Snappy, TALK to your wife well before she leaves. Hash out the best time of day for both of you for her to call and check in, and for you to call her. Make sure you both agree, and that there are no assumptions to trip you up later. I think part of the problem you had 5 years ago might have been that she wasn't expecting the call then? That the time of day was the problem, not the call itself?
It's like when people agree to meet up 'out front of the bank'. Buuuut the bank has 2 side you can enter from, and one of you is on one side, and the other is on the other side, and one of you has a dead phone so you can't track each other down, and you both get mad. Better prior communication is the key.
She can't call during certain times because a phone call is rude then. You don't want a phone call 3 second after you walk in the door, you need to let the dog out and use the bathroom first. So, for you, receiving a call at time X works well. Talk it all out - and make sure she knows that you WANT phone calls every day (or not), but not at time X. And because she's the one with the events going on, she should call you when it's convenient for her, because you're at home and your schedule is not the one changing up. Make sure you each know what the other one wants..... Or will be hurt by.