1999: Exotism?

There is certain form of prejudice, which makes me annoyed quite... well, too often.

For some reason (too) many people seem to think that someone who seems to date exclusively out of their own ethnicity/ culture is purposely looking for someone "exotic" and disregard the possibility that one can be interested about everything else but person's ethnicity or culture of origin. (Like, even it is a shocking idea, their personality and core values.)

And why aren't they assuming such things (purposely looking for....) when someone is dating exclusively their own ethnicity/ culture?

As an example: when I dated exclusively Finns, no one ever asked why I do it or assumed anything based on it. It was obviously supposed that I would, being a Finn myself, date men of Finnish origin. And coming to think of it, it is a disturbing thought. (Though I find many things disturbing - and my regular readers know that people assuming things is one of my thousands of pet peeves.)
Whereas when dating men of non-Finnish origin I have encountered certain assumption of exotism.

Though, the assumption of exotism is yet another proof that people are basically eerily similar in their ways to think: coming from all ethnicities, genders, cultures etc. it could be considered as a refreshing experience - as long as you keep the whole issue out of your personal life.

I mostly encountered following during the single period between 2006 - 2008, mainly because that was the longest period I have ever been without relationship in my adult life: many men seemed to have this urge to know had a woman they found attractive ever been with a man of enquirer's ethnicity - and I found it extremely annoying. Why it would matter had I or had I not? There is no way to know about how it would be with person X if you have dated person Y even if they were of same ethnicity and/or culture so why would it matter? Or is this just all about I-want-to-be-the-first-man-of-X-in-your-life syndrome? (One of the many reasons why I love Mr. Wonderful was that He never asked such a thing - but He is a practical man: he doesn't care about who I have been with before Him, He just wants to be the last man in my life (yet another thing we have in common). )

Interestingly enough this was mostly a phenomenon of dating sites, regardless, or because of it, my profiles always stating that I was open for contact regardless person's ethnicity.
Admittedly during that time I had a profile at one site which was more or less focused on people who were looking for interracial relationship... maybe it fooled some to assume things about my preferences even though my only reason to register there, or any other dating site, was to expand my search as I was very aware that it's more likely for me to find a life partner, my future Husband, from somewhere else than Finland.
This was as much statistical as it was (and is) a cultural issue - being brought up outside my "native" culture made me a dating outcast in this homogenous society.

But I digress.

Those who have read my blog are aware of the issues I have had with my father regarding his obvious assumption of my exotistic character and/or his obvious issues with people of any other ethnicity/ culture than his... nothing more to say about him, though I am not eagerly waiting for his comments about Mr. Wonderful's ethnicity/ culture/ etc. and tons of more assumptions of me being with Mr. Wonderful because [add bazillion stereotypes here], not because I actually love and respect my Man as a person.

Interestingly enough many, if not all of them, men I have been in a relationship with since I broke up with Dan (now isn't that a civilized way to say after our separation and divorce? *g*) have considered me "exotic" because of my fair skin, blue eyes and ethnicity.
And surprisingly it has never bothered me to be the the subject of exotism, as long as it has been positive - but I also know that my looks, exotic or not, hasn't been the main factor of intrest in me, just an added bonus.

Slightly Off-Topic

This all actually reminds me of an interesting visit to hairdresser earlier this month: I was having having my hair cut and chatting with the hairdresser when Mr. Wonderful called me. We happily chatted for a while on the phone and after the call hairdresser's first comment was "Oh, is he ENGLISH?!" with such a tone that you could imagine that she had been about ten years younger and had just been asked out by Brad Pitt or whoever is hot at the moment. A school example of real exotism.
Her tone soon changed after she asked could she see His picture, which I showed because I have His picture as my cell wallpaper and even we had been talking about me and Him before that the topic somehow changed after that... Basically I can't understand why. Maybe she was so awed because of my Wonderful's gorgeousness (I know I would have been, but I guess I am kind of biased).

