While we were in South America, my husband thought I was paying the U.S. phone bill ...and I thought he was paying it. Result: the phone was disconnected. So I call up Verizon and they say we can't get our old number back because it's already in use. First thing I do when we get back, naturally, is call up the old number. It's not in use. So much for the efficiency of Verizon. On a side note, we went to check out a new restaurant today; the woman there said they were without phone service for two months when they opened because Verizon was on strike. I guess she meant the Verizon workers were on strike. Which I applaud. If it weren't for unions there would be no weekend, and your 10 year old would be doing the morning shift at the local sweatshop. I proposed to my husband that we call up Verizon and get the old number back, instead of advising everyone of the new number. But he likes the new number. And I like it too. So we're going to keep the new number, because it's more numeralogically mellifluous...or something. But since the Do Not Call List takes a month to go into effect, we are receiving skoo skads of hang-up calls when the machine answers. (We never answer the phone. That's what machines are for, after all.) And I'm thinking, what sense does it make that you have to list your number on a Do Not Call List? Are they suggesting that there are people who actually ENJOY having their breakfast and dinner continuously interrupted by unsolicited purveyors of various products and services? "Yes, please put me on the Call List!" Apparently, yes, there are enough people who like receiving sales calls that everyone who has a telephone account is assumed to be willing to receive such calls until they take it upon themselves to prove otherwise. I wonder what Dean Clifford has to say about all this. Google him. NOT the weightlifter.