I’ve kind of hit a blogging lull here lately. I guess I just don’t have a lot to say right now. Working hard on finishing up this semester’s grad work. By semester’s end, I will have taken 24 hours worth of grad classes in 2006 alone. Only another year and a half and I’ll be done with my Master’s degree. Whoo-hoo!
In light of my blogging drought, I thought I’d come up with my Christmas wish list. Actually, I had a hard time coming up with anything. I had such a great birthday a few weeks back…asking for anything more almost seems gluttonous. But, here are a few things I’ve come up with:
10. Clemente: The Passion and Grace of Baseball’s Last Hero by David Maraniss. I’m a sucker for any baseball related book and Clemente is one of my all-time favorite players. A great player, an even greater man. I’d also like a copy of The Big Bam: The Life and Times of Babe Ruth by Leigh Montville. I do love me some baseball books.
9. SteakOut gift cards are always welcome. I’m not one of those guys who hates getting gift cards. Seriously. I love them.
8. Another suit – Until last year, I didn’t own a single suit. Since then, I’ve accumulated a couple, but I could really use another one. I’m not looking for an Armani or anything, just another one I can wear when I preach.
7. A major free agent move by the Cardinals – I know we won it all last year, but our division rivals have been throwing money around like crazy. Soriano for 136 mill to the Cubs? Carlos Lee for 100 mill to the Astros? We need to make a major acquisition just to return serve. Kip Wells? He’s nice fodder for the back of the rotation, but we need Jason Schmidt. We need Barry Zito. I don’t care which one. Just get another ace to slot in behind Carp, Walt. Please.
6. As far as DVDs go, the only one I really want is Pirates of the Caribbean II. A great popcorn flick.
5. A copy of Ron Shandler’s 2007 Baseball Forecaster. Essential reading for the winter doldrums.
4. iTunes Gift Cards – I struggle to find a complete album I want these days. I’m much more content to get an iTunes card and spread my picks among multiple artists.
3. TiVo or a comparable DVR system. I’m ready to take the plunge.
2. Anything from here. Especially this.
1. Tix to the Cards 2007 home opener, Sunday night, April 1 at Busch Stadium against the Mets. I want to be there as the Cards begin their title defense.
There you have it, folks. Feel free to let me know what’s on your list.
already & not yet 
Steve Spurrier.I can’t believe I just wrote that.
You know if you get a dvd recorder, with a hard drive included, its like getting dvr service or tivo, without the monthly fees. They run from $150-200.And Pirates II was a tremendous movie.All I want this year is a best buy gift card, so I can buy an xm radio, have it installed there, and then cash to get the subscription. I can’t pick up jack out here in Guntersville.
Get a dual tuner DVR. It’s the way to go. You can record two shows at the same time. Your cable company probably has one. We get ours through Dish.You want my suits? I don’t wear them anymore.
Oh, and Mike? Do you want people to hate Bama more than they already do?
I like Spurrier. However, I’d probably have to stop if he went to Alabama. (Sorry, Mike.)Yeah, dual tuner DVR is happening. Ours is with Dish, too, but we had one through Knology there in Madison. I still want an iPod. If any of you are interested, I can give you my shipping address…
I’ll see what I can do for you! I just need some time to get it all done!
Lane, do you guys have the DVD recorder you’re talking about? Any complaints? I wouldn’t necessarily want to burn DVDs, but that’d be a nice option.Scott, why’d you go Dish over DirectTV?
Mike,I thought Spurrier had already confirmed that he wasn’t interested in the Bama job. Am I making that up?
Jason, we can’t do Dish or Direct because our internet service is bundled with our cable.
Oh yeah. Nevermind.
No, we have the dual tuner dvr service through Direct TV. Dirct TV is the way to go. $50 a month, which includes the DVR service. No complaints. The only reason I suggested the DVD recorder with hard drive is since you guys have cable, you could get that and it would basically be the same thing, with no monthly fee. However, I think you can only record one show at a time with it, but since you’re used to a VCR, you wouldn’t miss the 2 shows. (once you go two shows at a time, you’ll never go back).DirecTV is offering a $59.99 a month package right now, includes there middle package of channels (includes locals), the DVR service, and Starz and Showtime. Pretty sweet deal. Plus, they give out free portable DVD players with new subscriptions.
by the way, check out my blog…we sold the house!
Dish was cheaper when we went that route.
Yeah, I forgot we did that bundle thing for Internet. Shoot.Congrats on the house, Lane.
Direct is defintely the way to go and with the deals you get a second reciever for the bedroom for 5 bucks plus the DVR for 10 bucks and the portable DVD player for the kiddos in the car is a God send, seriously. You can just get a land line and internet without the cable attachment. DVD burners are great no complaints. Record home videos, movies, World Series…hint hint hint then you won’t have to pay for the DVD because you can record as you go. And with the DVR if the wife wants to talk to you with 2 minutes left in the game and your team has the ball. NO PROBLEM, just pause it and then you can give her your undivided attention. FAB U LOUS
There’s not a huge difference between DirectTV and Dish as far as price, options, etc. Look at both. We got Dish this time (we had DirectTV when we lived here before). It’s 54.99, which includes 4 rooms and DVR in 2 rooms, plus $100 for the first year ($10 off for 10 months, so it’s 44.99 for most of the first year). But no premium channels (HBO, etc), but that’s because I wouldn’t watch them. (We did have HBO free for the first 3 months, though.)That’s just one example of options. There’s different options for both and different deals available from time to time. Just check it out and find what you’re looking for and you’ll likely be happy.Agree with Jon – having a DVD recorder is great as well. I record a lot of sports (Ark football, Duke basketball) and I’ve piped a lot out to DVD’s to save, as well as recording off stuff for the kids. I’ve got about 60 hours of stuff on my DVR right now that needs to be moved off (like the first 6 episodes of LOST season 3.)
oh, and as Jon also mentioned, the pausing (or rewinding) live TV is simply priceless.
D V RD V RD V RYou can do it, put your foot down, better yet by one reciever for Sunny for Xmas and since there is a deal get you one too with a DVR!!! OH OH OH and you can get a HDTV reciever so then you need a HDTV!!! Oh yeah!!!
Buying it for Sunny and then getting the 2nd receiver for me would be consistent with my gift giving policy over the years. All the great gifts I get for her I end up getting for myself, too. Maybe I can convince her to want Direct / Dish, eh?
Don’t think so big guy! Otherwise, you better be on the lookout for some “girly” gifts over the next few years!
Hey, I know you guys don’t have a landline, but we did a bundle through bellsouth. They offer DirecTV as part of their bundle. Right now, we get high speed DSL, phone line, and DirecTV together for about $120 a month.I’ve had DirecTV for a long time, and even when there is a problem, their customer service on the phone is tremendous. When I called to inquire about Dish, they were punks. Very rude, and when I told them I was comparing to DirecTV prices, they told me to go with DirecTV because I would be happier!
That’s an odd sales approach. Not exactly a ringing endorsement for Dish.