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French Fry Phone: Love It or Leave It?

GeekSugar — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 15:40:20 -0700

Finally, the Juno hamburger phone has the perfect companion. The French Fry Phone ($20) is unapologetically wacky, not to mention retro (look at it in its corded glory!).

The ideal recipient loves vintage technology, primary colors, and is not afraid of carbs. One question: where's the soda phone?

Would you give this as a gag gift, or plug it into your kitchen outlet?

Which Comes First: Call Him or Wait Until He Calls You

DearSugar — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 15:00:00 -0800

You met an amazing guy at a friend's party the other night. You talked all night, really hit it off, and exchanged phone numbers. So now what . . .

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Dear Poll: Are You Good at Returning Phone Calls?

DearSugar — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 12:00:00 -0700

Many of you are not a fan of the phone unless it’s to talk to someone who you couldn’t otherwise. Even though it’s less personal, I agree that something about talking on the phone can seem a bit intimidating and awkward. Unfortunately, you really can’t escape it, especially since other people may not feel the same way you do. Since I know punctuality and follow-through matter to all of you, tell me, are you good about calling someone back?

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The How-To Lounge: Making Long-Distance Phone Time

DearSugar — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 14:00:00 -0700

Let's face it: Staying in touch is hard, especially if you have a big family, lots of friends, or entire time zones separating you from the people you love. But the phone is an essential tool when it comes to nurturing long-distance friendships; the problem is finding time to talk.

If you've got friends spread out over the country or the globe, there are a few simple things you can do to make quality talk time. To see my tips and add your own, read more.

Make a date. Particularly when dealing with time zone issues, setting up a specific time to talk helps tremendously. If it's someone you talk to a lot, schedule a day and time when you can talk every week. For one-off chit-chats, use IM, texts, or email to find a time that works.
Write a pre-email. If you've got obligatory job and vacation updates to get out of the way, do it over email. That way, your phone call can focus more on the sort of goofy chit-chat and gossip you'd have if you were talking in person.
Make it fun. Sometimes, if you have a lot of catching up to do, a phone date with a friend can go for hours. To make it worth your while, turn it into a virtual happy hour: Pour yourself a glass of wine, have you friend mix up a cocktail, and sip while you dish.
Squeeze it in. If you don't have time for a marathon phone call, try calling friends and family when you have downtime here and there - if you're walking home from the subway or waiting for the cable guy to show up. This can also help the time zone issue: If you're coming home late and you live on the East Coast, your West Coast friends are just finishing dinner.
Double up. If your parents are on the other end of the phone but in the same room, why not talk to them both at once? Have them get on speaker phone so you don't have to repeat yourself.

Have your own tips? I'd love to hear them, so please share in the comments.

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Dear Poll: Are You Easy to Get Ahold Of?

DearSugar — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:00:00 -0700

In this day and age, where most of us carry a BlackBerry, a cell phone, an iPhone, or maybe even all three, it's easier than ever to get ahold of people. My mom, for instance, always has her phone with her, no matter the day or the time. Then there's my BFF, who is notorious for never answering her phone and lagging on her email responses. While I understand the need to disconnect every once in a while, I love knowing that I can always rely on certain people in my life to answer my call or return my text. Where do you fall on the accessibility spectrum? Are you one that always has your phone out on the table, just in case, or do you prefer to remain a little out of touch?

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Dear Poll: Who Do You Talk to Most on the Phone?

DearSugar — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 14:00:00 -0700

I'm lucky enough to have my closest friends and family living just five minutes away, yet I still manage to log some serious phone time whenever I have a free moment. Now I know some people aren't that great on the phone, but even if you're more of a face-to-face kind of gal, there's always an exception to the rule so ladies, tell me: Who do you talk to most?

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Group Therapy: Do I Talk Too Much?

Sun, 08 Jun 2008 11:00:00 -0700

My boyfriend and I have been dating for about five months now, and I've begun to notice that I do a lot of the talking. He's a pretty reserved person by nature, but sometimes I think that I inadvertently take over most conversations. Also, my best friend who is seeing someone seems to have a very different type of conversation with her boyfriend. They typically talk about world politics and stuff of that nature, while I tend to talk more about school, my day, and what my friends have been up to. I'm not really sure if he's getting annoyed. He's pretty quiet when I talk to him.

Honestly, I've never been in a relationship where it was this hard to find something to talk about on the phone. In person, we're fine, but as soon as we're apart - it's a long distance relationship - things get kind of awkward. I just want to know what other people talk to their significant others about. Is it OK to have a lull in conversation? And should I even bring up my girlfriends?

[EDITOR'S NOTE: To be involved in more GROUP THERAPY, click here]

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Group Therapy: His Phone Is Making Me Suspicious

Fri, 09 May 2008 03:00:00 -0700

My husband has a company cell phone. He rarely gets calls from work on the weekends or the evenings, and when it does ring, he never answers it - nor does he check it in front of me. When we're out and I need to make a call, he'll pick it up and call for me, even if he's driving! I've looked through the phone and discovered he has Internet on it, which he never told me but claims he didn't know about.

He has "hot girls" checked off, which means that they're available for download, though none have been downloaded. He also has the nearest movie houses in an hour radius checked off, and we haven't gone to the movies in months. I've found a couple of androgynous first name only cell numbers in there as well, which are names he has never mentioned to me. I asked him about it, and he told me the phone was someone else's before he got it and that he hasn't changed the settings.

There are texts that are password-protected, but he claims that they are the previous user's texts - it's a used company phone. He is always home nights and weekends, and I know he doesn't know much about the phone, since I had to show him how to shut it off, but something seems strange. I could let it go if he didn't always stop me from using it. Is he just being protective or could something else be going on?

[EDITOR'S NOTE: To be involved in more GROUP THERAPY, click here]

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Pink Metro Phone: Love It or Leave It?

GeekSugar — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 03:45:09 -0800

As dependent as I am on my cell phone (ahem, that is, both my cell phones), I still really like having a landline. It's nice to have a back-up, service is pretty cheap, and it just feels normal to me. Of course, I'm still pretty picky about the design of a house phone I'll buy - in that it needs to be a cute part of my decor. I think this retro Pink Metro Phone from Pottery Barn Kids is totally adorable - the style is such an old school and romantic design. And it isn't too retro - it's cordless, of course. Although I don't know if I could commit to the pink (but there is a black version on Pottery Barn's main site). How do you feel about the retro pink phone?

Diet Tip: Keep Phone Chats Out of the Kitchen

FitSugar — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 07:30:00 -0800

After hanging up from a marathon phone session with my sister a few days ago, I realized that I had somehow polished off two slices of leftover pizza, some bread and hummus and several handfuls of gummy bears - all right before dinner. Ever since then, I have decided that I should no longer talk on the phone in the kitchen.

Talking on the phone in the kitchen can lead to overeating because not only are we distracted but we're also surrounded by food, a lethal combination for someone who watches what she eats. So if you've found that you tend to eat mindlessly while talking on the phone, think about following my lead and moving your phone conversations to another room.

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