Tales from the net court

Keep a diary of what you're hitting, what's frustrating you, and your goals.
Post Reply
User avatar
zidane
Hack Fiend
Posts: 24
Joined: 05 Jun 2005 22:53
Location: Helsinki, Finland

Post by zidane » 12 Oct 2005 04:00

Sorry 'bout your trip. They SHOULD compensate it somehow! Just full refund is extremely bad customer service and I don't think Aurinkomatkat can afford to lose ANY customers because of bad service. Not to mention they wouldn't just lose you because you are already spreading the word!
mohkale wrote:I know me and Oskari really need to play a lot better than we have to win again.
Might be. :) My situation with FFO is kind of difficult. Tuomas is not going to play before FFO and that is totally allright with me. Tuomas is like the star players in NHL, they don't have to practice. BUT IF Tuomas finds out just before the tournament that he still isn't ready to take any chances with his knee, it might be a bit difficult to find a replacement. Tapio already asked me to partner with him and I kind of liked that idea. (and I'm talking about partnering footbag-wise!) BUT I wouldn't want to do that while there is a chance that Tuomas would play. Not that I would make this decision anyhow based on my chances to gain success in the tournament. No! I refuse to speculate with that. I'd just stand by my buddy Tuomas when we're having hard times. ;)

After this monologue I'd just go on saying that actually I think your chances are pretty good!
Olli Savolainen

jEkke
Circle Kicker
Posts: 6
Joined: 05 Oct 2005 22:22
Location: Hellstinkin' Finland

Post by jEkke » 12 Oct 2005 04:06

zidane wrote: After this monologue I'd just go on saying that actually I think your chances are pretty good!
Or not, cuz in doubles it's gonna be all JESSE....

sry offtopic, i'll get me coat....
- Rudolf Jencker -

User avatar
zidane
Hack Fiend
Posts: 24
Joined: 05 Jun 2005 22:53
Location: Helsinki, Finland

Post by zidane » 12 Oct 2005 04:18

Is ther going to be Team Jesse ?!!

Siistii!
Olli Savolainen

footbinc
BSOS Beast
Posts: 340
Joined: 09 Nov 2004 12:56
Location: Deadmonton

Post by footbinc » 12 Oct 2005 06:59

Yes, it will be Jekke and the Goalie from Jokerit...

and Matti, if you win, Ill send you a pound of M&M's.
- Ben Cochrane

If you bang it once, I will punch you in the f*%kin mouth!

User avatar
mohkale
The Mohkale
Posts: 279
Joined: 16 Aug 2003 05:44
Location: Net Court
Contact:

Post by mohkale » 21 Oct 2005 00:40

Trained 3 (120) times since last entry. I'd REALLY like to play more doubles, but I guess I have to just suck it and play singles. And by "suck it" I don't mean what Ben would mean.

It's my last day of work before a one-week vacation :).

Not much going on in my life at the moment thus not much to write about.

MAtti
Matti Pohjola

footbinc
BSOS Beast
Posts: 340
Joined: 09 Nov 2004 12:56
Location: Deadmonton

Post by footbinc » 25 Oct 2005 21:05

Here I am offering to fedex you M&M's if you win, and still, no love. Cant we just get along? ;)
- Ben Cochrane

If you bang it once, I will punch you in the f*%kin mouth!

User avatar
mohkale
The Mohkale
Posts: 279
Joined: 16 Aug 2003 05:44
Location: Net Court
Contact:

Post by mohkale » 07 Nov 2005 07:39

footbinc wrote:Yes, it will be Jekke and the Goalie from Jokerit...

and Matti, if you win, Ill send you a pound of M&M's.
You're on, Ben! Just make sure they are chocolate M&M's. If I/we win, I'll send you my mailing address. Hmmm, that could be risky, who knows what you'll be sending. Maybe I'll just have you send them to my local post office.

Played 7 (127) times since last entry. Whaddya know, 1 of them was doubles :o. It was during an excursion my pals from JKL made to Turku and Helsinki. I've also worked my ass off at the gym trying to get in shape. Now my hamstrings and quadriceps are really killing me, because I did squats yesterday. Today I'll be doing abs and obliques. Abs are probably my weakest muscles and they really need a lot more work.

