If He Dies, I’m Having a Yard Sale
Stuff I hate April 26th, 2010
I give up.
This is a picture of our living room “entertainment center,” which I prefer to call the “Ain’t gonna figure any of that out, even if you make me take a class on it center.”
All I want to do is watch TV. Regular TV. With one remote that has power, channel-changing and volume buttons.
Instead, we have:
1. An HDTV set.
2. A surround sound audio system with four speakers and two subwoofers that will shake your teeth and rip your face off.
3. A DVD player.
4. A Wii.
5. Wireless headphones.
6. A DVR.
7. Three remotes, all unfortunately necessary.
I’ve long since stopped trying to figure out how to watch DVDs. I don’t even know if I remember how to operate the Wii. The wireless headphones are a new addition, but luckily, they’re not for me. My husband Dave wears them so I can have some peace and quiet while blogging in the kitchen, which is feet away from this monstrosity.
I hate having to use two remotes just to watch TV, one for sound, another for channel-changing.
Sometimes I think I want to pop in a DVD, but I would need kindergarten instructions and by the time I figure it out, the movie will be free on regular cable.
All I’m saying is that if my husband gets hit by a bus, there’s gonna be one big ass yard sale at my house. I would sell everything for a dollar and not look back.
Do the men in your house have toys like this? Do you know how to operate it all? Do you need an assistant like me? Or does your house have a man cave where all this stuff lives and you don’t have to think about it?
Stumble it!
April 26th, 2010 at 2:50 pm
Thank god ours is not that complicated at all. Nice tv though.
.-= Alison´s last blog ..For all the Homeschoolers out there! =-.
April 26th, 2010 at 3:00 pm
HDTV, four remotes, surround sound. You should hear it when NASCAR is on — I head outside immediately. I’m constantly yelling at my husband, “Yo, Grandpa, turn it down!” And the most frequently watched channel here is Comcast, where they dissect an Eagles/Flyers/Phillies/Sixers win or loss endlessly for days.
April 26th, 2010 at 3:01 pm
Oh my gosh…I laughed all the way through this and even had to read parts to W (to his dismay). Yes, we use two remotes—one to turn on the tv and another to turn on the cable box. And if you’re downstairs and you want to change channels (the receiver’s upstairs) you have to waive the remote all around before you hit the right spot. I’m pretty adaptable—not to say I understand it all—but guests are not used to it and they waive the remote over their heads in a dramatic fashion, laughing wildly. There’s a method to our madness, I just haven’t figured it out yet!
p.s. why do I have a sneakin’ suspicion that you’d be driving that bus?
.-= earthtoholly´s last blog ..Silent Sunday: Sunning Turtles =-.
April 26th, 2010 at 3:01 pm
Nope, my husband is totally useless and clueless when it comes to anything electronic = he figured out how to connect his computer to his Bose radio so he can listen to the music that is on the computer; he can copy music from cd’s, convert them to mp3′s and then load them on his various mp3 players…that’s it, that’s all he can do. He had a phone call this afternoon, I handed him the phone, told him who was calling and he managed to disconnect them. The last time he had to change a light bulb he broke it in the socket and we had to call the electrician…Shall I go on?
.-= Grace´s last blog ..The Bronx circa 1951 =-.
April 26th, 2010 at 3:03 pm
You’re not having a yard sale – you’re calling me to haul it all away.
After sending you condolences, of course.
April 26th, 2010 at 3:05 pm
I feel your pain!! We have a flat screen mounted on the wall above the fireplace and this tall ugly shelf that houses our cable box, XBox, surround sound box thingy, our internet modem, and the wireless router. Thankfully we play our DVD’s in the XBox, so we don’t add the DVD player to the mix – there are 3 huge speakers on top of our fireplace for the surround sound and the sub-woofer is next to the self with all the crap. We have 1 remote for the t.v./cable, 1 remote for the sound, and then we have to use the XBox remote to play the movies
.-= Momma Drama´s last blog ..My Performer =-.
April 26th, 2010 at 3:06 pm
I can turn the TV on and shift between land cabel channels and the satellite channels, that’s about it. I tried for an hour to figure out how to play music from my mp3 player through that big box that apparently transfers sound and gets really really hot, with no luck. I don’t get my way around the computer connected to the TV or the xbox. It’s all a bunch of omgwtf’s for me.
April 26th, 2010 at 3:08 pm
NASA called, they need this back before the next launch.
.-= Susan Montgomery´s last blog ..Rally #2, Old Dominion Kennel Club =-.
April 26th, 2010 at 3:16 pm
The problem is the remote(s)! What we need is one big mother of a master remote with four giant buttons; “On”, “Off”, “Watch TV”, and “Watch DVD”. I say let a professional program that sucker, and then let the various components fight it out to figure out who does what. Someday… someday. Right after we get those personal hovercraft we were promised as kids.
April 26th, 2010 at 3:17 pm
I’m afraid that since I divorced his sorry butt 15 years ago, I am the Wo-Man in my house who hooks all that stuff up! Yes, I can! and Yes, I do!
.-= Barb at WillThink4Wine´s last blog ..Awww…Mondays =-.
April 26th, 2010 at 3:24 pm
My husband FINALLY got an office and moved his racks of computers in there. Half of our bedroom was taken up with this stuff – there was a queen sized bed and computer shit. What a turn on! Anyway, the must sell that exact same set up in the husbands “how to irritate your wife” handbook – the speakers he put out here by the monster tv are taller than the tv – surround sound – who needs it? When he dies I’m giving the shit away.
April 26th, 2010 at 3:30 pm
I actually know how to operate all this, but we only have one remote (two actually, but both do the same thing so I can turn up the volume at the same time my husband is turning the volume down, moohahahahaha). I even got to teach the step-teens how to use the remote. Now THAT swelled my head a bit since I believe I gloated in front of them. Thankfully, they enjoy my sense of humor.
April 26th, 2010 at 3:30 pm
I am the man of the family. It isn’t about remotes or about the size of the TV, honest. It’s about WIRES. Whatever I do, I don’t feel right unless there is a mound of wires behind it, like black spaghetti.
Actually we’re pretty lucky this side of the pond. Sky+HD box is satellite receiver, DVR and the remote is simple and operates the HDTV too. Simples. DVD player just works, turns TV over and plays. No problemo.
.-= idifficult´s last blog ..Twisted =-.
