The Telephone Game

Saying for the Day: Its not if you win or lose but how you play the game.

I have been playing a lot of the telephone game lately. You know the game you play with the salesman who calls wanting to sell you something.

The idea is that the one who hangs up first loses.

I know there are lots of game players out there so I thought from time to time I’d share a game with you.

This is one from yesterday.

My wife answers the phone and the guy asks to speak to Mr. Linna.

My wife hands me the phone.

Hello. This is Mr. Linna.

Hi, John . This is .

Wait. I don’t know you. I’m not John . I’m Mr. Linna to you.

I’m sorry. I mean Mr. Linna ( He’s a good player)

So what’s your name?

I’m Roger.

Is that Rog. Last name Er.

No, no. My name is Roger. Roger. ( he really said it twice)

You mean your last name isn’t Er.

No! My name is Roger. ( He is playing well)

Well Roger what is your last name?

Hey! I don’t have to tell you that. ( a clear mistake. A good player makes up a name)

Sure you do if you want to sell me something.

What do you need it for.

Well You could be a sex pervert and I need your last name to check the pervert list on the internet.

You could be one too.( Insulting a potential customer. Don’t they teach them anything about sales any more?)

Ah! But you have my last name. Feel free to check.

I’m not a pervert.( A little too forcefully)

Maybe you’re a wanted criminal. I need your last name to check it out.

I’m not a criminal.

How do I know you won’t give me you last name to find out.

I don’t have too.. (Please note we still don’t know what he’s selling)

Are you ashamed of your last name?

No, of course not.

I bet you are. I bet it’s Bush. You’re a relative of the President aren’t you.

What.

I wouldn’t admit to being his relative either. Nobody would buy from you. They’d know you were lying.

I’m not a Bush.

Well who are you them? Why are you hiding your identity?

Look! I’m not telling you my last name.( This guy is stubborn)

Okay then were stuck because I’m not going to listen to you until you do.

Well you will be missing out on ..

No ! You don’t. I’m not hearing your pitch without the last name.

Hang up then.( Never thought I’d hear a salesman say that.)

And let you win. Never.

What?

We’re playing the telephone game. The one that hangs up loses

Well I’m not hanging up.

I have to tell you. I almost never lose. I’m old . I’m bored . I’m not trying to sell anything.

Look I just want to tell you about..

No you don’t. No last name no sales pitch. That’s rule number one.

So hang up.

Hey I don’t like losing. You hang up.

Look just let me tell you and we can get this over with.

Not without that last name. I’ve got lots of time.

Well ! I’m not hanging up.

At this point my wife calls me to breakfast. She doesn’t care if I win or lose. I am expected in the Kitchen. NOW ( She handles my oxygen at night and I don’t cross her)

I hang up. I lose.

Darn I hate losing.

@@@
6750 spins without a win. Hapless is happy this morning because that darn contest is over and he gets his space back. For four days he hasn't had any place to whine about his losing. He has continued to lose. He has spun and lost. He has played five different free lottos and lost. He played 15 free games of video poker and lost. He has been very busy losing. Since this seems to be what keeps him happy life is good.
Well friends of Uncle Wiggly if hapless doesn't spin and win the million causing the very fabric of the universe to rip letting in those horrible aliens that eat internet blogs . We will be back tomorrow with " As the World Spins".
***

I cooked a new bread today and somehow got some super yeast. The bread came out of the oven so full of air that if you hit it, it bounced. When it cooled it collapsed. My son , his wife and my two grandchildren came so I spent the day playing grandfather. It was fun. Nothing like grandkids to make you feel young. Peter fixed Betty's bed, put the lights in the garage, and put the computers back on the house net. Well I need a breathing treatment.
GBYA