Comments for Claire LaZebnik

Comment on Don’t Call Me. Really. Don’t. by Claire

Claire — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:27:16 +0000

Sally, it is definitely much easier to plan things like school events by phone than by email. Personally, I’d take the inconvenience of dealing with thirty people all emailing the same “I’ll bring the frosting!” message at the same moment over having to pick up the phone to talk to any of them. But that’s definitely me! Good point about voice mails: those mostly just disappear around here too.

Comment on Don’t Call Me. Really. Don’t. by Sally

Sally — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 23:57:18 +0000

Hmmmm. I’m the Luddite who has a 1970s push button phone on the kitchen wall (with the heavy receiver/looonnnng cord). Love that phone – as it never gets lost in our messy house and it works when the power goes out (eastern seaboard AC zone, thunder storms, etc. – so it happens). My husband is the owner of the radio phones lost all over the house. Yes, we both have our gadgets – me, my blackberry. He, the iphone. I LOVE the voicemail message by the way – very funny Ann.

But… the Luddite in me HATES caller ID (though, you’ll be happy to know I don’t go so far as to block our ID). My sister answers the phone very rudely because of it (either direction). She either answers too informally (not just to me, but to her co-workers/clients/anyone) or when I answer, she spits out in rapid speed “it’s me,” with a grand sense of entitlement and is pissed off when I say “uh… who?” No, I don’t talk to either sister often – I’m the stupid one, by the way (something more human compared to my sisters’ nearly 1600 scores on the SATs). Oh, I’m one of three sisters – the smart one, the smarter one and the stupid one… none of us are pretty… lol. But, at least they both “speak” to me (as I’m non-threatening) and they save their true animosity for one another. So, I purposely keep away caller ID away from our home so that my family (including an ASD child) always answers the phone politely.

Re: phone solicitations – somehow our phone line rings three times for long distance – and I know if anyone calls with three rings at dinner time, not to answer – not only avoiding cold calls but also avoiding the smart one, the smarter one and the annoying one (mom).

But, yes – it’s gotten to the point that we should turn off our answering machine too – most communication is via email and if someone leaves a message on the answering machine – It may be days before I hear it, as I am so unused to not checking it at this point.

Facebook? Not so much. I try to steer any facebook generated conversation to email. Any in depth conversations – I actually get annoyed if they are not on the phone – as too many emails on a topic gets annoying (e.g., how are we going to fundraise for our school?). Thank you notes and holiday cards are still snail mail. And, my husband wonders why on earth am I posting on the blogsphere? Like now. lol.

Comment on Don’t Call Me. Really. Don’t. by rachelhamm

rachelhamm — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 22:40:15 +0000

I hate the phone too, but somehow it seems like the only jobs I’m qualified for include answering the phone ALL DAY LONG. I’ve mastered the art of sounding cheerful and happy to help while rolling my eyes and gesturing slitting my own throat to my co-workers.

hilarious post!

Comment on Don’t Call Me. Really. Don’t. by annie

annie — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 16:07:22 +0000

I am so with you on this one. Call I.D. rules.

Comment on Don’t Call Me. Really. Don’t. by Autismville

Autismville — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 15:55:07 +0000

Swear to God we were separated at birth! I HATE the phone .. and .. I never check my voice mail. If you can’t e-mail me or FB me, I don’t have time for you in my life ..

Changing my voice mail message right now ..

Comment on Don’t Call Me. Really. Don’t. by Ann Brown

Ann Brown — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 01:41:08 +0000

I think I found an even more dysfunctional subset to this condition we share: I no longer love emailing people now that I found Facebook. A quick bon mot (or congratulations. Or condolence. Or a break up) on someone’s Facebook wall is the best way to communicate.

Comment on The Magazine Dilemma by annie

annie — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 19:28:07 +0000

I agree with Heidi. You’re real, Claire and to your beautiful daughter, you are a perfect role model.

Comment on The Magazine Dilemma by Claire

Claire — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 20:54:21 +0000

That reminds me of something my friend said recently: she was looking at the cover of GOOD HOUSEKEEPING in a check-out line and thought, “Huh, this is really interesting. They must be targeting younger readers now, since the articles all look so appealing to me.” We laughed for a while at that one . . .

Comment on The Magazine Dilemma by Ann

Ann — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 20:48:55 +0000

I no longer read Glamour or Cosmo, but not for any politically consciousness raised reasons; it’s because they just no longer interest me. I do, however, pore over Better Homes and Gardens and House Beautiful and the Food Network magazine. It’s all the same mindfuck, really, looking at things (thighs, abs, clothes, ottomans, menus, hair, duvets) I will never have and winding up feeling a little bit sad/angry/envious along with the enjoyment of looking at pretty stuff.
Maybe it’s the female equivalent of men checking out women’s bodies?

Comment on The Magazine Dilemma by Claire

Claire — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 21:23:00 +0000

Oh, good, I’m not the only one! That makes me feel better for some reason. Maybe it’s like pornography? Fun to look at, but only because it’s NOT something we’ll ever do?