aku-chan
Well-known member
Congrats on the surprise PR! 
Quest for Muscle: The Return of the Pump
- Thread starter GentleOx
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NightWolf714
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Berserker
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Nashville, TN, USA
Pronouns: They/she
Posts: 1,646
from
Nashville, TN, USA
Pronouns: They/she
Posts: 1,646
"The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change. ~Carl Rogers"
Congrats on the surprise PR!
Grits crouched over the road, put the cigarette to his mouth, and took a deep, calming lungful of smoke; the cancerous vapor was redolent with the pungent flavours of tobacco, tar, burning paper, and nicotine common to every cigarette. Lex was on overwatch, her rifle in her arms, crouched on the dead grass that seemed to be peppered around Greywater Marsh. Dolls was scouting ahead of them; there had been talk that someone new had shaken hands with the Commies and found their way north. How the Commies kept bypassing the Dead Bridge and maintained an outpost at the edge of the 'Marsh was a mystery, though given that the entrance was beyond heavily guarded, it was academic. Not that Grits cared. The warrant officer was simply interested in completing his cigarette, then their patrol, getting out of the cold, and getting some hot chow. This icy marsh air cut to the bone, even with his standard-issue NFTA Ranger uniform and a down jacket. The lake that the raised road cut through was placid and dead.
"We haven't found anything, or anyone of value yet." The lieutenant's voice was high-pitched in a way that grated on the nerves. Grits sighed. "I know, sir." He would've smacked the REMF by now, but scuttlebutt had it that he was connected, and that somebody, but somebody high up was grooming him for command. So he did his best to stay calm. Why they had to babysit a pencil-pusher and drag his ass through the at-times poisonous air, broken ruins, and generally hostile territory was above his paygrade. Theirs is not to reason why... "Sarge." That was Dolls, returning from his scouting run close to the Commie camp, but not quite within a rifle's range. He kept his rifle lowered and approached Grits, who acknowledged him with a nod of the head.
"Report." "Hey!" The Lieutenant whined, coming up to them. "You're supposed to be reporting to me."
The CO might not've existed for all the notice Dolls took. "They've moved on. Caught multiple sets of tracks. Several downed transhumans and remnants of a few anomalies. Whoever they are, they're prepared."
Grits already knew where this conversation was going. "Recommendation?"
"We obviously need to return and file our report--" Grits raised a hand, shushing the bureaucrat.
"Complete our mission. We're already here, covered most sectors, and have another 5 square kilometers to recce. They can't hide." Grits didn't grudge him this answer.
"Right, let's head out." He stood, took one last breath of smoke, then tossed his cigarette to the side, where it plopped into the river, and went out with a hiss. The lieutenant sputtered, and this time Grits ignored him.
"Squad! Move out."
And so they went, steadily making their way across the foggy wasteland.
Next to the drifting cigarette, where he'd hidden in the sodden water, Ox raised his head. Murky lake water sluicing down his face, he waited a few minutes for the patrol to continue on their way before raising his arm, and drawing an imaginary circle in the air. Three other shapes surfaced not far away, water dripping from their fatigues, rebreathers in their mouths, and weapons drawn. Wet as they were, submerged in garbage and filth and all sorts of other shit, they were all accounted for.
Thank you kindly @NightWolf714 @Fremen @JCU @TopNotch @AgileGrrl @aku-chan and @CODawn and @Laura Rainbow Dragon !
Hello again, Bees!
I'm one sore and tired Ox, but I managed to hit the gym after church today. I've been neglecting my gym time lately, so I'll have to head in more often next week.
Anyway, today I tested my strength with a 2rm.
Bench Press: 145 x 2, 147.5 x 2. While I didn't break any PRs with this, I'm quite satisfied. The second rep on 147.5 was enough of a struggle to tell me to stay the weight, and incorporate heavier weights next cycle. Still, 147.5 twice is nothing to sneeze at.
Incline Press: 107.5 x 5. Just about challenging, but not overtly much.
Overhead Press: 85 x 3. Moving close to 200 lbs... I want to see if I can hit 200 in the next few weeks, like old times.
Plate Raises: 10 x 6. I saw this lift done by the Chinese weightlifting team (the best in the world). While I have less of a need for external shoulder stability/rotation like they do, it looked cool, so I thought, why not. It's a challenging lift, and I'll be sticking with 10 kg plates for awhile before moving on to 15s.
Dumbbell Flat Curls: 24 x 14. Ugh, moving on up.
Dumbbell Wrist Curls: 24 x 20.
The weather was awfully warm today. Here's hoping that we have one more cold spell before winter's all over.
Going to stay up late tonight and relax a little, but tomorrow I'm staying home to lesson plan a little. And get a haircut??
Enjoy your Sunday, Bees!
Playing: Get to the Orange Door (a game I picked up before the pandemic) has been steadily updating, and the playtest just dropped. I've given it another go... there's so much to go through! Woohoo.
Also played a bit of Palworld recently. I've taken to hunting down Pals, as I'm no longer interested in catching (and indeed, am kind of unable to) more Pals. I'm a big game hunter now! (Editor's note: In real life, hunting down wild animals is despicable, and is nothing to joke over. Good thing this is just a virtual world, and a bloodless one at that. Ox will be suitably disciplined for this.)
Watching: I will try to finish Hostile Dimensions tonight. I will try... So many movies to watch, after this one!
Listening to: Dark Saints - Lost in the Darkness. Had a bit of a goth-y craving, so here's a treat swirling with darkness. Great hooks!
"We haven't found anything, or anyone of value yet." The lieutenant's voice was high-pitched in a way that grated on the nerves. Grits sighed. "I know, sir." He would've smacked the REMF by now, but scuttlebutt had it that he was connected, and that somebody, but somebody high up was grooming him for command. So he did his best to stay calm. Why they had to babysit a pencil-pusher and drag his ass through the at-times poisonous air, broken ruins, and generally hostile territory was above his paygrade. Theirs is not to reason why... "Sarge." That was Dolls, returning from his scouting run close to the Commie camp, but not quite within a rifle's range. He kept his rifle lowered and approached Grits, who acknowledged him with a nod of the head.
"Report." "Hey!" The Lieutenant whined, coming up to them. "You're supposed to be reporting to me."
The CO might not've existed for all the notice Dolls took. "They've moved on. Caught multiple sets of tracks. Several downed transhumans and remnants of a few anomalies. Whoever they are, they're prepared."
Grits already knew where this conversation was going. "Recommendation?"
"We obviously need to return and file our report--" Grits raised a hand, shushing the bureaucrat.
"Complete our mission. We're already here, covered most sectors, and have another 5 square kilometers to recce. They can't hide." Grits didn't grudge him this answer.
"Right, let's head out." He stood, took one last breath of smoke, then tossed his cigarette to the side, where it plopped into the river, and went out with a hiss. The lieutenant sputtered, and this time Grits ignored him.
"Squad! Move out."
And so they went, steadily making their way across the foggy wasteland.
Next to the drifting cigarette, where he'd hidden in the sodden water, Ox raised his head. Murky lake water sluicing down his face, he waited a few minutes for the patrol to continue on their way before raising his arm, and drawing an imaginary circle in the air. Three other shapes surfaced not far away, water dripping from their fatigues, rebreathers in their mouths, and weapons drawn. Wet as they were, submerged in garbage and filth and all sorts of other shit, they were all accounted for.
Thank you kindly @NightWolf714 @Fremen @JCU @TopNotch @AgileGrrl @aku-chan and @CODawn and @Laura Rainbow Dragon !
Hello again, Bees!
I'm one sore and tired Ox, but I managed to hit the gym after church today. I've been neglecting my gym time lately, so I'll have to head in more often next week.
Anyway, today I tested my strength with a 2rm.
Bench Press: 145 x 2, 147.5 x 2. While I didn't break any PRs with this, I'm quite satisfied. The second rep on 147.5 was enough of a struggle to tell me to stay the weight, and incorporate heavier weights next cycle. Still, 147.5 twice is nothing to sneeze at.
Incline Press: 107.5 x 5. Just about challenging, but not overtly much.
Overhead Press: 85 x 3. Moving close to 200 lbs... I want to see if I can hit 200 in the next few weeks, like old times.
Plate Raises: 10 x 6. I saw this lift done by the Chinese weightlifting team (the best in the world). While I have less of a need for external shoulder stability/rotation like they do, it looked cool, so I thought, why not. It's a challenging lift, and I'll be sticking with 10 kg plates for awhile before moving on to 15s.
Dumbbell Flat Curls: 24 x 14. Ugh, moving on up.
Dumbbell Wrist Curls: 24 x 20.
The weather was awfully warm today. Here's hoping that we have one more cold spell before winter's all over.
Going to stay up late tonight and relax a little, but tomorrow I'm staying home to lesson plan a little. And get a haircut??
Enjoy your Sunday, Bees!
Playing: Get to the Orange Door (a game I picked up before the pandemic) has been steadily updating, and the playtest just dropped. I've given it another go... there's so much to go through! Woohoo.
Also played a bit of Palworld recently. I've taken to hunting down Pals, as I'm no longer interested in catching (and indeed, am kind of unable to) more Pals. I'm a big game hunter now! (Editor's note: In real life, hunting down wild animals is despicable, and is nothing to joke over. Good thing this is just a virtual world, and a bloodless one at that. Ox will be suitably disciplined for this.)
Watching: I will try to finish Hostile Dimensions tonight. I will try... So many movies to watch, after this one!
Listening to: Dark Saints - Lost in the Darkness. Had a bit of a goth-y craving, so here's a treat swirling with darkness. Great hooks!
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Gunfire crackled in the distance. Ox could tell who was fighting it out, based on the cadences and rhythms of the shots: single, semi-automatic strings of rounds were from the NFTA rangers, whose doctrine was to avoid full-auto; the long, sporadic bursts of shots were from the Insurrectionists, who had less discipline in their SOP; and finally, there were discomfiting ZIIPs and ZRRRPs from weapons that couldn't have been conventional. Ox was worried about each, and particularly the last one; the Cultists literally worshiped the ground they were walking on, and took all intruders to be hostile. The way that the Stone Maze was situated made for an eerie echo of each noise: the whole place was made up of rock walls that seemed to incongruously form a path that lead to the center of the maze, making penetrating the center a slow, and unnerving exercise for any group of attackers. Fortunately, that wasn't where they needed to be.
The beacon was situated southwest of the Stone Maze proper, fortunately covered by several rock walls. "Hmm." Ox, busy covering his sector, chanced a look behind him. Jackal, the most mechanically-inclined of their group, was standing before the beacon, spare electronics at his feet, tinkering away with a wrench. "That's a good 'hmm', right?" Jackal didn't look up. "It's not working because it's been sabotaged. Somebody took our beacon out." The ramifications took root in Ox's head, grasping and gnawing at him. But business was calling. "Can you fix it?" "Mmm-hmm," Jackal said, and Ox chanced a glance at his left and right. Howie was stolidly crouched, his rifle at low ready, wearily watching the path to their left. Sax had her rifle out, but was constantly casting glances back at him and Jackal. Ox glared at her, and took his right hand away from his weapon to point at her, then two fingers at his eyes, and then two fingers in her direction. If looks could kill - but at least Sax was back to watching her field of fire. There was a strange hum at the center of the maze that made his teeth ache, and his head felt heavy. He had no idea how how the Cultists could tolerate being here.
He gave a prayer of thanks to Simmi for setting the beacon up away from where the rest of Carcosa seemed to be fighting it out. The way the gunfire echoed around the rock spaces meant that you never truly felt safe here. "Done." Jackal stowed his wrench and spare electronics, and readied his own weapon. "Where to, Boss?" Howie asked. Ox did a quick consult of the map. "We're headed northeast, to Pine Ridge."
One down, two to go.
Hey Bees! 'Tis I, the Oxfinder General, still on my quest to search for yummy treats and sugary snacks.
Pending the outcome of said quest, today was a Pull workout. And it wasn't easy...
Snatch Grip Deadlifts: 120 x 5. Ugh, these were super tough today. That's what I get for going on a hiatus, I guess.
Barbell Rows: 105 x 5.
Meadows Rows: 72.5 x 5, 75 x 2. A PR! Gurgle.
Neutral Grip Rows: 60 x 8. Another PR! Hah.
Chin Ups: 25 in total. Was not feeling these today.
Face Pulls: I dunno, 5 or 6 on the machine? For eight reps.
I'm teaching again on Saturday, but at least I have tomorrow off. I may or may not take a break from the gym. Probably will.
I saw the golden doggo again! It was super friendly and wanted lots of scratches and pats, which I obliged! At some point, it leaned into me (?), which I interpret as being a friendly gesture.
Doggo got lots of cuddles from passers-by! Too cute!
Doggies are so cute, I love them all so much, I want a fluffy doggo friend
We're almost at Friday, Bees! You've got this!
Playing: So my master plan to buy Crimson Desert (which is pricier than my monthly budget) has... fizzled out.
And this is on the eve of the game's release. What got into me? Well, it's a good chunk of change, for one (close to 70 USD in the HK Steam store). Moreover, I don't know if I can play the game to my satisfaction? I'm a frames per second freak. I'm barred from playing most modern games because I can't reach 60 fps in them. And I don't know if that'll be the case again with Crimson Desert.
So I'll wait it out, see when it's on sale, and perhaps more importantly, how it performs with older CPUs and GPUs like mine.
And then there's the fact that tomorrow is a big Steam SALE! It kinda crept up on me!
SALE!
Beyond eyeing all the games on discount, I'm probably going to play s'more Palworld (doing well there, my quest to slay all the Pals in sight has net me plenty of loot and exp), a touch of Sulfur, and some Project Silverfish.
Watching: I finished watching Hostile Dimensions, so here's a trailer, synopsis, and review!
Two filmmakers, Emma and Ash, who have heretofore had little success, investigate the case of a missing graffiti artist, Emily. Upon tracking down the spot at which she disappeared, they find a conspicuous wooden door that only *appears* ordinary. The door's paranormal qualities are quickly apparent; whenever opened, it reveals a separate dimension, from which the possibilities seem endless. However, it soon becomes clear that the door brings danger, as well, and that some other party has had a hand in Emily's disappearance.
The Verdict: It's an intriguing idea that's hurt by its budget and lack of creativity, among other glaring flaws.
I really wanted to like this one, as its premise seemed fantastic: a found-footage film on the multiple dimensions out there. What could go wrong?
A lot, as it turns out. The acting is amateurish and the writing uninspired at best. Characters spit out cliched dialogue, and there's a distinct lack of pressing urgency or drama. But that's burying the lede, I feel.
You cannot give me a film like this, which capitalizes on the idea of the multiverse, and fail to deliver on the multiversal mayhem. I'm not expecting something on the level of that Dr. Strange film, but there are short films on youtube that burst with more originality and imaginative execution. One or two of the dimensions are inspired (one involving a freaky children's play center and a "panda" of a surprise), as well as a talking dog, whose shoddy execution at least got a laugh out of this jaded viewer. But overall, the lack of budget shows. (Looking back, we actually go through a surprising number of dimensions; the problem is that they aren't cohesively realized. But c'mon, people. There are ways around that.)
I give Hostile Dimensions one and a half gods stuck (?) in dog form out of five.
I will try to watch more of Obex tonight, perhaps even finishing it. But I dunno.
Listening to: Jack Hawkins and His Orchestra - 30 60 90. So that's what the song's called! Another of those songs that lived in my head for years after watching Get Carter (this one for about 20 or so) before I was finally able to identify it, last night. Have any of you known songs like that? Great song, this one is! All groovy and psychedelic, with some great percussion.
The beacon was situated southwest of the Stone Maze proper, fortunately covered by several rock walls. "Hmm." Ox, busy covering his sector, chanced a look behind him. Jackal, the most mechanically-inclined of their group, was standing before the beacon, spare electronics at his feet, tinkering away with a wrench. "That's a good 'hmm', right?" Jackal didn't look up. "It's not working because it's been sabotaged. Somebody took our beacon out." The ramifications took root in Ox's head, grasping and gnawing at him. But business was calling. "Can you fix it?" "Mmm-hmm," Jackal said, and Ox chanced a glance at his left and right. Howie was stolidly crouched, his rifle at low ready, wearily watching the path to their left. Sax had her rifle out, but was constantly casting glances back at him and Jackal. Ox glared at her, and took his right hand away from his weapon to point at her, then two fingers at his eyes, and then two fingers in her direction. If looks could kill - but at least Sax was back to watching her field of fire. There was a strange hum at the center of the maze that made his teeth ache, and his head felt heavy. He had no idea how how the Cultists could tolerate being here.
He gave a prayer of thanks to Simmi for setting the beacon up away from where the rest of Carcosa seemed to be fighting it out. The way the gunfire echoed around the rock spaces meant that you never truly felt safe here. "Done." Jackal stowed his wrench and spare electronics, and readied his own weapon. "Where to, Boss?" Howie asked. Ox did a quick consult of the map. "We're headed northeast, to Pine Ridge."
One down, two to go.
Hey Bees! 'Tis I, the Oxfinder General, still on my quest to search for yummy treats and sugary snacks.
Pending the outcome of said quest, today was a Pull workout. And it wasn't easy...
Snatch Grip Deadlifts: 120 x 5. Ugh, these were super tough today. That's what I get for going on a hiatus, I guess.
Barbell Rows: 105 x 5.
Meadows Rows: 72.5 x 5, 75 x 2. A PR! Gurgle.
Neutral Grip Rows: 60 x 8. Another PR! Hah.
Chin Ups: 25 in total. Was not feeling these today.
Face Pulls: I dunno, 5 or 6 on the machine? For eight reps.
I'm teaching again on Saturday, but at least I have tomorrow off. I may or may not take a break from the gym. Probably will.
I saw the golden doggo again! It was super friendly and wanted lots of scratches and pats, which I obliged! At some point, it leaned into me (?), which I interpret as being a friendly gesture.
Doggo got lots of cuddles from passers-by! Too cute!
Doggies are so cute, I love them all so much, I want a fluffy doggo friend
We're almost at Friday, Bees! You've got this!
Playing: So my master plan to buy Crimson Desert (which is pricier than my monthly budget) has... fizzled out.
And this is on the eve of the game's release. What got into me? Well, it's a good chunk of change, for one (close to 70 USD in the HK Steam store). Moreover, I don't know if I can play the game to my satisfaction? I'm a frames per second freak. I'm barred from playing most modern games because I can't reach 60 fps in them. And I don't know if that'll be the case again with Crimson Desert.
So I'll wait it out, see when it's on sale, and perhaps more importantly, how it performs with older CPUs and GPUs like mine.
And then there's the fact that tomorrow is a big Steam SALE! It kinda crept up on me!
SALE!
Beyond eyeing all the games on discount, I'm probably going to play s'more Palworld (doing well there, my quest to slay all the Pals in sight has net me plenty of loot and exp), a touch of Sulfur, and some Project Silverfish.
Watching: I finished watching Hostile Dimensions, so here's a trailer, synopsis, and review!
Two filmmakers, Emma and Ash, who have heretofore had little success, investigate the case of a missing graffiti artist, Emily. Upon tracking down the spot at which she disappeared, they find a conspicuous wooden door that only *appears* ordinary. The door's paranormal qualities are quickly apparent; whenever opened, it reveals a separate dimension, from which the possibilities seem endless. However, it soon becomes clear that the door brings danger, as well, and that some other party has had a hand in Emily's disappearance.
The Verdict: It's an intriguing idea that's hurt by its budget and lack of creativity, among other glaring flaws.
I really wanted to like this one, as its premise seemed fantastic: a found-footage film on the multiple dimensions out there. What could go wrong?
A lot, as it turns out. The acting is amateurish and the writing uninspired at best. Characters spit out cliched dialogue, and there's a distinct lack of pressing urgency or drama. But that's burying the lede, I feel.
