LadyCrimson

I like tragic movies. Which doesn't mean they have to have a downer ending per se, just that there's a lot of tragedy going on, no matter how it turns out in the end. I just find them cathartic, since I tend to be someone who keeps a lot "in". That said, I don't watch such a lot, because that would be overly depressing. Pixar - I loved Wall-E's opening but once he goes off planet chasing after Eve it was ... still entertaining, but nothing too special. I would say the same about Up. That boyscout kid character annoyed me quite often. It was cute overalland I love Ed Asner, but yeah. Toy Story - saw that in theaters and yeah, at the time it was wowzer. After that ... I did see most of the sequels I think, none of which had a lot of impact for me - they were decent time-passers, and then I forget I saw them. I didn't care much for Inside Out, Cars - Incredibles was mild fun, don't care to see the sequel. Basically Pixar is hit or miss - they seem to do well with certain bits and pieces but often the overall film is only "ok" for me, especially after any initial impression may wear off. But early on their animation was a draw.

I go to CostCo once a month or so, because they have more low-carb convenience food options that are maybe, oh, I dunno, 50%-75% less "bad" than most convenience foods, and I'm lazy re: cooking as I'm sure I've said before. Last time I went I noticed these things: Hmm, I thought, I'll try a couple packages. When you take them out of the box they're a little spongy/oily feeling, but I tossed a couple into the toaster oven. Take them out, put a slice or two of medium "white" cheddar in the middle, let sit a few minutes and ... GOOD. I was never a huge fan of grilled-cheese sandwiches but for some reason these are better. Not nirvana or anything but yeah ... they became my staple for a quick meal side. eg, one of those as a "cheese sandwich" and a giant bowl of rabbit greens and a little meat of some kind can be lunch. I went back to CostCo and bought 10 boxes (they freeze well).

Yeah, that was a cute k-drama, I mostly liked it as well. There are some very good K-dramas. A lot of them are somewhat fluffy/comedic or melodrama romances - which I definitely enjoy from time to time and K-dramas do it so much better than the US - but there are also the more drama or thriller/crime types that are very good. Misaeng (slice of life) would be one and last I looked it was still on Netflix. If you want to stay with lighter relationship or general fantasy fare: Because This Is My First Life is sweet (but not very slapsticky). Anyway, there's some good ones, from wacky to serious, from the past 8 years or so ... but most aren't on Netflix. =============== Speaking of k-drama's, I watched the first two episodes of Squid Game (Netflix) last night. About half-way through the first, I sat up and went "GONG YOO!" ... I had no idea he was in it. But then sadly he went away and from reading, sounds like his role is just a guest/brief. ::sad panda:: But the first two episodes of the series seem fairly interesting/good. I'll try a couple more episodes.

I used to have favorite movies/TV shows. I suppose on some level I still might, but I don't really think of it that way anymore. I mean I do still have favorite or disliked genres overall but ... there is just "I was entertained and left it on" or "I was not entertained and turned it off" or "I loved that movie when I saw it 10+ years ago." Some movies get relegated to "classic" status in that I think everyone should try to watch it/them at least once - original 12 Angry Men would be one of those, for example, or for genre specific ones, like Alien/Aliens for sci-fi/horror folks. --Alternatively, there is also the category of "the lead (or supporting) male lead character was really handsome/beautiful and this old fart could stare at their face all day like an art painting." ...I guess I watch films/tv these days more with my visual-triggered emotions than with my brain, if that makes sense.

I do not have the patience, know-how (or desire to get the know-how), or gambling nature for any kind of "higher risk" make your money grow fast ventures. I like my money under my mattress or invested in something like real estate for long haul gains. But I/we have the perspective where, even if we're not filthy rich, we are already quite comfy/safe enough where high risk (or high maintenance) ventures just to make some extra funds does not seem worth the bother vs. our desired modest lifestyle. Even if that wasn't true, I don't think cryptocurrency would be for me/us.

Still on Tales of Arise. And no, I haven't quite beaten the story. After that long dialogue/skit heavy few hours romp, there was finally ... some action! ... then more not-action. Then finally ... some action! In the forum of a dungeon.This room by room/floor by floor went on, and on, and on. A situation where once begun you won't leave because you'd have to clear it all again. I finally reached the spot for the FINAL FIGHT (game warns you), which thankfully also had a teleporter thingie so I could leave and come back if I wanted. Park, and exit. That all said, this game still has things that have made me giggle, and I like some of the mild grind (even if you don't have to actually grind) and later side-quests and one or two chrs etc. so I give it bonus points for that. it's mostly this end-story-train I haven't liked/leaves a sour taste after a while. Most of the rest I've enjoyed well enough.

Also: ^ Do' got an arte/skill where after he attacks he strikes a pose as this rosebush sprouts out of thin air (thorn damage I guess, haha). And thus I slapped that 1-dmg artifact on and spent 15 minutes forcing him to spam it over and over (along with Mr. carrot-sword and Mr. bunny-pig gauntlets), while laughing like a loon. What is this game, I can't even. I need a game where you can make all weapons/attacks look like pillows, so it would look like the biggest pillow fight in the world, all the time.

