Happy Halloween!

estonians don't celebrate halloween, they've been exposed to it through american television but it hasn't really caught on here. so having a party where everyone has to dress up is a lot to ask. luckily most of the people i've met here attend art school and artists will generally jump at the chance to be the center of attention. there were a few who showed up without a costume that felt so out of place they improvised with borrowed clothing and makeup, way to get into the spirit! since halloween is on a monday this year, the party was held a few days early but no one seemed to mind. there was a lot of dancing, eating of candy, and some very memorable moments that a few people won't be forgetting for a very long time...

gettin' down! 

ladies night 

don't worry, it's just make up... so punk rock! 

yay! it has arrived, my very first care package! thank you so much! apparently space available means two months but these cookies are so good it was worth the wait. thanks to everyone for all of your support, warm wishes, and comments!

i would like to encourage everyone to join skype! all you have to do is download the software for free and you're connected to millions of people with skype, like me! you can send instant messages or talk using a headset or the microphone and speakers on your computer, it sounds even better than a phone connection, and it's free. you can get it for mac or pc so no excuses! drew and bri were skeptical at first but after talking for three hours yesterday, estonia to cheney for free, i think they're hooked.

yay! 

the more time i spend in tallinn, the more there seems to be going on every night of the week. which is great fun but not the best environment for getting any work done. lately i've seen a few local/regional bands that blew me away. last weekend it was eriti kurva muusika ansambel (especially sad music ensemble), the sax player, kalle klein, also works at kunsiakadeemia (the estonian academy of art). the ensemble is composed of two upright bass, two violin, one flute, one sax, and a mad conductor/lead singer who violently spews poetry. the experience was overwhelming because the music is so charged and delivered in estonian. a language that i may never be able to learn but that is so beautiful when spoken and especially when sung i'll keep trying. last night i saw joona toivanen trio, an extremely talented finnish group composed of piano, upright bass, and drums. the venue, jazzklubi teater NO99, hosts jazz groups every friday and saturday night with a student ticket price of 40 kroons (about $3) so cheap for two and a half hours of live music and a great way to spend friday night with a few friends.

joona toivanen trio at NO99 theatre

eriti kurva muusika ansambel 

daniella, the only stylist willing to create the following... 

around here we call that a two-tiered bang mullet mohawk 

housewarming... 

last call... 

better late than never...

the housewarming was great fun, i'm so glad that i waited a little while to have the party. if i had thrown it when i first moved in i would have been able to invite three people...a month later and thirty were on the guest list with 25 in attendance, not bad. every time i throw a party or plan an event i get nervous, rearranging the candy dishes nervous, for no apparent reason. will there be enough food? too much? will people have fun? talk to each other? will the people i know from school get along with the people i know through the fulbright program? who knows and there's no point worrying about it, but i always do and it always turns out just fine.... we had a great time, good food (just the right amount), excellent wine, funky mix of music (everyone found something they liked), and lots of laughter. oh yeah, and an impromptu ballroom dancing lesson, nothing out of the ordinary.... i held the party on a sunday evening with the hope that it wouldn't run too late, people have work and classes in the morning, and i didn't want the first party to annoy my neighbors too much.... so wrong, last call didn't come until three... but thankfully there were no complaints or police reports filed.... a really great time.

Rrrarrrgh!

i'm sick! *cough, cough* nothing spectacular, just your average cold with an above average amount of phlegm... i know you all wanted to know that. i've been in bed for three days now, drinking tea with honey, taking my vitamins, and even forcing myself to take much needed cough syrup, something that i have never been able to force myself to do but now it is not an option, i must get better now! at this moment i am blogging from my bed, good to know that i get much better wireless reception this close to the window, one good thing coming from feeling so yucky... i have a better late than never house warming party planned for this weekend so i must begin my recovery this instant! knowing full well that no one reading this is close enough to bring me soup or ice cream or a movie, i ask that you all send me healthy wishes. hopefully they will make their way across the atlantic in time for sunday!

fall in tallinn