2006: the unchronicled year

* A boring New Year where the only excitement was almost colliding with a herd of deer in the middle of the night (really, deer! Elks would have been boring).
* "... my problem solving method is to go straight onto the main issue and then state that everyone just needs an attitude adjustment..."
* Lived on the second floor of the basement, with a view of an industrial age castle (Suomen Rehu) and a kitchen containing a dancefloor and constant moonlight.
* Dreamed of being an archeologist and sitting in a muddy, rainy field in Ballygobackwards. Alternatively a marine biologist, travelling the seven seas. Alternatively, a Riverdance dancer.
* Discovered that if you work for yourself, you hate your boss.
* Took a course to learn the language of my own country better and felt more of a stranger than when I was actually living in strange lands.
* Luxury at the Grand Hotel Tammer, weirdness at the Lenin Museum, sledding down a hill late at night, being exotic and attractive just by speaking English.
* Shared a flat for 3 weeks with a suicidal and life-loving German.
* Suffered from the Finland syndrome: Not achieving enough, knowing enough, being beautiful enough, being a health freak enough.
* Was dedicated an original poem by text message.
* Gained a Thai nephew.
* Enjoyed being a hermit. Also enjoyed pub nights with my three knights in shining armour - a minister, a pastor and an expert on commercial law.
* Cried a lot in church pews.
* Moved to the sea.
* Midsummer celebration on a deserted island with good friends. With the open horizon on every side, sunsets going straight into sunrises and the constant wind singing between the bare rocks.
* La France: the decadence of dark chocolate and even darker espresso by the seaside in Normandy, troglodytes and Neolithic stones, the luscious Loire with fairytale castles, being scared in the back streets of Le Havre, thunderstorms in Chartres, dinners on bread with Camembert, local wine and sweet apricots.
* Joined a Greek-Orthodox monastery for two days, admired the monks and their berry wine.
* Found the secret garden of Helsinki.
* The first summer in the history of mankind when Finns have actually longed for rain. I spent it in Eden.
* Saw a real king and queen, up close, and pitied them.
* Found the aliens in my home town and finally felt at home. Many an interesting night with a bunch of Africans and some Colombian teenagers.
* Researched identity.
* Became a cynic. 
* Interpreter and volleyball player - back to my mission in life.
* Ended the year like I started it: with deer. A good steak this time.

The year? 2006. The purpose of this blog entry? To contribute to the Useless Information Archives.