I'll be going to Avesta, Sweden next week with Saara for 4 days to meet two friends of ours. That should be fun. Last time we were there, their neighbourghs called the cops when we were partying. That was ridiculous, since we weren't making any noise. Even the cops were bewildered 'cause when they came, we were already sleeping...

After Sweden it's all about FFO, and 4 days after that I'm off to London for 4 days, then I have only 4 more days of work. Then it's christmas and New Year, then spring and on early April we'll be playing outdoors again. Hopefully somewhere between New Year and April I'll be doing my thesis and have a cool holiday on a hot beach with Saara.

Life is good. 8)
Matti Pohjola

footbinc
BSOS Beast
Posts: 340
Joined: 09 Nov 2004 12:56
Location: Deadmonton

Post by footbinc » 11 Nov 2005 12:00

I think my M&M's are safe, and if you make it to the final, ill be paying someone to foul you ;)

Net in Edmonton is officially dead... :( Back to playing with myself, like every other day... :twisted:

Oh well.

Benno
- Ben Cochrane

If you bang it once, I will punch you in the f*%kin mouth!

footbinc
BSOS Beast
Posts: 340
Joined: 09 Nov 2004 12:56
Location: Deadmonton

Post by footbinc » 14 Nov 2005 12:02

Basically, this is an R-rated Lifetime movie-of-the-week, except from Finland. The subject: sex addiction. A married yuppie in her 30s with two kids, a great job, and work-focused husband screws any strange man. She’s guilt-ridden but doesn’t stop. Directed by Minna Virtanen, it’s a long plodding journey to when everything cracks.
What the hell is up with you finns and your crazy ass films???

(is this about jekke's mom?) :twisted:

Ben
- Ben Cochrane

If you bang it once, I will punch you in the f*%kin mouth!

User avatar
mohkale
The Mohkale
Posts: 279
Joined: 16 Aug 2003 05:44
Location: Net Court
Contact:

Post by mohkale » 25 Nov 2005 01:25

My computer broke down two days ago, that was a bummer. I was really concerned when Saara called me and told me that the computer is totally dead. She said it did nothing. I figured it's probably not the hard drive, which obviously is the one thing you don't want to break. It wasn't. I took it to work the next day and tried a few things but it really did nothing. Then I took an extra power supply that we have here at work and tried it on. I was SO releived when it started working normally with it. I went to get a new power and replaced the broken one. Now it's working again. Due to a larger fan, it's even making a little less noise now, which is nice. For the first time I actually felt like I know something about computers. That's a nice feeling, after 4 years of studying them...

I've played 9 times (136) since my last entry. 7 days until Finnish Champs. I'm really excited about it. I want to win it so bad, and I feel like me and Oskari's preparation towards it has gone well. We've got 4 more sessions to get ready.

I've got less than 10 days work left. Then after New Years I'm supposed to start working on my thesis. I don't have a clue about the subject yet :?

So um...Thanksgiving. The holiday season is upon us, hm? (Friends 6:09 :lol:)
Matti Pohjola

jEkke
Circle Kicker
Posts: 6
Joined: 05 Oct 2005 22:22
Location: Hellstinkin' Finland

Post by jEkke » 25 Nov 2005 07:50

footbinc wrote: (is this about jekke's mom?) :twisted:

Ben
Yep, she's a movie-star! If you are in anyways interested about my mom's talented work, then maybe I can hook you guys up....

I just booked a ticket to Deadmonton, so will u pick me up from airport;)

-Jay Rustybowels-
- Rudolf Jencker -

footbinc
BSOS Beast
Posts: 340
Joined: 09 Nov 2004 12:56
Location: Deadmonton

Post by footbinc » 25 Nov 2005 10:40

WHy the hell would you want to come here? But sure, I can pick you up. (if you know what im saying) :twisted:
- Ben Cochrane

If you bang it once, I will punch you in the f*%kin mouth!

User avatar
mohkale
The Mohkale
Posts: 279
Joined: 16 Aug 2003 05:44
Location: Net Court
Contact:

Post by mohkale » 05 Dec 2005 02:23

I've played 7 (143) times since my last entry, three of them were at Finnish Champs.

