fearlesstemp: (bucky)
fearlesstemp ([personal profile] fearlesstemp) wrote2003-08-13 01:00 am

die of embarrassment after the beep

Okay, so I've been stalking my advisor for the university where I'm planning to take a grad class in the fall. I've called him three times in the past two weeks, and it was only after the third unreturned phone call that I thought to call the department and ask what was up -- and actually, I don't think I thought of it. Either my mother or one of my friends did; regardless, I called and found out he was on vacation and then felt like a tool for having left three separate annoying messages on his voicemail. But I didn't know!

Anyway, he called me back today, and we had our little advising session, and then before we got off the phone, had the following exchange:

Me: Well, thanks for your help! And sorry for leaving all of those messages. If I'd known you were away, I wouldn't have kept calling.

Prof: Oh no, it's my fault, I should have changed my message.

Me: Oh, it's okay! I always forget too.

InternalMe: What? Like you need to leave such messages when you go away to stop the onslaught of phone calls. Liar!

Prof: That's right, aren't you the one who hates leaving messages?

InternalMe: God, I said that on my message? On one of my many messages?

External Me: Ha! Haha! Yep, that's me! I get nervous and always feel like I sound like an idiot.

Prof: (Hearty intellectual laugh) Yes, I heard them and thought, this girl went to Union? Because that's a fairly good school.

InternalMe: Oh my God, he thinks I'm challenged. I DO sound like a headcase when I leave messages! A stupid headcase!!! I KNEW IT! KNEW IT!! MUST GO DIE OF EMBARRASSMENT!

External Me: Ha! Haha! I have to go.

So now I'm obsessing over my inability to leave coherent messages. I mean, up until now I've figured I can't be as bad as I think I am, and even if I am, most of the time when I leave messages they're for people I know who already know and tolerate me and can just chalk up my answering machine-induced verbal diahrrhea as a character quirk. But now! Now I realize that it's not a somewhat-charming character quirk for people who don't know me! I just SOUND REALLY STUPID.

Argh. I feel like enrolling in a crash course, where trained professionals would teach me how to remember to leave my name, and speak slowly and clearly, and speak in normal, mature tones. Right now I sound like a twelve-year-old who's recently inhaled several helium balloons and usually end my messages with some oh-so-mature variation on the following: "...thanks! Bye!........oh, did I say this was Jess? Because it is. Okay. Bye! Again!"

It's not pretty.

Now I'm wondering if my other mildly-obsessed-over flaws are actually as bad as I've always feared. Like: Is my head freakishly large? Etc etc.

And now I'm off to watch my tape of The OC.

I love Jessages!

[identity profile] foxyfrau.livejournal.com 2003-08-13 11:05 am (UTC)(link)
So don't alter your message-leaving behavior too much, because I would surely miss them!

Re: I love Jessages!

[identity profile] fearlesstemp.livejournal.com 2003-08-18 08:50 pm (UTC)(link)
So don't alter your message-leaving behavior too much, because I would surely miss them!


AnnaBean! You are too kind. :)

Also: How the hell are ya? Have not talked in, like, FIVE WHOLE DAYS. Must get an Anna Update! How is F-Dawg? Hope you're having fun.