A Story

A little over 2 years ago, I ruined our television. I’m not sure if I ever told you the story, but here’s a quick overview: Our television set sits inside an entertainment center, and on the top of that entertainment center are two plants. One day I over-watered the plants, and the water ran down the back of the entertainment center and into the back of the television set. I dried it out with a hairdryer, and it worked for another week or so, but then gave up the ghost.

At the time, Andy lobbied hard for a fancy flat-screen plasma hdtv mount-on-the-wall whatever they’re called tv, but they were way, way out of our price range. We purchased (actually, I believe my parents purchased for us as an anniversary gift) a plain-jane 27″ tv–the largest that would fit into the space in our entertainment center.

Fast forward to 7 AM yesterday morning… and remember, while I’m no dummy, I’m clueless when it comes to electronics:

Me: Andy, what’s wrong with the television? There’s no sound.

Andy: I know. But I don’t know what’s wrong.

some investigating takes place by both of us…

Me: Well, the sound works on the other two tv’s. So it’s not the cable, right? It must be the tv?

Andy: It’s the tv. (repeat 1000 times)

Me: On the internet here it says to check the audio input. Did you check the audio input?

Andy: I checked everything. It’s the tv. I’ve heard of this happening. (repeat 1000 times)

Me: Well, what do we do? On the computer here it also says that televisions over 2 years old aren’t worth repairing.

Andy: No, probably not. We need a new tv. (repeat 1000 times)

Me: *sigh* *logs on to WalMart.com* (remember, walmart employee discount)

Me: Don’t they even sell regular tv’s anymore? All they have on here are those flat ones.

Andy: Yeah, they sell regular ones. You might have to see them in the store, though.

Me: Well, gee. We’ve already spent millions of dollars out of our equity account on the furnace and the dryer and the cars and plane tickets. What’s another couple hundred for a tv, right?

Andy: We’re going to get that tax check in a few months–we can pay it back with that. (what you need to know is that, a few weeks ago, Andy proposed using our tax check to buy a flat screen tv)

Me: *sigh* alright, let’s go.

So, we pack up the boys and head to the local Walmart. After much looking and comparing and price-comparing(seriously, like 30 minutes, and this was after reading a bunch of reviews online before we left), I chose a nice 26 inch flat tv that wasn’t too terribly expensive and that got excellent reviews and…that they didn’t have in stock. Eventually we left the store with a 32 inch fancy flat-screen plasma hdtv mount-on-the-wall whatever it’s called tv that we won’t mount on the wall but that we’ll set in the entertainment center.

Andy: But if we want to someday we can mount it on the wall. And if we ever want a bigger one we can mount it on the wall somewhere else–like when we move to a bigger house!

Yes, he’s excited.

So, we get the thing home and all set up and turn it on and…

Anyone know where this is going?

Right.

No sound.

Apparently it wasn’t the tv. It was the cable box, and after I took matters into my own hands and snuck off and called the cable company (”what are they going to do?” he said) they pushed some magical button and TaDa! Sound!

Andy: I suppose you want to box it up and take it back, huh?

Well, while that would have been the mature, responsible, adult thing to do, if you had seen the look on his face you probably couldn’t have done it, either.

Me: Happy Anniversary, Andy. And Happy Birthday. And Merry Christmas. Alright?

Andy: *enormous grin* Alright!

I imagine he played video games late into the night last night (I was asleep, I wouldn’t know!) just to enjoy his fancy new toy.

And, I do have to admit, it’s pretty cool. The picture is excellent and it’s got great sound, and it does look pretty snazzy sitting up there.

But still…I was planning on doing the super-responsible thing and putting that check towards the balance on the equity account. I guess I’ll still do that–it just won’t make as much of a dent.