September Remember 2023
Writing
My brain hasn't been cooperative lately due to some health issues I've been having, so doing anything with words isn't currently on the table. I've been considering doing some write ups in the future for Stray Gods and Garden Galaxy so once things settle down a bit more please keep an eye out on Ko-fi for those!
Video
Streaming
It's been a full month being back to streaming and I'm happy to be back! Of course, content creation always has its ups and downs but the journaling work I did during my break is helpful in those moments. It's a great way to remind myself of the mental and emotional changes I want to continue to make in my relationship to my output. That being said, Wylde Flowers as my current long play game is exactly what I needed to anchor the stream. With the fundraising and Halloween season coming up, getting closer to the finish line on Wylde Flowers may be more difficult but I'm determined to keep at it.
Speaking of which, I am helping with a To Write Love on Her Arms (TWLOHA) fundraising campaign during National Suicide Prevention Week from September 10 to September 14. This is a cause dear to my heart and I'll be sharing my personal story with the real mental health struggles that TWLOHA provides resources for. I'll also be playing my first Final Fantasy game ever and we're starting with FFIX! There will be incentives for both IRL shenanigans and in-game shenanigans, with the goal of $250. If we hit the goal, I owe the community a kirigami stream which will be a first for me and I'm sure will be a nice time. A neat article I stumbled upon on how kirigami can influence shape-shifting materials can be found here.
I also plan to keep an eye on demos and sales during the Game Devs of Color Expo from September 27 through the 30th and around this time Twitch Subtember discounts provide incentives for new subs and gift subs, so we'll be able to combine both on the streams that week.
Of course there's never any pressure to support monetarily -- just you reading this is still incredible to me and I'm so grateful -- but it's a great time to stretch that support further at reduced cost. I also have some silly incentives that I'll be sharing closer to that time to make the deal a little sweeter. :)
Short Form
I've been surprised at the wholesome games and goofy energy approach being well received, and it feels nice when I think a moment is special and the general public in Tiktok shares the same feeling. I think I'm honing in on where that sweet spot is, because I would never want to do something just for the engagement. Everything I do in short form video needs to align with what I like most about our space and it's nice to see I don't need to sacrifice one for the other.
Personal
Currently Playing
I recently finished Pentiment, which was gifted to me for my birthday by a dear friend. For those of you readers who have played Disco Elysium or other in-depth RPGs, this honestly feels like the game to play if you're craving that same feeling of "choices matter" without spending more than 15 hours doing it. In addition, apparently the historical backdrop is well-researched so you can even learn a thing or two about 16th century Europe! However if religious talk or themes is not your cup of tea, you may want to pass on this one.
With my canon Pentiment playthrough complete, I'll be playing Armored Core VI next! It's my first introduction to both FromSoft games and the Armored Core series. I'm excited for the combat and of course the mecha fashion, and plan to play it with my partner so we can share the experience.
IRL
Climate change and general unrest in the world has catalyzed my interest in learning what to do during future disasters. The Ready site run by U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the CDC's Emergency Preparedness and Response site were great starting points on having the right supplies in my car and at home. I admit that I may have seen some intense prepper parts of the internet and while I'm not quite there yet (nor do I think I want to be, haha) I've learned about some other wild tools like self-defense using tactical whips and other skills like how to make an emergency shelter with plastic sheeting.
Other than that, I had a nice time going camping over the weekend and learning how to build a fire, as well as our latest culinary adventure at Nobu I was saving up for. You can find the photos for both adventures on Instagram.
Picture of the Month
When you look closely enough and pay attention to the world around you, interesting and mysterious details await.
Feel free to reply directly to this email to let me know your thoughts, or perhaps any content that you'd like to see or questions you might have. Otherwise, sending you all my disaster-free thoughts for the month and I look forward to writing to you in October!