Monday, November 12, 2012

DO NOT call me.

I am a dinosaur.  No, I’m not just alluding to the reality of how old I’m starting to feel, I’m referring to the fact that I (yes it’s true, I admit it) still have a home phone.  I talked about my addiction to my desk calendar (Put it on the Calendar), and now I’m admitting to having a home phone. Dinosaur.


Because I maintain a home phone, I’m on the “do not call” list. Do you people who’ve gone cell-only know what this means? Absolutely nothing. You go on-line, you call, you put yourself on that thing six-ways-to-Sunday and it doesn’t matter, you still get telemarketers calling you.  Most days, at least a few times a day I end up checking Caller ID and do a quick pick up-hang up routine. Often this does nothing and they keep calling back.  They’ve gotten smart and sometimes Caller ID will show a State and a phone number.  If I know someone in that State I’ll answer.

I posted on Facebook about a recent call I recounted to my husband:

Me: "telemarketers are getting so aggressive"
Husband: "what happened?"
Me: "One just called, when I picked up he literally yelled at me "DO NOT HANG UP!"
Husband: "and..."
Me: "I don't know. . . guess what I did?"


DO NOT call me | www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics

I have to admit that I do cause some of my own problems.  Although I just said that I usually just pick up and hang up, I sometimes can’t resist talking to the ones that Caller ID identifies as “Unavailable”.  I’ve been known to wait for someone to come on and say “you know, I would have loved to have talked to you, I’m even in a buying mood, too bad you’re unavailable”, and then hang up.

Let me tell you something about telemarketers. Some of these guys are seriously dangerous.  I once angered one and he phone-stalked me.  One day, a few years ago, a telemarketer called for “Joe”.  First, anyone who knows him knows that “Joe" isn’t a nickname my husband uses. Second, Husband works and isn’t home during the day, again something known to anyone who might call him.  What particularly angered me about this guy is that he picked a nickname instead of asking for Husband by his formal name deliberately to mislead me into thinking he was a friend.  So here was my mistake: I said “there’s no one here by that name”.  He said something about looking for "Joe" and mentioning our last name, and again I stated that there is no one here by that name and hung up.  I guess he figured it out because this guy declared war.  He called 2 or 3 times a day.  Different phone numbers would show up on Caller ID but it was the same guy.  Not picking up just made the calls more frequent. When I picked up, many times he’d ask for Joe, other times he’d just hang up on me.  We went in circles like this for close to a year.  I don’t know why it stopped, I’d like to think he was fired for harassing people but since that was his job, I doubt it.



Cinnamon Cranraisin Pumpkin Bread | www.BakingInATornado.com | #recipe
Cinnamon Cranraisin Pumpkin Bread



We all have cell phones, of course.  Mine is mostly turned off when I’m at home due to the aforementioned Dinosaur Phone. My kids rarely use their cells to call anyone, almost exclusively using them for web access and to text.  Pretty much the only time they call is when they pocket-dial (you know, the phone’s in their back pants pocket and they lean on something or sit down and a button gets pressed that calls the house).  I actually enjoy these pocket dials as I get to listen in on them, where they are, who they’re talking to and what they’re saying.  It’s like being a voyeur into parts of their life that I wouldn’t normally see. And they can’t blame me, I’m the pocket-dialee not the pocket-dialer.

 Lately though, they’ve been using their cells, like everything else, as a means of manipulation.  They’ll stay out late or not come home from school or do whatever they want to do. When I get angry and question why they didn’t call they generally say “I texted you”, knowing my cell wasn't on.

Just to make it clear:  
Telemarketers, STOP CALLING ME!   
Kids, CALL ME, and I don’t mean with your A$$ (butt)!

Baking In A Tornado signature | www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics



Cinnamon Cranraisin Pumpkin Bread
                                      ©www.BakingInATornado.com


Printable Recipe

Ingredients:
3 1/2 cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
2 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp nutmeg
3 cups sugar
2/3 cup water
1 cup oil
5 eggs
1 (15 oz) can pumpkin
1 cup cranraisins
3/4 cup cinnamon chips

Directions:
*Preheat oven to 350 degrees
*Grease two 9X5 loaf pans.
*Mix flour, baking soda, salt, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and sugar.
*Mix in the water, oil, eggs and pumpkin just until incorporated. Gently mix in the cranraisins and cinnamon chips.
*Bake for approximately an hour or until the center springs back to the touch.

