Every now and then, my job kicks ass.

Occasionally, when I lurk around train yards after talking to managers about injury-free streaks, retirees and TRAIN VELOCITY, I find myself randomly asking guys "Do you have any hobbies?"

Now, remember- this is Texas. 99% of anyone in the railroad work force (well... anywhere actually, but especially here) is involved in one or all of the following activities:

1) Hunting
2) Fishing
3) Riding 4-wheelers (which they probably use to go hunting)
4) Boating (which they probably use to go fishing).

But sometimes I get lucky.

So what was I doing today, around 3 pm?

Talking to a conductor named Joey about his comic book collection, and whether Ian McKellen was a good choice for Magneto.

It'll be in the next issue of the Gulf Division newsletter. I'll post a link.

Sure beats the heck out of the time I interviewed a guy whose Rush-esqe band opened for Bon Jovi.