I'm not a sucker for that kind of stuff or love-hate relationships or love is war or family is everything or isn't X the cutest ever.

In my 30s, a woman almost killed me completely unprovoked and everyone else that saw it was permanently too scared to say anything because she was a full foot taller than any of us and could have broken every bone in my body with ease. Another one was an absolute fragile flower of an Asian princess that I was emotionally drained by. I've seen a woman seduce a trainer at work on day 1 and marry him while she stole credit for work I did. I've seen some women parade the diversity/ally banner and be some of the most evil people I've ever come across. And a rich woman once tried to run me over for kicks. I've run into a near endless stream of married mothers cliques (ones that have bullied the heck out of my no children female friends). I've been pranked by teen girls because they know they can get away with it. My best male friends have been emotionally blackmailed/stalked/had a near endless stream of lies spread about them online after leaving emotionally abusive relationships. And with things like the 4B movement and all men are evil thing being paraded online, I pretty much watch anything I say and avert my gaze as much as humanly possible.

I'm well beyond believing in teen chemistry/girl crying is the cutest thing ever/lovers for life/traversing realms thing. When your father comes within moments of killing you and your mother comes within inches of killing your father to stop him from doing so, you can't see relationships in a normal way. What I want to see is someone enhance another person, have a long term goal, emotional maturity.

If you want examples of anime couples I'm into:

Ushio and Shinpei from Summertime Rendering
Kurisu and Okabe from Steins;Gate
Tomo and Jun from Tomo-chan is a Girl
C.C. and Lelouch from Code Geass
Holo and Lawrence in Spice and Wolf
Lafiel and Jinto in Crest of the Stars/Banner of the Stars
Saki and Kousuke in Genshiken

Short list, I know. Like I said, what people deem as romantic/chemistry, I generally don't. Primarily, just give me a relationship I can actually believe would work long-term. And those seven stand out to me as ones that would.

I tried multiple eps but I just find it mega cringe and thinking about all the ways my mother should kill me if I actually did continue watching it. Between the donuts, the toothbrush, the scissors, the most utterly sickeningly diabetic tune in Nadeko's theme, the colour schemes, that very first scene of making a stupid panty shot get strung out, its version of banter...I get Araragi triggers the whole 'one of us' vibe like no other for many. But between all that and Shinbo being Shinbo with his visual wankery (it ticked me off equally in Sayonara Zetsubo Sensei and Madoka Magica [and frankly, that ticks me off more than the Monogataris]), I really don't give a damn.

I don't like all Shinkai. 5cm makes me part laugh and part want to hunt the male lead down and do worse than kill him. I was never watching Shinkai as a romantic. I watched Garden of Words for two wounded souls healing each other. I watched Voices of a Distant Star for seeing what one person made by themselves. I watched Beyond the Clouds for the defiance and not giving up. I watched Your Name because it felt like 'the' moment where someone could go head to head with Miyazaki and hit upon the bits of modern life that weren't cringe. And yes, I do feel Shinkai goes for the same themes over and over but...so do Miyazaki, Okada, Oshii, etc. There really are very few that mix it up.

In all honesty, I'm of the reverse opinion. I personally find Momogatari to be otaku-endearing verging on jailbait. I also utterly despise Shinbo and NishiOisin. But I don't hold it against anyone for liking it as some of the best people to converse with did like it. It's just not my thing in the slightest.

Shinkai up to You Name - Mostly worth it But Shinkai went mogul mode after your name and the auteur is gone. Like I'm done with Miyazaki and will never watch The Boy and the Heron, I'm not watching anymore Shinkai post-Suzume. There's no point.

Oilers and Stars. Expectiing the Oilers to get to the CF since the Canucks don't have Demko. Silovs did well against the Predators but the Oilers are an onslaught on offense. Stars lost Game 1 in OT to the Avs. In all honesty, I just want whoever wins the West to win the Cup. Any of the 4 there are fine. As for the East, the Canes are on their last run before the cap guts them and they're down 0-2 already. I hope the Bruins and Panthers leave each other ruined but if Game 1 is repeated, it might be over quick. NBA, Twolves and whoever wins Knicks-Pacers as long as the Celtics aren't champions.

Aria finale films, Lonely Castle in the Mirror and Rascal Does Not Dream of a Sister Venturing out have been most recent viewings. Night Is Short Walk On Girl. As for games, it's gping to be Hades 2 and not much else for a long time.

So are these titles full of mega emotional characters/melodrama? Because that's what I'm seeing/reading.

Welp...should have known that Game 7 against the Bruins is too much to overcome. Expecting Keefe, Shanahan, Marner, Samsonov and Brodie to all be gone by July 1. May this be the end of the core 4 because it just isn't viable.

Welp, the Leafs force Game 7. But the 76ers don't and neither do the Bucks. Good thing Game 7 is on the weekend, I will be on edge the whole time. Hopefully...Maxey gets actual help and Harris is gone as his contract is over. No idea why the 76ers ever picked him over Butler.

Welp, Leafs and 76ers both force OT and win Game 5 unexpectedly. Our teams live on for Game 6 at least. Maxey was clutch as for the 76ers but Embiid looks battered. Leafs didn't have Matthews, but Woll finally returned to being starting goalie and the difference was huge.

Did have EC on wishlist. Will get some indies mid year on Steam sale.

Anime wise of late, liked Lonely Castle in the Mirror. Pluto, Ancient Magus Bride, Inu-Oh, the Kimi and Boku duo movies -they did not.

If you're talkibg about Reload, I won't be, ever.

I did pick up the Steamworld franchise bundle and am playing through Steamworld Build, as that discount was over 90% for most of its games.

Most NHL and NBA series on set point. Rangers in NHL and Timberwolves in NBA through in sweeps. Suns are hilarious. Take away all the depth and picks to add just Durant and Beal. Bucks on verge of elimination. Giannis pulling power moves is really backfiring.

Never mind, Eagles did get him at 155, which I think is absurd. He was just about the best linebacker in college last year. That is a steal. Lions also got day 3 bargains with Wingo at 189 and McMahon at 210 - both were considered top 100 worthy. Cardinals had 12 picks and addressed a lot of needs.