The Annoyances of Life: The Phone!
By pyewacket
@pyewacket (43903)
United States
July 5, 2007 7:36pm CST
Okay picture this, I'm in front of my computer trying to get things done here...between being here at MyLot and in particular doing scans of my slides to digitize them and maybe doing some of my writing--so in other words I'm a tad busy.
Picture this also, my computer is in my living room, while my phone is in the hallway. Now I purposely have a message machine on 24/7--I don't have that caller ID business so the answering machine is a great screening tool...Now don't ask how many times my phone will ring..my message goes on...but then --click--the caller hangs up. Long ago, I decided not to leap up from my desk when the phone rings since most of the times it's these hang-ups. But then of course, it will be one of my friends, and in particular my friend from CA...
Now I'm not being nasty..uh, I don't think--hehe...but what does one do in this situation? I ONLY just talked to my friend the other day...I try to get all my calls to friends done in one day to check how things are, catch up on news, gossip..LOL...and so forth--and usually my chat on the phone to my friend in CA is at least an hour...I do love my friends, but I wish they would respect my time, especially this friend of mine.
This friend in CA seems to equate me with a woman she knows who is always in front of her computer e-baying...whether a buyer, seller doesn't matter--the point is I'm NOT e-baying...I waited four long years to get my own computer to finally start establishing my own on-line photo business...a lot of work is involved here--from scanning to digitize my slides, tweak on Photoshop, etc..etc...In other words legitimate work --I'm not goofing off. Last night she called and left a message..I didn't call back last night as I was busy with my work. She keeps leaving a message to call her back "when you feel comfortable"--Most of the time she's the type that rattles on about jokes she's heard...okay nice...but not like anything major or crucial --no life emergencies here
Like I said, I only talked to my friend the other day...Today when I came home from being out, there was a message on my machine from her --but sorry, I had started a project before I left and wanted to get back to it right away while I had the momentum and not lose my train of thought
Now Yikes...the phone rings again...it's her again...And she always leaves a message.."Okay, time for you to take a break from your computer..come on..pick up and yak awhile." Like Yeesh!!
Now am I wrong to want to try and get my work done?? And if I'm in the middle of scanning photos, I can't just leap up and answer the phone..she should know this as I HAVE told her this..she should be understanding about this...I mean really, she's getting to be a real pain in the "A"
Do you have annoyances about the phone? Are there days you'd like to toss it out the window...and why is it, it seems people call when you're genuinely busy, ready to eat, or have to go to the bathroom,..etc, etc...
Am I wrong for being ticked off here?
12 people like this
21 responses
@LittleMel (8742)
• Canada
6 Jul 07
I can see why you're ticked off. You were just on the phone with her yesterday and nothing major or crucial, she just wanted to yack. You told her already but she still demands your time, I wonder if she is lonely or just likes yacking. We have call display so we know when to pick up the phone, but I think I don't need it badly I can just stop this service because now we have answering machine.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
6 Jul 07
It could be boredom, could be loneliness...but she is a yakker..one of those people that never takes a breath as she talks...she even once joked and she gave herself a nickname ...motormouth....LOL
3 people like this
@sumofalltears (3988)
• United States
6 Jul 07
Motormouth is a good description. I had a friend that was so bad she virtually carried on a conversation with herself since she changed topics faster than I could open my mouth. And this was in person....my cure was to offer her a livesaver, I mean sheesh she had to suffer from a dry mouth and while she was concentrating on opening the life saver I'd push her out the door and say something nice like nice chatting whit you...:}
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
6 Jul 07
I think we're all "blessed" by having at least one friend who is a motormouth..right? Wonder if these people ever get lockjaw from time to time
1 person likes this
@TerryZ (22076)
• United States
6 Jul 07
Oh geez! Some people are just plain nervie. Dont you think? Dont worry about it just do your work and when you find the time to call her then you do it on your own terms. I really hate that. My sister is like that and she lives in florida. Sometimes Im grateful for that.LOL I hate being told to do things when Im busy with something else. And I dont blame you for being fired up. Dont let here push your buttons.LOL You know sometimes with these kind of people you just have to tell them straight out.
