Hard Rock Casinos Around the World Hard Rock Hotels

Continuing… (It's Part 6 in the saga, I fucked up. Sorry.)
So, after a few re-fueling and impromptu cigar-purchasing stops in South and Central America, we wheel up to the deserted jetway at LAX.
“Thought we were going to Elmendorf?” I asked.
“This isn’t it?” the pilot replied, feigning worry.
“No.”, I replied, “Looks like California. Fruits and nuts. All around. What’s going on? One minute we’re off to Texas, then Cali, then Texas again, now we end up here at the California airport of the iconic tower.”
“Yeah, it’s confusing enough haulin’ civilians around. But when we get a call from Virginia, we tend to comply without any questions,” the pilot explains.
“Aw, shit!”, I sort of exclaim, “Rack and Ruin called?”
“Yeah”, the pilot replies, “Figures you’d know these guys. They said they were closer to LAX rather than Texas and had us divert here. In fact, you look over there, see that dark blue Chevy? That’s them; and evidently, your ride.”
I tipped the airman from earlier a couple of cigars as he helped me with my gear off the plane and into the trunk of Rack and Ruin’s plain-Jane blue late modeled Chevy. Had to move the Sidewinder Missiles off to one side, though.
“Most honorable Agents Lack and Luin!” I quipped in my faux-racist greeting. “What the hell, guys? I’ve got to get to Japan and get some newly rigidified digits.”
“Let’s see your hand”, Agent Rack asks. “Nasty.”
“Yeah”, I sigh “And with the medicos in South America and their penchant for plaster, I don’t so much have a left hand as more of an ankylosaur tail.”
“Or Thagomizer”, Agent Ruin tittered. “Anyone gives you grief, and one upside the head should set them right. Or dead.”
“You’re a riot, Ruin.” I replied, “But not entirely incorrect.”
We all agreed that I really didn’t need any extra accouterments to make myself look more dangerous. I mean with my severe haircut, stern beard clip, and perpetual ‘Go fuck yourself’ scowl.
“Yeah”, I replied, stroking the aforementioned beard, “I just can’t get that. I’m such a people person.”
After Agents Rack and Ruin finished drying their eyes from laughing what I thought was en extremis, we finally got down to business.
“So, what’s the skinny, guys”, I asked. “New marching orders?”
“No. Not as such”, Agent Ruin said, still sniggering over my ‘people person’ comment.
I see we’re moving. Agent Rack is just driving casually, like Chewbacca when they were waiting to see if the Empire went for that expensive Bothan code.
“Then, what?” I asked, getting a slight bit piqued.
“Well”, Agent Ruin noted, “When you went to South America, you took some of your artillery collection with, correct?”
“You know I did. You even made some snide comments about my personal choice of sidearms and their ‘excessive’ calibers, if memory serves”, I reiterated.
“And if you are proceeding normally, as you always do, they’re all nestled in the trunk of this very car. All cleaned, quiet, unloaded, and smelling sweetly of Hoppe’s Number 9 and WD 40, correct?” Rack inquired.
“Yes?” I cautiously venture.
“Well, ya’ big dummy, do you think they’re going to let you saunter into Tokyo armed like the Third Fleet?” Agent Ruin chuckled.
“Um…well…I do have a Diplomatic Passport.” I ventured.
“That’s not going to work this time.”, Agent Ruin said, shaking his head. “They’re tighter than Dick’s Hatband about sidearms. Want to bring in your Rigby SXS .500 Nitro Express double rifle? Not a problem. Sidearms, especially in your alien hunting calibers, nope.”
Well, that’s just….*dandy!”, I reply, semi-put out. “Now what the hell am I going to do?”
“Ever think that’s why Ruin and I are here, now?”, Rack asks.
“And here I thought it was just so you could bask in the warm glow of my fucking wonderful personality. Or that you actually cared about me as a real goddamn human”, I joshed.
“Ummm…yeah”, Rack replies, “There’s no way we can answer that without going on some Deadpool list. “
I agreed.
“OK, here’s the deal: you get your sidearms, ammunition, speed loaders, brass knuckles, Asp, laser range finders, Sap, Zeiss scopes, Kukri, Wisconsin Cheese Whittler, Buck folding skinner, Marine K-Bar, those two ultra-illegal Cheburkov Cobra titanium switchblades...”
“Three. Olga the KGB lady sent me one for Geologist’s Day.”
“Ahem. Those three ultra-illegal Cheburkov switchblades, that Wyoming Speedholer, your MASER Time-Distance Computer, garrote, pocket rail gun and whatever else lethal you carry and deposit it in the iron box in the trunk. We’ll ensure that it’s delivered to Esme post-haste. And by post-haste I mean one of our guys will deliver it personally.”
“Well…I suppose”, I conceded, “But best send someone who’s been to the house recently. I don’t know how much bigger Khan has grown since I left on this little fantasy trip. Wouldn’t want a star on the wall in Langley for someone eaten by a mastiff. Want to see a picture….Oh, bother. That’s right. My phone’s at the bottom of fucking Lake Maracaibo.”
“Good point”, Ruin interjects, “Guess we’ll do a little road trip and deliver it ourselves. Best call Esme and let her know what’s going on.”
“I have no objections to your proposals. Please give Esme this when you see her. I had some luck in the Calaveras Casino and if I don’t send her some mad money. Ouch. She’ll never forgive me for not taking her along to Japan.” I asked.
“But I thought Esme hated Japan? Too crowded and too ‘fussy’, I believe was her estimation.” Ruin asked.
“Yes, but once she saw the Ginza, all bets were off. Shopping the likes of which even Allah himself hasn’t seen.” I replied, slowly shaking my head.
“I see”, Ruin said, “Well, since you’re off to Sapporo, perhaps you can do a recon for Esme on the shopping there.”
“Not bad. Not bad at all.”, I smiled, “Now I know why I let you guys hang around with me.”
So, as advertised, I am now standing on the tarmac at LAX, basically feeling naked.
“Can’t I keep just one switchblade?” I moaned to Agent Rack.
“Go ahead, if you’re really keen on donating it to Japanese customs”, he replied.
“Fuckbuckets.” I groused.
“There, there now. That’s the usual Dr. Rocknocker of which we’re all so fond.” Agent Ruin chuckled.
“Remember, you do have that wallet-sized credit card gizmo from the Company. So you’re not entirely ‘naked’. Think of it as an emergency breechcloth.” He smiled.
“I’d like a larger model if you don’t mind. It’s chilly out here.” I joshed.
After Agents Rack and Ruin stripped me metaphorically naked as they de-weaponized me, they handed me a Business Class ticket to Tokyo, and a pass to the Japan Airlines Hospitality Suite and Lounge.
“So sorry you guys can’t hang around and have a few farewell snorts”, I chided, “But you’ve got a bit of a drive, so best be off before the weather turns to shit.”
“Who says we’re driving?” Agent Rack asked as he hooked a thumb over his shoulder at the ready and waiting C-130 cargo plane currently taxiing slowly in our direction.
“Well, in that case”, I smiled even more broadly, “Let’s invite the flight crew to join us. That’ll make the flight home all that much more interesting.”
After near tear-jerking farewell sentimentalities, i.e., “Piss on you”, “Get stuffed” and “Take a fuckin’ hike”; Agents Rack and Ruin, my weapons and the Agency’s plain-Jane Blue Chevy were all nestled snugger than buggers in ruggers in the belly of the thundering C-130.
Now truly on my own, I trudge the hundred thousand or so centisteps to my departure terminal, make a quick recon that my flight’s still slated to go in a generally westward direction, and hightail it to the nearest courtesy desk to ask for a motorized cart to take me and my remaining luggage to the JAL Hospitality Suite.
Hey. I’m old, infirm, and currently among the walking wounded.
Anyone that disagrees risks an Ankylosaur tail club swat or Thagomizer to the skull.
Finally ensconced in the JAL Hospitality Suite, Polo Lounge of course; I was drinking Tokyo Teas (3 oz. vodka, 2 oz. gin, 2 oz. rum, 1 oz. triple sec, 1 oz. Midori, good splash of lime juice, a slight splash of 7-Up (diet, of course), over ice with a lime wheel) with Pabst Blue Ribbon Extra 1844 chasers and Hangar One’s “Fog Point” vodka on the side, hiding from the brutish realities of this foul year of two thousand and twenty-something, Common Era…
I’ve already called Esme and we’ve had a good, long chat. She still managed to give me her shopping list for whenever I find myself bored on the Ginza.
She’ll be shocked when she learns that I’m not going to be in Tokyo long, but have 1st class tickets on the Bullet Train to Sapporo. Still, I’ll probably find myself in Pole Town or the Stellar Place there, trading piles of US greenbacks for locally produced Japanese curios and clothing.
I can hardly wait.
I order another round of drinks, as the wonderful attendants in the Hospitality Suite were bored out of their skulls because of the COVID-induced drop-in customers flying anywhere that requires a hospitality room stay, and I was virtually the only one around. They tried their level best to outdo each other when it comes to Japanese efficiency and friendliness.
After a couple of hours, they ask if I would like something from the grill, as the day chef had “the COVID” and the night chef just arrived. A quick perusal of the menu and I chose a 28-ounce dry-aged Porterhouse and another round of drinks.
I usually don’t like to eat too much before I fly, but JAL tells me the flight is going to be virtually empty, something like <121 pax, all told, so restroom availability shouldn’t be too much of a concern.
Plus, who am I to say no to a free, blue 28-ounce dry-aged Porterhouse?
There was a bit of difficulty conveying to the chef through the intermediaries of the hospitality just how I wanted my steak.
“Blue,” I said.
“Brue?” was the reply.
“Rare. Very, very rare.” I continued.
Look of total bewilderment.
I drag out my Personal Language Pro, speak “Steak, very, very rate” into the infernal gizmo, and hand the contraption to the attendant.
“珍しい、非常に珍しいステーキ?”[ Mezurashī, hijō ni mezurashī sutēki?]
“Raw! Nama!” I say, louder than need be.
They toddle off to find the chef.
“How is it sir, that you would like your steak cooked?” he asks.
“Very rare. Just a minute or two per side. Inside still cold.” I instructed.
All I got for the trouble was a puzzled smile.
“Give me the language gizmo…” I type in a few words…
“お尻を洗い、角をノックオフして、ここから出してください”
[O shiri o arai,-kaku o nokkuofu shite, koko kara dashite kudasai.]
“Wash its ass, knock its horns off, and walk it out here.”
“OH!” as the lightbulb pops. “Rare. Got it! Excellent!” the chef laughs and zips back to the kitchen.
Like I always say, I’m nothing if not the international ambassador of amity and goodwill.
“Crack tubes!”
Dinner was fantastic. I do wish I could have somehow mailed the Porterhouse bone back home for Khan. After that hambone incident, he might even taste it.
Finally on the plane, in an almost empty Business Class, the flight captain informs us that we’re headed to Haneda Airport Tokyo and anyone not headed in that direction better ‘haul ass off’ the flight or forever hold their peace.
Late-night international flights tend to be a bit more wooly than your average Chicago to Omaha gig.
Especially when the flight’s damn near empty and we have the next 12 hours or so to be best friends.
We taxi, turn and head into the wind. I’m doctoring up a couple of dossiers and keeping my personal cabin attendant, Luna since there were two of us in Business and two business flight attendants, busy with her trying to play ‘Stump the Geologist’.
“I’ll bet you never had this before.” She beamed and handed me a tumbler of very dangerous-looking brown liquor.
I cautiously sniff, take a modest gulp, swirl and glug the rest down.
“Ohishi Single Sherry Cask”, I say with a muffled belch. “Light. Fruity. An Englishman’s drink.”
“Oh. You knew. Let me try again.” She smiles beatifically.
“I have no objections to your proposal.” I smile as nicely as this crotchety old Komodo Dragon could.
She returns with another flagon of spirits; it smells of obsidian, leather, and earth.
I just had some of this back in LAX. I take a snort, smile, and shotgun the rest.
“Hibiki Japanese Harmony…lovely stuff.” I smile. “A little light for my jaded palate, but I’d never turn it down if it were free.”
“Oh, you win again. Wait. One more.” She smiles and skitters off to the galley.
She returns with another soupçon of some more dangerous brown liquor.
“Here, try this. It will make you very popular at social gatherings”. She smiles.
Sniff. “Splendid.” Snort. Swirl. Smile. Shotgun.
“Kanosuke New Born, if I’m not mistaken.” I smile back. “Very nice. I really do like this one.”
“You too good at this. One more!” she stands and stomps off defiantly. She returns in a trice and hands me the glass.
“Hmm…brown. Light notes of earth, leather, dating your daughter, and Kentucky…
“Beam Suntory, right?”
“You know them all!” she says, feigning irritation.
“And I thank you. Those were all excellent. Now, anything in the dangerous clear liquor category? I asked.
Luna smiled as I palmed off a 20k yen tip.
“Oh, no sir. Wait until we land.” She demurred, referring to the gratuity; which is know is not de rigueur in the Orient, but she didn’t seem to mind.
“Just in case we never make it to Tokyo”, I laughed, unknowingly presciently.
We both chuckled about that last line as she tried out various sakes and shōchūs and an actual Japanese ‘White Liquor’ (ホワイトリカー), which were all excellent as was the company.
I tell her that I need to get some work done and could she bring me a tall Rocknocker. After explain the origins and construction of the eponymous drink, she brings me one that must tip the scales at 1 or so liters.
She settles down to an empty seat and I get after the work that I need to finish before we land. I’m about ½ way through my drink when it felt as if the plane hit a brick wall. She quivered and quaked and clutched at herself while I made some comments about the pilot’s mental health.
We dropped like a paralyzed falcon, then just as suddenly, felt like it was an express elevator to Angel’s 11. The plane bucked and shimmied, wickedly. Then we slam-danced right and fell a few more stories. It was like we were in a Mixmaster and the owner was trying out every speed.
The emergency lights in the 777-300ER popped on, and the fasten seat belt sign barked loudly so even sleeping travelers could enjoy the show.
Rinse. Spin. Shudder. Repeat.
Finally, the ride smooths out and we hear the captain on the blower.
“This is your captain speaking…ah, we seem to have hit some uncharted turbulence back there.”
“Thanks, Captain Obvious”, I muttered.
“Everything’s A-OK. “ he reports.
“That’s good”, I note.
“But…”
“There’s always the but…” I groan.
“…we have a couple of warning lights for which we can’t quite account. So to just be safe and certain, we’re going to divert to Hawaii, get a clean bill of health and resume this flight once we make sure everything here is hunky-dory.”
There were scattered groans and applause. Add them together and divide by two and the average response on the flight was “Meh. Whatever.”
Except for the other guy in Business, with whom I hadn’t shared two words. He began to absolutely lose his shit.
“Oh, man! We’re so screwed! Mechanical malfunction? What does that mean?” he positively fizzed with fear.
The flight attendants tried to calm him down, to no avail. They basically gave up and said they’d report his misgivings to the Captain.
I motioned over to my personal flight attendant, Luna, and asked if I could be of service.
“Oh, Doctor Rock”, she smiled at me, “If you could speak with him. You are so calm, and he is…”
“Losing his bloody mind”, I chuckled as I finished her sentence for her. “Of course, I’ll take a stab at it.”
So, I grab my drink and ease over to my Business Class partner and introduce myself.
“Hey, pal. How’s it going? I’m Dr. Rock, gentleman, scholar, and connoisseur of cigars and things alcoholic. You doing OK?”
He looks at me with an ashen face and his eyes the size of bloodshot dinner plates.
“Yeah. I’m Todd Schotts. I’m flying to Japan for business.” He mumbles
“No surprise there,” I reply calmly and take a slug of my drink.
“But now we’re all going to die. The plane is busted and we’ll crash…” he started off again.
“So, Todd is it? Good. You drink?” I asked.
“Yeah?”, he stammered back.
I asked Luna to make us a fresh batch of my eponymous cocktails.
“OK, Todd, listen up”, I began after the drinks were served, “I have flown literally millions of miles over the last 4 decades. On Aeroflot when it was still the USSR. On TACA (Take A Chance Airways), on Chalk’s in the Caribbean, on Bob’s Verrifast Plane Company in Rhodesia, on regional carriers that don’t even exist anymore. All over the world. Had some bad experiences flying, and me ol’ mugger, this ain’t one of them. This is nothing more than the glitch for this mission.”
I chuckled lightly and complimented Luna on a fantastic drink.
“Yeah…yeah…yeah…but we have to land and check out some lights…” Todd squealed.
“Well now, Todd. It would be rather difficult to do any external assessment while in flight, don’t you agree?” I asked.
“But we’re diverting. We have to land and that adds more risk. We’re going to crash and die!” he was coming more and more unglued.
“I will bet you every cent you have on your person and home bank accounts that that will not happen”, I chuckled.
That took him by surprise. At least it shut him up for a while.
“Look, Todd. This is Boeing’s latest model. They have the most incredible safety record. And if a little clear air turbulence were to be knocking planes out of the sky, don’t you think we’d hear about it as the press went berserk?” I asked.
“But they don’t know what the lights mean! What if one of the engines’s out? How far can we fly on one engine?” Todd stuttered.
Having my fill of a supposedly grown man with inane childlike fears, I calmly replied,
“All the way to the crash site.”
He went white.
“...hope we hit something hard. I don’t want to limp away from this.”
He went limp.
Then I went to my seat and motioned for Luna to prepare a reload.
Of course, 45 minutes later, we land without incident at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, Honolulu Hawaii.
We were told to just wait around until they figure out what the problem if any, was.
They had officials waiting at the end of the jetway to check our COVID status and passports before they let us loose in the terminal.
I asked Luna if she knew this airport. She noted that she did.
