Whatcha watchin'?

I just downgraded my cable, y'all. I was gonna ditch it all together and just use that fancy digital converter box thingy, but when I saw that maintaining my current internet service alone was almost the same price as having basic cable + my current internet, I decided to go for the latter combo plus the digital channel offerings suck balls. Maybe I'll use it on the bedroom TV. Fortunately, I was able to negotiate a lower price for my internet for the next 6 months. Maybe by the time that deal runs out, the city-wide internet thing will be working. I see it now and then, but it always says "coming soon".

So, yeah, I'm a little traumatized. I've had cable since forever. I didn't think I could live without it, but then I really analyzed what I have been watching on cable and I really don't think I'll miss much. I can watch "Burn Notice" and "The Closer" either on Hulu or on the network website. "Medium" is on regular telly. When CourtTV became TruTv, they added a ton of crappy reality shows like "Ocean Force" and "Ski Patrol" and they air the same episodes of "Forensic Files" like every other day.

And you know what else? I forget that just behind my laptop is this 19" computer screen. It has been collecting dust for ages because I don't use the computer it's attached to anymore, but I actually know how to hook it up to my laptop. I can actually watch stuff on there if I want a bigger picture. And I kind of think I know what I need in order to hook my laptop up to my TV.

Oh, and you know what else? For just $1.10 a month I can rent a box and have access to pay-per-view stuff and the fancy music channels. Now, I don't care so much about pay-per-view, but I love those cable music channels. I don't think I would ever have heard the blues great "That Baby Ain't Black Enough" if not for those channels. I'll be picking up my box this weekend.

So I have to make some adjustments. I have Netflix and I own a gazillion tapes and DVDs, so I am sure I can entertain myself, but this might be a tough couple weeks until I get used to it. Good thing I'm doing this on the verge of spring. I