LadyCrimson

Yesterday, while leaving CostCo and putting our stuff in our car: ---A woman nearly as tall as hubby and about our age approaches, says "don't worry I don't want money" then looks mostly at hubby and proceeds to say she has a bad back plus still recovering from recent surgery or something - could we help her get a giant watermelon/other heavy items out of her cart and into her car. ---I said "Sure, I'll do it" -- and pointed at hubby -- "He has a bad back too." and walked over to her car. --Watermelon was maybe 15+ pounds but easy. Stuff like that is hard on hubby/others because bending/pulling up out of an extra tall/deep cart is stressful - she kept asking if I was sure/was I ok etc - remember I'm super short and not 20 anymore either etc - I made the usual "I'm the strong one now" jokes. ---She and hubby then had a long convo re: backs, surgery/options/doctors as I unloaded our own full cart into our car. It was all rather amusing, from my point of view. Plus hubby was pleased to find someone else in near the same position as him to bounce off of.

Not that anyone here cares but it's what I'm listening to (too much) lately, so I'm gonna yap about it for a minute. Hadn't listened to Stray Kids in quite a while so I caught up. I guess they've become fairly popular - especially internationally perhaps - the past few years. Three of them write most of their lyrics/music. Two are actually Australian/fully bi-lingual, which probably adds to their international appeal. They lost one member so they are now 8 instead of 9. They call this members lines the "Felix Effect" Catches a lot of ppl's attention initially. Which I can relate to since that's what I noticed in their early Victory Song video. The several hits I like best (most of their music is too "noisy" for me, outside of these) I've listened to on repeat so often now that I can now mostly distinguish the member's voices apart, which I usually have no ability to do re: these bands. Their dance choreo videos are great re: hard energy dances - although sometimes with near seizure inducing zoom camera editing >.> - but I pick this one because it's less studio-polished, they aren't doing a mega dance, and seem like they're just having low-pressure fun on stage. (song starts at 1:40)

Got around to finishing Squid Game/3. The first few episodes were the best ones, impactful, but after that, for me it was meh. After the 4th episode it was completely obvious where they were going and it kind of killed my motivation to finish, which is why I took a while to do so. Anyway, spoiler section: Should have only had one side-plot - either the brother or the female guard's. Just felt like padding for splitting up what should've been a single-run 2nd season. I didn't mind the very last scene, not surprising they'd leave a weird opening for future tie-ins. I kind of doubt the actual writer/director is interested in doing more, from what I've read - well, unless they toss him truly absurd amounts of money perhaps. But Netflix could still do a prequel, if mostly new team and actors (which is where I think they'd most likely go). I would not be interested myself. ======== Also been watching more of Potato Lab, but FWD'ing through side plots. The two leads still have these S-Korean romance and group social series slapstick type moments that make me laugh - like this cooking competition bit that almost felt anime jokey. The usual "drama conflict padding" side chrs are a snooze tho. But those funny moments are great.

Was watching some videos re: Trump/stripping naturalized US citizenship etc. I am a naturalized US citizen, since I was adopted in early 1971. I think they altered some laws 20-30 years ago where adoptees can be US citizens without actual naturalization process, but only applies to those adopted post-early 1980's, with certain requirements etc, or something. I don't know details on that. Anyway, while watching it occurred to me I should go doublecheck all my adoption/citizen paperwork/records, because moving a few years ago is chaotic + my memory/organization gets worse every year. Looked in file cabinet, closets, looked in some boxes (still packed re: moving homes), couldn't find them, started to panic. Then remember the "mom" box. I had put them in there. Phew. New safer place for those again. Hopefully, since I'm almost invisible to everyone but the DMV/taxman (haha), as long as I don't try to become a drug kingpin or accrue 1000 parking tickets in a few months, Trump won't notice me.* *Not really worried about my personal status/self, mind. Not what he's (currently) chasing after. But it's Trump - and things are crazy. I think I won't leave the US for vacation/anything for a while. Trump might not let me back in.

