Growth Mindset: Pinterest Cats!

(Photo from Growth Mindset Resources)

I like this kitty for several reasons. 

1. I think believing in this is the only way I'm going to get accepted into grad school. I'm not a typical student, so I'm going to have to bring something different to the table. 

2. We used to have a grey striped, pale blue cross-eyed kitty named Aliera.

3. Cats dressed as unicorns? Absolutely.

(Photo from Growth Mindset Resources)

Not only does this cat look a lot like Mario, but it makes me think about how nice my park adventure was the other day and how much I need that back in my life. We also were talking last night about how long it's been since we went camping or hiking, and it's been a little over 2 years. Much, much too long.

(Photo from Growth Mindset Resources)

First of all, that looks like a baby Mario and it's sooooo cute! Secondly, I have way too much stress and anxiety in my life right now. I tend to avoid making plans with others because I feel like I'm too busy for it right now, but at the same time, an hour or two here and there to slow down and spend time with others would probably do me a world of good. 

And just like that, this became a cat blog again.

Famous Last Words: Still Stressed Out

This week, not much progress was made. I still haven't heard anything about my internship. People that chose the other location are already working. I feel so behind, and the situation is completely out of my control. I prefer to have control, so not having it makes me crazy. I also got my official GRE scores back which were not the greatest. Verbal is fine, quant is awful, writing is ok. I don't see how I can possibly improve them in a month or two's time, so I am not going to retake them. I'm going to hope the rest of my application makes up for it.

I got to revise my introduction this week, which was fun. I think it turned out really well. I'm a little nervous about writing my first story this week. I've been reading various Arsene Lupin stories, and have reread the chapter I plan to use, taking detailed notes. I also watched 6 episodes of the Lupin the Third anime series, The Woman Called Fujiko Mine. Hopefully this will prepare me for writing in a Lupin style.

(Photo from my personal collection. Arbor Gardens Park.)

It seems we're going to need a new dryer. That's always a bummer, especially when you just spent your extra money on new running shoes, and there isn't enough left to cover the dryer. On the plus side, I've had at least one extra park adventure in my new shoes. I need to make time for much more of that. I finally have some hope that I can do something about the pain I've been having in my legs for a couple of years now. Mario says that as long as there's still tuna, not much else matters. I guess that's something else I can work on this coming week, not letting everything get to me so much.

(Photo of Mario from my personal collection.)

Reading Notes: The Arrest of Arsene Lupin

(Photo from Geocaching)

I have chosen this as the base for my first story, so I decided to reread, taking more in depth notes.

The story begins with a description of a trip on the transatlantic steamship 'La Provence'. Mentions the extreme intimacy of being confined to a ship for several days with people who all didn't know each other the day before. A bond unites them over the water, the bond is a wireless telegraph. A message is received mysteriously. The second day of the voyage, the message is received that says "Arsene Lupin is on your vessel, first cabin, blonde hair, would right fore-arm, traveling alone under name of R-"Lightening interrupts the telegraph so only the initial is known.

Due to gossip, all the passengers knew the famous Arsene Lupin was hiding amongst them. Arsene is described by the narrator as an irresponsible burglar whom Ganimard, the shrewdest detective had been trying to catch with no success. He breaks into the homes of Barons, leaving behind cards with notes that he will return when the furniture is genuine, and so on. He is also described as the "man of a thousand disguises."

The narrator, Monsieur d'Andrezy speculates that Lupin could be anyone, including his neighbor at the table or his roommate. Miss Nelly Underdown is appalled at this fact and hopes he is arrested. She asks d'Andrezy to share any info he knows. He is attracted to her, becoming impressed by her charm as the ship's atmosphere becomes more intimate. His feelings deepen beyond a mere flirtation. He sees another passenger as a rival for her affection, "it struck me, at times, that she preferred his taciturn humor to my Parisian frivolity." d'Andrezy suggests to Miss Nelly and her circle of admirers that they can investigate the mystery as well as Ganimard. He suggests they look at the passenger list for a man traveling alone with blonde hair and the initial R. Only 4 with the initial were traveling alone, 3 were known and did not fit the description. This left d'Andrezy's rival for Miss Nelly's attention, Mon. Rozaine, who was in fact blonde. All eyes turned to him. He says he doesn't speak because considering his name, position as a solitary traveler, and the color of his hair, now he thinks he should be arrested. Miss Nelly points out that he doesn't have the wound, and he shows them his arm. d'Andrezy notes that he only showed them his left arm.

