Something new.

So, last week we got digital cable. We have been paying for cable for two years that we can't even see NBC, CBS or ABC and have just been too lazy to call and get it fixed. We cancelled Netflix this year and put the money into getting digital cable. So now we can pause, record and rewind live TV. Everyone i know says this is life changing and that you watch less TV. We watch so little TV that I think at first this will have the reverse effect. I now record shows on Do it yourself network and can watch all of them in about 20 minutes. I just watch them on Fast forward and then push play when it is something interesting. It is like crafts on speed.
I record:
From Junky to Funky
Knitty to Gritty (i don't kit but some day want to learn how, I have tried twice and it has not worked)
Jewlery making
Martha Stewart Crafts
Crafters Coast to Coast

There are still a bunch more I need to add but this channel made it worth it.
I have figured out this must be how everyone is able to have time to watch Oprah - I have not watched this show in two years.
The reason I decided to go for the digital cable was I seriously could not have Annie Kate watch commercials anymore. I feel like so much mainstream TV is trash. We tried to watch the first few episodes of American Idol and I we had to shut if off. for two reasons.
one. the commercials for the FOX shows gave me nightmares
two. the trash talk coming out of the contestants mouths were horrible. The girls slapping her behind pretty much sealed the deal that we didn't turn it back on until last week.
I just am wondering when did it become OK to still say the bad word but just putting a little fuzzy blur on the tv and a beep is ok. No wonder kids are so sassy these days.
Nice Rant huh.

Anyway the whole point of my writing this down was the cool story that happened the day we got it installed. This was the second attempt to get it put in. We apparently have some serious wiring issues in the house and the first guy left and didn't come back because he didn't want to do it.
The second guy spent 4 hours at our home crawling into every space to fix the problem. I kept following him around saying, "this isn't going to cost me anything right?" He was so nice admitting it was the cable companies issue. (in the past we got slapped with a huge bill to fix something in this house regarding the phone so I was over cautious) He was covered in dust by the end of his installation and exhausted. I felt bad because his wife kept calling and seeing where he was and he kept asking her to give him another 20 minutes to fix the problem. (i kept thinking of the MANY times i have called Jeff seeing when he would come) Even though I wanted to get it taken care of that day I told him "go home to your family!" He was on a mission to find out why the cable was not working and stayed until it was done.
As he was getting ready to leave I said to Jeff we have to tip this guy something. We only had a $10 bill. As he walked out the door Jeff handed it to him acknowledging this was nothing in comparison to his hard work. At first he didn't want to take it but i think Jeff shoved it in his pocket.
The cable guy said, "Hey when I walked in here and saw this how could I do you guys wrong"

He pointed to this framed family photo we have with below of the Family Proclamation - which is a declaration and reaffirmation of doctrines and practices of our church that came out for families all over the world in 1995.
Jeff and I both looked at each other. I was not sure if it was the picture that touched him or the beautiful words that are below it.
If he would not have been so dirty (and a total stranger) I would have just hugged that guy. He said it a few times before he left pointing to the frame, "that is just beautiful man, just beautiful"
the photo is of Jeff's family at his sister's wedding. It was taken almost 8 years ago. The bride in the photo just had her 4th child, so you can imagine how beautiful the photo would be now with the other 10 grandchildren and sister in law that came into the family since this was taken. Of note the wedding was in Seattle Washington and we were living in New Orleans. I had flown 4 days after I had an emergency gall bladder removal - that was a painful plane ride. But a great time and worth it. this was a photo taken of me and Annie Kate that weekend. It is probably one of my favorite photos and I will probably use it at my funeral when I am 90 on the cover of my program - even though I don't know if i ever looked this good after that day. My sister in law Melissa snapped it and I am so glad she did. This is a scanned copy and pre digital so it could be the only copy. You can see the rip on the top corner. I am so glad I wrote about the cable guy because it prompted me to scan this photo.
Anyway to wrap up my long cable story.

• I thought what he said was touching
• i wish we would have had more cash to tip him
• his comments prompted me to read over what is framed on my wall
• i still think most of what is on tv is trash and it is a constant battle for me not to get sucked into it.
• i love do it yourself network
• that family photo of Jeff's family is one of my favorites

This is a quote I have hanging next to my t.v for almost 4 years now. I had given it to my Young Women in Tennessee

"Stay away from any movie, video, publication or music regardless of it's rating where elicit behavior and expressions are part of the action. Have the courage to turn it off in your living room. Throw the tapes and publications in the garbage can for that is where we keep the garbage. Again I say, leave it alone! Turn it off! Walk away from it. Burn it. Erase it. Destroy it. I know it is hard counsel we give, but our standards would not be dictated by the rating system."
H. Burg Peterson