So tonight I was walking from the kitchen to the guest room – where I had big plans for folding clothes and watching the State/Vandy basketball game – and I realized that pretty much anytime I get ready to commit to the night’s TV viewing spot, I always take three things with me.
(And please notice how I very lovingly placed these three things on a throw before I took their picture. I wanted them to be comfortable.)
(After all, they’re family.)

1. Mississippi State stadium cup – because I like to have ice cubes in my presence at all times, and a stadium cup is the perfect size
2. Mentholatum – because I have a deep and abiding fear of needing to soothe my chapped lips but not having lip balm handy
3. My phone – because I find that reality shows and sporting events are infinitely more enjoyable when accompanied by some quality texting
What about y’all? Do you have any “comfort items” that you like to have at the ready when you’re watching TV? Or just stuff that you always take with you when you move from room to room? Or am I just strange?
You don’t have to tell me if it’s that last thing.
Really. You don’t. Promise.
The end.



I always, ALWAYS, have my laptop in front of me (I’d hate to miss a groundbreaking tweet!)and a bottle of water because I’m always thirsty.
It seems that lately I must always have a VERY LARGE piece of chocolate cake whenever I sit down at the computer. Must.
1)a beverage–usually Dr. Pepper or water
2)lip balm
3)air conditioner remote–since we don’t have central air here in Singapore and each room has its own, I need to be able to turn it off and on as it gets too chilly. I cannot be bothered to get up to do that. :-)
Interesting trio…
1. sketchbook and pencil
2. water…or my venti Starbucks mug filled with coffee and milk
3. magazine to browse when the TV show is boring…but I am too lazy to change channels (or MacDaddy is watching Top Gear!)
I love Homestyle Popcorn. It is the best ever.
I also love mentholatum, but not necessarily for tv viewing. :) My grandma used it often and the smell reminds me of her.
LOL
drink, cell, lip balm
steff
I have a zip-up fleece that I wear (nearly) year-round (thank you, pacific northwest). I always have the following in my pockets of the fleece: keys, blistex, cell phone, and a couple hair bands and barrettes. It would be a tragedy if any one of those things was missing.
A book – with a few exceptions (Crimson Tide football and The Office), I always read when I am watching TV.
I love to have a crossword puzzle nearby. (Got that from my daddy.) Used to have a cup of ice with me ALWAYS. Now I don’t crave the ice chompin’ (as my mama calls it) like I used to. I’d always heard you crave ice when your iron is low, but didn’t think that was my problem. 7.7 is pretty low. Iron pills do the trick! I’m not saying you have to have your iron checked. Just sharin’ here.
I usually watch an old ER rerun on DVD during nap and quiet time in the afternoon. I always grab both remotes, the phone and cuddle under the quilt I made. If I don’t take the phone it WILL ring and I’ll have to un-cocoon to get it.
I love to have either water or Diet Coke nearby. Also my entourage – the dogs and cats. Their choice. Not mine.
Lightweight throw (unless it’s really cold, then my heavyweight throw – or my robe turned backwards to simulate a snuggie); tall water; and my laptop – especially while watching sporting events – surfing fills in the gaps in the action!
Geaux Saints! Who Dat?
Always have my iphone…(it’s like a grown up pacifier)
Always have some kind of lip gloss (Bare Minerals Buxom or Clinique Tenderheart
Always have my Tervis Tumbler LOL (smeared with lipgloss…)
sandi
http://emptynestart.wordpress.com/
When it’s time for some TV, I always take a big glass of water, A bag of Hot Tamales, & a Dark Chocolate Toblerone Bar with me.
I have to try to get my allotted glasses of water in, but I can’t drink without having something to eat. I think I cancel out the nutritional value of the water though.
I have to keep myself occupied if it’s a close game- or especially if it’s an important game (rankings at stake, etc) so I personally keep a couple of batches of clothes to fold until game night. It keeps my hands occupied when I get nervous! Please do not be mistaken and think that I will NOT have a batch or two of clothes to fold this Sunday- low and behold- in case you didn’t hear- the Saint’s made it to the Super Bowl! Who ever thought? It makes my South Louisiana self proud!
Carmex, Macbook, cell phone, house phone and drink. I suppose I should use a backpack or something.
I have that very same cup! Actually I have about 10 of them! And I always keep one beside me full of water. I have one about 10 inches from this computer right now. I put the MSU cup beside my bed at night, in my cup holder in my van, nearby where ever I am sitting in the house, and beside the sink when I am cleaning up the kitchen (6 times a day!). Love those MSU cups! They fit perfectly in my cupholder in my van, and that makes me happy!
From the time I wake up until about 10:00 AM, I keep a cup of coffee along with the MSU cup of water.
My phone also accompanies me all day…for texting and playing Words With Friends!
Have a great day!
I always have my iPhone and a diet coke with me pretty much at all times.
