The Howling

So. A new layout. And some new people on my friends list. Hello! *waves* And welcome. :)

Since I haven't updated in more than a month I have so much to write about that it's probably best to divide it to several posts, otherwise it'd be the longest and most confusing post ever.

Anyways... shadow_wolfess  was here for the weekend, as she attended Ruisrock (for those who don't know, Ruisrock is the second oldest rock festival in Europe and one of the oldest in the world having been held in my hometown every year since 1970) and was in need of a place to crash. 
It seems that with a press pass and a right amount of luck you can have some amazing experiences, judging by the things she told me about Friday night. Though without some balls and initiative I suppose you don't get very far, even if you have the luck of the Irish. :p
Anyway, as her Russian journalist friends left on Saturday already, I could have the press and backstage passes from one of them for Sunday. It was an interesting experience, although not as glamorous as some people might imagine.

I mean, I did love watching Gogol Bordello perform from the stage (with Lauri Porra and Timo Kotipelto from Stratovarius standing right next to me :D) for example, but all those musicians buzzing around the backstage are just people, having lunch and going to the loo just like anyone else. Talented/eccentric/charismatic people maybe, but people nevertheless. (Okay, maybe I would have been a bit more starstruck had I been there on Friday to see... not Corey Taylor or anyone from Slipknot or Disturbed, but Jaska Raatikainen from Children of Bodom. That guy just has this weird thing about him that makes me go all gooey anytime I even see a picture of him. Strange.) I don't know if I would have reacted differently to the Faith No More members, but guess I'll never know because they wanted everyone "extra" out of their backstage, including us who only had Slipknot stage passes. Ah well.

(Side note: If you ever get a chance to catch Gogol Bordello live, don't miss it! They're phenomenal live, a mere CD doesn't do justice to their music, they're a lot like Flogging Molly in that sense. And even though you perhaps couldn't guess it judging by his looks Eugene Hütz is one hella charismatic frontman, and all that frantic bouncing around the stage has given him an incredibly ripped, yet wiry torso. Yowza. Also the new longer hairstyle becomes him. But anyway, like Flogging Molly, they also seem to genuinely enjoy performing, which is lovely to see. :) So, go!)

But it's so funny, in that ironic way, that now that I have given up my aspirations to become a music journalist and don't really follow what's going on in the scene anymore, I'm offered a chance to become one. Just as an unpaid amateur - at first anyway - but still. I did make a tentative promise to Tanja to do some translation work and maybe some gig reports for them, but I don't know if I could handle being a full-fledged journalist, I'd certainly have to work on my self-confidence and social anxiety. *chuckle*

But we'll see... Now I'll leave you with this:


(Not recorded by us, we were already waiting for the boat at that point.)

Okay, first things first:

( 100 Things To Do )

Anyway... Ouch.
I've been having an annoying flu for the last week or so, and the weekend really didn't help.
I probably strained myself too much by dancing etc. and my shoulders and neck are still a sore mash thanks to a certain Airaksinen's massaging methods. :p But well, I had a good time and I'm glad Ville (Janina's Ville, not Knaapi this time) was happy with his Birthday party. :)
I do worry a bit about some people, but I suppose I just have to remind myself that they're grown-up and capable of taking responsibility of their own actions. :/ I just hope any unnecessary drama will be avoided.

Me and The Fox have settled for a some kind of odd affectionate alliance, which is good. Future will bring enough unavoidable commitments anyway. *sigh* I still don't like it, but as I've said before, it won't go away if you close your eyes and pretend it doesn't exist.

Next weekend to Helsinki, then. I'm still unsure about the Christmas party on Friday, but I just bought tickets for me and Ella for the Raskasta Joulua gig at Tavastia on Saturday. It's the open-for-all-ages one starting at 6 PM, but it leaves us a possibility to attend the Graveyard Party at Gloria after it. We'll see...

Greetings from the Emerald Isle (and it's not a myth, everything really is a lot more green over here) and the City of the Hurdled Ford.
I have a couple of moments to give you an update, so here it comes.

