For Christmas, my aunt and uncle upgraded to a flat screen TV in their basement, and now they’re looking to get rid of their standard 35” TV.
Here’s the situation. I currently have two TVs. In my main room, I have my 27” standard box television set, which sits on a wooden TV stand that has a swivel top so I can rotate the screen. The TV fits perfectly on the stand, but would probably be too small for a larger TV.
Additionally, I have a small 17” flat screen in my bedroom that I bought after moving into my apartment. It currently sits on top of my dresser, which is where the old 27” TV used to rest when I lived at home.
My aunt and uncle are willing to give me the 35” TV as long as I move and install it. They have a stand, too, but I haven’t seen it yet. My question is, is it worth the hassle of moving it?
If I get it, I then have one more TV than I have rooms in my apartment. So, either I put away the flat screen and move my 27” back to the bedroom. Or, I put away the 27” to leave the newer but smaller flat screen in use.
It would be nice to have a bigger TV, and I think the difference between a 27” and 35” screen would definitely be noticeable, but it’s hard to tell if it would work out without seeing it in place. It’s possible that it could be too big for the space I have allotted, especially if the stand doesn’t rotate the way the current one does. If that’s the case, the viewing experience might actually be lessened despite the greater screen size.
Yes, I do spend a good amount of time watching TV, so this is an important decision. Still, it’s hard to turn away a big, free TV. If only my apartment had a third room, then I’d be all set with another set.
Weigh in with your thoughts below. TV or not TV?
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Things I Miss: Toys for Christmas
Over the past couple of nights, I’ve pushed my credit card to the limit and finished almost all of my Christmas shopping, doing my best to give equally to my three siblings, spoiling my girlfriend and finding something for everyone else on my list. Barring a few minor issues—an item that failed to ship online and one in-store because I was given the wrong item—I’d say it’s gone well.
Now that I have a full-time job and some money, it’s fun to spend it on others and spread the joy of giving at Christmas. I love playing the role of Santa, especially for my younger, still-in-school siblings and girlfriend. As Michael Scott would say, I can point to my gifts and say, “I love you this many dollars worth.” I’m joking, of course, but you get the idea. I’m a big fan of the season of giving. So don’t misinterpret what I’m about to say.
I miss when Christmas was all about me. I suppose what I’m really missing is childhood. I’m missing waking up at 6 a.m., knowing that I had to wait in my room until 7 to come downstairs to wake Mom and Dad and start opening presents.
I’m also missing the presents I used to get. Which WWF action figures would Santa leave me, and how many? Did I get the latest copy of Madden football and NBA Live? How many packs of sports cards did I get, and did they contain any cool rookies? What did Mike and Jeff and Molly get? I hope I didn’t get any dumb clothes!
When I was asked what I wanted for Christmas this year, the list was short and boring. I still look forward to opening everything that’s given to me, but I think I’m more excited to see everyone’s reaction to what I’ve bought for them. I guess that’s growth and maturity. It’s just not the same being grown up (or something like grown up).
It got me to thinking. At 24, I’m creeping on that point in life where my child’s first Christmas may be closer than my last childhood Christmas. In fact, I may have passed that point already. No, there are no kids to speak of today, but it’s been a good decade-plus since Santa was the reason for the season for me. It’s certainly not unreasonable to think Junior could come along before I’m 34. In fact, I kind of hope he (or she) does.
Now THAT’s a crazy thought. Having just moved out on my own a few months ago, the prospect of me as a dad is a bit much for me to handle. First comes love, then comes marriage, then…well, you know.
So, I’ll put the Santa-suit-colored stop light on that idea for now.
But while I’m missing my childhood Christmas, I can’t help but think of how cool it was, and how much I want my kids to someday enjoy it all the same. So, thanks, Mom and Dad (and Santa), for making my childhood Christmases so great that I now call this holiday my favorite time of the year (even when it coincides with snowfall). Someday when you’re grandma and grandpa, I’ll probably consult you for pointers.
