Oh that's good to hear! :D Oooh which games? My personal favourite is Caliph's Tomb :)

YAY! :D Yeah if I had to live on my own I would probably be glad to go home for dinner

I'm good! :D The Catfe was awesome ^^ Kind of exhausting petting the cats because they're on the floor all the time and you have to bend down to pick them up, and I got a little light-headed after getting up. And this went on for a whole hour D:

When does school start for you? (Sorry if I've asked this before, I have terrible memory)

hey lovelies! mind if i join in? <3

I've always enjoyed Mystic Spindles! I'm not so great at it though hahaha.

Right? I'm actually a pretty good cook but I'm not allowed to cook where I'm renting. Ooooh!!! Catfe! There's one near me actually but I haven't been there. I really love cats! coughlooks at my HAcough We're not allowed to have cats at home though since my mom isn't fond of them and we also have 4 dogs (they don't like cats either).

That's alright but I'm done with school! I've graduated from University this past June :D

Oooh! Hello!!!!!! Welcome to the treehouse! I'm Sherry! How are you?? :D

Haha, sounds like a fun time anyway. Cats can be super cute. I bet after that you're definitely going to want to go back though, huh?

Thank you! I hope so too.

Absolutely! The more the merrier. How are you? ^^

Mystic spindles takes a bit longer for me, and I'm not too sure about the payout of it, haha

Wait, WHAT!?! Why are you not allowed to cook? D: Also, I like to cook too, but sometimes I prefer baking because I can be bad at portioning things at times. (Depends on my mood, haha)

Oooh you should definitely visit the Catfe then! It was some good pet therapy for me. Omgsh, after the Catfe, we walked around for a while, and we saw a husky puppy! Most adorable thing, EVER Aw D: But you're better off than me. I can't even have pets...

Oh, yes yes I remember you telling me that now! Sorry again 😔 So what are you up to then?

I definitely want to go back! But it takes like an hour by transit to get there, and we got seriously lost, because it's downtown and we weren't familiar with the streets. D:

So how've you been?

Hiya! :D Nice to meet you!

Love your HA! ^^ So, how are you?

I'm usually not playing it because of the payoff. I'm just playing for the heck of it xD

Well, I don't understand it either but I didn't have any decent place to stay so we took it. We could use the fridge so I could at least have breakfast (cereals) without going outside but for lunch and dinner, I usually eat at nearby eateries.

I might go to the Catfe but I don't have anyone to go with me :( My sister's in Japan (that's where she's taking her Master's) and she's the only one I can drag to places. I don't exactly have a boyfriend either sooooo meh... Aw, why aren't you allowed?? Someone with you who is allergic? Or because your place doesn't allow you to?

That's alright! Hahahaha. I'm just waiting now for my professor to return from his overseas trip so we can settle our stuff as well as waiting for my transcript of records. I've been applying to some jobs here and there as well. :)

Hey! how are you? I never told it before but I like your username hahaha. It's japanese for midnight right?

Oh man, sounds like a cross between an adventure and an ordeal. Maybe next time you could grab a map before you do? Even if it's just a small scale one of the streets, if you're someone who can read a map I'd still be really helpful.

Ehhh, could be better. A few months back I decided to kick someone out of my life after having called them a friend for about two years. Two days ago he just sort of decided to show up again, and it's probably about the worst timing he could have had. So, you know, not great. I wound up having an anxiety attack last night too which I'm still feeling the effects of, and I think that encounter might've had something to do with it. The weather's really nice today though, heh, so I guess that's sort of a silver lining.

Ahh, I see. :) It's a fun game to play!

Ohh, is the food around there any good? It would suck if the food was terrible D: My guess is that the owner doesn't want to be responsible for any potential fires (hazards) that could hypothetically burn the place down, hahaha

HAHA my sister drags me to places too! -nods- I don't have a boyfriend either D: ah well

My sister is moderately allergic to cat fur, but it depends, sometimes it's not that bad Plus, my mom thinks that if we get a pet, she'll end up having to take care of it. Aaaand we have carpet (I hate it...) so it's difficult to potty train them D:

I see I see. Well I wish you the best of luck in finding a job! :D

Yeah, it's the transit that makes me not want to go D: But I should have downloaded Google Maps in advance, because I don't have a data plan

Oh man, I hope you feel better soon! What made you kick them out after having been friends for 2 years? And why was it bad timing??

