Castle Shima

Jade: Brent Sienna! Where is Skull?
Brent: I had him kenneled.
-- from PvP

Tower View
Surviving The Days
Thanksgiving wasnt as stressful as last year, which unfortunately, means that it wasnt as humourous as it was last year. So the best I could do is the high and low points of the past few days.

High Point: We werent going to have dinner at my parents' home since its under heavy reconstruction.
Low Point: Having to listen to my cousin who lives in a large home with her family, continuously asking the man with the one bedroom apartment (aka me) "What do you think? Should we have it here? What do you think?"

High Point: All the food was going to be set up by a local grocery store so the amount of cooking was going to be limited.
Low Point: Standing in the self checkout line, watching the moron in front of me, trying to scan the wrong side of their package for five minutes.

High Point: Finally getting to wake up on a Thursday morning at 7a and not having to fret about work.
Low Point: I was supposed to be at a local bicycle ride at 7a.

High Point: I got to catch up on some of my movie viewing with Shrek 2 and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Low Point: I also had to sit thru a viewing of The Terminal, which is very typical of a modern Steven Spielburg movie. Its a fairly decent movie, but 30 minutes too long. The entire subplot with Catherine Zeta Jones could have been skipped.

High Point: I got to catch up on some of my riding since I rode my offroad bike to do the shopping on "Black Friday."
Low Point: I spent way too much money.

High Point: I got to laugh at all the people trapped in their cars when they couldnt find a parking space while I simply rode up and parked at a bike rack.
Low Point: I still spent way too much money.

High Point: FIFA 2005 was on sale at Target.
Low Point: I bought another game that I really dont have time to play. Matter of fact, I'm still supposed to be writing for Nanowrimo?!

High Point: I got to buy a different kind of wine from the interesting company known as Fat Bastard Wines.
Low Point: I know I'm not much of a wine drinker, but have you actually tasted this stuff?! Gah...
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Fit The Bill
Its pretty sad when you represent alot of the comments from You Know You Are Addicted To Cycling When

* You no longer require a hankie to blow your nose.
- Plug up one nostril and blow really hard. Be sure to towards the ground to avoid hitting those riders behind you.

* You see nothing wrong with discussing the connection between hydration and urine color.
- It should normally be semi-clear to yellowish... Ummm.. nevermind...

* You refuse to buy a couch because that patch of wallspace is taken up by the bike.
- Besides, the floor is still a available as a place to sit.

* You see a fit, tanned, Lycra-clad young woman ride by, and the first thing you check out is her bicycle.
- This is because I've greater chance of getting to ride the bicycle.

* When you move to a new area the first thing you look for is a bike shop.
- And its only 4 miles down the road...

* Your bikes are worth more than your car.
- I'll get a new car... One day...

* You have more money invested in your bike clothes than in the rest of your combined wardrobe.
- I plead guilty.

* You have more bike jerseys than dress shirts.
- Once again, guilty as charged.
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Out In The Yard
Here are some voodoo dolls for dogs. If they start doing human sacrifices, get really worried.
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The Lego Wars have broken out! At least you could build your own foxhole.
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Lance is getting overhauled. Damn. Now I'm going to have to watch a "Fix My Car/House/Life" show.
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Background Noise
The Riders of Rohan have entered the battle for Gandor. Theoden King leads his calvary into the Orc hordes, cutting a path thru their center. Soon the elephants of Mordor will enter the fray...

Thats it. I've definately watched Return Of The King a bit too much...

***************************************
* Days go by
* And still I think of you
* Days when I couldnt live
* My life without you
***************************************

Well, sure... Dark Elves are bastards. -- Skull from Player vs Player

Tower View
Work To Live
The past two weeks I've been working an average of 9 to 10 hour days by leaving the office, goofing off for awhile, then logging in from home. I know that is not a long day as compared to some jobs, but for a desk jockey, I'm working way too hard.

The worse part is that I actually dont mind working from home because then I can avoid the barrage of silly questions. I know there is no such thing as stupid questions, but there are plenty of silly ones.

Yesterday, someone from the marketing area called me, asking if it would be possible for me to do a very large, very important report and send her the results within the next couple of hours. I mentioned that I wasnt available to do it since I'm no longer with the freelance programming team.

I mentioned since that team sits one row over from me, I knew a couple of the programmers were available. She could send an email and ask for them to do it. The downside was that the team would have to charge her dept for the work because doing programs like this is how they got paid.

She then asked Do you think they could do it without charging our dept?

When I reminded her that their team got their paycheck based on the programs they wrote for people, she replied I know, but I dont think that we can afford to pay for it. Are you sure you couldnt do this?

The phrase Are you $%^#ing kidding me?! almost slipped out.

Instead, I stated that if I did the work, it would cost her dept three times more than the other team. That was why I had left that team.

I also noted that I wouldnt even be available to do any freelance work until next month because I was totally booked. I even made commented the freelance programming team would not only be less expensive, they could actually get it done.

She thought for a moment and said Well, we really dont need the report that badly. Thanks...

And people wonder why I prefer to work at home now.
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Yet Another Survey
Apparently, I'm more of a Sagittarian than most. This should not be a surprise to anyone.

You are 73% Sagittarius

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Out In The Yard
The latest ingredient for the chef in all of us. Thank God I cant cook. (Not safe for work. Hat tip: Avatar)
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Here is a site to rate people's external work. I thought it was just a load of crap, but that is my opinion. (Not safe for work. Hat tip: Fury)
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Background Noise
Numb by Linkin Park & Jay-Z

Its a remix of the original song with Jay-Z is rapping and Linkin Park providing the music and chorus. This is the first time I've heard this and I'm pretty impressed. I'll have to see about getting this version.

