Getting back to these Sunday posts a bit. Not next Sunday though, then I'll be on a mountain, hopefully. Probably not skiing because of that inconspicuous sprain though.

As for my kneecap: there's nothing wrong with it! I'm just continually reminded now of this old thing.

It's interesting how injuries linger, both in mind and body. I'm not sure I've ever sprained my right foot, but I have sprained my left one at least three times now, and my right knee does still swell up a little occasionally. Cumulative burdens on the body - but you can get better! Exercise right. Eat right. Sleep nights. Yeah. Instill in yourself a will to street fight.

I had my voice used for a little anti-piracy thing recently, that was cool. :) Can't share it yet, I'll get back to it in time. May not be totally in line with my personal stance on piracy - or rather on how digital piracy isn't really 'piracy', on the potential positively world-altering benefits of a share-and-share-alike culture that permeates all, in the ideal kind of world we could be building if we weren't as focused on an ownership that in the long run means nothing at all. But it's still fun to be included. /irrelevant rant

I also had one my Inktober audio tracks including in a fun little animation on teh Grounds - I can share that! And I've jumped on one more project, TBA, TBC, two ongoing ones in the pipeline before it!

Am feeling the stress but making progress every day now too... just need to stop resorting to a game of Advance Wars every night to wind down. Could add in another hour at least on that creativity side-hustle schedule and gradually stress down by means of even speedier progress instead, and rest properly.

My ankle sprain almost disrupted everything momentarily, but it's getting better I think. The foot's still swollen. It's bruised and big, purple and puffy, but for the most part it feels alright. Still hard to keep it in a painless position when I'm in bed though, and it swells up a bit towards the end of each day. Wearing shoes is an issue. I wonder if I'll need to remove my shoes on the ~8 hour train to Åre, the departure date's closing in fast and I'm not in an ideal state for it yet. Shorter office trip this Tuesday shall work as a trial for further travel.

We've celebrated Easter on three occasions anyhow - with guests and games yesterday, with a family egg hunt today, and with a quick outing by a lake this Thursday. I grilled sandwiches and stuff; it went well! Ought do that more often. Be out in nature too. It softens. It makes stress seem less, it's like the best precaution.

And here's an irrelevant but awesome sketch starring a bundle of Hip-Hop OG's I'd never have expected to see in the same frame, or in this kind of content in the first place... nice to see Snoop and Em are on good terms too - good enough to star in the same skit at least. And that Eminem goes last even here. :)

Joe Rogan's back on YouTube too! I've moved on to a few other possibly much much better podcasts since he went Spotify exclusive a few years back, but I couldn't keep from watching a couple of the newest episodes anyway... he interviews Zack Snyder for one, that was cool.

I'm reminded again of how impressive a conversationalist he really is. He makes it seem so easy. Compared to other pods there's a captivating sense of calm to his episodes, and I believe a large part of that is thanks to how well he keeps conversation flowing. But doesn't rush it, either. He steps in when necessary. He lets the guest talk when not. He's not afraid to ask silly questions, or show vulnerability, or share his personal opinions and views, but most importantly he never stalls. Never loses the red thread that ties it all together. Each episode is a masterclass in socializing, and I hope I'm picking up some skills just listening.

If I just watch another thousand episodes or so maybe the essence of conversation will become almost instinctual to me too...

That Dublin trip btw? It went well! I rid myself of the cold in record time, though was feeling sluggish again after the trip. Maybe the cold stuck around under the surface. Felt like I was on the verge of catching it a while later too, but at least the trip went great. Felt nothing. It's almost enough to make you believe in miracles. Pictures... probably not in a foreseeable future, but I do plan on more travel blogs. Would be fun. Requires a bit more time and effort.

Played a fair share of WWP before that trip - distracting myself from dues I should've been working on already at that point - which I'm really working on now! I'll catch up.

Collabs are going well, have a few random glimpses of the first of three.

First of three what? What was I thinking there... was I planning to post two more of these? Oh first of the three upcoming collabos. Right. TBC.

Have you heard about Tucker Carlson's Putin interview? It's a big thing, but his podcast with Lex Friedman where he speaks about that interview is maybe all the more interesting. Worth a listen.

Toodles! Happy Easter too ya poodle woo.

Heeey it's Luleå! :D The first set - there's more than one. Though the views are winter they're easily recognizable, and though they're all winter they make me look forward to this summer all the more too... little cameo with a Swedish drifter too! This is probably the best drift video I've ever seen, and not just because of the location, that was a fun surprise...

RIP Ken Block! Though his era's over his daughter seems to be carrying the reins and reign now, and I still have quite a few of these left to enjoy. And to inspire subtle summer drifting. He really was a beast with the precision.

I realize... I need to hone my blog.

This is the kind of quality I strive for.

The quality I currently provide y'all is: nonsensical, quick, unambitious, unimportant often, trifle, stifled, stagnant, life-fuel... not really. Not always! Sometimes, hopefully.

If you're interested in leap years that there above's an interesting read anyway. And impressively both A) researched and B) presented.

You might want to hit that link even if you don't want to read the article, and just glimpse the honing.

I'll get there though. When I get a mo' in.

Moaning, some early morning.

I don't know why it is this effect persists, and I wonder. I've played this game a lot through the years (closing in on a thousand hours with the DS one now), and I don't recall ever getting headaches quite this often... they vary in severity, but every single time I play Advance Wars before I go to bed now, I know I'll wake up with a headache the next morning.

I'm starting to wonder if it's a self-fulfilling prophecy - so called placebo. Or if there actually is some element to the game that science might prove causes this.

Is it just the blue light? Switching off hastily right before you try to sleep?

Is it certain animation and movement?

Is it simply the device, that burdens the eyes? The small screen?

Is it the way I play - how I hold the console? That my neck tenses up when I do? That I elevate my head in a strange position as I play in bed?

Is it tension? Do I go into the wars with such a sense of immersion that they leave me with this kind of effect after?

Is it the late hours - that I just don't get a proper amount of sleep when I do? Are any of these other effects amplified by the night, and lack of surrounding light?

Is it temporary dehydration? Do I need to drink more water when I play games that sometimes last an abundant amount of time - though I always drink a glass right before I go to sleep after?

If it's any of the above it seems likely it comes down to simply the device + how I play it. Some combination thereof. Some day I'll try sitting upright and playing it in a more comfortable pose, but I don't think it'll make THAT big a difference.

Fortunately these are headaches that for the most part fade away relatively quickly as soon as I get up... but sometimes they don't, like today, when we're having guests over in a few hours.

Might have to resort to painkillers hmm. We'll see. First step coffee.

UPD: It did fade away after all. :)

Sometimes you find yourself in the middle of nowhere. And that's where you find yourself.

I got into the Fallout games again just recently (first experience was so so), but they've been around a looong time! This time I enjoyed 'em, and I've grown to appreciate the depth of lore that's associated with them too. And how flexible the world is. How countless the opportunities that present themselves really are. So I'm hyped for this!

Though cautiously optimistic too. The trailer's promising, but with a game that consists of so countless opportunities, I wonder how things will play out in a so much more linear, and comparatively short-form media form. Hollywood rarely does a good game justice too...

Hope this one's an exception.