"I can't believe I lived without ______ for so long"

[Chris The Rock]

Ok, so I've been thinking lately about the things that have made my life better over the past few months, and I thought I'd share. I'm hoping that a bunch of members will reply, and we'd get a good exchange of ideas here.

 

Doubtless, many of you will have tried the few things I'm going to list...and you might not even agree that they're that great...or you might have suggestions, like "If you like that, then you'll probably love this."

 

Anyway, here's just a few things:

1. Ebay. Sure, I'm late to the party on this one. I just never understood the fascination until I started using it. I use it both to buy and sell, and it's much more convenient than I imagined.
   
2. iPod. Again, another example of jumping on the bandwagon late. It started when I installed Quicktime and it included iTunes. I started checking it out, and really liked the interface, the ease of use, and its functions. I started ripping my cd's, and I liked how the music was organized, and how easy it was to burn audio cd's from the music files. Then, one day at work, a bunch of my coworkers got laid off - and somehow I survived the cut. I took it as a sign that I should run right out and spend $400. So I got a 40GB iPod, and I haven't looked back. *Please, nobody needs to tell me how portable music is the scourge of the modern generation. I don't need to hear about how music files sound terrible because they're compressed, or how you'll never pay for lossy music. I accept the trade-offs, and rip my CD's at a reasonably high bit rate (192kbps MP3).
   
3. Living where I want to live. I had another thread a while back about how I was moving. Well, it's all done - and I've been here (Colorado) for about 3 1/2 weeks. I can't tell you the difference in my outlook on life. Not constantly wishing I was somewhere else. Not wondering if life could be better if I lived somewhere else. Not profusely sweating while walking to my car in the middle of March.
   
4. Surround Sound Headphones. OK, here's one that less people have tried. When I knew I'd be moving into an apartment, I knew that would mean that my 7.1 surround sound setup wouldn't get nearly as much use as it did in my townhouse. I wanted to find an alternative, so I began researching surround headphones. I settled on these, and purchased them from OneCall.com. I paid full price, but got free FedEx shipping, and OneCall is an authorized dealer. They support Dolby Digital, Dolby ProLogic II and DTS formats. I'm very happy with how they work, and they make late-night gaming a much better experience, because I can have the sound up as loud as I want (although it doesn't get too loud). The surround effects are very convincing for both games and movies.
   
5. Excecising regularly. My name is Chris Rock and I am a lard ass. This fact has been creeping up on me slowly as I approach 30 years of age. When I was in college, I worked out, and I felt great while doing it. However, I let the habit die after I got married, and let the inconvenience of it keep me away. Now that we've moved, my wife and I have decided to do a lifestyle reboot. We get up much earlier, work out, and eat smarter (most of the time). The culture out here is very supportive of physical activity, which helps. After 3 or 4 months, I know that I'm going to be in the best shape I've been in since I was 20 years old.
   
6. Online Co-Op with Xbox Live. Ok, there hasn't been many games with this option, but those that I have played are my absolute faves. Funny how most of them (RB6, RB6:BA, Ghost Recon 2, Splinter Cell: CT) have "Tom Clancy" in the title. I've also played a little Doom 3 Co-op, and that's also a blast.
   
7. HD-DVR. I don't have a TiVo, but I plan to get one eventually. In the meantime, I've used DVR's from my cable company (Bright House in FL, and Comcast in CO), and it's made life much easier. I no longer have to order my schedule around when my favorite shows are on. I no longer have to be a slave to watching a 42 minute show in 60 minutes.
   
8. Smallville. OK, Kristin Kreuk is hot, but that wasn't enough to get me to watch the show when it was first on TV. I got sick of the "monster-of-the-week" format, and quit watching after about 4 episodes. Well, since then, I've rented the seasons on DVD, and I'm glad I did. I can't wait till Season 4 is out on DVD. And maybe this year I can record season 5 until I've finished the DVDs.
   
