Wednesday, September 06, 2006

Cellular Breakdown


Today while I was slumming catching up on my Blogroll visitations, Monty asked a burning personal question of her readers: "Have you ever pretended to be talking on your cell phone just to avoid to talk to someone, only to have it ring?" She added, "Neither have I." [sic]

A few of the comments left on her post included some who fessed up to this deed. I was about to comment that I was guilty of this faux pas, but then I decided that my incident was a 'little' different. It was different enough to merit a posting of its own. (Thanks Monty, I didn't know what to post tonight.)

Having a cell phone ring while you are pretending to be talking to someone is most certainly an embarrassing moment. You've heard of melt-downs, i.e., The China Syndrome, but I experienced a major breakdown on the 'cellular level' one day.

I was cornered by a young lady that I've known for several years

- (details withheld to protect the guilty) - who can talk at length about any subject as long as it includes herself in her diatribes. If talking was a virtue, this lass is already eligible for Sainthood.

I was between clients and had a schedule to keep, and there was no way that I wanted to be standing there listening and helpless to get a word in edgewise. Excusing myself, I began to walk away, only to have her fall into step beside me, her tongue still wagging like the 'early warning system' of a rattlesnake.

Ah, sweet salvation! My cell phone began ringing!
(My ringtone is the very distinctive theme to "Star Trek: Generations.") I worked out an immediate but desperate plan of escape. I would not answer the phone! I would let it ring three times, and while pulling it out the holster I would shut the phone off in the same movement. Then I would 'answer it' and make up some emergency from the 'caller.' It was perfect. It was flawless!

The phone stopped after only two rings but I proceeded as planned. My performance would have been worthy of an Oscar nomination, so convincing was my 'conversation' with the party on the other end.
(I was already formulating my acceptance speech at that moment.)

Yes, it "would" have been worthy - had I pulled out my cell phone!

She suddenly lashed out at me, "Asshole! Always the comedian. Well, you're not funny!" With that she turned and walked away in a huff. (I haven't seen or heard from her in six months since that day.)

Now I suppose you want to know what I was talking into, if not my cell phone, right? Wasn't it embarrassing enough without putting it on screen for the world to read? Okay! Okay, I'll tell you.

That particular day I was wearing two holsters, both approximately the same size and weight on my belt. One was the cell phone, similar to the one pictured above. The other contained my handy Tool Mate. It is one of those multiple-tool gadgets with a small hammer, pliers, several screw drivers, a mini-flashlight, a level, a tape measure, etc.

The Tool Mate is a very handy gadget. You can use it for just about anything - except taking phone calls!

(Hmm, if I'd had one of these that day...)

No.740

13 comments:

Merle said...

Hi Mike ~~ Well you were caught out nicely with thatthere Multi-tool !!
Thanks for your comments. The new site seems to be going OK. That was a good joke about the missing "R"
Take care, Merle.

Jack K. said...

ROTFLMAO.

You gotta love it.

I guess you won't have to put up with her diatribes until you decide you are ready for them.

Nicely done, Hale, nicely done.

Keep up the good works. lol, chuckle, giggle, snerx and a great guffaw.

Peter said...

The Lord works in mysterious ways Mike, and he has a sense of humour too.

JunieRose2005 said...

:) Mike,

That's a very funnt story!

Maybe the lady learned from that experience!

Junie

Webmiztris said...

lol! to hell with her - she obviously has no sense of humor...nor a sense of when to shut the hell up!

Carolyn said...

Hahahaha! I agree w/Webmiztris ;D
But I thought you were gonna say you pulled out a condom, lol!

This reminds me of incidents too, but I should post them on my own blog since nothing else has "rang a bell", hahahaha!

wazza said...

Gidday Mike, yep that was funny about the cell phone. Don't hava cell phone myself. Friends still think I live in the dark ages and up until a year or so they considered I was still in the dinosaur age 'cos I was still taping on VHS and not on DVD, altho" I had a DVD, but not a recorder. Ah some people aren't easily to please.
Part II of the Stooges is up and running, but it's turning out bigger than Ben Hur 'cos there will now be a Part III.

Shannon akaMonty said...

BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Now THAT'S funny.

See, I got away with a mysterious smile and a single word:
"Rehearsal."

:D

Shannon akaMonty said...

And I TOTALLY WANT ONE OF THOSE BANANA PHONES!!!!!

jules said...

Yeah, Monty wants a banana phone...but not to talk on. I know this woman too well!

Anonymous said...

That is such a funny story!!!!

Anonymous said...

Pop around for a visit - www.newmomontheblogg.blogspot.com

Zambo said...

Hey There!

I like that banana cell phone cover idea! I'd probably chew the heck out of it though...Force of habit...

Take care out there!

Your Pal,

Zambo.