You cannot give me a film like this, which capitalizes on the idea of the multiverse, and fail to deliver on the multiversal mayhem. I'm not expecting something on the level of that Dr. Strange film, but there are short films on youtube that burst with more originality and imaginative execution. One or two of the dimensions are inspired (one involving a freaky children's play center and a "panda" of a surprise), as well as a talking dog, whose shoddy execution at least got a laugh out of this jaded viewer. But overall, the lack of budget shows. (Looking back, we actually go through a surprising number of dimensions; the problem is that they aren't cohesively realized. But c'mon, people. There are ways around that.)
I give Hostile Dimensions one and a half gods stuck (?) in dog form out of five.
I will try to watch more of Obex tonight, perhaps even finishing it. But I dunno.
Listening to: Jack Hawkins and His Orchestra - 30 60 90. So that's what the song's called! Another of those songs that lived in my head for years after watching Get Carter (this one for about 20 or so) before I was finally able to identify it, last night. Have any of you known songs like that? Great song, this one is! All groovy and psychedelic, with some great percussion.
Attachments
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NightWolf714
Well-known member
Berserker
from
Nashville, TN, USA
Pronouns: They/she
Posts: 1,646
from
Nashville, TN, USA
Pronouns: They/she
Posts: 1,646
"The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change. ~Carl Rogers"
Congrats on the PRs!
That is quite disappointing about the movie. It definitely sounds like a good premise.
And thanks for the reminder about the steam sale!
That is quite disappointing about the movie. It definitely sounds like a good premise.
And thanks for the reminder about the steam sale!
PetiteSheWolf
Well-known member
Such a cutie-goldie-pie !
@PetiteSheWolf @JCU @TopNotch They have to be one of my top dog breeds! They're so fluffy and lovable!
@AgileGrrl @NightWolf714 SALE! I've already made a purchase or two. More on that later... Happy shopping!
Thank you @Fremen et al for the congratulations!
Hi Bees! Another no exercise update today.
I've been sick these past few days with a cold (thankfully not a flu this time). Have had a sore throat, been coughing quite a bit, and my sinuses are all blocked up. It started on Friday, then Saturday, when I was scheduled to teach, it got worse.
I just want to get well so I can go back to the gym again! Today I still have a bit of a stuffed nose, so I stayed home instead of going to church.
I'll write again when I've gone to the gym (hopefully tomorrow, but who knows?).
Have a great weekend, Bees!
Edit: Playing: Picked up Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 for a song, and it actually runs on my PC. Probably a better purchase than Tainted Grail, or Crimson Desert. Yay!
@AgileGrrl @NightWolf714 SALE! I've already made a purchase or two. More on that later... Happy shopping!
Thank you @Fremen et al for the congratulations!
Hi Bees! Another no exercise update today.
I've been sick these past few days with a cold (thankfully not a flu this time). Have had a sore throat, been coughing quite a bit, and my sinuses are all blocked up. It started on Friday, then Saturday, when I was scheduled to teach, it got worse.
I just want to get well so I can go back to the gym again! Today I still have a bit of a stuffed nose, so I stayed home instead of going to church.
I'll write again when I've gone to the gym (hopefully tomorrow, but who knows?).
Have a great weekend, Bees!
Edit: Playing: Picked up Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 for a song, and it actually runs on my PC. Probably a better purchase than Tainted Grail, or Crimson Desert. Yay!
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Pine Ridge consisted of a path winding up a gorgeous hill, with plenty of trees and foliage that put one in a bucolic mindset. However, Ox was not fooled; they were squarely within NFTA territory, and the Innies operated an outpost at the top of the hill with sight lines over the path below. Anyone hoping to head up the hill, and pass through the checkpoint at the top would have to contend with patrols and snipers. Fortunately, the trees dotting the hill meant that the squad had cover, making their way to the side of the hill, where Simmi had planted the second beacon. Once again, their procedure was the same: provide cover for Jackal as he stepped up and perform the repairs. Unlike the echo of gunfire that had screened their movements and words in the Stone Maze, there was a pleasant calm, broken occasionally by the flight of birds and the rustle of leaves. Hence they had largely restricted themselves to hand signals. It was there, underneath a large tree that sat next to the beacon, that things started to go wrong.
As Jackal was getting to work on the beacon, oX heard a 'psst' from Sax. Ox was tempted to blow her off, given her general unreliability on this little sojourn, but instead, he turned his head to his right to face her. Sax raised her weapon and pointed it in the direction of the trail, going further up the hill. Ox held out his fist and gave a thumbs up. He waited a moment, and could hear the sound of voices in the distance. Likely NFTA, they were conversing, so also likely to be conscripts. Still, conscripts or not, trouble was coming. Ox turned back to Jackal, who had somehow been aware of the brief exchange, and held out his arm outstretched, palm open in Jackal's direction. Jackal shook his head no. The growing urgency wrapped itself around Ox, and he could feel tension wrap itself around his body, like wire. He had to decide, now. He took a breath, then raised a fist, and pumped it, twice. Jackal nodded and got back to it. To his right and left, Howie and Sax were looking to him for instruction. Ox clenched his fist and pushed it outward, to the side. Both nodded and went prone, lying in wait.
The voices grew louder. They were clearly further up on the winding path, but currently descending.
"Trade you that comic book for my can of C-Rats."
"F*ck off, the last one you gave me had maggots."
"You're still giving me shit for that? How was I supposed to know it was expired? Whatever, let's just get this over with."
"Why bother? No one ever bothers us this far north."
"You want to tell that to Sarge?"
Their bickering continued as they got closer. Ox hefted his gun; his was the only one with a suppressor. Maybe he could take them out before --
"Wait a minute." Ox could sense them coming to a halt.
"Are you serious? Dude, we're near the bottom already."
"I forgot it."
"What do you mean by "it"?"
"I forgot *it*! And we need to go back and get it first."
"Aww, that's some bullshit right there--"
"Unless you want to tell Sarge we didn't have it?"
"Shit. Alright, alright..."
The voices trailed off gradually as the two errant soldiers ascended the hill. Ox looked to Jackal, who looked back at Ox and gave a thumbs up.
Ox softly touched Howie and Sax on their shoulders. When he had everyone's attention, he raised his arm upwards and drew a circle in the air.
Their work here was done.
Thank you for your kind thoughts and greetings @JCU et al.
Yo yo, Bees!
Yesterday I had an ugly cough, and my sinuses were still a little stuffy, so I opted to stay home. I'd been spending days recovering, and staying away from workouts. But I felt better during the day, so after that recovery time, I came in to the gym for another workout today.
Today was a Push day. Since my gains from last cycle were pretty steady, I'm going to run the program again, and see what happens.
Bench Press: 102.5 x 10, 115 x 8, 120 x 6.
Incline Press: 100 x 5 Sucked. Could barely move the weight.
Paused Shoulder Press: 60 x 5. I shifted the exercises to do this one instead, just as a change of pace.
Plate Raises: 10 x 5. Fluffy!
Dumbbell Curls: 14 x 20. Another shift of exercise. After all my work with the 24s, lifting the 14s felt like paper, I kid you not.
Dumbbell Wrist Curls: 20 x 40 reps.
+30000 steps.
Tons of people in the gym today. Which is good, all things considered. I should've taken it easy today, but I very much have an all or nothing mindset when it comes to working out. Should work on that.
I have a ton of classes to get through. My anxiety levels are manageable, but threaten to break out at the worst of times.
Wish me luck, Bees!
Playing: So I took advantage of the Steam SALE to purchase a bevy of titles. I tells ya, it wasn't easy deciding on what to buy, and I ended up spending much of my budget for this month, but I'm promised many happy hours of gaming!
The flagship purchase was Kingdom Come: Deliverance II. I've never played the original, which I should do if it goes on sale (SALE). It is an incredibly dense and detailed game, and I'm going to be spending a lot of time with it before I have a grasp on its systems. It runs beautifully on my aged system, though every setting has intuitively been set to Low. Lol. At least it feels like a more complete experience than Tainted Grail (which I'm still kinda sad I can't really play).
I got Void Breakers (again), which I didn't give a fair shake last time. I played to the first boss, and have yet to beat it. I'm liking the game the more time I spend with it.
Next is Beyond: Citadel, which is a sequel to an anime-inspired gothic FPS that proudly carries on in its predecessor's blood-soaked footsteps. It feels like playing the original Marathon games, which the maker would probably take as a compliment!
Lastly, I got Trailmakers. Which I haven't tried yet. Maybe tonight? Nah.
Ah, gaming, what would I do without you. Flourish and become productive, I'm sure!
Watching: I finally finished Obex! Here's a trailer, summary/synopsis, and a review.
It's the late 80's, and Connor Marsh is a shut-in who spends his time gaming, watching television, earning his income from laboriously printed pictures, and, of course, lavishing his beloved dog Sandy with love. With practically no social contact, and in need of the next new bit of stimulation, he submits an application to a company to "enter" their new game, Obex. However, worlds collide when Ixaroth, the demon ruler of Obex, kidnaps Sandy, forcing Connor to enter the world of Obex and rescue her.
Summary: It's more of a sedately-paced journey of self-discovery than it is a traditional videogame journey, but with some patience, Obex is rewarding viewing.
I confess: I was sorely tempted to quit on this one, as halfway through, the premise had yet to be realized. This one is pointedly low-budget, though I admit that this works more to the film's advantage than not, as we're delving into a period of gaming and electronics that is itself quite lo-fi by today's standards.
The black and white presentation and occasional surreal touches bring to mind David Lynch, and I realized, too late, that this was more a character study than a character screen. Director and star Albert Birney takes his time with portraying Connor's character. He is for all purposes alone, and his reliance on technology has him sequestered away from the world (there's a very on-the-nose reference to Gary Numan's classic, Cars, that perfectly describes his situation), comfortable in his solitude. We spend a little too much time on his daily routine, and for that portion of the movie, its a one-man show (which Birney ably carries).
It's not until 45 minutes in that Connor is sucked into Obex, and the film really finds its footing. These are not the 80s fanservice and obvious nudge-nudge wink-winks (with one ludicrous exception) that we'd get from Stranger Things. The videogame references here (particularly drawing from The Legend of Zelda) are here to frame the film in respect and introspection. There's even a bit of Wizard of Oz here, in the way that Connor encounters different figures from his past, and that's when it clicked with me; the way that Obex, and technology are metaphors for our lives, and that the journey to the Nightmare Realms is Connor's life writ small. Is it the most profound and original resolution to the story? Perhaps not, but it satisfied me in the end.
As somebody in middle age who grew up with lo-fi gaming (not quite the exact same era, but close), this one resonated with me in the end. Even if I had to drag myself through certain segments.
I was very tempted to give Obex three sloooowwwly-printed dot-matrix portraits out of five, but I enjoyed the destination so much that I'll give it four.
What to watch now? Hrmm.
Listening to: The Darkness - Open Fire. I've lost track of The Darkness' recent works. Sure, I put on "Growing on You" or "I Believe in a Thing Called Love" a few times, and then eventually "One Way Ticket to Hell", and then... nothing else. I was in need of some badass workout music, so it turns out the band have in more recent years put out stuff that strikes my fancy. Here's a typical bombastic number:
"The world has got a dark side
Everyday it turns
But the sun only shines on occasion
And when it does, it burns"
As Jackal was getting to work on the beacon, oX heard a 'psst' from Sax. Ox was tempted to blow her off, given her general unreliability on this little sojourn, but instead, he turned his head to his right to face her. Sax raised her weapon and pointed it in the direction of the trail, going further up the hill. Ox held out his fist and gave a thumbs up. He waited a moment, and could hear the sound of voices in the distance. Likely NFTA, they were conversing, so also likely to be conscripts. Still, conscripts or not, trouble was coming. Ox turned back to Jackal, who had somehow been aware of the brief exchange, and held out his arm outstretched, palm open in Jackal's direction. Jackal shook his head no. The growing urgency wrapped itself around Ox, and he could feel tension wrap itself around his body, like wire. He had to decide, now. He took a breath, then raised a fist, and pumped it, twice. Jackal nodded and got back to it. To his right and left, Howie and Sax were looking to him for instruction. Ox clenched his fist and pushed it outward, to the side. Both nodded and went prone, lying in wait.
The voices grew louder. They were clearly further up on the winding path, but currently descending.
"Trade you that comic book for my can of C-Rats."
"F*ck off, the last one you gave me had maggots."
"You're still giving me shit for that? How was I supposed to know it was expired? Whatever, let's just get this over with."
"Why bother? No one ever bothers us this far north."
"You want to tell that to Sarge?"
Their bickering continued as they got closer. Ox hefted his gun; his was the only one with a suppressor. Maybe he could take them out before --
"Wait a minute." Ox could sense them coming to a halt.
"Are you serious? Dude, we're near the bottom already."
"I forgot it."
"What do you mean by "it"?"
"I forgot *it*! And we need to go back and get it first."
"Aww, that's some bullshit right there--"
"Unless you want to tell Sarge we didn't have it?"
"Shit. Alright, alright..."
The voices trailed off gradually as the two errant soldiers ascended the hill. Ox looked to Jackal, who looked back at Ox and gave a thumbs up.
Ox softly touched Howie and Sax on their shoulders. When he had everyone's attention, he raised his arm upwards and drew a circle in the air.
Their work here was done.
Thank you for your kind thoughts and greetings @JCU et al.
Yo yo, Bees!
Yesterday I had an ugly cough, and my sinuses were still a little stuffy, so I opted to stay home. I'd been spending days recovering, and staying away from workouts. But I felt better during the day, so after that recovery time, I came in to the gym for another workout today.
Today was a Push day. Since my gains from last cycle were pretty steady, I'm going to run the program again, and see what happens.
Bench Press: 102.5 x 10, 115 x 8, 120 x 6.
Incline Press: 100 x 5 Sucked. Could barely move the weight.
Paused Shoulder Press: 60 x 5. I shifted the exercises to do this one instead, just as a change of pace.
Plate Raises: 10 x 5. Fluffy!
Dumbbell Curls: 14 x 20. Another shift of exercise. After all my work with the 24s, lifting the 14s felt like paper, I kid you not.
Dumbbell Wrist Curls: 20 x 40 reps.
+30000 steps.
Tons of people in the gym today. Which is good, all things considered. I should've taken it easy today, but I very much have an all or nothing mindset when it comes to working out. Should work on that.
I have a ton of classes to get through. My anxiety levels are manageable, but threaten to break out at the worst of times.
Wish me luck, Bees!
Playing: So I took advantage of the Steam SALE to purchase a bevy of titles. I tells ya, it wasn't easy deciding on what to buy, and I ended up spending much of my budget for this month, but I'm promised many happy hours of gaming!
The flagship purchase was Kingdom Come: Deliverance II. I've never played the original, which I should do if it goes on sale (SALE). It is an incredibly dense and detailed game, and I'm going to be spending a lot of time with it before I have a grasp on its systems. It runs beautifully on my aged system, though every setting has intuitively been set to Low. Lol. At least it feels like a more complete experience than Tainted Grail (which I'm still kinda sad I can't really play).
I got Void Breakers (again), which I didn't give a fair shake last time. I played to the first boss, and have yet to beat it. I'm liking the game the more time I spend with it.
Next is Beyond: Citadel, which is a sequel to an anime-inspired gothic FPS that proudly carries on in its predecessor's blood-soaked footsteps. It feels like playing the original Marathon games, which the maker would probably take as a compliment!
Lastly, I got Trailmakers. Which I haven't tried yet. Maybe tonight? Nah.
Ah, gaming, what would I do without you. Flourish and become productive, I'm sure!
Watching: I finally finished Obex! Here's a trailer, summary/synopsis, and a review.
It's the late 80's, and Connor Marsh is a shut-in who spends his time gaming, watching television, earning his income from laboriously printed pictures, and, of course, lavishing his beloved dog Sandy with love. With practically no social contact, and in need of the next new bit of stimulation, he submits an application to a company to "enter" their new game, Obex. However, worlds collide when Ixaroth, the demon ruler of Obex, kidnaps Sandy, forcing Connor to enter the world of Obex and rescue her.
Summary: It's more of a sedately-paced journey of self-discovery than it is a traditional videogame journey, but with some patience, Obex is rewarding viewing.
I confess: I was sorely tempted to quit on this one, as halfway through, the premise had yet to be realized. This one is pointedly low-budget, though I admit that this works more to the film's advantage than not, as we're delving into a period of gaming and electronics that is itself quite lo-fi by today's standards.
The black and white presentation and occasional surreal touches bring to mind David Lynch, and I realized, too late, that this was more a character study than a character screen. Director and star Albert Birney takes his time with portraying Connor's character. He is for all purposes alone, and his reliance on technology has him sequestered away from the world (there's a very on-the-nose reference to Gary Numan's classic, Cars, that perfectly describes his situation), comfortable in his solitude. We spend a little too much time on his daily routine, and for that portion of the movie, its a one-man show (which Birney ably carries).
It's not until 45 minutes in that Connor is sucked into Obex, and the film really finds its footing. These are not the 80s fanservice and obvious nudge-nudge wink-winks (with one ludicrous exception) that we'd get from Stranger Things. The videogame references here (particularly drawing from The Legend of Zelda) are here to frame the film in respect and introspection. There's even a bit of Wizard of Oz here, in the way that Connor encounters different figures from his past, and that's when it clicked with me; the way that Obex, and technology are metaphors for our lives, and that the journey to the Nightmare Realms is Connor's life writ small. Is it the most profound and original resolution to the story? Perhaps not, but it satisfied me in the end.
As somebody in middle age who grew up with lo-fi gaming (not quite the exact same era, but close), this one resonated with me in the end. Even if I had to drag myself through certain segments.
I was very tempted to give Obex three sloooowwwly-printed dot-matrix portraits out of five, but I enjoyed the destination so much that I'll give it four.
What to watch now? Hrmm.
Listening to: The Darkness - Open Fire. I've lost track of The Darkness' recent works. Sure, I put on "Growing on You" or "I Believe in a Thing Called Love" a few times, and then eventually "One Way Ticket to Hell", and then... nothing else. I was in need of some badass workout music, so it turns out the band have in more recent years put out stuff that strikes my fancy. Here's a typical bombastic number:
"The world has got a dark side
Everyday it turns
But the sun only shines on occasion
And when it does, it burns"
Last edited:
PetiteSheWolf
Well-known member
Good luck! And important question, is doggie Sandy alive and unharmed at the end of the movie?! We love our doggos! (and kitties, before Mademoiselle Luna gets angry)
"Status." Ox did not look back at Jackal, who had been working on the transmitter for several minutes now. Even in Greywater Marsh, where there was less open conflict than the Stone Maze, taking your eye off the ball could be a mistake. The final beacon was thankfully close to the Revolutionary camp, and was situated on a river bank out in the open. Ox had plotted their route so that they ran straight into it on their way back. "And... that about does it, Boss." Ox relaxed. They were done. He could come home to Simmi. "Hey, we're going home!" That must've been Howie clapping him on the shoulder. He stretched his arms out. Boy was he sore. In his peripheral vision, he could see Sax let her weapon hang on its sling, and pump a fist in the air. "Yeah, we did--" A flash in the distance, followed by the CRAAAACK of a single gunshot.
Sax dropped to the ground, blood leaking from an enormous bullet wound in her forehead.
"COVER!" Ox screamed.
---
Grits looked through his high-powered binoculars at the mercenaries, seeing one of them fall. "Tango down," Lex announced, sizing up her next target. A spray of bullets kicked up dirt near the hill where they were set up. Grits instinctively dropped to his stomach. Even on higher ground, it would've been foolish to do otherwise: that squad leader was no fool. But his covering fire would last for only so long, and Grits had not only Lex and Dolls with them, but Copper, Seans, Kellers and others. The Freelancers wouldn't stand a chance. By now, his squad had returned fire, keeping their heads down. Grits raised his walkie-talkie.
"Advance. No prisoners."
Hey once more, Bees!
I managed to squeeze in another workout during my busy week.
Another Push workout, Week 1.
Some burly rugby players showed up at the gym and monopolized the bench! I did the Incline Presses first in my workout, which were quite taxing.
Incline Presses: 100 x 6.
Bench Press: 120 x 6.
Paused Shoulder Press: 60 x 5.
