$1 well-spent

Seven years ago, I bought a little television at a garage sale for a dollar. Its screen is about 4 x 4 inches, black and white, and in all the time I've owned it, I've never been able to stop the picture from flipping. But I didn't care. It's not about the picture, but the sound. Television news has kept me company in the kitchen as I've prepared nightly dinners.

Today, the tv sits silent. It cannot receive a digital signal and I thought it would be silly to spend the time, money and space to hook up a converter box and antenna to a little $1 machine. Next stop, recycler. But I consider that a dollar well-spent.

Luddites

For me, reading a paper book is infinitely more satisfying than reading the same words on a screen. Wearing hand-knit socks brings a special kind of comfort you can't get from store bought socks. And macaroni and cheese from a box can't compare to what you make from scratch.

I got a new typewriter this week as a bit of decor to go by my writing desk. None of the kids can walk past it without punch a few keys and swinging the arm back to make it ding. It's not pen and ink (though I like that, too) but it holds a certain appeal that a computer lacks.

Not that I would EVER want to go back to writing on a typewriter, but it has a nice aura.

When dreams come true, but you don't know what to do with them

I bought an MP3 player.

I want to listen to podcasts of sermons and npr.

Problem is, I have no idea how to easily get the podcasts I want to the player. I've downloaded about 6 different jukebox programs and I see lots of options on how to buy music, but I'm stuck on what to do with podcasts.

Anyone out there who has a non-iPod MP3 player, who listens to podcasts, and who has a clue how to help me out?

What's the best jukebox or podcast organizer program?

Real as Life

I have a complex relationship with my personal trainer. I dread going to her classes since I know she'll gripe at me for not making it every day. I watch for her to turn her back so I can quit doing her eternal sets of heel jacks. I've even (gasp!) changed my name so I could rejoin her class after dropping out. I'm hoping she doesn't notice it's me and ask why I've gained 3 pounds since I joined.

The thing is, my trainer, Maya, is not actually a person. She's a computer animated trainer that lives in my X-Box.

I think it's a little weak-willed on my part to play mind games with someone who's not even real. But she's real to me. I put in a Billy Blank's Tae Bo tape this morning, but realized that if I didn't show up to Maya's class, she'd notice. So I popped out the tape, braced myself, and tuned in to Maya. She noticed I didn't work out yesterday, but she wasn't too disappointed this time.