April 26th, 2010 at 3:33 pm
I confess I just threw out a $1000 speaker (just one) that had experienced severe water damage in our rental property. I did not know that you could strip out the interior electronics and rebuild the box. I notified husband of this via telephone. He quickly had to get off the phone. To give myself credit, I’m going to research how to salvage his gazillion soggy vinyl records that are slimy with mold and mildew. I figure if I peel off the cardboard covers, the vinyl can be washed?
April 26th, 2010 at 3:39 pm
we have a similar setup but our cable tv remote can be programmed to at least turn off and on all the items! i just push one button and the tv, surround sound and cable box / dvr all turn on. yay! however, it does require three remotes to watch a dvd. i know how to do that, i have a sequence of events memorized. i looked at a logitech harmonoy remote, they can be programmed to work all the electronics. but they start at $100 and go up from there! i’m cheap and will continue my current methods.
hugs,
puglette
.-= puglette´s last blog ..And Dodger Is His Name-O! =-.
April 26th, 2010 at 3:49 pm
I’m all packed and ready to move in…
April 26th, 2010 at 4:01 pm
My husband also likes his stuff! I was forced to learn how to put a DVD in and run it when my grandaughter started watching movies. Until then I had no idea how or which box or what remote to push, click or whatever. My day of forced learning was full of phone calls, swear words and sweating.
.-= Buggys´s last blog ..Tamps and Hoops =-.
April 26th, 2010 at 4:25 pm
Alison — Yes, I do love the TV. I hardly ever watch non-high def stations. Worth how expensive the set was!
Susan — I really feel for you. My torture is loud action movies. Saving Private Ryan was unbearable. Sounded like bullets were flying past my own head. I don’t have to deal with NASCAR, thankfully. I’d probably go to a hotel until it was over.
earthtoholly — Are you freaking kidding me about the receiver being upstairs?!?!? OMG, woman. How do you cope? Seriously. OMG. (And yeah, the bus driver with the crazed look, gunning the gas, will be me.)
Grace — Yes, but I don’t even know if I could do what he does! Re: the phone. Maybe he only likes complicated stuff? The simple things probably make his head explode. LMAO about the light bulb.
Grant — You would be welcome to take it. I’m not kidding you when I say I would probably have someone come in and disassemble everything except the TV. That much I can handle. I think.
Momma Drama — When we had an XBox, I was totally fine with playing DVDs, then he gave that away and got the DVD player, which requires its own remote, plus you have to hit a sequence of buttons on another one in just the right order for it to work. The whole thing can go to hell. I feel your pain.
Wynn — I used to be able to hook up my laptop to the TV and have it work as a monitor, but since Dave put the audio system in, it doesn’t freaking work! If I missed a show that I could get online, that’s what I’d do — hook up to the TV. No more. “omgwtf” is right.
Susan Montgomery — LMAO.
Bill — Damn right, sir. I want that remote. Everyone wants that remote. Why won’t someone make the freaking thing?!??!? I’d pay $500 for it.
Barb — So does that mean you can come over here and teach the stupidest person on the planet how to use all her electronics? Cuz I’d pay you for it.
Sheila — “What a turn on!” I imagine not, but glad you got all that crap out of there. The thing that kills me is stuff keeps showing up at the house and THEN he tells me he bought it. I’m afraid of what he can attach to it next without my prior approval.
Ann — You’re a lucky, lucky woman. If I could teach someone to use our systems, I’d gloat too and take an ad out in the paper about how awesome I am. Way to go!
idifficult — Ha! I was going to take a picture of our wires for this post, but it makes me sick to look at it all. I hate that you can manage your entertainment. So are you interested in my assistant position? It wouldn’t pay well, but I would feed you.
Ann — Well, who in the world would know? So did hubby have a heart attack? OMG. Who’d you find with vinyl records? Yes, soap and water should be just fine.
puglette — Oh, yes, the one-button dream. But…but…but…three remotes to watch a DVD? See, there’s always some catch, isn’t there?
BabaBooey — Come on over, dude. I’ll be in a hotel. You can listen to it as loud and long as you want. If you snack on the couch, clean up your crumbs. And every now and then, pet a cat. Deal?
Buggys — “My day of forced learning was full of phone calls, swear words and sweating.” I don’t doubt that one bit, sister.
April 26th, 2010 at 4:39 pm
Sounds like my house except we’re missing the Wii. I wanted to put in a dvd one day and gave up. I couldn’t remember the long instruction my husband had given me on how to do it. I know it took 3 different remotes to accomplish the task but which buttons and in which order.
.-= ann´s last blog ..Around the house =-.
April 26th, 2010 at 4:55 pm
Ah, yes… Yet another reason why I’m single.
.-= injaynesworld´s last blog ..injaynesworld brings you the "Sunday Recap…" =-.
April 26th, 2010 at 5:04 pm
All that stuff is necessary for me. What are you doing to do when 3D TV’s come out and are the “norm?”
April 26th, 2010 at 5:05 pm
My wife is the one that is always coming in with new toys for our entertainment set, but I’m the one that does all the work to set it up and make sure it won’t set fire to something. When my grandmother died, my grandfather gave his giant TV to charity and put a small stereo in its place. I’d probably follow in his footsteps if I wasn’t so addicted to the wide screen.
April 26th, 2010 at 5:45 pm
Men? In the gameroom, my children (who don’t necessarily talk) have a blu-ray player, a Wii, a projection TV and surround sound stereo. The blu-ray player also has internet radio and can play netflix insta-play movies.
As can my daughter’s xbox, which, in her room, is connected to her flatscreen TV (which is also attached to a Roku device-another Netflix player-, her computer, and a Playstation 2, maybe another DVD player). She also has a laptop.
In my bedroom, there is another TV with cable, cable modem, wireless network base, DVD player, another Playstation 3, Nintendo cube, playstation 2. In that same room there is my husband’s desktop (with two screens), my desktop (with just one screen but another blu-ray player) and our two laptops.
Downstairs, we have a TV in the corner we never use and another computer, an all-in-one computer with a touchscreen (theoretically for the smaller kids).
I’d love to blame it all my husband, but that wouldn’t be fair. I love stuff. The movie stuff is mine. The sound and computer stuff is both of ours. We all technogeeks. And, at no time, have we had just three remotes.
.-= Stephanie Barr´s last blog ..For Anonymous: Prospective Son-in-Law =-.
