Report to Rugal: Vice's Journal

I took 4 years off, I suppose. While driving home from a long birthday weekend celebrate and I felt the itch to to vent at some less than ideal parts of the day, but was distracted by a couple things, and pleasantly so at yelling with Grace about "The Mandalorian and Grogu".

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But today I woke up a little earlier than normal to actually enjoy the day before going to the movie with Quinn. Instead of going to the arcade, I decided to play the Battlefront PSVR mission which actually really does slap. I choked up a little bit when K-2SO shows up because not only do I love that droid, but I feel a very tangible connection to him from the other VR mission with him. It handles really well, is forgiving and fun, and feels as good as Squadrons. I need to get back into that game. Did some lightsaber dojo before trying to get a little treat.

Strike 1: No Okinawa hot dog at T-Swirl. Strike 2: Loud country music and someone having a loud phone call and way too much sauce on my taco at Velvet Taco. Strike 3: Lackluster Nutella cake at Paris Baguette.

Traffic made me a little late to the movie, but nothing awful. The movie was fun, the music is good, and it's mostly inoffensive, but to a discerning eye, I can see the criticism. Talked with Quinn after the movie and a nice thing about coming out of this weekend is the thought that we should get together more often, all around.

Tried for a redemption brownie fudge Blizzard at Dairy Queen, but of course they added the chocolate chunks which ruins the texture for me. And the single Flamethrower burger was too hot too handle but I'm impatient and the tomato was too thick and there was too much bacon but I was in the car.

I got a bottled Coke on the way home, so at least that way that can't be ruined.

I got my order for the new exclusive Dan and Charlie Storm Arena figures and have been talking to Grace and chat about Mando and other folks around my birthday.

All in all, a good day and if first world problems are the ones I have, I can't complain at all. Here's to many more. Be well, everyone, until next time. <3

With the world moving so fast, the days turn into weeks, turn into months, and Christmas time is here once more. In spite of everything, it's always the same time of year, with the same time to prepare and the standing or recurring plans get to come around as well. These traditions will turn into the holiday memories and stories that we share years from now. With that in mind, here's a holiday story for one and all. A bit of pop culture knowledge is helpful, but never required.

Let me invite you into my home, for another special Vice Christmas tale.( Collapse )

Thank you for reading my story. =) In a challenging year like this, it felt even more important to keep good traditions, positive connections, and energy flowing. It's not just about holiday generocity, but a year round commitment to each other as well as kindness, keeping an open heart, and looking out for those who may not be as lucky and safe as we are. Everyone stay healthy and take care of yourselves and each other. Wishing the new year turns around in ways that surprise us for the better. Be the light you want to see in the world. Merry Christmas, everyone!

Some years we do a little more. Some years we do a bit less. Regardless of how much we do of one holiday activity or another, the important thing is that we look to the connection that we have with our friends, our family, and our community. These are the important things year round, but they are especially important in this festive time of year. With that in mind, here's a holiday story for one and all. A bit of pop culture knowledge is helpful, but never required.

Let me invite you into my home, for another special Vice Christmas tale.( Collapse )

Thank you for reading my story. =) It was a little hard to celebrate this year, but I believe it's important to share our love with one another and remind each other that we care and we're there to help. Everyone stay healthy and take care of yourselves and each other. Virtues of goodness, justice, charity and love should be in our hearts this time of year and into the new year. May you be able to share as much happiness as possible with your loved ones this holiday. Merry Christmas, everyone!

While the dates on the calendar remain the same, the holidays often grow and change with us. Happy things are both added and taken away with time, but traditions that are precious to us persist through the years. We can keep memories alive in this time of year and take the time to relax and reflect amongst all of the hustle and bustle. Part of taking the time is to make our connections stronger with each other and ourselves. With that in mind, here's a holiday story for one and all. A bit of pop culture knowledge is helpful, but never required.

Let me invite you into my home, for another special Vice Christmas tale.( Collapse )

Thank you for reading my story. =) There seemed to not be enough time this year, despite getting started what felt early enough. Allergies have also been really tough over the past couple weeks, too. This holiday season isn't over yet and I'm trying to bring optimism into the rest of the holiday and the new year. May your holiday season be filled with joy and love. Merry Christmas, everyone!

Even when things are difficult, the holidays still come. While they often feel like an obligation, they can be used as an opportunity to connect if we can manage. And even if we don't have many happy holiday memories, maybe we can use this time of year to make some with the ones that we love. In reflection and hope, here's a holiday story for one and all. A bit of pop culture knowledge is helpful, but never required.

Let me invite you into my home, for another special Vice Christmas tale.( Collapse )

Thank you for reading my story. =) Getting sick at the start of the season really messed up my groove, but I think I bounced back and tried to come through in the end. This year felt different with a lot of get-togethers or exchanges delayed or missing, but I'm trying to remain optimistic. This season is about hope, too, and may we all carry some extra hope and joy into the new year. Merry Christmas, everyone!

After a day of putting things away (mostly just to empty a bookcase that something fell behind), I started "Penguin Highway" and while it's cute and coming of age, I ran out of gas before finishing it and fell asleep in the recliner. Which wasn't bad because Mom called around 8 to wish me happy birthday and luckily I was still awake. Slept until like 11:30 and Jason was still milling about, so I responded to some online folks before getting ready to go out. My Uniqlo FF shirts came in so I'm wearing the VIII one now and my ZSJ jacket finally came in too, so good birthday mail vibes continue.