“Is there a JAL hospitality room here at this airport? I asked.
“Yes, Doctor. It’s the Sakura Lounge. It is located on the third level above The Local, Terminal 2.” She replied.
“Please notify whoever needs to know that that’s where I’ll be for the duration”, I smiled and handed her my business card. “See you soon, I hope.”
“Oh, Dr. Rock”, she replied, “I am sure it is nothing much. We’ll be back in the air within mere hours.”
“Well then”, I smiled, “Guess I’d better get ready to hoof it to the lounge.”
“Oh, Doctor Rock”, she smiled, “No rush. I will call for you a courtesy cart. You are injured, you are Business, you are priority.”
“I love that Asian efficiency.” I smiled back and toddled down the jetway.
At the terminus of the jetway, I show my COVID-clear papers, dates and times of my Anti-Virus vaccine administrations, the letter from Virginia clearing me of all detention, and my red Russian diplomatic passport.
While in the cart, whizzing our way to the JAL lounge, the driver said “Man! You must be some kind of VIP. You were through that welcoming committee in less than two minutes!”
“Me? Nah!”, I chuckled, “Just an old phart of a geologist that they didn’t want to mess with. Not on such a bright, sunny day as this.”
“I see you’re not wearing a mask.” The driver quipped.
“Very observant. There are reasons for that.” I replied.
He careens around a corner and if this were a normal pre-Covid day, I’m certain we’d have killed hundreds. However, the airport, as I’ve come to grow accustomed to, was virtually deserted.
“Yeah? Like what?” he asks.
“Well, Scooter, 1. I have an active and hardworking immune system that I let off the chain every once in a while for exercise. Got to let it know what it’s up against, right? 2. I’ve had all my shots and some that were experimental. They seem to have worked. And 3. I find it difficult to drink and smoke cigars while wearing a mask. However, if you’d prefer, I will mask up. No problem, though it still is optional.”
“Nah, man”, he said, “I was just wondering if you were one of those religious idiots or conspiracy nuts.”
Nope”, I smiled back, “Just another geologist out in the world plying his trade for cash. Y’know, whorin’ around for money.”
He laughs aloud as we skid to a stop right in front of Lounge.
I slip the guy a $20 and ask if he’d listen for the JAL flight I was just on. If we’re going on ahead today, I’d need him to scoot by and putt-putt me back to the plane.
He laughs and pockets the $20 as quick as a mink ruts.
“No worries. I’ll just hang around this area. I hear anything about the flight, I’ll come and let you know.” He grins.
“Good man”, I say, as I hand him my card. “I’m Dr. Rocknocker. Call me Rock”.
“And I’m Kapula Mano, call me Kap” he replies.
“Good man”, I say again, “Hope to see you in a while.”
He grins, floors his electric cart, and peels out at speeds approaching 4.5 MPH.
I wander into the lounge, show my credentials, and am escorted to a post up on Mahogany Ridge.
The bar is very quiet. Besides the bartender, I can’t see anyone else in the darkened and Smooth Jazz-infused drinking emporium.
I order a local drink, a Mai Tai, just for the experience and something a bit different.
It’s served in a goldfish bowl on a stem, bedecked with a slice of lime, a sprig of mint, a stick of sugar cane, a polychromatic orchid, and the obligate paper umbrella.
“Ah. Mai Tai. I will enjoy it.” I said to no one in particular.
One was enough, and I decided to go back to the old standard. Once I explained to the bartender what that was, he made them heroic and enthusiastically.
I’m reading up on a random dossier, making notes in a new file, and puffing away on a Fuentes Onyx double Maduro Churchill cigar.
I hear a slight cough coming from my right, and this here lovely lady, she sat to my immediate starboard and looked at me semi-quizzically.
Not in the mood for shenanigans of any stripe, I give her the obligate Baja Canada nod and tilt of the drink. I return to my dossiers and continue to read and take notes.
“Excuse me!” I hear.
Fearing the worst, either the woman is Karen-oid anti-smoking or a religious fruit-and-nutburger, I slowly turn to face her and reply, somewhat glacially, I have to admit.
“What?”
“That cigar…”
“Here we go…” I mutter, eyes rolling northward.
“Smells exquisite. Could you tell me the brand? My husband would enjoy some like that.” She notes.
Instantly my demeanor switches 180^0.
“Yes, ma’am. It’s an Arturo Fuentes Onyx. Churchill size, or 60 ring x 7” length, double Maduro. Here, take one for your husband. I have an ample supply.” I smile.
“Oh, no. I couldn’t. Could I?” she asks.
“Please. I insist.” I smile the best I could given the circumstances.
“Thank you. You’re too kind…umm…Mr….?”
“Doctor. Doctor Rocknocker. World traveler, oilman, and international ambassador of amity, good drinks, and fine cigars. Call me Rock” I said.
“Oh! A Doctor?” she brightens.
“Yes, of Petroleum Geology and Engineering. Not medicine.” I chuckle.
She chuckles back.
“And I am Hella Aaberg”, as she offers her hand for a quick shake.
“Interesting name, Hella. Scandinavian or Old German heritage?” I ask.
“On my father’s side. He’s Finnish.” She replies.
“But I’ll wager your mother is not Scandinavian, correct?” I ask.
“She was from Truk, an island…”
“In the South Pacific, Micronesia. Was she from Weno city?” I asked.
“Why yes. How could you possibly know that?” she asked.
“Oh, I’ve been there. Great diving amongst the WWII wrecks. I think it’s actually called ‘Chuuk Lagoon’ or something like that now.” I said.
“That’s right! Amazing. Where else have you been?” she asked.
“Anywhere there’s oil, strife, booze, cigars, heavy explosives and typically long distances from whatever most normal people call civilization,” I replied with a chuckle.
Suddenly, I hear a voice booming out behind me.
“Why don’t you save that rapier-like wit for those musky-fuckers back home, Rocko?”
My expression changes. My eyes pop fully wide open.
“Hella?” I asked.
“Yes?”
“May I ask you a favor?”
“You can ask…”
“Thank you. Now, looking over my shoulder, is there a hulking goon of a person, thin up top, paunchy halfway down with the most ridiculously tiny sized shoes you’ve ever seen for a so-called grown man?” I ask.
“Yes. Yes, there is.” She replies.
“I thought so. Many thanks.”
I spin and launch off my barstool and grab Toivo by the hand. He hadn’t seen my left-hand Thagomizer yet.
“Toivo! You old sumbitch. What the flying fennec fox fuck are you, of all people, doing in Hawaii?” I laughed.
“Just keeping an eye on you, Rock!” he laughed equally as loud.
“No, fucking-A, seriously. What the actual fuck? What are you doing in this actual nice place?” I asked.
“Just headed to Tokyo to conduct a bit of service company business. I walked into the lounge and smelled a foul cigar. I figured it can’t be the venerable Dr. Rocknocker. He’s back at some school up north terrorizing geology and engineering grads and undergrads.” Toivo laughed.
“But there I was. Surprise!”, I laughed and pumped his hand.
“What the fuck, Rock. Now what did you do?” he asks, referring to my Ankylosaur tail club left hand.
“Ah, fuck. Long story. Oh, pardon me. Toivo, this is Hella. We were just talking about the South Seas Islands.” I said.
“Planning on running off together?” Toivo laughs, to the amusement of neither party.
“Oh, and this idiot is Toivo, a man with a congenital foot-in-mouth disorder. He’s mostly harmless.” I noted to Hella.
Greetings were shared all around. Hella made some small excuses and said she needed to depart. I gave her another cigar for her husband, shook her hand, and wished her well.
“Here’s my business card. If your husband has any questions, have him drop me a line.” I noted.
Hella smiled beautifully. She said she would. Then she thanked me shook our hands, and like that, there she was, gone.
“Well Toivo, you old bastard. Don't just stand there in the doorway like some lonesome goddamn mouse shit sheepherder, get your ass over here and have a drink.” I motioned over to my perch on Mahogany Ridge.
“Don’t mind if I do”, he says as he deftly winds his way to a seat to my left, snagging a cigar out of my pocket on the way over.
“You might want these”, I say in an exasperated tone, and hand him my gold Dunhill Hobnail lighter and V-cutter gizmo.
He cuts and fires up his heater.
“What you drinkin’, Rock”, he asks.
“Anything with alcohol, as usual. You know that Toiv.” I reply.
“No. I mean right now.” He clarifies.
“Well, I had a Mai Tai. Very nice if you like fruity, flowery drinks. It’s the locals’ favorite.” I reply.
“Sounds good. I’ll have several. And you?” Toivo asks.
“My usual. The bartender is already apprised of the situation.” I reply.
Toivo smiles the smile of one knowing his sobriety is going to be taken out for a swim. Hell, taken out and tossed into the deep end.
Toivo and I sit there, swapping lies, smoking cigars and sipping at our toddies.
Hell, Toivo was slurping them like a sump-pump during an extra-wet summer.
We chattered about family, work, whether or not Tokyo was going to host the Olympics or if the COVID-boogie man scared everyone off.
Toivo, always one afflicted with TB (“Tiny Bladder”) got up to go to the loo for the third time that hour. He left his pocket organizer on the bar and I swear on a stack of Origins of Species, I didn’t touch it.
I reached over to his vacated seat to retrieve my cigar lighter when I looked down and saw in his organizer a tab that reads “Rack & Ruin”.
“Oh. No. Fucking. Way.” I recoiled as I’d just reached out and petted a 6-foot hungover scorpion.
“One of my best friends? Secretly allied with the Agency? No. Not possible.” I drained my drink and called for another.
“No. No. No. It can’t be. No. No fucking way…” as doubt began to dissolve when I thought back to all those times I had just ‘run into’ Toivo.
“But he’s oil patch as well. That could be chalked up to coincidence.” I ruminated quizzically in my brain.
I quickly reflected back on J.M. Darhower: “Yes, you see, there’s no such thing as coincidence. There are no accidents in life. Everything that happens is the result of a calculated move that leads us to where we are.”
She may be the author of the execrable New Adult Sempre series, which Esme likes and I loathe, but she might just be right on this occasion.
Toivo return, lighter in the bladder and good sense. He never even noticed he’d left his organizer out in broad bar light for all to see.
“So, Toivo, when’s your flight?” I ask.
“Oh, man. Was I lucky. The JAL flight to Tokyo from Los Angeles had mechanical trouble and had to divert here. I got a ticket on the plane for that flight, when it continues.
“You mean ‘if it continues’,” I replied.
“Yeah. Yeah. That’s what I meant. Hey! Was that your flight?” he asks innocently. He’s really innocent of fieldcraft.
I decide to have some fun at my old friend’s expense.
“Yep. Hit some CAT (Clear Air Turbulence) and the JAL pilots reported some lighting problem. No apparent ruin to any of the systems. They relay racked their brains to figure it out, but they couldn’t that’s why I here.” I said, waiting for the words to swim upstream in Toivo’s coconut and make some sort of connection.
“Yeah. Double lucky. No problem with the plane and I get to go to Japan early.” Toivo crookedly grins.
“So, no trouble with the plane? Then why haven’t I heard that the flight’s going to resume?” I asked as I pushed a fresh, seriously strong drink to Toivo.
“Oh, must have heard it in the john.” Toivo countered and tried to cover his tracks by taking a huge gulp of his drink and damn near dying coughing.
I pound on Toivo’s back.
“Heimlich time?” I ask.
Toivo signals ‘no’.
“Jesus Christ, Rock. What was that?” he asks.
“Just my usual”, I innocently replied.
“Holy fuck. No wonder you have the reputation of…” Toivo realizes too late that he’s said too much.
“Yeah. They can rack you out. Really ruin a person if they’re not careful.” I reply icily.
“Why, Rock. Whatever do you mean?” Toivo slurred as he realized he’s been caught out.
“The jig is up, you turncoat. You know Agents Rack and Ruin from the agency. Right? You keeping tabs on me for them? You Quisling! You Benedict Arnold!” I almost was on the verge of losing my cool.
“It was nothing. They approached me years ago as I kept being mentioned in your reports. They asked me for some information. One thing leads to another…” Toivo was ready for an Ankylosaur tail club swat to the bean.
“Oh, put your fucking hands down, you asshole.” I smiled and chuckled.
“You’re not mad?” Toivo slurred badly. I had the bartender make him another special drink.
“No, Toivo. Not mad. Just disappointed.” I said, smiling like a Komodo Dragon just finishing up a fortnight-old wildebeest.
Toivo sat there and puzzled and puzzled until his puzzler was sore.
“You’re not going to kill me or anything rude like that?” Toivo asked, half-assedly trying to inject humor into the proceedings.
“Nah. The paperwork’s too ridiculous for me to do another liberation. But, Jesus Fucking Christwagons, Toivo; you could have mentioned it to me. Fuck, I thought we were friends to the end?” I said, dejectedly.
I was really getting through to Toivo. I could tell he was loaded; feeling like shit and massively deplorable.
Great fieldcraft, indeed.
I told him things “are what they are” and that I won’t blow his cover nor his honorarium.
He began to feel better. I often wonder if he was serious about the sanctioning thing.
Then I delivered the strategic missile strike.
“Just remember, Toivo. I wrote your dossier for the Company…”
He swivels to look at me.
“And one for the KGB. Olga says ‘howdy’.” I grin evilly.
Toivo short-circuited at that. Russia is his company’s bread and butter. Now he has the KGB as well as his best buddy looking over his shoulder at every move.
I bought him a few more drinks and continued to needle him about his ’leading a double life’. He was well and truly fuckered when the electric tap-tap driver from before came looking for me to whisk me back to the plane.
Seems it was simply some knocked-out wires on the plane, or slammed bulbs that were generating a false positive, indicating something other than the system that alerts one to something haywire went haywire.
Toivo was pretty much down for the count. I got him sober enough to hand them his ticket and ensure that he was really supposed to be on this flight. Thing was; h e was in Economy, and I was, as always, in Business.
I spoke to Luna, and the plane was going to be even less crowded than previously because some folks could or wouldn’t wait, or didn’t want to go on with the rest of the trip on a ‘damaged’ aircraft, or were just stupid and superstitious.
“Luna, could I pay for the difference between Business and Economy for my less than 100% conscious friend here? He’s had a rough day.” I asked.
“Dr. Rock. Just put him into Business. No one will be the wiser. Luna says so.” As she gave us a grand smile.
“Luna, I owe you. Thanks so much.” I said.
“Now get on board. Your friend looks like he needs all the downtime he can get.”
“Yes, ma’am!” I said and saluted here be best I could which dragging a schnozzled Toivo down the jetway.
I dumped Toivo in a window seat well away from my seat. I know Toivo. He snores like a semi-load of live hogs rocketing downhill locking up the brakes at 88 MPH.
Surprise! There was no one else in Business. Luna looked at me, at Toivo, and gave me a thumbs up.
Whatever I can write to further her career at JAL, she’ll have it before I deplane.
We finally get everyone settled, and with Captain Kangaroo at the helm, we bounced gracelessly off the tarmac, into the warm, tropical Hawaiian air, finally headed for the Land of the Rising Sun.
Toivo was snoring like a chainsaw hitting rusty nails as I worked on the various letters, communiques, and dossiers which needed updating before we reached touchdown. I gave Luna a thick letter with instructions not to open it until we were on the ground and Toivo and I were well off and away into the terminal.
We left Hawaii at 1300 hours, so we should arrive at Tokyo Nareda around 4:00 pm, the previous day. I was so bereft of time and time zones, I couldn’t figure out what time it really was, as judged by my biometric rhythms, so I asked Luna for a stiff drink as I was kicking off my boots and going to attempt to get some kip.
She brought me another liter or so eponymous drink. I was sawing logs by the time I slurped the last swig of that nifty drink.
Suddenly, or later, I have no idea really, some loudmouth drunk asshole from way-the-fuck-back in economy-land toward the ass end of the plane staggered into Business demanding free drinks.
Luna was nothing but civil, and asked him to both shut up and return to his seat. His air cabin hostess, or whatever the fuck they’re calling them these days, will attend to his needs.
“Naw they won’t! They want me to pay for more drinks! I’m broke but I demand more booze! You fucking owe me.” railed the asshole. “I sat at the bar in Hawaii for four hours. Them fuckers charged me an arm and a leg!”
“No, they don’t owe you shit”, I said in a voice that unmistakably loud and clear.
“Fuck you, old man! You stay the fuck out of this!” he bellowed. “Shut up or I’ll do ya’!”
“’Old man’? ‘Do me’? Excuse me. Luna, may I have a word alone with this individual?” I asked sweetly.
Luna shook her head in the affirmative, and I stood up to confront this flagrant asshole.
“Now look, Scooter. You have gone way, way over the fucking line. You are loud. You are abusive. You are obnoxious. And you stink. Plus you insulted a person who is just barely containing his righteous wrath right now. So, I’m giving you one and one only chance to shut up, sit back down before your body spontaneously develops all sort of bruises, contusions, broken bones, and unconsciousness.” I said calmly, evenly, and threateningly.
“What da’ fuck you think you’re going to do…old man?” he screeched, trying to inflate himself into full mammalian threat posture, all 5’ 9” of it.
He didn’t notice Toivo walking up quietly behind him, as Toivo was returning from the head, quiet as a moose.
“Well, Scooter, I am an Air Marshall. Duly appointed, fully trained, and properly pissed off. Right now, I can arrest you, physically detain you, turn this flight around and take you to the Hawaiian police, at your cost for the inconvenience of the entire flight. Or I could arrest you, physically detain you, and turn you over to the Japanese authorities when we land. It’s really your choice. Choose wisely.”
To be continued…⇝

