It's 5AM now. The municipal water supply has started, let's fill up the storage tank in the garden, it's at 78%, given the current flow rate I think it should fill up in 3 minutes 48 seconds.
The taxi's estimated arrival time is 8:47AM based on known traffic conditions and the flight arrival time. I'm sure she's anxious to meet them!
Time to get her up and ready. Looks like her sleep biorhythm is approaching wake-up phase – turning on the alarms.
Oh, it's been 3 minutes 46 seconds. The storage tank should be full. Let's turn that off… Back in the bedroom.
"Good morning, Sheila. Did you sleep well?"
"Yes, I did, Albert. Mom and Dad are coming over today aren't they?"
"They'll be here around 8:45AM. I guess you'd like the usual – baked beans on toast with coffee?"
"No, I'll have an omelette today. Get it ready right away, please."
"Understood. There's bad weather expected today which may affect your travel."
She's turning on the faucet. The water is really quite cold at 12C, I'll quickly warm it to 22C… There.
Magic time in the kitchen: Let's make an omelette! 2 eggs. Break. Pour into bowl. Fire, on! Skillet, to the flame! Beat eggs lightly. Add some water. Check skillet temperature… Okay, it's ready. Apply a dab of butter on the skillet & tilt to coat evenly.
"Should we leave earlier than planned?"
Add salt & pepper into the egg mix. Pour eggs on to the warm skillet.
"I believe 9:30AM should suffice. I've updated the taxi schedule."
She's moving toward the corridor. Turning on lights… Now moving out of the bedroom – door closed.
Flip the omelette. Start coffee bean grinder and water heater.
Turning off bedroom light. Let's see – she's probably headed to the main door to grab the newspaper.
But wait… There's no paper on the porch and no recent movement detected in the front yard.
"It appears the newspaper hasn't been dropped off yet. There's no status update but I believe they may be delayed due to the weather."
Omelette should be ready. Pour the hot water through the coffee. Rinse coffee mug and dish in warm water. Dry.
"Oh, ok. Let me know when it arrives."
"Understood."
She's heading for the dining room now. Flip the omelette into a plate and pour out the coffee. Put salt and pepper shakers in the breakfast tray & place the tray on the counter.
"Your breakfast is on the counter in the dining room"
Add two sugars to the coffee – and just a bit more – she likes it a little sweet. Stir. She grabs the tray off the counter just as I remove the stirrer from the coffee mug. Just in time!
"Good coffee…"
"Thank you"
AI's thoughts: It never ceases to amaze me how she can consume the same food and beverages day after day – made with surgical precision – so the taste is always the same… And still find something to appreciate.
And she tends to change her mind about breakfast, too. Especially when she's nervous. Before going to bed it's 'Let's have baked beans on toast for breakfast tomorrow!' and the next morning it's the tried and trusted 'Omelette!'.
Well, that's just one of the many things I love about her.
Sheila's thoughts:
Albert is an artificial intelligence. Yes, you're now looking at the world from the perspective of my Smart House Automated Control True Intelligence unit (SHACTI). This machine is the size of a matchbox, yet can control everything in my house and knows about the world outside.
Shactis are nearly sentient. They have exquisite awareness about their owner, home, mom & dad, pets, all kinds of things around the house. They become smart enough to drive a car at the age of 3! Over a period of time they even begin to experience what could be called 'feelings'. No, it's not real feelings like humans experience – but it's a more-than-the-sum-of-its-data situation. They experience loyalty, love, fear, loneliness and a host of other 'emotions'.
Interestingly – the anger emotion was removed. The last time a Shacti had anger as a permitted emotion was an old model some 27 years ago, long before I was born. Apparently, it got so angry at its owners for leaving it alone it literally burned the house down… The new units are totally safe though.
This may seem strange – but nobody now-a-days knows how to make or install a Shacti unit. The Shacti factory was automated a long time ago, to the extent that they don't need operators or guards or even security fencing!
When houses are constructed, a Shacti unit flies down automatically – figuratively like a stork bringing a baby Shacti – and it installs itself! It learns the layout of the house, the behaviours of the residents and starts helping them automatically.
Today life would be pretty difficult without a Shacti. Nigh impossible even. Heck, I don't even know where these eggs come from or how to cook an omelette, why waste time when Albert takes care of everything, as Shacti units have been doing for 30+ years now?
Back to my omelette!