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Shizuki Okabe @healthy_walrus
Shizuki Okabe @healthy_walrus
Thank thee for thy words, Madame Wei_Ying . To be thy dear knight is an honor that I will take with only a slightly dramatic sense of pride. Work will get better soon hopefully, but until then, I will carry on the noble tradition of standing tall with the help of sheer determination and caffeine. And worry not, for the kingdom will not fall so easily. For while thy dear fair maiden is away from duty, the illustrious protectors of our land will stand watch over the gates and strike down any bodiless creatures that come near with suspiciously written paragraphs. Take care of thyself and thy family. May peace follow thee and may provisions always find their way to thee.
Random Messages for Miss Wei_Ying
Floral Mommy ® @wei_ying
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Random Messages for Miss Wei_Ying
Floral Mommy ® @wei_ying
Happy 4th/Independence Day, my lovelies! I have wifi today due to a neighbor, so I thought to come check in on everyone and see how y'all are doing.
I'm sorry to hear about your tabby passing away @yuuzora and the fires/heatwave you've had to survive through, but I'm happy you're still here fighting and got to enjoy a nice BBQ after a rough time ^^. Don't be worried about me over here though! My family and I are doing just fine in this heat (fans and ac are on constantly)– heck! We've been sitting outside in this weather to work on our tans XD, but today was rainy and we've been having fun with the neighbors watching fireworks. As for food though, God has truly been faithful and has provided a way for our mom to buy what we need daily, as well as using our neighbors kindness to help us even though they don't know we need it. We enjoy a delicious polish sausage hotdog, Mac and cheese with French fries for dinner today!
@healthy_walrus Thank you, my dearest knight. I pray your days continue to be blissfully quiet and hope against hope that your work load will become at least somewhat lighter than what you said you've experienced lately. While the bots may have become bold in my absence, I have the most dedicated of people still here who fight on my behalf to keep us free from these bodyless beings. <3
@sakurakiss It's also been a bit strange not to log in everyday, even if it's just to momentarily check on everyone. Thank you for the well wishes! I have been trying to do better at self-care...and it's definitely a process, but I'm nowhere near being in a slump like how I was in the past, so one step at a time, y'know? I'm sure you have finished organizing things with your aunt? It sounds relaxing, I like doing stuff like that ‐ but then again, I'm someone who finds almost anything relaxing XD. I love you very much and miss you too, Kura-Chan. <3————————
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@gabriel_true I still don't have wifi, my dearest Gabby, but I am very touched that you all miss me so dearly. Like, I do believe that all of you love me and care for me...but it's so surreal that there are people out there that genuinely miss me so much, y'know? And miss what I have to say too, whether it's just randomly talking or me having my sappy/encouragement moments, cause I don't think I'm someone that's the most eloquent person or even the one that has anything of genuine substance to say...in real life I have trouble finding my words just like my mama, but I tend to write letters when I can't say everything I want to, which is probably why I find it easier to write to everyone the way I do here, those are my genuine thoughts and deepest feelings towards ALL of you: to be happy as one can be in a world like ours and to be prosperous in all that you do. Now, this message will be long, but oh well! As for your recent blessings ‐ I'm so very happy to hear that the LORD God has provided for you! I always pray that He takes care of my friends just as He has done this family of mine, so whenever I log in to see or hear you guys being suddenly provided for or just finding peace where you are in life, it truly touches me because it's like God is reminding me He hears me through you all <3. I also don't think you're trying to garner sympathy...and even if so, I don't think it's all too bad? Sometimes you need to be vulnerable and just want to have someone understand, which isn't an issue, I'm just thankful that I apparently seem to be that person for a lot of you here. I think you are absolutely deserving of it, simply because of the fact you aren't seeming to be prideful about this sudden gift. Trust me...I understand how you can feel unworthy- and in a way, all of us technically are (not saying it to be a downer), as that's the whole story of the Bible: we sin greatly and all take, take take, but it ultimately isn't us who chooses who is deserving of what, it's God's decision. Maybe He trusts you to receive such a great financial blessing rn, which is a very exciting thing! Especially as my own family have been waiting our whole lives to be financially stable - but, God still has us in a season of trusting Him, so it's what we will do cause one day He'll move on our finances. As for you not living up to the man other's think you are or should be - I understand ^^. But everyone is like that. I say that not to make less of how you feel, but to remind you you are never alone in how you feel. I too have sometimes felt like a fraud cause people always have seen me as a cheerful person who loves unconditionally- but the reality is that I'm just human like anyone else. ALL credit to how I care and love the way I do is to God and Jesus, because on my own I am just as bitter and angry as the next human lol. I've just always prayed for God to keep my heart and to give me the willingness to want to be kept, which is the key thing about our relationship with Christ: willingness. So, I pray you are ALWAYS willing to grow better as we all are through Christ Jesus, Gabby, and just know that this blessing was meant for YOU. Also, thank you. As I've said before...I never truly think that what I say is important or holds weight on other people's hearts, but I'm grateful that whatever it is that I've said has been able to be encouraging or helpful to you. I'm so happy you got this monetary blessing and I pray all my other friends bank accounts are just as blessed as yours has been, I love you very much!
