Hernes

I have moved

2010-03-23T22:04:00.004+02:00

A while ago my brother told me that my blog is more like a vlog. True, i haven't been in a writing mode but still in a mode to share some ideas and things i like, so i moved to a more suitable environment. Find my thoughts in form of pics and just a few sentences
HERE (yes, just click the word HERE)

When i feel the need to express myself in a more verbal way, i'll come back here.

Man's got a few tattoos

2010-03-03T12:36:00.001+02:00

Lil Wayne by Terry Richardson

Terry Richardson is a genius with a camera. Love everything he does.

Melody Gardot - Baby i'm a fool

2010-02-23T13:45:00.003+02:00

Family people

2010-02-22T13:08:00.003+02:00

What do you do when you're old enough to have moved out of your mama's home but not just there yet to have created a new family of your own. Well, you create a substitute family and start spending your time with them. Usuallyit is a family of friends. And what do those families do? They do things like all kinds of families do, like have meals together - though probably not as often as the conventional mum-dad-kids families. They spend time playing board games or just talking nonsense or watching movies or cooking together or going to cinema or theater or concerts or they go out for walks etc. Plus those families have the added luxury of doing things together, which is more uncommon in conventional families, like partying together on Fridays til the sun comes up or traveling together without having to worry about where to chuck the kids etc. So, let's see, last week i did like half of those things and i have a family holiday awaiting. I could say i am becoming a real family person:)

It's a good day!

2010-01-22T10:15:00.001+02:00

It's a day when i'll be getting lots and lots of hugs. Hugs are good.

Malena Ernman singing in Estonian

2010-01-03T21:13:00.001+02:00

Kaljuste võttis kätte ja õpetas Malena Ernmanile selgeks eestikeelse Tuulevaiksel ööl, mida viimane ka 1. jaanuaril Hennessy Uusaastakontserdil esitas. Vabandust kvaliteedi pärast, kohepeal oli super ja rahva aplaus lõpus ei tahtnud lõppeda.

kick the bucket - Charlie Winston CLIP OFFICIEL (official video)

2009-12-31T09:20:00.001+02:00

The 2009 is just about to kick the bucket:)

This is not a sad song!
I don't bring it up to get you down,
It's a celebration for all the red cells
going round and round in your body!

Steph Jones - Little Drummer Boy (Official Music Video)

2009-12-23T09:05:00.001+02:00

And here it is:)

THIS IS HOW STEPH JONES WAKES UP IN THE MORNING

2009-12-22T17:23:00.001+02:00

This is how i want to wake up in the morning;) My newest obsession - Steph Jones.

Christmas spirit?

2009-12-21T09:27:00.003+02:00

I don't know if it is the Christmas time or the fact that it is so cold but more and more often my mind lately wanders to the people who need help - the homeless and the old and the ones who have no money to get presents for their kids. The other day i was going to buy some stuff for wrapping my gifts. Thankfully all my shopping has been done and for the first time i haven't left it to last minute. I saw this old lady sitting in a bus station. She looked cold. She wasn't homeless or anything but she just looked cold. And i started thinking of all the poor souls with no warm home with christmas tree to go to. It felt so wrong going to the shopping mall after that, watching all the people just spending and spending. I got my wrapping paper and then bought 5 pairs of woollen socks and gloves and took them to this church, which does a lot to care for the homeless. It felt almost ridiculous to be doing so little...A young man was there to take the stuff from me and with a big smile he said that i needent worry, they will find the people in need and make the best of my gift. I don't know, it still didn't feel nearly enough...i just hope there's loads and loads of people who think the same way, even if it is only in Christmas time...

Steph Jones ( Little Drummer Boy)

2009-12-21T08:48:00.001+02:00

This is my this year's xmas song. Can't wait for the original video. Steph Jones looks hot;)

Exhibition at botanical garden

2009-11-16T16:29:00.001+02:00

This is an example of the events sponsored by my brands. This was Filippo Caroti and Oksana Tandit joint exhibition opening (joint, as in connected, together:). Fashion meets art meets photography kind of event. Sponsored by Veuve Clicquot.

Video by Michele Caruso ( i believe)

The Swedes, vol.....who knows any more

2009-11-15T21:16:00.003+02:00

This blog is not dead, contrary to common belief.

The legendary Swedes were back in town for the weekend. They come like a breath of fresh air and leave as quickly but always manage to leave a trail of new laughs and nice memories. They have a great power of bringing a great group of people together and they even managed to shake me out of my work coma. As tiring as the weekend was, it was one of the best in a long while.

Seitse Maailma treiler

2009-11-05T22:23:00.001+02:00

My friends wrote a book and guess what they've even got a trailer for their book. A book trailer, imagine that!
Seitse maailma = Seven Worlds

Snow Patrol - Just Say Yes

2009-10-08T20:57:00.001+03:00

I'm not introducing a new artist here this time, but i've always kind of liked them and i LOVE the new song.

Cognac, Paris, France

2009-09-22T22:59:00.004+03:00

Last monday i had a reason to go to France. More specifically, my destination was Cognac, Hennessy maison. Mind you, it was a work related trip. I think i spent more time either in some vehicles or waiting for them. At 7.30 taxi took me to airport, at 8.50 the plane took me to Riga, a while later another plane took me to Paris where couple of hours were spent waiting for a train. The train that normally takes 3 hours from CDG airport to Cognac, broke down in the middle of the road and just stood there for 2,5 hours. So i spent 5,5 hours on train (which, btw, had no wifi). From the train station a driver took us to the maison. I reached the Hennessy maison at around 10 or so - only 14,5 hours after i started.

My stay in cognac was nice, but short, because i left the place at around 4 p.m the next day. However, before spending an awful night at the awful Charles De Gaulle airport, there were 2 little rays of light in my trip. First of all, a lovely lady at the metro station not only helped me with info about how and when i should get to the airport but also gave me a metro ticket. She just gave me a ticket! I really did not expect that in Paris (sorry if i'm a bit prejudiced but i don't see the French as the friendliest people). I took the train to the station from where my train to the airport was supposed to go, just to be on the safe side. But since i had 2 hours to kill i got out of the station to walk around a bit. nd guess what, i found Louvre:) And also, i believe - Pont Neuf. Yay! I got my Paris pics. Did i mentioned i've never been to Paris before?

Abege : "I like it (feat. Kaysha)"

2009-09-11T15:38:00.001+03:00

I listen to this song and my body gets all strange.... seksy, seksy song...

The X Factor 2009 - Danyl - Auditions 1 (itv.com/xfactor)

2009-08-24T00:01:00.001+03:00

One to watch this year. He's going places.

Lipstick, gay and crisis

2009-08-11T09:14:00.003+03:00

I took a brief look at the keywords that bring strangers to my blog. The winning search is still the lyrics to the song L.I.P.S.T.I.C.K, i suppose i'm the only one who posted them. Then there's one that has been popular for a while, it's the search term "Tartu gay". And the new addition is "types of crisis", leading to my very scientific blog about male and female crisis. Yes, do take every word of it seriously, i especially appreciate if you use me in your science papers and final thesis etc. But please refer correctly.

Madonna - La Isla Bonita Sticky and Sweet Tour

2009-08-06T15:09:00.001+03:00

So there was Madonna concert. My favourite bit of the show is shown in this video. Lela-lela-lela, lepa pala tute...love it.

Spooks

2009-08-04T10:48:00.004+03:00

I would say it is not the most pleasurable thing to be waking up in the middle of the night to the sound of someone trying to get in your apartment, trying out their keys in your door. This is exactly what happened to me last night. I woke up with my heart trying to jump out of my chest once i realised what was going on. Being scared awake is never the best feeling but with a fair of breaking and entering...one should really have a strong heart.

