I know I'm not the only one out there getting the spam messages that start out "Dear Bob, here's that great link" or "Dear Bob, here's that information I mentioned about the great insurance rate." I mean, what? Do these companies really think I'm going to fall for that? ("Honey! Look! We accidentally got an email meant for Bob, and he gets the most amazing insurance rates. We simply must switch carriers NOW.") Uh, I don't think so.

Of course, an even bigger annoyance is that for the longest time, Dun & Bradstreet had my cell phone number listed as the contact number for U.S. Telcom. "Hi, can I speak to someone in your accounting department." "This is a private cell phone." Dead air. A few folks were polite and apologized. A few made grunting noises as if it were my fault (hey, I've had this number since 1999). When one particularly nice guy actually told me where the number originated (D&B) I called and they changed it right away (yay!). The calls have dropped, but there are still a few "lists" out there that have my number listed. (As in "Can I ask where you got this number?" "It's on my list." Ah, yes. The mysterious list circulated by the mysterious Them. I know, whenever I get that response, that I'll be getting these calls for a long time to come.) (And, no, I'm not going to change the number. I use it for business now. 8 bazillion people have it. And I'm lazy. Nuff said.)

But, getting back to the spam. Maybe it is only me. Maybe I really am the only one getting Bob's gone-awry emails. Poor Bob. Floundering about out in the world without that key URL or those exceptional insurance rates. I tell you, it's enough to make a girl get all teary eyed. ...