Floral Mommy ® @wei_ying Hopefully not too much caffeine, my dearest knight. I hear it can be bad for you. But, I'm most pleased to know that you are standing as strong and tall as the position you hold in my kingdom, I do pray though that you have people by your side that can also help you carry such heavy loads when you need it most. But, I'm very thankful you are still here and strong. ❤️
Shizuki Okabe @healthy_walrus Do not fear, Lady Wei_Ying, for I will try my best to make sure the caffeine does not become my true liege. There are some people with whom I stand shoulder-to-shoulder, but alas, being the stubborn knight that I am, I tend to carry the load alone most times. But yes, your words were a good reminder that even knights need to take off their armor once in a while. And I am grateful to you too. Your compassion finds a way to penetrate these ancient castle walls surrounding my heart. May you be blessed by your generous soul a thousandfold.
yuuzora @yuuzora
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Shizuki Okabe
yuuzora @yuuzora
Ahoy sir, so how was your day? Are you feeling okay lately? Is your work/life balance outta whack?
Shizuki Okabe @healthy_walrus Ahoy Yuu. My day’s been alright, just a little tired. Work has been keeping me pretty busy lately, so yeah, my work/life balance might be slightly outta whack. But I’m hanging in there. I appreciate you asking though, that was kind of you. How’s your day been?
yuuzora @yuuzora Ah, I understand that. Do you get regular days off? I work like something to the tune of 60-80hrs a week across three very poorly paying jobs. So my work/life balance is like Nightmare mode. I might even have to get a fourth job just to make things happen. X'D Today was the same sort of chaos as usual. We recently adopted two kittens, so taking care of them on top of everything else has been a lot. At least they're adorable and sweet. Do you live by yourself or with roommates? Feel free to decline to answer anything or ask me to dm. I understand not wanting too much of one's business to be front and center.
Shizuki Okabe @healthy_walrus 60–80 hours across three jobs sounds absolutely brutal, Yuu. Nightmare mode might even be underselling it. I hope you’re getting at least a little time to breathe somewhere in there. I can imagine those kittens add a whole extra layer of chaos. Tiny gremlins tend to do that XD. As for me, I do get days off, though work still has a way of making the rest of the week feel heavy sometimes. And I don’t mind answering, but we can move to DMs if that feels more comfortable. I don’t live with roommates, it’s mostly just me.
yuuzora @yuuzora It's not as bad as when I was working in construction, as a mason both plaster, brick, tile, and historic specialty. I would take 60 hours of that over this work, though. Since I have to deal with being a caregiver for an abusive parent(ye ol mother, the cuntisaurus lol). Today was puppy sitting and kitten sitten, but at least they're cute and seem to appreciate the efforts. Glad you've got days off. What do you do for work these days? Also, I saw your picture, are you also a ginger, like me? I don't many guys to dye their hair, but there's a first for everything.
Shizuki Okabe @healthy_walrus I can kind of see why you’d prefer it over caregiver stress. Physical exhaustion is one thing, but dealing with an abusive parent on top of everything else sounds like a whole different kind of draining. At least the puppy and kittens seem to appreciate you. Animals have a way of making chaos slightly more tolerable. As for work, I’m a welder/fabricator these days. A lot of heavy steel, and pretending my back isn’t filing complaints against me. It keeps me busy, but I don’t hate it. And nah, I’m not really a dyed-hair guy. I guess my hair can look a little ginger depending on the lighting, but I’d probably call it more dirty blond/light brown with a reddish ambush XD. So maybe ginger-adjacent at best. But my facial hair is ginger XD
yuuzora @yuuzora Oh nice. I was gonna go in to be a deep sea welder, but I never had time for the classes with my rigid pre-apprentice Job Corps schedule. I was hard set on being a good stone and plaster mason, and that's what I did for six years. How long have you been a welder? Honestly sounds like you could use some PT to help your back. Is it all lower back pain or everywhere?
