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File this under the topic "I tell y'all WAY too much"
Published: 6/25/2007 4:46 PM
Last Modified: 6/25/2007 4:46 PM

As I'm new to the Tulsa World blogging scene, and I'm getting my cliched feet wet, I don't always know what to write about. But I hope whatever I share will be helpful to at least one person -- perhaps me, because I really need to vent.

Seriously, maybe this will help people afflicted with ADD and verbal diarrhea when it comes to leaving rambling voice mails.

So I call a source for an upcoming story, get the picture? Here's the slightly paraphrased scenario:

Me: "Hi Dr. (Name Withheld to Protect the Potentially Ticked Off). I'm Jason Ashley Wright, blah, blah, blah, and I'm doing a story on (blank). If you have time, would you call me back to tell me if there are any ... umm ... remedies or ... ... (extremely long pause) ... umm ..."

At this time, I was wanting to say "brain fart," but I don't use the F word in casual conversation, especially at work, so I said, " ... umm ... sorry, I'm having a brain ... thing." What the Helena Bonham Carter is a brain thing? Anyway, I started laughing like an idiot, apologized at least three times, then left my number and hung up. At least I think I left my number.

So how is this helpful, you might ask -- assuming anyone's reading this. Well, I'd suggest these two things:

1. Write down what you want to say in a voice mail before you leave the message. Be sure to edit out all the "umm" statements.
2. Don't feel obligated to cover up your social awkwardness in a phone experience by throwing out phrases like, "Sorry, I'm taking meds for a sinus infection" (one of my former favorites) or "You know, nevermind." The latter is REALLY unprofessional.

Be careful out there in Phone Land, kids. Have a fabulous ... umm ... day thing.

Peace, love and voice mail options ... xoxo


Reader Comments 1 Total
JAW Fan (6 years ago)
Love your blog and read it faithfully, though I have never said so. Thought it might inspire someone else to follow suit.

Glad to hear that professionals also fumble their words. :) Keep up the wonderful writing-I just love your sense of humor!

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Living Wright

While other kids were watching "The Smurfs," Scene Writer Jason Ashley Wright was tuned in to "Style with Elsa Klensch." By fourth grade, he knew he wanted to write, and spent almost three years publishing a weekly teen-oriented magazine, Teen-Zine -- circulation: 2. After earning a degree in journalism from the University of Southern Mississippi, he became the medical reporter and teen board coordinator for the Hattiesburg (Miss.) American, a Gannett newspaper. Eight months later, with visions of Elsa dancing in his head, he applied for the fashion writer position at the Tulsa World, where he began working on Aug. 3, 1998. He is now a general assignment reporter for Scene.

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