It must have been a drunk neighbour missing the right door, because they went away and i think i heard them get in another door, but needless to say i did not sleep for half of the night. First i stayed up to listen whether they actually STAY in that flat they got it or whether they start carrying out my neighbours' wordly posessions, in which case i would have called the police. All seemed calm but i still had the shivers and couldn't properly sleep. Didn't even go to my bed, dozed off on the sofa to be ready for action.

Wayne Beckford Dynamite 2009 (OFFICIAL)

2009-07-29T15:28:00.001+03:00

Yeah baby, yeah!

My apologies

2009-07-27T11:23:00.002+03:00

I know, i know, i know....i am so sorry for not having written ANYTHING for such a long time. It's not that there's nothing to write about, there is too much, actually, hence the silence. If that made any sense at all:)
I've been away, back to Lamu, Kenya. This bewitched little marvellous place keeps beckoning me back to it. But, my Lamu life needs a bit more time to settle in my head before (if ever) i can write about it.

Didn't see this coming

2009-07-02T18:59:00.001+03:00

I'm having improper thoughts of one of my colleague. No, thoughts is not correct. Improper dreams, so it's my unconsciousness playing with me.

Well, congratulations.

2009-06-29T16:25:00.003+03:00

My brother graduated from University. He got the new 3-years bachelor's, but still, it's just WRONG that my little brother, whose diapers i've changed, already has a degree. That means i'm old! This, however, does not change the fact that i still get asked for document in nightclubs and guys, barely out of their teens, hit on me.

Pixie Lott - Mama Do

2009-06-21T23:28:00.001+03:00

There's something ‘bout the night
And the way it hides all the things I like
Little black butterflies
Deep inside me

2 types of crisis

2009-06-16T22:26:00.001+03:00

I suppose we're all familiar with male midlife crisis syndrome. It's when men at certain age are suddenly not satisfied with their lives and start acting weirdly. Consider yourself lucky if your guy takes on a ridiculous and expensive, sometimes dangerous hobby or buys a ridicolously expensive, sometimes also dangerous new vehicle. You're in a bit more trouble if the guy finds himself a ridiculously young and in the long run - very expensive - new lust target. However, if we think of midlife crisis as a phase that almost every man has to go through, or even a disease that he has to suffer to become immune to it, do we then really have a right to judge him? Shouldn't we actually be there for him in his moment of crisis, comfort him on his sickbed? After all, you'd be there for him if he had a flu or pneumonia!

But, this is actually not what i wanted to talk about. I want to address another kind of crisis. I call it the female sexual peak crisis. Most of the females reach it right around their thirties, for some it comes a couple of years before 30, for others a bit later, but mostly it reaches women in one form or another. Women at their sexual peak are extremely easily aroused, they need sex a lot more often than they used to and they think about sex considerably more often. They also enjoy sex more, because the body is ready and they know themselves better and are not afraid to be pleased in addition to pleasing. Technically, it is not a crisis at all IF you are in a happy and working relationship. More power to you! It is a crisis however, when the woman has to go through the crisis single, as it tends to provoke promiscuity, irrational decisions and sometimes lowers the normal bar of acceptable males. It can also be problematic if the female is in a relationship which has lost its fire or does not completly satisfy her. Then she starts looking around (considering how her body is acting, who can blame her) and adultery (also promiscuity) can follow.

It is also common knowledge that women's sexual peak is in their thirties and for males it's when they're around 18-25. Deriving from that, women in their 30-s should be together with either 18-25 year-olds or with men around 45 or so. While the young ones can satisfy their sexual needs the older ones will turn a blind eye to women fooling around because they're too busy with their own midlife crisis:)

Edit: I found this article about a study which confirms some aspects of my theory. Namely: "There are still major differences in the behavior of men and women, though, especially regarding the ages at which they are most sexually liberated. Men tend to have the most partners, and to think most about acquiring new ones, while in their twenties. Women’s promiscuity tends to peak in their thirties."

Milow - Ayo Technology

2009-06-10T22:06:00.001+03:00

Great song.

Bless you!

2009-05-22T15:16:00.002+03:00

I'm a sneezer. I sneeze very often and mostly it's more than 3 times in a row. One time when i sneezed for 5 times, our secretary started laughing and said that when someone sneezes, it means she's thinking of sex. Khm. Ok. After that, every time she hears me sneezing, she goes: "Kadriiiii, stop it!"
And yesterday i read an article on sneezing and it actually confirms her little theory. Turns out it's a well-accepted theory that sneezing and sex have a connection. For some people only thinking of sex is enough and for some it follows orgasm. Go figure!
From my own experience, every time i sneeze i DO NOT think of sex, i swear!

...

2009-05-19T09:02:00.001+03:00

I work late every friggin day
Im happy if i ever get home before eight

And then i sleep through half of TV shows
How much sleep can one need, god only knows

Tired, tired, tired...all the time
That much about my poet career, it was the last rhyme:)

Cro-magnon live at Tallinn Jazzkaar 09

2009-04-26T19:10:00.001+03:00

Jazzkaar 3: Cro-Magnon

2009-04-25T18:52:00.002+03:00

Cro Magnon at Tallinn Jazzkaar
Originally uploaded by aglaie

Finally a concert at RockCafe, meaning finally a chance to dance and party. I had heard so many good things about those guys but i really didn't want to get my hopes up, you know, to not be disappointed. But i truly worried for no reason. These guys ROCKED MY SOCKS OFF!!! I loved it from the very beginning and when the concert was over it felt like it'd been 15 minutes, so of course we had to go to the afterparty at Krahl where the guys were supposed to go as well. Yeah, an escellent party night it was.

Tok Tok Tok "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" live at Tallinn Jazzkaar 09

2009-04-24T08:44:00.001+03:00

Jazzkaar 2: Tok Tok Tok

2009-04-23T08:46:00.001+03:00

Tokunbo Akinro, Morten Klein
Originally uploaded by Festival JAZZKAAR

My second jazzkaar concert this year was smooth and mellow like cream liquor. Tok Tok Tok was as soulful as can be, in every sense of the word. Morten gave his all on sax and got tangled in his own sentences when telling stories inbetween the songs. I don't know what he was on, but i wanna have it:) And Tokunbo's sexy voice sent my mind drifting far far away. They were good to listen to and nice to look at. I applaud!

Jazzkaar 1: Calle Real

2009-04-19T12:24:00.001+03:00

Calle Real
Originally uploaded by Festival JAZZKAAR

This year's Jazzkaar started with a bang! Calle real - a true Cuban salsa band from....wait for it...Stockholm, Sweden. Imagine that! Goodlooking Swedish guys playing hot-hot-hot cuban salsa and singing in spanish. If this isn't a perfect mixture for me, tell me what is. I am slightly drawn to the Swedes with their adorable accent anyway and if instead of calm scandinavian nature you see such fire on stage... you can be sure to find me in front row, shakin what my mama gave me.
Altogether, they were everything i expected from them and my expectations were high. Definitely envoke my inner salsera . Have to take up dancing again, it's been too long without it.

Another day, another Moet party

2009-04-10T20:16:00.004+03:00

I think it's time to get out of Africa and back into real life because we all know i'm going back there anyway:) It's time to post other stuff than videos of safari et al.

There was a party yesterday. It's really easy to get used to the lifestyle when you go to a bar, the table's laid out for you with food and drinks and all you have to do is drink Moet all night, have fun and be charming. So i did all that, except for the charming part, i mean i cannot be a judge of that but i hope i still managed to keep up the charmometer. After all, Marquis de Pompadour has said that champagne makes every man witty and every woman beautiful, or sth in the line with that.
However, i am not entirely sure if walking home in my stockings was the night's brightest idea. But since my toe was almost falling off and i couldnt take the heels anymore that was the only option. The stockings are still intact, no holes or nothing, in case you were wondering.
And once again, there were some butterflies. They're getting part of my usual crowd these days. Or maybe i'm just confusing my constant excited state for butterflies:)

Kenya - around Nairobi and Safari

2009-04-02T08:27:00.001+03:00

I've totally forgotten to publish this one. The whole safari experienece actually took place before the Lamu life, just so you know.

