I’ve been looking forward to our virtual coffee date. Even though I am not sure how it is May already. For this month coffee date we meet at the ferry station. Each of us brings a beverage of choice in a tumbler and we are heading out for a stroll along the river. While I sip my cinnamon coffee I share with you what’s happened since we last caught up.
If you and I had coffee…
…I reminiscence that it’s exactly to the day one year since we had to move into the apartment. It was not a happy move, one that was exciting because it was new. One were you have a dream come true, one you are motivated about, one you look forward getting things in order and decorate and make it your home. While I have come to like it here, it is still a strange feeling. We love the apartment. It is in a much better shape – quality wise and from the layout – compared to the lake apartment. But it is still not in a preferred location. The lake apartment was a dream location. Put the current apart in the location and we would have only thought for a couple seconds before putting in an offer – and we never wanted to buy… But it is at it is and here we are. We have come to like it. I am still trying to scout nice little places that bring me joy. I have not found a coffee shop I like to spend time at and quickly get to. I fear it’s not possible. But I’ve find a few nice places. Overall it is not bad living we are doing right now – even though its expensive… But then what isn’t.
If you and I had coffee…
…I excitedly tell you about the sleep study I was approved to and have already taken last week. After I visited my neurologist shortly after our last coffee date I addressed again the sleep issues I have. I told her about a study I heard about that migraine patients often times do have sleep apnea. And that my dad has a severe one. Also I said being on the brink of peri-menopause I am a bit scared to sleep less in coming years and that it might be good to get a base line and reference point. She agreed and referred me to a sleep specialist. I did not expect to get a quick appointment of course. First Friday of May I sent an email with a filled out survey to the place my dad had his study done. Monday morning I get a call – which I missed. At 12:30 I finally was able to talk to someone. That lady asked me how spontaneous I could be. I asked what that meant and she answered: if you get here in 90 minutes we can do it today. Otherwise next appointments are in October. I quickly decided today is just as good a day as any. So I got ready within 30 minutes and headed out the door to pick up the device I needed to sleep with. How the whole procedure looks like and entails you can read at Stephany’s. She did a great job describing it and so I knew what was coming.
Strapping myself in the device took much more time than anticipated but once I was done and headed to bed I slept. A solid 7 hours. Excuse me what? I rarely have 7 hours of sleep. However I did not feel very well rested. Quite the opposite. I had a migraine looming and I was dead tired all day, was freezing and just felt utterly uncomfortable the entire day. Anyways, I had to drop of the device Tuesday by 10 am and had the doctors appointment right after. As it turns out I do have sleep apnea. Luckily barely. Like 6 per hour and the reference data is 5. However the doctor wants me to do an in lab study too to make sure. Apparently you can not really do much about sleep apnea. well, it does help to loose 10 kg as she put it. I know… I am working on it. So the big goal now is to get an appointment for the in lab sleep study (currently next appointments are January 2025) and until then loose as many of the suggested 10 kg. Easy peasy, right. Sigh….
I am glad to know I do not have a severe sleep apnea. And fingers crossed I do not need the CRAP machine to sleep – or maybe I do… I hear sleep might be so much more restful. I don’t know.
If you and I had coffee…
…I’d ask you how much you trust your husband/partner/favorite person/best friend. Would you hav him/her cut your hair? Two weeks ago I told my husband he needs to cut my hair. It was so so damaged that my neighbor stopped me and pointed out I probably need a hair cut. Yes I do, thank you. She offered to do it since she is a learned hair dresser. I was tempted and asked how much she wants for it. She just said give me whatever you feel is right. I hate that… I know it’s a talent to be able to do it but I am also not a person who spends money on bodily appearances. So I am unable to put a price tag on it. The second one is I didn’t feel comfortable having her in our apartment for various reasons I may get into at another coffee date. I like chatting with her and it’s fun but it’s not that we are close. And somehow I feel I want to have some distance to my neighbors.
Anyway, the question was if you would let someone unprofessional cut your hair. I should the husband a 30 min Youtube Video on how it’s done with all the partitions and things. He said nope, that is way too much effort and he is a) not willing to spend so much time (understandable, and I prefer to not sit for hours myself) and b) he felt more comfortable doing it with a clipper he uses for his hair and bear. I looked for a video, showed me and asked if I trust him doing it that way. I said sure. Take of 10 cm. He asked what happens if he messes up and I said then you cut a few more until ist fine. Well here is the result. What you think?
