I took a leap of faith last weekend and shut my cable off. The last time I watched TV was 10 weeks ago (now 11) when I was on the phone with someone and we watched a TV show together (long story!!). I kept track! I turned my TV on twice over those 10 weeks but that was so I could stream Netflix and watch movies. But I can do that from my computer and tend to do so. I will be saving $52 a month by getting rid of cable. I wasn't using it so why have it?
So, as a "solution" I have put my trust in Apple TV. The tiny little box will stream from my wireless connection, to my TV. I will be able to rent movies and episodes from iTunes (of course there is a cost). I can stream Netflix directly through Apple TV. I pay $9.77 a month for Netflix (another expense that I considered getting rid of and just used RedBox but I figured that it would be cheaper to just stay with Netflix). And the genius part of it is that the box is a one time charge of $99. No monthly cost....just my Internet connection through my cable company. Which I was able to increase and still achieve the $52 savings a month. There was an early termination fee for shutting off the cable but that was manageable too.
And I have to hope that Apple delivers on what they say they will provide. I think it's scheduled for delivery in mid October. I pre-ordered and it is supposed to launch in 4 - 6 weeks. Not a lot of info on the technology but Apple has delivered on everything I've dealt with and I like the new approach to watching "TV"
Now a lot of the comments I get back from friends and family is that I will miss weather reports and local news but I never watched it anyway so I'm really not out something. I do complain about the weather because it's a surprise every time it rains because I don't get the scoop on the weather before I leave the house. That's one that I'm going to try to change. Or always carry a big purse with a mini umbrella in it.
I don't read newspapers or even most magazines that I subscribe to. That will be another cost savings when they expire. I kind of isolate myself from the outside world. I also do not vote...have not for over 7 years. I also have no right to complain about the state of the nation because I don't educate myself about these things. Not that I don't find it important but I'm lazy and just don't want to put forth that much effort to educate myself.
I am "friends" with NPR on Facebook though!
Showing posts with label iTunes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label iTunes. Show all posts
Friday, September 17, 2010
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Music to my ears
I love music. It truly soothes my soul. I love listening to music but it has to be my music. I had satelite radio for 3 years and I can count on one hand the number of times I strayed from the 80's channel...that's 3 years of nothing but 80's music...Ice Ice Baby!
I have had an iPod since they came out. Upgrading every year or so. I have the touch and I absolutely love it. I would love it better if I had the iPhone instead but then I wouldnt have as much space. Although I don't have a full 32 gig right now. But I have about 4 movies and almost a thousand songs. I'm about a 3rd of the way full.
I live 2.7 miles from work. And so I have very little time in the car. 10 minutes on those mornings where I hit Metcalf at JUST the right time. But I average about 7 minutes. In that small span...I have to have my iPod attached. The beauty of my new car is that it has a direct connection to my iPod. Not an AV jack. But a direct usb connection That was one of the reasons I bought the car. But I can't listen to the radio in that 7 minutes. Ultimately because it's all commercials. What a way to waste those precious few minutes. And then there is my office. I can listen to music at my desk all day.
So I have my iTouch all the time. I walk the dogs and that's 30 minutes that I get to listen.
And walking the dogs is my time to meditate. It gives me a chance to just clear my head and listen to whatever comes on and I usually zone out and have some really great therapy sessions in my head. It's when I feel the closest to God. I love my walks. I've processed and forgiven a lot of things in those walks. And music is a huge part of that.
But I move through music pretty regularly.
I listen to the same music over and over and over. I will have a favorite for weeks. Now I have Favorite favorites. Ones that are just always going to be on my list. Waterloo, Dont bring me down, heartache tonight, small criminal, thriller (long version), jeopardy, strokin'...but I have newer favorites too. Nickelback is high on the list. A lot of heavier (notice I said heavier...not heavy) rock. I was listening to christiian rock when I went through my Jesus phase but got sick of the sappyness...(Just kidding JC!)
But for years I have ripped cd's from friends, librarys, and even Napster before it went legite (that tells you how long I've been collecting!) So I have over 6,000 songs. I listen to maybe 1/6 of that...and thats being generous. But I put in my budget each month for $20. Now that used to buy 20 songs but not anymore (gouging my pocketbook - Apple will get you as bad as Microsoft...but I digress). But most of that $20 goes toward movies now. I have over 200 actual dvd movies. But I have a bad habit of buying a movie and then NEVER watching it again. And I mean never. I've purposefully have made myself watch more lately but I even pay for Netflix and don't watch more then one or two a month. But that's cheaper then buying a new movie a week! While some would say to just not buy any or pay for Netflix I ask you how else am I going to waste money? I mean really? Should I pay my credit cards or put in savings? My bank would call me to check that someone hadn't hacked into my account and suddenly became more responsible. I have the audacity to be offended by that remark...