Tallinn, my Tallinn

2009-03-22T12:14:00.010+02:00

The weather was excellent, so i went Tallinn-spotting. Cruising through Kalamaja and old town, here's what caught my eye.

Lamu life

2009-03-20T22:38:00.001+02:00

Constant struggle

2009-03-20T08:44:00.003+02:00

Every morning is a struggle. Getting out of bed is like trying to dig a hole in frozen ground. I push the clock forward 10 minutes, every morning, another 10 minutes if i decide my hair is still clean enough, and another ten minutes if i decide to skip breakfast, sometimes another 10 minutes if i find that being a bit late to work is acceptable. Kenya trip did give me loads of energy but it was mostly mental energy, helping me deal with the fact that this year's winter lasts forever. However, no trip can change the fact that i am, actually, a bear, therefore still hibernating.

Kenya trip: the most amazing things part 2

2009-03-10T21:47:00.005+02:00

Glowing water. Have you seen the movie Beach? Or read the book? If you have, you might remember them talking about the glowing water. Well, right, literal exaggeration, i thought...before i actually witnessed it on the beach in Lamu. I can't believe our Lamu friends were not advertising this to us. We were having this amazing night and were still mesmerised by the abundance of stars in the sky (I don't think i've ever seen so many stars in my life) when we had the brilliant idea to take a lovely dip in the ocean. And then the water....OH MY GOD....it was truly glowing. You could just stroke the surface and it would leave a trail of sparkling bits. I felt like a good fairy, lighting the ocean, with my hands, my feet, my body...and when the water splashed on the clothes, the drops glowed there for some moments. You can not believe the childish elation we were in, completely oblivious of the surroundings or even the fact that we were not wearing any clothes. As it turns out the glowing water effect or bioluminescence has not really ever been scientifically explained. We found out as much that it only happens when Mr. Moon is hiding and only the stars cast the light. And i read that all bioluminescent reactions occur in the presence of oxygen. Two types of chemicals are required- a luciferin and a luciferase. So, deriving from that...lucifer and so on....there was definitely something devilish going on. Maybe that was when we fell so much in love with Lamu. The perfect day. Sometimes you get days which may start off as perfectly ordinary ones but during which you already start getting the feeling that they might turn into the kind to remeber for the rest of your life. One of those days was Wednesday, February 25th. We took a dhow trip because that is what you do when on Lamu, but ours was different from the beginning because we got to do it with our friends. So we were me, N, Baji, Iggy, our food provider the Fishman and new addition to the group - Hannah. We sailed, swam, chillaxed, Fishman harpooned fish and octopus for our lunch, we cooked food, we chillaxed some more on Manda beach. We were just sighing how much we'd love a cold beer when suddenly, like out of thin air, cold beers appeared, accompanied by some ganja-smoking, funny as hell rasta-guys. And then we sailed to the floating bar, listened to Bob Marley, had a couple of more beers and watched the sunset. Then we met Maley and Freeman. Then we were taken back to our hotel for shower and some relaxing (considering how stressful the day had been so far) and later were picked up by Habiba again and taken back to floating bar. That day really did go on forever. After that we took the boat back to town and partied til early morning hours and it was all good-good-good. Perfect, one might say, actually. I only got back to my hotel for breakfast time.

Kenya trip: the most amazing things part 1

2009-03-09T21:38:00.005+02:00

Safari. If you ever go to Kenya or any of the neighbouring countries and are questioning whether or not to do safari, stop right there and just do it! Fearing to sound like an easily amused American, i have to say safari was amazing. Who knew i'd be so mesmerised by animals. Or N, for that matter, the world-known animal-lover:) But i mean, who wouldn't be in awe when you get to see a family of lions up close and personal, or 70 elephants slowly and elegantly cruising through the Masai Mara. Don't even get me started on how funny the hippos were or how pretty the zebras and giraffes or or or...how cheetah was teaching it's cubs how to hunt a baby gasell. I learned more about animal world in 4 days than i have in my whole life. Did you know that animals are jumping around in the morning when the sun is up again because they are happy and darkness is scary :) or that all the different species have a lot of structure in their life, like avoiding inbreeding, even if for some it means living a polygamous and for some monogamous family life. Having George as a guide was helpful, too. I think you always are more eager to learn when the teacher's hot :) We were really lucky with the group as well - Bas, Kim, Caroline, Edward and Sidi - thanks guys for good company!

Lamu. I take a bow, pause for a second and say Lamu again. This little island really captured my heart. It's the little paradise in hiding. But paradise with a twist, not picture perfect and ideal, but perfect with its little flaws. After we'd had the 4-day safari we honestly did think the best part of the trip was over and we were actually quite fine with that. We had to leave a good group and great experiences behind, but boy did we get proven wrong, the best part was yet to come. We had a short stopover in Mombasa but were luckily chased away from there by that eager self-proclaimed tour guide who wouldn't get off our backs. So we escaped to Lamu (we literally escaped early in the morning) for a couple of days, or so we thought. We ended up staying til the end of the trip, stretching the stay til the last bit. Lamu is an island where time travels differently. It's like being lost in parallel universe. It's all too good to be true and even when you acknowledge you're lost in some surreal life, it still feels too strange to be true. How many times did me an N look at each other in all earnesty and say: "Is this for real?!"

I'm really torn on what to tell you guys about Lamu. Part of me wants to keep it to myself and part of me knows bits of it needs to stay in the surreality because you won't believe it anyway. I have to stop now anyway, i'm tired. More tomorrow.

...

2009-03-08T21:07:00.007+02:00

I'm sure you'll recognize people on the pics by my descriptions or i haven't done a very good job at all:)

Kenya trip: The people

2009-03-08T18:25:00.013+02:00

N. When it comes to the people, i have to start with N. You all know her but not many of you have travelled with her. I think me and N work great together as a team when travelling. I seriously think we should apply for a state support as ambassadors of Estonia and travel the world, we work wonders on promoting our country. Don't be surprised to find that a little boy in a remote village near Masai Mara has eaten Estonian candy or to find a dhow in Lamy cruising under Estonian flag. Me and N, we find the nicest places and the nicest people. And i believe we also get the best prices when we discuss the price in the language no one understands, trying hard to hold back laughter and keep a straight face when all we're saying is that it's excellent and let's get it but let's torture the poor guy some more for a better price:) Like we did in Shella for the guesthouse or like we did when negotiating the price for the safari. Yes, if you ask me, i think me and N travel well together. And what this trip did was bring us even closer together.

George. George was our driver and guide at the 4-day safari trip and he deserves a mention. George is black as night, a very proud man, funny, sharp as a pencil and quite hot. George is also a very wise man, having done the guide work for 8 years he knows everything about all the animals. Thanks to George we now know that Cheetah always hunts alone because he is capable of that. Lions, however, sometimes have to cooperate because they are not as fast. We now also know that Rhino has a very bad eyesight and attackts just anything that moves because it could be a potential threat or that Hyenas (ugly little things) can walk for hundreds of kilometers because they're built this way and that they cannot make a kill but they have the world's strongest jaws so they can chew even through bones. George is from the same tribe as Obama, which is the Luo tribe (one of the around 40 different tribes) and therefore he is especially proud of his bro Barack and even has his speech as a mobile ring and wears his picture on his t-shirt.

