a bolt out of the blue ... or black
***
TO BE MORE SPECIFIC BEFORE SOMEONE CORRECTS ME
I was awakened last night by a loud whistling sound and then a blast that shook my house. I thought at first that it must have been a transformer or something exploding but, having had trouble sleeping lately, I decided to go outside to investigate.
I smelled something like an iron skillet left on the burner too long when I opened the door, and then saw that one of my bushes next to my porch was burnt to a crisp. I was a little upset and suspected a prank at first because there has been a lot of unusual activity around my neighborhood lately. When I turned on my porch light, however, this is what I found inside a small crater just off my porch:
Yes, it is a meteororite and one of the 2 bolts lost by the shuttle astronauts during spacewalks over the last two days. What are the chances? My theory is that a meteorite knocked the bolt away from their work area (there's no noise in space you know) and, eventually, brought them both streaking into my front yard.
You can see the little NASA Part Tag still attached (it was only slightly burnt away ... they must make these out of super-heat-sensitive materials or something) with an incomplete NASA Part Number on it. I looked up the part and it is either a 011243766BN22I or a 011243766CN22J. There is a big difference because the first is priced at $898.16 and the second at $1596.44. Oh, and this one has a washer too, and the washers for this size bolt apparantly go from $26.75 to $38.44. They're precision-machined, of course.
At first I considered giving it back but, after getting the cold shoulder from everyone after Katrina, I decided to put it up for auction on ebay. I think the news value alone makes it worth a lot more but I will see what the market will bear. As far as the meteorite, I think I'll hold onto it awhile after it cools down. I've always wanted one, you know?
Things have been pretty bad for me on many fronts over the last few months but perhaps my space ship has finally docked. I'll keep you posted. You'll probably be hearing about me soon on the news. I don't forget my friends, by the way, so don't worry about me letting this go to my head.
Oh, and speaking of ... if you think this is one of those Is it real or all in my head? things, well, maybe you don't know me as well as you think. Or do you?
EDIT: Here is my second song parody (based on Falling Star by The Jayhawks - abridged) recently submitted to:
www.Amiright.com
FALLING BOLT
You ride your shuttle, I’ve got mine
Away, away now
Through the depths of space now
I tried to meet you halfway
I hear your engines running
Man, you’re a-humming
One thousand miles in space.
Falling bolt
Through my window, you shone so bright
Falling bolt
You ride your shuttle, I’ll ride mine
Yeah, money to buy now
I earned through good luck
I’m not your young fool
Cuz a white flash of light
Shot down from the sky
White bolt from the blue
Falling bolt
Through my window, you shone so bright
Falling bolt
You ride your shuttle, I’ll ride mine
Oh, falling bolt
Oh, falling bolt
Oh, falling bolt
You ride your shuttle, I’ll ride mine
***
I'm glad to give my love to you.
I know you feel the way I do.
Anything you want, you got it.
Anything you need, you got it.
Anything at all, you got it.
Baby!
:D
TO BE MORE SPECIFIC BEFORE SOMEONE CORRECTS ME
I was awakened last night by a loud whistling sound and then a blast that shook my house. I thought at first that it must have been a transformer or something exploding but, having had trouble sleeping lately, I decided to go outside to investigate.
I smelled something like an iron skillet left on the burner too long when I opened the door, and then saw that one of my bushes next to my porch was burnt to a crisp. I was a little upset and suspected a prank at first because there has been a lot of unusual activity around my neighborhood lately. When I turned on my porch light, however, this is what I found inside a small crater just off my porch:
Yes, it is a meteororite and one of the 2 bolts lost by the shuttle astronauts during spacewalks over the last two days. What are the chances? My theory is that a meteorite knocked the bolt away from their work area (there's no noise in space you know) and, eventually, brought them both streaking into my front yard.
You can see the little NASA Part Tag still attached (it was only slightly burnt away ... they must make these out of super-heat-sensitive materials or something) with an incomplete NASA Part Number on it. I looked up the part and it is either a 011243766BN22I or a 011243766CN22J. There is a big difference because the first is priced at $898.16 and the second at $1596.44. Oh, and this one has a washer too, and the washers for this size bolt apparantly go from $26.75 to $38.44. They're precision-machined, of course.
At first I considered giving it back but, after getting the cold shoulder from everyone after Katrina, I decided to put it up for auction on ebay. I think the news value alone makes it worth a lot more but I will see what the market will bear. As far as the meteorite, I think I'll hold onto it awhile after it cools down. I've always wanted one, you know?
Things have been pretty bad for me on many fronts over the last few months but perhaps my space ship has finally docked. I'll keep you posted. You'll probably be hearing about me soon on the news. I don't forget my friends, by the way, so don't worry about me letting this go to my head.
Oh, and speaking of ... if you think this is one of those Is it real or all in my head? things, well, maybe you don't know me as well as you think. Or do you?
EDIT: Here is my second song parody (based on Falling Star by The Jayhawks - abridged) recently submitted to:
www.Amiright.com
FALLING BOLT
You ride your shuttle, I’ve got mine
Away, away now
Through the depths of space now
I tried to meet you halfway
I hear your engines running
Man, you’re a-humming
One thousand miles in space.
Falling bolt
Through my window, you shone so bright
Falling bolt
You ride your shuttle, I’ll ride mine
Yeah, money to buy now
I earned through good luck
I’m not your young fool
Cuz a white flash of light
Shot down from the sky
White bolt from the blue
Falling bolt
Through my window, you shone so bright
Falling bolt
You ride your shuttle, I’ll ride mine
Oh, falling bolt
Oh, falling bolt
Oh, falling bolt
You ride your shuttle, I’ll ride mine
***
I'm glad to give my love to you.
I know you feel the way I do.
Anything you want, you got it.
Anything you need, you got it.
Anything at all, you got it.
Baby!
:D