Netflix Addiction
Recently my husband and I discovered Netflix! At the touch of a button we have all the
movies and TV series we could want. We
also realized that we could watch on our laptop! So, we have devised over the course of many weekends, a system as my husband puts it. (One of his favorite words)
Let me describe in detail so you can appreciate the
situation. First, we put the laptop on a
“bed table”. I don’t really know where
it came from and I don’t ask. Next, we
have borrowed, or stolen one of the kid’s small amplifiers that they use in
their band for our surround sound effect.
We put the little table in the middle of the bed with the laptop on top.
It sits about eye level, if one is half
sitting, half lying on the bed. So we
achieve this by stacking our pillows behind us as to keep us in the right
position for optimum viewing pleasure.
Then the amp is placed behind the little table on the bed. All cables skillfully connected by my husband
and routed to the appropriate outlets.
The volume is determined by the level of noise coming from the rest of
the house. Whatever it takes to hear nothing
but the movie in play. Now it goes
without saying that we outfit ourselves in the most comfortable and unattractive
clothing we own. Next we have the
snacks. We buy and hide all our favorite snacks. Including
and not excluding the following. Pepsi
or Coke, popcorn, candy, chips, various and sundry sandwiches, assorted nuts
(for Carlos), Mexican food (Betos, carnitas only), toast and a special herbal
tea mix that I have renamed “pooping tea” which we drink after we both have
heartburn.
So, every Friday night we wait for all the kids to leave the
house. As soon as the last chick has
left the nest we spring into action.
Each of us knows our assignments.
Within 10 minutes we are poised and overwhelmed with the anticipation of
an uninterrupted few hours of watching, relaxing and snacking. We breathe a collective sigh and push play. Pure bliss it is! We dare say the outfit rivals any expensive
theatre room.
One night Carlitos (my oldest) came home early and opened
the door to find us thus perched. He
surveyed the situation, exclaimed that our sound system was in fact his, and
then shook his head and left.
In recent weeks the movie viewing has extended to Sundays as
well. We aren’t proud of this. Last Sunday Carlos discovered a TV series
(which will remain undisclosed at this time) we started with the first
episode. We were hooked. Since netflicks allows you to view a season
in one sitting, that is what we did. We
started at 5 pm and ended the season at ….yes 3 am. Pushing
pause only for bathroom breaks and restocking of snacks. I believe the kids
came in at one point, we may have talked to them, I don’t remember. For the record, I protested at about episode
6 and said we should quit and go to sleep.
But when Carlos gets focused…well you know! Those that know me, know that I can’t be left
out of the fun at any cost, so I was his
wing woman until almost dawn. After the
final show ended I said; “This is getting out of control! We have laid here for 10 hours! My back hurts and I can’t see past an arm’s
length!”
The next morning our girls called me to the kitchen. Cristal said “Mom…we need to talk. You and Dad are out of control with your
little Netflix dates. Alisa said “Ya…you
two need to get a life. Go to the gym,
take a walk, get yourselves together!”
So, we know we have a problem. We feel admitting it is
progress. However, we are not yet committed to abandoning our addiction
completely. So if you need us on Friday
or Sunday nights…forget it… unless you want us to move over and make room for
you. BYOS (Bring your own snacks)
