I know last week was more of an action/adventure focus for the trailers featured, but I’m afraid that today is a little more of the same. I have so much catching up to do, and one trailer in particular was just released that I’m extremely excited about. I told myself I wouldn’t watch anything beyond the teaser trailer, but I couldn’t resist. I promise to get to some of the other genre movies, that I’ve been wanting to share, next week!

Transformers: Age of Extinction (6/27/2014):

So the Transformers franchise is following suit in breaking through the confines of a trilogy. Just as, once upon a time, Disney movies were singletons and if a movie did really well we may get one follow-up are long gone, so too are remaining within the confines of a trilogy. This trend isn’t exactly new, but it’s becoming more and more frequent. Sometimes — if not 75% of the time — for all the wrong reasons. Money.

I thought the first movie was good. I didn’t fall into the either camp, which swung to extremities of love and/or hate. It was a great popcorn movie featuring some CGI renderings of some toys I enjoyed playing with as a child. My brother, a much bigger Transformer fanatic than I, loved all three of the movies that were released.

I honestly I haven’t seen any beyond the first. Actually, I’ve seen about the first 15 minutes of the second movie. My first experience of HD and Blu-Ray combined kind of left an awkward taste in my mouth. It seemed to make the CGI look more fake, as well as some of the acting. Not sure how to explain that. Then there was the fact that I was in an interesting, if not downright scary, first-meeting encounter. That was the trumping factor, because I felt I needed to get the fuck out of Dodge, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen be damned!

Back to this new release. I’m mainly interested in seeing this due to the new cast. Mark Wahlberg and Stanley Tucci among them. I can’t say if it will be any better or worse than its predecessors, but I think it looks fairly decent. The trailer is really good and I figure if they can get those two actors on board with the fourth installment of a franchise, it can’t be that bad, right?

Now to get caught up on the previous trilogy…

Jupiter Ascending (7/18/2014):

I’m not sure what all to say about this movie. I thought the teaser was intriguing and the trailer expands a whole lot more on the premise. Not sure if this is based on a series of books or a completely original piece all on its own, but I think it looks pretty good. It may be that sci-fi element that draws me in. While I do like Tatum and Kunis, Sean Bean is the true (and likely bound to be heartbreaking) draw for me.

I’m sure with the special effects, this will be a great movie to see in 3D. And I’d imagine, being it’s the Wachowskis first foray into 3D, that they will be pulling out all the stops. I’m give or take with this movie, though. Maybe the discount viewing, because the thought of seeing it 3D does interest me.

Guardians of the Galaxy (8/1/2014):

This is the trailer I couldn’t refrain myself from watching! I feel I’ve already said my fair share during the A to Z Challenge: GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY, so you can reference that link for my thoughts and if wanting to check out the teaser trailer, if you haven’t done so already.

All I can really add is that I’m becoming more and more excited to see this when it hits theaters!

Lucy (8/8/2014):

So, I’m not going to lie*, I’m a fan of Scarlett Johansson, and it’s strictly on a professional level… And I’m always down, as is just about everyone else in existence, for movies featuring Morgan Freeman — he just makes any movie, good or bad, all the better. I like the subject matter, though I’m sure most of it is hypothesized and pure fabrication. It’s a topic I’ve often found myself contemplating. What if we were somehow able to access and utilize 100% of our brain? Hell 25%? 15%?!

Like in the trailer, I always thought the 10% was fact, but I just researched a little and that is claimed a myth and is highly disputed. I supposed it’s arguable like everything else, but I do feel some of the counterpoints made against it  are very logical. Talk about a buzzkill!

Either way, it’s fun to think about, and who am I kidding? I think the movie looks really good, the trailer is well done, and the topic is definitely an intriguing one!

Sin City: A Dame to Kill For (8/22/2014):

It’s been almost 10 years since the first Sin City movie was released. I believe the sequel was talked about during its theater run, but it’s taken this long to come to fruition. So long, in fact, that I honestly can’t remember a whole hell of a lot from the original movie. I remember some of the actors involved — it was a star-studded cast, and this sequel definitely follows suit — and the style it was filmed in (also kept intact), but as for specific plot points? Not so much.

