Just Relaxed Blog

Tag: identity mix-up

  • The Great Phone Number Mix-Up of 2023 (and Why I Still Answer to ‘Brenda’)

    The Great Phone Number Mix-Up of 2023 (and Why I Still Answer to ‘Brenda’)



    Brenda, is this a good time?” And you think, “Brenda? Who’s Brenda? Is this one of those AI scams?”

    The Wrong Number That Started It All

    Well, friends, that’s how my adventure into the wacky world of wrong numbers began. It was a Tuesday, or maybe a Wednesday (who can really keep track?), and the culprit was a particularly persistent telemarketer trying to sell me life insurance. Except, they weren’t trying to sell it to me. They were trying to sell it to Brenda.

    Now, I’m usually a pretty patient person, but after the fifth “No, I’m sorry, you’ve got the wrong number,” even I started to crack. I tried everything: explaining, politely declining, even resorting to a very convincing British accent (don’t ask). Nothing worked. They always came back, like telemarketing zombies, chanting “Brenda? Brenda?”

    The Case of the Misguided Pizza Delivery

    Things escalated quickly. Soon, it wasn’t just telemarketers. It was restaurant reservation confirmations, dentist appointment reminders, and even – I kid you not – a very confused pizza delivery guy holding a large pepperoni with extra anchovies (Brenda’s apparent order of choice).

  • The Great Phone Number Mix-Up of 2017 (and Why I Still Get Nervous Calls)

    The Great Phone Number Mix-Up of 2017 (and Why I Still Get Nervous Calls)






    Have you ever had one of those days where you feel like you’re living in a sitcom? Where the universe seems to be playing a cosmic prank on you? Well, that was my life for a solid year, all thanks to The Great Phone Number Mix-Up of 2017.

    The Case of the Missing Pepperoni (and Other Phone Number Misadventures)

    It all started innocently enough. I needed a new phone number – you know, the usual adulting stuff. Little did I know, this seemingly mundane task would plunge me headfirst into a world of mistaken identities, hangry callers, and enough pizza-related inquiries to last a lifetime.

    My first clue that something was amiss came a few hours after activating my new number. The phone rang, and an enthusiastic voice boomed, “Yo, I need a large pepperoni, extra cheese, and hurry it up!”

    Papa Joe’s Pizzeria?”

    And so began my reign as the unwitting recipient of calls meant for Papa Joe’s, a once-thriving (judging by the call volume) pizza joint.

    The Pizza Pilgrims and Other Wrong Number Tales

    The calls were relentless. Hungry customers, delivery drivers seeking directions, even other pizza places wanting to borrow a cup of mozzarella – all found their way to my line. I quickly learned the Papa Joe’s menu by heart, could recite their delivery radius in my sleep, and even became somewhat of a connoisseur of pizza-related complaints (“Sir, I’m truly sorry, but I can’t help you with your undercooked crust”).

    One particularly memorable call involved a group of tourists who were convinced I was holding their deep-dish hostage. Apparently, they had placed an order at the old Papa Joe’s location (now a laundromat, according to my intel), and were on a mission to claim their cheesy prize. It took all my persuasive powers (and a Google Maps search) to convince them they were on a wild goose chase.

    Life After Papa Joe’s: Why I Still Answer the Phone with Caution

    Eventually, the calls dwindled. Papa Joe’s faded into urban legend, and my phone number became my own again. But the experience left its mark. Even today, years later, I still answer the phone with a hint of trepidation, half-expecting to hear, “Yeah, can I get two slices and a Coke?”