Hey everyone,

Since my last post a lot has happened. Last Saturday I graduated college and now it's time to, unfortunately, enter the real world. I have a summer internship with the Long Island Press, which I will go to about 2 days a week and will involve me writing online articles for them each day I'm there. It's exciting since writing articles and being a journalist/editor has been a dream of mine for about the last year or so...ever since I gave up being a scientist. Ideally I'd like to write for IGN entertainment, Nintendo Power, or any website/magazine that covers video game news, previews, reviews, etc. It's a dream of mine and hopefully with the internship with the Long Island Press, I will be led closer and closer to my career goals in life.

For the last two and a half days I have been spending time with Jess and her family at their house, mostly relaxing and playing video games...something I haven't been able to do with final exams and projects to get done. I've been playing Rhythm Heaven, trying to earn as many medals and perfect ratings as possible. I'm surprised at how many rhythm games are included in the game. Perfecting all of them requires as a lot of patience, but it's so rewarding when you finally earn a medal or even better that coveted "Perfect" rating. For those of you that haven't heard of the game, the best way I could describe it is a combination of Wario Ware and Elite Beat Agents. You hold the DS system like a book and play the game solely with a stylus interacting with the touch screen. You can do one of three actions: tap, tap and hold, and flick. Each action corresponds to a movement found in each game. The key to earning medals is to keep with the rhythm of the song and perform the appropriate actions when you are cued to do so. Each game offers a demo that allows you to practice the movements before you play the game for real. After playing a game, you are awarded one of three rankings based on how well you perform: Superb, which awards you a medal, OK, and Try Again. If you get a Superb or OK rating you pass the song and unlock the next game to play. Try Again means you have failed and must play the game over again before you are allowed to move onto the next game. For gamers worried about being stuck on a game for ages there is good news. After failing the same game three times in a row you are asked whether you want to skip over it. This allows people to progress through the game without becoming discouraged. There are around 30 different rhythm games to play in addition to variations of these games that are harder and add more replay value to the game.

I've also been playing Clock Tower 3 which is an excellent survival horror game that involves running away from ghost murderers that would love nothing more than to smack you in the face with a hammer or pour acid all over your little 15 year old girl body. I'll talk more about it in my next post.

That's all for now,
Phil

Current Mood: happy

I know I said I was going to update this livejournal regularly but it seems that school work and having fun is more important than a silly online journal. Things that are going on as of late: One week left of classes and then off to Long Island to spend spring break with jessica, thomass, dave, as well as my family and ROOOOSEEY. I can't wait it'll be much fun.

This past weekend since our plans of hanging out at Jess' house with Rich and Mike fell through, I instead got to spend Friday night with Eric and his friends whom he invited up to Oneonta. We had a lot of fun playing beer pong, basketball, tennis, and a ton of video games such as street fighter two and mario kart double dash. His friends are all very nice and a blast to chill with. The next day they drove me to Binghamton(since they were all going there anyway to watch Joan's dance show) so I could meet up with Jess and spend the rest of the weekend with her.

I got dropped off at Panera bread and ate a delicious lunch with my woman and then we went to the Oakdale Mall to look around. Jess found a kick ass Resident Evil 5 xbox skin and I found pac-man ghost candies as well as the last Luigi figure to even out the Yoshi/Luigi feud that has overtaken our room since last semester. That night me and Jess hung out with the Texan(Vanessa) and Amy. We watched some tv and had a very entertaining midnight trip to taco bell. The next day me and Jess went to the Nestlerode's house to see their new puppy which they named Cara. She was a cute little puppy.

After much napping in the afternoon we hung out with Jess' family (since her parents just got back from a trip to Toronto) and got to hear some funny stories of their trip. After a lovely Lupos chicken speidies dinner we headed out and drove back in the crappy weather to Oneonta.

