Early on after my stroke and it became pretty apparent that I was gonna be spending a long, long time in this wheelchair, someone asked about me (rather bluntly but honestly): ‘what’s he supposed to do all day, sit around in that wheelchair?’ Fair point, maybe a little harsh but a good question – I’d be wondering the same thing.
Since I couldn’t work anymore, I had to figure out how to fill a HUGE hole in my day. I’ve always loved watching movies and TV shows, so having a laptop computer right in front of me seven days a week allows me to do just that – a lot! I’ve been “doing” Netflix since about 2001, I think it’s a great service and their Watch Instantly option is constantly improving. After Jen and I got home from the hospital 6½ years ago, one of the first things I did was to reactivate my account. Everything, including my queue of movies, was left intact. It was weird – like nothing even happened in the past 6 months. Those were the good ol’ days, back when I had 10-15 decent movies in my queue. As of today, I have 74 titles in my list and it’s mostly a bunch of crappy movies I won’t even watch.
Using Netflix allows me watch TV shows in their entirety. I jumped in the Breaking Bad boat during its second season, watching it on Netflix allowed me to “catch up”. (Incidentally, since that show just aired it’s series finale and is over now, I need a new show to obsess over. Any ideas!?!) I also like Boardwalk Empire, Homeland, The Big C, Shameless and Nurse Jackie. Don’t laugh (like Jen did), but I actually have a spreadsheet to keep it all straight. I probably watch 4 or 5 shows a week.
Another way I like to fill the void in my day is by listening to (reading) audiobooks I’ve downloaded. My sister turned me on to Audible.com years ago and I’ve been a member ever since. With your membership, you get one book for “free” each month, so I’m constantly charging my account with additional credits! Before my stroke I liked to read occasionally, I was in no way an avid reader. Back then I read about 4-5 books a year, nowadays I read that many a month. Of course I wish I could hold and read a regular old book (sidenote: I’m really interested in those Kindle-type e-readers. Being able to hold 1,000 books in the palm of your hand is amazing to me!), but listening to an audiobook is almost better. The books are usually narrated by the author or a professional actor/narrator, making it more interesting.
So, when I’m not sitting around all day in my wheelchair doing nothing – THAT’S the kind of stuff I’m doing!
lockedinjim 
Hey – what about the hours of preparation, question composing, seating charts and planning you put into hosting the annual Trivia Night that benefits Free Wheelchair Mission??? Or the funny emails that you send to the family? Or the supportive emails? You may watch a lot of TV and read a lot of books but you certainly aren’t sitting around doing NOTHING!
Oh yeah – that stuff too!
(response to Julie)
Try Doc Martin a great British series. Also House of Cards.
Joe
I saw House of Cards – great show! I’ll check out Doc Martin.
thanks – Jim
(response to Joe)
Sounds to me your one busy man!! Isn’t technology great!
Hey Jim,
Check out Sherlock with Benedict Cumberbatch which is a BBC series also. It is fantastic. We also love Game of Thrones but I’m not sure if it’s on Netflix.
I love Sherlock – can’t wait for the next season!
Jim
(response to Kevin)
Hey Jim! Mark & I love the “Hell On Wheels” series! It’s on HBO. We also obsess over Boardwalk Empire & now we’ve started watching a new series about Masters and Johnson. It’s set in the mid 50’s & is really a hoot! Of course, there’s always an “International House Hunters” episode or 2 on our saved list and for me….”Glee”!!!
Hi! You forgot to mention a few things you do, so I thought I’d help out: You spend months working on great trivia nights for a fantastic cause. You keep up with current events—more than most people. You keep up with other people in similar positions. You volunteer your time and your privacy with students (in person) and over the web with this blog. You cheer me up when I having a bad day. And you keep Jen sane with your love and sense of humor. And a million other nice things. But as your sister, I am obligated to stop being nice to you now. Isn’t Homeland awesome?
I’m just thrilled that someone thinks I’m sane!
Nancy and I like Dexter, the eighth and final season just ended….. Funny replies Ellen and Jen, Ha
I just caught the first full season of Continuim on SciFi – it’s futuristic but still it makes you think… especially with what is going on this past week.
You’re the second person to recommend Continuum so I added it to my Watch Instantly queue – thanks for the tip Donna and Jill!
I started listening to audiobooks recently. I really enjoy them. Have you gotten them from the library yet? I’m a member of the St. Charles library too and the waiting lists are usually shorter than St. Louis County. I want to renew my card for St.Louis City so I have more options.
Love your posts Jim!
I have gotten quite a few books from the library (OverDrive), it’s a good service – I mostly use audible.com, though. I never knew you could use another distinct’s library. I just assumed you had to live within its borders.
thanks,
Jim
(response to Julie)
You can. At least with St. Louis County and St. Charles. I think you can with St. Louis too but I’m not for sure on that. With St.Louis/St. Charles I can actually check out a book in one district and return it in the other!
I’m glad I read all your replies, cause it made me wonder if the 3 new Sherlocks have come out yet, great series! I am ready to watch them all again just to get ready for the next and final 😦 three. Also, someone mentioned Continuim, we really like that one too and once again I need to check if the new season has begun. Doc Martin is also a good one, interesting British humor. Now Bob and I have actually found something good on regular TV called “Blacklist” on ch 5 Mondays at 9:00 I think. Very good and thoughtful intrigue!
Oh and Julie, I didn’t know you can check things in St.Charles and return in St.Louis and vice versa, that would be great for me since I am in both places a lot! I’m going to check into that.
So Jim, hope you got lots of good things to choose from. Donna
You’re the second person to recommend Continuum so I added it to my Watch Instantly queue – thanks for the tip Donna and Jill!