Dynamite's Diary - 15th February 2022

Yesterday was...emotional, shall we say? I was preparing to go out for the date that Steve had invited me to. I knew exactly where we'd be meeting up and I had my Valentine's Day gift ready for him, but I was still stuck on what to wear. I wanted to look fancy, though not too OTT, but most of the dresses I have look pretty cheap and the pizza restaurant we were going to is pretty flash. I was also stuck on whether I should be wearing makeup. I always feel awkward about wearing it in case I end up looking like a clown, but a subtle look might be my sort of thing. Maybe just lipstick and eye shadow would do?

As I was going through my makeup bag, Dad happened to walk in. And as expected, he just started snarking on about the whole thing again. It's already bad enough that he bitches on about it normally, but now he was doing it while I was trying to get ready.

"Yep, as I guessed. You're tryin' to make yourself over for a boy. And for that Steve, of all people." He said his name as if he was some sort of toxic waste. 

At that moment, I just exploded.

"Look, just because YOU don't like him, doesn't mean you have to bitch at ME about it and try and make ME not like him! Seriously Dad!"

If I'd properly comprehended why Dad look stunned when I said all that, I would have stopped myself. But I just continued.

"Hey, you and Mom split up. I get it. You're super pissed off at her too. Doesn't mean that Steve and I are going to be end up with exactly the same outcome as you did! You just keep projecting your problems onto me and expect me to have them to, but you're talking bullshit!"

Dad went super silent for a bit and then turned away. Then he just started sniffling. It was so weird and actually pretty scary. Normally when Dad cries, he goes all out. Or at least you can hear him sobbing. But now he was all quiet and not saying anything. He was even crouched down on the floor.

"Dad? Dad! I'm really sorry if I-"

"No no, it's fine," he said in this really tiny voice. "I just - I just have something in my eye, that's all."

It wasn't fine at all. Dad never uses that trick for all I know. Whenever he cries, he never hides it. He wants everyone to know.

So I thought it would be best to find out what the problem was. He wasn't willing to tell me at first. When I tried to check on him, he just said "Look, don't worry. Forget it. You've got your date to go to. Don't let me stop you or anything." In the same small voice.

"No Dad, clearly everything's not okay. Look, I'm really sorry about that stuff I said about you and Mom. It's just, I got pissed off and then-" I was stumped on how to finish that sentence.

Dad finally stopped looking away from me. He looked an outright mess with all those tears on his face, looking up at me like some silent depressed puppy. He was about to say something, but then stopped, took a deep breathe and then began to speak whilst wiping his face.

Turns out Mom's not the only one who dumped him. He's had plenty of exes that he's never told me about. Most of which he'd married. I heard that Grandma went through several ex-husbands, but I'd just assumed that she was the only relative that happened with.

I wouldn't say ALL of them sounded bad, but there were some who were worst than others. Some of which who had said some pretty awful things to Dad while he was with them and essentially treated him like garbage. One of them had even called him a "disgusting tramp" a couple of times. No wonder he reacted the way he did when Kinsey called him that.

"B-but did any them hit you?" I almost spluttered out.

Dad shook his head for that one. "No. They wouldn't have been able. I wouldn't have let 'em do that." He paused, and then had this weird fake smirk on his face. "Though maybe if I had, maybe it couldn't have been that bad...if anything, it might have been better."

That was probably the most disgusting thing I've heard in my life, and something I never want to hear come out of anyone's mouth again.

"I mean, I guess it's harder to karate chop insults compared to limbs," I said. I guess I was trying to stop myself from puking and lighten the mood with that comment. This Dad nodded at, but he didn't laugh. Neither did I. I wasn't in the mood anyway.

"But the thing is," Dad continued. "I didn't think they would head that way. I thought some of 'em seemed cool enough. I thought we're have one of those fairytale endings together. Every single time. Sure, maybe I fucked things up myself, but it still doesn't change the fact it hurt. And Mama pretty much had the same problem too. It's just...I don't want to same to happen to you, okay?"

I tried to find a way to diffuse the situation.

"Look, if anyone tried to treat me all funny, I wouldn't let them get away with it. I'd fight back and ditch them immediately. I'd knee them in the groin or something like that."

"You know, that's kinda like what I told myself." He let out this weird chuckle before letting out another sob. "Oh, if only it had been that easy."

