Bah, Humbug?

It's been about a year without cable TV in the Ferree-Puckett household.

The decision to turn it off had to do both with finances as well as the lack of interest. But don't get me wrong, we stay tuned in via the Internet.

YouTube is a very hot commodity in our house. It's a lot like TV for those with an attention problem. Instead of flipping the remote you use the mouse. Instead of commercials interrupting your show there's a desire to interrupt it yourself just with the click of that mouse. And of course there's lots of pop-up ads as well as other useless junk everywhere you look.

Anyway, not having cable TV has made me feel a bit disconnected from the world. And some days I really like it. No, I may not know about the new reality show or the new kitchen/workout/techno product and that's OK by me. (If I truly needed to know I would have googled it by now.)

Nonetheless, without cable TV I have more of other things I had lost while tuned into zombie land.

Now, I have time to think.

Watching TV is an easy way to zone out and forget about the big picture because you seem to think the big picture is all about what's on TV.

And you should.

TV world gives its watchers all kinds of ideas-- none of which are their own.

There's commercials for medical wonders that will cure all your ails-- there must be something wrong with you.

There's selections of shiny cars you can buy-- keep pumping that gas.

There's the latest fashions that send you shopping-- here's a credit card in case your strapped for cash.

And then there's the news. And with it comes FEAR.

There's anthrax in the mail and a terrorist next door. Lock your windows and seal your doors. Keep the kids inside, it's real scary out there. No need to panic, just buy them some video games! Who needs experience, when it's a virtual click away.

You know what I am so sick of being afraid of everything. It's a waste of my time and energy.

So, when I really think about why I shut the cable TV off it goes back to fear.

Fear may be your enemy, but it's no longer mine.

I don't vote out of fear. I don't walk because I'm afraid I'll get fat. I don't plant a flower garden for show and tell. And I sure don't write this column to be popular.

My thoughts are not the ones you get by watching TV. They are the ones I created myself.

But, if you want to know the truth I'm not a big fan of anything that comes with a screen.

Don't tell my family but I'm ready to pull the plug on a whole lot more.

Because quite frankly, I'm zombied-out.