Looking back: Jun '25, Week 2

Did a mish-mash of things this week, which left me feeling like I didn't know what to do on most mornings. Eventually I managed to make it a productive week, but boy was it tough getting out of bed when I couldn't decide what to do! 🥺

✨ Cover Projects -- Recorded vocals and started editing them for the next cover!

Yuraia helped with the recording this time! With his direction, I think I have some takes good enough for the song now. 🥹 He has very kindly offered to help with mixing for this project, so I hope I can finish doing the vocal edits soon so that he can take as much time as he needs for his part.

Current editing progress! Pink is tuned but not yet timed, and everything else needs work... 💀

Through this project I learned that maybe I'm less of a punk rocker and more of a... sad yeller. 🤣 I found it a little difficult to vibe with the song during recording, even though I really enjoyed the original. I wonder why? 🤔

Since I started on the cover in February, I am getting a little tired of the song. I'll need to find a good balance this week to keep going! 🎵 For starters, I took some time to plan something for my 1st Live2D anniversary, and asked the Gems on Discord to help me choose what song to do next. We'll see what they decide in 2 weeks time!

✨ Pride Month -- Shared my story on a blog post

I've wanted to do something special for Pride month for quite a few years now. Even in the LGBT+ community, there are people who don't include Asexual/ Aromantic individuals, primarily because they are deemed to not have experienced the same kind of discrimination and consequently don't require the same rights/ protection as the LGBTQI+ people do. I know it's a touchy topic, and opinions on inclusivity are wide and varied, so I don't particularly want to be known on the internet for feeling like a part of the community.

But as I explained in my post, simply being different can lead to discrimination, and the tribulations that come with it are very real and can have lasting effects on those on the receiving end of being treated as someone they are not.

Writing the blog post felt like I was coming out on the internet for the second time. I received kind words of affirmation, which I appreciate deeply. I just hope that by sharing my story, someone out there can find the strength to live better after learning about my struggles. 🥹

But for now, I'm satisfied with what I've done for Pride this year! Onwards! ✨

The background was a screenshot from FFXIV! Isn't that amazing?! 💖

✨ Gaming -- Tried Ratatan's demo, watched DELTARUNE, and went on an excursion with Gale of Waterdeep (BG3, what's new?)

A friend recommended that Yuraia and I try Ratatan, a rhythm roguelike action game that on first glance looks like Patapon, but can be played online co-op. It looked cute, and a cat character (Nyandola) stole my heart, so I agreed to give it a go!

It's honestly a pretty fun game! The battles are a little more complex than Patapon, and the timing judgement is pretty tight if you play "Rhythm command mode: Advanced" and "Rhythm gauge mode: Hide" like we did. I don't regret making those decisions because the game felt more engaging when it required executing the instructions following a 4/4 rhythm (the default is more forgiving because the commands don't have pauses as a beat).

I'm likely to get the full game when it's out to play with friends. But it's also not the kind of game I'd sink many hours into in solo play, so I'll ask my wallet for approval!

💜💜💜 NYANDOLA 💜💜💜

Watched Yuraia play Deltarune this week! Sadly his DELTARUNE streams start quite late in the evenings because him and his friends have other gaming commitments, so I end up sleeping through the end of most sessions. But I hope I still got most of the story! I wouldn't say that I'm a huge fan of the UNDERTALE story, but I hope to see DELTARUNE illustrations at ACG artist alleys later this year! 🥺

Funnily enough, my memories of UNDERTALE are also really hazy because I slept through most of it when my ex played it years ago. Maybe I don't find it engaging to watch? 🤔 I definitely felt more awake watching other gameplays before... Maybe I just lack exercise and am getting older? 🤔🤣

And what would my life be without some Baldur's Gate 3? (It rhymes. Aha)

Thank you, Photo Mode. 🫶 Also I felt weird looking at my character's biceps... Never realized till this week that I usually wore armor/ clothing that covered them. 🤔

Doing a playthrough with just Gale is turning out to be quite interesting. Not only did I decide to play a sorcerer, which I've never done before to have a 1 up on the bookworm, I took it upon myself to collect all the quarterstaffs in the game... because reasons. 🤔 For all the times I've shit talked Gale for being annoying, the last playthrough with friends made me realize I should give the man a chance to speak because he's not THAT full of himself, unlike W-

It's been refreshing listening to him speak. :) I'll probably take my time with this run! 💖

... while hoping to not forget to see Lae'zel's personal story quest to completion. 🙄

✨ Forever home -- Received some lights, viewed the current state of the house, and feeling motivated to plan the move in more detail

Wanted to take a photo of the house progress, but I forgot. 🤣 I'm really not great with social media because I like to live in the moment.

The main structures are done now: Tiling, patching up demolished walls, aircon trunking, false ceiling, electrical rewiring, kitchen cabinet bases! According to the interior designer, the project is moving quickly and is way ahead of schedule. 🥹 Now's the time to start purchasing various furnishings to be delivered next month or so. Sounds fun until needing to make sure deliveries are not made too early, but not purchasing too late that the stuff I want are either no longer in stock (has happened to a few items already), or would delay the move because of long lead times. 🥺

Would probably take some time this week to reach out to suppliers to check on lead times, make purchases, and make a clearer project timeline for the move. (This occupational hazard of needing clear timelines and executable steps has stuck with me...)

~💜~

Hopes for this week

♪ Edit vocals

☆ Listen to Mr. Dekarios

☆ Plan the house move and purchasing of furnishings

☆ Gotta touch grass this week to purchase bathroom accessories at a showroom

Thank you for reading! 🌙🐰