Ummm....Hi

I have a serious problem when it comes to leaving phone messages. It all started because I have had even more of a problem when it comes to forgetting what I call people about. So, I feel like I need to tell the person why I am calling in the message. I can't just say... "Hi. This is Stephanie. Call me back." Generally, this is how a phone message to a friend who is coming over to dinner might go...

Hi, this is Stephanie. Okay, so I'm really excited that you guys are coming over tonight. Give me a call back and we'll talk about what time.

This should be enough, right? No. Now I'm thinking, well, I'm out right now and I'm not sure when I'll be back. Does she have my cell phone number?

I'm on my cell right now but I'll be back home in about...

This is where it starts to get bad. I haven't thought this through and now I'm not sure when I'll be back, so instead, I will list all of the things I need to do before I get back home so she can figure out when I will be back on her own...

Well, I need to stop at Target and then I'm going running and then I'm going to pick up Addison from school, so I'll be home after that...

Wait... Addison has karate tonight.

But Addison has karate at 4:00, so I'll be gone for a little while for that, but then I'll be home.

Ok. That's good. Oh! I forgot to give her my cell number! That was the point of this ramble right?

So, anyway, my cell number is *******.

Now I can't remember... does she usually call on my cell phone or my home phone? I better give her my home phone number too. This is getting really long, talk fast...

My home number is *******. Maybe you already know that.

Did I find out if they are allergic to any foods or have any particular aversions?

I know you don't like fish, but you're okay otherwise, right? Tom's a vegetarian so hopefully you're not against that. Just call me back and tell me about your dietary habits.

Did I just say dietary habits in a phone message?!

Oh my gosh,

I said that out loud. I have to stop this... This is where the # button can sometimes be my saving grace or it can drive the nail into the coffin. On some voicemail programs, when you push the # button, it gives you options such as "Review your message" or "Continue where you left off". Number 3 is what I'm looking for, "ERASE AND RE-RECORD". I love that option. If you've received a phone message from me that is 20 words or less, I have almost certainly used option #3.

Sometimes, though, after I push #, I hear the sweet, calm voicemail message lady say, "Thank you. Your message has been sent."

Oh no.

This is where I long for the days of answering machines and breaking into houses to steal the tapes. (Have you seen that Gilmore Girls where Lorelai steals the tape from Luke's answering machine? That's what I'm talking about. I love that episode.) No luck though. People often call me back wondering if I'm okay because my message ended so abruptly.

All I can do now is just hope that the person on the receiving end will actually call me back so that I can explain my problem with phone messages, and that they will still come to dinner.

(I'm glad you did Meridth and Edward).