3 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
6 Jul 07
I've already told her about all the work I'm doing but it doesn't seem to be sinking in, so trying to think of a firmer way to tell her without her becoming offended...I really do like her as a friend...but she does drive me batty at times--sounds like your sister...LOL
1 person likes this
@sigma77 (5383)
• United States
6 Jul 07
I would guess that 80% of phone conversations are pretty much useless. I don't blame you for wanting to get your work done. This is one reason I don't own a cell phone. I don't want to chit-chat half the day just to be sociable. I think you have to have your priorities, otherwise so much time will be wasted and you will fall farther behind in your work. I can understand how involved your printing project must be. Not to be nasty or rude to Miss Cally, but it is those people who have agendas and plans (like yourself) that end up making the most of life and opportunities. I salute you for working on your own and having such initiative because most people would rather spend the time watching TV or yacking on the phone.
3 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
6 Jul 07
Miss Cally...good one..have to remember that---You're right...her problem is that she really doesn't have much to do with her time...her TV must be on all the time--I can even hear it on when I am on the phone with her--I don't even watch that much TV except right before I go to bed. Yes, I most certainly do have my priorities...thanks for the salute!!
:-)
2 people like this
@KrisNY (7590)
• United States
6 Jul 07
Wow—she sounds like a pretty pesky friend- Maybe she really does have something important to talk with you about – I would hope so anyways with all the messages- Can you jot her an e-mail and tell her you are in the middle of something- and cannot call her- but you will at your earliest convenience. Maybe that would work. Nope- I usually don’t have this problem- I try to call people back that same day though- otherwise they might think something is wrong with me-
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
6 Jul 07
She doesn't have a computer which is just as well so she can't e-mail me...my e-mail would probably be deluged with her messages as well....No..most of the time, in fact, 99=percent of the time she just wants to yak...and tell jokes...Even when I was going through some hectic, stressful events though, I didn't call her everyday---
1 person likes this
@eaforeman6 (8979)
• United States
7 Jul 07
I really hate it when someone calls late at night and wakes me up then by the time I get on the phone, they hang up. Or if they call and dont leave a mssage, how totaly rude and especialy after 10 at night and after they have you wide awake...and then you get this thing that says ...caller out of range....lol
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
8 Jul 07
I'm lucky that I don't at least have to worry about that problem..though I do have the opposite..since I'm a confirmed night owl, I do admit to going to bed quite late, so I get up later, so I hate it too when I'm still asleep and have maybe an hour or two to go in sleep and the phone rings
1 person likes this
@Perspectives (7131)
• Canada
7 Jul 07
Well here we are again, sharing another interesting discussion. You write very descriptively pyewacket...ever thought about writing YOUR autobiography. That in combination with your photography talents...could be a winner!
Anyway on the your topic. No I do not think you are wrong for being ticked off. But...I do think you aren't estabilishing boundaries and that is why you are ticked off. Could it be a little bit of that need to have people's approval showing up in the way don't appear to have boundaries with your friends?
I also work from home and the phone can be a distraction. So people do drop by unnannounced...well,until I train them differently. And I do mean TRAIN THEM DIFFERENTLY. In our work as life coaches one of the things our clients do not like to hear is the truism that we train people how to treat us. But we do. We even train our pets how to treat us...they can be polite and respectful or rowdy and unruley...just like humans.
Sooo pyewacket my friend as you embark on your Law of Attraction full throttle...putting some safe boundaries in place for yourself will be more important then ever.
For example I trained my friends to call before coming over because my work time is unstructured and when I am working...I do not want to be disturbed...and they now know that. I explained it to them this way. "You know I love you dear friend...and always want to be fully present whenever we get together by phone or in person. If you infringe on my creative work time I will be distracted and probably find myself our time was over so I could get back to my work before I was rather rudely interrupted. I do not barge into your work place or bother you with chit chat when you have other things to do...do I? No, I call, ask if you are free to talk...or if you are busy could I arrange a time visit?" They similarly appreciate my respect for their time...and the boundaries we establish..and keep have helped my relationships thrive over the years.