9. Netflix. No explanation needed. It's saved me hundreds of dollars in DVD purchases. When I realized that I didn't need to own every movie that came out (especially in light of the next-gen DVD formats), I decided to join. Best part: TV shows on DVD. That's how I saw Smallville.
   
10. MrExcel.com. OK, if you don't use Excel in your jobs, you won't get this...but I've risen to a new level of "Excel guru" by being able to write macros with VBA, and write very complicated formulas - and I owe a lot to the geniuses at MrExcel.com. Highly recommended.
    

[Robot Monkey]

Great idea, Chris! Here are some of mine:

 

Hard-drive MP3 player. Totally with Chris on this one, although mine isn't an iPod, it's a 20 gig iRiver H-120. Thank God Camp and others talked me out of flash-based DAPs.

 

Widescreen monitor. I'd like to go back to multiple monitors, but desk space doesn't allow it. Widescreen gives me room to work (and play).

 

Tiny credit card/ID holder with money clip. I know, I know what's the big deal? Well, I don't like wallets and now I won't go back to 'em.

 

PopCap games. A sick little addiction of mine. Right now Rocket Mania is a favorite.

 

Panera. Although I'm indifferent to their sandwiches, I love their french onion soup and free Wi-Fi. I keep a list of Panera addresses on my laptop so I can find one when I need quick internet access.

 

-j

[Robot Monkey]

Oh, here's one I forgot:

 

Uni-Ball Signo gel pens (medium point). Another one that sounds ridiculous -- they aren't even particulary fancy pens. But I'm left-handed, which can make writing with ball-points a chore. I used felt tips in the past because they move smoother over the page, but that often leaves me with a smudges on the paper and the palm of my writing hand (plus I can't use felt tips for some things). The Uni-Ball moves smoothly, writes cleanly and dries quickly, especially compared to other gel pens I tried.

[foogledricks]

Masturbation I only just discovered it today at work.

[Chris The Rock]

Masturbation[/b'] I only just discovered it today at work.

 

:lmfao

 

Sorry about the smiley, I realize you hate them...

 

I love Panera Bread also. Although I'm a Potato Soup guy. I also dig the Chicken Caesar sandwich.

 

Someday I'll get a widescreen laptop. I don't think I'll be using desktops in the future.

[General Zot]

Two things off the top of my head, pretty self explanatory.

 

The Internet

 

Tivo

 

I could live without both, but seriously (besides kids) those have had the biggest impact on me over the last few years. When our internet connection goes out for any period, wife and I go through info-DTs big time.

 

 

Chris - Go eat at Carrabas restaurant at 92nd and Old Wadsworth. It's worth the wait. And no, the one next to you in Louisville isn't a proper substitute. You'll be thanking me profusely later. Order the steak marsala for a mindnumbing treat. Best italian in Denver.

[HoolieMan]

Multiple Monitors - I have 3 monitors at work and it makes development so nice! I find it hard to work at home where I only have 1 measly monitor. Hopefully that will change soon.

 

Xbox Live - I have only have live for about 5 months and it is the first real online gaming experience in my life. Before I joined, I figured Live would be full of kids who do nothing but play games all day and then wait around beat up on people like me when they get a chance. Although these people definitely exist, I found that playing with friends and people I know is what I do 90% of the time.

 

A Nice Queen Size Bed - although it has been years since I got my matress, I can't see how I survived for so many years on a smaller matress.

 

I am sure I will think of more.

[Chris The Rock]

Chris - Go eat at Carrabas restaurant at 92nd and Old Wadsworth. It's worth the wait. And no' date=' the one next to you in Louisville isn't a proper substitute. You'll be thanking me profusely later. Order the steak marsala for a mindnumbing treat. Best italian in Denver.[/quote']

 

I already love Carrabas, and I'm glad to hear about one that's better than another.