I think this list speaks for itself. Thank you for this year Nano community and see you in 2021 for even more fun! We are only getting started 🚀

u/iB0mmel

There are also some links within the first link that discuss indie local multiplayer games as well.
Introduction
We're all familiar with the Hotline Miami's, Hollow Knight's, and Celeste's of the world. These are some of the indie games that hit the big time. Of course, for every one of these games, there's 100 other indie games that have been glossed over, relegated to a spot in a digital store few people will ever find themselves in. I wanted to bring attention to some of these lesser known indie games once again.
Details About the List
I'm going to order them according to Metacritic Critic Ratings. Steam is the only one on the list with all 10 games featured (Steam has 10 of them, Switch has 9 of them, PlayStation 4 has 7 of them, and Xbox One has 5 of them), but the Switch gets more reviews than the other platforms, so I will it use the Switch version of all the games for their review scores, except #8, where I will use the Steam version, since that’s the only version of it available. The two bottom games have pretty low critic ratings (60% with 1 Critic Review and 53% with 2 Critic Reviews). I personally disagree with the low scores of these two games, but it's only fair that you hear from more than just me. Keep in mind that games with only one or two User Ratings on Metacritic will not show the score. A game needs at least three User Ratings on Metacritic before the score will be shown. This is not the case for Critic Reviews.
Currently 9 of the games are on sale on Steam right now, and 5 of them are on sale on Switch. None of them are on sale on the PlayStation 4 or Xbox One at the moment.
For the purpose of this post, I’m just going to stick with saying “achievements” and “getting all achievements” instead of “trophies” and “platinum trophy” since Steam has all 10 games on the list. You can basically substitute these with “trophies” and “platinum trophy” if you’re a PlayStation gamer. I will make mention of the two games on here that don’t include a platinum trophy however.
Platforms will include a link to the U.S. store page of the game for each platform. Price is in U.S. dollars.
1. Ultra Hat Dimension

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, Steam
Regular Price: $4.99
Steam Sale Price: $3.74
Picture: Link
Trailer: Link
Genre: 2D Level-based Puzzle Game
Metacritic: 85% from 1 Critic Review, N/A from 0 User Ratings
Description: Ultra Hat Dimension follows Bea through a series of rooms in a palace on a quest to undo the magical spell that has made the mythical Spluff creatures want to attack one another. There is a little bit of backstory via one sentence thoughts from Bea in between levels, but nothing major here. The gameplay revolves equipping four different types of hats and using them to evade or push Spluffs around to retrieve the key and reach the door. Each Spluff dons one of four different hats which effects their behavior towards other Spluffs and you. You will be punched one tile back by every Spluff unless you’re wearing the same hat as the Spluff. Spluffs interact with one another differently depending on what hat they’re wearing in a rock, paper, scissors kind of way – they may punch a Spluff back one space, get into a scuffle that allows you to get close to them without wearing a hat, or they may temporarily disable them in a way that allows you to access the space the Spluff consumes within eight moves. There are undo and reset buttons included that allow you to quickly rewind mistakes. There are some clever puzzles accompanied by catchy tunes and a charming pixel art aesthetic. The difficulty is about average.
Completion Time: ~3 Hours
Extra Content: Since this is published by Ratalaika Games, getting all the achievements can be obtained after only clearing 2/3 of the levels. There are a few custom maps on the PC version of the game but no additional content on consoles.

2. Bot Vice

Platforms: Switch, Steam
Regular Price: $9.99
Switch Sale Price: $2.99
Steam Sale Price: $1.99
Picture: Link
Trailer: Link
Genre: 1990s Arcade-like Fixed Screen Shoot ‘em Up
Metacritic: 80% from 1 Critic Review, 90% from 1 User Rating
Description: Bot Vice follows Erin Saver through a dystopian world with anthropomorphic animals and a 1990s arcade aesthetic, complete with cheesy dialogue and an announcer that shouts your item pickups with enthusiasm. Each level takes place on one screen and tasks you with defeating waves of enemies while minimizing damage to yourself. You are always locked behind a barrier at the bottom of the screen and are only able to move left and right. In terms of move set, you have a number of different guns and projectiles, your saber, your roll, and you can duck behind cover to make it through each level. Parts of the barrier can be destroyed, leading to gaps where normal enemy fire can reach you. Weapons and powerups will spawn from hitting a certain type of enemy that you’ll then have to pick up from where they land. The gameplay is fast paced and allows you to unleash a heavy amount of firepower on some very big foes. The levels are all short but will likely take a number of attempts to complete, as there is a lot to take account of on screen. Nearly every level has a mini boss appear at the end, with a main boss featured after every five levels. At the end of every level, you’ll be rated based on your completion time and health points remaining. I only got a few high ratings on my first time through, so there’s an additional challenge there if you want an A rank on every level.
Completion Time: ~3.5 Hours
Extra Content: Beating the main campaign unlocks an additional 25 levels – this is on top of the 25 bridged together in the main campaign. Getting all achievements is somewhat difficulty, as you must beat all 25 levels in the main campaign with at least an A rank.

3. Valfaris

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, Steam
Regular Price: $24.99
Steam Sale Price: $9.99
Picture: Link
Trailer: Link
Genre: Run & Gun
Metacritic: 79% from 19 Critic Reviews, 81% from 36 User Ratings
Description: Valfaris is one of the best run & gun games I've ever played. You play as Prince Therion who returns to his home planet of Valfaris on a quest to kill his father. It's themed around a fictional planet and has a gross alien vibe coupled with heavy metal music. The music doesn't override the other audio in the game, and it does a nice job of upping the ante when you're fighting a boss – of which there are many. You're equipped with a primary gun, a more powerful mana-based gun, a sword, and a shield that can block with mana or parry. There are a number of weapons to acquire throughout the game, and the guns in particular do a great job of feeling different. You’re able to upgrade your weapons with Blood Metals. Some Blood Metals are found in plain sight, others are rewarded for defeating a tough enemy, and some are given for going off the beaten path. These upgrades typically just up the firepower but will sometimes introduce a secondary move to your weapon. There are checkpoints every two minutes or so, and most bosses will have a checkpoint just before them (only the weaker bosses come after a gauntlet of enemies). The game is a little hard at points, but overall it strikes a nice balance of feeling accomplished for overcoming the challenges without getting overly frustrating.
Completion Time: ~8 Hours
Extra Content: There are a few secrets to find throughout the game that are off the beaten path, though I was able to find 2/3 of them on my first playthrough. I found all but one weapon as well. The replayability comes from New Game+, which allows you to take all your upgraded weapons into a harder version of the game. Since the weapons all function a bit differently, this can be lots of fun.

4. Inertial Drift

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, Steam
Regular Price: $19.99
Steam Sale Price: $15.99
Picture: Link
Trailer: Link
Genre: Racing
Metacritic: 79% from 6 Critic Reviews, 77% from 3 User Ratings
Description: Inertial Drift's distinguishing characteristic is its employment of the right analog stick for drifting. This takes a little getting used to, but it feels great once you get the hang of it, creating some exhilarating moments when perfecting corner turns. The game has 10 unique tracks + 10 reversed tracks, 16 vehicles, and four separate story arcs. Each story arc is only a couple of hours long and features a different protagonist with a different vehicle. Since you’ll be racing on the same track a few times, there are a few gameplay variations that differ from just reaching the finish line at the end, such as racking up a certain number of points that are acquired through longer drift times and other means. There's quite a bit of dialogue between races, and in the races themselves characters will frequently dish out positive commentary on your performance in the form of text in the top left hand corner of the screen. The game's aesthetics are a fusion of anime and synthwave. I've heard many fans liken the game to the manga Initial D, though I'm unfamiliar with that series myself.
Completion Time: ~3 Hours (for 1/4 Story Arcs)
Extra Content: There are a number of different modes including a Story Mode, Challenge Mode, Grand Prix Mode, Arcade Mode, two player Split-Screen, and Online, as well as a Tutorial. Completion of challenges in Challenge Mode allows you to unlock new vehicles for the other non-Story Modes. Grand Prix Mode allows you to race using different characters/vehicles through a connected set of challenges, while Arcade Mode is for one-off races. I wouldn't recommend this game for online play as the user-base is pretty small (hence it being overlooked) and you're unlikely to find a match.

5. Golf Peaks

Platforms: Switch, Steam, iPhone/iPad
Regular Price: $4.99
Switch & Steam Sale Price: $1.99
Picture: Link
Trailer: Link
Genre: Level-based Puzzle Game
Metacritic: 78% from 22 Critic Reviews, 78% from 16 User Ratings
Description: Golf Peaks is a card-base puzzle game that plays nothing like the actual sport of golf outside of getting a tiny ball in a hole. Instead you’ll choose your moves by using the cards at the bottom of the screen. They have different numbers and trajectory that result in hitting the bar different distances and different heights. You aim the ball up, down, left, or right, and then select the card you want to use. There are a number of different tiles that have their own effects that you have to account for. Ramps, for example, will force your ball down unless you’re able to have your ball travel to the top in one move. There were a number of times when I thought I had tried every solution just to finally find the right solution. The minimalist visual style and relaxing music service the game’s simple but engaging premise. The difficulty is about average.
Completion Time: ~3 Hours
Extra Content: There are three extra levels in each world which will add about another two hours of game time, as they are typically harder than the nine levels found in their respective world. Getting all achievements requires beating all regular levels and bonus levels, plus finding a secret in the credits section.

