago, and I can't really think of anything that I should throw out now. What I should do is fix the stand-mixer so I can use it again, or take it to be recycled.

Logically thinking it should be simple fix with the right tools, but knowing how things are built these days, I'm not sure it actually is because things aren't built to be repaired but to be thrown out and new one to be bought :/ And also I would have to buy the tool first, and it's so far down my list of necessary buys that I never seem to get there. Particularly because the last few years I've been so fucking tired all the time that I haven't baked much of anything, and certainly not anything that would need a stand mixer. The tiredness is also why I haven't put the stand mixer fixing high on the list of things I need to do. So I guess it'll wait some more.

3. What’s the scariest animal?

Big reptiles - crocodiles, alligators and caimans and I can't remember if there's others like that. Snakes are almost on par with them, but not quite. Raised By Wolves which is airing its second season right now, has a big flying snake/reptile and it the awfullest thing I've seen propably since I first saw Alien as a kid. I love it but it's just the most awful thing - makes me shudder.

4. Apples or oranges?

I don't really like either - I eat them if they're sliced and part of a cake/salad etc, but I never buy oranges for myself and very, very rarely apples (and only one certain branch of apples at that). Apples are too tart/sour and oranges taste too strong plus the flesh can cause a rash on lips/in mouth for me. I like clementines/mandarins much better and they rarely cause rashes. I do love freshly squeezed orange juice though so I sometimes buy that.

5. What’s your favorite smell?

I'm not sure I have one. Maybe hot-from-the-oven home baked bread? I don't have good associationas with smells... Just in general almost any smell that is strong enough for me to take actual notice of it, especially artificial smells, is usually also strong enough to possibly trigger a migraine. So I prefer unscented in all things, and actively avoid things like perfumes or scented soaps, candles, detergent etc. I buy unscented versions of everything I possibly can.

Answers to this week's questions at https://thefridayfive.dreamwidth.org/107390.html

1. What is the first TV show you remember watching?

Pikku Kakkonen, a Finnish tv series for little kids. It started in 1977 when I would've been 3 and I know I watched it because it just has always felt familiar and like I've always known it. But the first one I have an actual memory of watching, is Nils Holgersson aka Peukaloiset retket aka The Wonderful Adventures of Nils aka Nirusu no Fushigi na Tabi (1980 - 1981). When I was a kid, Nils Holgersson was very important to me, and I still remember the Finnish version song from the tv series.

I have very faint memories of other little kids things but I've no idea whether they were tv shows or movies, or what they were. I couldn't explain these enough to, say, to my Mom or other older people for them to ID them.

2. What is the first “grown up” TV show you watched?

I'm not sure! I started watching them early I think. Maybe Seven Brides For Seven Brothers (1982 - 1983) or The Thorn Birds (1983)? Those two are certainly some of the oldest first run tv shows I remember watching.

The earliest Finnish grown up tv series I remember watching is Vihreän kullan maa (1987 - 1988), then I can't remember watching Finnish tv shows until Tuntemattomalle jumalalle in the 1990s. I don't like watching Finnish language movies and tv shows because of the awful dialogue. Either its wooden and unnatural, sort of formal and not how people talk in real life, or the rhytm is natural but pronounciation is unclear and I need subtitles because everyone is mumbling their lines. Basically I can never forget these are actors saying words, so I don't watch Finnish things except for a very special few cases where the thing in genres I prefer and is so praised that I want to check it out.

3. What is the first TV show you watched from the start to finish when it aired live (i.e., not via reruns)?

One of the kids shows, like the Nils Holgersson one mentioned above.

4. What is the oldest TV show you’ve watched?

Edited: Actually, looks like it's I Love Lucy! That one started in 1951. Alfred Hitchcock Presents, according to IMDB. I'm not sure all episodes were aired/if I caught all episodes if they did. The oldest Finnish one is propably Heikki ja Kaija (1961 - 1971) that I've seen some of on re-runs at some point ages ago.

5. What is one TV show you will stop and watch if you come across it on TV, even though you've seen every episode at least 20 times?

I don't watch live TV anymore except for special things such as the governments COVID-19 sitreps (not all of those anymore either) or the Independence Day Reception every year (one eye on it, one eye on something else). Back when I did still watch live TV, Sledge Hammer! and Dark Skies were shows I always watched if I could even on re-runs. Otherwise, there haven't been reruns of tv shows I'm a huge enough fan of on tv channels I have had access to.

How many books read in 2022?

