I do it for the fans...

April fools used to be one of my favorite days of the year, but as I grew older I celebrated it less and less. This is mostly because I never know what day it is, let alone the month. Well the other day a Canadian stranger (@mirels7) sent me a link to the new Barats and Bereta video via Twitter. http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=54922181 . The video brought back memories of joy and mischief. Like the time I filled my boss’s car with popcorn, or the time a replaced the cream filling in Oreos with toothpaste and let’s not forget the many times I hid alarm clocks  all over my brothers room set to go off ever half an hour after 2 am. It took him three years to catch on to that prank and for years after he would go search through his entire room before going to sleep on March 31^st.

                So this year I decided to think of a practical joke I could do. Grad school keeps me busy and I spend most of my time at home. I really need to get out more but time is not a luxury I have. While I sat at my desk (it’s not actually a desk, it’s a couch. I don’t actually have a desk, I would like to purchase one but they are just so expensive. That and I got used to using the couch every day. I spend like 3 hours a day on this thing reading homework and writing papers. Look how long this has gotten, that’s kind of out of control. It’s like its own paragraph. I find it humorous, but for those of you who don’t let’s get back to the end of that sentence.) I devised a plan to unleash on my roommate. Before you get too excited it’s nothing like OMG AMAZING! But it is humorous and very creative. I made a scavenger hunt. Now I know some of you may be thinking that something like this on April fools day would obvious, but you are wrong. Stupid face! Okay that was a little over the top. Anyway he didn’t suspect a thing because I had talked to him on the 30^th, he had been out of town for the weekend and I called to ask if he was going to be home soon. He said he would be back the next day and I told him I had made this scavenger hunt and that he could do it when he got home. Now as I quickly learned there are actually 31 days in the month of March and not 30! My plan was in jeopardy but luckily for me he was not able to come home that day and actually came home on the first. I wish I could say I planned it like that but that would be a lie. Meh, who cares. It worked out exactly like I planned it. Anyway back to the scavenger hunt. For the start of it I wrote a lengthy and pointless message on our refrigerator board. I wrote about how I had gotten him a gift and that he had to follow the clues to get it! The clues were actually riddles and I wrote about 7 or 8 of them and placed them around the apartment. The final piece of paper did not have directions to a prize, instead it told him to go to this web site and watch this video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1Rbm_RNuLk

After watching the video he sent me this text “oh that was a good one. The most elaborate April fool’s  joke I’ve ever heard of! Ha ha ha.”
I called him on the phone and he told me how he actually believed me in the video (I would like to thank the academy). He said that he was impressed and that it was very elaborate. Upon hearing the news of my victory I took a moment of silence to bask in the glory that was my genius. This moment did not last long and was interrupted by Eric saying “Phillip, you need more friends”.

Wake up, wake up, these dreams they don’t make sense.

...

Another Reality

Now when it comes to school I'm a good student but the other day in class I just couldn't pay attention for the life in me. I started falling asleep and it was so obvious that I started getting text from people in the class to wake up. So to keep my mind awake and make myself look like I was taking notes I decided to write a poem. I was having a hard time thinking about what to write it about and ended up deciding on the Super Bowl. \

Why I decided on the Super Bowl is another side story in it's self, and a story you have to hear to fully appreciate the poem.

About 3 weeks ago I was hanging out at my friend Travis's with a couple other people. We enjoyed some heated games of battle Tetris but as the night went on every one just started hanging out and I continued my quest for Tetris domination on one-player marathon style. Anyway after a while people got to talking about how the Cardinals had just beaten the Panthers and how they could not believe it. Then Tim spoke up about how his wife always picks the team that she thinks is going to win based on who would win in a real fight. In this case it was a Panther vs a Cardinal, so the obvious choice would be the Panther. This started a surprisinly serious debate about who would win in a fight and every one agreed on the Panther. They said that there is no way a Cardinal could beat a Panther. At that point I was still playing tetris (and in the freaking zone I might add) and i spoke up and said
"I just have one question."
They all stopped to listen and I asked.
"What if the Cardinal was fighting for love?"
And I returned to my tetris game. The room eploded with laughter and it has been an on going joke ever since.

With that said, my friend Travis is having a Super Bowl party this sunday which unfortunatley I will be unable to attend. But to make up for my absince I decided to write this poem in hopes that he would read it to everyone before game time.

So with out further adu, here it is.

It’s the Cardinals vs. the Steelers, the biggest game of the year.
If you’re curious about who is going to win pay attention and listen hear.