Plate Raises: 10 x 7.
Dumbbell Curls: 16 x 24.
Dumbbell Wrist Curls
So sleepy!
Tomorrow I'm going to spend the day lesson planning, so no gym. Maybe some light exercise?
On Saturday, we're going to a concert in Macau, which I expect will take up most of the day. I'll try to get in some pictures.
Thank you so much @JCU and @TopNotch.
@PetiteSheWolf I'm so sorry mon ami, I'd forgotten that the animal's safety is always a concern. Spoilers for Obex: It is a happy ending!
After a nightmare sequence in which the protagonist confronts his fears and judgements, he wakes up in the real world. The game he's been playing this whole time finishes with a sequence portraying Connor and Sandy at home. Sandy has been trying to get him to fill her food bowl, which Connor does. Eventually, fed up with the virtual worlds of television and games, he takes Sandy outside and the film ends with him sitting at the beach, watching Sandy run to and fro with joy.
We're almost at Friday, Bees! Keep going!
Playing: So I may have bitten off more than I could chew with Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. I had heard that the first game was a stickler for historical details and verisimilitude, but I totally underestimated how dedicated its successor is to authenticity. I just finished a part of the game where you brew a potion, and it was more akin to laboratory work than anything I've experienced in a game (cough cough Skyrim)! Which has an odd appeal, I'll admit. I'm less starry-eyed about the numerous long cutscenes, but if you *have* to watch a movie, at least make sure it's a good one. Which is the case here.
Also playing through Beyond: Citadel. Gore galore.
Haven't made great practice with Palworld, though the path to level 45 is a slooooow one. Gotta capture them all!
Still haven't played Trailmakers, and aim to play Voidbreakers again tonight.
I love taking little bites of my games.
Watching: Making my way through Jamin Winan's sophomore feature: The Frame. Waiting for the tricksy sci-fi elements to come to the fore.
Listening to: Til' Tuesday - Voices Carry. Had some nostalgia for something as vibrant, yet concise as this song. And Aimee Mann - meow, as always! This song is of a more tumultuous subject matter than most other 80s songs.
"He wants me
but only part of the time
He wants me
if he can keep me in line"
Sax dropped to the ground, blood leaking from an enormous bullet wound in her forehead.
"COVER!" Ox screamed.
---
Grits looked through his high-powered binoculars at the mercenaries, seeing one of them fall. "Tango down," Lex announced, sizing up her next target. A spray of bullets kicked up dirt near the hill where they were set up. Grits instinctively dropped to his stomach. Even on higher ground, it would've been foolish to do otherwise: that squad leader was no fool. But his covering fire would last for only so long, and Grits had not only Lex and Dolls with them, but Copper, Seans, Kellers and others. The Freelancers wouldn't stand a chance. By now, his squad had returned fire, keeping their heads down. Grits raised his walkie-talkie.
"Advance. No prisoners."
Hey once more, Bees!
I managed to squeeze in another workout during my busy week.
Another Push workout, Week 1.
Some burly rugby players showed up at the gym and monopolized the bench! I did the Incline Presses first in my workout, which were quite taxing.
Incline Presses: 100 x 6.
Bench Press: 120 x 6.
Paused Shoulder Press: 60 x 5.
Plate Raises: 10 x 7.
Dumbbell Curls: 16 x 24.
Dumbbell Wrist Curls
So sleepy!
Tomorrow I'm going to spend the day lesson planning, so no gym. Maybe some light exercise?
On Saturday, we're going to a concert in Macau, which I expect will take up most of the day. I'll try to get in some pictures.
Thank you so much @JCU and @TopNotch.
@PetiteSheWolf I'm so sorry mon ami, I'd forgotten that the animal's safety is always a concern. Spoilers for Obex: It is a happy ending!
After a nightmare sequence in which the protagonist confronts his fears and judgements, he wakes up in the real world. The game he's been playing this whole time finishes with a sequence portraying Connor and Sandy at home. Sandy has been trying to get him to fill her food bowl, which Connor does. Eventually, fed up with the virtual worlds of television and games, he takes Sandy outside and the film ends with him sitting at the beach, watching Sandy run to and fro with joy.
We're almost at Friday, Bees! Keep going!
Playing: So I may have bitten off more than I could chew with Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. I had heard that the first game was a stickler for historical details and verisimilitude, but I totally underestimated how dedicated its successor is to authenticity. I just finished a part of the game where you brew a potion, and it was more akin to laboratory work than anything I've experienced in a game (cough cough Skyrim)! Which has an odd appeal, I'll admit. I'm less starry-eyed about the numerous long cutscenes, but if you *have* to watch a movie, at least make sure it's a good one. Which is the case here.
Also playing through Beyond: Citadel. Gore galore.
Haven't made great practice with Palworld, though the path to level 45 is a slooooow one. Gotta capture them all!
Still haven't played Trailmakers, and aim to play Voidbreakers again tonight.
I love taking little bites of my games.
Watching: Making my way through Jamin Winan's sophomore feature: The Frame. Waiting for the tricksy sci-fi elements to come to the fore.
Listening to: Til' Tuesday - Voices Carry. Had some nostalgia for something as vibrant, yet concise as this song. And Aimee Mann - meow, as always! This song is of a more tumultuous subject matter than most other 80s songs.
"He wants me
but only part of the time
He wants me
if he can keep me in line"
Last edited:
PetiteSheWolf
Well-known member
Thank you for the reassurance 
The blinding glare of the midday sun bore into his eyelids, which he opened, slowly. A bright blue sky, with diffuse clouds dotted here and there. He could hear an insistent buzzing in his ear, which he flicked (?) to rid himself of. In his other ear, cries from people in... Cantonese? It couldn't be. Footsteps plodding through the grass, and the shadow of Farmer So was cast upon him.
"Laan Ngauh! Jung mei seng? Neih fan joh tai noih, faidi hei san!"
He could smell the pungent aromas of the farm: murky paddy water, dirt, and plenty of manure. He got to his feet... hooves. He had a four legs, a tail, he had a snout... he was an Ox again. He mooed, experimentally, a sonorous bovine sound. The farm stood before him as if he'd never gone through that door, never left. For all intents and purposes, he was back home in Guangdong Province.
Until he wasn't.
He opened his eyes for real this time. Again, the sun shone down, and again he was lying down, on his back. And he was no longer an ox. His head hurt to an ungodly degree, and he could feel the high-cut helmet he (fortunately) wore digging into his skull. Where was he? Why was he on his back? There was a dull roar in his ears that, after a moment, disappeared, only to be replaced with the buzz of gun fire. There were crackles and pops as the rounds whizzed close to where he was. After what seemed like a moment, Howie came into view. After trading a few aimed shots with someone Ox couldn't see, and shouting something at someone else, he got down on his knees to grasp Ox's shoulders.
"Boss? Boss??" He shouted.
Ox coughed.
"Thank Christ you're okay. You need to get up. We're in deep shit!"
Ox took in a breath, with some effort sat up, and got to his feet.
@CODawn Indeed it is!
@TopNotch Always! Must think of our furry friends!
Hey again Bees! I've taken another break from my busy schedule to hit the gym.
Today was W2D1 of my Push routine.
Bench Press: 110 x 10, 120 x 8, 125 x 6. Just putting in the numbers.
Larsen Press: 115 x 5. Not my best day for these.
Paused Shoulder Press: 62.5 x 5.
Dumbbell Overhead Extensions: 18 x 6.
Dumbbell Curls: 18 x 26, I believe.
Dumbbell Wrist Curls: 22 x 16.
My week, this week is even busier than it was two (?) weeks ago. I have classes almost every day of the week, until Sunday. On Sunday, I'm going to Macau to see how dad is.
Speaking of which, Mom and I went to see Vic Teo (a Malaysian songwriter) live in Macau. I'm kind of surprised that I haven't mentioned him before on this blog, as mom has recently been enraptured with his music.
Mom had a great time, of course. I low-key enjoyed the concert, to my surprise, as I'm not really a Cantopop fan. There was a part I particularly liked where the singer, absent his backing band, performed songs with just a keyboard. It was overall a great performance. Now that we're back, I have tons of work to get through. Ai-yah.
Tired Ox...
Hope your week is starting off well, Bees!
Playing: A hodge-podge of things. Some Beyond Citadel, some Palworld, and of course, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, which continues to impress and confound me. I'm level .00001, and getting my ass kicked every time trouble rears its ugly head. Oh well, such is Medieval life.
Watching: Uh, haven't been watching much. Should resume The Frame when I can. It has an interesting idea at its core...
Listening to: Corpus Christi Carol (arr Benjamin Britten and Jeff Buckley) (perf by VOCES8). An absolutely beautiful song that came to me while playing KCD: 2. I also listened to the Christian version, Down in Yon Forest, which doesn't even compare to the Old English-inspired rendition that was popularized by Jeff Buckley, among others. It was hard to find a version with the right audio, but I like this particular one (which takes inspiration from Jeff Buckley's version) a great deal. That singer's voice absolutely pierces the soul.
"And in that bed there lies a knight,
His wounds bleeding day and night;
Lully, lullay, lully, lullay!
The falcon has borne my mate away
By that bed's side there kneels a maid,
And she weeps both night and day;
Lully, lullay, lully, lullay!
The falcon has borne my mate away"
"Laan Ngauh! Jung mei seng? Neih fan joh tai noih, faidi hei san!"
He could smell the pungent aromas of the farm: murky paddy water, dirt, and plenty of manure. He got to his feet... hooves. He had a four legs, a tail, he had a snout... he was an Ox again. He mooed, experimentally, a sonorous bovine sound. The farm stood before him as if he'd never gone through that door, never left. For all intents and purposes, he was back home in Guangdong Province.
Until he wasn't.
He opened his eyes for real this time. Again, the sun shone down, and again he was lying down, on his back. And he was no longer an ox. His head hurt to an ungodly degree, and he could feel the high-cut helmet he (fortunately) wore digging into his skull. Where was he? Why was he on his back? There was a dull roar in his ears that, after a moment, disappeared, only to be replaced with the buzz of gun fire. There were crackles and pops as the rounds whizzed close to where he was. After what seemed like a moment, Howie came into view. After trading a few aimed shots with someone Ox couldn't see, and shouting something at someone else, he got down on his knees to grasp Ox's shoulders.
"Boss? Boss??" He shouted.
Ox coughed.
"Thank Christ you're okay. You need to get up. We're in deep shit!"
Ox took in a breath, with some effort sat up, and got to his feet.
@CODawn Indeed it is!
@TopNotch Always! Must think of our furry friends!
Hey again Bees! I've taken another break from my busy schedule to hit the gym.
Today was W2D1 of my Push routine.
Bench Press: 110 x 10, 120 x 8, 125 x 6. Just putting in the numbers.
Larsen Press: 115 x 5. Not my best day for these.
Paused Shoulder Press: 62.5 x 5.
Dumbbell Overhead Extensions: 18 x 6.
Dumbbell Curls: 18 x 26, I believe.
Dumbbell Wrist Curls: 22 x 16.
My week, this week is even busier than it was two (?) weeks ago. I have classes almost every day of the week, until Sunday. On Sunday, I'm going to Macau to see how dad is.
Speaking of which, Mom and I went to see Vic Teo (a Malaysian songwriter) live in Macau. I'm kind of surprised that I haven't mentioned him before on this blog, as mom has recently been enraptured with his music.
Mom had a great time, of course. I low-key enjoyed the concert, to my surprise, as I'm not really a Cantopop fan. There was a part I particularly liked where the singer, absent his backing band, performed songs with just a keyboard. It was overall a great performance. Now that we're back, I have tons of work to get through. Ai-yah.
Tired Ox...Hope your week is starting off well, Bees!
Playing: A hodge-podge of things. Some Beyond Citadel, some Palworld, and of course, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, which continues to impress and confound me. I'm level .00001, and getting my ass kicked every time trouble rears its ugly head. Oh well, such is Medieval life.
Watching: Uh, haven't been watching much. Should resume The Frame when I can. It has an interesting idea at its core...
Listening to: Corpus Christi Carol (arr Benjamin Britten and Jeff Buckley) (perf by VOCES8). An absolutely beautiful song that came to me while playing KCD: 2. I also listened to the Christian version, Down in Yon Forest, which doesn't even compare to the Old English-inspired rendition that was popularized by Jeff Buckley, among others. It was hard to find a version with the right audio, but I like this particular one (which takes inspiration from Jeff Buckley's version) a great deal. That singer's voice absolutely pierces the soul.
"And in that bed there lies a knight,
His wounds bleeding day and night;
Lully, lullay, lully, lullay!
The falcon has borne my mate away
By that bed's side there kneels a maid,
And she weeps both night and day;
Lully, lullay, lully, lullay!
The falcon has borne my mate away"
Howie helped him to his feet. Seizing one of Ox's arms, he threw it around his neck. This was punctuated by him raising his rifle and hip-firing at the muzzle flashes that burst forth from the rifles of their ambushers. God, there were so many of them, sprouting from a hill perhaps 100 meters away. They must've come across a goddamned platoon. Jackal was crouched in front of them, laying down covering fire. "MOVE!" He shouted, looking behind his shoulder at Ox and Howie. Howie forcefully whirled Ox around and half-walked, half-carried him to a spot maybe several meters away that was covered by several large stones, waist-high. Howie set him down behind the stones. "Boss--" "I. Provide... cover." His words were slurred and hard to piece together. Ox tried to get up on his own, but Howie insistently pushed him down. He turned to face the incoming fire and shouted "MOVE!" Miraculously, despite the hail of bullets, Jackal made it back to cover unscathed. The fire from the approaching enemy lessened for a second; they were advancing. Ox forced himself to his feet and joined his two comrades at the stones. Even if he wasn't able to hit anything, he could still give them pause.
Together, they returned fire as the enemy approached, in leapfrog fashion, down the riverbank. He got lucky and managed to down one trooper charging towards them who was dressed in icy-blue NFTA fatigues. But they were getting closer... Soon they would simply charge en masse, and it would all be over.
Then he heard the sound of a whistle pierce the air, sharp and clear. Even some of the muzzle flashes paused, echoing their firers' confusion. "Left flank! Shift fire!" And then suddenly the three of them weren't the soldiers' concern anymore. Someone else had entered the game. Whoever it was, they had firepower to spare, as the large contingent of NFTA soldiers began to withdraw from the river bank, though admittedly in good order. Ox watched in confusion as they cleared out, and kept his eyes peeled for their rescuers - who could possibly be Insurgents, or worse. Soon, a large number soldiers in fatigues materialized, and Howie aimed his rifle, before the tell-tale colours of red and black showed. Already their men were covering the area, spreading out to ward away any reprisals from NFTA. A sergeant walked up to them, decked out in combat gear.
"Is that any way to treat a friend, you capitalist pigs?"
Hey again, Bees.
I'm midway through what's looking like quite a crazy week, but I managed to squeeze in some gym time today.
Bench Press: 110 x 10, 120 x 8, 125 x 6. Just putting in the numbers, once more.
Incline Press: 102.5 x 5. Hnnngg...
Paused Shoulder Press: 62.5 x 5.
Dumbbell Overhead Extensions: 20 x 6.
Dumbbell Curls: 20 x 12, will work up to heavier weight over time.
On Friday we're going back to Macau to visit my dad and have Easter dinner. I'll see how many classes I have between now and then.
Hope you're having a great week, Bees!
Playing: So I started playing KCD: 2 with a healthy helping of cheese. Normally, you can only save the game if you sleep in your bed, or drink the annoyingly rare Saviour Schnapps drink. Instead of these intended options, I installed a quicksave mod so that I could save at will. It's served me quite well; there was a hostile encounter with two bandits in the woods that knocked me back to the last point I'd saved, five minutes away. Normally I would take them on, get my butt kicked, and reload from my save in town, a trek away.
Instead, with the quicksave, I was able to cheese my encounter with the bandits and repeat attempt after attempt (which you would be able to do in any other game). I finally beat them both (I get the impression you're not necessarily supposed to at this point in the game), looted them, and spoke to the man they'd been trying to shake down. He rewarded me with... drumroll... all of 5 grosschens. I was tempted to turn around and rob him instead for all my pain and suffering, but that would not be very chivalrous, so I contented myself with the spoils of war.
Also playing through bits of Void Breakers, which I'm warming up to. Palworld has been put on ice for now.
Watching: I'm going to put the Frame on the backburner and watch some extended shorts from Lee Hardcastle's demented, stop-motion making mind. Bloody candy for my brain, yay!
Creepy: The Backrooms is being made into a movie!! W00t! Looking forwards to being creeped out when I watch it in cinema! Trailer looks amazing.
Listening to: Kyrie Eleison - ? So I'm on a bit of a choral chant/plainsong kick lately. I searched for "Kyrie Eleison" originally, as that's one of the few choral chants I'm familiar with. Got more results than I reckoned for; turns out every song can be interpreted in different ways. This was the best version I found on Youtube, as it has the song in its simplest and possibly most popular form. If I'm still listening to chant in the next few days, I will feature something from the monks of Santa Domingo de Silos, as that was the album that really encapsulated Gregorian chant for me.
(On a side note, this is the only kind of religious music I can tolerate. When I'm at mass and the choir kicks in with their hymns, it just feels like monotony to me. I prefer the more calming, less[?] impassioned sounds of plainsong).
Together, they returned fire as the enemy approached, in leapfrog fashion, down the riverbank. He got lucky and managed to down one trooper charging towards them who was dressed in icy-blue NFTA fatigues. But they were getting closer... Soon they would simply charge en masse, and it would all be over.
Then he heard the sound of a whistle pierce the air, sharp and clear. Even some of the muzzle flashes paused, echoing their firers' confusion. "Left flank! Shift fire!" And then suddenly the three of them weren't the soldiers' concern anymore. Someone else had entered the game. Whoever it was, they had firepower to spare, as the large contingent of NFTA soldiers began to withdraw from the river bank, though admittedly in good order. Ox watched in confusion as they cleared out, and kept his eyes peeled for their rescuers - who could possibly be Insurgents, or worse. Soon, a large number soldiers in fatigues materialized, and Howie aimed his rifle, before the tell-tale colours of red and black showed. Already their men were covering the area, spreading out to ward away any reprisals from NFTA. A sergeant walked up to them, decked out in combat gear.
"Is that any way to treat a friend, you capitalist pigs?"
Hey again, Bees.
I'm midway through what's looking like quite a crazy week, but I managed to squeeze in some gym time today.
Bench Press: 110 x 10, 120 x 8, 125 x 6. Just putting in the numbers, once more.
Incline Press: 102.5 x 5. Hnnngg...
Paused Shoulder Press: 62.5 x 5.
Dumbbell Overhead Extensions: 20 x 6.
Dumbbell Curls: 20 x 12, will work up to heavier weight over time.
On Friday we're going back to Macau to visit my dad and have Easter dinner. I'll see how many classes I have between now and then.
Hope you're having a great week, Bees!
Playing: So I started playing KCD: 2 with a healthy helping of cheese. Normally, you can only save the game if you sleep in your bed, or drink the annoyingly rare Saviour Schnapps drink. Instead of these intended options, I installed a quicksave mod so that I could save at will. It's served me quite well; there was a hostile encounter with two bandits in the woods that knocked me back to the last point I'd saved, five minutes away. Normally I would take them on, get my butt kicked, and reload from my save in town, a trek away.
Instead, with the quicksave, I was able to cheese my encounter with the bandits and repeat attempt after attempt (which you would be able to do in any other game). I finally beat them both (I get the impression you're not necessarily supposed to at this point in the game), looted them, and spoke to the man they'd been trying to shake down. He rewarded me with... drumroll... all of 5 grosschens. I was tempted to turn around and rob him instead for all my pain and suffering, but that would not be very chivalrous, so I contented myself with the spoils of war.
Also playing through bits of Void Breakers, which I'm warming up to. Palworld has been put on ice for now.
Watching: I'm going to put the Frame on the backburner and watch some extended shorts from Lee Hardcastle's demented, stop-motion making mind. Bloody candy for my brain, yay!
