The Hat Man

A little while ago, I was clicking around on the Internet and came across a thread for people speaking on supernatural experiences. One person described an encounter with an apparition that was tall, wearing all black, wore a trench coat, was faceless, and wore a wide-brimmed hat. A number of people chimed in, saying that they had seen the same figure. There wasn't a ton of consistency surrounding the circumstances that he had been seen. Some people had seen him at night, during an episode of sleep paralysis, while others had seen him in broad daylight. Many people had seen him as children, but a number of people had seen him during adulthood, and some near their time of passing. Most people felt a sensation of terror on seeing him, but some people felt that he was a friend.

Obviously you don't take stuff like that at face value; a bunch of anonymous people on the Internet. It did intrigue me enough though, that I did a Google search. If you Google "The Hat Man" or "The Man with the Hat" he will be the lead hit.

He's been frequently seen enough that a book has been written about him "The Hat Man: The True Story of Evil Encounters" by Heidi Hollis. He was also the lead inspiration for The Grey Man, the lead antagonist from the video game "LSD Dream Emulator".

He was also an inspiration for Slenderman and he must have influenced The Babadook. 

He's mentioned in the Shadow People section of Wikipedia and has his own entry on Cryptids wiki.

He's been reported across the globe, usually visiting people who have experienced significant trauma. Usually he just stares. Some people say he has attacked them, some people claim to have talked with him. Sometimes he's seen with a golden pocket watch, which he occasionally looks at. Sometimes his eyes glow red.

But there are so many outlandish ideas that kick around the globe that it didn't really draw my attention.

Until a team meeting at WALES.

Do you remember the fellow I spoke on, who passed away before started my new job? He was minimally verbal, had invited me to a life-planning session, and was determined that I should come back to WALES before unexpectedly passing the day after I was accepted back.

During my student placement, he would pace back and forth and shout "Leave me alone!" and "Stop following me!". He also attended Summer Program and never said these things.

I always took his negativity at WALES to mean he was ill-suited to the higher energy, forward-focused environment, and that he was simply at a stage in life where a more relaxed focus like the Summer Program better suited his needs.

But during a recent team meeting, we talked about him. Apparently he thought that a man was following him around, and he was telling it to stop following him and to leave him alone. One of the facilitators said it was sad, but it seemed like he was trying to protect the rest of WALES from it. She said he'd at one time tried to explain what this man looked like.

I asked her what he had described.

She said it was "Someone tall, with a big hat, wearing a trench coat, with no face".

I shouted, "That's the Hat Man!" and we looked him up. Later, one of my coworkers asked around, and she found a friend claiming to have witnessed The Hat Man.

I have now purchased the book "The Hat Man".

Unfortunately, the book is very poorly written. Every second sentence ends with an exclamation point, she uses all caps for emphasis and occasionally uses an emoji!

But at the same time, the consistency of the reporting, including several sightings near to where I live, has me sufficiently spooked.

Cannabis in Canada

Since it's the talk of the nation, I suppose I should make mention of the fact that, as of last Wednesday, consumption of marijuana is legal throughout Canada. That was one of Trudeau's promises when he was campaigning. It felt like something that kept being postponed over and over again, and we went through a weird stage where people were saying it was "basically legal".

I'm not super informed on the technicalities. I know you must be 19 years of age or older, and you're not allowed to drive or work while under the influence. I believe you can't smoke in public areas. Even though it's legal to consume, I'm not sure there is anywhere you can legally purchase it. I've heard that, in Ontario, we are going to start selling it at the LCBO (Liquor Control Board of Ontario) and I have also heard that we are going to open a new outlet, the CCBO (Cannabis Control Board of Ontario). I've heard you can legally buy it online now. There are other places in the world that have legalized it and have figured out their distribution process, so that makes sense. I think you're allowed to grow it, there are grow kits everywhere now. I don't know if it's legal to disclose stories regarding consumption while it was still illegal though, so I... won't be expanding on that.

Canada's really pitching the term "cannabis" over the word "marijuana". I'm not sure if one of those terms is more scientifically accurate, but marijuana has always seemed more commonly used, and now it seems like all government-issued discussion uses cannabis. Maybe it's because "cannabis" sounds more like "Canada".

During the day that it was legalized, one of the participants where I work burst into the building and shouted "It's pot week!" then pointed at me out of a group of people and said "Gryphon, are you gonna buy some?"

