Up, up, and away

Our little 'burg is playing host to the annual London Balloon Festival this long weekend. The skies fill with multi-colored, propane-powered craft in the early morning and early evening, prompting dog owners everywhere to scramble indoors lest their pooches be freaked by the sound from the burners.

The closest I've come to riding lighter-than-air craft was in a blimp years ago for my radio program. After interviewing the captain - as arrogant a man as I've had occasion to meet outside my own immediate family - I tried to air-drop popcorn into swimming pools below. A great time was had by all. Even popsicle-stick-rumped flyboy joined in.