Reconnect

   Playing a game for the first time doesn't seem to exist.. at least not how it used to. Like, "Blind playthrough" is a term... that is real. That implies it's your first try at a particular game knowing nothing about it. But what I'm saying is why is that even a term? You'd think it'd be redundant, but it's not. There is such an insane amount of information surrounding games that things don't feel like the first time if you're exposed to it early. People WANT to get every bit of info they can before experiencing it themselves. I wish I understood, but can't seem to wrap my mind around that way of thinking. 

Information being so available in general seems kinda daunting to me, also. It's good and bad simultaneously. I think it's made it easy for us to forget the dept of opportunities presented to us because we think we know enough about things around us. Information can rob us of amazing surprises that we take for granted so often. And it can make us arrogant, and close-minded. 

With Kojima's stuff lately, the whole concept of "Reconnecting" had me thinking of other facets of being connected. Many of which, surely Kojima didn't have in mind and is just my mind analyzing things, but surrounded Reconnecting all the same. One of those is the information we share among each other. Gossip plays a large part in that. 

Gossip, among an era where thoughts are instantaneously sent out for billions to see, has given us a God-complex that I just... I can't. It makes me sick. The loudest reign, in spite of it being relevant to their lives or not, they control information. They judge. And they persecute. If we're being totally real, these people have no real power in their own lives. A mass of them somehow makes them feel like they can take on the role of a higher power, and crucify- based on gossip. Definitely another way to reconnect. 

BUT ANEEWEII. Yeah, I know that's not what he meant, but this is how my brain works. Things aren't always that simple. I can't just stop thinking after hearing one phrase and accept it. If I did, I'd probably be mad all the time because instead of considering multiple factors, I'd just feel like I'm forced to work around one way of thinking, and that's... DUMB AF. Sorry to anyone that reads something and believes it instantly, but.. you're dumb. Get lernt.

That's my stupid rambling, lets move on! 

IT'S NIGHT MARKET SEASON  

The most wonderful time of the year imho. I will say... at this point... because I've been going for a few years, and it's always the same vendors lol... (I'm not trippin, cons are the same too so.) At this point, it's just... like.. something that makes me happy just being at. Even if I don't gorge myself the way I used to in the past. I just wanna surround myself with food, man. That's it. And good people. And food. 

 Of course, visited the OG and BEST KOREAN STREET FOOD

I noticed there was another stand that had really similar stuff... just a few booths down.

Like, way too similar. I GET IT. It's a free country, do what you want. But you know... when you see someone, and they're doing what you were doing... and that's cool, but then you notice that they didn't add their own flare to it? Or make it their own? Or stand out from what you were doing for a really long time? So the vibe is kinda... huh. You know?

THAT. 

My bf and I both spotted it and we were like, oh cool! Another Korean str... wait..

 Look. I've been going to these night markets for YEARS. And Seoul Street has been hustling the bulgogi fries with their own style and flare as far as I can remember. It's why I ho them out so much. Because they were the only ones in that circle that were doing that type of food. And it's delicious.

This.. this other booth comes up out of nowhere. Selling the same exact stuff. So... last week after work, I stopped by Seoul Street in Irvine. AND WE HAD SOME WORDS. I'll fill you in later. mmpf.

The straw is the shape of a heart.

 Margarita and a booze cake pop. Get it, gorl

 He deliberately kept me out of the frame and I had a sad

This time around, there weren't as many pictures because we didn't get that much to eat. And the stuff we did get, nothing new.. lol. But I'm going again this month because I'm trash, sooo probably more pictures then.

 We were trying to be gross and dude behind photo bombed us

 I smile more when I'm not playing Sekiro.

 So, I found out there was this Japan fair thing in my city

 Lord, the crowd was insane. It was only the length of the main street in the promenade, and barely the cross streets. I think they underestimated the amount of weebs that would show up.

This was cool. She's actually probably 5876927582 centuries old and immortal, but only looks like someone's gramma. And was painting this huge mural thing with a large thing of cloth and a bucket of ink. Wish I could've gotten better shots but... I'm short.

 The fucking Initial D booth was there rofl. Unfortunately for me, the line was massive. No dessert this time.

 BOOZE

For the record, I don't drink much. Frankly, it's not actually that appealing to me. But I won't turn down sake.

Out of all of our options, we went with this dude.

 Right?

Was really good. Light, floral and super aromatic. And strong af lol. 10/10 would sniff forever and sip on again. We nursed it for a while, it was that potent. I wouldn't mind having it in the house :3

And he had a beer ticket as well

 There was this ... Samurai vs. Ninja performance thing. Was actually, from what I could barely see, pretty cool. Could tell they go to a fencing school.

死

 In the promenade, there are a few novelty gaming shops. One had my dude just chillin outside!

 awww. The one on the right made me think of a penanggalan, but they're a little different. Still cute though ^_^

I WANT THIS DUDE'S PRINTS.

