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Alright, alright, fine - I'll tell a couple of bear stories. No promises about beards, chunky knit sweaters, or ripped jeans (forgot the guitar, too) - will sun-bleached shorts crusted with salt and a polo faded by the sun do?

So. The first time I met a bear was on my very first kayak trip. Back then, kayaking trips were... let's say, an acquired taste. First you paddle for about eight hours under the blazing sun - often knee-deep in water, because the current's cheerful and the boats have seen some shit. Then, already at dusk, you are painfully trying to spot through the reeds along the shore that exact high, wind-blown patch with a few pine trees where you planned to camp for the night - and you are late, of course. Because down below you can't stop: reeds, mud, and the mosquitoes will straight-up eat you alive.

Now picture a pack of unshaven, starving dudes who have plowed some 30 kilometers with paddles, dragging the boats ashore with their last strength, pitching tents all crooked and half-assed... By evening, there is just enough energy left to light a small fire, pour a couple bottles of vodka into aluminum mugs, and cook some kind of fish soup and tea. And, as usual, you have gotta catch the dinner first.

And that's where I come in - tired or not, that's my element. Basically, if you hand me a fishing rod, I'll fish from here to eternity - no stopping me. First few fish go straight into the soup; the girls quickly butcher those. Then maybe five more - someone might bother to bake or fry them. After that, you just take a fish, shake the roe into a container (there was salmon in that river like crazy), and toss the fish itself. Some people hack them up and throw them back in the river "for feed", but I think that's ugly barbarism, so I usually bury them - there is plenty down there who will appreciate it.
Anyway, that exhaustion after the day's marathon caught up with me: I left the cleaned fish just lying on the shore near the boats - figured I would deal with it in the morning. Young, dumb, inexperienced.

I remember later, when I was already lying in the tent, sweating in a hungover haze, that girl was shaking me, saying someone was walking around the camp - scaaary. I didn't want to crawl out - mosquitoes felt scarier than the satan himself. But yeah, someone really was roaming around. I thought, whatever, someone probably went into the bushes to air things out at night - no big deal.

Morning comes - holy shit. A couple bags turned inside out, stuff scattered everywhere, and my fish on the shore? Gone. The experienced guys go, "You idiot, you baited a bear with your fish." Fair enough. Idiot. Guilty as charged, brothers.

We were so wiped from paddling the day before that nobody wanted to pick up the oars again, and the campsite turned out perfect - sun, breeze, mushrooms, berries. So we said screw the schedule and stayed another day. Me, obviously - straight back to fishing.

So there I am, fishing peacefully, bothering no one, when suddenly someone pokes me in the ass from behind. I think, wow, hilarious assholes, damn it, I'm about to lose the fish. And it keeps poking - insistently, ticklish. I spin around and ROAR at that clown, and - fuck me! - there is a freaking bear. Like 200 kilos maybe. He hadn't stood up on his hind legs yet, but he snorted menacingly and lifted a paw. I thought, that's it, the life of a great ranger is over. You know how big a bear's paw is? Casually, without even noticing, he could dent or punch through a steel barrel with it. My knees just buckled, my stomach clenched, and I dropped straight down on my knees in front of him, like I was praying. The older guys later said that's what saved me. The bear sniffed around, took a fish from my bucket, plopped his butt down on a rock, and started eating - just like a person.

Meanwhile, the guys up on the high bank are watching and whispering to me, real quiet: "Give him another." He finished that fish fast, and I'm already handing him the second - help yourself, dear guest. He took about four from me, climbed up onto the shore, made a wide circle around the camp, and left. Dudes gave me vodka - I was pale as chalk. Thought about breaking camp, but it was already getting late - who knows where we would find another spot like that, and the next one on the map was like 15 km away. Brutal.

