"My phone has been ringing off the hook. I have like 17 cell phones and pagers"

In this statement, Steven Cojocaru uses hyperbole to stress a sense of overwhelming busyness or demand for his attention. The phrase "My phone has actually been sounding off the hook" is an idiomatic expression that communicates the concept of getting an abnormally a great deal of phone calls. Though modern phones do not have hooks, the expression harks back to a time when phones were usually hung on a cradle, therefore lots of calls would make it appear as if the phone was continuously in usage and unable to be hung up.

Cojocaru further exaggerates this principle by claiming to have "like 17 cell phones and pagers". While it's highly not likely that he literally owns seventeen mobile devices for interaction, the exaggeration serves to underscore the large volume and magnitude of his interactions and responsibilities. This claim paints an image of somebody multi-tasking or needing to manage many duties or social connections concurrently. It highlights the societal pressure to stay continuously linked and responsive, possibly showing the nature of his work or social life which demands continuous attention and immediate actions.

Additionally, this declaration can likewise be viewed as a commentary on the proliferation of technology and the progressively fragmented way people handle and stabilize professional and individual interactions. The mention of pagers, which are relatively outdated innovation, might also invoke a sense of nostalgia or humor, advising us of a time when remaining linked required a different set of tools compared to today.

Overall, Cojocaru's quote encapsulates a modern-day phenomenon where individuals feel besieged by continuous streams of interaction, accentuating a typical experience of being overwhelmed by digital interactions, all provided with a touch of humor and exaggeration to highlight the chaotic nature of life in the digital age.