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Turns out the heat pump had enough dust in it to almost clog off the entire system (potential fire hazard as well), so no wonder the house has been freezing the past couple months. A good cleaning-up in there, and now the house is livable again without hot water bottles, an extra blanket and a bathrobe for warmth. I seriously considered dressing up in a knit hat and gloves too...
It's not summer temperatures inside, but it's not so cold I'm contemplating staying in bed all day because it's the only somewhat warm place in the whole house (upstairs was only livable with said bathrobe and a cup of cocoa). Outside it's still minus degrees and snow - once the holiday season is over (1st of January, maybe sooner), I'm looking forward to spring... |
Panda is currently helping a depressed friend out of a pit of despair by waiting for her to reach out to Panda.
Otherwise, she is wide awake and in pain. She sometimes thinks about animating a movie set to an entire CD's music. She is now $40 closer to her Grand Tour around Japan. |
Panda is still sore and nauseous from the COVID-19 treatment.
Her parents are back at work, but her mother returned home early two days in a row due to the warehouse machinery breaking down. Panda is still sticking it out on Twitter while Elon Musk is making a mess of things. |
Yesterday, one of the ill kittens we have at the shelter, suddenly and rapidly started dying. Took a short while before we could organize to send him off the vet to relieve his agony.
When an animal dies, we have a spot where we lay it down for ~24h, so that 'the soul can peacefully leave it's body' (Boss' want), and then we put them in a bag in a freezer. Basically a mortuary. At some point they'll be collected for cremation. Today I said my goodbyes and put him in there. Now usually it doesn't phase me too much when one of the cats dies, it's sad, but it happens. Little Brad however, has a dear place in my heart. I'd be lying if I said I didn't cry, so I went out for some fresh air and to collect myself. That's when it gently started snowing tiny, delicate snowflakes for about 5 minutes. I like to think that was little Brad's way of saying his goodbye to me. |
Well, it finally came to this...
The Pokémon anime is retiring Ash AND Pikachu after 25 years of adventures. The new characters in the new series, Riko and Roi, are accompanied by the 3 Paldean starter Pokémon. With that, an 11 episode miniseries acting as the series finale will air in January on Japanese television. Not upset, but I kinda saw it coming when I heard a rumor that the understaffed OLM Studio, who animated the Pokémon anime from the first episode, was having trouble with the daily aspects of keeping a staffed animation team. Although Ash and Pikachu's departure is not a complete goodbye, it did hit people who grew up watching him in the feels. Either way, the new anime will probably be a worthy watch. It's to be released in late April. As for me, it seems like I have something to look forward to when it comes to the US. |
Boxing Day, Panda's aunt Lucinda, uncle Gary and her grandfather and Gramma Barb are coming to visit for Christmas.
Panda is doing well. She's currently almost through with her various illnesses. |
Quote: Originally posted by Johnny_Bravo
You have a kind heart, don't let anyone else say otherwise. |
Update on the Ash and Pikachu arc finale:
The final special episode of the 2019 edition of the Pokémon anime is subtitled "The Distant Blue Sky". With Riko bearing numerous symbolic references to Ash and one instance to Pikachu from a green stone resembling a Thunder Stone Pikachu initially rejected during the Vermilion Gym Leader's challenge, some are assuming she is his daughter with him and one of the girls Ash traveled with in past installments, most likely setting the story in the future. Although too soon to tell about the lineage of Riko, some also assume that Ash may reappear, older and wiser in a profession referring back to his original Japanese name, Satoshi (meaning wisdom or intelligence, as gathered through his experiences on his epic adventures and referencing back to his creator Satoshi Tajiri.). He may possibly be working alongside former rival Gary Oak (Shigeru Okido, Shigeru referring to Tajiri's mentor, Shigeru Miyamoto and Okido being word play for large tree family, which set the tone for Professors through the mainline series of games having tree related names.) For now, the final episodes won't directly air the week after the special, due to Japanese New Year's schedule for families to visit shrines, so a rerun would likely be put in the place of any programming. The final episodes start their run on January 13, 2023. Yeah, this is a lot to unpack even if this a series finale leading to the next series. But I am only observing...I could be wrong about the predictions, but who knows what will happen in the 2023 edition of the anime? Also, Twitter users are given another chance to vote out Elon Musk from his Twitter position, but people are skeptical that he may fudge the numbers to remain in power. He really should step down. For one thing, he has 5 companies to oversee, 9 children to interact with and only gets 6 hours sleep on a nightly basis. Not only do I hate his guts (opposite viewpoints combined with his chaotic bad behavior), but one can't sustain a circadian rhythm like that without losing one's mind. He is still on Earth, and by my calculations, he should be colonizing on Mars. My father jokes that "The World's Most Interesting Man" would be the welcoming committee on Mars, in reference to his final commercial appearance for Dos Equis Beer as the spokesman (launched to Mars). The morning will tell of the results of handing off Twitter or not. Results: With the results 57% yes to 43% no, Musk may be looking for work elsewhere if enough push back comes from banning those who said yes. Update: Musk is stepping down from Twitter after 2 months of chaotic ownership and activity. No word yet on his replacement, but one can only hope it isn't someone like him. |
Done with the seasonal confectionary (made most yesterday, finished with cutting up the Rocky Road today, a new item on the list, those ended up really yummy).