So we stayed another night. This time I was ordered - no arguments - to catch fish and leave it out. Because if he comes back, doesn't find fish, he'll go straight into the camp. And, of course, I was assigned night duty - keep the fire going and watch for the bear, since I had screwed up. I kept the fire going, sure, but the "watching" part didn’t really work out - I passed out. Didn't hear the bear that night, but the fish was gone. Must have grown legs overnight, no other explanation.

In the morning we decided to wolf down some porridge and move out fast. I thought, I'll go fish a bit, leave a treat for the bear. Caught some, left it, got into the boats, paddling away. And then, maybe five kilometers later - we look - and he is running cheerfully along the shore next to us. Can you imagine? Escorting us! We were moving fast, with the current - and he was just jogging like it's a casual stroll, ears back, muscles rippling under his fur like waves over grass in the wind. Astonishing!

That's how he followed us down the whole river, from campsite to campsite. By the end, everyone was feeding him by hand - even the girls. And he even let *me" scratch him behind the ear, haha.

Whew, I'm tired of typing. I can tell another story later - much scarier - and reply to the rest later too. Have a great weekend!

Heyy, what happened to don't judge a book by its cover??... I mean, I am serious and disciplined! Well, most of the time. Okay, maybe half of the time... or, 40% of the time, but that's as low as I'll go on that matter, hmph!

Besides, guys are the underdogs in this contest. I haven't seen a guy's notebook that isn't full of barely legible letters, half written sentences, missing pages, and probably an inappropriate drawing on the back, while you guys... well, girls, carry a separate box for just your highlighter markers. It was never a fair competition!

Anyway, next reply better be handwritten! I have a reputation to uphold! ^^

No, no, no... you don't want to see my awful handwriting!!

Well, in my defense, I can still write in Japanese. (reminds me that CVs were usually written by hand over there for some reason, and all the letters needed to be perfect or otherwise companies assumed that you lacked the necessary commitment and discipline. :D)

English or anything in Cyrillic, though? I write everything in uppercase format like a child - cursive is a skill that I lost shortly after high school. But hey, if you want to really see that type of letter, I wouldn't be able to refuse. :D Well... apart from the fact that I'm not sure where my last working pen went. :(

Heya!..
Ouch, something changed on you profile - I liked that dreamer lady with coffee tbh, and now there is lots of snow... but I finally found the link to another site and read all your notes, haha. Was it always there?


Well, sometimes we truly are, haha. Like, when we were children, if you told me you were busy, it usually meant you were doing something cool, so we could be *busy together*. And now... "I'm busy with a 150-page operational report, come read it with me, let's have fuuun!" Happens, call later.

And sometimes we are just not in the mood. Also happens. But can you really say "I'm not in the mood" to anyone? What happens next? Some will hold grudges, others start bombarding you with their silly "what haaaapeeeened??" - and you are just not in the mood - wrong moment, that's it, "bye, talk soon". So, "I'm busy" may mean lots of things, I guess.

Idk why I'm writing it, just was thinking of something related (someone said I'm always busy for them and all that, and I didn't bother to explain - now I doubt, maybe I should?)

And that my old friend I mentioned last time - it wasn't this kind of emotional break or cold isolation, just business conditions that alienated us - something like this, don't want to tell, still hurts. But it was a good friendship all the way, I'm happy it lasted that long (and it will last for a while in my heart for sure), and I wish we were softer to each other - but we weren't... Anyway, what's done is done, smiles!


Not at all - whole five years in piano class, and so long in a choir, lol. Hated every single day of it, someone else's dream, not mine. Yet after many years I began to play a bit *for myself*, but all the history of music and stuff is long forgotten, dead and buried (and I don't want to dig this grave, not in this life at least) - so, yes, completely uneducated. Barbaric monkey who doesn't deserve to touch the keys, as my good kind mommy used to say, haha.


