10 Things to Do Instead of Watch TV
Posted by mimi on Feb 5, 2008 in dish | 2 commentsHey, I love this topic. DH and I actually had our cable cut off a couple of years ago (long story). We went through withdrawal for about three weeks (“What! No CSI reruns on Spike every night?”). Then we got over ourselves. There’s actually plenty to do instead of watch TV. Some choices:
1. Read. The best choice, after all, Feeds the brain and the soul. Put away the remote and wail away at the TBR pile.
2. Needlecrafts. Needlepoint, embroidery, knitting, or crochet–all of the women in my family could do at least one, but these are a dying art. Customize your home with something beautiful you can’t buy at Pottery Barn, why dontcha?
3. Listen to music. Rediscover some old favorites in the CD collection and remember what it was like to start getting ready to go out at 9:30 instead of collapsing into bed. For those of you who play an instrument, make some music.
4. Cook. Finally master baking bread, or your grandmother’s pound cake recipe, or Rice Krispie treats.
5. Plan and serve a romantic dinner. Why save the good china for relatives? Treat yourself and your loved one to the very best. Make a favorite, pour some wine, and try #6.
6. Talk. If you can’t find anything to talk about, you really need to turn off that damned TV more often!
7. Housework. Just kidding. Scratch that.
7. (for real) Sit on the porch. Porches make Southern houses homes. Remember your best outdoor room. Fix yourself an iced tea and wave howdy to the neighbors.
8. Write! What a concept! Imagine how your page count would grow if you chucked American Idol for your American novel! It can be done. It’s not like choosing the next Idol will bring peace to the Middle East, solve world hunger, or end the conflict in Darfur, for Pete’s sake.
9. Wrestle. Roll around and cuddle with your kids. They’ll follow you around like puppies for the rest of the night, but in a good way.
10. Wrestle naked. Choose the appropriate adult, strip down, and have at it. Much more fun than heavy breathing on the small screen.
I almost never watch TV unless mindless background noise while Marcus watches before he goes to sleep counts. I’d much rather read. My TBR pile is sooooooo big and much more interesting than anything on TV.
I’m down to maybe 2 tv shows a week (and I never ‘watch’ tv, I tape it so I can watch it when I’m ready. Also no commercials that way).
That time of day is when my writing seems to take off, and I’d rather be in control of the characters (yeah, right!) than watching someone else’s script.
Right now, though, my husband and I are working our way through episodes of Dexter we got from Netflix on the recommendation of some homicide cops. Great way to see how to make someone with apparently no redeeming virtues a likeable character.