all things me

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

I signed a new employment contract today. Until now I’ve been on a fixed-term contract and paid by the hour because it has allowed me to study freely; I haven’t had any obligation to work from 9 to 5. But most of the time I do.

Now I had the option of continuing the temporary contract, get a permanent part-time (80% of full-time) job for the next year or a permanent full-time job starting right away. I’ve missed so little work that I decided to opt for the full-time — with benefits. Full-time is quite flexible to everyone as it is, and my boss additionally said they accept the fact that I’ll go to lectures.

I feel at ease now. I know exactly how much I’ll get each month and I’ll have more money for living after the loan instalments. With the current pay it may’ve been quite a scrape — I can’t say because I have no idea how much it costs to live on my own. (I’ll know “soon.”)

This morning at 8:15 I went to the seller to sign the contract of sale and I got a wonderful binder full of interesting information about my apartment: the balcony will have window glasses (hurraah!!), the TV system is cable, I will have a dishwasher (yay!), etc. etc. After I got the important documents, I headed for the bank. It opens at 10 am but I called the clerk with whom I’ve been doing business and she let me in before 10 (we’d agreed on this yesterday when I went to sign the loan documents). When I was leaving she handed me a house buyer’s gift — a paper bag with two small orange towels.

A bit funny — I sign away my soul they give me towels. Still, I think it’s a really sweet gesture.

Yesterday after I signed the loan papers I got three tickets to the Housing Fair in Hämeenlinna. Wonderful surprise! I’m going there with Grandma (I don’t know who else is coming) anyway so now I don’t need to buy tickets.

This is it. I’m a home owner now.

I, in my right mind, understand that I will have to pay back this loan.

That’s right. Today I signed papers to hand over my to-be home (in the form of shares) and a nice wad of my monthly money to the bank. I don’t mind though, it’s well worth it. Tomorrow I’m going to close the deal and then all I can do is wait. And hand over the money.

On July 11th, 2004 I switched from Greymatter (after barely a month using it) to WordPress 1.2 “Mingus” which had been released in May of 2004 (had to take a peek in the developer blog on WordPress.org to be sure, but I had a hunch I jumped on the WP wagon¹ with version 1.2).

So, I on July 11, 2004.
I remembered on July 13. I may’ve been using version 1.3 then, with the amazing theme system.
In 2006 I didn’t mention the anniversary at all! I hope that doesn’t mean the era of the Puppy Love had ended.

Now, it’s three years later and switching to something else has never even occurred to me.

1. On the WordPress wagon: Slang Abstaining from other blogging tools.

Last Wednesday I got some papers for my apartment (ah, love the ring of that), among them a material request form. It had different alternatives for kitchen cabinet doors and handles, kitchen tabletop, and bathroom tiles (walls and floor). Not very much, but those are the important things that affect the colours of the whole apartment.

The problem is (yes, of course there is a problem), the deadline for all that was week 22 — way back when I didn’t even know this apartment existed. I tried to contact the architect by email to ask if there is any hope for me to choose the materials any more. I haven’t got a response. Yesterday I mailed the form in the hopes that it makes a difference. I think I’m going to call them on Friday if I haven’t heard from them before that. On Friday I’m going to the bank so I won’t have to leave the house so early; it’s a good time to call.

What I’m afraid of the most is that either the previous reserver or the architects have chosen vanilla-coloured cabinet doors for the kitchen and blue tiles for the whole of bathroom. Finns tend to like blue, I’m afraid, and it’s one of the few colours I really do not appreciate. Seriously. Cabinet doors are easy and inexpensive to switch but bathroom renovation is a major change. So major that I wouldn’t do it — and I would have to live in an apartment with a yucky bathroom. Just like I do .

It would seem strange that the architect sent me the form if I didn’t have a slightest chance to do anything about it. I would think they would’ve mentioned it and let me know what the final choices are.

Please please please, it can’t be too late.

[Edit: July 5] It wasn’t too late. No blue bathroom or vanilla kitchen for me! Hurrah! [/Edit]

Last night I thought about trying to do “against my nature”: not have the apartment completely furnished the day I move in, or even the next day. I’d like to move in with just the bare necessities and then add as I notice I need or, more likely, miss having something around (be it coffee or hooks for the bathroom). Just because something has been a certain way at home doesn’t mean it has to be like that at my home.

The other day as I was listing things I should get at one point or another, I thought of a stand or a wall holder for the roll of kitchen towels — that’s what we’ve always had at home. Then I thought, why do I need one? Paper rolls tend to stand on their own.

Why get all kinds of pots and pans if I’m never going to use them? Of course, if the guests are due in an hour, it may not be the best time to go shopping for a pie pan… I’d survive with just one coffee mug that I’d use for everything from orange juice to coffee and wash it every now and then, but I assure you, I’ll keep a few spare mugs and other tableware for guests.

(See, I’m trying to be optimistic and not think I’m going to become a hermit. )

Here it is! (I cleaned it up a bit — there were dotted lines everywhere.)

The balcony is quite big… I measured it at about 2.5m × 3.5m. I’m not sure what all those dotted lines mean in place of closets etc. — I’ll find out when it’s almost finished, I guess.

I just called the seller and reserved the 52.5 m² apartment for myself.

(I tried to find an appropriate, nutty, gif animation to insert here but I couldn’t find one. I’m seeing little Macaulay Culkin in Home Alone waving his hands around and screaming. Try and imagine something like that, please.)

I went to see the place on Friday and it’s such a great location! There are lots of trees and a grocery store is nearby. I was a bit worried because it’s on the 1st floor (that is, ground level) and I have a balcony, but it isn’t too low after all.

And it’s new! No one else’s gunk (filth) in the sink, shower, or toilet — or anywhere! (Except the builders’…)

I have no idea what happens next. The seller is mailing me some more information and then I should go to my bank (again…) now that I mean business unlike last time.

Well, what do you know. The apartment I suddenly became available. They called me today because I had left my contact information. And you know what? I’m going to reserve it. I tried to call today soon after 4 pm but the office was closed for the Midsummer (public holidays). I was asked to call back on Monday, so I’ll call then. Damn if they get someone else to reserve it before me. They did say that I should call on Monday and only then they’d call other people if I didn’t want the place. I shouldn’t get too excited though because every time I do, it all goes down the drain.

Nevertheless, how exciting! I’d get to pick out materials and colours for my new apartment. The building will be finished in the first quarter of 2008.