"I'm nobody", haha. Watched the movie? It's cool.
More seriously, bears are strong and smart, and you have absolutely no chance, if you get them angry, so... Don't get them angry!
Dangerous in winter or when cubs are around, but if you meet it in summer - oh, what a beautiful beast it is!
Fat, well-fed, content - its fur is glossy, muzzle looks almost smiling, and eyes are deep and curious... In summer there is plenty of food in the forest, so you are neither food nor a danger to a bear - just some funny little creature. It will wander over, rummage through the bags, steal canned food and bread. If you feed it fish (and I usually catch more than I can eat anyway), it will end up following you from camp to camp. In a way, it even feels calmer with a bear around - like, drunk poachers aren't going to crawl into your tent at night if there is a bear roaming nearby, haha. I'm kidding ofc, but all sorts of things have happened - bears, and poachers too. "Not in the mood" for stories now, maybe another day - but look, I post them from time to time on CD - come by more often!


It's a bit big topic for such a small text box, haha. Well, out of famous names, let it be Pushkin, Coleridge, Blake, Blok, Rimbaud... actually, I can give you completely different list tomorrow. What will never fade though if my deep love with Pushkin and... Marina Tsvetaeva. She is the real goddess, and her Rat Catcher is absolutely unmatched in my eyes. But... really, names don't matter, since we completely forgot what poetry was made for. It's not made to read it, it's made to listen to it... So, here comes all the musical lyrics, which is nothing but an evolution of classy poetry, and often no worse. So, like, Eminem or Shakespeare?.. Eminem for sure. Lindemann or Goethe? Ah, can't say that out loud, they will hang me. And all the jazz, blues, country, rock-n-rolls, synth-pop, punk rock and grunge authors... Countless, countless source of joy. Ah, whatever.


Only some crap suitable for cheap beer ads lol. Can write some short stories though - when my first kid was small, I told him a new story every night - for maybe 5 years.


Just some plain black tea, like they drink in Turkey and Russia. Well, maybe a bit stronger than people usually make it.
Almost all red wines except French ones - dry, sweet, old and new world, expensive and cheap, all kinds of grapes etc - not picky at all, regular Chianti is just the baseline. Then, very few white wines, carefully selected - here I'm picky as hell - mostly German Riesling, Cuvee and Traminer. And beers ofc - IPAs, sours, lagers - regular Augustiner for 1 euro is just fine on a sunny day! Cocktails, spirits - situational, not a big fan. Well, maybe Caipirinha is an exclusion - I love it. And some islay whiskeys... ah, no, still situational, haha.

And you? Cmon, there must be something but coffee!


I knew it! Don't ask, I just... felt like that, haha.


Sure, ruins can be ultra-romantic. All those liminal spaces, overgrown concrete, hot sunny rooftops, bits of interior... mmm.


My honest respect. Noble choice, must be fun... and challenging sometimes. But you are the one who starts the fire in their hearts - that's a big deal!


Not gonna lie, I had to google what it means. And now I feel I have to lie down, haha.

Anyway, sorry, that's quite a lot of typing for today (mobile user here). Have a great week, see you soon!

lol that's just a generic term for many things I'm too lazy to list

I think in your case you're forcing it too much. If you really can't help but be online, then be online. Just log out when you know you're getting too addicted. Like maybe place an alarm for a couple of hours or something

For me personally I never really left, I just stopped socializing here. I already did that when most of my early friends left in the late 2010s and I just got new ones thanks to covid. This was supposed to be a relic of the past but the free time breathed in new life and ideas, and well, at the very least for experiences and lessons, I can say I'm grateful to some but not all

But what about you personally? Are you just going to be a sidekick in their family? I'm not forcing you either, but you need to have your own thing. Buy our own house or something

I finished the manga a few days ago. I won't be spoiling shit so let's just talk about this once you are done

Just MHA and Ultraman lol, as per the last few days I spent it mostly gaming and making new bbcode

Nah, my anilist is just a backup anyway lol.

Hiii, I finally collected my thoughts to respond, haha.


