For anyone who’s read my blog, you know I’ve had a rough few years which has made my outlook on life a bit…bleak. So, I’m trying a different take these days. You know, look on the bright side even when the chips are down. I figure I either work on a new perspective or end up on the evening news:

This evening a local woman is under arrest for tasing a man in the grocery store who “got in my personal space bubble and totally deserved it.” When asked why she tased the man, she cited financial stress and irritation at the lack of common decency in most people. Stay tuned for more at 11.

I really don’t want to be that story. Instead, I’m going to look at having to cancel the satellite service as a blessing. Here are the advantages I’ve discovered so far:

1. I really was paying a lot of money for mostly crap channels. Maybe someday the companies will let us select which channels we want and pay per channel.
2. I am no longer be subjected to hours upon hours upon hours of Cops, Forensic Files, Lockup, and other such shows.
3. When I go to bed at night, the sound of three different tvs that are on way too loud don’t compete with the voices in my head. Now, my voices and I can have some real quality time at night.
4. I won’t have to shout to be heard over a tv that apparently needs to be loud enough to be heard down the block.
5. No more horror movie marathons, which means my overactive imagination doesn’t have extra fuel for the fire when I can’t sleep at night.
6. Without a DVR to record shows, I really have to pay attention to what’s available via our new antenna. Makes writing TV reviews a challenge.
7. I have more time to devote to writing projects.
8. I have more time to read. Since canceling, I’ve finished Wishful Drinking, A Lion Among Men, Star Wars: Rule of Two (don’t judge), and Kindred. I’m also making excellent progress on House of Leaves, This is Your Brain on Music, Beginner’s Guide to Jungian Psychology, Women Who Run with the Wolves, Language of the Night, and Star Wars: Cloak of Deception (again, don’t judge).
9. We’re making better use of our DVD collection.
10. The kids have actually started reading again.

When things turn around, we’ll have some sort of service again. But until then, I’ll use Netflix and Hulu for my fixes. Just please don’t tell me what’s going on with Lost. I’m several seasons behind and need to unwrap the dvds.