this week

This week has been super busy and the countdown to HONG KONG has now shrunk down to 10 days!

When did this happen!

I meet Asia, in less than 2 weeks.
What an absolutely strange concept.

I don't know why, but I stilllll cannot even begin to understand just HOW huge this adventure is going to be!
So strange!
I really want to start UNDERSTANDING this, noww!

(So sorry for the excessive caps-lock-ing.)

I mean, really.
Usually I'm almost climbing walls with all the excitement when A. and I take on Stockholm.
So now, when we're faced with her homeground HK, I'm like struck dumb.

Anyway.
This week has been super busy.
Got some nice work things done, and seen some lovely friends.
Last night went out for a little while and then another clothes sale today.

The rest of today was just for resting, on my ass, and mostly horizontal.
Tomorrow marks the all-systems-go moment, once more.
Before official nap-time it's most definitely a time to plan tomorrow.

So, for now, I hope you have a lovely evening.
And I have a feeling good things are coming our way.

With love, and light.
Yours truly.
M.


This was for an educational concert program we're doing this season - yet to see how many schools.
Fingers crossed!


The other day I was wearing this t-shirt E. got me for my 16th birthday.
It's says MARIAQ on the back, and on the front a tiny picture of my favourite energy drink back then.
(I used to get to school super early, and I didn't like coffee back then!)


Outdoor Swan Lake next to the Opera House, with 100 swans.


Sung a little at my old school's autumn concert in the Nokia concert hall in Tallinn.
That was a first for me so it was super exciting!
Loved the dressing room and ID-card.






Also, this week marked my return to the gym, YES.


Got this coat at this big vintage festival like a month ago.
And today it earnt me a most devoted 5-year-old admirer on the bus.
No, seriously.
I think he thought I was an actual cat.

the Return

And once again, I'm back!

These past few months have just been a string of leavings and returnings.
And so I have once again returned from Finland.

My stay with A. was super peaceful.
We did some rowing (I have a blister hole in my hand to prove it), spent a lot of sauna time, had some excellent food cooked by her parents, points to a marvellous stake a la Father, did some talking, a lot of board-gaming, face-masking, sunning, reading, tea-drinking, plenty of sleeping and so forth.
In one word: summering.

Sadly I have absolutely no photos.

So yes, I've no returned to Tallinn with a head full of thoughts, that need to be organised.
Pronto.

And I'm also planning to go back to Finland again, next week.

Summer-time.
M.

travel-cat

I've been so so bad at blogging lately!
I still have hope you haven't lost faith for good.

I'm just packing my stuff to go to Finland, finally!
Gonna go see A. and her sauna and I absolutely cannot wait.

My return will occur on Saturday which will also mark my return to the blogging train.

So for now, I'll leave you with much of my love and I hope you all are experiencing super summer time adventures!

The Devil still doesn't play fair.
M.

today

Sooooo today we're literally driving to the other end of the country.

But I'm armed with fresh peas, blueberries and raspberries.
We'll get back to Tallinn just before 2AM.

BUT, this is all fine.
Because this is the countdown of the last 5 gigs!
So I'm really going to make the most of them.

Adventure-cat time!

Happy Wednesday.
M.

this

I miss this.

But NO FEAR, lolcats!
I will look into crossing the Gulf of Finland soon. SOOOoooonnn, I tell ye!

Last year was perfect. A. came over for the last gig and then off we went towards adventures.
Which will not happen this year.
BUT WHATEVER.

There will be other kinds of adventures to be found, everywhere, all the time.

And this goes hand in hand with the theme of me feeling like I should be somewhere else.
In the world, I mean.

Weird.
M.

STHLM

Here
we
go
..
again.

I fly today at 6pm, and then only the Lol-god knows what will happen next.
A. and I are back on Friday - I'm in STHLM till Friday, she's in TLN till next Tuesday.

I'm currently eating watermelon and packing. After having disappeared into the Scaffolding concert madness this comes at a ridiculously appropriate moment.

BRING
ON
ADVENTURES
With love.
Mayhem.
Of Chaos and Mayhem.

sthlm

I miss A, boo-hoo, and I miss STHLM.
BUT, much more importantly, our adventures.
It's been a month since I visited last but feels so much longer.
And the thing is, we don't have a set date for the next Chaos and Mayhem reunion.

So.
You know.
Unfairness of the Universe, but HEY, whatever.

This was taken in the White Room, in March, by Mr. Borovic.

