If you need to have a happy spot for a moment in your life, find all you need in your mind. If you take the time.

 

 

 

Just let me catch my breath...

I've heard the promises
I've seen the mistakes
I've had my fair share of tough breaks
I need a new voice, a new law, a new way
Take the time, reevaluate
It's time to pick up the pieces,
Go back to square one
I think it's time for a change

There is something that I feel
To be something that is real
I feel the heat within my mind
And craft new changes with my eyes
Giving freely wandering promises
A place with decisions I'll fashion
I won't waste another breath

You can feel the waves coming on
(It's time to take the time)
Let them destroy you or carry you on
(It's time to take the time)
You're fighting the weight of the world
But no one can save you this time

Close your eyes
You can find all you need in
your mind

The unbroken spirit
Obscured and disquiet
Finds clearness this trial demands
And at the end of this day sighs
an anxious relief
For the fortune lies still in his hands

If there's pensive fear

a wasted year
A man must learn to cope
If his obsession's real,
Suppression that he feels must
turn to hope

Life is no more assuring than love
(It's time to take the time)
There are no answers from voices above
(It's time to take the time)
You're fighting the weight of the world
And no one can save you this time
Close your eyes
You can find all you need in
your mind

I close my eyes
And feel the water rise around me
Drown the bear of time
Let my senses fall away
I can see much clearer now, I'm blind

 

You can feel the waves coming on
(It's time to take the time)
Let them destroy you or carry you on
(It's time to take the time)
You're fighting the weight of the world
But no one can save you this time

Find all you need in your mind
If you take the time

This has definately been a hell of a week at work.  As in, things are truly coming together the way we (as a team) want it.

 

I've been in my new digs since right before Christmas, and technically, I should have been in my new area two months before then.  However, it seemed we were constantly on the backburner.  Little did I realize, other areas were being constructed after mine.

 

Then one day, some of my co-workers went to an area called "The War Room" (ala, an area for mass beta testing in a group environment).  In that area was essentially what is known as the "Buffet Bar", as it was a counter top area that...well, it looks like a buffet counter.  However, it has a series of drawers (deep and long ones, I might add).

 

I basically was showing off parts of the building off to my co-workers (at the time hadn't been around it much), and we came here.  Someone made the comment that it'd make a good bar to have in the setup room.  Something in my head just 'clicked' with me.  I looked at it, opened some drawers, and went and got my boss.  We were still figuring out some scheme at the time, and showed him the possible use for it.

 

1).  Additional workspace.  We had power and network drops for the center of our lab.  I measured the workspace, guesstimated the distance of our drops, and felt it was perfect for using for laptops.

 

2).  Storage.  We could store commonly used items for deployment of computers in these drawers.

 

We found out on Monday that the people in control of The War Room were going to end up getting regular folding tables (you know, your typical cafeteria type tables) for their buffet needs, and since we were eyeing on getting the Buffet Table ordered for ourselves, they told us to take it.  So we did.  They simply did not need the drawers for anything (or if they did, figured they couldn't utilize all of them.)

 

All I can say is, everyone who has come into my little world loves it, and sees why this was an awesome idea.

 

Yesterday, I learned that we were having a new naming convention for our in-house mailing system to help with the following:

 

1).  Mail location.

2).  Conference room location.

3).  Emergency Response location (for police, firemen, etc).

 

I printed it up, and had a new idea pop in my head as I sifted through the information.  You see, one of the hardest parts of my job that literally took months to figure out was how to locate people.  In my building, someone made one heck of a nice map and key on literally where every person who works on my floor is situated.

 

I love how that map has helped me locate people.  With this new system, I created a project for myself that within 10 minutes of showing my boss where I was getting at with the idea, he liked it more and more.

 

I did not create the system.  It's going to take me a while to get used to it.  However, what I did for my group's needs is this.  I took the information that I had, found a use for it, just brainstormed it with people, and it's basically my baby now.  It's actually a rather nice system I'm developing for it.

 

At our weekly team meeting, our team lead basically made us introduce ourselves (we did have had recent additions, so it was natural).  I felt nothing but good things.  I've been in close-knit teams before, but this is damn near family.  Give background of education, and some past work experiences, likes, dislikes, etc.

 

Even with the dislikes, we always spinned on the idea of not dwelling on them, but how to fix them.

 

I simply love my job.

Great storytelling.  Kenny Rogers is one of my faves.  It's got so many undertones to it, several interpretations.

