Hello, Operator

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True story.


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145 responses to “Hello, Operator”

  1. notquiteold Avatar

    Excellent! Where’s my lucky penny?

    1. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar

      I’d look behind the dresser.

  2. Michael Cargill Avatar

    This is great! I love the details like…

    Hang on. How did you know what the girl on the other end looked like?

    THIS IS ALL LIES, AND I BELIEVED EVERY, LAST CUT OF FABRIC OF IT.

    *Cries.*

    1. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar

      Oops! “Almost entirely true story.”

  3. muddledmom Avatar

    I remember the days of “calling time.” I never even thought to ask other questions. I wonder what other strange things they were asked? Great story!

    1. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar

      I bet a former telephone operator could enthrall listeners for hours!

  4.  Avatar
    Anonymous

    Funny as always!!

  5. missemmalou Avatar
    missemmalou

    That is one patient operator! Happy New Year!!!!

  6. Madame Weebles Avatar

    LOVE this. This is why you always call the Operator for Information!

    1. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar

      Exactly! She has all the answers.

  7. Maggie Carlise Avatar

    This was hilarious!! (What a nice operator!)

  8. dpbowman Avatar

    AWESOME! Was about to head out and saw the flashing #’s…always a MUST read. Glad I did. Keep it coming! ~Regards, Dan (BTW, does that even work anymore, I know who I’m calling tonight!…What’s the average wing speed of an unladen swallow?)

    1. Shmarah Avatar

      Is it an African or an English swallow?

      1.  Avatar
        Anonymous

        If I say I don’t know will I be lost to the Gorge of Eternal Peril?

    2. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar

      Haha! I’m not sure if it does. You’ll have to let us all know!

  9. whisperingiris Avatar

    I love Chrissy’s face at the end holding the sock looking like, “How the hell did she know that?” Awesome. Thanks for the laugh.

    1. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar

      :D Glad it could make you laugh!

  10. sparksmcgee Avatar

    I believe it all. NOW LET’S GO FIND SANTA!

    1. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar

      Let’s wait for summer. Brrr

  11. pegoleg Avatar

    I can tell this is ancient history – you mean there was a day when the phone was answered by a live PERSON????
    How do you get the time to flash – you’re a genius, Nicki.

    1. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar

      It’s a simple gif, but I’ll take the compliment! Thanks, Peg!

  12. becomingcliche Avatar

    That is the BEST! And a gif to boot!

  13. sj Avatar

    I don’t know if it’s like this everywhere, but in Southern California, there’s a specific number to dial for just the time.

    “At the beep, the time will be 4:15 and TEN seconds.”

    I used to wait til it said “4:16 EXACTLY” (or whatever the time was) before I hit the “set” button on the clocks.

    1. Rae Avatar

      You dial POP-CORN! (Works(ed) everywhere in California at least, maybe nationwide?) I used to call that number all the time when I was little just to pretend that I actually had someone to call.

      1. sj Avatar

        ZOMG, HOW DID I NEVER KNOW IT WAS POPCORN?!

        1. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar

          Wow, I’ve never heard of that!

    2. bhbkidstyle Avatar

      It used to be 08 in Hungary. I have to see if it still exist….

  14. Margo Avatar

    Great! Hilarious! :-D

  15. michelleatplay Avatar

    True story. Also a good story.

  16. Rebecca Vander Sys Avatar
    Rebecca Vander Sys

    We used to call the operator when we were kids..do they still do that?

    1. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar

      I’m not sure… I’ll have to find a kid and ask!

  17. talesfromthemotherland Avatar

    Just this morning I was sitting on this page, hoping a new post would pop up. I told my husband, you have to see this blog—that Rudolph is so cool! Now I love the blinking clock. Fabulous!

    1. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar

      I was hard at work cutting and pasting a new one! :) Thanks for sharing it!

      1. talesfromthemotherland Avatar

        It paid off! Love the blinking clock… almost as much as Rudolph. I mean, how can you compete with a flying reindeer, with a glowing nose! Fabulous.

  18. Micaelala Avatar

    Haha, I remember calling the operator, too, but only to get other phone numbers. Then there was 411 (free!) and we had a number to call for Time (So Cal, too). I loved it.

    1. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar

      Wow, so many options!

  19. caganci Avatar

    Your panels are just adorable – I look forward to seeing your posts in my e-mail.

    1. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar

      Thank you. That’s so nice to hear!

  20. Tin Roof Press Avatar

    i just lolzed even with flu.

    1. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar

      Oh, no! I hope you feel better soon. The flu is especially awful this year. Poor thing!

      1. Tin Roof Press Avatar

        I’m better now luckily only last 2.5 days. and got to bunk work so yay :)

  21. Pete Howorth Avatar
    Pete Howorth

    Ahahahahaha, Uber Lolz!

  22. Chatter Master Avatar

    This bears/bares (?) repeating EVERY SINGLE TIME you post:

    You are brilliant.

  23. jensine Avatar

    yes those ladies know everything

    1. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar

      They really do! Better than calling the psychic hotline.