Works for me...let me know what you think about the idea of training people how to treat us...after all it is only my perspective remember.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
7 Jul 07
I do plan to talk to my friend again--eventually,but really right now I am still doing some work here...and it's 12:11 a.m.--uh, night owl...no pun intended, and I will spell out the rules here with me... but it's not like I haven't already told her about my work and all that I do...she is a bit, well...flaky..LOL...the kind you have to tell over and over and over again...Nope I'm certainly not seeking her or anyone else's approval, believe me..that's long gone--she called again tonight...twice..left messages...didn't answer...I then purposely took the phone off the hook so I just wouldn't have to listen to it ring again...The second time she called and left a message it was to say..that she was wondering if I was trying to call her since her machine wasn't working...yeah, sure...I do feel sorry for her in a way cause I get the sense she's lonely...she moved to CA about two years ago, and I'm getting the sense maybe she hasn't made that many friends even still there...Now last year at this time I was more "accessible" but then I didn't have my computer, but did have other projects I'd be working on like my crafts and my writing--and yes, I am a writer as well--and maybe will consider a autobiography
My other friends have the sense not to keep calling me all the time...just her..think with her it's mainly boredom she feels as she really doesn't have much to do with her time--the irony of it all, and I mentioned this elsewhere is that she was complaining to me how this one friend of hers kept calling up, everyday, and leaving about seven messages on the machine...she finally had it "out" with this friend...but yikes she's doing the same with me
I've never been a phone person to begin with and never one to leap up everytime the phone rings---I listen to the message and if it IS important then will answer, otherwise I let it go...I don't mean to be mean with her, but maybe she might finally get some kind of hint that if I'm NOT answering it's because I am busy and can't answer...I've gotten very selfish with my time--perhaps for the real first time in my life...and I do have my priorities...what I'm trying to accomplish and do in my life now takes first place...Does that sound good to you? hehe
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
8 Jul 07
I'm very familiar with energy vampires...my own mother was one--LOL--think she was the worse in my life
1 person likes this
@Perspectives (7131)
• Canada
8 Jul 07
Hi again,
It is wonderful to hear how self-directed you are now and glad you have so much clarity around your boundaries and priorities. It does sound like the old patterns have been transformed. It didn't come across that way during your initial posting. I sounded more like your friend's insistence was impingeing on what you wanted and thatdidn't indicate a boundary to me.
I appreciate you taking time to explain more of the dynamics between you and your CA friend compared to others who are supportive of your priorities. She is lucky to have you but sometimes even those we love and feel compassion for can become 'energy vampires.'
It sounds like a harsh term...but I had simlar relationships in the past and I finally head to gently sever my ties. Their neediness was bordering on an unhealthy dependency where they were either unwilling or unable to do their own work.
Suggesting that they get help from other sources was actually a gift...because they did when I wasn't as readily available to have them 'breath' through me. Eventually they began to assume a more self-responsible approach to where their lives were going and we both moved on.
On another note I found my genuine friends very understanding of my unstructured life and how important it is not to interrupt the creative flow. It will be fun to hear about your own writing/photography goals and how they are progressing. I will let you now how things outwork with the marketing of my manuscript. I appreciate your interest.
2 people like this
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
11 Jul 07
Well I have to admit that would really annoy me to
I am going to be very Busy for the next few Days trying to catch up with everything and one of the Things that I will have to start again is to carry on with my Book as I have not done anything with that for weeks now and I have to admit I would get cheesed of to if a Friend kept ringing like that
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
14 Jul 07
You're not the only one that has a lot of catching up to do....I'm so behind also in replying back to my responses to my discussions as well...and believe me don't need that darn phone ringing all the time
@texasclassygal (5305)
• United States
6 Jul 07
Oh, this bothers me to no end, it is like they think since we are working from home we can't possibly be doing anything of substance. This happens to me alot, I will be diligently working trying to get my auctions up, or myLotting or something else that is work related and when anything happens or somebody wants to talk, I am supposed to drop everything, cause I am home and available and not doing anything, according to them. My daughter is very bad at doing this, except most of the time is why can't I watch my granddaughter I am not doing anything and I am bad grandmother if I don't want to cause I am working ... geez, it is annoying.
You are NOT wrong to be ticked off, they are wrong for imposing their life on you while you are working, you don't call them during the day while they are at the office and want them to drop everything for you, but yet, they never think of those times.
I think she needs another few days before you respond back to her, just so she knows that you do have a life, and you are busy living it, and when you are comfortable. and ready you will call her, but on your time, not hers.
Be well, my friend!
1 person likes this
@texasclassygal (5305)
• United States
6 Jul 07
Do you have the Adobe software, perhaps it would be easier especially since you are working with pdf files. I have a new computer and you are right, no floppy drives, I put everything on CD's and transfer that way, wish there was an easier way, guess I could use a flash drive. Are you kidding about my daughter?? She seems to think that cause I am the grandmother I should help her raise her daughter, which is absurb, and I have told her that I didn't want anymore children, nor am I going to raise any. She called last night and wanted me to babysit while she went to a concert, I couldn't say no enough, she got angry, tried to make me feel guilty and finally hung up the phone, oh well, she will get used to it. Such is life,
Be well, my friend!