Wanted to make the 3:45 IMAX Top Gun Maverick and left the house with just enough time to get an Arby's Wagyu burger and a chocolate peanut butter Crumbl cookie. Both were wonderful. The movie was over the top, emotional, and awesome. I hadn't seen Top Gun until recently because this movie looked so hype and I love After Burner Climax and I'm glad I saw it. Won 2400 tickets easy at Round 1, played some Mission Impossible and Star Wars Pod before going to Dave and Busters.

D&B is just kind of a let down now that Round 1 is in town. Elevator Action was lacking without recoil and elevator doors, but the mock axe throwing makes me wonder if I'd actually be decent at it. Got some last minute Panda Express for Jason and me and finished out the day starting Attack on Titan Season 3.

I took the week off because my contract is rolling over and I'll be working for a new company at the start of June. Job is going well even I don't feel fully in the groove. I still owe that write up and while I haven't accomplished everything I would have liked over the past year, I've had a hell of a lot of fun and getting things in order and saving money. Here's to an even better next year.

The twelve days of Christmas refers to the days from Christmas to Epiphany, in the traditional celebration of Christmas. Or, Christmas, Christmas Eve, Boxing Day, New Year's, New Year's Eve, the associated weekends, and 3 mystery days. The winter holidays are more than just one day or one celebration, it's an special feeling that comes every year and can be used to share love and generosity with all. To celebrate these days, here's a holiday story for one and all. A bit of pop culture knowledge is helpful, but never required.

Let me invite you into my home, for another special Vice Christmas tale.( Collapse )

Thank you for reading my story. =) I felt more on top of things this year, but I'm reminded that even the most amount of preparation isn't enough if you don't have all of your bases covered. Hearing from friends and how much they treasure this time of year with me makes me so happy an makes me wish the holidays could last just a little longer. Merry Christmas, everyone!

Having only annual benchmarks in this journal is a curious way to measure. But, after last years melancholy, things felt radically different this year and if I had the same day a year ago, I don't know if it would have felt as good.

Outside of Grace, I didn't see anyone in person this year. She was very sweet and made me a sweet painting and a cute card, as usual. (And grape soap!) I heard from lots of good people and hoping to have some good follow ups with people like Elizabeth and Barbara.

While most of the homies are vaccinated and places are starting to open up like normal, I've been out of sorts getting started at my new job, enough so to not have the spoons to put together a super fun get together. I definitely want to talk about my new job, from wanting to leave my old position, to the actual leaving, to the starting my new one, and my excitement at the opportunity, that deserves a post all it's own, actually.

Got phone calls from work and Mom before Grace had to get on the road. This left me alone to get a BTS meal (the cajun sauce is a more mustardy Sriracha Mac, minus the relish and the sweet chili is a bit sweeter than previous offerings) and uh...come back home and took a nap. It was nice to recharge some before going out and trying the Strawberry Funnel Cake Frap (...for free, not bad, I don't mind the coffee in it, but give me the S'mores, Starbucks) before looking for some fun.

Had some quarters to burn at Cactus Jack's, so I played the fun Stranger Things pinball and kicked some ass on the Iron Man pinball machine. The Iron Monger fight effect is cool. Did a little hunting (no joy, but that's okay, I've been buying more Figuarts than I should), got a S'mores Insomnia cookie, got some canned vodka seltzer and some Rainbow Sherbet ales for chilling tonight, and another BTS meal after better meal plans fell through.

We're healthy, though. Mom figured out her ER stuff last summer. Grace's car is hopefully fixed for real just recently. Jason's fighting a bug parade worse than when I was, but hopefully than can get resolved one step at a time, even if the smell is pretty dreadful right now.

It was good to have a quiet day and maybe we can do it louder this summer.

Near or far, Christmas is the feeling that lives in your heart. Even if we can't celebrate exactly the way that we used to, the holiday spirit can permeate in the good things we do for each other during this time of year. Taking care of each other is what the season should be about. To keep our spirits lifted on cold nights, here's a holiday story for one and all. A bit of pop culture knowledge is helpful, but never required.

Let me invite you into my home, for another special Vice Christmas tale.( Collapse )

Thank you for reading my story. =) It was a very atypical holiday season this year, but still one filled with love. It gave us a little bit more time, but there's never enough days in the month to spread warmth and cheer. If we can spread the love we have for each other during the holidays to all year long, maybe we can be a little closer to peace on Earth. Merry Christmas, everyone!

Setting: A global pandemic that has upended day to day life

Today was filled with things that were just inconvenient enough.

It's okay that A-Kon was cancelled this year, I told myself. I'd have my own fun. I'm good at that. Saw Ricky and the homies at his mom's, and kept social distance. Spent money, ate good food. Ended up cleaning and organizing more than I wanted to. That's okay, I'll take my birthday off. Nope, can't leave my coworker unsupervised (my inclination to do so was correct) so I had to come in. That's all right, Grace couldn't make it down this weekend because of work and her car anyway. My mom calls me and then goes to the ER, but is released shortly there after. She seems fine when I visited her in the evening. Jason says she's irritated at my caution because of the pandemic but I really don't want her to suffer as a result of this. I'm trying my best to make it easy and make up for when I have to be more careful at the cost of togetherness, but I guess it doesn't feel like enough sometimes.

Just barely got to see the fun birthday Death Stranding stuff just now. I want that cake someday. Jason got me a dupe cheesecake but it's still delicious. He's going to come home with pizza and I think I'll try to get us to watch Star Wars.

I know why I'm really sad. Because something that felt really good like earlier this month feels like it's slipping away now. That's the crux of the problem. And I don't know how to fix that. I never knew.