Additional note: the husband is really good at cutting his own hair and having a perfect fade and meticulous hair line. So I didn’t think cutting my tips was much of a challenge for him.
While it does look so much better and much more healthier it is still rather damaged. While chatting to my neighbor she recommended a special hair oil from the drugstore. It looks very unpretentious and only costs 2,50€ but she said a client of hers used it 6 month and had such an amazing result. So now I’ve gotten myself that and try to remember to use it regularly.
If you and I had coffee…
…now that we speak about hair I confess that I have gray hair. I’ve had for a while and it never bothered me because it was well hidden in my natural hair flip. But lately that spot has become more prominent and it shows. And I do not know how I feel about it. People with dark hair having one of those silver streaks look magical and sophisticated. People like me with ash blond hair it just looks dirty and unkempt. I haven’t died my hair in 2 years and I managed to outgrow it all. My hair is in bad shape so I was thinking about not dying anytime soon. But now…
If you and I had coffee…
…I complain about having missed the polar lights that happened last weekend over Berlin’s sky. I woke up on Saturday to hear on all news channels that last night was great sightings . My Instagram feed was swamped with images and everyone was crazy. And I DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT IT? Why has no one told me? why do news channels tell us after its happened? So I downloaded an app that gives me push alerts because it was still a 7% chance to see them on Saturday night. And I have been going outside multiple times, made many night sky photos because I learned it sometimes is barely visible but the phone enhances it and nothing. I was heart breaker. (It is on my bucket list after all.) And then Monday my husbands colleague who lives like 1,2 km away says she has seen some Saturday night. What a mean feat by the universe. Seriously. I am very sad and a bit mad I missed it.
If you and I had coffee…
…I share with you my image from the office window. I didn’t expect the trees to sport an even greener foliage compared to last month. Unfortunately you can’t see but my rosemary is in full bloom and it’s all purple. I love my little garden that you can spot. Not in the image is my pot with spinach, radishes and laurel.
And just like this our virtual Coffee Date May is over. I’ll have dinner know and try to ignore the screaming neighbor’s child. It’s been more fits lately again…
What would you like to share on our coffee date? Did you ever let anyone besides a hairdresser touch your hair? Do you have gray hair? How do you feel about it?
14 comments
I’m sorry you have sleep apnea, but it was so good that you could get into the study quickly. My husband uses a mouthguard for his apnea, and it helps a lot; that may be an alternative if you need something.
What you said about the polar lights could have been written by me. My friend sent me a text at 12:05 am on Saturday night checking if I was down the beach to see the lights. Of course, I was in bed and with my notifications silenced. She sent me the photo they took, and I’m so sad I missed it. I didn’t know about it because I got so disgusted with the news on Friday night that we ended up having a news-free Saturday. We went out on Sunday night because they were saying we might be able to see something then as well, but there was nothing. The whole neighbourhood was bedlam because everyone who missed out the previous night decided to rock up to the bayside suburbs. Luckily we could walk down. Seeing the northern or southern lights is on my list too, and this would have been the ideal opportunity.
I have started turning grey. I don’t love it, but don’t hate it enough to do anything about it.
So we can found the club of “regret missing polar/solar lights”. I’m really annoyed by it. Such a good opportunity. Sigh.
Yes I was very happy to get the study done so quickly. Since it is still the mildest form I am hoping by improving my fitness and shape it can be warded off. But we’ll see.
I enjoy these coffee chats, Tobia! I’m just like you with my hair! I haven’t had a professional cut since the quarantine. I’ve always hated getting my hair cut anyway, so I decided not to start going again. I’ve been trimming it myself, and my husband helps with anything that looks uneven. I think your haircut turned out great! I’m getting gray hair, too. I have natural red hair, so the gray makes it look lighter. It’ll probably fade away to orange! I’m so sensitive to chemicals and smells that I don’t think I’ll be able to color it.
Oh hello fellow hair not cutter…
I have never tried cutting my own hair but have done so many others. Sisters, friends, cousins… the first time I was in six grade.
Right now. The gray hairs look more like highlights but I don’t think I can sell that for very long…
I cut my husband’s hair. He used to spend $$$ getting a cut and beard trim at an expensive salon, but now I do it. And I’ve only made one mistake and fortunately his hair grows quickly!
