fractalnavel

some follow up on that “fringe ?” post:

• there was an occasion back in college when i was dropping my sister off in the chicago area, and i took the el into town to see the museums.  at the art institute, i was followed around for most of the day by what appeared to be a plainclothes security guy.  apparently he didn't think i noticed.  no, he wasn't just another tourist.  so i stood looking at “white on white” or “homage to the square” or something, just to make sure.  he was the only person besides me who wasn't quickly moving on.  and he had nothing to look at besides the floor.
• at airports recently, i seem to be pulled out of line for that “extra special” check an inordinate number of times (ie, every time).   yeah, maybe they just think i'm cute and want a closer look.  right.
• i was in my twenties walking to a a friend's house one night when i was stopped by two police cars.  after they were done frisking me, they told me that a car was stolen in the neighborhood.  i'm not  sure, but i think i may have asked them “well, did you find it ?”.  if i didn't, i should have.
• at camp dearborn recently, i was pulled over by the cops just as i was exiting the camp, nominally because i had no side mirrors. (they were ahead of me, waiting at the entrance for who knows how long for us to come out.  they were blocking the lane.  i had to wait for them to move out of the way before i could proceed.  then they turned on their lights after i passed them.)  they had been coming by to watch us (me, my brother and his six year old) fish on a stream in the park all day.  “have you been drinking?“ one asks.  sheesh.  no ticket.  now that i think about it, my brother & his kid were downstream most of the time, my guess is that they only saw me.

i'm trying to think of other occasions in which i've come under extra scrutiny by law enforcement or whoever for no apparent reason.  interesting stuff.  anyone got any stories where someone has been suspicious of you like that ? 

i mean c'mon, tell me,
does this look like an evil face ?

there was one halloween where i dressed in combat boots, an army trenchcoat, jeans, black sweater and beret, camo paint on my face, a red arm band, and a squirt gun that looked like an uzi.  as i sat on my porch i remember seeing parents with their kids (well, at least one group) cross over to the other side of the street before they got to the house, then crossing back a few doors down. hey, this was nearly twenty years ago.  what were they thinkin' ?  it was halloween !

anyway, it's clear i could never be a spy or a terrorist or anything.  i'm just too damn noticeable and suspicious looking ! ;-)  these jokers are running around expecting the shady characters to look like shady characters.  no wonder shit happens.

...if this is mid-august weather.

note to all air conditioner users:  shut your doors !  apparently it is possible to cool down all of outdoors.

meanwhile, i'm getting into my refrigerator to keep warm.  i even had to dress warm to drink a cold beer the other day.

so i'm kinda in a holding pattern on a trip out east.  i was wanting a hot sunny jeep trip, not hypothermia.  i mean, i'd do it, but it's not preferred.  and i think the chesapeake is experiencing hurricane cast offs at the moment.  or maybe i'll just suck it up and go anyway.  this weather will keep the weekend campers to a minimum.

mmm, hot pizza for breakfast...