A Momentary Life

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The Week That Was…

What have I been up to? Well, for the last few days, I’ve been competing in a couple of Magic: The Gathering tournaments. Since I was already able to complete my Wolf Run Ramp deck, which is basically identical to the deck used World’s Champion, Junya Iyanaga, I thought to give it a spin. Me and Liz participated last Wednesday’s tournament which was held in Project 6. Unfortunately, the keys were unavailable at that time so we were not able to get inside the building where we were supposed to play at. Instead, we decided to go for a very long walk and play in a nearby Mcdonald’s branch instead.

I ended up being top two at that time with my deck while Liz on the other hand was not able to make it. I was very happy at that time since it was my first time winning that much, especially that it was also the first time I used that deck in a tournament. Well, not really the first time since I have been using a proxy deck for to practice with my girl in the last couple of weeks. Though its components were fairly different to the one I used last Wednesday. I ended the evening at 2-1, losing to the mirror match.

The first two matches were with a Werewolf deck and a mono-black control. Unfortunately, I was unable to keep up the good record with the following tourneys that we participated at. That same week, we joined the FNM Held at Titans in Eastwood last friday. There, I lost miserably against UW humans, a Grixis Control, a Mono-Blue Illusions and something else which I already have forgotten. On the other hand, my girl got a better standing. She ended the evening 2-2, was it? Trust me; I was not happy about it due to the fact that I played lousily. Had a lot of misplays and I was too lazy to think of my moves. Imagine this, opponent played a phantasmal image and copied an insectile aberration. At that time, I had a Kessig Wolf Run in play but I did nothing. I completely forgot the fact that I could target the image and kill it with the land! Another one was allowing an online Olivia to even dent my Solemn before I bothered killing it at a later turn with a Galvanic Blast. Furthemore, my opponent just simply took control of my Solemn and got the draw instead of me. And when I was battling it out with the UW humans deck, I did not even bother mulliganning for a better hand. I learned that a Primeval Titan, A Rampant Growth and four lands would not cut it against such a deck. Imagine these misplays. It was all my fault and I deserve the loss. What’s worse was that it bugged me the whole evening and did not let me sleep at all!

On the brighter side, it made the fire in me burn stronger and learned from the experience. That coming Sunday, I battled against an UR aggro, the same Werewolves I fought Wednesday of the same week, a UW humans, a Solar Flare and a Mono-black Infect. I won against the UR player but that was it. The rest were all loses except with the UW humans who by the way, was piloted by my very own girlfriend, who also had a bad record at that time. Though there are a couple of memorable matches that I want to highlight starting with the Solar Flare match up. The match up was memorable because I know I could have won the next round of our game. I had an inkmoth online, and a hand with an Autumn’s Veil, an Acidic Slime and a Sword of Feast and Famine. Since I knew that my opponent was holding a Mana Leak, I played an Acidic Slime first which as expected got countered. The next turn, I played the Sword with three untapped lands. He let it go and when I equipped it, he responded with Victim of the Night. Luckily, I had Autumn’s Veil at that time and responded in turn. The Sword got equipped and the Inkmoth went to the red zone, untapping all my lands. Unfortunately for me my opponent played Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite which shut off my nexuses. For the next few turns I was not lucky enough to get answers and lost after a few hits from the legendary praetor.

As of right now, I am just spending the last few days tweaking and tuning my deck. I am considering of replacing Sphere of the Suns with a set of Viridian Emissary. The metagame where I play was just full of aggro decks and if I am unable to do something about the early swarm then I’ll likely scoop up my cards. I’ll probably be playing again this coming weekend given that I do not have much appointments or commitments. For the meantime, I am busy with writing articles and reading up articles in Starcitygames.com. I am looking forward to the next tourney!

09/11/11: What is Forgiveness?

It was the 11th of September and at around 3:00 in the afternoon when me and my girl decided to go to church. Though I admit I am not one as pious as of those out there, I still do know how to give thanks for the blessings which I receive on a daily basis. Normally, I am not one as to share any of my everyday experiences to anyone at random, but that date became a bit memorable in a way. Not because it is the nth anniversary of “The bombing of the Twin Towers” or whatever people refer it to, but rather, because for the very first time in my life, no church experience has left such a bitter taste to me.

But before I even go the juicy part of the experience, I would like to say something to those who would be reading this in the future; “This is just an opinion and should not be taken offensively by anyone”. This remark actually came from a professional Magic: The Gathering player and since it fits perfectly to today’s story, I have decided to use it. :)

Moving forward, I don’t know what’s with that day but things seem to be pretty chaotic in the church mass. But for some reason, the choir seems sleepy and obviously out of tune. I do understand that they may be exhausted from practice or just simply nervous but I just can’t help but take notice the way they sang the opening song. It is as if the choir members are not themselves. And I am pretty sure that the priest who preceded that mass would surely agree with my observation.

