Castle Shima

Harry: You were going to be a gymnast.
Sally: A journalist.
Harry: Right, that's what I said.
-- from When Harry Met Sally

::: Tower View :::
The Real Horror
As any man will attest to, these are the really scary movies that we see.

When Harry Met Sally


Sleepless In Seattle

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*******************************************************
* If I should fall to rise no more,
* As many comrades did before,
* Ask the pipes and drums to play
* Over the hills and far away.
*******************************************************

Mothers of teenagers know why animals eat their young
-- anonymous quote

::: Tower View :::
Happy Mother's Day
Hope you mothers had a good day as well as you motherfu... errr... Anyways, Happy Mother's Day!

A Monkey Can Do Your Job
Hat tip to AlphaBunny for this little gem.

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*******************************************************
* If I should fall to rise no more,
* As many comrades did before,
* Ask the pipes and drums to play
* Over the hills and far away.
*******************************************************

Yip: I havent had lunch yet. I need something big and juicy in my mouth.
Me: Well, dear, that leaves me out.
-- from a conversation at work

::: Background Noise :::
What I've Done by Linkin Park

So let mercy come
And wash away

What I've done
I'll face myself
To cross out what I've become
Erase myself
And let go of what I've done

For what I've done

I'll start again
And whatever pain may come
Today this ends
I'm forgiving what I've done

This song keeps going thru my mind. It must be because I'm impatiently waiting for their new cd Minutes to Midnight to be released on Tues.

Aye, thats it.
**********

*******************************************************
* If I should fall to rise no more,
* As many comrades did before,
* Ask the pipes and drums to play
* Over the hills and far away.
*******************************************************

Friendships are elective relationships. And they dont always last forever.
-- seen on a horrorscope

::: Tower View :::
I Got Your Humps Right Here
This is absolutely frigging brilliant! I've always loved Alanis' music, but this cover made me laugh like a madman. Enjoy!


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Look. An Idiot.
-- Valentine from MirrorMask

::: Tower View :::
Eternal Sunshine
I know I've put this out before, but it came to mind. Its a segment of a poem by Alexander Pope called Eloisa to Abelard.

How happy is the blameless vestal's lot!
The world forgetting, by the world forgot.
Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind!
Each pray'r accepted, and each wish resign'd;
Labour and rest, that equal periods keep;
"Obedient slumbers that can wake and weep;"
Desires compos'd, affections ever ev'n,
Tears that delight, and sighs that waft to Heav'n.
Grace shines around her with serenest beams,
And whisp'ring angels prompt her golden dreams.
For her th' unfading rose of Eden blooms,
And wings of seraphs shed divine perfumes,
For her the Spouse prepares the bridal ring,
For her white virgins hymeneals sing,
To sounds of heav'nly harps she dies away,
And melts in visions of eternal day.

Far other dreams my erring soul employ,
Far other raptures, of unholy joy:
When at the close of each sad, sorrowing day,
Fancy restores what vengeance snatch'd away,
Then conscience sleeps, and leaving nature free,
All my loose soul unbounded springs to thee.
Oh curs'd, dear horrors of all-conscious night!
How glowing guilt exalts the keen delight!
Provoking Daemons all restraint remove,
And stir within me every source of love.
I hear thee, view thee, gaze o'er all thy charms,
And round thy phantom glue my clasping arms.
I wake — no more I hear, no more I view,
The phantom flies me, as unkind as you.
I call aloud; it hears not what I say;
I stretch my empty arms; it glides away.
To dream once more I close my willing eyes;
Ye soft illusions, dear deceits, arise!
Alas, no more — methinks we wand'ring go
Through dreary wastes, and weep each other's woe,
Where round some mould'ring tower pale ivy creeps,
And low-brow'd rocks hang nodding o'er the deeps.
Sudden you mount, you beckon from the skies;
Clouds interpose, waves roar, and winds arise.
I shriek, start up, the same sad prospect find,
And wake to all the griefs I left behind.
**********

*******************************************************
* If I should fall to rise no more,
* As many comrades did before,
* Ask the pipes and drums to play
* Over the hills and far away.
*******************************************************

When I let her go, it felt like life itself was slipping through me fingers.
-- Constantine from Hellblazer: Rake At the Gates Of Hell

::: Tower View :::
Music In The Mind
Today's ride wasnt so bad. 64 miles of wind, sun, and insects can make for a day, but overall, nothing too damaging. Too bad the same cant be said about me singing.

On the longer rides, I have to have me music and of course, when I get to some strange point of exhaution and/or anger, I have to sing.

It forces the body to keep going and drives the mind inward to concentrate at the task on hand, even for a wee bit. Unfortunately, it just doesnt stop because the ride ended.

