It would have been this Friday May 23rd coming up that I got my income tax return 29 years ago yesterday. Fourth Friday in May 1980. My income tax refund couldn’t have come at a better time because it was in between pay days. That day the only thing I had planned was going to work at the Army & Navy (we were in between moving from the Great West Sadlery building moving stock into Cobogo) I had a bunch of pop cans in a big box in a closet where we kept cloths hangers. I recall it had been raining off and on all day. I was broke thinking about Ellen. I cashed the cans into the bottle depot at noon and I think I got about $5. I had very little food in the house maybe a few eggs. I recall the first thing I did was take the bus to Meadowlark mall food court. We got way more much rain in those days. I bought some fried rice and some chicken balls and I think I had a couple cans of pop. That would do it for me for the weekend. I was waiting for Wednesday (payday for me back then) On my way back I waited for my bus home in the pouring rain at the 1656th st entrance. There was Ellen waiting for a connecting bus. She was all friendly towards me heading over to Richards. We were supposed to do “fighter practice” the next morning. She caught her bus and I caught mine. Once home I put my meal down and found envelope from the Federal Government. I was excited. I got one of the Meyer boys to help cash it for me. I think I gave him $10 out of it to entice home to do this for me before the banks closed in those days at 6pm. Out of that money my Friday night and weekend were saved. I recall after our practice we went to Eaton’s Center (now City Center mall) and we saw a hoard of people around the “Toy’s and Wheels” store watching a hockey game. I wasn’t too much interested in hockey back then but the few seconds that were being count down was the game between the Philadelphia Flyers and the New York Islanders. An expansion team was about to win the Stanley Cup. Also that afternoon I decided to pay Richard and Ellen’s way into “The Empire Strikes back,” opening day. All this is recorded in my original diary.

I left out of here at my usual time yesterday afternoon. Anne was able to go in a bit later. She began from 5-9pm. So I got to read the epilogue of “The legend that was earth.” In a few moments, my “review” of this novel. I got into the Pharmacy to buy a 6/49 ticket and upstairs to get a bunch of empties. I got the end dialer in the back but the calls were coming in slow as our source was being dried up for Winnipeg ASB. After break it was Edmonton ASB and I did a bit better but ended up with $190. I got nothing over and up to $300 all week. One of my lower tap weeks ever. At the break I called Audrey’s books and all my special order books came in. I think something like about 15 books are there. I said I’d be in to pick something up today. Next week I need to put some more hours in as I want to get at least 3 titles the first week in June which is 2 weeks away. I’ll pick up all those books in June and July. Assuming I still have a job left.

DC was handing out checks right after break but I was able to get mine in right away. All was fine from the parole department. I didn’t have to hurry this time out but I was able to put my bag of empties in the storage room for today. I had a good ten minute wait for my bus and it felt strange not having a book in my hands to read. I go to my bank and a pan handler popped his head open about to distract me “any change?” I felt like telling him to F off before I call a cop. “No,” was all I said. This is the main RBC branch I do my banking each Thursday or Friday now since we wont get our cheques until Friday any more but I’ve never seen the pan handlers this aggressive before.

Of course me being the only one inside was enough for the bum to approach me. I hurried downstairs to the LRT and caught my train after about a 10 minute wait. Again it felt odd with nothing to read. Same odd feeling again on the train to Clairview. I got a bus for home and no Anne. She called from her cell phone on the train home right behind me.

I got inside and turned on the oven for the baked potatoes that were in there for later and watched some of Smackdown and the score of the Hawks/Wings game 4-3 for Chicago. This was good news as I have a $5 bet with Greg (middle management) on Chicago to take the series. It’ll be Chicago and Pittsburgh in the finale. Anyone but Carolina. That game is on later this afternoon. The other one Chicago/Detroit is on Sunday. I love NHL playoff hockey.

Anne made us a dinner of pork chops baked potato veggies and we watched the news and the main event of Smackdown then ECW and she brought Boots inside and I went to bed and tried to sleep. I got maybe an hour or 2 and dozed off here and there but I don’t feel at all tied.

“The Legend that was earth” by James P Hogan.

The Skinny:

An alien race called “The Hyadean’s” found earth to be a legend, a departure from their ordered structured society and way of life. They bring high-tech gifts want to make earth a paradise for them. The Government obeys them and the economy serves their wealthy masters. Our hero gets mixed up in the fallout of 2 key assassinations and America is torn into civil war and soon the world is torn between the conflict that threatens to destroy the earth.

Pros: Solid writing from a science fiction master. Some intrigue, some good character building.

Cons: I found the story dragged on longer then it should have. No bad guy alien face. I found the main character to be to naïve in spots.

Bottom line: This was turning out to be a good book my expectations were high. then it got bogged down to early and the ending should have been in the middle. There was something however that made me want to turn pages. The story got bogged down again about page 300 and I was ready to chuck it. Then it picked up. There were about 3 good action scenes and a cool scene but that was about all the author wanted to give me. I felt let down. If there’s a sequel I wont be buying it. I doubt there will be a sequel since this book was published in the year 2000. Other reviewers were saying that this book is for die hard James P. Hogan fans and I happen to agree. Not one of his better works. I felt that this book was more of a gateway book then anything else. Spy/military fiction towards science fiction. I gave the book a chance because I was too far into it and it was a James P. Hogan novel. Would I recommend this book? Only to JPH fans.

On a scale from 1-10 I give “The legend that was earth” 6 e.Jim’s out of 10.

Today it’s into the job thing for my 4 hour shift. I’m kind of wiped out but I want to go get a book at Audrey’s go home have a bite to eat and have a nap before the game.

Anyway gang, that’s all for now

e. Jim