Zie

"Hyperfixation". It's word I've become very familiar with over the years. When I was younger (we're talking school aged before HS), Mom used to call this "phases". Like I literally had a Barbie phase, a Disney phase (which arguably has continued, even if not quieter than it was back then, depending on the day and what's going on with that brand). I had a Ninja Turtle phase. Anything that was big between the 80s and 90s? I fell for it. Again, to varying degrees.

I'd have to say that in the 90s around 93 to be exact my biggest "phase" was undoubtly Power Rangers. And I'd even argue I fell into it harder than my brother Chris did. My theory about this is I needed an escape from many things. Home life, bullies in school, my growing adult responsibilities that I was still too young to really take on but was forced to. And while I still had the Warners, the Power Rangers had another solution. Instead of being zany, I learned how to be the better person, and not take bait. (Though, I must say, that really didn't, and still doesn't always work).

30 years later, here I am. And with growing trouble at home with health on the part of my parents, bullying in my own crochet group, I needed my teens with attitude again. Only this time? I'm making new "friends" within the franchise. Having finally gone through all of In Space, I finally reached new territory with Lost Galaxy, and have been making "friends" here and there ever since. The old Rangers are there too, just on the fringe, and I still find myself seeking out Adam, ROcky, Tommy, even Kimberly and Kat when I just need a taste of the familiar.

This hasn't come without some serious downfalls that I haven't really been particularly happy with.

The first thing that happened is that in August right around the anniversary, my brain decided to shut down Rescue Rangers for a while. I figured, okay, I'll get through the watch, go to Power Morphicon, enjoy my vacation with Valerie and Lissa and Brayan, and maybe after that I'd be able to get back to Rescue Rangers.

It wasn't just for the fanfic aspect of it. As Fred's anniverary and PowerMorphicon got closer, I was drawn further into my former fandom (which at that point was no longer former, I guess). Between what was going on first with my two RP partners (life got in the way there for them), and then my crushing depression that only this fandom seemed to be able to fix in small doses, I just couldn't focus anymore, and the RP itself suffered the consequences.

When PowerMOrphicon was over, and i was back home, I definitely know I went through even more depression for a long while. Especially since I was still reeling from so many emotional moments that happened without the person that was supposed to have been there with me for it. So to ease the pain, I continued my watch, finally got through In Space.

The hyperfixation seems to get worse with every new series. Currently, I'm having minor fixiations on two specific series in the franchise, Time Force and Ninja Storm. Time Force brought me the first Ranger I could officially relate to in Trip. Trip was not only a Power Ranger, but an outsider in his own team before becoming one along side his team when they arrived in 2001. He was from a completely different plane t with a different culture, and had psychic powers. I'm guessing Katie was the same, but we just didn't see it nearly as much as we saw Trip's being pointed out so bluntly. Not only that, it also goes down as having one of my favorite episodes in the entire franchise so far, "Trip Takes a Stand". I know i've covered this episode in my previous entry discussing Time Force, but it bears so much repeating and praise. Trip's message to Eric, and really to all those watching is simply powerful and beautiful.

I won't talk much in detail about Ninja Storm. But I will point out the 4 characters that have absolutely won my heart in not less than 5 lines. Dustin, Cam, Blake, and Cyber Cam. (Don't give me that look about Cyber Cam. I'm well aware he's just a different side of Cam, but he *does* have his own personality, and I find him wildly entertaining) . and as much as I loved to hate Lothor, I was so unhappy with what he ended up having the neices do to Cyber Cam towards the end. :( (That goes double for Kapri and Marah who actually performed the deed and gave him the virus in the first place. But that discussion is for another entry.

To sum up, I can't deny how incredibly healing being back with both old and new Rangers has been for me. But I do know that I've let people down for it, and I haven't been able to figure out how to make it up to them yet, and I'm sorry. By the way? Rescue Rangers isn't the only fandom that's suffered. Biker Mice from Mars has taken quite the hit, but I am trying to finish at least one of the fics before the New Year. Then I'll be free to work on as many Power Rangers fics as I want. Thus far, I have RPM and Time Force. I also have a Gokaiger one that i'm deathly afraid of posting... lol.

So yesterday was my birthday! I don't feel any older, honestly. I should given I'm close to be over the hill...blah. But I don't, so I'll take it. So this is what I did all day yesterday:

Woke up at 9, and was greeted with pouring rain. Still went to the gym with Daddy C with the promise of going to the flea market if I went with him. Haha. Whatever it takes, I guess, right? Walked for 15 minutes but then got to talk to my brother Daniel, Ashley, and baby Alicia for almost an hour. That was nice! I can't believe Daniel remembered to call me!

Came home and had another phone call, this one from my buddy Lee in Maryland. I hadn't heard from him basically since September, but I'm glad he called. I missed hearing his voice.

Then it was off to the Flea Market. I got lucky twice there. First they still had my African-American inkling Amiibo which I named Rodri (more about that later). Second, I got a birthday discount on him, and only paid 8.

On the way home we stopped at the fruit stand that we like and I got some zucchinis and some squash for mashed squash.

The whole day I was waiting for my very anticipated voice/video chat with Anthony aka Squid Maker. So by the time we got home, I was waiting for him instead of the other way around. He had to wait for Rico to go to sleep because his boyfriend is apparently the jealous type even though I clearly don't like Anthony like that. He's just a really great best gaming friend. He's my equivalent to my brother's friend Isaac (Ghandi).

So then our neighbors came over with a birthday card for me. I was floored. That would've never happened in Maryland. Don't get me wrong. My neighbors there weren't awful except for Don and Janet, but they never gave me a birthday card or anything... wow.

Finally! I got to spend some face to face time with Anthony, and OMG did we have a ball. I got to meet two of his precious dogs. I showed him Rodri. He is the one who got me the green squid amiibo for a birthmas present. Rodri is Anthony's online alias and he is also the fictional version of Anthony in my Splatoon series of fics. So I basically now have all of my fictional characters from Splatoon in my Amiibo collection. Well, all the ones that they've released. Anthony and I both think a Spyke or Judd figurine would've been pretty cool though.

But here is what I spent most of last night doing after that voice chat. Playing Pokemon, and getting to know some of the more interactive features. I also talked to Sara on Plurk about Fire Emblem. Since Super Mario Maker 3DS is getting such poor reviews, I don't know if I will be getting that, but Fire Emblem Awakening seems to be general consensus for me as a newbie to the franchise.

I have the house to myself for the night. So the first thing I did this morning was call Google because I wanna know why I am not getting the rest of my Librarians Season 3 episodes. >.< Currently waiting for a call back from them. I may be asking for a refund. I don't know if it's on Google's end or TNT's, but someone fucked up, and I'm seriously an unsatisfied customer at this point. :( I may resort to getting Seasons 1-3 on DVD at this rate. (Not that I wasn't already planning to buy them on DVD just to have them...)

Anyway, that's it for now. I'll probably be back, as I'm finding this updating a bit therapeutic lately. LOL.

Oh. Just heard from Google. Apparently the issue with The Librarians is on TNT/Electric's end. Hopefully they'll get it resolved and I won't have to repurchase anything. In the meantime looks like I'm downloading the TNT app to catch up before Season finale... -sigh-