in which Middle and I discuss balloon handling

The Scene: Middle is downstairs, bb is up, they are discussing, via IM, her participation in the Thanksgiving Day Parade in which she is a "balloon handler" and looking at photos from a previous year.

Middle: that foot is freakin huge

bb: I KNOW

     and it weighs a fucking ton

Middle: probably literally

bb: hmm, good question

     there's all kinds of fact filled stuff on the web about the balloons

     see if you can get closer during deflation

Middle: i'm sure they actually weigh quite a lot

           i doubt it

           i've been as close as possible every year

bb:are there people to stop you?

Middle: yes

         mainly police

bb: It's fascinating

     that whole lay down on the balloon to deflate it while another balloon passes over thing? 

     that's almost as cool as walking with it

   
Middle: it's pretty crazy

   
bb: it's so freaking heavy - some of the hardest physical work I've ever done

Middle: I believe it

And, so, this morning, I will, once again, be pulling a giant balloon through the city.

After that, I hope to come home, have a nap and eat an extraordinary amount of turkey.

Happy Thanksgiving, Americans.