I’m the only one awake in the house (potentially excluding the cat).
I’m bloody wide awake.
I can feel only the slightest twinge of sleepiness nibbling away at my consciousness.
Stupid insomnia…
In my sleep deprived state (not an irregular condition) I turn to writing for solstice.
No, that’s a pagan thing (and something involving the length of the day, but I never paid too much attention in science class). I’m looking for solace.
Good, I’m tireder than I thought (no, “tireder” is not a word. Yes, it should be “more tired.” No, I’m not gonna go back change it, but rather press forward).
Nevertheless, I’m still awake.
There’s not much on late night TV.
Correction: there isn’t a lot of good, quality, sleaze-free television.
I’m past the hours of decent syndication (former primetime shows that were once good now aired after network programming and local news go off the air). I’m now left with a trailer trash dating show, a courtroom justice program (staring a Judge Judy wanna-be), an old lady playing an organ on the local cable access channel, and the old dependable Home Shopping Channel (currently showcasing a lovely Simulated Turquoise and Mother of Pearl Bracelet [a real deal]). I’m sure infomercials (that never seem to contain any information) and trash talk shows (rarely containing talk and more often featuring chair throwing) are to come later this hour.
It’s times like this when I wonder if Marxists and their “Down with Democracy and the Corruptive Dregs of their Evil Capitalistic Empire!” maxim wasn’t so far off.
It’s too bad I can’t turn the TV off.
I’m not joking.
Shortly after the warrantee on the television ran out, coincidentally of course, it began more difficult to turn the TV on. The power would go on and static would appear, but there would be no reception. One could spend minutes turning it on and off (by remote and HAND!!!). Turning it on and letting it “rest” while switched ON would work about at poorly.
Once it turned ON, however, there’d be no trouble. When it got to take up to 10, 15 minutes to turn on the TV (and eternity when you’re used to CLICK, ZAP, “And in the news today…) it got to be standard practice just to leave the TV ON.
Now, we only turn it off during vacations and when company is here (and even then it depends on the company). No, I’m not joking.
Turning the TV off is a serious taboo in my family. The consequences are sharp and annoying (which can be a more effective punishment than pain). Over time we’ve become conditioned to leaving it on, no questions asked.
It remains ON for weeks at a time, constantly radiating it’s multi-colored light. Sometimes it is on MUTE. Sometimes the last person in the living room just leaves it to whisper its soft, teasing song.
From the Late Late Show to Today to the National News and over again (with all times of crap in between [unless it’s left on public television, in which case it may be boring ,confusing, or even unwelcome, but it’s always educational]) the TV stays ON.
Uh oh…
There’s now an “info”mercial for the Raised AeroBed.
Any product placement program, that does not necessarily represent the views or opinions of the station it is played on, that starts with the line, “This may look like a regular bed,” can’t end well.
And I don’t care to be around when it does.
I’m going to bed now. I’ll probably be going to sleep in a couple hours.
I wish you all a good day.