Mayhem.
AP+ML.

back

Hello, sweets, I'm baack!

Back from some super springtime travels.
Which were super.

Just, I'm not feeling this vibe, you know. As in, I'm not feeling any vibe at the moment, to be honest.
I don't really know what this is, but honestly, I have to get to the bottom of this because it's like eating me inside out. Not very pleasant.
Especially after 5 awesome days in STHLM which the most brilliant spring weather.

I don't know whether this is growing pains (http://marriiialistra.blogspot.com/2012/11/november-is-nearly-finished_5928.html) or what? If it's growing pains, I'll take it, embrace it and run with it. If it's something else, I'm confused.
This better be the end of Mercury being in Retrograde.

And now E just changed the GAME!
So my crap-est day of this year so far (I kid you not) will now end at her penthouse heaven, with a 6-pack of Corona beers, 2 limes, tortilla chips and garlic dip, and Macdo. YES.
I mean, YES. If in doubt, get this plan out!
I mean, life saving SWAT-team, 1-2-3.

And now, it's magically midnight. And the day is officially over.
I started this post this morning, and I've successfully made it through this day. With no fights, no bleeding or broken bones, no loans or car crashes or anything, or unnecessary questions.
So pleased.

E. has gone to sleep and I'm all tucked it, writing.
I feel so relaxed that it's almost divine.
And so, once again, the saying comes to mind that "everything passes". At the times when everything is exceptionally good, this is a hard thing to think about. However, under the opposite circumstances, this is nice and balmy.

So, as I said, I'm back.
I'm back from my travels and I'm going to hold on to my STHLM energy with teeth and nails and not let it slip away into nothing. I want it and I need it and I deserve it and I owe it to myself.
Armed with this I could get stuff done, and that is what I want.

My STHLM adventures and photos coming soon.

I truly hope you've had a more peaceful time with the old Mercury.

With love.
M.


Something from A. to bring cheer to my day.

sthlm

Reblogging these because they warm my heart.
And because I'm so going to visit STHLM very soon.

The other day, A. mentioned something about her "happy place".
And I decided that one of my very prominent happy places was following A. around the globe. Whether it's eating cheese in Zürich, or sitting on her floor in Basel, or sauna time in HEL, or crashing on her sofa, reciting soft porn and building furniture in STHLM.
Adventures, man. That's my happy place.

Nordic.
M.

adventure (again)

I think adventures are everywhere to be found. You don't have to be a pirate or a mountaineer to go on an adventure. Adventures just happen when you have the right mindset, the "Yes, to adventures!" mindset.
Reasons I want to go to Stockholm again.
Adventures.

I just want to go on adventures all the time.
M.

Amelie

I don't know how this always finds its way to me, but this composer's music and I just seem to meet a lot.
You know, like when there's a thing that you just notice, again and again, without seeking it out.
Like when someone's talking about it, or you hear it somewhere, etc.

I love the film pretty whole-heartedly. If you haven't seen it, I really really really recommend it.
Some seriously super-super storytelling.

Composer Yann Tiersen. Awesome human.

Amelie.
M.

STHLM pictures, as promised

A's future husband.
We went out for dinner, and saw this guy, bearded, beanie hat.
Holding a baby on one arm.
We died. So therefore, this guy in the middle could do the same thing. He's allowed.

Indoor market in Stockholm. Pastry. I heart pastry.

Textbook A+M situation/Chaos and Mayhem adventure
= 3AM in Macdo.
The people, and I mean the circus - one of the best I've ever seen.
You get a point, youths of Stockholm.

Bag of coated nuts (omg the variety), and tea.
Location: A's floor. White, wooden. No carpet!

Same indoor market, wintery festive cheeses.
My favourite is the snowman one.

Just some pretty lights.

Since I was wearing A's red Converse (cause I had no other flat shoes),
I couldn't resist the temptation for a self-take at H&M.
Oh, and I fully embraced "the Stockholm pony" -
middle-parting, low-pony-tail.

Oh, and we tried on the same dress, different colours.
Potentially for New Years. It still might be on the cards.

Sweden's biggest out-door museum - it's a biggg village.
All working little houses, and a pharmacy, and a tavern,
and people in national dress.
A. and I danced around a Christmas tree with some children,
for 30-40 minutes.
And then I had a Lussekatter. It's basically a saffron bun.
And its name ends in "cat".

All red. Before heading to the airport.

TALLINNNNN.