Odessa

We recently got voice mail in my office. We have still been instructed to only give out our secretary's phone number. I work for a state agency and we are a bit behind the times. Somehow, some numb-nuts from a federal agency got my desk phone number - Correction - OLD desk phone number, where I haven't sat in about four months. Perhaps there is logic to only using the secretary's number!

The numb-nuts asked the guy who is now sitting there to transfer him to MY supervisor (not to be confused with the guy who is in my old cubie's supervisor, since we don't even work for the same people). The guy in my old cubie tells me numb-nuts called when I get back to my desk. I asked if numb-nuts left a last name or phone number, to which the guy shakes his head no. I guess numb-nuts thought that he was so memorable that I would remember him merely from his first name and agency he worked for, so memorable that he would stand out from the hordes of people I must deal with daily. Later, I get an e-mail from a person who I deal with frequently that originated from the numb-nuts (well, same first name, same agency anyway) - so at least I know what he was calling about.

What is the point of this rant?
1) Don't assume you and I are so tight that you can just call my desk when ever you want. We're not that tight unless I tell you we are. Otherwise, call the secretary - that is why I give people that number.
2) I may have given my direct line to you for a conference call or something. I also told you to loose the number after the call. I meant it!
2) Don't assume that the person who answers my phone, or in this case OLD phone, is my secretary and is ready, willing and able to transfer you call to whomever else you want to talk to in my absence.
3) LEAVE A PHONE NUMBER! Don't think you are so charming that I remember who you are. Unless I talk to you a couple times a week and/or you look like Johnny Depp and/or you have a voice like Barry White, I probably won't. Even if I do remember who you are, I probably can't find your phone number in the shambles I call a cubicle. Furthermore, I'm not psychic. If I was that good, I've have a stint in Vegas, baby, making way more money than I am making now and not sitting in a lousy windowless cubicle. Why you are calling would be really nice, too, but not quite as necessary.