Wrong Number

The following is an all day conversation that took place between myself and a stranger that sent me a text message. I'm not quite sure where this went wrong, but for whatever reason, my initial attempts to tell the "texter" that he had the wrong number didn't go as planned.

I imported the conversation from my phone and converted it to a format that I can use here, but the spelling or lack of spelling is all original. I couldn't make this up if I tried. :) I made one or two minor edits and I changed the names, but nothing that changes the dialog.

I'm getting in the car for lunch, it's 1:25pm on Friday, and I get the following text.

Him -- 1:25pm - Was up this is Shane do u wont 2b buddey if so text back if not dont but dont tell diane please.

I should probably translate that, but I think you can figure it out. I did.

Anyway, I ignored it. Figured if I didn't respond back he'd get the idea, and check his number. I was wrong. Almost an hour later I get another message.

Him -- 2:17pm - U dont wont 2be frands

Frands? Yes, I live in the South. I responded:

Me -- 02:18pm -no

I hoped that would do it. The next message I got gave me hope that it was over.

Him -- 02:19pm - Cool

I was wrong. In a few minutes I got the following:

Him -- 02:31pm - Do u wont me 2 lose ur number

To which I responded

Me -- 02:32pm - Since i have no idea who you are, yes.

The next round of text took an interesting turn.

Him -- 02:50pm - U going 2 tell on me

Me -- 02:53pm - Why would i? I don't know you.

Him -- 03:35pm - U can get 2 know me by text me

Me -- 03:36pm - Rather not

Him -- 03:50pm - Dam y not your somking ass hot we would be frands i have a sweet boat i go 2 the lake all the time iam not a bad person iam realy cool

Now, I'm a nice looking guy (my mom says so). But "somking ass hot" has, as far as I know, never been used to describe me. When I showed this to some friends and to Tina they all laughed. So much for my ego. Anyway, on with the story...

When he mentioned the boat, I was reminded of an old joke so I responded

Me -- 04:00pm - Send pic of boat

He sent me a picture of the boat!

Him -- 04:04pm - dont seen 2 her

I can only assume he doesn't want me to send it to Diane. He's apparently worried.

Him -- 04:28pm - So u going 2 black male me with my pic lets see your pic

Him -- 04:42pm - Did u not like pic

Me -- 04:44pm - nice boat.

Now here's the segue into him asking me out. I say me, but I'm guessing he really doesn't know it's me... unless he does, which I'm hoping he didn't, but you never know. Anyway, I figure, he had his chance to terminate our "relationship," but since he didn't I figured I could play along a little.

Him -- 04:45pm - I here u leav close 2 the lake

Me -- 05:17pm - Close enough

Him -- 05:29pm - Yal iam go 2mor

Me -- 05:31pm - What time

Him -- 05:41pm - If the kids r mean and u need more money let me know u like fishing

Me -- 05:44pm - More into tubing or swimming, but fishing is ok too

Him -- 05:45pm - Litt cold 4 that unles ur crazy

Me -- 05:54pm - Been known to be crazy

Him -- 06:02pm - So r u telling me u wont 2 go

At this point I figure it's a good idea to bring up Diane again.

Me -- 06:04pm - Don't you think she'll be mad?
Him -- 06:30pm - Yal but its all good i like 2 have fun u in

Now he wants a picture of me. Since he thinks he knows who he's texting, I resist. No reason to end this ride so quick. I've been at this since lunch.

Him -- 06:40pm - Seen a pic
Me -- 06:41pm - Why
Him -- 06:44pm - Y not just 1

I thought since I didn't send him a picture he had given up. Wrong... again.

Here's the next round.

Him -- 07:55pm - Yal u wont 2 go
Me -- 08:02pm - Not this time
Him -- 08:17pm - Scaird
Me -- 08:18pm - Not even. Is diane going? [Seemed like a fair question to me]
Him -- 08:20pm - Hell no just me
Me -- 08:21pm - i'll go if she goes
Him -- 08:26pm - Hell no
Me -- 08:27pm - I thought you liked to have fun [He did say that, didn't he?]
Him -- 08:34pm - Fun yes stuped no were the pic [Could have fooled me]

Again I refuse to send him a picture.

Me -- 08:37pm - No pic for you. Maybe Diane Will send you one. why don't you send me one
Him -- 08:54pm - Y u wont my pic 0
Me -- 8:54pm - Just do

A minute later he's sent me his picture. I've debated posting it, but probably shouldn't. I've been amused at his stupidity, but the last thing I want to do is set him up for even more difficulty with Diane if anyone recognizes him.

I figure he's thinking he's got a date lined up. He asks me again if I'm going fishing with him. I've played with him long enough, it's time to cut him loose.

Him -- 09:38pm - Ur going ri ght
Me -- 09:39pm - i don't think so. I'm probably not your type
Him -- 09:44pm - Y
Me -- 09:46pm - Too old for you
Him -- 09:50pm - What
Me -- 09:53pm - remember today when i said i didn't know you? I was serious. I'm obviously not who you think i am.
Him -- 10:05pm - What i dont get it

Holy Moly, what's it take to get through to him? He's as sharp as a bag of wet mice. So I ask:

Me -- 10:06pm - Who do you think i am?
Him -- 10:10pm - Just tel me
Me -- 10:14pm - Just someone twice your age. I told you several times that i didn't know you. You obviously didn't believe me. Maybe you do now
Him -- 10:15pm - Who r u
Me -- 10:18pm - no one you know. I have no idea who you are. Why not just delete this number and try another one. Maybe you'll get the right one next time

I guess that wasn't clear enough. The saga continues.

