Looking back: Dec '25, Week 2

I'm strangely physically and emotionally drained today, so I'm listening to Close in the Distance from FFXIV on loop to get through this blog post.

✨ Gaming -- Continued Lost Judgment, tried House Flipper and Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds!

Some time mid-week I realized that the next FFXIV Raid Tier starts on 16 Dec, so I won't have as many evenings to binge on Lost Judgment or Baldur's Gate 3 for a while. So I picked my battles and played Lost Judgement for several evenings.

But first, I had to empty out all the claw catchers.

I didn't have enough display space for all the items so I had to resort to stacking them...

... and placing some in the 2nd office. 🙃

It's always a joy to learn how the claw catcher physics change between games, and how catching some of the prizes changes in difficulty as a result. Seeing all the items lined up made me realize why some of my friends zone out during my Yakuza/ Like A Dragon/ Judgment streams once I start playing the claw catcher mini-game... That is a LOT of items... and a lot of time... 💀 Thank god I have limited money and space IRL. 🙃

I also learned that Yagami can get knocked over by cars now. 🤣 But on 1 occasion I managed to climb onto a car that was driving past, so...

No, I did not make him get run over many times for this shot. 🤔🤣

Maybe I'll find some evenings later in the week to focus on Lost Judgment, since my static usually plays FFXIV earlier in the week.

Tried House Flipper for a short while since it has been sitting in my Steam library. Might go back to it when I just want to chill for a few minutes, but I don't see myself going back to it often considering that I have other games that I find more engaging. 🤔 Maybe I'm still tired from my IRL home renovation?! 🤣

After The Game Awards on Friday, my partner told me that he had bought Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds to play together because he saw good reviews for it. As much as I enjoy racing, I never liked Mario Kart for the extra element of sabotage/ RNG advantages. I'm by no means good at racing, but nothing beats the thrill of a well executed drift/ smooth turn around a sharp corner, or weaving at top speed through traffic, you know? But what's there to hate about SONIC AND FRIENDS? 💜 So approximately 3 hours of gameplay later, I'm now a Sonic Racing enjoyer. 🤣 The game belongs to my partner, so I don't have any screenshots to share, but maybe I'll ask for one if I get to build a custom car! 🥹

(Oh no I suddenly have the urge to play Hogwarts Legacy... Why??? 🤔🤔🤔)

Anyways, I'm looking forward to FFXIV Patch 7.4! Not for the glam updates, but because I'll get to spend more time with my friends in-game. 💜 I'm coming home, Arctutu! ❤️ (oh god I NEED TO PRACTICE MY PLD ROTATION I'LL DO THAT TONIGHT AAAA)

Also, cats.

✨ Something interesting -- Replayed RV There Yet? with Ari, Mogu, and Yuraia on stream!

I was right that the game has replayability! I had a good time taking new routes, solving problems differently, and getting chased by bears and learning that they could be outrun if you're a serial smoker. 🤔🤔🤔

Moose came along for the ride... or rather, was abducted by Yuraia. 🤣🤣🤣

I tweaked my Live2D parameters before the stream, but was not too pleased with how it behaved when I was focused on the game. Will tweak again before the next time I use it! 🤔

Oh yes, Ari had illustrations of all 4 of us commissioned and used them for the stream thumbnail! 🥹 It was nice that we looked like a cohesive group, especially since Ari now has black elements in her outfit too. 💕

We cracked a beer at the end of the stream... but little did they know that I was drinking alcohol the whole stream. LOL! (My partner prepared a tall drink for me to help ease my anxiety.)

Even though I had a splitting headache for most of the stream, I still had a good time! I can't wait to be with them in person this weekend! (In Kuala Lumpur)

✨ Snack corner -- Advent calendar week 2 snacks! 💕

9: Tin of Christmas edition Redondo chocolate wafer sticks

10: Meiji Oceanland Printed Biscuits!!! 💜💜💜

11: 2 slots of 25% Less Sugar Oreos

12: A tub of Tillamook Old-Fashioned Vanilla ice cream, with a bottle of A&W Sarsaparilla (I only had the ice cream though!)

13: 4 Landour chocolates

14: Calbee Vegetable Fries

15: 3 slots of 25% Less Sugar Oreos

Before you judge: I swear to every spirit and divine being that has influence over my brain and sense of taste and smell that the Less Sugar Oreos taste better because you taste (smell is a part of the sense of taste) more of the cocoa when your tongue isn't blasted with sugary sweetness. I find that these cookies are more crisp that the original Oreos too. I'd recommend this to anyone who likes cookies and cream, because let's face it: You're in it for the cocoa cookies, not the vanilla/ cream. :P True Original Oreo enjoyers stay away -- I'll be back when this version goes out of production. 🤣

My partner bought lots of stuff for the 12th because when he asked what I wanted for Christmas, I said I didn't want anything since I had everything I needed. But since I haven't had a root beer float in a long time, he could get me one for Christmas. But that's for Christmas day! So I just had a scoop of the ice cream (with the hundreds and thousands from last week) and kept the sarsaparilla in the fridge. Looking forward to it! 💖

✨ Projects -- Spent some time working on a project and planning for 2026

So, turns out I'll have 2 more releases before the end of the year. 🤔 Both aren't my best work, but I enjoyed working on them, so please look forward to it! 🥹

✨ Touching grass -- Attended a friend's wedding over the weekend!

I wanted to attend a wedding with my best friend from high school, and got to do that over the weekend! I forgot to take a selfie though. :( We were really giving bestie vibes, from our choice of clothing, to colored contacts, to how we did our hair, to the type of bag we both brought to pass each other items... although deep down I know that it is the reflection of how much of an impact she had on my life! 🥹💜

The bride was another high school friend who I was not really close to, but she was always kind to me, so I was happy to get to see her all dressed up and receiving so much love from her awkwardly cute husband. 🥹🥹🥹💖💖💖 He would giggle out of embarrassment during the most cheesy of moments, and she would just affectionately smile at him. IT WAS SO LOVELY. I was genuinely so happy for her (plus she looked gorgeous 🥹🥹🥹).

Food was great, vibes were great, company was great, so I had a good time! ✨

~💜~

Hopes for this week

♪ Have both releases ready to be published before my flight (with Yuraia) on Friday!

♪ Practice some of the songs for next year?

☆ Pack for Comic Fiesta!

☆ Play FFXIV!

☆ Play MonHunWilds!

☆ Play Sonic Racing!

☆ ... get a haircut to be able to fit all this hair into a wig.

Thank you for reading! 🌙🐰