Sunday, January 27, 2013

Remote

I feel like the "I've Dropped The Remote And I Can't Pick It Up" tee-shirt wearer, only worse!  Our television's Universal Remote is starting to break and I'm a bit freaked out about it.

And by "starting to break" I mean it doesn't work when it's in my husband's hand.  For the life of him, he can NOT get the remote to turn "Off".  It turns "On" just fine for him-- With the touch of one glorious "universal" button, we hear three small clicks indicating the flat screen, cable box and DVD player are all "On" and working perfectly.  But turning it "Off" is simply not in his powers.

He's changed the Remote's four batteries three times... talked to it... cursed at it... shaken it... tapped it in the palm of his hand repeatedly, cursed some more, and pushed, pushed, pushed the "Off" button-- And nothing!

Me?  One click and the deed is done.  The TV equipment is "Off" and I'm on my way.

What's wrong with that picture?  Husband has never been "Off button challenged" in the past, it only started about a month ago.  I've tried telling him to use his "On" finger, which works perfectly fine,  to turn the stuff "Off" but no luck.  I'm at a loss.  So is he.

The idea of getting a new Universal Remote is daunting.  There is no way I will EVER be able to program it myself which makes for a bit of an expense to hire someone to do it for me... Here in Los Angeles that'll run about $300 for a house call plus the new Remote!

So, do I buy a new Universal Remote and make husband's life easier or do I tie garlic around his neck to ward off evil Universal Remote spirits?  I'd really like to avoid the cash payout so I'm open to suggestions?

What do you think?
Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com  -  Joanna Jenkins
Photo Credit: © antonbrand - Fotolia.com

27 comments:

  1. I've got no great idea, but I'm thinking how strange this is. It's usually the other way around - works for the males, not the females.
    Maybe this is a good experience for him!

    ReplyDelete
  2. He could always just mute it but leave it on until you are available with your magic touch, to turn it all off.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Can he not just walk over to the machines when he's done and manually turn them off? How hard is that?

    ReplyDelete
  4. If you had an 8 year old handy they could probably figure out the answer for you. At least that has been my experience with kids and remotes...any time I can't work it they can.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Until you said you were able to turn it off, I thought maybe your remote lost its code and needed to be reprogrammed. We just did that with ours and nothing, so we think it's dead. Sigh. My only thought is he has some sort of electrical interference being transferred through his body. Street lights go off when my husband walks under them. It's weird. Maybe a similar phenomenon. Could you buy a new remote and have your husband program it? Otherwise I vote for the manual turn off idea (although that could cause your remote to go wonky) or the mute idea is good too.

    ReplyDelete
  6. ha shay might be on to something there...$300 to program a remote...i am in the wrong field of business jj...smiles...

    ReplyDelete
  7. My suggestion - drop cable and get him blogging, read more books, play board games.
    I think the button is wearing out and you just have the right touch.
    Secret Agent Woman had a good suggestion too - just walk over and turn it off on the actual equipment.

    ReplyDelete
  8. It might be cheaper to get a new husband. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  9. I'd go for the garlic. Never know; might do the trick.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Thats so strange! I say make it a challenge and work on getting a new one. It could be adventurous and romantic. Or where is Godson? Kids are great at figuring things out.,

    ReplyDelete
  11. I'm really not comfortable with electronics but I'd buy a new remote, lol!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I'm with secret agent woman...it's time he got a little exercise!

    ReplyDelete

  13. Sounds like his "electrical" field is off. Give my mom a perfectly good wrist watch and it will stop running in two or three days!! Questions of the universe!! Ha
    Hugs
    SueAnn

    ReplyDelete
  14. Wow, a man that the remote doesn't fully work for - he may need to have his Karma juju worked on, haha. And 300 to have a new one programmed, yikes, I'd say send him to physical therapy to get his remote off fingers working properly it might be cheaper. Hugs my friend!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Oh dear. We finally GOT one a few months ago and we all love that remote so much.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Or he could resort to turning off the three remotes for the devices.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Yes, I have so many it's not worth trying to figure them all out. Music please :-)

    ReplyDelete
  18. Ya could lay hands on it and exorcise the dang demons outta the thing or hire a kid for the price of a Happy Meal to program a new one.

    'Just sayin'.....

    I'm thinkin' we need to sell the Ponderosa and move to LA...Heeehehehe!!!

    Have a blessed day sweetie and good luck with both the remote and the hubs! :o)

    ReplyDelete
  19. Try the garlic -- it's more entertaining! ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  20. Some people just have the magic fingers and some do not. I think the magic has left his fingers....try sprinkling some fairy dust on him....

    ReplyDelete
  21. lol, that is just the craziest thing!

    ReplyDelete
  22. So, you are saying there is nothing wrong with the remote, just that each person using the remote has different experiences using it. It does not sound like you need a new remote. And by the way, you would be able to program a new universal remote, it is not difficult at all.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Too funny. My husband walks into the room, sits in his chair and the remote turns the TV on without him touching it. Don't know how he does it and neither does he. Dianne

    ReplyDelete
  24. Joanna, hi I would try the garlic...I am usually the one having the trouble with the remotes and I am one of those channel surfers and never find anything to watch. I think the kid for a happy meal would probably work too. hugs to you, think of you often.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Hmmm, that is strange. Did you come up with a solution? I'd probably just turn it off manually. My remote works and that's how I do it half the time, anyway.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Strange that the off button is wearing out but not the on button. I think that smaller fingers just have a more precise pressure on a smaller area and that's what a worn down button needs... maybe. Let him try with his pinky.

    ReplyDelete
  27. OK I am with your husband on this one. I have the same trouble with remotes. They will not work for me at all. I just give up. I am not that clever at operating anything remotely technical and that includes pressing buttons.

    I am not sure if you have heard of the Tropfest Short Film Festival (I think they may have them now in NY too) but I watched one film this morning called 'Remote'. It didn't win but it is pertinent to your post lol. There are some others that are really good too.

    Remote Trofest Short Film finalist

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for stopping by and commenting, I really appreciate it.