tv: January 2012 Archives

As a child of the 80's and a fan of Ferris Bueller, I thought this commercial was really funny. :-)

Wow. What an episode. Talk about needing a handkerchief. I watched it again this morning as I was doing laundry and folding clothes. Here are a few thoughts I had.

First Tears - The tears already started the first few minutes as we watched the men prepare for their battle. I loved the way William gave Matthew encouraging words to help him be strong. In turn, Matthew went out and rallied his men to be strong and keep their spirits up. It was painful to watch the men fight in the battle knowing that the ravages of war are all too real, even today.

Fave Scene - I think my favorite scene was when Mary was telling her father of her plans to sit with Matthew in the hospital and he told her that Lavinia was coming too. When Mary agreed that she should be there, you could see the look on Lord Grantham's face and how proud he was of Mary that she is showing such maturity and selfless love. My second favorite was also seemingly insignificant but it is when Lavinia entered the hospital and Mary walked over and kissed her on the cheek. I am growing fonder and fonder of Mary as each episode passes. I love the way she has put aside her feelings and has befriended Lavinia and encourages her to be strong in her fight for Matthew. She knows first hand the pain of not fighting for something when you have the chance. Yet Mary has not lost the essence of her personality in being strong willed and determined like her Grandmother. I couldn't help but smile when she told the doctor that she would be a volunteer caring for Matthew whether he liked it or not.

Questioning Team Matthew & Mary - For the first time this season, I really got a sense that Matthew truly does love Lavinia. Perhaps it is on a different level than how he loved Mary but I believe his feelings for her are genuine and that he would truly be happy as her husband. I think this is what Mary sees and what stops her from telling him her true feelings. I was also proud of Lavinia. Perhaps she is not as tenacious as Mary but I don't think she is as weak and feeble as people think she is, especially remembering how she helped her father earlier. For a moment I actually stopped hoping Mary and Matthew would get back together. I wanted Lavinia to have a chance to prove herself and show that she truly loves Matthew and is willing to live a life of sacrificial love with him. I will hate it if they have her just run away and stay away. Perhaps, circumstances will stop a marriage between them that but I'd hate it to be a character flaw that drives them apart. I also can't help but wonder if Lavinia's line "I can't live without Matthew" will be prophetic.

The Champ - Last week was a quiet week for The Countess but this week she was in all her glory. What is the use of being a Countess if you cannot pull a few strings to benefit those you love? In this case, I was cheering her on. My favorite scene was Travis vs The Countess. One of the best knock outs I've seen in a long time! The most touching scene was when she was crying at William and Daisy's wedding because she "has a cold." I also liked when she was concerned about hurting William's father and wanted him to come to the truth gradually so it would be less of a shock.

Sybil & Branson the Pest - Since at least nine months have passed since last week's episode (assuming with the birth of Ethel's baby) I can't help but wonder how long Branson will continue badgering Sybil. His character is getting really annoying so if they land out getting together they had better make him seem less selfish in order for us to be happy about the union.

Snakes in the Grass - Sir Richard may have saved Mary from the scandal but I don't trust him for a moment, particularly since he finds pleasure in having Mary in his debt. (The previews for next week seem to confirm that.) His only redeeming quality is that he was able to stick it to Mrs. Bates and we were able to see the look of shock on her face when he threatened to imprison her. But it's easier for a snake to outsmart another snake. Vera certainly will not let Bates and Anna go unpunished. Everything in Bates and Anna's garden is far from "rosy" and I dread what she has in store for them. (BTW, loved when they were praying together in church!)

Bride & Widow on the Same Day - The whole situation is heart breaking. William may have been a servant but he behaved like a gentleman showing incredible courage, selflessness and quiet dignity in his actions - from saving Matthew's life, to providing for Daisy to accepting his inevitable death. Although I felt sorry for Daisy to be in anguish over her deceit, I am glad that William was able to die in peace. And honestly, was there a dry eye during the wedding scene amongst characters or the viewers? Good heavens, even O'Brien and Thomas were touched.

Most Tear Educing Scene - I completely lost it when Matthew, feeling completely dejected, looked at his just arrived mom and says, "Mother." (Makes me want to go hug my little boys.)

Random Thoughts - Is Jane, the new servant, telling the truth or is she like Ethel? In the previews, why were Carson & Mrs Hughes talking about leaving? And who was the disfigured soldier? Are they including the UK Christmas Special in the USA's Season 2?

Well, that's it for now. Fell free to leave your comments or join the discussion at By Sun and Candlelight's Last Night's Downtown.