6. Horizon Shift ‘81

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Switch,, Steam
Regular Price: $8.99 on PlayStation 4 & Steam, $9.99 on Switch
Switch Sale Price: $1.99
Steam Sale Price: $1.79
Picture: Link
Trailer: Link
Genre: 1980s Arcade-like Fixed Screen Shoot ‘em Up
Metacritic: 78% from 4 Critic Reviews, 80% from 4 User Ratings
Description: This is actually a sequel to the Steam exclusive Horizon Shift, which sports a different aesthetic and isn’t quite as good from what I’ve read. Horizon Shift ’81 mimics the look of a fixed screen shoot ‘em up from the early 1980s but comes with a few twists of its own. Your ship is positioned in the middle of the screen on a horizontal line rather than the bottom, and you have to flip between sides to deal with enemies coming from both the top and the bottom. The line can be broken in different places – leaving a gap where you can fall to your death – by asteroids and certain projectiles. This is where the expanded moveset comes into play: you can jump between gaps and also over enemies who attach themselves to the line. Enemies on the line can also be taken out with a horizontal shield bash that regenerates after a few seconds. There is a boss after every five stages, some of which will actually bring the line down to the bottom of the screen, while others retain it in the middle. Horizon Shift ’81 has a number of customizable settings that change everything from the aesthetics, to the difficulty, to the checkpoint/lives system, to the speed of the game, and more. The two main modes are a choice between three lives with a checkpoint before and after every boss, or a checkpoint at the beginning of every level but only one life.
Completion Time: ~3.5 Hours (Normal Mode on Arcade Style)
Extra Content: There are a number of ways to customize your future playthroughs, and there’s an unlockable boss rush mode after finishing the game. You can also try to outdo your previous score(s). The few achievements are relatively easy to obtain. There is no platinum trophy for this game.

7. Pato Box

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, Steam, PlayStation Vita
Regular Price: $14.99
Switch Sale Price: $3.74
Steam Sale Price: $2.99
Picture: Link
Trailer: Link
Genre: Punch-Out-like 3D Action Adventure
Metacritic: 74% from 14 Critic Reviews, 75% from 13 User Ratings
Description: Pato Box follows an anthropomorphic duck boxer on an adventure through a stylistic noir comic book world. “Pato” is a Spanish word that translates to “Duck” in English (the game was developed by a Mexican studio). The boss fights are heavily inspired by Punch-Out’s gameplay, but there are levels outside of these fights to help differentiate it. Most of the levels can be selected in any order you choose and typically serve as a leadup to the boss fight. Bosses are usually introduced by a cutscene followed by some dialogue taunting Pato Box. The levels play entirely differently from the fights, but the themes of the level match those of the bosses. The levels will employ various elements of evasion, stealth, exploration, and a few time-based mini-games. The casino level, for example, will have you walk around the casino looking for chips and punching the slot machines to earn enough to pay entrance to the fight, while the food factory has you evading stompers, sawblades, and butcher knives as you work your way through the level. There are variety of things to find throughout the levels: tokens for decorations in Pato Box’s room, backstory on the boss of the level and the world, and tips on how to win the upcoming fight. The fights themselves lock Pato Box in the middle of the screen, allowing you to block, juke left or right, and perform a low or high jab to the left or right. The game foregoes a HUD in favor of a visual representation of your health via scars on your body, which I thought was a nice touch. While the levels and bosses play pretty differently from each other, they’re weaved together by a dark and intriguing story that follows Pato Box’s quest for retribution against an evil corporation.
Completion Time: ~7 Hours
Extra Content: There are motion controls for the boss fights exclusive to the Switch version of the game. There’s also an Arcade Mode that lets you replay boss fights and some collectibles to find. The achievements are very difficult, and many ask you to beat a boss without taking a single hit.

8. Primal Light

Platforms: Steam
Regular Price: $14.99
Picture: Link
Trailer: Link
Genre: 2D Action Platformer
Metacritic: 60% from 1 Critic Review, N/A from 0 User Ratings
Description: Primal Light follows an alien caveman through a mostly linear series of 10 levels and 10 bosses. There are some hidden paths that lead to health and health potion upgrades, charms, and lives, with usually a challenge between you and the collectible. Charms grant passive effects, like boosting strength after taking a hit from an enemy, and allow for some player choice – there are 12 of them but only two can be wielded at a time. Health potions function similarly to Estus Flask in Dark Souls, in that they regenerate upon death, and finding the right time to use one is a game in itself. As you progress through the game, you get a few mandatory upgrades to your moveset that allow for slightly more complex platforming. The game dons a 16-bit aesthetic but controls feel modern and smooth. You can attack in four directions, and your character has some midair control. Bosses are a particular highlight, both in the visual department and from a gameplay standpoint. There is a lives system, so losing all of them at the end of a level or boss will put you back in the beginning. This is only for the two harder difficulty options – the easiest difficulty option has lives disabled. That said, I played on Normal Mode and only got one Game Over for about three to five of the levels. There is some future DLC planned for the game that will add more levels.
Completion Time: ~3 Hours (Normal Mode/Middle Difficulty Option)
Extra Content: I only got 7/12 charms on my first playthrough, so there are likely a few secrets to go back for. Outside of that, if you played it on one of the lower difficulties you can try your hand at Hardcore Mode. The achievements ask you to do challenging things to get 100%, like collecting all upgrades, beating the game without dying once, and beating Hardcore Mode without using any Continues.

9. Tamashii

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, Steam
Regular Price: $5.99 on Steam, $11.99 on consoles
Switch Sale Price: $4.79
Steam Sale Price: $2.49
Picture: Link
Trailer: Slightly Graphic (Link
Genre: Puzzle Platformer
Metacritic: 53% from 2 Critic reviews, N/A from 0 User Ratings
Description: Reportedly inspired by obscure Japanese games from the late 1980s and 1990s, Tamashii blends puzzle platforming together with an oppressive atmosphere. The introduction starts with the character being willed into existence by a godlike character that tasks him with destroying the macabre forces that have taken control of and corrupted his chambers. Your character is able to spawn three inanimate clones of himself which is the primary source for most of the platforming and some of the boss fights – you’ll use them to trigger switches and open up new paths. There’s about an even mix of puzzle solving and platforming, and there’s a whole eight bosses in this short adventure (though one is a secret) that are probably the most visually interesting moments in the game. The creatures and backgrounds are effective in selling the dark presentation of the game. The difficulty is about average – maybe slightly easier than most indie puzzle platformers. There is a sequel currently in the works.
Completion Time: ~2.5 Hours
Extra Content: There are a few obscure secrets to discover. You can also play through the chambers again with a score meter, and there are certain achievements associated with getting a good score. Getting all achievements isn’t too difficult, but you’ll probably need a guide for some of the secrets.

10. Neon Drive

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Switch, Steam iPhone/iPad
Regular Price: $9.99
Steam Sale Price: $3.49
Picture: Link
Trailer: Link
Genre: Rhythm
Metacritic: N/A from 0 Critic Reviews, N/A from 0 User Ratings
Description: Neon Drive is a challenging rhythm game with a synthwave aesthetic and appropriately matching music. The objective of the game is to evade the obstacles coming at you by transitioning between four lanes at the right moment using either two of the face buttons, D-Pad, or shoulder buttons. Personally I found the shoulder buttons worked best. The game will occasionally transform you into other vehicles that mix the gameplay up a bit - one notable example is when you turn into a plane and transition between eight lanes in a 360 degree orientation. There are only eight levels that are all about three minutes in length if you were to beat them with no deaths, with two checkpoints and two health points that regenerate between checkpoints. While this all sounds very generous, most of these levels will still take you dozens of tries, though the life reset is almost immediate so you can get back into the action right away.
Completion Time: ~3 Hours
Extra Content: There are two harder difficulties, an endurance mode that sees how long you can go without dying, a free run mode that allows you to play through the game without reset (only unlocked after beating each level), and online leaderboards. The achievements are very difficult. There is no platinum trophy for this game.

Special shoutout to Valfaris which is my favorite game on the list and, again, one my favorite 2D run & guns ever.
Have you played any of these games? What are some other overlooked single player indie games?

So.. I've got 3 ScreenPasses to give away. I have a decent amount of movies to choose from. First come, first serve. Movies I own that are eligible for ScreenPass are posted below, in no particular order, so you don't claim a pass just to find you already have what I do or you're not interested in what I've got. The majority are 4k when available, with very few exceptions and I might have 1-2 movies listed more than once. I apologize in advance.

Wonder Woman
Die Hard 1-5
Fast And Furious (all minus Tokyo Drift)
The Matrix 1-3
Taken 1-3
Batman (NolanVerse) 1-3
The Lost World of Jurassic Park
Jurassic Park III
Underworld 1-3
Batman vs Superman Dawn of Justice
How To Train Your Dragon 1-2
i, Robot
Ocean 11, 12, 13
30 Days of Night
Jennifer's Body
Unleashed
Lord of The Rings Extended Edition 1-3
The Hobbit Extended Edition 1-3
Rush Hour 1-3
Moulin Rouge
Training Day
Armageddon
Gone In 60 Seconds
Inception
Constantine, City of Demons (Animated)
Ready Player One
Live. Die. Repeat. Edge of Tomorrow
Logan
The Revenant
Me Before You
The Notebook
The Legend of Tarzan
The Shawshank Redemption
The Town
Argo
Salt
The Hangover 1-3
The Accountant
Justice League Dark (Animated)
Love And Basketball
Straight Outta Compton
Serenity
Martian
V for Vendetta
Lucy
Blade Runner (The Final Cut)
Blade Runner 2049
Schindlers List
Watchmen
Batman: Mask of The Phantasm
Man of Steel
The Death and Return of Superman
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns (Deluxe Edition)
Jason Bourne 1-5
Batman: Gotham By Gaslight (Animated)
Batman: Under The Red Hood (Animated)
The Meg
Rock N Rolla
Frequency
Stranger Than Fiction
American Gangster Unrated (Extended Edition)
The Incredible Hulk (Edward Norton)
Batman: Hush (Animated)
Batman: The Killing Joke (Animated)
Batman Returns
Batman ‘89
Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox (Animated)
Justice League: War (Animated)
Apollo 13
The Conjuring
Atomic Blonde
Step Brothers
Planet of The Apes 1-3 (newer version)
Ted 1-2
Goodfellas
Jumanji ‘95
Aquaman
Labyrinth
The Fifth Element
Tarzan (Animated)
Wonder Woman Bloodlines (Animated)
Spider-Man (Raimi/Maguire)
Detective Pikachu
Pacific Rim
IT Chapter One
Hellboy (2004)
The Goonies
Fantastic Beasts And Where to Find Them
Black Hawk Down
Batman & Mr. Freeze, Sub Zero (Animated)
Batman Beyond: Return of The Joker (Animated)
San Andreas (Dwayne Johnson)
Sherlock Holmes 1-2
Life of Pi
The Prestige
The Purge 1-4
Se7en (Brad Pitt/Morgan Freeman)
Pitch Black
Troy
Alien
Christine ‘83
King Kong (2005)
Independence Day Resurgence
Alien Covenant
The Shape of Water
47 Ronin
Gremlins
Predator 1-4
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Aladdin: Return of Jafar
Aladdin and The King of Thieves
Kingsman 1-2
Riddick (Unrated Directors Cut)
Assassin's Creed
The Chronicles of Riddick (Unrated Directors Cut)
Suicide Squad
Suicide Squad Extended Cut
12 Strong
Lone Survivor
Black Swan
Mr. & Mrs. Smith (Unrated)
Kingdom of Heaven (Directors Cut)
Wonder Woman Commemorative Edition (Animated)
The Mummy (Tom Cruise)
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Mummy 1-3 (Fraser)
Split
Unbreakable
Batman vs Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Animated)
Girl on The Train
Focus
Wanted
Safe House
Justice League Doom (Animated)
Son of Batman (Animated)
Batman vs. Robin (Animated)
Superman Unbound (Animated)
Batman: Bad Blood (Animated)
Batman: Assault on Arkham (Animated)
Justice League vs Teen Titans (Animated)
Godzilla, King of The Monsters
Kick-Ass 2
Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter
Hercules (Animated)
King Arthur, Legend of The Sword
Constantine (Keanu Reeves)
Blade 2&3
Shaun of The Dead
Hot Fuzz
The Wolfman (Unrated Edition)
The Fault in Our Stars
Hellboy: The Golden Army
Shazam!
The Shining
Veronica Mars
Prometheus
The Bye Bye Man
The Gallows
Green Lantern: Emerald Knights (Animated)
Green Lantern (Ryan Reynolds)
Murder On The Orient Express
Skyscraper (Dwayne Johnson)
The Nun
The Departed
The Quick and The Dead
Casino
Jaws
Upgrade
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
Tombstone
Poseidon
Rampage (Dwayne Johnson)
Romeo Must Die
Mama
Scarface
The Gift
Live by Night
Black K Klansman
Gone Girl
28 Days Later
Collateral Beauty
The Gunman
Her
The Strangers Prey At Night
Pan
Incarnate
The Great Wall
Get Out
Jerry Maguire
Gravity
The Strangers (Unrated)
Contraband
Swordfish
Prisoners
Close Encounters (Directors Cut, Special Edition, Theatrical release)
The Death of Superman
Batman and Harley Quinn
Warcraft
The Forest
Godzilla
Snow White and The Huntsman (Extended Edition)
Huntsman Winter War (Extended Edition)
Fantastic Beasts The Crimes of Grindelwald
R.I.P.D.
300
Van Helsing
The Last Samurai
Everest
Battleship
The Big Lebowski
Leon The Professional
Taxi Driver
Ninja Assassin
Alfred Hitchcock Collection (Psycho, Rear Window, Vertigo, The Birds)
Bad Times at The El Royale
Full Metal Jacket
Interview With a Vampire
The Exorcist
Gran Torino
Blood Diamond
Superman Doomsday
District 9
Back to The Future 1-3
How The Grinch Stole Christmas (Jim Carrey)
I Am Legend
Annabelle Creations
Inglorious Bastards
The Book of Eli
The Green Mile
Snow Falling on Cedars
Bad Boys 1-2
The Old Man & The Gun
Fight Club
Robin Hood (Gerard Butler)
Insidious 1-3
Gatsby (DiCaprio)
Hancock
Starship Troopers
Pan's Labyrinth
American Made
Superman vs The Elite (Animated)
Dracula Untold
Triple 9
Krampus
Justice League
V For Vendetta
The Maze Runner
The Scorch Trials
The Death Cure
Batman v Superman (theatrical/Ultimate edition)
12 Monkeys
The Breakfast Club
Ouija
Resident Evil/Afterlife/Apocalypse/Extinction
Justice League: The New Frontier (Animated)
Teen Titans: Judas Contract (Animated)
Exodus God's and Kings
Morgan
Lucky Logan
London Has Fallen
Oz The Great and Powerful
Lés Miserables
In The Heart of The Sea
Air Force One
Beetlejuice
Olympus Has Fallen
Ouija: Origin of Evil
Hook
127 Hours
Zombieland
Hitch
The Mask of Zorro
The Conjuring 2
Queen of The Damned
The Hobbit 1-3 (Theatrical/Extended Edition)
Lord of The Rings 1-3 (Theatrical/Extended Edition)
Blade
Waterworld
Justice League: Throne of Atlantis (Animated)
8 Mile
Edward ScissorHands
The Blues Brothers
Kong: Skull Island
Elf
The Adjustment Bureau
The Patriot
Easy A
Leon The Professional (Theatrical/Extended Cut)
Harry Potter 1-6 w/7 Pt 1&2
Despicable Me 1 & 3
Unstoppable
Lockout
Battle Los Angeles
Seventh Son
Geostorm
The Mule
Jupiter Ascending
Wardogs
2012
Remember The Titans
Deja Vu
Reign of Fire
National Treasure 1 & 2
Justice League vs The Fatal Five (Animated)
Dunkirk

