Circumstances beyond my control
Two years ago, we decided to change the way one particular job “got done”. Forget the assisted technology. We were going to mow the lawn with an old school, push it and pray, reel mower. Two summers have gone by, and today the first cut of the season beckoned. Alas, the mower has gone into hiding. Three person search teams, a grid pattern, nothing to show for the effort. Tomorrow, or the next, we’re going to buy a new lawn mower.
This time around, I’m pushing for electric.
At work, just in time to start a videoconference, the main camera pooped out. I did my tour of the system, looking for disconnected cables, recalcitrant software, every thing I could throw in to the moment as my audience grew restless. And it came down to a wall plug that wasn’t delivering current. With an extension cord, the moment was bridged.
Later, someone mentioned that there was a wall switch for that outlet, hidden in another room behind some boxes. Boxes that had been moved, recently. Yes, sometimes the problem comes down to human error. Even if the human didn’t know. At least nothing expensive needs to be fixed, because budgets are a little strained right now.
At supper time, the rest of us were called upon, to identify a mystery tune. Nothing with words, or catchy (as in familiar) melodies. This time around, the only clue was that it sounded (sort of) instrumental. Hmm. There’s an app for that… really! Shazam, loaded on the iPad, was able to correctly identify the tune within a minute. I’m impressed. Really impressed.
Tonight is the final performance night for American (Country) Idol. How times have changed.
