Changing over to the new TV's

You HAVE to watch this video, especially if you have to update your TV so it will work after the switch over. That looks a lot like me when I try to do something with technology - electronically or mechanically anyway. Did I ever tell you the story of when I was in the Air Force? I scored high on 3 out of 4 parts of the AAFEES test - 95 overall/general, 90 electronics, 95 admin, and 25 mechanical. At the time (1979) the Air Force was trying to put more women in traditionally men's jobs. They saw my 90 in electronics and got excited and talked me into going into Computer Repair and Maintenance. They didn't listen to me that I totally guessed on the electronics part of the test or my reluctance to to go into such a job. They assured me the test showed my aptitude. What they failed to tell me, is that the job dealt a lot with mechanics, too. So I looked about as adept as the lady in the video above. To my plus side, I'm a whiz in admin and using computers. WHY didn't they put me in admin??? Oh well. That's almost 30 years ago and I'm now in admin where I belong and where I'm thriving. And I let my husband and kids handle hooking up the TVs so we're all happy. You'll also want to see what Amarinda Jones, Anika Hamilton, Anny Cook, Barbara Huffert, Brynn Paulin, Bronwyn Green, Dakota Rebel, Kelly Kirch, Molly Daniels, Sandra Cox, Regina Carlysle, and Cindy Spencer Pape are up to, so make sure to visit them also. :)

The Boob Tube

I just read a blog about TV watching. That author said she never watches TV, that she considers it a waste. I'm not quite to that same level of watching NO TV, but I don't like to watch it a lot either. I have a few shows I really like: American Idol, The Bachelor/Bachelorette, Smallville, and I like movies. But too much TV watching is a time waster. There's so many other better things that I could be doing and in my case anyway, that I should be doing. And there's not that much I'm interested in watching on TV anyway. In fact, most of what's on TV annoys me, even with five hundred plus cable channels. If it were up to me, I'd leave off the TV and listen to my music or just have silence while I'm doing something else. But the hubby and the kids are addicted to it. They seem to always want it on. When hubby's home, he ALWAYS has it on. It doesn't seem to matter if it's something he wants to watch. He'll find the least of the evils - watching a poker game, watching the animal police...anything. Sometimes I want to scream. Lots of times I pack up my computer and head to the book store or the park to get away from the boob tube and its incessant noise. I used to hear a lot of people say that too much TV watching was bad, that it should be limited. I agree. Thus it surprised me when one group of lunch pals at the day job talked about TV incessantly and acted like it was their whole life when not at work - like my hubby. I felt out of place with them as I'd never watched (even once) most of the shows they talked about, old or current. There's so much more to life than watching television. I like to watch some, but I'd feel like I was wasting my life if that's all I did after work. Another friend at the day job today said they were worried about their mother. Since she's retired from her job all she does is watch TV. That's her life. I'd never want to retire if I thought that was all that was left of life. I have lots of plans for my "retirement". It will be a retirement from my day job, but not from life. Not from my dreams. Instead of writing part time like now, I want to write a lot more. I want to travel to a LOT of writers conferences, visit out of town family and friends several times a year, volunteer somewhere to help other people, and make my life still count. As long as I'm able-bodied and my mind is good, I don't want to vegetate in front of a TV or for any other reason. I know a lady who claims she wants to be a writer. However, she also claims that she has no time to write. Why? Because after the day job she watches her recorded soap operas and another favorite TV show most of the night, every night. I just scratch my head. Obviously writing is not her priority. As far as I know she's not written a single word on her first book. Her priority is watching TV. That's fine except I don't understand how she bemoans not having time when she's the one choosing how to spend her time. I get a lot of writing done at night and on weekends when I'm not at the day job. Not as much as I long to do, but a lot more than none. While there are valid reasons people wouldn't find time to write (a second job, health reasons, being a caregiver to someone to name a few) TV watching all the time isn't one of them. At least not in my humble opinion. Conversely, I'm in awe of many great authors I know who make me look like I'm standing still in the writing department. While for some it's their full time job, for others it's in addition to another day job. I'm willing to bet they're not glued to a TV. Don't think I want to give away my TV. I still enjoy it...sometimes. You'll also want to see what Amarinda Jones, Anika Hamilton, Anny Cook, Barbara Huffert, Brynn Paulin, Bronwyn Green, Dakota Rebel, Kelly Kirch, Molly Daniels, Sandra Cox, Regina Carlysle, and Cindy Spencer Pape are up to, so make sure to visit them also. :)

The Bachelor

I love to watch The Bachelor. I really don't know why. Besides The Bachelor, the only other reality show I like is American Idol (which is my absolute fav). I really don't enjoy all the back biting. I don't enjoy the girls who act like ditzes or fools or when they have a melt down. Or do I? I must like something. I think I just like the romantic journey. Honestly, I like The Bachelorette better when the woman has the choice and I can step into her shoes. I wouldn't want to be one of the bachelorettes vying for one bachelor. My feelings would be hurt too badly were I eliminated. A lot of these women act as if they don't know they'll most likely be eliminated and that that's part of the game. Same with American Idol. Not only would it hurt to be eliminated, but probably embarrassing, to be shot down in front of a world-wide audience. It's hard enough to be rejected in private. I don't like watching other people's misery. I don't think. So why do I like this? I am enjoying watching the romantic slow dancing under the moon light right now. My hubby always groans, moans, and frowns when I turn this on. Same with American Idol, but worse with this. But then he'll make comments about the contestants. Right now he's holding his fingers in his ears while this woman is singing to the bachelor. I don't blame him this time. How embarrassing. I wouldn't go on a normal date and sing to him. How weird! But I don't feel sorry for my hubby. Except for these two shows, he controls the TV the rest of the time. In fact, he usually turns the station without asking me if I'm watching the show. So, he can moan and groan and scowl all he wants. It's my turn. Oh! And I'd like to nominate the next bachlor. It's time for a really good vampire or werewolf bachelor. *** Oh no! I just heard a news clip. A high school student died during plastic surgery. It was only a teaser about the upcoming news so I don't have the details. I feel sorry for her and her family. It also worries me about my (possible) upcoming surgery (STILL up in the air). A man I worked with died during elective surgery recently, too. Of course, he was in his late 60s or early 70s. I've been through 10-20 surgeries, more than most, and I'm still here. So I'm not abnormally scared of surgery. Although I am beginning to wonder if there's a reason the surgery this week seems like a real long shot. Maybe I shouldn't be pushing it. Maybe it's not meant to be, and I'd be better off without it. But then, we never know what will happen. I could get hit by a car if I don't go to surgery. About twenty - twenty five years ago, we had an appointment to see our attorney. Unfortunately, our car had problems and so we couldn't make it. That very day, a few minutes before our appointment time, there was a horrible accident around the corner, an accident we very likely could have been caught in. A Hess gas truck stalled on the train tracks and of course a train hit it. Not only did the truck explode and kill the truck driver, but it caused a huge fireball that killed the people in about 5-8 cars stuck in traffic behind it. It was horrible. When the car wouldn't work, I felt bad. I was mad. I was sad. But in the end, we were definitely better off not being able to go. In fact, of course, I'm very happy we weren't there.