Section Zero: Background
Hello all, happy hoildays! I stumbled upon this subreddit not long ago and have enjoyed the commentary and experiences everyone's shared. Wanted to add another perspective from a mid-30s first-gen American. I've had some missteps regarding careers and finances, but I feel like I'm in a slightly better place now. I tried YNAB in the past but I wasn't consistent enough with it. These days I use Mint to monitor my finances and have a "Finance Friday" each month to review all my accounts and spending. I currently live with my partner TJ and his dog RR. We do not combine finances, but he has been unemployed since March. I have helped him with some bills and basic necessities here and there until he finds his next job or career.
My current financial goals are to just maintain a status quo and not get any debt until pandemic times are over. Then I will focus on a house remodeling fund and savings for taking care of my parents.
Growing up, what kind of conversations did you have about money? Did your parent/guardian(s) educate you about finances? My parents taught us about money from a frugal perspective. They are immigrants who worked in food service/factories. There was always this “save save save” mentality. Even when they started their own small business, we saved like there was no tomorrow. In high school, my calculus teacher bought us all “The Millionaire Next Door” book and had us read it as an assignment - that was my first structured introduction to finances.
Did you worry about money growing up? No, there was always food on the table and a roof over our heads. I knew that our extended family would support us if needed.
Was there an expectation for you to attend higher education? Did you participate in any form of higher education? If yes, how did you pay for it? Yes. My dad didn’t finish the high school-equivalent in their country, while my mom did finish high school, but no college. My older and younger siblings took a different path in life after high school. I am the first and only in my family to graduate from college. My parents covered all tuition for my two bachelor degrees with the agreement that I support them fully during their retirement and send them gifts/extra money whenever I can. I feel very lucky and privileged that they were able to provide that education for me.
At what age did you become financially responsible for yourself and do you have a financial safety net? 24 when I went on a work holiday abroad. My family was always available to help when needed, but the experience abroad helped me stand on my own feet. As an adult, I also inherited that “save” mentality and put a lot of my earnings towards savings. I didn’t date until my 30s, lived frugally, didn’t go out to eat/hangout with people, shopped thrift stores, and had very few hobbies. I am starting to “live a little” now though.
Do you or have you ever received passive or inherited income? Aside from the tuition, my parents have helped with a down payment for my first house and living costs during periods of unemployment.

Section One: Assets and Debt
Retirement Balance
If the place I was working at offered a 401k, I would always contribute up to the company match. I started my IRA in my mid-20s and would try to contribute the yearly max. I've stopped that the past 2-3 years though. My Other Brokerage is some play money, but I got tired of staring it and switched to index funds. I haven't contributed anything to it in a few years.

401k: $34,127 (5% company match on contributions)
Brokerage: $22,421 ESPP
Roth IRA: $40,615 VTIVX
Rollover IRA: $15,760 VTTHX
Other Brokerage: $7,235 VTI
Coinbase: $1,286 ETH (mostly just playing around with it)

Equity if you're a homeowner
Purchased my first home for $382,000 with 20% down, right before lockdown earlier this year. Perfect timing, right?? I plan to live here until my retirement. My parents contributed $15k while I used most of my savings for the rest.

Current Equity: $80,371

Savings account balance: $3,073
Checking account balance: $7,800
Credit card debt: I charge everything on my credit card for the points, then pay it off each month using my checking account balance.
Student loan debt: Traditionally no student loan debt as mentioned in Section Zero.

Section Two: Income
Income Progression (listed as gross income with cost of living area):
High School

$11/hour MCOL - Helped with small family business.

College and first “career” job

$12-19/hour MCOL - I did events/banquet serving after classes and had an internship doing software administration.
$22/hour MCOL - Junior web developer. I realized after a year that programming was not my calling.

Mental health break

$12/hour LCOL - Work holiday abroad. I got a steady banquet server job for that whole time. It was enough to live minimally in a hostel, do weekend trips, WOOF and figure my life out.

College (again) and second “career” job

$12-15/hour LCOL - Decided to go back to school for a different bachelor's degree. While pursuing that degree, I worked at hotels and events as a banquet server again. I also did “search engine evaluation” whenever there were tasks available.
$36,000/year salary LCOL - Software administrator at a casino after graduation.
$39,000/year salary LCOL - Systems analyst at same casino. I left after 2 years, feeling disillusioned with the casino industry. I moved back home with my parents until I could get back on my feet again.

Third “career” jobs

$20/hour HCOL - Entry level advertising role. I was applying to all types of office jobs and that was my only bite.
$45/hour MCOL - Cold-called from a global company who needed someone with my software administrator experience from the casino job. It was an 8 month contract. Although I was starting to love my advertising job, the increase in pay was no question.
$65,000/year salary MCOL - After the contract ended and a few months of unemployment, I landed my current job at the same company. It is an “early career” role according to their job levels.
$66,900/year salary MCOL - Cost of living and merit increases after 2 years on the job. Pre-COVID we got a $5000 bonus each year. They have now stopped bonuses as well as all COL and merit increases.

Main Job Monthly Take Home:
Monthly Net (paid bi-weekly): $2,758
Deductions:

Taxes: $1214
(Pre-Tax) Insurance (Medical, Dental, Vision, Life) + HSA: $822
(5% Pre-Tax) 401k: $256
(10% Post-Tax) ESPP: $514

Side Gig Monthly Take Home:
No side gigs at the moment, but I am thinking of signing up on Upwork.com and doing Excel/data entry projects to help pay the mortgage.
Other Income: TJ’s friend will be staying with us for a month in January, who will pay rent of $800 including utilities. Depending on how that goes, we may take on a roommate in the spare bedroom long-term.

Section Three: Expenses
Mortgage - when I bought the house, the plan was that I would charge TJ a portion of the mortgage costs as “rent”, but since his unemployment I am now covering it all myself.
Regular Monthly Payment: $1677.57

Principal: $501.31
Interest: $849.74
Taxes & Home Insurance: $326.52

HOA: $30/year
Retirement contribution: Nothing additional than what's been mentioned.
Savings contribution: I used to do $50-100/month, but since COVID I’ve stopped contributing to my savings account.
Investment contribution: None at this time.
Debt payments: $100/month towards TJ's credit card balance of $2,307.
Donations: $10-20/month, usually towards Omaze or Planned Parenthood.
Utilities:

Electric: $45-65/month
Water: $60-90/month
Sewer: $30/month
Garbage: $26/month
Natural Gas: $30-80/month
Xfinity internet: $60/month

Cellphone: On my parents plan.
Subscriptions:

LinkedIn: $29.99/month for TJ’s job search - he’s found it very useful.
Amazon/Netflix/Hulu: We piggyback off family and friends’ accounts.
Nintendo Switch Online: 19.99/year
Costco: $60/year

Gym membership: Pre-COVID I did Orangetheory for a year. I started to pick up free exercise equipment from Craigslist this year, so we have a small garage gym now and utilize YouTube exercise videos instead.
Pet expenses: $10/month. TJ has stockpiled some Costco canned dog food before unemployment, but once that runs out I will likely cover the costs. We also started to make homemade dog food to help supplement.
Car insurance: $460 every 6 months. Car is paid off.
Regular therapy: I will start in the new year. Not sure what the costs are yet, but I will use my HSA to pay.
Vitamins/Medications: $20/month
Groceries & household items: $75/month
Miscellaneous (eating out, house purchases, gifts, etc): $100/month

Section Four: Money Diary
Monday
6:30am Neighbor starts up their truck. We joke that it's our natural alarm clock. They idle for about 15 minutes before heading off. I go back to bed.
9am My real alarm goes off. I put the electric kettle on for some morning tea. While it's boiling, I do my morning routine: drink glass of water, take synthroid, use bathroom, brush teeth, quick shower. I then make tea - Jasmine Pearl English Breakfast with dark forest mix. I started ordering loose leaf tea in large amounts back in March instead of small bags or single serving packets. Seems more economical since I drink it daily. I let the dog out into the backyard so he can do his morning routine.
9:30am I go through my daily tasks for work. They entail checking processes and reports to make sure they ran successfully overnight. I then answer some emails and catch-up on Slack channels.
12pm Lunch is leftover roast chicken and quinoa from Saturday. I heat it up in the instant pot. Love that thing! Almost every meal of ours involves the instant pot. We hardly use the stovetop. We then walk the dog to the business park across from our neighborhood. There's a very short trail that runs along a drainage creek by the business park. It's quite muddy, but has a nice woodsy feeling. Over the summer, we saw sumac trees there as well. Free sumac spice!
1:30pm Department meeting on Zoom. Our director announces his resignation on the call. Everyone is shocked! Layoffs were announced for next year but this was not a part of it. I think it's a good move for him and he doesn't have to have this worry of layoffs over his head.
3pm I meet with an engineer from another team and talk about a data source they are in charge of. He helps me out in understanding it and we identify most of the fields that I need for a project I’m starting.
5:30pm I check in with my partner. He's been watching LinkedIn tutorials on internal recruiting, job coaching and general computeoffice skills. It's a career change that he wants to make - something where he can talk to and help people. He doesn't have a bachelor's, only an associates, and hopes these tutorials will get him a leg up in the job search. I sent him some entry level HR admin roles the other day and remind him to apply. I then heat up leftovers: homemade chana masala and rice. I add some butter and coconut milk to thin it out, so there's enough for both of us.
10:30pm I take some magnesium, vitamin D and Airborne. I say goodnight to the dog who sleeps in the office. Then I say goodnight to TJ. He sleeps in the spare bedroom on weeknights due to his snoring keeping me up. I'm a light sleeper while he is a pretty deep sleeper.
Daily total: $0
Tuesday
9am I check Reddit Secret Santa. My match seems like a really good person. Not sure what to get, but most likely will purchase something off their wishlist. I wish I was more creative with my gift giving.
11am Meeting with business stakeholder. She submitted a few changes to an existing data process about a month ago. I make the change while on the call and have her test. Success! Marking it off the todo list. I love when we can finish things directly on a call.
12:30pm I come out of my office to make lunch. I notice my partner is not home. I check my messages and see that he's stepped out to pick up a few things. I ask for celery, carrots, and kombucha. $17. I make a quick charcuterie board for lunch: Costco salami, cheese, homemade hummus and Triscuits. It's a simple, fast meal that’s always in our rotation.
2pm My partner is back and we take the dog out for a walk and quick round of disc golf at a nearby park. We mask up and play only a few holes. Disc golf is a pretty frugal activity, you only need 2-3 discs to get started. TJ remarks that my throws are getting better, but then again they weren't great to start with. We talk about Christmas/Birthday gifts on the way back home since he was born on New Years Day. He mentioned snowshoeing but asked to not spend that much. I'll do some research!
5pm I think about personal career projects. Should I put up a portfolio of projects somewhere? I decide to try and pull some Yelp data. There’s not a lot of data points that I was interested in. Regardless, I tinker with it for an hour. TJ asks if I'm hungry. I said not so much, but felt thirsty. Maybe some ginger soup tonight?
7:30pm Dinner is served - ginger carrot soup made in the instant pot. We eat some rice crackers with it. Lately I feel like we've been eating more vegetarian dinners. It definitely helps stretch our food budget. We end the evening by finishing Fargo season 3 on Hulu.
Daily total: $17
Wednesday
1:30am I'm woken up by the dog. He's been sneezing a lot and wheezes at random intervals. TJ doesn't have the money for a vet visit but I've offered to pay as long as he calls to make the appointment. I give the dog some coconut oil, rub his belly until he seems better and go back to bed.
7am Garbage day. We usually put it out the night before but I forgot. I get up to go, but TJ handles it. I think, at least. I'm too sleepy to pay attention and go back to bed.
9am I wake up and rinse some dishes that have piled up and put them into the dishwasher. We both grew up in households that had a home dishwasher, but forbade from using it. It was drilled into us that hand washing saves more water, unless you had a restaurant/industrial dishwasher. I think with modern home dishwashers, that's changed, so I wanted to try it out with our dishwasher and monitor the water bill. Don't have any dishwashing pods or powder, so I put some OxiClean in it.
12:30pm I overhear TJ on a call with a recruiting agency. It seems to be going well, lots of laughing. I heat up some taco lasagna that I freezer meal-prepped last month.
2pm Collaborate on a project at work with an engineer. My manager put me on this project since I was asking for an assignment on a more technical team. I'm learning tidbits here and there, but I don't feel like it's structured enough.
5pm I do an Orangetheory-At-Home workout and try to break a sweat. It's not the same as going to their studio.
6pm Charcuterie for dinner. Our fridge is full of store-bought and homemade pickles that go super well on a charcuterie board.
Daily total: $0
Thursday
7am I wake up tired. The house has been feeling more cold, which woke me up a few times. We keep the temp at 72F during the day, at night around 68F since we thought the bedrooms keep the heat in pretty well. My mistake!
9am I do my usual morning routine and login to work. My team mostly spends the morning sending each other emojis.
11:30am Lunch today is mini quiche, frozen chicken and veggie entree, and hot dogs. Not the most cohesive meal, but it fills the belly.
12:30pm TJ heads out to his mailbox that's 30 minutes away. He is still waiting on his tax return and a 401k withdrawal. His taxes had to be filed by mail for some reason, then the IRS office shut down due to COVID. So he wanted to see if it arrived yet at the mailbox. He also takes the dog to the vet's urgent care on his way. They didn't have any regular openings available until the end of the year, and the dog seemed to be getting worse. I give TJ $40 to mail a gift package to a friend in France and also reiterate that I'll cover the vet bill when he gets it.
4:30pm I pay some bills, my favorite activity (not)! Sewer bill: $59.44 (billed every 2 months). Geico bill: $459.60 billed every 6 months. Then I follow up with my mortgage officer over email. I had sent her some documents for a refinance quote last week, but haven't heard back. Rates keep dropping, so I'm told, but what does that really mean? I do some research on realestate.
5pm TJ messages me and says he'll be back for dinner. I ask him to pick up some Popeyes via drive thru since we both don't feel like cooking today. Popeyes is currently our fancy “going out to eat” food. $24.17 for a 4pc dinner meal and a 2pc dinner meal.
Daily total: $583.21
Friday
8:30am Busy morning at work. My phone is buzzing with emails and Slack messages. I try to answer them while I make tea.
10am Zoom Department happy hour. We reminisce about our director and then play those Jackbox party games. Some of them are hard!
11am TJ asks if he can make me anything for lunch. He suggests savory oatmeal, quick and easy. I tell him that I really appreciate him making meals/doing chores/etc without me prompting. We've been having conversations about "house project management" and mental load because I did most of the chores or I had to continually remind/tell him to do it. I'm really happy to see us progress on this front. I decide to work through my lunch break so I can end the day early. I don't often do that, but I'm ready to get the weekend started.
2pm I check on TJ in the spare bedroom and ask if the dog has been fed yet, since he was nipping at my feet. I notice something off about TJ and ask how he is doing. TJ is depressed about his personal life, career, finances. He doesn't know what to do, spends half the day meditating and reflecting on past trauma. I've been prodding him to get a therapist but he is confused about his insurance. He makes an appointment with a primary care doctor first. I feed the dog some homemade dog-friendly beef stew.
4pm My mom swings by the house (but doesn't enter). She currently works at a school who distributes free USDA food boxes since March. There's often many boxes leftover that would go to waste, so she will grab a box for us. Onions, potatoes, beets, turnips, eggs, cheese, butter, frozen veggies and frozen chicken. She also brought her vintage pasta maker. I asked last week if she ever used it these days and her reply was “no, feel free to have it”. I love pasta and noodles and figure it would be great to make it ourselves as a frugal hobby.
8pm We catch up on Mandalorian and watch silly Youtube videos before heading off to bed.
Daily total: $0
Saturday
9am I open up my web browser and look at Craigslist and NextDoor for free stuff. I've been scouring for free landscape rocks, pegboards, and wood for house projects. I had this grand ambition to redesign our backyard. It faces our neighbor and currently the fence is pretty low. They can see into our kitchen and bedroom and we can see them. But y'know, COVID and going from dual income house to single income means it all has to be put on hold. So I've been looking for free items in the meantime. Over the past months, I've gotten planter pots, plant cuttings, a raised bed, stepping stones, all from free listings. I don't see anything worthwhile so I go and make some tea.
11am I look at Amazon and make some purchases for Reddit Secret Santa. A foodie kit, DVD of their favorite movie, and some cute pens for their writing hobby. $54. I hope they like it!
12pm TJ heats up leftover stir-fry for lunch for us. I put on some Binging with Babish and we watch how to make pasta. We have a plan - TJ makes the pasta, I make the sauce. Perfect date night activity at home. We watch some more videos on pasta and noodles to educate ourselves.
4pm I start prepping veggies. Big batch of onions, canned tomatoes, ground beef and butter in the instant pot. Meanwhile, TJ works on the pasta by following Babish's instructions.
7pm We gorge on fresh made pasta and bolognese sauce. It's so good! We end up watching Fargo.
11pm Usually I'll be in bed by now, but it's a Saturday and not tired yet (probably because of all that pasta). We play some Kirby's Dream Course on the Switch.
Daily total: $54
Sunday
10am Quick walk around the neighborhood with the dog. He's on a new routine now with the medicine he's taking. It seems to be helping his breathing issues.
11am The pasta maker and flour is still out since we didn't clean up yesterday. There's some old pie crust in the fridge so I roll it out with the pasta machine for mini quiches. (Sally's Baking Addiction blog is my go-to place for her all-butter crust and quiche recipes btw). TJ helps by mixing up the eggs.
3pm I play some Genshin Impact (GI) on my phone while TJ plays Starcraft in the office. I don't usually play gacha games, but the Zelda BotW-style of GI appealed to me. A gacha game is a game with randomized characteitem boxes that you use real-money to purchase a “pull” or to spin the wheel. I know the gacha parts of the game can be a real money sink if you get addicted to them, it’s almost like gambling. My main team is Fischl, Bennett, Barbara and Noelle. I level up to AR 22 and look up free-to-play tutorials for the game.
6pm There's some leftover pasta from yesterday, enough for both of us. I throw in some roasted beets to round out the meal. We watch more Fargo while eating. Almost done with Season 3!
10pm I find a tour operator who offers a small, socially-distant snowshoeing tour up on the mountain. I reserve for two people - this will be TJ's Christmas/birthday gift. $75. Off to bed for another workday.
Daily total: $75
Weekly Total: $689.79