We (me, Oskari, Tapio and Anssi (ana_ali)) left Turku on Thursday after my work and drove to Kuopio. The weather was a real bitch and it took us over an hour longer than we had planned. We got to our hotel at 1:30 A.M. and went straight to bed.

On Friday we had doubles net pools. Me and Oskari were in the same pool with Henrik Marikainen & Petteri Petäinen (won them 11-2, 11-3), Eric Hoznour & Janne Pesonen (11-1, 11-2), Janne Villikka & Jani Lirkki (11-7, 11-1) and Jani Markkanen & Jukka Peltola (11-1, 11-5). So we won all our matches and our pool as well. Judging by the results, you could say we had it easy. We didn't. Especially Janne Villikka & Jani Lirkki were giving us a hard time in the first game. We were down at 5-0 and again at 7-5. After pools we took a sauna, went to eat and just hung out at the hotel.

On Saturday it was the doubles semis and final. We played Olli Savolainen & Tapio Karhunen in the semis. This was their first tournament together. I watched them play a bit in the pool and they played well. We won 15-5, 15-1. It wasn't their best match, and the numbers don't exactly give them credit. So we proceeded to the final. The other finalists were Jaakko Inkinen & Janne Uusitalo. In their semi-final, they beat Jani Markkanen & Jukka Peltola (15-9, 8-15, 15-9). The Bronze match was Olli & Tapio vs. Jani & Jukka. Olli & Tapio won that match in two games. Good job Olli & Tapio!

The final. Though we were the reigning champions, I felt like we were the underdogs. That was the case in the first game, which Jaakko & Janne won easily (4-15). We knew there was only one way to go from there. We had a very good start to the second game. We were leading 9-1 or something like that. They couldn't recover after that and we won the second game 15-11. We were on fire. I felt like there was nothing that could stop us and indeed there wasn't. The third game was propably the best out of the three games. The score was tied at 9 points each for a long time. A lot of crazy spikes and enormous digs were seen. Jaakko even blocked Oskari once. He also blocked my powerful bitchslap once in THE rally of the match. Too bad (for him) that the block went a little wide. If my usually shady memory is correct, by that wide block we went to 13-9 lead. We got one more point and went to serve for the title. They still fought to deny one or two match balls but couldn't fight more points for them. So we won the Finnish doubles net title in three games. It was a great match, thanks to Jaakko & Janne.

Needless to say, we had some beer that night. Some more than other.

On Sunday, we played the singles. I won my pool and played okay at times. In the quarter-final I played Tapio. I guess I win him more often than he wins me in the training sessions we have. This time he outplayed me (7-11, 8-11). No excuses, he was better. At the same time Oskari won his quarter-final against last year's champ, Janne Uusitalo. Oskari won (5-11, 11-8, 11-3). Tapio and Oskari played in the semis for a place in the final. Oskari won 11-5, 11-7. I played my consolation matches at that time. I won Janne Uusitalo (15-4) and Olli Savolainen (15-7) so I finished fifth. Tapio lost the bronze match to Jaakko Inkinen (8-11, 9-11). Oskari played in the final against Jani Markkanen. Jani had won Jaakko in the semis 12-10, 11-9. Jani took the first game 11-6. Oskari took the second 11-9. In the third game Oskari was just too much to handle for Jani. Oskari won 11-5. So he took home both titles! Great job, well done.

With four podium finishes in the car we left Kuopio and drove back home. Today we're going to go to Naantali to have Footcraft's xmas party :)

Already looking forward to FFO2006,
MAtti

P.S. Ben Cochrane, please send one pound of chocolate M&M's to:
Matti Pohjola
Kaskenkatu 16 a 7
20700 Turku
Finland
Matti Pohjola

footbinc
BSOS Beast
Posts: 340
Joined: 09 Nov 2004 12:56
Location: Deadmonton

Post by footbinc » 05 Dec 2005 12:23

You have got to be kidding me...

Ok, M & M' sto be shipped no later than friday.

Well done!!!
- Ben Cochrane

If you bang it once, I will punch you in the f*%kin mouth!

User avatar
mohkale
The Mohkale
Posts: 279
Joined: 16 Aug 2003 05:44
Location: Net Court
Contact:

Post by mohkale » 14 Dec 2005 07:46

London, baby!