April 26th, 2010 at 5:59 pm
I might adopt a teenager just to run the stuff
.-= Robert Bourne´s last blog ..Back Street Discoveries =-.
April 26th, 2010 at 6:26 pm
I live with 4, count ‘em, 4 man/boy/children who think anything worth having comes with a minimum of 2 remotes. We have 2 televisions, 2 DVD players, a CD player, a Wii, an Xbox, 2 computers and 1 laptop. There are more remotes than people in my house.
.-= Nicky´s last blog ..This Is So Not A Cheese Review =-.
April 26th, 2010 at 6:27 pm
Universal Remote…yeah, right! There is no such thing, otherwise I would be able to use all electronic toys!
.-= Anna´s last blog ..My Apologies & Movies =-.
April 26th, 2010 at 6:33 pm
Our son decided we needed a DVD player several years ago and quickly regretted it, since he was living with us at the time. When my husband wanted to watch a movie, the son was hailed to come turn it on for him. When he moved out, my husband was finally forced to learn how to work the remote himself.
We are okay with the satellite TV as long as someone doesn’t use the wrong button to turn it off. Then we mutter to each other, “what channel is it that it needs to be on?” and randomly pushing buttons until it miraculously starts up again.
.-= Linda´s last blog ..The boys are back in town =-.
April 26th, 2010 at 7:03 pm
Those HDTV screw up everything if you ask me. I liked the simple one we had that had the built-in DVD player and VCR. I still use it for DVDs and VCRs because it’s easier to work, but now the TV part isn’t functional. We have a VCR hooked up to one of our HDTVs, but I’m afraid to use it because I don’t want to screw up the TV and am not sure how to record with it now.
It’s also one reason why I don’t care that we don’t have a Wii–I doubt if we would be able to figure out how to hook it up and actually use it. It’s very frustrating that everything is so complicated all the time.
.-= Karen & Gerard Zemek´s last blog ..Whoa! Where Am I? (Part 1-Karen) =-.
April 26th, 2010 at 7:45 pm
Well, I think I may be the only man on this planet who is not into electronic toys (other than my two computers).
And you’re gonna DIE laughing….
I have one TV with a 15inch screen and two remotes. I only turn it on to view a DVD movie, because I literally watch no television.
Boring man, hu?
.-= Ron´s last blog ..Something Cute and Cuddly =-.
April 26th, 2010 at 7:56 pm
Gee willikers Kathy, I love yardsales. Maybe you don’t have to wait for him to kick the bucket, maybe you could just have it after he leaves for work. Kind of like “Clean House” coming in?
Just this last weekend I went to a yardsale and got all kinds of great stuff for a total of $30, and my grand prize was a PURPLE LAVA LAMP!!! I will be 56 on Friday and I just got my first lava lamp. I am positively mesmerized.
See, people will buy ANYthing. (Why, I’m even about to write a little blog entry about my lava lamp I’m so in love. I kind of felt silly writing about it, but you have inspired me with this post! Ha ha ha…)
Happy Yard Sale (while he’s at work, or gone fishing, or whatever menfolk do…)
Maitri
.-= Maitri´s last blog ..Thoughts of the Day: e.e. cummings has my heart, and leaping with the greenly spirits of trees… =-.
April 26th, 2010 at 7:57 pm
Our TV setup isn’t nearly that nice (our big-screen is a hand-me-down from my aunt), but I would still be screwed if anything happened to my husband. The TV, VCR, and Xbox are all linked somehow, and the stereo is mixed in there, too…I just know that it took me months to remember how to play a DVD. Lately, hubby has been linking the laptop to the TV, so that we can watch streaming movies and shows from Netflix. That whole process is so mysterious, it looks like witchcraft to me. He has tried to explain it all to me, but he uses terms that I’m not familiar with and I just end up getting frustrated.
.-= absepa´s last blog ..It’s time for Doodle-palooza 2010! =-.
April 26th, 2010 at 7:58 pm
We have a similar set-up! The back of the “entertainment center” looks like a huge plate of spaghetti. Luckily, we have a universal remote that somehow got programmed to work all the gizmos. But sometimes something doesn’t work right; then I usually just turn a bunch of things on and off and it will usually work again.
.-= Daisy’s “mom”´s last blog ..Monday Funnies! =-.
April 26th, 2010 at 8:10 pm
Men. Ugh. I never met a woman who actually likes surround sound–it is always too loud.
It’s funny because in our house, my husband has no idea how all of that is hooked up! It’s me and the kids who do all that.
April 26th, 2010 at 8:52 pm
We have the same sort of situation in our basement. My 8 year old son has more technical abilities than my husband or I so he is the one in charge of hooking things up. If he can’t do it, then I am the one left to figure it out. I think kids today are born with technology knowledge instilled in them.
.-= Mom To The Power Of Three´s last blog ..People Get Ready – Crystal Bowersox Top 7 =-.
April 26th, 2010 at 8:53 pm
How many remotes? Try this out for size. We have a remote for the TV, a remote for the DVD player/recorder, a remote for the HDVD recorder, a remote for the 50 way speaker system and wait for it, a remote for our lights! You think it blows YOUR mind! Oh, I almost forgot. Add a remote for the Wii also. That makes six.
I used to be the whiz kid at it all, but since I started blogging and Mo got into HD technology, she has taken it over. It’s surprising how quickly you can forget it all. I find it hard just changing channels now. I have to run through all the remotes.
.-= Babs – beetle´s last blog ..Mo I’ve got a splinter! =-.
April 26th, 2010 at 8:54 pm
Sweet! This coming from the person who doesn’t even have basic cable, has a $17 CD player from WalMart as my “stereo,” and I think my TV AND DVD player together were less than $200. So I think I have TV envy.
.-= Kim´s last blog ..Possible Punishments for Mean People =-.
April 26th, 2010 at 9:01 pm
Oh yeah. TV, receiver, cable box/DVR, Blu-Ray, LD player and two speakers that are (IMO) hideous but are apparently even better than Bose. Oh, and three remotes. I, too, would like to have only one remote. At least I know how to use all the, er, stuff my husband has collected. I love the idea of wireless headphones, though. That will be a nice present for him. Well, and me, too, as I love the sound of silence.
.-= Kelly´s last blog ..Blueberry Pie =-.
April 26th, 2010 at 9:05 pm
It’s the nature of the beast == literally!
