Buff instead of beanie. Enthusiastic about DIY. First self-made ultralight mug. The disappointment

November 14, 2024.

I was up too late last night. Probably until 3 in the morning. I was looking for cars for Carlife. When I got too tired, I went to bed and fell asleep straight away.

I had a dream. At the train station in Hildesheim, I saw Jule, who was on the bench about ten meters away from me. She didn't see me. Then a woman passed me wearing tight-fitting trousers that revealed her tight bottom. I immediately drew the attention from Jule to this divine bottom. It got further and further away - until I decided to run after it. But when I caught up with the woman, she was already on her bike and rode off.

When I went shopping for bread rolls, I only wore a T-shirt and the new jacket. It's amazingly warm and comfortable. The longer beard and hair also keep me warm on cold days. It makes the hat superfluous.

For breakfast, I watched a documentary about artificial intelligence. Somehow I have the feeling that the internet is being dehumanized. There are more and more bots on the internet and as they get better and better, I can no longer tell from comments, pictures, YouTube videos, blog posts and accounts whether I'm dealing with a bot or not. Is the human internet dying?

A merino buff (tube scarf) weighing 59 grams arrived today. The tube scarf has various uses (scarf, hair band, wristband, bonnet, balaclava, beanie, mask and so on) and will replace the 86 gram merino beanie, which actually only has one use. This corresponds to a weight reduction of 38%. The Buff also has a smaller pack size. Buff as a balaclava for stormy weather. I couldn't protect the face like this with a beanie.

Yesterday's upcycling idea has stuck with me. Instead of an expensive titanium cup (around 40 euros) or a heavy stainless steel or wooden cup (over 300 grams) or an easily breakable ceramic cup, I use an aluminum can of a soft drink. I think it's a cool idea: before I buy something new, I think about whether I can make this item myself (cheaply). This is not only sustainable and economical, but also teaches me how to make things myself.

When I went to the store to do some quick shopping, I picked out the nicest 3.3 liter aluminum soft drink can I could find for 85 cents. (Guess which soft drink I bought!) I drank it up and then cut out the top with a can opener. That's how quickly I conjured up an ultra-lightweight cup weighing only 13 grams (!) almost for free.

But then came the disillusionment... I wanted to make myself a cup of tea to try out the mug. I completely forgot that aluminum is a perfect conductor of heat. I almost burnt my fingers when I touched the tin. A solution had to be found...

I found countless brown bags in the craft drawer in mom's apartment. I took one of them to keep the aluminum can in. I cut out the bottom of the bag so that the can wouldn't be wobbly. And lo and behold, the problem is solved! I can now drink hot drinks in the can! The can only weighs 6 grams more. Still lighter than a titanium cup (around 85 grams). Isn't that brilliant? Today is the day I discovered Do-It-Yourself (DIY) for myself! For me, a supermarket is now also a DIY store and what I previously regarded as garbage is now building material for unique, handmade treasures. 😄

I was quickly disappointed. I got a stomach ache after drinking tea. I did some research and found out that aluminum soft drink cups are coated with plastic on the inside to prevent carbon dioxide from interacting with the aluminum. I probably drank some of the plastic and got a stomach ache. If I'm dead tomorrow, I'll just say goodbye! See you again soon!

I am grateful today:

• For that I switched to a tube scarf as a universal head and face covering.
• For getting me excited about DIY and integrating it into life from now on.
• For making the first DIY mug.
• For sharing Lauri's delicious carrot soup with me.

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