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
6 Jul 07
Thanks ever -- the whole funny thing is that on part of her message she leaves she says, "Call when you're comfortable"--another winner..."Okay take a break from the computer...you can't be THAT busy"--Uh...no? Yeesh...For instance I've been absent from here for the past hour or so, since I'm revising my stock photo list---My original one was one I did at the library when I didn't have a computer...I did save it on a floppy disk--so technically speaking I can print up there and send a "hard" copy to photo clients--NOW--this was all done on PCs---since I have a Mac, they don't have floppy drives (most new computers don't anyway)--and one thing I've noticed PDF files saved on Word Document won't open for me on my Mac...but can with vice versa for some reason..that is a person can open my PDF files even though I use a Mac and they have a PC..go figure
---So it's back to the drawing board in a sense to re-do the entire thing on my computer...then can save as a PDF file--The original stock photo list was only a "mere" 15-pages long!! I'm only on page 4 now..LOL...so this is going to take a while---I do like the new design of it and maybe it was "meant" to be that I re-do the list anyway
So according to my friend though, I'm not that busy...arrgghhh
I sure hope you have set your daughter straight that yes indeedy you are busy and can't drop everything...or does she get in a huff?
1 person likes this
@GnosticGoddess (5626)
• United States
12 Jul 07
No I think you are perfectly right in being upset. You are working. And it's no different than if you where say at oh...Target working there and she kept calling you there just to chit chat. Just because you work at home doesn't mean that you are available 24/7 to yak on the phone for everyday things.
I get these annoyances too. My mom loves to go on and on about this person I don't know and that person I don't know. We can spend an hour talking on the phone and I have no idea what really is going on with HER personally. Gez. I'm like I don't call you to get the 411 on everyone else's life you know. When I talk to my Dad is completely different. It's always a much shorter phone call but it's more intimate. Not that he never mentions his friends but it's usually directly related to something he is doing, or has done.
I'm not much of a phone person though either. I would much rather communicate through email or something. So aside from my sister and my parents I am rarely on the phone.
1 person likes this
@GnosticGoddess (5626)
• United States
15 Jul 07
Oh I totally know what you mean! My mom does that too except it's about American Idol. And I've never even seen one episode of the show in any season LOL.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
14 Jul 07
Hehe--that's another winner, when a person, like your mom, is talking about something and you haven't a clue what the heck they're talking about...My other friend is addicted to soap operas and watches tv nearly 24 hours a day..I don't watch much tv period and especially not soap operas, so she's blabbing on about some show and I'm lie, huh? Not a clue
1 person likes this
@tigerdragon (4297)
• Philippines
6 Jul 07
i do not let my phone own me. i decide if i will answer it or not and this gives me a peace of mind. how would the caller know if i am home or not, even if they know i am, i still make the decision whether to answer it or not, i answer it on my own time and that goes for my cellphones.i have reasons for answering the calls or not.i do not like to be annoyed so i don't let myself get affected by it.
1 person likes this
@tigerdragon (4297)
• Philippines
6 Jul 07
do you remember the principle of "the secret"? don't worry, be happy!
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
6 Jul 07
Well I became a lot happier now since I was working on my stock photo listing for an hour or so..to be continued working on tomorrow....hehe---I don't obviously let the phone rule me either as I'm not exactly leaping up to answer...she did annoy me though as I only talked to her the other day...Problem is she's just plain bored I think with not much to do with her time
@Bizziebod (3497)
•
9 Jul 07
Nope I totally agree with you. I spend alot of time working on the internet and my friends know that. I usually set aside one night a week to call my friends and do the 'social' thing. I have one particular friend though who likes to call late at night, now I usually don't mind too much as I'm up late anyways, but always say if you can't phone by 11, then don't call at all, but still I get the 11.15, 11.30 and 11.45 phone calls then they feel 'irked' if I say 'oh I'm just off to bed' at that point I would expect them to say 'oh sorry I'll call you tomorrow' but no, they keep on waffling on and then get suprised when I'm sharp with them. I think you're going to have to be straight with this friend and say - I just can't jump up and answer the phone all the time say I'm trying to set up a business and whilst I'm working I'm not socialising. If they're a true friend they'll understand. I know how hard it can be working from home so I do understand your situation - Hope it works out ok!
