Hi my name is Jill and I am a non-caller-backer
January 3, 2008 | Filed under: Stuff
Have a shot of Heart Patient sledding at the speed of light (as middle kids tend to do) while I tell you my issues. Or at least one of them, because trust me, there isn’t enough time. Anyway, I have no idea what is the matter with me, but I have a little call back problem.
As in I don’t do it.
Seriously. I don’t return phone calls. I don’t know why. It’s not because I don’t like the people who call me. I do! After all, it’s family, it’s friends, it’s everyone I care about.
Apparently, I’m an equal opportunity non-caller-backer.
And I have no excuse. Except I have three kids (all girls, all close together, which I don’t recommend) and a full time job and laundry and dishes and a house that seems to collect crap (what is up with that anyway??), and almost one hundred percent of the time I feel completely and utterly overwhelmed.
So let me just say right now. If you call me and I don’t call you back? It means I like you, so maybe you could just take it as a compliment.
And keep trying me, cuz I’m not going to try you.
P.S. Oh and get this — we’re due to have snow for the next ten days. The kids have been off school for two full weeks and I’m really really really REALLY ready for them to go back, but chances are we’ll be snowed in for a week minimum. That, folks, is called bad karma. 
We’re on blizzard watch, anticipating five to ten FEET of snow and 120 mph winds. Let me repeat — five to ten feet. Of snow. Winds strong enough to rip out trees. White out conditions.
Send cookies. And a nanny. And more cookies.
Posted by Jill @ 3:00 am | Make a Comment
Judy F says:
I used to like to talk on the phone but any more not so much. With having to deal with crabby people on the phone all day I don’t care to talk to many people when I am at home. I do call people back eventually. LOL Sometimes.
I will pray for you.
Its bitterly cold here. Barely above 0. Where is summer :hissyfit:
Posted on January 3rd, 2008 at 3:42 amStacy ~ says:
Jill I feel your pain. Hate talking on the phone. Hate. It. I have a friend who sometimes I talked to for 1-3 HOURS a day, everyday for a week, which I admit wasn’t horrible in the beginning, but after awhile, there’s nothing new to talk about. I’ve since curtailed our phone conversations to a few times a week (I don’t answer the phone when she calls) because I just don’t have time. I’d rather meet up with friends in person than talk on the phone.
Stay safe, and warm. Almost wish I was there too, so I wouldn’t have to go to work, but I’m a chicken and the cold is not my friend, so I will be grateful for where I’m at.
Posted on January 3rd, 2008 at 4:02 amElizabeth K says:
Five to ten feet. Damn.
I am a Non-Answerer. That’s what voicemail is for, right?
Posted on January 3rd, 2008 at 5:44 amStacy S says:
I’m not really a phone person myself. I hope you don’t get any snow! My hubby went back to work yesterday and my son goes back to school today! :bananadance: I’m doing my little happy dance. Love them, but man after a couple of days they are on my nerves!!
Posted on January 3rd, 2008 at 5:47 amBailey Stewart says:
You need a secretary to return your calls for you.
And here I was bemoaning the fact that I have to go to work this morning and it’s 26 degrees outside. I guess I’m such a wimp.
Posted on January 3rd, 2008 at 6:53 amCryna says:
I find I hate to talk on the phone now, I am bad at not returning calls, so friends know to just call me back because waiting for me would probably mean we would never talk. :yes:
Yikes after reading what you expect for snow, I will not complain about snow here anymore. Actually we have been quite lucky so far this winter – but I am ready for Spring.
Posted on January 3rd, 2008 at 7:35 amLiza says:
I have to talk on the phone for work most of the day, so once I get home, I don’t even make phone calls unless I have to talk to someone. I guess that is much like not returning calls…I just never really call in the first place.
Any certain type of cookies you need to deal with the snow or will any cookies do?
Posted on January 3rd, 2008 at 7:59 amJill says:
Liza — I’m not a cookie snob, anything will do. However, today it’s Mother’s double fudge chocolate because as I mentioned yesterday, they were on sale at the store, lol, and I’m nice and stocked up.
Posted on January 3rd, 2008 at 8:05 amDevon Ellington says:
I hate the telephone. I keep both my cell and my landline turned off most of the time, especially when I’m writing. I always tell people to email me — they’ll get a response faster.
We haven’t gotten much snow here yet — it’s all missing us and heading up to Boston. So I guess I’m a little glad I haven’t relocated yet.
When the snow clears and someone can actually get to the house, I’d suggest hiring a housekeeper to come in once a week, get at least some of the laundry done, and clean.
The only people I know who actually have clean houses are those who hire other people to clean them.
And, no, don’t you dare clean before the cleaning crew comes in! That’s why you pay them!
When I relocate, I’m going to have a crew come in probably every other week to do a through scrub down. I’m very good at keeping up with dishes, and I won’t let anyone do laundry, because I’m fussy (all those years doing wardrobe on Broadway), but there’s plenty of other stuff they can do.
There’s no reason you can’t make your life easier — you have three kids, you have a full time job — just because you work at home doesn’t mean it’s any less and effort — your husband has a full-time job — hire in help.
It’s only since about the 1950s that women were told they were “bad” if they didn’t spend all day scrubbing the kitchen.
Posted on January 3rd, 2008 at 8:18 amSusan says:
I am like you, Jill. I never return calls and it has nothing to do with not liking the person.
Good luck with the snow.
Smart and Sexy finally arrived yesterday! :bananadance:
Posted on January 3rd, 2008 at 8:28 amLaurie says:
Our friends and family think that our phone service is out all the time because we don’t return calls – they think our voice mail isn’t working correctly. I just let them think that. Anyone who truly needs to talk to us will try one of our cell phones, the best way to reach us. Except today, hubby tried to call me at work, called my cell phone and it started ringing in the pocket of the coat that’s hanging on the dining room chair – ooops. He hates calling the office phone b/c the receptionist “is mean to him” – remind me here – how old are we? Silly guy.