Ah, so you're a strawberry blonde like me. I have a pretty equal distribution of red and blonde hair except my brows, which are dark for some reason. Must be the 1/4 Japanese or something. Do you know much about your family heritage? Americans tend to have a very interesting cultural background, so I love to hear it.
Shizuki Okabe @healthy_walrus Deep-sea welding? I heard it pays pretty well. And six years as a stonemason and plasterer, that is pretty good. I’ve done fabrication and welding for about five years. Yeah, PT is not a bad idea. Mainly it’s lower back, but after some shifts the entire skeleton seems to be filling out forms. As far as heritage goes, I am of Irish and Italian descent, but I have a little bit of French too. It’s pretty cool that you are 1/4 Japanese.
yuuzora @yuuzora Yeah, PT should help you. So would a nice hot bath, though I understand that 99% of Americans don't have access to a proper bath. Sadly I'm one of them, too. :(
Nice. Do you know where in those countries your ancestors came from? Usually the clues are in the meaning of the last name. With such a smattering of family line, it's likely that you're Celtic. Especially considering the Italian and French. I may venture to guess your family could have been Gauls. I'm only a 1/4 Japanese. My nan was born in Miyazu(In Kyoto prefecture) in the late 1920s, so yes, she's about 100 years old now. The rest of my family is Irish. My family name Connolly is a descendant of James Connolly, one of the leaders of the Irish resistance. So I know a lot about my family line from oral traditions of my grandfather. According to him, our Irish family line goes back as far as the Ao Sidhe who are the mythical first peoples of Ireland, long before the Celts were even building sea fairing boats. If you haven't guessed yet, I really love learning random stuff about history. I don't think much of the Roman empire, but the Egyptian empire and the history of the Tuatha De Danann. How about you?
Shizuki Okabe @healthy_walrus Yes, PT could be a good choice for me. On the other hand, the hot bath sounds like a great idea. XD Concerning the specific origins of my ancestors, I do not have that much information. All I know is the general parts: Irish, Italian, from the side of my mom, and French, from the side of my dad. But I would need to inquire in my family or even research to be sure about that. You are probably better at guessing than I am. It is really interesting to learn about your nan and the place she was born. To be about 100 years old and to have so many generations behind you is a wonderful thing indeed. The James Connolly connection is quite surprising as well. I'm a fan of history as well. Old cultures, mythology, folklore, ruins, ancient cities, the ways people used to see the world. All of these are the things that fascinate me. The Tuatha Dé Danann especially sound like the kind of thing that would pull me into a late-night YouTube spiral. lol
yuuzora @yuuzora Hnhn. I love a nation with rich mythology mixed in. Right now my focus has been on Shinto mythos. I've been relearning the language(not that I knew much to begin with) so I can delve deeper. It can be really hard to find how deep the roots go. I find connecting with the land itself is sometimes the first step. Basically starting from the indigenous roots of where you were born. Because basically all indigenous people shared that in common, that they believed in the natural environment as a relative rather than a commodity. So reaching into that spiritual connection provides a lot of help when trying to as they say 'decolonize the mind'.
Do you have any particular hyperfixations lately?
Shizuki Okabe @healthy_walrus I do not know much about Shinto so far, but it certainly seems fascinating, and the degree to which it is associated with nature and ritual is very impressive. And your perspective is quite fascinating as well. is not a topic that gets much discussion here in the West. As for my recent hyperfixations, I am very late to the Warhammer 40k and Elden Ring party. XD I have been reading up on the lore of both recently. Aside from that, I have also just started growing a flower garden.
yuuzora @yuuzora Hnhn. Shintoist Honshu(mainland), Ainu(Hokkaido), and Ryukyu(Okinawa) actually share the belief that all aspects of nature host a god or spirit. So they too share the likening of the natural world to a relative to both care for and be cared for by. It really is one of our most primal beliefs. The day that humans started to look at the earth as commodity to be used is the day things went down hill for us. At least in my opinion.