I just felt super awful for Dad's sake. So I gave him a hug. He really needed it.

"You know, I don't think you should let it get to you that much. Okay, I know that sounds awkward, but hear me out. They sound like assholes, and you're not with them anymore. They shouldn't be ruining your life simply by remaining on your mind."

Dad let out a muffled "Hm?" at this. He'd been sniffling quite a bit into my shirt and it felt really damp as a result.

"I mean, didn't Grandma say that you can't worry about what you hope for, otherwise you miss the way things turn out? 'Cause, y'know, you've got her and Wiz and Marshall. Oh, and you can't forget me either, since I'm your daughter and all that. And-" I felt I was just bumbling my way through my comments at this point. "We're here to help you if you need it."

Dad looked up and actually smiled then, and it wasn't one of the fake ones he was doing earlier. "Aww sweetie, look at you being the sentimental pep-talker." And then he gave him another one of his tight bear hugs that crushes yet another rib of mine each day.

I helped him up off the floor, and then saw the clock. 6:15pm! That was 15 minutes later than the time I'd arranged to meet Steve at! I almost panicked a bit, but had to get a hold on myself.

"Well, I guess I'd better get going now," I said before I headed out the door. "Can't be late for pizza!"

"Yeah, sure, you head off for that date of yours," Dad replied, now not sounding as peeved about the date as he did beforehand. He gave me a little kiss on the head too. "Just...remember to come back by 10pm, 'kay?"

So that was why I arrived five minutes late to the pizza restaurant that Steve was waiting at whilst still in my casual attire and with a major wet patch on my front. He was pretty chill about the whole thing, though I didn't tell him EXACTLY what had happened. I simply said that I'd had a last-minute family emergency and left it at that.

Anyway, the date ultimately went pretty well. Okay, maybe there was that issue with some horrible restaurant crashers who came in around 7:30pm and tried wrecking the place. It's this local gang from the nearby private school who always come to these places and break out into fights, and then they pay the restaurant money as some sort of lame "apology". Why the police won't sort them out, I have no idea.

But I was able to sort them out. All those years of martial arts training never fail to pay off. Sure, some of them were pretty burly and one of them even choked me out against the floor, but one swift kick to the groin got him off me. I probably received a bruised face from being punched there so many times, but in the end I was standing triumphantly above those thugs whilst they lay crippled and moaning on the ground like the losers they were. Steve was somewhat shocked at it all, and he remained that way for the rest of date, but I bet he was simply in awe of my karate skills that night.

And then just as 0ne of them tried getting up, a familiar someone just stomped on them before heading in, followed by another familiar someone. It was like the beginning of Ice Age all over again, but on a smaller scale.

I couldn't believe it. Not only was Dad here in the same restaurant as us, but so was Grandma! It turns out that he really took my advice to heart as now he'd decided to share a singles night with his mother.

They didn't trash the place like those douchebags tried to do earlier, but they did get pretty loud after a few shots and just started laughing and singing and having these long and energetic conversations about how awesome the film they recently watched was (it wasn't that recent, they watched it back at Christmas). Occasionally one of them would yell "Singles night!" as loud as possible whilst raising a glass. Those poor young couples who just wanted a romantic night out. X)

And considering I got some of the pizza on myself at one point, it's just as well I stayed in my casual attire. Tear stains and cheese on it in one night. That pizza was SO good though. Yes, I know that I'm a heathen for choosing the pineapple one, but it still tastes awesome. As did the chocolate fudge sundae that came afterwards.

Steve was real sweet! He gave me two teddy bears as a Valentine Day's gift, and you KNOW I'm a sucker for those things. Even I have to admit it. Sure, they were the same colour, but I didn't see any problem with that. As for my Valentine's gift, Steve really liked the new basketball sneakers I got him with red and black flames on. I noticed his previous ones were getting kinda tatty, so I just wanted to help him out a bit. ^_^

My only regret is that we didn't get to have a steamy kiss between us both. Still waiting for that first kiss. I guess we weren't ready for it, but I really hope we get to have one this year.

Dad was there when I got home, and he was clearly feeling a bit better after that night out because he didn't seem put out about me coming back from a date with Steve like he normally is.

"Oh, hi Dynah," he said as I came in. He even smiled a bit.

