Sunday night

Just talked to Mark again.  Don't know if I mentioned it earlier, but we're having some sort of electrical problem here and a lot of the electrical outlets aren't working because one of the breakers is staying tripped for some reason.  Unfortunately, that happens to include all the outlets where the base phones plug in, so -- no house phone at the moment.  But as a result, I've discovered how easy it is to make and receive calls on the computer!  And I never would have even bothered to try it if the regular phones were working.  Don't know how many of you have gmail, but if you do there's a little green phone icon on the left side that says "Call phone" next to it.

When you click on that, a box pops up

and you just type in the phone number and hit "dial."  You do have to have a headset with a mouthpiece, but once you do, the voice quality of the call will be amazing.  It's as if the person is sitting there next to you!  I love it.  I'll definitely continue using it after the regular phone is back in service, for sure!  It's also free anywhere in the U.S. (and really cheap even outside the country).

Thinking about it, it's possible you might need to have a Google Voice phone number for that to work.  But hey -- everyone should have one anyway.  It's really really helpful.  When someone calls that number it rings on every phone I have -- home, cell, office -- and any other phone I decide to add to the list.  If I were staying with someone I could add their number while I'm there and my calls would automatically go there as well!  That way I never have to worry about which number to give someone depending on where I think I'll be when they call -- I'll get the call no matter where I am.  Anyway, it's possible that you might need a Google Voice number to use that Call Phone feature, although I don't really think so. 

It IS necessary for someone to call the Google Voice number in order to RECEIVE a call on the computer, though.

Okay.  So much for tonight's techy discussion.  Time for bed.  Gotta bring both Joey AND Boo to LSU tomorrow.  This will be Boo's last blood donation.  He turns 8 this month and that's the age limit for canine blood donors.  Think I'll give him some sort of special dinner tomorrow night, just because . . .