Happy Friday my friends. This day is going very slowly, funny how that happens. It's 3:15pm and I feel like it should be 6pm so I can go home for the weekend. But alas, it is not that time yet. Despite my tired eyes this morning (went to an open-bar bday party last night), I managed to get through all items on my to-do list. Great, but now I dont have much to do. And I dont want to let my manager see because she always finds something else for me to research.

As part of my job description, I take calls about our organization - explaining what we do, how we could help him/her or where they should call instead of us. I'll put on a New Yorker accent if I see the caller ID is from NYC...I'll add a Midwestern lilt if I see an IL, IN, MN, MI or WI caller ID...and I'll break out the Southern kindness and draw with any ID below the Mason Dixon line. Yes, I've gotten really good at recognizing area codes. The majority of the time, these calls are weeded out through our executive assistant and she warns me when I have "a live one." I have to just dive face first into these calls and hope for the best...sometimes 30+ minutes later. I also am passed every letter that comes to our office that seems to be a crazy....oh and they are nuts sometimes! Here are a 2 of my favorite calls and letters:

1) Elderly woman, probably around 85 yrs old who's husband has been in the NY Philharmonic (or one of those big time orchestras) for 60 yrs!!!! I turned on the "I'm a good kid" voice with a few "yes ma'ams." She talked my ear off for 25 minutes about how children of the US are damaging their hearing with "this Rock & Roll music." She was also concerned that there are going to be no classical musicians left in the world to fill our orchestras and symphonic bands in the future. I promised her that there are more kids learning orchestral instruments than she thinks and that there are so many college kids getting degrees in music performance - and they're quite good! I didnt have the nerve to tell her that as a classically trained musician, I couldnt stand that you had to wait for someone to die to get into those orchestras she speaks of. That they are mostly men and until the orchestras start doing blind auditions, we will never have an equal opportunity orchestra. But I digress.... I assured her that our nation's youth is doing just fine in the orchestral society and that she need not worry. Ironically, I later heard that someone knows of this woman and that she plays the harp at their church. Apparently she's lost most of her hearing and plays really out of tune because she cant hear a note. Irony.

2) A letter from a woman in California looking for her husband. Here the letter:

"Please try and understand this unusual request. Also, my condolence to all in regards to Dimebag Darrell. In the attached photo of Kid Rock, the man standing next to his immediate left backside (sunglasses and black hair) holds an uncanny resemblance to my husband. I've gotten in touch with the Nashville Police Dept who states this man has to be with Kid Rock's entourage - that he isnt on the Police Force - possibly in Kid Rock's bodyguard?! My pursuit to find this mystery man hasnt been successful yet. You see, my husband may be terminally ill - a few more months should tell all. It's important to me to get a better 'picture' of this who seems to be living the lifestyle that my husband led. Resemblance is uncanny right down to the dimple mark on the right side of his face. Please consider helping me find this person. Your cooperation and attention in this important matter would be greatly appreciated."

Ok, my friends...first I was sad for this woman. Then I was spooked by her, I mean, why did her husband leave? Did she really know why but won't own up to it and maybe she's psycho? Did she hit her head and not remember that they are divorced? Does she really even have a husband? She also included 7 pictures of her husband and then the one from the newspaper with Kid Rock. Thoughts?