Pokémon Card Art By Keiji Kinebuchi

For some reason, my ADHD brain decided to hyperfixate on Gorochu recently, and what a missed opportunity it was. Since Pichu basically robbed it of its potential place in Pikachu's evolutionary line, there's no realistic way for Gorochu to be reintroduced into the franchise without coming up with some brand new unnecessary game mechanic or something.

But then I started thinking "What if Gorochu was a brand new Pokémon altogether?" And I don't mean like another Pikaclone. This is Gorochu we're talking about, it deserves something better. I'm thinking a Mythical/Legendary Pokémon with a clear connection to Pikachu akin to Diancie and Carbink.

The lore would go something like this:

"Gorochu, the Thunder Mouse Pokémon. Legend has it Gorochu was once an ordinary Pikachu that was transformed after being struck by lightning from Arceus. Everywhere Gorochu goes, terrible thunderstorms follow as it drums its tail against the ground to psych itself up for battle. As the most powerful Electric-Type in the world, not even Thundurus, Zapdos, or Zekrom can stand up to its might."

I think it's a pretty cool concept even if it probably will never come to pass. At the very least I'd settle for a Convergent Pokémon. (Sigh) But a man can dream.

This is so cool i love putting random documents in books.

A display from a smalltown second hand bookstore. What has been found in books.

“Life itself was the first, the greatest, of all the arts, and for it all the other arts seemed to be but a preparation.”-Oscar Wilde

Old climbing 🧗‍♀️

Yvon Chouinard admires the rock face he just climbed.

Yosemite National Park, California

1964

Life and life only

サツキ咲く真如堂

Books of the Week:

Mexican Gothic - Silvia Moreno-Garcia This one was a bit slow at first but the ideas at the end involving alchemical immortality and mushrooms are thought provoking.

Kudzu - The Vine to Love or Hate - by Roy W. Beck and W. L. Brantley

Kudzu Is edible and a potential biofuel.

Jumy-M Yakisugi / 焼杉の家