- Manu helped me with the fridge disaster - I actually had to ask for assistance with the lifting because I wasn't strong enough to do it on my own. I'm still learning this lesson... He and Do endured my quick temper and bitchiness due to acute overwhelm during that week. Grateful.
- Sushi with grilled salmon and avocado, pre-cut fresh fruit.
- Learning about anisocoria. I always thought I was weird for having different pupil sizes.
- Finding a flyer for a Kundalini yoga studio nearby. Fantastic recipes in Schrot und Korn magazine.
- My first shower at home. Spa-feeling: a fluffy bathrobe, expensive hair care products, a hair dryer...
- Becoming a patron for Fran Meneses, one of my favourite illustrators. I love her little photo updates, podcasts and videos.
- How easy it is to share dishes with the Friendzone - I love our little dinner collaborations (we met at Schuhbauers in Freising).
- Having access to all my clothes, make-up and jewellery again!
- Driving to the thermal bath in Bad Aibling with Do. Hanging out in the relaxation dome where they play music underwater. Doris kissed me! Interesting. I really hope starting this again won't hurt her. Afterwards we had dinner at an Italian restaurant. Highlight: pickled onions with balsamic vinegar.
- I got to drive Do's car a few times and actually got a rental car to run a few errands. I enjoy driving so much! I might actually be time to get my own car again.
- Slowly bringing the apartment back to life. So much to do but I secretly loved it.
- Being offered a garden plot while chatting to a lady in the plant department of the local hardware store. Sadly it's too far away for me.
- I'm really proud of my balcony makeover. It took me a whole day but it's absolutely lovely out there now. The only thing still missing is a parasol. It was such a good idea to bring my old chair from my grandma's house and get a carpet. Very cosy.
- A walk along the river in Thalkirchen with Chris. Getting Cornetto Bottermelk from the kiosk.
- Cycling to Alnatura to save a bag of baked goods. Getting my favourite tofu. Meeting Manu at Woolworth, then buying him an ice-cream in his lunch break.
- A great conversation with Michael about meditation, enlightenment, philosophy (and excrements to be completely honest). I love that I seem to attract people like that now.
- Trolli's giant cheeseburger gummy candy.
- Being almost done with my apartment. Starting to decorate and dealing with my mum's crystals.
- Watching a thunderstorm on my balcony.
- Making a big batch of Bhindi Masala.
- Starting to dream again, waking up at 7:30am every day.
- Organising my recipe book.
- I finally started to watch She-Ra and the Princesses of Power and I love it. It's sparkly, swirly, queer, magical.
- Picking wild strawberries on the balcony.
- Meeting Becky at our usual spot, the Italian restaurant terrace around the corner. It's just always good to see her, we really seem to get each other. I told her how difficult it is for me to be back and how it feels like I'm simply forgetting what I've learned, falling back into old patterns and ways of thinking immediately. She completely understood. Reassuring. We want to go to the theatre together soon, join an improv and dance class and declutter our wardrobes together and sell everything at the fleamarket.
- An inspired morning. Tea and journalling outside. Facial massage. Reciting the five mindfulness trainings (and regretting not going to Bordeaux to volunteer at the Educator's retreat a little). Being super motivated to act like the person I want to be. Fake it till I make it.
- Cycling to Maria Einsiedel with Manu. He bought me cherry Capri Sun and gummy candy, brought buttered pretzels. We played a card game, met Chris in the water and a former student at the gas station. Just playing/fighting/piggy back rides in the water were so much fun. Afterwards we made my favourite pasta dish at his place and watched a Bibi Blocksberg movie.
- A cold morning after a big thunderstorm. Inspecting the damage on the balcony, hanging everything up to dry. Making a big cup of matcha. Making dinner plans for Japanese tapas. Adopting a passion fruit tree in Spain via CrowdFarming!
- Seeing how quickly my nasturtium is sprouting and growing. It only took a few days of sunshine to see the first tiny leaves - usually it can take up to three weeks to see growth.
- A balcony session with Becky. Going to the supermarket together (and I didn't buy a single thing even though I was tempted, I'm super proud of myself). Simply hanging out like we used to do with our school friends as kids.
- The fantastic smell of Jen+Len ginger rosemary soap. It makes me happy every time I wash my hands.
- Elaborate (ayurvedic) skin care rituals in the morning. Cleaning my nose with salt water, scraping my tongue. Facial yoga and gua sha.
- Riding my bike to Westend. Realizing that it's not even that far to go downtown and that I should do it more often.
- All you can eat Japanese tapas with Lena and Christian. Talking about our personalities and habits. Making plans for future collaborations. I could probably invest in his business and create my own job there. Make art, teach... I'm actually considering it.
- Being genuinely surprised by the first spot of rainbow light after hanging up two crystals at the trellis.
- My first Isar boat ride ever! And, as luck would have it, I went with Fabi whom I hadn't seen in over two years. Frank cancelled last minute. We got snacks at the supermarket and carried everything to the river. So far so good. Ate a whole box of strawberries and some fine mountain cheese. White chocolate and lemon Mozart balls. But then the adventure really started. We got stuck in a bunch of trees. Of course we discovered a hole in the boat when we got out of the water to reach the next part of the river. But people were so friendly and helpful, they gave us their repair kit and got tape for us from the car, helped us out with an extra pump. After we turned turtle and lost half our stuff, some guys down the stream fished out a good part of it so we had almost everything back! An incredible day. In the end we found a spot near the road to get out, saw a huge dead beaver, carried everything uphill and rented a car to carry it home. I needed some comfort and ease. Wearing warm clothes and stopping at McDonald's was such a treat. We even made it back to the river at night to stop by the Burner event. And it was lovely how at ease I felt with Fabi! Perhaps we actually used to be better friends than I thought.
