Damn You, Olivia Pope and Associates!

When you're home alone for too long, you find yourself earnestly singing "Party in the USA" and watching way too many episodes of "Scandal." Or maybe that's just me. Needless to say, I am really looking forward to Josh coming home today from the conference in Amsterdam.

Happy grazers

On the train

Nadine and I traveled there on Friday to see our respective significant others and explore the city. It was rainy rainy rainy, my least favorite kind of weather to travel in. Because how can you take in the sights when you're avoiding puddles and trying not to hit people with your umbrella? We tried shopping a little bit, got beer at a pub, and walked through the Red Light District. #EW

Trying on expensive sunglasses in a department store

The type group was staying on a hostel house boat, so we slept there, and the next morning went to the Rijks Museum, Amsterdam's hugest art museum, which was super fun. Thank goodness Nadine was cool with my snarky mood which manifested in making fun of nearly all the paintings I saw. But seriously, why would you paint baby Jesus with an eight-pack?! Who does that?!

How can you not make fun of this painting?!

Earlier in the week, Nadine and I traveled to Delft, a five minute train ride from Den Haag. It's a super cute town where the blue-and-white style of pottery originated. There are lots of cute shops, cafes, etcetera – very Instagrammable (that's totally going to be a real word someday).

Gosh, I can't even remember what else happened this week, it's all a blur of staying indoors in my sweatpants watching Olivia Pope get it on with President Grant.

My Girls

So excited for the Golden Globes with Tina and Amy. My life role models.

In other award show host news, Rebel Wilson is hosting the MTV Movie Awards!!!

"Girls" Episode Two Recap

"What a fun and sexy time for you." Quoting George Michael of Arrested Development, the girls of "Girls" seem to be having some "fun and sexy" times. But not really. Oh, the plight of a sexually active (or not) 20something gal. Hannah, having sex with her f*ck buddy Adam, is subject to weird dirty talk, and in the end says "I almost came." Worth it? Marnie is dealing with a loving boyfriend who does not know how to please her sexually -- Marnie needs to communicate, right?? Jessa is pregnant and frustrated, not wanting to be pinned down as a "lady." She does what she wants! And Shoshanna (who I fell deeply in love with in this episode) comes out as a virgin. So shameful ;) These sex-capades are not exactly sexy. Girls are trying to figure out what they want in bed from a man; girls are trying to stay safe in a world of crazy diseases and moron dudes who don't care about spreading said diseases; girls are trying to reconcile their freedom to choose when they want to have a baby with the fact that they do someday want to be mothers.... As Marnie says to the upset Shoshanna in the women's clinic: "sex is overrated."

A Bit of a Rant

I find it interesting that men AND women are attacking the new HBO show "Girls" --which is written and directed by a young woman, and about young women -- after only one episode. Why is this show getting picked apart by uppity bloggers when there are other TV shows that have no female presence/intellectual heart whatsoever? I think it's because girls (and "Girls") are easy to pick on. We have to find something wrong with a woman, whether she's too skinny, not skinny enough, has the wrong family, relates to men in the wrong way (because God knows they've always treated us correctly), isn't perfect, is too perfect... the list could go on.

I'm not meaning to be a defenseless, boo-hoo feminist here. I just think that these stupid internet tirades in general need to stop (which may be something I'm doing right now, but whatever) ... Like Lena Dunham, the creator of "Girls," I am a writer myself, and have always dreamed about writing something of relevance about the modern female, be it a TV show, a movie, a play, or a book... So with all this negativity towards what Dunham is doing, how am I supposed to feel? If I put my voice out there, will I get unfairly criticized and snarked at as well? Let a female express herself without being shot down and torn apart.

Yay: Refinery29 wrote a nice little in-defense-of piece.

PS: The show is great. I watched the first episode, and loved it.

The Voice!

Pay no attention to the idiot dancers in masks. I bought in to "The Voice" hype, and really like the show! Lindsey Pavao is my favorite contestant. Her voice is AWESOME and she looks like a nicer version Kristen Stewart (that girl has a bad attitude).