37 fiction novels cover to cover. Two novels I couldn't finish - one because I just couldn't muster enough interest beyond the beginning, and one because I ran out of time to finish it before it needed to be returned to the library due to it having other holds on it waiting. That one I will re-borrow sometime this year.

Plus something like a 1,5-2 million words of fanfic, propably.

Plus a bunch of non-fiction books about baking, and random subjects such as iron defiency or pictorial history books about my home town.

Favorite first-time read?

Ancestral Night and Machine (White Space #1 and #2) by Elizabeth Bear.

Least favorite first-time read?

Mentalisti by Camilla Läckberg & Henrik Fexeus. Just cliche-ridden, meandering and predictable.

Fiction/Non-Fiction ratio?

Probably something like 95% fiction, 5% non-fiction. Roughly estimated.

Author gender breakdown?

4 novels by men, all the others by women as far as I can tell purely by names.

Most books read by one author this year?

8 novels by Minette Walters.

Any in translation?

My mother tongue is Finnish. Majority are Finnish translations from English, a bunch from Swedish.

In languages other than English?

My mother tongue being Finnish, the majority of them! I did read 7 novels in English, and all the fanfic was also in English.

Oldest?

Ruumis jääkellarissa (The Ice House) by Minette Walters was published in Finnish in 1995. That one is probably the oldest this time round.

Newest?

About half of the 37 were published in 2021 and 2020, and that's too many to list.

Longest Title?

Quickly counting the characters in the longest titles and the winner is... Vedenpaisumuksen lapset by Risto Isomäki

Shortest Title?

Pyörre by Yrsa Sigurdardottir

Longest book?

I don't know, I don't keep count of the page count. A lot (most?) of them were in the 400-500 page range.

And of course, many of the fics I read were well over 100,000 words.

Shortest book?

Ruutitynnyri (The Tinder Box) by Minette Walters

Format of books read?

Paper: 35
Ebook: 2

Re-reads?

At least 5 of the Minette Walters that I know because I actually remember reading them. These are re-reads from 90s and 00s. I'm not sure of the other 3 Minette Walters - they might also be-rereads, but I can't say for sure I remember them.

First book acquired:

Didn't buy or get a book as a gift this year. All were library loans.

Last book acquired:

Didn't buy or get a book as a gift this year. All were library books.

First book finished:

I'm not sure but probably Elsewhere by Dean R. Koontz, or Pyörre by Yrsa Sigurdardottir. I usually have at least two books under works at the same time, and these two are the first ones on my list of books read in 2021.

Last book finished:

Ihon alla by Tiina Raevaara

Book that most changed my perspective:

Semiosis/Inteference by Sue Burke

Favorite character:

None. More like favorite concepts. Such as the plant world in Semiosis/Inteference. So different from what I'm used to reading!

Favorite scene:

None

Favorite Quote:

None

What do you want to read in 2022?

I hope White Space #3 will come out - although I'm not even sure if there's supposed to be #3!

I'm salivating for the last book of The Expanse series - I'm in line to get it from the library. But there are no Finnish translations of the series done, and only one copy in the original language in local libraries so it'll take months to get it because it's only just been published. Last I looked I was number 4 waiting in the line, so assuming everyone keeps it only for the month that is allowed and no overtime, I'll get it some in May.. waah! I'm trying very hard to be patient, but it's with ill grace!

Was 2021 a good year for you?

I wouldn't call it good, but not terrible either. About the same it's been for several years now.

What did you do in 2021 that you'd never done before?

Started a biologic for migraine. Three days before the year end, but it counts!

Did you meet any of your hopes/goals for the last year?

Spent a lot of the year on long sick leave - that was both a hope and a goal. Because it's mentally better than being unemployed while knowing I am not able to work even if I got a job.

Hopes or goals for the next year?

I hope the migraine biologic works for me and is effective against my migraines. We should see in about 3 months the latest!

Did anyone close to you give birth?

Nope.

Did anyone close to you die?

Nope.

What countries did you visit?

None.

What would you like to have in 2022 that you lacked in 2021?

Money. Covid-19 to run its course and go into being not a problem. More energy and so more creativity both for online activities and offline ones.

What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Surviving.

What was your biggest failure?

There's nothing this year that I see as a failure. I did the best I could with what I got.

Did you suffer any illness or injury?

Nothing new - just all the old chronic ones. My left arm pain that I had been having for about 1,5 years got worse towards the autumn, and in December I had an ultrasound and X-ray on it, waiting to officially hear the results from my doctor and what to do about the problem, but I already know there's apparently a rather large calcium deposit in the tendon of my left shoulder.

