Posted by Arthur (on Long Island) on Wednesday, February 23, 2005 at 9:56PM :
Just got back from Washington, DC, after a 5-day workout...er...vacation, with the wife and two kids.
I just checked the "Last Forum" and didn't see anything earth-shattering. I hope all is well in Power Wagon Land, and that you are all playing nicely together.
The city of DC is locked down, even after 3 years of no more terrorism. Security officers are still in over-abundant supply and jumpy. I wasn't allowed to bring a water bottle into the Air & Space Museum.
(Water contains two very volatile elements, H & O, and it is possible that I am a short, swarthy, Islamic fundamentalist, disguised as a middle-aged, tall, white, bald, Protestant guy with two unruly kids, who are conversant with bomb-making, hell-bent to blow up the actors who do a poor job imitating Wilbur and Orville Wright.)
I can see their point. "Water, the next WMD."
The pen-knife in my jacket pocket was not noticed by the X-ray machine operator. The hand-held wand detected the police shield in my trouser pocket, and the officer asked me "Is it real?". I could have said "No, it's imaginary" but he had an M16, with what looked like a 40-round magazine, and I was armed with only a sheaf of tourist brochures.
The daughter's iPod, whatever that is, was allowed in.
It's good to be back home, where it's safe.
apb
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