I’m not sure if there were some legality issues mucking up the sequel’s production, or just the necessity of fine-tuning the script to where it met it’s creators standards. It looks good, though, and I like the actors that are attached to the project. Mickey Rourke’s character is the only specific recurring role I remember off the top of my head. I’ll definitely be needing to rewatch the original before seeing this.

I think I will give this a go in the theater, but if I miss out I won’t feel too torn about it.

Interstellar (11/7/2014):

Another movie I’ve been waiting for. Christopher Nolan has been one of my favorite writer/directors since Memento, a movie where one Guy Pearce (an actor I enjoy and is in a trailer I have lined up for next week!) plays an individual afflicted with short-term memory loss. It’s a great movie and if you haven’t seen it yet I highly recommend it! Since then, I have been Following… most of his career in the movie business.

He recently just wrapped up the latest Batman franchise, with a little Inception thrown in between, and I believe this his first film [directing] since. I would probably watch any movie he wrote and/or directed, regardless of it’s content. As usual, though, the trailer for Interstellar has sealed my fate and although this trailer is listed as another teaser, it offers a lot more information on what the storyline entails. Saving Humankind, of course!

If you have seen Nolan’s movies, you will find he is apt to use the same stars in many of them. I believe Michael Caine appears in the most. I may be wrong, however. I’m actually excited to see Matthew McConaughey in the lead role. He has been on an incredible upstroke lately — even winning an Oscar (Best-Actor) for his performance in Dallas Buyers Club — and I’m glad to see he has broken free (for the time being…) from being typecast as a heartthrob in romantic comedies.

There is no doubt whether or not I’ll be seeing this in the theaters (though, uncertain about 3D).

Sold!

*No pinky swears…

Did any of the highlighted trailers interest you? Are you a fan of the Transformers franchise? Do you have a favorite Transformer? What are your thoughts about the claim that, at most, we only use 10% of our brain? Fact or myth? Are you a Christopher Nolan Fan? If so, what are your thoughts about the latest trailer for his upcoming film?
http://summat2thinkon.blogspot.com/p/ten-things-of-thankful.html

I’m hoping that my last post wasn’t too emo, but it comes with the territory of being EmoJak. I’ve a reputation to uphold. That being said, though, I want to make sure it was clear that I would be continuing blog series like Trailer Tuesday, and blog hops like the TToT. So I’m not completely disappearing just quite yet.

I don’t really have a full intro like I usually do, and the clock is ticking before Midnight strikes, so let’s get to the Thankful.

  1. I’m Thankful for a busy schedule. I didn’t get everything done on my list, far from it, but I still kept myself occupied for the better part of the week. What are some things I did? Those just happen to be a few things I’m Grateful for…
  2. First, finally completing and posting Saying Goodbye. It had been in the works for months. I just never felt like it was the right time to revisit it, until last week. It’s done, it’s up, and I can move on to another topic. For another time.
  3. Being able to go up to the coffee shop where I originally began writing again in 2012. It was where the original NaNo group would meet up on Thursdays in November. The baristas (and customers) have always been nice there, even with their changing of the guard over the last year. I hope to continually frequent it, as I’ve found I can write more readily when in that space. I was even able to meet up with an old friend there too! Double Thankful!
  4. My S Health app. The Ladyfolk and I have begun to use this app as we attempt to better manage our health. We can keep track of exercise regiments, calorie intake/burning, and set goals. It has an expansive database, which I never knew a free app would offer, so I’m fairly impressed. I’ve already noted how we’ve become more mindful of what we decide to eat for any given meal.
  5. That I understand that it’s a slow process to eating healthier and creating a more active, choice-conscious lifestyle. Some days you will meet your goals, while other days…
You can customize meals. 9999 was the highest calorie intake (per serving) you could make, though I forgot I could go up to 4 servings!
  1. That S Health is so kind as to offer some sound, no-shit-Sherlock, advice.
  2. For the walks that the Ladyfolk and I have started to take. We try to go every night, and so far we have been really good about it. It can sometimes take a bit to convince her to go, though. Sometimes even harder to convince her to go on one of our long routes. To be fair, though, most of this hesitation stems from her experiencing various pains in different parts of her body. She powers through anyway!
  3. Getting to go out to garage and estate sales! I love it! This week was apparently a popular week for used golf equipment and Precious Moments figurines. It was hard not to but the figurines, because I have always associated them with being really valuable, but it turns out there is quite a large flux in pricing. Also, I much prefer they have original packaging, which these did not.
  4. This weekend was a big birthday event weekend. Multiple friends were having parties, but I wasn’t able to make them all. I ended up going to the first (and closest) I was invited to. I’m very Thankful that, at the last minute, I came across everything I wanted to give as a gift. I was bummed when I couldn’t find the very specific item I wanted, even online, throughout the week. I think it went over well, and wish I had taken a picture of my card sentiment to share, but it hadn’t crossed my mind to do so. It was a great night of grilling, random music, and swapping stories.
  5. Art-A-Whirl. This weekend was also host to a huge open-studio art tour event. I had heard of it — considering it takes place, literally, in my backyard — but never attended. The Ladyfolk had before, and loves it, so we walked up to a local establishment to check out some of the displayed arts and crafts. There was plenty of it! She visits one artist’s work each year, and it was by far some of the most impressive pieces that I saw featured. Attempting to do it justice through words just wouldn’t cut it. We took a handful of pictures, and I’m not sure if the Ladyfolk is sharing any during her TToT post, but I may on Wednesday.
Feel free to leave your Thankful List in the comments below, if you aren’t participating directly with the blog hop! Do you use any health apps and/or programs to keep track of your diet and exercise progress? If so, which, and what do you think of them? Any recommendations on some free ones? Are you a garage sale lover? Have you ever found anything of value for bargain prices? Have you ever attended an art event/tour?