4+ episodes of Squid Game. Episode 2 and 3 were pretty great. But my brain went: "Ohhhhh yeah, the evil rich people, I didn't miss them." ... "Oh yeah, the people on the boat going nowhere." And my finger hit the FFWD trigger faster and faster. I'll see it through, I may like some more scenes. I can tell tho they created too many threads and it probably won't come together in a satisfying actual conclusion fashion.

I would be, if it was on PC now. Always fun trying to avoid major spoilers for 6-9 months (I don't mind smaller side spoilers/some info, but....) I'm not doing the buy-a-console-for-one-game, then a few games, then a streaming-TV paperweight, thing again.

Man, why couldn't Netflix have been so k-drama content focused when I was just getting into/really into k-drama content and not totally jaded, years ago? --Trigger - silly sounding but social-commentary what-if premise but Kim Nam Gil has yet to disappoint me re: projects he's selected/been prominent in. I've liked every single one of his series (10 years). I will watch. --Wall to Wall - Kang Ha- Neul as an actor has yet to disappoint me - some of his series I wasn't into. But mystery/thriller/horror is a genre I often like (10 years). I will watch. --And for now - SQUID GAME is on. Please be a good conclusion! Pretty please!

Started watching some k-drama/rom-com, via Netflix, called The Potato Lab. The first episode was meh to ok, but then around 45 minutes there was this total camp scene of the stoic male lead running from a bird and falling/rolling down a field - yes it was stupid but I laughed. After that, typical kdrama romcom tropes/plot. Although, sometimes purposely self-aware tropes, which is a bit amusing. I'll likely lose interest rapidly but at least that scene gave me a giggle. And I can get it off my watch list. Heh.

Hubby's doc appointment may have been canceled/shifted, but his away-trip wasn't, so it's still ....meaning I'll probably deep clean the house to really loud kpop music. Cause I know how to have a good time! ...I'll also be cooking a kimchi/super red-peppered vegie and marinated chicken stir fry. Hubby wouldn't like it anyway.

Hubby's back surgeon appoint. was canceled, because the surgeon apparently had some emergency surgery-ing to do. Rescheduled 3 weeks. I wonder if at that time, they'll do it again. A method to keep patients slightly less aggravated and on the hook vs. "first appointment available is 6 months from now" and risking the patient trying to go elsewhere.

Speaking for myself .... because outside of game forums, I am extremely asocial?

I'd rather they just let PvE people be able to turn PvP off entirely, like WoW did, or NMS does etc. Thus they could run around and people couldn't target them re: PvP but everyone could still mingle or observe that massive guild fight over yonder if they feel like it. Or perhaps ... where one has to be in a Guild or something of that nature, to be able to participate in PvP, and only other guilds are targetable. Thus people with no affiliation of any kind would be left alone. The dev's original objective however seems to be for trying/hoping more/most people would band together in guild/groups as the endgame. Which is fine. I'm simply not interested. EDIT: to be fair, if one goes in knowing all of this, 50-100hrs for the PvE focused beginning is a decent thing, even if one stops/considers that as "finished the game.", just like with any actual SP game.

Hubby's been watching a series (I think via paramount+) called Tracker. I don't know much about it - one of those "guy with skills helps ppl in bad trouble, with a background team" type of shows. But I like that it's procedural, episodes largely self-contained, so sometimes I can randomly plop down next to him to watch an episode and not be lost. Seems fairly decent for that genre. Mostly I'm waiting for the final Squid Game episodes.

Also - pretty much what I hear in my head every time I try to watch/read any news lately. Just saying.

I don't think this is going to become a part of any "big comeback/revival" for him. But if you play it at 1.25 speed, the beat becomes a bit more fun to dance to. I guess.

Seems overall favorable so far. Mostly the same, but with nice improvements. I watched some of jacksepticeyejack 1st video of it - skipping over all starting story/cutscenes, just wanted to see Sam gameplay mechanics - and looks great to me. *grits teeth* I will NOT buy a PS5. I will NOT buy a PS5. .... 6+ months. Sigh.

