And, since I get lots of calls from the hospital, I don't want to miss those. So, I answer.

Wouldn't the hospital leave a message, though? (Which you could pick up halfway through once you knew who it was.)

I never pick up unknown caller calls because I figure if they're not a telemarketer, they'll either leave a message, or call my cell.

Well, it's tricky, 'cause some of these are coming up as "Unknown Caller," which all calls from the hospital come up that way. And, since I get lots of calls from the hospital, I don't want to miss those. So, I answer.

I know what you mean, thankfully I don't have any of those pesky unknown callers calling for known and valid reasons.

I do have the answering machine at the ready and will pick up if someone leaves a message. Well, sometimes. Unless there's an emergency, I let family, etc., leave messages if we are eating dinner.

Well, it's tricky, 'cause some of these are coming up as "Unknown Caller," which all calls from the hospital come up that way. And, since I get lots of calls from the hospital, I don't want to miss those. So, I answer. But, boy does it make me annoyed.

You should just tell Emily to go and get married so you won't have that problem anymore.

We've got voice mail, so I wouldn't be able to pick it up. And, yeah, most calls from the hospital can go to voice mail. But, when I'm expecting one of my doctors to call (which I kind of am right now...waiting for some test results), I pick up, 'cause they're difficult to get ahold of.

You should just tell Emily to go and get married so you won't have that problem anymore.

Yeah. That selfish Emily. Never thinking of my phone-answering needs!

Little Tikes stuff lasts forever too, Cashmere. After the apocalypse, there'll be cockroaches and Keith Richards, and they'll be living in Little Tikes Cozy Cottages, and driving around in Little Tikes cars.

This really isn't hyperbole.

How much does something like that cost new? Is $50 an excellent price?

I've been checking--this is an older style but it's mostly likely around $100, new.

I do have the answering machine at the ready and will pick up if someone leaves a message. Well, sometimes. Unless there's an emergency, I let family, etc., leave messages if we are eating dinner.

I had to train myself not to jump to answer the phone, even with caller i.d. I often don't answer unless I'm expecting a call. If someone doesn't leave a message, they're out of luck.

I hate the cell phone culture and the fact that I am expected to be within phone reach of everyone and anyone. I keep my cell phone off unless I am expecting calls, or meeting up with people. I hate the phone. I am totally grumpy regarding this. (and in many other aspects)

I don't answer the phone unless I know I want to talk to the person on the other end right at the moment they're calling. Caller ID has made this infinitely easier.

You know what drives me nuts about the cell phone? When you call someone and they're in a meeting or busy or something and they make YOU feel guilty for interrupting. UM...NO! Turn it off if it's that important, or put it on vibrate and DON'T answer!

The cell phone culture has hit me big time. I have friends who either don't use their home phones, or have no land line at all. Sometimes I don't want to interrupt them! I know they can and will decide which calls to answer and which to not, but sometimes I want to tag my calls as low priority, and I feel really dumb when they pick up in the middle of something else because they don't know that.

Also, they only call me on my cell, so I now pay more attention to it than before (I used to let the batteries run dry all the time). I don't feel any pressure to answer all the time--well, no external pressure. It's all pressure I put on myself.