Bordinary Blog by Out of the Ordinary Photography: September 2012

I have a few reasons why I hate phones, calls and calling. Some personal and some business reasons. I realize most people actually have a phone to their hip and head at all times but I don't. Oddly enough, yes a techy like me, does not.

It's simple: I can NEVER understand anyone on the phone. It doesn't matter if you speak the English language as clear as a bell; it sounds like everyone is eating and talking at the same time to me. Street names are weird and if I write your address wrong I won't make it to the photo session. Email is amazing for this instead. I can see it clearly, I can look it up by copy/pasting it right there into mapquest and I can refer back to it if need be for my GPS. Done. Easy. Effective. And with weddings I need all the details typed out because I do so many weddings they can all mix together. So email with your date and info every time. Details written on contracts, info forms and email works so much better for me to review at my own time and pace. At the end of the day the only people I can fully understand on the phone is my family and a message from DJ Andy Pratt... Lol I know it's a strange reference but it's TRUE... so this makes me wonder, is everyone else eating while on the phone?

The never ending phone tag: Now you may dispute that by saying back and forth in email is is bad but so does phone tag. In fact, I think it's worse. Sure, times and dates can go a couple times or change but phones are horrible. I may get a message, then I have to check the voicemail that says nothing except call me back, then I have to call and leave you a voicemail that really says nothing and we just got done doing a bunch of nothingness. At least with email we got somewhere.

And the ever-so-common: I am simply not good on phones. This probably comes from me not understanding what you're saying but I want off it asap. I cannot be myself unless it's in person or at a relaxing place like sitting at my computer (for the most part) where I have time to think. If you catch me off guard on the phone I'm not good at replies, some things I have to look into first. If you ask me availability and I'm not in front of my calendar, it's a worthless wasted phone call. I get easily aggravated on phone calls because of all of those reasons. Some say "well that's a good thing to catch you off guard because then I find out the REAL you." What the hell does that even mean? Sounds like you are an investigator; am I a criminal of sorts? Others say "well you are just like everyone else in this day and age... hiding behind a computer and that's all you can do now in this social media craze" and I say NOPE, I'm fine in person, I just hate phones. And even in person I still have to refer to things and my calendar. I am not a super knower of all things and memorizer.

Losing numbers: Now this is a ramble but try to follow. Lost the number, can't find them and then calling the wrong people. And, no, I don't want to add a stranger's number to my phone. I barely have family on it let alone people I don't really know in which we are only having a quick first-time meeting and then you'll never sign up and I have this person's phone number in my phone... screaming who is that!?... when I'm trying to find my mom's number?! Oh crap I'm accidentally calling it now. Oh that's great, not only did you not end up signing up with me but to them it's that "annoying" photographer keeps calling. haha. Then there are work numbers, home numbers, cell numbers... need I go on? Email. I see the name and reply. Done.

Health reasons: We don't have a landline phone and use only a cell phone but we get terrible reception and I'm ok with that. We keep it off 98% of the time. The reason I keep it off is because of wifi and EMF waves. It has been proven by science that it is unhealthy and cancerous (and yes, I truly believe it is) to have a cordless or cell phone next to your head or body, especially while in rest or sleeping. I have a very close friend who has EMF sensitivities and it is no fun. She can't be around a cell towers or cell phones or many electronics such as refrigerators and air conditioners. I don't want that. I have been so sick at one point from an immune system disorder that I don't want to play with yet another thing that could hurt my body anymore. I have to use a computer for this job and the last thing I want with a weakened immune system is lose that too! Our computers are landlines and we don't use wifi unless we at a Starbucks for a meeting, etc. I get zapped enough at other places I prefer not my home. They have even proven that cordless phones are worse than cell phones. And don't even get me started on the future of all these cellular things; I'm against it all, including cell towers put in exceeding amount of locations popping up everywhere and especially when put up next to schools.

Now onto another topic that even I'm guilty of. Messaging through facebook personal and business pages. It looks like that's a new reality for everyone regardless of how you feel about it. Again, I think it depends on what the topic is. If it's a quick question that you don't mind I don't get to for a couple days, than fine, do it. If it's business related with important times and dates or information that I will need way down the road, months in advance, please for the love of god, email me the details instead. I don't have time to search for messages and archives in all 4 of my emails and facebooks and ahhhhh!

It's a new world. Let's just all try to do it the way that makes common sense as much as possible.

MY CURRENT PROJECT: Kramer Wedding
SONG STUCK IN MY HEAD: Feeling good by Michael Buble
CRAVING: root beer float
NEEDED A MOMENT: schooled up by a hypocrite ex-bro-in-law
BEST MOMENT: realizing I'm ok with it all and feeling good