Even grandfather clocks can go high-tech.

That is a grandfather clock.

Incredible, isn't it? We've got a grandfather clock in our house, one that needs to be repaired, and I was looking around for someplace that could fix up our old one when I stumbled across the grandfather clocks for sale at 1-800-4clocks -- clocks that include the one above, the "Howard Miller Tempo Grandfather Clock."

I like clocks - -interesting ones, at least, and I've always had a special love of grandfather clocks, since I was a kid and our family bought one. I like the way they look, I like the chimes, I like the complexity and grandeur.

But more than that, I love the way that Tempo clock looks -- completely different than a traditional grandfather clock, something that takes the old idea of counterweights and chimes and moves it into a design that wouldn't look out of place in an office... or a space station.

A grandfather clock can be a centerpiece of your living room -- as ours is -- or a focal point for your office waiting room, like that Tempo clock would be, or an addition to the study you're putting into that extra room downstairs. They can even be great wedding or housewarming gifts (as the 1-800-4clocks blog pointed out) -- and as that blog noted can be engraved or personalized with the names and dates of the wedding

That's because they're interesting,and special and unique -- the perfect accoutrement to any room, or occasion.

I've abandoned my plans to fix up our old clock, now: I want that Tempo clock. And not for the office, either: I'm going to replace our old living room grandfather clock with that one and really jazz up the ol' house.