Well, hopefully you and I can both fix our transportation problems before long! Then you can visit the catfe all you like haha

Thanks. I kicked him to the curb because... well, really it was for a lot of reasons. He was very much not a good friend, always thinking only about himself, being a drama king about stupid issues and then vanishing the moment I had something to deal with, being a pervert all the time... but worst of all, he was really untrustworthy. I'd been pretty iffy about the guy pretty much from the moment I first met him, but what pushed me to actually cut him off was the fact that, as I found out from a more trustworthy friend, he'd been talking shit about me behind my back. When he contacted me the other day he did his usual thing of trying to sweet talk me while at the same time telling me all of the shit I'd done wrong, and just in general being a fucking idiot like always. That friendship falling apart was bound to happen from the start, but I tried.

As for why it was bad timing, it's because I have enough emotional stuff to deal with right now. Fairly recently I realized that I'd let myself fall back into clinical depression, so I'm trying to fight that off. Unfortunately though it seems like the way for me to do that is to learn to trust people and to be more emotionally open... That's kind of been a big fear of mine since childhood though, so it's really difficult to do. I was already feeling a million things at once before that person decided to pay me a visit.

Yeaah! I desperately want a car, HAHA

Oh man, I wouldn't even bother to keep a friend like that around. I really don't know how you did it. Especially the part about him being a pervert all the time, that's super uncomfortable D:

Also, I've had my fair share of experience with bad friends. It was a long time ago, but basically, my so-called friends decided to get another person that wasn't really my friend (just an acquaintance) to say outright, in an area where there were tons of other students around, that they don't want to be my friend anymore. And they didn't even have a justification for it. They just said that they didn't want to be my friend. And shortly before that, they told everyone who my crush was. I was petrified, because I didn't do anything to them to deserve that. So now, because of that whole ordeal, I have slight trust issues with people. I can't fully trust someone with a secret, especially one that I'm not comfortable with other people knowing about.

Ah, stay strong in that fight! You need all the energy you can get. I totally know how it feels to be depressed. I mean, I was never formally diagnosed, but I just know that I was depressed at one point. And now, I'm unmotivated to do anything, really, due to the stress of school and other things. And I'm sorry that that friend made everything worse D:

I definitely share that sentiment haha.

Honestly him being such a pervert was one of those things where I really wasn't sure how I felt about it... He wasn't super creep levels or anything. I only really started having issues with it when I realized he was seeing me less as a person and more as a piece of meat. As for how I stuck with him for that long, that kinda happens when someone like that is one of the only two people who actually try to support you when you need it the most. That's it's own story, though.

Yikes. Yeah, I can definitely understand that. In my case it started with some advice my mother gave me, actually. I'd pretty much always been bullied by other kids when I was in mandatory school. When I was in elementary though I remember my mother telling me that the way to deal with bullying was to smile and laugh, pretend it didn't bother me at all. It'd worked the first time, so I wound up employing that method with every bully I encountered. I also wound up using that bravado act to stand up for other people and make "friends", but because I developed a belief that my friends expected me to be the strong one so I stopped showing that "weakness" even to them in fear of losing them. There are plenty of other factors too of course, but that was the starting point for me.

Thank you. c: I honestly don't know if I've ever been formerly diagnosed either, but I've got enough experience to know what this is. I'm not nearly as deep into it as I have been before, at least, and I won't be letting it last nearly as long either. Ah, I hope you manage to be free of that stress before long! D: That can really suck.

Yeah, there are definitely different weights to put on a person's characteristics. I'm here if you ever need to talk about anything! :D

Oh I see. But I also believe that you have to stand up to bullies sometimes because although you pretend that it doesn't bother you, it really does. And you need to make that stop. Each to their own, though. Honestly though, bullies shouldn't even be allowed to exist.

Thank you! ^^ That's good to hear! So what do you do to try and alleviate the depression?