(If I was mean I would assume it was his ethnicity that made her silent. (For those of you who wonder about the whole ethnicity of an Englishman thing, He is black Brit, whereas people often seem to assume (in these latitudes) that English people are all fair to the level of paleness and no true Englishman/ Finn/ you-name-it can be any darker than piece of A4, regardless the history of the world and people's tendency to immigrate.))

But still, in general I am not saying that there weren't many, many people who simply don't give rat's a** about who someone is involved with and many, many people who don't give that same part of a rodent about someone's origins.

Floss p0rn!

While I was shopping at Sewadso for stuff for my Secret Postcard Pal I decided to justify the postages *ahem* and try some Painter's Threads flosses... I was in awe when I opened the envelope - and after seeing the floss you will know why!

Yummy, eh? And also rather inexpensive noticing that one skein of cotton is 10 or 20 metres of six stranded floss (the size seems to vary between the colours).
The separate smaller skeins are PT's silks.

The parcel contained also, of course, things for my SPP, but as she would be easily identifiable based on the things I bought I won't show them yet (I can say one thing though: she's going to love the goodies!), beading needles (as I have lost all my old ones) and two 50 cm x 70 cm cuts of 32 counts: Wild Raspberry linen and Ice Blue Murano.

On other happy news I finally got my sickness allowance and I celebrate getting rid of most of my hair: I have a hairdresser tomorrow! (And I found my favourite hair dye from store - that shade hasn't been available for over a year in there!)

Clip, clip, clip...

Not that I actually could afford to do so (I have all sorts of nasty expenses in this month - for example I had to buy new case fans for my desktop's case because old ones have an identity disorder: they think they are circular saws (I'd have survived otherwise without using the desktop, but I want my music!))... I had a haircut, and, gosh, I feel good. I have just let my hair grow and as I haven't had any problems with it I haven't bothered to get my hair cut (and as I haven't been on a date... since November (if we can count harassing N. as a date) *yikes* I haven't had any reason). But now, when it was hanging on my shoulders it got a bit nasty. It actually looked rather good, due my hair's natural waviness, but still... it was hot! I may have glass-like hair (great thing: I have split ends once in a blue moon, if even then), but I have lots of that stuff (but as we agreed with my hairdresser, it is better to have what to remove as other option wouldn't be as nice or easy to handle). Which means that I am much more of a short haired person. (And even more a purple haired person. Though I like how my hair looks now: otherwise dirty blonde (interesting shade actually: dirty strawberry blonde with hint of gold), but tips of my hair are purplish red.)

In other news: I managed to sleep whopping five hours last night! My goal was seven, but just when I was dozing off I had an idea which I had to draw before I forgot it.
It was crazy. I was manically happy, completely exhausted and drawing like crazy. I don't wonder why so many artists have been insane... you can't take sleep deprivation very long without losing some of your marbles. (Though, there actually is connection between creativity and schizophrenia. If I recall correctly latter one is caused by one gene activating wrong part of the brain.)

And guess what? I am tired... can't wait evening to come so I can go to bed!

Hair-do

As Jenna asked and I'm nice person () here are the pictures... In theory it's still like this:

...so I decided to take picture only from other side:

No new pictures as my hair type (glass-like, grows like crazy (3-4 cm/ month), in theory I've never splitted ends even if I don't cut my hair...get the picture?) doesn't like conditioners and therefore it looks crappy next days (I dyed my hair yesterday which is only reason for using conditioner).

Looking like myself again

First: thank you all for nice comments considering dalmatian.

At the moment I'm working on that needleroll (can't stitch Icy today as it's almost too dark outside, and I do need some natural light to do it even I have my desk light) so no pictures in coming days, just rants.
I've started that needleroll three times already because I've had problems to understand how that part of that design is supposed to look like when done. Sounds bit stupid maybe, but I think you'll understand when you see pictures of it, after my partner has received it (but members of Friends Gather will see it before it, as it fits to this months Broaden Your Stitching Horizon theme, and therefore I'll post picture of it on that forum when it's stitched - I know that my receiver is not part of that forum, so I can do that (with help of Imageshack) ).