Your post made me laugh because for the first 3-4 months of having Harper home when pretty much all I did was feed her on the couch – I had this whole station set up at all times of a burp cloth, my laptop, my phone, the remote, a diet coke, and the boppy. It was always ready for me to go! :-)
Lip Balm, comfy throw aqua w/brown dots, my puppy on the couch beside me. Gotta have it.
I’m with you. My blackberry and I are joined at the hip, haha!! :) It’s probably an unhealthy attachment nonetheless, LOL!
BooMama, what Southern Gal says is true — a woman’s obsession with chomping ice can be an indicator of low iron levels. And neither is it good for your teeth. I’m just sayin’.
For TV viewing, I always have something to drink — usually water, but sometimes Dr. Pepper on ice — in my Virginia Tech tumbler. Also catalogues, magazines, one of my Mom’s handmade throws, and often-but-not-always, popcorn.
Oh! And floss. We keep it handy in the end table drawer. ;-)
Cellphone. Blanket. The end :)
Stadium cups really are the perfect size. I have fond childhood memories of scouring empty stadiums for cups. There were five kids in my family, so you can only imagine how many we ended up with! (Maybe I should be embarrassed that we did that?)
My red blanket, warm 17lb cat Louie, tv control and Nestle Pure life Raspberry water.
1. Laptop – especially to IMDB stuff and find out who, when, what …
2. Lip Balm
3. A pad of paper and pen, in case inspiration strikes or I need to make a list.
1. phone
2. diet mt. dew
3. notebook
A 20oz bottle of Diet Coke and another one just like it for back up.
I thought I was crazy for doing this. I need any type of chapstick by me at all times. And lately tissues. My nose has had a mind of its own. Oh, and hand lotion. Wintertime.
iPhone.
That’s all I need…
This SO reminds me of when I was nursing when my daughter was really little. I would have the remote, the phone, some water, my laptop, a burp cloth, a pacifier, and usually my camera all stacked somewhere near me before I would sit down to nurse. Had to have all of them.
Now I have very little by me because she’s a toddler and whatever I have she steals/breaks/wants/etc. :)
When watching TV, I love to have:
1. A cozy blanket. (Fleece if on the couch, electric if in bed.)
2. My hair pulled up in a hair tie.
3. A remote control.
My phone, a blanket and my corn bag (cuz I’m always cold).
What’s that? You wanna know what a corn bag is? Ok I’ll tell you. It’s a fabric bag filled with deer (feed) corn. Heated in the microwave for 2 minutes makes you toasty warm for 1-2 hours. :D
xoxo~Trina
1.soda
2.cell phone
3.piece of chocolate
I know that the soda a chocolate are terrible at night, but it is a must, so oh well. :) As for the cell phone, that is just incase I become important at night, otherwise it is my alarm clock.
Oh my gosh! The mentholatum!! My husband is a major devotee of the mentholatum-he likes it just under his nose for easy breathing! Ha!
My trio is usually on the night stand, which my husband lovingly refers to as “Aisle 3” since you can pretty much find whatever you need there.
1. A drink with lots of ice (usually Sprite Zero)
2. A book or magazine. Turns out I can’t even focus on a TV show any more.
3. Two baby monitors. The only time I get to watch is when the littles are asleep!
I carry my iphone and a glass of water with me everywhere! I can’t even go to bed without either.
Never having been a fan of packing light, I drag from room to room all day my:
laptop, cell phone, house phone, pepsi with ice in a glass, packet of m&ms, magazine and a book. And my reading glasses.
A throw and usually a drink of some kind.
I had no idea that so many people had the same “issues” that I have with this! I ALWAYS have my iphone with me! And my laptop…and a cup of ice! (I really do have low iron!)
I feel like a freak – I don’t bring anything with me to watch tv. I just plop down and watch tv. Never thought much about it til now.
I try not to eat anything after dinner, don’t have a fear of being without lip balm and I leave my phone in the car when I get home from work (but mine is just a phone for talking and texting – I don’t have a fancy, internet-using kind).
But don’t worry, my hubby always has an MSU cup with Diet Coke nearby!
I ALWAYS have a Tervis tumbler with either Diet Mt. Dew or sweet tea in it and my Blackberry!! Those two things cannot be farther than 5 feet away from me at all times! I absolutely can’t miss a tweet! :)
Cup of coffee–doesn’t matter which cup, tho today I am using my cup from the Great Hills retreat about 10 years ago in Austin, where I met Elisabeth Elliot face to face. Beth Moore was there and spoke on “The eternal God is your refuge and underneath are the everlasting arms.” Deut 33:27 That is written on the cup or I wouldn’t have remembered.
Got off Off track! Also? I usually have knitting in my hands, esp if we are watching 24! Click Click Click Click!
Gotta have my cell phone!
