Online Connection Priorities

When I first moved to Finland, my first choice for online connection was emailing. Back then I hadn't started blogging yet and there was no Facebook, so I had to rely mostly on emailing. My mother hadn't had any mobile phone yet, so I wrote long emails to tell them about my life in Finland and then my brother would have to print them out so that my parents could read it. 

These days my priorities have changed due to different circumstances. Now there's Facebook and blogging and many friends (including blogger friends) have turned to Facebook more as well. My close friends have turned to emailing less often than before, especially 'coz some of them use Blackberry and WhatsApp to chat with one another. My mother has her own mobile phone, so I can update important details with her through SMS. I have a Twitter account, but I never use it anymore these days. I never really learnt how to properly used it, either LOL!!! 



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Nowadays blogging is my first priority. Emailing is the second one, whereas Facebook is the last one. I still would like to limit my time more in Facebook, but it's tough because some friends have relied on it more and more (it's really convenient to post pics there and write updates about our lives so that many people know about it) and I'd miss a great deal of their lives if I stop visiting Facebook completely. I don't know what happens in the future, though, but I still love blogging and blog-hopping more than the other types of online connection because it feels more personal and more in-depth. It's true that it takes a longer time and more energy to spend on blogging and blog-hopping than Facebooking for example, but I feel more "rewarded" this way. 

Actually, especially after infertility, I've relied more on that matter in my IF blog and I've found a great community of IFers there, so for infertility matters, I really do rely heavily on blogging - not just to find support from other IFers, but also to process my thoughts and feelings. I blog about infertility also to find out my "progress" or to track how much I've grown and learnt through the journey and I've found lovely people along the way that I wouldn't have known otherwise and for that I'm SO THANKFUL!!!!  


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I do chat with some people every now and then either through FB messaging or Yahoo Messenger, but that only happens occasionally. 

What about you? What's your online connection priorities?

3BT: Random Days

1. Hanging out with friends and having fun talking and laughing and eating ha ha ha...

2. Blogger's automatic spam detection 'coz I've been getting lots of that lately in my comment box and spam is REALLY annoying!

3. Sending an overdue thank you note to someone who really deserved it and knowing that the person appreciated it.

4. Chatting for a LONG time with a friend with whom I hadn't chat in a LONG while.

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5. Meeting my MIL in my workplace and having time to give her a proper hug 'coz there weren't too many customers at that time.

6. Orange jelly pudding - I could make it using the powder sent by a friend who just got back from Indo. THANKS SO MUCH, Hen!!! Other than that, she also sent me some other food stuff. YUM YUM...

7. Getting a full-month paycheck today (though I only work part-time) and knowing that they've sorted out the problem with my tax card, so this time my salary didn't get cut 60%. PHEW!!! It felt GREAT getting a full-month part-time salary for the FIRST time ever!!! ;-D

8. Going to save some of the money right away 'coz I need it to apply for Finnish citizenship next year - feels GREAT to know I have the money already for that purpose stashed in my bank account he he he he...

9. Being tucked on the sofa by hubby when I was about to take a nap a few days ago - and I did NOT ask for him to do that, mind you!

10. Tucking hubby on the sofa before his naps - but mostly what I enjoy even more is watching the smile on his face when I do that. It's a special kind of smile...



11. Haven't met any rude customers despite the fact that I do make mistakes sometimes.

12. Nice, proper sleep...long sleep...What a bliss to be able to sleep well at nights without experiencing trouble to fall asleep!

13. Sore muscles from boxing with Wii - AND having hubby scratch my back for me 'coz it was too sore for me to reach my arms back to scratch the itch away by myself.

14. Talking to my family in Indo via Skype and webcam and even voice chat.

15. Chili. THANK GOD for chili and for making it even more enjoyable to eat food he he he he he...

16. Watching beautiful clouds spreading across the great blue sky...

The Beauty of Technology

Have so many stories to tell, but haven't been in the mood to blog or blog-hop. Yesterday my brother was online at night in Indo and then we tried using the "call" feature in Yahoo Messenger. He was using his laptop without any headset, whereas I had to use my headset to speak. We also both used our webcams. Fortunately I could hear their voices even though their internet connection wasn't that great - the voice quality wasn't that great, but it was OK enough for me to hear as long as I wasn't talking at the same time as they were saying something to me.