Tales of Arise: 11pm last night - "I'll blow through the rest of the story." ---walk five steps, cutscene/skit, walk 5 steps, cutscene/skit, "talk to your party members/the town" for more cutscenes/skits, walk 5 steps, walk 5 steps, cutscenes etc, repeat and repeat and repeat. Maybe 10-20 minutes worth of combat in there somewhere. Same old repetitive lore/exposition dumps and "chr/lore reveals!" vs. working any of that into the previous sections of the game at all. 1:30am - "omg, is the final boss door? Finally?" *defeat the fight* *more long cutscenes etc* ... "We have to take the fight further! Off we go!" ok, fine, I keep going ... walk 5 steps, cutscene/skits, "talk to people in the next map area." ... *turns off the game, goes to bed* I do think I'm very near the end but I couldn't take it anymore for one night. Honestly, you have to really love this style of presentation and lore dumping or somehow be really emotionally attached to the characters to like the story style of this game. I'm sure some do. There is also one chr. where I liked their scenes somewhat. The first third was much better paced and it goes downhill from there, imo. Anyway, for me a game where I end up liking the gameplay a fair bit - but man, I am not replaying this ending ever again.

Apparently in ToA, if you launch a chr in the air you can keep them up there for as long as you have the AP/CP to keep casting something. Making them largely untouchable....this has potential for not caring if your party members die tho. Just stay in the air as much as possible w/a character who can do that (not all can do it effectively), and you're golden. ...been mostly just grinding to make some ideal accessory's with the right attributes I want and increasing proficiencies. I may rush through the rest of the story now. The story has become weirder and weirder and I'm not really into it at all. But the linearity of certain progress/collectables/quests means ya gotta do it some time. Then I can go back to grinding and goofing off and maybe I can beat those high lvl sidequests then.

ACCEPTABLE. ....hey, Bandai, since you're so into DLC, I would've paid another $15 for a Photo Mode DLC. Just saying.

I usually google star names to make sure I spell them right/my memory isn't wrong, but I was too lazy this time, sorry.

...it takes a long time to clone/push out UI elements from a menu pic you want. ...and I might have to do it yet again, because that menu pic keeps changing at different story points. >.> ...gave up on the actual bottom translucent bar tho. That's beyond me (and have it not look like utter poo). ...I do like the fact the picture keeps changing, but that means I want to preserve the others so-

We are in another big longer-term drought, but what with all the covid it's hardly in the news or on anyone's minds. And of course the issue that Calif. has too many people (and companies) trying to make an oasis of production out of deserts, diverting water from everywhere. Every time I see a golf course (and then another one, and another one, all fairly close to each other) or anything similar, I frown. Only time I was "on" the American River was from further East, doing a noob white water rafting trip with my brother and other noobs. That was pretty fun. At least I didn't fall out of the raft. Sometimes sitting on the edge of those things, it feels like you're going to just fly right off. And that was on easy stuff.

My top 3 Carpenter films: The Thing The Thing The Thing My actual favorite after The Thing would probably be Starman which is completely different genre vs. most of his films. ...Escape From New York, classic, certainly not perfect, Kurt Russell is fun ...Assault on 13 was ok, very dated at this point, but works for what it is. Nothing special tho. ...Halloween, well, another classic, and I like it, but I wouldn't call it a favorite of any sort. In a way, I probably liked Nightmare on Elm Street better, I like (more) fantastical horror a bit more I guess. ...They Live, I enjoyed it as an almost parody, I found parts of it hilarious. Didn't like the last 20 minutes/ending all that much tho, and it does run a little too long. ...Big Trouble, I think I'm one of the few who doesn't particularly like it. Kurt is always great, there's some cheese-tastic fun moments, but overall, didn't excite me or anything. ...In the Mouth....pfft. I love Sam Neil but it felt overly pretentious, purposely confusing, wasn't "scary" or thrilling, and I was rather bored. ...The Fog, for the time period I guess it's ok but again, didn't really do much for me/kinda bored.

We just got home. My general viewpoint of the Sac. area we were scouting is ... well, it's very sprawl suburban. Some areas look "rich" and nice, lots of side trees, some were more moderate, and ofc some sketchier areas, but in general it felt like nothing but clusters of homes separated by main roads, with said roads having strip malls for miles. Dull to look at, very same-y looking most of the time, nothing likely would interest me locally outside of any farther away downtown events. That said, the housing clusters are pleasant enough. Did see/find one house (the real estate agent we got/met was very nice/efficient, I liked him) that would totally be an "us" house. Backyard was a little small (not that I care, that's more hubby's thing) but it wouldn't matter since it would basically be a 5 min. walk from the front door to the American River/the huge main bicycle/walking/general parkway that borders it. A huge place to walkabout etc. and you don't have to take care of it yourself! No backyard neighbor, either. Hmm. Still undecided whether I really want to do it tho. But whether that house or a similar one we could us living there. I mean, all I do is stay at home anyway. But...hm. Just dunno. If we lived up there and rented the bay area house we'd probably come out 1k a month ahead and have the BA house paid off even faster. But I hate moving! lol.