XM Radio in the house is a good thing.

***************************************
* Days go by
* And still I think of you
* Days when I couldnt live
* My life without you
***************************************

I'm not pregnant! It's a miracle! I shagged and shagged and shagged and all the little bastards missed! -- Jane from Coupling

Tower View
More Random Notes
1. Seriously, if you absolutely, positively hate living here, then move. Go to the Ivory Coast or perhaps Sudan and see what you are missing.

2. There is no way in heck I'm going to finish Nanowrimo. Have I mentioned 50,000 words is alot of $%^&ing words?!

3. I've been reading I Burn For You instead of writing. Good blog. Bad distraction.

4. Thanks to Alexa for including my entry in the Carnival of Sins.

5. Here is the ultimate online role playing game. Fury got caught up in the action.
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Out In The Yard
Djork! Djork! Nerd rock rules.
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The 30 Second Bunnies Theatre Strike Again! Movies will never be the same.
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Background Noise
Who Can It Be Now by Men At Work

Who can it be knocking at my door?
Go away,
Dont come around here no more...
Cant you see that its late at night?
I'm very tired
And i'm not feeling right...

***************************************
* Days go by
* And still I think of you
* Days when I couldnt live
* My life without you
***************************************

I'm John Kerry and I'm reporting for unemployment! -- from The Tonight Show

Tower View
Well thanks to Nanowrimo, work, and just plain illness, I'll have to start shortening my entries. So without further adieu...

First Things First
I never got a chance to say this yesterday, but Bush Wins! Bush Wins!

Ok, now that I've gotten that out of my system, here are some random thoughts on this while I gloat a little:

1) Four more years! Four more years! Ha! Sorry.. I just had to say that so I could tease my friends that voted for Kerry.

2) See what happens? You people just had to have Boston Red Sox win the Series so that had to mess up the Redskins' prediction.

3) Speaking of predictions, the DNC should have known they were screwed when Fatboy Moore began backing Kerry. No candidate that Moore endorses has ever won.

4) While we are on the topic of Fatboy, its interesting how his gloating letter of a Kerry win suddenly disappeared from his website.

5) It was really fun seeing Dan Rather, Tom Brokow, and even Katie Couric look so depressed as things went on. I was actually awake until 4a watching the returns and got to see Dan almost break down in tears. Even Brokow got irritable when NBC predicted Ohio for Bush.

6) For the San Francisco protestors that marched AFTER the damn election was over, how many of these morons actually voted?! The number of voters age 18 to 25 didnt increase and from the pictures I've seen of the protestors, there were alot 18 to 25 year olds.

7) If you are really upset over the election and absolutely hate it here, then #$%^ING MOVE! If you believe that this isnt the place for you, then #$%^ING MOVE! Just remember Canada may not want you. Iraq could use the population boost.

8) Kerry did the proper thing by conceding defeat. It was the honorable thing to do.

9) I felt bad for a lesbian couple I know that were big Kerry supporters. During the summer they were proud to announce that they were for Kerry because they didnt want Bush in office to wreck their marriage. But when Kerry took the shot at Cheney's daughter during the debates, they werent as proud to announce their support. It hadnt dawned on them that Kerry would not be any different when it came to their marriage. To add insult to injury, the ban on gay marriage passed in every state that had this on their ballot. So they arent too happy right now.

And for the record, I have no issues with gay marriages. They should have the chance to pay higher taxes, divorce lawyers, alimony, and child support just like every one else.

10) Regardless of how it turned out, I'm glad that so many people actually voted.
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Out In The Yard
Neil Cavuto notes that Kerry did win respect. Definately.
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Oil prices begin to drop. One day later and things are already better.
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Schoolgirl lesbian TV drama series announced. Dont we already have this? Its called p()rn...
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Background Noise
Take My Breathe Away by Jessica Simpson

I'm not going to bother with the words since its a cover of the Berlin song. I just wish they would take her away...

***************************************
* Days go by
* And still I think of you
* Days when I couldnt live
* My life without you
***************************************

Men have dogs because they want a best friend dumber than they are. Women want that too, but they already have men. -- Bill Engvall

Tower View
Are You Sure About This?
A friend from work, Baker, is getting married this weekend. So of course, he is getting emails galore with jokes and harrassment.

Here was my contribution:
1. Remember, if she isnt happy, then you arent happy.
2. What is her's belongs to her. What is your's belongs to her.
3. When she asks "What are you thinking about?", never tell her what you are really thinking.
4. When she asks "Does this dress make me look fat?", laughing hysterically is not a proper response.
5. If there are any questions, see rule #1.
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And So It Begins
Tomorrow is election day. I can spend the next hour ranting about what is going on out in the world except I have to get started on my 50,000 word essay for Nanowrimo.

Have I mentioned that 50,000 words is alot of $%^&ing words?!
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Out In The Yard
College students arrested for forging Subway Sub Club stamps. It cost these morons more to print the damn things than it did to buy the sandwich.
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Cyclist assaulted by magpie. Dive bomber! Dive Bomber!
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Top Ten Resume hints. Especially for those of you looking for a job after graduating college 2 years ago and still living at home.
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Background Noise
Ruby, Dont Take Your Love To Town by Cake.

She's leaving now
Cause I just heard the slamming of the door
The way I know
I've heard it slam 100 times before...
And if i could move I'd get my gun
And put her in the ground...
Oh Ruby...
Dont take your love town

***************************************
* Days go by
* And still I think of you
* Days when I couldnt live
* My life without you
***************************************