Flights went pretty well. The night we flew from Tampere to London was clear and bright, so we could see the stars and all the lights below us. Seeing the coast of England appear as a sea of tiny little yellow lights from the darkness was an awesome sight.
Didn't get much sleep at the Stansted airport, as I was stupid enough to not remeber to pack a blanket and an extra pillow. Next time I'll be wiser. But hey, I've been to England now.
The morning flight to Dublin started gorgeously. We took to the clouds just as the sun was rising. It was like flying in golden cotton candy. But as we arrived to Ireland, it became so cloudy and foggy that we only saw the airport like a minute before we landed. A pity, but I guess it's also somehow characteristic. The foggy dew and all, you know.

Our first observations about how things are over here were pretty much:

-everything is so green. Like, REALLY green. And people have palm trees on their courtyards. Palm trees. Seriously.
-the traffic is insane. And I don't mean just the fact it's left-sided. It could be described with words "comfortable chaos".
-the general atmosphere is somehow really laid-back and easygoing, which is lovely.
-it's so warm here.

Also, the random encounter thing is not a myth either. Like this guard/guide at the Trinity College Long Room (one of the most awesome libraries ever, it's gorgeous) who started chatting with us about the order of the books of the library and the local ghosts and how he used to play in a band when he was young. He even showed us pictures of himself from the '70s, and he looked just like Mr. Holopainen, hair and hat and all. :D
We saw him again today when we went souvenir shopping to the Trinity, and he came to say hi and gave some advise about museums and told me I should really watch Michael Collins. I'll have to see if I can find it, I already bought The Wind that Shakes the Barley from HMV.

Oh, and the gig. It rocked. I mean, had it been in Finland, it would have felt like routine to me in a way. But here in Dublin, the band playing with Troy Donockley and there being like seven of us Finns in the front row rocking out it was pretty magical. Tuomas was clearly quite amused and kept grinning at us (Sari said he clearly recognized me. Argh. *hides under the table*) and even jumped down from the stage at the end of the show to thank us all, for being crazy and Finnish I suppose. :p
After the gig we went to the Brazen Head, where we had already hanged out on the previous night. It was so much fun. Note: if you ever go to Dublin and want a good traditional pub, Brazen Head is the place for you. It's not in a very central location, but worth the walk.
But Guinness.. It tastes exactly what it looks like: swamp water. *makes a face*

Tomorrow we have to wake up early to go and see Tara. We would have gone to Newgrange too, but the tours were all booked full. *pouts* And on Sunday we'll hopefully have some time to visit the Kilmainham Gaol. I've already seen all the other essential places concerning the Easter Rising (adnd even one of the original copies of the Proclamation of Independence).

But I think I got to go now, see ye when I get back. Sláinte!

From the darling jupedog:

1. Grab the nearest book.
2. Open the book to page 23.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the text of the next three sentences in your journal along with these instructions.
5. Don't dig for your favorite book, the cool book, or the intellectual one: pick the CLOSEST.

"Hänen ajatuksensa olivat suuntautuneet sisäänpäin, yrittivät ratkaista Trieliltä keskustelun kuluessa saamiaan hienovaraisia viestejä. Suunnitelma Mithrilsalin valloittamiseksi vaikutti varsin lupaavalta. Jarlaxle oli ollut kääpiölinnoituksen lähettyvillä ja tutustunut sen puolustukseen. Vaikka puolustus olikin ihailtavan luja, ei se kestäisi drow-armeijaa vastaan."
-R. A. Salvatore: Tähdetön yö (Starless Night)

Damn, why did it have to be the only FR book I've been reading in Finnish lately?
Ah well, just for the heck of it, the same from the second nearest book:

"Though Pippin had regretfully to destroy his hopeful tale, he could not be rid of his new rank, only fitting, men thought, to one befriended by Boromir and honoured by the Lord Denethor; and they thanked him for coming among them, and hung on his words and stories of the outlands, and gave him as much food and ale as he could wish. Indeed his only trouble was to be 'wary' according to the counsel of Gandalf, and not to let his tongue wag freely after the manner of a hobbit among friends.
At length Beregond rose. 'Farewell for this time!' he said."
-J.R.R. Tolkien: The Lord of the Rings - The Return of the King