- Appreciation for my body. I wonder what I did to be in quite decent shape at the moment. I love cycling everywhere. Stretching. Even hard things like walking uphill for a long time aren't that bad anymore but it's probably mainly my mental attitude. I see it as a challenge, a journey rather than something impossible and unpleasant.
- Feeling a lot of awe and gratitude for Pachamama eating breakfast in my balcony nook. Juicy mangos, tart cacao nibs... It's so amazing what nature provides. Lighting a candle, giving thanks.
- Autogrill (I'm so obsessed I even invented a little song for whenever I see one of them) cappuccinos and PocketCoffee summer edition (a tiny cup of espresso with a straw - how lovely and childish, it reminds me of Capri Sun).
- Driving down to Italy. The best snacks. Do planning everything. Staying at a vineyard. The sunset. SUPing with a beautiful vista if the mountains at Lago di Garda.
- An osteria in the countryside with cheap prices and great pizza. Ravenously eating my salad first.
- Shopping at the Italian supermarket. Pistachio and truffle heaven. Amarena cherries. Aromatic peaches.
- The hot Tuscan air. Dry landscape. A mountain valley. Cypresses and empty houses in the countryside.
- Hanging out by the pool for hours. Playing with Rexi, my old floating toy alligator (and killing him by jumping into the water on his back). Playing rummikub, choosing from five different kinds of ice-cream sandwiches/popsicles.
- A shooting star over the pool!
- Waking up on a cool morning. Sleeping in. Creative dreams. Feeling good. Less pain in my hip (presumably).
- A day at a white sandy beach near Vada. My golden skin and nail polish against the Caribbean turquoise water. Taking photos with a disposable underwater camera. Sitting on each other's backs in the water. Focaccia and ice cream.
- Sagra Porcini in Arcille. Delicious Tagliatelle with mushrooms and Tortelli with sage butter. Watching the sun vanish behind a hill, the big bright half moon right behind us. Night swimming in the pool. Watching two episodes of Pumuckl. Repair.
- We both said "Ein Sumpf!" at the same time and interlocked our pinkies. I wished for our connection, love, friendship to survive this challenge.
- The amazing view over the valley from the crystal clear pool at my last stop. Water acoustics. A big, friendly (and deaf) Golden Retriever and a few cats running around.
- We said goodbye one more time. Last time I cried at the Pacific in Mazunte, Mexico. This time at platform one, Stazione di Grosseto, Italy. Why does it always feel so final? Going home alone felt right. But it was so hard to leave her behind. She's right, something's not working and I'm hurting her. But she's my family. I don't wanna lose her. I have hope that we can turn this into something good with a bit of distance and time which is said to heal all wounds.
- Looking up just to see 180° of the Mediterranean in the train window.
- Adulting. Scheduling appointments. Responding to messages.
- Finding the head of a single yellow rose on the ground.
- The bakery bag I saved via TooGoodtoGo contained a loaf of bread I really like.
- Christian Lacroix' colorful fabric designs for Desigual.
- The second episode of the new Queer Eye season. Steph is such a cute person. And Jonathan's dresses are bombdotcom.
- Finally deleting an app I wasted too much time with.
- My first time at the Munich Wake-Up sangha. Meeting new people, listening and talking, singing together felt great. And I really needed that meditation.
- Turning a mediocre pasta dish into a delicious pasta bake.
- Finding out about Capri Sun cherry sirup. Sparkly nail polish, highlighter and delicious lip oil from Catrice (might have to get all of them).
- Chatting to the medical assistant at the orthopedic practice who still remembers me and is super friendly. She shares all the hot gossip and even promised to take a picture of her 26-year-old house plant for me until my next appointment.
- Visiting Manu at Isi's place where he's currently catsitting. Meeting Kovo, falling in love with him. Such a gentle, soft chonky boi. A relaxing parting gift.
- Learning about the choir weekend and signing up at the last minute.
- My _bias towards action _ principle in action. I usually regret NOT doing something so much more. I didn't feel too great this week but still went out every single evening and socialized.
- Meeting the folks from my choir after my year-long absence! Getting to know Ille, the oldest choir member. She's such a Gemini: she loves languages and learning new things, just like me.
- Half a buttered roll with sea salt and honey.
- Breakfast celebration. Lighting a candle, a crystal and a flower to complete the set. Lovely coffee and fresh fruit. Sitting by the window, listening to a podcast and observing the wildlife in the trees outside.
- Rapunzel's Almond Coconut spread is so freaking delicious I can't allow myself to buy it. Like, ever. It's basically Raffaello in a jar.
- Sauerkraut. I've missed it so much. Roasted oven veggies with halloumi. All the right spices. Gosh, I love having my own kitchen back.
- A quick phone call with Hanna. I'm looking forward to our appointments next month!
- Learning what an okra plant looks like. Now I want to grow my own!
- Berry tiramisu overnight oats.
- A voice message marathon with Michael about numerology, Kundalini, the spiritual path, finding balance and so on.
aug 7 2023 ∞
sep 3 2023 +