I watched TV with the kids last night

It doesn't really seem like much. I watched a little ESPN (World Series of Poker) and an episode of "The Office" with the kids last night.

The reason we needed (Michelle was with me) to watch with the kids is becasue we don't have cable but the kids have Direct TV and you can't pick up the WSOP on an antenna.

It was amazing (so suck it Mr. "It doesn't really seem like much"). First, for those who require background, the WSOP is the biggest poker tournament in the world. The main event crowns a new world champion every year. This year the event started with nearly 6,500 players paying $10,000 each to enter the tournament. Nine people make the final table and each of them will win over a million dollars but first place gets nearly 8.5 million. Big money but that's not why it was amazing.

When the show started (there have been a series of WSOP shows each seeing the main event field shrinking) there were 18 people left in the tournament. Nine were eliminated during our viewing last night getting to the final table. The nine who went all in (each losing literally millions of chips) with the wrong cards will fade into obscurity. We just won't remember who they were but the nine who survived will be remembered for years. Pretty exciting stuff but that's not why it was amazing.

The best part of the night was when a couple of the top stacks tangled. Both of the players were a sure thing to make the final table. Both of the players had over 20 million chips. Both of the players were dealt two diamonds and then the flop came with three more diamonds giving both players a flush. That hand was magnificant, but that's not why it was amazing.

When the 10th player was eliminated it was a hand where one guy was dealt pocket aces and the other guy had a pair of eights. Big money, big excitement, big disappointment, big emotion. Watching the field go from 14 to 9 was simply....

Well, that last episode was pretty ding-dang nice but the amazing thing was that we were watching TV with the kids. I didn't walk next door to Jack and Mandy's house. I was watching TV with Shane and Cassandra. Their show recorded on their Direct TV DVR in their house.

In Boston.

1800 miles away, Boston it is.

When they paused the show to go to the bathroom or get a snack, we had to wait (because as I said we were watching with them) but Michelle and I were sitting in our livingroom in Dallas.

It's the technology that's amazing. The kids have a high definition slingbox. We have a device called a sling box catcher and using that technology we can sit together and watch TV. Then we can fire up the webcams and even see each other and talk as we enjoy a show together, 1800 miles apart.

And to think I was impressed with pong.