I admit I had to bend the rules a little, though, because my copy is one of them illustrated ones by Alan Lee and the page 23 was actually an illustration of the city of Minas Tirith. So I used page 22. :p

Aaanyways... I had a pretty good time today.
Even though I'm once again in a totally weird sleeping pattern and spent the whole day sleeping yesterday and took only a little nap today after staying up all night, I actually managed to be one of the first ones in the history class for once. But well, it was the last class in this course and I didn't want to miss it. Wasn't exactly the most exciting class, though, because it was mostly about industrialism and the birth of modern political ideologies in the 19th century. But well, guess I have to learn about that stuff as well.
After school I went to buy myself the history textbook and also pick up the book I had ordered (the new The Legend of Drizzt edition of Salvatore's Sojourn with cover art by Todd Lockwood <3) while I was at it. Then I went to get Ella from work and we went to buy ourselves the tickets to a Kotiteollisuus gig on Saturday (yeah, the second time we see them live in two weeks :p) and grab some food.

After dining and hearing some sad news we met my mom briefly so she could give me some official documents and then proceeded to Cosmic Comic Café.
Thursday nights are Larp-kahvila nights so people from the Turku larp scene like Dare and Susanna and co. were about. Not a too big crowd, though, and I really enjoyed being all geeky and rambling about the X-Men with them. You don't get a chance to make good-natured fun of the soap-operatic shenanigans of the Summers clan or debate about whether Wolvie should have smelled it was Mystique entering his tent instead of Jean in X2 or not with like-minded people too often. I might have to make a habit of hanging out in Cosmic after school on Thursday nights, even though when people start talking about the city-larp campaign stuff, it all flies right over my head.
Another subject was for some reason (might have had something to do with Magneto) natural catastrophes, mainly the possibility of the über-volcano beneath the Yellowstone National Park erupting and promptly destroying a great deal of life on the North American continent (and probably also causing some nice little nuclear winters in Europe and Asia). I'll now take the risk of sounding like that git Pekka-Eric Auvinen and say that I probably wouldn't be too sorry if that happened. Of course I would want Steph and Chris and everyone to get away safely in time, but this world and mankind especially is in dire need of a bit of bitch-slapping, a reminder that we're not almighty, that not everything is in our control. This planet would also only benefit if there were a couple of billion people less.
So if you're asking me? Whoo yeah, bring on the Ragnarök/Harmageddon/what you have! \,,/

Gaah. I'm sure I had something else to write about, but of course I forgot what it was.
Ah well, better go and try to catch some Z's. G'night, kittens.

EDIT: I just noticed that both of my Pirates fics in FF.net have been nominated for an award. O_O
"Most Creative" for The Seven Names of Elizabeth Swann and "Best Jack POV" for In Her Eyes of Gold. Didn't win the first one, but it's only completely natural as I was up against the likes of bravenewcentury . I don't expect to win the other one either, but it sure felt good to be even nominated considering how brilliant writers this fandom has.

Which X-Men character are you most like?

You are Storm!You are very strong and very protective of those you love. You are in tune with nature and are very concerned with justice and humanity. Unfortunately, certain apprehensions and fears are very hard for you to overcome, and can often inhibit you when most need to be strong.
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Which of the X-men do you resemble most?

You are Storm of the X-men! You are strong and sweet at the same time you have self control and have a very nurturing nature about you. You make friends easily but keep your enemies even closer.
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Heh, figured as much... The second description doesn't fit as well as the first one, but yep, I'm Storm:
Calm and level-headed mother figure of sorts with weather-controlling powers and claustrophobia, and whose emotions taking over her can have terrible results.
And out of X-Men Evolution characters I'd be Rogue. No surprises there either.

