"Bride Judy" and I just returned from a 1,700 mile road trip ... Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Idaho, and back home to Washington. I knew it was important to keep in touch with people that were expecting us to show up at certain times and at certain places. To be responsible, I took myself to my local ATT&T phone store before we left. I bought a phone and $50 worth of pre-paid phone calls.

Imagine my surprise when my phone didn't work mostly. Baker Oregon ... forget it. Pocatell, Idaho ... it worked about half the time. Up into Montana, then Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, it was a joke!

Yesterday and today I talked with managers of ATT&T. I asked for my money back. I explained that I had to spend $30 out of pocket money to call ahead to my next venues and confirm that I was on sheduale.

After several heated discussions, they finally agreed to re-emburse my $30, but ONLY by extending my useless cell phone time. I told them that I had no use for their useless toy as I was now home with a perfectly good land line.

So ... here's my question: when you folks are "on the road", how do you maintain reliable telephone contact with family and business connections? Bob(deckman)Nelson