Virtual Hugs 6 with Ice Cream

Well hello again. I've collected enough random stuff to share with you guys that I feel like it's time to put together another one of these! After only a month! Nyeh heh heh heh! >D

Things have been super stressful and difficult for me recently, and while I don't want to dwell on it here, I thought maybe sharing some fun goodness may help brighten both of our days just a little bit. :)

Do you need a hug? I could have a hug. Hugsplosion for you! Or just a regular hug if you're feeling conventional. :P

Got some ice cream the other day. I discovered this place nearby that has an Indie Ice Cream Developer Vibe to it. I got their Passion Fruit Yogurt flavour and went back for some more. I checked the menu though, and it seemed like it was a summer season item, and the fall season flavours had just begun. They were nice about free samples though (seem to be a practice that happens whenever I walk in the door to be honest, lol), and I casually mentioned that I wanted the Passion Fruit Yogurt Flavour, that was unfortunately out of season now. Then the lady behind the counter said, "Oh! Actually, we still have some left! I can get you that if you like!" And so I did get it and I did like. :3 It was very nice.

I dunno. It's little moments like that that seems to prove that God really does love me, even if it doesn't feel like it all the time. :)

Mkay, let's get to the part you're REALLY here for or maybe just me.

So recently Charles Martinet stepped down, and like the rest of the internet, I AM SUPER SAD ABOUT THIS! *Flail flail flail.* But, as another comment somewhere pointed out, this really is a good thing. Martinet stepped down now because he got canceled, or found out he was replaced behind his back, but because he merrily wanted to ease into retirement. And as the Super Mario Ambassador, he can still go on tours to see and meet with fans, so even though it's sad, it's a win-win for everyone.

Back on topic, this song is something I stumbled across by accident, and almost made me tear up while hearing it. It's just so sweet and wholesome, and even put to one of the tunes of my childhood. What more can I ask from a tribute than that. :) I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.

If any of you want progress on the sequel game, here is a screenshot of the recent Panda Guru. And here is an out of context screenshot for the lulz...

Here is some laughter to wipe away your tears, and that's an excellent compilation of the masterful show of... PIGS IN SPAAAACCCEEE...! More specifically, the Muppets. XD My sister and I had VHS Tapes of the Best of the Muppet Show when I was a kid, and since we lost cable around that time, I watched them a LOT. XD It's also why I got so into videogames. Looking around on Youtube, there are a whole ton of clips from the Muppet Show uploaded in one form or another, and if you do a little digging, it shouldn't be hard to find entire episodes if you are interested. I've watched interviews with Jim Henson and even a couple documentaries, and I just find his whole legacy to be so inspiring. I may not agree with everything he's ever made, but he would have been a King of Youtube if he had been alive long enough to see it. :) Hats of to you, Mr. Henson.

(And don't watch the Pöpcørn Sketch without subtitles. You're welcome.)

Lastly, I'd like to include this song from the Dreamworks Prequel Sequel to Prince of Egypt, Joseph: King of Dreams. I remember rewatching this movie as an adult and thinking it was nothing special. But then I went through a really hard time in my life, and this movie was right there. It's not perfect (due to budget cuts and troubled production history), but this movie is great for if you feel like you need forgiveness or if you feel like you've been slighted by life. This song is probably the best part of the movie (spoilers, I guess), and is just a great song to listen to about emotional healing. And if you read the comments, like I have, then I'm not alone in how I've been touched by this song. :)

~Dem Asian Dramas~

So, um, this one is a bit more of a girly recommendation, but it's cute so I'm gonna mention it anyway. It's called A Little Thing Called First Love. It's about a dorky girl named Miao Miao (pronounced Meow Meow--I will never forget that name XD) who falls in love with the popular guy in her high school. The series documents her as she graduates high school and each of them pursuit their university degrees and just grow in life.

This series is the master of house music. The entire soundtrack is so mellow and chill that it feels like you could curl up in a warm blanket and fall asleep listening to it. This series also has some really positive messages in it that I was not expecting from a Chinese show. First of all, the main character is the oldest of two siblings, both girls (anyone remember the One-Child-Policy?). Also, in a part of the world that is obsessed with being underweight, one of the main character's best friends is one of the best representations of overweight characters I've ever seen in media. She's always, unashamedly, on a diet, and her attitude is "if I make [my target weight], that's good; and if I don't, I'm fine with that." That is a downright BEAUTIFUL message to send to young girls in this day and age, and I'm all for it! :D She's also the only girl in the show that doesn't have a love interest, so she kind of acts as the rational center for the other two girls, and helps keep them in check. Overall, a really positive character, and a great role model for young girls! :3

Also, I really like the male lead in this one. In most Asian Dramas, it's some variation of the Quirky Girl falls in love with the Stoic Man, and while there's a bit of that here, this guy is a lot softer (for lack of a better word) than the other Stoic Guys I've seen. Instead of being abrasive, stand-offish, and rude, he's genuinely kind, interested in the main character's life, and it totally makes sense why the main girl falls for him. The only thing that really puts him in the "Stoic Man" category is the fact that he's quiet, but apart from that, it's a refreshing change of pace for the genre!

And I suppose this is kind of a spoiler, but

he should have proposed to her at the end. He didn't. BUT HE TOTALLY SHOULD HAVE...!

Anyway, that's all from me for now. Take care everyone! ^w^