April 26th, 2010 at 9:31 pm
Yep, yep. Been there. Am there. The very worst was the X10 system. Should say “is”, because it still is. It controls lots of things, primarily (in our house), lights. Lights on the outside of the garage, lamp in the living room, lamp in the morning room, lamp in the family room. Oh yes, and the big speakers on the entertainment system. Each assigned a number. So you have to remember the assigned number to turn things on and off. I finally disconnected the two lamps I might want to turn off and on, and now we have to actually walk into the room and click the switch on the lamp. Hardship!
.-= C Lanctot´s last blog ..Who Pulled Their Chains? =-.
April 26th, 2010 at 9:44 pm
I’ve given up on figuring out how all the remotes work. If my husband isn’t home, I ask my son for help. There’s a definite genetic male component involved in understanding how remotes work. Years ago,I bet several men got together and conspired about creating a remote that only they could use, so that they could rule the television universe.
.-= Lauren´s last blog ..Talking to the dead has never been easier . . . =-.
April 26th, 2010 at 10:16 pm
Man Cave.
The Wii is upstairs and I do know how to use it. Our TV has two remotes as well, one for sound, on/off, and one for changing the channels. The one for the sound always gets lost.
My daughter still can’t change the channel on the TV. She has only recently started to read and still has a hard time with the menu and hasn’t memorized the channels numbers. I end up changing the channel for her a lot. Knowing you can’t change the channel either makes me less annoyed at her.
.-= Jen´s last blog ..Damn You Tree Huggers! =-.
April 26th, 2010 at 10:38 pm
I read your post a few hours ago and wanted to comment. I looked into my own living room full of man stuff and decided to read a book instead. It’s super easy (open book…read….turn page) and almost always more entertaining. I hear you!
April 26th, 2010 at 10:58 pm
Oh Man. I have the same issue. I hate having to use two remotes just to watch TV, one for sound, another for channel-changing. So ANNOYING!
.-= meleah rebeccah´s last blog ..Doing Things Differently™ – My Week In Review [Part Twelve] =-.
April 26th, 2010 at 11:56 pm
I’m sorry, but I had to wipe the drool off me chin as I read your husbands setup. I would comment more, but feel slightly outnumbered for some reason.
.-= Beamer´s last blog ..Light Slices =-.
April 27th, 2010 at 12:22 am
Brian has focused all his “man energy” on guitar stuff, which is fine by me because that’s how he makes a living, and he pretty much confines it to his office/music room. (Except when his band rehearses in the upstairs apartment area of our house, but that’s not techno stuff.) The truth is that not only do we NOT have cable, we don’t even have ANY TV reception. It’s just the DVD player and a non-working VHS attached to the TV. I’m the only one who uses the TV, for my exercise DVDs, and I’m also the one who wants a wii, again for workouts. No fancy surround-sound, woofing stuff here – for a musician, Brian is surprisingly unmoved by such things.
April 27th, 2010 at 12:23 am
All mine is in the living room. What is it that you could possibly not understand about how to operate it all? Hopefully you will never be having that yard sale, but just in case I’ll put in my bid for $2.00 right now! I have to admit the three remotes is a bit frustrating. Only have 2 hands after all you know.
.-= Will´s last blog ..Omega-3 Foods =-.
April 27th, 2010 at 5:18 am
same here i dont know how to operate our gadgets here. i only know how to tickle my computer
.-= melds´s last blog ..WATER TANK CLEAN UP =-.
April 27th, 2010 at 5:25 am
Well I have three remotes to operate the TV and DVD. It is all really complicated and I have no idea how it all works but somehow I can get the TV on and switch it over to the DVD. I sure wish someone would come up with a way to have just one remote etc.
Have a great day.
.-= Marg´s last blog ..We found a Therapy Cat =-.
April 27th, 2010 at 5:40 am
ann — I suspect you and have have exactly the same patience threshold. I’m sorry, if I have to write down the instructions to watch a movie, I might as well go to the theater and watch one for ten bucks. Geesh.
injaynesworld — If I were single, I’m quite sure I’d have a mid-sized TV in a corner, minus sixteen attachments. And I’d be happy.
Innovatively Simple — I know! I’m scared to death about 3D! There will be no stopping him. Unless the sets cost $20,000. Please God, let them be prohibitively expensive!
Nutrition Degree — Ooo, tough spot. I’m sorry you always have the task of configuring electronics. But good for you. (I’m addicted to wide screen too. I always miss it when viewing a regular square set.)
Stephanie Barr — {blink}{blink} Holy crappola woman! It’s good you’re technogeeks because if you weren’t and you had to move to a new house, you’d probably have to either leave it all there for the next person or hire someone to reconnect that labyrinth for you. My. God.
Robert Bourne — Seriously. They know how to do all that stuff and all you have to do is feed them high calorie snacks and Jolt. That I can do.
Nicky — “There are more remotes than people in my house.” Well if that doesn’t say crazy, nothing does. I suspect all of us are in the same position. I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.
Anna — Got that right. Don’t all universal remotes come with packaging that has asterisks all over it, pointing to a long list of crap it won’t work with?
Linda — I feel your pain. Last weekend I wanted to watch TV, but couldn’t, because my husband had left some connection enabled that kept the TV from showing anything. I had to wait for him to be finished mowing the lawn. Good grief. Ah, yes. The random button pushing technique. The last resort of many.
Karen — Agreed! I can’t use my upstairs VCR anymore without pulling a cable and inserting another one into the TV. It’s a total drag. I haven’t been able to record on it in years. I only keep it to play an aerobics tape that I can’t get on DVD, and even if I could, I’d have to fight with that player. I hear you about the Wii. If it takes more than a minute to get it going, forget it!
Ron — Holy sh*t. A 15″ screen? How old is it? Twelve years? I do watch TV a little each day, but I’m absolutely more attached to my laptop. So if I had to give anything up, it’d be the TV and all its attachments. I might miss it in the first week, but after that, I’d live quite happily.
Maitri — No, not during work. I don’t want any ‘splaining to do! I’m not a yard-saler. But I have held a yard sale once and I was flabbergasted at the number of people who showed up and how serious they were about getting a good bargain. I was afraid of some of them. Looking forward to a post about your new find. If I can love my vacuum cleaner, you can love a lava lamp.
absepa — “…it looks like witchcraft to me.” That’s a perfect description. Maybe we need to build an altar and light incense before trying to watch DVDs, you know, to get the spirits on our side. I used to be able to hook up the laptop to the TV, too, but that went bust when he bought the audio system. So now I just watch on the laptop on the couch. I miss being able to stream to a 52″ set. Boo!