Well, the year started with challenges, I guess. Parted my ways with some good old friend I knew for, like, 15 years, and had to take a good share of his obligations. Nothing grim, just sad.
You know, some people take a lot of your heart, and even if you know it will happen some day, you are never ready, and find yourself frustrated trying to fill that gap inside.
Apart from that, I'm awesome! Been to another cool place, had fun - maybe I'll drop a pic or two later.


Uh, hope you don't think bad of yourself or anything. I personally find you interesting member of this community, so there must be some innate value in you others can see, right?


Oh, I heard this name a few times last year. Was he that hot young pianist who performed in the Hamburg? I wasn't there, but people said he's charming.


Completely new name to me, but I listened a bit and he's great, thank you!


Go on, it's fine. I'm just afraid I can't say anything meaningful: even though I play piano casually, I'm not educated well enough to *understand* music. Just listening to some jazz and synth-pop at home, and lots of various Russian music too, but that's because of lyrics, not melody - I'm more into literature to be honest, and I like Russian poetry a lot (and where a poor poet can express themselves in the modern world if not in pop or rap music?)


Brown bears? I even fed and cuddled some, haha. They sometimes come to snatch food from campsites and all that, met them a few times. Polar bears - I only saw them from afar, to everyone's good, I suppose.


And I'm more into tea or alcohol. Coffee lost its charm when I quit smoking years ago, now can only swallow a cup in the morning to get a punch, that's it.


Tell them to pay a visit to Onomichi maybe, probably the most beautiful town there I met, haha.


Are you a teacher? That's cool, so cool! What field?


Nope. Traveled Russia mostly in my student years, and back then plane tickets felt luxury, haha. But... I had been quite far, like rivers sich as Anadyr, Kolyma, Indigirka and Jana - had been fishing on all of them. That's where mosquitoes are! Not even your usual mosquitoes, but some micro-flies that sneak past nets and bite whole chunks of human flesh. I still tremble remembering those trips.


Been there once, and it's truly beautiful. The problem is, there was something in the water, so I enjoyed maybe two-three days and then got sick. But this is one of those places I would go again for sure - you know, in addition to absolutely wild subtropical nature, they had all those astonishing ruins from soviet era, like abandoned summer camps and resorts full of statues, marble fountains, stone lions, long stairways - all overgrown, magical, surreal. Things like this drive me totally crazy, idk why.


That's the healthiest way to communicate here, haha. What otherwise should we do, argue about mecha deconstruction and naruto depth?

Have a good time!

Too early for concrete answers lol. I'm personally working on making as many changes as possible. Starting new shows, stopping some games, and some personal stuff that's been heavily backlogged

As for being online, I think that's going to be more of a necessity, since you need to be updated with some trends and cultural changes so that you're not out of the loop when you decide to say hi, when lmao

I'm lucky to have been here before the pandemic, since I can still anchor myself on the fact that I like the site, despite not really liking the others who pest this place lol
For those who aren't, the experience is tied to the place so they leave

I agree with everything you said about marriage but unless you can support yourself financially, even if not emotionally, your folks will still push that, I think
I personally think the Ketil's Farm arc is still the most emotionally engaging part of it. But there are a couple arcs in the manga that are fairly good. As for chapters, that's nothing lol. S2 ends at about chapter 100 so it's just me recapping the show. I haven't started it when you saw me grind it. The real continuation happened around November, I started the manga in October

This one?: https://myanimelist.net/manga/100035/Tongari_Boushi_no_Atelier
lol they're having an anime in April. I'd rather try that first

Aight thanks, same to you <3

I have been good! Just been getting ready for my trip. I'm flying out to Japan for 2 and a bit weeks in a few days. How about yourself, how are you?
;'
Yeah that would probably explain why I hadn't added you then lol, I probably checked and saw you couldn't send a FR. Collecting seems to be a big thing on this site for some reason, don't see what the point of it is if you never speak to anyone on your friends list.

I am actually new here and new to watching anime, thought I'm going over there why not try it as I have been wanting to watch it for ages and I have loved it.

