Not too much going on this past week. Especially bird-wise. We have been too busy to get out, and we’re right in the middle of the fall warbler migration no less. We did get a gray-cheeked thrush right in our front yard today. Probably the best looks I’ve ever had of one of the little devils.
I’ve been putting in a lot of time getting ready for the Peru trip. What a cross to bear, right? One major job is trying to get everything in the classes I’m teaching up to speed so someone can fill in for me. That pretty much ate up most of today.
I have most of my packing done too. We’re doing a range of activities in different climate zones, so that requires a range of clothing and equipment. Lots of decisions for everything I take. Do I go the English Northwest explorer route Roger describes in the Explorers Blog and bring along a demitasse set? Espresso out of a tin cup on the Inca Trail would be so Colonial.
I called my credit card company to let them know I would be out of the country. I was immediately interrogated by a computer that someone tried to make sound human and through some artificial intelligence algorithms gave it a dose of authority. Human as in I swear there were tones in the computer’s voice. Like seventh grade English teacher’s tones. So this led to an interesting conversation with a computer that threw me back to the HAL 9000 computer in “2001: A Space Odyssey”. Or, there was really a human on the other end that was just jerking me for fun.
Computer: Please explain in a few words why you called.
Ed: Out of country travel.
Computer: Out of country travel, is that correct?
Ed: Yes.
Computer: Great, let’s get started. I must ask you some questions. Name as it appears on the card?
Ed: Edward H. Schools.
Computer: Good. Now the last four digits of the card, please.
Ed: I gave the number.
Computer: Now, the security code please.
Ed: I gave the security code.
Computer: When will you be leaving?
Ed: September 19.
Computer: Is that September 19, 2014?
Ed: Yes. (Ok, I could be calling for next year.)
Computer: When will you be returning?
Ed: October 5, 2014.
Computer: Thank you Mr. Schools, what country will you be visiting?
Ed: Peru.
Computer: Is Peru correct?
Ed: Yes.
Computer (in a condescending tone): Very good. Any other countries?
Ed: No.
Computer: Will you be traveling anywhere in the United States.
Ed: Yes, the Miami airport.
Computer: Is that Miami, Florida?
Ed: Yes. (Ok, I guess it could have been Miami, Ohio.)
Computer (again condescending): Very good. Anywhere else in the United States?
Ed: Nowhere.
Computer: Was that Delaware?
Ed: No, it was nowhere.
Computer: You are traveling to Delaware, correct?
Ed: emphatically: No!
Computer: Let’s get this correct. Are you traveling to Peru?
Ed: Yes.
Computer: Are you traveling to Florida?
Ed: Yes.
Computer: Are you traveling to Delaware?
Ed: NO!
Computer: Mr. Schools, I believe we have it now. On September 19, 2014 you are traveling to Peru, Florida, and Delaware. Is this correct?
Ed: Stunned silence.
Computer: Sir, is this correct?
Ed: Further stunned silence.
Computer, in a huffy voice: Sir, you are not responding. If you do not respond I will transfer you to a representative.
Ed: More stunned silence.
Computer, clearly irate: Sir, since you will not respond I am transferring you to a representative. Good day!
So the other thing of note, since we didn’t do any great birding this week, was our retirement planning meeting. Our financial adviser, with a fairly straight face, had a couple scenarios laid out for us. Complete with graphs and charts. In short, we are OK if we don’t mind living like Gandhi when we retire. As I was perusing the downward trending graphs I noticed that they all started with “Beginning of Retirement”, and ended with “End of Retirement”. It took me a few minutes to realize that “End of Retirement” means “Dead.” Which would have taken up a lot less room on the graph than “End of Retirement”.
William Clark, of Lewis and Clark fame, at the end of retirement.
The “Post Retirement” home of William “Mine is Bigger Than Yours” Clark.
Ed's and Lise's Biggish Years 