Cell phone, since it’s our home phone
Tumbler of ice water, mainly ice
Peanuts if available
Something to read
Okay, so ever since I got the iPhone, it goes everywhere with me. It is truly sad. Sad, sad, sad. It goes to bed with me. (This might be justified by the fact that I don’t have a land-line, so if a stranger breaks in overnight, I’ll need the phone right by so I can call for help. It has nothing to do with checking FB one more time before bed…) But then, I always have a drink with me, because I guess I’m terrified of getting thirsty, and I always have the remote controls (my kitchen/living room-not if I go in the bedroom).
Um….Diet Coke, and then maybe another Diet Coke for when I run out, and then a bag of plain Ruffles Reduced Fat chips (the others are too greasy now) with Abe’s BarBQue Sauce from Clarksdale, Mississippi (No it can not be beat) and that is slathered on the chips,mmmmmmmmmm. And this sweatshirt that needs to be trashed but too many memories and it still works!:) Sad life I lead!:)
Hmmm… My phone, my iPod touch, my laptop, a peanut butter chocolate chip chewy bar, and a glass of water. :) Odd combo… but I feel empty without them :P
i love these kinds of topics! i love learning about other peoples’ quirks!
my list would be: phones; laptop; glasses; “the spiral notebook”, which is my planner, calendar, scratch paper, idea book and journal all in one; water or diet coke in a glass-glass–i am NOT a fan of plastic mismatched cups in my cupboards, but i live with it for my man. :0) oh–and some other project like laundry or work or crafts. i’m not happy unless i’m doing at least two things at once.
i have to say, i’m really surprised by how many people listed lip balm! i tend to only use that at night.
I have to take my cell from room to room with me :)
So glad it is not just ME with The Stuff.
I have:
1. Big glass of water.
2. Sunflower seeds (ending with salty; not sweet as per your advice in past blog)
3. laptop
4. (This is pitiful): electric afghan. (And I have another one for my “quiet time” chair). Memaw likes to stay warm while viewing “The Office” and “American Idol”.
5. Christmas Cookie scented Yankee candle
(And I’m really embarrassed that this list contained 5 things.)
(Even tho I’m probably leaving a few things out.)
I have a little ritual – must change into either my flannel jammy pants or my velour lounge pants. Must have my big soft brown fleecy blanket. Must have control of the remote. Must have feet ensconced in slippers tucked neatly under blanket.
On a good night, I’m accompanied by a big bowl of buttery popcorn – the real stuff. Or a big mug of decaf chai tea.
THEN I can settle in for a night of DVR’ing thru the commercials :)
Give me some water and my lap top and a blanket, and I am one happy camper! I’m all nestled in already to watch “The Office” and “30 Rock”…oh ya! I might add some Blue Bell mint choc chip ice cream to the mix tonight just to celebrate a great TV night.
whatever book i’m currently reading – to fill commercial break time, the phone, the remote and a snack!
I don’t think you will be highly surprised by this….but it brings me great joy to tweet during fab shows such as American Idol. The “conversation” is priceless.
And, i’m a sucka for a good stadium cup.
a coke. the real thing.
the remote.
my cell phone.
My Bible.
My Journal & a pen.
My snoopy blanket.
My Macbook.
My heating pad.
My hubby calls where i sit my nest!!
I so agree with you. Before I can be truly comfortable settling down for some evening TV watching, I MUST have my large glass of ice water or seltzer, my little dish of sunflower seeds,a paperplate to catch the shells, and my container of jelly beans. I cannot be comfy without these. I just can’t imagine watching the Batchelor without my TV watching stuff. Loved the post.
Didn’t it used to be Carmex (the stuff with the yellow lid) or have you always been a Menthalatom girl? :-)
I need glasses, since I am old. And….. hummm. I never watch tv, but I did watch the last 8 minutes of that game. Hate the Dawgs could not pull it off.
wow, cannot believe all the cell phone addiction out there! I keep mine mostly in the car since it’s only for emergencies or the occasional call(no kids or hubby now). I don’t even text. I do keep my reading glasses, some kind of diet drink, my knitting and my lap top next to my recliner, oh and the remote. Also, every chair/sofa has it’s own comfy throw—but this is in Alaska and we use them all year long. I really can’t imagine being so dependent on my cell phone. I guess it’s different if you have small children. I just have no desire to chat away on the phone when shopping or out in public.
I’m with The Gang’s Momma!! to a T! i could also put moroccan spiced infusion tea as another choice along with the decaf chai. and a glass of water for the salty popcorn. That’s for TV. When I’m reading, salty sunflower seeds are a must, so i can suck on the salty flavour (i like dill pickle – yes i’m canadian), then crack em open with my teeth, fill up a bag with the shells and make my mom crazy. for those you gotta have a glass of ice and something else, cuz those are REAL salty! oh i’m making myself want all that and I’m at work now! bye!
I don’t so much bring things with me as place them in strategic places around the house:
Burt’s Bees Lip Balm: in four places
Revlon nail file, because a jagged edge makes me INSANE: in four places
Hand cream: in five places…and I’m considering more.
These three things keep me from clenching my teeth. I love them…