Greetings-December2006!

Dear Friends,

I decided to try this: Writing my monthly updates&thoughts straight to my blogsite. This might be an easier way and I could also add writing/pictures to this site whenever I feel like it, not just once a month.

Well, first of all, HAPPY NEW YEAR 2006 to everyone! I hope that it will be a great year, full of great experiences, joy, growth, learning, blessings and excitement!

Half of my December was quite busy. There was still some University-work to do, which took most of my time.
Many things took place last December. There was the independence-day of Finland on 6th. The gig of hiphop/electronica-band Ceebrolistics at Lutakko, in Jyväskylä. Ceebrolistics is one of my favourite bands here in Finland. They sing and rap both in Finnish and English.

One course at University that took lots of my time was the one on Cognitive- and Neuropsychology. I spent many days at University-library getting familiar with the course-books. There were so many new terms and concepts to learn for that course.

Another course that I completed in December was 'Ontology and Epistemology' (or 'Metaphysics and Theory of Knowledge'). There were some interesting areas in that course. But parts of the course I found quite dry too, too theoretical perhaps.

After the exams were over I had lots of time for myself. I had planned to write couple of essays in December, but I realized that I needed holiday-time- so I did not worry about the essays.
My parents left to India for Christmas so me and my brother got the job of taking care of the house and the dog of the family, Napoleon. Napoleon turned twelve this Christmas.

We got lots of snow for Christmas. Very white Christmas, It is very nice to do long walks in the woods at this time. The forest has transformed into this white, gorgeous, massive work of nature's art.

Many friends of mine were in Jyväskylä for Christmas, so I did plenty of socializing, which was great. One friend of mine came back from Nicaragua after spending the fall-semester there and the other had had a holiday in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

At Christmas-eve, on 24th me and my brother visited our grandma and had a very good Christmas-dinner. In the evening I had another Christmas-celebration at my friend's place, whose parents live naerby my parents. On 25th I went to Christmas-church in the morning. I thought it was seven am but it started eight am, so I sat one hour in the morning waiting for service. No problem. I read many brochures about what churhch is doing nowadays. It was good to sing Christmas-songs there. Atmosphere in the church was warm. Later that day we visited my uncle, who lives near Jyväskylä with his family.

I thought that I would have too much holiday-time, nearly three weeks, but as it often turns out there is not too much holiday time. It just took me awhile to get into a more relaxed holiday-mood. The days before Christmas one tends to worry about the presents, celebration-arrangements etc. I especially like the days after the Christmas-eve, they are very peaceful.

I had very enjoyable new year's eve. First I had an amazing dinner at my friend Olavi's parent's house. Later I went to two different parties. In the latter one we sang karaoke, very loudly. That was very entertaining. And then we watched the fireworks from the balcony as the year 2005 turned into 2006. It was a wonderful and touching way to start a new year, among one's dear friends, watching fireworks and singing good songs. I bet that with a start like that this is going to be a good year for us!

The year 2005 was a great year for me personally. One of the best ones I have lived. The whole Australia-trip that ended in April. Meeting both old and new friends there. One week in Los Angeles. Meeting my friends again in Finland. Spending good time with my family and relatives. Moving back to Jyväskylä and finding work fairly quickly. Doing two gigs with our band Osminen Koppi. Being part of a Art-comic-magazine that was released last spring. The Finnish summer in general. Doing roadie-work in rock-concerts. Finding a good flat in Jyväskylä and a great flatmate. Meeting spiritual teacher Katie Byron, whose work and life has inspired me, in Helsinki.
Starting my studies in University of Jyväskylä. Getting good results from my studies and finding new friends through University. Attending to some interesting lectures. Watching many good movies. Doing many great group-meditations throughout the latter part of the year. Joining my friend Olavi at his gig in Raahe and also travelling with JoonaToivanen-trio in Eastern Finland. Meeting the Christian minister Rob Crickett in Jyväskylä again and having a good chat with him. Many great warm evenings with friends when it was very dark outside.
There are too many things to mention, so I shall leave it here.

I wish you all a great new year, great new month. I hope we all have made good new year's resolutions and have managed to keep the ones we did last year :-)
Lots of blessings to each one of you! Enjoy the winter, if you are in the northern hemisphere, and Enjoy the Summer, if in Sourhern hemisphere!
Much love,
Anssi