Annie's Mailbox®, May 7
by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar
Dear Annie: My mother has always been a strong presence in my life. Growing up, I couldn't do anything right. She took things away from me and redid them, or stood over me and directed.
Three years ago, my husband suggested we move my parents in with us because their neighborhood had become drug and gang infested and we feared for their safety. Dad has Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, which have greatly slowed his movements, but he is still able to feed, bathe and dress himself. However, l ...
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5 Comments | Post Comment
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Posted by: BB
Comment: #1
Thu May 7, 2009 10:31 AM
Excellent advice to leave your name and telephone number first, spelling your name if it is difficult, then leaving a message - try to leave a topic sentence - This is John Smith at 333-333-3333 and I'm calling about lawn service.
I try to leave my name and phone number again in case it got cut off somehow.
In addition to professional sounding voicemail instructions, please use an email address that is, at the least, neutral, especially for business correspondence. hotmamma234@yahee.com doesn't leave a good impression. You can get a free account at yahoo.com and aol.com. Most ISPs allow you to set up more than one email address, too.
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Posted by: Joannakathryn
Comment: #2
Thu May 7, 2009 1:38 PM
LW1--get a lock for your bedroom door, or let your mom get a nice "surprise" the next time she pokes her head in. As far as the kitchen stuff, I'd have exploded at her long ago. She takes advantage because you let her. We have several people in our neighborhood who built their homes with "in-law apartments" and they all respect each other's locks or it wouldn't work.
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Posted by: Abby Schueller
Comment: #3
Thu May 7, 2009 7:11 AM
I would just like to add to Realtor in Oregon who made a comment about message etiquette. I work in human resources and will call and make job offers and set up interviews with applicants on a daily basis. Nothing turns me off more from an applicant to get a cell phone voicemail that states "This is Bob and I just probably don't want to talk to you so leave a message" or "You know what to do". Some people find it amusing to have two minutes of a song that has been recorded off of the radio. I have even called applicants and gotten the sound of a toilet flushing. If you are applying for jobs or use your phone number for business, make your messages appropriate. I have passed on applicants because of vulgar message intros. Just wanted to vent and sympathise with Realtor.
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Posted by: Abby Schueller
Comment: #4
Thu May 7, 2009 7:11 AM
I would just like to add to Realtor in Oregon who made a comment about message etiquette. I work in human resources and will call and make job offers and set up interviews with applicants on a daily basis. Nothing turns me off more from an applicant to get a cell phone voicemail that states "This is Bob and I just probably don't want to talk to you so leave a message" or "You know what to do". Some people find it amusing to have two minutes of a song that has been recorded off of the radio. I have even called applicants and gotten the sound of a toilet flushing. If you are applying for jobs or use your phone number for business, make your messages appropriate. I have passed on applicants because of vulgar message intros. Just wanted to vent and sympathise with Realtor.
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Posted by: Jan
Comment: #5
Thu May 7, 2009 8:43 AM
I'd like to add another thought to the party leaving a message. Say your name and give your number first, then give your message. That way one doesn't have to listen to the entire message again just to get the phone number.
People tend to drone on with the message and then as they come to the end they speed up and rattle off the phone number real fast and it is frequently indistinct.
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