Iggy and Baji. I talk about Iggy and Baji together because thats how we met them. Iggy and Baji run a little bookstore together in Lamu. They're "our people" that much is clear from the very beginning. There's such a good chemistry and by the end of the first day we're spending all the free time together. Iggy is a sweet and funny guy, he's fit, has a nice smile and his skin is charcoal black. He's funny and understand irony, which is probably one of the reasons we click so well. Baji looks like a devil. When he's serious, and you don't really know him, he might even look slightly frightening, but he's as sweet as can be - very caring and amusing and takes an immediate liking towards us. Those 2 are the first ones who make us feel so welcome on Lamu that it's clear from the beginning we're staying for longer than couple of days.

Maley. Maley, Maley, what can i say. He's tall, dark and handsome. His skin is chocolate brown so he is not as dark as most people we've met here. He's slender and each one of the muscles on his body is toned. He wears his hair in dreads, which have bleached slightly with sun and saltwater. He dresses well and likes to wear a lot of bling. Maley's our captain. He's the proud owner of the dhow Habiba. Sexy Habiba he calls it and it is his baby, his love. The first time we see Maley when we're at the floating bar, having had already one of the best days of our lives. We'd spent the day on Habiba so Maley came looking for his baby, following its smell, or so he claimed. He arrives at the bar, shaking what his mama gave him an in no time we're all shaking what our mamas gave us. Maley must also be one of the funniest people i've met. There were moments when neither me or N couldn't stop laughing at what Maley was saying and it just seemed effortless from his part. He claims he's got internet in his head and there might be something to it because as laid back and chillaxed as he is, he's got it all under control and he can somehow even talk to a deaf-mute guy.

Freeman. Freeman's Maley's cousin and another one of the rasta culture people. Freeman is not his real name but absolutely everyone here has a nickname and they're mostly very becoming. When we first meet Freeman we also give him our own nickname - the carrot top, because his dreads are short and spiky. Come to think of it - looks nothing like carrot but it seemed fitting then. Freeman's is definitely one of the people who adds a lot to us feeling like queens on this little paradise island. He seems to be somewhere in his own world and most of the time he seems to be lost in the ganjaworld but he's got it all together. He is a marvellous cook and he takes such good care of us. One day we plan to go on a boat to watch the sunset. For that, Freeman cooks the food and him and Maley have decorated Habiba with purple flowers. I love those guys, i swear!

Hannah. Finally, a girlfriend getting a mention. We meet Hannah on the "perfect day" (more about that later). She's a new addition to our dhow trip. At first we can't figure her out. She's very slender and white-skinned and seems like such a grey mouse, but thankfully she proves us wrong in no time. As it turns out, she couldn't figure us out either. In a couple of hours it's clear that she's on of "ours" and the whole chemistry of the group is just excellent. Hannah has humour, she drinks beer and doesn't say no to ganja and she says shit and fuck a lot. Quite different from what we first expected and not your typical nurse (because that's her job, you know). She also likes to shake what her mama gave her and she, too, is instantly drawn to us. It's strange that there are those people all around the world who're "your people" yet you have to travel to Lamu to meet them. Anywhow, girlfriend's coming to visit us in Tallinn very soon and i think all three of us will go back to Lamu quite soon.

Yves La Rock

2009-03-08T16:15:00.001+02:00

Africa, my love

2009-03-08T16:02:00.002+02:00

This travel diary is not going to work out as a travel diary. I am lacking structure in my head for it. Maybe it's not supposed to be structural, maybe Africa is not. Or Maybe Kenya is not. Or maybe my trip was not. After all, there were no plans, no itinerary, no places booked.
But there are some things in my head. There's people - the characters of my book, there's amazing situations, and incredible coincidences. And there's even a soundtrack. It features some really good reggae by the likes of Richie Spice and Bob Marley, and some hiphop & r'n'b by the likes of Lemar, Akon and John Legend but first and foremost there's the one song which i have to bring to you. It's in my next post.

Good morning

2009-03-08T15:43:00.003+02:00

Here i am, hung over from the big night out because the swedes were back in town and that called for a party. Naaaaah, i'm too old for staying up til 7....
And what about that dream i had, hmmmmm, that one was strange.
And, here i am thinking i should quickly write my travel diary before new emotions take over.
Ok, maybe later, too tired now.

Hakuna matata!

2009-03-04T10:54:00.002+02:00

Jambo, my dear friends. I am back from my trip to Kenya. I am alive and well and i did not get robbed and nothing was stolen from me except for a big part of my heart. Never in my life have i met so many friendly people and never in my life have i felt so much caring from almost strangers than during the last week of my trip. I had THE BEST TIME EVER!

I hope i can find enough inspiration in me to write about my whole experience even though it is difficult to put it into words and even though i sometimes feel i would like to keep it hidden from the rest of the world.

Since the whole life in Kenya is very pole-pole (slowly-slowly) you can imagine how pole-pole am i during my first day at work. You better believe that the blog will be coming along very pole-pole as well. Bear with me!

Holiday check list

2009-02-10T21:32:00.003+02:00

Things to check before going on a holiday somehere further than your neighboring countries:

Passport - good for at least next 6 moths. Check, yes, fine.
Jabs - yellow fever, hepatitis, typhoid et al, plus the malaria prophylactics. I was hoping for some more exciting side effects from the malaria pills like the crazy hallucinogetic dreams but i didn't get any. Maybe my dreams cannot get any weirder. All i got was funny tummy.
Good backpack - got my baby today, we're just getting acquainted tonite since we'll be spending some quality time together quite soon. Finding a good bag is as hard as finding a good boyfriend. Plus, you have to pay for it.
Insurance - i don't care if the whole insurance business is just a very clever idea of taking my money only for the added feeling of ...well...insurance. I'm addicted. I'm afraid if i don't get my health insured for travel time then i'm messing with the universe.
Sunglasses, hat and sunscreen - how hard is it to buy a pair of normal, regular sunglasses nowadays - they're all blinged up, a little gold here, some rhinestones there. Just give me a pair of glasses that no one would want to nick but which would still protect my eyes from scorching sun. And don't even get me started on the hat business... And you know the familiar smell of sunscreen - i can't say i like it as such, but it just smells like holiday:)
All hygiene essentials in tiny versions - you wanna take care of yourself but not add any extra weight to carry around.
Meds - nah, N will take care of that. Her mum is, after all, connected in the drug world.
A flask to fill it with some Hennessy for all kinds of reasons - for lubricating your insides against stomach bugs, for lifting your spirits, for when someone is in shock and someone else yells: "Quick, get her some brandy!", like they do in criminal novels.
...can't remember any more...

FOALS, HUMMER

2009-02-03T10:07:00.001+02:00

I am sick

2009-01-27T09:11:00.002+02:00

I'm having my first sick day in a loooong time. I guess the partying at weekend left me open for a tiny disease, which was amplified by the 4 vaccine shots i received yesterday and voila, here i am, blowing my nose off my face and using all kinds of grandmas' remedies to get better.

To sum it up...

2009-01-21T09:42:00.006+02:00

Every night, before falling asleep, i write a chapter of my book. I do it in my head, though. Can't be bothered getting up and writing it all down. The chapters i write are not the same lenght, they're not even necessarily from the same book, they're just stories and situations that i play through in my head when the memories are still fresh. I cannot comprehend how people can write their autobiographies when they're like 70 years old. How can they remember the situations and feelings they had at some point. Emotions fade. That's the positive side with the mind that we forget the pain and hurt but also the negative side, as the good feelings are toned down over time as well. You might be able to remember the euphoria and over-the-top feelings 2 days later, not 2 weeks, let alone 2 years later. Like, for instance, when something absolutely amazing has happened to you and at first you're able to tell it in smallest detail to some of your friends, by the third and fourth time (if you can still be bothered even telling the story) you are already summarising it. And you cannot convey real emotions by summarising them!