Aw, thank you! ;u;

I wasn't really just laying down and taking it, I was standing up to them with comebacks and quips with this attitude of "I'm better than you." It'd worked the first time, it just didn't work after that except maybe to kinda keep them somewhat at bay. After a time I actually resorted to getting physical with them too, bashing people over the head with my drawing book any time they cause trouble. They just turned it into a game though. I realize now that that kind of behavior isn't at all "acting like it doesn't bother you" but at the time that's what I thought it meant.

Well, same thing I did when I was fighting trauma before now. I face it. It's a whole process of learning how to be honest with yourself and not shying away from negative emotions. I figure out what I'm feeling, I let myself feel it and I don't shy away from those awful automatic negative thoughts, and I dissect those thoughts and feelings to see if I can come up with a source for these feelings. It usually takes a bit of poking and prodding - I'll consider a bunch of different things that might be causing the problem until I find one that really hits home. Then I'll try to understand it; why I'm feeling it, where it comes from, how it's affecting me, how I feel about the way it affects me (I do that mostly so I can motivate myself to do something about it), and what I can do about it (and never let yourself believe that you can't do something about it). Like in this case, I mentioned earlier that I have to learn to trust my friends, and specifically that I have to learn to be more emotionally open with them. That's sort of the result of that whole process, although now I have to actually go through with the solution I came up with which can sometimes be the really hard part. The entire process is definitely a bitch to get through since it means fully waking up to some of your darkest emotions and it can completely ruin your mood for a while, but I speak from experience when I say that it's worth it. It's like a quality versus quantity deal. In one case you're feeling less of that unhappiness but you're feeling it for a much longer time, possibly the rest of your life. In the other case you have to feel those awful feelings a lot more but before long you come out the other side feeling that much more free and happy, like you could just conquer the world and nothing can stop you. It's very much self-therapy.

Oh! I just realized you'd tried to ping me! Sorry about that, Sherry. o: Thank you! Yes, it is. ^^ I'm so glad someone finally knew that hahaha. I could be doing better, but I'm alright. How about you?

^^ You're welcome!

Ohh, I see what you mean now.

Yeah, it would definitely take some practice to conquer those negative feelings. I'm going to take your advice and try to understand the source of the negativity and attack it from there, haha.

I was talking to my mom the other day and she told me that you're the one who making the negative emotions, not other people, so it's really up to you to change that pattern of thought. And at first, I didn't really agree because people can be put in a situation that will make them do things they wouldn't normally do (or omit in doing). But I didn't want to get in an argument with her so I just went with it, hahaha

How are you?

Best of luck to you! It is definitely a really personal journey, but if at some point you need it I'd be happy to try to help.

Actually, I can completely understand that haha. The first time I'd heard someone say that it made me furious, but after I'd had plenty of time to digest and consider that way of thinking I realized it wasn't wrong. Yes, naturally, we as people will be influenced by our surroundings and that includes the people around us. That's nature, the way things are meant to be, and there is not changing that no matter how much someone might want to. However, we do have more control than we give ourselves credit for. One big one is people feeling stuck in their work or their field. The option to leave or change is there, it's always there, there's nothing physically stopping us. The only thing that stops people is their own mindset, and the things they tell themselves. Or, me and my friends when I was in middle and high school. I was depressed and extremely suicidal, but I was terrified of making a stand for myself. I wanted my friends to be here for me, to help me figure out a way out, and I wanted my friends to prove to me that they could be trusted and this that and the other. For me it was a huge trust ordeal. I didn't trust myself, thought I might lose my mind if I started facing my problems on my own, and I believed that facing my problems by myself meant abandoning all hope of my friends ever helping me or being able to trust them. Those were the things stopping me - to me it was a huge hurdle but in the end I was still the one stopping myself. Once I stopped being my own worst enemy I was able to move forward in leaps and bounds, although for me it took a hell of a push to get me to do it.

Ah, I apologize if I'm getting a bit preachy. I definitely have a lot of my own ideas on these sorts of things, it's a subject I've thoroughly explored. I'd love to hear your ideas on these things too haha. As for how I'm doing, I'm alright. Because of CGCookie - an online art school-type deal that I frequent - I've wound up watching the Pokemon movies. Not much else to do unfortunately. How about you?

