My current job has a lot of good side-effects.

1) It’s just across the road from my gym. I actually end up going.

2) I get to share an office with a guy who looks (according to his niece) like Jesus.

3) I get invited to all sorts of events from art gallery openings to cultural institute season starts to football games. Not that I don’t attend a lot of those as it is, but it’s nice to be asked.

4) My boss, the ambassador, promised to lend me a few of his books about the use of game theory in international conflicts. And yes, that IS cool!

5) I end up in situations such as walking down the street at 10PM with the ambassador and his second-in-command, debating where to get the good pizza.

6) When I needed to go pick up something for the embassy from the store, I was given a car and a chauffeur at my disposal. When we got to the supermarket he parked very illegally on the sidewalk: “diplomatic parking.” That was pretty rad.

I’m sharing an office at work with a guy named K[censored]. So K for y’all. And I don’t mind that at all, as he’s fun. And having him there gives me an opportunity to rant, make mean comments about something so colossally retarded* that it’s almost beyond comments**, joke and run crazy ideas by someone. Oh, and did I mention he’s fun.

Across the court-yard, on the opposite building, there’s a dance studio. So every now and then they have ballet classes. K’s a big fan.

One day they had what looked like a private ballroom class. Then suddenly, the next time we looked out (yes, I’m keeping an eye on them too) the curtains are drawn.

K starts to laugh and winks, “oh, the next lesson… they drew the curtains for that.”

Me: Would you rather they hadn’t?!?

Of course I make fun of his new addiction to ballet now constantly.

——

One afternoon last week, K’s browsing the news sites online.

“Did you know monkey’s prefer Metallica to any other music?

Me: Huh?

K: Yeah, there’s been a study, and they preferred Metallica out of all others played.

Me: That’s kind of cool, really.

K: And their favourite song is my favourite too.

Me: So… if you think about it… you’re a monkey?

——

Because of where we work, the security restrictions are rather strict for our computers. Every now and then, I get this announcement when I try to access a web page that there’s an application the computer’s not allowed to perform or something like that. It happens. To everyone there.

Except K.

K gets other kinds of notices. His notices say:

“Access denied. The site you’re about to access contain with a 70% probability material of sexual or pornographic nature.”

Noone else in the place is getting that notice, and he keeps getting them all the time. And in all seriousness, he’s been trying to access academic articles and news reports.

Stop trying to watch porn at work, K!!

——-

Today Driver*** brought fruit for everyone (he was ordered to) to the break room / kitchenette. I saw him laying them out as I went to get a drink out of the fridge. Little later K returns to our office:

“There’s fruit in the kitchen.”

Me *not lifting my head from my reading*: Yeah, I noticed. Driver brought them a little while ago.

K: It’s nice, there’s all sorts of fruit, not just apples.

Me *still reading*: Yup, plums and peaches, at least.

K: And also monkeys.

*silence*

Both of us: Monkeys?!?

K *laughing hysterically*: I meant bananas!

Me: Right. There’s a monkey in our kitchen. Okay. *pause* Is he listening to Metallica?

* Thank you, Sgt Colbert. I’m totally keeping that.

** Original quote was “that’s so colossally retarded I can’t even comment that”. I guess I’m just better than Sgt Colbert. (Please don’t kill me now!)

*** Yes, we have a chauffeur there.

Coming to work today was a chore. I wasn’t feeling too good, slightly nauseated (later discovered I was just hungry) and I was late. I stopped by the food court at Stockmann’s and as I was coming out of the building, heard some marching band music.

There was a whole bunch of military cadets, led by the relevant marching band, parading down the street, with police escort. All dressed in their fancy uniforms with the swords and everything, in straight lines and with stern faces.

Heaven knows I like me some military uniforms, so… Good morning to me!

The modern micro economic theory and the theory of consumer choice builds on the concept of local nonsatiation. The idea that no matter how much we have, no matter which of our preferences are fulfilled, there is always at least on bundle of goods, material or immaterial, that we will prefer to the current one.

I got an internship I applied for. I know, I should look for a real job, a paid job, but what with the current economic situation and the fact that I’m an economics major, internship is good.

Only, I don’t want it anymore.

Once I got it, I was like “nah, not so interesting”. It’s not enough. If it was this easy to get the internship, I should go after something more challenging. I mean, I could get something else, too. This is no longer enough.

I wonder if the internship has an NHL clause. Maybe I should ask for one.

… I’m having a very busy day.

