all made up with nowhere to go

A sort of list post:

# Work continues to...exist? I guess? The current situation, especially in my department, is a whole load of Not Great. Which I'm not going to go into detail about on an unlocked post, and I'm unlikely to ever make a locked post about it, since I don't really do those. But it's not a fun time, and I am so glad I have had another week off, even though it is only two weeks after the last one.

(I was a bit miffed it turned out that way to start with, but then sitting here now, I'm kind of glad it did, because I really freaking needed this week off).

# Me and a friend from work took some stuff to the tip the other day, as it was pure coincidence we both had the same week off (almost like we planned it, but we didn't). I am so glad to have that stuff gone - most of it has been waiting for literal months, but I've been at work so much lately that I haven't had the time or the energy (or an available person with transport).

But I'm glad that's out of the way. I'm sure there'll be another load to go, but that isn't for some time yet, and maybe that will be the last of it.

# My nephew, who will be THIRTEEN on his next birthday, is getting a PC for part of his presents. When I went to visit on my brother's birthday, I was told this, and my nephew said he didn't even know what he'd play on it (he has been mostly a Switch gamer up to this point).

So, me being me, I said: "Final Fantasy XIV!"

Which then led into my nephew saying he'd never played an FF game. I think I said I wasn't sure if he'd like them (he hasn't played any RPGs, to my knowledge), but I said I would have to show him FFXII at some point (because I'm me).

# And then talking of Final Fantasy! Specifically music!

I have started, over the last few days catching myself up on FF music I have missed out on - so that means FFXI, FFXIV, and some of the Tactics stuff and some other stuff besides. I also am listening to more stuff by Hitoshi Sakimoto, because I think he is my favourite composer, and not just because he scored my favourite video game of all time. I just, I dunno, I like his general vibe!

ANYWAY THE POINT IS THAT I AM HAVING AN ABSOLUTE BLAST.

Like, I am finding so much stuff that I didn't know or think I would like, and then there's also arranged versions of tracks I already know, and then orchestrated versions of stuff! I wish I could adequately explain how listening to music makes me feel, but I don't think I can get it across in text apart from maybe !!! but that's a happy !!!

And I'm in a pretty positive mood a lot lately*, and that's only making the !!! more intense. Which is fucking delightful, let me tell you!

I have done a lot of (positive) muttering to myself while listening to stuff, as it is only me and the cat, and she doesn't care how I feel about music (unless I try to play her a sea shanty). I have also tried to convince myself that no-one needs to hear my thoughts about the things I'm listening to. Because y'all do not, I promise you.

# And finally, also on an FF note: I saw someone describe Stranger of Paradise as "the most underrated Final Fantasy game ever". And like, absolutely not, my dude.

I'm sure there is one, but it isn't that. (My opinions do not count here, because ninety percent of my FF opinions run counter to the fandom at large).

~

*It feels weird saying this, considering how shit things are at work, and how bad it's recently made me feel, but it is true. I feel pretty okay, and find myself smiling for no reason, and just feeling chill. Which is nice!

So. The other day at work, I was bemoaning the state of the local bus service. It has been horrendous for years, but at the end of last week, the road on one of the main routes collapsed, meaning the buses had to take a really out of the way detour to get to their destinations, meaning the schedule was even more screwed than usual.

Context is that I live in a valley system, which has one A road down the middle of it in all directions the valleys go. All other routes are over the hills/moorland, and add extra time to journeys because they are out of the way to access, and obviously not suitable for certain types of traffic.

Anyway, I happened to mention that I'd been wanting to buy a bike for literal years, and maybe this was my sign from the universe to do so. And the lass I was talking to said her sister had a bike she wanted to sell, did I want it?

Obviously, I said yes!

So they brought it to work for me last night for when I finished my shift, and the plan was for me to ride it home. Except...I haven't ridden a bike in sixteen years, so I was very wobbly, somewhat scared of the traffic on the road, and it really hurt my thighs. So I gave up approximately halfway home and wheeled it the rest of the way.

And now I have a bike sitting in my kitchen.

I just need to get used to it again before I start riding it to work and back (and also get appropriate equipment; I need a helmet, lights, and reflectors). And also find somewhere else in the house to store it.

But I have a bike! I am very !!!!! about it!