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
9 Jul 07
LOL--that's just it...I set a day, making it phone day/night and catch up and call just about everyone...and I did this with my friend as well..so I figure, okay I'm all set for the week without needing to call...yet here she is, calling like only a day or so after I had just called her...and its never earth-shattering stuff she wants to talk about, just to yak...I did finally call her the other night...and "explained" things to her--that one I'm doing a lot of photo work here and scanning photos,etc etc ..but I think she actually got miffed at me...yikes--well, will see how our friendship is tested now...like you said if she really is a true friend she'll understand.
@BarBaraPrz (47313)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
6 Jul 07
No, you're not wrong. You're at work. So what if you happen to work at home? You're still AT WORK. If you were in an office somewhere else, you wouldn't be able to just gab on the phone any time your friends felt like it. "The boss" would soon be having words with you.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
6 Jul 07
Well I have a very strict boss here --ME...lol....honestly I would fire myself if I yakked on the phone or goofed off--LOL
2 people like this
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
6 Jul 07
nah.
if i'm working on something,i don't answer the phone either.if the call is that important,they can say so on the message,then i'll pick it up.
most of the people who call me know to email if i don't answer,i could be working.
i get a lot of "one ring" phonecalls,not worth even getting up til the second ring anyhoo :)
1 person likes this
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
6 Jul 07
OMG..can you imagine all the PM's you'd get?
yikes! LOL
exactly why i got rid of msn messenger.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
6 Jul 07
Well maybe it's lucky in a way she doesn't have a computer..that way she can't e-mail me...she probably have a ton of them sent to me...LOL
1 person likes this
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
6 Jul 07
I'm not a phone person at all..even in my teens, I was not one to yak on the phone. My close friends all know how i feel about chatting on the phone. My mother sounds like your friend. she calls me a zillion times a day...just to touch base on the latest book she has read or to vent all her aches and pains or just to hear my voice. she will keep me on the line for an hour or more. It breaks my concentration and mood for what i was doing prior to her call. I feel bad. she is my mom and I would like to be close to her but she is so overbearing sometimes! Then I feel guilty for avoiding her calls. I can only use the "must of been in the shower" excuse or "ran to the store"
just so often. She knows I avoid her calls and why. I work alot of hours. I just do not have hours of each of my days off to devote to chatting on the phone. Besides the phone calls, I do take her to all of her doctor appointments and run errands for her as well. It isn't as if I ignore her. I have a daughter that requires my attention as well. I hate phones!!
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
6 Jul 07
LOL--I've never been much of a phone person either, even when I was younger---yes that can be so annoying when someone constantly calls...I find my momentum and train of thought goes right out the window and takes me awhile to get organized again--well as for hating phones...lets blame its inventor...Alexander Graham Bell...hehee
@Katlady2 (9904)
• United States
6 Jul 07
Ok....before I go on to answer your question, I have to say that we are so much alike that it's getting a bit eerie. LOL. Your computer's in the living room...mine's in the living room. Your phone's in the hall....mine's in the hall. Answering machine screens your calls....well, you get the drift. You know that "great minds" quote? I think the author had us in mind. Hehehehe! Now on to the question. YES! I have had days that I just want to throw the phone and the darned answering machine under the truck tire and run them over a few times. My best friend, who only lives about 5 miles away, calls me every single day. And if I don't answer the phone the first time, she will call at least 7 more times throughout the day. Don't get me wrong...I love her like she is my own sister. But after 5 years of friendship, you'd think she'd learn that there are days that I don't want to answer the darned phone. My neighbor laughs at me because sometimes he can hear me yelling "WHAT?" at the phone while it's still ringing. And he can hear me telling it off too. I keep hoping that one of these days my friend will get the clue and ease up. But at that point, knowing me, I will probably start wondering what is wrong with her or if she's ticked off with me. AAAARRRRRRGH! I can't win either way! LOL
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
6 Jul 07
Maybe we're "mirror" souls or something...that is eerie....to have the same exact arrangement!! Ah yes, the two of us..great minds..geniuses...hehe
Sounds like my friend and your friend are so much alike too--I've known my friend for ages too--about fifteen years actually, so longer, and she's also like a sister to me
Oh and you got me laughing--I sometimes wonder if my neighbors can hear me being oh, so ladylike and verbal when the phone rings---One of my favorites...the phone rings...I listen to the message...while it's doing that I say out loud.."If that's you Cherie I'm going to scream" It's her..okay maybe don't quite scream but I'll shout out..."Could you get a life?" and of course I shout out a few things that I dare not type here...LOL--and I do the same too...when the phone rings in general will shout...WHAT! too--
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
9 Jul 07
I don't think you're wrong for being ticked off. I feel much the same as you and I know people think I spend too much time on the computer. No matter what I do here, it's my business...my time, my life. I consider this work to a degree. It keeps me occupied, interested and gives me the chance to make friends, and earn a few bucks as well. Sure, I have other chores I should be doing but I get to them in my breaks, eventually.