38 comments:

  1. We normally don't have a home phone but I had to get one for the job I started. I'm getting 7-8 calls a day from telemarketers looking "Paula". I don't know Paula but if I did I would tell her to pay her damn bills and update her phone # with them. Now I just keep the ringer off and yeah, that Do Not Call list....sucks!

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    1. At this point home phones are more trouble than they're worth, without a doubt!

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  2. I am a dinosaur as well, but our home phone is primarily used for ADT. It rarely rings and when it does it a telemarketer - Suprise, Suprise! I swear my kids refuse to call, except for the occasional butt dial; texting is clearly the preferred method of communication. It makes me sick knowning that we have become so technologically savy that a lot of people are uncomfortable with verbal communication.
    Jae Mac, I'm Just Sayin'...(Damn!)

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    1. I actually had to change phones for one with a keyboard that's easier to use because my kids text more than they call. Sad.

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  3. We don't have a home phone! Thanks for another awesome recipe!

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  4. do you really call dried cranberries "cranraisins"? I've heard "craisin" before, but never "cranraisin"
    wow, you learn something new every day! that bread looks AWESOME - that will definitely go on my list of things to do this week.

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    1. Craisin, I believe, is used by one specific company who makes them. We call them, in general, cranraisins, and we're not alone...Google it!

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    2. ahhhh, and I was just chalking it up to another geographic colloquialism - I have discovered many of them in the past 2 years since moving from DC to new england.

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    3. I wrote an entire post on them. Having moved from New England to the Midwest, I may have encountered one or two (hundred).

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  5. Did you know, you can sue telemarketing companies for something like 5 or 10k if they call aand you're on the "no call list"?

    Yes. I was once a telemarketer. Shh. Don't judge. :)

    Also, when working for a heating oil company back east, I'd have to use the "don't hang up!" Trick often, since everyone always thought I was calling to "sell" them something and pick up-hang up, when in reality, I was usually calling to tell them there was some kind of heating oil emergency at their home!

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    1. I'd hope that if you were calling for a heating oil company the caller ID would name the company not say "unavailable". And as far as suing goes, I don't know how much trouble it would take to go through the whole process of proving someone called, but probably more effort than I want to give it (and yes, I know they count on that)!

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  6. We have a home phone too, but I only use my cel, so I'm basically the opposite of you. I'm not even sure why we have a home phone to be honest. It's all part of the Comcast package, so if the power goes out it's not like it's an emergency back-up. In fact, I don't even answer it because no one other than my mother, the doctor's office or crazy telemarketers ever call it. I don't ever hand that number out. I'm on the Do Not Call list as well, but still get calls. The worst are the cancer fundraising calls. I feel like a horrible human being after I hang up. Probably why I never answer the home phone!

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    1. That's funny, we are opposites. I only give out my home phone number because I don't mind getting calls when I'm out and about, but I want it to be someone I know. Everyone else can call the house. BTW, I promise not to tell your Mom about your bunching her in with the telemarketers on your "don't bother answering" list, LOL.

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  7. We must be twin dinosaurs separated at birth because I too, use a land line, and yes, everyone pokes fun at me for it. I also loathe the telemarketers, but we came up with a great solution--my husband is really good at imitating voices, so you never know what (or who) you are going to get on the answering machine. This month we have Foghorn Leghorn answering the phone. This always throws the telemarketers off--they actually stammer something and hang up. You should try it. However, that guy who repeatedly called you? THAT is creepy as hell--I would have reported his ass. Last but not least---I just can't deal with the butt dials from my kids--I really DON'T want to know what they are saying or doing--I quickly hang up when I get those calls!! I do have a cell phone--brand new b-day gift from the Hubs, but it sits with cobwebs growing all over it because I am too lazy to figure out how to use it (sigh). Funny blog post---thanks for the chuckles.

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    1. LOL, I might repeatedly call your house just to see who answers, that sounds like fun! And that guy who wouldn't stop calling, I never knew where he was calling from, and caller ID was always different. It's not like he was going to tell me. Wish Foghorn Leghorn had been here to help!

