A Summer Without Television

Can I tell you something crazy that I'm considering? You've probably already guessed it from the title (at least I'd hope so), but I'm thinking about going the entire summer without television. I know, it's crazy. Especially when you're as poor as I am. Why would I throw away such an affordable source of entertainment, and for an entire summer no less? A week, sure. But the entire summer? Now, that's crazy. But hear me out.

TV has always had the absurdly cliche zombifying effect on me. As soon as my eyes lock on to the screen, I'm dead to the world, focused wholly on whatever program is playing. Forgetting eating brains, mine drops out of my head the second that flickering box turns on. Even when I try to avoid it I can't seem to break away. My husband watches several programs I'm not interested in, so I will purposely leave the room and attempt to entertain myself elsewhere. And yet, some problem will require me to enter the living room, pass by that flickering screen and BOOM! I'm stuck like a fly to molasses. Even though it's a show I don't even want to watch.

It's not just that TV turns me into a mindless zombie, it's also a huge time suck. I'll sit down to watch one show, just one I promise myself, then I'll look up and realize it's getting dark out. An entire day will have passed me by and I'll have nothing to show for it. Books lie unread on my night table, edits remain untouched on my desk. And all just to watch shows I've already seen.

So, that brings me to the logical conclusion. Just turn it off and don't turn it back on again until fall, when winter is bearing down on us and I'll need the escape of TV. Think of how much I could accomplish if I just shut the damn thing off. Not to mention, all those summer shows I love. I could watch them in the fall when there would be no horrible, week to week waiting. It would be my reward for a well used summer.

What do you think? Do you have a zombifying time suck making off with the better part of your days and evenings? How do you make the best use of your time?

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Zombies

Welcome to Friday and another edition of Five Sentence Fiction. If you'd like to learn more, or perhaps give it a try yourself, please visit Lillie McFerrin Writes. This week's prompt is zombies, and I have to admit, it was difficult for me. Not because I don't love zombies. I do. I greatly enjoy anything zombie related! (Although the subject of zombies does often give me nightmares) No, the reason I found this week's challenge so, well... challenging, was because I already wrote about zombies with a different prompt. So, I had to take a moment and really embrace my imagination to come up with something new and exciting for you. I hope you enjoy the result.

Her stomach gurgled, echoing loudly in the quiet study hall. A few people looked up from their books, gazing curiously in her direction as she placed a hand on her stomach. No matter what she ate lately nothing seemed to satisfy her... nothing, that is, except raw meat... dripping, bloody meat. Worst of all, her hunger was getting worse. It wasn't just raw meat anymore. Things were starting to look good... even while they were still alive...

Happy Friday, everyone! (inject evil laughter here) That was especially hard to keep to five sentences, there's a lot more story to be told. If you're still jonesing for more Five Sentence Fiction, just check out the links below. If you particularly liked this one, I hope you'll share it with friends. And if you particularly like me, or my blog, I hope you'll find me on twitter @MelanieKCole and/or follow this blog! Have a great weekend, everyone!

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Awkward
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Memories
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Faces
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Blush
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Orange (The other Zombie story)