Slothful Geek: July 2008

Monday, July 28, 2008

Driving an Average Joe

(from genesis244.com)

We had an odd experience this weekend. We drove Marry an Average Joe around Lawrenceville and Snellville, GA, on Sunday.

We were getting the brakes on the RV fixed this week, so it was sitting out in front of a repair shop on the main drag in Lawrenceville. We got a call asking if we wanted to do something that would help pay for the brakes. I called back and found that MaAJ wanted to rent it, and a driver, Sunday afternoon for $100/hour. I said yes.

I arrived with a friend and her son and waited around for over an hour to get started (getting paid by the hour so not worried about the wait). Eventually everyone piled in the RV and we were on our way. The convoy consisted of two motorcycle police escorts, two vans with adwraps, us, and a little Focus with a guy sticking out of the roof.

(from genesis244.com)

The cops treated us like royalty, letting us run through lights, drive on the wrong side of the road, speed, etc. They were obviously having fun and lane-split many times (drove between cars on the centerline).

We went to five houses for the crew to interview. I don't know all the details, but I know that one was a biracial couple, one was bi-religous, one was rich, one was poor, and I think one was a marriage between people from two different countries.

While the crew did their work in the houses, we sat in the air-conditioned RV and waited. The cops eventually started coming in to avoid the Atlanta heat. We found out that they were both retired and in their 70's. They usually escort funerals and rap music video filmmakers.

Eventually this all came to an end and we dropped off the crew 30 minutes later than expected (1/2 hour more money, so no biggie). We treated our friends to a nice dinner to thank them for the company. Unfortunately the money barely made a dent in the brake job, but at least it was interesting! We signed releases and were videotaped from the interior as well as from the guy in the Focus, so we might end up with a quick cameo on the show if it ever airs. They are trying to sell it to Viacom and some other company.

My teeth still hurt from gritting them as I drove. I essentially drove the thing for three days off-and-on, so I wasn't worried about not being able to drive them around, but it was very stressful.

Finally, the star of the show was apparently kidnapped. I have no reason to doubt the story, but the police apparently treated it like a publicity stunt. The scary thing is that he was kidnapped less than a mile from my house.

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