Say you've just met someone amazing and it's been the best night of your entire life, at least that's what it feels like. You're totally euphoric and the emotions are flooding over. If you had to write it down, it'd be sth like this:

"I cannot believe the night i've just had. I felt like i was just flowing, totally walking on air, with someone magically sweeping all the problems and obstacles out of my way. And when i met him/her, it felt like it was the most logical thing ever, just waiting to happen. Like the universe had finally decided to let us meet. The butterflies were running wild, mine colliding with his/hers and no one and nothing else in the world mattered any more."

Say, some years have passed and a lot more has happened in your life and you can now put that situation in perspective with some other events. You can already summarise it. Does it thus belittle that night? Make it somehow less important? Yet, you'd probably describe it a lot differently, sth like this:

"I can vaguely remember that it was a warm autumn night a couple of years ago. That was the night i met him/her. It was probably among, let's say, 10 of the best nights of my life. I knew i liked him/her the moment our eyes met and i guess it was only logical that we ended up together."

And now, back to writing my head-book:) Because writing ABOUT it is all that ends up on screen or paper.

Two-headed Kerli Kõiv

2009-01-15T19:07:00.006+02:00

Kerli Kõiv (picture from Google)

I was walking home on the morning of January 1st, it was already light, though still early and the big party-night had just given way to the quietest day ever. I was almost home when i noticed that the door to the Estonian songstress Kerli Kõiv's home was wide open. (She'd moved to my house at some point, to ground floor, u know, where that store used to be, with big windows.) Well, the door was wide open and she was lying on the bed. I thought it strange and maybe dangerous, so i went inside. She was lying there, crying, all sad and hung over and with two heads!!! One of them was considerably smaller than the original one. She sat up and started crying even more, saying: "Oh my god, now the whole Estonia will find out about my two heads." I felt so sorry for her and assured her no one would hear about it from me. She was just sobbing and her place was a mess and it was really cold, so i told her to come over to my place and we'll make pancakes. She perked up a little at the thought and said it would be a very nice change indeed. She stood up, took a large piece of double sided sticky-tape and with an experienced move attached the smaller head somewhere under her hair.

And that's when i woke up. I'm telling you, my dreams get weirder and weirder all the time.

Still laughing....

2009-01-13T20:16:00.003+02:00

I just discovered the funniest thing! Been amusing myself for 5 minutes. Maybe i'm just easily amused. Well, try it yourself. Go to youtube, watch a video and then write a comment to it. You don't have to post it but do try the "audio preview". It really does repeat everything you tell it to, silly thing! I thought it'd surely draw a line with obscenities and just say "beeeep" but no, repeats it, like a good pupil. Try Estonian words! :) (S, N, and the others who are familiar with, mantra, try this one too!!):)

Nah, i guess i am easily amused, but i find it hilarious.

What is it with me!?

2009-01-06T22:12:00.002+02:00

The last couple of days i haven't been myself. I've been awfully clumsy. I've broken 2 glasses. I keep dropping things. The other day i spilled a cup of hot coffee and burned my hip (of all places!). I've hit my elbow and my toe. And, today i keep getting mild electric shocks from everywhere - door handles at work, my car, my computer, my fridge. Even the alarm system at the store went off for no apparent reason at me. What the hell is the metter with me?

My wonderful year 2008

2009-01-04T21:09:00.002+02:00

It’s time for my yearly roundup, again. My travels, big events, people i’ve met.

January
Went to Morocco, escaped my BD.

February
Nothing, it seems (i could just copy this sentence from 2007 summary, what’s up with February?) (I did see Korn and Chris Rea in concert but really not worth putting into the year’s roundup.)

March
Went to Stockholm for a business meeting, saw Koop live in concert (well, saw Rihanna as well), gave my first lecture.

April
Went to Cognac and Bordeaux in France (strangely enought this is in connection with some latter events of the year 08), danced on stage with Angelique Kidjo during Jazzkaar, also saw Jose Gonzales in concert and Roy Ayers and Torsten Goods in a jam session.

May
Helped clean up Estonia, on the last day od May started my trip to Portugal, via London.

June
Met P. Pause. Important. Went to Portugal, met some nice people in Lisbon, among them J; saw Feist in concert in Porto, and Seal in a concert in Tallinn.

July
S got married and that took almost the whole month and also included a trip to London and Bradford, met the whole bunch of her new lovely in-laws. (Problems with some of the dearest, which luckily have passed.) Oh, and N moved to my neighbourhood.

August
Olympics, P, öölaulupidu and i got an interesting offer.

September
End of an era, 6 years in TM, new job, less time for blog, P.

October
Organised my first events at the new job, went to Copenhagen.

November
Went to London again, and out of it, like for instance, Bath.

December
Again, i can borrow from last year – not a particularly good month - for one reason, don’t wanna talk about it. Went to London again. Otherwise, you know, the regular – xmas with family 1 and family 2 and so on.

Met some very nice people this year, they know who they are, acquired 3 new countries to my list – Morocco, Portugal and Denmark. The best month by far, was June. Other than that, the information for drawing any deep conclusions is not substantial. Universe is still a mystery to me.

This year will be different?

2009-01-02T14:35:00.002+02:00

They say that the way you start your new year indicates how the rest of it will look like. Well, let's see, what can be predicted for me in 2009.

I started the year in the company of good friends (good company for the whole 2009?), drinking champagne (only quality drinks for 2009?), eating good food (bring it on in 2009) and feeling a lot more sober than in the previous years (why not, just a bit tipsy's good); and there was no hangover the next day (no hangover for whole 2009, thank you very much, i'll take it).

Plus, my January 1st was quite busy, with one of the biggest Hennessy events to be held - a Händel gala concert, to be precise, with live broadcast on TV. This might indicate that i work a lot in 2009, or go to cultural events a lot, or start my new career as an event planner, or...or...or

Anyways, HAPPY NEW YEAR, my darlings!

Leslie Da Bass - Around

2008-12-31T11:24:00.001+02:00

Time to promote some Estonian music. This is a perfect song for looking back at year 2008 and thinking of New Year's resolutions. Chill out!
Happy old! Soon it's time to let the new one in with different songs!

More words of wisdom

2008-12-27T12:36:00.000+02:00

Alcohol is bad! Remember, kids, do not drink alcohol....oh my head....

Don't u just love a nice discount during credit crunch?

2008-12-23T08:50:00.002+02:00

There never is

2008-12-22T20:57:00.001+02:00

Wake up in the morning, stumble on my life
Can't get no love without sacrifice
If anything should happen, I guess I wish you well
A little bit of heaven, but a little bit of hell

This is the way you left me,
I'm not pretending.
No hope, no love, no glory,
No Happy Ending.
This is the way that we love,
Like it's forever.
Then live the rest of our life,
But not together.

Mika "Happy Ending"

Holiday season

2008-12-19T10:14:00.002+02:00

Guess, which ones are my creation:)

Insomniac? Not me!

2008-12-17T10:38:00.002+02:00

I cannot believe it, i OVERSLEPT today. Forgot to set the alarm. Woke up at 9 to a phone call, which i didn't answer. I just stared at the phone thinking why's my colleague calling me in the middle of the night.
This hasn't happened since....i don't know, almost forever. And i can't say the dreams to keep dreaming were pleasant ones. Best to wake from them.

Note to all insomniacs out there, an hour long hot bath does wonders to your sleep. At least it worked for me, though insomnia has never been a problem for me but well, you get my drift.

After i got up i only brushed my teeth and rushed to work (oh yeah, got dressed as well). Now i look and feel like a zombie. Save me!

Words of wisdom

2008-12-15T08:36:00.001+02:00

Whoever said cleaning is therapeutic....lied!
Whoever said dancing salsa is therapeutic....was probably on to sth.

