The Tube

The first time I lived alone was my last semester in college. I had a quaint one-bedroom apartment on the west side of the K-State campus. It was part of an old house that was converted into four apartments – two in the basement and two on the main level. My stove had one temperature (hot – I could bake chicken in ten minutes and cookies in five or less) and featured push buttons. I won’t even venture a guess to its age. The apartment was not only the perfect size, it was also the perfect price. Even though I had found an affordable apartment at the last minute that wasn’t in a gloomy, outdated basement, I still had to take a good hard look at my budget and cut as many expenses as I could. The first thing to go was television.

For the next four years, I “survived” without cable or basic TV channels. If I was watching something, it was on a DVD I owned and could quote every single line in the movie. It wasn’t until Edward and I were married and living in our first apartment together that he said enough is enough, we’re getting television.

Like Meadowlark, our apartment building did not permit the use of a satellite service for television and/or internet – mostly due to the eye sore that a satellite is (especially hanging off a hundred balconies). Edward and I were faced with the decision – Cox Communications or AT&T.

Residents at Meadowlark are provided basic cable as a part of their monthly fee and this service is provided by Cox. Each resident has the option of choosing to have their cable service provided by AT&T, however this option requires the resident to set up, maintain and pay for their cable service directly with the provider. Phone and internet service, no matter which company is selected, is one that the resident will set up on their own if they wish to utilize it. Internet can be purchased “in house” through the Information Technologies department and the fee can be added to the resident’s monthly bill. This would be a secure internet connection. The Guest Network at Meadowlark is available to anyone, but it is not a secure network. If you have additional questions regarding internet service at Meadowlark or would like to find out the cost, please contact Monte Spiller at (785) 323-3851.

In the end, Edward and I chose Cox for our television “needs.” We have since canceled our cable service and have found ourselves spending more time playing with Murphy Rose, hanging out outside, reading or going on little adventures in town (i.e. pizza at AJ’s followed by a trip to the park). See you next week and thanks for stopping by!