. You often don't realize how attached you are to something until you yank it away.
Like cable TV.
I cancelled my basic service a week ago. It was about the only discretionary regular expense left that I hadn't already cut due to my work situation. I would be remiss to keep it, given my financial situation. So I cut it after they said the best they could do was $18 a month. (I was paying $13, a special promo deal, but that expired.)
So I went cold turkey, but each day I turned the TV on, it was, well, still on, and I continued to devour all my favorite shows and even some others. All along thinking, I made a big mistake.
The Bachelorette, The Office, So You Think You Can Dance, Parks & Recreation...I overdosed on the reality TV stuff and then some, knowing this was my last fix. I squeezed in some daytime TV too, loading up on Judge Judy, Judge Pirro and Judge Alex.
I finally called the cable company to complain, yes complain, that I still had cable. Because I didn't want to be charged for it. They assured me I wouldn't be, but explained that a guy has to come out and disconnect me at the box that's on my house, and he couldn't do that. Until yesterday.
Nice young man. He asked me if i was getting a dish. I explained that no, I was out of work and needed to save money. Did you consider cutting back to basic, he asked. This WAS basic, I said.
We proceeded to have a nice conversation about the job market. He was sympathetic, as he had been out of work for 6 months after being laid off. Just 6 months? Oh, that's the minor leagues.
Anyway, I'm finding it difficult to adjust. I hoped in vain that I might perhaps get a single New Haven or Hartford channel so I could still get the local morning news, but alas, everything is a solid wall of gray static.
I could return to www.antennaweb.com and take a chance buying an antenna, but I know you have the best chance with a full sized antenna you can mount on the roof of the house, and I don't want to mess with that. It's unsightly and attracts lightening.
I registered at Hulu.com and made a list of Favorite shows and now they'll email me when a new episode becomes available. How cool.
And I will hit the library tomorrow for some DVDs.
I took the small TV I kept in the kitchen and moved it elsewhere, freeing up counter space. I moved a small Sony radio to the same spot and have begun turning on the radio instead of the TV when I'm in the kitchen cooking or eating. I'll have to reacquaint myself with public radio. Caught Prairie Home Companion tonight, which was sort of poignant, since I have memories of tuning in to the same show 25 years ago when I was a young and lonely single living in the boonies of Vermont.
I'll keep the second TV in my upstairs bedroom so I can watch DVD movies on occasion. But staring at that lifeless screen sure gives me the shivers. I'm breaking out in a cold sweat just thinking about it.
I have an addiction, and I'm going through withdrawal now
July 17th, 2011 at 01:15 am
July 17th, 2011 at 03:24 pm 1310916287
July 17th, 2011 at 06:32 pm 1310927556
July 17th, 2011 at 07:41 pm 1310931711
http://www.seabreezecomputers.com/tips/tv.htm
http://xfinitytv.comcast.net/full_episodes?cmpid=FCST_rdrct
July 18th, 2011 at 12:24 am 1310948687
July 18th, 2011 at 06:20 pm 1311013226
I am LOVING music right now. Don't forget about Pandora and Last FM for online music streaming. There are others as well. I've learned a lot of new-to-me music lately.