The outer layer of my hair is grey. I just posted a photo of it from my hair stylist today! I used to dye my hair, but it was expensive and I grew most if it out over COVID, so now I just go with it. Sometimes I think it makes me look old and tired, but most of the time I just roll with it. I also spend a lot of money on products to keep it looking healthy because grey hair is prone to damage. Expensive hair products FOR LIFE!!
Ohhh I did not know that gray hair is prone to damage. Mine is already so bad it can’t be worse… I hope.
Congrats on being a permanent hair cutter. It does save up so much money, right.
I’ll go look at your picture now.
Hi Tobia, thank you for this coffee chat. I would absolutely let the other person cut my hair- because, I don’t know. it’s just hair. It will grow back. I am very, very low maintenance when it comes to my hair. I do not color it and it’s just shoulder length. You can’t really mess my hair up ha.
Happy t hear you don;t have a severe apnea. Hugging you from afar.
Thank you Daria. Hugs back. I am also very low maintenance with my hair. Every once in a while I’ll color it but more out of boredom…
Also very happy it’s not a severe apnea. Let’s see if I can get rid of it by improving my healthy living.
First of all, I am so happy to hear you’ve grown to like your new apartment. I know the neighborhood is not ideal, but I am glad you’re feeling so much better about your living space.
Re: haircutting, I haven’t had a professional haircut since the start of the pandemic but I’ve been cutting my own hair. Jon refused to help me (he just checks at the end if I did a good job LOL)
I used to struggle with split ends but my hair has been a lot healthier … I think not using a blow dryer has helped tremendously but I also use hair products. What oil did the neighbor recommend if you don’t mind me asking?
I have severe split ends. Always have but right now it’s horrendous. She recommended this oil https://www.dm.de/klettenwurzel-haaroel-p40058139.html I am not sure how to really rub it into scalp skin without having oily hair so after washing is not how I use but rather a day or two before I wash again. I can definitely feel its getting better but we’ll see. Only used it three times so far.
Yes the apartment is really nice. We looked at prices the other day and it’s even worth now. So I have a feeling we stay here for a while longer. I may have to get a Vespa or a small car because everything takes about 90 minutes to get anywhere. Don’t want to but public transport is very time consuming. We’ll see.
We’re too far south and it’s so light here, I didn’t bother trying to see the Aurora. But I saw some beautiful pictures from people nearby, so I feel like maybe I could have. It makes me sad. We were in Alaska last summer, and they were going on then as well, but it was cloudy so we missed them. I think I’m too much of an early bird, I go to bed at about 10:00, and didn’t want to stay up late to just see nothing. Between that and the eclipse (we were outside of the zone of totality, so nothing to see here really), I have a lot of bitter envy right now.
I think your husband did a great job on your hair! I have been coloring my hair since I was in my early 20s, because I like it blonde and my natural color is a dark blonde that I think makes me look washed out for some reason. So I’m the outlier in your group of commenters so far, I go to the salon and spend a ton of money and get it colored and cut. When I was in my 20s and kept my hair short, my husband used to cut it for me. It was the late 80s and the cuts were more shaving than cutting, and when I see pictures I wonder what the hell I was thinking.
I’m glad you’ve settled in to your apartment. I know how hard it was to leave the last one, it was such a great location. And the fact that it wasn’t your choice makes it that much more difficult.
Thank you Julie. I do think the husband did a great job. I have colored my own hair mainly during my teens and early twenties when money was tight. A couple years ago I tried again and I wasn’t very happy with the result. Which was more the color not my handling it I think.
I would love to see your 80’s haircut now. I can not picture it. I would love to feel comfortable spending time in a salon and have someone do it and paying money for it but I just don’t. I wonder, is it a treat for you? And what do you do sitting there for hours? I always feel I need to entertain and talk to the hairdresser which I find exhausting.
Sorry you missed the celestial events too. But not knowing if you see something and then forcing to stay up is also not fun.
Oh nooo! You have sleep apnea, too? At least you have a mild case. I was so shocked when I found out mine is severe. No wonder I’m always so tired! But omg, you have to wait until JANUARY for an in-lab sleep study? WOWWWW.
I missed the northern lights, too. I had heard about them on Friday but I don’t think they were supposed to show up where I live. Darn!
I had feared I had sleep apnea but am so happy it’s such a mild case. My dad has a severe one abut higher than yours I think.
I am ok with not sleeping in front of people until January though.
Sorry you also missed the northern lights.