The strawberry ones went completely busted this year, but that's fine - I'll just have to figure out a better recipe for that one (never been 100% happy with any I've had). Had some I intended to fill with jello and a couple other ingredients, but most of those ended up a bit experimental. The moulds I used weren't the best (one of them seemed perfect but could barely get the chocolates out of it, the other was fine but a bit too shallow. Plus, the jello barely had any taste so need to revisit that one... Ended up filling the rest of the jello into some other moulds, and they were almost impossible to get out whole, so either that one is a bust or I need to use cooking spray of some sort first. Cutting them into shapes apparently works fine, but that isn't as fun. So I've eaten way too much jello the past couple days. Anyway, I like experimenting with this every year. It's become a yearly tradition. Some things work, other things don't, and that's part of the fun. Otherwise it would just be a hassle. The cleanup work is a pain, though. And my legs always hurt like hell afterward... |
I'm fine, been put on a dental surgery wait list that's 11 months out for a chipped tooth.
I went to Walmart and bought a doll and 3 accessory blind boxes for the dolls. I had some cash lying around. But then again, I am back to square one on my dreams of world travels. My grandfather sent me two $50 checks and my parents are withholding them because normally my grandfather doesn't send $100 during Christmas. I'm not angry, but my father hadn't checked out whether this was a mistake, so any hostility is low key, like Cold War pact hostile, because I have to wait until Boxing Day (not Canadian, but the fact it's marked on the calendar is the reason.) for further clarification. I'm not going to wait a week for a verification of a check. I'm dealing with bigger problems than withheld financial issues. Otherwise, I recently balanced my checkbook alongside my mother and the house checkbook. Adulting is harder than it looks. As for the 11 part series finale of the Pokémon anime featuring Ash and Pikachu, more details have been released in a press letter that the 11 episodes will play out as a farewell party in terms of old characters returning to wish Ash and Pikachu luck throughout the retirement. Not only is Ash hanging up his adventure gear, but since a recent favorite Pokémon poll knocked Pikachu out of the top 10 and replaced with Charizard as the favored Pokémon, Pikachu is being retired alongside Ash. However, this is still not a complete goodbye. The press letter explained that Ash and Pikachu will make cameos in the new series, headed by Liko (finalized spelling) and Roy, the two trainers and the 3 starters from Paldea in the Scarlet\Violet versions from Generation 9. |
Tired and I am in the middle of moving out of my old bedroom as my mom and I planned about a month ago to switch rooms. In exchange for her getting my old bedroom, I get her old arts and crafts supplies room as my new bedroom.
However, I need to pack up my things in boxes to prepare for the change in 2023. I would have to pack away things on shelves, get laundry folded and wash the nosebleed stains out of my bedsheets. For now, I have my moments of tired out and worn down from this year. |
My father has told me his opinion on the room exchange: he was against it, even though it was my mother's idea. So, until my mother is home and decompressed from her final work day until Christmas, I am going to word carefully that I will be keeping my room until a better plan can be put in place.