 

 

 

Ev'ryone considered him the coward of the county.
He'd never stood one single time to prove the county wrong.
His mama called Tommy, the folks just called him yellow,
But something always told me they were reading Tommy wrong.

He was only ten years old when his daddy died in prison.
I took care of Tommy 'cause he was my brother's son.
I still recall the final words my brother said to Tommy:
"Son, my life is over, but yours has just begun.

Promise me, son, not to do the things I've done.
Walk away from trouble if you can.
Now it won't mean you're weak if you turn the other cheek.
I hope you're old enough to understand:
Son, you don't have to fight to be a man."

There's someone for ev'ryone and Tommy's love was Becky.
In her arms he didn't have to prove he was a man.
One day while he was workin' the Gatlin boys came callin'.
They took turns at Becky.... n' there was three of them!

Tommy opened up the door and saw his Becky cryin'.
The torn dress, the shattered look was more than he could stand.
He reached above the fireplace and took down his daddy's picture.
As his tears fell on his daddy's face, He heard these words again:

"Promise me, son, not to do the things I've done.
Walk away from trouble if you can.
Now it won't mean you're weak if you turn the other cheek.
I hope you're old enough to understand:
Son, you don't have to fight to be a man."

The Gatlin boys just laughed at him when he walked into the barroom.
One of them got up and met him halfway 'cross the floor.
When Tommy turned around they said, "Hey look! ol' yellow's leavin'."
But you coulda heard a pin drop when Tommy stopped and locked
the door.

Twenty years of crawlin' was bottled up inside him.
He wasn't holdin' nothin' back; he let 'em have it all.
When Tommy left the barroom not a Gatlin boy was standin'.
He said, "This one's for Becky," as he watched the last one fall.
And I heard him say,

"I promised you, Dad, not to do the things you done.
I've walked away from trouble when I can.
Now please don't think I'm weak, I didn't turn the other cheek,
and Papa, I sure hope you understand:
Sometimes you gotta fight when you're a man."

Ev'ryone considered him the coward of the county.

This is for the little trees, like me.

 

 

 

There is unrest in the forest,
There is trouble with the trees,
For the maples want more sunlight
And the oaks ignore their pleas.

The trouble with the maples,
(And they're quite convinced they're right)
They say the oaks are just too lofty
And they grab up all the light.
But the oaks can't help their feelings
If they like the way they're made.
And they wonder why the maples
Can't be happy in their shade.

There is trouble in the forest,
And the creatures all have fled,
As the maples scream "Oppression!"
And the oaks just shake their heads

So the maples formed a union
And demanded equal rights.
"The oaks are just too greedy;
We will make them give us light."
Now there's no more oak oppression,
For they passed a noble law,
And the trees are all kept equal
By hatchet, axe, and saw.

Truth in this song.  All I can say.

 

 

 

Welcome to the grand illusion
Come on in and see what's happening
Pay the price, get your tickets for the show
The stage is set, the band starts playing
Suddenly your heart is pounding
Wishing secretly you were a star.

Dont be fooled by radio
The tv or the magazines
They show you photographs of how your life should be
But they're just someone else's fantasy
So if you think your life is complete confusion
Because you never win the game
Just remember that it's a grand illusion
And deep inside were all the same.
Were all the same

So if you think your life is complete confusion
Because your neighbors got it made
Just remember that it's a grand illusion
And deep inside we're all the same.
We're all the same

America spells competition, join us in our blind ambition
Get yourself a brand new motor car
Someday soon well stop to ponder what on earth this spell were under
We made the grade, and still we wonder

 Who the hell we are?

 

Many people have told me from time to time, or I have read blog comments on CNNSI, ESPN, and various other reliable sports sites that this is a waste of our time.

 

It's not, because even if you are not a sports fan, the fact remains that there are millions (and if you think of it, billions) are sports fans at some sort of fundimental level.

 

If you really think of it, sports replace the Games of Rome, where it was literally survival.  An edge, if you will, in those games of life and death.  It was judge, jury, and executioner.  This is, of course, our modern view.  Could Caesar rig his former favorite to die by his thumb (or have him/her (yes there are recorded references for female gladiators)) because of some slight?  Or conversely, could Caesar find ways to ensure his favorite to win?

 

The road to being number one in sports has, and sadly, will always be finding ways to outbeat an opponent.  However, I've changed my views concerning Spygate as it's called with the New England Patriots.  To me, that's a waste of time for Congress.

 

What I am addressing is the Mitchell Report, Barry Bonds, Floyd Landis, Marion Jones, and if you really want to go old school, Ben Johnson. 

