The travels of Ibn Battúta, Amazon edition.

Well, this is annoying. I ordered a really cool power strip with USB ports and enough slots for everyone the other day. Kirsten got one and I felt inadequate as a man as her power strip is bigger than mine.

I also ordered the H. A. R. Gibb translation of The Travels of Ibn Battúta: Explorations of the Middle East, Asia, Africa, China and India from 1325 to 1354, An Autobiography. A book I've been eager to read for some time now.

Since Kirsten is back at the office, I used that as the shipping address. Well, the package showed up today. My manly power strip and. . . a lamp dimmer.

OK, people make mistakes, I jump on the Amazon chat to resolve this. I tell the person the story and give the order number. "So the package hasn't arrived yet?" I'm asked.

Yes, I'm using my amazing powers of clairvoyance to see inside a delivery truck. "No, it was delivered, and I said, my book is missing. We'll be returning the dimmer, but I'd like my book sent out as soon as possible."

"Oh, we can't do anything until the tracking information updates." Person, I can send you photos of the shipping label and the invoice. The package has been delivered. No dice.

I just checked the tracking information. It's not even showing as being out for delivery! It's been at the office for over an hour now, and I can't fix this until some moron pushes the right buttons.

Yes, once this is resolved I will be leaving feedback about the importance of accurate tracking of items. But I'm also amused. Ibn Battúta left his home in Tangiers to make the hajj and later traveled further because he learned that the Sultan of Delhi was hiring scholars. But he kept getting distracted into side trips.

My book is on an exciting side trip. That's what I'm telling myself.