One - I find it kinda weird that in some zombie movies the zombies move real slow and stiff like (i.e. Land of the Dead), while in other movies they move really fast (i.e. Dawn of the Dead), flailing all about. It seems to me that most zombie movie makers agree on the characteristics of zombies, what they eat and how they’re killed, so why are there two camps when it comes to their movements? I bet the show fear factor would tank it big time in a zombie world.

Two - I was at my buddies lake house this weekend with some of our good friends. At some point we had a conversation about what we would like to do if we could change careers. One of my buddies said he would like to be a train conductor. I gotta say I had a better chance winning the lottery than predicting he would say train conductor. After a quick search of the information highway, here are some of operational tasks of a train conductor:

- Verify time with engineer to ensure departure follows timetable schedules.
- Review schedules, switching orders, and shipping records to obtain cargo loading and unloading information.
- Coordinate crew activities.
- Signal engineer to begin train run, stop train, or change speed.
- Confer with traffic control staff and engineer to give and receive instructions.
- Supervise workers who inspect and maintain mechanical equipment.
- Inspect sealing procedures of freight cars, record car and seal number, and confirm route and destination of car.
- Monitor and chart train movements to estimate arrival times into station or yard.
- Direct staff in the yard to switch track, change traffic signals, and couple or uncouple trains.
- Observe track to make decisions about how to accommodate incoming and outgoing trains.
- Document any changes or problems on train or in transport.
- Observe and communicate with passengers. Resolve problems to ensure their safety and comfort.
- Collect fares and answer questions from passengers.

After I read the above list I could see why my buddy would want to be a train conductor. At the lake he’s always coordinating trips in the boat. He communicates well with passengers and is always willing to answer questions - albeit in a jackass type fashion. And from what I can tell he inspects things pretty well - he’s a freakin prodigy at poker. I guess the only reason I can’t picture him in this type of career setting (or any career setting for that matter) is cause he told me that he took a number two in flower pot at one of our other buddies house one time.

I’ve decided I want to be a YardMaster. On a side note, one of us, who will go unnamed, said that if she could go pro in any sport it would be synchronized swimming. She was being serious.

Three - I’m reading Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse Five. I love the classics…as long as they are less than 250 pages. I’m pretty sure I’ll never read Watership Down. Give me Steinbecks “The Pearl” or “Of Mice and Men” any day of the week.

Four - My friend Ted (www.just-teddy.com), Kwaz, and I went bowling this past Friday. Kwaz had a couple of beers and he bowled a 230 something. Ted had a couple of beers which resulted in him doing a backspin after one roll on his way to a smooth 100. To be honest, after about beer five for Teddy I’m not sure he was even carrying a ball up to the lane anymore. He just danced. For the record, he is equally as skilled at dancing as he is at bowling.

Five - Music for the week. I picked up a couple of albums this week - Fu Man Chu’s “California Crossing” and Modest Mouse’s “The Moon and Antartica”. Also, I bought two singles off iTunes - Johnny Cash’s “The Man Comes Around” and Jim Carrol’s “People Who Died”.

See the animal in it’s cage that you built
Are you sure what side you’re on
Better not look him too closely in the eye
Are you sure what side of the glass you are on