All things Apple

 In January I learned I had this ability to buy things through this site and because of where I work, payments would automatically be taken out of my paycheck every payday.  From there, I discovered a world of things that I could purchase over time and not need additional credit for.  Hence, my phone.  It’s an unlocked iPhone - and after having an unlocked phone (not from the cell company), I don’t know if I can ever go back to a phone from a cell company - so full of unnecessary and unwanted software.  From last November to purchasing an iPad, purely for drawing purposes to now an iPhone to wait for it... Apple card.  I wasn't really expecting approval, but I was purchasing an apple watch so with that, imagine my surprise when I was approved!  (That and it was literally 1 week before the Apple event so they may have been in a giving mood.)  Anyway, this is my first card with cashback rewards, not to mention 0 APR on purchases from Apple I use that card for EVERYTHING!  I especially love Apple's fraud prevention.  Apple has it set up that if you strickly do Apple Pay, the actual card number is in the phone.  You can then set it up so that the CVV code changes automatically every so many days.  Meaning, even if you get my card number, the purchase won't complete unless you have the current CVV.  Even I can't memorize it as it changes!  Then, if you get a physical card, there are no numbers on it for security purposes.  So steal the card, I'll just lock it and get a new one!  I really love the security Apple has put in place for this card and I've now decided it's my main card.  I'm now paying off my other cards and will be setting those aside for major rainy days.  Apple allows me to make payments that day so I just transfer what money I was planning on spending and put in on the Apple card.  I then earn cashback for using the card- All the while making any and all monthly payments because I use it so frequently.

I don't think I can fully integrate over to Apple (sorry).  I'm too much of a gamer to still need my gaming box.  Tho I am thinking of getting the magic keyboard so I'll essentially have a laptop with my iPad.  Baby steps.

Pokémon Legends Arceus

 

Pokémon Legends Arceus is a new RPG action-adventure style game, where you’re able to play in a more sandbox type world, with quest givers, options to choose said quests and generally play the game however you deem fit.  Fighting style still remains with the turn base system, however you do have the option to attempt to capture the Pokémon rather than being forced to fight it.

In the traditional sense, the game still offers up a travel system.  Here I managed to obtain a Wyrdeer early on through the main storyline.  I will say that the game does offer up a rather interesting main storyline and there are a bunch of side quests you can do for additional items and even rare Pokémon!  One of the first side quests gave me a shiny Ponyta.  So take my advice: do the side quests!

I am currently about 10 hours in the game and I’ve only just completed 2 stars and calmed one Legendary?  (I assume they are Legendaries, I’m pretty novice when it comes to Pokémon, I’ve only completed 2 games - both on the switch.)

I am currently working on the 2nd zone - but there is a lot yet I need to complete or ‘master’ in my Pokédex for research when it comes to finishing the game.

Another notice to this game is everything you use is crafted.  There are some locations that offer shops to purchase some things, but unlike the traditional games, new and better poke-balls are crafted.  And they offer up some bonuses when catching Pokémon at certain levels.  (Ie, Pokémon won’t obey you if they are caught with a ‘lower’ level ball). 

RIFTS 

Another thing the game offers up, to which I was thinking were like the raid battles from Sword/Shield, are time rifts.  Temporal temporary game events that come about in game play that offer up a chance to challenge and catch rare and higher level Pokémon not yet found in the game.  While my base group were mid teens, I got the game message that a temporal opened up.  It wasn’t hard to find, just find the rainbow dome while looking around on the map.  You walk through the shield and inside you can gather color gems, other materials and of course Pokémon!  I obtained a level 31 Gasteon.  Naturally, I didn’t have the level 30 pokeballs.  I did manage to capture it with a level 20 pokeball.  And the thing likes to disobey!

The game is definitely fresh to the traditional Pokémon games that have been previously played.  I will enjoy finding out just how the story pans out - as it is talking of previous clans from the previous games I’ve played.  Stay tuned for updates as I gather them.  And with total game time to almost-near-maybe not- completion.

When you’re adulting yet find out you still go to high school

 Today started off as a good day, despite day 2 of having this neck pain.  I’ve gone to work, going to training actually - to a dept that scares the shit out of me.  Not so badly that retention did.  I’m getting this job.  That’s more than I can say for Retention.  Anyway, today is Friday, I was having a good day, despite my lack of faith in myself.  And I asked a question to someone whom I thought I could talk to.  I thought I could talk to all these girls.  I’ve been with them since day 1 and I thought it was really cool that we all had moved on with each other.  Well, I found out today - indirectly that they had been talking about me behind my back.  Childish, I know.  And I tell myself that I don’t care.  Because, for the most part, … I don’t.  But it still does.. hurts just like it did.  When you grow up with a disability, you learn to accept people’s - while ill-mannered, outwardly thoughts.  You’d think these childish manners would be nothing more than a memory as you become an adult.  Well, I got thru the rest of the day, still managed to have things click at work and got the hell outta there.  

3 times the pay? Yes please!

