An Embarrassing Tale

So what does that machine/vehicle look like to you? What would you guess it is? And its purpose?

Now imagine that you are John and I. We live on the ASU East Campus which was formerly an Air Force base. Currently on our campus there is an Army Reserve (like a little mini Campus w/ dorms for the Soldiers) as well. We get to see them running in the mornings and training sometimes. It's really fun! Everyday on our way to work we pass the Army Reserve building.

Well, one day this monstrous machine was parked outside of the gates across the street in a little dirt area. We thought "WOW" what a cool Army vehicle. I wonder what it is used for? I bet they are training with it or maybe it got shipped here from the war for repairs. We have got to get a picture with it. It's just unbelievably amazing!

So, one day we finally stopped to take a picture with it. While I was waiting for John to set up the timer on the camera I turned around to check out this BEAST of a war vehicle since I was finally up close and personal with it. Well.....there was a sign on the side that said something like--"TEREX Asphalt reclaimer/stabilizer Call 623/534-6800"

WHAT?!?!?!?! Is this saying that this is nothing more than a pavement ripper-upper?

Well, my lofty idea of this being one of the coolest military tanks seen by the human eye was destroyed =( I didn't even have time to tell John what I had found out before we took the next picture! I was stunned and felt pretty foolish. People driving by must have thought we had lost our minds taking pictures with this thing. Oh too funny, we laughed at ourselves for the rest of the day and we are still laughing at ourselves. To make ourselves feel better we decided that we weren't wrong about this machine. The whole "TEREX asphalt reclaimer" was just a cover up for what it's real purpose is ;-)

So, we investigated a little and then we found all the real army vehicles (pic above and below), in CAMO colors and all. However, these vehicles were locked up behind fences with barbed wire on top. They were probably under surveillance too or maybe they were electric fences! Oh my oh my...and we thought they would leave a machine as cool as that tank all by it's lonesome in a dirt lot across the street. Ha Ha Ha!

Well, this is us at the end of our journey to discover the truth of the TEREX.