Here's her first performance as well (Her hair is the shiiiiiiit):




(OK, and I also like this guy. He looks like one of my high school crushes. Little Italian heartthrob)

Pajoveralls

This clip reminds me of that one time I tried to do a cleanse and only lasted 12 hours.

In other news, I really need to start watching "Happy Endings."

(Also, this).

Currently Watching:

Chris Lilley's new show, Angry Boys.

Downton Abbey, Season 2

So pretty! Love these ladies.

Are y'all (in America) watching the new season of Downton Abbey? The first episode premiered last Sunday. You can watch it here if you missed it. I don't mean to sound like a snob, but I can't believe some folks still haven't heard of Downton. Where have you been? You're missing out on some serious early-1900s fun!

Meanwhile, Entertainment Weekly has a fun collection of behind-the-scenes photos to check out. The below is pretty funny:


A few more things:

• How do you feel about the character of O'Brien? It's a toss up for me. Sometime I love her, sometimes I hate her. The actress who plays her looks really different out of costume.
• You can vote for your favorite characters on the Downton website. I did it. There's no shame in it.
• And you can find out which character you are by taking a quiz. I'm Mr. Bates... what???
  

Being Obsessed

Just thought you should know that a great, great, great show is on Instant Netflix right now called "Being Human." It's from the UK (where all amazing shows come from, I've begun to believe), and it's about a vampire, a werewolf, and a ghost whom are room-mates! There are three seasons, and I'm nearly done with the third -- it just keeps getting better and crazier. "Being Human" is funny and scary; challenging and lovely; dark and riveting.

Plus, Aidan Turner, who plays the vampire, Mitchell, is so amazingly beautiful... he kinda looks like my boif. :)

Goodness gracious, what would I do without television. I'll tell you what: I'd probably be more active and less sedentary. Woops!

Oh, P.S.: They've recently made an American version of the show on the SyFy Channel, but I haven't seen enough of it to know whether it's any good.

I Can Count on You: TV

I love TV so gosh darn much. Always have (Sesame Street, Mr. Rogers, Murder She Wrote, Saturday Night Live), always will (Veronica Mars, Keeping Up With the Kardashians, Misfits).

I hate when people say, "Oh, I don't watch TV" or "Oh, I don't own a TV" ... and then they take a sip of their independent coffee shop latte and run over to American Apparel and buy another solid colored zip up hoodie. I'm not friends with anyone who dislikes TV. THANK GOD! Those would be the worst friends ever.

My Mom and Dad raised me on TV. And although that may sound negligent to you, I think it was a wonderful parenting decision. Because I wasn't watching trashy things (until later, when I was 13). I was watching Smoky Robinson sing "U Really Got a Hold on Me." And learning how crayons are made. And I was chanting along with Jambi.

A lot of my fondest memories are centered around TV shows... Watching the whole Firefly series with Tita; developing a love for The Office, 30 Rock, and Parks & Recreation with Stacey; discussing Doctor Who with Maryann.

My boyfriend Josh loves TV too, and that makes me really happy. He has HBO, so I just got into Game of Thrones... yes, it's a bit dungeons-and-dragons nerdy, but it's also gory and racy! So much fun :) We also like Louis.

This week, many TV shows have come back on the air for their new seasons and it makes me so excited for the weather getting colder, and the sun setting earlier, because that means I can cozy up on my couch with a glass of wine most nights and watch something I love.

Here's what I'll be watching this Fall:

2 Broke Girls

Glee

New Girl

Modern Family

Community

Parks & Recreation

The Office

What are you watching on TV??

Sherlock

Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes.
Martin Freeman as John Watson.

Can the Brits just stop distracting me with their adorable male actors, please?

Let Me Introduce You to Doctor Who

This the Doctor. He doesn't really have a name. Just the Doctor. He's a time lord. He has two hearts. He never dies, just regenerates. And he always saves the day.

