October 11th: Big Binge

- Got the bicycle.
- Agreed to deliver mail for the guy in the connector at the north end of Goldenrod. Had to bench Gemini for the privledge.
> Borrowed: Kenya [F] (Spearow)
- Kenya's OT: Webster. I think the guy there actually has a name. Interesting.
- Kenya, being at level 20, is actually the second highest level on the team right now.
- Attempted to fight Whitney, but was underleveled, so reset system to turn back and grind levels on A Rat! and Peep.
- Peep fought both of Firebreather Walt's Magmars and leveled up after each one.
- Grinding for levels for A Rat! on Route 34
- Managed to find a Ditto.
> Caught: CODEX
- Renamed A Rat! at the place in Goldenrod because I felt bad about giving a joking name to a 'mon that I actually now appreciate.
> Renamed: A RAT! is now RAMELIA
- Would probably have lost the second Whitney fight, but Gorb managed to land Curse before dying to one hit from Miltank. This was probably the only reason the team could land enough damage to take it down. Peep managed to take it down with enough Thundershocks and a lucky break from a paralysis effect on the Miltank preventing it from using Milk Drink.
- Peep got a critical hit on the Sudowoodo blocking the path so I couldn't catch it.
- Went back to Violet and Route 31, delivered the mail and got the berry from Wade.
> Returned: Kenya
- Went back to New Bark Town and showed P. Elm the Togepi.
- Showed Peep (has a Shiny Leaf) to Lyra.
- Went to the Ruins of Alph since I skipped that while going to Azalea the first time.
- Solved the puzzle in the north chamber, fell, and caught a UNOWN
> Caught: INDIA
- Went back to Goldenrod, found Cameron the Photographer near the daycare center.
- Went through the tunnel, took the photo with the Team Rocket uniform.
- Decided to actually go to Ecruteak now.
- Saw Bill at the Pokemon Center
- Went to the Dance Theater and got Surf. I put the move on Super!.
- Burned Tower battle vs. Patrick went well.
- Shortly after, Ramelia evolved.
> RAMELIA: Rattata -> Raticate
- Caught a Vulpix just south of Ecruteak
> Caught: POBLANO [M]
- Morty's Gengar (second of four Pokemon) took out both Sync III and Peep. Ramelia then managed to take out that Gengar and both Haunters without too much trouble while being at just barely the right level.
- Headin' West
- At Level 25, Peep finally learned a move to replace Tackle. This could have been done earlier, just decided that Charge was a good move to replace Tackle.
- Got to the top of the lighthouse and got the request for medicine.
- Surfed to Cianwood. Took a picture with the team.
- Spotted Suicune and got into a battle with Eusine.
- Eusine's Voltorb (second of three) took out Sync III and Peep, but Gorb was able to finish it off. Ramelia took care of the last 'mon (Haunter) with relative ease.
- Beat Chuck despite being underleveled. The Polywrath was a problem, but good setup from Peep (Paralysis from Thunder Wave and slowdown from Cotton Spore) and a Curse from Gorb made it happen.
- None of the 'mons in my party could learn Fly. Checked the PC and saw Zuma there, ready and waiting. Zuma now knows Fly.
- Delivered the medicine to Jasmine and Amphy.
- Traveled back to Goldenrod.
- Checked happiness values with the lady in that one house who does that. Sync III is maxed out, Super! is "sort of happy", and the other four are one tier down from max.
- Went shopping to stock up on items. Won berries from the daily drawing thing.

I don't know how I blew so much time on the game today. When it comes to my team, I feel like it started off as a challenge to myself and, at some point, became a team I really liked. I managed to fail the second and third gyms on my first attempts at them, but the fourth and fifth I managed to get first try despite not necessarily being well prepared for them. It's like no matter how poorly the battle is going, there's always a way to turn the tide and still win. Gorb with the curse on Whitney's Miltank and Chuck's Polywrath, Ramelia with Monty's gym, and Peep with solid setups and good electric damage have made me appreciate these particular Pokemon more than I thought I would. Also, I think Johto gyms are considered to be relatively easy and kind of boring thematically (too little variety in the parties of the gym leaders). That's probably helping, too.