What a relaxing Sunday. It started with a Skype call to Brenda in LA. It was 8am my time, 11pm hers. It felt really good to connect to a friend who is coming to visit in 3 short weeks!

I got up, put on a pot of tea, made some blueberry bread, put on Anita Baker, Bonnie Raitt, Alicia Keys. I read some WWII history while a light rain fell outside. All was perfect. Then the screaming and crying started.

Why anyone decides to bring their kids to the park when it’s raining is beyond me. In fact, I’ve started to pray for rain on the weekends so I don’t have to listen to temper tantrums at every hour. But, I found out this weekend that even the rain doesn’t keep them away. I imagine going to the park under the cover of darkness and disassembling the play set. Or putting up a sign that says “no children allowed”. I’m turning into the little old neighborhood witch right before my eyes! I am actually excited for winter so I can close my windows. My hope is that it will be too cold for kids to go outside, but I know that’s wishful thinking.

Yesterday, I got out of the house and away from the screaming kids at the park to do some shopping downtown. I’ve realized I pretty much wear the same outfits and shoes to work every week. One, because in California, I didn’t have to wear office clothes, and two, I got rid of so much stuff (yes, that stuff that we really don’t need anyway) that my professional clothing options are slim.

I started my hunt for shoes, but soon realized it was going to be tougher than I thought, despite the weird shoe obsession in this country. I had heard that Germans love good shoes, and in looking at apartments, it became apparent that shoe racks (both inside and outside the apartment) are a big deal. It’s also assumed you will take your shoes off when you enter someone’s house. I’ve embarrassingly walked into every apartment I’ve entered with my shoes still on, only to get dirty looks from the hosts.

So, Germans certainly cherish their shoes (and sanitary conditions, I guess). But all the summer shoes are ugly! They are either short and stumpy, or orthopedic-looking. There are cute boots, but it’s still in the 90s here. Who can think of buying boots at a time like this, except for maybe those other dreamers out there awaiting winter and children playing indoors. I asked a friend where she gets her shoes, and she told me she gets them on trips. Which is what I assumed. Looking forward to my Paris trip with Brenda!

I find myself loving to go in stores like Starbucks or American Apparel or Lush, which I know from the US. I love that I can go in Starbucks and use the bathroom. Free public restrooms are unheard of here. But Starbucks is the exception, and I walk in confidently, looking around and thinking, it’s ok, I’m an American.

I picked up some soap at Lush as a post-birthday treat for myself. The scent is currant, apricot and bergamont—and I can’t stop smelling it! What an easy and inexpensive way to boost my morning mood!

Benetton and H&M have become my go-to clothing shops. Because they are familiar. I’m curious to see if my style changes after I’ve been here a while.

Saturday night I downloaded Wes Anderson’s Moonlight Kingdom to my iPad. Having just seen and loved the Grand Budapest Hotel, I thought I’d give this one a try. And it was good. I love watching American movies now more than I used to.

I also figured out how to stream NPR on my stereo at home, so I can listen to Morning Edition when I am home in the evening.

So many small ways to feel connected to home.

So, another weekend over. Despite the kids, #spiritsunday was relaxing and productive. Ready to face the challenges and possibilities next week has to offer.