Betting on the Steelers may be considered easy money.
But listen to my story; I’m not trying to be funny.

Let’s take a closer look at the Cardinal’s playoff run.
Let’s analyze each game and see exactly what they’ve done.

In a real fight a Falcon would beat a Cardinal any day.
But with Kurt Warner at QB they somehow found a way.

The Panthers were the next opponent that they had to fight.
and the Cardinals defeated them with more than power and might.

Then it was the Eagles, an obvious safe bet.
But the Cardinals were victorious, there’s something people just don’t get.

People are bamboozled by the Cardinals success.
In the regular season they were a joke and a mess.

So how do they do it? Is what people want to know.
How does the team get better and continue to grow?

On Sunday the Cardinals will achieve their ultimate goal.
when they become victorious at the Super Bowl.

The reporters will surround Kurt Warner and ask him one question.
Tell us how you did it, and anything else you have to mention.

And with the Lambardi trophy in his hands and the sky up above.
He will look directly into the camera and say “we were fighting for love!”

Everyone watched the Superbowl. If you have any questions read the first poem "Fight for love" and that should explain this. 

"Love is dead"

I used to believe that love could conquer all.
But that went away once I saw the Cardinals fall.

The Cardinals looked like they were in good shape right before half time.
But Harrison’s interception put the Steelers up by a dime.

 When the Cardinals were down by 13 people’s dreams hit the floor.
I told them not to worry, that love was worth fighting for.

Once they made their comeback like I said they would do.
I sent them text telling them that “I told you!”

After they scored the safety it was the Cardinals time to thrive.
And Kurt Warner delivered what I thought was the game winning drive.

But shortly after I felt broker and battered.
When in just two minutes my hopes were shattered.

Then what happened next was worse than listening to a baby’s screams.
I felt utterly defeated, they had destroyed my dreams.

Love is dead, it died in the air.
With 35 seconds remaining and a catch ruled fair.

I thought there was still hope, but the refs wouldn’t let the game go on.
The paramedics had already called it, “Love is going, going… Gone.”

About me is a pretty simple question that can bring forth an equally simple response like, “I like ice cream” or something completely descriptive and absurd. I once said I would write an about me and told people to “be excited” but I soon gave up and settled with “I like ice cream”. I don’t know what inspired this writing. It may have been spawned from my nap and the inability to fall asleep resulting from it. Or it may have derived from wanting to write something that I won’t look at a year, month, or week later and decide that most of it is no longer applicable to my life. To be honest I really don’t know how to describe me, so instead I’ll just write about three things that won’t change in my life, my past, the present and my future. This is the essay with no due date that is my life.

I have few things I regret in my life but the things I do have also helped me to see my mistakes and become a better person. I had an amazing child hood. If I could go back to any time in my life it would be age six. Not because of the lack of responsibility and work, but because life is amazing when you’re a child. There’s no such thing as politics, the world is literally a playground. You see people instead of their social status, their skin color, or beliefs. But most of all I miss the mindset that the world is working towards change and not destruction, that the world is pure and not corrupt.

Presently speaking for the rest of my life, I’m not where I want to be as a person and I hope I never am. I never want to be at a place where I’m still not striving to be a better person. I have my own thorns in my side and I realize that removing one only reveals another. In understanding that my present decisions are affecting my future, I understand that knowing that doesn’t make it any easier. Sometimes I become completely bamboozled (sweet word, huh?) by my actions. This is best described in the words of the apostle Paul; “I do not understand my own actions because I do not do what I want to. But I do the very thing that I hate”. I sometimes don’t know or understand why I do the things I do, but I pray that as life goes on God gives me the strength for that to happen as least as possible.

I’m excited for my future, but in the same sense I’m scared and in a way I’m grateful for it. Fear in a way keeps me in check. I’m afraid of becoming content with life, comfortable with where I am. I’m afraid of taking days, people and life for granted. It’s not a fear of my future as much as a fear of not living life to the fullest, not seizing ever opportunity or making them when they don’t come along.

In short, my life is constantly affected by my past, the present is presently shaping my future, and my future is something I’m working towards and looking forward too. That was the essay that is my life and this is the conclusion that really has no end. Jesus, thank you for helping me in the past, hearing me in the present and preparing me for my future. May my life be a reflection of your love and my actions a display of your compassion.

*this is a semi rough draft, but for the most part I like it.

A day at Northwest Kinetics.      

Welcome to Northwest Kinetics soon to be known as Charles River.