As for tomorrow, we're having a Christmas movie marathon. A Christmas Story, Home Alone, Elf, Olive the Other Reindeer. I don't spend much time with my parents as they are the type to work until they die. Being both generalists and the people who have everything, I usually have to find them the right gift with wheedling it out of them. As for me, since I have a huge doll collection, I pick and choose from what I don't have from a wish list. As weird as it sounds, this is my scenario every Christmas for as long as I can remember. Edit: my mother changed her mind about changing rooms and now the totes I brought up from the basement need some cleanup after being in a dark, dusty basement. Oh well... |
So I'm still broken hearted, and dating is so hard - but a handsome 20 year old bloke called me a beautiful woman tonight (twice), so I'm counting that as a win
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Been working all weekend including Friday, plus celebrating xmas with my family yesterday after work, so my brain is fried at this point. Good thing I have a week or so off...
I've been running on fumes and lots of chocolate today (good thing we always get some extra snacks at work during the holidays, or I wouldn't have made it through the day). |
Christmas this year seems to be missing the magic feeling we usually associate with it. For now, I probably would have to cook my own dinner tonight as my parents are going to the diner without me.
I did get my dolls for Christmas and some hair accessories since my hair grew out lately. I probably will go to bed hungry like last night. My parents forgot to make me a dinner. Either way, I probably have a busy week ahead unboxing dolls. |
My grandparents, Aunt Lucinda, and uncle Gary visited. I received about $65 in cash and $15 in an Amazon gift card from various relatives. The $15 was partially spent on a blind box for accessories for a doll I have a double of. I deposited a $50 check to knock off some debt, especially since I had about $300 in debt. Not as bad as last time, but still I have more suspicion about it.
Still, tomorrow is another day for me to make phone calls and yet, one last weekend day with my mom and dad before their end of year work week. As much as I can muster, I bought something small with the gift card. It was another pair of shoes for my doll. The doll is a double, but I have plenty of ideas for building a dressing room for my dolls. |
Tuesday shopping in a Walmart Run...
I bought drinks and box dinners and still had money left over for next month's food allowance (I was sick with COVID-19, which killed my otherwise ravenous appetite.) I even used the $65 cash to buy the blind box shoes for my collection. The hint to the shoes lies with the color of the blind box. I have collected 10 of the 27 Series 1 shoes with currently no duplicates, but that may change as Amazon sends random boxes and with the help of the Internet, I can always find a trading post for miniatures. I had fell asleep in bed after eating Kentucky Fried Chicken, which, is the traditional fare for Christmas in Japan, due to a marketing ploy. Woke up to my father and mother cooking. My mother finally got her bloodhound sense of smell back, not that she works with customs or the police, but working with The Beagle Brigade would be an incentive of training for justice and nurturing puppies to be the less threatening side of the customs team. (The Beagle Brigade was formed as a way to be less intimidating than larger dogs like the German Shepherd. Leave a beagle on a scent trail and it's likely to follow it for 127 miles. Chances are you will never see them again.) Personally, the third day of Christmas was personally interesting. I spent some cash, restocked the winter drink cellar, restocked my pantry, had a nap after yesterday afternoon's Boxing Day Brunch...Phew...I'm beat but luckily, I have an outline for my music group: covers of pop and European dance music sung with a Japanese instrument orchestra replacing parts of the traditional and electronic elements of the music. I hope I can find someone skilled in rapping, not to mention people skilled in Japanese musical instruments. However, I don't have the money for the famous shakuhachi player Cornelius Boots, one of the few remaining specialists in the shakuhachi on Earth. |
Went shopping yesterday and bought:
A.) 13 spools of award-winning dental floss (yes, dental care awards exist) B.) 7 bottles of autobrush toothpaste (it foams up when dispensed.) C.) Grape, pineapple, and watermelon flavored fluoride rinses ($4~$5 a bottle is a bargain in my book) D.) Instant meals (I am so busy lately and I have limited use of the range.) E.) Juice (I have access to EBT eligible goods, including shelf stable goods for my stash of drinks) F.) Replacement autobrush head (I don't remember how long I had that original head, but the recommendation said "Replace every 2-3 months".) G.) Two dolls in a series. Punk rock motif. (New girls for the Dollarama) H.) Blind boxes of a pair of shoes and two bags for the doll I use most in my photos. (The doll is normally dressed like a cheerleader to differentiate between the one on the Dollarama in casual.) The majority of my shopping was spurred after my dentist appointment and my teeth were in sad shape beyond me chipping a tooth with a corn tortilla chip. Yesterday, I received black cherry soda as my first delivery before the new year. Black Cherry Soda is a favorite of mine, my father, and my grandfather. Today, my big adulting goal was call for the major appointments before my phone battery ran out. 4 out of 5 were written down before my phone warned I had 15% power left. So far, I have saved up $17.09 in my engineering magnum opus. Had to put it in one of my 13 cash boxes. I dream of an artificial island with all kinds of interesting things happening there. I might have my dream family of the men I adore working hard around the island so our lives are better. My grandfather and grandmother contributed to the final specifications of the build of my personal army of androids. My grandfather contributed AI and basic emotional support. My grandmother contributed a calorimeter stomach and specifications for energy consumption through eating human foods. |
Realized 2 things about me.
