dvr

After looking at the cable bill instead of just paying the monthly fee, I decided to send back their high-channel, high-rent machine and buy our own digital signal dvr. One advantage I'll miss is the cable company's ability to save programmed timer recorder settings and reset the clock automatically after a power outage (hmmm maybe a small UPS unit might help preserve these now?), but I have issues with paying an extra $35 to $40 on a monthly basis for that service. We never used the upper tier cable channels, so there's no loss there in moving back to basic cable, and if I'm too lazy to reset the clock and the two timer recorder settings, then I have more problems than I've realized. The new machine will pay for itself in less than 6 months, and we can watch some of our collected dvd's on it, too, something we needed a separate machine - and another remote - to accomplish. Learning which remote controls what may take a day or two, and the live recording feature will take a little getting used to, but that may come in very handy when we suddenly have company, the phone must be answered, a spontaneous moment strikes, or something else as unplanned occurs.

For once there's a dilemma in late night shows: Letterman has Ken Burns and Mike Meyers, and Conan has Meryl Streep, Judd Apatow and The Fray. Both look appealing, so I guess I'll play the flicking back and forth game. Still, I greatly look forward to Sept. 14 when Leno returns.

Speaking of returning, Jerry Remy makes his reappearance with Don Orsillo for Friday night's Red Sox game with the Yankees. I'm sooooo glad he's back!

Hazy, hot and humid weather feels like it's breaking this evening. We didn't get the rain that other areas nearby felt in late afternoon, but the evening air has a better feel to it than it's had since last week. Sleeping tonight may be a much easier and more restful experience.