Finding Things That Were Not Lost

Originally Posted 23 January 2013

 

Late last week I finally caved in and upgraded my cable service to HD. This in itself isn’t blogworthy but the events following that mere decision guided my entire weekend. Changing was a breeze. The only pain in the ass about the whole thing should have been the fact that I had to go to the cable store to get the new HD boxes and switch them out my self. In the end, the place is on my way home for work, so it was just a matter of sitting in line at a different light to turn. My only disappointment was that they were out of HD cables, so I had to go to Wal Mart since it was the closest place. Luckily, I was in and out in record time and I even browsed around a while in the electronics section. Homeward bound now. Took a little extra time, the traffic I usually avoid was is full force now. By the time I got home it was dark, good thing because I noticed that one of my gate lights was out, it is hard to know that in the day time or when not paying attention early in the mornings. My goal right now was to get these boxes switched out. I had also bought, on black friday noless, a bigger, better, more powerful WiFi router for the house. As time has progressed it has been noticed that the current equipment wasn’t cutting it any longer. So, I figure I will do that installation as well while I am messing with everything else.

 

Switching out a cable box is pretty easy, unhook 3 wires, and plug in three different wires. That is where it stopped being easy. Four boxes switched and now I got absolutely nothing. I know a few tricks and even those were useless. I called the cable provider and we spoke for about an hour, doing much of what I had already done. Still, nothing. I spent all Saturday morning waiting for the guy. He gets there, goes thru his routine of troubleshooting and come to the conclusion that its the cable in my house, not the equipment, causing the problem. It is a signal strength issue. With digital it was no problem, but going to HD needs better cable than what I have. He leaves, still no cable. I contacted my Home Depot to find out what they had to offer and prices and then ascended into the abyss of my attic. The guy was right, the cable that was installed when my house way built 5 years ago was the cheapest crap known to mankind. Well, I am not paying the cable company to re-wire my house. So, I calculated what I needed and set off to get it. I spent 7 1/2 hours pulling new cable throughout my house, re-hooked it all back up and like a freaking miracle, it all worked great. For $323.19 and some of my time I was able to get things going.

When I was cleaning up, taking everything to my shop, I got to thinking. I am a person who does not like complications in life. I avoid them and try not to be in situations that cause them. Sure, I could have paid that technician price x to come back a different day to do what I did. But why? This way I know that if something is messed up it is my fault and now I don’t have to wonder what was actually done. It was really not a big deal, it was however, tedious and time consuming. I had the time. Really I did, I have a boring life. As I put my tools away I remembered that light that needed some attention. I hopped on my four wheeler and took off for the front gate. Again, seeing it up close, a simple switch with a new bulb and it was good as new. Get the mail and head back to the shop. I was reminded in my rambled thinking that I don’t even watch that much on the t.v. and that I could personally care less if it worked or not. But, being the husband and father that I am my family depends on me to keep things in working order so their lives are not interrupted. I get it. Since my chores are done I think I will work on cleaning up my shop a bit.

 

After we ate dinner we all dispersed our different directions. Kids went one way, my wife another, and I was left sitting in the kitchen. There weren’t that many dishes to do so I went ahead and squared that away. As I wandered around the house I see my daughter laying on her bed watching the t.v., my son doing the same, and my wife was in the bathtub soaking while she listened to her show. I went back to the kitchen, finished my glass of water, then I sat in the living room staring at the t.v. that I never turned on. It had a beautiful picture. As I sat there I realized there was so much more I could be doing besides what I was doing, but the peace and quiet was real nice. I decided while I was on the couch staring out into space that I didn’t like the attic stairs I had, nor did I really care for how my attic was finished. I am thinking I want to seal up that hole in the ceiling and put in a stair case in another location. Perhaps even finish off the attic space to be used for something different than just being a void space. I wonder how long this will take. Matters not in the end, seems my time is always my time. This is good, I was looking for another big project for my son and I.

Its hard to miss something when you don’t hold it so dear. I found what I was looking for and it was never lost. I have a happy family and I know I had a little bit to do with it. Its good to find those things which were not lost.