Dale wants to be a cable boy

Over the holidays I realized there was something missing in my life.

No, I'm not talking about that special someone, a place to spend Christmas Day or a good pair of winter boots – I have all of the above.

The void I'm referring to is cable television.

Since deciding to man up and move out of my parents' place in November, I've been without cable. My reasons for going sans cable are mixed, ranging from wanting to spend less time in front of a screen to procrastination to frugality. Perhaps I even feared I'd end up being stalked by a deranged cable installer like Matthew Broderick in the 1996 black comedy The Cable Guy.

But over the last few days I've hit a breaking point. A few nights ago a friend from journalism school made his debut on CBC's The National, which I couldn't watch. Meanwhile, HBO continues to pump out the best in television, and I miss it all. But the straw that broke the camel's back is the upcoming third season of Jersey Shore that I'm not going to be able to ridicule – and secretly enjoy.

The Western world is comprised of primarily two types of people: those with cable and those without it. Typically, the latter look down on the former for subscribing to such lowbrow entertainment, while those with cable pity the cableless for being out of touch with pop culture.

But I'm not your typical cableless Canadian. I don't scoff at television watchers – I envy them.

Subconsciously, I think I've put off getting cable because, deep down, I have a problem ¬¬– I'd just watch away my days and nights. I'd be too busy trying to follow the Kardashians to keep up with housework. I'd probably end up on one of favourite programs, Intervention, while my distraught family and friends urged me to give up my out-of-control television habit.

But with so much new programming flooding the channels, can I be blamed for loving TV? There are literally hundreds of stations – broadcasting sitcoms, news, sports, movies and, of course, reality shows – available for a reasonable monthly fee.

Cable has evolved a lot since my parents' childhood. I remember my mom telling me tales about watching one channel on her home's single television set. But, then again, it seems like everything from her childhood was singular – one TV with one channel, one pair of shoes, mass once a day, one radio station playing one band (the Beatles). The only thing kids from her youth seemed to have more than one of were siblings.

Perhaps if there weren't so many stations available today then I wouldn't be craving cable so badly.

Got resolutions?

People are the world are ready to start the new year with a resolution.

From joining a gym to starting a diet to getting up earlier in the morning, the start of 2011 presents an opportunity for fresh beginnings and a new start on life for many.

But why is it that the majority of individuals' resolutions are more fragile than a 95-year-old woman's hip, and ultimately end up breaking?

The British author Oscar Wilde once said, "Good resolutions are simply chequess that men draw on a bank where they have no account."

But the problem isn't people's will power to follow through with their promises, it's in the resolutions themselves.

Make no mistake, I'm no better than the average person. I've broke way more resolutions than hearts in my 26 years. That is, until I took a new approach to my annual New Year's pledge.

Instead of vowing to do something unpleasant (like go to aerobics classes, eat more spinach or follow Dancing with the Stars), try doing something that's enjoyable but hard to find time to do. For example, one year I decided to go to the movies once a week. While you may be think this resolution doesn't make me a better person, you may be right, but the point of my pledge was to make my life more enjoyable – and mission accomplished.

So don't aim for something that will you'll hate doing. because the goal isn't to make the next year miserable. Rather, opt for a pact that will make you happier – it could be vowing to spend more time with your family, attempting to learn a new language, going for walks through the woods, regularly reading this column, or finally working up the courage to perform a standup comedy routine at amateur night.

Use the start of another year to motivate you to do all the things you didn't do the previous 365 days. Don't live by carpe diem when you can carpe annum (seize the year).

And I pity the people who think they're above resolutions. These individuals are either scared of failure or afraid of improvement.

Benjamin Franklin, who helped pen the American Declaration of Independence, once said, "Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man."

I know, I know, I should be quoting one of Canada's founding fathers, but Sir John A. McDonald, though a great leader, wasn't known for his one-liners.

Shopping 101

For many, Christmas shopping can be the hell before the holidays.

As an efficient gift buyer myself, I would like to share some of my shopping tips to help everyone have a merry Christmas this year.

Call me a cliché, sports-minded male, but I believe most challenges in life are best approached with a competitive game mentality.

So here we go. First, it's all about small victories when shopping. Forget big ­glories because they can lead to large failures.

First step: find a parking space – this can be nearly impossible on a weekend at a London mall. So remember to aim small. Go to the outer edge of the parking lot near the least used exits, or beside a shopping cart corral, you're sure to find a spot at these pieces of undesirable ­parking lot real estate.

Don't drive up to the entrance near a department store hoping to get ­lucky – you'll only end up disappointed. And never try the stalker method (slowly ­following a pedestrian as they exit the store) because the shopper is probably running back to their car to deposit some bags, and more importantly, it's weird and annoying.

It's all about strong starts, so spending 20 minutes looking for parking is going to break your confidence. And confidence is essential to efficient and successful shopping.

Once in the mall have some sort of game plan – don't just wander around aimlessly hoping to stumble into great gifts. Come equipped with a list – either paper or digital – of everyone you need to buy for and potential gift ideas for each person.

A piece of advice I live by when playing basketball, is always go for an easy first shot. This, too, can be applied to ­Christmas shopping. Begin with someone who's going to love anything you give them, whether it's a box of chocolates or a spatula. I like to start my shopping by buying a present for my cats; they never complain about anything I get them.

Once you got that easy-to-buy-for ­person checked off your list, move up the hierarchy towards the more difficult friends and family members. Remember, if you get stuck on someone's gift don't spend too much time searching for it – just move on to the next person on your list. With each check mark you put beside a name your list, your confidence will build.

And don't make the amateur mistake of taking a break from shopping for a bite to eat in the food court, or you'll lose your momentum. Instead, use food as a reward for when you're done shopping. Always keep your eye on the prize: getting out of the mall with a gift for everyone on your list.

Once you get into a present-buying grove then it's time to tackle the hardest person on your list, which is usually a ­significant other. Unfortunately, I don't have any suggestions for a gift that is sure to please your spouse or loved one, but if you follow my shopping advice, by the time you get to that special person, you'll have no problem finding them the perfect present.