Wherefore art thou TIVO?

OK, here's the thing. I was going to write about the anniversary of Katrina or about 9/11 five years later. But saying I was going to write about those and actually being able to is another thing. Give me some time, and I'll tell you about it. But after a long month let's talk about something fun.


I'm currently cheating on someone I really care about.

Yes that's right. I'm cheating on iPod.

With Tivo.

I worked up the courage to get Tivo after months of longingly reading the Web site and studying the features and discounts available.

I wanted to make sure I was ready for the commitment -- to take that next step and build a longterm relationship with a new electronic device.

Then it happened: My VCR started to show signs of wear and tear.

So one sleep deprived night, I ordered Tivo, thus ending my eight-year relationship with the VCR. But the separation would take weeks, until Tivo arrived on my door one Wednesday afternoon.

Now, I'm a tech-savvy person. I become one with most electronics the moment they're out of the box. Not Tivo, oh no. The box said it would be a 20-minuet setup. LIARS!

It ended up taking two people and four hours.

I tried every possible combination, I plugged and re-plugged cables and went though the menus again and again. And I got NOTHING, nothing but an error message! I had to get to work, so I left the BFF and her mom (my house guest at the time) to see if she could get it to work.

Hours later, I called home and she had gotten it up and running. How, you ask? She has no idea. She just plugged and moved cables and changed numbers and kept pressing buttons on the remote. And viola, Tivo.

Now, less than a month later, I question how I lived without it for so long. And like Netflix, the more you tell Tivo your interests, likes and dislikes, the better it knows you. It's almost like it's reading my thoughts.

I just hope it doesn't figure out I'm sneaking around it's back, with digital cable and On Demand.

ON TIVO: "Friends"