Daisy’s Mom — Yep, spaghetti. It’s insane! You sound like the only person here who’s actually gotten a universal remote to be universal. Can you hire out your husband for us?
Lin — You’re right. I don’t need sound in the back of my head, and I don’t need to be fooled into thinking my phone is ringing or someone’s at the door! (freaks the cats out too). Your poor husband. I feel his pain.
Mom to the Power of Three — But what will you do when he goes to college?
Babs Beetle — Yikes. Six remotes?! You’re right. I haven’t hooked up the Wii in ages and I fear I’ve seen the last time using it. At least you have Mo to help. But I keep wondering how screwed we’re all going to be when our “techno-assistants” aren’t around.
Kim — No, WE have TV envy of you! Ahhhh, the simplicity!
Kelly — I have to admit, the wireless headphones are more a joy for me than for Dave. He says the sound is awesome, but they are on the large side. But he does it because I threatened to move to the basement to do all my writing. And it’s kind of dungeony down there, so he’d feel bad.
Peg at Lehigh — It is a beast! I just wish by now someone out there would realize what a nightmare most people have to deal with and make a magical remote with giant, simple-to-use buttons that do exactly what you want by reading your mind. Is that too much to ask?
C Lanctot — “So you have to remember the assigned number to turn things on and off.” Ruh-roh. I’d be doomed. Doomed, I tell ya! Sorry you have to manually turn the lights on now. But hey. At least you don’t have to work up a sweat getting all stressed out anymore.
Lauren — Ha! Now there’s a good theory. I wonder if women just don’t have as much patience. My husband never seems to mind if it takes him ten minutes to read through an instruction manual (for anything, not just electronics), whereas if I can’t use it just by looking at it, I’m a goner.
Jen — OMG. Changing channels for someone else must drive you insane. One of our two remotes (the sound one) always gets lost in the couch because it’s black and the couch is dark blue. I’m thinking of taping fluorescent duct tape to it.
daughterbonnie — Ha! And the book doesn’t come with a manual! I love the vast differences between those two forms of entertainment, and if the book’s any good, it all leads to the same level of satisfaction. Good for you!
meleah rebeccah — Why, oh why, isn’t someone solving this problem??? We ALL HAVE IT! Cripes.
Beamer — That’s OK. We don’t dislike men, only their undying need to turn our once tranquil living rooms into loud and confusing dens of frustration.
Janiss — My husband is also a musician and I’ve been mercifully spared the sound of him practicing. He’ll do that in the basement where his amp and other things are. I’m impressed you have no cable, but thank God it’s so easy to watch movies and TV shows online, often for free. TVs are less a part of people’s lives, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Good on you!
Will — “What is it that you could possibly not understand about how to operate it all?” Um. Steps 1 through 20? Hee.
melds — Well, I can operate two of the three remotes, so all is not lost. But if I have to use all three at once, heads’ll be exploding and there will be tears.
Marg — You’re way ahead of me. Can you come over and help? Not all the time. Only about five days a week. You can swing that, right?
April 27th, 2010 at 5:53 am
I’m pretty sure The Guy and Dave shop at the same damn place. There are four remotes lined up on our table. I know how to use two of them.
.-= MayB´s last blog ..Another one bites the dust aka: I should have thrown it out years ago =-.
April 27th, 2010 at 7:51 am
People said I was crazy for having so many kids but when I need somebody to tell me how to access the Netflix laptop so I can watch a movie, I’ve always got several people on hand to do it for me!
Gah, it’s a little bizarre to think that these days it’s probably common for middle class families to have a computer that lives by the tv to stream Netflix and Hulu.
.-= Tracy´s last blog ..What a Chicken in a Can Taught Me =-.
April 27th, 2010 at 7:53 am
Oh yeah. We have all that stuff. No headphones, but the giant TV, DVR, DVD player, VHS, Wii. Sad thing is that I’m the one that has to hook everything up.
Multiple remotes, too. Every once in awhile I take the batteries out of the “main” one, just to mess with his head.
.-= MaryLou´s last blog ..Black and White and Red All Over =-.
April 27th, 2010 at 8:09 am
Oh, I just remembered! I have a remote for my mac too, which is also a multimedia center and is hooked up to our TV!
That makes 7 remotes in all.
I keep saying I’m going start on the Wii again, but other things seem to take preference at the moment.
.-= Babs – beetle´s last blog ..Mo I’ve got a splinter! =-.
April 27th, 2010 at 9:07 am
this seems to be an exact copy of my living room. xbox, ps3, wii…a plasma tv and some huuuuge soundsystems. i think we need such toys – it is just in our nature. i am wondering what car he’s driving
April 27th, 2010 at 9:52 am
We do this on purpose so we maintain some semblance of value in the home.
The more you know.
.-= moooooog35´s last blog ..The Talk – a Mental Poo ‘After School’ Special =-.
April 27th, 2010 at 10:07 am
What is it with men and technology?!
.-= SuziCate´s last blog ..Spy Rock =-.
April 27th, 2010 at 10:26 am
hi Kathy,
hmmm…
I’ve got to agree with you. I’d rather just have a TV with a remote. Well, and maybe a DVD player, but that’s it.
Do I have to turn in my license-to-be-a-man somewhere?
~ Steve, the in-touch-with-his-feminine-side trade show guru
.-= Steve, the MIA trade show guru´s last blog ..Cheap Trade Show Displays Aren’t Always Cheap =-.
April 27th, 2010 at 12:03 pm
Pretty timely post, as I just bought and hooked up my new Sony 46″ HDTV. It freaking rocks.
.-= Knucklehead!´s last blog ..Fishing With Grandpap =-.
April 27th, 2010 at 1:07 pm
This is a great post. I cannot stand a lot of electronic stuff and luckily my hubby is technically challenge. I usually have to set everything up even connecting the VCR.
April 27th, 2010 at 1:53 pm
Your photo looks very much like my living room, but add three more components and five more speakers. To his credit, my husband has done his best to simplify things with a universal remote. And for my peace of mind, it’s possible to watch TV using only the remote that came with DISH Network. I say, make your husband do just these two things for you.