Until then, I’ll do my best to make this and every Christmas as fun as I can, even if I know I won’t find a Hulk Hogan or Tecmo Super Bowl under the tree.
Now that I have a full-time job and some money, it’s fun to spend it on others and spread the joy of giving at Christmas. I love playing the role of Santa, especially for my younger, still-in-school siblings and girlfriend. As Michael Scott would say, I can point to my gifts and say, “I love you this many dollars worth.” I’m joking, of course, but you get the idea. I’m a big fan of the season of giving. So don’t misinterpret what I’m about to say.
I miss when Christmas was all about me. I suppose what I’m really missing is childhood. I’m missing waking up at 6 a.m., knowing that I had to wait in my room until 7 to come downstairs to wake Mom and Dad and start opening presents.
I’m also missing the presents I used to get. Which WWF action figures would Santa leave me, and how many? Did I get the latest copy of Madden football and NBA Live? How many packs of sports cards did I get, and did they contain any cool rookies? What did Mike and Jeff and Molly get? I hope I didn’t get any dumb clothes!
When I was asked what I wanted for Christmas this year, the list was short and boring. I still look forward to opening everything that’s given to me, but I think I’m more excited to see everyone’s reaction to what I’ve bought for them. I guess that’s growth and maturity. It’s just not the same being grown up (or something like grown up).
It got me to thinking. At 24, I’m creeping on that point in life where my child’s first Christmas may be closer than my last childhood Christmas. In fact, I may have passed that point already. No, there are no kids to speak of today, but it’s been a good decade-plus since Santa was the reason for the season for me. It’s certainly not unreasonable to think Junior could come along before I’m 34. In fact, I kind of hope he (or she) does.
Now THAT’s a crazy thought. Having just moved out on my own a few months ago, the prospect of me as a dad is a bit much for me to handle. First comes love, then comes marriage, then…well, you know.
So, I’ll put the Santa-suit-colored stop light on that idea for now.
But while I’m missing my childhood Christmas, I can’t help but think of how cool it was, and how much I want my kids to someday enjoy it all the same. So, thanks, Mom and Dad (and Santa), for making my childhood Christmases so great that I now call this holiday my favorite time of the year (even when it coincides with snowfall). Someday when you’re grandma and grandpa, I’ll probably consult you for pointers.
Until then, I’ll do my best to make this and every Christmas as fun as I can, even if I know I won’t find a Hulk Hogan or Tecmo Super Bowl under the tree.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Superparents to the Rescue
At some date in the future, perhaps having visitors to my apartment won’t seem like a blockbuster event, but since the whole having-my-own-place thing is still relatively new, the novelty of visitors—including my parents—hasn’t worn off.
So it was with a great deal of excitement that I welcomed my mom and dad to the apartment last night. Of course, as always, they did not come empty handed. The big project of the day was putting together a bookcase.
My dad, Mr. Handyman himself, built this bookcase using a lot of the wood from old shelves from our former TV room at home. He built it in his studio, deconstructed it, brought the pieces to my apartment and reassembled it in my bedroom. It’s huge, probably seven or eight feet tall with six shelves that are about two- or three-feet long. And it fits surprisingly well into my room, between my desk and dresser. Very cool. As my mom said, it’s amazing how much I’ve been able to jam into my living space.
All the storage space on the shelves will go a long way to de-cluttering around the apartment. Between the two closets and the few piles/boxes of things lying around, this is a big step toward being totally settled in. Perhaps by 2009, I’ll be good to go.
Not to be outdone by Dad, Mom came bearing gifts as well: curtains for my bedroom, a rug and toilet brush for the bathroom, a tree skirt to cover up Wesley’s bottom parts, even a plate of dinner from home.