 

I thought of another:

Select Comfort "sleep number" Mattress - We didn't bring any bedroom furniture out with us, so one of the first things we got was a new bed. Maybe I just bought into the hype dished out by all my favorite AM radio personalities, but we've been sleeping on it for 2 weeks now, and I love it. I didn't think we would, but my wife and I ended up having different preferences for each side of our bed. And having a King size bed for the first time is great, too.

[jhfagan]

1. My guitars.

2. The internet

3. Redheads and Asian women.

[Josh]

New York City - the thought of living in a place where I have to drive to work, can't order food at 3am, and can't just go grab a beer with a friend on a whim without worrying about who drives or finding a decent place to go... the list goes on.

 

Scotch - I had a funny conversation with a friend a year or so again in which he was so proud of me for finally having "found my poison" as he put it.

 

Goju Ryu - Okinawan Goju Ryu karate, my love of almost five years now. Keeps me grounded, focused, provides respite from an otherwise chaotic world.

 

Annie - my best friend, lovah (must be said Will Ferrell style), and overall cute girl who makes everything better.

 

The Jam - the best rock band evar.

 

Danny Elfman - duh.

[PoisonJam]

I'll second HD-DVR, as I just got it from my cable provider and it has made an immediate and profound impact on my TV watching. Now I just wish I had gotten one with a larger hard drive, because HD programming chews it up fast.

 

Instant messaging: for years I thought this was the province of teens and bored housewives, but as part of my new job I was instructed to set up a Yahoo IM account and I am really enjoying it. Have a quick question about a new acronym? I just I/M my buddy and I have the answer in seconds without waiting for emails or tying up his phone. Nice.

 

I'll go along with Panera as well. We just got one in North Haven and it is now my wife and my fast food of choice. And those cinnamon bagels? My god, man. :drool

[merlot]

High-speed internet porn never download so quickly

 

Xbox LIVE trash talking taken to the next level

 

Motorcycle 0-60 in 4 seconds, 40+ mpg, need I say more?

 

iPod mini I use it way more than I'd imagine

[Whooter]

And those cinnamon bagels? My god, man. :drool

 

/signed.

 

They r0xx0r.

[Chris The Rock]

Got another:

Mozilla Firefox. It kicks IE's butt. I really dig having 12 home pages.

[JoeyN]

Xbox Live- Brought me back to console gaming

 

Widescreen HDTV- Football, Lost and 24 in HD :drool

 

DVD- VHS was such crap and we didnt even know it

[foogledricks]

LCVG I need a place to debate, give my opinion on things, and stir up controversy. I used to get beat up when I did this in public places.

Garmin Ique GPS All of you will eventually have a GPS, mark my words. More important than DVR, not as important as the Internet.

PDA I never read anything but magazines until I downloaded Avantgo 8 years ago.

MP3 Players I never brought music with me until MP3s.

[PoisonJam]

All of you will eventually have a GPS, mark my words. More important than DVR, not as important as the Internet.

 

I'm curious why you think this? I can't think of three times in the last two years that I would have used a GPS, as all I do is drive back and forth from work every day. Whereas I use the DVR every day of my life. What am I missing about GPS?

[Rob B]

Kids - I could have a really bad day at work or a bad week and the second I her my little girl scream "DADDY" after she hears the locking beep of the truck, that bad day goes away instendly and I smile.

 

SVS Sub - I thought my HT sound could with out one....boy was I wrong

 

Widescreen HDTV - If you own one you already know the whys

 

Xbox/XBL - Gotten to know people here beter though it.

 

College Education - who would of thought a 5 cent pice of paper would make such a diffrence. If I hadn't finshed I'd still be rowing with the slaves at Target eeking by pay check to pay check.

 

i-Pod - all my music in one convenient spot

 

PVR - God send thats all that needs to be said. I can't stand watching live tv any more.

 

High Speed Internet - Dial Up sucks

 

 

Sex -

 

Chipolte - MY GOD I'm glad Jeff convinced it was worth the 5 dollars

 

Medical Technolgy - Helping to keep my little girl the healthy little girl she is today

 

LCVG - A place I can go to get unbiased reviews/ info on any game under the sun, and have a mautre fanboy free discusion of said games or systems.

