Six months ago, I moved from Spokane, Washington to Oroville, California to intern for a church.

I put my trust in God now, and not money (I kind of have to, because as an intern, I don't make a wage; I humbly rely on pledges and the provisions the church has given me). As such, I can't afford cable. Where I live now, the only TV reception I can get is Fox, MyNetworkTV and some religious UHF station. Everything else either has excruciatingly bad reception, or doesn't come in at all. So I choose to not even bother watching TV.

And while I miss being able to sit down and flip on the tube to see what's on Comedy Central, MSNBC or the hundreds of other channels I had, I've found bliss in being oblivious to the new shows on television.

I've been known as a pop culture buff for quite a few years. While I can kick many a butt at "Shout About" or "Trivial Pursuit" games, it also kind of bothered me that people always looked to me to know who was on a particular TV show, or what year such-and-such movie came out. They knew of my media smarts, but turned a blind eye to other things in which I was well-versed.

So when I'm out somewhere now and people bring up a game show, reality show or drama that premiered in the last six months and I have no idea what they're talking about, it kind of feels good. I enjoy not knowing these things.

Don't get me wrong - I'm not turning into one of those "oh, I don't watch TV" snobs; I still love TV. I brought down most of my TV DVDs and have introduced my roommates to shows like Cheers, Arrested Development, Curb Your Enthusiasm and Freaks And Geeks. I'm not even saying that when I get back into a steady income I won't reacquire cable.

I'm just saying it's good for me to take a nice break from the airwaves.

What a nice post, Brad. You sound so happy, content and I pray, healthy. There was a related thread recently that addressed what you're referring to. The article is a bit out there (with all due respect to Zoneboy); however, it made some excellent points. I think many of the same arguments can be made for the Internet, and, as you and I have discussed privately, politics. I guess too much of anything is not a good thing.

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=210208&highlight=idiot

Thanks, Janice. I'm doing great, and I hope you are, too. I'm happier than I've been in years, I've lost a lot of weight, (see below) and my relationship with God hasn't been better. I'm closer to him than I have been in years.

I'll try and check in more often 'round here. I still love you guys.

Here's a camera phone picture I took of myself a few days ago.

Hope all is going well for you!!! I can see your view on not watching tv as much as you did before. It is funny, when we are denied something for whatever reason, we don't die, we don't suffer, we just "learn to do without". And you just proved to yourself that tv isn't all that important now. Not to say you won't ever watch it again, but because of the limited choices you have, you have found other things in your life that you can put your mind and attention to.

Here's a camera phone picture I took of myself a few days ago.
As Larry David would say on Curb Your Enthusiasm, "Looking good, pretty pretty good." ;)

God bless you, Brad! What kind of internship are you doing? Do you work with the youth, elders, or what? Keep us posted. :D

I'm certainly glad things are going well for you Brad! Congrats!

im glad to hear things are going so well for you brad

Well done!;)

I haven't had cable in going on a year and a half now. I agree. I'm actually happier without it.

Mostly it was the commercials and the negativity that got me down. That's now out of my life. In fact, I'm also hanging out with a lot more positive people.

Things only just get better!

I can't see myself ever owning cable again. Internet is fine. Television was stressing me out. But that's just me.

I like television. I don't watch much, though... just the occasional show before/in bed and some DVDs.

As Larry David would say on Curb Your Enthusiasm, "Looking good, pretty pretty good." ;)
Thanks. It's an experiment in letting my hair grow long. :)God bless you, Brad! What kind of internship are you doing? Do you work with the youth, elders, or what? Keep us posted. :D
It's a one-year live-in internship, although I'm probably going to extend mine, since our church just started a school of ministry last month and I'd like a whole year of it, as it's pretty good stuff.

I mostly work media - designing the church slideshow and bulletins, as well as various signs and flyers. I'll be working on our website soon, and re-launching our CD ministry.

I started working with youth last month, and we'll be starting a young adult (18-30) service later this month I hope to be heavily involved in.