V45. November.

Autumn in Stockholm means being under attack from viruses at every corner. I've been battling it with military precision. I notice something brewing, my RHR goes up, I rest, it goes down, I do a workout, it goes up, I rest, it goes down and on we go. I hold my breath in the subway anytime I hear someone cough, which this time of the year might cause my death by suffocation, and stand by the doors to catch my breath at every stop. My sleep schedule is sacred, I eat my veggies, and I take my vitamins with religious conviction. If missing one pill means I go back to the hellscape I was in last winter, I'm not taking any chances. Also, got the flu vaccine for the first time this year.

So far, knock on wood, it has worked.

Life lately

Last week we had AI week at work, with our Director of AI visiting, and as the AI specialist on the team, this meant 19 meetings on my schedule. Thankfully not the norm for me these days. By Friday my brain was properly fried.

With my oh-so-pricy-gym-membership I also get a goal review session every 90 days. Had my first and we decided on getting one clean chin-up and being able to do 5 kick-ups consistently into handstands. I feel like the chin-up is not actually that far off? Have only been doing eccentrics recently, so it's been a while since I tested it, but let's see what happens this week!

My local coffee shop has something called not-a-pumpkin-spiced-latte on the menu and it's delicious. Unfortunately everyone within a 50km radius is also a fan of this place, so I have yet to actually sit there, and always take it to go.

Which by the way is the biggest frustration with being in Stockholm. Going to a nice cafe with quality coffee to sit there and work or write is one of my basic, but most loved, pleasures in life. In Stockholm? Forget it. Every place with quality coffee is so hyped there's a queue out the door the entire weekend.

Going to Berlin next weekend and am beyond excited. Considering extending my stay so I can work from my favorite spots again. 😌

What is fun about being here is time with friends I've seen far too little of recent years. Sometimes evenings at wine bars, other times just for a quick coffee, either way, very happy about it.

Having a tv for the first time in decades means I've discovered the world of what I guess is called ASMR videos? A cozy Scottish cabin, looking out over gloomy fields with a random fiddle playing is apparently my vibe on a stormy Saturday.

And sometimes we wake up to a sunrise like this.