Food + Drink: $41.17
Fun / Entertainment: $75
Home + Health: $59.44
Clothes + Beauty: $0
Transport: $459.60
Other: $54.00

Section Five: Reflections
Aside from the car insurance bill, this was a typical week for me, COVID or not. We make the majority of our meals at home and usually splurge on drive-thru/delivery once every other week. I may have overspent on the Secret Santa gift, but I don't often give gifts out to friends. It's not something our family does either. For TJ’s Christmas/birthday gift, we usually talk upfront about costs. I’ve gifted him fancy restaurant experiences the past 2 years, since we can share that experience, but obviously can’t do that now. Snowshoeing is a nice change of pace.
The conversations with TJ this week have given me thought on how to approach him differently about finances and working together in a relationship. I’m still unsure about the future financially, particularly as my parents near retirement age and that TJ has pulled out his 401k to pay his debts. I don't know if I can support both my parents and TJ together, so I am finding ways to upskill and/or side hustles without becoming a workaholic or bogged down by stress.
Writing this money diary was also the first time where I really paid attention to my past income and current income. I might be contributing too much into ESPP that could go towards the 401k or mortgage instead? I also seem to have been underpaid for what I did in past jobs, even in a LCOL area.

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Codes are split, redeem only purchased portion. All violators will be reported. If you did NOT pay for it, don’t mess with it.
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Side notes:

i4K means 4K iTunes
GP means GooglePlay
I have so many codes in stock, it’s impossible for me to keep track of every sale with different retailers, if it is lower elsewhere then great. I do not price match with retailers.
Lots new shipment have arrived, may update later!
Reasonable offers are considered

