We had cable TV (re)installed yesterday.

The first thing we did when Ryan was hired with Automattic in January 2010 was call AT&T to get U-verse installed. It was something that we previously couldn’t afford, so this was our big moment of celebration. And we loved it. But then, in January 2011, we realized that we weren’t watching it that much, and when we were, there were probably better uses of our time, so we cancelled it. And that was fine. The children didn’t even care too much.

But, it’s January again, which apparently means it’s time to have the cable conversation again.

To be fair, we knew we were going to get cable at some point this year. I wanted to have access to BBC America, and cable news stations, this spring, in the hopes of seeing lots of specials having to do with Queen Elizabeth’s diamond jubilee. What can I say? I’m a total Anglophile, and I’ve come to the realization that I’m never going to outgrow my obsession with the British monarchy. And we all wanted to get cable in time for this summer’s Olympic games in London, so it was going to happen at some point this year.

January is just our cable month, though, so yesterday we had it reinstalled. It makes sense to do it now, for several reasons. First of all, like most pregnant woman in their third trimester, I’m no longer sleeping well. So, instead of tossing and turning in the middle of the night, I can now watch The Golden Girls. Don’t laugh…you know it’s a funny show. And once Chickadee arrives, I know I won’t be sleeping, so, again, I’ll have the entire capacity of the DVR to entertain me at three a.m. And when you take into consideration the money we were spending on Netflix, and Hulu, and soon, MLB TV, and the fact that we got a six month promotional price on the cable, the money isn’t even all that different.

As soon as it was hooked up, the children started talking about all of the shows they missed, most of them on the Food Network. I had no idea that they had enjoyed it so much before, or that they remembered specific shows so well. I, of course, had to schedule all of my favorites, as well…I’ve already recorded four episodes of What Not to Wear, and at least six episodes of House Hunters. Plus, I can record the last-ever episode of One Life to Live on Friday, and keep it forever, (or until we get rid of cable again). Ryan has been, of course, enjoying ESPN, plus recording The Daily Show and The Colbert Report and The Soup. There’s certainly something for everybody on cable TV!

I imagine next January, we’ll probably be canceling it again, once we’ve watched all the Christmas specials that we missed this year. But for now, as shallow as it sounds, I’m overjoyed to have access to all of my favorite shows again, and I’m going to make the most of it while we have it!