As for the phone...luckily I'm on dial-up so I don't get interrupted but when it does ring it always seems to be when I'm doing something.
I have a friend who knows I'm always on-line every morning anytime up till about 11am. He rang three times last Friday in the space of about 10 minutes and left a message that he wanted me to come over (I have message bank). What was the point of doing this when he knows I won't get the message??? His mother rings me then complains that I'm ignoring her when I don't answer the phone. It's so annoying and I don't see why I should be at their beck and call anyway.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
9 Jul 07
Oh you're so right....I consider whatever I do in front of a computer as "work" and maybe I do spend a lot of time in front of a computer, but like so what? It's my business what I do here--that's nervey of his mother calling you thought and complaining about ignoring her--yeesh!
@sumofalltears (3988)
• United States
6 Jul 07
I hate the phone, and I hate cell phones. My daughter has a phone on each ear sometimes, and more power to her. I never answer the phone unless I have too....nine times out of ten it is for my daughter anyways. The odds are probably higher than that but I'm giving myself some leeway...lol. I don't have a lot of friends to keep track of, so the phone is really not a necessity for me.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
6 Jul 07
I don't have scores of friends either in my real life...LOL...but at least most know not to bother me all the time ...I think I have more friends here at myLot actually--and you're one of them :)
@vickyrocks17 (249)
• India
6 Jul 07
i dont its wrong because everyone has his or her own personal life and he should be allowed to enjoy it freely. the phones sometimes pose to be quite a nuisance. sometimes i am doing an imp work on my pc and my phone starts ringing. then i have to get up and recieve it. such are lifes dearies
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
7 Jul 07
Well I have a habit of not answering if I'm doing my work...my work often comes first..not to yak with someone who just wants to tell jokes...and unfortunately that's what my friend wants to do
@irishmist (3814)
• United States
6 Jul 07
The work that you do at home is very important, and you should explain this to her one more time. Perhaps you could set up times when you can call her, so you won't be disturbed while you are working. Explian to her how important this is to you, and how you need to concentrate on what you are doing. I don't feel you are wrong for being ticked off at all. In our house the phone is always busy. The main phone is in my bedroom, as it is connected to my computer, so I get to hear it ring all the time. We have digital and I can see who is calling on my TV, even when the phone is not in my room, and yes it is so annoying! Most times when someone calls me and I'm doing something on my computer. I will talk to them, but only half listen to what they are saying.Lol the next time I talk to them I will be like no, I don't remember you saying that to me lol. Or if someone calls, I just say it's not a good time, and I can't talk at the moment. can I call you back later. Just be up front with her. Hopefully she will get the hint.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
6 Jul 07
The weird thing is, is that this is relatively a recent development here...In the past, I would call her once a week, yak away,gossip, catch up on things, then that was that...until the next week...So I would say it's been the past month or two that say we talk one night..okay did my weekly call..or so I thought...she'd then call a day or so later...what..does she forget we actually only talked? And mainly it's just to tell jokes..she's famous for telling jokes..I don't know how many times I've explained to her if I'm in the middle of scanning photos...no can do to answer the phone--I just might call her up tomorrow and really have it out with her...not nasty..but I really have to let her know once and for all where my priorities are...not to be on the phone listening to jokes...yeesh
@drannhh (15219)
• United States
16 Nov 07
That is why I love VOIP phones, with all the features and free (or nearly free) extra lines where you can change the numbers around from time to time. We have one line for each purpose--1) very close friends and important business contacts of the sort who would never about the phone = the only phone that rings into our home, 2) a line that goes directly to voice mail, but it rings once to let me know someone is leaving a message, 3) a line that goes directly to voicemail, silently, but I check for messages every 2 weeks or so and answer them if I feel like it, and the then, 4) the junk line. I give this number to anyone who asks for it, but the calls go to voicemail and mostly deleted without screening. The equivalent of a "round file" for phone calls. Then there is call blocking on each line for the real pests. If anyone asks why I didn't return their calls, I can say "Oh, did you call?" or "I guess I was busy" or "Was it something really important?" BTW, I don't answer the door, either. Friends who don't have a computer? HUH? I'd say, too bad, let me know when you get a life! Wow, this was 5 months ago! By now your problem is long solved. If not, good luck!
