DVD Player Saga and Q's

7 or 8 years ago we got an Apex DVD player on Black Friday. We didn't use it much until Alan was little. We ended up getting a second DVD/VHS player and using it more until it broke 7 months after we got that on another BF deal. When we got it repaired, we put the Apex in the living room and the other one in the bedroom.

Now the Apex randomly freezes and then skips. It happens on new and old DVD's, so it isn't caused by scratches or dirt on the DVD that we can tell. Since we have no idea how to fix it (or if it is worth it), we bid on a Cyberhome DVD player on eBay as Cyberhome's were supposedly good on burned DVD's.

Well after a long delay and no response from the seller - a paypal claim was filed. That got her to ship the DVD player. I closed the claim when it arrived but only hooked it up yesterday. No matter what DVD I put in (burned or commercial ones that I know work), it just says loading. Nothing happens. Does anyone know how to fix that or if cyberhome even exists (can't find them or the manual online?)

So, now I'm looking at the black friday sales. I just want a plain DVD player that can handle burned DVD's. I don't need blue ray or HD - we still have plain old TV's here which work fine. Does anyone have any suggestions? There's a Phillips @ Circuit City but the ones we got MIL and SIL last year don't always take burned DVD's.

Ehhh

Despite the fact there will be shuffling on the org chart and many more arrows on it, things at work seem ok for me. My boss got promoted (a good thing, he deserves it). At least I'm only working tommorrow, taking Wednesday off as comp time. Tried to meet the local mom's group for coffee, but it always seems whenever I (or Alan and I) are free, they aren't :(

We had snow flurries this morning, even though the leaves are still on the trees (but mostly orange and yellow now). I drove my car to Alan's sitter and back tonight on fumes. I got really nervous as I got to the gas station and the light was out at the intersection I cross to get home - turns out a pole was down (near a construction site) but we had power, and I was able to get gas.