Requiem for a Television

It was a good TV, for as long as it lasted. It mostly showed what we wanted to watch, and it did help keep Sam entertained when I was feeling like being a bad mom. Perhaps I should have titles this, "feed the idiot box." As we do not currently have the funding to purchase a new television, we will be what might be called 'sans television'. Last night we got home from our trip to Midland/Odessa for shots and shopping, and spent all of our money. The TV died as Eric snoozed in the recliner and I was typing my last blog entry. I started to catch a whiff of hot electronics, you know, that new appliance/dying appliance smell. I sniffed all over the bedroom, afraid that some wiring somewhere was too hot. Alas, my nose led me to the living room where I discovered the DVD player running, but no image on the TV. The TV was humming faintly, that high pitched sound that irritates the heck out of me, but it looked to be powered down. The smell of electronic death was strongest near the TV, so I unplugged it. It has not spontaneously turned itself back on, as it used to do. I also am hesitant to leave it plugged in for any amount of time over a minute, as I think it might have been trying to burn up. Poor Sam has been in withdrawal all day, and I'm sure I'll be insane when trying to make supper and I have no boob tube to babysit my darling addicted son.

As all of you are aware, we are a long ways from a store to purchase a set from. The best deals are in Odessa or Midland. We are not planning another trip up north until January. The deals in Alpine are pretty sad, so I'd rather not have to settle for an overpriced midget set. I'd rather do without TV for a while. We just got a Netflix movie too, now we can't watch it. That's life! Anyone know a great place that will ship me a free widescreen TV?