Part 49

Wednesday, July 1, 2026:  Happy Memorial Day, Newfoundland and Labrador! And a happy Canada Day! I can't believe we're into a new month, and it's really starting to feel like summer now, with temperatures in the high teens! I did make it out for a short drive just up the street late this morning, but I'm glad to be back home again with Sunny and the animals. I'm going to do a little cleaning around the apartment.

This afternoon, we've been listening to music from my "Random" Spotify playlist, including "Ode to My Family" and "I'm Still Remembering" by The Cranberries, "Violet Chemistry" by Miley Cyrus, "Drifting" and "Swordsman" by Night Tapes, "Rooms on Fire" by Stevie Nicks, "I Follow You" by Melody's Echo Chamber, "Angeleyes", "Waterloo", "Chiquitita", "Fernando", "Dancing Queen", and "Knowing Me, Knowing You" by Abba, "Fields Of Gold" by Sting, "Never Forget You" by Zara Larsson and MNEK, and "We've Only Just Begun", "Superstar", "Only Yesterday", and "You" by The Carpenters.

This evening, I was hoping to show Sunny some fireworks, as we usually get to see them on New Year's and Canada Day, but alas, they were cancelled due to the risk of forest fires. Otherwise, it has been a pleasant night spent playing "Animal Crossing: New Leaf", and listening to Julez's channel.

Thursday, July 2, 2026:  Another quiet, rainy day today... until the brief thunderstorm we had. I missed it while cleaning the bathroom with the fan on and the door shut. Darn! Sunny is the tiniest bit more demanding now at his advanced age of 16, but I think I can keep him around for a while if I'm really diligent about tending to his every whim. The Mametchi, Mimitchi, and secret characters can live long lives--up to 30 years on the re-releases--that is, if you take really good care of them. He is currently perched on the Tamagotchi clay chair that I painted at Clay Cafe two years ago, while Winnie is running around in her hamster ball. I'm not sure where Binks is, but I'm sure he's close by.

Saturday, July 4, 2026:  Due to the amount of anxiety I've been experiencing over the past few days, I've found myself doing something I don't usually like doing with Sunny--pausing him. I don't usually pause him for more than 20-30 minutes, but yesterday he spent about half the day on pause. I just know when I need a break... This will simply help ensure he lives a longer life. On a positive note, I got to see my Mom today. :-)

Tuesday, July 7, 2026:  I've continued to put Sunny on pause on and off as I need to, but I make sure to put him to bed each night so his age stays accurate. He's 21 today and very much on the demanding side. I'm not sure how much time he has left, but he's lived a very uneventful life, mostly staying indoors while watching me play "Animal Crossing: New Leaf". He also got to watch three episodes of "Worst Neighbor Ever" on Netflix--eep! I'm not sure if he'll get to spend much time outdoors, but we'll see... I haven't said much about Squishy, my Umino Tamagotch, because he has remained on pause ever since changing into an adult on June 15. I just don't have it in me to let him live out what I know will be a very short life after all the work I put into raising him.

Serious mode for a moment: This evening, I've been feeling rather melancholy. While Mom's side of the family has been gathering every day in preparation for my cousin's wedding, I've been isolating at home. There was a time in my life when I never missed a family gathering, and now it has come to this... At least I'll be seeing my psychiatrist in less than a week.

Saturday, July 11, 2026:  I was doing the best I could with Sunny, keeping up with his hunger and happiness by playing the Number Game, but I finally caved and fed him snacks to boost his happiness. Alas, Sunny passed away at the age of 25 this morning. Bye-bye, little guy...! I'm sorry I didn't give you a more interesting life here on earth.

