This one's a special one, near and dear to my heart. It's from Ethan Lee Forsythe (a.k.a. Riiyachan), a fellow who I've known from #anime! on EFnet and Anime.net for about the last two years.

I got this one back in Mid-October, 1996, after I poured my heart out in an angst-ridden editorial (As I always seem to do... I'm getting better though, IMHO) Nonetheless, Riiya lent me words of encouragement at a time when I needed it the most. Every once in a while, I look back at his letter, then reflect on how far I've come since then. Thanks again, Ethan...

Raider, I just read your editorial. Damn, was that depressing. Anyway, at one time I felt pretty much the same way you do about how the people at #anime! would get together, have weenie roasts, blah blah etc. etc. Well, if they were any kinds of friends, they'd invite you along. 90 miles is not that grate of a distance. I'm sure if it was us (the anime.net crew as opposed to the EFnet crew) who resided in the bay area, we'd always invite you along. If it makes you feel any better, the people at anime.net don't view anyone there (the regulars) as an outsider (even Duo.) Something you have to realize is that EFnet is a clique, of the junior high school variety. Also, about having more friends on IRC than in "Real Life". IRC is real life. Are you not conversing with real people? Hell, look at me. I have no friends in this hellhole, and that's by personal choice. I don't get along well with people, and IRC is a blessing, because it keeps them at a distance. I'm not a complete jerk tho. I just don't like being around people. Also, good luck with the work. I wouldn't get too worried about it. And as always Gainax sucks. -Riiya

Riiya, thank you very much for your letter. It really made me feel a lot better about things for now... I'm making my way back out of the funk I was in since then, but it's gonna take a while. It's nice to know I have support when I need it. ^_^

What I've Been Doing Since Then:
Well, near year's end, I unfortunately got fired from the job where I was working at the time, but I found another job, where I am to this day.

I was invited out to a couple of karaoke sessions with some folks from #anime! EFnet, and had a pretty good time. (In fact, I'd love to join them again, or at least get some info on karaoke places to take my sis... She still doesn't believe I can sing, and I want to get HER to song, but I've gotta get her a little tipsy first, so it's gotta be a bar or some such place with a karaoke area, though I'd like to drag her kicking and screaming to a karaoke box sometime... ^_^;)

I've also been invited to a couple get-togethers, but, unfortunately, outside circumstances have intervened those times. The first was an end-of-term BBQ in Berkeley back at the beginning of summer, but I couldn't make it up there until evening, having to work that day. Made the most of it with an excellent dinner at a restaurant called Musashi.

The next one was a recent invitation to a BBQ to welcome Kenneth Cho (kken on #anime!) out here for the weekend, but, the plans were delayed a few weeks. I'm hoping the invitation for me is still open, as I'd look forward to meeting kken (Haven't seen him since the EX panel back at Anime Expo 1996, and I'd like to let him know I'm not as angsty as he thinks I am. (Kken, if you're reading this, hope you'll be on your way here soon! Besides, it looks like several of the #anime! folks are waiting to sock it to you in paintball... Heh heh heh... Show them you've got what it takes!)

And, as for Ethan? Well, he got a new job, and moved out to California. He's managed to make waves for himself, making an appearance at Anime Expo 1997, continuing to assert his depising for all things Gainax. (sigh...) Anyway, you might be able to find out more about his anti-Evangelion rants at his page, Riiyachan's Homepage of Evil, my neighbor here at Anime.net.