Pictures came and broke your heart.

Back in the early days of marriage for we Xs, a Saturday went typically like this:

10:30 a.m.
Dr. X: "What are you doing?"

Meg X, calmly eating toast as she has just arisen from a 12-hour slumber and is now perched on the edge of the sofa in front of the TV: "Watching MTV."

Dr. X: "I'm going for a run."

Noon

Dr. X: "What are you doing?"

Meg X, newly showered and nibbling on her lunch, remote control firmly in hand: "Watching MTV."

Dr. X: "I'm going out."

Meg X, not looking away from "The Real World:" "Where?"

Dr. X: "The real, real world."

3 p.m.

Dr. X: "What are you doing?"

Meg X, who has just awoken from her afternoon catnap - yes, in front of the TV: "Watching VH1."

Dr. X: "Well, at least you changed the channel."

5 p.m.

Dr. X: "What are you doing?"

Meg X: "Watching 'The Wedding Story.'"

Dr. X: "We already got married."

Meg X: "Shut up, it's a good show!"

Dr. X: "Well, we had a good marriage, until you decided to cheat on me with the television."

So that did it. We got rid of the cable. Dr. X got into his PhD program and had no time for TV (or for anything else) and I got into running. After early evening training sessions, I pretty much only had enough energy to see the old stand-by and then it was lights out for me.

And then nine years went by. And two short months ago, like media-deprived Sleeping Beauties, we were kissed by a satellite dish and now we're like most American families.

Except not. There are almost 200 channels at our viewing disposal now, but I still haven't figured on what's on what and where at when. The only new people we've gotten to know really well are Bobby Flay and Paula Deen. Last week, Dr. X griped at me because I was watching The WB. "We have cable now. And you're watching regular TV!" The cable - it wasn't what it was all cracked up to be. (Remind of that when "The Closer starts it's next season!) We really aren't watching it more or less, even with all the perks. And by that I do not mean Home Shopping Network Channel 3. (Gheesh, do that many people shop from home via TV? Lord, haven't they learned about something called the Internet yet?)

Bruce was right. 57 channels and nothing on, indeed. Make that 557 channels. Honestly, I didn't really miss you in the end, cable television, but there's no way now that I am parting with your DVR.