We've had to dial area codes for local calls in Maryland for years. It feels weird not to have to do it when I go back to St. Louis.

Yeah, but it used to be that if you were calling within an area code, you only had to dial seven digits. MA went to ten-digit dialing way early. Even when NYC started doing overlaid area codes, you didn't have to dial the area code every time.

That was the most frustrating part. Although to be honest, I still have to think about my area code, because for my whole life, it was 617 for all the towns I've lived in which are now 781, and there's got to be a better way to say that, but I can't make my words work.

MA went to ten-digit dialing way early. Even when NYC started doing overlaid area codes, you didn't have to dial the area code every time.

RI did for awhile too, claiming, among other things, that it helped people recognize when they were dialing a non-local call, so they wouldn't be surprised by the charges. Fortunately, enough people complained that they stopped doing it.

Actually, up until about 15 years ago, I could make local calls just by dialing the last 5 digits of the number.

I can't remember the area code I had until I was 14, but since then it's 410, 301 and 703. Oh, my cell phone is 757.

Re GG: Logan is awesome, reminds me of a lot of my college crushes. (only, with much, much more money.) Not necessarily a great pick for the long haul for Rory, but for now? Mrow.

Also, request for hivemind car reassurance: My car is creaking sometimes when I brake, and making a weird squeaky grinding sound on curves if I hold the brake down. I called Patrick, and he says the guys at the car repair place said we had axel problems last time it was in, but not enough to replace it. That was only a few weeks ago.

Please tell me "axel problems" don't mean my wheel is going to suddenly fall off on a major road or force me out of control, dooming me to a firey death when all I'm trying to do is get home before Lost. I can't take the car to the shop until tomorrow.

My dad would still use the exchange name when telling you a number, "Cedarwood 3-5100" or "C-E 3-5100" instead of 233-5100.

Has anyone ever had a party line? My relatives in PEI (different nuclear families, in houses on the same stretch of road) had one for a long time. It was hard to remember to listen for the particular ring for each home.

Actually, up until about 15 years ago, I could make local calls just by dialing the last 5 digits of the number.

Yeah, my cousin had that where she grew up in MA. I thought that was so cool!

Last night after getting tripped one of the kids stepped on his knee

This made me flinch to read. That's just not right.

Area codes: 415, 504, 714, 916, 530, 510 and 925. With help from google, I couldn't just remember all of those.

413 703 516 401 215 919

Our province shares its area code with another province. Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island are all 902. I guess combined the two provinces have just over 1 million people. I wonder when we will need another one.

413?

Where did you live, amy?