5 Ways to Stay Sane While on Hold

Hi there,

I know it has been awhile, but I have been very busy......watching my life minutes tick away while on hold listening to elevator music that really NO ONE likes, but they play it anyway.  I believe it is a government plot to drive us all insane, therefore there will be no one left to keep an eye on what they are up to.

No really. As you know, I have been dealing with the child support enforcement system here in Illinois. Well they are not big on taking phone calls. They are great for putting you on hold for 20 or 30 minutes only to disconnect you after all that time.  If you are really lucky and persevere you might actually get through.

So I have been coming up with ways to maximize my wait time, after all, I can never get those minutes back. Here are some things that you too can do to keep yourself from going insane while pushing the #1 or #2 button and listening to mind numbing music:

1. Paint your nails. (You should have time for your toes too). After all, it takes a good 20 minutes for two coats of nail polish to dry and if you are trying to get through to an Illinois gov agency, or ComEd, you have about that long before you are even directed to start pushing buttons. Therefore, your nails get  done and you get your electric bill paid on time.

2. Keep in shape. We all say how we never have time to work out. Well, set aside some time to call your cell phone provider or Illinois Department of Employment and you are guaranteed at least 20-25 minutes of quality sit-up or squat time. Just click your phone to speaker, (so you can hear when the automated voice comes on and if you are real lucky a LIVE person) and you get the added benefit of music. So you can use their own music against them...hehehe.

3. It's summer time, so get some sangria recipes! If you are like me, you are probably on the computer while on hold, so make the most of that time. I'll tell you what, Giada has some great ones. I actually found one using peaches- can't wait to try it out.

4. Make and drink your sangria recipe. If you have a bottle of white wine around the house, you are on your way.  A quick way to blend  the flavors of a citrus sangria without the wait, is to cut your sparkling soda in half with a bottle of Mike's Hard Lemonade, or if you are on hold with AT&T, I say screw it and add the whole bottle of Mike's-your gonna need it anyway! And after a glass of that sangria, the person on the phone might actually sound intelligent. (Really, it works for as lemon lime sangria and tastes great! Just make sure you add the sugar)

5. And finally, my last and favorite way to stay sane while on hold is to use all of the phones in my house to dial the same office and put them on speaker. Then when they answer, I let them all talk to each other. It is quite hysterical to listen to them each asking each other for their names and passwords and account numbers and then putting each other on hold. Now they know what we feel like!

Anyway...if you have a good idea, I would love to hear it.

Until next time,
Deborah E