What was the best thing you bought?

Nothing specific comes to mind, but I have greatly enjoyed the various fountain pen ink samples and MU print on stickers I bought last year!

Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?

The Finnish political party Perussuomalaiset is always embarrasing and shame inducing.

Whose behaviour merited celebration?

Our Prime Minister Sanna Marin and her government.

Where did most of your money go?

Rent and food.

What did you get really, really excited about?

Nothing.

What songs will always remind you of 2020?

None.

Answer's to today's questions on https://thefridayfive.dreamwidth.org/106784.html

1) What was the biggest thing that happened to you in 2021?

I was approved for a new biological medication developed for migraines, and started it on December 29th!

2) Where was the most exciting place you went?

I didn't go anywhere special, partly due to COVID-19 and partly due to my illnesses. I always enjoy visiting my Mom, and also an older friend of mine. That's special because of the persons involved.

3) Who helped you the most this year?

My Mom.

4) What's your favorite new thing you bought?

I can't name a favorite above others, but I've enjoyed the following things so very much: Tomoe River paper that I used to make my own note books, Oxford Black n' Red notebook, Yamamote Cosmo Air Light notebook, MU print on stickers, PenBBS 456 Sakura with white cap and an RM nib fountain pen (bought in mid-December in 2020 but received in January 2021 so I count it for 2021 obviously), and all the washi tapes from https://www.thewashitapeshop.com; all the various fountain pen inks and ink samples I bought this year and the TWSBI Smoke Rose Gold ECO fountain pen. I bought several digital papers from Etsy sellers that I've loved using for my wallpapers.

5) What was your most memorable dreamwidth entry?

Donno.

Friday 5 for December 24: Brainstorming - http://f.riday5.com/2021/12/24/friday-5-for-december-24-brainstorming/

1. If you owned a new professional sports team (pick any sport!), what would you name it, and what be its team colors?

Well, since I loathe all sports, the only way I ever could possibly own a sports team is by inheriting one somehow. I'd let them keep whatever name and colors they had, while I got rid of it as quickly as I could, in any way I could. I'd sell it, if possible but if not, I'd dismantle it. Maybe, if it was already making lots and lots of money for the previous owner, I might hire someone to manage it or whatever it is that sports teams owners do with them and just enjoy the money it generated me. But it'd have to be like millions or billions a year.

2. If you owned a new restaurant, what would you name it, and what kind of cuisine would it serve?

Something about home cooking. The food would be "normal", "traditional" Finnish foods such maksalaatikko, mashed potatoes with meatballs and gravy... food I grew up eating. And it really would be hand made from fresh ingridients so potatoes for mashed potatoes would be cooked and mashed in the kitchen, instead of using commercially available frozen mashed potatoes etc. which almost all mashed potatoes taste like being in restaurants these days. Mine would be and taste like real home made food.

3. If you owned a little independent retail shop, what would you name it, and what would it sell?

Don't know about name, but I'd love a small stationary shop which sells fountain pens, fountain pen inks and ink samples, and fountain pen friendly paper/notebooks/pads. And of course things used for bujo etc. And also possibly artisan, hand made chocolates. I'd mostly likely go bankrupt within the first year because I don't see a specialty shop like that surviving here.

4. If you launched a charity, what would be its cause?

This is based on personal observations, and the kind of help I'd have needed if it existed at one point or another as a working age person with serious health problems and long term unemployed.

Those are who poor because they are unemployed, and particularly those struggling badly with their health while working age (so ages 18-65), and can't support themselves by working because of their health problems and are poor or low income because of that, and have no hope of things improving on the health/work front in the foreseeable future. And all the things that go with that such as helping with the bureacracy related to disablity applications, medical appointments, medical advocacy and help find and get other things people like me need but can be hard to find and harder to get. A holistic approach to advancing and advocating the financial, medical and mental well-being of the unemployed and the medically challenged working age people.

5. What kind of recreation is sorely lacking in your town?

I don't know, I don't go out much because I don't have extra money for them and things I've wanted to do like movies or theatre, we have. I'd have loved a bookbinding course but that's so unusual I can't hold out a hope for it.

The Friday Five for 24 December 2021 - https://thefridayfive.dreamwidth.org/106653.html

1. If you had to build a Christmas tree with just items around your house, what would definitely be part of it?

Fountain pens! I have many pretty ones and they'd look really nice and decorative.

2. What's your favorite holiday to decorate for?

I don't decorate for any holidays. I do keep on display a postcard or two when I get a one that I think is particularly beautiful, but that's no way seasonal - as an example, I still got out a card I received this year for easter, and also one I got for my birthday (which was in November). I just switch them out when I get the next very pretty one, whenever that is.

