Tricia R

We now pay $100.00 includng tax per month with Verizon for two lines with an allowance of 1400 minutes. We usually use about 900 minutes. We have a lot of dropped calls (live in mountainous area) and are wondering if we would have less with another provider.

We would be open to plans which would include an Internet connection. We now pay $90.00 including tax per month to Cable One.

Another wedding gift question. I am appalled at how many happy couples do not send thank you notes for wedding gifts.

One bride in my husband's family told another relative that she was "too busy". Apparently her time is far more important than the time, money, and energy I expended to send her eight dinner plates of her everyday china.

I don't want to do anything to encourage this trend, which I think is selfish, greedy, slovenly, and inexcusable. But on the other hand, I would like to know if these people got their gifts. This is my idea. Some store which offers a gift registry should have the bride and groom fill in a short reason that they are choosing each gift, e.g., we love this contemporary silverware pattern. Then, when a gift-giver has had a gravy ladle from the registry sent to the couple, the store registry can send the gift-giver a note saying "the gravy ladle you chose from the registry was sent today. The couple told us that they love this contemporary pattern."

I am a woman who is invited, with my husband, to a lot of weddings for family, friends, neighbors, children of husband's old college roommates, etc.

I normally object to using wedding registries. I make an exception where the couple has registered for china or silverware (a register makes sense in that case), or is older and has almost everything they could want. I feel that the giver, not the recipient, chooses the gift.

I have been avidly reading on Yahoo Answers the opinions of brides and grooms, most of whom seem to very much feel entitled to choose all of their own wedding gifts.

One wedding registry answer advised other brides and grooms to choose very luxurious and expensive items for their registries on the theory that young couples cannot afford things like very expensive towels. My question is, most of these couples seem to be having "fairy tale" (read very expensive) weddings. Wouldn't it make sense to have a less expensive wedding and save some money for towels?

It also includes menu plans.

I am a middle-aged female and would be open to volunteering.