About 4 years ago, maybe more, maybe less, I can't remember, we stopped cable service. In truth the cable service stopped us. We were one month late on a cable bill ($12, which was overlooked) and our cable service cut us off. We called them up, apologized for the oversight and were told that if we wanted to continue cable we needed to pay them a reconnect fee of $50. There was no way we were going to do that so we decided to go without television for the summer and probably connect back up in the fall. We never hooked back up and even though I am huge television addict I have had no regrets about not getting cable/satellite in our house. The one thing about being an addict is that the best way to get away from your addiction is to go cold turkey. Also, during every holiday season I am so glad my kids aren't inundated with advertisements for things they do not need.
The only times I wish we had TV back is during General Conference. We usually have to invite ourselves to a friend's house to watch and that is fine but enjoying the sessions in the comfort of our own home would be nice.
Well since I got my laptop computer and got everything re-loaded onto it (it came to me used and unloaded) I now have the ability to watch television via sites like abc.com, nbc.com, tlc.discovery.com, fox.com, etc.
I have just spent the last almost 5 hours wasting time in front of my computer watching stupid television shows. One of my latest favorites is Kitchen Nightmares on Fox. Chef Gordon Ramsey, who has the foulest mouth I have ever heard (his profanity gets beeped out), goes into failing restaurants and shapes them up. It is so fun to see the lazy good for nothing chefs or restaurant managers or owners get whipped into shape by this world renowned chef.
However, wasting this much time staring at the laptop has given me a headache as well as a flatter butt. What was I thinking? I have 200 pages to read by Wednesday and I just blew some serious time. Now when I complain to Harold about not getting my homework done he will not be able to show me any compassion because I wasted enough time to last a whole week. In addition, I have to work tonight typing and that means another 4+ hours staring at a screen.
(Picture me banging my head against a wall chanting...stupid...stupid...stupid.)
6 comments:
Kitchen Nightmares sounds really good. I may have to check it out one of these days.
Oh I can so relate. There are so many things that I want to accomplish and I too have a homework load to worry about in addition to making sure that my boys are getting their homework done. Still I let myself waste precious time. I don't know what it is that draws me in so completely. I guess I just really like that mindless feeling. Dane and I are considering going without cable service and he is willing its me that is weak. Luckily, my boys are so busy with school things like basketball, band, soccer etc. that they don't have time for TV except on the weekends.
A few years back I decided I was watching too much TV, to the point it was interfering with my night time prayers. (It was hard to fit a prayer in between whatever 10pm show I was watching and the 11pm Law&Order reruns.) I made the break from full cable to just basic (networks, PBS, etc.). It definitely helped but even PBS is so interesting that I am still watching too much TV! I've been toying with getting rid of the whole thing.
Thirteen+ yrs ago I was serving as RS president of our little branch. Most of the members were young couples attending grad school. I often invited them for Sunday dinner. When it was about time for one darling couple to leave Syracuse, Tearsa shared that because of me she was now addicted to L&O. Boy, like I was proud of that! Not. Now I keep my mouth shut.
You've given me some good food for thought Jeanna. Thanks.
BTW, I would love to meet you and your family the next time I come to Utah.
Aunt Beth
i too am addicted to t.v. Every night is centered around what television shows are on. nope, can't go get diapers for the kids at 7 cause survivor is on. We'll have to wait til 9 or go before 6. Sad, I know. But it is nice to have something to look forward too. After watching barney all day and playing with cho cho trains it is nice to have a couple hours of "me" time. I'm sure i could find something more productive to do, but who wants to be productive?! :)
Last year we got that 33 dollar deal from comcast and now it's up. I was ready to get rid of it last month, but Adam asked me to wait till after the Super Bowl. Now it's time and while we are resolved, it's going to be a huge sacrifice. There's this station on cable called PBS Kids Sprout and they play little kids shows all day. While I try to limit T.V. watching anyway, it it so nice to have Sprout when I need to get something done. Here's saying goodbye to a good and bad thing, I know it will be worth it in the long run.
YOu know, I am so conflicted on this. Part of me wants to throw the whole TV in the dumpster and the other part wants to get a DVR. But I do have to say - you are so lucky you butt gets flatter, mine gets wider and rounder when I watch too much TV.
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