 

I could really go on.  my point being is I think with Congress asking all of the major sports federations and the USIOC (United States International Olympic Committee) are going to testify.  The point being is this:

 

Sports in our world is important.  Those of you who have read my blog know that I take my sports seriously.  But the trick from my point of view isbase emotions:  pride and love, hatred, and in the end, humbleness and acceptance.

 

It's a way for us to (the fans) to escape whatever problems we have..to root for the home turf.  I'm from smalltown, so most state stuff is going to be me rooting for Mitchell.  College?  TBD.  One word:  'Yote.

 

NFL is complicated for me.  #4 is my idol (Brett Favre); but I have to fight against rooting against Chad Greenway of the Minnesota Vikings.

 

MLB is even more complicated, because with the cloud of this investigation, I met some of the Minnesota Twins last month.

 

Again, I could go on.

 

This is truly a world issue.

 

 

 

Oy, today was fun, but yet not so fun.

 

I woke up to -24 air temperature air temperature today, windchill something like -34ish or so.  Sioux Falls toyed with an all-time record (-20).  Not sure if they did.

 

Well, on my work IM personal message thingy, I was essentially making fun of Al Gore's whole 'global warming' spiel he's been spouting the last few years.  Things like:

 

Global warming??!  Al Gore can kiss my @$$!

The Inconvenient Truth for Al Gore is to stand outside of my building, naked.  Inconvenient for him, and the absolute truth.

 

And my personal favorite one actually dealt with part of my job.  I have to track down things that used to belong to employees, and I kept on feeling like I was 'wagging the dog':

 

TERMED! NOT TERMED! OH HE *WAS* TERMED!  I blame Al Gore for wagging the dog!

 

A lot of my co-workers kind of figured that I don't like Al Gore.  The inconvenient truth is:

 

I don't...LOL!

 

Seriously, poking fun at the former Vice-President more or less let me keep my mind off of the cold weather (I did not move between buildings at all today.  Even though I would be out for two minutes max, two minutes in this weather is enough!  I didn't even go out to eat.)  Whether he's right or wrong on whatever, well, I just ignore him.  He amuses me, I guess, hehe.

Don't ask me why, but this morning i woke up with this song in my head.  Awesome song, and I can play it.  So out of my randomness, I bring you to you:

 

 

 

It's rather fun that I'm kind of re-discovering some of my childhood.

 

I grew up with Star Wars, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and Battlestar Galactica. I have those in my collection.

 

I add a new childhood memory.  Buck Rogers and the 25th Century. A few years back, I saw it at the Wally in Mitchell, but I didn't have the money.  As I was perusing, I saw the set for $20, and I bought it.

 

I haven't seen the show in years, but all I can say is that it was total cheese with effects that ruled.  The James Bond theme type entro was great..the song sucked, but was cool.

 

See you in the 25th Century...

 

 

 

I love trying to bemuse (or amuse, and in some cases, CONFUSE) my co-workers from time to time via IM.

 

I'm not sure if you've seen the Fed Ex commercial about lemmings, but it's hilarious.  It's about "We're leaders! Not Followers!" as the supervisor gives a pep talk while holding a lemming.  After he says this, the lemming jumps out of his hands, runs away, and his underlings follow the lemming.

 

I seem to be the only tech other than one other guy who knows the entire layout of my new building (several months removed) well enough to locate people.  A couple of co-workers were looking for someone they needed to help, and I made the comment:

 

"Follow me, my lemmings!"

 

I don't know if it's the fact that I'm a geek, my friends are geeks, we all having a warped sense of humor, or a fondness of Monty Python that we all share, but...

 

They followed me like lemmings.  Even stopping when I stopped.  I'm sure that some of the customers (read people I serve) looked at us funny, but then again, on Halloween, one of my "lemmings" dressed up as The Grim Reaper, and amused people.

 

Well, today, I decided to take the lemmings myth to a fun level.

 

Lemmings are little rodents that have a wierd migration thing going when they need food.  They literally move en masse, along with mass-producing themselves at an alarming rate. (Tribbles, Star Trek fans?)

 

 They also have a unfounded myth of commiting mass suicide, but is often depicted in humor.

 

Well, I decided to have fun with it in my IM personal message field.  I have a series of buildings I have to go to during my work day, depending on my assignments.  So, as a joke, to let people know where I was going, I proclaimed that I would lead my lemmings to my next destination.

