GRAND EXPERIMENT ENDS

My TVless grand experiment is ending after four months and 11 days – assuming the special order requirements are fulfilled for the TV I purchased.  I’ve checked and double-checked all angles on this order since I know perfectly well one is wise to never assume anything.   The written orders and emails specify facts quite contrary to what is actually happening, but I’ve been assured more than once by different people that all is as we agreed.  (TVless previously described in “Ordinary Day” later in, “Tubeless Life in a Political World.”)

The TV I purchased on sale was out of stock.  The store could order off the Internet, hook it up for me, BUT I would have to have it shipped to my home.  Or, I could have it shipped to the store. BUT I would have to pick it up there.  Either way the technical people would come to my home, and set it up with my desired connection to the roof antenna.

(My second choice of broadcast signal provider to the antenna would be a package with my phone and Internet provider as I have no desire to subscribe to cable or satellite.     Yes, there are a few programs aired through any of these systems I would likely enjoy, but I have to accept so many channels I don’t want, then pay extra for some special channels I would like to receive.    Too bad I can’t substitute some of their special channels for others I don’t want.)   

I arranged this special TV order delivery because, though my shoulder which I subjected to collision with my floor is significantly better, I still am wise to avoid lifting, undue stretching.  (Event previously described in “Fancy Footwork.")   Store personnel were able finally to fulfill my requirements, but

apparently can’t put the agreement in official documented wording due to who knows what reasons – store policy is being circumvented by the manager who was said to have authorized this deviation, or their computer is not programmed to allow such documentation.  

So it is that I await with great anticipation the resolution of this latest adventure in the world of complicated digital business practices today.    I expect the best result, but am mentally prepared for a less than perfect outcome.   

I didn’t really intend to purchase a TV the other day when I was out and about running errands.  It was the first day in several weeks when I hadn’t been “dragging.”   Meds had knocked the culprit that had been wearing me down and the shoulder was also feeling considerably better.   Once again, life seemed worth living.  Since I was in the area, on the spur of the moment I decided to check with the store’s tech geeks whether or not they could hookup an HDTV to my roof antenna as my now defunct analog TV with a converter box had been.  It seemed like a simple enough question to me.

I also asked for a ballpark figure they would charge for setup, based on the likelihood I’d be purchasing only a small screen.    This necessitated the tech guy, who appeared to be the most knowledgeable one there since everyone else was coming to him for answers, to phone another department.   His idea of “small” and mine must have been quite different, or he thought I lived in a multi-rooms and floors “small” mansion, each room with TVs and other electronic gear to be integrated into a system, because I was shocked when he quoted $700 setup.  I didn’t pursue the matter further with him since they were so busy, but decided to go back to the TV dept. and see what they would say there.  

A middle-aged couple with a teenager and a “grandma-looking-person” quietly trailing along had corralled a sales person for assistance with sale TVs in a size I liked.   I decided to benefit from what the salesman was telling them, so joined the parade, and thought I would snag him when he finished with them.   “Grandma” would periodically look at me, smile, shrug at something said and I smiled back with a head nod in our ongoing nonverbal communication.  Don’t know if they were buying a set for her, or she was gifting them with one, but she was absorbing what was being said as was I.

Ultimately, I decided there were several sets with pictures I rather liked.  I vaguely recalled knowing the better brand names, desired pixels, though I hadn’t checked out any specific ones recently since I hadn’t come there to buy a TV.   Believe me, this is not how I go about buying appliances, TVs, etc.   When the TV person was available we discussed a few of the sets on sale in which I was interested, but they were all out of stock.   That’s when I introduced the whole issue of ordering one, explaining my needs and requirements to find out about connecting an HDTV to my roof antenna.   A coaxial cable was needed which I wasn't sure I had.   He took me off to discuss the matter with a young woman who was confident she could arrange this whole purchase, setup process.  So, I decided to buy a TV.

That’s my story of how my grand TVless experiment has ended -- as spontaneously and abruptly as it started.    The whole experience revealed that I adjusted quite easily to being without television.  Initially, for a few weeks I periodically had an urge to view TV but the thought and feeling were fleeting.   Others might have a different reaction, especially if they’ve been accustomed to having television most of their life.  I never even viewed TV until in my late teens.   Then, I was in my early twenties before I purchased a TV.   Cable had come into being then enabling signal reception where there had been none.

Years later when I was employed in commercial television we purchased a color set when that technological advance was implemented.   TV programming was much more important to me then, and for quite a few following years when only the Big Three Networks (ABC, CBS, NBC), a few independent stations, PBS predominated.   Years later the proliferation of other networks, including cable offering a multitude of programs, altered broadcasting, coincidentally as my interests focused more predominately elsewhere.

Without television this fall, I was spared being subjected to the barrage of political malarkey and horrendous ads that were likely in abundance on TV during the recent political campaign.  I was able to focus more directly on the candidate’s positions on the issues, but the other media sources I consulted revealed most of the distortions and lies being recklessly bandied about.  

Now, I’m tiring of my all news radio station as they rotate many of their same news stories repeatedly.   I think they’re likely reflecting what TV news now is doing also – talking about the “fiscal cliff” we’re going off at the end of the year unless Congress and this Administration act to prevent such a debacle.  

We, the people, need to harangue those Congresspersons to bite the bullet and act on renewing the tax rates for all but the wealthiest as has been proposed.  That group can contribute a slightly more comparable percentage of their income more in keeping with the rest of us.    I don't want them to delay and postpone any more by kicking the can on this down the road until next year.     I know everybody wants leverage for the whole budget package, but forget that scenario.  Let’s take one matter at a time.  

We’ll look at Social Security and Medicare in 2013 with new Congress.  Perhaps they’ll be more enlightened by then, and realize these are not “entitlement” programs if we keep educating them.

I have read many more books during these months without TV.    I do go to bed earlier.   My computer use is unchanged – blogging irregular as usual.     I hope to maintain the earlier to bed schedule and continue reading the many unread books I’ve accumulated. 
   

First things first – I’ll let you know if the TV arrives and is setup as scheduled.


(This post's preview does not have the paragraph spacing as I setup and Blogger does not seem receptive to changing unfortunately.)