.-= pam´s last blog ..Friday fun: double down =-.
April 27th, 2010 at 2:56 pm
Hey! I didn’t realize we lived in the same house. lol We have the HDTV, surround, Wii, Xbox360, PS3, about 4 remotes. It’s annoying! When I want to watch a movie I have to turn the TV and move plugs around. *le sigh*
PS..don’t announce the garage sale too loudly, DH will hear and we don’t need anymore stuff! lol
.-= Leslie´s last blog ..One of those days =-.
April 27th, 2010 at 3:46 pm
As I live alone, I am responsible for the amount of technology I have. But I do have three friggin’ remotes, and all of them needed. One for the Blue-Ray, one for the cable and one for the TV set to control volume and transition to the Blue-Ray player.
My dad had the bright idea one time when visiting that he would program it all into a universal remote for me. Only he didn’t at the time understand: 1) How the cable worked 2.) What my set-up was and 3.) That unlike any of Tolkien’s work, there cannot be one remote to rule them all.
I had to pry them all out of his hands lest something get changed I can’t unchange (I teeter on a technological precipice here) and it all goes bye-bye.
.-= Jenn of Many Cabbages´s last blog ..Aesthetic Examination in Fine Bad Art: Portrait of Big-Eyed Pig-Dog-Person =-.
April 27th, 2010 at 3:47 pm
ha ha…I was INCHES away from taking a pic of the hubs napping on the couch (well deserved nap), w/ remote growing out of one hand while his other aperture, his iPhone was nuzzled in on his stomach…ahhh, such precious memories…LOL Kathy!!
.-= amy lilley´s last blog ..Violins and the Farmers Market?? =-.
April 27th, 2010 at 4:01 pm
Don’t have a man cave, but I’m pretty sure my little boy is beginning to work on his teenage boy cave. Last week he put a “Stop you” sign on his door. I’m pretty sure he means me because he still lets the cats in!
.-= DJ´s last blog ..His First Digital Art! =-.
April 27th, 2010 at 5:03 pm
I have my 2 remotes right next to me here. Lol! I love my surround sound, but no one else in the house seems to like it. I insist on turning it on when playing DVD’s. To me, it makes it more theater like with the big screen tv. I just think they don’t like it because it’s an extra button to turn off when the shows over. (And yes, they always forget.)
.-= Lola´s last blog ..Random Tuesday Thoughts =-.
April 27th, 2010 at 5:07 pm
MayB — I’d take the 50% odds. Hey, better than knowing only one, right?
Tracy — You are so lucky in that regard. Kidless me doesn’t have the luxury. Yeah, I know. When I grew up, the only thing we could attach to our lame TV set was the Pong game. Remember that? I think you might be too young to remember.
MaryLou — I’m sorry you have to hook it all up. But if you like it, more power to you. I love your sense of humor. Remove batteries. Hee.
Babs Beetle — Ding ding ding! I think you’re a winner (or at least tied) with 7. That’s insane, though, you know. Our Wii is gathering dust. I knew it would.
zahnaufheller — I think it’s in the genes, too. I can’t say that I’m jealous you guys got them, though. His car is nothing special, although with all the stuff they put in new cars these days, I’m going to have a really hard time when I buy new. I don’t know how to operate anything in his. It’s totally off-limits to me.
mooooog35 — Thank you for the explanation. I no longer have to wonder. Dude, did I ever ask you where you get your screen name from? What does mooooog35 mean?
SuziCate — No one knows, although mooooog35 has a theory.
Steve, the in-touch-with-his-feminine-side trade show guru — No, you don’t have to turn in your man card. In fact, the chicks will dig you for not caring about all that technology.
Knucklehead! — I know! How many HD channels do you get? Our cable was just upgraded to receive about 50+ channels and I swear we won’t watch anything else. Once you’ve had HD, you never go back.
Dawnaurora — I’m sorry you’re the techno-geek in the house. I’m not sure you want to be, either. You have my deepest sympathies.
pam — Oh, lucky you. Does the remote only work for the TV though? I want a remote that will do everything at the touch of one button. I’m pretty sure I’m just dreaming that someone can make such a thing.
Leslie — OMG. Move plugs around? Gad. I want to plug in one cable and never move it until I die. Deal. I won’t mention the yard sale to too many people. We’d be crushed with visitors and all the wives would kill me.
Jenn of Many Cabbages – Good save! But remember, your Dad can’t help it. I think we’ve safely determined that his actions are driven by genes. Glad you saved yourself!
amy lilley — Awesome. I would have loved to see the picture. As long as he doesn’t actually bring them to bed with him, I think he’s still OK.
DJ — Awww, “Stop you”. So cute. I don’t suppose you’ll see your son again until he moves away to college. Sorry ’bout that.
Lola — Surround sound does make me feel like I’m in a theater, but I only really want that turned on for certain movies. I can live without it most of the time. Buttons, buttons, buttons! Enough!
April 27th, 2010 at 7:10 pm
My 18 year old son has more gadgets than I can count. My house will seem empty when he moves out!
.-= Stacey´s last blog ..Weight Watchers Update – Again =-.
April 27th, 2010 at 7:56 pm
My teens have lots of stuff with wires attached.
.-= carol at A Second Cup´s last blog ..Parenting Semi-Adults: Princess vs. The Bank =-.
April 27th, 2010 at 8:14 pm
Yes, we have some sort of surround sound system that has a huge box thing with all kinds of knobs and buttons and controls all over it. And of course its own remote control. This has only been used a handful of times the year it was purchased (several years ago!). Not it sits there collecting dust. I have no need for surround sound and the one time I tried to use the thing I thought I could feel my brain starting to bleed.
.-= Surfie´s last blog ..I Feel So Accomplished! =-.
April 27th, 2010 at 10:04 pm
Definitely all of it is not only necessary but he has the bare minimum. Give hubby a few more years and you will have holographic 3 D movies and reality shows right in your living room. Just think of all the money you save not going out to the movies, when you can just sit home and enjoy watching better pictures, listening to great sound and be able to stop the movie to go to the bathroom.
.-= Man Over Board´s last blog ..Amazing Tiny Apartment Transforms Into A 24 Room Living Area =-.
April 28th, 2010 at 12:35 am
Hey there Kathy,
I’d say it’s a man thing. I, too, have my set of “toys” and I know that it drives my wife crazy that they’re in somewhat in the same arrangement as the picture. lol I don’t know… Men are just attracted to electronics and gadgets… or we’re easily entertained by shiny things. =o) Later!