VV Brown - Crying Blood

2008-12-12T16:29:00.001+02:00

Here's a little song to get the Friday going.
Forget about Amy Winehouse, Duffy and Katy Perry... I give you VV Brown. She's bringing swing back to popmusic!

How i almost got in trouble

2008-12-11T22:55:00.004+02:00

Omg, i have to tell this story...

I came home the other night, parked the car, got my bags and my computer and was ready to enter the house when i suddenly saw a man on all fours on the other side of street. He was obviously too drunk to get up on his own, though he was trying hard. It was really funny and pathetic at the same time. He was so helpless:) I weighed my options and considered my size and his size (too big and too drunk to be helped by me) but i knew i couldn't just leave him there, i'd have thought about it the whole night. I crossed the road and asked if the good man needed some help, hoping at the same time that me stopping to help will attract more help. So i kind of sort of helped him and he got up and i tried to point him to whichever way he was going.

Suddenly, a woman appeared, also tipsy if not drunk, a real dog. She sized me up and said (in Russian), all sarcastic, to the man: "Izvinite, ja ne znala shto võ sdes vstretites." (sth like: Excuse me! I didn't know you have a date here.) Well, excuse ME! I was only trying to help the man but she still gave me the evil eye. For christ's sake, she must really have very high opinion of that guy if she thought he was meeting me:) I took off as fast as i could leaving them to sort it out. At least between the two of them they probably had more chances of arriving home safely.

Abiks ikka!

2008-12-10T22:06:00.002+02:00

Leidsin sellise kirja ühe tuttava blogist ja leidsin, et pean selle ka siia panema, sest minu kleidikestest ei ole kellelegi abi:(

1. Detsembril toimus taas üks kodutute inimeste saunapäev. Koostöös Tallinna Sotsiaalameti ja paljude teistega saavad kodutud kogu detsembri vältel päevas korra suppi ning tegevusi on veel.

Oleviste kogudus on plaaniks võtnud veel korraldada 22.12 saunapäeva, samuti on meil 26.12 kodutute Jõulupuu ning korra nädalas neljapäeviti käivad kodutud Olevistes söömas suppi, arutelemas elu üle.

ME VAJAME TEIE ABI! Meil ei ole anda inimestele RIIDEID ja JALANÕUSID.

Kas saaksite vaadata oma kapist meeste (ja natuke ka naiste) asju, mida enam ei kasuta:

- Pesu, sokid, T-särgid

- Mütsid, sallid

- JOPED!!! (millega saab talvel tänaval elada)

- Püksid

- JALANÕUD!!!

Äkki saate oma firmades, seda infot saata kolleegidele ja koguda asju ja tuua Olevistesse.
PALUN, ÄRGE TOOGE teisi asju, meil pole ladustada suveriideid, jne.
Meil on vajadus aidata inimesi tänaval nüüd ja kohe.

Jumala õnnistusi soovides,
Oleviste meeskond
www.oleviste.ee

Mantra

2008-12-08T14:20:00.001+02:00

...

Venue

2008-12-03T21:20:00.001+02:00

I think i just found a great venue for party. Not sure which party yet. And in the process i might have also found the artist for a project next year.

Snowstorm

2008-11-23T19:14:00.002+02:00

The snowstorm has hit us heavily. I haven't been outside all day because the lady in the news told me to stay in. I don't really know what's going on outside because the windows are totally covered in snow and i don't dare to open them. I can only hear the wind whistling outside.

The news lady also said that 32 000 homes do not have electricity. Luckily for me, the electricity was only gone for a while but is back now. Cars and buses are crashing, the ferrys between the islands and to finland do not go any more. Flights are postponed or canceled. People are advised to store water and candles.

In a way it's even kind of romantic. I just hope the homeless people made it to shelters or anywhere warm before the storm hit.

George vs Joshua

2008-11-20T22:05:00.004+02:00

N suggested me this comparison. If you imagine one of them slightly younger and the other slightly older, yeah, it kinda works. There's similarity. However, i still know which one of them is 100 times sexier for me. (oh, if you don't know who these 2 gentlemen are, they're Joshua Jackson and George Clooney)

Benicio vs Bradley

2008-11-16T21:20:00.002+02:00

I know they've been compared before, but seriously, can you tell which one is Mr. Bradley Pitt and which is Benicio del Toro?

London and beyond

2008-11-09T20:09:00.009+02:00

I went to London for a generously extended weekend. I had more than one reason to go. One of the big ones being S's bd. Not just any bd, the big three, oh! Oh my, soon it's my turn. Before me there's N and right after me AJ and not long after PM. Anyway, it means a lot of saving up has to be done, as these three-oh's kind of demand presents which matter a bit more than a piece of clothing or some make-up.

Anyways, the bd went fine, the present was well appreciated and it was really nice that all of us from the closest circle had made the effort to fly to London. I think that's what made S the happiest. It was like old times again.

What was different from my normal visits to London, was that first of all - i didn't do any shopping. (I always regret that slightly when i'm back home because i don't like shopping here.) Secondly, i got out of London, which is a nice change. P took me to Bath and surroundings. Lovely little town. Nothing really special about it, just kind of...nice. It's strange, how different can London and the rest of England be. London is the most cosmopolitan city i have ever seen, with as many people of different races, nationalities, sizes, styles as one can imagine. Yet, when you get out of London to the more rural areas, it's all "old-english", like out of some old book - the local pubs, named Crown, Swan etc, little villages with narrow roads and people gossiping about whats going on in the neighbouring villages.

We stayed one night at this old-english bed&breakfast. When we arrived, it was dark already and as we entered, the door squeeked (of course) and we were greeted by this old man welcoming us to the house and showing us to our room. It was all very quiet and despite him stating otherwise we seemed to be the only guests that night. It was a big house, with very high ceilings and big rooms but still unbelievably stuffy. The kind, where you get the feeling you cannot breathe unless you open the window and you have to speak in a whisper. I was quite certain that at night in the big living room there would be secret gatherings and people from the village would wear masks and sacrifice small animals and on a bigger occasion, virgins.

The old man, however, unknowingly managed a joke of the day. He was showing us where we can turn the lights off and he went like: "We just got this new headboard for the bed, which is lovely, but it's just couple of inches too big." Me and P looked at each other and as he left the room, burst out laughing. I don't know where to start whith all the things wrong with that headboard. It was absolutely hideous and did not match anything else in the room and it surely did not look new.

And what do you do in Bath, if not take a bath in a spa with natural spring water, a 3 hour long night spa, to be precise, with some food and a glass of wine. Not bad! All-in-all, it was all just chill and relax for couple of days. On the way back to London we took a look at a big white horse and Stone henge (just because it was on the way), which was smaller than i remembered from the last time i saw it, 10 years ago. I can't believe i'd paid money to see it back then. In the airport, i must admit, i had to do some shopping to make me feel better about having to go back to work. Oh, and that's it, it's a wrap. Til next time, London and England.

Hennessy Artistry party

2008-11-09T00:50:00.001+02:00

(The pic taken from internets, don't mind the quality)

So, what's been up. For instance, last week (before going to London, lovely London) i went to a party on Wednesday night. A Hennessy party, in Helsinki, Finland. Yeah, had to go straight from work. 2 hours by ferry, party, sleep, 2 hours back, straight to work. It started off as a work assignment but turned out to be quite a decent party. Before getting there i didn't turn much attention to the performers. I'd heard of Kat Deluna, of course, as i do browse through music channels once in a while. I mean, you'd have to be deaf and blind (or old) to not have heard of THIS song. And then there was Matt Pokora, who i didn't know i'd heard of til he sang the song Dangerous, which i actually quite like. So, the performance part was good and Hennessy coctails were free, whole night. Gotta admire the Finns, though, who can drink the night away from 8 pm to 2 am without any food. Can't say it wasn't affecting them. Some of the "ladies" were so drunk it was quite disgusting - blabbering away, ready to hump a pole if no guy is interested.

