Thank You.

This is probably the last post of year 2008, so I am indeed thanking a massive amount of people and places and stuff. And before anyone asks, I haven´t forgotten that I promised a picture of my new rings, I just need to figure out the best way to take a picture. Picturing your own hands isn´t excatly a piece of cake.

Before thank you´s, I have something else. Ok, I was thinking that I won´t do any best of 2008 lists and I´m not going to, in the traditional way. First of all, music. No, not a list of best albums or songs, it would take me hours to complete it. I´m just saying that if you have the chance, get your hands on Dear Science by TV On the Radio. I have praised them multiple times and I´m doing it again, but I seriously think that was maybe the best album of the year. Also, the Nine Inch Nails frrebie The Slip is well worth a few spins, even if you don´t get it on CD like we somewhat hardcore fans did. For Finns, if you have missed Magic Recoveries by Disco Ensemble, do something about it. Best Finnish album of the year, by far. Right now I´d recommend you listen to Lightweight Giants. The song has charmed me. Totally. What else can I say... Tons of good music this year, new music (MGMT is fantastic) and old favourites found again. I enjoyed great live music this year. Kent at second row in January was absolutely fabulous and Rufus Wainwright at April Fool´s Day with all his jokes was more than enjoyable. Finally seeing Foo Fighters at Provinssirock in June was a dream-come-true, but Justice at the same festival was so great. Not to mention how intense the gigs of Stam1na and The Sounds were.

I am not going to say much about movies, because I saw a grand total of three new movies this year, but The Dark Knight was amazing. I just watched The Blade Runner last night and liked it. Movies at theatre are usually great, but who says you can´t enjoy them at home as much as you´d enjoy them with 200 people?

Books. Oh, I have to see what I´ve read this year. Fine, Robert Harris and Henning Mankell if you like thrillers, they really know how to make it work. The Chinaman by the latter is still one of the most impressive novels I´ve read during this year. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, great and I´ll know I´ll reread sometime soon, and Arturo Perez-Reverte has become one of my favourite writers. I won´t be saying another word of Ildefonso Falcones again, I have done my fair share and if you don´t read his masterpiece, well, shame on you then. If I´d have to say, the most impressive book I´ve read this year has to be The Road by Cormac McCarthy. So plain and simple and complicated and amazing and everything at the same time. I need to get my own copy.

I have watched way too much TV, but some favourites: Lost, as the fourth season was the best of the series so far and The Constant is still my favourite episode of them all. Criminal Minds and House that air at the same time will both always be watched. Mad Men had been impressive so far, as has been True Blood. Pushing Daisies and the bright colours made my grey and dull winter. Cuentame como paso, the lovely Spanish series has got me hooked and I think I got my Mom hooked on it too. There are probably tens of other shows I´ve watched this year and liked a lot, but I can´t remember them all.

But now, the thank you´s before this gets out of hand. Because of the Interrail, most of the thanks will be connected to it, but not all of them. Here we go:

VR, Finnair, PKP, Greg-Tom Hostel Krakow and the best staff I´ve ever met, Ubytovna pod mostem Ostrava and the lady in the kitchen - the match would have never been the same without her, CD, Downtown Backpackers Hostel Bratislava and the guys in our room for the entertainment, ZSSK, Leanback Hostel Budapest and the American boys, Eurosport, MAV, Vienna Fanzone and all the people there, Wien Westbahnhof, ÖBB, Fulir Hostel Zagreb and the Aussie/New Zealander and the Londoner, HZ, Vila Veselova Ljubljana, SZ, Villach Hauptbahnhof and the patient man working at the info, Plus Hostel Firenze and the Aussie guy and the Asian girl, Trenitalia, Hotel Monopole Milan, every single railroad worker and ticket salesperson met during that one month, all the people met and talked with, all the fast food chains for the food (special thanks to Burger King at Baross Ter and McDonald´s at Mariahilfer Strasse), everyone who thinks have somehow made that month special.

Parents, relatives, acquintances, friends; Mari, Jenni, Sini, Elina especially, bloggers, writers, commentators, John, photographers, journalists, teachers, co-workers, neighbours, fangirls, male forumists, Gunners & Gooners, other forumists, athletes, musicians, everyone who has made my year what it has been.

Emmi - for the brainwash and the rest. You know.

Everyone have a very happy and safe NEW YEAR and I hope I´ll see you in 2009! Until that, have fun and take care!

Listening to: Disco Ensemble - Lightweight Giants and TV On The Radio - Red Dress