I stammered "I... acknowledge my right to speak on the matter.... but still don't feel comfortable disclosing that information".

I have yet to take advantage of my new legal right. I may or may not have used prior to the date it was legalized, but I definitely have not consumed since it became legal.

I'm in favour of this change. I think it definitely has medicinal applications, and even for recreational use, I can acknowledge it is no more dangerous than alcohol and tobacco.

But honestly, what I'm hoping for most is that now that it's legal and there isn't as much stigma surrounding it, we can start openly discussing responsible use.

As a nation, we've been fairly divided between those who think it is a drug and should not be consumed under any circumstances, and those who feel that it is okay to binge smoke constantly. I'm of the opinion that it's okay for most people to get high, but it isn't appropriate at all time and under any circumstances. That opinion seems to greatly upset both groups.

Many of the people I know who use cannabis cite it's medicinal benefits, speak on how it causes fewer accidents than alcohol, doesn't leave them with a hangover, and isn't addictive. Almost all of them call it a "Holy plant with many teachings" and describe it as "their medicine".

I hope that sounds exaggerated. It sounds exaggerated to me, but I've tallied the people I know who are regular users, and those who have used the phrases "Holy plant with many teachings" and "my medicine" outrank those who don't.

In regard to it's medicinal benefits. Absolutely. It has really turned things around for people with chronic pain, and there are even some extreme examples of people where serious damage was avoided due to the use of medicinal marijuana. But medical professionals determine whether or not their use counts as "medicine". As I've stated, I'm in favour of recreational use of cannabis, so I won't fault you if it helps with your anxiety. But when alcohol helps me with my anxiety, I don't refer to it as "medicine".

Also, while it does have medicinal benefits for some, it comes with its own risks. While it is a mild hallucinogen, it is still a hallucinogen, and depending on family background, it can increase risk of developing certain mental disorders. As someone with a family background of schizophrenia, I was very cautious of my use before the age of 25, since regular use of cannabis greatly increases the chances of developing schizophrenia in a still-developing brain if you're genetically predisposed.

While it won't leave you hungover, and doesn't incentivize people to act impulsively the same way alcohol does, I have never seen anyone "panic" under the use of alcohol, whereas with  cannabis...

If I had ever used Cannabis I might have noticed on several occasions a heightened awareness of my own blinking, breathing, and heart beating, which all seemed necessary to control manually. This mechanical sense of being would potentially divide my attention, feeling as though I couldn't live under normal conditions, and cause me to be suspicious of my surroundings, as well as feeling that, should I not be abl to keep track of my blinking, breathing, and heart, that I would die.

Never experienced that with the other legal substances.

If we're talking about addiction, it is true that it is not addictive on a physiological level. But anything that can put you in a reality that is more appealing than your default one can be psychologically addictive. I've had people preach to me that it isn't addictive, then later brag to me about being able to go a "whole day sober". If making it through a day without using is enough of a challenge to brag about, and you have no other physical need to use it, then I think it's hard to say you aren't struggling with addiction.

As far as it being a "holy plant with many teachings" , that seems to be a phrase cherry picked from Rastafarianism. I don't know a ton about Rastafarianism other than a dude named Haille Selasse (might be spelled wrong) was involuntarily selected as the second coming of Christ, and this inspired a number of Jamaicans to pilgrimage to Ethiopia. Part of that faith includes acceptance of the use of Cannabis, and that seems to be what Canadians have really clung to.

I don't expect any of my friends to be making a pilgrimage to Ethiopia, but they sure have no qualms with claiming a Rasta background based on their consumption of Cannabis. This claimed spiritual background allows them to say that, should I choose not to partake because of my genetic vulnerability, that I am "Failing to accept the teachings of this sacred plant".

I know a lot of people who tie their sense of self-identity to their use of Cannabis. I have many friends who refer to themselves as "potheads" or "stoners". In comparison, I know only one person who self-identifies as a "drunk".

And while we're on that topic, I enjoy the use of alcohol, but my first impulse every morning isn't to take a shot. I know many people who take a riff off a bong in the morning to centre themselves. I know people who drive to work high, and people who operate heavy machinery while high. Even if I drink, I don't feel the need to drink constantly.

I know people who have used who say they have forgotten years of their lives due to chronic use.

So yeah, if you like weed, please smoke it. Smoke it in the evenings before you go to bed, allow it to relieve you of the anxiety that comes with the day. Use it as a social instrument. If you don't like weed, don't make yourself do it. Be aware of your medical background and have an understanding of whether or not it makes sense for you to do. Please don't drive or work under the influence. Smoke up but be safe.