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  8. We have a land line phone as well. I live in an area where cell service is not the greatest so we have to keep the land line phone. This was a cute post.

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    1. Thinking about giving up the land line as it seems like I'm just paying for telemarketers to have a way into my home, but if I had spotty cell service in my area that wouldn't be an option, I'd keep it.

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  9. I also have a land line ... It's ridiculous because even when it rings I refuse to answer it. It could be my mother, Brian's mother and I still refuse to answer it.
    Hmm..maybe I just don't want to talk to anybody, especially family, most days, no..all the time.
    I'm horrible at answering the home phone.
    Brian yells at me every time!
    I should just get rid of the damn thing!

    Lanaya
    www.raising-reagan.com

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    1. Thinking of getting rid of mine too, it's expensive to maintain and I'm not sure I need to, but I'm having a hard time letting go!

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  10. I have a Magic Jack plus. It's $20/year long distance and local unlimited. We get almost zero telemarketers. But I'd love to prank them! http://mylifeaslucille.blogspot.com/2012/11/telemarketer-paybacks.html

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    1. I need to look into that Magic Jack thing...and I'd love to see you prank them!

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  11. lmao awesome and and ps my dh he plays really loud music for them hahaha oh and if i ever was at your house omg i'd be in love...looks like ur baking ALL the time! I'd gain so much weight but i'd love every minute...oh wait can i move in next door? hahahaha oh and ps ur award winning? http://www.chewylicious.com/blog-post-long-overdue-awards-thankyou/

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    1. Before you start checking out the house next door, remember that I bake when I'm stressed, so if I'm baking all the time think about what you'd be moving in next door to . . .

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  12. I still have a land line as well. Well....it's through my cable company and it's digital, but I have it. I DON'T have a cell phone though.
    Scary story......Jen, my co-writer, had some guy calling her saying he was from Microsoft. He kept calling and calling and calling. So I had her give him my number and he called me. Turns out, it was some psycho freak that started phone stalking us both that day, threatening us. It got so bad she had to call the cops.

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    1. Yikes. There's some really scary people out there. What scares me the most is that I don't even know who they are, but they could easily find out where I live. Don't even like thinking about it.

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  13. heheheh!! I do have a landline (isn't that another name for it?!) and my cell phone is not even a smart phone! :(
    That Rich friend sounds scary! Too bad you didn't get a chance to report him...though as you said, that stalking was probably considered his job!! :D

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    1. I think it was more scary than job, I'm just glad it finally stopped. I was starting to think it never would!

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  14. Hey girl. I have a landline as well. Thank heavens for Caller ID. I hate the phone anyway, but sometimes pick up the calls and just repeat "Hello? Hello?". I know they're doing their job, but I've never met anyone who loves a call during dinner. I put it right up there with door to door solicitors.
    Butt dialing. My kids had to explain what that was to me when I first started using my cell... Guess what? It is NOT the same thing as a Bootie Call. Eh, I'm old too :)

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    1. LOL, the first time my kids butt dialed me I had no idea what I was listening to or why. Didn't stop me from listening to them though.

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  15. I have a desk calender too. I don't have a home phone, but I am actually thinking about having one put it. Every once in a while our cell service goes out and then I miss the landline!

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    1. I'm always afraid I'll miss something while my cell is charging if I give up my land line.

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  16. We don't have a landline. Hubby and I have cell phones. Our children tell us that we need to get into the 21st century because we don't have 'smart' phones, just the plain old cell phones that make and receive phone calls ... and take the occasional picture. We don't text or surf the internet on them. Heck, we still have computers with monitors and towers. Did I mention that I was there when the wheel was invented?

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    1. I'm pretty much the same except I do text. It's the only way to get my kids to reply to me.

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  17. I made this bread last night. AMAZING! Thanks for the recipe! ~ Marcie

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    1. I'm so glad you liked it, Marcie. We love it at our house, it's always on the Thanksgiving table.

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  18. I have a landline and about 3 times a day I get calls with no one there. At night I unplug the phone because too often I was woke up by the ghost caller. I also have a wall calendar, a pocket calendar at my desk and a calendar on the bulletin board at work. I do use my calendar on my cell phone but I like the paper ones better. The wall calendar I make of family photos, the desk calendar I get from my oncologist and the work calendar is monthly I print off. Sister Dinosaur!

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