ryanreed.NET

So, I recently took a trip to Tennessee to visit the family, but that's really a story for another post. This story is about what happened when I returned to that non-island of a state, Rhode Island.

Before I left for TN, I decided that the best place for my car was the parking lot at work. It would be pretty safe from vandals as the place has security almost 24/7. But I did recognize that it could snow and I was not there to move the car for the plows. I decided that I would leave the key in my locker at work and ask a friend, Jason Lomba, to move the car if needed. This may have been a mistake.

When I got back from TN, Brian Roy had offered to pick me up. Pretty cool as otherwise I would have just grabbed a taxi. When we got to the parking lot, I noticed my car was in a different spot and the plows had packed me in pretty good. I chalked up the new parking space to having to move the car for the plowing, nothing weird.

I end up grabbing a shovel from work and starting to shovel out the front of my car. Brian suggested starting the car up just to get it warm. Not a bad idea, I thought. I hop over to the driver's side and notice 4 of my friends, Joe Webster, Jason Lomba, Chris Lomba, and Jim Stergiou, hiding behind the car. I immediately knew something was up. I looked in the car and saw that my car had been completely filled with packing peanuts.

Now when I say "filled with packing peanuts," maybe you're thinking "must have filled up the seats and floor." Not sir/madam, that is not really what I meant. The peanuts filled up the entire car and were put in place through the sunroof of the vehicle.

A couple things to note:

1. Joe spent $120+ on biodegradable packing peanuts.
2. My boss, boss's boss, and boss's boss's boss were all aware of the prank. They were concerned I'd be upset. I definitely was not.
3. The name Operation Blockhead came from George Simon's son. I went to a BBQ at George's and his son asked him "why does he have such a block head," referring to me. Yup...
4. The peanuts start to biodegrade as soon as water is introduced. This causes them to get really slick and stick to the bottom of shoes. They were really annoying to get off.
5. I had to drive around for a while, looking for a gas station with the large nose vacuum hoses and not the narrow, easy to clog noses.

I must say, it was an interesting experience. Check out the pictures after the break. (Higher quality pictures will be uploaded later this week)

The car prior to peanuting

Truckload of peanuts

Teek filling up balloons for to fill in spaces in the car

Teek and Dan filling up ballons

Teek and Dan filling up the car

The car filled with peanuts

Grace can't believe it

This prank is Jim Approved

George, Joe, Dan, and Teek

The GLI waiting for its owner

Brian Stewart sacrificing himself for video of the event

Me realizing what's going on

It was pretty funny

That's a lot of packing peanuts

More peanuts

In front of my car

Ready to drive?

Ryan Approved

Passenger side airbags?

I thought donuts with all windows down would clear them out...
It didn't work