(no subject)

[beandelphiki]

Guuuys, you guuuuuuys, I ordered home delivery KFC by myself!

Sure, go ahead, laugh - or gag because you don't like KFC, whatever - but this, I've never done before. Made and canceled doctor's appointments, made and canceled haircut appointments, called customer service at my school, and (the worst!) called interview subjects for school. But this, I haven't done.

And because I have HUGE amounts of social phobia related to the phone - I mean, "panic-attack-inducing" amounts of social phobia - this is a Big Deal to me. Every time I complete some phone interaction that I haven't before, I consider this a real accomplishment.

I did it mainly because I'm sick (on my ONE day off, ugh) and don't feel like going out - but I had plans to stop by the library today, and then KFC for dinner. When I woke up at 7 pm, I wasn't willing to compromise on the KFC part, so I went looking for the phone book to see if they deliver.

I generalized from the "How to order a pizza" guide in aspie_howto - which might also be called, "The How-to for the Hopelessly Sheltered and Totally Clueless." Plus, it always helps IMMENSELY to have stuff written down in front of me when I'm making a phone call, because my brain tends to short-circuit when I'm on the phone. (I have, in the past, forgotten my own address and phone number, introduced myself incorrectly, forgotten to leave my name at all, and the ultimate - asked the person whose number I'd just dialed why they'd called me. Don't EVEN ask.)

There's one thing that the How-to guide did not cover, however: MINIMUM CHARGE.

"...And what would you like to order?"

"Just a Toonie Tuesday combo, please."

"How many?"

"One."

"Anything else?"

"Side of gravy, please."

"And what else?"

"That's it."

"...You're seven dollars short for delivery."

OH. "Make it two, then." My sister can have some when she gets home from wherever the hell she is. I confirmed two sides of gravy as well.

"Still three dollars short."

ARGH. "Throw in an order of popcorn chicken, then."

"So that'll come to $16.70..." (So I'm guessing the minimum charge is $15? I noted this in the phone book.)

One other thing I messed up: forgot to turn the front light on for the delivery guy. OOPS. But I apologized for that, and he seemed pleased with the tip. So I think I'm okay, overall. I should probably note "minimum charge!" and "leave front lights on!" over at the HowTo guide. After some PlayStation and Housewatching, maybe.

YAY CHICKEN.

YAY HOUSE TONIGHT.

Comments

[siegeengine.livejournal.com]

minimum charge is a big one, and a pita.
glad that worked out for you. I've never heard that you had to leave the lights on, but it makes sense.

[beandelphiki.livejournal.com]

Yeah...front lights because it was DARK outside, and how is he gonna find the right number otherwise? Plus, it being dark going up the stairs... But I guess he did. (And in record time, too - I could swear the guy on the phone said it would be an hour. He said it twice. But the delivery guy was here in half that.)

I do feel bad. I just didn't think of it at all - it's not something I've ever had to worry about before.

...Actually, come to think of it, I think the number fell off the house. UM.

[teyla]

Ohh, I so know how you feel about the phone thing. Well, maybe it's not that extreme with me - I never had a panic attack - but I also HATE calling people about stuff. I can do casual phone conversations, even though I'm not too fond of them, but official stuff? Nh-nhn. I always try to palm it off on other people ;).

I'd be a complete junkie to delivered pizza if I didn't have that thing about hating to talk to strangers on the phone. Like this, I think the count of pizzas I got delivered, ever, amounts to... one? Lol.

Yay for you for making it work! :)

[aerindipity.livejournal.com]

Up until my junior year in high school (when I started taking Paxil), I was terrified of the phone. Wouldn't answer it. Definitely wouldn't dial it. Didn't even like talking to people I knew on it. My dad used to do these sadistic "exposure therapy" things, where it was like, "Either you order the pizza or you don't get to eat tonight." Which always ended up in my crying hysterically, my dad screaming about how this was NOT a big deal and I was just being OBSTINATE, and me going to bed hungry. >:(

I don't know if it was the pills or growing up or what, but I'm totally over it now. If somebody had told me when I was 16 that by 23 I'd be making my living answering phones all day, I probably would have KILLED MYSELF.

Anyway... sorry for Personal Story Time. Congrats on making the order! It gets easier with practice. :)

[hry2007.livejournal.com]

Yay! It's a learning process, good luck. And now I'm hungry for chicken...