Anyway, about entry title.
I seem to have habit to think about sex related assumptions while shaving my head, as every time when I become me (in other words shave my head (ok, not exactly shave...)) people seem to have problems with recognizing my sex. Like female couldn't have short hair (mostly 7mm, little area of 10cm in front)...
Funny thing in this is that my body has all signs of being feminine, I even use make-up for heaven's sake (mostly women use it, men don't because of the pressure from society). How difficult it can be to decide what I am?

And then, is there a need to decide what I am? I'm a human being, otherwise it's just getting into details and if we get there I can mess your mind up quite easily when it comes to sex/ gender/ sexual orientation issues.

But that's about it this time. Off my way to stitch and enjoying my new-old hairdo.

Spring has sprung?

At least my chili plant seems to think so: it's blooming.

Hair cut day.

Once again I had to destroy excess hair growth and dye what I still have on my head so it's time for SP alter ego update:

Though my hair is purple, not black. And I don't have any CoB shirts nor that I'd be their greatest fan, but I happen to been born in a city where Lake Bodom is - and lived quite near to it few years so I think it was suitable. (Not to mention that my ex knows/ knew Alexi.. *ahem*)

Wonderful world of hair.

It's amazing how I suddenly begun to look myself when I lost some centimeters from my hair lenght. It's possible that I may even recognize myself tomorrow when I wake up and look into the mirror.

Btw.

It's funny how cats like to be outside more nowadays, after I started to feed local birds (Winter feeding to those poor creatures).

Human beings.

I was sipping my morning coffee and thinking about something I've been wondering for years and years but still I haven't understood it.

Could someone tell me why majority of humans seems to be unable to think, or why they lack common curiosity towards life and it's wonders? For example when it comes to broken links people just don't bother to check for example main page. It can't be that difficult to use backspace?

And this was just an example. In general that matter is small (and I can act like someone wise, even though solution is usually so easy) but when it comes to almost everything in this world... *sigh*.
And we're supposed to be intelligent lifeform. To be honest, most days I don't feel like it at all. In fact I feel like it very seldom. (Does anyone guess why I like my cats so much? And why I am a misanthrope?)

I just don't know why it is so hard to use your brains... I understand that everyone don't know everything (and of course it's kind of impossible), at least before someone tells things to them, but if you have to repeat simplest of things over and over again... what's the use of it?
I don't get that much perverted pleasure to be considered as all-knowing that it'd be satisfying in any way after some time. Of course I don't need to tell things or try to advice, but as I am odd and want to help if I can - especially when there's possibility that someone actually learns something new. (Anyway I'd be lousy teacher.)

Stop it Bob!

Weebl & Bob. Before clicking that... I just hope you know what happens to schoolgirls in Japanese cartoons.

Hair.

And last, but not least, nagging about hair.

I noticed few days ago that I really have to cut my hair once again as they're getting way too long (bit longer than they're in my profile pic) and my natural colour is getting too visible. Blonde hair just does not look good on me, period.

Anyway, it's kind of annoying when you have to cut your own hair. With this hair style it's relatively easy (if we don't count that 'nice' whirl I've in back of my head) just to take that machine and cut. Cumbersome part is trying to get your neck neat, and I'm pedantic when it comes to my hair. And I know it'll take from hour to hour and a half before I'm happy with my hair. In fact I'm never happy with my hair before I've dyed them. That blonde in mirror just is not me, but that dark haired person in mirror is me. Isn't it odd in a way?

In fact it'll be, once again, fun to see how much people stare me few days after this day, as it seems to me that they've problems to get that woman can have short hair (with short I mean hair lenght in the back of my head: ~1cm) so their sex cencors get messed: "Hmh?! Female build and facial features, but short hair?!". Personally I don't get why it's so odd. Is there some secret "Guide of Humanhood" which states that females got to have long hair and men short hair?