I get my cake supplies from a local restaurant supply place....it has several employees....The man who I believe to be the owner is an older, white haired grandfather who is always behind the register. He has a long white beard and I have engaged in many conversation with the man over different aspects of cakes. He is a Hasidic Jew and I inquired about how one "becomes Kosher". So, the last time I went in there was last week....I bought a 20 lb. bucket of fondant cause I have a lot of work coming up and don't have time to make that much mmf.
anyway....
I showed this guy my "portfolio" and we discussed the AC expo. I also gave him one of my business cards. (my business cards advertise my paintings) So, the next day he calls me. My DH answers, I don't hear their conversation but I take the phone when DH tells me who it is. So, all the pleasantries, blah, blah, blah....he wants to know what I use to decorate my cakes. I tell him I use fondant most of the time...then he asks a couple more trivial questions....tells me they will be closed part of this week due to their holidays, I thank him and say goodbye.
DH scrunches his face and says "Who is that"...I told him its the grandpa who owns the cake supply place. DH tells me he was a little rude. Grandpa asked my husband if I was home and DH asked who he was. Grandpa said this is so and so...IS she there???
DH was a little annoyed.
Two days pass. I pick the kids up from school...come home...message on the machine from Grandpa. This is exactly what he said: Irene (roll the r...)...he has a heavy accent....I have a book for you. It has a woman...what is this woman's name?....she makes cakes...it's a good book for you....click 
okey-dokey.
Next day passes....DH goes out to Long Island....11:40 pm...he's not yet home. Riiiiiing....riiiing...
OMG!! Who's calling so late?? Something happened to DH 
!!!
Hello!!! HELLO!!! ..... no answer
HELLO! who is this?????
I hear "Irene? Irene?"
Who is this???? I say
Irene...I uh oh...I uh didn't mean to call you
(I know who it is now)
WHO is this?, I say again
It's so and so.(Grandpa)... I'm sorry, he says
I say "don't you think it's a little late to be calling my house? My children are sleeping!!"
I'm sorry...I meant to dial someone else. I recognized your voice, he says. (???) I'm sorry
Good night, I said as I hung up the phone.
I left a voice mail of DH's cell. Don't you guys think that this is getting very wierd? Is he misinterpreting a pleasant conversation for something else? Blechhhh!!!
Anyway....I called my brother and told him. He said maybe the guy just made a mistake. I said, yeah, maybe....but I still wanted someone to know.
Now you all know too!!!!
Do you mean weird, as in it feels like Grandpa "likes you"? If so, ...yeah....BLEEEECHHHHHH.
I say listen to your gut......if it feels like a red flag, then it probably is. Maybe not, but I think God gives us this thing called intuition for a reason. It may be nothin' but never hurts to be cautious (especially in this day and age). What a shame, huh?
Sorry, Irene..Hon...it's kinda a "cultural thing".
Living in Brooklyn you should kinda be used to that!..lol
I live in a pocket here in Miami, where there are Synagogues in EVERY corner!! and it's a very KOSHER neighborhood ( that's why I haven't had a chance to miss New York too much..ahahaaa!)
And...the area is VERY upscale, and very Russian to boot!
That's why that women felt she could talk to me the way she spoke to me!
Well, I'm sure that as an old Grandpa, he gets things mixed up...( Let's give him the benefit of the doubt! For now!) and maybe he hit redial or your number was the last one in his head! )
But, also remember that you're a very attractive young woman!!! He MAY not be able to help himself from looking at you and saying in his little widdle head....
"HUBBA HUBBA"...lol
Just keep your wits about you, and next time hubby is in town, maybe he should go with you to the Restaurant Supply store?!!!
Yes, Irene is a VERY pretty woman, married to a HUNKY guy!!! She sent me her photo! lol
Um...is Grandpa single? I may be interested...hahaa!!!
Hunky husband, eh? Well, if you and Grandpa head for Vegas you let hubby know I might be looking to trade up! 
But seriously, let's hope he just had a befuddled moment. I know it can be scary sometimes. When I was single I once had a guy inform me that someone was peeking in my window, and when I asked him how he knew that he said it was because he had been watching my windows, too!! AHHH!! RUN!
When I was single I once had a guy inform me that someone was peeking in my window, and when I asked him how he knew that he said it was because he had been watching my windows, too!! AHHH!! RUN!
I JUST fainted!!!!!!!!!!! 
Um...is Grandpa single? I may be interested...hahaa!!!
risque you're funny!!!! I agree Irene is a good looking woman ( her photo was up when in the member's spotlight) and I'm sure he was very attracted to her!!!! Especially in New York ( don't get me wrong....I'm not bagging on NY..but I live in NJ and have found this to be true on the eastern seaboard) people are often rude or standoffish. When I first moved to NJ from Ohio......I couldn't believe the way people acted!! Not only do they not stop and exchange pleasantries, but if you try they act like you're bothering them or something!!!!! Maybe this guy is so used to that attitude that he misinterpreted someone actually being kind and gracious for something else. Maybe this guy has nobody else in the world that he KNOWS!!! Seems unreasonable but it is possible. People in NJ are shocked (my son's school in particular) that I have NO family OR friends that live near me to use as an emergency notificiation. My in laws are 45 min. away.....so I list myself, DH, and them. The school freaks out every year......."you don't have SOMEONE....a friend, a neighbor??? anyone????" I'm like....um..no sorry....I've lived here almost 5 yrs. and the only friend I have is my DH. I'm a SAHM when am I gonna get an opportunity to meet new friends let alone people I trust enough to pick my child up from school?????? I say the guy was trying to find a friend in a big city!!!
