Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Make it Stop!


Image from Flickr.
Very rare Green 332 Bakelite Telephone, originally uploaded by Old Telephones.

It never fails...I get absorbed in a good book...comfy and cozy on the couch...RING! RING! RING! It startles me every time. It might be different if it was someone I actually wanted to talk to. These days it's a bill collector who can't remember Stephanie does not live here, someone trying to sell me a timeshare, or an ex. Everyone I want to talk to has my cell phone number and more than half the time I don't answer that, either. I'd rather speak in person. I don't even call my Wyoming crush. That's makes me a bit odd, I know.

Why do I even have a home phone? The only reason I can think of is to give the number to people I don't want to talk to so they can leave a message. Like my ex. My divorce papers state I must provide my phone number, but they don't state I have to answer the phone. He likes to call at dinnertime. If you interrupt my dinner, there'd better be some blood or something on fire.

It's been ringing all day! That's it! The ringer is off. I'll check messages and return calls...maybe...

Aaah...nice and peaceful. Now I just need a glass of wine and a bubblebath.

27 comments:

Brian Miller said...

a bubble bath might just do the trick...have not had a home phone in about 7 or 8 years...

Maria said...

I seldom answer the phone. I check caller id and then shake my head and saunter away.

Anonymous said...

Much respect upon this entry of yours. First thing I do when returning home, is to close the mobile and change clothes.
Agree with you that people should do respect the four walls of others more.
A wonderful start into the Thursday of yours.

Kelly said...

We have to have a land line since the cell reception is not good where we live. I'll admit that I use my caller ID to screen calls.

As for my cell, I don't usually give that number out unless it's to people I don't mind hearing from. Even then...calls can still be screened.

jack69 said...

In the past few years phones have become a nuisance. There was a time when it was only used for the absolutely necessary communications, now folks call because they are driving and they are bored. Of the wife is inside shopping, etc.
I see youhandle it the best way possible.

I like bakelite, but not in green!! haha

sage said...

Caller ID and answering machines are a taste of heaven...

Unknown said...

A land line with Caller ID is great. Also, in the event of an emergency at home and your cell is out of service. Many thanks for your kind words of condolences over at my site. Much appreciated, Jen!

Jana said...

Hi, I love these old phones, so chubby and antiquey looking.

Next time you get a call and you don't want them to call you back...scream as loud as you can into the receiver!

Full-On-Forward said...

I love caller Id and even better when it shows up on a 47 inch HD TV!

I really don't want to talk to yo' butt then!!!! LOL,

Beautiful retro pic!

John

Heather said...

I have a home phone mostly so I can have internet and super long conversations with my mother.

A bubble bath sounds so good right now!

Tempo said...

Whats a home phone?
Never had one...dont intend to.
Lots of people in OZ dont have a landline (over 30%)
Let me get this right....YOU pay for a phone..so people you dont like and dont want to talk to, can call you at inopportune times?

LL Cool Joe said...

I just leave the answer phone on, I never answer it!

A wildlife gardener said...

I love our ansaphone, for no other reason than I can delete all the nonsense which comes into my life via the phone...and it's great pretending to be out when I don't want to be disturbed, and having the luxury of returning the call, or not, at my convenience :)

buffalodick said...

That's why there is caller I.D....I don't answer the land line at all!

Debby@Just Breathe said...

I am with you all the way on this one. My dad calls a few times a week but other then that it is never anyone I need to talk to.
My daughter who is 28 and has OCD use to call me several times a day. Just hand up and she would call again. Therapy has helped with that and that makes me so happy. My blood would boil at the sound of the phone.
My husband would say don't answer. How can you not answer your daughter's calls? I seldom answer my cell phone. Actually give me your email people, I don't like talking on the phone much anymore. Remember how awesome it was when we were little. Sorry about this soapbox I'm on. Thanks for stopping over yesterday. Nice to meet you.

Jen said...

@Brian Miller: 7 or 8 years? I'm way behind.

@Maria: I don't even look at the caller ID any more. They need to leave a message and identify themselves.

@athens: There are certain people who have very little respect for boundaries...good thing I learned how to turn the ringer off.

@Kelly: I'm surrounded by trees and the cell often hangs up on people. I'm usually ready to hang up when it happens, though.

@jack69: I don't like when people call me while they're driving. I don't want to listen to them die when they crash!

@sage: Agree!

@Michael Manning: That's true. After the hurricane, FEMA turned off our cells and the land lines were all we had.

Jen said...

@Jana: They used to suggest we blow a whistle into the phone when we got prank calls until they discovered it actually encouraged the pranksters to call more. I wonder if that would have the same effect? I know my ex would get off on knowing he's annoying me.

@John McElveen: It shows up on your TV? That would be even more annoying than the stupid lady with the flashlight that keeps popping up. Can you make it stop?

@Heather: Yes, mine is bundled with my DSL. I'm not sure I can turn off just the phone.

@Tempo: That is correct. I pay to have them harrass me. Just like I pay politicians to pass stupid laws that they don't even bother to enforce.

@LL Cool Joe: Me too! Now I can't even hear it ring and the quiet is wonderful! I'll check the machine every once in a while. After I do the dishes...and wash the windows...and all the more pleasant chores...

@a wildlife gardener: is there a way to delete them all at once without listening first?

@buffalodick: I should put in a fresh battery so I can actually read the caller ID.

@Just Breathe: I always accept calls from my daughter, too.

Full-On-Forward said...

April--LMBO!! Yes ma'am you can turn it off--But I love having the power to Ignore CARPET MASTER as a I lay back and never move!!

I do sometimes wonder if they can see me!!!

LOL

J

Debby@Just Breathe said...

Thanks again for your visit - if only I could remember to bring my bags with me:)
We have more recycling then we have trash!

Vince said...

Disconnect the bloody thing from the wall. Or if its one that needs a charge, let it run down. Then plug the thing in for an hour a day between say 7-8.

Saumya said...

I completely agree with you. I ignore the home phone now; such a disturbance!!! Unplug that cord next time you cuddle up with your novel :)

Minka said...

You made me think now: I actually get the calls from most people I care about on my cell phone! I could probably live without the other one now... Caller ID is great. If I'm not in the mood to talk to my ex, I just don't. Or call back.

Jen said...

@Vince: I turned the ringer off. People can call all day and I don't have to listen.

@Saumya: It is a horrible disturbance and I definitely will.

@Minka: We have storms that knock out cell service so it's probably a good idea to keep it for emergencies...but I can't think of any other reason I would need it.

Jocelyn said...

I HATE the phone and love caller ID. Not carrying a cell phone is a boon, too.

For me, I prefer emails, so I can get to them when and how I want to.

Keep that ringer off!

Jen said...

@Jocelyn: It makes me nervous not to have my cell phone because my daughter might call. I prefer emails as well.

gayle said...

The older I get the less I like answering the phone!! So I usually don't!!

Jen said...

@gayle: I can't remember the last time I answered my land line. The older I get the less I like making phone calls, too.

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