Warranty Expired!

Bob LOVES his big-screen TV! When we got married and moved to our new house Bob bought this HUGE Mitsubishi TV (2002). I remember the glaze that came over his eyes and his jaw dropping when he first entered the electronics area of the store. Most men have that same look but Bob is a gadget guy and he had never had a gadget this big. Since we were both working I thought that he deserved to have what he wanted even though I thought it was a bit of overkill.

I have to admit it has been a fun. We can all see exactly what is going on and video games are a lot clearer on the big screen. WII games are a blast!

Luckily we purchased a good warranty because when we moved to S. Utah, where we have frequent brown-outs and black-outs, our TV had problems. This TV lives in the basement and every time the repair guys have had to come out and haul this monstrosity up the stairs they always ask if we wouldn't rather keep it in our living room (on the main floor). Of course I don't want that black hole in my living room (sorry men, I know you don't understand) so they have to lug it back down the stairs after they have repaired it.

Well, the inevitable has happened. The warranty has expired! With the recent snow storms we have had quite a few power fluctuations and finally the TV died. A moment of silence please.....

In usual Bob style he took the TV apart. I know that he has wanted to take this a part for a long time (Bob likes to see how things work) but couldn't because of the warranty.
Bob immediately got online and did some research as to how to fix the problem. He found some symptoms that matched our TV exactly and ordered some parts. We waited for them to come in the mail and then Bob soldered them on. And .......they didn't solve the problem!

So now Bob thinks that it might be a power problem. Sorry guys but I don't speak electronics very well. Give me some software and I can talk fluently but hardware lingo is Chinese to me. So now Bob is testing all electrical sources or something like that. Bob is in his element, he is using gadgets to test gadgets.

What a pain! Poor Bob has to do research, order parts or manuals, go to work for a week, come home try to fix the TV, it doesn't work so he starts the process over again. Long story even longer, our family room has a HUGE TV taken apart in the middle of it and the bedroom next to it strewn with parts. I know that Bob hates that the TV is down but I also know that he is doing what he does best. Problem Solve. Bob is happy.

365 Days - Day 93 - Listen

I have so many favorite sounds. I love the sound of a loved ones voice, nature, music, laughter and so many other sounds that evoke emotion and memories. I know that I take these things for granted, which is sad. Here is one of my favorite pictures along this theme.

This is Ryan when he was only 15-months old at Christmas time. Dennis had brought home a Christmas Music Box with Santa in his sleigh and a reindeer that would rotate on an interior magnet when the music played. It was so adorable!

Sadly Ryan's face is a bit out of focus but I hope that you still get the message. Ryan LOVED this music box! He and his brothers have always loved music and at that time we didn't realize what a huge part of their lives would be impacted by it. Since Dennis and I loved music out kids were surrounded by it. The funny part is that Dennis and I were on opposite spectrums of taste. He loved Black Sabbath and Jimmy Hendrix and I was what he called a "Bubblegummer". My record collection included Chicago, The Carpenters, etc.

Needless to say, our boys grew up with an ecclectic education in music. I remember when Dennis had the boys listen to Jimmy Hendrix play the National Anthem with his teeth. He was so excited to share this with his boys and hoped that they appreciated Jimmy's talent. The boys loved it. I remember teaching my boys guitar when they were pretty small and making them take piano lessons. It has been interesting to see them each gravitate to the instrument that best helps them express themselves.

There are so many aspects of listening but for some reason I went off on music. Suffice it to say I appreciate the blessing of sound. I am amazed at my step-son Tyler, who is hard-of-hearing, and how well he communicates with people without being able to hear them. He is so patient.

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"Hear, listen"

What do your ears hear today?

365 Days - Day 90 - Love

Today Bob and I have been married for seven years! Sometimes I feel that I have lived several different lives and this last life, as Bob's wife, has gone by amazingly fast. Here is a picture of Bob and I on our wedding day (2002). It is a picture, that for some reason, I have passed over. Today when I saw it I thought, "This is so sweet, why haven't I used it before?" Maybe as in many cases, I see it differently because of what we have shared and how we've grown together and individually.

The challenge today was to take a picture of love and ask how we have spread our love today. Well I can say that I am on the receiving end of that. I married one of the least selfish people on the planet. Bob spends most of his time helping others. I have always admired that trait and I was fortunate enough to marry someone who lives what he believes. Bob doesn't ask for much in return. Sometimes he is a bit shy about keeping up with family and friends but it doesn't mean that he doesn't think about them often and love them. He loves his faith, family and lives a responsible and giving life.

Thank you Bob for being you and sharing yourself with me and others. We are all the better because of it.

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"Spread your love everywhere you go."
- Mother Teresa

How did you spread your love today?