 So today, Jan 3rd is New Year’s observed in the US.  Banks and postal will not be available today, as far as I’m aware.  While I don’t exactly work in retail, (I definitely do not sell anything) I am in customer service and my dept is open 24/7, 365.  With that being said, rounding out the year come April, I’m seeing how they payout for the holidays and might I say, it is quiet a benefit.  3x the pay, if you work, plus ‘holiday’ pay for both NYE (day), the actual New Year’s Day and the day observed.  Same for Christmas. Not too shabby.  Next week’s check will be handsomely nice.  Considering I’m the only bread winner at the moment - I’ll take it!  (Hubby still off and not released from covid and his work doesn’t know what medical disability is.)

Pokémon Shining Pearl

 Shining Pearl just became very intense.  The Grand Underground adds several (if not hundreds) more hours to the game!  I’m already ~ 20 hrs in the game and only obtained 6/8 badges needed for the just the storyline!  I’m progressing nicely, having not one, but 2 legendary starter Pokémon available to me having not only pre-purchasing the game, but having previous Pokémon games on my system as well.  In this Grand Underground, not only are you able to capture Pokémon not found in the original game (Platinum, only), you have ginormous caverns to unlock and discover.  Shiny drops to gather to obtain rare and shiny statues for your very own personal area.  Not only do they allow for you to create your own aesthetic personal space, but the statues give bonuses to both attack power and increased chance of discovering that Pokémon in the wild.

I’ve played Pokémon shield ~ 60 hrs, not officially capturing every Pokémon, however having defeated all the gyms, finishing the story and capturing my very own legendary Pokémon!  As my first, official, Pokémon game that I can say really got me into ‘gotta collect ‘em all’, I really liked the story it had.  Shining Pearl also has just as good of a story.  I’m definitely considering Arceus and adding that to the list.  Not only is it rumored to have a BoTW feel to it, which I love, it will continue with great story features that I have come to love.

New job, old job?

 So back in April I started a new job.  After being unemployed from the pandemic and then working briefly with Spectrum (big mistake) I landed a job where I’m currently at.  (Redacted for privacy reasons- not that I’ll bitch about work… just the opposite.  Just know I work with personal information and security of that.)

I was in a class in the end of June, first of July to learn ‘the rest of my job’, which of course came with a load of nerves because of the amount of new responsibilities I’m now required to do.  Bottom line, I’ve ‘done’ this level of customer service before, it’s just now knowing and understanding what this company is requiring me to do on a daily basis.  So the job itself isn’t hard, but… what do I have to do to keep you happy?  I learned that.  Then I got covid.  I am a covid survivor.  2 weeks in the hospital with acute respiratory tory failure, then an additional 4 weeks out of work for recovery.  BELIVE it or not, this place is AMAZING!  Not only did I get a covid pay.  I was given short term disability.  I was given a work schedule accommodation (working only 4 hrs when I came back to work.) AND, because my significant other had a much more difficult survival with covid and it’s after affects, I’m STILL getting some accommodations as long as I’m upfront and honest!  Talk about what a company!  And that’s not the reason why I’m writing this post! NO… the hours I work, because we’re a 24/7 company, I work a split shift of 4am-1pm.  The AM hrs before my lunch are slow.  Meaning, I get paid for 4 hours of doing nothing.  Mostly I just draw, color, game or read.  But I get paid for it.  The last 4 hours tend to be busy, but it really only means I only ‘work’ for 4 hrs, but I get paid for 8.  Easiest job EVA!  I thought ACS was nice.  Nope, this tends to beat that!!  (Even ACS had it slow in the mornings til about 8 or 9 am.  I still had to work until 2:30.  Hahahaha, by 8 or 9 here, I’ve already worked a half day!  It’s amazing!  And I don’t want to do anything to change that!

Cozy Grove

 

I’ve been playing Cozy Grove now for awhile, love it, on the Switch.  (Preordered, actually - ) and when I recently (finally) purchased my very own iPad, apple arcade had Cozy Gove available!  Link any ps4/5 or Xbox controller and you have a very handy game system.  (That can also be a laptop or a drawing pad - both of which I utilize!)

Because of life’s recent events, I’ve not gamed much on my gaming pc since before the first of July.  My family is Covid recovered, my husband - who recovered from an extended 13 week stay in the hospital from ICU to ICU.  He’s slowly recovering from those weeks of bedbound life.  Not a particular, enjoyable, time in my life.  I’m thankful that he has survived and I now have a new outlook on life.  Any rate, due to that, anything that I gamed on I didn’t have any desire to play.  Mostly because 90% of what I played, I played with him.  I did find a game that got me through some dark times, but for the most part it was doing mindless hand-held stuff.  When I purchased the iPad, my world became a little more available.  Now, my gaming pc seems ‘laggy’ and ‘something wrong’ with it.  (It really needs to be just wiped and refreshed.)

But anyway, Cozy Grove.  An Animal Crossing-esque type game.  Casual game play.  Where your character is a Spirit Guide, sent to this island to help the local spirits.  You get daily quests to earn spirit logs that you feed to your campfire to grow.  I’m now learning that the game joins in with the holidays and has festives throughout the year.  Missed Halloween.  But you can earn decorations for your campsite, craft items, food, and companions.  Fish your hearts content.  Skip stones and more!  In my pre-order on my Switch, I was able to get special spirit costumes from the order.  A lot of games offer Switch only, or iOS only perks for playing those games on said device.  (More to come)  It would have been nice to see some perk given to iOS, but I enjoy that it’s free w/ Apple Arcade.  With both of my games, I’ve only totaled  about 30 days logged.  I’ll need to improve on that.