3. What are you best at baking?

I don't really know! Usually when I'm successful at baking something, it comes out really well. Before I got ill, I usually did well in most things I tried, even if I didn't like the taste and ended up never baking it again. But since I got ill, I've failed even in some bakes that I've been making since I was about 10 years old so... for 30+ years now... because I get too tired in the middle to pay attention to what I'm doing and add too much salt, or leave out the eggs, or something stupid like that. Or am too tired when I start but don't realize it until half way through making the bread rolls and run out of energy. I've had to throw a way batter when it's for rolls or something like that because I'm too exhausted to make them all.

Before I was ill though, it was usually me who would bake the "big" cake for birthdays etc. This is the cake/gateau/layer cake that is a spongecake sliced in three or more parts, filled with whipped cream, smashed fresh or frozen strawberries and banana slices, then covered with more whipped cream, fresh fruit (such as strawberries if it's summer) or canned fruit (such as peach slices if winter) and maybe shaved chocolate/chocolate chips. I would be the one to bake it partly because I never failed at it, and partly because I LOVE that cake - it's my favorite even though it's so basic. I've made finer, more complex gateaus too but they never stick - the taste isn't good enough to make it worth while the extra effort they require. I always come back to that basic whipped cream cake.

4. What memorable gift do you still appreciate?

My laptop! My Mom bought it for me for my 40th birthday, and it still works great even though it's close to 8 years old now and I use it daily for hours.

Another one I really appreciate is the large non-stick sauté pan my Mom bought me for another birthday several years ago. We prefer buying usable, practical gifts so I asked her for a pan with a lid because my skillet was too small to comfortably make sauce in it and doesn't have a lid at all, and she bought me a good sauté pan :D Every time I use it, I remember my Mom bought it for me. It's nice :D

5. What would be a good reindeer name?

I'm going to go with Petteri...

Answers to Friday 5 for December 3: The work of the child - http://f.riday5.com/2021/12/03/friday-5-for-december-3-the-work-of-the-child/

1. What musical instruments have you played?

Like I know what I'm doing? Never nothing. We did have one of those kid's electric cheapish pianos when I was growing up, but it wasn't something I was interested in - I didn't like the sound it made - and I didn't learn anything, except maybe do-re-mi-so. When I was 12-15 years old, I would have been interested in learning at least some quitar at school, but the music teacher didn't allow us to touch the instruments in the music class room - only the ones in the band/choir were allowed, not us regular students. She didn't teach us anything except music history and some singing, and wasn't excited to do that either - again, we were just the regular students, not her special kids. This was the same teacher who was put to teach me, my friend and one other person the alternate thing (elämänkatsomustieto, which the dictionary gives translation to as "ethics") to religion, and she forgot our planned lessons completely about a dozen times, instead giving extra lessons to her special band/choir kids when she was supposed to be teaching us. You might guess I didn't think much of this particular teacher.

2. When do you play with your food?

I don't think I do anymore? I just eat it until I'm done. When I was a kid, I'd play with my food when it was something I didn't like much and I wasn't really hungry. Now that I'm an adult and live one my own, I get to decide what to eat and when so I don't have to play my food anymore :)

3. What’s your favorite stage play?

I can't think of one. I'm not into theatre. Although Gillian Anderson was awesome in A Streetcar Named Desire which I saw a recording of last year. That's the only one I've seen recently enough to remember. But I saw it & enjoyed it because Gillian Anderson, not because of the play itself.

4. What games do you play on your phone?

None. I can't describe how deep and abiding my disinterest in games is - when I say I couldn't care less, I genuinely mean I couldn't care less.

5. When did you recently play it by ear?

I don't play instruments, and I haven't had an occasion recently to proceed at something without having at least rudimentary plan to back me up.

A couple of additional notes:

I've never had the extra money to put into theatre tickets/music concerts or instruments/hobby lessons as an adult (they're all too expensive! I've looked), so even if there have been something I've been interested in seeing or trying out, I couldn't afford it. After a few years it just became easier to not think about them because then I'd feel left out.

Re: playing by ear: the last 13 years almost nothing could be done without planning because of my illnesses, or I might end up with literally shit in my pants and no rescue, whether that's bringing extra clothes or additional meds with me.  Even when I was healthy I preferred having some sort of vague plan no matter what we were doing; I don't really miss doing unplanned stuff in general. I only miss not having to account for diarrhea/stomach pains/migraine attack whenever I leave my home. But all that has become business as usual, even that!

