Dubious Honor

Downton

As previously mentioned, I am super into Downton Abbey, and am simultaneously enchanted and puzzled by how much drama they can wring out whether or not Gwen will get a job as a secretary.

Also by the clever trick of turning us all against Homely Edith (left).  Who knew I'd be rooting for Beauteous Mary (center)?  (although let's be honest, Progressive Sybil (right) is obviously the best).

AHHHHHHHHHH NEED SEASON TWO WHY DO THE BRITISH GET EVERYTHINGGGGGGGGGG3245(*&&$@#!*

What Should I Be Watching?

Occasionally people ask me what TV they should be watching (I am a professional, after all).  So, some suggestions with what to do with that swath of time between Christmas and New Year's, because you better not be at the mall returning things on the 26th.  Wait until January like a normal person!

Set Your DVR/Catch up on repeats
The following are currently on the air and worth checking out.  Sadly, it's a small list: this year's crop of new shows was underwhelming.

Revenge
An uber-campy, over-the-top revenge story so thoroughly unrealistic that you start to question whether it even takes place on Earth.  Which is why it is AWESOME.  Great one to dissect with a group.  Like, when did Emily get a sensei?  Aren't they supposed to be peaceful?

Parks and Recreation
In my opinion, this is currently the best comedy on television.  If Ron Swanson doesn't make you laugh, you're probably European.

The Good Wife
Do you need a satisfying crime procedural with less child rape than SVU?  Do you like KILLER guest stars hamming it up every week?  Are you human?  Do you have a soul?  Are you (probably) female?  This show is for you.

Currently Streaming
These are the shows you should be streaming via Netflix , cursing yourself as you immediately watch three hours in a row because you can't say no to your own request for "just one more."

Breaking Bad
First three seasons available legally.  Season four available... elsewhere.  I have so much to say about Breaking Bad that it needs its own post, but suffice to say that the hype is accurate.  This is up there with The Sopranos in terms of a great, epic show.

Party Down
The downfall of this particular show was that its cast was too good: they all left for networks that pay better and the show got cancelled.  But enjoy this brief, shining moment of comedy perfection and join the Party Down crew as they cater a variety of events from hell.  If you have ever worked in service or the arts you will find it particularly biting.

Friday Night Lights
Sorry to get all "best show everrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!" on you, but it really is so perfect.  For everyone.  Settle in with a hankie and prepare to start telling everyone that clear eyes, full hearts can't lose, and steel yourself for the realization that you and your spouse will never be Coach and Tami Taylor.

Downton Abbey
I started this one last night, watched half of season one in a sitting, and take back all the times I referred to it as "DownTOWN Abbey" - this show is richly satisfying.  A friend currently has black market season two screeners and I am determined to make them mine.  My favorite line so far is when the Dowager Countess asks what a "weekend" is.

Meghan and Dan: The Marrying: Part 6 (The End): Surprises

There were two marvelous surprises at our wedding - things that Just Happened, that we still talk about, and which are among my fondest memories of the night.

Meghan and Dan: The Marrying: Part One Million (Details)

Am I supposed to do a post about wedding details at some point? Since we spent a zillion man-hours on them? Weeeellll, actually we spent the minimal amount of time possible to make things look good.  Why bother?  Our venue was gorgeous already!  Also, I am a terrible source of advice for event prettification; I come from a theater background, and in theater, if looks good from twenty feet away, it's golden.  So I bought a ton of cut-glass candlesticks on the semi-cheap from another bride and taper candles from the fabulous bridal boutique known as "Dollar Tree" to serve as centerpieces. The table numbers I banged out in an afternoon with cute pictures of us and some Photoshop - they look great in those silver frames from a Michael's "50% Off Our Already Suspiciously Low Prices Plus You Have a Coupon? That's Cool, We'll Take It" sale. The little white poufy things were our favors - votive candles in a scent called "Our Wedding Day." Not everyone took them, so now whenever Mellis has party they light up a portion of the two million leftover candles and everyone smells like freesia when they leave.

So yes, detail shots, here are the tables:

Meghan and Dan: The Marrying: Part 5b (Reception: In Which We Are Regaled)

Toast time brought lots of...

Laughing.

Crying.

Smooching.

Nervous twitching...

And, you know: toasting.

Dan's brother David did a great job with his toast - it wasn't until we got the video that I saw how much his hands were shaking. He talked about how we all got drunk as shiznit when he visited New York last year, and how that made him realize how much fun we were. Heh. He also talked about Dan's dad, and it was very touching.

Katie and Biz gave a joint toast that was sweetness personified. Hugs abounding.

Then... feasting!

Proof that I ate:

Feasting... and carousing.

Interspersed with and followed by an excessive amount of dancing.

We played "Party in the USA" especially for probable future brother-in-law Willis.

Yay toasts!  Yay food!  Yay dancing!

(Don't worry; there's an excess of dancing pictures TK).

Meghan and Dan: The Marrying: Part 5a (Reception: Dance Party Attack)

As the guests were taking their seats and the bridal party lined up to enter the reception, Matt and Biz bustled my dress. This is generally done by ladies, but hey, I had my brother handy, so Matt and Biz did it. Siblings! Then I took off my veil, realized I didn't have anywhere to put it, rolled it up, shoved it under the gift table, and Matt stuck the reception mini-pouf hairpiece into my bun. He's got a real touch with the bridal details.

First into the reception were my parents, absolutely thrilled to relax after eight months of dealing with my meltdowns.

Mom sounds her barbaric yawp.

Then Dan's mom and stepmom.

Then everyone else...

and then US! THE MARRIEDS!

Dan and I thought it would be funny to have him carry me in. The plan was that he would then put me down and we would walk safely down the stairs onto the dance floor. Instead, in a surge of adrenaline, he declared, "I've got this!" and proceeded to carry me and my giant unwieldy dress down the stairs, rocking me back and forth with an expression of fake panic. Everyone screamed in fear (me included). It was awesome.

Then we stumbled through a first dance to "Falling Slowly," the song from Once. We chose it because it a) is pretty and b) reminds us of our incredible 2008 trip to Ireland.

Halfway through the song, the DJ invited everyone to join us on the dance floor, which they happily did. Love was all around. It was a colossally awesome moment.

Little did the guests know that this was also a ruse to get them on the dance floor, because as soon as the slow song ended, Lady Gaga's "Just Dance" started up, kicking off an epic dance party. We really wanted to set an upbeat tone for the reception, and also force everyone to digest some of their cocktail hour binging before dinner. It worked. Sorry to get repetitive, but once again: it was awesome.

In case you're wondering, the four songs that can produce a dance party like the one above are:

Lady Gaga, "Just Dance"
Black Eyed Peas, "I Gotta Feeling" (this one was the real kicker. Cheesy it may be, but for a multi-generation dance hit, you cannot do better. People were kind of dancing for Gaga, but once Fergie's dulcet tones piped in, everyone went nuts.)
Whitney Houston, "I Wanna Dance with Somebody"
Prince, "Kiss"

Then it was time for toasts... and more food.

Bonus! That reception hairpiece?

I got it at Dollar Tree.

(most) images by Inbal Sivan