Creepy: The Backrooms is being made into a movie!! W00t! Looking forwards to being creeped out when I watch it in cinema! Trailer looks amazing.
Listening to: Kyrie Eleison - ? So I'm on a bit of a choral chant/plainsong kick lately. I searched for "Kyrie Eleison" originally, as that's one of the few choral chants I'm familiar with. Got more results than I reckoned for; turns out every song can be interpreted in different ways. This was the best version I found on Youtube, as it has the song in its simplest and possibly most popular form. If I'm still listening to chant in the next few days, I will feature something from the monks of Santa Domingo de Silos, as that was the album that really encapsulated Gregorian chant for me.
(On a side note, this is the only kind of religious music I can tolerate. When I'm at mass and the choir kicks in with their hymns, it just feels like monotony to me. I prefer the more calming, less[?] impassioned sounds of plainsong).
After noticing his disappearance from the service, Howie found Ox seated by the base's cooking fire, outside the small railway station. Even with death, life went on, and the bustling Revolutionary soldiers continued to engage in their duties without really paying much regard to what remained of Ox's squad. Without even bothering to attend a minute of the remembrance of the fallen, Jackal had already hitched a ride on a train heading south; to him, the job was done, and it was irrelevant that they'd lost a member in the process. Howie sensed that the boss had seen it differently. The flames crackled, licking the cool night air, and Howie could see the flickering lights dance a merry dance upon his boss's blank face. Howie sat down beside him on the dirt and cautiously extending a hand, squeezed his shoulder. The boss didn't even look at him, instead taking pouring himself a swig of whiskey in his mess tin.
"Howie." His tone was calm, at least. He downed the shot.
"Hey boss. Was worried about you."
"Yeah, I get it. Went off on my own... could be a danger to myself."
"Boss you know I wouldn't say that. You're the Ox... my mentor, and the most sensible stalker in this crazy wasteland."
"Aye. Sensible. But just not enough." There was the bitterness.
"Boss. Listen to me. It wasn't your fault."
"I tried telling myself that as well. Worked as well as you telling me now." He began to pour himself another shot of whiskey before Howie snatched it from his hands.
"F*cking hell, kid! We all need a drink. You know what I think? they had us pegged from the beginning. Tracked us down. That was how the ambush went as well as it did. And like you said, there was nothing we could've done differently! And now Sax is dead! And I should--I have to answer for it. And when I do, I'll have it coming!" He was shouting now. Howie stayed calm.
"You don't have it coming. You can share the burden of the loss with me, and when we get back, the rest of the camp. One more drink, get some rest, and then tomorrow, we'll go home again. You can see Simmi... I know I'm looking forward to being around Weasel again."
Ox was despondent for a moment; he looked like he was going to say something else.
In the end, he was silent.
Hi Bees!
Wow, time really got away from me for a bit. I went four days without going to the gym, and that's way too long!
Today was the third week of my Push workouts.
Bench Press: 130 x 4. And it went terribly. It must be all the stress I've had lately, and time away from the gym. I could not get more than four reps. I'll give it another hack later this week, and see how it goes.
Incline Press: 105 x 6. Better than I expected, at least
Paused Shoulder Press: 65 x 5.
Overhead Dumbbell Extensions: 20 x 6. Will try for more reps next time.
Mom and I went on a day trip to Macau to visit my dad, and attend a dinner at a friend's home there. The dinner was good, and it was good to catch up with friends, but naturally, the highlight for me were their dogs! I'm usually not big on poodle breeds and small dogs, but this bunch were quite well behaved and affectionate.
Adorable doggies everywhere, what a sight to see! Big and small, they have love for all
It's just after Ching Ming, so tomorrow, mom and I will be going to visit Grandfather Lam's grave, and spruce it up a bit.
Have a great start to your week, Bees!
Playing: A little bit of Palworld, some Void Breakers (which I seem to have hit a wall in, repeatedly!), and I even reinstalled Morrowind! Though I won't play the later until I've installed a bunch of mods, natch.
My adventures in KCD: 2 continue. I had no idea there were random encounters, so I've had plenty of opportunities toget my butt kicked attain glorious victory, and I even resolved my first quest (which I couldn't have successfully done without a walkthrough. Cheesy, I know!). Now that I have 200 grosschens, I'm going to relax a little and take my time. Come along way since being locked up in the stocks in indigent garb.
Watching: I started Found Footage: The Making of the Patterson Project, which is an above par found-footager about a Bigfoot film (in case the title was too subtle!). I like the performances and the indie charm so far.
Listening to: The Hives - Legalize Living. The Hives have some great, catchy numbers that just don't stop. This is a recent number of theirs that's got my attention; I may incorporate it into my workout playlist.
"Howie." His tone was calm, at least. He downed the shot.
"Hey boss. Was worried about you."
"Yeah, I get it. Went off on my own... could be a danger to myself."
"Boss you know I wouldn't say that. You're the Ox... my mentor, and the most sensible stalker in this crazy wasteland."
"Aye. Sensible. But just not enough." There was the bitterness.
"Boss. Listen to me. It wasn't your fault."
"I tried telling myself that as well. Worked as well as you telling me now." He began to pour himself another shot of whiskey before Howie snatched it from his hands.
"F*cking hell, kid! We all need a drink. You know what I think? they had us pegged from the beginning. Tracked us down. That was how the ambush went as well as it did. And like you said, there was nothing we could've done differently! And now Sax is dead! And I should--I have to answer for it. And when I do, I'll have it coming!" He was shouting now. Howie stayed calm.
"You don't have it coming. You can share the burden of the loss with me, and when we get back, the rest of the camp. One more drink, get some rest, and then tomorrow, we'll go home again. You can see Simmi... I know I'm looking forward to being around Weasel again."
Ox was despondent for a moment; he looked like he was going to say something else.
In the end, he was silent.
Hi Bees!
Wow, time really got away from me for a bit. I went four days without going to the gym, and that's way too long!
Today was the third week of my Push workouts.
Bench Press: 130 x 4. And it went terribly. It must be all the stress I've had lately, and time away from the gym. I could not get more than four reps. I'll give it another hack later this week, and see how it goes.
Incline Press: 105 x 6. Better than I expected, at least
Paused Shoulder Press: 65 x 5.
Overhead Dumbbell Extensions: 20 x 6. Will try for more reps next time.
Mom and I went on a day trip to Macau to visit my dad, and attend a dinner at a friend's home there. The dinner was good, and it was good to catch up with friends, but naturally, the highlight for me were their dogs! I'm usually not big on poodle breeds and small dogs, but this bunch were quite well behaved and affectionate.
Adorable doggies everywhere, what a sight to see! Big and small, they have love for all
It's just after Ching Ming, so tomorrow, mom and I will be going to visit Grandfather Lam's grave, and spruce it up a bit.
Have a great start to your week, Bees!
Playing: A little bit of Palworld, some Void Breakers (which I seem to have hit a wall in, repeatedly!), and I even reinstalled Morrowind! Though I won't play the later until I've installed a bunch of mods, natch.
My adventures in KCD: 2 continue. I had no idea there were random encounters, so I've had plenty of opportunities to
Watching: I started Found Footage: The Making of the Patterson Project, which is an above par found-footager about a Bigfoot film (in case the title was too subtle!). I like the performances and the indie charm so far.
Listening to: The Hives - Legalize Living. The Hives have some great, catchy numbers that just don't stop. This is a recent number of theirs that's got my attention; I may incorporate it into my workout playlist.
Last edited:
PetiteSheWolf
Well-known member
I grew up with a smallish / medium sized poodle, well behaved and well trained, and they are a fairly healthy breed, so I like them (when their barking is well controled)
"It really wasn't your fault." Ox, snuggled into the hollow of Simmi's shoulder, was more than a little distracted. The clarity and unending focus of the mission had ended days ago, and upon returning to the Observatory, he'd found himself with unusual humours percolating within him. After debriefing with Simmi, all that excess energy had washed out of him, and he now felt more than a little melancholic. He'd spent hours exercising, maintaining his weapons, and going on hikes; anything to avoid having to reckon with his mistake. Together in her bed again, he could still feel those nagging doubts and regrets eating away at him.
"I was lax," he said. He sat up, a little abruptly. He missed her warm skin, but he wanted a cigarette. "You were outmaneuvered and outgunned. It happens to everyone, and you didn't have the manpower or the time to avoid catastrophe." Ox put on his t-shirt, and reached for his menthol ciggies on the dresser beside the bed. Mmm, ciggies. "Had I known someone was gunning for us, I would've tried to give them the slip. The burden was on me to lead, and I lead poorly." He looked back at Simmi, sheet pulled up to her chest, watching him intently. He was pulling on his pants when what she said stunned him: "The fault is mine." Ox's eyes widened, and he looked her in the eyes.
"Babe... how can you say that."
"I sent you guys out there without proper intel and preparation. I bear responsibility. Had I never made that request of you, Sax would still be alive."
"It was a mission. We've been on many, some with casualties."
"As the coordinator and intel officer for the camp, I've sent stalkers out on many missions; on quite a few they don't come back alive. Remember, there have been others before you, most of them falling prey to the zone."
Ox did not know what to say to that. "I don't... Babe, we knew the risks."
"We did. Let's agree to disagree... like Howie said to you, we all bear a little responsibility."
Ox sat on the bed. "Responsibility notwithstanding, maybe it's not about blame. I guess what you're saying is true. We're in a dangerous line of work. We completed the mission, but at a cost... and there will be more in the future."
A sad smile on her face.
"Not everyone is going to make it out alive."
Hey Bees!
Another Push workout (I know, I know, I need to find free time for the other muscle groups). This time I woke up, felt great, and tried a new preworkout powder that I felt strong with.
Bench Press: 132.5 x 4. Not five reps, but the weight moved more easily than last time.
Incline Press: 105 x 6.
Paused Shoulder Press: 65 x 6.
Overhead Dumbbell Extensions: 22 x 6, I think.
Dumbbell Curls: 20 x 20. Will move up in weight.
Dumbbell Wrist Curls: 22 x 16.
+29600 steps! Yikes!
My teaching is still keeping me pretty busy, though it'll likely level off as my students go back to school after Easter. After a marathon session of preparing the week's lesson plans, I should be all set.
Something I had to share, as it's been occupying my mind these last few days.
In Macau, my dad gifted me a lai see (which he is wont to do from time to time) with an extremely generous amount of money. I'm not complaining at all; it is a little funny that apropos of nothing, I went from carefully budgeting my last few dollars to an enormous windfall like this. My goal is to spend a little (COMIC CON), and save the rest, I guess. When I checked how much money there was, my first thought was about buying a laptop. That's how much money we're talking about.
Should I be worried about my dad? I'm definitely grateful to him, and only those in the black can afford to give away such fecund financial gifts. *shrug* I guess it beats him worrying about where his next dollar's coming from, and it's good that he has more retirement money.
We performed our Ching Ming duties under a muddy sky, and though it threatened to rain, it never materialized.
And the week goes on...
Until next time, Bees!
Playing: The KCD2 chronicles continue! In today's episode, I baited a pack of wolves with an unlucky ram (sorry Ignatius, I didn't know how to save you) and saved a flock of sheep. I spent a little too long on a certain duel that often ended with me getting my tail kicked. And lastly, I rescued an inebriated huntsman who was trapped by - you guessed it, another pack of wolves. Little buggers! Tracked down a group of poachers and did a fairly good job of dueling all of them at the same time!
Also slugging my way through Beyond Citadel, as well.
Also, this new EA Extraction-based game "Road to Vostok" looks quite intriguing, though it might be a touch too hardcore for me.
Watching: Making slooooowww progress on FF: TPP.
Listening to: Ron Fish et al - Elysian Fields (Gladiator: Sword of Vengeance soundtrack). Holy shit. Another trip down memory lane. I played this game during my dark days, drunk on gaming in Los Angeles around '05 or '06. I hadn't listened to this track since I played the game, so that's around 20 years, even though it's stuck in my memory. Now that I'm a little older, it's easier to see how there's a strong Gladiator/Lisa Gerrard influence, but it's still a beautiful, ethereal track.
(A lot of new synthwave finds on Youtube, so I'll move back to featuring more of that genre in the future...)
"I was lax," he said. He sat up, a little abruptly. He missed her warm skin, but he wanted a cigarette. "You were outmaneuvered and outgunned. It happens to everyone, and you didn't have the manpower or the time to avoid catastrophe." Ox put on his t-shirt, and reached for his menthol ciggies on the dresser beside the bed. Mmm, ciggies. "Had I known someone was gunning for us, I would've tried to give them the slip. The burden was on me to lead, and I lead poorly." He looked back at Simmi, sheet pulled up to her chest, watching him intently. He was pulling on his pants when what she said stunned him: "The fault is mine." Ox's eyes widened, and he looked her in the eyes.
"Babe... how can you say that."
"I sent you guys out there without proper intel and preparation. I bear responsibility. Had I never made that request of you, Sax would still be alive."
"It was a mission. We've been on many, some with casualties."
"As the coordinator and intel officer for the camp, I've sent stalkers out on many missions; on quite a few they don't come back alive. Remember, there have been others before you, most of them falling prey to the zone."
Ox did not know what to say to that. "I don't... Babe, we knew the risks."
"We did. Let's agree to disagree... like Howie said to you, we all bear a little responsibility."
Ox sat on the bed. "Responsibility notwithstanding, maybe it's not about blame. I guess what you're saying is true. We're in a dangerous line of work. We completed the mission, but at a cost... and there will be more in the future."
A sad smile on her face.
"Not everyone is going to make it out alive."
Hey Bees!
Another Push workout (I know, I know, I need to find free time for the other muscle groups). This time I woke up, felt great, and tried a new preworkout powder that I felt strong with.
Bench Press: 132.5 x 4. Not five reps, but the weight moved more easily than last time.
Incline Press: 105 x 6.
Paused Shoulder Press: 65 x 6.
Overhead Dumbbell Extensions: 22 x 6, I think.
Dumbbell Curls: 20 x 20. Will move up in weight.
Dumbbell Wrist Curls: 22 x 16.
+29600 steps! Yikes!
My teaching is still keeping me pretty busy, though it'll likely level off as my students go back to school after Easter. After a marathon session of preparing the week's lesson plans, I should be all set.
Something I had to share, as it's been occupying my mind these last few days.
In Macau, my dad gifted me a lai see (which he is wont to do from time to time) with an extremely generous amount of money. I'm not complaining at all; it is a little funny that apropos of nothing, I went from carefully budgeting my last few dollars to an enormous windfall like this. My goal is to spend a little (COMIC CON), and save the rest, I guess. When I checked how much money there was, my first thought was about buying a laptop. That's how much money we're talking about.
Should I be worried about my dad? I'm definitely grateful to him, and only those in the black can afford to give away such fecund financial gifts. *shrug* I guess it beats him worrying about where his next dollar's coming from, and it's good that he has more retirement money.
We performed our Ching Ming duties under a muddy sky, and though it threatened to rain, it never materialized.
And the week goes on...
Until next time, Bees!
Playing: The KCD2 chronicles continue! In today's episode, I baited a pack of wolves with an unlucky ram (sorry Ignatius, I didn't know how to save you) and saved a flock of sheep. I spent a little too long on a certain duel that often ended with me getting my tail kicked. And lastly, I rescued an inebriated huntsman who was trapped by - you guessed it, another pack of wolves. Little buggers! Tracked down a group of poachers and did a fairly good job of dueling all of them at the same time!
Also slugging my way through Beyond Citadel, as well.
Also, this new EA Extraction-based game "Road to Vostok" looks quite intriguing, though it might be a touch too hardcore for me.
Watching: Making slooooowww progress on FF: TPP.
Listening to: Ron Fish et al - Elysian Fields (Gladiator: Sword of Vengeance soundtrack). Holy shit. Another trip down memory lane. I played this game during my dark days, drunk on gaming in Los Angeles around '05 or '06. I hadn't listened to this track since I played the game, so that's around 20 years, even though it's stuck in my memory. Now that I'm a little older, it's easier to see how there's a strong Gladiator/Lisa Gerrard influence, but it's still a beautiful, ethereal track.
(A lot of new synthwave finds on Youtube, so I'll move back to featuring more of that genre in the future...)
"Mew."
Ox looked up from where he had been pouring over the maps and reports of the NFTA's movements. It was a quiet day, and Simmi had stepped out to oversee a fresh shipment of supplies. The documents were notoriously dry stuff, but even a week after the fact, he had still been a little obsessed with the circumstances surrounding Sax's death. Simmi was in front of him, a completely black cat cradled in her arms. Ox was dumbfounded for a moment.
"So... that's a cat." Simmi stroked the little fur ball's back, and it arched against her, seeking more pats.
"Indeed it is."
"It figures. Even in the most dangerous region in the world, there are cats."
"What can I say? The Cat Distribution System has struck again, and we are its willing recipients."
"I've never seen one here. Where did you find it?"
"It hitched a ride on the barge that just arrived. Want to meet her?"
Ox walked a little closer to investigate the cat, which Simmi took as an invitation. Striding forward, Simmi practically dumped the cat into Ox's arms. "Whoa!" He held the cat at his chest, forming a cradle with his forearms, and the little bugger actually curled up, onto its side. Its warm, sinuous body and silky fur were appropriately comforting, and within seconds, it began to vibrate with gentle purrs. "We're doing this...? I'm not even a cat person--lizard, whatever." Simmi was looking at him, arms folded, a knowing smile on her face. "You are now. Behold the power of Cat." The cat's luminous eyes looked up at him, slowly blinking: she was just too damn cute.
"So what are we going to call her?"
Hey again Bees!
My schedule is more free now (gosh, that was a long two weeks), so I decided to start the week with a big workout!
Bench Press: 132.5 x 3, 135 x 3, 137.5 x 3. Doable, thankfully. The final set was a bit tough.
Incline Press: 107.5 x 6.
Paused Shoulder Press: 67.5 x 5.
Overhead Dumbbell Extensions: 22 x 5.
Dumbbell Curls: 22 x 12.
Dumbbell Wrist Curls: 22 x 12.
Quiet weekend. Had to teach on Sunday. And now I'm relaxing again.
Will try to go to the gym tomorrow, if I'm not too beat up.
Hope your Monday is going well, Bees!
Playing: My adventures in KCD2 continue, albeit... slowly. I've been stuck on what I'm convinced is the game's most irritating sidequest; it involves a nomad chieftain's daughter running away, and Henry (my character)'s attempt to reconcile their family. I can't stand it. Characters give you the runaround, there's a lot of back and forth travel, and none of the characters are particularly sympathetic (even the aggrieved daughter). I'm hoping that I can continue onto less repetitive, and more fun side quests. I also got into a fight with two bandits: one of them beat me into paste repeatedly, so I used a recently-learned swordsman technique to do his heavily-armored ass in... albeit very slowly for my tastes.
Watching: Still haven't resumed my movie. Grr. Better get on it.
Listening to: Polystation - Retrofutura. I'm going to focus more on synthwave music with my Songs of the Day, as I feel like I've kinda neglected the genre, both on and offline. So consider this my love letter to my favourite genre of the moment.
This particular song is... pretty much everything I'm looking for in the genre. A gentle, rolling and playful melody that's not camp or cheesy. It understands the assignment, and performs! Love it.
Ox looked up from where he had been pouring over the maps and reports of the NFTA's movements. It was a quiet day, and Simmi had stepped out to oversee a fresh shipment of supplies. The documents were notoriously dry stuff, but even a week after the fact, he had still been a little obsessed with the circumstances surrounding Sax's death. Simmi was in front of him, a completely black cat cradled in her arms. Ox was dumbfounded for a moment.
"So... that's a cat." Simmi stroked the little fur ball's back, and it arched against her, seeking more pats.
"Indeed it is."
"It figures. Even in the most dangerous region in the world, there are cats."
"What can I say? The Cat Distribution System has struck again, and we are its willing recipients."
"I've never seen one here. Where did you find it?"
"It hitched a ride on the barge that just arrived. Want to meet her?"