D2...the sorceress kicked butt. Necro was ok too but I probably started/made 30+ mages and 2 to 3 of any others. Only ever got one to 99 tho. Zillions of 8plyer cow runs, was never doing that again. Normally Id stop around 70ish, after I finished Hell dif with one, and theyd become a mule.

@Bartimaeus I tried to watch Wailing because of reviews. I didnt finish it/could not get into it all.

I could be home playing my game but instead hubby is dragging me to Sac because he is still curious if he would like to buy there. I am already bored. ...also, finger typing on a phone will never not suck

The game gave me this item which when active makes party and enemies do 1 damage. Obviously a way to (inefficiently) work on artes/skills proficiencies. So last night I turned it on, selected only a handful of desired artes for each party member, put AI in full-Auto, entered combat with a large mob, and went to bed. I woke up and they were still going at it.

^ I have Cat Quest on PS4. I liked it but then I stopped for some reason. I need to start it again one day. =============================== Does everything on this planet have bunny ears? I was hoping for more outfits (or even just recolors) that would make my team more color co-ordinated, but this isn't exactly what I had in mind. ...what? Is the AI actually lecturing me on being smarter in combat when I have to save them constantly? Pffft. Magic bullet time.

Tales of Arise: ---more main plot then: "This seems like a good spot to do some sidequests that have suddenly popped up all over the place." Oh btw, I'm clvl 38-39. ---take side quest, party is all "Yeah! let's do that!" ... get to spot, gigantour boss fight. Trigger/enter the battle, start title says: "ENEMY NAME: LEVEL 54" ... last 2-3 minutes, wipe (3 tries) ---take side quest ... "ENEMY NAME: LEVEL 57" ... last 90 seconds, wipe. (couple tries) ---next: ... a dungeon you can't leave/must finish once entered. Step in middle of rooms and a plethora of stuff drops on your head. "ENEMY NAME/S: LEVEL 60+" ... last 20 seconds, wipe (tried 3 times) ---I'm sensing a pattern to these new sidequests....are they supposed to be later? ---next: ... "ENEMY NAME: LEVEL 42" ... "I can handle that right." Yes, I did, in 3-4 minutes. ---take side quest. Fishing! Maybe it's an easier one. ---Dungeon: "ENEMY NAME/S: LEVEL 43-54" - but they're just mobs, I can handle those. Barely. Near-wiped a couple times, but I made it. Got to lvl 39-40, too. ---Get to big room. "ENEMY NAME: LVL 56." ... I am NOT coming back. "LEROY....." - wipe in 1.5 minutes. Sigh. ---2nd try ... 25 minutes of running/evading Dohalim around in circles forcing him to cast his Fairy Circle (thanks DLC) and a buff or two over and over, plus using up lots of healing, CP (mana) and revive consumables (I usually like to win trying not to use those). And finally - "I WIN!" *puffs up chest* AI-healing is ok but yeah...can't rely on it at all when they're that much more powerful than you. They are too slow/easily distracted. Game never tells you level of enemies until you're in the combat circle already. What it does do is warn you with short VA quips from your party as you approach, but who pays attention to that? Anyway, guess I gotta get moah power....or git gud. More likely, the former.

Arise doesn't explain a ton of things very well/accessibly, far as I can tell. Occasionally I'm probably just unobservant but, like ... crafting accessories works this way for half the game. Then at some point they added a new feature, which I only realized when I went to the craft menu and there was suddenly a new option in there. Same thing with this farming animals menu. They added a new animal you could "farm" (because of a side quest I think, no idea if it shows up before or after you discover the quest) and I didn't know until I camped and looked at the menu of the store guy (at every camp). Just a lot of out of the blue things. I also didn't realize that the Title circles, if you hovered over their center, would tell you what you needed to get them - like "catch a boss fish" or "cook this recipe while camping" or "do a side quest"... but at the same time, some new (empty, don't have) Title circles just seem to appear at certain points all of a sudden. Probably when any quest/action becomes actually available. I became better at combat and try to do everything legit, but the bosses or some side bosses. I just don't get some stuff and end up turning on WeMod and just enjoying the fights visually. Pffft.

Oh gawd ...

Am I boring everyone yet? I've reached a point where most screencaps are spoilers, anyway - so here's a different picture for you. A character is in there somewhere, can you see him? Additional: story started feeling too "serious" so I took off all the bunny/ears and things. I was also tired of never seeing the young mage's eyes in cutscenes so I gave her a different pair of glasses. Pretty! Fire always makes things better.