That was my weekend summed up in a small amount of words. Games I have recently been playing include: Sonic the Hedgehog 2 for master system which I have beaten, and Henry Hatsworth and the puzzling adventure which is a really good platforming/puzzle game that is definitely worth everyone's time. That is all for now.

-Philly

Current Location: GEOG Dept
Current Mood: excited
Current Music: Drill - Drill

Hey everyone!! I'm actually continuing to write in this journal like I said I was going to so go me.

Today I feel very motivated for some reason. It might have something to do with the fact that I took a very important story to write for the State Times and it's actually about something I'm interested in. Oneonta going green is a big subject for the campus since it's known for its environmental science and sustainability programs. My time at work in the Geography Office today has been devoted to sending emails to two very important people who are excellent sources of information on the topic and the activities that are occurring on campus to help better protect our environment. The emails are sent now I just have to hope they get back to me in a timely fashion.

I have to say that this whole journalism thing has really grown on me and I'm starting to love everything that it entails. Last week I interviewed a manager of the new Dragon's Lair on campus which is a new video game lounge that is set to open within the next few weeks. I really got into writing that article and know I did an awesome job on it. I hope that I can continue to write articles for the State Times for the rest of this semester so I can get as much experience in the field before I get an internship or even a job. The only thing I'm really worried about is that my editing skills could be a little better. Luckily for me, The State Times is taking new editors for the paper since they need all the help they can get. I feel like if I start going in to edit for them I'll get the experience I need to be a successful journalist when it comes time for me to step into the real world.

On a separate note these are the things that have been going on in my life over the last couple of weeks: I went to a Fencing Club meeting a few days ago in hopes of continuing my fencing career from where I left off last semester after finishing my Intro to Foil Fencing Class. I've gotten very rusty with my fencing abilities but it's okay because I met with one of the fencing instructors named Phil who has been helping me fine tune my abilities. The club meets every Wed, Friday, and Sunday from 4-6PM. I want to try to go to as many of the meetings as possible to 1. keep in shape and 2. continue to do something that I find enjoyable.

As for keeping healthy, I have been being really strict with my diet as of late and am trying to keep my cholesterol at a healthy level. Eating less as well as eating healthier things (less sugar, less fatty meats, etc) I find have helped me lose some weight. I know that in order to be healthy one must both eat right and exercise daily. I haven't been exercising all too much. I was sick for most of last week so I couldn't do much in the exercising regard. Since I can't ride my bike due to the cold I'm going to have to just exercise indoors for now until it gets warmer out. Looks like I'll be hitting up the gym in the basement of my dorm.

As of late I find myself wanting to try more new things and experience what life has to offer. In the past I feel that I've just been cooped up in my room too much or too concerned with my schoolwork for my own good. I want to enjoy my last semester at SUCO as much as I can before I have to graduate and get a real job. Meeting new people, going to different events, cooking new types of food...you name it I want to try it.

In other news, Banjo Kazooie Nuts & Bolts has me addicted. I spent about 4 hours playing it yesterday and had to stop when I was starting to get a headache. What can I say it inspires me to create things as well as figure out the problems of the mumbling characters that I've grown to love for the last 10 years. I know I've trash talked the game in the past to some people...aka Tom and Jess...but my opinion of the game has changed greatly as I continued to play it. It may not be the ideal Banjo Kazooie sequel I was looking for but it's fun in its own way.

Another game that I think I will be addicted to for the rest of my life is Pokemon. I've been playing it every day ever since I transferred a Darkrai over from my copy of Pokemon Ranger Shadows of Almia. The game has such a great formula that I don't see how it can fail to be entertaining. Ten years old and it still stands the test of time. Another thing that has gotten me excited about pokemon is the Shaymin event that is occurring at Toys R Us in about two weeks from now. A legendary pokemon we can now actually obtain without cheating!!! oh and did i mention it's cute?

Overall life is good

-Phil

Current Mood: jubilant

This LiveJournal account hasn't been used in awhile and I've been wanting to have a journal/gaming log so I figure it makes sense to use it. This livejournal serves as a way for me to talk about/keep track of the games I've been playing as well post journal entries whenever I feel the need to write about something. Well...here it goes.

