tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000498.post111823564380347479..comments2024-03-22T22:27:57.474-04:00Comments on Inside the Hotdog Factory: Code Red for Embarrassment - U.S. Customs officers make up their jobs as they go alongWhetam Gnauckweirsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06038247522187261808noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000498.post-1118239820217344202005-06-08T10:10:00.000-04:002005-06-08T10:10:00.000-04:00Matt, It's too funny that you posted about this as...Matt, <BR/><BR/>It's too funny that you posted about this as I have had a far too similar experience.<BR/><BR/>I too, work in Michigan and cross the border daily from Windsor, Ont.<BR/><BR/>One early morning I approached the border patrol and was greeted with the same warm words that I hear daily - "citizenship?", to which I used my canned response - "canadian". I find it amusing that most of my conversations with the border patrol on both sides of the border are sometimes one word questions and answers.<BR/><BR/>"declarations?" - to which I replied my canned response of "laptop, lunch, clothes."<BR/><BR/>The "guard" - (I use this term lightly, because I've crossed enough to know that most of the employees that I run into during my daily commute couldn't "guard" a penny that was taped to their ass, let alone have the capacity to filter out who enters the country) sat straight up in his chair and all of a sudden took great interest to why I wanted to be admitted entry into the country of his origin. <BR/><BR/>"what's for lunch?" he asked.<BR/>"turkey sandwich", I replied.<BR/><BR/>He then turned in his chair and looked at his "partner" (like there needs to be two people in the booth..???) who I hadn't yet noticed and proclaims, as if he'd hit the motherload - <BR/><BR/>"turkey sammich....!!"<BR/><BR/>I asked if there was a problem, he went on to tell me that there was a ban on poultry entering the country. I tried to explain that this was not a live animal - that it was two slices of a dead animal, lovingly placed between two slices of white bread. It was no harm... and if it got out of hand during my travel - I was pretty sure that I could subdue it.<BR/><BR/>The two "officers" conversed and finally came to a decision in approximately two minutes of discussion. <BR/><BR/>"we'll let you go... THIS TIME! You should know that I could charge you a $500 fine."<BR/><BR/>I, of course, played along and thanked them so much for not throwing me in jail - since I did not have my Get Out Of Jail free card with me at the time.<BR/><BR/>As I was ready to leave and had received "the look" which they sometimes give that tell you it's ok to move on, the guard said..<BR/><BR/>"enjoy your LAST turkey sammich..."<BR/><BR/>I laughed out loud as I pulled away and prepared to pay my toll.Nadonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06328422926259630893noreply@blogger.com