Fauxie said:

don't use a land line! just use a cell phone like me. that way you can leave it on silent and say "oops, forgot to change the ring" whenever you like.

Advice sought: How can one reverse a compulsive need to play solitaire at work when the boss is out of the office?

JasmineFire said:

I don't think you're crazy. We still have this cultural ideal of the permanent partnership, and probably a certain biological drive for it as well.

What's so wrong with holding out an ideal? Isn't that better than setting our expectations too low? Life is too short for that.

Be picky, be smart, and beat the odds.

Fauxie said:

Ok, I'm just like you. I've developed an excellent coping strategy:

I use the phone for MY CONVENIENCE. When I'm not actively expecing a call that I actually want, I leave the ringer off. I've trained my friends and family to expect faster replies if they email me. My last voicemail message even instructed people to email me.

I've also embraced text messaging as a good compromise. I don't mind receiving text messages, and so I've trained the young hip contingent of my friends to text rather than call. Sometimes when they call me I'll ignore the call but then immediately text them asking them what they want. They get the picture pretty quickly.

heartbeatocean said:

What else are you supposed to do when the boss is out of the office? Work?

As long as they are not complaining about your performance, I say solitaire away.

Unless you're looking to advance your career or some such thing, in which case you should probably make a to-do list and force yourself to do however many items from the list between each solitaire game.

I would also suggest orging rather than playing solitaire, as at least then you can go home at the end of the day and tell yourself that you mentally engaged with other human beings at least a little.

HereToRockYourWorld said:

Thank you soo much for your advice sweety! Yeah, I should hang out for a bit. I know beggars can't be choosers but I do want to wait for the right thing.


M

HereToRockYourWorld said:

MIGUELGOMEZ said:

Yep. You're way too awesome to be doing something that you don't really want to be doing.

I hope you find something really cool.

evenstar3 said:

That's not a bad idea. Last time I had a mobile phone (the only time, in fact), I bought a tiny little Panasonic one because I liked the design and shape of it. I turned it on a couple of times over the 6 months I had it but nobody ever rang me. In the end I threw it off the balcony so that when people asked about calling me I could say that it was broken and I was going to replace it. I did replace it, as I missed looking at its nice design and shape, with a Creative Zen V mp3 player. I've not had to answer it once. When people ask about calling me I pull it out and then express surprise upon closer expection of it that it's not the phone I thought it was but instead an mp3 player! Whenever it comes time to replace my phone I'm definitely going to go for another Creative mp3 player.

Old mobile phone:



New mobile phone:

HereToRockYourWorld said:

You sound like you have a good system there, and have trained those around you well.

However, I've just checked and it appears that my latest phone can neither call or text.

Fauxie said:

Your latest phone does a fantastic job of solving your problem.

Fauxie said:

brilliant. creative's players make wonderful phone replacements!

I need advice..... Give me random ... unable to articulate specific data....

Muse2NOPharaoh said:

Laughter is an essential nutrient for the soul. If you're not having a good laugh every day, find a way to fix that.

HereToRockYourWorld said:

just get on the org everyday! HAHAHAHAHA!.....no that wasn't funny

Sorry if I'm posting here too much, do tell if I'm a burden, but I've thinking yet again...

Well ya see, My 2 main feelings are happy and upset. It's come to the point however when I'm never angry or frustrated. When someone does something totally unacceptable, everyone gets mad, but I get upset. When nothing goes on and I'm just sitting there I feel happy and grateful for some reason. Is this a problem?

The banister leading from my garage to my house is really raggedy, just a 2 x 4, really. I'm thinking about sanding down the splinters and then painting it.

But, it could turn cold any day now. Should I just wait until it warms up?
Might be a decent task for Monday. I'm just worried about bumping into a not-yet-dry banister on my way to work -- in one of my suits.
[Edited 1/14/07 0:02am]

Muse2NOPharaoh said:

I'll chime in here.

You already know what's right for you. Just keep up your convictions and do it.

Anx said:

Dear Melissa,

Do we have classes on Monday since it is MLK day. If not that means I had 3 days off from school, because classes were cancelled on Thursday and on Friday all 8am and 9am classes were cancelled for no classes on Monday.


Sincerely,

Dazed and Confused

Where's Melissa? She hasn't been doing anything recently for us....

mostbeautifulgrlntheworld said:

We do have classes off. I hereby advise you not to go to school.

I missed all of last week due to illness. Thank gawd for the snow days, so I won't be quite as far behind.

HereToRockYourWorld said:

I know it doesn't seem like it, but I do log off of the org once in a while.

ThreadBare said:

Wait until spring. Do some productive indoor nesty thing on Monday instead to make your living space more perfectly fabulous.

miho9000 said:

No. Upset is healthier than angry or frustrated, ad happy/grateful is obviously a good thing. Enjoy it. Cultivate it. Work on making it a stable, foundational part of your being. 'Cause eventually, the world will try to piss you off.

HereToRockYourWorld said:

Thanks for the reminder

I'm following your advice right now.

So I am about to take a shower but I do not have any shampoo for my balls(Pert Plus) should I use my American Crew hair care products for Mr. Delicious?

heartbeatocean said:

Good work!

karmatornado said:

AAAAaaannnnd this week's advice column is officially closed. Check in with Handclaps nextg week. Thanks!