I'd like to say i am past my groupie days but somehow i still ended up partying with the band guys. I promise, i did not approach them:) What was i to do? I was at that party with my boss, who'd brought his lady friend, so i felt it best to leave them alone. Anyhow, i think i made some good connection in music business if i ever want to organize a similar party in Tallinn. I'll let you know when i do. Here's the link to the PICS of that party.

Lazy little....

2008-11-09T00:01:00.005+02:00

I am so lazy it hurts. There's loads going on and i haven't written anything. How on earth am i gonna write an autobiography anytime soon if i don't scribble down my life's adventures. And i have to start with the writing soon. Katie Price a.k.a Jordan has written about six or so autobiographies already, all selling like fresh bread, and she's only a year older than me.

ultrasonic - lips they move

2008-11-07T09:22:00.001+02:00

Here's a little song to get the Friday going.

The good, the bad and the Ambassador

2008-10-24T21:41:00.002+03:00

Whewwww....finally, Friday! And what a relieveing one it is.

Monsieur Hennessy Ambassador was in town for 3 days and i pretty much had to organize 3 events in about a week. There were some highlights and definitely some low points but it's over now and i survived. On a negative side, i've been so stressed that i've had to sleep with rubbing painkilling ointment on my back to be able to sleep and i've cried a little. On a positive side, the first event on Wednesday went a lot better than i feared. Since there are too many people to rain on my parade i'll have to praise myself and say it was actually a nice event and the ones who attended were pleased and many of them even thanked me sincerely.

Somehow, i have to grow a thicker skin and an ability to not take everything personally. If someone else effs up and that affects the overall outcome, i should be able to blame it on them, however, i take it all in and weep like a baby (in privacy of my own car or home, of course, no need to show my momentarily weakness to anyone else).

Well, whatever, since i said i'll take anything but disaster...i can say, i've succeded quite well. Next week will be nicer.

Confide in me

2008-10-20T14:46:00.002+03:00

Different people have been confiding in me lately. Not even my close friends but people i hardly know. They've told me their stories and their secrets and have found a listener in me. Sometimes, when i hear about someone's worries, it makes me sad too. It takes a lot of energy to keep people's secrets. Plus, it's hard to keep track of which secrets are to be kept.

We all get hurt by love
And we all have our cross to bear
But in the name of understanding now
Our problems should be shared

Confide in me

Kylie Minogue "Confide In Me"

New toothpaste

2008-10-16T22:23:00.002+03:00

I bought a new toothpaste and squeezing it, what do i discover, its pink/white. Pink toothpaste, can you believe it. It looks awfully cute on my pink/white toothbrush. For some reason it really pleases me.

Btw, have you noticed how thorough and insightful my posts are lately:)

Darkness falls

2008-10-14T20:14:00.002+03:00

Today was the first day i went to work and left the office in darkness. I did start and finish a little earlier/later than usual, but still, it was a bit unsettling.

Fatboy Slim: The BPA - ToeJam

2008-10-11T19:12:00.001+03:00

This is probably the best video of the year. It's been around for a while now so many of you have probably seen it but it's still worth sharing:) Always amuses me :)

Copenhagen

2008-10-07T20:48:00.008+03:00

Greetings, Earthlings, from Copenhagen!

Well, not really. That's what i meant to write a couple of days ago, but luckily i was too busy in Copenhagen to be sitting around, typing away at my computer. Coenhagen, Denmark was a new addition to my list, YEY! I've added a new country to my collection. I believe there are 30 now (29 by Facebook count and 30 by world66 count).

It was business at first and pleasure later. I can't write much about Cop, because i have to save my creativity for my article, but i will add some pics to tell my story, but generally it was lovely, Christiania was still there and i spent some really nice time.

Sugar high

2008-09-26T15:43:00.001+03:00

Sometimes there are meetings from which i leave with booty. I hide it all in my desk drawer for rainy days.

Platon, autumn and high heels

2008-09-23T22:04:00.003+03:00

It's been three weeks now and i'm doing a lot of work and it doesn't seem like a rocket science or brain surgery. It's just work. But i do tend to stick to the things which i do best and am a bit reluctant towards the unfamiliar numbers and budgeting topics, but getting there, getting there.... What i do best, though, is meeting people, throwing around ideas, finding solutions, organizing stuff and communicating.

Today i went to a business meeting with a guy called Platon (u know, like the famous philosopher). Little did i know before the meeting that mr Platon was something of a 25-26 year-old well-groomed playboy-looking man and I had to be presentable and charming while having the worst stomach ache, ever! It went alright though. The power of concentration!

Things like that happen to me. Like the fact that almost every day i've been wearing skirts and dresses and high heels (because i can, and i love it) and the one day i wasn't, the "big boss" from aboad happened to stop by the office. He happens to appreciate nice clothing, heels and a bit of bling. Argh...however, i think i'm getting a new chance with him. I'm going to charm the hell out of him.

Oh, and since i've been whining about the weather a lot, i'm giving it a lot of credit now. It's been a marvellous beautiful, almost warmish, colourful autumn weather. I wanted it and i got it, and i love it!

2 weeks

2008-09-17T10:37:00.002+03:00

I can see i haven't written a word in 2 weeks. Lazy bastard. the new job is taking a lot of my time and energy and since i'm also cramming my personal life somewhere inbetween, no time is left to take care of my baby blog.
Last weekend i went to London and it was 18 degrees warm, while today it was 3 degrees here in Tallinn and it's 16 degrees in my home. Give me warm and sunny autumn with colourful leaves and mushrooms!

The pros and cons of new job

2008-09-06T16:59:00.002+03:00

Con: there's so many new things to master that i no longer feel like i know evrything about everything.
Pro: i am learning so much, so many new things every day and hopefully i'll be good at what i do very soon.

Con: the office is no longer situated by the sea and is a bit further away from my place than the old office, but....
Pro: ...hey, they gave me a car to get to it :)

Con: no more beautiful fishtank next to my table and no sofa in the office!!!!! (must work on that).
Pro: The office is situated on 2 floors so i have to move my ass to get a coffee or glass of water from downstairs kitchen. And there are TV's in the office, including the toilets. Lately we've been watching VH1 and it's better than any radio, less repetition.

This is it, then

2008-09-02T19:29:00.002+03:00

So, that's it, out with the old and in with the new. Yesterday was the last day at my old job. That period of my life lasted almost 6 years and was a good one. I met some of the best people during that time and i learned a lot. Most of the time it was more a family than a group of colleagues. If you ask me if i was sad to leave...of course i was but when it's time to move, then it's time. And as usually, i let the universe make that decision for me. It came knocking on my door and i answered. Good things come to me, so hopefully it's also the case this time.

Today was my first day at the new job. It was busy and hectic and interesting. But more about it very soon. Now i intend to drink a glass of wine and just relaaaax.

Ch-ch-ch-changes...

2008-08-31T14:44:00.003+03:00

As i understand, some people ( i mean S) are getting pissed off that i don't upload my blog. What can i say, i've been a bit busy.

The thing is, there are big changes in my life and all's new in September. I'm starting a new job!!! Almost 6 years at the old place are over. 5 years and 11 months, to be precise. It's time to move on. I have one more day at the old office, cleaning out my desk and making sure i've managed to flfil all the necessary people in on my projects and on tuesday i'm already at the new place. Mind you, it's not such a sudden change as i make it sound here. I've known it for a month now, i just haven't written about it. And i've already had the farewell party.

And, if you want to know what it is that i'm going to do....just give me a call or write me an email and i'l fill you in. As a hint i'll just say that i'm going to change sides and be on the client end for a while, get a chance to whine about the media plans and strategies:) in addition to loads of other stuff. It's very exciting!

