Cleaning only with baking soda and citric acid. Cristopher Street Day - Day 2.

May 28, 2023. The next day, I was once again awakened by the warm rays of the sun. From the kitchen, I heard voices - obviously, Lina had visitors again. It was her friend Helen. Together with Vanessa, the three of them prepared breakfast.

I started cleaning the bathroom - my first time in the new shared apartment. I used only water, baking soda, and citric acid. The drains were slightly clogged, so I poured some citric acid into the bathtub, sink, and toilet drains, adding some baking soda as well. A chemical reaction occurred. There was a fizzing sound. While the substances were working, I sprayed the bathtub, sink, faucet, and toilet seat with a mixture of water and two tablespoons of citric acid. Then, I used the toilet brush to distribute the foam inside the toilet and scrubbed lightly. With a cloth, I wiped the enamel and the faucet. I was impressed by how effectively the bathroom could be cleaned with just three ingredients. The faucet gleamed just as well as it would have with a treatment of abrasive cleaner. I wiped the bathroom mirror first with a slightly damp cloth and then with a dry microfiber cloth. Glass cleaner was not necessary at all.

Just before I finished cleaning, Lina suggested that I join them for breakfast. The smell of coffee was enticing, so I couldn't resist.

During breakfast, Vanessa raved about a tall guy she had seen yesterday at the beer festival wearing a brown plaid jacket and shoulder-length curls, but she hadn't dared to talk to him.

Then, we exchanged childhood memories. Helen talked about her first day of school and her grandpa, who looked like Einstein and was recognized by everyone on the street. Vanessa could hardly remember her first day of school, except for her teacher showing her how to open and close a ring binder. Lina vividly remembered her pajama outfit with cute giraffes and how she fell off her bike. The conversation then turned to breasts and bikinis, to which I couldn't contribute.

After breakfast, I took the bus back to my old shared apartment to leave one last signature so I could officially deregister from the old place. This time, I didn't bring a backpack or a yoga mat to have more freedom while dancing at the CSD festival. I wore long black pants and my fancy black shoes.

Hanna was there when I rang the bell. She showed me her redesigned balcony, where she could now sit comfortably and read a book. She told me that she didn't actually have any romantic feelings for Tim anymore, even though he already had high hopes and planned to buy a dog with her. I told her she should tell him about her lack of feelings as soon as possible so that he wouldn't suffer later. She agreed and mentioned that she would be at the CSD festival tonight with Annika.

It was just noon, and with twenty-one degrees and the blazing sun, it was too hot to party yet. So, I sat down comfortably at Kreipes Coffee Time and enjoyed a latte macchiato. I thought about yesterday's demonstration, where women and men, men and men, women and women, young and old, danced and kissed, where everyone dressed as they pleased, or even walked around half-naked. Everyone did their own thing. No one was looked at strangely just because they dressed differently - on the contrary, being different was admired. It was exactly my kind of world.

After that, I strolled through the bustling city center and ate a falafel wrap. I passed by the Opera Square and looked for Lena. It was very warm, and there was only one old man dancing shirtless on the techno dance floor. People sat on the beer benches and listened to various politicians. Lena was nowhere to be seen. I sat on the curb in the shade and closed my eyes. I felt somehow tired, and I was quite bored.

A completely black-clad girl with painted-on facial hair, who was probably only eighteen, approached me and asked how I was doing and if I wanted to join her group over there. I thanked her but said I was fine and just saving my energy for the later party. To avoid falling asleep completely, I wandered into the old town to the tea room and had a vegan rhubarb crumble cake with a cappuccino with oat milk while listening to the sound of the fountain. Then, I sat near the fountain, took off my shoes, and dangled my feet in the water. I did nothing, just sat there and stared at the fountain until a mother with a small child came and started circling the fountain and me. It annoyed me, so I made my way back to the CSD festival.

More people were there already. A speech was being given on the main stage, and several people were already dancing on the techno dance floor. I sat on a beer bench and looked around for Lena. Then, I danced a bit to get into the mood.

In the evening, I ran into Annika and Hanna at the main stage, but Lena was nowhere to be seen. On the techno dance floor, I saw a young woman who looked familiar to me. I remembered that we were in the same philosophy seminar during our bachelor's studies. She was an impressive poetry slammer with blond, curly hair and probably my biggest weakness - a wide hip in tight pants.

I stayed there until nine o'clock. I danced, but the whole time I was thinking about Lena. It wasn't really fun when I was constantly lost in thought. Occasionally, I went to the main stage to meet with Annika and Hanna, and we talked about investments and the rising value of my knock-out certificates. After the brainwashing from Bodo Schäfer's affirmation, I wouldn't mind becoming a millionaire, I told Annika. The value could keep rising.

On the way home, I bought some apples, tofu, and peanut butter at the train station and got on the tram slightly disappointed. I had probably set my hopes too high to see Lena again today. "The greater the expectation, the greater the disappointment," I thought as I boarded the tram.

At home, Helen, Lina, and Vanessa were playing a game called "Tell Me More" in the kitchen. It sounded cool, but I was already tired and not really in the mood to socialize. I crawled into bed and quickly fell asleep...

Life Upgrades:

1. I won't buy toilet cleaner, glass cleaner, all-purpose cleaner, kitchen cleaner, drain cleaner, or vinegar cleaner anymore. I'll clean the entire apartment only with water, citric acid, and baking soda. This way, I avoid a lot of packaging waste and save more money.
2. I cook in a minimalist way by omitting unnecessary ingredients, such as multiple spices.

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