Can I just tell you about the greatest invention in the free world? It is just one of those things that I am not sure how people lived without in the past. I don't know how we functioned in a society without it. And, no I don't mean cell phones, but they do make life convenient, too, don't they?

    No, what I am talking about here is the greatest addition to television since the rabbit ears. Most cable companies these days offer the “DVR” also known as a “digital video recorder.”

    A DVR, in short, allows you to “tape” television, for viewing at a later time. It is the VCR of the new age. But, it is a million times more impressive.

    If you haven't heard of this great device, I will provide you with some highlights. Unlike the VCR, the DVR seems to have nearly endless storage. OK, to be honest, there is a limit, but we use it on a daily basis, and with four of us in the house, we have never gotten even close to that cap. (And, that is accounting for the three, full Star Wars movies my husband leaves on there 24/7.)

    Also, the controls are much smoother than a VCR. You can pause live television. This is a priceless feature when watching sports. It is also a crucial feature with two small children. Is the baby crying through the most important lines in the movie? Just pause it. Can't wait for a commercial for the next potty break? Have no fear, the DVR is here!

    And, that brings me to the next point. Commercials! There are no commercials in the world of DVR. Remember when you would tape a movie and sit there through the entire thing so you could get the video sans ads? You would stop the recording every break, and restart it when the commercials were over. Who doesn't have video tapes with partial ads?

    Well, this is no more a problem. Once shows are recorded to your DVR, zoom right through those commercial breaks at your leisure.

    I also can't say enough about how the ease of use allows you to do so much. For example, another great parent tip, the DVR allows you to see shows you'd never be able to catch otherwise. For those with small children and full-time jobs, let's call that any show that airs after 10 p.m. The beauty of the DVR is that it lets you get so much more out of your TV.

   I swear, without it, we'd never get to see the shows that we enjoy. Since cable these days is so expensive anyhow, it is well worth the fee to own a DVR service. Unlike high-definition television, which I can honestly barely tell the difference when it is on, I think the monthly charge for DVR service is a penny well spent.

  Most cable services will charge around $10 a month or so for the ability to tape. Some companies even have features now that allow you to program the DVR from your mobile account, your phone or online.

   For now, I stick with play, pause and fast forwarding through ads. Those are the main buttons I need. Of course, this is coming from someone who'd still have a “12:00” flashing on her VCR were it not for her far more tech-savy spouse.