My bad luck ever affects phones...
Alright, so, as previously stated: I’m back! Not with a vengeance or anything though, just normal, calm Justin.
What have I been doing to keep myself sane? Why I’m glad you asked. Sadly, I think the prospect of the question is ten times more entertaining than the answer. But, if you must know, I have been searching for a job (now and forever it seems, though I’ve been a bit lax in that area lately), falling down stairs, talking on the phone (something that has become a much bigger part of my life than I ever thought it would), surviving the cruel summer heat, breaking new items that come into Global Folk Art, and adjusting to the lifestyle of living by myself (technically).
I’ve been spending numerous hours on the phone as of late, but that is nothing to complain about, as I have enjoyed ever single second of it. It is strange to think of what my conversations on the phone used to be (one-worded responses, awkward silence that could reach deafening heights, and most calls were lucky if they could make it ten minutes, hell, five even) compared to the they are today (just think of the complete opposite). Of course, I still do convert back to my old ways if I find myself talking with someone I would really rather not be, or if I am too tired to even think straight (sorry Jessica). I really have to thank Sandi (distortedtears) for being the key factor in sparking the change and my dear Theresa (blatherskite_) for putting up with my endless babble for hours on end, literally.
There have been some oddities with this newfound freedom though, oddities that are mainly emanating from my phone itself.
Take yesterday for example:
I had decided to call Theresa, a highlight of the day might I add, and check up on her. Well, after punching in numerous numbers (damn phone cards!) I waited patiently for the dialing beeps to start. The problem was that they never did. I was a bit confused by this and started muttering odd things to myself, perhaps hoping that the sound of my voice would cause my phone to start working right. After thirty seconds of nothing I decided to hang up and try again. This time, thankfully, the phone decided to cooperate with me. Imagine my surprise (and slightest bit of embarrassment) when Theresa tells me that, just a minute ago, her phone rang, yet no one said “hello” back to her when she answered it. Instead, she was greeted with my mumbling voice while I was talking to myself. Apparently, the phone call had went through, but for some reason my phone was not responding at all. I couldn’t hear her, but somehow she could hear me saying this and that to myself before hanging up to try again.
Later, as we were in the middle of one of our discussions, my phone started to make an assortment of clicking noises (though it usually does this). They were nothing to really bother us, just something that was noted at first and, though they would continue, be completely forgotten about the next second…this time, however, the clicks seemed to get louder by the second. Every time I began to say something, the clicks would instantly start up, cutting me off and seemingly mocking me (bastards!). I had to switch phone to fix the problem. A bit of an explanation here: We have three different phones in the house (not counting the cell phone…I hate those), two of which being cordless. If one doesn’t work, then another is sure to…or so I thought.
The conversation continued as normal, with no clicks to cut me off. It only took a scant few moments for a different problem to arise though, as my phone started to make high-pitched screeching sounds (almost like nails sliding up and down a chalk board, but not quite as bad). No matter what room I went to, the screeching sound continued to surge from the phone, at times overriding the sound of either of our voices. I made jokes of aliens coming to abduct me, but the absurd thought truly did cross my mind as being “reasonable” at one point. I switched out phones again, this time using the phone with a blasted cord, and that seemed to stop the problem in its tracks.
Twenty minutes later, I switched phones again (I’m not a big fan of cords and figured that the cordless phone would be fine by now). I’ll be damned if not five minutes after going back to the cordless there was a shrill scream (not uttered by Theresa or I) that seemingly shot out of the phone and pierced my ear. I was able to yell “Damn!” before the phone just died on me. At that point I started to heavily consider the possibility of out phone, or perhaps the phone line, being possessed by something (Yes, I know how insane it sounds…but all of that stuff occurring within an hour is insane as well).
So you see, I have a poltergeist living in my phones...at least the cordless ones.
(more updates later, don't want to take up too much of everyone's time)
What have I been doing to keep myself sane? Why I’m glad you asked. Sadly, I think the prospect of the question is ten times more entertaining than the answer. But, if you must know, I have been searching for a job (now and forever it seems, though I’ve been a bit lax in that area lately), falling down stairs, talking on the phone (something that has become a much bigger part of my life than I ever thought it would), surviving the cruel summer heat, breaking new items that come into Global Folk Art, and adjusting to the lifestyle of living by myself (technically).
I’ve been spending numerous hours on the phone as of late, but that is nothing to complain about, as I have enjoyed ever single second of it. It is strange to think of what my conversations on the phone used to be (one-worded responses, awkward silence that could reach deafening heights, and most calls were lucky if they could make it ten minutes, hell, five even) compared to the they are today (just think of the complete opposite). Of course, I still do convert back to my old ways if I find myself talking with someone I would really rather not be, or if I am too tired to even think straight (sorry Jessica). I really have to thank Sandi (distortedtears) for being the key factor in sparking the change and my dear Theresa (blatherskite_) for putting up with my endless babble for hours on end, literally.
There have been some oddities with this newfound freedom though, oddities that are mainly emanating from my phone itself.
Take yesterday for example:
I had decided to call Theresa, a highlight of the day might I add, and check up on her. Well, after punching in numerous numbers (damn phone cards!) I waited patiently for the dialing beeps to start. The problem was that they never did. I was a bit confused by this and started muttering odd things to myself, perhaps hoping that the sound of my voice would cause my phone to start working right. After thirty seconds of nothing I decided to hang up and try again. This time, thankfully, the phone decided to cooperate with me. Imagine my surprise (and slightest bit of embarrassment) when Theresa tells me that, just a minute ago, her phone rang, yet no one said “hello” back to her when she answered it. Instead, she was greeted with my mumbling voice while I was talking to myself. Apparently, the phone call had went through, but for some reason my phone was not responding at all. I couldn’t hear her, but somehow she could hear me saying this and that to myself before hanging up to try again.
Later, as we were in the middle of one of our discussions, my phone started to make an assortment of clicking noises (though it usually does this). They were nothing to really bother us, just something that was noted at first and, though they would continue, be completely forgotten about the next second…this time, however, the clicks seemed to get louder by the second. Every time I began to say something, the clicks would instantly start up, cutting me off and seemingly mocking me (bastards!). I had to switch phone to fix the problem. A bit of an explanation here: We have three different phones in the house (not counting the cell phone…I hate those), two of which being cordless. If one doesn’t work, then another is sure to…or so I thought.
The conversation continued as normal, with no clicks to cut me off. It only took a scant few moments for a different problem to arise though, as my phone started to make high-pitched screeching sounds (almost like nails sliding up and down a chalk board, but not quite as bad). No matter what room I went to, the screeching sound continued to surge from the phone, at times overriding the sound of either of our voices. I made jokes of aliens coming to abduct me, but the absurd thought truly did cross my mind as being “reasonable” at one point. I switched out phones again, this time using the phone with a blasted cord, and that seemed to stop the problem in its tracks.
Twenty minutes later, I switched phones again (I’m not a big fan of cords and figured that the cordless phone would be fine by now). I’ll be damned if not five minutes after going back to the cordless there was a shrill scream (not uttered by Theresa or I) that seemingly shot out of the phone and pierced my ear. I was able to yell “Damn!” before the phone just died on me. At that point I started to heavily consider the possibility of out phone, or perhaps the phone line, being possessed by something (Yes, I know how insane it sounds…but all of that stuff occurring within an hour is insane as well).
So you see, I have a poltergeist living in my phones...at least the cordless ones.
(more updates later, don't want to take up too much of everyone's time)