*Static*

Hello…? Is there anybody out there…?

*Slaps laptop… static continues*

Testing… 1… 2… 5…

*The static fades some, but there still remains frequent moments of clarity failure when it resumes its fevered pitch*


NOTE: I started writing this post in Dec 2013. It was meant to be written well before that, and has since undergone many changes in its development. Originally it was meant as a misleading, emotional post where I pretended to be seemingly fed up with blogging and saying my final goodbyes, but then I merely say goodbye to my hair (which I had just gotten cut at the time) and an old belt that broke (and eventually due to timing, my car). There was then a rough patch where I thought it would possibly represent the departure from a relationship. Eventually I did stop blogging, and cut myself off from a handful of relationships, so the tone went from playful to very personally emotional.
I had planned for this to be my final post for The Cryton Chronicles — in its current form — and in a way it may retain that denotation. At least in terms of personal blog posts. I plan to continue posting trailers and participate in blog hops, in the meantime. I will highlight where I picked this entry back up to complete it with a *** marking.

It’s been well over a month since I’ve last written anything. The day before Thanksgiving 2013, to be precise, though technically I was still working on my NaNo pieces around that time too. NaNoWriMo 2013 was a failure overall in my mind. Sure, people may say that since I actually wrote 15k words (or possibly 20k since I stopped updating towards the end) it was a success. In that, they wouldn’t be wrong. The writing of any words, especially in my case, is an achievement one shouldn’t scoff at. Though the more pretentious, holier-than-thou types may.

Fuck ‘em. Pricks.

It isn’t so much the word count (and definitely not the reaching of the 50k word count goal) that registers this past NaNo as a failure with me. More so, the breakdown of the original NaNo group, consisting of members I met in 2012 — which greatly helped in the encouragement of writing during the challenge. The odds are, had I not met all of those individuals and created friendships with them (which waxed and waned over the past year), I wouldn’t have come close to reaching my goal. Perhaps I would have skipped NaNo altogether, as I had in the years past.

I may have never began blogging or dabbling again in fiction writing, resulting in a block being allowed to continue it’s twelve year reign of terror, frustration, and depression. Despair. It’s hard to explain the feelings derived from undergoing an experience like writer’s block — an experience many claim is mythical and impossible. It wasn’t (isn’t) make-believe to me.

But NaNo 2012 did happen, said people were met and became loosely connected to my life from that day forward. I did reach 50k words. I did begin blogging. So far that burning urge to continually put words to page still exists, even if I haven’t written at a capacity I had planned for the past eight months. Chances Hopes are that it never completely fades, but to it hadn’t during the twelve year block, so it stands to reason it wouldn’t now.

Coming out of NaNo 2012 I felt more vibrant and empowered, a bit more confident in my writing, regardless of how wretched I thought my 50k were. The first few months into the new year were full of various meet ups and gatherings (some writing based, others not), which was a desire expressed by many of the NaNo group.

