Alternate title: Frustration on the Job.
This is the transcript from an actual phone conversation Chuck had recently.
“Hello, this is K at Television Parts & Parts. How may I help you?”
Hi this is Chuck from W-blank-blank-blank out in Green Bay, Wisconsin. I need to place an order for a part please.
“OK, the guy you need to talk to is busy and can’t help you right now…And it’s me. Can I forward you to my voicemail? Please leave a message and I’ll call you back next time I’m in.”
Ummm…OK.
Click, Ring, Click, Recorded voice…
“Hello, this is K at Television Parts & Parts. I’m not in right now, please leave a message and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible.” Beep.
Hi this is Chuck from W— out in Green Bay, Wisconsin. I need to place an order for a part please.
You can call me back at ###-###-####.
Later, my phone rings…
Hello, W-blank-blank-blank Engineering, this is Chuck.
“Hello, this is K at Television Parts & Parts. How may I help you?”
Hi, thanks for calling back, I’m with W-blankety-blank-blank out in Green Bay, Wisconsin. I need to place an order for a part please.
Truth is indeed stranger than fiction, at least in the television world. Meanwhile, back at my own workplace, I received the following email from Chuck.
Just got call from contractor. He’s going to start 7:30 Wednesday morning.
My Wednesday is crowding up. It’s becoming The Time Nexus; the day through which all other events must pass through.
I may need your help Tuesday evening as I deflect at least one black hole. I’ll buy you dinner at the Restaurant at the Edge of the Universe.
Well, my friends, life changed very quickly. Chuck developed a sudden excruciating pain that turned out to be a kidney stone or two, and his coworkers ended up handling the Black Hole in the Time Nexus. We waited until he was feeling better, and then we did visit a restaurant – one near home, not at the end of the universe. After a salad with bacon dressing followed by pumpkin bread pudding, both of us felt ready to face the big bad world again.