Sleep

Marcel wakes to loud music and discovers his cat sitting on a touch-sensitive smart speaker.

This isn’t even the first time this has happened. I get that Jony Ive seems to think his life’s mission is to remove every button on Earth, but ugh. Then again, I bet Jony Ive doesn’t have a pet. They’re not clean enough to keep in a featureless white box.

Anyway, I woke up angry because my neighbors were being loud again, then quickly realized that, for once, I was the loud neighbor. At least I can blame Sir Jony Ive, a billionaire. What’s my neighbors’ excuse for being absurdly loud day in and day out?

Marcel and Anna walk around the Alster, sample perfumes, and watch cars being towed; later, Marcel falls asleep while trying to read beside his cat.

A cute little day. We spent quite a while in the perfume section of a large shopping center, trying dozens of fragrances. It was fun, and it sent Anna spiraling down a deep rabbit hole of fragrance research. I love those moments when you suddenly unlock a new interest and get to learn an entirely new set of things. I also learned that I’m apparently a big fan of pine in my fragrances. Who would have guessed I’d enjoy smelling like a tree!

Marcel wakes early, orders a pillow, writes his newsletter, cycles home, and watches Disclosure Day with Kim.

I don’t know why, but the ending of Disclosure Day made me cry?!

Marcel wakes in his own bed, runs through a park, colors recent dailies, and types a newsletter.

I mentioned the quality of beds in the UK to a few friends, and many agreed that modern sleep technology doesn’t seem to have made it across the Channel.

Marcel shares food with Anna, meets his father and Jutta, shops, cleans the apartment, and relaxes with Anna.

I love city life, great weather, and days where you don’t have a plan and just let things unfold.

Marcel sleeps, eats breakfast, cleans his apartment, and visits a museum with Anna to see a polar bear.

It was the Long Night of Museums. You buy one ticket and can visit every museum of the city.

Marcel reads Harry Potter fan fiction in bed after being unable to sleep.

It’s 1,800 pages long, and I’m not sure I like it. Maybe I’m just not a fan fiction kind of guy.