Oooohhhhh, he is probably an old guy that appreciates your cakes. Now, if he approaches you regarding "cheesecake" while wearing a trench coat...LOOK OUT!!!!!!! 
Now, if he approaches you regarding "cheesecake" while wearing a trench coat...LOOK OUT!!!!!!!
haaahha, fainted again!!!!!!!!!
I'm sorry, but I think this is so funny (totally weird...funny because it's not happening to me!!!) LOL!!! I live in the Catskills, where the Hasidics come in the summer (our population triples from May-Sept.) I'm actually REALLY surprised, though, because here they will NOT speak to you, ESPECIALLY the men. Maybe you should have dh accompany you one time into the store, and then grandpa would get the hint? Or casually mention to GRANDMA that grandpa called you....I'm sure she would be taking care of it! LOL!
maybe next time you go in you could just sya, "i'm sure it was an honest mistake, but please make sure you don't dial my phone after _____ PM. I have children and a husband and we're usually in bed around _____." Then maybe he'll get the hint that the call wasn't appreciated - in case it wasn't just a mistake.
Also, bringing you husband with you once may also clue him in that you're taken 
He may just be one of those flirty old men. Good luck!
Maybe this guy is cake crazy like the rest of us here and was just totally blown away by your creative talent. I can understand why he would have you in mind for a special book that he knows of, but the late phone call? Yeah, that would have me a bit freaked out too. I used to be the Activities Director at an upscale retirement living center and let me tell you that there are some very lovely, VERY lonely older people in this country!!! It's a shame because honestly, I have seen a lot of parents/grandparents that are practically abandoned by their families. I can't tell you how many times I was late getting work finished because of my 'regular' chatters. People that I had been kind to that sought me out for company when they were down because they knew that I would be kind to them. PLUS, you never know how your kindness might pay off in the end.... I did have a couple of ladies whose families came to see me after they had died "because Aunt Lil always talked about how sweet you were to her and she wanted you to have this". Let's hope that this guy is just impressed by a kind person who has a talent for something he obviously has great interest in!
I think that since you gave him your card and showed interest in cakes to him, he is trying to be friendly. He found a book for you and wanted to let you know. You might have been the last person that he called from the phone he used to accidently call you. I have a phone that we don't use that often, that saves the last number dialed - no matter how many other people I've called from other phones in the house. It could be an honest mistake and when he recognized your voice, he realized he made a mistake. I always check my caller id before I answer so I don't have that panic moment if some calls later than I want calls. I don't like to take calls later than 9:00pm, but I have friends and family that call after that because they are very busy and that is the only time they have aftter getting off work when their store closes at 9:00pm.
You should follow your gut on this one. If more things continue to happen, well....I think I'd have dh escort me to that store again. LOL!
But, then again, since you have bought so much from his store, maybe he's trying to be nice.
I don't know, but I'd definitely keep my eyes open!!!
Thanks everyone....I think I will look at it as an honest mistake....but my radar is up. Any more "inklings" and this guy is history! Grandma is gonna hear from me!!!
So is there any updates on this story? I found it very amusing and interesting
Nati
[quote="boonenati
So is there any updates on this story? I found it very amusing and interesting
Nati[/quote]
As a matter of fact....I had to go into the store last week. I needed a 20 lb. bucket of fondant fast. So, I walked in there with my 7 yr. old and immediately, the man whips out a small cake decorating book (That was in Spanish, by the way ) and says...."Irene, Irene...this is the book I have for you...this is why I called you". It was like he was waiting for me...he was ready!
So I thanked him and took a look at the book...I got my fondnat and when I went to check out, he couldn't even LOOK at me. It was so obvious that he was uncomfortable. He didn't know where to put himself!
So, I thanked him as I would normally and left. I figure, it's not my problem if he's uncomfortable, right?
..... the man whips out a small cake decorating book (That was in Spanish, by the way
) and says...."Irene, Irene...this is the book I have for you...this is why I called you". It was like he was waiting for me...he was ready!So I thanked him and took a look at the book...I got my fondnat and when I went to check out, he couldn't even LOOK at me. It was so obvious that he was uncomfortable. He didn't know where to put himself!
So, I thanked him as I would normally and left. I figure, it's not my problem if he's uncomfortable, right?
Of course not, you didnt call him, he called you out of nowhere.
scary!!!
was the book even worth looking at?
Nati
He couldn't even look at you?!?
I hope your 7 yo couldn't pick up on anything.
nah...he was busy playing on a rolling cart. Grandpa totally realized that what he did was wrong. He had all his employees nearby...some of which I think are related to him, so I believe he was trying to cut me off at the pass....that is to stop me from mentioning the calls (not that I was going to) by giving a reason for it. Like I said...the book was in Spanish.
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