Category: Random Asides

Let’s Be Friends. I first stumbled across Pokemon ages ago, and I’ve often referenced James (from Team Rocket) as my first anime crush. I first started playing Pokemon because my kids were really into it, and I wanted to share their excitement (and grasp the lingo they were throwing around). So I became a Pokemom and have kept up with new game releases ever since. In recent months, I (grudgingly) accepted the modern necessity that is a cell phone, though I stubbornly refer to it as a step counter & gaming device.

All that to say, I have a Pokemon GO! account and I’m looking to make friends. Yes, yes, I’m aware you can go onto sites where people randomly upload their friends codes. But I’d really rather be playing with people I know. It’s friendlier that way, and much like Michael, I get attached. So … do any of you play with pocket monsters? ::twinkle::

Email me – always.forthright at gmail dot com – with your friends code!

Shishi. Before the necessary sequestering, I enjoyed many a foray into thrift stores and used bookstores. This pretty little tray caught my eye because I already had plans for a pair of lion-dogs in one of my stores. ::eyebrow waggle::

Lion-dogs. Guardian lions. Imperial guardians. Foo dogs. They originated in China. You’ve probably seen them in the background of anime, during shrine/temple visits or trips to visit the family grave. They’re statuary protectors, sometimes stone, sometimes bronze. In Japan, the lion-dogs are generally referred to as komainu or as shishi.

Game Night. We’ve always been a board/card game kind of family at 4thy’s house. Mr. Right and I have amassed quiet a collection over the years, so we’re well-equipped for long stretches at home. I thought I’d recommend two that are relatively new to our stash. Both are sushi-related!

Sushi Bar. Gorgeous art and a chance to add to your language savvy, demystifying the menu at any authentic sushi restaurant. This is simply a Concentration-style matching game. Begin with all cards face down, and turn over two in the hopes of matching up two halves of the same sushi ingredient. Names are given in both Japanese and English. Did I mention the pretty?

Sushi Go! Quite possibly the cutest game ever. Choose one item from the hand you’re dealt, then pass it along. (It’s conveyor belt sushi, folks!) With each turn, your options diminish. Points vary by sushi type. Risks can bring reward. And never skip dessert. Our family played this like crazy during the holidays. Chibi adorability & low-key strategy. It’s fun!

Thanks for asking. All’s well here.
Everybody staying safe?

What Do You Read? Everywhere I have readers, I receive messages asking for book (or fanfic) recommendations. You ask for novels that have been my inspirations, for my current reads, for my favorite series. But most of all, you ask for MOAR stories just like those I write. Which is always Awkward, since I mostly use this penname and its associated accounts to chat about fandom & my anime/manga habit.

(Spoiler: forthy is not a mangaka.)

I do read more than manga. Plenty more. Lots. Current favorite genres (which are totally subject to mood swings) are adventure and mystery. Subgenres would include historical mystery, magical realism, and paranormal mystery or suspense. I love fantasy creatures, shifters, myths, and legends. Sometimes it’s dragons. Sometimes it’s steampunk. Sometimes it’s a fresh spin on an old fairy tale.

I read what I like. I reread what I love. I’ll try anything that strikes my fancy, but I ditch fast when I’m dissatisfied. My needs are simple: make me care. Want to win my fangirly heart? Leave me smiling at the end.

Who Writes Like You? It’s rare to find ALL my favorite things in one book. When I do run across an author whose story grips me, I usually buy up every durn thing they’ve ever written. This may be why my To Read pile is mountainous. But … I’m supposed to be leading up to a (mountainous) book recommendation here.

Oh, hey… nice segue! Continue reading →

Tasty Treat. I found myself in an Asian market yesterday. Much to my delight, they had fresh mochi. I’m always there for mochi and/or daifuku. Before eating the last few pieces with coffee for breakfast this morning, I snapped a few pictures for you.

For the uninitiated, mochi is made by pounding rice until it’s sticky/stretchy. In deserts like this, it’s sweetened and wrapped around a filling. Anko (red bean paste) is classic, but you’ll find all sorts of variations.

Fandom: enriching lives in culinary ways.

…is being able to fix katsudon for breakfast.  For the uninitiated, tonkatsu = fried pork cutlets. And katsudon involves simmering slices of katsu with onions, mirin, and soy sauce in a small pan, then drizzling the lot with egg before sliding it over a bowl of hot rice. In Japan, the dish is often made to bring good luck because the word katsu means “win.” (In anime, it’s the go-to meal for students with a test/competition on the morrow.) Fangirls may recall katsudon having a prominent place in Yuri on Ice!

I love fresh starts, and I’m looking forward to this year’s adventures. Thank you to everyone who’s willing to share them with me.

This time of year, there are plenty of distractions that keep me from sticking to my usual writing schedule + daily quota. Despite my best intentions. Even though I know better. For instance … I never should have loaded Pokemon Shield onto my shiny new Nintendo Switch Lite.

… but I’m having fun?

Maybe if I write drabbles between routes, I can justify this as … incentivization!