One time, I'm thinking well over ten years ago, I saw a documentary on sasquatches. You know, one of those ones that TLC or the Discovery Channel makes every so often with "stunning new footage" and "shocking new evidence"of Bigfoot's existence. Anyways, I forget what this particular one was called, but it played an audio clip of a sasquatch howl. Supposedly, anyways. It was pretty chilling. So anyways if you saw that one too and remember what it was called, please let me know. I would love to listen to that again. Even if it's just a howler monkey.
Also, if you remember what the name of that book about Norse mythology I read in grade 8 with all those amazing paintings, please tell me what it is. I can't find it anywhere, even in the Age of Google.
And another thing. There was a movie that came out in the 80s, it was 3-D and probably a cheap Raiders of the Lost Ark knockoff. Do you know what it was called? Cause I can't remember.
Plus, did you ever read a short story about some aliens who come to Earth looking for Walt Disney? It had some interesting commentary on why all the great protagonists are orphans. And something about how all the Disney cartoons had father figures. Anyways if you wrote that one drop me a line cause I'd like to read it again but I can't remember what it was called.
Finally, if you can help me with one more. A movie came out, probably 30 years ago or so, it started off on this snow planet and had all these walking tanks and a little green man and stuff. It was crazy, really mind-blowing. Can't think what it was called now.

Last night some of the guys on the crew were busy making a helipad. Apparently someone is landing, well, already landed, this morning at 10 AM. Who could it be? The only conceivable possibility I can think of is James Cameron and Ed Stelmach, popping over from their tour of the oilsands to see firsthand Alberta's coal mining industry. Our very own brand of Unobtainium. Sadly there are no Na'vi anywhere around because I would be the first to volunteer to drive an avatar.
Well, I don't see anything in the news about Cameron touring Cardinal. In fact, it appears he isn't even here yet. So who on earth could be flying in for a visit? Lady Gaga. Has to be.

So the first Green Lantern I read was a collection called Secret Origin, which was a good entry for a newbie like me who spurned DC Comics all his life and didn't know anything about him. This writer Geoff Johns has taken an old superhero and reinvigorated him, to huge critical acclaim within the comics world, and even mainstream media. I learned about the green power rings and the lanterns that charge them, and all the funhokey things that were part of the 70 years of Green Lantern mythology, like their oath. How Hal Jordan became the Green Lantern. All about the Green Lantern Corps. Atrocitus is a cool name, right? Sinestro, not so much.
Anyways, turns out the actual reboot started earlier, with a miniseries collected as Rebirth. Poor Geoff Johns, he inherited quite a mess. And there I am, thinking I know all about Green Lantern now and reading about how Hal Jordan is dead because he reignited the sun but his soul is currently possessed by Parallax and also the Spirit of Vengeance. And Batman is really mad at him, and Batman and Superman and Mister Terrific and Dr. Mid-Nite all live on the moon together. Anyways, it was fairly confusing but in the end Hal Jordan is reborn and not evil. Yay!

Michelle got me Season 6 of The Office! Sweet! I just finished watching Season 2 of Big Bang Theory. My Mom actually got me that (and Season 1) for Christmas, and I would just watch an episode or two while doing a workout over the past year. Pretty great show, if you have any leanings towards the geek side. In fact they did a panel at Comic Con, but I was stuck in line so I missed it. Michelle saw it though, and her big highlight was seeing the Barenaked Ladies come out and do the theme song. She was kind enough to call my cell so I could listen in while I was stadning in line. Why was I in line while she was inside? Long story, but basically, it's Galactus's fault.

Happy birthday to me! I'm trying to think if I've ever spent a birthday at home since I got married. I know one year I was out hiking with Robin, and all the other years I think I was at work. Umm, yeah. Fascinating I'm sure.
You know what's cool? Green Lantern! I never really knew anything about him but the relaunch has been getting good reviews so I checked him out. He's a space cop! If I ever gave him any thought at all I just thought he was another superhero. And he is. But in space! With all his space buddies.
Here he is, actually as a Red Lantern, with his girlfriend Star Sapphire at SDCC:

For a while when we said she had mischief in her eyes she would point at her nose. Thanks to grampa now she knows that that's where boogers come from.
What else do you know?

One of the many minor annoyances you learn to deal with at work is trying to get stuff from the warehouse. Although I've never thought about it in these terms before, I suppose you could make a list of rules of how to deal with warehousemen:
1. Never go to the warehouse at their coffee time as, though they will eventually help you, you will have to wade through about 50 tons of whinging and moaning first.
2. Be prepared to either kiss some ass or sling some bullshit before you get what you want.
3. They love to fuck with you.
So. I went down there at my foreman's behest to get three items. A drill bit for 25 drill, some coffee, and some creamer. I wrote the list down on my hand so I wouldn't forget. The drill bit was no problem. But coffee is on the list of banned subtsances, apparently. Along with pens. Last year or so there was a problem with coffee and pens going missing so now there are extra procedures and precautions in place to make sure no one steals them.
"Can I have some coffee and creamer?"
"No. Your foreman has to get that."
"Well, he sent me to get some. See?" I showed him my hand with the grocery list written on it. Since I forgot to get my hand notarized he wasn't impressed.
"Your foreman has to talk to my foreman."
I didn't even know they had a foreman and pretty much thought he was fucking with me. But whatever, that coffee is so disgusting I wasn't heartbroken to not get any. Anyways he loads me up with the drillbit and then he tells me to go ask his foreman for some coffee. I even get to go inside the warehouse to do this. He points to a closed door. "Just go in there," he says. I know better than that, so I knock. I can clearly hear someone talking on the phone inside so I know someone's there. I wait. Now the whole warehouse crew is watching me, which is kind of weird.
"Just walk in, we always do," they say. Mindful of rule #3 I knock again. Still no answer. Eventually I give in to peer pressure and open the door.
"I didn't answer the door for a reason," some guy who I've never seen before barks at me. He is young, probably younger than me, seated at a desk and dressed in a t-shirt and sweats. Since I am a pumpman out in the pit, I have to wear full safety paraphernalia, vest, coveralls, steel toed rubber boots (which are always wet on the inside), hardhat, and I always have a few layers of mud as extra protection.
"Uh yeah, sorry. Um, can I get some coffee?"
"No you can't get some coffee, there are procedures in place and even though I didn't write them I have to follow them. Your foreman has to come see me directly."
"Well, technically he's not supposed to leave the pit."
"Not my problem- speak to Gary about it. His policy, I just have to follow them."
He is so over the top anal about this that now I have a mission to get some coffee out of this guy or die trying. I show him my hand. "See, he sent me to get some coffee, I wrote it down right here."
Now he loses it. He jumps out of his chair and starts raving, I can't even remember all he said but he finally mentioned how it's a good thing it was month-end since, even though he was up to his ass in alligators (a favorite expression of harried foremen out at the mine, though in his spotless office I could see no evidence of alligators or even gecko lizards) he could bend the rules this one time. "You tell your foreman this is his One. Got it?"
He takes me back to a locked cabinet and grudgingly gives me two bags of coffee and way more creamer than I need.
"I'm not usually such a dick but it's month-end you know?"
"Yeah," I say. What the hell does that mean, I wonder. Long ago I learned that the absolutely best way to deal with people who have tantrums is to remain completely calm and serene. This job has made me so dirty, and scarred, and jaded, and tough even, that all I can do is laugh at this clean, soft, petty little child freaking out about some coffee.
As he stomps back to his office I can't resist. "I suppose it would be too much to ask for some pens, eh?"