29

Alright, so it's October 15th and I am going to post about my birthday, which was September 21st. At work, they celebrate every staff member and participant's birthday, so they baked me a cake and had everyone sign a card. I got to choose the flavour of the cake, and I chose peanutbutter, which is a WALES traditional recipe. Oddly though, I was stationed in the kitchen while my cake was being made, so I wound up supporting someone in baking my own birthday cake.

A relative of a staff member had been passed due to give birth. We had all been waiting for it, and it happened on my birthday! So now I share a birthday with some kid.

Right as my birthday was announced, someone from head office came in with a bunch of succulent plants that she was giving away, so I got first pick as another sort of present. Now I have my own office plant!

Went to Guelph for my birthday, and super conveniently, two people I support canceled on me, so I got to spend three days over there.

The week after, it was my boss's 25th work anniversary. We had a barbecue, a slideshow, and an event specific to him. Lots of people came down from head office to celebrate. I got to learn how to set up a propane barbecue.

Here's a team pic of the 2018 WALES staff.

I got to attend a Core Competencies meeting, which is a set of policies that Extend-a-Family agrees to. We are divided into groups and we hold monthly meetings reviewing the policies. Somehow, I wound up agreeing to chair the next meeting, which I really don't understand how to do.

EAFY Day 2018

A little while ago, Extend-a-Family celebrated something called EAFY Day, in which the whole organization came together for a day of teambuilding in St. Jacob's market. This celebration happens once per year, and is always held in a different location and has a different theme. In previous years, they have had a Harry Potter themed day, a Murder Mystery, Roaring Twenties etc.

Back when I was a student, I was invited to the Murder Mystery EAFY Day, but I couldn't attend because of school, so this was my first time attending. This year's theme was "Find Your Happy", and we were requested to bring something that makes us happy. I got kind of stressed about this, thinking I might have to do some kind of presentation or something, but it turned out to be really low key. Basically, we listened to a presentation on the history of Extend-a-Family, and then we divided up to do things that make us happy. There were a few scheduled events, like a yoga session and a sign making session, that you could attend if you felt like it, but otherwise you just did your own thing.

I went on a nature walk and played some board games.

In the end I did find my happy though. Sometimes when I'm doing support work, I go to St. Jacob's Market. They have a place called Taste that sells various sauces, including ones that are made with some of the hottest peppers in the world. Taste's schtick is that you have the option of tasting whatever you want before you buy it. For some reason, I keep up with the race to make the spiciest pepper, and have always wanted to try a world-renowned heat, but have been too scared to attempt a tasting while I'm operating in a professional capacity.

This time, I was alone. I told the woman I wanted one of her hottest sauces. She recommends one made of pure Scorpion Pepper extract. She sees that I'm nervous, she brings out a bottle for me to taste. My heart is racing, I know what a Scorpion Pepper is, it's the second hottest pepper in the world, former record holder, hotter than a Ghost Pepper and only beaten by the Carolina Reaper (although a new pepper, called Dragon's Breath is rumored to be hotter). At any rate, this is easily in the top five of the super hots.

I lower the sauce-covered Popsicle stick to my tongue, the sauce lady is staring me down.

"Oh, that's lovely"

I always thought that once it gets to a certain point, flavour is no longer an objective, so I was surprised at how pleasant it tasted.

The sauce lady deflated a bit. "Well, you only tried a bit, if you had more--"

"Oh no I get it, it's a building heat. I really like that, I'll take a bottle."

And this is how I learned that I'm into extreme heat. I've always liked spicy food, but didn't know that enjoyment would carry into the super hots. The flavour and effect reminded me of a hot sauce called Pima (don't know the spelling) which they had in Mali.

In the days that followed, one of the WALES participants was talking about the pepper hierarchy and talking about watching videos of people attempting the Scorpion Pepper challenge. I got to show off my sauce.

My Pakistani roommate tried some and told me I "Passed the Pakistani test". I was at a barbecue with my neighbours from Nepal, which is apparently a weekly tradition now, and they were warning me about some of their spicy food. I bust out my Scorpion Sauce. They bragged about having peppers of an equivalent heat in their country. When people who take pride in having a background that celebrates heat brag about being on, but not surpassing, your level, that's when you know you're hot.

And that's how I found my happy at EAFY Day.