Totally confused with Messenger. Please, Please Help!

[Morris]

Here's a good one for the group...The East Coast of
Canada can't speak with the West Coast on Windows
Messenger, but the West Coast can speak with the West
Coast and the East Coast can speak with the East Coast.
I'm totally confused??? Any suggestions??
I live on the East Coast.
When I try to speak with the West Coast, they can hear me
for about 3 seconds and then I get a message that there's
something wrong with the computer that I am trying to
contact.

Thanks for any help,
Morris