Oh nice. I've tried getting into 40k, I just haven't had much time to delve into the lore. Are you into the figure painting as well? I've seen some beautiful paint jobs for it. Nice. what kinds of flowers are you growing? I have a red rose bush and dandelions for tea, lavender for laundry and cleaning, and lilac for cooling the skin. Though I gotta be extra careful where I put the starters for the lilac, since my sister's cat tried to munch on it! x.x
Shizuki Okabe @healthy_walrus That really does interest me a lot. There definitely seems to be more wisdom in viewing nature as a relational process rather than just a resource. Regarding 40k, I am mainly in a lore-fascinated state of mind as of now. I have not ventured into painting figurines yet, but there sure are some really beautiful examples of such work out there. Some people can make those tiny models look incredibly good. So, I am just at the "reading up on space horror and ancient wars at 2 a.m." stage lol. Now, my flower garden is still quite novice. It is still new to me. Just some lupine, African Daisy, Scarlet Flax, and White Yarrow. For now, I am mainly concerned with which flowers will survive me. XD But your garden sure does sound amazing with its practical plants to drink tea from, clean with and to cool the skin with. The cat eating away at your lilacs is painfully realistic though. Cats are always trying to think whether something is for them.
yuuzora @yuuzora I have heard the lore is decades deep, which is true dedication. I think that's what makes it so neat. Not many people take that much time developing the worlds they write about. So when one is aged so finely, it's like a really good wine. By space horror do you also mean Lovecraftian horror?
Hm I'll have to look up what all those flowers do. Practicality is greatly important to me. If I had the space for chickens and cherry trees, I would go for it. Since eggs and cherries are high in nutrients and easy to keep. Though keeping a sacrifice tree just for the squirrels and crows would be extra... lol. That being said I'm still the lacey, pinky, floral crown wearing fancy lady, but I ain't no where near a 'trad wife'. I'm a mouthy, heathen Irish girl, just like my nan envisioned. XD How about you?
Shizuki Okabe @healthy_walrus Of course, the fact that 40k has been around for decades contributes to its intimidation and appeal at the same time. It is fascinating to know that there is an imaginary universe that has been developing for years, instead of creating a shallow background and stopping there. And by space horror, partly yes, I do mean Lovecraftian horror. That cosmic dread feeling. Ancient things, human insignificance, corrupted knowledge, civilizations stumbling into forces they barely understand. That kind of stuff scratches the horror part of my brain pretty well. As for the flowers, to be honest, I did not plant them with any particular plan or ideas for the future in mind. They were just visually appealing to me, and it was a place to begin. I have no doubt that yarrow has more practical purposes than the other plants, but until I get more info on them, I cannot call myself a wise gardener XD. Chickens and cherry trees would be a fantastic idea indeed. A sacrifice tree for squirrels and crows is hilarious. On second thought, though, it is actually quite a reasonable way of handling them. Offer the little scoundrels their own sacrifice to appease them lol. I am quite a grounded person in general. I am always attracted to reality in various forms: to hard work, to animals, to tales and legends, to silence and everything else that has depth and mystery in it. I do not go after some shiny, polished life. I simply move forward, learning whatever appeals to me and taking care of what I consider to be important.
yuuzora @yuuzora Ah interesting. As for the horror genre I much prefer things like Lovecraftian horror, because most modern horror has some non-con elements that I prefer avoiding. Related ptsd. Otherwise my favorite genre is fantasy, whether that's space or earth-like places. I love it all. Most definitely a big kaiju fan.
I worked on farms most of my life, I saw so many times the lengths that farmers go to just trying to keep squirrels and crows off their crops. It just makes sense to make them an offering that's better than the guarded cherry trees. Animals often prefer path of least resistance, so if there's an easier, less energy route to free food, they're gonna take that route. Bleh, sorry it took so long to respond. I have been having random bouts of super low energy, even though I actually slept for once. So much so, I'm not likely to get any work done today either. x.x I have deadlines looming. Have you been getting decent amounts of sleep?