Ox walked a little closer to investigate the cat, which Simmi took as an invitation. Striding forward, Simmi practically dumped the cat into Ox's arms. "Whoa!" He held the cat at his chest, forming a cradle with his forearms, and the little bugger actually curled up, onto its side. Its warm, sinuous body and silky fur were appropriately comforting, and within seconds, it began to vibrate with gentle purrs. "We're doing this...? I'm not even a cat person--lizard, whatever." Simmi was looking at him, arms folded, a knowing smile on her face. "You are now. Behold the power of Cat." The cat's luminous eyes looked up at him, slowly blinking: she was just too damn cute.
"So what are we going to call her?"
Hey again Bees!
My schedule is more free now (gosh, that was a long two weeks), so I decided to start the week with a big workout!
Bench Press: 132.5 x 3, 135 x 3, 137.5 x 3. Doable, thankfully. The final set was a bit tough.
Incline Press: 107.5 x 6.
Paused Shoulder Press: 67.5 x 5.
Overhead Dumbbell Extensions: 22 x 5.
Dumbbell Curls: 22 x 12.
Dumbbell Wrist Curls: 22 x 12.
Quiet weekend. Had to teach on Sunday. And now I'm relaxing again.
Will try to go to the gym tomorrow, if I'm not too beat up.
Hope your Monday is going well, Bees!
Playing: My adventures in KCD2 continue, albeit... slowly. I've been stuck on what I'm convinced is the game's most irritating sidequest; it involves a nomad chieftain's daughter running away, and Henry (my character)'s attempt to reconcile their family. I can't stand it. Characters give you the runaround, there's a lot of back and forth travel, and none of the characters are particularly sympathetic (even the aggrieved daughter). I'm hoping that I can continue onto less repetitive, and more fun side quests. I also got into a fight with two bandits: one of them beat me into paste repeatedly, so I used a recently-learned swordsman technique to do his heavily-armored ass in... albeit very slowly for my tastes.
Watching: Still haven't resumed my movie. Grr. Better get on it.
Listening to: Polystation - Retrofutura. I'm going to focus more on synthwave music with my Songs of the Day, as I feel like I've kinda neglected the genre, both on and offline. So consider this my love letter to my favourite genre of the moment.
This particular song is... pretty much everything I'm looking for in the genre. A gentle, rolling and playful melody that's not camp or cheesy. It understands the assignment, and performs! Love it.
Last edited:
PetiteSheWolf
Well-known member
Behold the power of kitties...
The weather stormed, and everyone in the Freelancer camp felt it. While the shopkeeper and other old hands already had sheds where they could wait out the storm, most of the camp had to make do with makeshift tents and lean-tos that offered scant protection. Others took shelter under the roof of the gym, or inside the firing range. Simmi had offered cover to any stalker without shelter, but being a proud bunch, they generally declined. Ox sat on his bed and listened to the rain drum upon the roof of the observatory steadily. The floor above the landing where his bed and lockers were featured large glass windows; he could see the rain smash upon the glass and trail downwards. He still blamed himself for what had happened to Sax, but the comfortable normalcy of life at the Observatory had been a balm for his malaise.
"What do you say to a simple job? Get your feet wet again?" Ox roused himself from his reminiscences. "I'm all ears, babe." He descended the steps to the Observatory landing. Simmi was at the notice/job cork board that was on the wall next to the entrance. Ink was curled up in her favourite place, on top of the computer monitor; if she wasn't found there, she could instead be found perched on top of the numerous lockers in the main annex, or prowling around, meowing for attention. Ox gave Ink a customary pat on the head, which she received with a blink, then joined Simmi at the board. She pointed to a memo pinned to the board.
"What's going on?"
"Magpie needs some documents from the Depot's offices. I know, not exactly demanding, but you likely won't run into trouble."
"Ugh, Magpie."
"He do something to you?"
"His sense of morality, or lack thereof. Anyway, job's a job, and no one has to die. This time."
His words hung heavy in the air. Simmi's hand found his and she squeezed, gently.
"Get it done and come home safely. There are brighter days ahead."
@PetiteSheWolf The power of Cat compels you! I loves the cuddly kittehs...
Could this be a consecutive Ox workout? Two in two days... what is up with me?
Anyway, I went to the gym for long-awaited, oft-neglected Pull workout. In and out, no fluff.
Wide-grip Pulldowns: 60 x 6.
Narrow-grip Pulldowns: 60 x 6.
Romanian Deadlifts: 100 x 6. Yeah, I gave up on regular deadlifts. Was kind of sick of them, anyway.
Barbell Rows: 100 x 5.
Meadows Rows: 60 x 5. Felt pretty tough.
Lying Leg Curls: 42.5 x 5. Experiment with higher reps.
Only 7500 steps today, compared with 30,500 yesterday! What in the world. Less cyberpunk-ing around and more doing, I guess.
Tomorrow I have more lessons.
Stay sweet, Bees!
Playing: Continuing with my epic KCD2 playthrough. I lost the wagers to resolve the family feud, and got a bittersweet quest ending. To my relief; I thought that the stakes were higher, and that it would turn out worse. Man, f*** that quest. What a total waste of time! You spend hours going back and forth across the countryside to help out this idiot leader (Voivode; coincidentally also the name of a wicked Canadian metal band), and even when you do, he refuses to help you. You have to beat him in these ridiculous wagers, which I lost (I hate when games force you into playing a certain way, and it's clear that here, the game is rigged).
But seriously, screw that guy, and screw this stupid family quest. Grr... arf, arf! I shall continue in my venture to rid the countryside of bandits and upgrade my shiny, shiny gear.
Capcom's Pragmata looks very intriguing; I'll try the demo to see if it actually works on my PC. Edit: It's actually playable with my ageing setup. Huh. While I had to tinker a bit with the settings, it was a compelling demo experience. Considering all the accolades it's getting, I may have to seriously consider this one down the line (read: when there's a juicy discount!).
Horror: @aku-chan I think I saw this in your thread (correct me if I'm wrong)? As found footage is my favourite kind of horror genre, this is an absolute treat.
also, I'm planning on watching Lee Cronin's The Mummy (what an awkward title) with a friend next Monday! Gross-out horror, woohoo!
If I do get around to watching it, I'll have a review ready!
Listening to: CZARINA - Medusa. Here's a powerful one from Czarina that combines touches of synth with a propulsive groove and powerhouse vocals.
Bonus: French bully Cerberus!
"They may look the other way
Pay no heed to what I have to say
We’re awakened in the end
With time passing by
The truth survives all the lies
From beginning and the end"
"What do you say to a simple job? Get your feet wet again?" Ox roused himself from his reminiscences. "I'm all ears, babe." He descended the steps to the Observatory landing. Simmi was at the notice/job cork board that was on the wall next to the entrance. Ink was curled up in her favourite place, on top of the computer monitor; if she wasn't found there, she could instead be found perched on top of the numerous lockers in the main annex, or prowling around, meowing for attention. Ox gave Ink a customary pat on the head, which she received with a blink, then joined Simmi at the board. She pointed to a memo pinned to the board.
"What's going on?"
"Magpie needs some documents from the Depot's offices. I know, not exactly demanding, but you likely won't run into trouble."
"Ugh, Magpie."
"He do something to you?"
"His sense of morality, or lack thereof. Anyway, job's a job, and no one has to die. This time."
His words hung heavy in the air. Simmi's hand found his and she squeezed, gently.
"Get it done and come home safely. There are brighter days ahead."
@PetiteSheWolf The power of Cat compels you! I loves the cuddly kittehs...
Could this be a consecutive Ox workout? Two in two days... what is up with me?
Anyway, I went to the gym for long-awaited, oft-neglected Pull workout. In and out, no fluff.
Wide-grip Pulldowns: 60 x 6.
Narrow-grip Pulldowns: 60 x 6.
Romanian Deadlifts: 100 x 6. Yeah, I gave up on regular deadlifts. Was kind of sick of them, anyway.
Barbell Rows: 100 x 5.
Meadows Rows: 60 x 5. Felt pretty tough.
Lying Leg Curls: 42.5 x 5. Experiment with higher reps.
Only 7500 steps today, compared with 30,500 yesterday! What in the world. Less cyberpunk-ing around and more doing, I guess.
Tomorrow I have more lessons.
Stay sweet, Bees!
Playing: Continuing with my epic KCD2 playthrough. I lost the wagers to resolve the family feud, and got a bittersweet quest ending. To my relief; I thought that the stakes were higher, and that it would turn out worse. Man, f*** that quest. What a total waste of time! You spend hours going back and forth across the countryside to help out this idiot leader (Voivode; coincidentally also the name of a wicked Canadian metal band), and even when you do, he refuses to help you. You have to beat him in these ridiculous wagers, which I lost (I hate when games force you into playing a certain way, and it's clear that here, the game is rigged).
But seriously, screw that guy, and screw this stupid family quest. Grr... arf, arf! I shall continue in my venture to rid the countryside of bandits and upgrade my shiny, shiny gear.
Capcom's Pragmata looks very intriguing; I'll try the demo to see if it actually works on my PC. Edit: It's actually playable with my ageing setup. Huh. While I had to tinker a bit with the settings, it was a compelling demo experience. Considering all the accolades it's getting, I may have to seriously consider this one down the line (read: when there's a juicy discount!).
Horror: @aku-chan I think I saw this in your thread (correct me if I'm wrong)? As found footage is my favourite kind of horror genre, this is an absolute treat.
also, I'm planning on watching Lee Cronin's The Mummy (what an awkward title) with a friend next Monday! Gross-out horror, woohoo!
If I do get around to watching it, I'll have a review ready!
Listening to: CZARINA - Medusa. Here's a powerful one from Czarina that combines touches of synth with a propulsive groove and powerhouse vocals.
Bonus: French bully Cerberus!
"They may look the other way
Pay no heed to what I have to say
We’re awakened in the end
With time passing by
The truth survives all the lies
From beginning and the end"
Last edited:
aku-chan
Well-known member
There was a ghostly silence to the depot's office building, a squat cube of three stories, even with the occasional growl or gunshot audible from the trainyard it was nestled in. After meticulously clearing each room (there was a suspicious looking bulkhead door in the basement he filed away for later consideration), he'd made his way to the top floor, where the offices were. The offices covered three sides of the topmost floor, one section of them locked off with suspiciously sturdy electronic locks. Said section was the 'Records' department, which was exactly where he needed to go. Rats. Well, maybe there was some way to find an ingress into that area... He entered into the corner office, which was crammed full of outdated plastic desks, moldy office chairs, and a still-functioning terminal? He approached the computer, and booted it up. The screen came to life with a muted dong and a command prompt appeared:
G:\
(Hmm.)
Dir
(The machine whirred, before the following appeared).
/Budget
/Social
/Announcements
cd announcements
closure.txt
breakthrough.txt
staff notice.txt
(A notice? Hmm.)
edit staff_notice
The announcement appeared on the screen. It was mostly irrelevant, but as Ox skimmed it, there was an interesting tidbit.
- Please note that responsibility for access to the records department has been placed with Thomas Morgan. If there is a need to procure a particular document, please consult Morgan or your supervisor. Employees should be aware such requests are not... - (Blah blah blah yak yak yak...)
But the name stood out. Morgan, or presumably what was left of him, would be his best lead for getting inside. He glanced around his surroundings. Maybe nearby... a rolodex. Jackpot. Ox swiped the hedgehog of cards and filed through them, ticking his way past each dead card. No no nope, nada... who even has a name like that? And then there it was. Thomas E. Morgan, resident at 405 Maywell Square.
Where had he heard that before?
@JCU It certainly looks gory and exciting!
@aku-chan I haven't started watching it yet, but it certainly looks interesting!
Hey gang!
My class yesterday went off without a hitch, and today I went to the gym to continue with the strength program I've been working for the past three months. Spoiler: It didn't go so well.
Bench Press: 145 x 1. Ugh, this is the pits. I could not get two reps with this weight and was almost stapled to the bench (I bailed on the supports below the rack). I don't know what went wrong; during my previous cycle, I was able to hit 147.5 x 2 alright. This time, I performed even worse. I'm definitely going to be using a different program next week, as it looks like this one has run its course. I'm going to give GZCLP a shot, as it has more autoregulation (ie you get to decide based on feel, how exactly you'll progress).
Incline Press: 107.5 x 5.
Paused Overhead Press: 67.5 x 5.
Dumbell Overhead Extension: 22 x 8.
Dumbbell Curls: 22 x 16.
Dumbbell Wrist Curls: 22 x 12.
Kind of a disastrous workout, but these things come in waves. I'm very eager to try the GZCLP program, which looks very intriguing, and not terribly complicated.
I got some sweet treats from Marks and Spencers, as well as some glutinous goodies I've taken a liking to (a small box of them is 2.5 USD, which is an absolute steal in Hong Kong). Calories! Err, in moderation, of course.
I also made a new friend today!
This is the pharmacy cat, who I had a photo of here a long time ago. Usually it just chills on the glass cases and doesn't come over, but today, I tried exchanging a few blinks with it, and it came over! I held out my finger, and kitty was curious, sniffing away, before giving it a few head rubs.
I love kitties, they make everything better, every store should have a cat
I'm teaching again on Saturday, and I feel curiously unmoored. More anxiety. Oh well.
I think I could use another brownie bite. Om nom nom.
Cheers, Bees!
Playing: In KCD2, I rediscovered my good-for-nothing master Hans Capon slumming it in the forest and poaching for coin. Stubborn, intractable fool. I take it that my protagonist didn't have the heart to tell him that he'd already accrued a small fortune (2600ish, last time I checked). I also took down some Crusader-errant types out to punish a hermit, as there was more than met the eye.
Played a dash of Void Breakers. Got to the second area boss, and getting my butt kicked left and right. Back to the drawing board.
Also played more Palworld, and finally got to level 45! Time to upgrade my arsenal once I've manufactured that shiny new gun. Work harder, Pals! Your master demands it!
Watching: I started rewatching Daredevil Season 2, as I never watched my way past it. And Born Again is out, and it looks amazing, and I want to get caught up. Time for some binge-watching?
(Oh yeah, my horror movie still needs watching.)
Listening to: Action Jackson - Palm Kill. Here's a tough, stylish number from synthwave survivor Action Jackson. So many of their songs would be right at home in the soundtrack to a madcap 80s action movie!
G:\
(Hmm.)
Dir
(The machine whirred, before the following appeared).
/Budget
/Social
/Announcements
cd announcements
closure.txt
breakthrough.txt
staff notice.txt
(A notice? Hmm.)
edit staff_notice
The announcement appeared on the screen. It was mostly irrelevant, but as Ox skimmed it, there was an interesting tidbit.
- Please note that responsibility for access to the records department has been placed with Thomas Morgan. If there is a need to procure a particular document, please consult Morgan or your supervisor. Employees should be aware such requests are not... - (Blah blah blah yak yak yak...)
But the name stood out. Morgan, or presumably what was left of him, would be his best lead for getting inside. He glanced around his surroundings. Maybe nearby... a rolodex. Jackpot. Ox swiped the hedgehog of cards and filed through them, ticking his way past each dead card. No no nope, nada... who even has a name like that? And then there it was. Thomas E. Morgan, resident at 405 Maywell Square.
Where had he heard that before?
@JCU It certainly looks gory and exciting!
@aku-chan I haven't started watching it yet, but it certainly looks interesting!
Hey gang!
My class yesterday went off without a hitch, and today I went to the gym to continue with the strength program I've been working for the past three months. Spoiler: It didn't go so well.
Bench Press: 145 x 1. Ugh, this is the pits. I could not get two reps with this weight and was almost stapled to the bench (I bailed on the supports below the rack). I don't know what went wrong; during my previous cycle, I was able to hit 147.5 x 2 alright. This time, I performed even worse. I'm definitely going to be using a different program next week, as it looks like this one has run its course. I'm going to give GZCLP a shot, as it has more autoregulation (ie you get to decide based on feel, how exactly you'll progress).
Incline Press: 107.5 x 5.
Paused Overhead Press: 67.5 x 5.
Dumbell Overhead Extension: 22 x 8.
Dumbbell Curls: 22 x 16.
Dumbbell Wrist Curls: 22 x 12.
Kind of a disastrous workout, but these things come in waves. I'm very eager to try the GZCLP program, which looks very intriguing, and not terribly complicated.
I got some sweet treats from Marks and Spencers, as well as some glutinous goodies I've taken a liking to (a small box of them is 2.5 USD, which is an absolute steal in Hong Kong). Calories! Err, in moderation, of course.
I also made a new friend today!
This is the pharmacy cat, who I had a photo of here a long time ago. Usually it just chills on the glass cases and doesn't come over, but today, I tried exchanging a few blinks with it, and it came over! I held out my finger, and kitty was curious, sniffing away, before giving it a few head rubs.
I love kitties, they make everything better, every store should have a cat
I'm teaching again on Saturday, and I feel curiously unmoored. More anxiety. Oh well.
I think I could use another brownie bite. Om nom nom.
Cheers, Bees!
Playing: In KCD2, I rediscovered my good-for-nothing master Hans Capon slumming it in the forest and poaching for coin. Stubborn, intractable fool. I take it that my protagonist didn't have the heart to tell him that he'd already accrued a small fortune (2600ish, last time I checked). I also took down some Crusader-errant types out to punish a hermit, as there was more than met the eye.
Played a dash of Void Breakers. Got to the second area boss, and getting my butt kicked left and right. Back to the drawing board.
Also played more Palworld, and finally got to level 45! Time to upgrade my arsenal once I've manufactured that shiny new gun. Work harder, Pals! Your master demands it!
Watching: I started rewatching Daredevil Season 2, as I never watched my way past it. And Born Again is out, and it looks amazing, and I want to get caught up. Time for some binge-watching?
(Oh yeah, my horror movie still needs watching.)
Listening to: Action Jackson - Palm Kill. Here's a tough, stylish number from synthwave survivor Action Jackson. So many of their songs would be right at home in the soundtrack to a madcap 80s action movie!
Last edited:
LiteraryMatcha
Well-known member
There was a ghostly silence to the depot's office building, a squat cube of three stories, even with the occasional growl or gunshot audible from the trainyard it was nestled in. After meticulously clearing each room (there was a suspicious looking bulkhead door in the basement he filed away for later consideration), he'd made his way to the top floor, where the offices were. The offices covered three sides of the topmost floor, one section of them locked off with suspiciously sturdy electronic locks. Said section was the 'Records' department, which was exactly where he needed to go. Rats. Well, maybe there was some way to find an ingress into that area... He entered into the corner office, which was crammed full of outdated plastic desks, moldy office chairs, and a still-functioning terminal? He approached the computer, and booted it up. The screen came to life with a muted dong and a command prompt appeared:
G:\
(Hmm.)
Dir
(The machine whirred, before the following appeared).
/Budget
/Social
/Announcements
cd announcements
closure.txt
breakthrough.txt
staff notice.txt
(A notice? Hmm.)
edit staff_notice
The announcement appeared on the screen. It was mostly irrelevant, but as Ox skimmed it, there was an interesting tidbit.
- Please note that responsibility for access to the records department has been placed with Thomas Morgan. If there is a need to procure a particular document, please consult Morgan or your supervisor. Employees should be aware such requests are not... - (Blah blah blah yak yak yak...)
But the name stood out. Morgan, or presumably what was left of him, would be his best lead for getting inside. He glanced around his surroundings. Maybe nearby... a rolodex. Jackpot. Ox swiped the hedgehog of cards and filed through them, ticking his way past each dead card. No no nope, nada... who even has a name like that? And then there it was. Thomas E. Morgan, resident at 405 Maywell Square.
Where had he heard that before?
@JCU It certainly looks gory and exciting!
@aku-chan I haven't started watching it yet, but it certainly looks interesting!
Hey gang!
My class yesterday went off without a hitch, and today I went to the gym to continue with the strength program I've been working for the past three months. Spoiler: It didn't go so well.
