Thursday, June 24, 2010

Taking a Break from the Regular Scheduled Programming


So why do people keep on watching? The answer, by now, should be perfectly obvious: we love television because television brings us a world in which television does not exist. In fact, deep in their hearts, this is what the spuds crave most: a rich, new, participatory life. ~Barbara Ehrenreich

Do you remember that a few days ago I wrote a post about how I crave simplicity in Here Am I? Well, I felt compelled to simplify and so....

No more television service until further notice. That's right! I had our satellite service turned off...again. I think the last time was two years ago for about three months while we financially recuperated. I put in for all of the 180 days of suspension they allow, but I will most likely have it turned on again in about two to three months. There is just so much to do and so much daylight to do it in right now that I now longer need the distraction and temptation of unproductive entertainment. In truth, we really do not watch much television and when we do, we shouldn't watch as much as we do...and when I say "we" I mean mostly "me"!

Sadly, I am the one likely to go through the majority of the withdraws, but I need to get out and do, not sit watching others do. I used to have this rule that I would not watch TV unless I was also doing something productive, like cross-stitching, crocheting, hand stitching or whatever. In truth, we have plenty of movies on DVD as well as the ability to watch some of the newer episodes online, and these episodes will be repeated again about the time we will again have it back on.

This will save us $60 a month during the months when our electrical bills are the highest because of air conditioning, so it is a good thing...and that is what I will keep telling myself over and over, as I deal with the urge to turn on the box for the next few days.

~ My Lord, thank you for simplicity. When we do turn the TV service back on, please help me to use it more as a tool for education than for entertainment, and to make wise and productive use of the time I watch the movies we have on DVD until then. ~