Re: Dune Awakening endgame: in the past, I don't mind if there is certain endgame content or even gear I can't do/get solo. If I'm unwilling to do non-solo content, then that's the choice I've made (re: doing without certain gear). But for me that relates to PvE/MP. PvP is an absolute no. So this game is out for me, unless they change it so no one must deal with PvP in any form. Be one or the other, or have enough options for avoiding whichever one doesn't want. (Cohh's vid isn't actually a rant. Just him outlining the issues/player perspective vs. dev expectation/possible solutions. Josh Strife Hayes also well described this conundrum/problem of forcing PvP onto PvE players (or vice versa) years ago.

Hubby and I started watching Mickey17 last night. Not exactly what I was expecting. One of those with deliberate slow pacing, including a lot of one chr's inner headspace monologue narrating. It's conceptually sort of interesting and did keep my attention for the most part but it's not, half-way through, all that compelling. Hubby wanted to go to bed so we stopped halfway. Not sure if either of us is super keen on finishing.

Seeing this made me wonder - I've always known who is/recognize his face immediately, as if I've always known him from some child-age point etc, but I have no idea why. Looking at his body of work - I still have no idea why. I always figured he was in a lot of made for TV movies/series from the 80's or early 90's or something that I saw, but apparently not. How odd. Maybe he was just interviewed a lot on talk shows or something? I think his biggest thing was the TV series Everwood, early 2000's. Which I never saw (do remember the ads/articles tho).

Becoming curious about The Alters - but my fear is there will be too much sense of time or progression pressure for my liking (vs. feeling more freeform). And that I won't be able to tell within the steam 2hr window etc. I'm not sure, still investigating. But sure sounds like an interesting, maybe "higher concept" survival/base/management/rpg. Only a bit over $30 tho, might give it a shot. 7 Days experimental 2.0 is available, sounds/looks like crud. Imma gonna have to mod the poop out of it to make it palatable. Or just skip it. The Fun Pimps really are the UnfunPimps (as well as the can't stick to anything, I'm not sure they ever really play their own game, Pimps) these days.

Hubby away for the day. He has appointment with back surgeon in a couple weeks, then a couple days after he'll be away for four days. Thus Party Time! ...which these days basically means the same as always, except I can take off headphones and turn the volumes up really loud 24/hrs a day.

^ I'm of the mind that just like with tv/films/streaming, covid wasn't helpful. It gave the big corpo's this idea that those boosts from people being stuck at home was the new normal. And I feel like so many publishers have forgotten (again) that putting all your trillions into one basket isn't a safe bet forever. Sure, have the giant blockbuster aimed game, but pair it with lower budget/risk, less known or new IP's. How else do you get a new "blockbuster" IP of the future. People are fickle and get bored of any trend, eventually. Especially if they think they aren't getting value for their purchase, whatever value means to any individual. That all said, for me personally, I'm not holding my breath anything I'd like re: gaming is going to become the new mega trend again. I don't think anything I super-want/like would ever be considered re: AAA anymore. One just has to look for the smaller games, find that diamond (or maybe at least an emerald .... ) in the rough for one's personal tastes, somewhere. They're out there.

Since more and more I don't tend to replay more structured/non-sandbox games (I try/want to do everything I can in a single mammoth play), I don't like too many consequences either, if said choices/consequences locks you out of large areas/aspects of the game per run. But as I've said many times, I'm not at all a role-player and get zero immersion/care with feeling like I had impact in some game world. Just gimmie my silly mage hat. Or maybe a baker's hat. And a turn to cheese spell.

@Sven_ Most giant AAA these days are aiming towards "the masses." And if I've noticed anything, it's that the "masses" generally don't want consequences. Even if they think they want choices, they want choices without consequences. "I waltzed into a town and killed everyone who looked at me funny. now I have a quest that wants this NPC but I killed them, so I can't (turn it in, talk to, get rid of a quest in my log), is there any way I can I still do the quest, I heard there's good item, I don't want to reload/start over etc." I'm lazy these days and I generally want more sandbox than choices, but even I look at what so many post in game forums and shake my head. Btw, overall you probably wouldn't like Tainted Grail very much, I'm guessing - it has choices but nothing deep or hugely impactful and perk trees are pretty modern-like - but if you want consequences, you can find an area in the game with a specific thing called a croakmaw, with this special one having a giant "PET" text over it. Pet it.