Cable

Tomorrow is a momentous day in the Owen household. 

We are getting CABLE.

We had cable a long time ago.  I grew up with cable and had it well into my 20’s.  It was a “necessity” and a staple.  But soon after our second child, it ceased to be important and we canceled it.  Frankly, we couldn’t afford it.  Feeding the kids, paying bills, and all of the other responsibilities of life were rightfully far more important than cable. 

It’s been eight years, two more kids, and three homes, but we’ve been doing just fine without cable.  We don’t watch a lot of television anyway.  I miss the History Channel, TLC, Discovery, and a few others, but I can live without them.  Honestly, we could have comfortably afforded cable for several years now, but it never floated to the top of the priority list.  Saving, tuition, vacations, and so many other things were just more important to us than getting cable. 

So what changed?

Our internet connection has been problematic lately.  We have DSL.  It’s been fine for years, but we’ve experienced a couple of outages and crappy customer service over the past couple of months.  Although I can live without cable, internet access is another matter.  So we decided to sign up for cable internet and, while we were at it, basic cable.  What the heck…  we’ll splurge on ourselves a little.  I’m looking forward to watching television without snow, but the snow was a friendly reminder that I live in Wisconsin. 

Three of our four kids have never experienced cable and snow-free television in the comfort of their own home.  It’s a whole new frontier. 

Wish us luck. 

1. I don’t need to wish your family luck, because with cable you will be able to view and hear some of the best religious programming this great nation, under God, has to offer.

   God bless!

   And be sure to have your check book ready!

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on August 05, 2007 at 1944 hrs




2. Wait, this means that I will be the last person in Wisconsin without cable! Don’t leave me!

   Actually, you will love the cable connection over DSL.

   Posted by BadgerBlogger on August 05, 2007 at 1955 hrs




3. You’ll be fine with basic ... that is all we have (although there has been an increasing number of days that I just want to pitch it, but my husband won’t let me ) and we have more than enough to watch.

   Posted by hsgbdmama on August 05, 2007 at 2011 hrs




4. I highly recommend getting the DVR, too. Seriously.

   Posted by Fuzz on August 05, 2007 at 2011 hrs




5. Wait, this means that I will be the last person in Wisconsin without cable! Don’t leave me!

   Actually, you will love the cable connection over DSL.

   Nope, I’ll keep you company.  Never had cable.

   Not as a kid, not in college, not now.

   Why pay for TV?  Its free with an antenna?

   Never having had it, I don’t know what I’m missing, but the chennels you mention do sound cool.

   But as mentioned you WILL love the speed of Cable for the internet.

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on August 05, 2007 at 2308 hrs




6. Your children will now be introduced to the likes of “Dora the Explorer” “The Backyardigans”, and the “The Wonder Pets.”  Along with that, they may ask for all of the toys, clothing, fruit snacks, pencils, etc. that all of those characters are marketed on.  Quick hide you wallet!  Oh and you will be able to watch any of these programs any any given moment in the day.  Ah, the benefits of a zillion channels…

   PS… Cable TV + Children = Must get the DVR!!

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on August 05, 2007 at 2313 hrs




7. Finally, a topic that America really cares about!  Definitely get the DVR.  You’ll always have something to watch, plus you can skip commercials.  Three cheers for efficiency!

   Posted by Recess Supervisor on August 06, 2007 at 0309 hrs




8. DVR is the greatest invention of the 21st century. Sometimes I reach for the radio thinking I can fast-forward thru commercials.

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on August 06, 2007 at 0655 hrs




9. Patrick I’ll still commiserate with you

   Although in honesty, each time I turn on the TV my first thought isn’t “dang, I wish I had cable”.

   Channels 10/36 are sort of my… “cable”

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on August 06, 2007 at 0708 hrs




10. No cable for me anymore either.  I had it in the city and single, and dropped it for country living a beautiful wife and, as of Saturday, a fifth horse.  I miss Sci-fi and comedy central and badger sports.

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on August 06, 2007 at 0829 hrs




11. Here in Menomonee Falls I’m experiencing the same no service from AT&T;and both my DSL and phone service are intermittent.  So, at the State Fair this weekend I signed up with Time-Warner and giving them a try.  My tv infusion comes from satellite, however.

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on August 06, 2007 at 0904 hrs




12. Seriously, I waste enough time watching my non-cable TV. If I could buy just certain cable channels for a cheaper rate, I would do that in a heartbeat.

    Posted by Matt on August 06, 2007 at 0943 hrs




13. Channels 10/36 are sort of my… “cable”

    I discovered last year they do have some good documentaries on there.

    The variety/selection leaves a bit to be desired, I think I’ve watched the laying of the trans atlantic cable special 4 times and the Mt. Kilamanjaro 8, but…  lol

    I do admit that DVR has ALMOST tempted me enough to get cable for the ease of recording and quick skip-thru/playback etc instead of rewind/ff

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on August 06, 2007 at 1050 hrs




14. I do admit that DVR has ALMOST tempted me enough to get cable for the ease of recording and quick skip-thru/playback etc instead of rewind/ff

    Several years ago, I bought a Panasonic DVD Recorder with HDD.  It comes with free TV Guide Onscreen.  I don’t have cable either.

    I think it stores 30 hours of programming, and I can save things to DVD if I want.

    I love it - I can barely stand to use a VCR now for anything, and even watching DVDs seems old & clunky. 

    I’m not sure why this technology hasn’t become more widespread - in fact, a year after I bought it, I tried to locate a similar unit for someone & couldn’t find it.  The site I bought it from (Beach Camera) was defunct.

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on August 06, 2007 at 1126 hrs




15. Better get a hi-def TV as long as you’re at it.

    Posted by The Asian Badger on August 06, 2007 at 1338 hrs




16. Congrats on making the “big Move” guys! I highly recommend checking out Dirty jobs with Mike Rowe on TLC.

    All I can say is don’t expect too much when it comes to Time Warners “Customer Service”, My neighbor moved on June 1st, and when they came out to disconnect the cable from his house the disconnected mine instead. So I called them up and explained the situation to them, and they said that yes indeed there had been a mix-up, and that they would be happy to reconnect my cable. IN 6 WEEKS!!!!

    Well after arguing with rep after rep, and supervisor after supervisor, I dropped them like a prom dress.

    I have Directv, and LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOVE IT. The Best package with all the movie channels is around $90.00 a Month, and then I use a wireless card for my internet access thru Verizon for about 60 dollars a month. Not sure if I am Money ahead or not, but at least its not Time Warner!

    Posted by Michael J. Cheaney on August 06, 2007 at 1602 hrs