I had a phone in my car back in the late 1980s, so they are nothing new to me. Then a couple years went by when I didn't own one. Then I got one of those cheap plastic ones with my Cingular account, had it for about four years and eventually pitched it into the Pacific.

I bought an LG cell when I got my Verizon account. That account is now month-by-month because I refuse to renew any contracts. I am saving up to get an iPhone3GS and that will come some day.

Anyway, my spirit denies the cell phone from becoming the singular thing in my life. It is turned off about half the time because I don't want to be bothered. It sits on a counter here at home and often rings without being answered.

Why? Because there is the voicemail, and I can always check to see who called and why.

Texting? I only text if someone sends me a text message and it requires an answer. Otherwise I don't do it because texting is expensive. Besides, I use email, which is free and you can send longer messages.

Cleveland today has a new law which makes texting while driving illegal, subject to first offense fines of $100, second of $200 and third of $500. I think the third should be higher with maybe confiscation of the telephone.

Anyone who texts while driving should not have a driver's license. Morons.

To me a cell phone is a marvelous invention, but one that is akin to any electronic gadget. They are neat to have, save time and energy, but are not the most important thing in my life.

So there it is on the counter.