Mom's dream transportation has always been a tank with a cow catcher. An appropriate vehicle for any number of traffic situations. I too, have a soft spot for tanks. However, tanks and the corporate environment are usually mutually exclusive.
Until today.
I was on a conference call when I received an e-mail from Phil asking "if I knew who the tank in the parking lot belonged to". Well, surprisingly, I had a pretty darn good idea. Matt, one of my IT buddies, is a former Marine and I knew he was in the process of refurbing a tank. And coincidently enough, Matt was on the same conference call. So as the call was wrapping up, I asked Matt if he'd driven his tank to work today. He said "yup" and asked if I wanted a ride. Well, you're darn tootin' I wanted a ride!!!!!!
So, I met Matt in the parking lot during lunch. There were all these men standing around oggling the tank. I was definitely the only girl. The first words out of my mouth were, "It's so cute!!!!!" Matt's response was that cute was not the impression he was aiming for. But truly, it is totally cute. That's because the tank is not really a tank - it's an armoured British Scout vehicle - circa 1950's. It's sort of a half size tanky kind of thing on wheels instead tracks. And it's completely adorable in a tank kind of way.
So, we all ooh'd and ah'd for quite awhile and then Matt climbed in and I clambered up after him. Matt tucked himself into the cockpit (or whatever they call a tank's driving chamber). I sat up outside on the edge of the turret with my feet dangling into the cockpit. Matt then fastened his seatbelt and started 'er up (not a straight forward process) and we puttered on our way.
Matt said that we'd go for a "spin aorund the block". Well I was expecting a spin around the parking lot. But noooooooo.....We turned out of the parking lot, puttered up the side street and turned right onto to Northern Lights Blvd (a very busy 4 lane street). We accelerated up to about 35-40 mph and away we went. And there I was perched on top of the machine gun turret. Talk about a total blast!!! And boy did we get a ton of double takes!!!!
That was the most pure fun I've had in just about forever!!!!!
So, here's the tank. Note the historic vehicle license plate. The tank is actually totally and completely street legal: turn signals, seat belts, etc.
Clambering into the tank.
Me peering out the windshield.
Matt in command!
9:56:27 PM 
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