Once, when I was in band camp…
No seriously, I always wanted to start a story like that.
When I was 11 years old, my Dad and I lived in Westlake Hills (Austin, TX) near a creek. I was a latch key kid so after school I would come home and go explore the creek by our house with a friend of mine. Since Texas used to be completely under water millions of years ago, there are tons of fossils everywhere.
After one such recent excursion, I mentioned to my friend that it would be neat to have a job where I could find fossils and cool rocks all day. We got into a discussion about what that job would be called. We both were at a loss for what those people are called. So when we got home, I decided to figure it out. I knew that you could call 1-411 to get information. I said, well this is information I need. So I called. The conversation went like this:
A nice operator lady answered the phone.
Operator: What city please?
I was a bit taken back. I didn’t know how to answer her…I just wasn’t expecting such a stupid question when all I needed was the answer to my question about rock scientists.
Erik: Well, I live in Austin…but I’m not quite sure what that has to do with anything.
Operator: What listing?
I really didn’t know how to answer that question, so I just launched in with my question.
Erik: I have a question…My friend I and want to know what a person who studies rocks and fossils is called.
I think the operator was a bit taken back because she said, “This is information.”
Erik: I know, we want this information. We were just having a discussion and we don’t know the answer.
Operator: suspiciously Is this for a school paper or a test?
Erik: No, we just want to know.
Operator: It’s a geologist.
Erik: Thanks.
Operator: In the future, you might try calling a library.
Erik: Why? I don’t want to read a book about it. I just needed to know that piece of information.
Operator: This is information about phone numbers.
Erik: Oh, I didn’t know that. Thanks for letting me know. I think she might be wrong…because *everybody* knows you dial "0" to get the operator.
Operator: Have a nice day.
Erik: Thank you. You, too.
No seriously, I always wanted to start a story like that.
When I was 11 years old, my Dad and I lived in Westlake Hills (Austin, TX) near a creek. I was a latch key kid so after school I would come home and go explore the creek by our house with a friend of mine. Since Texas used to be completely under water millions of years ago, there are tons of fossils everywhere.
After one such recent excursion, I mentioned to my friend that it would be neat to have a job where I could find fossils and cool rocks all day. We got into a discussion about what that job would be called. We both were at a loss for what those people are called. So when we got home, I decided to figure it out. I knew that you could call 1-411 to get information. I said, well this is information I need. So I called. The conversation went like this:
A nice operator lady answered the phone.
Operator: What city please?
I was a bit taken back. I didn’t know how to answer her…I just wasn’t expecting such a stupid question when all I needed was the answer to my question about rock scientists.
Erik: Well, I live in Austin…but I’m not quite sure what that has to do with anything.
Operator: What listing?
I really didn’t know how to answer that question, so I just launched in with my question.
Erik: I have a question…My friend I and want to know what a person who studies rocks and fossils is called.
I think the operator was a bit taken back because she said, “This is information.”
Erik: I know, we want this information. We were just having a discussion and we don’t know the answer.
Operator: suspiciously Is this for a school paper or a test?
Erik: No, we just want to know.
Operator: It’s a geologist.
Erik: Thanks.
Operator: In the future, you might try calling a library.
Erik: Why? I don’t want to read a book about it. I just needed to know that piece of information.
Operator: This is information about phone numbers.
Erik: Oh, I didn’t know that. Thanks for letting me know. I think she might be wrong…because *everybody* knows you dial "0" to get the operator.
Operator: Have a nice day.
Erik: Thank you. You, too.
2 comments:
Okay, those are pretty funny stories. I know girls used to say you kind of looked like Tom Cruise back in the day, but you ain't no Michael J. Fox! I didn't even know there was such a thing as 411 when yo uwere 11. i guess you aren't as old as I thought you were!
HAHA I love it!!
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