Nah you def's aren't annoying, I haven't really been able to speak to people on here so it's great to finally conversate with someone.

All the best to you as well and have a great weekend and week!

Hey!!

Thanks for the add! Sorry I forgot to send a FR on here as well lol

Happy New Year!

Lol, it's just mal. It's not like it's gambling. But I do get what you mean. You've already had your own fair share of maldrama, so I think you can just consider that as a push to proceed with your life

Honestly, I'm not to hyped up about it. There's not really much to look forward for, but we'll have to adapt as it goes on

Mine isn't that bad but I can relate, that's probably why people move out and marry, as a sad escape route. The sadder thing is that marriage may potentially be worse

How far along are you in the manga?

I just watch what I want, but I do check out some seasonals sometimes

Uh, not really. Spent most of hols in a desert. Strange choice, I know. Just the way the stars aligned, haha. The war made it harder to meet friends from the east, so when they gather in some place to party, I join obediently and don't ask questions. A bit too much partying for me this time, tbh.


Idk, I wouldn't call it a rich men paradise. Like, people are struggling with the same economy issues - they have to work a lot, labor market is competitive, wages don't grow, everything is expensive, days are short. The typical life of a Norwegian is just job, family, repeat. They simply don't have much resources to have fun or make connections. Like, when you meet Scandinavian travellers abroad, you may think they are rich party boys, but at home they aren't. Sad truth.
Same as with photos - I posted the nice ones, but I have some terrible ones as well: mud and ice on the streets, grim gray landscapes, people waiting for a tram which is not coming...


At least he said so. I remember him posting some pictures of a very northern, very Finnish home at least.


Not the whole thing, maybe first 3(?) books, then lost interest. But the first book was memorable. And yeah, those armored bears.


Yeah, that's what I guessed, just let you decide if you want to say it openly or not. Lots of crazy people here. Like me, boooo!


I would lie if I said so. I enjoy listening to some horrible tasteless music quite often, just mentioned a few things that are universally great examples of true "art" and I still can say I love them as a whole. Usually it's not like that - say, Beethoven or Mozart are great, but not as a whole, not even speaking of, say, Grieg or Mussorgsky (omg, it sounds like some piano student's trauma multiplied by mommy issues, haha). That's what I mean: my taste is eclectic and individual, I'm not ashamed of that, and I see nothing wrong about putting Tommy Cash above Tchaikovsky, if I feel that way in this very moment. How about you?


That's actually a selling point of Scandinavia, tbh. They have very classy places, unlike our typical German place where you are supposed to be grateful for a clean glass.


Even much more far north, and some places to the east as well. I lived in Moscow for 7 years maybe, joined some rafting club, and we had been to many places - Urals, Siberia, Arctic islands. The place on the photos is pretty mild, it's the White sea's shore (I think). Just what I've found on the phone - had to scavenge from some really old chats, lol.


It's around Okutama, very close to Tokyo, maybe 40 minutes by train northwest. They call it "Tokyo adventure line", so you can see some grannies out from it for hiking every second stop. I was honestly amused by how much well-preserved and beautiful nature they have so close to that terrible anthill, yet only a few dare to explore it. Well, good for us, travelers, right?


I *think* it's Shimoda or alike. Also not far from Tokyo, to the south-west, maybe 1:30h by train. That whole Izu area is really nice - lots of pristine clear sandy beaches, small surfer villages etc. I assume they might be a bit busy in season, but when I was there, there were just a few girls riding waves and a few fishermen, niiice. Much better than more famous Yokohama/Kamakura and alike, imo.


Not just in Tokyo. They ALL live in some terrible concrete anthills, every city with a name you never heard is a home for millions. And between those terrible cities - neither good for living souls, nor for cars - there is this serene, astonishing nature noone needs, everything is abandoned, yet clean and connected - can you believe it?! That's true introvert's paradise, I tell you truly. Hard not to think about buying some old traditional house on one of these green hills, with an ocean view, at a price of a burger - then just get the satellite internet, work remotely, hike, swim, surf, love, repeat... Sounds appealing, right? Idk why noone does that.

