Cake Day and Catching Up
March 20, 2025
I'm about a week late, but on the 13th of March, this mouse has officially turned 26.
I actually forgot about my own birthday... twice. I only remembered the first time a few days prior when a friend said it bought something for me, and my reaction was something like "WAIT WHAT?". Then on the actual day, I forgot again, until I went into work and co-worker wished me a Happy Birthday. The look on my face must've been hilarious. For me, after I turned about 19 or so, these days kind of came and went. Anything I seriously want for my birthday is either things I can already get for myself, or things that can't just be provided for me, like "paying off my debt" 🥴 I do occaisonally get some nice surprises from great friends, but my birthdays are often completely void of expectations now, which makes it all the better when something happens.
But what of this year? What have I learned in the gap between 25 and 26...
Like with a lot of my 20s, it's been kind of nebulous-feeling! But I will say this year's start has been good, in a way that makes me feel like I've actually moved forward with things. I've been back into drawing again, and drawn far more in these past three months than I ever did in that same time in 2024. In many ways I'm improving but there's so much I want to learn. Have I ever said that learning perspective is hard? Have I ever said that drawing comics is hell and mangaka don't get nearly enough respect for it? Agh.
On the other end, after grappling with the unemployment virus for about a year after having to give up on the family business, I finally have a job again as of earlier this month. It's straightforward work, but it's something I can do, and it's something I can do well. I'll miss the free time, but I've really missed the money...
In more mundane, indulgent talk I've finished a lot of cool things I've been wanting to for a minute! Touhou Project's Wild and Horned Hermit manga was a very entertaining slice of life manga with a lovely new character in Kasen Ibaraki, who serves as something of a straightwoman to a particularly hysterical portrayal of the series' protagonist. Following that I read another series in the same universe, Forbidden Scrollery, which keeps the episodic stylings but has a more mysterious bend and focuses more on the relationship between humans and youkai. Though I missed Kasen, it was a step up in many ways, and had some of my favorite reoccurring characters in the intelligent Akyuu and the cunning Mamizou.
Forbidden Scrollery shakes up the episodic approach of previous Touhou manga with the regular appearance of Mamizou Futatsuiwa, a charming yet mischievous tanuki who disguises herself among humans and schemes to increase her status.
I also recently finished Atelier Rorona; it was simpler than the Dusk Trilogy, and I didn't enjoy the writing quiiiite as much, but it still had things I enjoyed a ton about it. I ended up having to replay the game twice because I screwed up the first time, just like I did with Ayesha :'D This was so demotivating that I had to take a break for a bit, but I came back with renewed vigor and did it right. I really adore Rorona and Cory.
While going through my backlog of Steam games I owned but never played, I also spotted a neat narrative adventure game called A Space For The Unbound. I played through its roughly 12 hour journey over the course of a few nights, and while it's hard to really tell while I'm in the honeymoon period, I want to say this is one of my favorite stories I've experienced. It starts slow and very unassuming, but I was compelled all the way through by its twists and turns. The emotional core was strong and resonant, and the ending had me bawling and sobbing like a baby. I hate to be so vague, but I can't say more without ruining it! Just check it out.
Most important thing: XENOBLADE CHRONICLES X DEFINITIVE EDITION COMES OUT TODAY
WE'RE STUCK ON A DIFFERENT PLANET
A LOT MORE THAN WE CAN MANAGE
BUT WE GOTTA KEEP ON STANDING
i've been waiting on this one for a while; this game's gonna be my late birthday gift to myself. I'll see all my friends in a few months ❤️