At that time, Ken was still awake, so I could hear him sing and count from one to 10 - I was AMAZED 'coz he said the numbers VERY quickly (as though he knew them by heart already). He'll be 2 years old in two months and he knows his ABCs already and he can sing many songs from start to end. Of course his pronunciation is still cutish in some parts (for example he calls me Aunty Ameh instead of Amel), but I could still understand many things he said he he he...

One time my bro and wife asked him to sing a song and then Ken sang it and after that he clapped his hands HA HA HA HA HA...It's just AMAZING to be able to see his progress in learning many things. I was SO happy 'coz I could hear his voice AND see him in action through the webcam (though the webcam picture streaming wasn't too smooth and there was a delay but it was OK). I realized even more how precious it was to be able to communicate this way with my family in Bandung. THANK GOD for technology!!!

Yesterday's phone and chat conference made me want to go back to Indo again so badly. Can't wait for next year - hope next year there won't be any obstacle for BOTH of us to go back to Indo. I want to play with Ken and I bet next year he'll be even MORE chattier than now he he he he he...

Anyway, here's a pic of Ken with my Mom taken at least a few months ago...

New Header + 3BT

Yeah, been tinkering with new header designs and I came up with this one. The background was created by Alevtina Design, the butterflies were taken from Debra Anderson Designs and the flower image on the upper right corner of my header was designed by Carola Okeke/FWTS. So THANK YOU to all of them!!!

The flower pictures themselves are all my photos, of course he he he...now that summer's here, I thought it'd be nice to change the header once in a while. Hope you like my new summery header!

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OK, here's my 3BT list:

1. This morning when I woke up I wanted to jump in joy 'coz I saw one little bud coming out in a pot. I almost thought that I had killed all the seeds 'coz the temperature had been so cold. Last night I was just thinking that perhaps they wouldn't germinate at all, so maybe I should use the pot to plant other seeds. Of course until now there's only one tiny bud coming out, but that's better than nothing, right? HE HE HE...Here's the pic of the bud (this is the seed of a climbing plant):


2. Seeing more buds coming out of the pot filled with seeds of chives. YEEEAAAHHHH!!!

3. Having "FUN" in sauna again after we played Wii on Wednesday. Oh yeahhh!!! *wink wink*

4. Having cleaned all the windows on the first floor (remember there are double windows everywhere, but I'm not in a hurry anyway).

5. Holding hands with hubby and listening to his heartbeat. Thump, thump, thump...the precious sign of life...

6. Music. Listening to music is really relaxing.

7. Chatting with different friends around the world. ;-D

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8. Watering the plants while listening to birds singing outside. Mmmm...what a life!!!

3BT: Random Days

1. Holding hubby from the back when he's sitting on the long kitchen bench. Feels SO GOOD to hold him like that!

2. Making a snowman in April HUA HA HA HA HA HA...I decorated the snowman using the bird seeds scattered on the ground under the bird feeders.




3. Looking at this: Such a WARM day!



4. Getting a CUTE compact new vacuum cleaner. It's VERY VERY light (unlike the old one), so I had no trouble getting it up and down the stairs HO HO HO HO HO...

5. Chatting with one of my best friends for about an hour today.

6. Not worrying about fresh water supply. The other week there was water trouble in my in-laws' place 'coz it seemed in that area the water pipes froze, so they couldn't get water for some time and that made me realize how much we take for granted the abundant fresh water supply.

7. Holding a child's hand while he was getting ready to take a nap - while listening to the teacher reading a story and getting a smile from him when I held his hand.

8. Hubby holding my hand when I was afraid to walk on some slippery ice towards the car in my in-laws' yard.

3BT: Random Days

1. Rubbing hubby's legs and feet with lotion when I noticed that he started scratching them due to itchiness. At the same time, I had the privilege of tickling his feet HUA HA HA HA HA HA...

