I had my grumpy Monday face on today, and too bad for anybody who got in my way. That’s a short list, thank goodness. Most people stayed clear of me. I tried hard to use a neutral tone of voice when talking with customers and co-workers. I didn’t try so hard when the credit card company wanted me to transfer a balance, even though they weren’t offering me a lower rate than the other card.

And I wasn’t receptive at all when the charity called. I don’t even remember which one it was, but it was one that can’t take a hint. I guess that’s what makes them successful, the fact that they never give up no matter how many times the phone is slammed in their ears. I have limited resources and I choose my charities carefully. Cold phone calls are not part of the vetting process, so they might as well give up.

In person I’m not nearly as rude as I am on the phone. Maybe it’s because I don’t want to get kicked, slapped or punched, but I think it’s more that it’s harder to be impolite to someone whose face you can see. For the most part I’m a people person, and I always try to show respect for others. It’s just that the voice at the other end of a telephone line isn’t always a “person” to me.

And to be fair to myself, they don’t always act like real people when they call you to try to get you to change phone companies or subscribe to the newspaper. You’re just a number on a list. If I give them a good reason to move on quickly, I’m really doing them a favor, because I’m not going to buy anything from then no matter how nice they are to me.

As always, there was one exception to my rule to offend everyone I came into contact with. Tammy and the kids dropped by to pick something up from me. The little boys were strapped into their seats in the back of the minivan, and I only had five minutes to talk to them, but since I got smiles from all three of them, it was pretty much the highlight of my day. It’s definitely the only thing I did today that I’d like to remember tomorrow.