BUT I HAVE NO ROOM ON MY WALLS. BUT I WANT THIS SPACE YAKUZA ONE OH MY GOD. His business card is somewhere ... here. Idk. But omg his art T_T

I try to be really careful around my desk because... it's also my dinner table. And lunch table. And breakfast table. And accidents are extremely rare. But I fucked up. The last time I spilled a drink on my keyboard was in like, 2010. It's serious, I'm super careful. This time, it was a cranberry vodka my housemate prepared for me, so lovingly. I let it try to dry overnight after cleaning it superficially. And then the next morning took all the keys off and cried.

 My keyboard was fine. It just hurt so much seeing my child in such a vulnerable state. This also took me longer than probably anyone ever, because I'm too detail focused.

 But baby is all better now! I have a coaster on the top left corner of my desk where I put all my drinks (it's gross otherwise), but this time, I think I had a cup of water there or something, so set my vodka drink on another coaster I put near my keyboard, while I went to finish the water, and forgetting that the drink was to my right, I reached over to grab something, and spilled it :(

Work is great.

 I got to meet Shanghai Dragons while they visited campus last week. I'm awkward kinda, so making conversation wasn't an option, as I could barely glance up to make eye contact. Also I was just really excited that they were there. We got a heads up that they were coming, and Alvina hooked it up. THANK YOU GORL YOU'RE NOT GONNA READ THIS BUT STILL, THANK YOU.

 I was too shy to say anything, but one of my coworkers encouraged me to ask for a photo, so I did. And Alvina was like GORL GET OVER HERE. AND I WAS LIKE HOKAY GORL. and this was the end result :D

I'm shorter than Geguriiiiiii omgggg I was wearing shoes that make me a little taller T_T and she's so little and cute!! WAAAHH

 MILK TEA TIME.

Seoul Street stuff. So... the whole reason I brought up the other booth was... coincidentally... the product they were selling was eerily similar to Seoul Streets' stuff. So I mentioned it, and my dude said THEY USED TO BE A FAMILY FRIEND. And I was like DAAAAMMMN. If that's not the most messed up cut throat thing... There's more, but we can summarize that... the kindness of one family was taken advantage of, exploited, and betrayed.

SO. The milk tea is... if you see any of these wack af vendors copying Seoul Street at night markets...

ok. Look. I encourage an open mind, and exploring new experiences, and all that. But. This knowledge is heavy. For me at least. And... yeah. That.

This is the most drama I've had in like, 2 years LOL. And it's not even about me! I JUST LOVE FOOD A LOT lmao. Jk, Seoul Street peeps are awesome. And I honestly just want them to do well. Those sneaky pigs don't deserve an easy road- exploitation is so gross.

ALSO.

Last night, my Nyl and I wanted to watch a movie. A comedy maybe. And Robin Williams came up. So we were like, omg yaay. And she goes, oh man, I actually have this movie of his that I got for like, $1 a while ago and still haven't see it- and he's in it. And I was like oh man. And I looked it up, and read the first sentence of the synopsis and screamed YES OK LETS WATCH IT.

 I LOVE this movie. LOVE IT. The concept of everything, the idea of a cutter, the machines, the morality compass about death, the cyberpunk shit I LOVE IT. The only thing that sucked was the abrupt ending, but other than that. I fucking love it lol.

 Me when I meet new people and we click really well.

Also, earlier today, I took Nyl to Little Tokyo! She'd never been before. Was excited to show her everything there! ^_^

 All hail Kentaro Sato and his messed up manga lol

 ITO IS FINALLY GETTING THE THRONE HE DESERVES.

 We went to get food and look at gardens. I'd never noticed the one at the community center. Unfortunately it was locked, and the one on the rooftop of the hotel was closed for a private event. But, still pretty. We wandered around a lot and saw lots of stuff. It was nice. I haven't been to Little Tokyo in a while. I really like it there.

 And after all my whining about there not being enough horror manga... I fee like my prayers were answered when I came upon this little treasure. I finished it this evening, and it's soooo creepy!

It's about a video game and a ghost that kills. PERFECT. It gave me a lot of Grudge and Ringu vibes. Was the last copy, I bought it so fast lol. It was a really good horror read for anyone who's into that kind of stuff :D


Annnnnddd so, after my last post, I caved and the next day impulse bought a badge... I'll be at AX this year. I'm trash, what can I say. I like going to the cons, and the food trucks, and seeing all the art and booths and yeah. Bf's not having any of it though lol. He was like fuck that. So, I'll be there. I haven't decided if I'll be cosplaying or not. I wanna say no, but then .. something happens and I change my mind last minute. We'll see.

Ahh, stuff's been good lately. Gonna drop a selfie here just because... I'll probably wear this to AX.