Augh, Augh, Augh . . .

Examine these pictures . . . mom and dad's tv set died while working just fine. And so began an interesting series of events that STILL make me reel.

OK, I was watching TV . . . nothing new there . . . when it just went out. Called cable. That wasn't it. It just died. Then the jokes began, and they were good. "Wow, didn't even have a chance to give (him) an aspirin. (He) just went." "Wow, just like real patients. It had such a good picture and all. Just got better before (he) died." Morbid and funny jokes if you ask me.

My sister offered her old TV set (They recently bought a flat screen) and we took them up on it.

Here we go.

I suggested going to the re-sale store and see if they had any furniture that would work. We are not even 30 seconds out of the driveway when dad said "You know, maybe we could just take out the old TV and put it the one your sister gave us." Why did you NOT say that before we left?

Came back home. Took it apart with dad's tools. OH, dad's tools. They are a collection of pieces found and bought at discount stores that may or may not work and that by now are missing vital and important pieces. All in a Tupperware container. Get the picture?

So we undid the back . . . it is all ONE UNIT. Who makes these things? Bizarre.



SO . . . off we go.

When we walk out, there's the next door neighbor changing the oil on his car. Dad looked at me and said "ask him if he needs help." If HE needs help? I want to be a good Christian too . . . just I don't think this was the time.

So, the re-sale store. Closed. Walmart . . . found their furniture. Black, brown or cherry? Cherry. OK, let's get it. Came back home. And now my dad has a great thought (could he have had it sooner?) why not put the new TV set on top of the old TV set. (Sounds like a 'you might be a redneck' joke or even 'you know you are ghetto when') My sister had the same thought.

So, I unplug, open curtains (damned dark living room even with a large window) unhook wires, put new (well, relatively new) tv on top . . . some wires don't work. Cable does so the important spots are covered. He just tells mom that the wires don't fit and they are not long enough. He doesn't tell her which wires and how the cable works. My dad and his 'jokes' that my mom doesn't even laugh at anymore!




Anyhow, there it is. Working. Martha Stewart on the TV. And some shawl to cover the old TV. Looks like some weird beast growling at you.

At least dad will not have to look down when he decides the TV is too far and he has to be up close to watch it. He can look at it "in the face."

It all sounds so petty now. I was unbelievably frustrated before but now I look at it and see it was damned little. Funny how that works.

Gotta go. Going to The Shack (as Radio Shack wants to be called now) to get some wires so the VCR (Yup, VHS rules this household) can be plugged into the TV.

Gotta love'em.