I came back from London yesterday. It was a lot of fun, though it was even more expensive than I had let myself believe. Everything was so over-the-top exspensive.

I even saw the huge smoke cloud caused by the oil explosions. At that time, we didn't know what it was, but we found out later. It didn't really seem to have an effect on the life in London.

It's my second last day of work, yay.

I've only played once (144), since I figured a little break from playing net would be in order, with the season being over and everything. That means I might not make my goal of playing 150 times this year, but I've come close, so that's all good. Lets see about my other challenges then:

- I'll play footbag atleast 150 times Not (yet) done
- I'll do my best co-organizing the Worlds Done
- I'll go to Green Cup Done
- I'll stop using nuuska regularly Done
- I'll win the Finnish Doubles title again Done
- I'll win atleast one other tournament as well Done

Not too bad.

I still don't have a clue on what I want for christmas other than a frying pan for steaks. It feels useless asking for CDs, DVDs or PC games, because I can get them for free anyway. Yes Oskari, by stealing :twisted:.

Another thing I still don't know is what we'll do for New Year. We've usually gone to someone's cabin to party for a few days, but now I don't know. It always takes someone to organize that shit, and the people who are usually up for it, are (I guess) fed up with organizing stuff for other people who never do shit nor help with organizing.

One more thing I'd like to know, is what I'll be doing my thesis on :?. I'd like to do it on something I already know something about, so it could be about...footbag net :oops:. I wonder if that'll do.

It's 6 p.m. and I'm out of here. One more day of work.

MAtti
Matti Pohjola

User avatar
mohkale
The Mohkale
Posts: 279
Joined: 16 Aug 2003 05:44
Location: Net Court
Contact:

Post by mohkale » 01 Jan 2006 11:01

Happy 2006.

I only played once after my last entry, so last year I played 145 times. I achieved my other goals, so I'm going to let that one slip.

2006 goals:
- Go to a beach resort with Saara.
- Graduate from school.
- Play lots of footbag.
- Go to Euros.

Long-term goals:
- Live life to the fullest.
- Read more books.
Matti Pohjola

User avatar
mohkale
The Mohkale
Posts: 279
Joined: 16 Aug 2003 05:44
Location: Net Court
Contact:

Post by mohkale » 04 Feb 2006 13:00

2006 has started very badly, footbag-wise.

I knew Tapio is having a surgery, so he can't play for 6 weeks. Knowing it in advance doesn't make the fact that we'll be having no doubles for the next 6 weeks any better. He's having the surgery tomorrow. I hope it goes well, Tapio!

Jarno got a job in Silicon Valley!!! He's leaving two weeks before Tapio can play again. That means no doubles for 6 to 18 months! Mother Fuck.

Next 6 weeks are going to be hard, just singles for me and Oskari. We agreed to play twice a week during Tapio's recovery period. After that, it's almost summer! Well, not really, but we can almost start playing outdoors again. That'll feel so great after the long and cold winter.

We still need a 4th advanced player for doubles. There are a few possible guys, who might show up. Training noobies is just too much work compared to the possible outcome.

I’m really excited about Worlds this year, partly because some of my non-footbag friends, including Saara, are coming too!


I’m moving to another apartment with Saara. It’s just two blocks away from our current place. I don’t really know why we’re moving, because we like it here and the new place is about as good as this. Except, it’s a penthouse. 8th floor with a view to Hirvensalo ski resort.

I should start my thesis really soon, if I want to graduate this spring. We haven’t I started it yet? Beats me. I’m just lazy. I started applying for a summer job. It should be a desk-job, I should get a leave for both Euros and Worlds, no weekends, no night-shifts, decent pay, preferably no customer service but I’ll take one if the other requirements are met.

With little to no footbag, I’ve been working out really hard in the gym three times a week. My results are getting better and better, and I’ve even lost 4 kilos of body weight. I just really love to punish my muscles to the edge. The feeling afterwards is just like winning a thriller match of footbag net.

We’re throwing Jarno a good-bye party on a cruise ship with all-you-can-eat-and-drink-buffet. Should be fun, we got 12 people already onboard. Well, they’ll be onboard in 3 weeks.

