Hey Team,
Yesterday got off to an inauspicious start. I was dropped off in a little town called Ridgley, Maryland. Apparently the police in Ridgley, MD “Don’t take kindly to people walking around airports with cameras.” Or so I was told…by the policeman who pulled over to tell me so.
“You know, people don’t take kindly to folks with cameras around airports.”
“Pardon me?”
“People don’t take kindly to folks with cameras around airports.”
I wanted to say, “I heard what you said. I just think it’s retarded. Why are you hassling me for walking down the road with a camera around my neck?” What I ACTUALLY said was, “Okay.” This didn’t appear to be an acceptable answer either.
“You’re making people jumpy.”
“Seriously? Someone called you to tell you I had a camera?”
He gave me that look that says, “I don’t like you, I don’t trust you, and furthermore I think you’re an idiot.” Then he said, VERY seriously, “I wouldn’t be here if they didn’t.”
“Wow. Okay.” What else was there to say? It didn’t feel appropriate to apologize for owning a camera.
“Where you off to?”
“The airport.”
“What’chu planning on doing there?”
“Hang gliding.”
I was afraid that if I gave him too long of answers I’d get on a roll and forget to stop talking while I was thinking things like, “I can’t believe you’re here…this is easily the stupidest thing that has ever happened to me. Don’t you have anything better to do?”
He gave the squinty-eyed, “I don’t like you look again,” stared for a bit and then decided to speed off.
If I’m not mistaken, he seemed very disappointed I didn’t appear to be dangerous.
The day improved DRASTICALLY from there.
I smelled a cloud.
Number 23 is dead.
And thanks to Highland Aerosports…Ridgley, Maryland suddenly became one of the coolest places on the planet.
There will be A LOT more on this later. Video either tomorrow or Friday!
I’m done.
Brett
Welcome to the wonderful world of the kindness of strangers:
Why NOT be a kind stranger?
who the hell took that picture? did you set up your tripod on a cloud?
Comment by Erin — September 19, 2007 @ 8:46 am
That picture is sooo awesome! I am envious!
Comment by Kristy — September 19, 2007 @ 8:48 am
What about the time we were headed to Napa and we passed a CHP who was going 60mph. He got on the megaphone and stated that you should never pass a cop and informed you to get off at the next ramp?! Remember? He also was, ‘Easily Stupid’.
Comment by svogel — September 19, 2007 @ 1:11 pm
brett!! i’m so happy you smelled a cloud!! i will continue to paint my bathroom and prettify my house, and then on saturday @ 8 am the fun will ensue!!! lots and lots of fun! can’t wait to see you!
Comment by sleepyrobin — September 19, 2007 @ 5:53 pm
hah!! i just got the title of this post…i’m a little slow….
Comment by sleepyrobin — September 19, 2007 @ 5:53 pm
svogel, that one doesn’t really count because we wanted to get off at that exit anyway. So he was just helping out in a really obnoxious way.
Comment by Brett — September 19, 2007 @ 7:42 pm
what does a cloud smell like?
I imagine it’s a bit like vanilla and milk…close?
Comment by Cassie — September 19, 2007 @ 8:28 pm
Well, the pilots do talk about cloud milking…so I guess that’s a good guess. But no. They smell cloudy. If you ever get the chance to smell one you’ll say, “Holy crap. That smelled like a cloud.”
Comment by Brett — September 19, 2007 @ 8:39 pm
Well done! It must have taken you months to train a goose to take a photo… and now, totally worth it. Who says hard work doesn’t pay off. Nobody doesn’t done said thems don’t. Got it?
Comment by ilott the douchebag — September 20, 2007 @ 12:21 pm
Spence,
You came to Napa and didn’t CALL me????
Comment by Danielle — September 20, 2007 @ 12:45 pm