1.) I play for keeps when a bet is on the line. 2.) I will need to better communicate with my family to get to doctor appointments. 2023, I plan on getting my health in order. Hence the dental care supplies I bought. |
Happy New Year!
I didn't stay up last night due to lack of sleep messing with my stress levels. I am ready to face today and the other 364. |
Went grocery\department shopping today. Bought special ramen broth, box\instant dinners, juice, ginger ale and using my mad money, I bought a doll I didn't have in my collection.
I dyed my highlights a bright ocean blue this morning. My mother noticed that. One of our errands was incomplete because the UPS store was closed today. I was trying to return a pair of doll shoes that was a pair of left shoes. (QC is a big issue to me when plunking down money, especially for a collectible item.) So I stowed the box in mom's glovebox in her car. Maybe tomorrow. |
Happy New Year everyone!
I haven't simmed in way too long, due to a chest infection and a way too busy social life (my poor purse, I need to say no more!) but I'm hoping to get back to it again and be healthier in the new year too - might start using the 'bedtime' thing on my phone for a start ![]() |
I waited last night for my therapist to call me. Turned out she was calling from the office using an extension, which, for some reason, my smartphone makes no response to such numbers. No ringing whatsoever and the "ringer" was on through it all.
Unfortunately, this is a glitch the floor 5 staff have acknowledged, but have no means to fix it because of other issues. Dr. BYJ said recently that, because they upped my anxiety meds, they also need me to increase my psychoanalysis part of the therapy by twice the frequency of calls. So with that in mind, I had a bad night. I really needed to tell her everything bothering me and my feelings. |
Therapy was draining...
*I got scared when Ellyn Stern liked my "Happy Whatever Makes You Happy" quip for the holiday season. I took the greeting from Dana Carvey. *My habit of getting steps in when shopping while playing Pikmin Bloom and I average 2,500-3,500 steps an outing, any higher and it's record worthy for that week. *My panic attacks and lack of socializing when I go shopping, because I am working on shopping for what I need for my meals. |
Sometimes, I want to be spoiled a bit.
Like have someone cook me a hot meal and rub my upper back, neck, shoulders and upper arms (I carry quite a bit of tension in those parts) then rub a layer of lidocaine to relax it further. I have missed that luxury since things were busy this holiday season. But otherwise, I finished a drawing of a samurai from an instructional art book. Resembled Goemon Ishikawa XIII from Lupin III. I wasn't going to complain. Although Chris Hart rarely contributes art to these how to draw books anymore, his team must have been given a lightening up to draw as they like and Goemon is a classic manga\anime character who has been adored for the past 55 years. I do respect the Showa era classics. In fact, Speed Racer was one of the first exposures of classic Showa anime and one of the first anime series in color. (History footnotes: The post-WWII rule of Emperor Hirohito was called Showa "achieving peace" up until around his death in 1990, which upon his son's coronation, Prince Akihito became emperor and ruled for 30 years in what was called the Heisei era "peace achieved" before stepping down for Prince Naruhito, the current emperor and the beginning of the Reiwa era "order and harmony") As for today, I found myself trying to relax in bed, only to be ripped out to attend to some inane chore. So I am a bit grumpy. As for today, I have been backing up my phone's contents. Besides, I have to get back to Simming as it has been a while. |
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