Picture from Pixabay.

Answers to f.friday5.com questions.

1. November is National Peanut Butter Lovers Month. Are you a peanut butter lover? What are some ways you enjoy consuming it?

Nope, can't stand it. Disgustingly sweet.

2. November is National Roasting Month. What did you most recently roast, and how did it come out?

It's been such a long time since I roasted something that I can't remember what it was! Probably chicken (it's usually chicken), and probably delicious (it's usually delicious).

3. November is National Gratitude Month, which of course leads to the American Thanksgiving holiday. What are you particularly grateful for this month?

I'm particularly grateful right now for the basic social assistance I was approved again for for the next several months (assuming my monthly income doesn't change which is unlikely). This means I can pay my medical bills and get my medications as soon as I need to, instead hoping I can get to them in due course. The tax return always messes this up because all the benefit norms are much too low, and calculatorily the tax return is supposed to stretch for far longer than it does in reality with the real prices of food/rent/gas etc. There's a lot of bureacracy involved in getting approved again, even though this happens every damn year.

4. November is National Inspirational Role Models month. Who are some of your inspirational role models?

I don't have role models, really. I'm really impressed though how a lot of writers such as Dean Koontz or Camilla Läckberg can produce such good text book after book, especially since I wrote my few fanfics and it's so hard for myself.

5. November is National Family Stories Month. What’s an oft-told story in your family?

We reminisce various things more than tell stories - like "Do you remember how Caro (our Beagle) used to have the tips of her ears always crusty with dried food? Her ears were so cute and silky!" or "Always had to be extra careful while cooking or baking in the kitchen because Caro would be right behind me and I might step on her paws when stepping back or to the side if I didn't remember to be extra careful about moving around!" or "Remember when we went camping when I was a kid every summer? I loved swimming in the ocean when it was raining; kid!me thought it was so much fun [Mom and Dad didn't think it was fun on the other hand...]. " That sort of thing.

Lena Headey as Cersei in Game Of Thrones

Answers to this weeks question at The Friday Five @ Dreamwidth.

1. Do you have a yearly, or monthly, clothing budget? Do you stick to it?

No budget - I loath clothes shopping, and only do it when I can't avoid it so I can't budget it - some months I have to spend some on clothing, but most months not at all. I can't predict at all on a yearly level what I might need to buy in the next year; there's just too many variables. Only things I can plan for are the winter coat and winter shoes and I usually only have to buy those once a decade.

2. Do you buy trendy clothes, or classic pieces that can be worn for years?

Clothes that I like, are comfortable, ageless and can be worn for years because they're well made. I don't care if they're trendy or classic or whatever.

3. Is there a current fashion trend that you hate?

There are a lot of styles I think look stupid but I don't follow fashion so I don't know if they're trendy now or not. One style that that looks stupid IMO to are those women's business trousers that end well above the ankle (like this: https://m.made-in-china.com/product/New-Simple-Style-Fashion-Slim-Fit-Formal-Pants-for-Women-718292762.html) - that just looks like you bought the wrong size/ran out of fabric to me!

One that's not so much stupid as I just can't wrap my head around is wearing like a thick sweater or a hoodie with skimpy summer shorts with bare legs and sandals - it would seem to me that either your legs are freezing being bare - or your upper body is melting in that thick hoodie, all depending on the weather. Like you can't possibly be comfortable dressed like that?

4. Have you had clothing altered to fit you better?

I always need to have full lenght trousers shorted because I'm short. I either do it myself or take it in.

5. Is there a piece of clothing, or accessory, that you covet?

Not so much a piece or accessory but...

I'd love to be able to wear high heels, or just shoes in general comfortably! I have huge problems with shoes - only ones that fit are some winter shoe models, some walking shoe models and sandals because my feet are thick in the midfoot (the cuneiforms/metatarsals area) and majority of shoes are too shallow there for my feet to fit in them. And all shoes except for sandals rub my heels bloody so I have to put on damn big double band-aids whenever I put on shoes which also irritates my skin unless I can switch to sandals in work/school/indoors activity for the day instead of wearing the band-aids for hours on end. So I would LOVE to be able to wear all the shoes like normal people!!!

Apart from the shoe issue, I'd love to try on a historical corset sometime! Especially ones custom made for me. I love women's 1750s dresses. I also love Cersei's season 1 and 2 costumes so I'd love to try on dresses in those styles as well :) And also 1870s women's dress. Actually, name any historical women's dress style and I'd probably want to try it on!