Little things that cheer me up: March.

[malinowy]

How is it April already, I genuinely feel like March just flew by. Time to list the things that made March quite a good month, really. I'm not a huge fan of March-April because it's not properly winter anymore, but not really spring yet either (there is snow in the weather forecast for next week so...)

» Starting with health things, because I feel there was a lot related to health and well-being going on in March. I had a foot therapy session which was so lovely and relaxing. I finally managed to get to the dentist (my appointment was cancelled/rescheduled twice) and was mainly told to be even more careful and meticulous with cleaning my teeth. No cavities that need fillings immediately, nothing that would require a new appointment, so I'm pleased. It had been over 3 years since my last visit to the dentist, so I was worried things might be much worse. Our work health care provider is going through routine checks with everyone and I had mine this week. First of all, the nurse assigned to us is so lovely! I'm always a bit anxious about health-related things, but it was very easy to chat with her. (The fact that they're doing virtual appointments might have actually helped.) Nothing alarming came up, but she did assign me a set of lab tests just because I've never had them done and we're checking my blood pressure too because Dad has hypertension and I feel the stress of last autumn might have raised mine. She also told me that if my neck and shoulders are giving me troubles (leading to headaches etc.), I can book an appointment with a physiotherapist to see what can be fixed. Now that I know that, I probably won't be having massively aching shoulders for months. XD

» Having a week off in early March was much needed and did wonders to my well-being too. And seeing as I probably won't be having my summer vacation starting until the end of July, because of renovation things going on at work, I'm very glad I had some time off. I messaged Anna when they were talking about summer vacations at our weekly meeting and if our rotation works the way I assume it does, I'm booking a trip to see her in August. ♥ I haven't traveled abroad in ages and I haven't seen Anna in 5 years, so I'm super excited that that might change in a few months. No other summer plans yet, but I'm thinking Tallinn and a national park or two in Finland should be very likely happening.

» Sports-wise March was excellent. Athletics indoor World Championships had many great, somehow unexpected, moments and I cannot wait for outdoor season and both Worlds and Euros. Armand Duplantis broke his own World Record, again, and the men's pole vault WR now stands at 6.20m. Which is so ridiculously high that I can't even properly comprehend it. Such exciting sprints too, and this coming from someone who doesn't care much for track. Loved the figure skating World Championships, I still can't believe the women's singles competition was so good. Men's singles too, but after years of not being able to enjoy women's skating at all this year's Worlds were something so different.

» Even though the theme is a bit too current given it's a historical novel, I really enjoyed Mart Sander's Litsid. Sadly not translated into English, but it's the first part of a trilogy telling the story of a Tallinn brothel in the 1930s-1940s. It's not heavy on the sex work, it's more about relationships and historical events. Which, given this part takes place in 1939 and 1940, include such events as the Soviet Union starting the Winter War against Finland and the Soviet Union also gradually occupying and taking over everything in Estonia. Even though I'm fairly familiar with the 20th century history of Estonia, there were so many details and everyday occurrences that gave me new information. It was also interesting to read about how the Estonians reacted to Finland being dragged into a war - I feel the novel has been well-researched and rather accurate in its historical depiction. Yes, it was at times a heavy read with Russia's invasion of Ukraine, but in a weird way it helped put this ongoing war into context as well?

» I deleted my LJ altogether and it felt strangely liberating. I am sad it probably means I've lost contact with a few people, but I think most of the people I interacted with the most have migrated over to DW. Plus some people have been inactive for years there and we keep in touch on other platforms.

Those are probably the most notable things from March, the ones I want to remember for longer than what my memory span is these days. The snap of the artwork is from a small exhibition I saw at my hometown's library. They're illustrations for a children's book, done by Apila Pepita whose style I enjoy a lot. I've once been listening to them talk about their work and it was very interesting.

No plans for April. Easter gives a nice little break, but mostly I'm hoping that we'll move towards more spring weather and not try to backtrack to winter.

Comments

[carbonpaper]

It’s always nice to know where your health stands!

[malinowy]

It is. While my family (save for Dad's hypertension) has been almost exceptionally healthy, it's good to check these things every once in a while.

[verdande_mi]

The book sounds very interesting, sadly not translated into Norweian either, but it is translated into Swedish. I might just add that to my list :)

We have snow on the horizion as well, do not want, we already had a short visit by winter some weeks back. I don't need that in April. Flowers have started blooming here, I just want more spring.

[malinowy]

Oh, I didn't know it's translated into Swedish! It only got a Finnish translation now despite originally coming out years ago. The sequel comes out in Finnish this autumn and I'm looking forward to it.

I am so done with winter. The below zero temperatures are absolute murder to my hands and I just want to be able to wear less layers outside. No blooming flowers here yet and it seriously feels like we won't see any for a long time either.

[verdande_mi]

I don't think it has been translated to Swedish after all. I searched online Swedish bookstores, but too early in the day for this is clearly Finnish and not Swedish https://www.adlibris.com/se/bok/ilolinnut-9789510475102

But if the book you read have just been translated, perhaps it will be released to a Scandinavian language at some point too.

I have been buying summer dresses and I am ready for less layers as well. We had snow in the air today, a mix of rain and sleet and nope, give me warmer sunny days.

[malinowy]

Yeah, that is definitely the Finnish version. No idea why it was picked for translation now, but I'm happy it was. English to Finnish dominates the translated books market so whenever I see something else I'm happy.

We've been having massive snow storms on and off all week and I am so sick of it. I just want spring, not this forever winter.

[verdande_mi]

Sorry about the weather! If a twitter-post I just saw is correct you have a word for this in Finnish, takatalvi. I hope winter leaves for good soon and that you will have some sunny spring days to enjoy.

[malinowy]

It's pretty telling that we seriously do have a word like that. Luckily it's looking a lot more like spring now, so hopefully the remaining snow will be gone sooner than later.