Just thought you'd like to meet my current TV obsession.

We So Excited

Photo by Deerlings & Ghostthings

Whew! What a day. Still reeling from last night's "Parks & Rec." Happy that Blogger is back in action. Had a delicious Italian sandwich and iced chai latte from Macrina for lunch. Thankful for the few moments of sunshine. About to go see Dan Savage and Terry Miller speak at Third Place Books (they're like Seattle celebrities!). I need to work on a commissioned art piece this weekend, but will smatter viewings of "Doctor Who" and "The IT Crowd" in there, not to worry. Also am in possession of Morning Glory; I love Rachel McAdams. Haven't seen my friend Maddie in so long. Breakfast with her tomorrow morn. And Sunday night: BRIDESMAIDS. So very excited.


Of Note:

A new Miranda July film

Peonies in Paris, what a dream

So in love with this print

If only this were a real thing...

Talk about a party dress!

Inspiring studio space

"Jocund" in photo form

Moss and Roy

Chris O'Dowd and Richard Aoyade play Roy and Moss on the British TV show "The IT Crowd," about an IT department in a big company. They're handsome, funny, brilliant gents, but on the show, they play inept computer nerds.

If you appreciate silly British humor, then you should watch "The IT Crowd" (All four seasons are on Instant Netflix!).

Bonus: It also has TWO MORE of my favorite British funny men costarring: Noel Fielding as creepy coworker Richmond (of "The Mighty Boosh") and Matt Berry as the randy boss Douglas (watch him in this amazing spoof on 70s Jesus musicals, which also features Richard Aoyade and Noel Fielding).

My So-Called Life

Other than the amazing 90s fashion, I'm not sure how I feel about "My So-Called Life" yet. I'm watching it on Instant Netflix and am only two eps in. Here are my first observations: Jordan Catalano is a total idiot. When he stares off into space for literally minutes, it's not sexy and mysterious; I think his brain is actually taking a break from working. I don't remember high school being that life-or-death important. Angela Chase needs to chill out. Also, her mom needs to chill out. And poor Brian Krakow... my high school self would have had a crush on him.

Here are my favorite quotes thus far:

"Don't you love how he leans?"

"Wait, so what's fat free?" "It's when something's like free... of fat."

"You're so beautiful, it hurts to look at you."

"School is a battlefield, for your heart. So when Rayanne Graff told me my hair was holding me back, I had to listen. ‘Cause she wasn’t just talking about my hair. She was talking about my life."

SCHOOL IS A BATTLEFIELD FOR YOUR HEART?! ***ROLLING MY EYES***

Misfits

New favorite TV show: "Misfits." It's kind of like "Skins" meets "Heroes" meets "X-Men." And the whole first season is on YouTube! I'm quite addicted.

Who's excited for the Glee finale tonight?!

THIS GAL.

I miss Glee

Thank you, Jimmy!

The greatest night of the week

Looking forward to a little of this,

this,

And this bizness tonight.

Actor Timeline: Toni Collette

I LOVE TONI COLLETTE. She is multi-talented. And she's such a natural. Guh! Love her. Right now she's starring in HBO's United States of Tara, about a woman with a multiple personality disorder. I got to see the first two episodes, and wow, it's good. Here are a few movies you should see Toni Collette in...


Little Miss Sunshine, 2006
Collette rounds out the stellar cast in this gem of a film.


Connie and Carla, 2004
Such a silly film, but I recommend it, because Collette shows off her mega-pipes alongside Nia Vardalos. They both play women pretending to be drag queens.


About A Boy, 2002
I just love this comedy. Collette is awesome as an unstable hippy-dippy mum.


Emma, 1996
Collette plays Emma's "project," the clueless Harriet Smith, so well!


Muriel's Wedding, 1994
This little film earned Collette international fame. It's such a sad movie, but at the same time Collette rocks it, especially in the ABBA number, pictured above.