Everything's amazing right now,

and nobody's happy.

The ‘Schnitzel and Hefeweizen’ mood is being pursued. Definitely not a vegetarian mood, but I still find myself in Restaurant Louis - with a typical German waitress - and order the only meal without meat: a salad, but my counterpart is delighted with the amount of schnitzel and fries, so I'm just as happy.

It's been a crazy week for me: first you shoot a music video for The Dark Tenor, then just three days later, you're working at the Wall Street Journal.

Movie

Inventing Anna is coming to an end and is really a fantastic series: that's 9.2 out of 10 stars.

F1 - Drive to Survive enters its 3rd season and starts with the almost forgotten Covid virus - and how much it affects Formula 1. Thrilling!

Music

I thought about sorting the days according to the alphabet and started with the letter A. I chose Alligatoah and realised once again how great the album Triebwerke is and how much it means to me.

But that was the end of the idea, because they started playing the new Justin Bieber album in the café on the corner, which I then listened to in peace and alone on the balcony.

Nope, no no no no no. The whole album feels like one song in different, barely different variations. I don't feel much sympathy for a superstar who now thinks he's singing about his sensitive side - give me your baby, baby ooooh - or at least the boyfriend vibe - but not the super-sensitive artist purified by therapy.

So: Swag - unfortunately, has little. (My opinion.)

Other Inspirations

Rave the Planet didn't fall through, although you could have guessed that from all the waterlogged poodles that met us in Tiergarten, but the Berlin ravers are tough (whatever pills and alcoholic drinks are on offer), so on this day too they party like there's no tomorrow. I like that, I find it inspiring. Rave the planet with techno? Why not!

Book

And so The Wild Silence draws to a close - just at the right time for the internet conspiracies.

I was a huge fan of The Salt Path, sat on the Amadea with a glass of rosé, and actually cried a few tears because the first part really touched me.

With The Wild Silence, I was also immediately sucked back into the story at the beginning - the tragedy of Ray losing her mother and Moth continuing to be so ill - and then lost a little interest until they continued their trip in Iceland. It's great writing, it's a very inspiring story, and it has its own unique humour. 7.3 out of 10 stars.

14 July

Music

Although I should be listening to nothing but Oasis by now, I dedicate this day to Joni Mitchell and her album Both Sides Now (what a hot album cover!) and Blue.

Movie

Preparing a new Muss man gesehen haben episode - not going to the cinema this time.

Due to the weakening political situation, Basti and I decided to choose a film from the LGBTQIA+ community this time. So we decided on Milk.

Milk is a film about Harvey Milk, played by Sean Penn. And Sean Penn does a great job. Years ago, I saw this film for the first time with a family member, eating pizza and munching on nachos - it's a very nice memory from a rather difficult time.

So you watch it a second time and find it important, good - and look forward to recording the podcast the next day.

Other Inspirations

The list of important to-dos doesn't shrink, doesn't generally change from just looking at it - you procrastinate by watching F1 (heartbreaking how Hamilton outshines Bottas, that Finnish presence figure), cleaning the fridge and painting masterpieces.

15 July

A good morning starts with coffee and reading and yoga. In that order.

I wasn't granted this popular routine today, instead I look into the blue eyes of my podcast partner, who is sitting in sunny Munich, and discuss our chosen film Milk - with the joy of podcasting.

Immediately afterwards, we go to the writing workshop and tinker with our new series idea, draw mind maps and write and write and write.

In the evening, you go on a Coca-Cola and Friedrichshain walk with a promising newcomer to the studio.

16 July

A good morning starts with coffee and reading - and, well, yoga squeezed in between phone calls and other commitments. Modern life and its freedoms ...

Music

Given the occasion, I was curious to see how much AI music is mixed into the Spotify playlists created by the superpower - and yes, the reality is terrifying. Now I'm having to pull all-nighters again to create my own playlists, so I decided to dedicate myself to the Bath playlist, a quieter version of music with an insane amount of Ed Sheeran. But if you're tidying the flat at the same time, it's not so bad.

Movie

In the evening, the cinema curtain opened for Jurassic World - Rebirth.

A very entertaining action film. Of course, there's always something to complain about: in this case, I don't understand why it has to be mutated dinosaurs when it's still not clear what the creatures really looked like.

Personally, I'm more creeped out by a T-Rex than a Stranger Things offshoot with too many arms, and of course it's too long - but! If you just fancy popcorn and cinema and the weather isn't too good at the moment, then you can watch it. 6.7 out of 10 stars.

F1 continues to be a great pleasure!

Book

Bonjour Tristesse feels like the sequel to Frank and Frankenstein to me right now, with the main character getting out of the toxic relationship and going on holiday with her father - and the books have nothing to do with each other, just my parallel. It will probably be a very good summer book.

Other Inspirations

Due to my age and the associated precautions, I'm being put on the tube, which I've heard a lot about - from panic attacks to falling asleep.

I only realised afterwards how nervous I was when the tiredness caught up with me - or more like hit me with a hammer.

MRI - category: funny. Actually, it's like a very bad techno song that goes on too long. (No, I wasn't offered any music.)

17 July

Although the rain is pattering incessantly against the window panes, the sun is shining inside me and I'm listening in a good mood:

Music

Frozen 1 and 2, a bit of Keimzeit here, and enjoy my childhood memories of the Weit Weg album by Clueso.

Movie

I watch F1 - Drive to Survive on the way to and from Charlottenburg. it's such an incredibly good documentary that simply explains the gears behind the cars - the frustration, the pressure you have from the sponsor, for example: money that you have to put into the team and the car and also into the driver, who shouldn't know any better, shouldn't do his own thing - because that usually ends up in the planks. Poor Haas team.

Other Inspirations

After months, the tradition is resumed: Thursday is girls' night. We chat about perfumes, lipsticks, and our first make-up experiences.

In short: we fulfil every cliché.

18 July

This summer feels like July has fallen in love with April - and is now doing everything it can to become the same.

Have a good week, Bussi baba, your Emilia