"old-timers" disease

"Old-timers" disease is so commonly used as a joke if someone who is approaching their golden years - referring of course, to Altzheimers disease. Well, I don't know if it was a good example of Old-timers disease, senility, forgetfulness, stupidity, ignotance, or any number of excuses, but I have just been through what could have been an absolutely embarrassing, expensive goof. My TV is about 16 years old - a Magnavox - and it has served me well. From the day I bought it, I have always used the remote to operate it, and although it has a row of buttons across the front to make your choices (on - off - volume - etc), I have never used them. I use the remote. It was not until a couple of years ago that I even learned which button turned the power on/off. Well, late last evening, something happened, I have no idea what, but there appeared across the lower part of my screen, the letters 4 OF 10 1F. I have no idea what the letters meant, and nothing I could do made any difference. And, I could not turn the TV off. All I got was a screen full of snow, and the lettering was still there. The screen would not go blank. Everything else about the TV worked, including the mute. So, I had to leave the set on, muted, all night long. This morning I spent a long time on the phone with the Direct TV rep, and she finally told me it was not a system problem, it was a TV problem and there was nothing more she could do for me. As I said, my TV is a 16 year old Magnavox. Have you tried to find home service for that make and age of TV? No luck in the yellow pages, so I tried the Internet. And, the closest one I could find was in the Sacramento area, whick would have been 25 miles or more. About that time, Artymae came into my room, and I asked her if she had ever seen anything like what was on my TV. It only took her a couple of minutes to turn the set off with the set on/off switch, and then told me to turn it back on with the remote. Voila!! It worked and is working fine, now. If I had not asked her about it, I would probably called one of the service people off the net, and not only had the embarrassment when the told me what the problem was, but probably a "mileage" service call. See what I mean about stupidity, ignorance, or whatever. I'm just too old for these things. Remember, I'm almost 80 years old. It tales these younger people to figure things like thiis out. You know, Artymae is only 78 years old. Well, anyway, for whatever reason, I'm sure glad it was so easily and cheaply fixed.

I'm going to try something new tonight. Living in Del Webb Sun City, entitleds the resident to membership in the social club. I finally got my membership established a couple weeks ago, and tonight I am going to take advantage of it for the first time. I am going to be attending a workshop of the genealogy group. One of the other members is going to come pick me up. I am really looking forward to it. They meet evenings I think it's twice a month, and once a month they have a Sunday afternoon meeting. Unfortunately, because of the timing of the gatherings, I cannot use the Dial-a-ride, and must be dependent on some other transportation. Same problem I had in Yuba City. This was a problem I faced with the church when I decided to move to Lincoln, and I had so many promises of rides, that never materialized. I hope this works out better. I am also hoping to get involved in their Pinochle group. I really miss playing cards.. I do the best I can with the computer version, but in person is so much more fun. Sp we will see what happens tonight.

Later -