resin

I think jewelry is something I look at frequently but have the hardest time actually purchasing. Perhaps because it's so obviously non-essential while being pricy that...there's zero chance to justify the purchase in any way other than the aesthetics.

All that is to say, here's the latest things that I caught my eye at Wolf Circus:

sake

 Books I've read since the new year:

1. The Death of Ivan Ilych and other short stories
2. The Undocumented Americans
3. The Department of Speculation
4. Strange Weather in Tokyo

am behind according to Goodreads on my goal of 35 books a year. Been feeling unmotivated as I've not been very absorbed in any of the above 3 books. But persist I shall. On the other hand, Embers Ad Infinitum is really growing on me, the main character's antics gets increasingly endearing. I shall find time somewhere to read the author's first work. 

But one of the latest set of photos that Takashi Yasui uploaded to his tumblr matches the mood I get from Stranger Weather in Tokyo:

He does this style so well: strong light & shadow but still soft. The mood is really how I feel about a lot of Murakami's work, but I don't feel like this book is similar to Murakami's books aside from a vague stylistic resemblance. Perhaps it's something about the Japanese language? But that could be a vestige of the translation? I've read enough manga vs. manhua vs. manhwa to notice the stylistic similarities amongst their respective english translations. 

alpha

It sure has snowed a lot the past few days. Snow in Toronto is a lot easier to deal with than snow in Texas 

I'm very disappointed in thinking that the iPhone camera captured the falling snow, whereas it turned out to be just noise -_- But I still quite like the illumination from the street lamp and the contrast it creates on the branches. 

iron nugget

I'm pretty much making negative progress towards my goal of less screen time by playing Animal Crossing and Immortal Toaist at the same time "orz 

But look! Starting tent & fancy outfit! 

Maybe I'll make it up by spending more time outside when the weather warms up / covid is contained.

speed

Took Saturday to recover from a tiring flight, and ending the weekend () with some 大盘鸡 per AmandaTaste.

pet

It's been a slow start to reading, mostly because the 3rd story (The Cossacks) in the collection of Tolstoy's short stories did not capture my interest at all. Also because I started on another web novel series (Embers Ad Infinitum) after strong recommendations of another player on Immortal Taoist (the way he talks reminds me a lot of an RF friend heh). 

But I did enjoy the 1st short story (Happy Ever After) a lot, perhaps because it's a topic that I've been consistently thinking about. Two quotations that I'm hoping to remember:

I loved him as much as ever, and was as happy as ever in his love; but my love, instead of growing, had come to a standstill, and a new sensation of restlessness gradually invaded my spirit. Loving was not enough for me after the happiness I had known in falling in love. I longed for activity, instead of an even flow of existence. I wanted excitement and danger and the chance to renounce self for the sake of my love.

'Don't let us try to repeat life,' he went on. 'Don't let us deceive ourselves. And if the old heartaches and emotions no longer exist - well thank God for that! The excitement and anxiety of searching is over for us: our quest is done and happiness enough has fallen to our lot.

In other news, I'm not sure if I'll ever finish Anna Karenina 😅