Day Six

I am already dreading tomorrow—New Year’s Day. It is one of my favorite days of the year—College Football Bowl Day. The Rose Bowl and Rose Bowl parade. And to think that I am without cable. Boo hoo me.

Maybe I can brave the mid-20 degree weather and go to a Sports Bar in Manhattan and watch the parade, eat, drink and watch the game. That would involve sitting at the bar from 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM. See how control television can be? I’m just saying.

Today, I was rather proud of myself because I didn’t sneak into my Boss’ office to watch television. He doesn’t mind and I have keys to all of the offices so it isn’t a big deal. I only had to go to work for a half day anyway. I had to do some shopping for craft supplies to get me through the weekend. After dodging snow flurries and New Year’s Eve barricades in Manhattan, I made it to the office to do some work. While I had some down time, I considered going into my Boss’ office to turn on the television—just for a little while. Just as I was seriously considering doing so, two deliveries came to the office door and the mail arrived. As I was busy sorting things out, I had completely forgotten about the TV.

Here is wishing you a wonderful and prosperous New Year full of good cheer and television (you lucky so-and-so). Best wishes for 2009.

Day Five

Today, I did something that I haven't done in a long, long, time. I sat down and wrote a letter. I mean WROTE, as in handwritten. As in, sit down with a pen and paper and write.

I used to write five letters a week to friends and family. I developed the skill when I was in the military. I was stationed in Japan for 6.5 years and I would write to people that were interested. When I got out of the Navy and returned to school, I started writing less. I would write so much for class that my handwriting became atrocious. Plus, everything turned to computers and email. Of course, my typing was much faster and more accurate. I also had the benefit of Spell Check and Grammar Check.

I wrote to a friend of my mother's who has always been a friend to our family. My younger brother played baseball with her son. We always exchange Christmas cards with the obligatory salutation for the holiday season and New Year. When my mom died several years back, our families didn't keep in touch as much. She and I still exchanged Christmas cards but I never checked in on her nor did she on me.

I received her Christmas card after Christmas Day. Since I had all of this free time on my hands, I decided to send her an update of my goings on in New York City. Before I realized it, I had written 3.5 sheets of regular ruled paper. I had to take my time so that my handwriting would be legible. I realized that I have good handwriting if I only will take my time. I also realized how dependant I had become on Spell Check. I had to stop and think about several words before committing them to paper. On the entire epistle, I only had two words lined through--I was rather proud of myself.

On the TV front, I only saw one television set as I was walking to a store to buy some art supplies. I walked around the block five times in order to see the score of the football game (college bowl game) but I figured that I needed the exercise.

Day Four

The withdrawal symptoms have been lessening as the days are going by. I didn’t actively seek out a television so I could watch something. Even though, the restaurant where I had lunch had 12 televisions set to run one a college football bowl game. I did watch a Netflix rental on my computer for 50 minutes.

I do have to make one correction to an earlier posting. I still have my own television. I have the capabilities to watch DVD rentals which I will do once my Netflix DVDs come in the mail. When I disconnected my cable, in my mind, I lost the TV. In other words, cable and TV are synonymous. For me, TV is live, current shows as opposed to rentals.

Day Three

I am so bored.

I have cleaned the kitchen. Cleaned the bedroom. Shredded my weight in paper. I have washed the dishes. I have taken out three large trash bags to the curb.

I decided to go and visit the local Cineplex and got there in time to watch The Tale of Devereux. It is a cute animated film. There are some scary/dark scenes that might scare children under the age of seven though. The movie would have been a more enjoyable experience if it weren’t for the Spanish speaking lady translating every sentence to her child in a non-sotto voce level.

I am so bored that I will probably be in bed by 10:00 pm.

Tomorrow, I will go to the public library and renew my library card. Also, I will clean the studio so I can begin some new projects. I can’t start new projects with the remnants of the old projects lingering around.

BTW, I decided to post my blog at the end of every night rather than on the next day. That is why there are two entries dated December 28th.

Day Two

I didn't realize how ubiquitous televisions are in the city of New York. As I was shopping yesterday, I counted 43 television sets in the 5 establishments that I visited. Normally, I wouldn't have not even noticed them. But not having TV at home, I started to realize how I was jonesing for television.

I went to my favorite barbecue restaurant in Chelsea. I was sitting at my favorite two top table and glancing up at the television screen as I was eating. I was mesmerized by the images on the screen. I sat there and watched ESPN's Sportcenter without sound and without closed captioning. I sat there and watched the images just imagining what they were saying and what I was missing. So mesmerized that I didn't even realize that I had eaten all of my food and drizzled cheese down the front of my shirt.

This is going to be harder than I thought.

Day One

OK. So today is the first full day without TV. I finally realized that I was addicted to the television. Not addicted in a bad way. Just addicted in a way that I couldn't go throughout the day without turning it on. Just addicted in a way that I needed it to be on while I was at the computer--even if I wasn't watching it. Just addicted in a way that I was watching reruns of the complete season of Top Chef season four even though I already knew who won and I had already watched the Top Chef marathon from start to finish last month--in one sitting.

So, in reality, I am not really addicted to television. I am just wondering where the remote is at the moment.