Miss Nelly's friend Lady Jerland comes running up and tells them that someone stole her jewels. The finest and most valuable stones had been removed from their settings, the rest left behind. The passengers concluded it must have been Lupin. The captain placed Rozaine under arrest. The passengers feel safe and carefree, and d'Andrezy confesses his feelings to Miss Nelly under the moon at midnight. The nest day, Rozaine was freed. His documents checked out and he had no wound. It was brought up that Lupin could furnish all sorts of documents, and could commit a crime without being present. When Rozaine approaches the group, the women walk away.

Rozaine offers a reward for the discovery of Lupin or other person in possession of the jewels and claims he will unmask them himself if no one helps. The vessel was searched by the captain's orders. d'Andrezy says they should be searching the lining of their hats and vests and shows Nelly his camera that he's been using to take pictures of her with, stating that a person could hide all the jewels in an object no larger, and pretend to take pictures with it, and no one would suspect him. Nelly says that every thief leaves behind clues. d'Andrezy says Lupin doesn't, "because he concentrates his thoughts not only on the theft, but on all the circumstances connected with it that could serve as a clue to his identity."

The investigation makes no progress, and the captain's watch is stolen. The next evening, Rozaine is found tied up on the deck with a card, having been robbed. The note says that Lupin accepts the reward. Since he couldn't have bound himself and the handwriting on the card didn't match his, Rozaine was cleared. The passengers were afraid of Lupin and clung to each other as they moved around the ship. "Arsene Lupin was now, anybody and everybody." On the last day, Nelly spends time with d'Andrezy for protection and he is very pleased, silently blessing Lupin for being the means that brought him and Nelly closer together.

When the ship approached the shore, the two of them watched as each passenger left the ship, passing by Ganimard who was waiting to arrest him. When Rozaine is about to pass him, d'Andrezy gives Nelly the camera and tells her he thinks it would be interesting to get them in the same photo. Before she can take one, Rozaine passes him and nothing happens. When d'Andrezy and Nelly try to pass Ganimard, he stops them and says "Lupin, is it not?" d'Andrezy gives his name, and Gainmard says that Bernard d'Andrezy died 3 years ago. He shows him his papers. Ganimard calls him out on the papers being fake, and slaps his arm, on the wound. He has to surrender. Our narrator d'Andrezy was Lupin the whole time. Nelly hears the whole thing, and when he looks at her, she glances down at the camera, which contains Rozaine's money and the jewels. He makes a gesture that lets him know she understands everything. He wonders if she will betray him. She passes by, and then discretely drops the camera into the water and walks away, not looking back. He tells Gainimard "why should I retain a definite form and feature? Why not avoid the danger of a personality that is ever the same? My actions will serve to identify me."

The Arrest of Arsene Lupin from The Extraordinary Adventures of Arsene Lupin, Gentleman-Burglar by Maurice LeBlanc.

Wikipedia Trails: From Lupin the Third to Samurai Champloo

(Photo from zerochan)

1. Lupin the Third - This an an anime series about Arsene Lupin III, grandson of the original Arsene Lupin, gentleman thief. They initially got in trouble for using Lupin's name, but the original Arsene Lupin book series is now a part of the public domain. The character in the anime has similar adventures to his grandfather in the books. He also has some interesting friends that include Goemon Ishikawa  XIII.

Edward from Cowboy BeBop (Photo from Bebopedia)

2. Cowboy Bebop - An anime series set in the future about bounty hunters (aka Cowboys). Heavily influenced by the Lupin the Third series. The art and characters loosely resemble part of the Persona 5 cast, which was obviously influenced by both Lupin the Third and Cowboy Bebop.

Futaba from Persona 5 (Photo from Pinterest)

3. Shinichirō Watanabe - Japanese anime director. Known for blending together genres in his series. For example, in Cowboy BeBop he mixed westerns, film noir, jazz music and set the show in space.