2. Being squeezed SO tightly and yet SO tenderly by hubby makes me feel SO loved.

3. Seeing hubby's enthusiasm and smiles. He's a phlegmatic that tends not to show his feelings too clearly if you don't know him, so whenever enthusiasm strikes (which is rare), it makes me feel GOOD.

4. Hubby's warm embrace. I feel so safe whenever he holds me.



5. Chatting with MIL and telling her that I miss her - and reading the reply that she also misses me (in capital letters) HE HE HE HE HE...

6. Reading so many soothing, comforting, encouraging, enlightening, eye-opening blog posts. THANK GOD for internet!

7. Hubby's hands. I've just realized recently how much I LOVE his hands and their shape. :-D

8. Signing the house deed with hubby today. YAAAAYYY!!! (Side note: Next week we have to go to the bank to cash in the loan and pay the money to the ex-house owners)



9. Being able to understand the gist of what people are saying or what is written on the papers and being able to answer questions directed straight at me when I go to the bank and the notary office with hubby and when I go to the police station to move my residence permit to my new passport. 3 years ago I didn't know anything and now I feel like I'm not "deaf" anymore. :-D That's such a LIBERATING feeling.

10. Re-learning to be kind to myself despite everything (though sometimes I forget to do it, but I've been reminded to do it again).

11. My heart's burdens are lifted in bulks today, simply by reading encouraging blog posts from fellow IF-ers. I feel like I'm ON TOP OF THE WORLD even though my problems are still there. HALLELUJAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!! Praise the Lord!

3BT: Random Days

1. Experimenting with pie-making (using two different recipes) and getting good results that even hubby claims as "good ones".

2. A few weeks ago, I met an old gentleman at the hotel. He opened the lift door for me and then before leaving the hotel with his wife, he came straight into the room where I was cleaning to give me a tip (although he could have just left it inside his room, but I guess he wanted ME to get it instead of my coworker). That really melted my heart!

3. Getting the phone call from the magazine to let me know that my non-fiction story will be published in my birth month and that I'll get some reward for it. :-D

4. Having made up my mind about the job offer and having told my boss about my decision.

5. Having bought some gifts for my family in Indo. 

6. Chatting with my MIL via Skype.

7. Hearing hubby said that we'd go to the cabin again this upcoming Friday and spend a night there. WHOOOPEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!




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8. Seeing hubby's smile when I told him about preparing some meals for him before I fly to Indo (and putting them in the freezer for him to eat).


9. Waking hubby up in the morning with hugs and kisses on regular days during my training ('coz I have to work at 7 am and he has to work at 8 am).

10. Seeing a layer of ice on top of the hotel roof while cleaning some of the rooms. I can't wait to see snow piling up on top of roofs near Christmas!!!




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11. Giving hubby a back massage and touching his body brings me pure delight.

12. Hubby doing the dishes without being asked (I know some guys who help out while muttering and complaining, so I must cherish hubby's help).

3BT: Random Days

1. I've finished one project and halfway done my other project. Phew!!! :-D

2. Our toilet bowl is fine again. It was stuck for some time and then the washing basin was leaking, but my super-handyman-hubby could fix them. HURRAAAHHH!!! He even cleaned up the mess he he he...

3. I'm ordering some things for my MIL's birthday. Hope she hasn't had them before and they turn out fine. If so, next time I can order from them again.

4. Chatted with a few friends during the weekend and laughing until I got tears in my eyes. Boy oh boyyyy...SO MUCH FUN!!!


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5. Excitement 'coz my Finnish classes start this week and other than the fact that I can study Finnish again, I can also meet my friends there HA HA HA HA HA HA...

6. Asked hubby if he had complaints about me in any way and he said no. :-D

7. I told hubby: "You're one of the BEST things that ever happened to me." :-D

Flock Together, Gothic People!

They say that birds of a feather flock together and that's true. What's more fun than to be among those people who understand you well, right? Well, if you're a goth and you want to find another place to chat with people of the same interest, then Goth Dating is the right site for you. It's free and registering only takes a couple of minutes.