Then time passed, and as it passed, so too did the honeymoon phase. It may have been felt more on my end. As is natural in most social circles, couples inevitably drift and bond closer to other couples, while singles are left, more or less, out of the loop. Then couples get married and/or have children, bringing them even closer to those couples in similar life stages. Being a single male and all, I felt I identified less and less with others in the group. Feeling as though I had no real place among them, being inched out little by little. Whether real or imagined, it seemed the path taken and choices made by a handful of those within the group solidified that feeling.

Anyways, I feel myself getting off track, as I’m so oft to do…

***

NaNoWriMo 2013 was different. There were hardly any gatherings, and the majority that were made were canceled. There wasn’t much encouragement among friends. Sure, I could have attended write-ins and met an entirely new group of people, maybe creating similar friendships as I did back in 2012, but that’s not what I wanted. If I were to meet new friends, it would be while spending quality time with my original writing group.

No dice.

Needless to say, by the end of NaNo 2013 I felt pretty much on my own. This lead me to follow through the process of making that my reality.

It can be really hard to differentiate intuitive feelings from worries and fears stemming from assumptions rooted in insecurities. Sometimes incredibly hard, and I’ve expressed some of my close calls in the past — of disconnecting from loved ones and the world at large — when I wrote more frequently about my personal experiences; when I wasn’t strictly posting trailers or for blog hops.

But I felt I was following my intuition and went through the process of disconnecting from almost the entire NaNo 2012 group, deleting over half of my Facebook contacts (though, oddly I left everyone on my GChat. To be fair, I rarely use it), and deciding to take a hiatus from blogging. Slowly some people have resurfaced in my life, but it’s been on a case by case basis.

During my hiatus, I focused my time elsewhere, but if I had to be honest, never budgeting it optimally. Time management is an area I lack in, unfortunately.

I eventually found my way back to blogging via the A to Z Challenge this year, as some of you know, but already find myself behind as usual; a factor contributing to my hiatus. While I may be back for the blog hops, I feel my time here will be brief. This doesn’t necessarily mean I will be done with blogging and/or writing, but that it may not be done here. Time will tell, but I will likely give more information about this departure at the appropriate moment; when more certain of my plans.

So, this is essentially my “goodbye” post. To my hair, belt, my car, friends — old and new (online and irl) — but thankfully not my current relationship. Though, admittedly, as readers begin to connect who is who, feeling I have the freedom to discuss various aspects of my relationship(s), whether positive or negative, becomes much narrower.

In case it’s never been said enough, I just want to thank each and every one of you that has ever taken the time to stop by and read my ramblings here at The Cryton Chronicles! You all are awesome, and if I happen to make an attempt at pastures that may not exactly be greener, but newer, I will be sure to let you know.

I pinky swear.

I will end this entry with a brief poem I wrote during NaNo 2013:

Remember, remember
The 9th of November
Thinking themselves sly
They cast forth that fateful die

Regardless of thoughts or deliberation
Soon the time will be at hand
For all to bear witness in anticipation
Exactly how that die shall land



Have you ever had moments where you wanted to completely disconnect from the people in your life and/or the world? If so, have you ever stopped yourself from following through with it? How? How did you re-associate with those you disconnected from, if at all? Have you ever wanted to move somewhere and attempt to completely restart your life? Have you ever transitioned to a new blog or website host? If so, what were/have been the pros and cons?

XX | TRAILER TUESDAY | XX


*Stretches and takes a look around*

Ah, yes… It’s been a long time.

Kicking Trailer Tuesday back up was suggested by a few people now, and while it never was exactly a popular series for the most part, it has always been one important to me on a personal level. I love movies and subsequently the trailers associated with them. As long as they avoid spoiling the entire movie, that is, which has increasingly become problematic.

I can rarely stop myself from watching a movie trailer, and really, why would I? I’d like to think I shouldn’t have to worry about such major spoilers, but I’ve learned otherwise. So, more often than not, I suffer through them. Sometimes, if I’m lucky, I stop midway myself partway through. One recent example would be the recently released trailers/previews of NBC’s new fall season shows. In almost sequential order — scene by scene — they highlight the entire premiere episode, twists and all, effectively killing any desire I have to watch them.

Except for Constantine, the trailer of which I share below. So fair warning before watching it. Most of the pilot episode seems to be spoiled within it.