He still seemed a little downbeat though - it was a somewhat sad smile he gave me. Maybe it was just because of that emotionally taxing moment earlier that evening, or because his single's night with Grandma was finished and he'd be going back to just having a lonely Valentine's Day as always.

So I decided to be extra nice to him on Valentine's Day by giving him one of the teddy bears. "Hey Dad, I got something for you here. Sure, it's from Steve and he gave it to me, but do I really need two copies? Besides, I thought you might like it yourself."

He absolutely LOVED it. Never mind the fact that it was from Steve. He actually started snuggling up to it and rubbing his face on it with this big smile on his face. And he was still snuggling up with it when he went to bed that night. It was so adorable and it certainly made for a good end to the day.

So hopefully Dad won't be going on about his problems with Steve to my face anymore. Sure, I guess it won't stop him from complaining about him behind my back, but hey, he's always been stubborn like that. The important thing is that we talked it out and now he won't be pressuring me about it.

As for today? Well, I'm still thinking about my dream bedroom. Nothing else. But Dad's pretty upbeat today, so that's what really matters. It's always great when he's like that. Things just aren't the same otherwise.

My Masked Singer Outfit For Boomstick

So given that the finale of Series 3 of The Masked Singer UK airs tomorrow night and it has some of the best costumes yet this year, I thought I might as well hypothesise my own Masked Singer outfit. Specifically, I ended up wondering what kind of outfit Boomstick from Death Battle! would wear if he was going to take a shot at the series himself.

The identity I assume that he would take on is Dino, given that he is a massive fan of dinosaurs (especially pronouncing his love for them in "Yoshi vs. Riptor"). The name is shortened because it sounds almost childlike and thus matches with his manchild personality (plus I don't know if any other version of The Masked Singer already has a character called Dinosaur). It will be a strange sort of combination - it seems that he was planning for a T-Rex vibe, but instead it takes more cues from the allosaurus with the amount of claws and toes it has, the latter of which look pretty wonky. It's also hard to tell whether the face is trying to go for the same vibe as a T-Rex or allosaurus or whether it's trying to be more like a utahraptor. It's definitely not going to be as high-quality as the Masked Singer costumes normally are, but it will certainly be a fun one like most of them are.

The fact that the outfit has two legs means that Boomstick can conceal his shotgun leg and not give away a major part of his identity, with the way that they are built allowing him to still move around easily despite the wonky toes. The line on the neck of the costume also indicates where the mask detaches from if he ever takes it off.

Obviously since Boomstick's also a "Look at me, look at me!" type of person, it isn't going to completely conceal his identity. It will have the same colour palette as his checkered jacket for instance, with his main body being red with black markings on his back and tail. He also wears a blue baseball cap the same shade as his jeans with the initial "D" on it, just like how he normally wears a trucker cap outside the costume. The main "clue" sign though is that he has a tattoo on his left upper arm with his codename on, the same place where he has his "Momma" tattoo normally.

The only thing that Boomstick would be disappointed about the costume missing would be gun references, since The Masked Singer is a family-friendly show after all (well, I know the UK version is). Otherwise, I feel the final design still suits him really well and came out well in general. We'd better watch out if he gets unmasked too early if he DOES decide to go on the show at any point. X)

There are plenty more characters I could design potential Masked Singer outfits for, but this was the one that came to mind and the one I really wanted to get out there before the final episode of this year's series. Either way, it's on its way and I cannot wait! :D

Dynamite's Diary - 11th February 2022

Dad's still complaining about the whole business with Steve. He's been moaning about it nearly all of the week. Every single day in fact. It's gotten to the point in which it's just downright exasperating and not something to chuckle about anymore.

"It'll be a cruel, cruel Valentine's Day for you if he cocks it all up," he was grumbling this morning. "It's not gonna go anywhere, I'm telling you that."

"What do you mean? Steve's a real sweetheart. He wouldn't try and mess things up like that."

"Oh sure, he's a real dreamboat alright. That's exactly what I thought about your mother when we first met and look how that turned out."

Oh he ALWAYS goes on about Mom. He cannot stand her. He makes her out to be this demonic ice queen who would make anyone run a mile, but she's nothing really like that. Sure, she can be really insensitive at times, isn't great with empathy (she once laughed when I got my hand stuck in a Chinese finger trap) and loves to go on about herself, but she's no demon.