Öölaulupidu tegi rekordi!

2008-08-21T09:57:00.004+03:00

Kui öölaulupidu läbi sai, tulin koju ja riputasin Koidu video üles. 24 tunniga kogus see üle 5000 vaataja. Väike asi on see, et sellega tõusis ta koheselt kõigist minu videotest esikohale. Suurem asi on see, et see tõstis ta ka päeva kõige vaadatumate "muusika" kategooria videode seas 70 kohale. Ja see on tõesti suur asi, arvestades, et YouTube'is vaadatakse iga päev üle 100 miljoni video ning päevas laetaks üles üle 65 000 erineva salvestise. Erilisemaks teeb selle ka tõsiasi, et vaatajad on tõenäoliselt 99% ulatuses eestlased. Äge, igatahes.

Vaata videot ja tema statistikuid, SIIT.

Edit:

Ohoo, ja siis leidsin sellise video, mis levib ka jutuubis nagu kulutuli. WOW! Samuti Koit, aga ETV salvestus. Nii võimas laul ja nii võõimas üritus peabki maailma jõudma.

Öölaulupidu 20 a hiljem: Koit

2008-08-20T12:25:00.001+03:00

Video at around 2 a.m.

It was 20 years ago when we had the same kind of events. People gathered at the night song festivals to sing about the wish to be a free country. It mattered sth then. It was important. I wasn't sure it would matter as much today, but i guess it does. Especially in the light of what's been happening in Georgia. I can't explain the feeling when you have thousands of singers and tens of thousands of spectators and they all sing along to the same songs as 20 years ago and they all still know the words. For one night you can really feel the strenght and unity of a small nation. I may get a bit emotional here but it truly was beautiful.
We were tired and thirsty and hungry but we managed to wait til 2 at night to hear this one song, the most important one.
Happy re-independence day, Estonia!

Olympic fever

2008-08-17T15:13:00.003+03:00

I have been totally in Olympic fever. That's pretty much all i've been watching on TV. Not that i's so very exciting because i mostly see the events after knowing the results, but it's just fun to watch, especially swimming, well, to be more precise - men's swimming:) My favourite TV programme is the Beijing Express on Eurosport - one hour packed with day's events plus best pictures of the day in zapping. Oh, the bliss. And Estonia got a medal, so that's good too, we're in the list of medalwinning countries, yey! And Phelps got his 8 golds. Congratulations! And i have a new favourite athlete - Usain Bolt - the Boltman, the Boltergeist! He's just so good to look at. The almost 2-meter guy runs 100 m like it's a walk in the park, gets a new world record and has time to spread his arms, look around and actually slow down right before crossing the finish line. That's some good entertainment in 9,69 seconds!

Edit: Oh, i almost forgot, i absolutely LOVE the modern techical wonders. Like the fact that when the swimmer is about to break the world record, the digital green record line is visible on the screen or when the athletes are throwing the javelin, their last attempt is shown with a subtle red line or the fact that i am on a train right now, watching the live coverage from Beijing as i write this.

Kana-kana-kana...hakkliha!

2008-08-16T04:57:00.001+03:00

Believe it or not, but this commercial is at number 4 in the viral spreading ads top of last 7 days.

Spread it!

Long weekend

2008-08-12T15:51:00.002+03:00

I've had a really good weekend...and yes, it lasted til today, in case you were wondering.

Tallinn weather

2008-08-07T13:48:00.004+03:00

Click on pic to see it bigger.

This is the weather forecast for the next 4 days in Tallinn Estonia, taken from different websites. Can't they agree on anything? Well, forgive me, but i choose to believe the first one, thank you very much! (and i don't care that it's the odd one out, i like that odd one the best)

That familiar smell

2008-08-06T09:19:00.002+03:00

I don't want to alarm you, people, but i smelt something this morning. You know how i am - sniffing everything and with a rather sensitive nose. Lately it's been the linden blossoming and some summer flowers and alike. The smell today was different, it's something i haven't smelt since.....last AUTUMN. It was the smell of first leaves turning from green to colour. I kid you not. I think it's the chesnuts that give up first. The smell itself was pleasant but the meaning wasn't. Hang on there, summer, just for a little longer!

Sushi

2008-08-04T15:03:00.003+03:00

(This is an older sushi pic by N)

On Friday night the 4 of us gathered to N's place (again!) and we made some sushi to celebrate my news. Sushi takes a small 1-time investment in the material - sushi mat, sticks, vinegar, ginger, soy sauce, wasabi; and a small every-time investment - rice, nori, fish and some other stuff for filling, but all-in-all it's not very expensive and you can make loads of rolls for not that much money. It's way over-priced at the restaurants! And it's so much fun to do it with a small group of friends. Add to that 3 bottles of wine and you have an excellent night :)

(During last week i have visited N more times than did in her old place altogether. And it'll only be a week from her move tomorrow. What can i say, the location is perfect.)

Howdy, neighbour!

2008-07-30T09:54:00.002+03:00

N has a new home! Finally! It's been long time coming. I mean, after all the trouble with the previous "potential new home", it's only fair this one came to her as easily and quickly as it did. She found it last week and it was love at first sight and already yesterday we were moving her stuff and having champagne at her place.

She lives exactly 1000 m from me, 90 m from A & K and 900 m from AJ. All i can say is: "Welcome to the neighbourhood. Next brunch at your place!"

...

2008-07-26T16:03:00.013+03:00

The indian wedding

2008-07-26T12:05:00.004+03:00

The indian wedding was not exactly a wedding, as there was no official ceremony, so it was pretty much just a big party. For this one, i hope the pictures will do a great job in telling you the story. In this party, there were 2 couples, in addition to S and J, there were also J's brother and his wife, who'd also already gotten married earlier this year.

The whole preparation process was taking place at J's parents' house and i am not exagerrating when i say there were moments when the house was literally full of people. The brides' hair and henna was done in one room, then there were some women who were cooking some food in kitchen, the TV room was full and there was just awful lot of dashing about.

The party itself was for 400 guests! But i think around 350 showed up. I believe i have never been to such a big private party. And it was all very easy, there were food and drinks and DJs playing music, so there was eating, drinking and a lot of dancing. The brides loked great in the traditional red wedding gowns and i looked great in my blue sari:) Near the end of the party there was a fire alarm and we had to evacuate and at some point there was a near-fight between 2 distant relatives and one of them was arrested. Well, you know, the normal party:)

The warm-up party

2008-07-25T08:58:00.003+03:00

Photos by: Me and PM

After the big day we had just a couple of days “off” and then it was time to head for England ang get ready for the Indian wedding. Thursday night was for London and me, PM, S and P went out for a meal in Camden Town. For some reason we talked about tape worm ang maggots during the whole meal while eating stuff which kind of looked like our conversation topics. That didn’t ruin our appetite, though:)

And n Friday it was time to head for Bradford, where J’s parents live. We only managed to get out of London half past 4, as S still had to get a new Brazilian visa to her new passport. Did i mention she managed to lose (misplace) her passport just days before the wedding?! Anyway, this whole business was a bit of a stress matter but finally it worked out fine.

But it meant we only got to Bradford at around 8 and had 10 mins to get ready for a party at a restaurant. This pre-wedding party was just for closest family and friends, meaning there were approx 100 people present. I can’t believe how warm and welcoming this family is. Each one of them who’d been to the Estonian wedding came greeting and hugging us. Even if we hadn’t even spoken. You just feel a lot of love when spending time with this family.

We pretty much just ate, drank, mingled and danced. And then there was this traditional thing where the girls had to dance with a whole chandelier with candles on their heads. This was for good luck for the couple. You can see on the photos that i tried it too.