Looks like I've got into the X-Men again (seems like I always have to have an active fandom *chuckle*).
For the first time in quite a long time I feel like going to Alfa Antikva to snoop around for some new (or old :p) superhero comics. Wanna join me someday, Ella darling? I can even buy you some Kurt stuff if you want. ;)

Oh, I also finally went to get my ticket to the Dark Passion Play release party at Tavastia today.
Can't wait to see Anette live, I really hope they will play Ever Dream. Should also meet a whole bunch of people, as some are coming there from as far as Ireland and Czech Republic.
I've actually thought a bit about trying to be able to attend NW's Dublin gig next spring. It would really be a dream come true. But only time will tell, I suppose...

Oh well, I'd better get the laundry from the laundry room and go to sleep, early wakeup tomorrow. *yawn*

Meh. Looks like it's one of these days again.
I have tickets to Ruisrock for two days, but now that some unfair person moved Gogol Bordello (and added Turisas! Unfair, I tells ya!) to Sunday, I apparently already missed Finntroll and don't really have enough interest for Poisonblack after all, it looks like I'm only going to go check out Children of Bodom (and possibly Amorphis, depending on when I have to leave) today, and they won't start playing before 22.20.
Hopefully tomorrow will be better. Strangely enough it will be the first time I see Kotiteollisuus play live without Holopainen (unless he decides to surprise everyone and makes an appearance, which would be great because then they could play Satu Peikoista for Ella as a birthday present). But I'll have my beloved "guardian angel"/birthday girl/sister (in arms)/other half of our rockstar magnet duo with me, so all should be good. *knocks wood just in case*

It also sucks that I seem to have one of my unsocial-bordering-snarky phases, and of course half the world wants to hang out with me right now. Figures.

EDIT to add the official cryptic part:
"Why do I miss someone I've never met?"
You said it, boy... You said it. *shakes head incredulously*
Hope you at least have found her now, brother...

One thing is for certain: Hevillä ei hävitä.
Not in Finland anyway.

So yes, Ari Koivunen, a lanky, long-haired heavy metal singer won the Finnish Idols.
Tonight he managed to make the judges tear up with a heart-wrenching version of Still Loving You by Scorpions, give me chills with Soundgarden's Black Hole Sun and perform a very decent cover of Sonata's FullMoon.
Anna wasn't really that bad either, I really liked that Portuguese song of hers, it felt very natural and smooth. But as Jone said, she's not Alicia Keys and definetely not Joan Jett.
Ari on the other hand, again quoting Mr. Jone Nikula, could any day replace even Bruce Dickinson vocals-wise at least. \,,/

routaneito dropped by to see the first gig of the Finnish tour of Finntroll.
Too bad Wednesday was apparently The Day of Misfortune and among other not-so-good things we managed to miss the first 20 minutes of the gig, which was pretty much half of the set.
'Twas a great gig though, even though Beast's drums broke soon after we arrived and they had to improvise while the roadies tried to fix the problem. Virta played some Säkkijärven polkka (which naturally made me and Ella show 'em how to polka) and then we heard a very interesting techno version of Trollhammaren. *grin*
Fortune among misfortune was that they played all my favourites only after we arrived, at least Svartberg, Det Iskalla Trollblod, Fiskarens Fiende, good ol' Försvinn Du Som Lyser (Hail Somnium! \,,/) and the brand new, absolutely amazing and absolutely hilarious En Mäktig Här.
It was also good that this time they were donning their troll-gear and warpaint (even though Skrymer was uncharateristically boring and played with his shirt on). Routa is so cool, the guy's hair is to die for. <3 And I want my own Tundra as a pet, a furry little thing peering at you from beneath his wild, curly black mass of hair and looking like he might any minute attack your leg and start gnawing on your ankle. :D Vreth also proved that he's able to lead the troll horde (at least in live situation) even though he's a lanky prettyboy.
There's nothing lanky nor pretty about his voice, though. The lad screeches and growls like the best of them, sounding more like good ol' Katla than our darling Rivfader Wilska.

