Staggered to the computer this morning, and there was no dial tone for me to get to FR!! Just as well, since I had to go to Aiken.
In the afternoon, BellSouth Central Service sent a local very nice fellow to repair it, and what a blessing it is to live in a small town!
Introduced himself pleasantly as Steve ____, one of the many _____boys! LOL
The problems were many-fold - one of the three phones bad (but we had an old spare one to replace it); the wire under the house (he had to crawl down there twice) had to be fixed; the so-called jack in my bedroom was a shell of one with Wal-Mart wires, frayed - one mickey-moused by the former owner - and the last one was not covered by our insurance.
"You folks don't need any more aggravation, so I'll not charge you for it, marking it down as "frayed wire!"
Thank you, Lord, for sending one of yours....
Able to get finally get on FR this evening, and seeing the wonderful news you posted, I went to work on your behalf, Cowboy...:)) ....
"Evenin' Dude!!
One of your friends - a "LadyX" - contacted me, askin' if I'd give ya a bit of encouragement. Glad to do so, havin' survived all kinds of misery on Gunsmoke.
That sure did age me, 'cause I used to look like this when I started -- 
Actually, there's another fella who can really identify with ya.....my old pal, Chester" --
"You, bet, TC! I know how hard it was to get around with a gimpy leg; though mine was 'pretend.'
Hear you are as tough as a piece of an old leather halter, and a Marine to boot! (pun intended!)
Matt and I sure are rootin' for ya to conquor all that ails you, askin' The Big Guy to bestow special blessings on ya, seein' as how so many of your friends are standin' by ya.....
Just what you'd expect from a big-hearted fella from Texas!
By the way, LadyX sent us this photograph of you - -
you coulda starred in Hollywood!"
Our best to ya, Big Guy...
James and Dennis
P.S. from LadyX
Glad to hear you're emerging from 
...:))