"Dad, it'll be fine. As you said before, we were already dating when we were ten and we're still together. I highly doubt that he'll end up like that."

Dad just let out a mighty "hmph". "Times change, y'know." And then he just left to head off to the nearby gun rally. So I just decided to abandon any talk about it with him for the rest of the day and head off to school.

That said, Dad did have a worried look on his face when he looked back at me as I was heading out. Not sure why. Thinking about it, a similar thing happened on Tuesday where he was looking all anxious whilst I was talking with Steve on the phone, and then went back to throwing a strop when I noticed.

Sorting out my bedroom hasn't been going too well either this week. I tried looking up the flooring I needed, but it's ridiculously expensive. So are the flat-screen TV and sofa that I want. Dad's pretty much dirt poor when he's not receiving his work money and even Mom doesn't have that much. I even tried looking up looking up discount prices on my phone today but even they were pretty flash.

So I guess I'll have to pony up the money myself if I want all this stuff. Given that I already risked getting in trouble with the law with that whole Kinsey business, pulling off a bank robbery probably isn't in the cards. I'll probably have to find a part-time job or set up some sort of neighborhood business.

On the bright side, at least Steve and I have agreed on where to have our date. It's at this pizza restaurant on the outskirts of the city, so we'll both be able to make it there in no time. Plus, I hear that they make AMAZING hot fudge sundaes there. I hope Dad doesn't find out about it though. He'll just bust in there to intimidate Steve and make a fool out of me.

But apart from those hiccups, the date's still happening! Only three days to go and I'm so excited!!! :D

Let's hope Dad doesn't spoil things on the night.

Dynamite's Diary - 7th February 2022

You will NOT believe it. Steve asked me on a date! He texted me about it today. Sure, we've been on a few before, but he's suggesting Valentine's Day next week! I have never been so excited. I'm still trying to think about what to wear so that I'll look nice.

As usual, Dad's getting all iffy about the whole business. In fact, he's having more of a huff about it than usual. He was going on about how Steve's way too obsessed with asking me on dates and that he barely has any personality. Um, hello? The only reason he comes off like that is probably because he isn't as crazy as the other people I know in my life.

I tried to play it cool. I told him that Steve was a nice guy and that the "worst" thing he ever did was accidentally throw a basketball in my face that one time in sports. Which, fun fact, was actually how we ended up bonding with each other in the first place. And that was back in elementary school.

He wasn't convinced. "You were already going out with him when you were ten! That was so weird! What kind of kids go on dates when they're ten?!"

Hey, he's the same guy that makes perverted jokes on a daily basis. Since when does he have room to talk about my early love life? But ultimately I just left it at that. You just can't reason with Dad when he's like that.

As for other business, I'm thinking through my plans on my future dream bedroom. Last week's attempt was a complete disaster, so maybe it would be best if I put more thought into it. Jotting it all down here would provide a good start.

Of course it would have to involve a crimson wall with a red and black checkered carpet. The contrast works well and the crimson shade means that there won't be too much red. Maybe add some white skulls to it too to add some more pizzazz. I'm also thinking of plastering the walls with some action movie posters and ones of my favorite rock star celebs to make it more "me".

I would have a large flat-screen TV on the wall and a sofa I can just flop onto so I can watch my favorite flicks and eat snacks at the same time. I would be able to store all of my games consoles and games inside so I can have play them in private without Dad insisting on joining in every time. I'd also have my own gaming desk with a super luxurious matching chair so I can play games and stream to my heart's content.

I'd have to have a bed too, obviously. It's not called a "bedroom" for nothing, after all. Have a nice bed cover, probably with red and black on it. I'd probably have a few stuffed toys as well. Just for aesthetic purposes though. I'm a teenager after all. It's not like I still play with those things... ¬_¬

I'd also have to add an en-suite bathroom with a toilet, sink and shower just so I don't have to walk out into Dad's place whenever I need to get washed or use the toilet. Makes it much easier that way. And then I'll probably have an oven, fridge and microwave just so I can make my own meals. Hey, this is now starting to sound like a hotel room thinking about it.

Just think! Finally I can actually have a proper space to invite my mates into so we can just chill out together without having to simply hang around the dinner table at Mom and Dad's places all the time. And I can DEFINITELY invite Steve over too. As long as Dad's out of course. God forbid that he busts in while we're trying to have a moment.

