Always been a reader, this was a big year for me, maybe my most pages lifetime. 76 new books finished (and a couple re-reads) and over 31,000 pages. Looking forward to another year of it, even if I am out of real fast reads in the couple of series I finished off completely.

Done working the holiday shift, presents opened, perfect timing on pouring a glass of stout, during The Oogie Boogie Song. Happy holidays.

20 Christmases since my mom passed. Don't think or talk about it much, we were close, but 2 decades is a long time. Funny how we remember people that long gone through food: Roka Blue cheese spread, Pepsi, tuna noodle casserole, creamed chipped beef. Not maudlin now, but ate some of those recently.

Sorted out my last final exam last night. Now I get to devote way too much of my limited free time to Metaphor: ReFantazio while definitely not stressing about final course grades that are probably fine.

Nine days. I have to sort out finals, and finally get on blood pressure meds, which I hope will sort out feeling dizzy and tired all the time. Reading Wind and Truth and playing Satisfactory to make it through the moment to moment as we head into the busiest season for 988. And here... we... go...

Seventeen years ago today, I made an excellent decision and my wife made a slightly more suspect one, eloping. We're going to have dinner out (with quite a bit of wine) to celebrate. So glad I got off work on time, this is an excellent way to start the weekend before finals crash down on me.

Back at work after a week off. I wasn't sure last night the time off even helped, but I'm pretty okay today. Time to buckle up, as I have my last set of finals with more than one class (my very last semester is a single class) plus December working 988 in the weeks ahead.

I understand the criticisms of Dragon Age: the Veilguard, but even as a fan from the beginning, they don't match my experience. Antivan Crow Rook, romancing Neve, has been satisfying so far. I like that the companions work their issues out like adults, and LOVE that they can romance each other.

Pretty glad to be closing in on a Thanksgiving break for both work and school. Haven't had more than 2 days off in a while, and I get a breather before the last push, 2 exams, 1 activity, a quiz and a project. After that, only ONE class stands between me and finishing my degree before I turn 50.

As I finished the most recent of my comfort reads, the new Dungeon Crawler Carl book last week, I'm giving the Cradle series a try. It really does seem like a shounen battle anime so far, which I don't hate.

Got my pictures and custom stats in for Leia and Chewie for the Good Dog, Bad Zombie board game. Real glad they extended the deadline, because I paid for that addon with the KickStarter and completely forgot.

In general, as pure mental and emotional self-defense, I try to post about things I love, instead of those that upset me. I don't like the person I turn into when I'm focused on what I hate. Some days, just keeping attention on those things that keep us going is what "doing the work" looks like.

Been a rough few weeks. Video Games, D&D, Books, and binging Dandadan until I ran out got me through the worst of it. The diet, predictably, did not fare as well. One more week working 988 until I get a week off, and three after that to be done with classes.