Bench Press: 145 x 1. Ugh, this is the pits. I could not get two reps with this weight and was almost stapled to the bench (I bailed on the supports below the rack). I don't know what went wrong; during my previous cycle, I was able to hit 147.5 x 2 alright. This time, I performed even worse. I'm definitely going to be using a different program next week, as it looks like this one has run its course. I'm going to give GZCLP a shot, as it has more autoregulation (ie you get to decide based on feel, how exactly you'll progress).
Incline Press: 107.5 x 5.
Paused Overhead Press: 67.5 x 5.
Dumbell Overhead Extension: 22 x 8.
Dumbbell Curls: 22 x 16.
Dumbbell Wrist Curls: 22 x 12.
Kind of a disastrous workout, but these things come in waves. I'm very eager to try the GZCLP program, which looks very intriguing, and not terribly complicated.
I got some sweet treats from Marks and Spencers, as well as some glutinous goodies I've taken a liking to (a small box of them is 2.5 USD, which is an absolute steal in Hong Kong). Calories! Err, in moderation, of course.
I also made a new friend today!
View attachment 9226
This is the pharmacy cat, who I had a photo of here a long time ago. Usually it just chills on the glass cases and doesn't come over, but today, I tried exchanging a few blinks with it, and it came over! I held out my finger, and kitty was curious, sniffing away, before giving it a few head rubs.
I love kitties, they make everything better, every store should have a cat
I'm teaching again on Saturday, and I feel curiously unmoored. More anxiety. Oh well.
I think I could use another brownie bite. Om nom nom.
Cheers, Bees!
Playing: In KCD2, I rediscovered my good-for-nothing master Hans Capon slumming it in the forest and poaching for coin. Stubborn, intractable fool. I take it that my protagonist didn't have the heart to tell him that he'd already accrued a small fortune (2600ish, last time I checked). I also took down some Crusader-errant types out to punish a hermit, as there was more than met the eye.
Played a dash of Void Breakers. Got to the second area boss, and getting my butt kicked left and right. Back to the drawing board.
Also played more Palworld, and finally got to level 45! Time to upgrade my arsenal once I've manufactured that shiny new gun. Work harder, Pals! Your master demands it!
Watching: I started rewatching Daredevil Season 2, as I never watched my way past it. And Born Again is out, and it looks amazing, and I want to get caught up. Time for some binge-watching?
(Oh yeah, my horror movie still needs watching.)
Listening to: Action Jackson - Palm Kill. Here's a tough, stylish number from synthwave survivor Action Jackson. So many of their songs would be right at home in the soundtrack to a madcap 80s action movie!
Omg, look at that cat!
Even after the ravages of bullets and bombshells, the square retained a modicum of its dignity and beauty. The brick multi-storey townhouses were arranged in a ring around a marble fountain that had spouted water only long ago. A few of them had been blown open from the force of explosions, exposing their abandoned attics and bedrooms. Ox made his way over to house number 405, the former residence of Thomas Morgan. He'd luckily recalled that Maywell drive was nearby, having stumbled upon it during a previous sojourn through the depot.
He tried the door. Locked, interestingly. If there were anyone inside, they would've seen him approaching from the square. No point in announcing himself. He reached into his plate carrier's ute pocket and withdrew a set of lockpicks. Lockpicking is tedious work, and can be learned laboriously, as Ox had. With enough skill, any lock could be picked - SNAPCK. Shit. He tried again with a second pick, jimmying away until SKIKT! A second pick gone. Clearly this lock was above his paygrade. Oh well.
Ox set his travel backpack on the ground and withdrew from it a red-painted crowbar. Sometimes it's not the lock, but the key... Jamming the chisel edge into the door jamb, he pushed against the shaft of the crowbar. There was some give, and he pushed harder, until a loud crunch sounded out as the door snapped open, wood splinters flying everywhere. There you stupid lock! Thought you could defeat the mighty Ox. Complimenting himself on his skulduggery, he made his way into the tall, but narrow house.
It was quiet inside. And suspiciously untouched. Searching the cabinets and drawers of the first floor, Ox pocketed a bottle of perfume (maybe as a gift for Simmi?) and a few tins of food. The second floor, made up as a small living room, also had similarly uninteresting loot. On the third floor, the bedroom, there was little there. A trunk at the base of the bed had nothing inside. There was a white coat hanging on coat stand - hang on, what was that in the chest pocket? He fished the item out of pocket and had a look. It was Thomas Morgan's ID card for the depot offices, a magnetic strip seared into the bottom of the card.
Jackpot.
Hey Bees! It's evening, and I'm quite a tired Bee, but overall, it was a good day.
Today I moved on from Candito's 6 week program (I think that after three cycles, it was about time), and started Cody Lefevre's GZCLP program, which offers intelligently programmed linear increases. So this was my very first workout using that template.
Bench Press: 120 x 3. Simple enough. Will increase next week, per the program's instruction. Muscles felt like crap, though.
Incline Close Grip Press: 70 x 8. A little too easy. Can increase this.
Rope Pushdown: 10 x 12.
Spoon Press: 26 x 12. I haven't done these in awhile.
Hammer Curls: 18 x 24.
I'm kind of fudging the program, admittedly. I'm adding more volume than is strictly necessary, but hey, the program is modular, so this should be fine. As long as I don't go nuts with the volume and intensities, things should hold together.
Augh, my arm muscles are so sore.
Mom was off to watch the Rugby 7s with a friend, so I had some fried chicken for dinner. Mmm... fried chicken.
More classes next week! The madness never ends.
Also, Comic-Con is coming to HK! I've forgotten to pick up my tickets, and I'd better snap them up soon.
Hope you're ready for Monday, Bees!
Playing: In KCD2, I finally attended the long-awaited wedding (which my hero has to attend, to bend the ear of a nobleman). After various mishaps and misfortunes (like an encounter with a comely, if dour lass), the nobles didn't even attend the party. Buh...what?
Apart from a little bit of Palworld, haven't played much else. Cargo Hunters is on sale, so I may give that a shot.
Watching: A little bit of Daredevil, but no movies. The problem with telling myself I'll engage in late night cinema is that I'm usually too tuckered out to do so. Will tonight be different? I'm not holding my breath.
Quote of the Day:
“I asked my Bible, and methinks it said
Time is the present hour, the past has fled;
Live! live to-day ! to-morrow never yet
On any human being rose or set.”
Listening to: HOME - Odyssey. I'm not going to reach far for tonight's slice of synth. This is from synthwave pioneer HOME (his song Resonance is a staple of the chill and synth genres), and it has a suitably stirring sound to it that's eventually buoyed by a great groove and synth work.
He tried the door. Locked, interestingly. If there were anyone inside, they would've seen him approaching from the square. No point in announcing himself. He reached into his plate carrier's ute pocket and withdrew a set of lockpicks. Lockpicking is tedious work, and can be learned laboriously, as Ox had. With enough skill, any lock could be picked - SNAPCK. Shit. He tried again with a second pick, jimmying away until SKIKT! A second pick gone. Clearly this lock was above his paygrade. Oh well.
Ox set his travel backpack on the ground and withdrew from it a red-painted crowbar. Sometimes it's not the lock, but the key... Jamming the chisel edge into the door jamb, he pushed against the shaft of the crowbar. There was some give, and he pushed harder, until a loud crunch sounded out as the door snapped open, wood splinters flying everywhere. There you stupid lock! Thought you could defeat the mighty Ox. Complimenting himself on his skulduggery, he made his way into the tall, but narrow house.
It was quiet inside. And suspiciously untouched. Searching the cabinets and drawers of the first floor, Ox pocketed a bottle of perfume (maybe as a gift for Simmi?) and a few tins of food. The second floor, made up as a small living room, also had similarly uninteresting loot. On the third floor, the bedroom, there was little there. A trunk at the base of the bed had nothing inside. There was a white coat hanging on coat stand - hang on, what was that in the chest pocket? He fished the item out of pocket and had a look. It was Thomas Morgan's ID card for the depot offices, a magnetic strip seared into the bottom of the card.
Jackpot.
Hey Bees! It's evening, and I'm quite a tired Bee, but overall, it was a good day.
Today I moved on from Candito's 6 week program (I think that after three cycles, it was about time), and started Cody Lefevre's GZCLP program, which offers intelligently programmed linear increases. So this was my very first workout using that template.
Bench Press: 120 x 3. Simple enough. Will increase next week, per the program's instruction. Muscles felt like crap, though.
Incline Close Grip Press: 70 x 8. A little too easy. Can increase this.
Rope Pushdown: 10 x 12.
Spoon Press: 26 x 12. I haven't done these in awhile.
Hammer Curls: 18 x 24.
I'm kind of fudging the program, admittedly. I'm adding more volume than is strictly necessary, but hey, the program is modular, so this should be fine. As long as I don't go nuts with the volume and intensities, things should hold together.
Augh, my arm muscles are so sore.
Mom was off to watch the Rugby 7s with a friend, so I had some fried chicken for dinner. Mmm... fried chicken.
More classes next week! The madness never ends.
Also, Comic-Con is coming to HK! I've forgotten to pick up my tickets, and I'd better snap them up soon.
Hope you're ready for Monday, Bees!
Playing: In KCD2, I finally attended the long-awaited wedding (which my hero has to attend, to bend the ear of a nobleman). After various mishaps and misfortunes (like an encounter with a comely, if dour lass), the nobles didn't even attend the party. Buh...what?
Apart from a little bit of Palworld, haven't played much else. Cargo Hunters is on sale, so I may give that a shot.
Watching: A little bit of Daredevil, but no movies. The problem with telling myself I'll engage in late night cinema is that I'm usually too tuckered out to do so. Will tonight be different? I'm not holding my breath.
Quote of the Day:
“I asked my Bible, and methinks it said
Time is the present hour, the past has fled;
Live! live to-day ! to-morrow never yet
On any human being rose or set.”
Listening to: HOME - Odyssey. I'm not going to reach far for tonight's slice of synth. This is from synthwave pioneer HOME (his song Resonance is a staple of the chill and synth genres), and it has a suitably stirring sound to it that's eventually buoyed by a great groove and synth work.
Beep!
The card slid through the electronic reader on the door with no issue. Ox entered the rectangular offices that were where the Depot records were kept. While most of the assortment of cubicles, desks, filing cabinets and shelves were a mess, there was one solitary manila folder sitting on a desk that faced the corner. Ox palmed the folder, and whirled around when he heard a cough. It was a man in black fatigues, vest, eyes covered by goggles who was aiming a wicked-looking submachine gun at him. Another Scavver... The man spoke.
"Richter s--" Ox grasped the folder by its side and swiftly hurled it like a frisbee at him. No doubt it being the reason the man was there, his composure faltered, the folder struck him in his chest, and dropped to the ground with a clatter. "Oh shit!" The man cried, and he let his weapon dip downward. Ox ripped his sidearm out of its holster, and like an old-fashioned gunslinger, fired off six shots from the hip. The scavver was only a few meters away, and while he missed a time or two, the remaining shots landed. The man slumped to the ground with a groan.
Sidearm still at the ready, Ox made his way over to the man, who was wheezing, supine on the ground. He didn't seem grievously injured, or bleeding; he must've worn body armour. Ox picked up the manila folder at the man's feet. He could say something badass and dramatic - something about how Richter had failed to off him once more.
Ultimately, there was no point.
Hello again, Bees! I am sore and tired, but I stayed up to bring you this update.
Today was my second foray into GZCLP, but this time with a back workout.
RDL: 120 x 3.
Barbell Rows: 102.5 x 5.
Meadows Rows: 62.5 x 5. Gosh, but these take it out of me!
Neutral Grip Chins: 5 of 5. Couldn't do these well today.
Machine Behind the Neck Pulldowns: 50 x 5.
Went to the doctor and got my medicine. These coloured pills, upon which I depend to be a functioning and sane person with Bipolar disorder...
Meeting up with a good friend on Wednesday, will be nice to chat with her again.
Once more into the breach, Bees!
Playing: I totally cheesed KCD 2. I was undergoing a TIMED main quest to save my idiot friend Hans Capon from being hanged, but I had to consult a walkthrough several times to get through it. The quest involved sneaking through a tower full of guards to medicate a wounded guardsman (pretty convoluted, right)? After many failed attempts, I decided, ah, the hell with it, and just ran past the guards. That stealth shite can eat it. Got the quest done, and the main questline continues.
Watching: So we were going to watch Lee Cronin's The Mummy, as it looked like a frightfully good time. But the lukewarm reviews have scuppered that possibility. I'd rather wait for Hokum - if it comes out here! Really should get back to watching FF: TPP.
Listening to: Noir Deco - Future Noir. Ho ho ho. Have been wanting to feature this one for awhile now. Noir Deco specializes in expansive sonic landscapes, and this moody, ambitious song easily puts one in the mind of any number of cyberpunk settings. The bridge, absent any percussion, goes on for a bit too long, but when the rest of the song comes back, it does so in dramatic and hard-hitting fashion.
"I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhäuser Gate. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain. Time to die."
The card slid through the electronic reader on the door with no issue. Ox entered the rectangular offices that were where the Depot records were kept. While most of the assortment of cubicles, desks, filing cabinets and shelves were a mess, there was one solitary manila folder sitting on a desk that faced the corner. Ox palmed the folder, and whirled around when he heard a cough. It was a man in black fatigues, vest, eyes covered by goggles who was aiming a wicked-looking submachine gun at him. Another Scavver... The man spoke.
"Richter s--" Ox grasped the folder by its side and swiftly hurled it like a frisbee at him. No doubt it being the reason the man was there, his composure faltered, the folder struck him in his chest, and dropped to the ground with a clatter. "Oh shit!" The man cried, and he let his weapon dip downward. Ox ripped his sidearm out of its holster, and like an old-fashioned gunslinger, fired off six shots from the hip. The scavver was only a few meters away, and while he missed a time or two, the remaining shots landed. The man slumped to the ground with a groan.
Sidearm still at the ready, Ox made his way over to the man, who was wheezing, supine on the ground. He didn't seem grievously injured, or bleeding; he must've worn body armour. Ox picked up the manila folder at the man's feet. He could say something badass and dramatic - something about how Richter had failed to off him once more.
Ultimately, there was no point.
Hello again, Bees! I am sore and tired, but I stayed up to bring you this update.
Today was my second foray into GZCLP, but this time with a back workout.
RDL: 120 x 3.
Barbell Rows: 102.5 x 5.
Meadows Rows: 62.5 x 5. Gosh, but these take it out of me!
Neutral Grip Chins: 5 of 5. Couldn't do these well today.
Machine Behind the Neck Pulldowns: 50 x 5.
Went to the doctor and got my medicine. These coloured pills, upon which I depend to be a functioning and sane person with Bipolar disorder...
Meeting up with a good friend on Wednesday, will be nice to chat with her again.
Once more into the breach, Bees!
Playing: I totally cheesed KCD 2. I was undergoing a TIMED main quest to save my idiot friend Hans Capon from being hanged, but I had to consult a walkthrough several times to get through it. The quest involved sneaking through a tower full of guards to medicate a wounded guardsman (pretty convoluted, right)? After many failed attempts, I decided, ah, the hell with it, and just ran past the guards. That stealth shite can eat it. Got the quest done, and the main questline continues.
Watching: So we were going to watch Lee Cronin's The Mummy, as it looked like a frightfully good time. But the lukewarm reviews have scuppered that possibility. I'd rather wait for Hokum - if it comes out here! Really should get back to watching FF: TPP.
Listening to: Noir Deco - Future Noir. Ho ho ho. Have been wanting to feature this one for awhile now. Noir Deco specializes in expansive sonic landscapes, and this moody, ambitious song easily puts one in the mind of any number of cyberpunk settings. The bridge, absent any percussion, goes on for a bit too long, but when the rest of the song comes back, it does so in dramatic and hard-hitting fashion.
"I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhäuser Gate. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain. Time to die."
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A steady drum of footsteps on the Saloon floor. Magpie turned away from tiny television in the bar to see Ox marching up to him. Patrons who were enjoying their drinks and chatting looked up, some with unease, others with experienced calm. Ox came up to the bar and looked straight at Magpie, who had trouble making eye contact. "So... how about that--" "Shut up." Ox reached into his plate carrier and produced the manila folder, dropping it flat onto the bar table. "Your documents. As requested. Only I wasn't the only one searching for them." Magpie folded his arms evasively. "I have no idea what you're talking about. It was an open job. Sometimes more than one person takes them. Who am I to complain if someone wanted to kill two birds with one stone?" "Funny that you say that," Ox said, venomous mockery in his tone. He reached into his plate carrier pouch dramatically. Magpie finally looked back, at Ox nervousness written upon his face.
"If the Scavs want to take care of unfinished business, who am I to deny them?" Ox shook his head in denial, and Magpie's eyes glazed at his unintended mistake. "You son of a bitch. You were better off lying." Magpie's mouth opened and closed stupidly. Ox pulled out his hand to reveal... nothing. "I had no proof that you were working with them, but I guess I didn't need it. How much did that vermin Richter pay you?" Magpie finally came to life, his expression an open sneer. "You're less an ox, and more an ass. Did you really think that Richter would let bygones be bygones?" Ox took a breath. He had done a masterful job of staying calm. "I didn't think he would let it go," he said, slowly. "But for someone who prides themselves on neutrality in the zone, you're absolutely pathetic."
He extended his arm and slowly swept it at the rest of the room. He turned to face the stalkers who were standing or seated in booths, watching his every move. "I can't trust Magpie anymore. He betrayed me, and what's to say he won't betray any of you next?" The room remained silent, though Ox could see he had gotten through to them. He turned back to Magpie, who looked like he wanted to be anywhere else. "I won't lift a finger against you here. Neutrality and all that. But now these people have seen the side of you that would turn on them at a whim." Ox smiled, bitterly. Magpie glared at him balefully.
"This isn't over, Ox."
Oh no, it's the Ox! Lock up your daughters, lock up your wives... or something to that effect.
Today was a Push day which was nigh-disastrous. I took one too many scoops of preworkout powder (from a brand that's particularly intense), and it made me shake throughout my whole workout. Even hours later, I'm feeling quite the caffeine crash. Lesson learned. Anyway, onto the workout.
(Update: Caffeine is mostly gone from my system. Feeling better now).
Bench Press: 120 x 3.
Incline Press: 70 x 8. Just right.
Dips: Sets of 8 reps. Will start them with weights next time.
Rope Pushdowns: 9 x 25. Will move up in weight.
Spoon Press: 28 x 10. Ugh, this one was a real ball-buster.
On Saturday, movie tickets are all only $30. But there's nothing to watch! Apart from the Mummy, excuse me, Lee Cronin's The Mummy, and that didn't turn out so well. Had something like The Odyssey been showing, there would've been reason to snap up tickets, but seeing that there's only dreck, there's no point.
Super sleepy after working out, but I have no work tomorrow, so I'm going to stay up for a bit and play more KCD2!
C'est la vie.
Keep on going, Bees! We're almost to Friday!
Playing: Made major inroads in KCD2! Went to go teach a group of bandits what-for, but my group was ambushed, and the two young heroes abducted. Because it was a pitched battle (or a woodland ambush, rather), I made sure to loot the bodies of my erstwhile companions, who had some of the best armour in the game (so far)! But who knows if afterward, I'll be able to keep all my loot. Hrm. Now I'm in the shoes of an itinerant preacher out to search for them.
Also playing more of Beyond Citadel, in which I fought through an explosive setpiece across the roofs of skyscrapers.
Watching: Uhh, not much. In cinema or during late night cinema.
Listening to: Perturbator - Uncanny Valley. I've come across some utterly amazing synthwave finds on youtube, so my Song of the Night series continues without abating! I love me some synth. This dark number has a great, haunting atmosphere, without delving into darksynth. Perturbator always delivers!
"If the Scavs want to take care of unfinished business, who am I to deny them?" Ox shook his head in denial, and Magpie's eyes glazed at his unintended mistake. "You son of a bitch. You were better off lying." Magpie's mouth opened and closed stupidly. Ox pulled out his hand to reveal... nothing. "I had no proof that you were working with them, but I guess I didn't need it. How much did that vermin Richter pay you?" Magpie finally came to life, his expression an open sneer. "You're less an ox, and more an ass. Did you really think that Richter would let bygones be bygones?" Ox took a breath. He had done a masterful job of staying calm. "I didn't think he would let it go," he said, slowly. "But for someone who prides themselves on neutrality in the zone, you're absolutely pathetic."