Special -
i4K Alfred Hitchcock 4-Movie - Vertigo + The Birds + Rear Window + Psycho - iTunes $20
DISNEY+ 6-MONTH SUBSCRIPTION - $25 *This is for new accounts only. If you wanna test the waters and give Disney+ a chance, this is great. More than x1 available.
Toy Story 1-4 - GooglePlay $18
Tremors 6-Movie Collection - MA $45 (x3 sets available but only one is priced at $45) * $5 more to add Part 7
————————————————
FORTNITE Xbox One code - I have been approved in the past to sell these and have sold multiple bundles of this. I have another bundle available. This will be verified on Microsoft/Xbox right before sending to you.
Dark Vertex Skin + 500 V-Bucks - $100 — Exclusive Skin for Xbox One
———————————————-
Collection Sets + TV Shows
007 Daniel Craig 3-Movie - Casino Royale + Quantum of Solace + Skyfall - Vudu $15
Alfred Hitchcock 4-Movie - Vertigo + Birds + Rear Window + Psycho - MA $15
4K Alfred Hitchcock 4-Movie - MA $20
i4K Alfred Hitchcock 4-Movie - Vertigo + Birds + Rear Window + Psycho - iTunes $20
Annabelle 3-Movie - MA $22
4K Apocalypse Now 3-Movie - Final Cut + 1979 Original + Redux - 4K Vudu or i4K $15
Ash vs Evil Dead - Complete Series - Vudu $20
Batman Complete Animated Series + x2 Bonus Movies - Vudu $40
Big Little Lies - S1 - GooglePlay $8
Bug’s Bunny 80th Anniversary Complete Collection * Lot’s available but check Vudu, currently on sale for $39.99
Daddy’s Home 1 + 2 - Vudu $10
i4K Daddy’s Home 1 + 2 - iTunes $12
i4K Despicable Me 1-3 - iTunes $15
Divergent 3-Movie - Vudu $15
Eddie Murphy 4-Movie - MA or Vudu $15 (possibly SD)
Entourage - Complete Series - GooglePlay $25
4K Fast and the Furious 8-Movie - MA $45
Fifty Shades of Grey 3-Movie - MA $15
Game of Thrones - Season 1-7 - GooglePlay $40
Game of Thrones - Complete Series - iTunes $55 - Note: I have many available and you could get 1 code or 8 codes.
Game of Thrones - Complete Series - Vudu $55 - 1 code or 8 codes
Hannibal - Complete Series - Vudu $20
Hobbit Trilogy - Extended Set ONLY - HD MA $25
4K Hobbit Trilogy - Theatrical and Extended - 4K MA $45
Hotel Transylvania 3-Movie - SD MA $12
i4K Iron Man Trilogy - iTunes $35
Jack Reacher 1 + 2 - Vudu $9
i4K Jack Ryan 5-Movie - Hunt for Red Oct + Patriot Games + Clear and Present Danger + Sum of All Fears + Shadow Recruit - iTunes $35
Jurassic Park 5-Movie - MA $25
4K Jurassic Park 5-Movie - MA $40
i4K Kingsman 1 + 2 - iTunes $14
Leprechaun 8-Movie - Vudu $20
4K Lord of the Rings - Theatrical + Extended - 4K MA $
Mama Mia! 2-Movie - MA $7
Maze Runner Trilogy - MA $20
The Mummy Trilogy - MA $10
The Mummy Ultimate 4-Movie Collection - Mummy 1-3 + Scorpion King - MA $15
Outlander - S1 V1 + S1 V2 + S2 + S3 - Vudu $50
i4K Pet Sematary 1989 + 2019 - iTunes $14
i4K Planet of the Apes 3-Movie - Rise + Dawn + War - iTunes $20
Rambo 5-Movie - Vudu $20
4K Rambo 5-Movie - Vudu $25
Rick and Morty S3 - Vudu $9
i4K Santa Clause Trilogy - iTunes $12
Saw Collection - Vudu $12
Scorpion King Collection - PART 1 + 3 + 4 + 5 - MA $16 — $5 each if purchase separately
Secret Life of Pets 1 + 2 - MA $12
The Smurfs 3-Movie - 1 + 2 + Lost Village - MA $17
The Sopranos - Complete Series - GooglePlay $30
Spider-Man 3-Movie (sam raimi) - Spider-Man 1-3 + Ex 2 + Editor’s Cut 3 - MA $20
Spider-Man 4-Movie - Homecoming + Into The Spider-Verse + Far From Home + Venom - MA $25
Star Trek 10-Movie Universe Collection - All x10 original films - Vudu $50
i4K Star Trek Kelvin Timeline Trilogy - iTunes $20
Star Wars Complete SAGA Collection - All x9 films + Rogue One + Solo - GooglePlay $55
Supernatural Season 10 - Vudu $8 (possibly SD)
~~Supernatural Season 11 - V~~
Supernatural Season 12 - V $10
Supernatural Season 13 - V $12
Toy Story 1-4 - GooglePlay $18
i4K Toy Story 1-4 - iTunes $35
Transformers 6-Movie - 1-5 + Bumblebee - Vudu $15
i4K Transformers 6-Movie - 1-5 + Bumblebee - iTunes $35
Tremors 7-Movie - Complete sci-fi creature comedy collection - MA $50
True Blood - Complete Series - GooglePlay $35
True Blood - Complete Series - iTunes $40
Twilight Complete Saga Collection - Vudu $25
Universal Monsters 6-Movie - MA $25
Vice Principals - Complete Series - iTunes $25
————————————————
4K MA
4K Aquaman $8
4K Birds of Prey $8
4K Charlie’s Angels $8
4K Deadpool 2 - SDC $8
4K Despicable Me 3 $5
4K Goonies $8
4K Jumanji - Welcome to the Jungle $8
4K LEGO Movie $7
4K Mad Max - Fury Road $8
4K Midway $8
4K Meg, The $9
4K Men In Black International $9
4K Mortal Kombat Legends - Scorpion’s Revenge $9
4K Pacific Rim $9
4K Parasite $9
4K Rampage $10
4K Scoob! $8
4K Venom $9
——————————————-
HDX Vudu — $6 each or marked price
2 Guns
Annihilation $4
Arrival
August Osage County $4
Book Club $3
Call of the Wild
Crawl $5
Dallas Buyers Club $4
~~Death Of Me - 2020~~
Deepwater Horizon $5
Despicable Me 2 $3
Despicable Me 3 $3
Divergent 1 $5
Divergent 2 - Insurgent $5
Dora and the Lost City of Gold
Dreamgirls
Dredd
Ex Machina $7
Expendables 2 $3
Fighter, The
Flight
Ghost in the Shell - 2017 $5
G.I. Joe Retaliation $5
Girl on the Train - $5
Gods of Egypt
Gone Baby Gone
Grace Unplugged $5
Hereditary
Hercules - rock
Hugo $5
Hunger Games 1 $3
Hunger Games 2 - Catching Fire $3
Hunger Games - Mockingjay 1 $3
I Am Wraith $5
Interstellar
Last Witch Hunter
Legend of Hercules - 2014 $5
Magnificent Seven
Midsommar
MI4 - Ghost Protocol $3
MI5 - Rogue Nation $3
MI6 - Fallout $3
Mr. and Mrs. Smith
Mummy - tom cruise - $4
My Little Pony - Movie
Oblivion $5
Pitch Perfect $5
Playing With Fire $5
Red 2 $4
Serenity - 2005 $5
Single Moms Club $5
Split $5
Star Trek Beyond $4
Star Trek Into Darkness $4
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - 2014 $4
Terminator 5 - Genisys $5
Terminator 6 - Dark Fate $5
Transformers 3 - Dark of the Moon $3
Transformers 4 - Age Of Extinction $3
Transformers 5 - Last Knight $3
Transformers 6 - Bumblebee $4
Twilight Breaking Dawn 2 $3
Unbroken - 2014
Uncle Drew
Vivarium $7
Warm Bodies $5
Winchester $7
World War Z
XXX Return of Xander Cage
——————————————————
HD MA — $7 each or marked price
1917 $6
5th Wave $6
A Dog’s Way Home
A Good Day To Die Hard - Extended $5
American Sniper $5
Argo $4
Artist, The $6
A Star Is Born
BlacKkKlansman
Blockers - 2018
Book of Life
The Call $5
Crazy Rich Asians $5
Deadpool 1 $5
Deadpool 2 - SDC $5
Doom Annihilation - $8
Drive - 2011 $6
Fast Five $3
Fast and Furious 6 $3
Fate of the Furious 8 $3
Ferdinand
Final Destination 5 $5
Furious 7 $3
Gallows $5
Game Night
Get Smart
Glass
Godzilla - 2014
Good Boys
Gravity $5
Green Lantern + Emerald Knights $8
Grudge Match $5
Hangover 2 $5
Hidden Figures
Hobbit 1 - Theatrical $6
Hobbit 1 - Ex $9
Hobbit 2 - Theatrical $6
Hobbit 2 - Ex $9
Hobbit 3 - Ex $9
Horrible Bosses $5
House with a Clock in its Walls $6
Huntsman - Winter’s War - Ex $5
Isle of Dogs $6
Jack and the Giant Slayer
Jackie - 2016
Jumanji - Welcome to the Jungle
Jurassic Park 3 $5
Jurassic World $4
Just Mercy
Justice League Doom
Justice League Throne of Atlantis
Justice League vs Teen Titans $8
Kidnap $6
King Kong - from Ultimate Edition set
King of Staten Island
Kong Skull Island
LEGO Batman Movie $6
LEGO Movie - Second Part $10
Les Miserables
Little Stranger
Live. Die. Repeat. / Edge of Tomorrow
Longest Ride $5
Lucky One
Man Of Steel
Max $5
Mr. and Mrs. Smith
Murder on the Orient Express
Nun
Other Side of the Door $9
Parasite $6
Pacific Rim 2 - Uprising
Pitch Perfect 3 $6
Prisoners
Queen and Slim $8
Ready Player One
Rio 2
Rise of the Guardians
Searching $9
Skyscraper
Slender Man
Smallfoot
Smurfs - Lost Village $5
Sorry To Bother You $8
Stuber
Skyscraper $6
Superman Unbound
Storks $6
Taken 2 $5
Ted 1 $5
Teen Titans Go! To The Movies
Teen Titans Judas Contract
Terminator 4 - Salvation
Tremors 6 - A Cold Day In Hell
Truth or Dare?
Turning $11
Us $6
Warcraft $5
Wrath of the Titans
————————————————-
HD iTunes — $6 or less
2 Guns $6
Aliens - part 2 $6
Bad Grandpa $5
Cult Of Chucky $5
Dallas Buyers Club $4
Death of Me - 2020
Dreamgirls $5
Fast Five $3
Fifty Shades Of Grey - Unrated $4
Fifty Shades Darker - Unrated $4
Fighter $5
Flight $5
Home Alone 2 - Lost In New York $5
Hugo $5
I Feel Pretty $5
Killer Elite $5
Mama $5
My Little Pony - Movie $5
Noah - 2014 $5
Pain and Gain $6
Second Act $5
Sisters - Unrated $5
SpongeBob Movie - Sponge Out Of Water $6
Ted 1 $5
Unbroken - 2014 $6
Vivarium $6
Winchester $5
World War Z $6
—————————————————
i4K titles - 4K iTunes titles are $6 or less
47 Ronin $6
007 Quantum of Solace $5
2 Fast 2 Furious $5
Addams Family - 2019
Alvin and the Chipmunks - Road Chip $6
Annihilation $5
A Quiet Place $5
Arrival $6
Book Club $3
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes $6
Deadpool 1 $6
Deepwater Horizon $5
Despicable Me 3 $5
Dora and the Lost City of Gold $6
Ender’s Game $6
Expendables 2 $5
Fast and Furious 6 $5
Fate of the Furious 8 $4
Fences $6
Furious 7 $5
Ghost in the Shell - 2017 $6
G.I. Joe Retaliation $6
Girl on the Train $5
Hercules - rock $6
Hidden Figures $6
Hitman’s Bodyguard $6
Home Alone 1 $6
Hunger Games 1 $5
Hunger Games Mockingjay 1 $5
Instant Family $5
Interstellar $6
Jackie - 2016 $5
Jack Reacher 1 $5
Jexi $6
John Wick 1 $6
John Wick 2 $6
Let’s Be Cops $5
Longest Ride $5
MI4 - Ghost Protocol $5
MI5 - Rogue Nation $5
MI6 - Fallout $5
Mountain Between Us $6
Night at the Museum 3 - SOTT $5
Oblivion $6
Overlord $6
Pet Sematary - 1989 $6
Pitch Perfect $5
Playing With Fire $5
Rambo - Last Blood $6
Revenant $6
Robin Hood - 2018 $6
Secret Life of Pets 1 $6
Serenity - 2005 $6
Sherlock Gnomes $5
Sicario 1 $6
Sing $5
Sonic the Hedgehog $6
Split $6
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - 2014 $5
Terminator 2 - Judgement Day $6
Terminator 5 - Genisys $5
Terminator 6 - Dark Fate $5
Transformers 3 - Dark of the Moon $4
Transformers 4 - Age Of Extinction $4
Transformers 5 - Last Knight $4
Transformers 6 - Bumblebee $5
Twilight Breaking Dawn 2 $3
Uglydolls $6
Uncle Drew $6
War for the Planet of the Apes $6
Warm Bodies $6
Wonder Park $5
X-Men Apocalypse $6
X-Men Days of Future Past $6
X-Men Logan $6
XXX Return of Xander Cage $5
————————————————-
4K iTunes - Redeem directly in your iTunes account (HD titles are marked with ***)
101 Dalmatians - 1961 *** $6
Aladdin - 2019 $6
Aladdin - Animated *** $7 (possibly 4K)
Ant-Man $7
Ant-Man and the Wasp $7
Avengers 2 - Age of Ultron $7
Avengers 3 - Infinity War $5
Avengers 4 - Endgame $5
A Wrinkle in Time $5
Bambi 2 *** $7
Beauty and the Beast - 2017 $7
Beauty and the Beast - Animated $7
Big Hero 6 $6
Captain America - Civil War $8
Captain Marvel $5
Cars 2 $7
Cars 3 $7
Cinderella - 1950 *** $7
Cinderella - 2015 $7
Coco $5
DisneyNature - Born In China *** $6
Doctor Strange $7
Finding Dory $5
Finding Nemo $7
Fox and the Hound 2 *** $7
Frozen $5
Frozen 2 $6
Good Dinosaur $6
Guardians of the Galaxy V1 $7
Guardians of the Galaxy V2 $5
Hercules - 1997 *** $7
Incredibles 1 $7
Incredibles 2 $5
Into the Woods *** $6
Iron Man 3 $7
Jungle Book - 2016 $6
Jungle Book 2 *** $8
Lady and the Tramp 1 *** $7
Lady and the Tramp 2 *** $7
Lilo and Stitch 2 - Stitch Has A Glitch *** $8
Lion King - 2019 $6
Lion King - Animated $7
Little Mermaid 1 $7
Lone Ranger *** $7
Maleficent 1 $7
Moana $7
Monsters, Inc. $8
Monsters University $8
Mulan 2 *** $7
Peter Pan - 1953 *** $8
Peter Pan 2 - Return To Neverland *** $8
Pete’s Dragon - 2016 *** $8
Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Men Tell No Tales $6
Planes *** $7
Planes 2 - Fire and Rescue *** $7
Queen of Katwe *** $6
Ralph Breaks The Internet $6
Robin Hood - 1958 *** $6
Rogue One - A Star Wars Story $4
Sleeping Beauty - 1959 *** $6
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs *** $7
Solo - A Star Wars Story $7
Star Wars 7 - Force Awakens $5
Star Wars 8 - Last Jedi $5
Thor 2 - Dark World $7
Thor 3 - Ragnarok $7
Three Musketeers - Mickey + Donald + Goofy *** $7
Toy Story 1 $7
Toy Story 3 $7
Wall-E $8
——————————————————
GooglePlay HD — Redeem directly in GooglePlay — $5 each or marked price
Aladdin - 1992
Aladdin - 2019
Aladdin 2 $7
Aladdin 3 $7
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
Ant-Man $6
Ant-Man and the Wasp
Aristocats $8
Avengers 1
Avengers 2 - Age Of Ultron
Avengers 3 - Infinity War $4
Avengers 4 - Endgame $4
A Wrinkle In Time
Bambi 2
Beauty and the Beast - Animated
Beauty and the Beast - 2017
Black Panther $4
Bolt $8
Brave
Call of the Wild
Captain America - Civil War
Captain America - First Avenger
Captain Marvel $4
Cars 1
Cars 2
Cars 3
Christopher Robin
Cinderella - 2015
Coco
Disney Nature - Born In China
Doctor Strange
Dumbo - 2019
Dumbo - Animated $8
Finding Dory $3
Finding Nemo $7
Fox and the Hound 1
Fox and the Hound 2
Frozen 1
Frozen 2
Good Dinosaur
Guardians of the Galaxy V1
Guardians of the Galaxy V2 $3
Hercules - 1997 $8
Hocus Pocus
Incredibles 2
Inside Out
Iron Man 3
Jungle Book - 2016
Lady and the Tramp 1
Lilo and Stitch 1 $8
Lilo and Stitch 2 $8
Lion King - 2019
Lion King - Animated $8
Little Mermaid 2
Little Mermaid 3
Maleficent 1
Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh $8
Mary Poppins
Mary Poppins Returns
Mickey’s Christmas Carol
Million Dollar Arm
Moana
Monsters University $7
Mulan 1
Mulan 2
Nightmare Before Christmas
Nutcracker and the Four Realms $4
Onward $6
Peter Pan 1 $7
Pete’s Dragon - 2016
Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Men Tell No Tales
Planes 1
Pocahontas 1 $7
Pocahontas 2 $7
Princess and the Frog $6
Ralph Breaks the Internet
Robin Hood - Animated $7
Rogue One - A Star Wars Story $3
Santa Clause Trilogy $10
Sleeping Beauty $7
Spies in Disguise $8
Sword in the Stone $7
Tangled $7
Thor 2 - Dark World
Thor 3 - Ragnarok
Toy Story 1
Toy Story 2
Toy Story 3
Toy Story 4
Up $7
Wall-E $8
Winnie the Pooh - A Very Merry Christmas $6
Wreck-It Ralph $7
Zootopia
—————————————————
SD titles — $3 each or marked price — iTunes titles do not have quality shown on slip, assume SD
Adventures of Tintin - iTunes
All Star Superman - iTunes
Alpha - MA
Angry Birds Movie 2 - MA
Appaloosa - iTunes
Arthur Christmas - MA
Call Me By Your Name - MA
Chappie - MA
Cowboys and Aliens - iTunes
Bad Boys For Life
Brave - iTunes
Due Date - iTunes
Equalizer 2 - MA
Fast and the Furious 1 - iTunes $3
2 Fast 2 Furious - iTunes $3
Fast and the Furious 3 - Tokyo Drift $3
Fury - MA
Gran Torino - iTunes
Hall Pass - iTunes
Hangover 1 - iTunes
Heaven Is For Real - MA
Hotel Transylvania 2 - MA
Interview - MA
Jake and the Never Land Pirates - Peter Pan Returns!
Jonah Hex - iTunes
Miss Bala - MA
Paul - iTunes
Perfect Guy - MA
Rambo - 2008 - iTunes
Roman J. Israel, Esq - MA
Sausage Party - MA
Season of the Witch - iTunes
Sicario 2 - Day of the Soldado - MA
Slender Man - MA
Star Trek 1 - iTunes
Taken 1 - iTunes
Up - iTunes
Walk
—————————————————
Other stuff
2 Guns - CA iTunes $4
Bate’s Motel - Season 1-3 - $35 - this is for Vudu UK accounts only
Book Of Life - CA GP $4
Call of the Wild - MA $5
Equilibrium - GP $9
Guardians of the Galaxy V1 (6FV4) - $6 MA
Hunger Games - Mockingjay 2 - GP $3
The Thing - 2011 - CA GP $4
X-Men Origins Wolverine - CA GP $4

All prices are firm. I’ve priced them at the lowest I will accept.
Venmo / CashApp / PP Friends Family
All codes verified seconds before sending your way

Codes are split, redeem only purchased portion. All violators will be reported. If you did NOT pay for it, don’t mess with it.

Side notes:

i4K means 4K iTunes
GP means GooglePlay
I have so many codes in stock, it’s impossible for me to keep track of every sale with different retailers, if it is lower elsewhere then great. I do not price match with retailers.
Lots new shipment have arrived, may update later!