Katla was there, by the way, unless I'm completely mistaken. He was skulking around after the gig and hanging with the guys. It's funny, the moment I first saw the guy I immediately thought there was something special about him, this pretty smartly dressed somewhat short fellow with long wavy mid-brown hair, sweet-natured looking face and kind of amiable aura about him. I had no idea who he was at first but then something in my head told me: "Katla." I can't be 100% sure of it, tho', because I'm not that familiar with Katla's looks. Interesting anyway. *shrug*
Suvi also got to hug Vreth, poor guy is too pretty for his own good. :D And Ella met again her goddess Erna aka Enary, the ex-keyboardist of Lordi.

And before Suvi left yesterday, we also met suomigoth and her boyfriend Ville in Shamrock. Sometimes I have moments when I wish I had enough patience and dedication (not to mention money) to dress like she does, she looked so stunning. But I guess I'm happier in my comfy cargo pants, earth tones and combat boots running around in the woods.
That's what I've done a lot lately, by the way, as I have a forest pretty much on my backyard, the Riihikallio trollwood. And Isosuo is only about 1,5 kilometers away from where I live, I'm yet to visit it again though.
Heh, I really felt like "true Ranger" the other night when I roamed the nearby woods. At first a pretty little starling followed me a while by flying from tree to tree beside me, and then a white hare jumped on the path before me. And when I arrived to the part of the forest where I knew was located a pirunpelto ("devil's field", an ancient seashore turned into a field full of huge rocks, you can see some pictures of the pirunpelto in question here), I just followed my instincts and wandered wherever my feet would take me. And lo and behold, I arrived to the pirunpelto. It was pretty impressive sight, especially as the waxing moon was shining brightly in the sky while the setting sun was still shedding its golden light in the horizon.
Then I smelled smoke in the air and followed it until I found the smouldering remnants of a small bonfire from a rocky hillside with a very cool view over the faraway city. And when I walked back home, the only light I had was that of the moon, but it was bright enough for me to not miss a single step and every branch and twig threatening to slam me in the face I dodged instinctively even though I couldn't see them at first. I was quite proud of myself. :p
There's also this place in the nearby woods where I often stop to lay down for a while to do some moonbathing and stargazing whenever I return to home in the evening if the sky is clear.

I'm pretty happy living there, the forest as well as my flat feel like home already.
The only downside is that whenever the sun is shining the flat is hotter than a sauna, I think I need a fan or two for summer. And I still need a couple of rugs, a bookshelf, a bedside table, this machine and an internet connection and I'm a happy girl.

And then some lyrics from a song that has been playing in my head a lot lately:

"Tuota tiiä mie en itsekkään
Minkä tien otan etehen
Juonen juostakseni
Valihen
Tiiä minkä tien otan etehen

---

Korvessa miun kotini
Majani
Marjavarsilla on miun majani

Taiten taivas kirjaeltu
Oikein tehty Otavainen
Miten lie elämä miulla
Miten lie
Elämä miulla mustakulmalla..."

A year ago fell the first snow.
The cold winds whirled the snow around outside of the Hartwall Arena even though it eventually turned into water. A good thing that I had remembered to take my umbrella with me.

A couple of hours later when the show was over I burst into tears and cried for hours, unable to speak, unable to explain even to myself why I was crying so desolately.
And the following night, around 3 am I learned the reason for it.

I just watched End of an Era for the third or fourth time, I'm not sure.
Anyway, even though it's getting easier each time I watch it, it still feels bad to see Tuomas in that state. I'm so glad it's all over now.

It will probably never cease to amaze and confuse me, that strange connection I seem to have to him. I will probably never find an answer to the question "Why?", but I may be closer to the answer to the question "How?" now after some interesting conversations and that documentary.

Oh well, I'd better stop now before... Yeah.

Funny by the way that today of all the days my Resurrection NW flag keeps falling off the wall and the NW website is down due to a virus threat. Should that be taken as some ominous sign or something? Ah well, luckily I don't believe in signs. :p

I had a nice day yesterday.