  24. morristownmemos by Ronnie Hammer Avatar

    The blinking, clock, Chrissy’s mouth full of food from the grocery bag and all three of the facial expressions added so much to this hilarious story!

    1. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar

      Thanks! I have a lot of fun piecing together the panels :)

  25. Tori Nelson Avatar

    Awesome. I never can find my socks.

    1. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar

      Me neither! In fact, I am missing one from my new favorite pair. I think I left it at my mother’s house. It’s what made me remember this story!

  26. abraalani Avatar

    ahahaha Awesome!! I laughed out loud on this one. We would call “popcorn” (767-2676) to get the time, which didn’t include a helpful operator at the other end. I want to know where my missing sock went! :)

    1. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar

      I have never heard of “popcorn”! Sounds useful.

  27. whatimeant2say Avatar

    Fabulous! I love the gif and the bug eyes! Weirdly, I just sat down to type a short story about a missing sock, and thought I would check my e-mail first. We are connected in so many ways!

    1. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar

      Maybe we have the same star sign and our horoscope says “Today you will dwell on a lost article. What comes of it is up to you.” (I want to read your missing sock story!)

      1. whatimeant2say Avatar

        I’m still working on it, but I will share it with you when it’s finished! There’s Tupperware involved, too…

  28. bhbkidstyle Avatar

    Oh, Gosh! I am crying with laughter and my stomach is really hurting! It´s one of the best. Thank you!

    1. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar

      :D Yay! I’m so happy to hear that!

  29. becca3416 Avatar

    You can’t reveal Santa’s address all over the internet! Whaaaa!

    1. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar

      Oops! At least I didn’t reveal his personal landline.

  30. Loni Found Herself Avatar

    Amazing. Absolutely amazing.

  31. Shannon Avatar

    Haha! Awesome post, Nicole! Love the flashing time on the stove. Our electric clock had one of the flip card type numbers, you know, like a Rolodex.

    I miss the free dial-zero operators in this digital Google-everything age. I used to call them sometimes just to ask the time and chat a bit. My aunt worked for the bell company — some of the operators knew her since she was one of the few “linemen” at that time. Those ladies were all awesome. I hope they’re getting paid a great pension for dealing with us little snot-noses.

    1. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar

      Oh, I LOVE those clocks! My best friend growing up had one in her room, and I used to love to hear the fluttering of the numbers when the hour changed.

  32. Liz Merts Albritton Avatar

    Love it! Thanks for making me laugh out loud today.

    1. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar

      Thanks for stopping by! :)

  33. Kim Avatar

    One of my favorites, so far!!! I think I need to call the operator, about my missing socks, too…

    1. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar

      Me, too! I miss my sock.

  34. ayoliag Avatar

    hahahahhahahahah I’d be so freaked out! hhhahaha love this one!

  35. JackieP Avatar
    JackieP

    Oh my, I almost spit out my water at the last frame. Too funny! :-)

    1. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar

      Haha! I know it’s going to be a good one when I make myself laugh when I sketch out the panels in my notebook.

  36. bloggeretterized Avatar

    Bravo! Pure Genius! This one has to gt freshly pressed! Love love love it!

  37. rkutchjm Avatar

    Your creativity is continuing and I love it! Don’t ever stop.
    Rob

  38. turnerbarr Avatar

    Socked re-united. A true new year miracle.

    1. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar

      Yes. I’m hopefully looking at the mailbox every day to see if my mom will mail me the sock I left at her house. I miss my sock.

  39. Dan Tabata Avatar

    LOL! Thanks for starting my day with a good laugh. :-)

  40. runoffwriter Avatar

    FANTASTIC. No blog I’ve seen is like yours.

  41. Monica Avatar

    I love Chrissy’s eyes when she found the sock hahaha!

    1. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar

      :D Well, can you imagine?!

  42. Audrey Avatar

    [Cue Twilight Zone theme.]
    This is hilarious! And I love the blinking clock – brilliance!!

  43. The Vagabond Baker Avatar

    Brilliant! How spooky, love the eating face!

    1. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar

      :) Thanks! I always like to do the eating panels. Little cheekies!

  44. lexy3587 Avatar

    That’s hilarious – what an excellent operator!

    1. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar

      I imagine they have special training on dealing with pesty children.

  45. mskatykins Avatar

    D’you know what. I’ve had, at times, a really crappy day. A number of things have managed to put a smile on my face. Thank you for making my laugh out loud!!! :D

    1. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar

      Glad I could put a smile on your face, Kate :)

      1. mskatykins Avatar

        It was much needed. Thank you.

        By the way, I think I said this last year, but I’m loving the blinking images that you’re using right now, like digital clocks. I don’t know how you’re doing it, but I like it. :)

  46. littlebirdlittlebee Avatar

    Hahahaha! Hilarious! I love it! Particularly love Chrissy’s cheeks when she is raiding the bag.

    1. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar

      :) Thanks! It used to drive Mom crazy when we’d raid the grocery bags immediately.

      1. Emily Avatar
        Emily

        Really? Grocery shopping always seems to make me hungry.

  47. iRuniBreathe Avatar

    Nicole, another great one. The missing sock is priceless, as is the patience of the operator.

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