Just a heads up, I also generally attempt to warn my readers/viewers of potentially spoiler-heavy trailers in my blurbs underneath them.

Constantine (NBC Fall 2014):

I personally enjoyed the movie starring Keanu Reeves, despite hearing many complaints about it’s many departures from the source material (what’s new right?). It was dark, dealt with demons and the occult, and the lead character was kind of a prick. Reading comments associated with this new series, people are already heralding it over Keanu’s rendition. Considering I have never been familiar with the source material, I don’t have many expectations beyond the lead being a prick. And smoking, because I swore Constantine always had a smoke when given the chance. It’s been so long, though, so I may be mistaken.

I think the series looks promising, and I’m looking forward to checking it out. The placement on Friday’s back to back with Grimm seems a perfect fit. Hopefully the studio gives the series a chance to find an audience.

Gotham (FOX Fall 2014):

Another comic-based series. I trust most of you are familiar with Gotham, but if not, it’s the city a little hero named Batman watches over. This is a prequel to those storylines, and seems predominantly focused on Gordon. Just on the off chance you aren’t familiar with the Batman comics, video games, movies… books… cartoons… etc. I won’t ruin the “surprise”. Seeing a large number of the major Batman villains featured in kid/teen form has me a little worried. It reminds me of Smallville, which I can’t help but think of as Superman meets the O.C., despite hearing it’s a good series. Regardless, I’ll be watching the pilot, and likely a few episodes, to give it a fair shake before possibly condemning it.

Godzilla (5/16/2014):

I used to love Godzilla as a child. I barely remember any of the movies, except a huge mutant dinosaur-like creature decimating cities and squishing people. Unfortunately, I remember the last attempt to reboot this franchise back in 1998. That wasn’t much of a success. This movie, however, looks amazing. I’ve read the director is very passionate about making this a truer adaptation. This trailer, as well as the teaser trailers, have undoubtedly clenched hold of my interest. 3D yes, please!

The fact that Heisenberg (Bryan Cranston) is in the movie is definitely a bonus! I can already envision a scene between him and Godzilla where he demands the giant beast say his name. Oh yeah… I can’t wait...

Edge of Tomorrow (6/6/2014):

I found out recently that this is based on a graphic novel/manga All You Need is Kill. I know absolutely nothing about it, but as usual, people are up in arms about how this adaptation looks just from the trailer in comparison to the source material. Most anime I’ve seen, or movies based on manga, have been a departure from the books they are based on. As mentioned above, it’s commonplace.

I understand when people are passionate about the original content or versions of material they are familiar with (like myself, explained below), but there has to be some semblance of understanding that not everything is going to be presented word by word, scene by scene. Again, I can’t really say much as I’ve no investment in the source material.

I think this movie looks like a great action/sci-fi flick and I’m definitely looking forward to seeing it in the theaters. Tom Cruise naysayers back off my nuts! He may have some crazy real life issues, but I can’t help but find him to be a really good actor. This definitely won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but if you are a sci-fi fan I’d recommend keeping this movie on your radar. I’m hoping it fills the void that last year’s Elysium left in me.

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (7/17/2014):

I saw the original movie reboot of Planet of the Apes, which I believe starred Mark Wahlberg. I was pretty indifferent to it. That may by way I shied away from any sequels. This trailer, however, is making me contemplate jumping on board, at least with the most recent movie — which may have been the only sequel to the reboot, if not a reboot itself — and giving the franchise a shot. Come to think of it, I have no idea if this is a direct sequel to Rise of the Planet of the Apes. I should look into that.

I think this trailer is really well done, especially considering it’s making me want to catch up on what I may have missed in the franchise. They do a great job in humanizing the apes, and while I’m sure the majority of them are CGI, make their movements very lifelike. All I know is that despite never worrying about the world being taken over by highly advanced, intelligent apes — unlike more logical fears of wars versus zombies, robots, and/or vampires — they do a great job of making it look scary as hell.

If I see and like Rise of the Planet of the Apes, I would be interested in seeing this in the theater.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (8/8/2014):

And here we are, the TMNT. This was a movie that had been in the works for a long time, and from the get go, once hearing Michael Bay was attached to direct the project, I have been scared shitless of what the result may be. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles played a huge role in shaping my childhood dreams of becoming a ninja! Michael Bay better not fuck with them! Early rumors circulated about the changing of their origin to being extraterrestrials. instead of our lovable Toxic Avenger-esque mutants. What the shit?!