It’s not a haunted house but it can still make you shiver.

Don’t sneak in drugs and check your phone at the door.

Don’t expect comfort, the beds are worse than the floor.

They stab you with needles, but mean you no harm.

You leave with money and the fashion of heroin arms.

It’s not just the pills that mess with your brain.

The boredom is suffocating, try and stay sane.

After the side effects you may be forced to wear a wig.

Were not respectable, were lab rats, human guinea pigs.

They starve you then feed you something you despise.

Just think happy thoughts, pray and close your eyes.

The food is horrendous, questionable at best.

They don’t let you exercise, they only let you rest.

There’s the creepy, the weirdo’s, the junkie’s and the broke.

All stuck in the same room, like some sick twisted joke.

It may drive you crazy, spending a day in a chair.

With people beyond creepy try not to pull out your hair.

Meet some cool people and stay clear of the non-receptive.

They said something about 90 days and 3 forms of contraceptive.

Live by the schedule and keep your eyes on the time.

Don’t steal the soda and you should make it out just fine.

By Phillip Morina

I never stabbed you in the back, I only kissed you on your cheek

My pockets are full of silver, at the cost of filthy feet

You were all I needed, a place to rest my head

I traded three for thirty, I must have forgot the things you said

They schemed about their plan, they thought they stacked the deck

I placed my lips across your face and this noose around my neck

Wrapped in white cloths, in a tomb on your death bed

This is my betrayal, this is why you're dead.

I never once denied you, I never became a doubter

I gave you three years of my life, still my greed grew all the louder

I took what wasn't mine as we fed the poor

Now I cant get through the windows, not even the front door

On a boat with twelve friends, fishing never became my specialty

I could sail for hours but, my nets were always empty

I fashioned this rope below my chin and placed these thorns across your head

This is my betrayal, this is why you're dead.

My eyes were closed as I kissed you, things were hard to see

If I looked you in the eyes, you may have set me free

I don't know who I am but, I know the things I've done

I'll be known as a betrayer, the one who killed God's son

I can't escape your words or this ringing in my ear

I even returned this silver, to try and make my conscious clear

In this field as green as envy, now only covered in blood red

This is my betrayal, this is why I'm dead.

I watched the sunrise and waited until sunset
as I sat on the beach as the shore and ocean met
I closed my eyes and let the world take my breath
and all these thoughts of you I put to death
with the sand between my toes and the taste of stale air
I watched the waves rise without a care
the lightening crashed and the thunder roared
and above my head the clouds still soared
I waited on that beach hoping to find meaning
but as night fell I held on still dreaming
lying under the stars with my eyes closed
I waited until dawn when the sun rose
and to my surprise I saw hope in the sunset
while I sat on the beach as the ocean and shore met.

 At Evergreen at the end of each quarter we have to do this thing called a creative presentation. This quarter I decided on reading something that I recently wrote.

Shining sun

 It’s another beautiful day. The sun is out and shining bright. Its light gives you guidance and makes your path clear, while its heat brings you vitality and releases a new found energy along with new found desires.

The sun radiates life showering over everything with its presence, illuminating the world in a new beautiful light. Its heat warms your body while uplifting your soul.

The weather is perfect and the day lye’s ahead of you. Until you feel it.

A brush of wind comes across your body sending a sudden chill through your veins as it steels your breath. You can’t see it but you feel it. You sense it. Clouds are coming.

You close your eyes and wish them away, but to no avail they’re in sight. You see them in the distance drawing closer and closer to the sun, slowly distorting the image of your perfect day.

The warmth is the first thing you lose. The wind robs you of your vitality while steeling not only your desires but your hope. The light is the next thing to go. As the clouds block out the sun the world begins to become distorted while your path becomes unclear. The path that was once illuminated by light is now covered in shadows.

You realize the world is cold and far from perfect. The shadows bring new vision to your eyes, causing you to see all the worlds’ faults and imperfections.

In this new dark world filled without hope you begin to think back to when the sun was still shinning. But as these thoughts come they are soon accompanied by rain, as the rain begins to fall, the sound of thunder echoes through your ears, while lightening lights up the sky. Standing in the midst of the storm, you hold on to the thought of that day. And with the thought of that perfect day despite being surrounded by the storm you realize something. That despite the storm, no matter the circumstances, the sun is always shining. And with that realization in the midst of the storm you reach up past the clouds, for a sun still shining.

Who is your favorite video game character? 
Submitted by Korgoth.  

With out a doubt, that would be the one and only...