"Isolation from Pain."

"Isolation from Pain."

by:

Virgilio F. De leon Jr.MD

I was watching One more Chance with my wife earlier today and though there are a lot of things that I dislike about this film there were a few scenes that made me cry on the inside. And these were the scenes with the comedian Nanette Inventor. There were times that people would comment that she resembled my own mom. As a snide comment or a joke toward her. I really did not like it when people would comment on it but here I was seeing the actress and inside I was crying because I really missed my parents. 

While I do love Halloween celebrations it still pains me that they are no longer here. I don't cope well with or should I say that I am coping the best way that I could. Sometimes it even leads to more isolation on my part. I write these things to let it out actually but there is nothing that I can do about it except to do this.

There are no amount of comforting words or memories to fill up the loss. I recently lost a friend and my response is more isolation. I feel sapped of energy and my wife did notice the lack of energy but at least I can always pass it off as being tired from work which I always am nowadays. 

I do not wish for people to understand me as I write this. Merely to come into grips with what I am feeling. To process it in a way that will not force people for understanding. A lot may never get to read it. Or maybe when I have also joined my parents some might stumble on these thoughts of mine.

Writing is still my therapy and it still enables me to untangle myself. I can be honest in here at least. 

"Portal to Phyrexia: Into the Portal We will Go."

"Portal to Phyrexia: Into the Portal We will Go."

by:

Virgilio F. De leon Jr.

Portal to Phyrexia ranks high in the cards that I wish to acquire in the coming months.

The 9 mana cost seems prohibitive of course. But this will not matter in Daretti decks that keep on dumping cards in their graveyards. They also keep salvaging cards from there so it will just keep coming back. To be sacrificed and then salvaged as needed. Damn.

Cards like Trash for Treasure at 3 mana would have this as a priority target. Notice that unlike some artifacts you do not need to cast it nor does it get shuffled in your library when it hits the GY.

In my book this is a better version of Spine of Ish Sah which is targetted removal. This is a sweeper that will bypass indestructibility and ward or shroud or hexproof. 

Plus it has that added bonus of reanimating things on your upkeep. No creatures on their side of the board and probably a beefy one for your side. Seems fair to me. Since this is colorless you can put this in any color, imagine reanimating Praetors like Sheoldred,whispering one or Jin Gitaxias. 

This is how you make double Phyrexians as well. Sheoldred is now Phyrexian Phyrexian. Bwahahaah.

Don't forget that you could also blink this artifact at the end of your turn, clearing the path for attackers and even reaping the benefits of it's reanimation ability on your upkeep.

Way to keep the fires burning Wotc. You still have my attention.