While I was growing up, I didn't have access to cable television, and we could only watch two channels on our small black and white TV. It didn't matter a whole lot... I was busy with music lessons and swim team and school activities. It was a treat to visit my grandparents, who got four or five channels!

After graduating from college and getting my first job, my husband's dad commented, "Now you can afford cable!" His family was much more into television than mine was, and it was inconvenient for them to visit and not have access (especially to sports), apparently.

I didn't see any reason to get cable just because we could afford it, but the next summer there was some kind of promotion and we decided to try it. I remember the fun of realizing that I could watch an enormous variety of shows and movies whenever I wanted to. Very entertaining! And I was home all day, every day with my newborn, so I also had the freedom to watch whatever I wanted whenever I wanted to!

One day, I got a new recipe called "Oh Slap My Face Peach Cobbler," and listened to the guest chef talk about how it was THAT good. And it was. I made many cobblers that summer, experimenting with other fruits, just like they suggested on TV! I watched Wimbledon each day it aired, used the start of the evening news as a cue to fix dinner, and also caught bits of the many, crazy talk shows that were on. I learned about genetic testing, addictions, drugs, nutrition, gardening, decorating, parenting and home security. I became a Today Show faithful, always turning it on as I did housework or folded laundry in the mornings. I watched the local news at noon, and planned trips to the grocery store around Oprah's topics.

My undoing came in the middle of the night. I had that newborn, remember? And each night when she would wake for a feeding, I would plop myself down on the couch and turn on the television. I told myself that it was to help me stay awake while I fed her, but I think we all know the truth, don't we?! I distinctly remember one night when "Parenthood" came on HBO or Showtime or whatever it was, and I can't resist a Steve Martin movie! I love that movie! I started watching while my daughter nursed, continued watching as she fell asleep, and then sat there crying at the end... just as she woke for the next feeding!

Soon after that night, I insisted that my husband do whatever he could to get the cable cancelled immediately! I simply couldn't take it. And it had only been a month!

I haven't had that much free time since then, because we decided to give that precious little newborn a herd of siblings. We haven't watched a ton of TV since, either, because we just haven't been that interested, and well... we couldn't get all those great channels without cable. And we had learned that it really isn't worth the money for us.

But now we are able to watch a few shows on the internet through Hulu or Megavideo or Project Free TV or through some other websites my teens have found. We can watch most shows just a day after they air, and don't have to worry about "missing" anything.

We like to watch "The Big Bang Theory" (nerdy humor!) and "The Office" (not as good as it was when Michael Scott was around, no matter how much he got under our skin!) We have seen the pilot of "Touch," with Kiefer Sutherland, and can't wait for the second episode, which will air next week. We were instant fans of "White Collar," and "The Firm," and "30 Rock," and my kids like to watch "Glee" occasionally. Access by internet is perfect for us. We usually do a little catch up on Friday or Saturday nights or on rainy days or during vacations from school.

I calculated that my in-laws have spent more than $11,000 on cable since my father-in-law suggested we spend our money on it, too.

But we love watching over the internet. It doesn't interfere with real life and the price is just right!