He extended his arm and slowly swept it at the rest of the room. He turned to face the stalkers who were standing or seated in booths, watching his every move. "I can't trust Magpie anymore. He betrayed me, and what's to say he won't betray any of you next?" The room remained silent, though Ox could see he had gotten through to them. He turned back to Magpie, who looked like he wanted to be anywhere else. "I won't lift a finger against you here. Neutrality and all that. But now these people have seen the side of you that would turn on them at a whim." Ox smiled, bitterly. Magpie glared at him balefully.
"This isn't over, Ox."
Oh no, it's the Ox! Lock up your daughters, lock up your wives... or something to that effect.
Today was a Push day which was nigh-disastrous. I took one too many scoops of preworkout powder (from a brand that's particularly intense), and it made me shake throughout my whole workout. Even hours later, I'm feeling quite the caffeine crash. Lesson learned. Anyway, onto the workout.
(Update: Caffeine is mostly gone from my system. Feeling better now).
Bench Press: 120 x 3.
Incline Press: 70 x 8. Just right.
Dips: Sets of 8 reps. Will start them with weights next time.
Rope Pushdowns: 9 x 25. Will move up in weight.
Spoon Press: 28 x 10. Ugh, this one was a real ball-buster.
On Saturday, movie tickets are all only $30. But there's nothing to watch! Apart from the Mummy, excuse me, Lee Cronin's The Mummy, and that didn't turn out so well. Had something like The Odyssey been showing, there would've been reason to snap up tickets, but seeing that there's only dreck, there's no point.
Super sleepy after working out, but I have no work tomorrow, so I'm going to stay up for a bit and play more KCD2!
C'est la vie.
Keep on going, Bees! We're almost to Friday!
Playing: Made major inroads in KCD2! Went to go teach a group of bandits what-for, but my group was ambushed, and the two young heroes abducted. Because it was a pitched battle (or a woodland ambush, rather), I made sure to loot the bodies of my erstwhile companions, who had some of the best armour in the game (so far)! But who knows if afterward, I'll be able to keep all my loot. Hrm. Now I'm in the shoes of an itinerant preacher out to search for them.
Also playing more of Beyond Citadel, in which I fought through an explosive setpiece across the roofs of skyscrapers.
Watching: Uhh, not much. In cinema or during late night cinema.
Listening to: Perturbator - Uncanny Valley. I've come across some utterly amazing synthwave finds on youtube, so my Song of the Night series continues without abating! I love me some synth. This dark number has a great, haunting atmosphere, without delving into darksynth. Perturbator always delivers!
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LiteraryMatcha
Well-known member
Without making it about me, I can say that I can fully sympathise about not being fluent in a language that runs through your blood, or not speaking it like a native.
But it is not your fault nor your responsibility either, unless you want to.
No matter what I say, I know the guilt or frustration won't disappear overnight, but the fact that you are giving yourself the grace to be ok with where you are at is huge.
It is also an immensely powerful force to lead you to learning the language every day, little by little. Gently, slowly. That's how progress is made.
Also, the more languages you speak, the worst you get at speaking them xD. It is very common to mix vocab and grammar when you fully integrate a language in your mind, and that can also feel frustrating.
What I want to say is that how you frame this situation is the most important thing. There are always good things to appreciate, and there will always be things you'd change.
Just make sure you stop to smell the flowers.
LiteraryMatcha
Well-known member
Simmi found him in their usual smoking spot, out on the walkway circling the observatory. Apart from the cursory debriefing he'd given her upon entering the camp, she could tell he was in a bad mood. He'd been by himself for the past hour or so, which was unlike him. "You didn't fail the job, at least." Ox blew out a stream of smoke and sighed. "Might've well have. Dumb bastard didn't even expect me to come back alive." Simmi patiently waited a beat before replying. "Every dollar counts out here. I know you need to stick to your principles, but a job done merits a reward. Now you're back here empty-handed. What did you get out of the whole affair?" "Oh Jesus. C'mon now." She continued, undeterred. "Lack of payment aside, you need to cool it." Ox didn't say anything. He was still stewing. "You've been betrayed before, and taken it well. What's different this time?" "I don't know. I guess I believed in honor among thieves. But that scum proved me wrong."
He put the cigarette to his lips and sucked in another breath of smoke. "Can't trust anybody in this shithole," he said, but realized his mistake instantly. Simmi was giving him a level look. Ox coughed, weakly, and it wasn't from the smoke. He wouldn't have been surprised if she'd walked off. But instead she crouched down and sat beside him, folding her legs. "You've been through thick and thin. And you're right, Magpie was a rat. I didn't expect that he'd turn on a dime and betray us. Not just you, but us!" Her voice was steely. "But I need you to keep a clear head. You're the best we've got, and it does us no good if you stay sore over what ultimately amounts to a business transaction. And you know what? Even so, you're right to be angry." She reached out her hand to him. Ox flicked away the cigarette and took her hand, giving it a squeeze. "My, but you're a stubborn one," she quipped. He smiled, looking off into the distance.
"What else would you expect from an Ox?"
Hey again, Bees. 'Tis I, a very tired, but still standing Ox.
Today was Leg day. Shock! Horror! I'm working my legs again! What are the chances. Good thing that my legs are generally quite meaty, even though they could still use some beefing (uh oh) up! Anyway, onto the workout.
Squats: 80 x 3. Just doing the reps, following the program. I worked up to this weight today, and will continue with it for next week. The week after, I will start adding weight...
Front Squats: 40 x 5. So I kind of fudged the numbers for this one. Was supposed to use much higher reps (like in the 8-12 category). I will start again next week and use a higher rep range.
Bulgarian Split Squats: 10 x 6. These sucked the last time I did them, and clearly, but clearly, little has changed. Even with baby weights they're tough! Which means I have to do more of them.
Leg Extensions: 50 x 12. Zzzzz...
Critter update!
Newstand puggies are back in action doing... well, admittedly, not a whole lot.
I was able to interact more with my sports center's resident calico cat, who came by to rub herself against my legs. What a sweet kitty! First time I've been able to get so close with her.
On the hunt for plump, tasty pigeons...
Cuddly critters everywhere! Me likey!
I had the craziest dream last night. It was a sci-fi saga within a dream, with Paul Atreides from Dune sweeping the galaxy and conquering worlds. It was like a remixed version of the Dune Part III trailer that came out recently. And a harlequin great dane showed up, though I haven't the foggiest idea why (presumably, pats and attention).
It was cool today! I'm relishing the colder weather, as this is the last gasp of winter before summer and all its muggy weather descends upon us...
Weighed myself today. Still holding steady at 80 kg, though I confess to feeling a touch frustrated that I've never dropped below that stable weight. There are so many buff folks out there who have me on muscle, and yet still remain a lighter weight! How is such a thing possible...
Tomorrow I'm working, but Mom and I are planning to grab some hot pot on Sunday after mass.
Enjoy your weekend, Bees! You deserve it!
Playing: Made substantial progress in KCD 2 by advancing the story. My two leads were sprung from prison and betrayed (oh who saw that coming). Now we're enjoying some downtime in the fortress before things get worse (I consulted a walkthrough). One of the most hated missions in the game in almost upon me. Ugh. Not looking forward to it.
Bought Wicked Seed, which is a bizarrely horny adventure/rpg that takes some inspiration from Parasite Eve (any gamers remember that one?). Got my gaming work cut out for me.
Watching: ...
Listening to: Huntar - 4AM (k?d remix). More synth. I think that the original song this is based on is kinda rubbish, but here it's been reforged into a more memorable, hard-hitting song.
He put the cigarette to his lips and sucked in another breath of smoke. "Can't trust anybody in this shithole," he said, but realized his mistake instantly. Simmi was giving him a level look. Ox coughed, weakly, and it wasn't from the smoke. He wouldn't have been surprised if she'd walked off. But instead she crouched down and sat beside him, folding her legs. "You've been through thick and thin. And you're right, Magpie was a rat. I didn't expect that he'd turn on a dime and betray us. Not just you, but us!" Her voice was steely. "But I need you to keep a clear head. You're the best we've got, and it does us no good if you stay sore over what ultimately amounts to a business transaction. And you know what? Even so, you're right to be angry." She reached out her hand to him. Ox flicked away the cigarette and took her hand, giving it a squeeze. "My, but you're a stubborn one," she quipped. He smiled, looking off into the distance.
"What else would you expect from an Ox?"
Hey again, Bees. 'Tis I, a very tired, but still standing Ox.
Today was Leg day. Shock! Horror! I'm working my legs again! What are the chances. Good thing that my legs are generally quite meaty, even though they could still use some beefing (uh oh) up! Anyway, onto the workout.
Squats: 80 x 3. Just doing the reps, following the program. I worked up to this weight today, and will continue with it for next week. The week after, I will start adding weight...
Front Squats: 40 x 5. So I kind of fudged the numbers for this one. Was supposed to use much higher reps (like in the 8-12 category). I will start again next week and use a higher rep range.
Bulgarian Split Squats: 10 x 6. These sucked the last time I did them, and clearly, but clearly, little has changed. Even with baby weights they're tough! Which means I have to do more of them.
Leg Extensions: 50 x 12. Zzzzz...
Critter update!
Newstand puggies are back in action doing... well, admittedly, not a whole lot.
I was able to interact more with my sports center's resident calico cat, who came by to rub herself against my legs. What a sweet kitty! First time I've been able to get so close with her.
On the hunt for plump, tasty pigeons...
Cuddly critters everywhere! Me likey!
I had the craziest dream last night. It was a sci-fi saga within a dream, with Paul Atreides from Dune sweeping the galaxy and conquering worlds. It was like a remixed version of the Dune Part III trailer that came out recently. And a harlequin great dane showed up, though I haven't the foggiest idea why (presumably, pats and attention).
It was cool today! I'm relishing the colder weather, as this is the last gasp of winter before summer and all its muggy weather descends upon us...
Weighed myself today. Still holding steady at 80 kg, though I confess to feeling a touch frustrated that I've never dropped below that stable weight. There are so many buff folks out there who have me on muscle, and yet still remain a lighter weight! How is such a thing possible...
Tomorrow I'm working, but Mom and I are planning to grab some hot pot on Sunday after mass.
Enjoy your weekend, Bees! You deserve it!
Playing: Made substantial progress in KCD 2 by advancing the story. My two leads were sprung from prison and betrayed (oh who saw that coming). Now we're enjoying some downtime in the fortress before things get worse (I consulted a walkthrough). One of the most hated missions in the game in almost upon me. Ugh. Not looking forward to it.
Bought Wicked Seed, which is a bizarrely horny adventure/rpg that takes some inspiration from Parasite Eve (any gamers remember that one?). Got my gaming work cut out for me.
Watching: ...
Listening to: Huntar - 4AM (k?d remix). More synth. I think that the original song this is based on is kinda rubbish, but here it's been reforged into a more memorable, hard-hitting song.
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The gym was crowded, as usual. The large space by the docks had originally been used for storing shippin crates, but several months ago Simmi had had the space cleared, a roof erected, and weightlifting equipment of assorted qualities and make shipped in or constructed. Quite a few of the stalkers passing through or staying in the camp had cottoned onto the benefits of exercise, but the gym was also a new place to socialize and gather (Ox's request for a proper bar was still pending). Several enterprising stalkers with past gym experience had made a small business out of training newcomers to the gym and offering exercise advice. Now if only something could be done about the food situation.
Ox was watching the bustling scene as the gymgoers worked through their sets, chatted, and stretched. He wasn't working out that day, but the gym had a strangely calming ambiance to it that always attracted him. "Whatcha doing?" Ox turned to see Simmi next to him. "I'm here to hit on all the sweaty blokes," he sarcastically said, to which Simmi rolled her eyes. "And here I thought you were looking for your next victim." They watched the scene for a bit before Simmi (lightly) punched him on the arm.
"How about a friendly wager?"
"Who, you and me?"
"Of course, ya bozo."
"So what's it gonna be?"
"I pick an exercise. If I can beat you in it, you're $150 poorer."
"Okay, you're on."
Grinning, Simmi walked them over two where a bar was mounted, attached to the underside of the roof. Ox was intrigued. He knew Simmi was extremely capable with burpees, but pull-ups? Surely he could beat her. He rubbed his palms with relish and gave her a shark-like smile. "Can I take my $150 in cash, or credit?" Simmi blew a kiss at him and tapped her foot in mock impatience. Ox jumped up and grabbed the bar, both palms facing outward. He tensed his lats and commenced the set, crossing his feet behind him. Things got tough after ten reps, but he knocked out three more, with some effort. Upon dropping back to the ground, he flexed a bicep, which he kissed comically. "Beat that, ya office rat.
Simmi barely acknolwedged the remark, instead unbuttoning her camo top, revealing her bare, lean arms, and tight midsection. She came over to the bar, and brought her elbows back and forth, stretching her lats. The gym was largely silent at this point. Simmi leapt upward and grasped the bar in the same fashion as him. To his surprise, she made it through ten reps with perfect form. He hadn't realized she was that strong. Around rep 11 she began to falter. The next rep was a fight to the top. The one afterward - matching his record, even more labored. He expected her to drop back down, but instead, she clung to the bar, heavily breathing. Bringing her knees up for momentum, she ever so slowly ground out a final repetition, craning her neck upward to clear the bar: all her back and arm muscles straining. Upon completing this final rep, she dropped back down to the ground. Panting, she wordlessly held her hand out.
Ox wished he were somewhere else..
Hello once more, Bees!
It's your neighborhood friendly Ox, with another Push workout. Today starts the second week of GZCLP.
Bench Press: 122.5 x 3. Went pretty smoothly today! Way better than last week.
Incline Press: 72.5 x 8.
Weighted Dips: An amazing 2.5 plate for sets of 8 reps.
Rope Push Down: 10 x 25! This took all my triceps had, and then some. They were on fire by the end of the set.
Flat Dumbbell Curls: 14 x 24. I think.
+30,300 steps.
I was absolutely exhausted when I got back from the gym. Did the dishes slooowly, then the laundry, tinkered with my lesson plans, and then pondered getting into bed and just crashing.
I have no idea how I stayed awake until dinner. I think I had low blood sugar, as my only sustenance before my workout was a ham and cheese sandwich. Something to be aware of in the future. Walking 30,300 steps today probably didn't help, either.
Yummy phoenix claw (ie chicken feet) for dinner. There's this saying about Cantonese people and our lack of discerning tastes when it comes to food; I would call the saying racist, except that it originated from other Chinese people! Figures.
"If something's back is facing the sky, it is for people to eat."
And with that, I bid you all adieu!
Start your week strong, Bees! You'll do great!
Playing: Continuing my first playthrough of KCD2. I've made it to the second map - Kuttenberg, and am currently making my way around, exploring this massive region.
Will also try to play more of Wicked Seed, which is my recent acquisition, as well as the demo for (obvious Parasite Eve homage) Parasite Mutant. If it merits a BOOM! uninstallation, I'll note so on this post.
Listening to: Dynamaxx - Summer of '89. Some gentle synth to see the night out.
Ox was watching the bustling scene as the gymgoers worked through their sets, chatted, and stretched. He wasn't working out that day, but the gym had a strangely calming ambiance to it that always attracted him. "Whatcha doing?" Ox turned to see Simmi next to him. "I'm here to hit on all the sweaty blokes," he sarcastically said, to which Simmi rolled her eyes. "And here I thought you were looking for your next victim." They watched the scene for a bit before Simmi (lightly) punched him on the arm.
"How about a friendly wager?"
"Who, you and me?"
"Of course, ya bozo."
"So what's it gonna be?"
"I pick an exercise. If I can beat you in it, you're $150 poorer."
"Okay, you're on."
Grinning, Simmi walked them over two where a bar was mounted, attached to the underside of the roof. Ox was intrigued. He knew Simmi was extremely capable with burpees, but pull-ups? Surely he could beat her. He rubbed his palms with relish and gave her a shark-like smile. "Can I take my $150 in cash, or credit?" Simmi blew a kiss at him and tapped her foot in mock impatience. Ox jumped up and grabbed the bar, both palms facing outward. He tensed his lats and commenced the set, crossing his feet behind him. Things got tough after ten reps, but he knocked out three more, with some effort. Upon dropping back to the ground, he flexed a bicep, which he kissed comically. "Beat that, ya office rat.
Simmi barely acknolwedged the remark, instead unbuttoning her camo top, revealing her bare, lean arms, and tight midsection. She came over to the bar, and brought her elbows back and forth, stretching her lats. The gym was largely silent at this point. Simmi leapt upward and grasped the bar in the same fashion as him. To his surprise, she made it through ten reps with perfect form. He hadn't realized she was that strong. Around rep 11 she began to falter. The next rep was a fight to the top. The one afterward - matching his record, even more labored. He expected her to drop back down, but instead, she clung to the bar, heavily breathing. Bringing her knees up for momentum, she ever so slowly ground out a final repetition, craning her neck upward to clear the bar: all her back and arm muscles straining. Upon completing this final rep, she dropped back down to the ground. Panting, she wordlessly held her hand out.
Ox wished he were somewhere else..
Hello once more, Bees!
It's your neighborhood friendly Ox, with another Push workout. Today starts the second week of GZCLP.
Bench Press: 122.5 x 3. Went pretty smoothly today! Way better than last week.
Incline Press: 72.5 x 8.
Weighted Dips: An amazing 2.5 plate for sets of 8 reps.
Rope Push Down: 10 x 25! This took all my triceps had, and then some. They were on fire by the end of the set.
Flat Dumbbell Curls: 14 x 24. I think.
+30,300 steps.
I was absolutely exhausted when I got back from the gym. Did the dishes slooowly, then the laundry, tinkered with my lesson plans, and then pondered getting into bed and just crashing.
I have no idea how I stayed awake until dinner. I think I had low blood sugar, as my only sustenance before my workout was a ham and cheese sandwich. Something to be aware of in the future. Walking 30,300 steps today probably didn't help, either.
Yummy phoenix claw (ie chicken feet) for dinner. There's this saying about Cantonese people and our lack of discerning tastes when it comes to food; I would call the saying racist, except that it originated from other Chinese people! Figures.
"If something's back is facing the sky, it is for people to eat."
And with that, I bid you all adieu!
Start your week strong, Bees! You'll do great!
Playing: Continuing my first playthrough of KCD2. I've made it to the second map - Kuttenberg, and am currently making my way around, exploring this massive region.
Will also try to play more of Wicked Seed, which is my recent acquisition, as well as the demo for (obvious Parasite Eve homage) Parasite Mutant. If it merits a BOOM! uninstallation, I'll note so on this post.
Listening to: Dynamaxx - Summer of '89. Some gentle synth to see the night out.
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Simmi came across him having a cigarette in the center square of the camp, clearly pondering something. It was unusual for him to be up so early, so this must've been occupying him for awhile. Simmi greeted him with a kiss on the cheek. "Deep in thought?" Ox turned his head to her and smiled a little. He held out the menthol cigarette, which Simmi took and took a puff from. Unlike him, she'd never expressed any wish to quit, which jived with her ability to smoke in absolute moderation, if even that. "A penny for them." He blew out a think stream of smoke towards the sky. "We're a faction, right?" "A loose collection of mercenaries, scavengers and the callow, right now." He tapped ashes onto the ground with a flick of his finger. "It's not to say that we have differing goals. A lot of us want the same thing - to survive, and not have to worry about where to sleep or whether or not we can sleep safe in the first place. But what if we wanted more?" Curiously ambitious talk coming from him. "Spill."
The morning light made him seem quasi-angelic in his bearing, shining upon his face. Simmi noticed the large scar on his forehead from where the helmet had been struck by the rifle round. "Okay, now hear me out. We need our own special ops team."