From the trailer, it seems safe to say that the alien rumors never blossomed into fact, though their origins do seem a bit altered. This is also true, though, between the comics and cartoon, so that fact doesn’t bother me as much. All depending.

I watched and loved the cartoon, had (have…) a slew of their action figures and bases/vehicles (including the ooze that transformed them into what they became!), but I never collected the comics. Maybe that was a good thing at the time, because they definitely don’t appear to be very suitable for children. They are ultra violent. Not that the cartoons never had their fair share of violence. It was just cartoony. And lacking gushing amounts of blood.

Even though I may have hollered up to the Heavens “WHY?!”, hearing the rumors of the TMNT revamped origins, I have to admit that I’m really looking forward to seeing this reboot. Sure it will be PG-13 and nothing like the comics in their extremes, but neither were the original movies, which I love. It makes sense. And maybe, just maybe, there will be a decent rebooted franchise for a new generation to love and enjoy.

Maybe even some of us old folk included…

Did any of the highlighted trailers interest you? Do you plan on watching either Constantine and/or Gotham? Are you a fan of either comics/graphic novels the shows are based on? Has there ever been a movie made based on a book you love that you feel was butchered in its adaptation? If so, which? What are your thoughts on the TMNT franchise reboot?

XLVII | 10 THINGS OF THANKFUL | XLVII

http://summat2thinkon.blogspot.com/p/ten-things-of-thankful.html

It’s been a busy week and an even busier weekend. Or rather, it was a stressful week and a busy weekend. While having honest intentions of catching up on my reading (and responding to comments, for that matter), I had too much on my mind to focus on doing so. What was causing me so much stress, you ask? Was it an incredible career decision? No. Was it finding an amazingly spacious, yet affordable, new apartment for rent, which I have to arrange moving to? No. Well, what the freaking hell was it?

Deck building. Edit: The kind involving cards, not two-by-fours and a hammer. You're welcome, Dyanne!

Basically, debating on attending a major gaming tournament, and if so, what to play. That may be foreign to most of my reader base — deck building — but it’s pretty much the fundamental foundation of Magic: The Gathering. If you have no deck, you can’t play. Tournaments, naturally, call into play the necessity of building a good deck. What about a fun deck? Sure, fun too. But while building a deck you enjoy playing is important, you also want to build one that can win.

I went back and forth on attending the tournament, mainly due to the fact that I had no deck made to participate with. But alas, I could go on and on about that for hours. Instead, I will delve into the core reason you are visiting. Thankfulness!
  1. This Monday (Grandma Day) was a bit of a bummer since she wasn’t around most of the day. She had plans to get her hair done with my aunt, and they weren’t even back in the evening to watch our shows. I was Thankful, though, that the Ladyfolk and I were able to watch one of our shows with my father.
  2. I’m also Thankful my grandma was able to go out and get her hair done, even though I wish it was done on another day of the week!
  3. I’m assuming a large reason as to why they never made it back before the Ladyfolk and I left was because they went grocery shopping. It had been over a week since going, and I’m sure before they hit the grocery store they decided to grab some dinner. I’m glad she was able to finally buy some much needed necessities. Old (Grand)Mother Hubbard’s cupboards were bare.
  4. Once again, I am Thankful to have hung out with one of my good friends. He made a surprise visit and we engaged in our regular ritual of going out to eat Indian buffet, and walk around out swamp lake. It began to storm on our walk, which apparently scares the shit out of him. More precisely, the chance of being struck by lightning. The first roll of thunder sounded and that fucker was hauling ass down the path. I personally thought it was hilarious!
  5. That, despite my urges to not do so, I eventually registered for the Magic: The Gathering tournament this weekend. I registered 5 minutes before registry closed. See? My posts aren’t the only thing I do just under the wire. It’s a way of life, baby!
  1. I’m glad I eventually decided on a deck to play at the tournament.
  2. I’m very appreciative of friends who were able to borrow me the cards I needed to make the deck become a reality on such short notice. Also, that I was able to borrow cards out to those in need.
  3. That my brother gave me the special playmat the first 750 people to register (Friday) on-site got. I was under the belief that it meant the first 750 on-site Saturday. I have no idea why no one told me it was Friday, as it’s the main reason I mentioned countless times that I wanted to join the tournament — the mat, and a special foil promo card. It’s sweet he didn’t care much about the mat and gave it to me.
  4. That after a brutal start of going 0-3 (you needed to be X-2 to make it to the second day), meaning I was already out of any winnings, I decided to keep on playing. I thought about dropping out to participate in the multitude of side-events going on during the tournament, but that meant spending more cash. I then went on a 4 win streak! That was followed by a loss (in what I called the VIP section, behind a huge curtain, my round 8 games took place in). But then I finished up with a win, and ending on a positive 5-4 record. I believe the last Grand Prix tournament I participated I went 5-3-1. I’m getting better!
  5. I’m Thankful all of my opponents were extremely fun to play with. Sometimes you get people who are just a bit too serious about the game. I witnessed a few of those people engaged in games taking place next to mine. My sportsmanship was also complimented on, which I’m also very appreciative of! Sure, you want to win, but you also want to have fun attempting to do so!
Feel free to leave your Thankful List in the comments below, if you aren’t participating directly with the blog hop! Have you ever participated in a tournament? If so, what was it? Were you nervous about participating in it?