And so one of the songs that kept playing in my head after the ride was

Figure09 by Linkin Park
Nothing ever stops all these thoughts
And the pain attached to them
Sometimes I wonder
Why this is happening
Its like nothing I can do
Would distract me when
I think of how
I shot myself in the back again
Cause from the infinite words
I could say I
Put all pain
You gave to me on display
But didn't realize
Instead of setting it free I
Took what I hated
And made it a part of me

Never goes away
Never goes away

And now
You've become a part of me
You'll always be right here
You've become a part of me
You'll always be my fear
I can't separate
Myself from what I've done
Giving up a part of me
I've let myself become you

Hearing your name
The memories come back again
I remember when it
Started happening
I see you in every thought I had
And then
The thoughts slowly found words
Attached to them
And I knew as they escaped away
I was committing myself to them
And everyday
I regret saying those things
Cause now I see that I
Took what I hated
And made it a part of me

Never goes away
Never goes away

Get away from me!
Give me my space back
You got to just
Go!
Everything comes down
To memories of
You!
I've kept it in
But now I'm letting you
Know!
I let you go

So get away from
Me!
Give me my space back
You got to just
Go!
Everything comes down
To memories of
You!
I've kept it
But now I'm letting you
Know!
I let you go

And now
You've become a part of me
You'll always be right here
You've become a part of me
You'll always be my fear
I can't separate
Myself from what I've done
Giving up a part of me
I've let myself become you

I've let myself become you
I've let myself become
Lost inside
These thoughts of you
Giving up a part of me,
I've let myself become you
**********

*******************************************************
* If I should fall to rise no more,
* As many comrades did before,
* Ask the pipes and drums to play
* Over the hills and far away.
*******************************************************

"Goodbye, my love." He doesnt say it. There is no room for softness. No place for weakness. Not in Sparta.
-- Dilios from 300

::: Tower View :::
Prepare For Glory!
Hat tip to Fury for this awesome cartoon originally drawn by VG Cats.


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*******************************************************
* If I should fall to rise no more,
* As many comrades did before,
* Ask the pipes and drums to play
* Over the hills and far away.
*******************************************************

No. You dont ask any questions. You dont get any answers. You dont stray from the path. You dont even think about whats happening to you right now. Got it?
-- Marquis de Carabas from Neverwhere

::: Tower View :::
Neither Here Nor There
As you can probably tell from my latest series of entries, I've been watching the BBC mini-series, Neverwhere, which was originally written by Neil Gaiman, who happens to be one of my favorite authors.

I liked the story so much, I ended up with the graphic novel and paperback.

The story is about a man, Richard, who finds himself in an adventure after helping a wounded girl. As an after effect, most people dont acknowledge his very existance. It takes some effort for anyone to even see Richard despite the fact he may be right in front of them.

I always wondered what it would be like to be here, but not ever be seen. Practically invisible to everyone around you, even the ones who knew you the best.

Richard: You're looking very fine, Jessica.
Jessica: You have the advantage of me.
Richard: You're Jessica Bartram. You're a marketing executive at Stocktons. You're twenty six. Your birthday is April 23rd and in the throes of extreme passion you have a tendency to hum the Monkees song 'I'm a Believer.'
Jessica: Is this some kind of joke?
Richard: Oh, and we've been engaged for the last eighteen months.
Jessica: I rather think I'd know if I'd been engaged to someone for eighteen months, Mister...
Richard: Mayhew. Richard Mayhew. You dumped me and I don't exist anymore.

The world would certainly be a different place.
**********

*******************************************************
* If I should fall to rise no more,
* As many comrades did before,
* Ask the pipes and drums to play
* Over the hills and far away.
*******************************************************

In that other city, there was another life. There was another door that might still be open. Here, I broke no promises. Nobody would miss me. I dont look back. I didnt need to. The world healed itself behind me. And forgot that I had ever been.
-- Richard from Neverwhere

::: Tower View :::
Spring Cleaning
I looked around and realized all the things that I let accumulate over the winter. How in the hell did I let things get this way?

There was the actual Taco Bell menu I picked up because I was getting those taco salad cravings. That had to be tossed into the trash. I dont think I'll be having those for awhile.

In a box went the toy football helmets from Boise State and Florida after their tremendous games. Football season will never be the same.

The little toy dancing hamster was put away along with all the various pictures of cemetaries, glass clocks, sunrises, sunsets, hawaiian boats, boardwalks, and gondola rides. The rave cds werent really my taste, but they were different.

Finally, I folded up the winter blanket and placed it in its spot within the box.

Then the box was stored away into the closet, far in the back reaches.

