TV AND ME

TV and ME

It started many years ago. I was fourteen and a television set was delivered to our house. It was a big console, an RCA with this little round screen..
The only station was 100 miles away in Chicago, WGN, channel 9. We were at the mercy of the weather, wind and rain If we got a good signal, it was heaven. Sometimes all we could see and hear was snow and static.
Snow, nor rain, nor late at night stopped us from being mesmerized by the television.
When we eventually got local channels, and clear pictures every night–we watched as long as our parents allowed. Every week-end, we sang "The Star-spangled Banner" with the Navy Choir, while the stars and stripes went blowing in the wind and the station signed off.
The first color advertised was laughable now. But then we hurried to buy a piece of plastic in varied colors. It clung to the front of the picture tube. Sometimes there were green faces, but we had color!
I had no idea of things to come. Here we are today. Real color. 24/7 broadcasting, VCR’s (almost obsolete already), DVD’s, Tibo’s. From rabbit ears to antennas, cable to satellite.
Personally, I have come along for the ride. From the snowy pictures of Channel 9 to the dozens of channels before us today. The new term is 24/7. That is me and my TV. I don’t know if thee is and off button. I never turn it off.
That is not to say I sit 24/7 just watching TV. It just never goes off. Not even at night. I can read, write, do dishes, talk on the phone, and sleep with the TV on.
I watch everything from the cooking channel to American Idol. From Law and Order to Everyone Loves Raymond.
What has not changed in forty or fifty years are my favorites: I Love Lucy, Andy Griffith. Columbo, and Perry Mason. The TV Land channel is my comfort, my security. I don’t have to try to figure out what CSI will come up with to solve the case, or what schemes the Desperate Housewives have come up with.
I can relax because I already know Columbo knows the killer, Perry will get an acquittal, and Barney will get in and out of trouble in 30 minutes.
It still bothers me, though, that I just don’t ever turn off that tube. I have had conversations with people who say, "I just don’t watch television. Yet, they know what’s on.
I admit. I am a TV junkie. I think about turning the darn thing off Maybe someday.
I have to go now. Dr. Phil and my dishes are waiting.
I can cook with the TV on, too. In fact, I have gotten a lot of good recipes from the Food Channel. Here’s one just right for graduations, or any get-together for the summer.
Zesty Corn Dip
you will need:
8 oz softened cream cheese
2 T sour cream
½ t cayenne pepper
½ t cumin
1 can (15 1/4 oz each whole kernel corn and while corn, drained
1 can (10 oz) diced tomato and green chillies, drained
1 cup (4 oz) shredded cheddar cheese
one round loaf Italian bread, hollowed out
remaining bread cut into cubes
1 t minced cilantro
In bowl beat cream cheese, sour cream, cayenne and cumin
Stir in corn, tomatoes, and cheese.
Bake uncovered in ungreased baking dish, at 350 degrees for 30 minutes
Spoon into bread shell
Sprinkle with cilantro
Serve with bread cubes
Enjoy.
It started many years ago. I was fourteen and a television set was delivered to our house. It was a big console, an RCA with this little round screen..
The only station was 100 miles away in Chicago, WGN, channel 9. We were at the mercy of the weather, wind and rain If we got a good signal, it was heaven. Sometimes all we could see and hear was snow and static.
Snow, nor rain, nor late at night stopped us from being mesmerized by the television.
When we eventually got local channels, and clear pictures every night–we watched as long as our parents allowed. Every week-end, we sang "The Star-spangled Banner" with the Navy Choir, while the stars and stripes went blowing in the wind and the station signed off.
The first color advertised was laughable now. But then we hurried to buy a piece of plastic in varied colors. It clung to the front of the picture tube. Sometimes there were green faces, but we had color!
I had no idea of things to come. Here we are today. Real color. 24/7 broadcasting, VCR’s (almost obsolete already), DVD’s, Tibo’s. From rabbit ears to antennas, cable to satellite.
Personally, I have come along for the ride. From the snowy pictures of Channel 9 to the dozens of channels before us today. The new term is 24/7. That is me and my TV. I don’t know if thee is and off button. I never turn it off.
That is not to say I sit 24/7 just watching TV. It just never goes off. Not even at night. I can read, write, do dishes, talk on the phone, and sleep with the TV on.
I watch everything from the cooking channel to American Idol. From Law and Order to Everyone Loves Raymond.
What has not changed in forty or fifty years are my favorites: I Love Lucy, Andy Griffith. Columbo, and Perry Mason. The TV Land channel is my comfort, my security. I don’t have to try to figure out what CSI will come up with to solve the case, or what schemes the Desperate Housewives have come up with.
I can relax because I already know Columbo knows the killer, Perry will get an acquittal, and Barney will get in and out of trouble in 30 minutes.
It still bothers me, though, that I just don’t ever turn off that tube. I have had conversations with people who say, "I just don’t watch television. Yet, they know what’s on.
I admit. I am a TV junkie. I think about turning the darn thing off Maybe someday.
I have to go now. Dr. Phil and my dishes are waiting.
I can cook with the TV on, too. In fact, I have gotten a lot of good recipes from the Food Channel. Here’s one just right for graduations, or any get-together for the summer.
Zesty Corn Dip
you will need:
8 oz softened cream cheese
2 T sour cream
½ t cayenne pepper
½ t cumin
1 can (15 1/4 oz each whole kernel corn and while corn, drained
1 can (10 oz) diced tomato and green chillies, drained
1 cup (4 oz) shredded cheddar cheese
one round loaf Italian bread, hollowed out
remaining bread cut into cubes
1 t minced cilantro
In bowl beat cream cheese, sour cream, cayenne and cumin
Stir in corn, tomatoes, and cheese.
Bake uncovered in ungreased baking dish, at 350 degrees for 30 minutes
Spoon into bread shell
Sprinkle with cilantro
Serve with bread cubes
Enjoy.