I just wanted to add an additional huge super special Thank You to my Ladyfolk, who cleaned and baked while I was away at the tournament Saturday! She is awesome! And so are the brownies with strawberries! I bet she thought I wasn’t going to mention anything about it!

Pffft… Sucka...

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Extra Life Game Day 2021 has arrived! It’s Year 8 for myself and I am looking forward to once again raise money for Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare. Team Cryton Crusaders is ready (kind of) for the annual fundraising event involving a 24-Hour Gaming Marathon! I kept last year’s fun, but likely impossible Milestone to reach!

Learn more about the challenge where my team and I play games and heal kids!

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recent ENTERTAINMENT

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102 | TRAILER TUESDAY | 102
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102 | TRAILER TUESDAY | 102
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Welcome to Trailer Tuesday, a weekly Generation Jak blog series where a multitude of movie, video game, and sometimes even book trailers are highlighted for your viewing pleasure!

This week's Featured Trailers:
Jessica Jones Season 2 - Teaser Trailer | Ready Player One | Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom | Alita: Battle Angel | Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse - Teaser Trailer

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101 | TRAILER TUESDAY | 101
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101 | TRAILER TUESDAY | 101
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Welcome to Trailer Tuesday, a weekly Generation Jak blog series where a multitude of movie, video game, and sometimes even book trailers are highlighted for your viewing pleasure!

This week's Featured Trailers:
The Shape of Water | Wormwood | All the Money in the World | Avengers: Infinity War | Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom - Trailer Teaser | Batman Ninja

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recent DREAMSCAPES

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A to Z 2017 [FLASH FICTION]: REFLECTIONS
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A to Z 2017 [FLASH FICTION]: REFLECTIONS
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This year's A to Z Challenge is over, but how did I fare with another attempt at producing Flash Fiction and Poetry throughout it all? Did I run into the same complications as last year?

Join me as I reflect on the challenge and the thoughts about my continued participation on Dreams in the Shade of Ink.

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A to Z 2017: ZACHARIAH
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A to Z 2017: ZACHARIAH
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Dreams in the Shade of Ink is back with more Flash Fiction for the A to Z Challenge 2017! Last year my segments throughout April painted a puzzled tapestry of prose and I hope to provide some new, entertaining stories that you'll enjoy!

Come share in my inky dreams full of fiction, sprinkled with poetry!

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recent META

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A to Z 2017 [MAGIC MIXER]: REFLECTIONS
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A to Z 2017 [MAGIC MIXER]: REFLECTIONS
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The A to Z Challenge 2017 is over and it's time to reflect on how the event went! There were booster pack openings, there were storylines and mechanics to observe within the world of Magic: The Gathering!

Join me as I discuss the ups and downs of this year's Magic Mixer theme.

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A to Z 2017: ZENDIKAR
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A to Z 2017: ZENDIKAR
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This year for the A to Z Challenge 2017 Meta MTG presents the Magic Mixer! What's that mean? Your guess is as good as mine... What I do know, however, is that this year's theme is obviously still all about Magic: The Gathering!

Join me as I attempt to highlight a different Magic set each day of the challenge in different ways, from pack openings to discussions about a set's storyline and/or mechanics!

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