I suggest you use an online bidding service, like www.phantombidder.com. It's eBay-legal, and is a good way to get in last-second bids, and escalations, without having to sit by the computer.
You fill in your final price, and any bid escalations, and their online system places the bids at the last few seconds of the auction. I use it when I see something I really want, but don't want to let anyone know how anxious I am by placing an early bid. Or if there has been only a bid or two for a while, I can get my bid in, even at an ungodly early morning hour, without tipping off other bidders by my interest.
I really use it only on high-value (for me) items. You buy a package of 20 bids via PayPal for $6, and are charged only for winning an auction. So far, PhantomBidder was won about 72% of the auctions I've used it on.
It takes out a lot of the excitement, but also a lot of the anxiety. And I don't have to be glued to my PC when the auction is closing.