Him -- 10:20pm - U know diane so who r u
Me -- 10:23pm - you're the one that mentioned her. I have on clue who she is
Him -- 10:42pm - I look at all my text i did not say her name so who is this
Me -- 10:45pm - It was in the first message you sent.

How hard is this stuff? Really, it's just text messaging.

The final round.

Him -- 10:47pm - Y your number in her phone
Me -- 10:50pm - I have no clue. But you've got the wrong number
Him -- 10:51pm - Sweet

The 10:47 message brings up a couple other questions I'd like to ask him, but I leave it.

The next thing I did was take the few things I knew about him based on the conversation and do a Google search. I got a hit right off. I found Diane's Myspace page, and a link back to Shane's Myspace page. It was him. The pictures proved it out. He was 23, married to Diane and has 3 kids. Yet he figures to have himself a little extra-curricular activity with a number he found in his wife's phone. Idiot.

Message to Shane

You're 23. You're young. Don't screw this up. You've got a pretty wife that loves you (she says so on her Myspace page). You have three little kids. You can throw all that away and wind up paying child support for the next 18 years. You have something that many people can only dream about.

Finally, if you're still compelled to cheat on your wife, don't get a number from her phone! Sheesh!!!

-=Jim

Saying Goodbye to a Friend

Last May I posted a story here about my new kitten Phantom. If you don't remember you can go back and read it here.

Today I had to tell him goodbye.

He had been sick. He was only a year old, but had been sick with a variety of problems, but all relating to his blood, and bleeding. Teething was even difficult for him, and we had to watch him carefully during that time to make sure he didn't lose a lot of blood. He got through that, but the major trauma for him came in the form of bruises. Just a tiny bump or jar could create a hematoma. With his blood issue these could be devestating. The first instance he had with one was several months back, and we almost lost him then. However, after a blood transfusion and a few days in the hospital we were able to nurse him back to health. Unfortunately the incident changed him. He would become lethargic from time to time, limp a bit and just be unhappy for days at a time. He didn't want to play much, and when he did it was for only short periods and he would have to rest. It was as if we had an older cat. I guess almost dying takes a lot out of you, even if you're a cat.

Sunday Phantom moped around a lot, and mostly stayed in his basket. That evening when it was time for bed I found him laying on the couch in his regular spot. When I started to rub him a bit and tell him good night he reacted with a low growl. I knew something was up, so I checked him over good and discovered another hematoma (it was near his back leg). I rubbed his neck and ears good, told him to rest.

Monday morning, he was still mopey, but we knew that there's not much can be done for a hematoma, so we decided to give him a day to recover a bit before we called the vet. That evening, I picked him up and discovered that the hematoma was larger than I had expected. Tina and I decided we'd take him to the vet in the morning.

Tuesday morning, we took him to the vet. He was very tired, draggy, but alert. X-Rays and a variety of tests showed that it was a hematoma (as we had guessed). His blood work looked was fine, and we brought him home. As the evening progressed he got worse.

This morning we took him back to the vet. He had camped out in the bathroom last night, and this morning he was still in the same spot - not good. That was 5:30Am. The veterinarian office doesn't open until 8:30. A long three hours pass and we take him back in. We get a call that he needs another transfusion, and probably another several day stay at the hospital.

I had gone through this before and it was not something I was prepared to do again. I had to make a decision. It wasn't easy. Today I made the decision to let my friend go. He was hurting. He was sick. His chances of surviving something like this again was slim. We didn't even know if the transfusion would would work. What I did know is I didn't want him to suffer. I couldn't allow him to hurt.

I felt it only fair that Samuel get a chance to tell Phantom goodbye. Tina stayed with Phantom while I went to get Samuel from school. He's a good kid, smart, and known to always do the right thing. He's only 8, but I trust his judgement on things like this. We talked on the way back to the veterinarian clinic and he understood. He understood my decision.

I knew I was staying with Phantom for the whole thing; it was my decision to let him go, so it was my duty - no - my priveledge and honor to stay with my friend as he passed. He was my buddy. I didn't expect Tina or Samuel to stay, but Samuel insisted that he would stay (remember: he's been known to do the right thing). So, we all three were there to tell him goodbye.

He was a champ and a real pal. He was everything I ever expected and more. I've always had a horrible allergy to cats, but Phantom cured that for me. I can romp and play with cats and kittens now with no bad allergy issues. I really never imagined that I'd ever be over my cat allergy.

Phantom was my cat.

We buried him in the yard along with a paperwad, his stuffed toys, and some of his favorite treats. He lies just outside the kitchen and diningroom windows near "Samuel's Tree". Samuel decided on that. It's a nice spot - always cool there in the hottest part of the summer, and always shady.

On his box I wrote the words to a little song I made up for him when he first came home with us.

You've got a cute little nose

and everybody knows

about your fuzzy little chin

I'm gonna sing it all again

about your funny little fuzzy ears,

No telling what he really hears

About his cute little nose

That everybody knows.

You can hear the song here: Cute Little Nose (Phantom's Song)

Samuel and Tina also wrote a special notes on the box about how they'll always miss him and remember him.

Today I said goodbye to a most special friend.

-=Jim