I forgot to mention this in my last entry, my friend Ben (footbinc) called me on new year's day at 1 p.m. when I was still asleep. I was really confused about the call, and Ben was wondering why was I still asleep. I have to wonder why Ben was still up at 5 a.m. on new year's night and didn't sound drunk at all. Shame on you, Benno. :lol:

Summer is coming. Though it’s –21 Celsius (-6F) right now, you can tell the spring is out there, somewhere.
Matti Pohjola

User avatar
mohkale
The Mohkale
Posts: 279
Joined: 16 Aug 2003 05:44
Location: Net Court
Contact:

Post by mohkale » 24 Feb 2006 05:34

Like I mentioned, we're moving. I kind of had an illusion of moving meaning that you live in place A until you start living in place B. Why does there has to be the awkward part of packing stuff, taking boxes in the new place and unpacking them in the new place. To anyone who has never moved, here's an advice: don't. It's a real bitch. It's like M-15 throwing a take-out with a acid-covered, razor-edged curling stone and the stone he's taking out is inside your asshole.

I'm going to Prague with Saara and two other friends in April, just before Easter. I hope my "hard" work trying to shape up and lose weight doesn't go to waste with all the cheap pivo.

Booze cruise tonight...

Today:

- Buffet @ 18h30

- Curling Finland vs. Canada @ 18h30

- Hockey Finland vs Russia @ 22h05


Tomorrow:

- ...
Matti Pohjola

User avatar
Anz
Anssi Sundberg
Posts: 3007
Joined: 06 Feb 2004 12:02
Location: Finland, Turku

Post by Anz » 24 Feb 2006 11:25

Uusis screwed badly :S And so did Mäkelä. I think they played their worse game in the whole tournament. Well "at least" Finland got silver.

User avatar
mohkale
The Mohkale
Posts: 279
Joined: 16 Aug 2003 05:44
Location: Net Court
Contact:

Post by mohkale » 26 Mar 2006 10:09

I finally started working on my thesis a week ago. I got an assignment from this smallish company that does WLAN business in Turku. I'll probably work on that for the summer. I seriously doubt I'll touch the thing before September. No, not that thing. I'm touching that thing as I speak.

I hope I'll also get a job for the summer. A friend of mine gave me a hint that a stevedoring business in the seaport might hire stevedores for the summer. It would be ideal since you can work as much, or in my case as little, as you want. 2-3 days a week would be ideal. My friend told me the pay is okay and the work is relatively easy. Sounds good.

I'm going to Prague next month for 5 days with Saara and another couple. Don't really know what we'll do there, but Prague is such a great city that I guess we'll be just fine without a jammed schedule.

I haven't been playing nearly as much footbag as I would've wanted. It's just me, Oskari and Tapio now so 2 on 1 is the best we ever get. And Tapio had an operation so he was gone for almost 6 weeks and this week he had some school activity so he couldn't play. Driving to Naantali for singles just doesn't sound like something I want to do 4 times a week. We still played singles with Oskari, but it wasn't so much fun. I really suck in singles at the moment and Oskari is rock solid, so there's not much of a chance for me. I really want to practise alot more, because going to Euros and Worlds unprepared is something I'm not willing to do. In Worlds I'm going to play with Tapio, and I hope he is willing to play big time before that. Next weekend the three of us are going to Helsinki for some quality doubles sessions. I can't wait. I got a "meeting" concerning our trip to Prague next friday. It's in a bar, where there's 5-euro buffet and happy hour prices. Resisting cheap beer is not my best quality and we should leave to Helsinki at about 9.30 am. I'm a big boy now, I can control my drinking. We'll see...

The winter is still on, spring is very late in Finland. I want to play outdoors already. There's a good spot outside our new apartment. It's heated asphalt, so it's dry and clean. Maybe Tapio will have some power-kicking sessions there with me.

I was partying last night and I started today with a nice pizza. Then we went to Subway for a foot-long. After that we went to see a floorball game. Then it was time for Rax pizza buffet. Next time I'll eat in Helsinki.

We finished furnishing our new place, and I'm really satisfied with the result. I really like the balcony. I've been reading the paper there in the morning without a shirt, and it's really warm. We're having our house warming party at vappu (Apr. 30). Anyone reading this is welcome to join the party.
Matti Pohjola

Post Reply