I feel, since this was a massive vacation, it is deserving of multiple posts. So part 1:
It was a cold Thursday in Ohio, as I ran from my cubicle to catch my flight out of Dayton International. In shotgun was my laptop bag, a day bag, and the peculiar bazooka-like object...
Parking was hard, aparently everyone was interested in leaving Ohio, not that I would blame them. The moment I walked through the sliding glass door leading me into the shuffle of an airport, I was confronted with peculiar stares and baffled looks, perhaps bringing a bazooka to the airport was a bad idea.
Nevertheless, I thought it a great idea, upon recieving my boarding pass to attempt to bring these strange objects through the checkpoint and into the terminal. After placing all metal objects in my carry-on, and removing my shoes, I smiled and walked through. I awaited at the end of the x-ray's conveyerbelt as my various belongings filtered throught its dark hallway.
Out came my shoes and jacket, followed closely by my carryon. What I did not see, was my bazooka. The conveyerbelt stops. A puzzled look comes over the face of the $5 / hour attendant as he repeatedly glances from the screen in front of him to my face. He then becons his superior over to assist him. I knew then, I was in trouble.
"What exactially is this", he questioned.
"Motorcycle parts", i cheerfully replied.
"John, we've got a code 3"
As being escorted away from the 'security zone' it became abundantly clear that no matter how hard I would fight it, they would not allow me to carry my bazooka onto the plane. It was best to stop fighting it and take my chances with placing it under the plane.
I reluctantly checked it after adding a few more pounds of tape to it. The plane ride was dull, with a nearly empty plane.
Arrival in Maryland went as expected, wonderfully.