Well, I think I have arrived at a workable system.
1) all ringers in the house are off. So all phone calls are silent no matter the caller.
2) If I happen to see a cordless phone (there are three of them around the house' "light up", I usually take a look and of course may answer it if I know the caller.
3) This absolutely and completely stops bottom- feeding callers.
4) If someone actually leaves a messave, and that call is of importance (even a stranger with a KiPass or low fuel warning or Rostra question), I pick up the call
5) at the end of time away from the phone, either upstairs working or out of the house, I check for both messages as well as missed callers via caller ID. Return calls but of course <may> play telephone- tag with some family members. I am finding that OK too because almost always there is nothing really important about the call anyway.
6) my wife keeps in touch with the family and friends via cell phone, texting, FaceTwit and so forth, then relays the info. to me. Now as my hearing deteriorates, and since she will make absolutely no effort to communicate clearly (in fact, she mumbles while facing the wall to make SURE I cannot hear her), I only catch about 10% of what she says anyway. But as the effort on my part is too high to chase more of the content, and the content is usually not very valuable, that is OK too and I am now shooting for 5% with an 1% reduction in every three month period following. So by winter I expect to hear 'wa wa wa, wa wa waaaaaa, small laugh, more wa wa and then blissful silence'.
So, to summarize: Doing well with [it used to annoy me] phone. Doing well with [it still annoys me when she talks so I cannot understand her but less- so all the time] wife. Getting all the information I want about others, actually too much, and am getting less all the time, so WIN- WIN- WIN!
Have applied my new attitude to several different areas with equally good and surprising results: went to start two chainsaws last week, neither would start. One is a Stihl, 2 yrs. old, and I just love the little guy! Small (35 cc, 16" bar), light, no vibration, E-Z- start (which I like) and all 'flippy caps' to not only fill with fuel and bar oil but also adjust the chain! Changed spark plug and still will not start. Will take to OPE store with strict instructions not to spend more than $85 or so on repairs. If repairs exceed that, will remove chain and bar and crush powerhead beyond any recognition and buy new saw.... elsewhere. Problem solved, blood pressure even, attention not diverted to stupid chain saw problems. Other saw is Echo 60cc, wearing 24" bar and an aggressive chain. That one resisted but eventually 'came around' and started. With some carb. tweaks to increase air pollution, it is running like a scalded cat and cutting like a banshee. Still no blood pressure increase, no time wasted, no diversion to chain saws. Started to de-cap and resize some Federal .223 brass tonight, for relaxation. Hmmm. Did not work out as primers are crimped and could not get any consistency on shoulder- bump resizing. Stopped and switched to once- fired PMC brass and the sun came out and the bird sang and all was right in the world. I stumbled over once- fired Federal brass by mistake, maybe 5,000 cases and will pick up more next week but will not allow it to torture me and clean brass DOES have a scrap value.
New attitude working great!!! Thanks are in order to the bottom- feeders and the corporations who sent them to torture me for causing this strategic change in behavior. Illegitimi non carborundum also works on the small scale too, who knew?
Brian (lalalalalalala with hands over ears, I do not hear you and you will not penetrate my inner sanctum :-) )