This post is OT. I can't resist sharing this story. Michael, if you feel it should be removed, please do so.
You may have seen on the news that they are moving the space shuttle from Florida to California and stopping at or flying over various NASA sites along the way. One stop was Houston. They were going to fly over the Mission Control area, do a low (1500 ft) flyover Bush (Intercontinental) Airport, then land at an Air Force base for refueling and overnight stay.
I was in Houston after 10 days of business and departing from Bush Airport. The 747 carrying the Shuttle was supposed to flyover at 9am and I was driving to the airport about 9:30, so figured I had missed it. I saw cars pulled over and people from the small companies around the airport standing in the parking lots, so I figured I might still get a glimpse. I was on the road going to rental car return (parallel to a runway) when I heard a roar. I looked to my left and there it was. It couldn't have been more than 100 feet up. They obviously don't do "touch and go's" but must have done something like that - swooping extremely low just above a runway then climbing. I saw it just as it started to climb.
I can't tell you how big that thing is, and what a majestic sight it was.
Seeing a 747 with the shuttle on top climbing like that was incredible. Cars were going every which way, as everyone driving there was all over the road because they were looking at the shuttle.
I wish I could have gotten a camera out. It was a sight I will never forget. So when I woke up this morning, finally back home and in my own bed, there was only one watch I could choose.
