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January 01, 2008
“I Just Can’t Rid of You Like You Got Rid of Me”
The thing I didn’t tell you when I bought the new car is that I also gave up my cable television.
The decision was mostly financial, but it’s something that had been on my mind anyway. It’s not that I wasn’t enjoying television. Quite the opposite, I love it. That’s the problem. It was eating into time I used to use for other things (Exhibit A: Writing a Book), and, while I still maintain that a DVR is one of the best gizmos out there, it became another one of those things I couldn’t quite keep up with. In the end, I decided that my Netflix account satisfies the same entertainment need for less money with the added benefit of slowing my viewing down every once in a while when I have to wait for the next DVD to arrive in the mail.
I’ve been without the DVR for about three or four weeks. I’ve been watching DVDs and have gone out to see at least four movies, but I’ve also read several books and have been writing like crazy. I’m writing in my journal; I’m catching up on correspondence; I’m trying to write a halfway decent blog entry. For me, the difference was immediate, and thanks to the writers’ strike and a bunch of reruns, I don’t even feel like I’m missing anything. I kind of feel like I flunked being a part of my generation, though, and I know I’m going to miss having the occasional clue about what people are discussing when the subject of television arises. I guess this is part of recognizing my own limits.
That said, someone needs to be in charge of reminding me about this if I ever decide to get cable again.
Posted by adrienne at January 1, 2008 07:21 PM
Comments
Most of the time, I don't miss having a television. I've gotten used to waiting for something to show up on DVD, and then waiting more to show up at the library. Consider that if you really, really need to see something on tv, you probably know someone who can invite you over or record it. There's also iTunes, which is cheating on our part, but hey, it's still cheaper than cable!
Posted by: Alkelda at January 2, 2008 12:15 AM
Congrats on breaking ties with the box! I wish this was feasible in our household. If I could get away with it, I'd just block every channel aside from the news stations I watch, and then figure out a block so I could only watch the news. It's the HGTV programing that I enjoy that comes on after the news that kills me EVERY TIME.
Posted by: Julia at January 2, 2008 08:43 AM
You have not flunked. We don't have cable, and I don't think I'm a social failure (as everyone around me twitters). But I wish you the best in your transition.
There are days I'd like to have it, but then when we go to my mother-in-law's and it's on the entire time (since her boyfriend likes to watch it), I realize I don't miss it.
I just miss "The Daily Show."
Posted by: Jules at January 2, 2008 10:58 AM
Adrienne...if you ever get the itch to watch cable, stop by after work. Any time. Sophie loves company! Cuz you know...Heroes...gotta watch Sylar next season.
Posted by: Sabrina at January 2, 2008 01:00 PM
I would miss tv at first but I think I could adjust, the older boys in my house could not. The only thing Max will sit and watch is Elmo and that is only for about 20-30 minutes.
Jules-The Daily Show returns on Jan. 7, and you can watch it online.
Posted by: tonderdo at January 2, 2008 10:36 PM
Sometimes I wish that we didn't have tv. (Did I really say that? EEP!) We have satellite, with a bergillion stations. I watch BBC America and Nickelodeon, since I'm addicted to Avatar and Skyland.
Posted by: Cathy at January 2, 2008 10:59 PM
TV sucks lately. I've been tempted to cancel our cable, but I can't give up Matlock, and Chuck can't give up The Military Channel. I really like our DVR, too. I've been recording reruns of Sex and the City--which I shouldn't have to, but I digress.
Posted by: Kelly at January 3, 2008 12:24 AM
You haven't flunked out of anything:)I see you already have at least one cable set you can use.If I know Tammy,she'll DVR whatever you want to watch.You've simply made priorities.Also,with or without cable,you've always accomplished very much.Lord,TV has been sooo sucky with the strike!And just when there were some good programs to watch.Still,with the number of channels on cable,the number of really good shows isn't that high.As Frank Zappa once sang,"...I've watched that rotten box until my head began to hurt..."
Posted by: momster at January 3, 2008 11:22 AM
Before I got cable, I used to go to the Y and ride the exercise bike when The Office was on so I could watch it there. I imagine I'll do that whenever they decide to make new episodes again, although I have been known to buy a show or two on iTunes, too. A lot of shows (Heroes, Pushing Daisies) you can watch right online.
I didn't even know there was a Military Channel.
Posted by: adrienne at January 3, 2008 11:02 PM
I can give up The Military Channel, I just discovered which channel it was in California four days ago and haven't watched anything yet. It's the Science Channel I can't live without.
Posted by: chuck at January 4, 2008 10:02 AM
I can't live without Nick & Disney. Well, *I* could, but my 7 year-old couldn't.
Well, I suppose he could, but then I'd have to actually *parent* him and I think Drake and Josh are doing a better job. Spongebob occasionally steps up when Drake and Josh are busy, and of course, Miley and Billy Rae Cyrus are teaching him the facts of life quite nicely.
But with the recent Zoey scandal, I may have to step up the parenting a little bit...
I'm kidding, of course.
Well...at least I think I'm kidding.
Jeez, Adrienne, way to depress a girl... : )
Posted by: JJ at January 5, 2008 02:51 PM