The following hi-larious post is from my bloggy friend and sisterchick, Mary at Giving Up on Perfect…
“Hey, Mary, will you buy us a six pack? I think you’d pass for 21.”
I was such a goody two shoes that I was more shocked that my classmate bothered to ask than the fact that she was looking for a buyer. After all, you kind of expect some peer pressure when you’re young, don’t you?
Tight-rolling your pants.
Wearing clear mascara and Exclamation to the school dance.
Sneaking in after curfew.
Being mean to the new kid.
Letting a cute boy smoke in your parents’ car.
Letting your friends copy your homework.
Learning all the words to every single Salt ‘n’ Pepa song.
These issues weren’t easy to navigate, though some were easier to resist than others – but it’s all part of the growing up package.
Little did I know that peer pressure isn’t just for kids.
Recently I’ve flashed back to those tumultuous years as I’ve been pummeled with pressure from those who are supposed to love and accept me. I opened my heart and shared intimate details with those closest to me, and they responded with scoffing laughter, pointing fingers and stinging judgment.
I don’t have DVR. (I still use a VCR.) And my friends are raking me over the coals for this!
Seriously. I am getting harassed in every medium: e-mail, Twitter, Facebook, blog comments, even Skype! No place [online] is safe. I’m starting to fear leaving the house turning on my computer.
Sure, it’s a well-documented fact that I watch a LOT of television. I’m not saying it’s a spiritual gift or anything, but it’s what I’ve got. And, okay, so I have this rule about not turning on the TV until my daughter is in bed, despite my Central Standard Time situation. And FINE, I’ve had to resort to a spreadsheet to coordinate my methods of TV viewing.
But is there really anything wrong with using the tools available to me without further investment? I feel pretty committed with my VCR and my Hulu.com. Do I really need to take the next step, take this relationship I have with my TV to the next level?
Well, I certainly do if you ask my [so-called] friends. Friends who say things like, “How can you even LIVE without DVR?” or “Oh my gosh, I’d just DIE without a DVR.” or “Huh. I thought you were a real TV fan. Guess not.” or “You are a walking, talking TIVO commercial, proving why every person needs DVR.”
Pshaw, I say. Or, perhaps, hmph. Possibly even, grrrr.
What you will not hear me say – EVER – is, “You were right. I’m getting DVR tomorrow.”
Chalk it up to my stubborn nature. Just like Birkenstocks will never (NEVER) grace my feet and just like you will never (EVER!) see me use the ridiculous phrase, “LOL,” I will never give in to this fad! This silly trend! This . . .
Okay. Hmm. FINE.
I can’t wait for the day a thin black box arrives at my house, promising to record every episode of Chuck and Modern Family it can find, vowing to leave no rerun of Will & Grace behind, swearing allegiance to every single geeky show I adore and pledging to show no judgment for those guilty pleasures.
Until then, though, my VCR and I are doing just fine, thankyouverymuch.
Do you have DVR? What shows do you consider must-see (or must-record)? Will you still be my friend if I refuse to break up with my circa-1989 VCR?
Mary can’t decide what she’s looking forward to the most this fall: season premieres of her favorite shows or quitting her day job to freelance. If only “freelance” meant “get paid to watch TV;” then she wouldn’t have to choose. Mary blogs about her imperfect life at Giving Up on Perfect, writing about family, faith, books, food, celebrity look-alikes and chick flicks. You know, the important stuff.
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