Delays. They're a thing, apparently.

Hey Heeeeyy!  To all four of you who read this blog, I got some (slightly) bad news.

There won't be an episode of my MtG webseries The Bargain Basement Brewery this Thursday.  It will go up sometime this weekend, however.

Lots of unpredictable stuff has kept me away from Magic entirely this week.  I won't bore you with details, so here's an abbreviated rundown.

1- My daughters first week of school.
2- My only vehicle decided now was the PERFECT time to die.
3- My mechanic has a system error and my charge card isnt working.
4- My mother decided it time to rearrange her furniture, so I'm pressed into service.
5- Hours at the wife's work are cut back, drastically reducing our monthly income.
6- A loan we thought was monthly turns out to be bi-weekly, there goes what little money I have left.
7- Sickness in the family requires time and emotional support.
8- Old personal problems rear their head again, just when it's the least convenient.

And Much more that I don't want to get into on a public blog.  Suffice it to say I've gotten maybe five hours of sleep since Saturday Night...

Anywho, enough of my bitching.  I'll see you all on Sunday at the latest.  Again, apologies to both of my regular viewers!

--  Magicpokey

Squeeze

"Don't lose me, Daddy."

"I won't, sweetie, I promise"

Little fingers squeeze my hand in response to these whispered affirmations as a ringing sound fills the air.  Slowly we make our way forward.  Her weighed down with new bags and nerves.  Me with sadness and worry.

Through the double doors, into the echoing hall, we step forward.  She looks up at me, nerves obvious in her pleading eyes.

I smile at her.  "You're going to be great, Peanut, I'm so proud of you!"

We walk slowly past smiling faces and milling children, moving with the crowd.

It takes too long and not nearly long enough to reach the door.  I give her hand one last reassuring squeeze as we step in, but she is already gone.  Talking to new friends and finding her place in this world.

"Be good, sweetie!"

"I love you daddy!"  From across the room, not even looking up.

My heart is full to bursting with fatherly pride and a sense of profound sadness.  I am too overwhelmed by emotion to speak.

I keep my head high as I walk, alone, back to the car.  Tears held in check until I seal myself in the tiny metal shell.

Only then, as I ponder truly leaving this place, do they come.  Unchecked, unbidden, and fierce; tears spring from my eyes and I begin to sob.

I am lost for a moment in memories.  Diapers, laughter, blankets and that cheap stuffed alligator.  Kisses, hugs, smiles and those deep brown eyes looking at me like I AM the world.

I know she will be fine, it isn't for her that I cry.  I cry for me.  For the loss of time.  Never enough time.

But that's the funny thing about time, it keeps marching on.  And I am proud as well.  Overjoyed at the intelligence and imagination I have seen bubbling from someone so small.  Beaming with fatherly happiness at the thought of all the new adventures spread before her.  I couldn't be happier.

Nor could I be more sad.

It is my daughters first day of school.

Bargain Basement Brewery - Episode 5 - The Legion - 8-22-13

Follow me on twitter (@magicpokey)

Join Magicpokey as he pilots an Assemble The Legions token deck in the MTGO Modern practice rooms.  Will he muster an army large enough to crush his opponents?  Or will he suffer the shame of defeat on the battlefield?  Tune in to find out!



As always, after the jump I'll post the decklist:

Being a better person.

Ok, so I have another episode of my webseries on budget mtgo decks going up later today, but I need to get this off my chest before I move on or I won't be able to think properly.

I met a really scary person on Magic: The Gathering Online last night.

Here's the story:

I'm recording videos (for my web-series), it's getting late because of the downtime, and I sit down with another player for a Modern Tournament Practice match.

** Note:  I'm not going to publish his name, because I contacted an ORC (mtgo admin) and because I feel it would be rude. **

Anyway, the match starts, we exchange pleasantries, and he plays a Turn 1 Thoughtsieze (Look at target players hand, choose a nonland card from it, that player discards that card and you lose 2 life).  He takes three or four seconds to look at my hand then abruptly, silently, concedes the entire match and leaves.  No warning, he didn't even wait for the spell to resolve.