In the afternoon we went to a Chinese restaurant with Valtsu, Ella and Tommi and had a nice dinner and hilarious conversation (the first thing I heard when I arrived was Tommi and Ella arguing playfully whether or not Ella should protect me from Tommi's advances xD). After we had finished our meals Samuel joined us to have some dessert and then me, Tommi and Samuel left with Ella to go to her place. There we planned our forthcoming World of Warcraft RPG (yes, apparently they got me too...) a bit until Samppa had to go to work.
Then we just had some nice quality time lying on the bed and watching tv lazily until Tommi left to go clubbing with his school friends.
Oh, and they think I should have a boyfriend and planned to set me up on a blind date. It's sweet that they're concerned, but really... I've lived almost 20 years without a boyfriend, so why should I need one now? I'll find myself one when it's the right time.
(Besides... You keep the trolls, darling, I'd rather have a wolf. ;))

We were going to just have a quiet sister-night after that, but then Tommi called and asked us to come to Klubi to listen to some "bad metal" and so we went there. The whole thing was basically just waste of money (6€ for entrance and another 6 for a drink) because those bands (Deathchain, Torture Killer and a band whose name I can't remember. All of them more or less death metal.) weren't really our favorites and the night was nothing special anyway. Well, it wasn't really a disaster either because it's always nice to spend time with my two most beloved ones, but... Yeah.

Though something quite funny happened on my way back home. I ran into an old classmate and she was like: "You were in that Deathchain gig too, right? I saw you there!". Wow, I haven't seen her in years, but I'd never have thought she would become someone you can run into during a death metal gig... Life is strange sometimes.
Wait, did I say sometimes? It's always strange. My life at least.

Meh, I have an urge to express how I'm feeling somehow, but I can't find the right words.
I don't actually even know how I'm feeling. It's like I want to say something, but for some reason I can't or don't dare to... Oh well.
Maybe I'll just shut up and go to sleep. Work tomorrow, and I have to prove them that my physical and mental health are good enough for me to go to practical training.
Gah, shouldn't think about that...

Dammit, isoveli vapautui lopullisesti intistä (saaden aliluutnantin arvon, reserviupseeri jo neljännessä sukupolvessa, by the way) joten koneenkäyttöni tulee tästä lähin olemaan huomattavasti vähäisempää.
Nytkin pitäisi kirjoittaa niitä pirun hahmoja, kun on kerran siihen tilaisuus, mutta ei saa aikaiseksi mitään.
Perkele. *läimäyttää itseään ohimoon*

Niin, se keikka...

Joulupäivän iltana lähdin Ellan luo varmistaakseni että herään seuraavana päivänä ajoissa.
Perillä kuitenkin tajusin varustautuneeni aivan liian kevyesti kolmen päivän Hesan-reissuun ja päätimme käydä aamulla vielä meillä hakemassa lisää tavaraa.
Nukkumaan menimme jossakin vaiheessa yötä, mutta minä en tietenkään saanut unta lainkaan vaan makasin vain koko yön hereillä levottomana.
Aamulla sitten lähdimme taapertamaan meille päin jahka olin saanut Ellan kiskottua ylös sängystä ja olimme laittautuneet keikkakuntoon. Meillä juoksin perinteisesti hermostuneena ympäri kämppää yrittäen siinä sivussa pakata.

Kävely linja-autoasemalle oli oikeastaan varsin mukava talvipäivän auringossa, ja perillä nuokuimme odotellessamme kyytiä saapuvaksi. Joku vanha juoppo häiriköi meitä välillä, mutta selvisimme siitäkin vailla kummempia traumoja. Matkalla nuokuttiin vähän lisää sekä kuunneltiin Charonia ja Nightwishia.
Hymyilin itsekseni katsellessani hiljalleen taivaalle kohoavaa täyttäkuuta.

