Tranquility

I literally checked my post history twice because I can't believe I haven't posted arguably my favourite song (yes amongst all of the ones I absolutely love) from FF14 and its Uemetsue's. I've also played this game for a year already, woah. I don't even know how to imagine what my life  / my perspective would be if I didn't start playing. 

Oh now I recall, think I couldn't find a good audio of this on youtube, still waiting for SE to post an official audio. 

True to its name, it does bring me tranquility when I'm feeling anything but that. I use to think the violin part is the highlight of the song, but the more I listen the more I appreciate the piano part too. 

apple

I wonder if being able to buy more art / patronizing more artists is enough motivation or solace to maintain sanity at work. Am super excited to receive my second FF commission (soooo happy seeing the sketch) and really happy about the pieces that I picked up at OCAD's artist alley (definitely going again next year). Also catching up with Grace is always the best. 

Excuse the truly awful photo:

• The top row of large prints remind me a lot of Shinkai's work, and the series specifically of 5cm Per Second. From @by.sau
• The larger postcard reminds me of Tenkon Kintreet (I only later found out later that the title is reinforced concrete...ha) in art style and the sort of street-style photos I like to take. From @melatonien
• The smallcard reminds me of Honey & Clover's manga illustration style. From @h_yunsun
• The bottom series of small postcards also remind me of the style of photos I like to take and admire. From @instant_onion one / two / three
• Stickers were a bonus from the participating vendors, love the blue theme!

They have all been haphazardly added to my walls. One day I will not cry at the price of framing and they will be appropriately displayed rather than literally tacked on.

No Longer Human

 Another book that I forgot to post about. Its hard to say that I enjoyed this book...because it seemed so foreign? unrelatable? But its very similar to Notes from the Underground which I did really enjoy. Not sure why one vibes with me and the other doesn't. Maybe its a matter of the detachment this book's protagonist feels, whereas Dostoyevsky's protagonist gives a sense of immediacy? 

One quotation from the introduction (I sure am appreciating the context given in introductions now):

To know the nature of despair and to triumph over it in the ways that are possible to oneself - imagination was Dazai's only weapon - is surely a sort of grace. 

emulsion

 But at least I had a great birthday meal, Richmond Station is solid. Tried the tasting menu, which consisted of:

1. Canapes: tuna with rice cracker and yuzu sauce / oysters with minced and foam jalapenos / salmon tarts / duck liver profiteroles
2. Chilled sweet corn soup (my fav!) with beurre noisette, BC sea urchin and toasted brioche
3. Poached Atlantic salmon with sea weed, mashed new potato, and dashi beurre blanc 
4. Berkshire pork belly with beets, dandelion greens and port gastrique 
5. Venison steak with braised venison pastilla, endive, and concord grapes, AND super fluffy milk bread
6. Basque cheesecake with blueberry compote and basil meringue  

landwer

Cooking has been a challenge for a while. Most of my staple eats from usual years just doesn't generate excitement, or just the desire to make them. Doesn't help that grocery prices are awful. Also doesn't help that I haven't been continuously home to make a whole grocery trip worth it. Surely this is a sign that I'm not ok. 

But I made a vaguely french lentil salad some time ago, with grilled halloumi cheese instead of goat or feta as I've done before. It was nice to have something healthy and hearty at the same time. 

 

columbia

Oh I'm worse than I thought, I mistakenly thought I posted the camera photos from SD here already. I've lost so much muscle memory of operating the camera, I swear switching focal point did not require pressing the down button before. 

Taken from hotel room (was initially disappointed about the interior layout but no longer mad cause it seems like they put me in the room with the best bay view outside of the actual pricier tier of straight up bay view rooms), and Balboa Park, officially my favourite place in SD. 

bayfront

I have really been bad about photos, had these two from SD that I forgot until now:

in a time so slow, I was thinking 'bout us rearranging pieces

How does this strike the absolute perfect balance of upbeat and melancholy??

Joji · Joji - YUKON (INTERLUDE)

cachexia

More golden hour gposes for pretending I am relaxed and chill but actually dying literally and figuratively in PF. At least I've had a few good PUGs. 

field

There was a very good reason why I didn't try Island Sanctuary on patch day, this shit is so dangerous I don't want to play any other part of the game anymore ;o;

Of course the literal first thing I do is gpose, like before even talking to Tataru right after stepping off the ship. Putting the Moonfaire glam to good use~

Well of Ascension

Opps forgot to post this quotation:

Which was more potent? The pain of memory, or the pain of forgetting? He was a Keeper - it was his life's work to remember. Forgetting, even int he name of personal peace, was not something that appealed to him.

Something something Elidbus. 

I enjoyed the second book a lot, particularly with Zane as a foil to Elend. Wasn't expecting the twist at the end to be the crux of the story so far. 

Maybe this is just a test of faith

This is probably the most played during the SD weeks, welp:

Madeon · Heavy With Hoping

Favourite lines:

If I belong
If I had a home anywhere
It's in your heartbeat
Let me be there

And obsession wears you down

Essenger · Essenger - Get Your Wish (Porter Robinson Cover)

 

Sorta related: Jeff sent me Essenger's "After Dark" and I swear Amarout makes such an fitting location for the music video. 

(also finally made it to a week of PTO ;o; )

It's a feeling I want you to know

I ended up listening to a decent bit of Porter and Madeon while in SD, think I appreciate their music now more than when I was first introduced. 

Porter Robinson · Unfold (with Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs)

memoria

 But what's even better is that Zero's domain is suuuuch a good location for my main whm glam:

Did it take me too long to get through msq because of all the gposing? Absolutely.