Thank you! ^^ I will definitely message you if I ever need help

No, no you aren't! I'm just not replying as much as I would because I spent the whole day wiping down surfaces and cleaning things up, so I'm kind of pooped, haha Also, because I've used my hands the whole day, my paresthesia is creeping back. It's not totally there yet, but it feels a little uncomfortable, so typing is a pain D:

But also, people are people, and as people, we can change our attitude depending on the circumstances. So I didn't 100% agree with her. But as you said, it is true that as an individual, we can change our own mindset. :)

Ohh, so you draw? Haha, I've watched a few Pokemon movies, but none recently

Going to binge-watch the Mentalist. :) I've exhausted all the current ones...I have to wait until school starts again before the new season is released... GREAT TIMING. School's starting and they throw new episodes in my face.

Ohhh, paresthesia? Igh, I've heard of it before, that would be absolutely awful. If you need or want to call it for the day to avoid that getting any worse, please feel free. I am enjoying our conversation, but I don't mind being patient. ^^ Plus, hah, honestly spending the day even just wiping things down actually seems like it would be nice. I actually really love days where I can open up the house and just clean,they're really refreshing.

Yeah, I couldn't 100% agree either. People often take those sorts of things too far, and execute the ideas in ways that do more harm than good.

Yup~ I'd fallen out of drawing there for some time, but I'm managing to get back into it. I actually don't think I've been but two or three of them myself, so it's sort of a new thing for me too. I've never actually been a fan of Pokemon haha, but I wanted to give it another shot. Others on GCC suggested I should forget about the series and just watch the movies, seems like that was a good call.

Oh? I have definitely not seen that one before. o: Mind if I ask what it's about?

Actually, I'm probably going to call it a night here soon myself. It's getting pretty late.

It seems okay now. Plus, I'm a little pissed off because my mom and sister are both being rude to me, when I didn't do anything to deserve it. I was putting the blender back in the box, and my sister didn't even help. When I finished, she said congrats, so to be snarky I said, thanks for helping. She mouthed something, but I didn't bothering looking so I have no idea what she said. I would rather pretend she didn't say anything than to actually know what she said. It would just anger me more. Sometimes I really hate both of them...

Meanwhile, my mom just speaks to me in this rude tone, I can't really explain it. I was just asking her what time we were leaving the house tomorrow and she answered abruptly and in a low tone. Shortly after that, she talked to my sis and her voice suddenly got higher...so I know. It seems like she hates me or something, but I don't know. Honestly, I just want to graduate and get away from them. They're a little toxic to be around, and I can feel myself becoming a more aggressive and provoked (in a way) person, but I was never like this before.

Ohh, I see. :D Drawing is relaxing, it takes your mind off of unimportant matters. The movie seems to be more action-packed, whereas the series are just dragged out, haha But that's just my opinion.

The Mentalist is about this guy who can close cases really fast using his "people-reading skills". He works as a consultant for the police department, and is also trying to catch a serial killer that killed his wife and daughter. I haven't gotten very far on the show yet, but that's the gist of it.

Ahh, okay. It was good talking to you! :D Good night!

The food is pretty okay. It's easy to get tired of it though xD

Yes... The woes of being alone.

Ahhh I see. In our case, it's my dad who takes care of the dogs. We had a carpet too but mom packed it away somewhere hahaha. Our dogs automatically go outside when they have to go it's pretty amazing actually since we didn't train them to do that xD

Thanks!

I didn't realized the mistake as well actually! I feel foolish hahaha. I was reaaaaly addicted to jpop a few years ago and I picked up words and stuff so that's how I knew hahaha.

I'm back at home now so that's amazing for me. Lots of food around but of course, there's also a lot of chores. I think my mom actually likes me being at home because she could just leave some tasks to me instead of her doing it. She's quite busy lately.

Yeah, I would imagine that eating the same foods can get tiring D:

wow, that is pretty amazing! So less work for you, hahaha

So, what's new with you?