photo credit: @cloudett via Unsplash
NaBlopoMo
We’ve made it through the first third of the month today. How are you all doing? I hope you had fun so far cranking out some blog posts, and also finding some new-to-you blogs and making some new connections.
I’ve been popping in here and there to read and comment but have many, many blog posts to go. I am hoping to make a few more rounds tomorrow (when I have the day off).
Etiquette I
Look, I am not one for small talk, but I do appreciate some common courtesy etiquette. A “good morning” or “hi” at the beginning of a chat or email, a closing statement like “hope all is well”. Am I expecting too much?
When I recently called in sick at work, I texted my supervisor in the morning to let her know that I was not feeling well from the vaccine side effects and that I was going to take a rest day. The expected response would have been “Hope you feel better”, or something along these lines, right? Well, I got a “thanks for letting me know”. I found this kind of odd.
Etiquette II
A friend ordered something for me on Amazon and accidentally sent it to my old address (where I haven’t lived in two years) which she had still saved somehow. I offered to track down the package and texted my old landlord, who I haven’t had any contact with since we moved. I said hello, explained what happened and asked if the current tenant might have mentioned something about a package for me. I ended with “hope you are doing well”. Her response: “I sent them a message. I’ll let you know when they respond”. No, “Hi, how have you been?” or “hope all is well with you too. I mean, it’s ok, it didn’t hurt my feelings too much, but I was kind of baffled.
(I did get my package though. So there’s that.)
Voice messages
Most of my friends know this about me: voice messages are the bane of my existence. I mean, have you met me? I am the person who has maintained a blog for 20+ years and who will take an email over a voicemail message any day (now, phone calls are a different story.)
However, I have a few friends who love to send voice messages, and don’t get me wrong, I love hearing their voices. I don’t want to discourage them to send voice messages, but it just usually takes me an unreasonable time to respond. I cannot deal with voice messages that are longer than a couple of minutes and I personally don’t enjoy recording voice messages. I ramble, I forget half of the things I want to say, and I forget to respond to half of the things my friends have addressed in their voices messages. And I cannot go back and just skim the message, I have to listen to the whole message again. (And yes, I know you can get voice messages transcribed, but doesn’t always work that well.) I don’t know, voice messages are usually stressful for me. Anyone else?
Programmable coffee maker
I want to personally thank Elisabeth again for putting this feature back on my radar because it’s been a lifesaver as of late. I don’t use it on the weekends, but on weekdays, it’s been so nice to get back from the gym in the morning and have my hot cup of coffee waiting for me already. If you have a coffee maker that can be programmed, use it!
Share a random thought with me!
I am doing NaBloPoMo this month. 30 blog posts in 30 days. Come join me. #nablopomo2026
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