Another day in the life of a Cheap Thrills aficionado
As the past chapter president of the local Cheap Thrills Association, or CTA as my friends call it, I take advantage of the insignificant details. No moment is too mundane, no event too routine. After all, the alternative would be too sad; letting life go by, waiting for the one big surprise.
We’ve been watching the slow progress of a new computer, across the country in the arms of a commercial carrier. Little glimpses of the methodical, logistical way that firms with thousands (nay, Millions) of parcels can keep track of ours, and take the time to update their website at any hour of the day or night. Today, the culmination, with a terse bulletin: “Attempted Delivery – Receiver Unavailable”. One more reason to teach the dog to answer the door.
We’ve been down that road a few times, so the car with the anxious people crossed the big city and stood in line at a counter. A counter with terminals, and scales, and scanners, and signature “grabbers”. Oh, and wall clocks, just like in movies, naming various world capitals. Oddly, the clocks weren’t correct for all destinations; further proof that professionals don’t understand time zones either.
And now we’re home. The new computer has already been named: “BLUEJAY”. A fitting name for the machine that will replace “CANARY” some time later this week, as soon as the necessary data transfer has been completed. In passing, the names have nothing to do with ornithology and everything to do with designer shades – in case you were curious.
