So, we don’t have cable.

I know, we’re weird. It’s not because we don’t believe in TV or anything. We do. It’s just that I’m a cheapo and realized that we were giving Dish Network over a thousand dollars a year to let us watch mostly mindless crap. So the cable’s gone. Sure, there were some really good shows, but for the most part, we’ve been able to find them online for free. We do miss watching sports other than golf and NASCAR, though.

Anyway, the point is, we had to go get one of those digital TV converter boxes or lose our precious TV. We signed up for the coupons and picked up some boxes. And said boxes have been sitting around, foolishly uninstalled, for about 2 months now. Little did we know their importance.

Fast forward to today, when JD learns that the Dynamo game is on Channel 55, which for whatever reason won’t come on, and decides to see if the box will help. Note: JD is a genius.

It does. It really freaking does. Not only are we getting HD and channels we were completely unaware of, we now HAVE A REMOTE IN THE BEDROOM. Another note: I know, our TV situation is really sub par. The TV is easily 10+ years old, and the integrated VCR died long ago. We used to have a remote, but it got kissed goodbye about 2 moves ago. If Best Buy came to our house, they might have a nervous breakdown.

But about the remote. I can’t begin to tell you how big of a deal this is. Without a remote? You pretty much have to pick one channel to put your trust in before you go to bed, and hope that it doesn’t turn crappy before you fall asleep. You have no idea what having a remote means for my sleepy, lazy self. No more falling asleep to Friends, only to be greeted by Jerry Springer in the morning and being too lazy to get up and change the channel! No more watching crazy Shark Mop (which I would really love to have) infomercials because I don’t have the energy or patience to get out of bed at 2 in the morning to flip through channels for something better.

What’s even better than the remote? JD is happily watching the Dynamo game. In English, with HD details. FOR FREE. I love digital TV. Government, you’ve made a good decision.

PS: If you’re living off the cable grid like us, you can apply for a coupon to get the life-giving converter box here.