So now I've got a plan on what my dream bedroom will be like, I've got to get started on it. As well as start planning for the date next week. Seriously, I spent a good chunk of this talking about the room and yet I still don't know what to wear or where me and Steve'll be eating at! X)

Dynamite's Diary - 4th February 2022

Well, today was pretty awkward. I said in an earlier diary entry that I was desperate for my own bedroom and I thought that today could provide a good start.

Mom pretty much said NO to the idea of redecorating my room at her place when I begged her to do it yesterday. She said that there wasn't enough room to add stuff and it would be too expensive to redo the wallpaper and flooring. Of course, she actually just can't be bothered to change it anyway - she REALLY likes that tacky taco-themed wallpaper she currently has.

So I was left with just trying to come up with a way to set up a new bedroom at Dad's place. I felt he would be more accepting, but when I phoned him about it, he insisted that I didn't touch his tools without his permission and that he helped me out with it. And let's face it, if you've seen his shack, you'll know that he's not the type of person you'd ask to design your own house. In the end, I felt it was best to just do it in secret.

I headed up to his shack early this morning, just before he would have a chance to wake up. I snook inside while he was sleeping and took the tools I needed, being careful not to make any noise. Then after also fetching the paint and wooden planks he stores near the fridge, I went outside again. 

I'm pretty good with DIY normally - I once made a pretty neat birdbox in woodwork class and even made an ironwood shelf to replace Dad's old broken one last year in April. So I thought it would be the same here. But it turns out that making a whole room is a different beast entirely. Every time I tried to put a plank into place, it would just topple over and I'd have to prop it up again.

So I have to line up several planks together and them add another plank to them horizontally and nail it in so they would stay in place. I hit my thumb about three times doing it, which I have NEVER done before on other DIY projects. It was outright swollen by the time I got the first wall half done. Nearly shattered my own nail too (the thumbnail, not the metal nails). That's how finicky the whole process was.

I had to really slam the planks into the ground in order to make them stay in, which wasted a huge chunk of time. Then I had to do the same process I'd done for the bottom half of the first wall with another set of planks, and then attach them to the top somehow. That was even harder. But somehow, I managed to get it done. Even if the finished wall did seem a bit wobbly.

I realized that it was just going to take forever with the rest of the walls, so I decided to simply get on with the painting. That was the part that I'd been looking forward to. Of course, I hadn't really put much thought into it - I just grabbed a can of red paint and started slathering it on the wood. School was going to start soon and if I didn't hurry up, I'd be late. Maybe I could just finish it off as a "preview" wall and then get on with the rest when I got back? And then pretend that someone else took Dad's DIY tools out of his house.

I was clearly in too much of a rush though because I really hit the wood hard with the paintbrush. And then it started toppling over towards the shack. It was like a slo-mo scene in a disaster movie, with me rushing over to stop it from causing any damage and letting up the obligatory big "NOOOO!". No success though - I stepped into the paint can by accident and tripped up, and the planks proceeds to smash through one of Dad's windows.

That crash must have woken Dad up, because he came out about thirty seconds later in his dressing gown whilst I was trying to salvage my mistake. And he had some weird ideas on what caused it initially.

"Urgh, that Steve!" he was grumbling to himself. "Thinks he can come over here and throw one of his goddamn basketballs at my house just to beg for a date with my daughter! Forget about kneecapping him this time, I'm just gonna aim the bullets straight for his head!"

But when he saw that it was me covered in woodchip and paint and standing next to a shoddily made wall, he struggled to restrain his chuckling.

"Hey, we're both on the same boat when it comes to home DIY!" he said. "You want help with that?"

"Yeah, thanks Dad, but...I really need to get washed. And head off to school now."

"Well, I meant that paint bucket you're wearin' on your foot, but sure, I'll help with your bedroom if you want.

"It's nice to offer," I awkwardly chuckled back. "But just help me out with the bucket. As said, I REALLY need to get washed."

So that was why I ended up thirty minutes late to school and received yet another detention. Hey, at least the progress I made was somewhat better than what Dad would have done - he would have just slapped the planks together, used too many nails and superglue and just hope for the best.

Next time, I need to properly plan ahead. Just jumping into things without thinking only leads to disaster, as I learnt too well today. Once I know EXACTLY how I want the room to be, it will all be perfect. That's how it works, right?