Helsinkiin päästyämme emme sitten ehtineet käydä syömässä vaan ajoimme suoraan Jäähallille. Mietin siinä sitten kauhulla pari tuntia pakkasessa jonottaessamme mahtaisinko pysyä tajuissani edes lämppärien ajan. Pari tuttua NW-lautalaistakin tuli siinä bongailtua, mm. Darkpurple, Helmiäinen/Tallukka, Moriel, Riina-The-Heavy, Kuukivi ja Rissy.

Vaikka juuri meidän jonomme jumiutuikin paikoilleen liki viideksi minuutiksi ja narikkaankin piti jonottaa, pääsimme silti änkeytymään melkein eturiviin lavan vasemmalle puolen, juuri siihen missä Tuomaksella on yleisesti tapana soittaa. *kiero virne*

After Forever menetteli; Floor oli upea ja lauloi vähintään yhtä upeasti -varsinkin vetäessään sitä Puccinin klassista biisiä- eikä musiikissakaan sinänsä ollut mitään valittamista. Voisi itse asiassa perehtyä siihen paremminkin.
Ruisrockissa Nightwishin odotteluani häiritsivät ne rasittavat teiniX-pimut, tällä kertaa joku ökeltävä humalikko, joka oli vaarassa kaatua minun ja Ellan päälle. Onneksi se sitten kai raahattiin jonnekin pois.

Kotipelto taas ei jaksanut innostaa oikeastaan yhtään. Kiekuvaa jumppaohjaajaa (kuten joku osuvasti laudalla häntä kuvasi xD) muistuttavaa tyyppiä, joka toi mieleen Empun lievästi machon isoveljen, ei oikein jaksanut katsella ja kuunnella liki tuntia. Siispä istuskelinkin suurimman osan hänen setistään lattialla.
Tuli tosin otettua pieni tuijotuskilpailu hänen kanssaan, just for the heck of it. :P
Viimeisenä soitettu Black Diamond oli kylläkin hyvä veto, sillä se sai yleisöön eloa ja adrenaliinin virtaamaan sen verran, että jaksoin nousta lattialta odottelemaan innokkaasti Nightwishia.

Ja totta tosiaan, siinä vaiheessa kun radiosta tuutannut Rammsteinin Du Hast vaimenee ja valot sammuvat, olen jo aivan täpinöissäni, ja kun siniset valot syttyvät, savu leviää lavalle ja intromusa lähtee käyntiin on väsymykseni tipotiessään. *virne*
Yksi toisensa jälkeen pojat ilmaantuivat lavalle savun keskeltä, ja Tuomaksen asteltua Korgiensa taakse oli kuin olisin saanut sähköiskun ja menin miltei hysteeriseen tilaan. Se oli melko pelottavaa ja ihmettelin sitä itsekin. *vino hymy*

Dark Chest Of Wonders oli perinteisesti eka biisi, jota yhtä perinteisesti seurasi Planet Hell. Sitten tulivat Deep Silent Complete(<3) sekä Phantom Of The Opera, eikä Tarja taaskaan pettänyt vaan veti sen lopun kuten biisin alkuperäisversiossa, jopa kuumeisena. *silent respect*
Minä ja sisko hevasimme innolla mukana koko ajan, mitä ei voi kyllä parhaalla tahdollakaan sanoa useimmista ympärillämme olleista. Ella myös huuteli Marcon spiikkeihin kaikenmaailman hupaisia välihuomautuksia. :D
Kenties siksi saimmekin niinkin paljon huomiota osaksemme bändiltä.
Tuomas nimittäin näköjään päätti, että niistä kaikista viidestätuhannesta ihmisestä paikalla juuri minä olin hyvä kohde hypnoottiselle tuijotukselle ja susimaiselle virnuilulle... *värähtää*
No, ei se mitään, minä en hänelle aikonut hävitä vaan annoin takaisin samalla mitalla, muah.
Ja samalla todistin sen, mitä olen joskus aiemmin pohtinut: Kyllä, pystyn katsomaan häntä silmiin samalla luontevuudella kuin esim. Mikaa joskus ennen. Tai no niin... *shrug*

Muutenkin herra Holopainen varasti aika tehokkaasti huomioni itselleen, oli nimittäin yksinkertaisesti miltei mahdotonta kiskoa silmänsä irti hänestä. *hymyilee lammasmaisesti ja punastuu hieman* Mutta en vain voinut sille mitään, siinä vain oli jotain... niin, en edes oikein tiedä mitä se oli. *hämillään* Oh well...