 

As it is, the lemming joke will come to the "Lemming Choice", heheh.

 

The Death or Taxes thang...LOL!

 

If you see the humor in this post, then thanks, LOL!

 

If not, then, just understand that this is a way for me to have some fun at work.

 

Then again...don't get me on the Wizard of Oz angle...

 

 

I try to stay away from politics, but, I think this is interesting.

 

Billary having to dive into personal funds?

 

Gee, THAT'S interesting.

 

I'm gunning for Obama.

 

Nuff said.

Well, after mocking some New England Patriots fans at work (I'm not mean, but there's a reason; more on that in a moment), all I can say was last night's game was incredible.  I fathom as to why Eli Manning got the MVP, as I felt some of the defensive guys deserved it, but oh well. 

 

As far as picking on the Patriot fans, one only needs to look at how coach Bill Belichick left the field with two seconds left in the game.  To me, he more or less showed his unprofessionalism by doing so.  He's a sore loser.  He has been known to be arrogant for years, and his arrogance basically bit him in the ass last night.  Oh well, Mr. Hoodie.  I commend you for doing what you did, but be graceful.

 

Two weeks ago, my Packers lost a game that was considered one of the coldest ever by these very same Giants.  I was shocked, just like you probably feel now.  Deal with it.

 

Will it steel your team to try to do it again?  Or will your team go the route of mediocrity that recent Super Bowl losers tend to follow?  Honestly, I don't see the latter happening, because of what we witnessed this year.  But there is such thing as a Super Bowl Hangover.  Ask the Rams, Giants, Raiders (the worst of the bunch), Panthers, Eagles, and Bears.  All of those teams tanked the next year.  But, the Patriots are coached too well and too talented to tank.  Only time will tell.

 

What you did proves how hard to go completely undefeated in the NFL.  Football is the only sport that does not follow a 'series' format.  The exception is playing your division rivals twice.  Meeting a team a third time is common, but rarely, a sweep is made.  The seasons of baseball, basketball, and hockey have series or multiple meetings.  Soccer is probably the most resembled to the NFL; however, they still play more games than the NFL does in a season.

 

I hope this is a humbling experience for your organization.  In 2002, you were the underdogs.

 

Learn from being on the other side of this experience in 2008.

I've watched every Super Bowl since 1980, with the exception of Rams over the the Titans in 2000, and the blowout of the Ravens and the Giants.

 

But wow, this was an incedible game.

 

All I can say.

The last time this situation occurred, I was just shy of two years old.  I place this entry in History, because as it was said in Raiders of the Lost Ark, "This is history."

 

Over the years, there have been phenominal runs at perfection in the NFL since the '72 Dolphins in a single season. The 1985 Bears, the 1997 Broncos, the 1999 Vikings (which current Patriot WR Randy Moss was a member of), and the 2004 Colts.

 

Despite the fact that I utterly despise the arrogance that the Patriots have had over this season, the thing I *DO* acknowledge is the fact that if they do it, then they deserve being labeled the best team ever in NFL history.  Going 16-0 for a season is a record.  They tied the '72 Dolphins with 17-0 on their first playoff win (note to non-football fans, the season format changed from 14 regular season games to 16 regular season games in 1978).  Two weeks ago, the Patriots went 18-0 against the Chargers.

 

Here's the difference between the perfect season and the perfect regular season:

 

Perfect regular season means every game before the playoffs are all wins.  You play another game the next week.  Even if you tie with a team in a game, it's not a loss, but that's probably debatable in this instance, and opens up another can of worms for a future time, since the Patriots did not tie anyone.

 

Perfect Season means that if you win every playoff game, and then win the Championship Game (in this case, the Super Bowl).  Basicall, if you win, you go on.  If you lose, you go home.  For the Patriots, they can go home winners or losers.

 

For the New York (Football) Giants, I think this is interesting, and I think Coach Tom Coughlin could learn a lesson from the New England Patriots, and probably has preached this to his team.  Back in 2002, (7 years and 1 day ago), the underdog Patriots beat the heavily favored St. Louis Rams.  This is the year that QB Tom Brady played his first Super Bowl.

 

Either way, history will be made today in my sports world.  Either we have a team being truly perfect, or we have Underdog.

 

The Giants almost beat the Patriots in Week 17, the final game of the regular season.  Rocky Balboa almost beat Apollo Creed in the original Rocky.  In Rocky II, it was a re-match.

 

When the Giants run onto the field, I'll have the Rocky theme in my head.

 

Yo Adrian!