But my music is important to me. I really am not comfortable with silence. I struggle to listen to things when there is not music going. And if I have to be quiet? I feel at loose ends. I don't like listening to my head. It gets pretty dark in there and I have to drown it out a lot. Which just takes me to my money problems. But I will find so much peace with just listening to music. I don't have to sing along or try to memorize the lyrics (although that happens with the amount of times I listen to a song) but the fact that I can listen to the lyrics or memorize them helps me. Maybe it's a lot like having Autism. I'm soothed by it and a lot of times I can't deal with silence because it makes me face things. I don't know, I'm not a therapist but I"m sure there's a therapy session in there somewhere.
I'm willing to try new music. 1/2 the music I rip from the library I will never listen to because it's not something I find interesting but I continue to steal from the library because what if I MIGHT like it? Then I wouldn't have to buy it. So I'm making a commitment to listen to my already purchased/ripped music. I've got over 6,000 to choose from so I guess I'll make an effort to branch out.
I still love 80's music but I like that I"m open enough to try something new. I wasn't always so flexible. This means progress rather then perfection.
I have had an iPod since they came out. Upgrading every year or so. I have the touch and I absolutely love it. I would love it better if I had the iPhone instead but then I wouldnt have as much space. Although I don't have a full 32 gig right now. But I have about 4 movies and almost a thousand songs. I'm about a 3rd of the way full.
I live 2.7 miles from work. And so I have very little time in the car. 10 minutes on those mornings where I hit Metcalf at JUST the right time. But I average about 7 minutes. In that small span...I have to have my iPod attached. The beauty of my new car is that it has a direct connection to my iPod. Not an AV jack. But a direct usb connection That was one of the reasons I bought the car. But I can't listen to the radio in that 7 minutes. Ultimately because it's all commercials. What a way to waste those precious few minutes. And then there is my office. I can listen to music at my desk all day.
So I have my iTouch all the time. I walk the dogs and that's 30 minutes that I get to listen.
And walking the dogs is my time to meditate. It gives me a chance to just clear my head and listen to whatever comes on and I usually zone out and have some really great therapy sessions in my head. It's when I feel the closest to God. I love my walks. I've processed and forgiven a lot of things in those walks. And music is a huge part of that.
But I move through music pretty regularly.
I listen to the same music over and over and over. I will have a favorite for weeks. Now I have Favorite favorites. Ones that are just always going to be on my list. Waterloo, Dont bring me down, heartache tonight, small criminal, thriller (long version), jeopardy, strokin'...but I have newer favorites too. Nickelback is high on the list. A lot of heavier (notice I said heavier...not heavy) rock. I was listening to christiian rock when I went through my Jesus phase but got sick of the sappyness...(Just kidding JC!)
But for years I have ripped cd's from friends, librarys, and even Napster before it went legite (that tells you how long I've been collecting!) So I have over 6,000 songs. I listen to maybe 1/6 of that...and thats being generous. But I put in my budget each month for $20. Now that used to buy 20 songs but not anymore (gouging my pocketbook - Apple will get you as bad as Microsoft...but I digress). But most of that $20 goes toward movies now. I have over 200 actual dvd movies. But I have a bad habit of buying a movie and then NEVER watching it again. And I mean never. I've purposefully have made myself watch more lately but I even pay for Netflix and don't watch more then one or two a month. But that's cheaper then buying a new movie a week! While some would say to just not buy any or pay for Netflix I ask you how else am I going to waste money? I mean really? Should I pay my credit cards or put in savings? My bank would call me to check that someone hadn't hacked into my account and suddenly became more responsible. I have the audacity to be offended by that remark...
But my music is important to me. I really am not comfortable with silence. I struggle to listen to things when there is not music going. And if I have to be quiet? I feel at loose ends. I don't like listening to my head. It gets pretty dark in there and I have to drown it out a lot. Which just takes me to my money problems. But I will find so much peace with just listening to music. I don't have to sing along or try to memorize the lyrics (although that happens with the amount of times I listen to a song) but the fact that I can listen to the lyrics or memorize them helps me. Maybe it's a lot like having Autism. I'm soothed by it and a lot of times I can't deal with silence because it makes me face things. I don't know, I'm not a therapist but I"m sure there's a therapy session in there somewhere.
I'm willing to try new music. 1/2 the music I rip from the library I will never listen to because it's not something I find interesting but I continue to steal from the library because what if I MIGHT like it? Then I wouldn't have to buy it. So I'm making a commitment to listen to my already purchased/ripped music. I've got over 6,000 to choose from so I guess I'll make an effort to branch out.
I still love 80's music but I like that I"m open enough to try something new. I wasn't always so flexible. This means progress rather then perfection.
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