Let's Talk Cell Phones.......

As you can see by the above photo that Grandpa and I have jumped on the 'bandwagon' and have gone wireless. Yes, after all those years of wall phones, desk phones, answering machines and the same phone number, we took the leap. Actually, I had been after Grandpa for a while to make the change...at least once a month when my cell phone bill would come in and I would hear "Well, guess how far over your minutes you went this month". He couldn't quite grasp the fact that we have two daughters, living long-distance with one who checks in everyday. And, let's be honest....a 'check-in' phone call can turn into a 45 minute yak session within the blink of an eye. Not to mention, the crappy plan I had where I was getting charged for incoming calls along with my 150 minutes of calling out time. Yes, I said 150 minutes for one month!! It was probably more than that but I wouldn't know....all I know is that whatever it was, I kept going over it and once a month when the bill would hit the mailbox, I would hide out behind a book somewhere and put my innocent face on. I FINALLY convinced him that perhaps instead of throwing a hissy fit every month, we could look into going completely wireless and check into a better plan....you know, like other normal cell phone users. I mean, in this day and age with all the competing phone carriers out there, they practically pay you to use their phones. So, Grandpa did what Grandpa usually does....he got on the computer for two weeks to check out what was out there. Now, in those two weeks I was busy running over my minutes once again, but he didn't care.....he was CHECKING it out. He was in a daze of finding the best deal out there and nothing was going to deter him....he was on a mission!


Well, he did it! He found us a great plan with U.S. Cellular. Lots of minutes, lots of 'do-dads' and 'bells and whistles' that I will never use....did I say lots of minutes!! They take pictures like little mini cameras, they have alarms, they have wallpaper designs....did I say lots of minutes?? And, since my leap into organizing this house, we also have cute little holders to hold them as you can see....a place for everything and everything in its place....it's my one tool to drive Grandpa nuts. Yes, we have gone wireless even though we still have our wall phone hanging on the kitchen wall - for decorative purposes only but all other phones and answering machines are now gone. But one thing that isn't gone is the monthly bill; it still comes and I still hear "Well, guess how many minutes YOU used last month". Of course I'm going to use 750 more minutes than his 22 minutes. When I talk with one of the kids, I hand him my phone before I hang up so he can say hi and he yaks up a storm....but that's ok because it's on MY number.  He conveniently fails to remember that little tidbit so I don't get excited about it any more.  Hey, if it gives him something to do once a month; read 5 pages of a phone bill and ask that same stupid question, fine...give it your best shot, Dear!

Nobody told me that I would have to learn a new phone number when we started this adventure....at my age??? I still don't have Grandpa's memorized but that's ok, if I want to talk to him, all I have to do is go into the next room....hey, it saves on minutes and that's what it's all about!