ok, this true story got told a handful of times at the emergent convention, and a few asked me to post it. so here goes. this is word-for-word true (it is so emblazened on my psyche), and still leaves me with a combo-platter-feeling of uncomfortable wigglies and incredulous laughter. (oh, and btw, the “glasses” referred to in this story are not the ones in the photo on my blog — those are my old, less seductive glasses, apparently.)
march 3, 2005. location: San Fransisco International Airport, premiere security check-point, next to United counter. absolutely no one in line; so it’s just me and the very large employee of the US government — one of the high-caliber employees of the transportation safety administration…
TSA guy [as i’m taking off my shoes, unloading my laptop, emptying my pockets]: hey, those are really nice glasses… i LIKE those glasses a lot… tell me about them!
me [awkwardly]: well, thanks. i just got them a week ago.
TSA guy: i mean, i really like them. tell me more about them. what brand are they? where did you get them?
me [still awkwardly, still unpacking my junk]: um, well, they’re prada’s, but i just got them at lenscrafters…
TSA guy [leaning across table to get about 6 inches from my face, only slightly lowering voice]: they’re makin’ my d*** hard! [grin]
me [nervous and highly awkward, leaning backward]: ha! [at this point, i also — perhaps foolishly — playfully smacked him on the arm, implying, “well, aren’t you oddly silly and highly inappropriate”]
TSA guy: so, what would you do if i tried to take those from you? would ya run? i bet you’d run, wouldn’t you? are you fast? do you think i could catch you?
me [trying to remain calm, almost finished with the unpacking and shoving into the x-ray machine]: i’m not very fast, and you’d probably catch me. but, um, i guess that’s when i’d be glad this is a very crowded place with lots of security.
TSA guy [leaning in again, this time about 3 inches from my face, with a reasonably wicked smile]: i am security.
at this point, i pretty-much bolted through the screener. it went off. i had to go back and take off my belt. once “cleared”, i was so wigged-out, i threw my stuff together and almost ran away (i suppose it could be called a “pep-step”). as i was high-steppin’ away, i heard a voice calling to me: sir, sir, you forgot your belt!
hahahahhaahaa…..
I about had coffee come out my nose when I got the ‘they’re makin’ my ….” comment.
So…the truth finally comes out as to why NYWC isn’t going to San Francisco.
Good to know, marko, and thanks for taking one for the team!
did you happen to be wearing your new man kilt at the time??
no, wasn’t wearing the kilt; but that’s what john musick was referring to with this comment:
“Will you also be wearing your new glasses with your kilt? You might not get out of the airport in one piece;-)”
*shudders*
Hope this hasn’t scar(r)ed you for life! ;-)
Man, I just had someone come in my office and ask what I was laughing about. I can only imagine the look on your face. What a great story.
Thank God for No-Cal…oh, and Nashville!
I think you should have said as loudly as possible, “This is sexual harassment and I don’t have to take it!” Plus, I didn’t know glasses could be such a come-on…maybe I should get rid of my contacts… Oh wait…I don’t think it’ll help cuz this guy didn’t seem to intersted in girls. Not only that, he’s freaky as all-get-out!
:O
Oh man… talk about oddly uncomfortable. Did you ever get your belt back? :D
damn SFO!
classic.
I’ll have to tell you some time about taking my parents’ ashes through security. Now THAT was funny.
I was told that the SFO airport screeners are not true TSA employees, they are contractors. See this link http://tsa-screeners.com/start/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=11156&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0
Maybe that’s why he acted so strange
I worked for the TSA for over four years. I suspect this entire story to be nothing more than an lie.
john — your suspician would be wrong. this is exactly as it happened to me.
You really should not have put up with that treatment, Next time get the name of the person and report them! Very inappropriate ~