The last few days have been good days to be a gamer. School has officially started back up but the work load isn't so crazy to the point that I can't still have fun each day and my idea of fun is playing video games for hours upon hours. The games I have recently been playing include Moon for the DS, Pokemon Pearl also for the DS, Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts for the 360, and Wario Land: Shake it! for Wii. I have also recently beaten Pokemon Ranger: Shadows of Almia and transferred a Darkrai to my copy of Pearl by playing through an extra mission :).

Banjo Kazooie although I hated it at first has now grown on me and I can't put the game down. Even though the title strays from the original formula which made the first two games so great Nuts & Bolts still has a charm to it I can't ignore thanks to the geniuses at Rare that specialize in creating funny dialogue as well as gameplay that allows me to use my imagination and feel very accomplished when I beat a challenge in my own special way. Definitely plan on beating the game as well as trying to get every Jiggy.

Moon which I just started playing a couple of days ago is an amazing game and probably one that very few people will end up playing. Moon is a first person shooter/adventure on the DS with amazing graphics(for a DS game). When I read about the game on IGN the idea that it was more of an exploratory adventure game over a shooter drew me to it and I have been having the time of my life playing it so far. The game is very well made and I will most likely be playing it over the next few weeks.

Wario Land: Shake It! is love at first sight for me. Ever since Wario Land II came out on the Gameboy Color and I got it as my first game I've been hooked. After beating II, I drove myself to beat every Wario platforming game that came out particularly the portable ones. The first game in the series Wario Land I, also known as Super Mario Land 3 was classic. WL2 was amazing in every aspect and had so many hidden treasures to go back for. WL3 built off of what I loved in 2 as well as added some cool new things to the mix as well as a bad-ass final boss. WL4 I feel wasn't as good as 2 and 3(since it was shorter) but still was fun to play. Wario World for the Gamecube was poop but I still played it. Master of Disguise for the DS was also poop and I couldn't bring myself to play it. Besides those two mishaps I love the Wario Land series as a whole and it's one of my favorite game series. Now onto Wario Land Shake It!: This game is perfect for me because it reminds me of why I liked playing the original games in the first place. Simple 2D platforming at its finest. Hidden areas in each level with hidden treasures as well as boss fights that are each memorable in their own way. Even though I beat the game a while ago I have recently come back to it to attempt getting every treasure in the game as well as complete every mission and unlock every stage. This is a challenge within itself and will probably take me quite a while to complete but I am determined to do it!

Pokemon Pearl...oh boy. Thought I was done with this game about a year ago...fuck was I wrong. Ever since Jess has started up playing it again and I have started playing Pokemon Ranger I have wanted to keep playing my copy of Pearl. I don't think buying the first box set of pokemon diamond and pearl the animated series has helped either. My quest of catching em all has been revived with my refound love of pokemon. As of this post I now have obtained 352 pokemon and have seen 395. That's only 141 pokemon left to go......I am so almost there.

It's 1 in the morning I have to wake up at 9:45 and I'm tired...so this is it for now but more will come later...soon I hope.

-Phil

P.S. did you know that Neo Geo made portable handheld systems...neither did I until yesterday...the things you learn man.