She also got me two throw pillows to go with my couches, which—by the way—I’m glad to have purchased. Anyway, pillows were an item that I’ve had In the back of my mind since getting the couches. Jessie even had me looking through and nearly purchasing a cool multi-colored striped pillow that was on sale at Pier One back in October, but I decided to hold off. I then nearly purchased a beige-and-brown striped pillow from Wal-Mart at an even cheaper price, but decided I needed at least a little color to liven up the brown and black attack.
So, when Mom came in with a brown-and-blue striped pair of pillows (brown and blue, Jessie—get pumped) at the low-low price of free, I just couldn’t help but say yes. My curtains have a blue stripe pattern, too, so it’s sort of a match.
My parents also brought my collection of Tom Hubert original Christmas ornaments. My dad makes the coolest ornaments you’ll ever see. And I’m probably the only person alive that will have a Christmas tree decorated with the likes of a ceramic pizza, Big Bird, Hulk Hogan, Bo Jackson and Adam Duritz (to name a few of my favorites).
Once I put them on the tree (hopefully sometime this week), I’ll be feeling even more at home. As it is, I was happy to get rave reviews from my parents on the Christmas tree (Wes is the best! Thanks, Jess) and curtain decorations.
December marks month three in the apartment, and things are really looking good around here. I hope things are good where you are, too.
So it was with a great deal of excitement that I welcomed my mom and dad to the apartment last night. Of course, as always, they did not come empty handed. The big project of the day was putting together a bookcase.
My dad, Mr. Handyman himself, built this bookcase using a lot of the wood from old shelves from our former TV room at home. He built it in his studio, deconstructed it, brought the pieces to my apartment and reassembled it in my bedroom. It’s huge, probably seven or eight feet tall with six shelves that are about two- or three-feet long. And it fits surprisingly well into my room, between my desk and dresser. Very cool. As my mom said, it’s amazing how much I’ve been able to jam into my living space.
All the storage space on the shelves will go a long way to de-cluttering around the apartment. Between the two closets and the few piles/boxes of things lying around, this is a big step toward being totally settled in. Perhaps by 2009, I’ll be good to go.
Not to be outdone by Dad, Mom came bearing gifts as well: curtains for my bedroom, a rug and toilet brush for the bathroom, a tree skirt to cover up Wesley’s bottom parts, even a plate of dinner from home.
She also got me two throw pillows to go with my couches, which—by the way—I’m glad to have purchased. Anyway, pillows were an item that I’ve had In the back of my mind since getting the couches. Jessie even had me looking through and nearly purchasing a cool multi-colored striped pillow that was on sale at Pier One back in October, but I decided to hold off. I then nearly purchased a beige-and-brown striped pillow from Wal-Mart at an even cheaper price, but decided I needed at least a little color to liven up the brown and black attack.
So, when Mom came in with a brown-and-blue striped pair of pillows (brown and blue, Jessie—get pumped) at the low-low price of free, I just couldn’t help but say yes. My curtains have a blue stripe pattern, too, so it’s sort of a match.
My parents also brought my collection of Tom Hubert original Christmas ornaments. My dad makes the coolest ornaments you’ll ever see. And I’m probably the only person alive that will have a Christmas tree decorated with the likes of a ceramic pizza, Big Bird, Hulk Hogan, Bo Jackson and Adam Duritz (to name a few of my favorites).
Once I put them on the tree (hopefully sometime this week), I’ll be feeling even more at home. As it is, I was happy to get rave reviews from my parents on the Christmas tree (Wes is the best! Thanks, Jess) and curtain decorations.
December marks month three in the apartment, and things are really looking good around here. I hope things are good where you are, too.
Monday, December 1, 2008
So This is Christmas
My rule is simple: Christmas comes after Thanksgiving. I don’t care how “festive” everyone else is feeling. I don’t care how many Santa displays pop up in stores before Halloween. Christmas is my favorite holiday, so why spoil it by burning out weeks before the day even arrives? I just don’t get it.
