Waking up is not so hard to do after all.

This morning I had to wake up at 5:30 am (we had to leave for a faraway meeting). That is really early for me; even 6:30 when I normally wake up (or 6:43 more accurately) is really early for me. I tried to be the good girl and went to bed at 11 pm but what good did it do: after playing some mobile sudoku, remembering I’d forgotten to set a timer for that night’s Lost episode, I was still up after 12 am — leaving barely 5 hours of sleep.

But, I jumped up at 5:30 and, really, only the first 3-5 seconds were difficult. The biggest problem is how do I stay up for the rest of the day. (Luckily, I don’t really have to, I got off work early.)

You know, it’s probably like a sugar rush: you quickly get high but then you crash suddenly.

I have miscellaneous recipes all over the place: saved from the net, cut out from a magazine, written down on a tissue.

So, I had an idea: I should start collecting them in a cookbook. But what is my first thought how to implement this? WordPress on a USB stick!

I didn’t think of a plain old notebook, binder or a card index. Nope, not I. I was already checking out USB sticks when I decided that maybe I’ll just make it a local installation of WordPress for now.

But I think it’s going to be great! WordPress 2.3, which should be released tomorrow, is going to have tags. Categories and tags will make for excellent browsing. Categories for appetisers, main meals (maybe divided into vegetable, meat, fish, soups, special e.g. Christmas), desserts (this might need subcategories, too), and drinks (coffee, fruit drinks… all non-alcoholic of course). Tags for the ingredients. So, whether I need a certain type of food or feel like a certain ingredient, it should be easy to find inspiration. A search box finds the ingredients of course, but sometimes it’s easier to pick from a limited list.

My recipe collection isn’t extensive yet but I think it’ll have to be unless I want to eat spaghetti bolognese (let alone tv dinners!) every single weekend…

I’ve decided I want a splash of colour on my (to-be) brand new white walls. I haven’t yet decided if it’s going to be one wall in one colour or some sort of pattern.

I’d like it to be a pattern but the next hard question is, what pattern? I don’t want any nature themed patters — flowers, leaves, trees. Boring and, not to mention, in fashion!

I could do something like the pattern in Jafer’s living room which looks really nice, but I suppose if I did something like that I’d have to do the whole foyer + living room+ kitchen area because it’s all one big space. It might not look good if there was a continuous pattern that was restricted to one wall — but my patience might run out if I took on decorating the whole room.

Of course, it would be nice if I had a favourite game, book or movie which could serve as inspiration, but I don’t think I’d like to have Sam Fisher peeking from behind the couch.

I could do something silly in the bedroom, like an alien or something computer-themed. I did think I’d frame some of the alien posters for the bedroom, though. Painting there would lose the purpose.

A coloured wall behind the bookcase could be nice if I bought a bookcase that shows through — and if I put the bookshelf on the short wall in the living-room. Or how would it look if I had flying books on one wall? Or a bookmark peeking from behind the bookcase!

I’ll have to visit a paint store where they have all kinds of stencils. Maybe I’ll get an inspiration there.

Update, October 8
Here are some colour palettes I’ve stumbled across/sampled:
- Black, grey, brown, and bright red at ColorCombos.com
- “Rojo” at ColorHunter.com
- Purples

I signed up for COLOURlovers, because I wanted to save a combo I picked. (Of course, I could’ve just saved the hex codes… But maybe it’s good to have the plans in one place.)

While we were sitting on the subway, a colleague of mine said I should throw a house-warming party when I finally get to move into my new apartment. A really good idea, but I have a problem: I’ve never been to a house-warming party!

What do people do at a house-warming party?
What should I serve? (I’m not going to serve alcohol.)
Do I need to have seats for everyone or are people prepared to stand around?

And most importantly: Should I hide my alien collection?

I think I should at least have a sofa and kitchen table + chairs before I invite anyone, but I don’t know how long it’ll take for me to find them! Also, I would hate to see my brand new sofa ruined by food or drink. (Or am I being too obsessive?)

I’m thinking I’d have it on a Thursday or so. Friday nights most people want to go out and get drunk because they don’t have work the next day; and my house-warming party wouldn’t be the best place to spend a Friday night…

Luckily, I have more than 6 months to think this one, too, through.

(What’s up with that misaligned window?)

Human Brain Cloud.

It’s so easy to keep adding words there instead of doing something mandatory, like writing an essay on localisation — due tomorrow.

Luckily among the dozens and dozens of dirty spam comments that are caught in the blocks, and just drive me crazy, there have lately been these gems from “Daniel.”

I couldn’t understand some parts of this article Disappointment, but I guess I just need to check some more resources regarding this, because it sounds interesting.

I couldn’t understand some parts of this article Movie Meme, but I guess I just need to check some more resources regarding this, because it sounds interesting.

I have to say, that I could not agree with you in 100% regarding Defeating Sudoku in five simple steps, but it’s just my opinion, which could be wrong

Oh, Daniel. You’re a moron.

A lot of the new employees (in the group I work in) have been young guys. And a lot of them have been the friends of a young guy who’s been working there for a while. That’s a bad equation — they frolic all day: play online games, watch YouTube videos (and laugh loudly), and surf the net. On company time. Every single day. And it pisses me off because other people (yes, including me) are working over-time. Every single day.

Today the latest addition and the one who brings all these slackers in were watching yet another YouTube video. I was so annoyed that finally I told them there were tasks on the queue. The guy who’s been working for us for a while said that they have a task (I said “oh really?”) and that they’re only watching a 2-minute video.

So, I snapped at them (not the new one, really). Maybe I shouldn’t have done that.

I’m so glad he’s leaving soon because then we’ll get someone new. I hope they’ll have a proper work ethic or at least a bit better.

Last Friday I went out with a couple of colleagues, “for a pint.” We were walking to the subway station when the other asked me to come along and I had to make sure, “You’re asking me? Even though I don’t drink alcohol?” I was told that was beside the point. So, I tagged along.

We went to a beer house and I ordered a Pepsi (I was treated, how kind). The bartender asked, “you want some vodka¹ with that.” My response? A loud “god no!” When we sat at the table my colleague laughed and asked if I get asked that a lot. I don’t but that might be because it was my first time “out for a pint.” (I had a wonderful time!)

I’ve never drunk alcohol, nor tasted, nor wanted to. Usually it doesn’t cause any problems but in the company’s summer festivities we were at a Greek restaurant and I asked for something to drink other than beer or the lukewarm water they served at the tables. The waitress shrugged and said “this is a Greek restaurant in Finland, why would we have something else?” (What about kids?!?)

Finns are big drinkers and I’m one of the odd ones out. Proud of it, too, although I don’t remember making a decision between to drink or not to drink. There has been no need; drinking has never even crossed my mind.

I suppose it’s “common knowledge” at work that I don’t drink alcohol. (It certainly is common knowledge with my family and friends.) In our last Christmas party I won a bottle of wine and a promotional t-shirt. I asked if the competition organizer would mind if I gave the bottle away to everyone. I kept the t-shirt although I don’t think I’ve worn it once.

On Monday a colleague of mine had emailed a project manager saying that he hadn’t had time to finish a task so he’d buy a beer to whomever finished it for him on his day off. And either the PM or the colleague had added, “or a Hyvää Päivää² to Minna.” Today — I got a bottle of vitamin C + caffeine Hyvää Päivää.
(Yup, caffeine is my drug of choice. I’m not pretending to be a goody two-shoes.)

1. Well, he said “kossu,” but who cares. (See Wikipedia if you do care.)
2. Hyvää Päivää wellness drinks, another site, in English