How's your hols and all? Tell me something about yourself, I feel odd talking so much about myself, but I don't want to torture you with irrelevant questions. Just tell me something you want, that's it.

PS: Thank you for the kind wishes, as always. You too have fun. A bit rushed response, I'm still in transit.

Oh, thank you for the kind wishes. I will do my best not to fail, haha.

Scandik people are cool, I like them. They are just a bit too... serious maybe? Anyway, for me Swedish girls are all cuties in flower crowns, and Norwegian men are all knights in shining armor. Like, you feel the distance initially, but that's the derivative of their lifestyle, obligations and reliability, not some shallow snobbishness. When the ice melts, you bathe in warmth, I swear. Some of the best friends I met were from Norway - truly decent people with lots of dedication to pursue their dreams in this harsh world. Idk how to day, they are not your everyday *buddies*, but if you find the path to their hearts - they are you *lifetime friends*.

Serafos is a very real dude from that corner of the world. And very wholesome. I have never been to his place (Rovaniemi?), but I think it's awesome. Never been to Svalbard either, but always wanted to - because of Pullman's Golden Compass, I guess, haha.

I won't dare to play guessing game about your location, that will be way too pervo-stalker mode (and I must pretend I'm not - gosh, ofc I am, haha). If you want, you tell me, passt. But... when you said "east" and "beer", I immediately thought of Balkans - obviously not because of castles, but because of the greatest craft beers. My god, I love Balkans - have you been there? Even the smallest countries such as Bosnia can surprise you, I swear.

Art style - well, it's all complicated. I gave up on having a consistent *taste*, to be honest. Mood-driven, moment of discovery over the "objective goodness". There are things that always work though, such as Bach, Vivaldi, Dali, Pushkin, Victorian architecture, overgrown brutalist concrete - just a few examples with as little labels as possible - not some thoughtful choice, they just know the easy path to the most tender strings of my soul, haha.

Ah, right, you said "yes" to pictures, now you will regret - I'll send you some in private. Nothing obscene, I swear - just don't want them to stick out here.

Sorry for a slightly chaotic response, I'm a little drunk still. Happy New Year, yeeee!

Happy New Year to you effy!! xD

I seee...thats nice.
I remember binging it like earlier this year haha. Also ye, it has some good art xD
I love that one olruggio panel where he saves the squad

Tbh with you I've forgotten alot of things cuz its been a while since I've read it😭
I dont recall names of some characters. Also i probably gotta read the last arc I stopped from the beginning. I remember coco and agathe were making some kind of invention to show off in an event and some monster took over the city and covered the sky😭😭

Haha sure, imma let you know after catching up and discuss theories over it with ya xD
Qifrey sure is an interesting characters...I'm curious to know his past xD
Also idk why but I always say his name like "queue-fairy" in my mind lmaoo

Good luck to you too!

Don't worry about it; we all deserve to be lazy at times. Life is too hard not to take a break for oneself from time to time.

I am currently with my family and some relatives celebrating the holidays. The New Year felt like melting due to how hot and warm the night was. Still, we had a great time, we ate some good food, and the temperature has been decreasing.
Not like trying to sound weird, but my only plan for 2026 is to reach 2027 alive hahaha. I don't want to have any type of expectations. What about you?

I wish you all the best as well; I wish that 2026 brings you lots of health, great moments, and success as well C:

Okay i will give it a try i have checked and art wise i did like it. Right now i'm not watching anything i take a break until January 11 when the Winter 2026 Season start i have these anime on Plan to Watch Uruwashi no Yoi no Tsuki (In the Clear Moonlit Dusk), Dark Moon: Tsuki no Saidan (Dark Moon: The Blood Altar Animation), Douse, Koishite Shimaunda. Season 2 (Anyway, I'm Falling in Love with You. Season 2).