personal

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.

I made 23 wallpapers in 2021. Mostly Game Of Thrones, but also a bunch of others :-) 

Last week KELA approved me for Ajovy, a biological migraine prevention medication :D On Monday my pharmacy ordered it for me, I got it today, and about 45 minutes ago I gave myself the first injection! Here's hoping it'll be a lot of help! A biological med is my last, best hope as far as migraine goes! Ajovy is injected once a month, and my neurologist says that within three months we need to see my migraine attacks reduced by half in order for KELA to approve continuation. So fingers and toes crossed!

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.

I got my 3rd Covid-19 vaxine yesterday morning, along with the influenza vaxine. When I got my second Covid-19 vaxine in May I had a fever for four days, headache, a badly sore arm for five days (couldn't sleep on that side for a week) and just generally felt sick for four days. So here's some notes about the 3rd vaxine. My first shot was Astra Zeneca, second and third Moderna.

- I don't normally have a reaction to the influenza shot, just a mildly sore arm for about two days. This shot seems to be the same so far!
- Covid-19 shot site on the other hand - ouch! Very sore, but so mostly only to touch. I could sleep normally on it last night while tossing and turning (since I do that a lot).
- Yesterday I felt cold in the afternoon/evening (starting about 4 hours after getting the shot), but that seem seems to be gone now and I feel normal as far as that goes.
- Have been having a sort of a headache since last night, but that could also just be my normal. I can't tell.
- No fever/temperature yesterday or today morning. I'll check again in the evening just to be sure.
- I feel normal :mrgreen: Was good to go grocery shopping and to the pharmacy normally today.

Last time I felt quite sick the day after the Covid-19 vaxine, so looks like it might be smooth sailing this time around :-D

In other news, we're having (mild) cold weather this week; it's been around -6...-9 degrees Celcius this week and I love it! It almost feels like winter :D

In other, other news - I baked a date bundt cake last weekend and it's the best damn cake I've ever done! So happy because I bake so rarely anymore, and so they don't always come out so well anymore because I would run out of spoons in the middle and not pay enough attention to what am doing. But this one is perfect, am so proud of myself! :-D 

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.

Image from Pixabay. Because pretty.

Just saw my neurologist today and we're going to try Ajovy (a biologic developed to treat migraines) - he says I fit the requirements for the KELA-reimbursement!!! Yay! This is my last, best hope for improvement! Now I just have to wait for KELA to approve it on their end (should be pretty automatic with my history, but of course there's always a chance for denial)  - fingers crossed that they will! That should take about a month!

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!