Telemarketers and other Nonsense
When I walked into my dark bedroom last night, my landline cordless phone was lit up, silently ringing. I don't use my landline at all and a year ago or so turned off all the ringers because the only people who ever called were telemarketers. I was a little bit creeped out by the lit up phone, I almost felt like there was a nefarious presence in my room; I'm not sure I've ever noticed my phone silently ringing before. So I answered it.
"Hello?"
(pause)
"Um yes, may I please speak to Christina C------?"
"This is she."
"Yes hi Christina, were you aware that your home mortgage rate will be adjusting within 90 days?"
"That's not correct."
"Did you know that your home mortgage rate will be adjusting in the near future?"
"That is also not correct." My mortgage won't adjust until 2010, which sounds like the year in a science fiction novel, not "the near future."
"What kind of loan do you have?"
"That's none of your business!" I would have thrown my drink on him. Sheesh!
"Okay..."
"Please take me off your list." Click.
I'm not normally so rude to strangers. I don't think I've sent a meal back in seven years or more. I am kind and understanding of strangers, although I generally prefer to simply avoid them. But I felt a pang of guilt for being so brusque.
Then, I noticed a missed call on my cell phone from a 936 area code. No voice mail. I'd gotten a few calls from this number recently, in the evenings, and thought I had taken care of it. Another telemarketer, one who was also swiftly disposed of. I was kicking ass and taking names, but secretly felt like a bad person for it.
Tonight I'm meeting James in Oakland with Ace and Anya to watch the Warriors Celtics game. I will eat a hot dog and drink a glass or two of Bud Light. I'd prefer more, but I'll have to drive home afterwards.
Also, I just did some calculations. If I averaged 30 mpg instead of 15 mpg with my two cars, my monthly gas spending would average $230 instead of $450. Holy cow. I had no idea I spent that much money on gas.
"Hello?"
(pause)
"Um yes, may I please speak to Christina C------?"
"This is she."
"Yes hi Christina, were you aware that your home mortgage rate will be adjusting within 90 days?"
"That's not correct."
"Did you know that your home mortgage rate will be adjusting in the near future?"
"That is also not correct." My mortgage won't adjust until 2010, which sounds like the year in a science fiction novel, not "the near future."
"What kind of loan do you have?"
"That's none of your business!" I would have thrown my drink on him. Sheesh!
"Okay..."
"Please take me off your list." Click.
I'm not normally so rude to strangers. I don't think I've sent a meal back in seven years or more. I am kind and understanding of strangers, although I generally prefer to simply avoid them. But I felt a pang of guilt for being so brusque.
Then, I noticed a missed call on my cell phone from a 936 area code. No voice mail. I'd gotten a few calls from this number recently, in the evenings, and thought I had taken care of it. Another telemarketer, one who was also swiftly disposed of. I was kicking ass and taking names, but secretly felt like a bad person for it.
Tonight I'm meeting James in Oakland with Ace and Anya to watch the Warriors Celtics game. I will eat a hot dog and drink a glass or two of Bud Light. I'd prefer more, but I'll have to drive home afterwards.
Also, I just did some calculations. If I averaged 30 mpg instead of 15 mpg with my two cars, my monthly gas spending would average $230 instead of $450. Holy cow. I had no idea I spent that much money on gas.