Rebirth Of The Red Lantern: Volume 2, Chapter 6

WHAT’S ON MY MIND

Getting back to work. I started editing my novel in earnest yesterday and it feels good to reacquaint myself with these characters. Chapter 1 was in the books before dinner, and I'll wait until this morning to begin Chapter 2.

WHAT BOTTLE I OPENED THIS WEEK

2023 Callaway Special Selection Sauvignon Blanc ($35, Callaway Winery). This bottle reminded me why wine pairing is one of my favorite hobbies. That’s a hobby, right? Check out the 2025 Wines page for the deets.

WHAT I BOUGHT

Well, you saw everything I bought recently on Sunday night’s post. Moving on…

WHAT MADE ME LAUGH

A modern dating video of a woman that put a man in her friend zone, and then she lost her shit when the man started dating someone much younger. That reminded me of how Sensei reacted when The Muse and I exchanged texts during a group meal back in December. Ara ara!

WHAT MADE ME UNEASY

It’s weird seeing TRS (aka TOKYO RADIATOR MFG CO, LTD.) with SDG on the #12 Team Impul car in Super GT. I love that the car has reverted back to “Calsonic Blue” but still...

WHAT SACRED TEXTS I READ

• Zenescope Legends - Spring 2025 Edition
• Rise Of The Outlaw Tamer and His S-Rank Cat Girl, Volume 5
• We’re New At This, Volume 18 (final volume)
• The King’s Beast, Volume 15
• The Barbarian’s Bride, Volume 3

Also from J-Novel Club:

• The Poison King: Now That I’ve Gained Ultimate Power, The Bewitching Beauties In My Harem Can’t Get Enough Of Me, Volume 5
• My Tiny Senpai (manga), awaiting Volume 2
• An Introvert’s Hookup Hiccups: This Gyaru Is Head Over Heels For Me!, Volume 10 (completed)
• The Villainess Is Dead! Long Live The Empress! Redoing The Story After A Poisonous End, Volume 2
• Notorious No More: The Villainess Enjoys Feigning Incompetence, Volume 1
• Blade Skill Online: Crushing The Competition With My Abysmal Stats, Useless Class and Garbage Weapon! (manga), Volume 1
• Make It Stop! I’m Not Strong… It’s Just My Sword! (manga), Volume 1

WHAT I WATCHED

Almost worst to first. During this weekend’s Fuji 3-hour Super GT race the #6 Velorex Ferrari 296 car piloted by Roberto Mehri and Yoshiaki Katayama went from 27th to the GT 300 division win. Even if the #61 R&D Sport Subaru BRZ didn’t have an engine problem on the final lap, it was still a remarkable run for the team.

WHAT I LISTENED TO

David Roubidoux’s soundtrack for ESPN's 30 For 30: Al Davis v The NFL documentary. It’s the kind of music that moves a Raider fan in the same manner a dying Andrew Beckett enjoyed listening to Maria Callas in the movie Philadelphia. It’s like that for me.

THIS WEEK’S MOMOKA KAWARAGI AWARD WINNER IS…

TikTok. They've allegedly sanctioned the "1,000 Men In One Day" Challenge. That's not empowerment. That's toxic feminism at its worst. I know they're consenting adults, but aren't there too many consenting adults?

A FIST BUMP GOES TO…

The San Diego Padres for winning six straight games until last night happened.

WHERE I’M GOING

By the time you read this I’ll be headed to Danza del Sol winery to purchase two bottles of wine. I would like to get one white and one red, and I'm open to the idea of picking up another library wine.

I’m thinking about stopping at a shop in Promenade Temecula later in the day. I could use a throwback jersey to go with that Padres hat I picked up on the last trip.