Simmi was not overtly surprised by the idea, having had it a few times before, even before he had shown up a year ago. But hearing it proposed with such single-mindedness had her ears perking up, so-to-speak. "Continue..." "The NFTA have their Rangers, the Revolutionaries their Cazadores, and the Insurgents their Raider teams. We're getting left in the dust, unless we have our own dirty dozen, ready to execute our will across the Carcosa wastes." "But what is our will?" It was an important question, and he left in hanging in the air for a moment, taking in another breathful of smoke. "Look, I mentioned this a breath ago. We're not heroes. We steal, kill, and do all sorts of other unsavory things to survive. But we're forgetting about others of our own kind. Instead of just a temporary shelter for newcomers, we could extend our auspices to genuinely protecting our own, and giving them the tools to survive in this wasteland. We, well you, already have the right idea. Having this team at the ready is just cementing into place our ability to rival the other factions and really establish ourselves more. We could truly roam, and grow healthy and satiated from what the good land has to offer." They waited together, watching the stalkers in the camp go along their business.
"Where did this come from? You've got a point, but I can still hear you trying to convince yourself." He sighed, dropped the cigarette and stabbed it into the dirt. "I don't think I'll ever stop feeling bad about it. Perhaps in some way, I'm telling myself that if we were better prepared, better trained, we would've stood a chance." "You can tell yourself whatever you want. Just be a bit gentler about it." She gently bumped against him.
"Let's get some breakfast and work it out."
Hey again, Bees!
My plan to workout four days in a week like last week hasn't quite worked out. Such are the plans of mice and men. Anyway, today was a second Push workout of the week.
Bench Press: 122.5 x 3. Moved alright.
Incline Press: 72.5 x 8.
Weighted Dips: 2.5 x 8.
Rope Pushdowns: 11 x 14.
Dumbbell Flat Curls: 16 x 24.
Bees, have any of you struggled with impostor syndrome? I kind of overlooked it in my self-inventory, but I check a lot of the boxes. Self-effacing, don't like to take credit, believe that my achievements are more down to luck than anything else. It's a terrible thing to live with, and it ties into my existing struggles with depression too closely for my comfort.
Had a great curry dinner with an old friend from AA. Afterward, he offered me a smoke, which I had - for the first time in five years! Oh no! I hope this doesn't signal the resumption of my smoking habits - though I will say, considering how much trouble they've caused me, taking up cigarettes again is pretty unlikely.
Super sleepy, which is good, because I have a very early morning tomorrow.
See you soon, Bees!
Playing: So in KCD2, I made it to the "metropolis" of Kuttenberg, which has more dirt and mud than I expected. I have a ton of grosschens burning a hole in my pocket by this point, but the price of some of the state of the art and most valuable armours and weapons made my eyes positively water! I guess it's back to hunting down bandits in the countryside, turning out their pockets, and selling their ill-got gains secondhand. Bah! I'm currently rounding up former members of the Dry Devil's former gang (don't ask). I came across one claiming to be a "toll-collector" in the country side. He and his gang of five bandits tried to enforce said toll on me, but me and my sword had the last laugh. Take that, ya shitheads! And then I got drunk after drinking a potion to "forget" all my perks (it's a long story, and it was all in service to getting more FPS), woke up in the middle of the street 500 grosschens poorer and without my shoes. This game..
Watching: I plan to watch Mortal Kombat 2 when it comes out next Thursday! The first one left me a touch disappointed - too much weird editing/cuts during the fight scenes, and a strange, febrile script, but the second one looks like it's actually leaning into the inherent ridiculousness and enjoying itself. Will of course have a review ready when I get around to seeing it.
Listening to: El Baiken - Aqua Treasure. I have no idea what the background pic has to do with the song (with these synthwave tracks, almost always very little), but the song itself is a great little gem of a number I could almost picture one listening to while underwater.
The morning light made him seem quasi-angelic in his bearing, shining upon his face. Simmi noticed the large scar on his forehead from where the helmet had been struck by the rifle round. "Okay, now hear me out. We need our own special ops team."
Simmi was not overtly surprised by the idea, having had it a few times before, even before he had shown up a year ago. But hearing it proposed with such single-mindedness had her ears perking up, so-to-speak. "Continue..." "The NFTA have their Rangers, the Revolutionaries their Cazadores, and the Insurgents their Raider teams. We're getting left in the dust, unless we have our own dirty dozen, ready to execute our will across the Carcosa wastes." "But what is our will?" It was an important question, and he left in hanging in the air for a moment, taking in another breathful of smoke. "Look, I mentioned this a breath ago. We're not heroes. We steal, kill, and do all sorts of other unsavory things to survive. But we're forgetting about others of our own kind. Instead of just a temporary shelter for newcomers, we could extend our auspices to genuinely protecting our own, and giving them the tools to survive in this wasteland. We, well you, already have the right idea. Having this team at the ready is just cementing into place our ability to rival the other factions and really establish ourselves more. We could truly roam, and grow healthy and satiated from what the good land has to offer." They waited together, watching the stalkers in the camp go along their business.
"Where did this come from? You've got a point, but I can still hear you trying to convince yourself." He sighed, dropped the cigarette and stabbed it into the dirt. "I don't think I'll ever stop feeling bad about it. Perhaps in some way, I'm telling myself that if we were better prepared, better trained, we would've stood a chance." "You can tell yourself whatever you want. Just be a bit gentler about it." She gently bumped against him.
"Let's get some breakfast and work it out."
Hey again, Bees!
My plan to workout four days in a week like last week hasn't quite worked out. Such are the plans of mice and men. Anyway, today was a second Push workout of the week.
Bench Press: 122.5 x 3. Moved alright.
Incline Press: 72.5 x 8.
Weighted Dips: 2.5 x 8.
Rope Pushdowns: 11 x 14.
Dumbbell Flat Curls: 16 x 24.
Bees, have any of you struggled with impostor syndrome? I kind of overlooked it in my self-inventory, but I check a lot of the boxes. Self-effacing, don't like to take credit, believe that my achievements are more down to luck than anything else. It's a terrible thing to live with, and it ties into my existing struggles with depression too closely for my comfort.
Had a great curry dinner with an old friend from AA. Afterward, he offered me a smoke, which I had - for the first time in five years! Oh no! I hope this doesn't signal the resumption of my smoking habits - though I will say, considering how much trouble they've caused me, taking up cigarettes again is pretty unlikely.
Super sleepy, which is good, because I have a very early morning tomorrow.
See you soon, Bees!
Playing: So in KCD2, I made it to the "metropolis" of Kuttenberg, which has more dirt and mud than I expected. I have a ton of grosschens burning a hole in my pocket by this point, but the price of some of the state of the art and most valuable armours and weapons made my eyes positively water! I guess it's back to hunting down bandits in the countryside, turning out their pockets, and selling their ill-got gains secondhand. Bah! I'm currently rounding up former members of the Dry Devil's former gang (don't ask). I came across one claiming to be a "toll-collector" in the country side. He and his gang of five bandits tried to enforce said toll on me, but me and my sword had the last laugh. Take that, ya shitheads! And then I got drunk after drinking a potion to "forget" all my perks (it's a long story, and it was all in service to getting more FPS), woke up in the middle of the street 500 grosschens poorer and without my shoes. This game..
Watching: I plan to watch Mortal Kombat 2 when it comes out next Thursday! The first one left me a touch disappointed - too much weird editing/cuts during the fight scenes, and a strange, febrile script, but the second one looks like it's actually leaning into the inherent ridiculousness and enjoying itself. Will of course have a review ready when I get around to seeing it.
Listening to: El Baiken - Aqua Treasure. I have no idea what the background pic has to do with the song (with these synthwave tracks, almost always very little), but the song itself is a great little gem of a number I could almost picture one listening to while underwater.
TopNotch
Well-known member
Doesn't necessarily mean "imposter syndrome". Could just be natural modesty. I seldom liked being pointed out as the achiever. (That's because I"m lazy and that sort of recognition always meant more work coming my way.) I believe I have been lucky, but I also believe that people tend to make their own luck, so if you're lucky, or attribute your achievements to luck - well, sunshine, you made that luck. Can you in all honesty and objectivity, view your life and achievements as being wholly without substantial and positive impact from yourself? From what you've been writing here over the years, I don't think you can say anything other than no. In a way, we are all imposters, as in, we are all frequently changing our identities to match our current aims and desires, and for a time at least, we don't match those aims and desires, but we act like we do, because if we do that, then we will eventually match those aims. Don't seek to depress yourself by misbelieving the way the brain works.
Oh, and can I join the special ops team?
They were all lined up in rows, the sun casting shadows that made them loom larger than life. More than thirty candidates. Ox strode by them, Simmi at his side keeping pace. He was privately surprised that so many had shown; Simmi had extended the invitation to the Selection to the Broker's base, and despite pointedly refusing to advertise it in the saloon, word had gotten out. Some were here out of curiosity. Some were there to amuse themselves. Some had a devotion to the Freelancer cause, and some wanted to push themselves. To Ox it did not matter, as long as they were capable of both independence and teamwork, and were willing to do whatever they could to accomplish their objectives. Simmi had pored through existing special forces selection processes and training manuals, and assimilated what was useful; these sources, and several accounts from veterans among the Freelancers were the backbone of what they were going to do for the rest of the week.
Ox stopped, and turned to face them. "I don't know where you've come from and I don't care. That is, so long as you follow our orders at all times. You'll know you've completed selection when an instructor" - he indicated himself, Simmi, and Jackal, who was leaning on a crate, looking bored - "has on a white armband, and tells you it's over". Ox had objected to the latter's involvement, but Simmi had persuaded him that the mercenary's experience made him invaluable. Some wiseass in the back snickered. "Are you guys hearing this? From the Ox, who-" Ox walked up to the ratty-looking stalker. "Interrupt me again, and I'll pull you from selection." That shut him up. Ox resumed as if he hadn't been interrupted.
"As you all know, the Freelancer faction lacks its own special operations force. We're looking to change that. Over the next seven days, we're going to push you to your limits both physically, and mentally. We are tough, and we're going to be tough on you, but we are not cruel. If you want to quit, no one's stopping you. Don't half-ass anything, and if we see you cheating, we'll pull you. Also, if you're here spying for Richter or Maris, say so now, and I won't have you executed." No one budged.
"With all those pleasantries out of the way, good luck to all of you. Selection begins!"
Hey Bees! I was suffering from a major case of the "not wanting to exercise" blues, but I grabbed my gear, and after church, braved the stormy weather to hit the gym.
Bench Press: 125 x 3. Pretty good. Pret-tay good!
Incline Press: 75 x 8.
Weighted Dips: 5 x 8.
Rope Pushdowns: 16 reps was the top set.
Dumbbell Flat Curls: 18 x 24. Pretty tough. Ruh roh.
Dumbbell Wrist Curls: 22 x 10.
The rain stopped shortly after I left the gym, but my clothes were soaked. Came back home, did my chores, and had a hot shower that revived me. The dark chocolate I ate did as much - it's likely I burned through all my food at the gym.
Thank you for the kind words @TopNotch. I would be the first to admit that I'm very self-effacing. Also, I do not seem like a depressed person, or like I have overly defeatist thinking. But there's still a lot of negativity and detritus in my headspace. Still working on being positive, and appreciative of what I have. Oh, and you can joing the special ops team if you complete selection, first, like everyone else!
Some cheesy Ox. Good thing I still retain my shape even after overeating.
Have yourselves a great weekend, Bees!
Playing: I stopped playing KCD2 briefly, but aim to resume tonight. More slashing and looting!
Played a dash of Wicked Seed, and quite a bit of Witchfire. With the latter, I've made it through the final (for the early access) area, but haven't beaten the boss yet.
Watching: I tried watching 1922(!)'s Haxan, which is a supernatural mockumentary (perhaps the very first) about VVitches and demons. It's kind of slow. Maybe I'll devote more energy to watching it again in the future.
I am watching Jackass 4.5 in bits and pieces. Ox fact: I've actually watched every Jackass movie, and quite a few of the episodes as well. I used to look down on the series, and then over time, I started to genuinely like it. It's dumb, pointless tomfoolery, but at the end of the day, it's all in good fun, and they don't prey on members of the public like streamers do (anymore). Or maybe it's that Bam Margera was fired eventually; I never liked that guy.
As a SFW sample, here's the Jackass crew getting briefed on Covid, and then being hit with a nasty, but hilarious surprise.
Also, I finally finished watching Found Footage: The Making of the Patterson Project. Here's a trailer, synopsis, and review!
A struggling indie filmmaker brings together his financier/producer, girlfriend, assistant, and a small crew into a house in the woods to film a found footage film based on the Bigfoot/Patterson legend. However, their blithe recklessness invites a certain element that begins interfering with the film...
Summary: It's better as a meta filmmaking film than a horror film, and (almost) never the twain shall meet.
Jeez, this has to be one of my longest delayed watches. Anyway, I resorted to watching it on my desktop PC to finally finish it - likely this speaks volumes about the film.
So any of you who have followed my blog here on Darebee throughout the years know I'm a fan of several things: synthwave and horror foremost among them. I was in love with the idea of this one. A found footage horror movie (or mockumentary, to be precise) about the found footage movie genre seemed too good and self-reverential to be true. There's a healthy heaping of humour and pathos as the film skewers the trends and structure behind found footage movies, and tries to tell a cohesive story.
It doesn't really work. And I'm kind of struggling to enunciate why. It's like this one is two films smushed into one, creating a mix that lacks potency. It's an impeccable mockumentary. The camera angles are great, and all the beats are hit, and we get to laugh at the stereotypes and silly plot beats and acceptable performances.
The horror just does not suffice. Even though there are hints of it throughout the movie, the payoff is too little too late, and it doesn't mesh with the rest of the film. And this one - boy does it meander. There's so much about the minutiae of making the film that it forgets to be a scary movie, until the end. It pales in comparison to the titanic One Cut of the Dead, which is a more original, and cohesive take on filming a spooky film.
Another Bigfoot found footage flick is Willow Creek, which is so much better.
I give Found Footage: The Making of the Patterson Project two and a half crappy Bigfoot costumes out of five.
As is tradition, I'm going to listen to Big Business - Our Mutant again, to see the film out. Now I'm going to start watching The Fuzzies, which is a horror about puppets.
Listening to: Michael Rubini - Graham's Theme. This is not synthwave, but it's definitely adjacent, and a perfect encapsulation of 80s music. Dig those heavy synths! The last time I heard this one was when I watched Manhunter, so it's been awhile, and it's definitely aged well.
Ox stopped, and turned to face them. "I don't know where you've come from and I don't care. That is, so long as you follow our orders at all times. You'll know you've completed selection when an instructor" - he indicated himself, Simmi, and Jackal, who was leaning on a crate, looking bored - "has on a white armband, and tells you it's over". Ox had objected to the latter's involvement, but Simmi had persuaded him that the mercenary's experience made him invaluable. Some wiseass in the back snickered. "Are you guys hearing this? From the Ox, who-" Ox walked up to the ratty-looking stalker. "Interrupt me again, and I'll pull you from selection." That shut him up. Ox resumed as if he hadn't been interrupted.
"As you all know, the Freelancer faction lacks its own special operations force. We're looking to change that. Over the next seven days, we're going to push you to your limits both physically, and mentally. We are tough, and we're going to be tough on you, but we are not cruel. If you want to quit, no one's stopping you. Don't half-ass anything, and if we see you cheating, we'll pull you. Also, if you're here spying for Richter or Maris, say so now, and I won't have you executed." No one budged.
"With all those pleasantries out of the way, good luck to all of you. Selection begins!"
Hey Bees! I was suffering from a major case of the "not wanting to exercise" blues, but I grabbed my gear, and after church, braved the stormy weather to hit the gym.
Bench Press: 125 x 3. Pretty good. Pret-tay good!
Incline Press: 75 x 8.
Weighted Dips: 5 x 8.
Rope Pushdowns: 16 reps was the top set.
Dumbbell Flat Curls: 18 x 24. Pretty tough. Ruh roh.
Dumbbell Wrist Curls: 22 x 10.
The rain stopped shortly after I left the gym, but my clothes were soaked. Came back home, did my chores, and had a hot shower that revived me. The dark chocolate I ate did as much - it's likely I burned through all my food at the gym.
Thank you for the kind words @TopNotch. I would be the first to admit that I'm very self-effacing. Also, I do not seem like a depressed person, or like I have overly defeatist thinking. But there's still a lot of negativity and detritus in my headspace. Still working on being positive, and appreciative of what I have. Oh, and you can joing the special ops team if you complete selection, first, like everyone else!
Some cheesy Ox. Good thing I still retain my shape even after overeating.
Have yourselves a great weekend, Bees!
Playing: I stopped playing KCD2 briefly, but aim to resume tonight. More slashing and looting!
Played a dash of Wicked Seed, and quite a bit of Witchfire. With the latter, I've made it through the final (for the early access) area, but haven't beaten the boss yet.
Watching: I tried watching 1922(!)'s Haxan, which is a supernatural mockumentary (perhaps the very first) about VVitches and demons. It's kind of slow. Maybe I'll devote more energy to watching it again in the future.
I am watching Jackass 4.5 in bits and pieces. Ox fact: I've actually watched every Jackass movie, and quite a few of the episodes as well. I used to look down on the series, and then over time, I started to genuinely like it. It's dumb, pointless tomfoolery, but at the end of the day, it's all in good fun, and they don't prey on members of the public like streamers do (anymore). Or maybe it's that Bam Margera was fired eventually; I never liked that guy.
As a SFW sample, here's the Jackass crew getting briefed on Covid, and then being hit with a nasty, but hilarious surprise.
Also, I finally finished watching Found Footage: The Making of the Patterson Project. Here's a trailer, synopsis, and review!
A struggling indie filmmaker brings together his financier/producer, girlfriend, assistant, and a small crew into a house in the woods to film a found footage film based on the Bigfoot/Patterson legend. However, their blithe recklessness invites a certain element that begins interfering with the film...
Summary: It's better as a meta filmmaking film than a horror film, and (almost) never the twain shall meet.
Jeez, this has to be one of my longest delayed watches. Anyway, I resorted to watching it on my desktop PC to finally finish it - likely this speaks volumes about the film.
So any of you who have followed my blog here on Darebee throughout the years know I'm a fan of several things: synthwave and horror foremost among them. I was in love with the idea of this one. A found footage horror movie (or mockumentary, to be precise) about the found footage movie genre seemed too good and self-reverential to be true. There's a healthy heaping of humour and pathos as the film skewers the trends and structure behind found footage movies, and tries to tell a cohesive story.
It doesn't really work. And I'm kind of struggling to enunciate why. It's like this one is two films smushed into one, creating a mix that lacks potency. It's an impeccable mockumentary. The camera angles are great, and all the beats are hit, and we get to laugh at the stereotypes and silly plot beats and acceptable performances.
The horror just does not suffice. Even though there are hints of it throughout the movie, the payoff is too little too late, and it doesn't mesh with the rest of the film. And this one - boy does it meander. There's so much about the minutiae of making the film that it forgets to be a scary movie, until the end. It pales in comparison to the titanic One Cut of the Dead, which is a more original, and cohesive take on filming a spooky film.
Another Bigfoot found footage flick is Willow Creek, which is so much better.
I give Found Footage: The Making of the Patterson Project two and a half crappy Bigfoot costumes out of five.
As is tradition, I'm going to listen to Big Business - Our Mutant again, to see the film out. Now I'm going to start watching The Fuzzies, which is a horror about puppets.
Listening to: Michael Rubini - Graham's Theme. This is not synthwave, but it's definitely adjacent, and a perfect encapsulation of 80s music. Dig those heavy synths! The last time I heard this one was when I watched Manhunter, so it's been awhile, and it's definitely aged well.
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LiteraryMatcha
Well-known member
reading your logs is always a genuine delight.
I love all the songs you post! We seem to have a lot of hobbies in common.
Also, impostor syndrome is shit. I hope you can focus on the bright side. Overthinking the best positive outcomes is nice too. We deserve to treat ourselves with love.
Let us know how KCD2 goes! I am still going through KCD1 first playthrough!
Have a good one!