.-= Metallman´s last blog ..I Gots Me a Blackberry =-.
April 28th, 2010 at 6:44 am
Kathy – I would love if my hubby had all that cool stuff! I would prolly use it more than he would
No, I get stuck with the husband that has just about every useless tool you can possibly imaging cluttering the basement and garage. Got a dead tree problem? He’s got a tool for that! Got a wire problem? He’s got a tool for that! Got a dead tree with wires coming out of it problem? He’s got a tool for that! While I get stuck with the crappiest household tools (“They aren’t tools!”) and the rest of the world gets to have really cool vacuums! I have to till my 10 x 20′ garden on my hands ad knees with a claw and the rest of the world has a really cool rear-tine tiller! When my hubby dies, it’s a major tool sale…and I get that tiller I have been waiting forever for!
.-= Lisa – Alterity´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday =-.
April 28th, 2010 at 8:43 am
I’m the technical wizard in our household. By which I mean I’m the one who can set the DVD player’s clock and figure out how to finalize a disc.
That set-up of Dave’s? I’m pretty sure I’d set in on fire or something if I even got within 5 feet of it.
.-= JD at I Do Things´s last blog ..I Hit “Reply” so you don’t have to =-.
April 28th, 2010 at 8:46 am
I always attributed our ridiculously complicated tv setup to my husband’s undergrad degree from MIT, but now I see it’s actually a total MAN thing. Yes, we also need 3 remotes to watch television, but in addition to the Wii and DVD player, he’s also hooked up the iMac to the TV so we can watch the internet in HD. JUST WHAT I WAS WAITING FOR, HONEY!
.-= Velma´s last blog ..Getting Kinky in Our Nation’s Capitol =-.
April 28th, 2010 at 12:05 pm
This is all a conspiracy to keep women under our thumb. Make the world to complex for them to figure out and they will always come running back to us. That said, I know that I hate having to explain how to work this thing to my wife, so if she asks me to set up the DVD for her, I usually state, that if you can’t figure it out yourself, then you must not want to watch it that badly. End of comment.
Anyway…..let me know when you have the yard sale….I will defeinately show up with a dollar.
.-= Bruce´s last blog ..Road Trip =-.
April 28th, 2010 at 12:40 pm
I’m in the process of building a similar monster (and, if I do say so myself, I’m a little bit jealous of your setup.)
My wife, for some reason, is not as enthusiastic about buying a new TV/sound system as I am. But I clearly NEED the new TV to go with the Xbox, Wii and DVD player (not to mention the HD PVR I hope to get.)
I have a problem.
.-= Rick´s last blog ..Junk It in the Media: Colin and Justin’s Home Heist & Canada’s Worst Handyman =-.
April 28th, 2010 at 1:30 pm
Where do I send the dollar?
April 28th, 2010 at 2:16 pm
Hey. Maybe Babs & Mo can build you a better Entertainment Center? Not that it will solve the remote control issues, but at least it will LOOK pretty!!
.-= meleah rebeccah´s last blog ..Family Fun Night – The Bowling Edition =-.
April 28th, 2010 at 3:37 pm
Shoot girl, we have Surround Sound, we have HD and Blue Ray. We have all these remotes for all this junk too. All I want to do is turn something off and on and change channels. Movies on DVD, impossible to figure out without Alex home. Ditto with almost all of it. Sometimes I can’t even turn on the friggin’ thing. Sixty inch tv and I can only use it when Alex is home. Uh huh. I hate technology!
.-= Linda Medrano´s last blog ..Queries Of A Simple Mexican Woman =-.
April 28th, 2010 at 4:20 pm
No surround sound or big speakers here. No HDTV or big flat screen. Just a couple of not-too-old, but outdated TVs, a CD player, a DVD player/recorder, and their respective remotes I can program the DVD, and operate the CD, but hooking all that stuff up is his thing.
April 28th, 2010 at 4:28 pm
Hi Kathy,
Ours is a lot more simple, but unfortunately I’m the one who understands how it all works, so when I hear “Hon, can you come and fix the TV”, I need to put on my thinking cap.
Sometimes I miss the days when all we had were three channels and no remotes – does that date me, or what? haha
.-= Barbara Swafford´s last blog ..Count The Words or Make Each Word Count =-.
April 28th, 2010 at 4:53 pm
Stacey — Yes, but will you know how to turn on your TV? I can just see you texting him at school: “Clueless. Send help.”
carol at A Second Cup — Yeah, and that’s another thing. Weren’t we supposed to be totally wireless by now? Wires! Wires everywhere!
Surfie — Yes, brains can bleed. You are right to be concerned. I love how you described your setup. About as precise as I can describe my own.
Man Over Board — Oh, don’t give him any ideas! He reads these comments!!!!
Metallman — I’m going with “shiny things.” Which makes it really easy for us to entertain you fellows, doesn’t it?
Lisa Alterity — Um. You can have it. I’m so sorry to hear you’re married to The Tool Man. Although it does sound like he knows what he’s doing and I bet all your jealous neighbor men come over to borrow his things. I’m laughing at your description of tilling the garden (sorry!) We once bought a tiller thingy on the home shopping channel. Piece of crap. Practically broke our wrists trying to use it.
JD at I Do Things — You’re way ahead of me then, chickadee. I do worry about screwing his toys up. Ever since I moved one of the “precisely calibrated” speakers while dusting. Geesh. You would have thought I’d pressed the wrong button at a nuclear power plant. Never touching it again.
Velma — Uh-oh. An MIT guy. I’m sorry. He probably builds his own cars in the garage, right? I have to say it used to be cool when I could watch TV off the laptop. Can’t do that anymore since he introduced Piece #7 to the mix.
Bruce — I do feel your pain. Dave said to me last night “Well, if you would just listen for two minutes while I explain….” Yeah, blah blah blah, I didn’t hear anything after “if you would just…”
Rick — Wives will never get as excited as you, so save yourself the grief. Maybe you’ll get lucky and if you do all the work, she’ll like it and appreciate it. Or, she’ll be like me and mutter incoherently to herself when she tries turning the damn thing on.
Linda — To: What Was I Thinking St, Crazytown, USA
meleah rebeccah — Tell me about it! Those gals really have talent. That’s something I’m jealous of. I once put together a small table that had instructions and I didn’t even cut it myself and I thought I would die.