4. Samurai Champloo - another anime series directed by Watanabe. Set in an alternate version of Japan's Edo period with a score comprised of hip hop music. A swordsman, Mugen and a ronin named Jin help a girl named Fuu on her quest to find the samurai who smells of sunflowers.

Week 6 Story: A Fox and an Oracle

(Photo from Pinterest)

It came to be that The Phantom Thieves were inside a palace, fighting a group of shadows.

“Good job, Fox, that was quite witty of you,” said Mona after the battle was finished.

Oracle snorted. “Fox?! Witty? I’ll believe that when I see it!”

“Hey, now,” Fox responded. “That is rather closed minded of you. Of course I am witty. My name even implies it.”

“Your name implies it? Umm, HELLO! My name is Oracle. Now that implies wit. Stupid Inari,” muttered Oracle.

“I beg your pardon,” Fox said, his voice beginning to rise above its usual soft tone. “There is absolutely no way that you are more witty than I am.”

“Ha! No, I am not ok with that! I am No-K!” Oracle shouted. “I-I… I challenge you to a… battle of wits!”

“A battle of wits?” Fox let a nefarious chuckle escape. “I accept your challenge.”

Skull rolled his eyes. “Oh man, not this again. You guys, we’re gonna be here all day if we let these two go at it.”

Joker just shrugged.

“Seriously?” Skull whined. “But mom was supposed to make my favorite dinner tonight.” He sighed and walked off, sulking.

“I think it sounds like a fun idea!” said Noir cheerfully. “Although, I happen to think that you’re both quite witty.”

“Oh no no,” Oracle said in a singsong voice, wagging her finger. “We are most definitely not matched in wit.”

“Agreed,” said Fox. “We will compete to see who is the wittiest of all.”

“And I will emerge victorious!” Oracle announced boldly.

Joker put his hand on the top of her head, which barely reached the center of his chest. “Calm down,” he said softly.

So The Phantom Thieves thought about what kind of challenge they could do while exploring the palace.

“Oooh, I know!” Oracle exclaimed. “Let’s ask that shadow up there to help divide up our ‘children’ in the divorce,” she said slyly.

“What?! You and I married? How preposterous,” glared Fox.

“Actually, that’s pretty perfect,” Joker said quietly. “Whoever outsmarts the shadow wins the title of Wittiest Thief.”

“Oh yeah, great idea!” Panther said with a smile. “Then we can finally go home!”

Fox and Oracle approached the shadow together. “Should we hold hands?” asked Fox. “We’re supposed to be married, aren’t we?”

“Eww, no! We’re getting a divorce, remember?!” Oracle said under her breath.

Fox cleared his throat and spoke to the shadow. “Hello kind sir. Would you be able to lend us some assistance?”

Joker and the other Thieves held their breath around the corner. It was entirely possible that the shadow would simply attack them. Thankfully, they were prepared to intervene at a moment’s notice.

The shadow snarled and drew its weapon. “Ahh!” Fox yelled, startled. He wasn’t sure how, but he ended up crouched behind Oracle’s tiny figure.

Oracle was not shaken at all. “My, what a lovely sword you have there. Say, we were thinking, since you’re so dark, tall and handsome, maybe you can solve a little disagreement for us. My… husband and I are getting a divorce, and we can’t decide how to split up our seven, umm, children. Think you can help?” she said with a mischievous smile.

“She’s a much better actress than you, Panther,” Skull whispered in the shadows.

“Shut up!” Panther whispered back, elbowing Skull in the ribs.

The shadow considered Oracle’s proposal for a moment. If he agreed to divvy up these so called kids, he could kill all of the intruders at once, instead of just these two. “Fine. Take me to the children.”

“Oh, great, right this way!” Oracle said loudly with a plastic smile. Then she whispered to the others, “safe room, go go go!” She and Fox led the shadow back to the nearest safe room, where the rest of the Thieves had run to. Fox, still in a panic, ran into the room behind them. Oracle stayed at the open door. “So? What do you think?” She smiled brightly as she began to close the door.

“Wait, what are you doing?” the shadow yelled as she slammed the door. He tried to open it but the palace’s distortion was too weak inside the room. There was no way to get in, and the intruders got away.

