Decency is NOT dead!

Just so you know, I have NO problem using any of my connections or offers or anything given to me when I need something. So use caution when offering me something if you are not ready or willing to follow through. Because I will ask. And I will take advantage. With that said...

A dear friend, and I am going to go right ahead and call Gareth a friend even though we haven't seen each other for over 6 years, sent me a message today on facebook telling me that if I ever do go to Swansea and need a place to stay, his parents house is a possibility. Now that's what I call human kindness and generosity. And it did absolutely nothing to curb my fever and enthusiasm to go there! WHERE THE HELL IS MY LOTTERY WIN????? But just a fair warning, I will remember this offer and I will take you up on it if the opportunity ever presents itself! I've gone to a Manchester United game by contacting a Finnish goalkeeper who used to play with my au pair family's dad. I sent a message through his team's website with a subject line "To Teuvo Moilanen" and then writing the actual message in Finnish. I told him I was a fan, I work for someone he used to play with and I'd love to either see him play or go see a ManU game. Put my e-mail address in there and he replied. He got me and my au pair dad 2 tickets to a Manchester United game and ManU tickets are very hard to come by, especially at Old Trafford. Had I not done that, I've never would have gone to the game. So there. Finnish connection. Football connection. Tampere connection.

Now in May when I go to get my stuff from USA, I needed a place to stay. When it was still in theoretical stage, I talked to Barrie who is T's sister-in-law's sister-in-law, so extended family member. I worked for them for few months, took care of their kids when their au pair left suddenly, so I have a relationship with them outside of T. But they are still her extended family members. The kids are Carly's cousins. Anyway...Barrie told me if I ever needed a place to stay when I came over, I could always stay with them. And I took advantage when I had nowhere else to go. The family has pretty much written me off and I couldn't go to BK so I'm going to Montclair. And even though it's kinda awkward situation, I never got the impression that she was anything but sincere in her invitation. So just few examples that when I need something and you have offered, I am not afraid to ask for a favor. Keep that in mind!

My friend Marika was in Forssa today with her boyfriend's 10 year old son in a floor ball tournament and invited me to go with her. I took her to Finlayson between the games since there's not many places in Forssa you can take out-of-towners. It was fun watching 10 year-olds play but more fun was to watch the spectator/coach mom's from the opposite team. They took their cheering seriously. I guess they are hoping their kids will someday play in the national team...There was this one mom that was really loud and really into it. We were laughing with Marika and I told her she needs to learn to take it as seriously and start causing riots and fights. I also told her that I can see myself being a spectator coach mom as well. I'll be the one people read about from papers who went ape shit in her kids game. I probably shouldn't have little Kemppi's play ice hockey...that might be dangerous to everyone involved.

Later peeps!