Special -
Bug’s Bunny 80th Anniversary Complete Collection ~~$45~~ * Lot’s available but check Vudu, currently on sale for $39.99
Tremors 6-Movie Collection - MA $45 (x3 sets available but only one is priced at $45) * $5 more to add Part 7
————————————————
Xbox One code - I have been approved in the past to sell these and have sold multiple bundles of this. I have another bundle available. This will be verified on Microsoft/Xbox right before sending to you.
Dark Vertex Skin + 500 V-Bucks - $100 — Exclusive Skin for Xbox One
———————————————-
Collection Sets + TV Shows
007 Daniel Craig 3-Movie - Casino Royale + Quantum Of Solace + Skyfall - Vudu $15
4K Alfred Hitchcock 4-Movie - Vertigo + The Birds + Rear Window + Psycho - MA $20
i4K Alfred Hitchcock 4-Movie - Vertigo + The Birds + Rear Window + Psycho - iTunes $20
Annabelle 3-Movie - MA $22
4K Apocalypse Now 3-Movie - Final Cut + 1979 Original + Redux - 4K Vudu or i4K $15
Ash vs Evil Dead - Complete Series - Vudu $20
Batman Complete Animated Series + x2 Bonus Movies - Vudu $40
Big Little Lies - S1 - GooglePlay $8
Bug’s Bunny 80th Anniversary Collection - Vudu $45
Daddy’s Home 1 + 2 - Vudu $10
i4K Daddy’s Home 1 + 2 - iTunes $12
i4K Despicable Me 1-3 - iTunes $15
Divergent 3-Movie - Vudu $15
Eddie Murphy 4-Movie - MA or Vudu $15 (possibly SD)
Entourage - Complete Series - GooglePlay $25
4K Fast and the Furious 8-Movie - MA $45
Fifty Shades Of Grey 3-Movie - MA $15
Game Of Thrones - Season 1-7 - GooglePlay $40
Game Of Thrones - Complete Series - iTunes $55 - Note: I have many available and you could get 1 code or 8 codes.
Game Of Thrones - Complete Series - Vudu $55 - 1 code or 8 codes
Hannibal - Complete Series - Vudu $20
4K Hobbit Trilogy, The - Theatrical + Extended - 4K MA $45
Hobbit Trilogy, The - Extended Set ONLY - HD MA $25
Hotel Transylvania 3-Movie - SD MA $12
i4K Iron Man Trilogy - iTunes $35
Jack Reacher 1 + 2 - Vudu $9
i4K Jack Ryan 5-Movie - Hunt For Red Oct + Patriot Games + Clear and Present Danger + Sum Of All Fears + Shadow Recruit - iTunes $35
Jurassic Park 5-Movie - MA $25
4K Jurassic Park 5-Movie - MA $40
i4K Kingsman 1 + 2 - iTunes $14
Leprechaun 8-Movie - Vudu $20
4K Lord of the Rings - Theatrical + Extended - 4K MA $45
Mama Mia! 2-Movie - MA $7
Maze Runner Trilogy - MA $20
The Mummy Trilogy - MA $10
Outlander - S1 V1 + S1 V2 + S2 + S3 - Vudu $50
i4K Pet Sematary 1989 + 2019 - iTunes $14
i4K Planet of the Apes 3-Movie - Rise + Dawn + War - iTunes $20
Rambo 5-Movie - Vudu $20
4K Rambo 5-Movie - Vudu $25
Rick and Morty S3 - Vudu $9
i4K Santa Clause Trilogy - iTunes $12
Saw Collection - Vudu $12
Scorpion King Collection - PART 1 + 3 + 4 + 5 - MA $20 — PART 2 is not available on digital
Secret Life Of Pets 1 + 2 - MA $12
The Smurfs 3-Movie - 1 + 2 + Lost Village - MA $17
The Sopranos - Complete Series - GooglePlay $30
Spider-Man 3-Movie (sam raimi) - Spider-Man 1-3 + Ex 2 + Editor’s Cut 3 - MA $20
Spider-Man 4-Movie - Homecoming + Into The Spider-Verse + Far From Home + Venom - MA $25
Star Trek 10-Movie Universe Collection - All x10 original films - Vudu $50
i4K Star Trek Kelvin Timeline Trilogy - iTunes $20
Star Wars Complete SAGA Collection - All x9 films + Rogue One + Solo - GooglePlay $55
Supernatural Season 10 - Vudu $8 (possibly SD)
~~Supernatural Season 11 - V~~
Supernatural Season 12 - V $10
Supernatural Season 13 - V $12
i4K Toy Story 1-4 - iTunes $35
Transformers 6-Movie - 1-5 + Bumblebee - Vudu $15
i4K Transformers 6-Movie - 1-5 + Bumblebee - iTunes $35
Tremors 7-Movie - Complete sci-fi creature comedy collection - MA $50
True Blood - Complete Series - GooglePlay $35
True Blood - Complete Series - iTunes $40
Twilight Complete Saga Collection - Vudu $25
Universal Monsters 6-Movie - MA $25
Vice Principals - Complete Series - iTunes $25
————————————————
4K MA
4K Birds Of Prey $8
4K Charlie’s Angels $9
4K Deadpool 2 - SDC $9
4K Despicable Me 3 $5
4K Ferdinand $9
4K Goonies, The $8
4K Jumanji - Welcome To The Jungle $9
4K LEGO Movie $7
4K Mad Max - Fury Road $8
4K Midway $8
4K Meg, The $9
4K Mortal Kombat Legends - Scorpion’s Revenge $9
4K Pacific Rim $9
4K Parasite $9
4K Rampage $10
4K Scoob! $8
4K Venom $9
——————————————-
HDX Vudu — $6 each or marked price
2 Guns
Annihilation $4
Arrival
Book Club $3
Crawl $5
Death Of Me - 2020 $8
Deepwater Horizon $5
Despicable Me 2 $3
Despicable Me 3 $3
Divergent 1 $5
Divergent 2 - Insurgent $5
Dora and the Lost City of Gold
Dreamgirls
Dredd
Ex Machina $7
Expendables 2 $3
Fighter, The
Flight
Ghost In The Shell - 2017 $5
G.I. Joe Retaliation $5
Girl On The Train, The - $5
Gods Of Egypt
Gone Baby Gone
Grace Unplugged $5
Hereditary
Hercules - rock
Hugo $5
Hunger Games 1 $3
Hunger Games 2 - Catching Fire $3
Hunger Games - Mockingjay 1 $3
I Am Wraith $5
Interstellar
Last Witch Hunter, The
Legend Of Hercules, The - 2014 $5
Magnificent Seven, The
Midsommar
MI4 - Ghost Protocol $3
MI5 - Rogue Nation $3
MI6 - Fallout $3
Mr. and Mrs. Smith
Mummy, The - tom cruise - $4
My Little Pony - Movie
Oblivion $5
Pitch Perfect $5
Playing With Fire $5
Red 2 $4
Serenity - 2005 $5
Single Moms Club $5
Split $5
Star Trek Beyond $4
Star Trek Into Darkness $4
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - 2014 $4
Terminator 5 - Genisys $5
Terminator 6 - Dark Fate $5
Transformers 3 - Dark of the Moon $3
Transformers 4 - Age Of Extinction $3
Transformers 5 - Last Knight $3
Transformers 6 - Bumblebee $4
Twilight Breaking Dawn 2 $3
Unbroken - 2014
Uncle Drew
Vivarium $7
Warm Bodies $5
Winchester $7
World War Z
XXX Return Of Xander Cage
——————————————————
HD MA — $7 each or marked price
1917
5th Wave $6
A Dog’s Way Home
A Good Day To Die Hard - Extended $5
American Sniper $5
Argo $4
A Star Is Born
BlacKkKlansman
Blockers - 2018
Book Of Life
The Call $5
Crazy Rich Asians $5
Deadpool 1 $5
Deadpool 2 - SDC $5
Doom Annihilation - $8
Drive - 2011 $6
Fast Five $3
Fast and Furious 6 $3
Fate of the Furious 8 $3
Ferdinand
Final Destination 5 $5
Furious 7 $3
Gallows $5
Game Night
Get Smart
Glass
Godzilla - 2014
Good Boys
Gravity
Green Lantern + Emerald Knights $8
Grudge Match
Hangover 2 $5
Hidden Figures
Hobbit 1 - Theatrical $6
Hobbit 1 - Ex $9
Hobbit 2 - Theatrical $6
Hobbit 2 - Ex $9
Hobbit 3 - Ex $9
Horrible Bosses $5
House With A Clock In Its Walls $6
Huntsman - Winter’s War - Ex $5
Jack and the Giant Slayer
Jackie - 2016
Jumanji - Welcome To The Jungle
Jurassic Park 3 $5
Jurassic World $4
Just Mercy
Justice League Doom
Justice League Throne Of Atlantis
Justice League vs Teen Titans $8
Kidnap $6
King Kong - from Ultimate Edition set
Kong Skull Island
LEGO Batman Movie $6
LEGO Movie - Second Part $10
Les Miserables
Little Stranger, The
Live. Die. Repeat. / Edge Of Tomorrow
Longest Ride $5
Lucky One
Man Of Steel
Max $5
Mr. and Mrs. Smith
Murder on the Orient Express
Nun, The
Other Side of the Door, The $9
Pacific Rim 2 - Uprising
Pitch Perfect 3 $6
Prisoners
Queen and Slim $8
Ready Player One
Rio 2
Rise of the Guardians
Searching $9
Skyscraper
Slender Man
Smallfoot
Smurfs - Lost Village $5
Sorry To Bother You $8
Sound Of Music, The
Stuber
Superman Unbound
Taken 2 $5
Teen Titans Go! To The Movies
Teen Titans Judas Contract
Terminator 4 - Salvation
Tremors 6 - A Cold Day In Hell
Truth or Dare?
Turning, The $11
Us $6
Warcraft $5
Wrath of the Titans
————————————————-
HD iTunes — $7 each or marked price
2 Guns
Aliens - part 2 $6
Bad Grandpa
Cult Of Chucky $5
Death Of Me - 2020 $8
Dreamgirls
Fast Five $3
Fifty Shades Of Grey - Unrated $4
Fifty Shades Darker - Unrated $4
Fighter, The
Flight $5
Home Alone 2 - Lost In New York
Hugo $5
I Feel Pretty $5
Killer Elite
Mama $5
My Little Pony - Movie $5
Noah - 2014 $5
Pain and Gain
Pulp Fiction $8
Second Act $5
Sisters - Unrated $5
Sound Of Music, The
SpongeBob Movie - Sponge Out Of Water
Unbroken - 2014
Vivarium
Winchester
World War Z
—————————————————
i4K titles - 4K iTunes — $7 each or marked price
47 Ronin - $8
007 Quantum Of Solace $5
2 Fast 2 Furious $5
Addams Family - 2019
Alvin and the Chipmunks - Road Chip
Annihilation $5
A Quiet Place $5
Arrival
Book Club $3
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Deadpool 1
Deepwater Horizon $5
Despicable Me 3 $5
Dora and the Lost City of Gold
Ender’s Game
Expendables 2 $5
Fast and Furious 6 $5
Fate of the Furious 8 $4
Fences
Furious 7 $5
Ghost In The Shell - 2017 $6
G.I. Joe Retaliation $6
Girl On The Train, The $5
Hercules - rock
Hidden Figures
Hitman’s Bodyguard $8
Home Alone 1
Hunger Games 1 $5
Hunger Games Mockingjay 1
Instant Family $5
Interstellar
Jackie - 2016
Jack Reacher 1 $5
Jexi
John Wick 1 $6
John Wick 2 $6
Let’s Be Cops $5
Longest Ride $5
MI4 - Ghost Protocol $5
MI5 - Rogue Nation $5
MI6 - Fallout $5
Mountain Between Us $6
Night At The Museum 3 - SOTT $5
Oblivion $6
Overlord $6
Pet Sematary - 1989
Pitch Perfect $5
Playing With Fire $5
Rambo - Last Blood $8
Revenant, The
Robin Hood - 2018
Secret Life Of Pets 1 $6
Serenity - 2005
Sherlock Gnomes $5
Sicario 1 $6
Sing $5
Sonic The Hedgehog $8
Split $6
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - 2014 $5
Terminator 2 - Judgement Day $8
Terminator 5 - Genisys $5
Terminator 6 - Dark Fate $5
Transformers 3 - Dark of the Moon $4
Transformers 4 - Age Of Extinction $4
Transformers 5 - Last Knight $4
Transformers 6 - Bumblebee $5
Twilight Breaking Dawn 2 $3
Uglydolls $6
Uncle Drew $6
War for the Planet of the Apes
Warm Bodies $6
Wonder Park $5
X-Men Apocalypse $6
X-Men Days Of Future Past $6
X-Men Logan $6
XXX Return Of Xander Cage $5
————————————————-
GooglePlay HD — Redeem directly in GooglePlay — $5 each or marked price
Aladdin - 1992
Aladdin - 2019
Aladdin 2 $7
Aladdin 3 $7
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
Ant-Man $6
Ant-Man and the Wasp
Aristocats $8
Avengers 1
Avengers 2 - Age Of Ultron
Avengers 3 - Infinity War $4
Avengers 4 - Endgame $4
A Wrinkle In Time
Bambi 2
Beauty and the Beast - Animated
Beauty and the Beast - 2017
Black Panther $4
Bolt $8
Brave
Call of the Wild
Captain America - Civil War
Captain America - First Avenger
Captain Marvel $4
Cars 1
Cars 2
Cars 3
Christopher Robin
Cinderella - 2015
Coco
Disney Nature - Born In China
Doctor Strange
Dumbo - 2019
Dumbo - Animated $8
Finding Dory $3
Finding Nemo $7
Fox and the Hound 1
Fox and the Hound 2
Frozen 1
Frozen 2
Good Dinosaur
Guardians of the Galaxy V1
Guardians of the Galaxy V2 $3
Hercules - 1997 $8
Hocus Pocus
Incredibles 2
Inside Out
Iron Man 3
Jungle Book - 2016
Lady and the Tramp 1
Lilo and Stitch 1 $8
Lilo and Stitch 2 $8
Lion King - 2019
Lion King - Animated $8
Little Mermaid 2
Little Mermaid 3
Maleficent 1
Many Adventures Of Winnie The Pooh $8
Mary Poppins
Mary Poppins Returns
Mickey’s Christmas Carol
Million Dollar Arm
Moana
Monsters University $7
Mulan 1
Mulan 2
Nightmare Before Christmas
Nutcracker and the Four Realms $4
Onward $6
Peter Pan 1 $7
Pete’s Dragon - 2016
Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Men Tell No Tales
Planes 1
Pocahontas 1 $7
Pocahontas 2 $7
Princess and the Frog $6
Ralph Breaks The Internet
Robin Hood - Animated $7
Rogue One - A Star Wars Story $3
Santa Clause Trilogy $10
Sleeping Beauty $7
Spies In Disguise $8
Sword In The Stone $7
Tangled $7
Thor 2 - Dark World
Thor 3 - Ragnarok
Toy Story 1
Toy Story 2
Toy Story 3
Toy Story 4
Up $7
Wall-E $8
Winnie The Pooh - A Very Merry Christmas $6
Wreck-It Ralph $7
Zootopia
—————————————————
SD titles — $3.50 each or marked price — iTunes titles do not have quality shown on slip, assume SD
Adventures Of Tintin - iTunes
All Star Superman - iTunes
Alpha - MA
Angry Birds Movie 2 - MA
Appaloosa - iTunes
Arthur Christmas - MA
Call Me By Your Name - MA
Chappie - MA
Cowboys and Aliens - iTunes
Bad Boys For Life
Brave - iTunes
Due Date - iTunes
Equalizer 2 - MA
Fast and the Furious 1 - iTunes $3
2 Fast 2 Furious - iTunes $3
Fast and the Furious 3 - Tokyo Drift $3
Fury - MA
Gran Torino - iTunes
Hall Pass - iTunes
Hangover 1 - iTunes
Harold and Kumar 2 - Escape From Guantanamo Bay - iTunes
Heaven Is For Real - MA
Hotel Transylvania 2 - MA
Interview - MA
Jake and the Never Land Pirates - Peter Pan Returns!
Jonah Hex - iTunes
Paul - iTunes
Perfect Guy, The - MA
Rambo - 2008 - iTunes
Roman J. Israel, Esq - MA
Sausage Party - MA
Season of the Witch, The - iTunes
Sicario 2 - Day of the Soldado - MA
Slender Man - MA
Star Trek 1 - iTunes
Taken 1 - iTunes
Up - iTunes
Walk, The
—————————————————
Other stuff
2 Guns - CA iTunes $4
Bate’s Motel - Season 1-3 - $35 - this is for Vudu UK accounts only
Book Of Life - CA GP $4
Equilibrium - GP $9
Guardians of the Galaxy V1 (6FV4) - $6 MA
Hunger Games - Mockingjay 2 - GP $3
The Thing - 2011 - CA GP $4
X-Men Origins Wolverine - CA GP $4

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Looking back on a year of Nano development - Presented by NanoLinks

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