Sunnye sent me an email this morning that had a cute sign that I wish I had for my yard.  It simply says, “no soliciting, we are too broke to buy anything, we already know who we are going to vote for, we have found Jesus, if you aint selling thin mints, then please go away”.  That pretty much sums it up as far as I am concerned. 

Most of these requests are concerned with someone trying to get into my pocketbook or my personal space.  I appreciate neither.  Yesterday I had an individual from , I assume, Bangladesh call and state that he was from Microsoft and needed to get into my computer to correct some things.  When someone like this calls I have a special alter-ego that comes to the surface.  I suddenly become the old baldheaded man, who walks around with his pants unzipped, a ragged elbowed sweater on in the summer time, and generally about as abrasive as sanded toilet paper.  I am not sure what the folks in Bangladesh think about Americans but I couldnt have helped our image much.  You have to start by asking the caller just what language they are speaking, then you ask if they are from anywhere near Kentucky, then you act like you didnt hear them and ask them to repeat everything you have previously asked them.  Then you ask if they are trying to send you any money?   Then you have the option of asking how the weather is where they are, how much rain they have had, what is the national food of their country and possibly if they have ever eaten a coon.  Along about now they start making some excuses to get off the phone.  Dont let them.  If you let them loose, then they are gonna call someone else and bother them.  Try to use the word “sumbitch” as much as possible in your conversation so they know that they have called some type of gun-nut. I always ask if the native dress for men of their country is some type of skirt.  Always ask if the have checked the National No Call List.  They havent but sometimes you get someone who knows what it is and has some excuse why his call is not included.  I always try to let him know that I have my own criteria for who can call and who cant. 

Right about now you are asking whether I have too much time on my hands and why dont I just hang up the phone when they call.  Well, the reason was mentioned above, I like to keep them on the phone as long as I can, for no other reason than to keep them from calling you.  And, each day I am having less to do so I need entertainment.

G