Television is the devil!!!
I have had a TV for about 3 weeks and I am convinced that it is the devil. I have a screenplay and stage play that both need to be finished and I cannot stop watching TV. As I write I am watching the rerun of the 500th show of Tyra. Yeah, that’s right… Tyra! Some might argue my brain is leaking from my ears right now. No disrespect to Tyra but I hardly think I am her um… targeted demographic. It has taken me 10 minutes to write just these few sentences. I would count the number of sentences I’ve written but then I couldn’t watch Tyra.
Money is tight. Since I’ve moved to Los Angeles my lifestyle has undergone a serious make under. Yep, a make under. Where as I used to spend the weekend with friends shopping, having drinks and going to dinner I now count how much I spent in the grocery store, rent movies and surf the net in the library and pray I can make my rent and car note at the end of each month. I can’t tell you the last time I bought shoes or a purse and when I do manage to go out to dinner or a movie with friends it is either their treat or very very cheap.
I am lucky. I have a great group of friends and a very supportive family. My family is not wealthy so I had no trust fund to support my move cross country but my father once told me that if he had 50 cents I’ve got half of it. My friends help me when family cannot whether it’s listening to me bitch about being broke and somewhat lonely in an unfamiliar city or loaning me money when the bills are due. I would list all the people that I owe right now but then my other creditors would get jealous.
Okay, now I am watching Jon Stewart and The Daily Show and it is now 1:07 AM PST. I should be going to sleep but I want, need, to finish this blog. I need to prove to myself I can get it done in spite of this devilish TV. I didn’t come to Los Angeles to watch TV, I came to make TV… and films for that matter! I MUST MAINTAIN MY FOCUS!!!
A sane person would say just throw the damned thing out but I can’t… my TV was a gift from my cousin Mickie and her husband. Besides, I love the damned thing. I love Law and Order SVU and Criminal Intent. I am addicted to anything on TLC and Bravo, specifically Jon and Kate plus 8 and Top Chef Chicago and any documentary on A&E and PBS. Okay, I don’t have cable now but a girl can dream can’t she?! Most importantly, I am lonely and broke and the TV is always free. The TV talks to me, lulls me to sleep and provides a glimpse into other peoples lives. It also provides information and entertainment. So is TV really that bad, is it really the devil?
Well it is if you’re a writer who has moved to LA to make TV.
