Kiki's Memos

Journal

  • Grandma Kiki

    Kyriaki Psarrou (1912–1990) My grandma Kiki, Kyriaki Psarrou, was born in 1912 in Smyrna, Asia Minor, into a Greek family. Her parents were Sarantis Psarros, whose family came from the island of Kythera, and Kiki Psarrou, whose family originated from one of the Cycladic islands. She grew up with her siblings—Yiannis (1910–1942), Vangelis (born 1914),…

  • The Sardine Sprint

    Thinking of trying the sardine jump start? If you’re planning to eat sardines for three or four days to help nudge your body into ketosis, there’s just one small thing worth keeping in mind. Sardines are fantastic nutritionally: tiny fish, lots of healthy fats, tons of nutrients, and almost no carbs. That’s why they work…

  • The Language of Politeness: Civility or Hypocrisy?

    Last night I saw “Sketch 3 | The Language of Civility vs. Wild Language” at the Experimental Stage of the National Theatre of Greece, at the Dipylon Theater in Athens. It was a fascinating experience. There was no conventional story with a beginning, middle and end. Instead, the performance unfolded through choreography, choral elements, fragments…

  • Seeing Inside Me

    Wearing a continuous glucose monitor has been life-changing. A tiny sensor under my skin, quietly tracking my blood sugar every few minutes, sending numbers to my phone. Seeing in real time what is happening inside me — how food, activity, and even stress affect my blood sugar — is exciting and eye-opening. One insight surprised…

  • Learning “Vidit Suum”

    I started learning a new piece for my second year of intermediate singing lessons — Vidit Suum from Giovanni Battista Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater. It’s challenging, lyrical, and completely absorbing. From the very first notes, I knew it would push me — both technically and emotionally. Pergolesi (1710–1736) was an Italian Baroque composer who died very…

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