Remote Control
I find it humorous that the word “control” is used to describe the remote. We have this long-standing feud in our house and maybe you do too. I’d love to hear your thoughts or suggestions, although I know I am right (because I’m always right!).
A couple years ago my husband decided we were getting DVR, because we have no life and need to record as much TV as possible so that on Friday nights we’ll have something other than 20/20 to watch. I wish I was kidding.
What happened last night in our living room has occurred on numerous occasions. Nate decided he wanted to go to bed when our son did. Which is fine by me. It means full control of the TV and quiet time. Problem? The DVR was set to record mostly his shows for 3 straight hours - 2 shows each hour. You can only record 2 shows at a time and you must be watching one them (or something already previously recorded). So I was screwed unless I wanted to watch Heroes, Prison Break, 24, etc…and I didn’t. My shows were on too damn it! You know - WifeSwap, Supernanny, Sweet Sixteen, The Hills… I like reality shows and he prefers unrealistic shows where if you save the cheerleader, you save the world. We’re a good match.
My argument was this. If he’s going to bed then he has to cancel at least one of his recordings each hour so that I can watch something I like. Seems fair right? We each get a show? Split down the middle? Apparently not. We compromised and he canceled one show. Normally I would go to the bedroom on Monday night’s because I don’t like ANY of those shows. Which I don’t complain about. He gets the living room, recliner and 50 inch TV in HD. Me? The old queen size mattress and a 19 inch TV with a remote that you have to hold in your left hand, push the numbers twice with your right index finger and jump up and down on one foot just to change the channel.
Woo Hoo! Seem fair to you?
I must say that I just discovered your site and found it quiet an amusing read and will for sure come back and read some more…
Felicity
the husband and i argue over control of the tv too. we barely watch any of the same shows…although he did watch america’s next top model with me…well, he sat next to me on the laptop while i watched…but i’ll count it!
hi! we have similar issues in our house. in fact, sometimes we crank up the old vcr to record something one of us likes while tivo is recording something for the other person (our tivo only records one thing at a time, but you can watch live tv at the same time.) and lately my husband is into dvd’s of old shows, so he watches them on the computer upstairs while i’m watching tivo downstairs. do you have a portable dvd player? they’re a lifesaver for my daughter on long car trips, but we also use it in the house as another way to let each of us watch our own thing. sometimes i’ll be watching tivo, my husband will be watching something on the vcr, and my daughter will have her headphones on watching the portable dvd. what a modern-day american family… i promise we have conversations w/ each other once in awhile, too!
It does not seem fair at all!!!! I am lucky in that I have final veto over what we watch because I love TV far more than he does… unless the football (soccer) is on, then I have two hopes: bob hope and no hope.
Hi! Hope it was ok to link to your blog. I found it a couple of days ago and enjoyed the read.
Remote Control issues…well I’d have to say I’d be sitting right between your hubby and mine as we all enjoyed Prison Break, 24 etc! I love those shows. I also enjoy SuperNanny & Wife Swap. I record those on the VCR (No DVR here in the boonies unfortunately) and watch them during the day.
As far as fairness goes though, I do agree with you that if he chooses to go to bed he should have to forfeit one of his shows so that you can enjoy the television.
Our version of compromise is that I have to find another episode of my show to dvr. For instance, MTV replays The Hills a million times a day so I usually tape it at 2am and then watch it on playback when one of his shows is taping. It works for us. Granted, it only works for shows like that, but still.
We have the same issues! You and I watch the same shows, and our hubbies watch the same shows! (You did not ruin The Hills for me, by the way — and, nope, not caught up yet at all — I just watched the one with the intern, Emily.) What about asking him to record his shows when they’re on at the later times, on the later channels? That’s what we do. I watch Ugly Betty on Thursday at 11:00 instead of 8, for eg. He tapes the 11pm Lost, etc., etc. Use those later channels!!
We have those wars too, and I’m pretty sure tomorrow I’ll have to hide the remote, becuase the Pac-10 tournament is more important than world peace.
Mostly we get along tv wise, and I’m always willing to record something that only I like to watch the next day, but all bets are off when it comes to college football. The basketball thing is new, and I don’t like it.
Welcome Felicity!! (I love that name by the way)
I do try and record my shows that are on at a different time (or replayed later like MTV stuff). Here the nightly shows are only on once! I wish things like 24 were replayed later in the evening…that would make things simpler. Usually I just try to catch up on shows in the off-season when it’s all repeats and Nate isn’t watching much. He does on occasion watch something on the computer…usually only when he had 3 shows on at once and could only watch/record 2! Glad to hear we aren’t the only ones with TV issues!!!