Current Mood: happy
Current Music: Gothminister - Happiness in Darkness

Almost forgot I had this thing since I've been neglecting it so much. A lot has happened since I last posted on here but I will bring ya up to speed. Right now I'm in my Junior year at SUNY Oneonta. Still an Environmental Earth Science major. Picked up a minor in English recently. I'm actually pretty excited about that which surprises me. My past professors I've taken English courses with are really supportive of me doing the minor. Makes me happy because I actually figured out a subject I might want to pursue. Short stories and fiction has always interested me and I'd love to write some. As for my major I think I'm enjoying that more as well than when I first started it. I've been really busy as of late looking at possible internships to do this summer and just trying to keep up with the work loads I have with my classes this semester. In between everything I've been trying to play through Metroid Prime 3 which is an amazing game as well as collect all fuckin' 493 Pokemon now...thanks Jess for getting me addicted again. Well this week is almost over which is cool cause we get Friday off this week as sort of a mini break. I'm going with Jess to her house for the break since it would be pointless for me to come back to Long Island for 2 days and then have to leave. I'm excited because Saw IV comes out this Friday and me and Jess are seeing it opening night =). Also excited about Halloween. Going trick or treating yet again (I'll never stop as long as candy is given out) and this year I have a great costume planned. I am going to be ASH KETCHUM from Pokemon. Already have the hat which I found on ebay just need to put together the other stuff for the costume. Me and Jess have been dating for over 8 months now and I'm so happy...we have so much in common and she's an even bigger nerd than I am. Love ya Jess. Still awhile to wait before I come home to LI. Coming home for the November break for thanksgiving. I miss my brotha and davey and thomas and jesse and mog and simone and moe jartin. I'll see you all soon and it'll be fun. As for now I think that's about it and my brain is dead. Later

Current Location: grant hall, oneonta
Current Mood: blank
Current Music: evanescence

Felt like I needed to write on here to put together whats on my mind right now. Sometimes I wish I could go back in time and slap you in the face as hard as I could when we had that conversation...before you did what you did...wish you could've been given the advice Eric gave me. You betrayed him although you felt that you were doing nothing wrong...man just make certain before you act that what you're doing won't mess up a relationship you have with someone before you do it. I really wish things were the way they were before all this nonsense happened...the good ol' days.
The fact that I was in the same situation as you were and almost acted identically to the way you did...not thinking of the consequences of my actions scares me at times...cause I could've been in your place now if things didn't go as well as they did and that would've been hell in itself. Don't get me wrong....what happened in the past stays in the past and I forgive you for what you did...it's just unfortunate that things couldn't have worked out better.
Sometimes I wonder about you...about how you could keep a secret for so long without going crazy...it must be tough. I cracked after about a couple of months or so because I couldn't take the guilt anymore. I feel that it isn't right to keep something like that from someone who you love but who am I to judge you after what we did. It's a shame too cause our friendship was fun...after all you were one of my first friends up at college. I just wanna wish you luck in whatever you do and I hope he can be understanding when you do tell him.
As for you my good friend...I learned a lot about you last night. I watched ya get drunk right in front of me and it was a blast. Seems to me like you are doing better than how you were a while back. I'm glad...finally you got something to smile about...don't you worry cause I'll always be around to talk to you especially during this summer.
Now onto you I suppose....I think about you on occasion and all the good times we had. After thinking about it for a good amount of time, I've come to the realization that we were never meant to be...if it wasn't obvious enough. We were never really friends before we started dating(pretty much strangers)...hell I asked you out a week after we met. I didn't know too much about you nor did you about me but I still don't regret dating you. I got to learn more about ya as the days passed and I feel that it was a learning experience for us both. If the fights we had and the long periods of silence between us while riding in my car weren't a red flag to me...I must've been stupid. You're a nice, caring person...and it showed while we were dating. Good luck to you in the future.

That's all for now....just wanted to get it out

This is a story I wrote or part of a story at least while I was at work. All the themes and patterns we've discussed in my short fiction class have sort of been an inspiration to this story. Let me know what you think ;)

