rose ▪ bud ▪ thorn - may 2026

rose

• It was my wife's birthday, and our wedding anniversary!
• Baked some cakes and had a great time. Mine is the Donauwelle attached at the bottom of the post, my wife baked the fruit cake.
• My friend who visited Japan bought us great gifts from there; I got two gachapon (Cinnamoroll and My Melody), some matcha and My Sweet Piano chopsticks.
• I finally have it in writing and it's been communicated officially that I am my department's data protection coordinator now.
• I blogged more.
• I bought myself a big Build-A-Bear Usahana and a tiny one for my bag. Also, new matcha and I restocked my skincare and supplements :) I feel spoiled by myself.
• I'm having a great time at the gym, going 3 times a week, and incorporating the strength machines now. The added muscle/strength really helps with posture and counteracting the desk sitting. I'm making good progress.
• I reduced negativity from my online space.
• I went to a protest for ME/CFS!
• I have been better with keeping up with emails. Anita, if you are reading this, I cannot reply to you because it says sending key is not valid.
• We have a bread cutting machine now! Makes it easier to cut the bread my wife is baking for us :)
• I attended CPDP 2026 in Brussels.
• I reached Magenta status (35+ translated cases) as a Country Reporter for Noyb.

bud

• Working on better eating behaviors and no guilt during rest.
• I am working on slowly booking cool classes and activities for the next few months.

thorn

• Been struggling with my face shape. I have chubbier cheeks anyway naturally, but whenever I need a round of Prednisone or I am stressed or there's hormonal stuff going on, they get bigger (cortisol, water retention). They are bigger lately... definitely a source of discomfort and shame when we live in a time of razor sharp jaws and almost-hollow cheeks.
• I will now have to do my injections weekly :(
• Dienogest doesn't work at all for me. Instead of preventing periods, it causes me more of them. Had to get off of it.
• My soy and rapeseed sensitivities have been extra annoying lately. Can't eat my beloved tofu, and they put rapeseed oil into almost every protein-rich vegan replacement product. I love my lentils, peas and beans, but occasionally I just wanna have some banger vegan köttbullar, schnitzel, or burger patty without a rash, man, or not make everything myself. Not to mention restaurants, or the fact that they drown everything in rapeseed oil based condiments...
• I haven't been studying nearly as much as I should. Having some issues with the modalities and feeling a bit stressed, like I need more time away from it.
• I've been very ambitious this month with my blog posting, and it has caused some writer-constipation at times. I had all these drafts ready with some links and loose thoughts already collected, and wanted to write them out fully; but because I set myself arbitrary deadlines or a loose "This needs to be finished and published today! " I felt intense pressure, which made me freeze up... it's really not that serious, but I made it so, for some reason. I also frequently felt stuck between 2-4 equally "important" tasks, posts, topics, whatever, and when I started one I looked at the other and switched, progressing at nothing. Terrible cycle. I moved some planned posts to June and eased up a bit.
• The menu of my favorite café has been severely reduced and worsened. Also cannot believe that I am paying 10 Euro for a wrap now.
• The Brussels trip was filled with some disappointments and stress.
• My cold water is shut off and broken since a few days ago, so I only have hot water…. during a heatwave… :/

Reply via email Published 31 May, 2026