[Cyberwoo]

The obvious essentials asside (electricity, plumbing, etc) here is my list:

 

Computer - I "waste" way too many hours in a day sitting in front of this damn computer desk. I use it for music, gaming and of course the internet. All made possible by this black tower at my feet. *hugs computah*

 

Hard drive mp3 player - My iHP-120 is used alot more than even I anticipated using it when purchased last year. I take it with my everytime I walk the dog, take a bike ride, or sometimes just relaxing around the house (playing a console game, laying in bed, etc). My ever growing mp3 collection is finally getting listened to.

 

Motor vehicle - I cant imagine having to rely on public transportation or having to walk around from place to place. Its also nice to throw my bike in the back on my truck and just take off for a day (beach, mountains, etc). Also it allows me to come home on my work break for lunch. I can't convey how important that is.

 

Starbucks - I'm ashamed to admit it but I still give Starbucks my $ about 3-4 times a week. What would I do without a place that can provide me triple white chocolate mochas til 11pm at night? Did I mention the place is drive through? Way too convenient, way too expensive but oh so goood.

 

*and now for my cheasy additions....

 

My family - Living close to my parents, sister (with the worlds cutest niece), grandparents, etc and being able to see them whenever I want is something I dont take for granted. I really dont think I could live far away from family for an extended period of time.

 

My dog - I gotta admit that everyday I come home from work and see his cute face resting against the front window waiting for my arrival (oh boy its food and walk time!) makes me forget about all the stresses at work. Dogs rule and mine is the best. I am teh bias!

[Robot Monkey]

I could have a really bad day at work or a bad week and the second I her my little gril scream "DADDY" ...

 

You're telling me! My last gas grill stopped talking to me when I switched to charcoal for most of my grilling and I really miss it.

 

My coffee mug hasn't stopped telling me to kill, though.

[Romier S]

My family - Living close to my parents, sister (with the worlds cutest niece), grandparents, etc and being able to see them whenever I want is something I dont take for granted. I really dont think I could live far away from family for an extended period of time.

 

Not cheesy at all Cyber. I also live very close to my parents and sister and it's something I also very much appreciate.

[dogbert]

Um, the thread isn't titled "what am I grateful for", it's "how the hell did I live without that for so long???", just a reminder for some of these syruppy items

[Robot Monkey]

Um, the thread isn't titled "what am I grateful for", it's "how the hell did I live without that for so long???", just a reminder for some of these syruppy items

 

Yeah, sissies.

 

I've got another thing to add:

 

Crest Whitening Expressions toothpaste, citrus flavor. First toothpaste I ever used that doesn't destroy my sense of taste for the next 30 minutes.

 

-j

[kelley]

TiVo - It turned me onto this invention that I never really got into, the TV.

My very own home - Its fucking amazing coming home to something that I will own in 30 years

[foogledricks]

I'm curious why you think this? I can't think of three times in the last two years that I would have used a GPS

 

Have you ever used mapquest? Well imagine having mapquest in your car with you, it always knows where you are, and where you're going, and literally tells you when to make a turn. If you go off course, whether intentional or unintentional, it updates and tells you where to turn next. It takes all the driving-related stress from any trip. All cars will have these, and our children will grow up with no sense of direction, because it is so damn good. That's just for the average person.

 

Now imagine you're a sales rep...

 

My wife is a sales rep, so she is constantly traveling to places she's never been. She never gets lost and visits MANY more doctor's office's than all of her peers simply because she wastes no time on the road. There's just no question, she has the numbers to prove it.

 

Not all GPS navigational systems are the same. Our GPS has the address and phone number of every hotel, restaurant, post office, etc... in the U.S. and can navigate to any of them... God, I could talk about this for pages and pages. I might even start a new thread just about this if people are interested in talking about GPS navigational systems.