The winter seems so long ago.
**********

::: Background Noise :::
Goodbye by Night Ranger

Yet its hard
Living life on this memory-go-round
Always up
Always down
Turning round and round and round
And all this could be
Just a dream
So it seems
I was never much good at goodbye

*******************************************************
* If I should fall to rise no more,
* As many comrades did before,
* Ask the pipes and drums to play
* Over the hills and far away.
*******************************************************

You're born, you take shit. You get out in the world, you take more shit. You climb a little higher, you take less shit. Till one day you're up in the rarefied atmosphere and you've forgotten what shit even looks like.

Welcome to the layer cake son.
-- Eddie Temple from Layer Cake

::: Background Noise :::
Out The Back by Fort Minor

I'm no hero
You remember how I was
You know
All I ever did was worry
Feeling out of control
To the point where everything was going end over end

I'm spinning around in circles again
This is where you come in
All of this to explain
To you why
I had to separate myself away
From yesterday's life

Please remember
This isn't how I hoped it would be
But I had to protect you
From me

Thats why I slipped out the back
Before you knew I was there
I know you felt unprepared
But every single time I was around
I just bring you down
And I could tell that
It was time to be scared

Thats why I slipped out the back
Before you knew I was there
And I know the way I left wasnt fair
I didnt want to be around
Just to bring you down
I'm not a hero
But dont think I didnt care

*******************************************************
* If I should fall to rise no more,
* As many comrades did before,
* Ask the pipes and drums to play
* Over the hills and far away.
*******************************************************

::: Tower View :::
Hold Me
This came to mind after yesterday's tragedy at Virginia Tech.

All he wanted.

All he wanted was for someone to care about him. Someone to hold him. Someone to warm him.

Nobody would.

When we hold each other in the darkness, it doesnt make the darkness go away. The bad things are still out there. The nightmares are still walking.

When we hold each other, we feel-- not safe, but better. "Its all right," we whisper. "I'm here. I love you."

And we lie, "I'll never leave you."

Just for a moment or two, the darkness doesn't seem so bad. When we hold each other.
-- John Constantine from Hold Me. Written by Neil Gaiman.

Hold tight to your loved ones. They may be gone in that wee blink of an eye.

*******************************************************
* If I should fall to rise no more,
* As many comrades did before,
* Ask the pipes and drums to play
* Over the hills and far away.
*******************************************************

My Queen! My wife. My love.
-- King Leonidas from 300

::: Tower View :::
This is Sparta!
I know I've watched this movie abit too much. Matter of fact, I broke down and bought the hard bound copy of the graphic novel.

I had the first issue when it was first released, but didnt get a chance to get the rest of them.

So now, I've gone abit overboard.


Ah well, at least the view is good. Heh.
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::: Out In The Yard :::
PvP pays tribute to 300. Gamers! Prepare for glory!
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::: Background Noise :::
Goodbye My Lover by James Blunt

I am a dreamer
And when i wake
You can't break my spirit
Its my dreams you take
And as you move on
Remember me
Remember us
And all we used to be

*******************************************************
* If I should fall to rise no more,
* As many comrades did before,
* Ask the pipes and drums to play
* Over the hills and far away.
*******************************************************

This is the curse of Jeff Murdoch. I've met the girl of my dreams and I cant take my trousers off.
-- Jeff from Coupling

::: Tower View :::
Vroom Vroom!
Hat tip: Fury

I'm a Ferrari 360 Modena!

You've got it all. Power, passion, precision, and style. You're sensuous, exotic, and temperamental. Sure, you're expensive and high-maintenance, but you're worth it.

"Take the Which Sports Car Are You? quiz.
**********

*******************************************************
* If I should fall to rise no more,
* As many comrades did before,
* Ask the pipes and drums to play
* Over the hills and far away.
*******************************************************

Chuck Norris uses ribbed condoms inside out so he gets the pleasure
-- from Chuck Norris Joke site

::: Tower View :::
Egg Time
Hope everyone had a good Easter. This came to mind this weekend.


That's it. I'm going to Hell.
**********

::: Background Noise :::
No Surrender by The Outfield

No surrender
Even if it's over
No surrender
Stop pretending
You never cared for me
Because I remember
Words that we shared
A promise to keep
If they meant nothing to you
Well they still mean a whole lot to me

*******************************************************
* If I should fall to rise no more,
* As many comrades did before,
* Ask the pipes and drums to play
* Over the hills and far away.
*******************************************************

Ann McD: Wow, Ken! I havent seen you in awhile. Have you lost weight?
Me: No, I'm afraid not. I just wear bigger pants.
-- from a conversation at work

::: Tower View :::
Shhh!
This is one of funniest games I've ever seen.

The object is to try to be as quiet as possible when you are called upon to suffer the consequences. You almost feel sorry for the one guy who keeps getting penalized.

The big black man playing is Ernesto Hoost, a professional martial arts fighter. Its great to see a fighter with a sense of humour.