On Thursday, July the 9th, I hatched Cammy, a 1997 Gen2 Tamagotchi, in a lovely mustard-brown camouflage shell. It has been a full year since I last hatched a '97 Tamagotchi (re: Pink Flamingo), and this one is especially special because Katherine gave it to me 10 years ago for my 26th birthday. I always forget just how relaxed and easy-going the '97 originals are compared to the re-releases that came out in 2017, in that you can feed them snacks and they won't die at random. I'm giving Cammy the best life possible, and he even got to go for a drive on his second day of life. :-) Then, I put him on pause briefly while I visited with my cousins from away. I didn't think I'd have the courage to see them, but I did, and it was wonderful. Anyway, I have my sights set on getting another Mimitchi, and I don't think that'll be too difficult considering I haven't put Cammy down. He's such a gorgeous Tam, with wonderfully tactile buttons! Raising a new Tam always feels like a fresh start, where anything is possible.

I played lots of "Animal Crossing: New Leaf" this afternoon and evening while listening to Court TV and reruns. Then Cammy called for his final discipline before going to bed for the night. Perhaps tomorrow he'll get to go for a drive. I haven't been to Starbucks in a *while*.

Monday, July 13, 2026, 12:46AM:  I've been keeping some really strange hours lately and sleeping until noon. My schedule is completely out of whack, and as a result, I've been putting Cammy on pause before I go to sleep in the wee hours of the morning. I'm hoping my psychiatry appointment will be the catalyst for getting me back on track and returning to my early morning routine. I hope it's not too late! On a positive note, Cammy changed into Tongaritchi yesterday (though it still feels like today to me :-P)! I won't be awake much longer. I'll update *later*, after my appointment.

3:56PM:  My appointment went well, and she decreased my Cymbalta back to 30 mg, where I was at the beginning back in February. I'm hoping this will allow me to get my energy back and regain the ability to drive the car and go out and do things again. I really miss my early morning coffee runs, drives through the quiet areas of town, and shopping at Foodland and the mall...

This evening, Cammy has been spending time with me while I chat online with friends. I'd like to say I'll make it to bed early, but it always ends up differently. :-P Tomorrow is an important day as I begin my dose reduction. Time to *feel* things again!

Tuesday, July 14, 2026, 8:23PM:  Well, today has been a good day! I woke up early, which wasn't planned or expected, but it allowed me to get a head start on my dose reduction, and so far I'm feeling great! I also got out for two drives and treated myself to Starbucks. Then, this afternoon, I decided that Cammy needed a friend, so I hatched Pan Pan, a 1997 Gen1 Tamagotchi, in a lovely clear blue shell with yellow buttons. Then, this evening, at exactly 8:16PM, Cammy changed into a Mimitchi! Yay! As for Pan Pan, I'd like to raise a Ginjirotchi!

I thought I'd miss raising the re-release Tamagotchis, but as it turns out, I really needed a break from them. My friend from away is arriving tomorrow, so I may be a little busier than usual over the next week.

Monday, July 20, 2026:  Well, it has been quite a week! I'm finally updating after nearly a full week since my last journal entry. I'm currently raising five Tamagotchis at once, and I'm being a rebel by not logging their every move. In order of age, we have: Cammy, a 12-year-old Mimitchi; Pan Pan, a 6-year-old Tamatchi; Themis, a 3-year-old Tongaritchi (white/green/red Tam); and finally, Purple Punch, a 1-year-old Marutchi (clear purple Tamagotchi). They are all original 1997 Tamagotchis. I also have Squishy, my Umino Tamagotch, whom I've finally decided to let live out his life after spending an entire month on pause. I've bitten off way more than I can chew, Tamagotchi-wise, but thankfully the 1997 versions are much more forgiving. I plan on hatching more original 1997 Tamagotchis as the week progresses. I thought about going back and writing Tamagotchi logs in my original website creation section from 2015, but I'm much happier with the way things are coming together here in Ginji's Journal.

Tuesday, July 21, 2026:  This afternoon, I was having some downtime in the game room after going for a short walk when, all of a sudden, I heard the evolution music! It was Pan Pan, my clear blue Tamagotchi, and he had become a Ginjirotchi! Yay! It's been so nice raising so many original 1997 Tamagotchis all at the same time. I'm down to four Tams now since, sadly, Squishy, my Umino Tamagotch, passed away early this evening. I won't be raising another one of those for a while. I'm not sure if I'll hatch any more originals or not... I'll have to think about it.

