More from the “Dark Ages”

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When I mention my desire for a VCR I usually get one of two reactions. Either- "In the age of DVRs why would you want one?" or, "Those are easy to find."

I get that DVR-ing is easy and uncomplicated. It's just that it comes with one onerous detail-a monthly bill. Before DVRs you bought a VCR and a dozen tapes for ten bucks you were set. No additional cost. So, for the price of 6 months of DVR-ing you could have a pretty permanent recording method with no additional fee.

But, now comes the second question. "Those are easy to find." Friends, to say I have NOT found that to be the case is an understatement. Enter that new fangled technology again. When the cable company started issuing cable boxes it messed up my deal entirely.

It is impossible to buy a new VCR which has it's own tuner. So new VCRs cannot "get" the channels without a cable box. In that I live in the dark ages I don't have a cable box. So, when I bought a new VCR it wouldn't work. That's how I found out about the cable box dilemma.

So, I bought a used VCR on Craigslist. Unfortunately it was so complicated I couldn't program it in advance to record shows. Then Aaron, Richard's son, donated an old VCR to the cause. Unfortunately it didn't have a remote which is essential to being able to program shows for future recording.

But Ladies and Gentlemen, it is with great relief that I'm here to announce that Richard and I have succeeded in finding, setting up, and successfully programming a "new" VCR. It had about a decade's worth of dust on it when we bought it at a garage sale this morning for $5. For 1/2 the price of a month of DVR I'm back to recording all my favorite shows.

I love the dark ages!
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