Goodbye Bad TV

In a vain effort to be able to afford college for Annabella, a few weeks after she was born we cancelled our premium cable. Before that I never realized just how basic, Basic Cable could be. Currently we get a pair of PBSes, Fox, CBS, NBC, the WB, UPN, ABC, and for some reason The Discovery Channel, The OLN Network, and The Oxygen Network. You'd be surprised at just how much bad tv can be on such a small group of channels.

It was with much reluctance that I declined the lucrative offers from Comcast sales people trying to convince me to upgrade. The angel on my shoulder was warning, "Upgrade, and Annabella will have to work her way through college at Hooters," while the devil on my shoulder was asking, "How much more Dr. Phil, Christopher Lowell, and bad Oxygen movies can you watch?" Have you noticed that the Oxygen network plays that stinker of a movie, "Anywhere but Here," every five minutes?

But since we've decided against adding a deck out back, we now have some extra cash to put away to save Annabella from the fate of serving chicken wings in a tight t-shirt. And although I didn't go as far as seeking out the cable upgrade, I did decide that the next time someone offered us a better package, I would take them up on it.

It didn't take long. A few days ago a very nice man named Clifford Jones called from Dish. One fifteen minute conversation later he had offered me 70 channels for $30/month (up from the $16 we pay now). We can cancel anytime, plus we get three months free of HBO.

But here's the icing. They're giving us a PVR. For free. Even if you don't have a baby, I think you can agree that the PVR is the most important invention ever. And they're giving it to us. For free. I hardly feel worthy, but after watching more episodes of "For Love or Money 2" than I'd care to admit, I think I've earned it.

All the fun starts on Monday.

Goodbye Bad TV

In a vain effort to be able to afford college for Annabella, a few weeks after she was born we cancelled our premium cable. Before that I never realized just how basic, Basic Cable could be. Currently we get a pair of PBSes, Fox, CBS, NBC, the WB, UPN, ABC, and for some reason The Discovery Channel, The OLN Network, and The Oxygen Network. You'd be surprised at just how much bad tv can be on such a small group of channels.

It was with much reluctance that I declined the lucrative offers from Comcast sales people trying to convince me to upgrade. The angel on my shoulder was warning, "Upgrade, and Annabella will have to work her way through college at Hooters," while the devil on my shoulder was asking, "How much more Dr. Phil, Christopher Lowell, and bad Oxygen movies can you watch?" Have you noticed that the Oxygen network plays that stinker of a movie, "Anywhere but Here," every five minutes?

But since we've decided against adding a deck out back, we now have some extra cash to put away to save Annabella from the fate of serving chicken wings in a tight t-shirt. And although I didn't go as far as seeking out the cable upgrade, I did decide that the next time someone offered us a better package, I would take them up on it.

It didn't take long. A few days ago a very nice man named Clifford Jones called from Dish. One fifteen minute conversation later he had offered me 70 channels for $30/month (up from the $16 we pay now). We can cancel anytime, plus we get three months free of HBO.

But here's the icing. They're giving us a PVR. For free. Even if you don't have a baby, I think you can agree that the PVR is the most important invention ever. And they're giving it to us. For free. I hardly feel worthy, but after watching more episodes of "For Love or Money 2" than I'd care to admit, I think I've earned it.

All the fun starts on Monday.

Sea Ranch

We just got back from spending the weekend at Sea Ranch with Nami and Gus. The highlight was definitely watching the seals hang out on the beach. They look surprisingly like Annabella when we put her on her belly.

By the way, that's Annabella hiding under the yellow blanket.

Sea Ranch

We just got back from spending the weekend at Sea Ranch with Nami and Gus. The highlight was definitely watching the seals hang out on the beach. They look surprisingly like Annabella when we put her on her belly.

By the way, that's Annabella hiding under the yellow blanket.

If she were a car, this would be bad

On Sunday Annabella rolled over for the first time. As an added bonus, she did it in front of her grandparents. Annabella's friend Emory also rolled over for the first time in front of his grandparents. Is this common?

If she were a car, this would be bad

On Sunday Annabella rolled over for the first time. As an added bonus, she did it in front of her grandparents. Annabella's friend Emory also rolled over for the first time in front of his grandparents. Is this common?

Annabella & Marco

Annabella & Marco

Dance Routine

Here are two photos from a dance routine that Annabella and I are working on. If you'd like to see the entire routine, click here for the QuickTime movie.

Dance Routine

Here are two photos from a dance routine that Annabella and I are working on. If you'd like to see the entire routine, click here for the QuickTime movie.