September 23, 2008
-
News And Notes
BUT FIRST, THE BAD NEWS: Just when I thought I could relax, the worst thing (well, not the WORST thing, I guess my hip replacement replacement is the worst thing) that could happen has happened. I went to check on my recording schedule for new season shows and retruning favorites on my DirecTV DVR queue yesterday when I got home from work and found that my HDTV’s picture is all messed up. It looks like the convergence is screwed up pretty bad, and I can’t “adjust” it using the directional convergence controls on the remote. I have a “back up” television in the living room, and I can always watch DVDs out there, plus I have a DVD player on the computer too. I can record programs from DirecTV on the old TV, only trouble is they aren’t in HDTV! So I’ve asked my new roommate, who knows people who work in the home theater trade, to see if somebody he knows can check out my HDTV, and see if it’s repairable. He mentioned it might just need a replacement lamp for one of the guns inside. I’m going to open up the back of the TV tonight when I get home. (not a simple task.) I’ll also be looking at new plasma and LCD TVs at Circuit City and Best Buy today to see what kind of cost I’m looking at if I need to get a new TV. The right size for me is 53″. Mike, my roommate, told me of one of his friend’s clients who has a 73″ DLP for sale for “only” $1300.00. It’s a $5000.00 TV and is only two years old. Two problems with this. I think I can’t fit it in the room. It’s a projection TV. I promised myself that my next TV would be either plasma or LCD.
MAKEOVER PROGRESS: I still need a sofa and a stove. Our owner knows I need a new stove, and I might get a used one myself and attempt to write it off on next month’s rent. Now the sofa has taken a “back seat” to getting a new television set for the media room. There are only four big boxes of Mike’s stuff left in the living room, and he promised to move them out to the garage this week, after he inventories the goods inside. Hopefully, I’ll be able to take some photos of what our place looks like now for publication on this blog next week! I’m planning a follow up video blog too.
OLD GIRLFRIENDS: Over the past month, I’ve gotten together with two of my old girlfriends. I spent two days with Pat, my ex from the early 90s, when she was on vacation here in SoCal. She’s a long distance truck driver, and is on the road most of the time , but had a month off. I also had a visit from Liz last weekend and we went to lunch and then hung out for about four hours walking around Ports O’ Call Village in San Pedro. Now I’m beginning to miss not having a gal around. Maybe I’ll write Dr. Datingish over here on Xanga’s sister site, and make up a personal ad to display on my Xanga! One neat thing. Liz volunteered to drive me home when I finally get my hip replacement replacement operation.
WHICH BRINGS US TO: The operation might be delayed by up to six months, while the insurance company and the various medical centers get everything straight. I’m waiting for approvals now for a CAT scan and a blood test at USC Medical, where Dr. Longjohn is my orthopedist. I am trying to find my old hospital records from the original operation back in 1993. My medical center doesn’t keep those records, so I have to inquire at the hospital where the surgery was completed, and also attempt to track down the doctor who performed the surgery. This was 15 year ago, and the records might not be readily available. I will be on crutches until the operation is finally over. (And then I’ll be on a walker till I heal.)
Well, that’s certainly enough for now.
I’m not using the internet for interaction much these days. I’ll still have sporadic blog entries, and I still attempt to visit every one who visits here and comments. Work is quite busy, and I rarely get any time to blog during work. I have been using the internet at home……to watch television. (I was watching a 1995 television series called Earth 2 on Netflix when I went to check on my HDTV yesterday.) Recently we switched from DSL to Roadrunner cable service, which is faster, and which gives me a much better picture on the computer screen when watching streamed entertainment.
Comments (12)
Sigh, dealing with insurance is so annoying. I hope everything is straightened out soon and that you are able to have surgery sooner than 6 months down the road. That has to be annoying to wait so long especially when your hip is bothering you.
welcome to managed health care….we need a new tv too…on the list…
LCD is the best large screen TV in terms of being the best balance of cost and longetivity and reliablity. Projection TVs require replacement lamps down the road that cost $3000 parts and who knows much for labor to replace. Plasma TVs are better at rendering motion, but they last fewer hours than LCDs before they need new parts. LCD may have limitations in graphics in extreme sports action (certain high speed motions can be problematic), but they balance reliability and cost better than the other choices…
Thanks for keeping us up to dat with your progress. Two gals in one week hey!! Any possibility of rekindling the old fires?
@Zeal4living - Dear Jurgens, Gosh, no. Pat still wants a relationship, but frankly, I felt as if I were being let out of prison when we broke up, so I’ll never get involved with her again except as a friend. Liz is presently going out with a guy who shares her love of all things Disney, but we promised to see more of each other as friends. I don’t burn any bridges in my relationships, so I keep friendly with all my ex girlfriends who are still in contact with me. (I just received an email last week from the first gal with whom I ever made love) MFN/ppf
So sorry that the slumlord, oops – I mean landlord, is letting you go so long without a stove! Looks like getting one for yourself, but making him pay, is the best option!
Not good news about the tv or the surgery. Esp. the surgery! Six more months of crutches & pain is not going to easy. Stupid insurance companies! 15 years ago… I’m not sure I could even remember the doctor’s name!
I have yet to break down and go HD but I really want to. We need a new dishwasher and that will most likely take a back seat to the tv like your stove. It’s good to know we all have our priorities straight.
Good to hear that you have girlfriends that can remain friends.
The hip thing seems daunting but, insurance…what can you do without bringing firearms into the picture.
NETFLIX:I’m waiting for nip/tuck to be on the instant list. And have you seen that box gadget thing they have advertised? Pretty cool.
Stay “hip”
OMM
@Old_Man_Mike - Dear Mike, I almost ordered the “box gadget thing” last week. I’m glad I didn’t, as I would have been even more upset when the TV went on the fritz if the remote device arrived at around the same time! So far, I’m most impressed by the price/size of an open box 60″ DLP from Sony at Circuit City.
I know you will get enough info to get the hip repaired. IT is so much easier now than when the earlier ones were done. My brother had a hip replacement last year and did very well. You will also.
Take care and I am sure things will work out for you…..and be easy on the woman chasing on crutches….let them chase you….Ha! Cyn
Yesouch, seems like things aren’t going your way… hope that things improve soon
Mike,
It was great seeing you this past weekend, especially driving around on such a nice day. Although I wouldn’t call not having a working TV horrible news, before I read everything I thought it was your hip.
I just hope, in regards to your upcoming surgery, that everything moves a long a bit quicker then it is now.
Love & Friendship,
Liz
Oh Mike I do wish you luck on a new TV … we sure love the HDLCD we purchased after we sold our house in OH… I am glad the roommate seems to be working out that is great!
Staying friends with former flames is a good thing to do