August 1, 2014
reindeers… the source of my linguistic inspiration…
…I coined this genius expression by myself… in our cabin where we stay, while there was a serious downpour outside last night. (reindeer get it…? there are lots of them in Finland) This is my historic contribution to the Finnish language. In case, the “Finnish Academy of Science and Letters” decides to grant me an honorary membership because of my original work in the field of linguistics, than so be it, I accept it with great humility. One never knows what a cabin living can inspire. (It took Henry David Thoreau to write “Walden” more that two years, I came up with this deep thought pretty much in one night…)
Walden great things born in wood cabins…
my log cabin in the countryside south of Kuopio
inside the cabin…
basic comfort… I admit the U.S. has made me somewhat a softy I miss air conditioning and mosquito screens on the windows and doors…
the sauna. great addition to the cabin. I guess it is the Finnish version of the confessional. The “hot seat” I get rid of (sweat out ) all my sins and feel much better afterward. The real bonus is that in the same time, I can keep all my secrets because I do not have to tell them to anyone – you should try it…
I love this place. It is a nice neat and clean log cabin with electricity and gravity fed water warmed by the sun. I can also use the sauna. Breakfast is served in the main house. I cannot be happier that the hotel in Kuopio screwed up my reservation and I found this place pretty much in the last second. I have to confess, however, that I’ve gotten spoiled living in the U.S. for over twenty year. I miss air conditioning and mosquito screens on the windows and doors. The good thing is that the mosquitos here in Finland seems to be either domesticated or they simply respect my Transylvanian origin and they acknowledge that I take my blood supply seriously because I got through the night without a single mosquito bite.
Hey bud this is about my blood. we are on a serious collision course…
Sustainable energy, “The Midnight Sun” what a genius technical innovation…
While driving to our first destination last night, I was dumbfounded how much Finnish sustainable energy production is way ahead of the U.S. While we still trying to make people to accept windmills, solar energy, geo thermal heating, or electric cars in the U.S., in Finland, they’ve already managed to keep the sun up during the night in the summer! Can you imagine the energy savings and the additional amount of work they can do late into the night? It was interesting to drive in virtual day light in the middle of the night. What a great innovation…
There is one disadvantage though that I must mention. The problem is that during a long ride in the middle of nowhere with no rest areas in sight, one obviously cannot go unnoticed relieving herself on the side of the road when nature makes its last call, because of the lack of protective cover of the usual darkness in the night. I can see this problem as a serious drawback for our Congress debating the issue of introducing a “Midnight Sun Energy Bill” in Washington.
But let me stop saving the planet for a second, so I can brag you about our first Finnish dog show in Kuopio. Kaffogo Agyag has won her class and finished 4th place in over all, earning a Res. CAC. She also got a very favorable evaluation. I was very proud of her to deliver such a nice performance after such an exhausting intercontinental travel.
Now back to the country where we can relax and she can run free while I am testing out the Finnish domestic beer selection. See you tomorrow.