Why you always Reminiscing?

The Remote

Sometime during my freshman or sophomore years in high school I was hanging out with my buddy Derek at his house. He had this sweet basement with a pool table, dart board, big screen TV and sectional couches with recliners. We usually spent time watching any of the Rocky, Rambo (Derek was a HUGE Sylvester Stallone fan) or Godfather movies and playing pool. Derek's pool table was pretty old and somehow the center of the table was lower than the sides. So when you tried to make a shot you would have to also factor in the slant of the sides of the table. One day we were down there hanging out and playing pool. Derek and I were pretty evenly matched when we played pool, however he was a little better than me. So when I had a chance to win I really had to focus hard, and try to make every shot. We were near the end of a 7 game series, and I had a pretty easy shot in front of me. I really wanted to make the shot because I had missed a few close ones previously, and was probably going to lose if I missed. I lined up the shot, and struck the cue ball. It sped across the table, missed it's mark, bounced off the rail hit the eight ball, which then dropped in a side pocket. I had lost. I was so close, and then to lose the game all in one shot made me pretty frustrated. So I did what any teenager would have done in my case. I took the pool cue, intending to vent my frustration on the couch, which would be alleviating and harmless at the same time. My target (the couch) was a dark blue, and the room lighting was poor. So when I loaded up to take an overhead axe style swing at the couch, I didn't notice the 10 inch Mitsubishi big screen multifunction remote control. About halfway through the down swing I finally did notice it, but it was too late to stop the swing. I remember thinking "Oh s**t! what did I just do?!?". The cue stick struck the remote very near the center with a sharp crack. Pulverized... well actually it didn't even break all the way in half, but needless to say it was irreparable. We thought about trying to duct tape it back together, but it was like trying to put back together a smashed egg. Initially I thought, "oh great that's going to setme back $50, but having no money, it meant a boat load of chores for the next few weeks. However, a few days later I was shocked to find out that, not only was the TV incompatible with universal remotes, but a new one would cost $300!!! For the next few months I was barred from Derek's house. Until Christmas came when I got a brand new Mitsubishi remote, which I then gave to Derek's Dad.
Years later I heard the story from Derek's dad point of view. I can't remember exactly how it went but it involved Derek, very carefully presenting the broken remote to him like it was a wounded animal.  
From then on, whenever I saw Felipe (Derek's Dad), I got to hear about how destructive I was, it's always a good laugh.

posted by Dave @ 11:46 AM