Things my current Tams have gotten to do: go for short walks, visit with friends, eat takeout, dine in at restaurants, go for drives, and watch TV. I'm hoping to add a few more walks to that list over the rest of the summer...!

Later:  I was unable to resist temptation and started up a little 1997 Tamagotchi Angel named Ann. Of course, I couldn't say no! :-) So, I'm back up to five Tamagotchis again now.

Thursday, July 23, 2026:  Today has been the hottest day so far this summer, and I've been taking refuge in the bedroom with the air conditioning for much of the day. I thought I was going to regret hatching so many Tamagotchis at the same time, but like I said, the original 1997 Tamagotchis are much more forgiving than the re-releases that I've been raising almost exclusively for the past two years. I'm really enjoying having a Mimitchi (Cammy) and a Ginjirotchi (Pan Pan) at the same time, and this evening Themis changed into a Pochitchi!

I've still been watching my regular true crime YouTube channel, "Julez with True Crime Reactions." I tried to tell my friend about it, but she wasn't interested, so I kept that to myself. :-P Anyway, that is how I've been spending this evening while keeping cool in the A/C. Later on, we'll definitely watch some fun, happy reruns. Oh yes, and I'm still playing lots of "Animal Crossing: New Leaf".

As for exposure therapy and getting out of the apartment, I've continued to stay home a lot, especially now that my friend has traveled back home. I know I need to get out more, but I feel safe here at home.

Later:  Well, I once again succumbed to temptation and hatched two more Tams: my pink/green Gen1 with blue buttons and my white/pink/yellow swirls Gen2 (both 1997 Tams) shortly before 8:30PM this evening. I've named them Six and Seven. :-D

Friday, July 24, 2026:  I have to admit that I've been feeling quite low, both mentally and physically, hence the decision to raise so many Tamagotchis at the same time. I'm still adjusting to my dose reduction back to 30 mg of Cymbalta, and it's still been very difficult for me to get out of my comfort zone, which is the apartment. I really pushed myself while my friend from away was visiting, but now that she's gone back home, I've doubled down on seclusion, and I'm not sure when I'll be able to challenge myself again.

9:09PM: My adult Tams, Cammy, Pan Pan, and Themis, are the only ones left awake now. I'm getting ready to wind down and take my mirtazapine (my bedtime medication). Maybe I'll be able to wake up early and go do something tomorrow. :-)

Saturday, July 25, 2026:  Early this afternoon, while visiting over at my mom's apartment, Purple Punch changed into a Masukutchi! I'm very happy with the group of adult characters I've raised in this group of seven! Oh yes, and Ann, my Angel Tamagotchi, changed into a Kuriten a few days back. Angels mature very quickly, so I sometimes forget to report on those Tams. I've definitely reached my limit for hatchings for the time being, and I'd like to get a little more outdoor time in during the month of August ......!

Speaking of getting out more, as I mentioned, I spent time with my Mom today, and there are so many things we'd like to do together, like visiting The Rooms, going to the cinema, shopping at the mall, exploring nature parks, and much more. I think I'll definitely want to go back to raising one Tamagotchi at a time in the coming months.

Monday, July 27, 2026:  Last night, my two Tams, Six and Seven, changed into the unhealthy teen characters Kutchitamatchi and Hashitamatchi. So cute! Then, as if I didn't already have enough Tams going, I hatched two Digimon at 8:30 PM before going to bed. I'm now up to nine virtual pets running at once! My record was 10 back in 2015. I paused half of my group this morning before heading out to my appointments and resumed their clocks early this afternoon when I got home. I have a feeling I'll end up tying--or even breaking--my old record with a tenth Tama at some point, but I have to figure out the best one to hatch first. :-)

This evening, I finally decided on lucky number 10: my tiger-striped 1997 Gen2 Tamagotchi! This one will definitely become a Mimitchi when he grows up. I'm so excited! Katherine gave me this very Tam in 2015.