Too bad we couldnt do this over here.
**********

::: Background Noise :::
Congratulations by Blue October

Is that seat taken?
Congratulations...
Would you like to take a walk with me?
My mind, it kind of goes fast.
I try to slow it down for you.
I think I'd love to take a drive.
I want to give you something
I've been wanting to give to you for years...

*******************************************************
* If I should fall to rise no more,
* As many comrades did before,
* Ask the pipes and drums to play
* Over the hills and far away.
*******************************************************

Its the humans that tell the tales where the the hunter kills the wolf at the end. In reality, its the wolf that kills the hunter.
-- from Jin Roh: The Wolf Brigade

Damn!
I've decided to be just like Ron Simmons.

The ex-FSU football player is most known as a wrestler for the World Wrestling Entertainment (aka WWE) organization.

Because of his age and injuries, Ron is now part of sidebar skits on the WWE Raw tv show where he goes around the back area, watching certain situations occur and uttering a single phrase.

He could be watching one of the hot ladies walking by and his deep voice simple grunt out Damn!

He could be watching a fight broil in the dressing room and just yell out Damn!

I want to do that.

I want to walk around the office, stick my head into some meeting, look around at the confused people, and just say Damn!

I want to walk into the cafeteria, look at the food on the various counters, and yell out Damn!

I figure why not? I'm already saying that when I look at my paycheck.

::: Background Noise :::
Its Been Awhile by Staind
And it's been awhile
Since I've seen
The way the candles light your face
And it's been awhile
But I can still
Remember just the way you taste

*******************************************************
* If I should fall to rise no more,
* As many comrades did before,
* Ask the pipes and drums to play
* Over the hills and far away.
*******************************************************

Dont let the drummer sing. It will just end in tears.
-- Guitar Hero I

Define This
Definition of a bad day?
You start the day with four hours of meetings.

Definition of a worse day?
You finally get back to your desk and disover that your employees are dressed just like you. And its a business casual office.

*******************************************************
* If I should fall to rise no more,
* As many comrades did before,
* Ask the pipes and drums to play
* Over the hills and far away.
*******************************************************

A hush fell over the courtroom, injuring six.
-- seen on a tagline

::: Background Noise :::
Inspired from the recent "Lust in Space" events...

Intergalatic by The Beastie Boys
Intergalactic Planetary Planetary Intergalactic
Another Dimension,
Another Dimension

Well Now don't you tell me to smile
You stick around I'll make it worth your while
Got numbers beyond what you can dial
Maybe it's because I'm so versatile
Style profile I said
It always brings me back when I hear Ooh Child
From the Hudson River out to the Nile
I run the marathon til the very last mile
If you battle me I will revile
People always say my style is wild
You've got gall you've got guile
To step to me I'm a rapophile
If you want to battle your in denial
Coming from Uranus to check my style
Go ahead put my rhymes on trial
Cast you off into exile

*******************************************************
* If I should fall to rise no more,
* As many comrades did before,
* Ask the pipes and drums to play
* Over the hills and far away.
*******************************************************

Man screw you guys and your inability to comprehend witty satire.
-- Brent Sienna, Player vs Player

::: Tower View :::
Life Comes At You Fast
I dont know about you, but I found this funny as hell...

**********

*******************************************************
* If I should fall to rise no more,
* As many comrades did before,
* Ask the pipes and drums to play
* Over the hills and far away.
*******************************************************

Do you know how to describe a decent day at work? You say "Well, nobody died today."
-- Karen, from a conversation at work

::: Tower View :::
Paean
How ironic that came to mind this day. Karen's sister had been a survivor of a corporate office shooting so our office had picked up the saying as a catch phrase.

"How was work?"
"Well, nobody died today."

The wierd part is that someone did die today.

RP was a programmer that worked in my area. He had worked for me for a short time period since I was soon after promoted to a different team in the same area.

I found him to be a quiet, intellent sort. RP's personal life was abit torn due to home issues, but his wife and sons were an anchor for him.

And this morning, he died.

Nothing nefarious or by accident. Just plain gone. In a blink of an eye.

That just seemed so strange.

To know someone, yet not to really know them. The feeling that they were just there because we keep taking for granted how short our lives are.

Then the morbid thoughts came up.

"This is just an excuse for him to get out of work."
"He heard we were going to assign him to the project from heck."
"Hey, who gets the dead guy's pc?"
"Oh, would you want to sit in that cubicle? There could be like a ghost in there or something."

Yes, we were being abit sick, perhaps even irreverant, but at no point were we disrespectful. RP was a good man and a valued person. Not only by us, but most importantly, by his family. He will be missed.

God speed, sir.
**********

*******************************************************
* If I should fall to rise no more,
* As many comrades did before,
* Ask the pipes and drums to play
* Over the hills and far away.
*******************************************************