I forgot to mention this..

but I got an "attaboy" from the owner yesterday.

Personal relationships are vital in this industry, and as one of the front line people making the deliveries, I'm working with the end users of our products on a daily basis. Electricians, plumbers, other contractors. I've gotten to know a lot of them and become friends with several. Thursday, one of my friends mentioned that his company's site superintendent for this job had "moved on to other things" (I didn't ask) and taken all his various catalogs with him. I was asked if I could bring out a L&S catalog, since Casey is in line to get the superintendent gig and needs to build a library. "No problem!" is my usual reply to these kinds of requests.

When I got in, I snagged one of our brand-spanking new product overview catalogs, then asked a couple of the sales guys what I'd need to make a good library. Some scrambling, some searching, and one siege later ("You'll take my Powers catalog when you pry it from my cold dead hands!" "I know how to build a trebuchet." "I'm more impressed that you can pronounce trebuchet.") and I had a dozen or so product catalogs from the companies and lines that we sell. Boxed them up, and dropped them off for Casey the next morning. He called in to thank the company, and evidently praised me as a driver who really cares about making sure that the orders are right and the customer gets what he wants. His exact words were "if I tell Doug there's a problem, or I need something, he'll either have a solution the next day or a good explanation of what the problem is and how long it will take to fix."

This praise made it up to one of the owners, who took the time to thank me for my hard work and devotion. In front of the sales bullpen. Hopefully, when things improve this will be remembered when the time comes for raises. I'm still planning on letting the boss know that I'd like to start training for inside sales so that if a slot opens up, I'll be able to transition to a less physically demanding job.

Yes, Kirsten, it was Amazing Dave who we had to besiege.

Magic swords are cool.

Doing a little research for my next attempt at an Ars Magica mage, and got distracted into reading about famous swords. One thing that is usually lacking in most FRPG descriptions of magical items is their history. +3 longsword, Flame Tongue is boring. A named sword wielded by a great hero and possessing powers that have yet to be unlocked isn't just more interesting, it's a portal to adventure! For example, let's say the characters recover an obviously magical sword that divination reveals to be Lobera (Wolfslayer). OK, but what does it do? Investigation turns up that this sword was written about extensively in the Chronicles of Atonious the Younger. The only copy of which is held in the library of the Monastary of St. Michael, two months journey away through warring states. Then you have to convince the monks to let you read the book! Bring gifts.

Not all magic swords are in the "bonus to hit and extra or special damage" mode either. Tizona, one of El Cid's swords, (and a Holy Avenger if there ever was one) had the power, when wielded by a righteous knight, to terrify opponents into surrendering. Szczerbiec, the Polish coronation sword, is covered with Kabbalistic markings and invocations of divine power. It was originally used as a ceremonial sword for coronations and displays, but a creative GM could find all sorts of good powers to install in the sword. Go Arthurian and make it that only the rightful King of Poland can even lift the thing.

Of course, hacking and slashing have their place. El Cid's other sword, Colada, is good at that:

Martín Antolínez took his sword in hand,

it lights up all the field, it is so clean and bright,
he gave him a blow, he hit him a glancing blow,
it broke away the top of the helmet,
it cut away all the helmet straps,
it tore off the mailed hood, and reached the coif,
the coif and the hood all were ripped away,
it cut the hairs on his head, and it reached well into the flesh,
one part fell to the ground and the other remained.

When precious Colada has struck this blow,
Diego González saw that he would not escape with his soul,
he turned his horse to face his opponent.
At that moment Martín Antolínez hit him with his sword,
he struck him broadside, with the cutting edge he did not hit him.
Diego González has sword in hand, but he does not use it,
at that moment the infante began to shout,
-Help me, God, glorious Lord, and protect me from this sword!-

Get creative with your magical items. They can be great story drivers.

Game 3, brooms are for the floor, not baseball.

Texas Rangers: 4
San Francisco Giants: 2

Each team hit two homeruns in this game. The difference was that the Rangers' first blast came with two men on base. Giants lead the Series 2-1.