Downton Abbey

Facebook and Pinterest have been abuzz over Downton Abbey, a PBS series about life in a fancy schmancy house in Edwardian England. So I decided to give it a chance and started watching the first season on Netflix (streaming). Holy smokes, I was addicted after the first episode. The second season has been viewable on pbs.org up through yesterday, but now it's been taken down. I have watched all but the last episode of season 2. I feel like there is a hole in my heart that only the last episode can fill. I have to know what happens to Mister Bates. So many characters that I like and care about, and I just have to know what happens! Luckily, I have an Anglophile friend at work that has the discs, and he's going to hook me up so I can find out what happens. If you like British TV, swooning dramas, or Masterpiece Theater, you should watch this show. It's so dreamy! I give it an A+. :)

The Person I Admire Most

I was thinking today about my husband and how much I admire him. He has loads of good qualities that I lack. One of the things I love the most about him is that he likes to challenge himself, and he perseveres. I, for one, really dislike hassle, and I dislike that I dislike hassle. There is much to be gained by trudging through inconveniences. I'm really impressed with how he has taught himself to play piano, and taught himself so much about computers, video game design, and all kinds of other things. He's really done a great job in his doctoral program in school psych. He's got publications coming out, he's presented at conferences, he won an award at school... I am just so proud of him! I wish he could see himself as I see him. He is such a good person, with a kind heart and generous spirit. He always tries to help people. I'm so grateful. ♥

Sad

Tonight I had dinner with some friends/former coworkers, and found out that someone I knew killed himself. I won't say his name because it's not my place to go around telling someone else's business, but it really bothers me. He was a very nice man, and gave me good advice about becoming a librarian while I was still in library school. Apparently he wanted to avoid being a burden on his wife. This makes me so sad for him and for his wife. I don't really know what to think, I just wish I could have told him that I really thought he was nice, and cool, and worth knowing, but now it's too late. God bless him, and God bless his wife.

Excuse my French...

It's been a crappy couple of days. I actually had a very productive and restful weekend but things in general have been hard lately. I've been trying to stretch myself and step out of my comfort zone and it just really takes a lot of energy to try to make a change. My ego has really been put to task, too. It's very humbling to try to make a change and make it stick. I'm not handling it very gracefully. I guess I just need to buck up and deal with change head-on. I've also been reminded this week that everyone is going through something; we all have our problems, and you can't always tell just by looking at someone what their problems might be. I need to be patient. Patience seems to be a recurring theme this week. I always like to end on a good note, so I just want to say I had a great time watching the Super Bowl with friends this past Sunday. I was hoping the Giants would win, although I confess I don't feel very strongly about the Giants or the Patriots. I happen to not be a Tom Brady fan, so that was why I was cheered the way I did. The company for the game was great, though. Where would we be without friends, eh? :)

True Grit

The other night, the hubby and I watched the 2010 version of "True Grit" on Netflix. WOW. I've never seen the original film, and didn't know much about the story. I'm actually not big on Western-themed stuff, but I knew this was a Coen Brothers movie, and I'd heard it was amazing, so we gave it a shot. I *loved* the movie! The main actress, Hailee Steinfeld, was totally charming. I didn't realize Matt Damon was gonna be in the movie, so that was a pleasant surprise. It was very funny at times, but could also be serious. It was very, very enjoyable. If you haven't seen it, I'd recommend it. I've also been watching the 1979 series "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy." A friend at work loaned it to me-- 6 episodes at 1 hr each. I only have one episode left to watch. This series is very good but I honestly found it a little difficult to follow. I really enjoy watching British stuff and have seen a lot of it, so I don't think it's the accents or speech that confused me, but for some reason I found it difficult to understand what's going on. So I did what I always do-- I read a synopsis on Wikipedia. So now I know the resolution of the mystery, but it doesn't deter me from wanting (needing!) to finish the series. I've just got to see how it all plays out. This is a mystery about a mole in the British secret service. Alec Guiness is in it, and I could just listen to him talk all day. This was recently made into a movie, too, starring Gary Oldman (love him!), so I expect that a viewing of the film is in my future. Worth checking out if you like British spy stuff. Bonus points for Obi-wan Kenobi and Jean-Luc Picard in the same scene. :)

Snow

The weather folks are calling for snow; I really hope it doesn't snow while I'm at work. Actually, to be more specific, I hope snow doesn't interfere with my ability to leave work or come to work. Snow is beautiful and it can be fun, but I really don't want to get into a car accident or miss work. So hopefully any snow will just rest on the grass and melt on the road. Fingers are crossed! :)

Things I wish I could wear

Yesterday on the way to lunch, some of us were talking and I expressed that I wished capes would come back into style. Some coworkers tried to tell me that a cape would be just fine, as long as I didn't wear it ALL the time (e. g. wear it to work but take it off while in my office). I think wearing a cape would get me labeled as a crazy person, so I'm not going to risk it. It made me think of all the things I wish I could get away with wearing in good conscience, but can't. So here they are, with the reasons they would be unacceptable. capes- they make you look crazy knee high boots with skirts- my legs are too chunky for the skirt AND for the boots pretty dresses (think: zooey deschanel)- chunk factor cute hate- they are pretentious and I don't have the right attitude to pull it off head bands- I don't know how to wear them correctly. they are too foreign to me and I couldn't pull it off high heels- I can't walk in them. I look like Frankenstein's monster when I try cowboy boots- they are associated with country music and country lifestyle cute sunglasses- my regular glasses get in the way. can't do contacts. maybe I could get some prescription ones? What about you, dear reader? Are there things you wish you could wear but just can't? Why?