Good luck in making more friends from all over the world via this site and have plenty of gothic fun!!! *wink*

3BT: Random Days

1. Watching one session of the Olympics at my in-laws. Arttu, MIL, FIL, Arttu's brother, and I squeezed in my in-laws big bed to enjoy the show he he he...There's a nice benefit of owning only on TV in the house. Everybody gets to watch it together.

2. Arttu took the initiative to warm up the part of my bed and the blanket before I went to bed. Mmmmm...THANK YOU, Bunny!!!

3. Giving something to someone and being able to help that person do something (it's a secret) HE HE HE HE HE HE...Feeling useful feels GREAT!!!

4. Sharing many laughter with hubby.

5. Having a hubby that CARES. No more comment needed here.

6. Chatting with one of my closest friends (found her online accidentally). It's been quite a while since we did that and it's been quite a while since she's been able to write emails, so it was really fun!!! ;-D

7. The internet is ON again HE HE HE HE HE HE HE HE HE HE...

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3BT: Random Days

1. Hubby got headset for free from one of the computer stores he frequented due to his job and he gave it to me HUE HE HE HE HE HE...

2. Today I found The Undomestic Goddess - Sophia Kinsella on a discount in a bookstore here (they're having summer sale). It was supposed to cost €10.90 but I bought it for only €3.90. WOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!! And I spoke in Finnish there even though I knew one of them spoke perfect English HE HE HE HE...Good practise! ;-D

3. When I walked home, a boy on a bike greeted me and I greeted him back with a smile. Yesterday two boys greeted me, but I was too shocked to greet them back as it all happened too fast he he he...

4. I've begun to see more flowers blooming here and there. Summer's heerrreeeeee!!!

5. I've got a date with my new friend this Friday. Since hubby's going to have a boys' only night out, then I can have this date with her HO HO HO HO HO HO...

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6. God's PERFECT timing. Upon reviewing my past, now I understand more why He wanted me to wait and wait and wait. Some things in the past that were as clear as mud have become crystal clear now and I'm THANKFUL for His open and closed doors and for His temporary blocked doors.

7. Talking to my Mom via Skype again. I always HAVE FUN talking to her, listening to her stories of my relatives so that I know how they're doing these days. ;-D And hearing her say that she'd stock up some of my fave food prior to my visiting Indo made me SO HAPPY HE HE HE HE HE HE...

And the fact that she supported my wish to go to Singapore (if we have enough money) even though that meant that I'd be having less time to be with them meant THE WORLD to me. She's always SO supportive!!!

8. Meeting an old friend in YM and being able to chat with her for a long time. WHOOOPPPEEEEEEEEEEEE!!! I truly missed talking to her as she'd been too busy to catch up via emails, so that was really a WONDERFUL opportunity to catch up with her. ;-D

9. Took a nap for 2,5 hours yesterday. Boy, I definitely needed that!!! Having PMS makes me feel tired so easily. (Unfortunately, just like the image below, I also drool while sleeping LOL LOL LOL!!! But I have no shame in admitting it hi hi hi...)

10. Peace of mind, a nice bed, a nice apartment (albeit slightly dusty due to my laziness HA HA HA HA HA), health, and a funny, wacky, loving husband who ALWAYS makes me laugh (even when he's not trying to do so HA HA HA HA HA HA HA...)

3BT: December 22, 2007

1. Hubby bought me some pepper steak last night. He went out partying with his boss and colleagues and he came home at around 4.30 am but he remembered that I liked pepper steak so he bought it for me. Mmmmmm...it was YUMMY!!!!

2. Spinach lasagna that I cooked last night. Yummy, too he he he he he...

3. Being together with my hubby. Last year was like hell. I was practically hating everybody who could be with their loved ones at New Year's Eve, even though I managed to get rid of that feeling. I NEVER want to experience that again. Being apart from my hubby was too much to bear. Additional note: Today I told hubby about this and then we squeezed each other tightly. Mmmmhhh...it felt SO good he he he he...

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4. Missing hubby while he was partying. ;-D And telling him about it HE HE HE HE HE HE HE HE...

5. Plum-marmalade pastry that I made HE HE HE HE HE...I'll attach some pictures later on!!!

6. Chatting with my friend via YM for hours last night. YEEEESSSSS!!!!