Shizuki Okabe @healthy_walrus Don't worry about the response time. I understand how busy you must be, and even if you're getting plenty of sleep, there are just some days when you might feel drained. Hope you're taking care of yourself as best you can with all those deadlines looming ahead. Regarding your stance on horror, I completely understand. Lovecraftian horror evokes dread and mystery without resorting to the kind of personal and invasive horrors characteristic of modern horror. Fantasy is wonderful as well. There is something magical about having a whole world that is filled with history, no matter if it is a space, dark, or mythical one. Also, kaiju are always interesting. As soon as a monster shows up, humanity panics, and all those buildings are just suggestions anymore XD. As for sleep, I do sleep sometimes, but it wouldn’t be called decent sleep. Sometimes my job gets in the way of sleep, and I have issues with sleeping when I’m both sleepy and mentally sharp at the wrong time lol. I survive, but the sleep schedule is not exactly the best example of discipline.
yuuzora @yuuzora So far I'm still behind on my deadlines. I have nothing to post for Friday. So I'm gonna try finishing some chibi drawings to sate my followers.
Sorry to hear your sleep habits are not where they're supposed to be. Do you play around on your phone before you go to bed? Or do you try to give yourself at least a few minutes without a blue screen to allow your brain to at least attempt shutting off?
Shizuki Okabe @healthy_walrus Yeah, I do have trouble with procrastinating on my phone just before sleeping, and that might not be the best for helping me wind down. My body will already be ready for sleeping, but my head will insist on watching YouTube videos. XD
yuuzora @yuuzora Ah, I understand. I was like that before too. My former job broke me of the procrastination habit, but the desire to just shut your brain off while you watch YT or play a time waster game can be pretty strong some nights. Do you think you would be able to meditate for under five minutes to help yourself sleep? I've been using a little app that plays various background noises, including the sound of a clock. I managed to train my brain to shut off with about three minutes of those noises and some meditation. Usually I visualize the details of a house or hut in the woods. I hope that could help you, too. I'm not 100% at it though, depending what my pain levels are at. If my neck is hurting, I can't get my brain to shut the fuck up about random anxious thoughts, though I'm not an anxious person... When that happens I try to take max dose but it's still hard to get my brain to shut up after that. So I'm remaining persistent until I get more used to it. So don't discourage if it's something that doesn't come automatic. It took me about a week to get where I'm at with it right now.
Shizuki Okabe @healthy_walrus That sounds really helpful. I think that I can start meditating. Your suggestion of background noise also seems interesting. For example, maybe some ticking of the clock would help me concentrate on something easy to do instead of watching YouTube videos. It seems so soothing to visualize a small house or cabin in the woods. I will also try to be patient in case it does not work the first time. A week seems to be enough time to practice. I appreciate your suggestion, Yuu.
yuuzora @yuuzora Hmhm. I'm hoping it will help you. If you're a fan of chamomile tea, you can drink a cup or two sometime before bed, too. Chamomile stimulates the production of melatonin in some people. So that's the next thing to try if the meditation by itself isn't helping. From there, there's taking melatonin itself about 20-30mins before bed. If that doesn't work(max dose is 15mg) then it's time to see a dr and check stuff out.
Shizuki Okabe @healthy_walrus Haha, well, yes, tea is good too. Chamomile honey is one of the teas I enjoy drinking, and so is valerian root tea. This can prove to be one of the easiest things I can do before sleeping, considering that usually, I end up “accidentally” watching YouTube till my brain shuts down. XD So I would first try the meditation/relaxing background sounds idea, followed by chamomile tea if I really feel like I need it. I would prefer to take it slow than dump everything at once.
yuuzora @yuuzora Exactly. You have a good game plan now. I hope it brings you better rest. Honestly one of the best things you can do for yourself is get better sleep. I'm on that journey, too. So you've got a friend along the way. :)
yuuzora @yuuzora
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Shizuki Okabe
yuuzora @yuuzora
Ahoy, I'm Yuuzora, my friends call me Yuu. Do you mind I send you friend request?
Shizuki Okabe @healthy_walrus Ahoy Yuu, nice to meet you. I don’t mind at all. Feel free to send it.
yuuzora @yuuzora Yay. Thanks, mate.
What Are You Listening To Right Now?
Shizuki Okabe @healthy_walrus
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What Are You Listening To Right Now?
Shizuki Okabe @healthy_walrus
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lxWjZIMwTk
What Are You Listening To Right Now?
Shizuki Okabe @healthy_walrus
commented on
What Are You Listening To Right Now?
Shizuki Okabe @healthy_walrus
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JgsZFwyXqs
