So you can make a caramel sauce and red wine sauce but can't operate electronics eh? Maybe it's a generational gap (I mean that in the kindest way of course.)
You really should try to get that DVD to work, have a friend come over and help you. We just borrowed DVD player for the first time a couple of weeks ago and have been viewing movies. Some DVD movies have director commentary through the whole film, like the 20th anniversary of Aliens. The Sixth Sense DVD is great. It's got interviews and commentary by the makers of the film and you learn things that make you want to watch it a 3rd time!
First thing's first though. Recording The West Wing on your VCR!
What kind do you have?