I feel like I am socially burned out and need a serious hibernation to recharge my ‘I can deal with people’ batteries. Do you know this, when you’re interacting with people but you’re already in shut-down mode and then you look at yourself and realize that you’re on auto-pilot and must appear like a robot? I was like that a couple of times last week but I am getting ahead of myself…
So last week was my birthday and every day was filled with fun activities and seeing lots of my friends and family. It was wonderful and I enjoyed it a lot but I think like with everything in life I feel a strong a need for balance with this. So I am going to spend more time with myself this week.
I am going to start right after I am done catching up with you though! I am also linking up with my lovely Meg who sent me THE BEST HAPPY BIRTHDAY MESSAGE OF ALL TIMES!!!
Monday didn’t start very fun because my poor sister-in-law was pretty sick and I volunteered to play taxi and bring her to see a doctor. While she was at the doctor’s I went to the supermarket to do the necessary Monday shopping. I had more time left so I then took myself on a coffee date. Besides her being sick it was a good morning!
I am still in the process of reconnecting with a lot of my friends and I had a lovely brunch date with my oldest friend from elementary school. We then went for a walk but quickly aborted the mission as it was -15°C (5°F) and our nasal mucosas felt frozen solid.
I published a post about 33 things I have learned in the last year of my life. Some are serious, some are funny and some are just completely random. You should have a look!
I had plans to shoot an Italian dinner scene for a while so I dedicated one afternoon to that. It always takes so time to set everything up as I am literally moving furniture from one room to the other in order to get the look I want. It’s worth it though to me. First I just love the look of it and as a plus, it kinda doubles as a workout!
Wednesday evening was easily the funniest part of all week. Stefan came home early-ish from work (he thinks it was early but I disagree) and he made my birthday cake. In the meantime, I consumed too much wine for before dinner. I then forced him to do a tequila shot with me and after another glass of wine made him sing with me. It started innocently enough with some pop songs but then quickly escalated and ended in us performing horrible musical songs. And damn did we sing loudly and also very very wrong! Neither of us can carry a tune if our life depended on it. And because all shame had been washed away by the wine and chased down by the tequila anyway we then spend the rest of the evening dancing. Our speciality is the Time Warp. Think Ross and Monica in the one with the New Years Eve thing minus any talent and/or feeling of rhythm or tact. I also crashed on the couch with t-10 minutes to my actual birthday. I ain’t 25 anymore! That’s for sure!
On my actual birthday, I went to IKEA with my mum in the morning and made her buy us Chicken McNuggets as I was a tiny bit hungover from the previous night’s shenanigans. In the afternoon I met a friend for coffee and catching up and then we had a pizza and wine dinner.
After all this Friday was ‘I don’t want to talk to anyone day!’ I just relaxed and hung out by myself and then I started to declutter my office by throwing out all PhD related stuff. IT WAS EVERYTHING!
Saturday was consumed by the usual shit but in the evening Stefan and I went out on a date. We do spend a good amount of time together and we do make sure to do fun things as well as the necessary stuff. But we’re always always busy and work is always such a big part of any conversation that it was just so nice to go a proper restaurant and order fancy, overpriced food and not think about anything but enjoying ourselves. Let’s not talk about the fact that for the price of this we could have gone out for pizza and wine 4 times!
Sunday afternoon was family time. My sister-in-law’s birthday is two days before mine so we always celebrate with the family together. It was very very nice but also very very loud and therefore exhausting and arriving back home in my calm and silent apartment was the best feeling ever.
So this week is actually – when I think about it – a lot more packed already than I’d like. I have my graduation ceremony (awkward and I would love to skip it) and then I have plans to see someone every single day. I’d also love to go back to Crossfit. After 4 weeks my chest is finally pain-free and am dying to work out again. Wish me luck!
I’m so glad you liked the birthday message. Ave keeps saying, “Happy Birthday Uli.” Birthday dance party for the win! I’m glad you and Stefan got your groove on. That’s always a good time, especially when tequila is involved, although I would have gotten the McDonald’s hash browns the next day.
I am right there with you on the over socializing and needing a break. It’s mostly the tiny human’s fault. I need help entertaining her so I have to socialize. Ahhh, what’s an introvert to do. Cancel her Monday plans so she can curl up into a ball on the couch with Oscar and a book. 🙂 Thank goodness for in-laws who are retired and babysit.
I adore it! So much <3
As in true German style, there is no hash brown on the menu here!!! I know!!! I only once had one in Australia. It's good! I don't know why we can't have it
I feel you! Still. Last week hasn't really been unsocial either but I keep a low profile this week. That's something I really find so hard with kids. That they need your attention and you can't be on your own for a single minute. And when the minute you wake up they are there and demand your energy. Kudos to all parents. Seriously the toughest job ever! And I am glad you have your in-laws!
Happy belated birthday!! Your pre-birthday night sounds like just the way all pre-birthday nights should be. Silly dancing, singing, drinking….. you guys do it right.
Socializing really does require a strong balancing act doesn’t it? We need it and without it it’s easy to feel down or lonely, but then if you go just a bit too much in the opposite direction it can feel absolutely exhausting and all you want to do is hibernate by yourself for 3 days straight. You do well with knowing what direction you need to go in each week – and it’s nice that you have both sides in your life.
Going on a date with Stefan I hope helps fuel the energy after all the other socializing. Just having time out to talk, or not talk, and just be is really therapeutic.
Your dining room photography is so beautiful – I’ve been loving it.
Haha, I hope the neighbours couldn’t hear us :-o!
That’s spot on! I find the balance between not being lonely and not being worn-out by interaction so hard to find. I always seem to fall on one end or the other.
Thank you so much! As this is pretty much the place I spend all my time I am sure there is a lot more to come 🙂
That just sounds like a perfect birthday evening. You and the hubby, wine, tequila, good food, cake, dancing and cheesy music! I put on an awesome 80’s playlist on Saturday while food prepping and danced the entire time, all just on one bottle of cider! To be fair I hadn’t had a drop of alcohol in 35 days at that point so needed to take it slow! Ha!
Fingers crossed for getting back to crossfit. It’s always hard to know when is the right time to head back but if you are starting to crave it then that’s a good sign!
haha oh gosh! I can imagine how that gave you a buzz! Though we can’t entirely be sure if it was the music or the cider 😀
I am so ready to work out. I have how lazy and sluggish I’ve become. High time to get moving again!
Hahahaha loved reading about your birthday shenanigans. Sounds so FUN! Also your pictures are amazing! 🙂
Thank you so much, Nicole!
Haha, it certainly was a lot of fun 😀
Belated happy happy birthday! Oh gosh I am cold just reading about those negative numbers.
That Italian dinner photo is wonderful. I love your aesthetic!