A Few of My Favorite Things: TV Shows

Oooooohhhh, it’s time for another installments of Favorite Things.

And this month, it’s TV shows.

Shiny!

These are in no particular order, because for the most part, I can’t decide.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer – I know some people like the movie rather than the show, but I freaking love the show. The movie was only okay for me.  I know that it’s problematic in terms of some of the themes, but I love it anyway. The characters and (most of) their arcs, the dialogue…it will always be high on my list of faves. 

Game of Thrones – I haven’t read the books, (someday) but I do enjoy the show. First off, Peter Dinklage. What’s not to love? Secondly, costume porn. OMG, the most amazing costume porn. Thirdly, this is kind of a train wreck love for me because holy hell, WTF is going to happen next!? ( I know…if I’d read the books, I’d know. But whatevs.)

Supernatural – This is going to be a fairly unpopular opinion, but I as much as I love me some Sam and Dean, I wonder if perhaps the show has gone on a little too long. I worry that plot-wise, it’s rolling downhill, and we’re constantly revisiting themes we’ve already dealt with. But, that said, I do still enjoy it and I *love* when Felicia Day guest stars. LOVE. IT.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine – Of all the Star Treks, and despite my deep and abiding love for Patrick Stewart, DS9 is my fav. I love the politics and the characters. The writing on that show was universally excellent.

Firefly – oh, Firefly…I loved you so. You should have lasted longer. Stupid network. Yeah, I know we got Serenity, and that’s awesome, except for the parts that weren’t! But I still love Firefly - characters and dialogue in particular. 

Doctor Who – I haven’t had a chance to watch the original ones, but I love the reboot. Ten is my Doctor, in case anyone is wondering. However, I’m not happy with some of the more recent plotlines and character issues. I’m hoping that these things will shake themselves out. 

Sherlock – Dear lord, I love Benedict Cumberbatch, despite the fact that some people *coughJennyTroutcough*say he looks like a lizard in a man suit. Whatever, Trout. I heart him. And his hands. And his voice. And I thoroughly enjoy the show. 

Hannibal – Hoooookay. Hugh Dancy and Mads Mikkelsen in the same show. Be still my beating heart. I’m not gonna lie – I’m here for the unbelievable tension between these two. And in spite of the gore (and the fucked up crap they pulled with Alana Bloom last season) this show is a thing of beauty.

Merlin – I can’t believe I almost forgot to add Merlin! What is the matter with me!? Okay, A.) Arthurian lore. I’m all over that. B.) Colin Morgan, Bradley James, Anthony Stewart head and Katie McGrath. I’m all over that, too. Yes, there are some issues with the show, but I love it, anyway. Also? Costume porn. 

Covington Cross – Maybe this is just nostalgia talking, but I loved that show. I loved it so hard. The most velour of all velour Middle Ages, plus Nigel Terry. Perfection. 

The Animaniacs – I will never tire of The Animaniacs. Never. Yakko, Wakko and Dot, Pinky and the Brain, Slappy the Squirrel, The Wheel of Morality, The Good Feathers, Buttons and Mindy, the songs – oh, the glorious songs. Someday, I’ll get it all on DVD, and I will be thrilled. 

What are some of your favorites? Click the names below to find out what the other WR bloggers love.

Jess
Gwen

Dusting Vampires

I don't know why I have such a hard time understanding this concept, but there are some people who will just never be happy.

No. Matter. What.

They want more that you can possibly give. You could open every vein in your body and it still wouldn't be enough.

To top it off, they tend to be emotional vampires. Sometimes I think it would be easier if they were actual vampires. A stake to the heart and a broom to clean up the mess and the problem would be solved. Unfortunately, real life doesn't allow for any great Buffy moves.

However, real life does allow for speaking your mind and standing up for yourself. If you're a confrontation avoider like I am, it's awful, but it can be done. And I'm pleased to say, I recently did it. Unfortunately, I'll be experiencing the fallout for some time to come, but I believe the end result will be worth it. Life is too short for toxic people.

Warning: You may need some cheese with this whine.

So far, today has been annoying beyond words. I woke up feeling like someone had used my left kidney as a speed bag. Included with the pain is a nifty 101 degree fever.


After a brutal Anti-Cleaver morning in which my youngest child gave me The Rage, I dragged my sorry ass to the doctor only to sit for an hour and forty-five minutes while they tried to reach my new insurance company to verify that I was indeed covered.

I'm taking solace in ginormous antibiotic pills, cranberry-pomegranate juice and season six of Buffy.

To answer Fred's question from yesterday, the urn-y thing with the figure bent over it is a sculpture of Cerridwen stirring her cauldron of inspiration - hubby got it for me for Mother's Day one year. I think it's pretty nifty too. Here's a closer view of the coolness.

Sorry for being a whiny hag. I'm hoping for an infinately better day tomorrow.

I'm Grateful

Happy Thanksgiving, or Happy Kill the Indigenous Peoples Day as my family often says. I joke about Thanksgiving...well...Columbus Day, too, for that matter, but I do think it's important to take the time to reflect on the things we're grateful for.

So often the mindset seems to be about focusing on what we want rather than the what we have, and that can lead to dissatisfaction with our lives. Now, there's nothing wrong with wanting to improve our lives, but when we don't acknowledge the great - or yeah - even the mediocre stuff we tend to take it for granted or cease to appreciate it all together. Sometimes the acknowledging process requires us to reframe our perceptions a bit.

For instance, I could be pissy that our house needs a new roof, but looking at the economic crisis in the state of Michigan, I'm thrilled that we have a house. It's warm, it's not in danger of foreclosure and my family is safe and protected.

I could be bitter because my hubby has to work today. And truth be told, I'm not thrilled, but because he was without permanent work and we were all without health insurance for almost two years makes the fact that he now has a great job (with benefits) that he loves 99.9% of the time more important than the fact that he has to work a holiday. (I'll be bringing home leftovers for him.)

Now, I'm not trying to sound like Pollyanna here, cause really, I kinda want to slap her, but I would like to share some of the things I'm grateful for.

My kids who make me laugh and help me see the world with new eyes and teach me about love every day.

My hubby - even though he pisses me off from time to time, I love him more each day.

My family - the whole crazyass lot of them. No matter what, we're all there for one another.

My friends - they listen to me whine, share my joys, make me laugh til I turn an unhealthy shade of purple and gasp for breath.

My kitties - I'm especially thankful that Small's health is improving every day.

My career - I'm doing what I always wanted to do and loving it.

And now, in no particular order, some random bits I'm grateful for...Johnny Depp, Coke, pretty stones, music, Buffy, hot tea, the sound of clacking knitting needles, hugs, frequent and clean restrooms along the highway, the internet, Ani Difranco, vanilla flavored lip balm, sleep, chocolate, salt & vinegar potato chips, sandalwood essential oil, Adam Duritz, faeries, falling leaves, ibuprofen, cheese pizza, ren faires, books, Brian Froud, fabric stores, legos, Kate Rusby, more books, Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, central air, the muppets, laughter, standing stones, new baby smell, oak trees and the nice, warm bed I'm about to crawl into.

How about it - what are you grateful for?

One good thing about the plague...

is that I can sit back and watch season three of Buffy without the guilt that I should be doing something else - because my brain in otherwise fried. If only I could send one of the cats to pick up the kids from school...