It's not that we lead a boring life, but there wasn't much to write about last week.  Now, with that said, I'll bet you're thinking that things must have really picked up at the old Simmons Place and we'll hear all about it! Wrong again! I thought I'd just share a little segment of "My life with Brad",or as I sometimes call my shorter versions," Life in the Twilight Zone".  It surely is a trip and one that I doubt anyone would buy tickets for!  I was scoping out the Black Friday Sales, and noticed that there were a number of places selling televisions cheaply and thought, boy howdy, I would love to replace that BIGA$$ tv in our bedroom with one from this century. I mentioned it to Brad and he thought it was a good idea as well. So, yesterday we made our usual Sunday trip to WalMart and wandered back to the electronics section to check things out.  Well, there it was- a 32" being discontinued, and priced less than the ones coming on Black Friday sales, so along with Gramma's Keebler Pecan Sandie cookies (that she eats a package a week and no other flavor or brand will do) and a few other grocery items, we added it to our cart.  Funny how these new ones weigh nothing!  I was putting the groceries away and decided to see what Brad was up to, and you got it, he was planning the removal of the old tv, which if you remember, was sitting on a mounted stand attached fairly high on our bedroom wall and purchased when we moved into the house.  The stand was constructed to hold a 150 pound tv and Brad thought he'd just take the old tv down and relocate the 2 pound new one onto the old stand.  I shared with him the fact that I wanted  the stand removed as well- it wasn't necessary. I returned to the kitchen and moments later heard something that made me RUN to the bedroom. You guessed it, clever you!  Yup, he tried to hoist that old dinosaur of a tv which was above his head off the stand and onto the floor. I arrived just in time to witness it hitting the floor, bits of  tv flying everywhere.  Silly me, I asked, "Why didn't you ask for help?" to which he replied, "I didn't think it was THAT heavy." Ok, step one completed; the old tv is off the stand. Now to remove the stand which he tried to figure out, but couldn't.  This is where (for the 100th time), I wish I had inherited my Dad's mechanical abilities, but didn't and am grateful to have a backup-  the internet!  After searching for awhile, I tracked the stand down and we figured out how to disassemble it. Step two completed.  Now to get the new one working first required attaching the stand to the screen with 3 screws.  Another trip to his truck for tools....So he gets his electric drill and wa-la, it's now atop the dresser, but I notice that it doesn't seem very stable, in fact pretty wobbly.  As he makes another trip to find an extension cord, I ask upon his return "Are you sure you got all 3 screws into that base?"  "OH, I thought there were only 2".  Back down goes the tv and amazingly, after the third screw is placed, stability resumes. Huh! After plugging everything in, he asks if I know how to get it running.
Good that one of us can read directions, get it working and adjust the picture.  This whole process took over an hour.  I said, "You sure are a lot of work"!  This morning I nearly tripped over the old one which is too heavy for him to move and will have to wait until Curt can help.  This incident comes the same week as the doctor's appointment that he was 45 minutes late for, forgetting where he was supposed to be.  Unfortunately, I knew he wasn't at the appointment, so I had some moments at work where I am sure my blood pressure was dangerously high.  He didn't understand why I was worried.....
This weekend we played bridge again on Saturday, then had dinner at Carrie and Spencer's house Saturday night.  We had a great time- good food (fajitas) and lots of laughs.  Spencer and Curt make fun of Brad (who takes it good naturedly) about his choice of beer- Old Milwaukee- and thought they might make some youtube videos....

 

 Gramma just happened to be the appropriate backdrop!

Fortunately for her, she never knew what the laughing was about as she kept occupied holding Gabi's kitten for several hours.  It'll be back to the regular family news next week.  Have a happy Thanksgiving!