6.29.2009

No TV for me!

Just got back from a totally relaxing week on the Oregon coast, south of Yachats, north of Heceta Head Lighthouse. I did absolutely nothing. I was totally unproductive. I vegged big time. I lay around in my pajamas and ate cereal for dinner, in the living room, watching bunnies out the front window and ever-watchful bald eagles from the back window. The eagles starved and the bunnies were totally oblivious.

I didn’t watch a clock. I took naps. I didn’t follow rules. I did, however, floss and took my vitamins. I ate whatever I wanted; got up when I felt like it; dressed when I felt like it (some days, never). I became civilized occasionally and dressed appropriately and blended in with other tourists in the quaint Old Town villages of Newport, Waldport, and Florence. I stopped at every wayside along Highway 101 from Lincoln City down to Florence, enjoyed the ocean and all her majesty from as many viewpoints as I could find.

I spent a wonderful full ten days with no phone, no tv, and lots of books. So, I was a little startled as I drove home and all that was on the radio were news items about Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett, Gale Storm, Billy Mays, and Ed McMahon. All dead. O my. Of all of these deaths, the one that bothered me the most was Gale Storm. She was one of my mother’s favorites. Perky, saucy, funny. Her death was lost amongst all the hype that went with particularly Michael Jackson, but Farrah Fawcett and Ed McMahon as well. All the loss, turmoil, pain, ups, downs, eccentricities, foibles.

Of all the things I didn’t have on my vacation – the television was the least missed. It brought to point for me that there really is nothing worthwhile on television that enhances my life in the tiniest way. I came home refreshed and revitalized – something that television just does not do for me.

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7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Jeanie,
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I am green with envy. I go thru withdrawal when I go more than 90 days. YES, I am addicted...to the Oregon Coast. I think there is a twelve step program I will join. But it has to be located 12 steps from the sand...at Oceanside Oregon.
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I agree with you completely regarding TV. It is indeed a vast wasteland. We all like to keep up on the news, but the internet does that better. Watching MSNBC and FoxNews is like a puppett show. As if the two political parties write the script for each chanel.
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Rachel Maddow and her know-it-all snide remarks with her omniscient grin. It is sad because she has the talent to have a real show. I like Keith Olberman. He has a sense of humor. But he would never say anything good about the GOP..and he will never say anything bad about Obama.
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MSNBC is a bit of a joke now.
FoxNews is not quite as bad, but they rival the one-sidedness from the opposite perspective.
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No MORE TV !
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So....Jeanie......which one is your favorite place on the Oregon coast ? Have you found an amazing restaurant? A dive hotel that somehow manages to have something mystical ?
-
David Elton

MarmiteToasty said...

I have all this time off work but cant enjoy it cos of the circumstances, I sure need a dam holiday in the future......

Glad you had the most super relaxing time.....

Welcome home..

x

basicliving@backtobasicliving.com said...

I clicked your link from your MarmiteToasty comment. Glad I did. I like your blog. Honest, heartfelt, and great sense of humor.

Your vacation sounds heavenly. When my husband and I vacationed (many years ago) we had a ritual. We would remove our watches and turn off our cell phones as we arrived at the airport. We were then, officially, on vacation. We slept when we wanted, ate when we wanted, drank when we wanted, etc.

But that was before we got some land, 30 something chickens, 2 dogs, and 2 cats. Now we need a watch to make sure we are worried about one of these flipping animals 24 hours a day. Ah, the country life.....

Glad you had a great vacation weekend. Hope you brought some of it back with you so you can take a "vacation" and never leave the house. Sometimes attitude is all you need for a vacation. Trust me. I know :-)

basicliving@backtobasicliving.com said...

OH - and I forgot to mention that I agree with you and ALWAYS floss my teeth. You just can't take a chance with some things. But I do skip the vitamins sometimes. I try to make up for it by drinking an extra glass of wine or two.

Jeanie said...

Wow, Basic Living - I'm so glad you checked out my blog. As to the wine - I agree. It's got grapes so it is in the basic food groups. I'm going to check your site out too. I need more basic!

MarmiteToasty said...

yeah... and just remember how basicliving got here LOL..... huge smile :)

x

basicliving@backtobasicliving.com said...

Jeanie - I need more basic too! We're not there yet, but we're trying. Baby steps....

Marmy - you know I'd follow you anywhere ;-)