04-24-2013, 11:53 AM
I made a joke on Facebook awhile ago, probably New Years, that the way you can tell if it firecrackers exploding outside or whether it is gun shot is that the police helicopters don't show up for the firecrackers.
Today at around 4 in the am, I'm out walking my dogs a per daily routine. Today's route took me into Deb's park for some hill climbing. I like to walk at this time because 1, I am still stuck on studio time and 2, because the park is empty and I can unleash the hounds and they can go about their personal craziness. I only usually see this other idiot who wears a headlamp to find his way around in the dark. Amateur.
As I was making my way down the trail towards the gate, I was ticked off to hear a couple of men with thick accents arguing in the park. It's quiet. Voices carry. I can't really make out what they are saying but I do hear the phrase '50,000'. I keep the dogs leashed and proceed quietly on my way. My path isn't going to take me near them. The headlamp guy comes into the park through the gate a little behind me. His light illuminates everything.
I'm heading up the trail to the lake through the brush when I hear 'Pop Pop Pop Pop Pop' come from the lower area of the park. Which begs the question; gunfire or firecrackers? And should I start running?
Ten minutes later as I continue to hike through the park the answer comes in the form of a police helicopter. First he searches the hill opposite the park on the North Side. Then he swings around to Mount Washington on the south side. Eventually he zeroes in on the park with his giant spotlight. He illuminates the main fire road about a hundred yards from my position. I stop walking in casing he wants to light up me as well, but the spot light never sweeps in my direction. He searches for a couple of minutes and then heads off.
A couple of thoughts occurred to me. First, I thought I should have been spotlighted. I have the Hollywood image of the copters. I figured they should have heat sensing radar in the copter to be able to find me as well. But they didn't. Secondly, no prowl car ever showed up to investigate. My path eventually took me to the parking lot where I thought I heard the gunfire and the arguing. But all was quiet as I made my way through. No spent shell casings. No bloody chalk outline. Just memories of loud voices and gunfire. And I know it was gunfire since they did at least send the ghetto bird.
Today at around 4 in the am, I'm out walking my dogs a per daily routine. Today's route took me into Deb's park for some hill climbing. I like to walk at this time because 1, I am still stuck on studio time and 2, because the park is empty and I can unleash the hounds and they can go about their personal craziness. I only usually see this other idiot who wears a headlamp to find his way around in the dark. Amateur.
As I was making my way down the trail towards the gate, I was ticked off to hear a couple of men with thick accents arguing in the park. It's quiet. Voices carry. I can't really make out what they are saying but I do hear the phrase '50,000'. I keep the dogs leashed and proceed quietly on my way. My path isn't going to take me near them. The headlamp guy comes into the park through the gate a little behind me. His light illuminates everything.
I'm heading up the trail to the lake through the brush when I hear 'Pop Pop Pop Pop Pop' come from the lower area of the park. Which begs the question; gunfire or firecrackers? And should I start running?
Ten minutes later as I continue to hike through the park the answer comes in the form of a police helicopter. First he searches the hill opposite the park on the North Side. Then he swings around to Mount Washington on the south side. Eventually he zeroes in on the park with his giant spotlight. He illuminates the main fire road about a hundred yards from my position. I stop walking in casing he wants to light up me as well, but the spot light never sweeps in my direction. He searches for a couple of minutes and then heads off.
A couple of thoughts occurred to me. First, I thought I should have been spotlighted. I have the Hollywood image of the copters. I figured they should have heat sensing radar in the copter to be able to find me as well. But they didn't. Secondly, no prowl car ever showed up to investigate. My path eventually took me to the parking lot where I thought I heard the gunfire and the arguing. But all was quiet as I made my way through. No spent shell casings. No bloody chalk outline. Just memories of loud voices and gunfire. And I know it was gunfire since they did at least send the ghetto bird.
So much for the flickr badge idea. Dammit