I have plans for today. I have a To Do -list that’s long, and one I fully intend to accomplish. After few days of just lazying around, at most getting some knitting done (the Still-Nameless Wrap is turning out pretty good, even if I say so myself!) and wasting yesterday chatting with Beth the whole day (she had a crisis, she’s getting old. So naturally I was a good friend and reminded that her face is nothing compared to the stretch marks she’ll get from pregnancy. Aren’t I sweet? *laughs*), I’m finally feeling enthusiastic and energetic and ready to take over the world. Despite the fact that I overslept, as I’m on a screwed-up sleeping schedule after coming home, where I don’t go to bed until 3am and then sleep till noon, I’ve already written a chapter on my thesis, checked the BCF, and am currently writing this post. Writing my To Do -list. What’s on the list? I hear you ask. Well, my little curious ones, here’s the list.

1) University Computer Department needs a visit. Don’t get me started on the complexities of this whole thing, the short story is that I need to visit them to get the online ID I need to sign up for the exams I’m taking at this other university we’re cooperating with. So it’s administrative thing, let’s leave it at that.

2) While I’m at the University, I need to visit the library, and get some books I need for my Finnish essay. My own school doesn’t have them.

3) Before that, though, I should research the books I need, so that I don’t have to do it at the library. Luckily I can do that as soon as I’ve typed out this post.

4) As I’m going to be in that neck of the woods, I might as well stop by at my own school and fill in some more administrative paperwork…

5) … and return some books I no longer need to the library…

6) … and check out some econometrics books I need.

7) I need to tidy up at home, there’s some basic things like dishes and laundry and ironing. Nothing too bad, just pre-chaos control, you know? And there’s still some unpacking left to do. I hate unpacking.

8 ) I might squeeze in a visit to the gym. *passes the smelling salts to H* Yes, the gym. I’m actually feeling kind of good about this. And after the very pro advice I got (I totally used my connections and got both Ski Guy’s and BF’s trainers and physical coaches to plan for me, I mean, I might as well ask the truly pros, no?) I’m feeling ready to attack the elliptical machine and the cross-trainer. I’m not too keen on the weights, but cardio sounds good. So I might go fall flat on my face on the treadmill, today’s as good a day as any.

9) Crochet the hat I promised for My Friend Who Likes To Visit Third World Countries For Fun. Basically the same I’ve made myself in hot pink, only without the cap and in lion yellow. Someone stole her hat, so she needs another. I need to get it done as I’m seeing her (finally!!) shortly, and if I leave it to the last minute, I’ll just forget it. And driving and crocheting is never a good combination! So I might do that while watching Bones tonight.

10) I’m getting my thesis mojo back. Namely, the theory mojo, as I didn’t have any trouble obsessing over the trade deadline. Might write. Should write. Already started writing. I’m on a roll.

11) I might also start writing this completely unasked for and therefor all the better job application. It’s nothing grand, nothing amazing, but it could be fun. And right now, fun is very high on my list. And it’s not like it’s going to cost me something! Plus, it’s a job that could help me with the whole design-thing, which I still need to blog about, I know.

12) I need to go to the grocery store. I have absolutely no food in the house. Which is worrying, as I just went the other day. So someone’s eating my food. Must go again.

Now, how’s that for a list? I better get one more cup of coffee…

*kisses*

ii

In front of me, pinned to the wall is a list of all the teams in the NHL. That’s thirty (30) teams, in groups of five. For the past two hours I’ve stared at that list and gone “who should I call next”

After several phone calls I’ve found something out. If you call an NHL club you have two possibilities. Either you get A Very Rude Receptionist who connects you to who-knows-who or you get A Very Nice Receptionist who connects you to someone who could help you but you end up getting a voicemail.

I. Hate. Voicemail.

The only people who I got off the ground with were BF’s club (though I used a different name, ’cause I want to do this on my own, not because of what my name is or who I sleep with) and even with them I had to send an email as the person I needed to talk to isn’t there until Tuesday.

Oh, and that one Finnish guy I was counting on? They didn’t even recognise his name when I said it. Apparently I cannot pronounce it “the American way”. If there’s anyone there willing to help (no drunken dials, especially with my name, GB!!) I’d be more than happy. I have to warn you though. The receptionist sounded like someone put a hockey stick up her butt sideways. She kept giving me the PR department.

I have to say, though. This evening has completely gotten me over my fear of calling People Across The Atlantic Ocean Who Hold My Future And My Dream Job In Their Hands. In fact, I found it rather addictive. It must be the whole attitude of not giving up until you’re bleeding and even then only because the ref throws you off the game I picked up while cheerleading for hockey.

More on the calls after I’ve had some sleep. But before hitting the pillow, an episode of Babylon 5 (DD got me the DVD box) and my favourite doubble-date. Ben and Jerry.

p.s. I called the NHL Guy again. With some more silly questions (he already answered one by email but told me to call him about the rest). And he was so nice! I’m seriously falling in love with him, he’s that nice!