Anyway, after all the turkey and fixings had been finished, Christmas shopping was fair game. But my aim was a bit different this year. Before worrying about what to buy for Jessie, my family or anyone else, I had to get my apartment into season. I’m not much of a seasonal decorator, but Christmas is the exception. I definitely didn’t want to be staring at the same black and brown based room all December without some holiday cheer.
So, Jessie and I went shopping Saturday night to break in my apartment for its first Christmas. I didn’t go overboard, but I’m pleased to have the basics. We named my tree Wesley (it said Slim Welsley Pine on the box), and he’s a good-lookin fella if I do say so myself.
I was raised with a fake plastic tree. And after 24 Christmases without a real tree, I wasn’t about to start with the hassle now. Putting it together was a snap, although Jessie claimed her veteran branch-bending was more aesthetically pleasing than my novice job. For what it’s worth, I thought it looked about the same all the way around. After wrapping Wes in some colored lights (I don’t like the trees that go with plain white lights) and gold tinsel and plopping the star on top, I moved him to his home for the season—in the corner between the TV and couch. I moved one of the end tables and lamp into my bedroom to make room.
Jessie then helped me wrap some garland—a word I had never heard of until two days ago—with lights up and around the window and curtain rod. It looks nice and festive. The tree itself is small: six feet tall and a bit on the slender side. But it suits me and my apartment well. Now I just need to accentuate it with the coolest ornaments in the world courtesy of my dad.
Still, nothing’s going to touch the childhood memories of Christmas at home. My dad and brother Jeff always do an awesome job decorating the outside of the house, and my mom and sister Molly usually match them with their work on the inside. Plus, going through everyone’s ornaments was one of the coolest and most unique Christmas traditions I know. (Check out what I wrote about it back on my old Web site in 2004.)
I’m not sure what else, if anything, I’ll do to fancy up the apartment for the holidays, but the tree and garland definitely give it a glowing warmth that it lacked before. It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. And now that it’s December, I’m more than OK with that.
Anyway, after all the turkey and fixings had been finished, Christmas shopping was fair game. But my aim was a bit different this year. Before worrying about what to buy for Jessie, my family or anyone else, I had to get my apartment into season. I’m not much of a seasonal decorator, but Christmas is the exception. I definitely didn’t want to be staring at the same black and brown based room all December without some holiday cheer.
So, Jessie and I went shopping Saturday night to break in my apartment for its first Christmas. I didn’t go overboard, but I’m pleased to have the basics. We named my tree Wesley (it said Slim Welsley Pine on the box), and he’s a good-lookin fella if I do say so myself.
I was raised with a fake plastic tree. And after 24 Christmases without a real tree, I wasn’t about to start with the hassle now. Putting it together was a snap, although Jessie claimed her veteran branch-bending was more aesthetically pleasing than my novice job. For what it’s worth, I thought it looked about the same all the way around. After wrapping Wes in some colored lights (I don’t like the trees that go with plain white lights) and gold tinsel and plopping the star on top, I moved him to his home for the season—in the corner between the TV and couch. I moved one of the end tables and lamp into my bedroom to make room.
Jessie then helped me wrap some garland—a word I had never heard of until two days ago—with lights up and around the window and curtain rod. It looks nice and festive. The tree itself is small: six feet tall and a bit on the slender side. But it suits me and my apartment well. Now I just need to accentuate it with the coolest ornaments in the world courtesy of my dad.
Still, nothing’s going to touch the childhood memories of Christmas at home. My dad and brother Jeff always do an awesome job decorating the outside of the house, and my mom and sister Molly usually match them with their work on the inside. Plus, going through everyone’s ornaments was one of the coolest and most unique Christmas traditions I know. (Check out what I wrote about it back on my old Web site in 2004.)
I’m not sure what else, if anything, I’ll do to fancy up the apartment for the holidays, but the tree and garland definitely give it a glowing warmth that it lacked before. It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. And now that it’s December, I’m more than OK with that.
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