If you worried about falling off the bike, you’d never get on.
-- Lance Armstrong
::: Tower View :::
After The Ride
Things have been pretty hectic lately, but the one thing that I did get enjoy was this year's Tour de France. Personally, I felt this year would have been a farce when Astana, the top team with the current TDF champion, wasnt invited for political reasons.
Despite it all, the Tour was still a most exciting, memorable event. For the first time in memory, there were two top American teams in the Tour. One of them, Team Columbia, won 5 of the 20 stages.
There was John-Lee Augustyn's attack on the highest mountain, only to crash over the side on the decent. The scene of Augustyn climbing back up the side, then peering back over to see his bicycle still sliding down the mountain.
Through it all, Carlos Sastre, the ever quiet, consistent Spaniard took the lead with his attack on the legendary mountain, the Alpe D'Huez. Then with the final time trial, with everything up grabs, the favorite, Cadel Evans, couldnt close the difference between him and Sastre.
So for the second year, Cadel came in second behind a Spaniard.
As much as I enjoyed this year's Tour, there still must be a Lance Armstrong sighting.
Feed the Warrior!
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Can you see
My eyes are shining bright
Cause I'm out here on the other side
Of a jet black hotel mirror
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Questions are never indiscreet. Answers sometimes are.
-- Publilius Syrus
::: Tower View :::
Enigma
From Tiny Ghosts.
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Can you see
My eyes are shining bright
Cause I'm out here on the other side
Of a jet black hotel mirror
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Michelle: How did a little perv like you turn into such a great guy?
Jim: How did a little nympho like you turn into such a great girl?
Michelle: Well, I'm still a nympho.
Jim: Well, I'm still a perv.
-- from American Wedding
::: Tower View :::
Nuptials
So I had a memorable trip this past weekend when an old friend of mine, Doombringer, got married. We have known each other since the college years when we worked at different video game stores. Then there were the times when I was his wingman when we did the club scene. Those are stories for another time.
He and his bride live in another state so unless I wanted to drive days to get there, I was flying. Especially since they had asked me to be part of the wedding party.
So I was abit irritable when I arrived at the airport 8a Friday morning for a 9:45a flight that was cancelled with no warning. I was offered the standby flight at 2:45p, but there was no luck since it was completely full. It didnt really matter since there were ten of us on standby.
Which left the 7:30p flight and guaranteed that I was going to miss rehersal as well as dinner.
The departure time turned into 8p due to weather from the arriving plane. Then 8:15p. Then 8:30p. Then 9p when there was a mechanical issue with the plane. Then 9:30p. Then 10p. Then 11p.
When the plane finally arrived, we left in just under 20 mins and got to my destination at 1:30a Sat morning.
It was supposed to be a 2 hour flight.
Nevertheless, I arrived and everything went along swimmingly. The typical wedding things occurred just as expected. The bride and her party were 20 mins late coming back from their hair appointment. One groomsman didnt show up, which worked out for me because it let me walk with two bridemaids. 
The young ringbearer kept pulling on the young flowergirl because he wanted to run down the aisle. She in turn would pull him back so he wouldnt run. It ended up being a tug of war in the middle of the aisle for a few minutes.
The ceremony went well. The reception was fine with all the dancing, laughing, smiling, and cake smearing.
After the reception, we all went to an Irish pub, which is something I hadnt done in quite some time. It was also ironic that I was the oldest one there, but the one that danced the most. Ahh, the miracle of Gatorade.
The whole trip was an experience. I met some really good people in the brides maids, groomsmen, and family members. It was funny that in each airport, I met a teacher; the math teacher heading out to party with his friends and then Miss Hall out of Knoxville who was going on vacation with her family.
But the biggest experience was getting to be part of a joyous occasion in something as simple as an hour long ceremony. The happiness it generated only proves that there is hope for humanity.
Congrats to you DB and H! Keep smiling and laughing. Let us know when the wee ones are coming. Heh.
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Can you see
My eyes are shining bright
Cause I'm out here on the other side
Of a jet black hotel mirror
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The world is a fine place and worth the fighting for and I hate very much to leave it.
-- Ernest Hemingway
::: Tower View :::
Euology
To the Spike clan, our condolescences and prayers to you.
Too One Shortly to Die by Walt Whitman
1
FROM all the rest I single out you, having a message for you:
You are to die - Let others tell you what they please, I cannot prevaricate,
I am exact and merciless, but I love you - There is no escape for you.
Softly I lay my right hand upon you - you just feel it,
I do not argue - I bend my head close, and half envelope it,
I sit quietly by - I remain faithful,
I am more than nurse, more than parent or neighbor,
I absolve you from all except yourself, spiritual, bodily - that is
Eternal - you yourself will surely escape,
The corpse you will leave will be but excrementitious.
2
The sun bursts through in unlooked-for directions!
Strong thoughts fill you, and confidence - you smile!
You forget you are sick, as I forget you are sick,
You do not see the medicines - you do not mind the weeping friends - I
am with you,
I exclude others from you - there is nothing to be commiserated,
I do not commiserate - I congratulate you.
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Can you see
My eyes are shining bright
Cause I'm out here on the other side
Of a jet black hotel mirror
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Anyone who trades liberty for security deserves neither liberty nor security.
-- Benjamin Franklin
::: Tower View :::
Independence Day
Remember, freedom is not free and there must always be a price to be paid. Its something that too many have seemed to have forgotten. Back in the day, we were reminded of this, even as kids.
I always liked the Schoolhouse Rock series as a kid. For many, this was the only history they ever knew. Sure it wasnt the complete story, but it was a start.
Hope you had a fun, safe Fourth of July. Mind the fireworks.. Heh.
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Can you see
My eyes are shining bright
Cause I'm out here on the other side
Of a jet black hotel mirror
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Why can't we get all the people together in the world that we really like and then just stay together? I guess that wouldn't work. Someone would leave. Someone always leaves. Then we would have to say goodbye. I hate goodbyes. I know what I need. I need more hellos.
-- Snoopy
::: Tower View :::
A Sordid Twist Of Fate
A few of us had gotten into a discussion about the differences between goth and emo, particularly in music. We all had our opinions and since we are arent in the music industry, its all subjective.
This has become one of my favorite emo songs, although its more alternative in nature. Emo songs dont require screaming, but it does help. Ha!
Song To Say Goodbye by Placebo
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Can you see
My eyes are shining bright
Cause I'm out here on the other side
Of a jet black hotel mirror
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You called for me, didn't you? And I heard you.
-- Kaneda from Akira
::: Tower View :::
Save Me From The Dark
Bring Me To Life by Evanescence
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Can you see
My eyes are shining bright
Cause I'm out here on the other side
Of a jet black hotel mirror
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The Steward