Posted on January 3rd, 2008 at 9:13 amKaren Erickson says:
Goodness I hope you don’t get as much snow as they predict but I’m below you and we’re predicted a bunch of rain so….stay safe and warm!!! :heart:
And I used to love talking on the phone but lately not so much. I’m such a hermit.
Posted on January 3rd, 2008 at 9:15 amAlice Audrey says:
Five to ten feet? That’s a lot of snow for a week, but not unheard of. What did you expect when you moved into the mountains?
Posted on January 3rd, 2008 at 10:34 amJill says:
Alice, well I expected a lot of snow, lol, and I’ve gotten it. But that five to ten feet is supposed to come within a 48 hour period, Fri to Sat, and THAT is a lot of snow for that time frame. It’s new for this city girl is all.
Posted on January 3rd, 2008 at 10:50 amGENA says:
Now that I think about it, you do owe me A LOT of return calls. I didn’t realize you like me so much. As for the cookies, will my fudge do?
Posted on January 3rd, 2008 at 11:14 amDonna M says:
Jill, if anyone sends cookies are they going to be able to reach you???!!!
I’ve been watching the weather reports & shuddering when I think about what is ahead of you! Yikes! Get thee to the store to stock up on all the necessities for the family. So unfair that this is happening just when it is time for school to get back in session.
I get a weather report emailed to me, it is predicting hurricane force winds for Friday. It doesn’t say in the mountains, hills whatever! It is raining here now, can’t complain because we sure need the wet! By the end of this weekend we are all going to be ready for sunshine! :shocked: That is sun!!!
Alice Audrey, love your comment!!!
Posted on January 3rd, 2008 at 11:46 amWendy says:
Elizabeth K, you’re so right! I rarely answer too, voicemail is the best thing ever.
I never call back either – I’ve gotten quite the number of angry emails because of it – I just hate using the phone!
Posted on January 3rd, 2008 at 12:30 pmCarolyn A. says:
Good luck in the snow department. We had a near record breaking December here in Boston, but we’re talking 27 inches or so for the whole month, not 5-10 feet! OMG! I would definitely have some more cookies if I were you.
Posted on January 3rd, 2008 at 12:51 pmMaureen says:
Good luck! I could not be in the house with my family day after day, week after week with no break at all. We would drive each other crazy.
Posted on January 3rd, 2008 at 12:56 pmCaryn says:
How funny–I’m terrible about calling people back, too! And as far as I’m concerned, the invention of e-mail just created one more way for me not to stay in contact with people.
Posted on January 3rd, 2008 at 1:17 pmGail says:
Good to know I’m not alone in this, lol!
Posted on January 3rd, 2008 at 2:04 pmnaomi says:
It hasn’t snowed much here since I got snowshoes about 6 years ago. This year it snowed a ton but I think that’s God’s gift to my dog who loved snow and spent his last days out on the deck last month having a ball. I hope you and yours are safe…and that maybe, just maybe the blizzard will down grade to just a winter storm. Or pass you buy entirely.
Posted on January 3rd, 2008 at 2:04 pmPlease Call! Please? « says:
[...] Shalvis and what did I find upon arriving (now the funny part), a post Jill had written titled  Hi my name is Jill and I am a non-caller-backer. I am not alone! So where do we sign up for the support [...]
Posted on January 3rd, 2008 at 2:17 pmspyscribbler says:
Ohmigosh, me too! I mean, I even run a business and I don’t call my clients back!!! It’s to the point where no one calls me anymore, except for new students wanting to join. That’s it. Evidently they’ve figured out that if they want a response, the only way they’re going to get it is to email me.
And I truly HATE the phone. It either interrupts me or it interrupts you.
Posted on January 3rd, 2008 at 3:05 pmJSL says:
Hi Jill!
As to the 5-10 feet of snow… I carefully studied all the smileys and these are the three that would best fit. :rotfl: :no: :wall: – possibly in chronological order.
Posted on January 3rd, 2008 at 3:13 pmAbout phone calls… well, I screen calls. And I generally pick and choose which ones to return – so that might be worse.
I live by the great lakes, but far enough away that we don’t get the *super* lake effect snow. I’m still on break – but as a student, even one in professional school… I have to admit I love the idea of a snow day. Love. Driving in it… not so much.
Diana says:
Five to ten feet of snow?! Geesh, I feel bad for complaining about the rain here.
Jill, I finished Strong and Sexy last night. What a great read! I’ve really enjoyed this series so far and CANNOT wait for Brody and Maddie’s story. I’ve been intrigued by their relationship since Smart and Sexy. Will you be posting an excerpt from Superb and Sexy in the near future? Sure hope so!
Try to stay warm!
Posted on January 3rd, 2008 at 5:57 pmBrandy says:
I don’t think I’ve ever seen 5-10 feet of snow. Ever. Wow! Stock in those cookies and a little something to have after the kids go to bed to calm your nerves. *g*
Posted on January 3rd, 2008 at 9:17 pmAs for phones, I don’t answer my home phone unless I know who’s calling and even then most call my cell-phone if they want to actually get me. And I don’t return calls either. I hate being the one calling.
Kate Hardy says:
That much snow? Scary. Haven’t seen that much snow in England for probably thirty years. Stay safe – and stock up on the cookies
Posted on January 4th, 2008 at 1:00 amMarty says:
I hate to call back, too. And it’s part of my JOB. I’d rather never pick up a phone. Maybe it’s a writer thing. See, there you go. All rationalized
Posted on January 6th, 2008 at 7:54 pm