Phone Calls

Sometimes I sleep until nine AM; sometimes even ten AM. Slothful, wasteful, sinful; I guess. I’m not about to defend why people who can work until three AM might want some sleep. Usually I have the phone’s ringer off on the theory that people who absolutely have to contact me by phone have my cell number. Did I mention that since the age of email I hate the phone?

Unless I’m catching up with people I haven’t seen or heard from in awhile it always feels like a waste of time better used at the computer or in face to face contact with people or watching TV or just about anything. It’s usually political this time of year; the political phone calls began yesterday, and I didn’t appreciate the one that came yesterday.

It was too early for November and the second day of Rosh Hasahanah which I don’t celebrate–I’m a one day a holiday Jew at best. But in New York; it’s tacky to call on anybody’s religious holidays.

Okay I almost didn’t vote in the primary because my phone hadn’t stopped ringing for at least a month; by two weeks before the primary I was averaging four calls an hour–I had the ringer off but would watch it light up; by the week before the primary I almost decided to cut my land line completely.

I wasn’t going to vote in protest, but who would have known? What good would it have done?

This morning I happened to be up at 8:15; it’s a mold farm day. Yicky, humid, my head hurts, my eyes itch. All I wanted out of life was an hour more sleep. But the world doesn’t revolve around me much as I would like it to.

Just as I was about to step into the shower the phone rang. It was my fault; I had forgotten to turn the ringer off.

I bought a Dell laptop last spring. The customer service person sounded miffed when I asked why he was calling at 8:15 in the morning. I hadn’t called with a complaint; this was a courtesy service call and I assume a pitch to buy something. Didn’t ask where he was calling from; probably not even from the United States; probably some country where every person happily gets up at five AM and talks about stupid Americans who are too lazy to be bothered to speak on the phone at 8:15 in the morning.

Am I wrong in assuming that most people are busy at 8:15 in the morning? That it’s a time few people want to talk about their computers? That families with kids are harried; that people take showers, drink coffee,have morning rituals that don’t include customer service calls?

When I asked why he was calling at 8:15 in the morning; he sounded as if I were being sinful, slothful and generally lazy. I had almost slipped on the marble as I ran to pick up the phone on the theory that only family or close friends would call with something important at that hour.

Did I mention that as soon as I bought the Dell I realized I no longer use regular programs and could have bought a Mac? That I really really want one, and wouldn’t have to feel guilty about buying from Michael Dell–got yelled out for buying from the political enemy. But it’s a good product at a good price.

Life would have been a lot easier; I would have bought a Steve Jobs product and felt much better about myself. I could have easily imported photos to my blog. Could have…who cares.

My computer could have crashed last night; it could have refused to do anything; and I would have still said “fine,” when the customer service rep called. But maybe that’s why he called so early. Maybe he knows that most people have neither the time nor the inclination to talk about their computers at 8:15 in the morning. Maybe he hit on an easy way to make his call quota.

Whatever. I have a blog that people actually read, and yes that continually amazes me. But I can get out all my verbal animosity, and tonight or tomorrow it will be back to Zack–love saying that; where Pia begins to spill all.

However first: note to self; make a lot of money very quickly and buy a Mac.