Hämmentävän tuijotuksen lisäksi hän kopioi kumarrustyylini (itämaiseen tyyliin kämmenet vastakkain kasvojen edessä). En sitten tiedä kumarsiko hän minulle vaiko kenelle, mutta joka tapauksessa hän teki sen samalla tavalla kuin minä olin tehnyt jo muutamaan otteeseen. Ilmeeni näytti aika lailla tältä: O_O. *hymähtää*
Jos kamera olisi toiminut toivotulla tavalla olisimme myös saaneet muutaman varsin hupaisan kuvan herrasta, hän nimittäin veti naamalleen hassuja ilmeitä huomattuaan Ellan tähtäilevän häntä kameran kanssa.
Mutta jotta ei tulisi jauhettua pelkästä Tuomaksesta, sanottakoon että oli jälleen ilo nähdä bändillä olevan hyvä meininki lavalla. :)

Melkein heti keikan alussa Marco loikki luovuttamaan Tuomakselle tupakkansa ja Teroakin hän pääsi nakittamaan (hmm, en ole vielä päässyt selvyyteen onko tuo pullo Nightwish-olutta vai päärynäsiideriä. :D). Tero-parka taisi olla joko krapulassa tai sitten liian selvä, sen verran vaisun oloinen hän oli. *virne* Ja Empun hypeltyä Tuomaksen vierelle Tuomas laittoi anteliaisuuden kiertoon ja juotti kitarasankarille huikan viinipullostaan.
Marcon ja Empun meininki nyt tiedetään, eivätkä he pettäneet taaskaan. Mutta vaikka yleisön mielestä Marcon jutut joulukuusista ja kirveistä olivatkin ehkä hauskoja, Tuomas ei selvästikään ollut samaa mieltä ja käski stand-up -koomikoksi ryhtynyttä basistiansa rajoittaa hieman. *virne*

Myös visuaaliseen puoleen oli selvästikin panostettu, joten Markku, Tommi ja kumppanit todella ansaitsivat saamansa aplodit. Pyrot ja pommit ja sade-efektit
olivat oikein hienoja, ja kenties myös Enkeli-Tarjaa voisi jo itsessään kutsua visuaaliseksi efektiksi. :D
Mutta tärkeintähän oli tosiaan musiikki, ja se uskomaton tunne, kun tiesi musiikin luojien soittavan sitä lavalla vain metrien päässä sinusta. Vaikka toki olisinkin toivonut monipuolisempaa settilistaa, sen lievä tylsyys annettakoon anteeksi. Vaikka Ruisrockissa vetivätkin Stargazersin, tällä kertaa kuultiin sentään Ghost Love Score. :/
Kyllä tämä menee Ruisrockin kanssa tasoihin, en voi kumpaakaan paremmaksi tai huonommaksi nimetä.
Vaikka Ruissilla onkin tietysti oma nostalagia-arvonsa ekana Nightwish-keikkanani.

Settilista kokonaisuudessaan:

Dark Chest Of Wonders
Planet Hell
Deep Silent Complete
The Phantom Of The Opera
The Kinslayer
Sleeping Sun
- Symphony of Destruction -
Bless the Child
Wishmaster
Ever Dream
Dead Boy's Poem
Slaying The Dreamer
Nemo
----------------------------
Ghost Love Score
Walking in the Air
Wish I Had An Angel

Mutta nyt loppuu aika kesken, taruilen myöhemmin lisää jos sille päälle satun.
Ja mainittakoon vielä varmuuden vuoksi, että kuvat eivät ole minun ottamiani vaan kalastin ne Nightwish-foorumin keikkakeskustelusta. Siellä lisää kuvalinkkejä ja jauhantaa keikasta.