But that’s not much of a big deal really. Things like these do happen and it may just be a coincidence that I was there at that time to observe it. Another thing would be the group of people sitting at the next row behind us. For some reason, they keep on shoving and shoving our bench away from them causing me and my girl to find ourselves in an uncomfortable tight space. Imagine you’re standing and your chair gets to be pushed forward causing you to move a bit forward. And since there is another chair in front of you, you’ll end up being on a tight spot since it is not like you can just move the chair in front of you so you can have sufficient space for yourself. Now, now, I don’t usually take this into heart but the people at the back just kept on pushing us over and over and you’ll come to the point that you can no longer ignore it. But since we’re in the church, I kept myself from having to look behind me and glare at those people and tell them to behave or something.

Forgiveness

And if that was annoying enough for me, what took the cake was an elderly lady deliberately asking me if she can go first in line for the communion. I know that the gospel was all about forgiving people and forgetting but does that excuses people in general to take advantage of such a holy ceremony? Or hallowed place to begin with? Of course, with all due respect to the church, I just smiled and turned to my girl who was just behind me at that time and said “Forgiveness” with a sarcastic tone and smirk on my face. People asking me for small things don’t really bother me that much under normal circumstances but what happened back then was not just about the request but rather a “clean” way of taking advantage of people which for me is just totally unacceptable. That person did not dare ask those who are ahead of me first and asked me instead if she could go first in the line because she clearly wanted to take advantage of her status and at the same time, the locale which was what annoyed me the most.

Whenever I think of the gospel last Sunday, I always wonder if priests, holymen, clergymen could simply walk up to those who have become victims of the Twin Tower Bombing and tell them to forgive those who have killed their loved ones. And at the same time, expect compliance from those who have lost their loved ones. Frankly, forgiving people may sound easy but I don’t think that a person, for example, who’s a victim of having his wife murdered, his daughters raped and so forth would agree with it. Even if it is not an easy thing to do, I really wonder if most people in this world would be able to apply such teachings just like that in their daily lives when the wrong doings are far grave around us.

Before going home, me and my girl decided to stop over at a nearby convenience store and while heading there, I happened to read this print at the back of a car’s mirror saying “Forgiving others is being kind to yourself.” I looked at my girlfriend and smiled and said “Fine. I got the message.”

Poems…

New poems will be posted soon. I’m just running through my old works…

RavenKnives.Info Goes Live!

After a year of being a parked domain, RavenKnives.Info goes live as an extension of this blog.

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Couple’s Trip

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Dine, travel, and blog with us!

Stereogram Challenge

Perfect workout for your eyes and brain!

Blue Burst Stereogram

Stare intently to see the hidden 3D image...

Shadowlands

I alone tread this path
A dark path that few undertake
With what is left of me
Towards the wastelands where the shadows lie

Though I seek shelter
But I can find none
I drank the last drop of my water
And stride forward to the barren realm

As I step my foot unto the land
The dreary soil seems to welcome me
Although I am offered no comfort
I felt this joy within me*

As I continue deep within the land
A chilling breeze embraced my arrival
I wrapped myself with my ragged cloth
To warm my journey-wearied body**

I ventured further into the unknown
Where no being dared to venture
The heart of shadows, den of uncertainty
Pit of those who are lost, and realm of Illusions

Now I stand at this empty space
Then removed my ragged cloak
And I opened my arms wide and waited
As I waited, I saw it then smiled

(Author’s Notes: the phrase marked with * was originally “I felt a joy inside me” and the phrase marked with ** was originally written as “To warm my journey-worn body”)

My Girlfriend Is A BC Blogger!

Because my girlfriend set this up for me, I’m taking her advice when she told me I must join the BC bloggers. Oh, a guy joining that group of amazonas? So gay! Kidding. I really want to be part of a group recommended by my beloved especially that she’s a certified busy blogger.

Calling all bloggers who want to gain friends in the blogosphere and build links at the same time – BC Bloggers 3 is now open. To join just visit Mommy Diary, read the requirements, and fill out the Application Form.

Enough of second thoughts, join now!

Hello world!

I’m online!

- update to follow

Blessed Be…

It was sunrise when he came
Riding his glorious steed
With that stern look on his face
A witness to many great battles

He wears a white cape
Embroidered with sigils and jewels
And emblazoned with
Symbols from ages long past gone

He drops off from his mount
And brushes the mane
Of his long time comrade
A valiant and loyal steed

He stands with the air of dignity
Radiant and unwavering
Filled with the heaven’s grace and divinity
A stalwart soul of holy might

Hanging beside his belt
Is a weapon sheathed and sanctified
By the high lords themselves
A weapon that has laid waste to evil

He has come at long last
He who is an epitome of
Truth and Justice manifest
He, who is borne of purity and righteousness,
Behold, the legend of the Paladin

(Author’s Notes: This poem has undergone a complete revision as seen fit by the author with the original being kept in writing)

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