Bargain Basement Brewery - Episode 4 - To Hellion In A Hearthbasket

Ladies and Gentlemen!  I am proud to present episode 4 of the Bargain Basement Brewery, To Hellion In A Hearthbasket!

 - This week I played a Red/White combo deck featuring Volcano Hellion, Watch as I use a giant fire-millipede of doom to burn my opponents to death! -






After the jump I'll post the decklist, Hope you Enjoy!

Bargain Basement Brewery - Episode 3 - Rage Against The Machines (Original Airdate: 8-8-13)

Ladies and Gentlemen!  Episode 3 of the Bargain Basement Brewery, Rage Against The Machines!
 - This one wasn't a great deck, but it sure was fun to play!  Enjoy! -






Originally uploaded on 8-8-13, this makes the last video I made before putting this blog together, look forward to more videos every Week!  After the jump I'll put up the YouTube description.

Bargain Basement Brewery - Episode 2 - Burn, Baby! Burn! (Original Airdate 8-3-13)

Ladies and Gentlemen!  I proudly present episode 2 of The Bargain Basement Brewery:  Burn, Baby!  Burn!

 - This one is much better than my first outing, better audio quality, better editing, better deck, I consider this one the real first episode of the series! - 

Originally uploaded on 8-3-2013.  After the jump I'll put up the original YouTube description.

Bargain Basement Brewery - Episode 1 - Curses! Foiled Again! (Original Airdate: 7-31-13)

I'm so sorry...

Ladies and Gentlemen!  Episode 1 of the Bargain Basement Brewery!
 - (This one is bad, but its here for completions sake) -





First uploaded on 7-31-13, this is considered the 'Pilot' to the series.  After the jump is the original YouTube description.  Feel free to mock me something unmerciful for my goofy cadences and poor editing techniques, I assure you, later episodes are much better than this one!

First!

FIRST!!  There, that's out of the way.

Welcome to My Blog, the Somewhat Pokey Mind of Magicpokey.  This is the home of my Magic: The Gathering video series, The Bargain Basement Brewery, wherein I build budget decks for magic online and try to compete with them.  This will also be my home for future announcements and random thoughts on life.

"So" I can hear you thinking, "Who is this Magicpokey guy, sounds lame!"

Well, dear reader, you can read my profile over there.  But here's the highlights:

About me:

My name is Brian Shoop, but call me Pokey or Magicpokey, my friends and family have been calling me that for many years and I answer to it reflexively by this point.

I am a gamer, Board/Card/Video/Tabletop you name it I play it and probably have waay too many opinions on the subject.  I probably spend the most time (and money) on Magic: The Gathering, though.  It's called cardboard crack for a reason.

I am 30, White, Goofy, and a married father of one.  I live in North Carolina (for now!), and I am finishing school to become a teacher.

That's the rundown.  I promise, I'm more interesting than I sound.

Re: my YouTube series (for the both of you that watch it):  I will be moving my old episodes here and posting new ones here in an easily embedded format.  YouTube is a great site but most of my 'episodes' actually consist of four or five videos in a playlist, this makes my channel extremely cluttered and unprofessional looking.  So watch this space for new content!

Last but not least (ok, a little bit least): You can follow me on Twitter (@magicpokey) for thoughts and updates.  You can also reach me via email at magicpokey@gmail.com.  You can also, also friend me on Magic Online (henceforth referred to as 'MODO') under the name 'Magicpokey'.

Not to mention you can leave a comment below, but I cant promise a response to comments.  I will respond via email or twitter as long as you aren't sending me spam, so if you really need to reach me you can do so there.

More content coming very soon!

-So long, may the Forces of Evil become confused on the way to your house!
--Magicpokey