Robin VanGilder

Chapter 134: The Chase.—Second Day

March 30, 2025April 16, 2025 Robin VanGilder2 Comments

As we approach the end of this great tome, I find myself in a reflective mood.

Thinking back upon the story as a whole, its many detours and sidequests, and the thrust of its narrative. This past week I even went and read some other criticism of Moby Dick, to refresh my memory a bit. The… pacing of this project has definitely been lopsided, with my having covered more than half the book in the first year, and then slowly grinding out the last bit of it. But that feels appropriate, as Ishmael dithered and delayed in telling the end of his tale, so do I struggle to embrace the entirety of this enormous work with the inadequate span of my typing fingers.

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Chapter 133: The Chase.—First Day

March 23, 2025April 16, 2025 Robin VanGilder1 Comment

Ugh, man, I finally feel like I’m waking up again.

Last week I had some minor oral surgery. Nothing too serious, no teeth being removed or anything like that, but nonetheless I had to go under general anaesthesia; that is, I was knocked out cold. It’s always a strange experience, I haven’t had it since I had my wisdom teeth out, and I’ve been some time recovering from it. The last few days have felt a bit like an extended dream which I cannot fully sink into nor awake from. But now, I’m coming awake again, and none too soon: the hunt is on!

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This Shit Sucks So Bad, Man

March 18, 2025 Robin VanGilder2 Comments

So, hey. I need to get some things off my chest.

In recent weeks, I have found myself in despair over the current political moment which we are all currently living through. As an American, I was saddened when Trump won a second term, and I’ve been alarmed and feeling defeated and helpless as he’s run roughshod over the bureaucratic state built up over the last two hundred odd years, ripping out the copper wiring and selling it for parts.

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Chapter 132: The Symphony

March 16, 2025 Robin VanGilder3 Comments

Ahh, man, I had a nice vacation.

Didn’t go anywhere, but just… hung out at home, like the old days. Reconnecting with the version of myself who was a layabout in college and when I worked at the market, playing Final Fantasy XIV for hours and hours every day, sinking time into JRPGs, so on and so forth. It’s refreshing, getting away from work and indulging in old pleasures like that. But, it’s time to get back to business.

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Chapter 131: The Pequod Meets The Delight

March 2, 2025 Robin VanGilder2 Comments

I’m on vacation!

Well, just about, anyway. I suppose it starts properly tomorrow, this is just a regular weekend where my sunday evening does not have any creeping dread. Or not for the usual reason, at least. I already feel myself decompressing a bit, able to open my mind beyond my usual routines. I always try to get completely out of the work mindset for these, though it can be difficult at times. Well, let’s get back to this ancient tome, I still want to keep this streak of posts alive.

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Chapter 130: The Hat

February 23, 2025 Robin VanGilder3 Comments

Another week gone by of 2025, and the world continues to fall into madness.

But at least my little slice of it is relatively calm and peaceful. It’s pouring down rain here today, and will be for the next week or so, and I love it. My favorite weather, as a lifelong resident of the Pacific Northwest. Even living in the middle of a city, there’s a certain peaceful coziness that comes from settling down inside on such a day that is utterly unmatched, at least in my personal experience.

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Chapter 129: The Cabin

February 16, 2025February 16, 2025 Robin VanGilder1 Comment

Oh man, it has been far too long.

I can only beg your forgiveness, shipmates. I have been overwhelmed with stress in my life in recent months, and thus have not found the fortitude to continue this project, preferring to distract myself with video games and movies and other amusements. But now, many things have been resolved, and I may once again take to the sea and do some deep thinking about whales.

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Games of the Year 2024

January 3, 2025 Robin VanGilderLeave a comment

Well, it’s that time again!

Getting to it a little late this year, I’ve been busy lately. Have been back at work, and trying to figure out some logistics around improvements to my apartment. Still muddling through that, but I wanted to take some time and reflect on the year of games, as is my custom. Even though, like, I do not actually write about games at any other time of the year on this blog. And, indeed, have not updated at all for the past month or so!

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Chapter 128: The Pequod Meets The Rachel

November 24, 2024November 24, 2024 Robin VanGilder6 Comments

Where does the time go?

I can’t believe it’s late November already. Well, I suppose the time around the election was a bit warped, to my perception, but still. I feel like I’ve hardly had time to catch my breath lately, one thing or another going on. But this weekend, I had some time to myself, got a little caught up on some other reading, and on relaxation. So, I find myself once again in a mood to reflect upon some proper lit’rature. Let’s get to it.

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Chapter 127: The Deck

November 10, 2024November 10, 2024 Robin VanGilder2 Comments

Well, I’ve had quite a week, as have many of my fellow Americans, I would reckon.

There was about 24 hours where my heart was seized with despair and rage in a way that I have never experienced before, or at least not in a very long time. But I was able to channel that in some productive ways and otherwise burn it off, feeling resigned and determined now. The less said about events on the national political stage, the better.

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