Conference Call Fun

Every Tuesday afternoon the friendly folks at Yankee Publishing, my western affiliate Johnny and I have a transcontinental conference call.

As related on his website, Johnny recently switched cell phone providers, and his new service with Bell Mobility appears to have some quirks: twice during the call Johnny lost his connection. Wasn’t a battery problem. Didn’t appear to be a signal strength problem (has was standing still throughout). He just disappeared.

The first time this happened, he called right back and I conferenced him back in.

The second time this happened, he called right back and I conferenced him back in.

Except the second time, it wasn’t actually him that called, but rather Irene Renaud from the PEI Crafts Council calling for Catherine. I didn’t notice the caller ID was different, and I didn’t say hello, assuming it was Johnny and he just listen in where he left off.

Irene patiently waited for a break in the conversation, and then chimed in, sounding somewhat bemused, to express her confusion at being included in a conference call about the minutiae of The Old Farmer’s Almanac and Yankee Magazine. She left a quick message, and disappeared again.

Lesson: always say hello when you answer the phone.