“Not bad, right?” Oracle asked, beaming at Joker. He smiled back proudly. “Inari? Don’t you have something to say to me?” Oracle spun towards him. He towered over her in height, yet he looked incredibly small at the moment.

“You are in fact much wittier than I,” Fox said, bowing before her.

“Whoo hoo, now that’s what I like to hear!” Oracle shouted happily. The Thieves all shared a laugh together as they walked back to the subway.

(Photo by Freinoir Art)

Author’s Note:

This story is based on A Fox and His Wife from Folklore of the Santal Parganas by Cecil Henry Bompas. In the original, the characters are an actual fox and his wife. Mr. Fox brags about how witty he is, but when faced with a tiger he panics. His wife outsmarts the tiger, asking it to follow them back to their hole to help them divide their five children between them. The tiger figures eating 7 foxes is even better than eating two, and is fooled by her flattery, so he agrees. When they arrive, Mrs. Fox backs down the hole having outsmarted the tiger, as it can’t reach into such a small space. In my version, I have used characters from the game Persona 5. Fox and Oracle are constantly bickering, so I figured they would disagree on which one of them has more wit. In the game, the group they belong to, the Phantom Thieves, can enter into a person’s cognitive “palace” if said person develops a distortion. In the palace they would fight shadows, including the shadow self belonging to the palace owner. Rooms within the palace are referred to as safe rooms because the distortion is not as strong in those spots. This allows the Thieves to take refuge, because the shadows can’t follow them inside. I thought it would be fun to have Oracle live up to her wise name by outsmarting a shadow when she leads it to a safe room and slams the door in its face.


A Fox and His Wife from Folklore of the Santal Parganas by Cecil Henry Bompas. Web Source.

Reading Notes: Santal Folklore Part B

(Photo from Pexels)

The Tigers and the Cat - a cat lived with some tigers, and they used to all eat their meat raw. The tigers sent the cat to get fire to cook their meat with because he was small and could sneak into a house to take fire from the hearth. He found a pot of milk and wanted to drink it, so he climbed on the fireplace burning his feet. He decided to wait for the fire to go out and the fireplace to cool to drink the milk. When he finally returned with fire the tigers were angry and said they would eat him. He ran away. The tigers tried to chase him but some dogs were in the way and the tigers thought their tails were nooses. They asked the jackal to tell the dogs to not use their nooses on them. The jackal told them they were just tails, so the tigers ate the dogs. They never found the cat.

 Notes: Mona stealing milk from the stove in the cafe, being chased by an angry Sojiro.

A Fox and His Wife - a fox brags to his wife that he is full of wit, and she claims to only have a small amount of wit. They run into a tiger and he panics. She outsmarts the tiger by asking it to help them decide how to split their 5 children. They take the tiger back to their hole, and Mr. Fox goes inside, afraid. Mrs. Fox goes in backwards, flattering the tiger as she goes in. The tiger can't get into the hole to eat them and is angry about being outsmarted.

Notes: Fox and Oracle fighting about who has more wit. They get into a situation and it's Oracle who outsmarts the foe.

Folklore of the Santal Parganas by Cecil Henry Bompas. Web Source.

Reading Notes: Santal Folklore Part A

(Photo from Pexels)

Ledha and the Leopard - a man named Ledha helps a leopard pull a lizard off its rump. When the leopard decides to eat him, he tricks it into thinking the lizard is hiding up a tree with him and the leopard runs away. Then Ledha secretly sweeps up after the buffalo to live in the tree above them. They discover who is taking care of them and appoint him as their servant, providing milk and a home for him. One day some of Ledha's hair falls out and he sends it down the river in a bundle. A princess finds it and has her father search for him. A crow finds him and steals his flute, bringing it back to the princess, and Ledha is locked in a room with her until he agrees to marry her. They build a palace in the jungle so he can be near the buffalo. 

Some of these stories are so morbid that it's almost funny. I think this was the only one in Part A with any potential for me to write a retelling of it, although I did enjoy reading some of the others.

Folklore of the Santal Parganas by Cecil Henry Bompas. Web Source.