7 September

The universe laughed at me today. After all the tension and mishaps we had with the key: not being able to see La Perla in the first place to not being able to take ownership, I found one under the mat. It was probably there the whole time – at least long enough that Sylvia didn’t have it on her inventory!

Marianne and Wälle came over today and really helped me out. I had attached the shower curtain to the rod Berri had installed and it had come down. It also seemed mounted too low. Wälle also pointed out it was mounted in the wrong place. He went home to get his drill and mounted it for me properly. Meanwhile Marianne and I cleaned out the studio. We ripped out the carpet, peeled off the glue, cleaned the floor, and vacuumed the cobwebs and spiders off everything. It looks pretty slick now, especially with the freshly painted walls.

Europe is over 500 million people committed to the career of Belinda Carlisle. This is a woman who has stood atop the charts here for some 22 years now. But Europeans are as interested in breadth as well as depth. Not only is it critical to play “Heaven Is A Place on Earth” at least once a day per radio station, but one must essay the lesser known gems such as “Circle In the Sand,” about which I had completely forgotten. And if you can remember a Top 20 hit from the 80s (from one of my biggest crushes no less), that I, the Master Recorder, had forgotten, that is a feat worth celebrating! And we’re not even talking about “Summer Rain” or “La Luna” which I have also heard repeatedly. By the way, no one has ever heard of the Go-Go’s so don’t ask – despite their appearance in the international mega-smash film Hillcrest.

Wow, I just took a shower and I’m so excited I think I could join the Pointer Sisters! It may not sound like much to you heathens, but I was able to enjoy the shower on my floor for the first time. I didn’t have to go downstairs for the adventure. Wälle did a masterful job setting up the curtain. I didn’t realize, until it was done incorrectly, and then redone, how brilliant his work is. He made a curtain that is too small, fit perfectly nevertheless. He covered all the leakpoints without me telling him where they are. He adjusted the height perfectly. And I was able to step out and shave right there without having to do the nude sprint upstairs past the baffled painters! La vita e bella!