Some things repeat forever. For example, me trying to log in to my pet insurance app to read the documents they keep telling me via email I should read in their official app.
It never works.
Every time, I need to create a new account. Every time, the process takes far longer than necessary. And every time, something about it has changed. This time, they wouldn't even let me use a real password. Instead, I had to choose a six-digit PIN. Why?!
And, just like every other time, I finally make it into the app, only to find that the "postbox" won't load any messages.
I've never successfully read a single thing they've sent me. But they always pay for my cats' vaccinations, so apparently I don't really need to read any of it. The system works!
Something else that keeps repeating is this Wednesday newsletter full of journal comics. And what a week it's been! You're in for a treat!
Monday
I’m a bit proud of how streamlined my daily comic process has turned out: drawing, painting, scanning, editing, uploading, captioning, and posting. I even built myself an app that makes it easier to turn a multi-panel comic into a series of slides, one for each panel, so I can post them to Instagram. It’s still quite a lot of work, but I think I’ve made it as quick and easy as possible.
Gigabyte is, for whatever reason, fascinated by the scanning process. She always comes running when I turn on the scanner, then watches until I’m done.
Tuesday
Here's a secret: She actually laughed quite a bit at this stupid joke, which was reassuring because I like the people sticking needles in me to be in a good mood.
That wraps up this year's vaccination season. I'm armed (ha!) against the flu and COVID now.
Wednesday
I ask this with all the judgment I can muster: What’s wrong with people? I try my best not to annoy anyone when I’m out and about, but some people don’t seem to care. Smokers above all, who lost their sense of smell (and dignity) ages ago and seem to think they’re not constantly polluting a huge area around them.
Then there are people who use their speakers for phone calls—or, even better, FaceTime calls, holding their phones so the person on the other end can see nothing but their nose hairs.
Bring back shame. There, I said it.
If you plan on joining me on a park bench, please be at least a little ashamed when you pull out your laptop to video call your friends. I didn’t sign up for this. It’s just not the same as talking to someone who’s there in person. If I have to listen to you narrate your mundane vacation, at least let me hear both sides of the conversation.
Rant over. Thanks for reading.
(The view was nice, though!)
Thursday
This is so incredibly counterintuitive, but I’ve never had a bad run in the rain. They’re the hardest runs to convince yourself to start, but they end up being the most life-affirming thing ever. It’s refreshing and even kind of fun.
I often think back to me four years ago: someone who was convinced they’d never run in their life, let alone find joy in it. There’s so much you can’t explain to someone who hasn’t invested the time in learning to love running. You can say all the right things, but you have to feel it to really understand it. By now, I’m kind of convinced that everyone who’s physically able can learn to enjoy running. It’s just so very human.
Friday
I wish I’d started planning my retirement fund earlier. For most of my 20s, I knew I should do something beyond the statutory pension insurance, but I never found the courage to learn about my options and actually invest my (kind of) hard-earned money. I didn’t really understand the systems, and I tend to be risk-averse, so the thought of potentially losing everything always spooked me.
Turns out I lost out on a lot of potential gains by starting ten years late. But I did start when I turned 30, and it’s going well. For the first time ever, when I think about my retirement fund, I don’t feel only dread and fear about being poor in old age. So there’s that.
Saturday
Anna and I had one of our fantastic “let’s do a bunch of neat little activities around the city” days. I’ve been back in Hamburg for more than two years now, and I’ve only just gotten around to climbing up the bunker. When I first lived in Hamburg, the structure that now makes it the “Green Bunker” wasn’t there yet. There were always things to do inside the bunker, but the whole exoskeleton is new to me.
I loved it. What a view. This city. ❤️
Sunday
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?
So, that's it for this week. How did you like it? Thoughts? Feedback? Compliments? No? Okay. I still appreciate you moving your little eyeballs across these lines and gifting me some of your time.
See you next week!
Marcel
🍎