I awoke from my nightmare as the loud ringing of my alarm clock sounded over and over again. The only thought that came to mind as I sat up was that of the sin I committed over a year ago. I tried to clear these thoughts of my mind as I walked to the bathroom. I looked into the mirror only to see a person who didn't think much of himself and had seen happier, more "innocent" days. I undressed myself and showered as I did every morning, never thinking that objects as simple as water and soap could wash away the person I once was. My soul could not be cleansed or so I was made to believe. I turned the water off only to be left with the lonely sound of dripping which I was now deaf to. I quickly got dressed, put my contact lenses in and stared blankly into the monitor on my desk. Afer thinking to myself for a couple of minutes, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, I decided that it was time for me to attend my chemistry class. As I left my dormitory I was instantly greeted by the menacing sound of bells in the distance, a sound to me which resembled death and despair. As I walked through the campus I noticed that only a handful of people were still outside due to the fact that it was already five past ten. Most of these people seemed to either be in a hurry to get to their classes or carry out their errands of the day. I on the other hand continued at my steady slow pace that I became accustomed to on days like this. Four minutes later I arrived at the chemistry lecture hall looking at the clock on the wall noticing how late I was and oddly enough not being surprised. Right as I wakled into the room my professor looked right at me and continued to teach. I sat in the seat I did every day, took off my jacket and tried to pay attention. My thoughts wandered elsewhere as they always did and only brought me back to where I started when I awoke. I looked up at the blackboard on occasion in hopes of taking my mind off of my crime. All I saw was capitol letters and formulas for reactions that didn't matter. After leaving my desk it was then that I noticed the shadow of my body following me. The object that once haunted me with its looming tail and skin and bones figure. I went out into the cold once more wanting a cup of hot chocolate as I couldn't remember the last time I had one. I walked to the cafe, ordered and smiled as I waited for my cocoa. The girl making drinks was very kind and I said thank you to her as she handed me my warm beverage. She responded with a hearty "You're welcome, have a nice day" and went on with her work. I took a sip of my cocoa and was delighted when I tasted the whipped cream the girl so thoughtfully added at the top of my cup. As I walked further and further away from the cafe, the cocoa tasted worse and worse with each step. The whipped cream, my whipped cream, was all melted by this point and I was left with the bitter taste of my beverage and a frown upon my face. It seemed to me that the taste of whipped cream that I savored so was the last drop of salvation I would experience in this withered world around me.

So here I am bored sitting at work at my College's library on a laptop I rented. Every time I come to work there's nothing to do so I usually just do my homework or talk to people on aim. Can't complain I suppose since I get paid for sitting in a room for 2 hours every day. Anyway I decided to start a lovely live journal to keep me busy. Currently am a sophomore at SUNY Oneonta. Environmental Earth Science major. Since the semester started about a week and a half ago I've been lazy since I've never really gotten any major assignments to do yet. Taking General Oceanography, Waste Management(ha ha ha dave you're sooo funny), General Chem II, Environmental Lit, and Short Fiction. So far all my professors are really good except one. I feel that if I work hard this semester I can pull out at least 2 A's hopefully more. After class and work my spare time usually consists of either playing random video games with all my peeps up here, indulging in Resident Evil, playing billiards, or going on the internet. Right now my plan for the future is either being a teacher or a writer(of novels or something). I think being a writer would be fun and something worthwhile to do. Only thing is that I feel like I'm too lazy for that. I really like it up here...alot. I feel like its a nice change of pace from busy Long Island. I mean I get a nice mountain view, it snows almost every day...got a sort of secluded nature to it which I find nice since it allows me to get away. Out of all the colleges to choose, I feel that I made the best choice and don't regret not picking something else. Life has been oddly different lately. I guess that's what I get for being in a relationship for 2 years and now suddenly being single. It's an adjustment but it's alright.

Dreams. Are they there to torment us....or to allow us to see fake situations which we desire? I have mixed feelings about dreams. A love hate relationship really. I dream of my friends, my ex, stuff that will never happen but I guess I wish would happen? Death of people, and catastrophes. I did a research paper on dreams yet I still have so much to learn about them. It just amazes me how the mind can allow us to see pictures even videos of stuff that is known to us while we sleep. It's allowing us to know the answers to some questions we may have or what it would be like if things were the way we wanted them to be. I guess without dreams...some people would just go crazy.

Done for now
-Phil