Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Finally

Last year's summer holiday - right now.

Day #1 today, 31 more days ahead.

Here's a map of Europe with red dots marking the places I plan to spend time in, size of the dot corresponding to the duration of my projected stay there:

That is all. Too busy relaxing to write novels right now. Photos etc. to follow, as usual, but probably only after I'm already back.

Sunday, April 4, 2010

Ahtaaja

In time of global economic turmoil and working class greed gone bad, a new cocktail is born from a twisted mind to bring hope to those who have no hope, to show the way when darkness has obscured it, and to continue the traditions of cynicism, of verbal assault and of enjoying the crap out of life. And even though it somewhat breaks the underlying meaning, it actually tastes great! Celebrating both the high and the low culture together like this is truly a fantastic way to get an evening going.

So, meine Damen und Herren, I give you:

Ahtaaja

What need?

- A large beer glass
- 3 shot glasses
- Gin long drink (Kurko)
- Pear lemonade (Smurffi)
- Cognac (e.g. Bastard--sorry--Braastad)
- Bitter (e.g. Campari)
- Salmari

What do?

- Fill up the beer glass with 50/50 mix of the long drink and lemonade, leaving about 1 dl of room for the additional ingredients. A very apt base indeed.
- Pour 2 cl of cognac, bitter and salmari into separate shot glasses, silently appreciating the metaphors contained in each of them. (If you are a Finn, all these should be clear to you)
- Dunk (ahda) each shot glass into the beer glass, and allow the explosion of hidden meanings to overwhelm you.
- Add ice.

Once completed, even the color of the drink, I feel, is perfect.

Okay, then?

The proper way to enjoy Ahtaaja is outdoors, preferably soaking your fat, lazy arse in snow.
Remember: a lone ahtaaja may be subject to both police action and citizen vigilantism, but in a horde of bums lies great power -- and not a shred of responsibility.