Things are reaching a new normal. Is this good or bad. Both for a number of reasons. I’m reaching a new slope if you will. One that will likely last into this coming year. But I am determined. I’m confident that things will be positive and I’m looking forward to it.

Time of course is a big factor. Me, the resident control freak, hates this. It is the only thing in my life that I find that consistently haunts me. Waiting to pay bills, get money and all the other associated things. Progress is what I need, but that can only come with time and I recognize that.

To help occupy myself during such times I look for the little things. Things to get me by my nights, weeks and months. DND is certainly a good long term goal. So that’s weekly done. Paying off debt is a good monthly goal, so that takes care of that as well. What I need is daily progress.

This is where anime, movies and games come into play. You’d think that I would get daily goals taken care of by writing and while I wish that were the case I don’t. I honestly don’t view writing as that progress bar that I so really need in my life. Maybe that says something about how I view the hobby and or choices along with it but it doesn’t fill that itch.

So, anime and movies and games. I’m approaching once again the more busy time for movies and I try to watch at least one movie a week. Either as a research topic or a relentless clip farm that’s been floating in my peripheral endlessly. Anime is good, I’ve been on the search for a good anime and I think I found one to fill the gaps while I work. Horimiya is seeming to do the trick. It’s subverting a lot of my cliche antics and it’s pretty straightforward which isn’t what I expected at all. Something about shows seem to twirl before getting juicy, filler if you will. That’s why I tend to watch shorter animes or shows. They are burdened by you losing interest in such a small show. There isn’t a “Will this get better?” question. They have to lay all of their cards on the table instantly. Little by little they will introduce subplots but the main plot is laid bare almost immediately and I find it quite refreshing. They make progress on the promise every episode, every chapter and it’s not clustered. In weaving the main story as well, the subplots seem to naturally fill themselves in until everyone is happy. I’m not speaking necessarily just on this show either. Plenty of great animes have this method in mind.

A list of few that I have seen that have done this quiet well.

Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian.(Destined for a second season but will the anime god’s grant it.)

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners. Clear and concise with very little filler. Introduce theme, explore, problem, solve, subversion. Repeat once more and you have the show.

Erased. Can have my children. Beautifully done and expertly crafted.

FLCL. While it does have sequels, you can get the most out of the show just by watching the first season and the later seasons don’t feel like a betrayal. The Pillows are also some of my favorite J-Rock stars ever too.

My Dress Up Darling. Not much to say and it’s a little shallow but I like to setting.

Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai. Interesting concept, I even heard there doing a Christmas themed season eventually.

And although it’s not an adherence to the rule, this should be the role model for the 24 episode animes: Toradora!

Genuinely one of the best will-they won’t-they. A Lull in the Sea also fits this category

As far as games go, I try and do at least one small story game a month in-between my anime binges. This is for games like What Remains of Edith Finch and Va-11 HALL-A and really anything like that. Kind of like my animes I enjoy a smaller story that’s executed well. I think giving to much time to a topic can wear down what makes the original idea special.

Dear Friend, what sort of short term goals do you set for yourself. Are they like mine or are they different? What do you like about mine or dislike?

Sincerely, I hope you are alright.