Linda Medrano — I hear ya, sister. Last weekend I couldn’t watch TV because some button wasn’t pressed and I didn’t know what to do and hubs was out mowing the lawn and I didn’t want to disturb him. I’m not kidding when I say I wouldn’t know how to use the systems and would pretty much let it gather dust and die a natural death.
Linda — See, now why can’t I have that?
Barbara Swafford — You’re ahead of the curve then. I’m in awe of you. Yes, you’re dating yourself, but I’m in the same league so don’t feel bad. I miss those days too.
April 28th, 2010 at 4:57 pm
My name is Dave too and, frankly, I think your Dave needs MORE equipment.
I have FOUR remotes – one for my HDTV, one for the Satellite box, one for the DVD and a dummy one, just to annoy the missus.
Cheers
PM
.-= Plastic Mancunian´s last blog ..How To Conquer The World =-.
April 28th, 2010 at 5:36 pm
I have all of that upstairs AND downstairs. He actually turned the bonus room into a Movie theater. No kids allowed.
April 28th, 2010 at 9:32 pm
AND that’s why i’m always on the computer. i hate the TV, btw. i watch 2 maybe 3 channels. it’s quite simple here and i don’t bother with it…although we do have 3 remotes?
April 29th, 2010 at 6:47 am
the must sell that exact same set up in the husbands “how to irritate your wife” handbook – the speakers he put out here by the monster tv are taller than the tv – surround sound – who needs it? When he dies I’m giving the shit away.
April 29th, 2010 at 6:45 pm
Plastic Mancunian — Noooooo! I bet you have a dummy one. I would keep picking it up and wondering why it didn’t do anything. For months before I realized my husband was just messing with my head.
Julie from Momspective — I bet the movie room looks like a church.
v — I wouldn’t miss it either. My laptop is another story. Turn off my internet connection and you’d have a riot on your hands.
mosquito trap — I hear ya. It would all go quickly and I’d wave goodbye and good riddance.
April 30th, 2010 at 12:45 am
I AM the man in my house being single, and mine is actually a little more complicated then yours.
And I don’t even watch TV except to see Project Runway and Mad Men, so figure THAT one out.
April 30th, 2010 at 2:50 am
You just have explained how I feel too about my ‘entertainment center’. I just want to turn the TV on and then change channels. Oh well I will have to stick to one channel when the entertainment king is not around.
April 30th, 2010 at 6:47 am
I almost cr…when I saw what they had behind my tv when they brought in the DVR plus all the cords I had. I hate piles of cords behind things!!!
.-= grannyann´s last blog ..New Look =-.
April 30th, 2010 at 7:37 pm
I totally figure all this stuff out. My fiance and I are both gamers, and as I’m smaller, it’s easier for me to fit behind computer desks, so I put our computers together when we get new ones. I mean plugging in everything in and such. Same with the television and gaming consoles, I can fit easier behind everything, so I do. (^_^)
The television we bought last year has inbuilt HDTV capabilities, but I’ve still not figured out how to pick up those channels. (^_^) We just use the cable box. *nods*
.-= Elisha´s last blog ..Getting a license =-.
May 1st, 2010 at 2:09 am
Haha I feel the exact same way most of the time! We have a similar setup in our living room, and the garage is a whole ‘nother story altogether. Anyway, I am enjoying reading your posts. Thanks for the entertainment.
.-= Linda Dobson´s last blog ..Miraclesuit Swimwear – A Story =-.
May 1st, 2010 at 4:15 am
Sew Ducky — Our lives are supposed to be less complicated! At least that’s my goal. It’s one giant FAIL.
Paulineh — I wrote a post a while back about how many channels we have to watch now and I couldn’t believe that some people grew up with only a few to choose from. Now look where we are! We have a thousand channels and still run the risk of only being able to see just one!
grannyann — I do too. I wanted to clean mine up for this picture but thought better of it. I don’t want to go venturing where I don’t belong.
Elisha — I hate, hate, hate having to crawl behind a setup and swap out a cable. It’s like you should only have to do it once and then never venture there again until you move out of the house. Oh, you MUST figure out the HD! It’s delightful!
Linda Dobson — I don’t poke around the garage much. There are things in there that can set the house on fire.
May 1st, 2010 at 5:46 pm
We have a few electronic things but they are all operated by one lone remote that we plug into the computer via usb, it’s pretty slick and will even offer help if something is not on properly. We actually have two of these things, but we got rid of the other tv.
.-= carla´s last blog ..Nice Rack! =-.
May 1st, 2010 at 7:41 pm
Oh Kathy…the rest of the crap I have may/may not use electricity. I just had to borrow my mom’s sewing machine because I wanted to make something that was easier on her $5000 one because mine is 100 years old and scoffs at both energy AND stretchy fabric (and really, it scoffs at me in general. I want to sew something it often decides it isn’t going to do it today. I once made a post about my machine being a grumpy old man and meant it). My coffee pot is a 30s percolator I have to use on the stove (although I do own one that makes one cup at a time) and I don’t think I have actually watched any television the last 4 months. At all. (Even though Project Runway has been on.)
I’m not all into the high tech stuff, even with the television. I can use it, and I can program all the stuff, and DO for mine and my dad’s, but in all honesty the kid gets more out of it then I do.
Although the clothes in HD is pretty awesome, and I can record it and watch it when I feel like, commercial free. Mostly I pay for satellite and a TV set and then never turn it on.
.-= SewDucky´s last blog ..*nose pinch* =-.
May 3rd, 2010 at 11:05 am
Oh so familiar.
May 8th, 2010 at 5:11 am
Carla — What’s that? You have electronics that will help you if something is wrong? Surely you jest.
SewDucky — I would love to see your old sewing machine. They made ‘em good back then, didn’t they? Of course, I bet the new ones are like Cadillacs next to yours. All those newfangled buttons and stuff! I still can’t sew a button to save my life, so sewing technology would be totally lost on me.
Maryann — And I bet you’re the one who has to set everything up. Story of our lives, eh?
May 8th, 2010 at 5:39 am
Yep, he loves his “toys”
I don’t watch much TV at all, he’s just about an addict!
May 13th, 2010 at 2:43 pm
[...] friend Kathy of The Junk Drawer wrote recently she plans to say “Sayonara” to her [...]