I read an interesting post about Downton Abbey at The Deacon's Bench blog called The Catholic Connection to "Downton Abbey" by Deacon Greg Kandra. I reads:

It begins with the creator of this popular British series -- and it will become a part of the storyline in the upcoming season:

Oscar-winning screenwriter Julian Fellowes has become Vice President of the Catholic Association of Performing Arts. The announcement was made during a special centenary dinner at Alan Hall in Chelsea. During the evening, Lord Fellowes said that Catholicism would be entering the storyline of his popular ITV series "Downton Abbey" at some point in the near future. When questioned about this, he would not say whether the development would be in the two hour Christmas Day special next week, or the new series in 2012.

Guests of honour at the special dinner, were Archbishop Vincent Nichols, President of the Association, actor Frank Finlay CBE, Chairman Richard O' Callaghan, Frank Comerford, owner of the Stage newspaper, Fr Pat Maloney, National Theatre Chaplain, CAaPA Chaplain Fr Alan Robinson and trustee Mgr Vlad Felzmann. Lord Julian Fellowes came with his wife Lady Emma, lady in waiting to Princess Michael of Kent.

The Catholic Stage Guild was founded in 1911 by Mgr Robert Hugh Benson, a former Anglican priest and youngest son of Edward White Benson, Archbishop of Canterbury, to encourage and support Catholics in the theatre and allied professions spiritually and artistically. A colourful character, he bequeathed his home in Hertfordshire to the Archbishop of Westminster. It has been the country residence of all Archbishops of Westminster ever since.

During this centenary year, CaAPA on the Road has performed entertainments at churches, care homes, including Denville Hall for retired show business performers, and other venues. A centenary concert, compered by Vice President, comedian Don Maclean raised funds for CAFOD at Westminster Cathedral Hall.

Lord Fellowes, who won an Oscar for his Gosford Park screenplay, has become a household name as the creator of "Downton Abbey." During his speech he said that one third of the adult population watched the show. "The series will go on as long as people want it to" he said.

What did you think of last night's episode of Downton Abbey? Here are my thoughts so far.

Mrs. Crawley - I hated to see the way that Mrs. Crawley was getting snippy about Cora and complaining about the changes. She would have gotten a lot farther had she been more willing to compromise and be a team player rather than insisting that everything be done her way. However, my heart did ache for her when she finally left town feeling unloved and unappreciated. I do hope a more humble Mrs. Crawly returns.

Lady Grantham - It was nice to finally see Cora step up and stop being so passive. She stood her ground with Mrs. Crawley and called her bluff all the while keeping her grace and decorum. (I couldn't help but laugh at their discourse.) Even when O'Brien filled Cora's head with tales of secret enterprises between Mrs. Patmore and Mrs. Bird, she didn't just blindly believe her. She sought the truth herself. In the end she gave us one of the best scenes of the night - when she joined then in the soup kitchen and made O'Brien do the same. Loved it.

Molesley - My other favorite scene was very trivial but I loved when Mrs Bird and Molesley were in the kitchen talking and Mrs Bird was teasing him about being so grand as the valet to Lord Grantham. The way he laughed and playfully nudged her was so sweet. It was like a brother and sister joking around. I hated to see him shot down again with the return of Mr. Bates.

Branson - I really liked Branson last season but the more I see of him the more I dislike him. He is not evil like Thomas but he seems selfish and only concerned about getting what he wants. There seems to be a stark contrast between the relationship of Bates and Anna and Branson and Sybil. Bates is consumed with protesting Anna's welfare and not wanting her to do anything that would bring her pain or that she'd later regret. Whereas Branson seems to want Sybil to make all the sacrifices and is pushing her to leave all that she loves, even to the point of belittling the nursing work she is doing. It is true when Sybil and Mary said that he seems to be "full of himself."

Ethel - Stupid girl. Although, I can't help but feel sorry for her. The one I really want to bodily harm is that Major Bryant. I can't stand the smug look on his face (even while he is doing his magic tricks) and I hate the fact that Ethel is the only one being punished for a sin that two committed. (But isn't that so often the case?) Edith put it nicely when the Major said at the beginning, "I was keeping her talking. You mustn't blame her." Edith replied. "I don't."

And although his behavior may be winked at wouldn't Lord Grantham want to know that one of his "house guests" was taking advantage of his servant and now that servant had to be fired. I suppose those were not details he needed to be bothered with, especially when his own daughter was in a worse situation and he still has no clue about that. (How is that possible?)

Matthew & Mary - I was pleased that the two boys returned home safely but frankly, I was hoping Matthew would get hurt and on his deathbed Mary would be forced to spill her heart to him and tell him that she loved him before he died. Of course, that knowledge would give him the strength to live and declare his love for her. Instead I had to watch them look at each other longingly at the concert. I ached for Mary to run to Matthew and put her arms around him even though I knew it would never happen - at least not at this point in time. (I did like that Matthew is still taking Mary's toy dog with him on the battlefield. It gives me hope.)

William & Daisy - William, on the other hand, may have benefited from his brush with danger. Daisy seemed to be genuinely worried for him. Maybe the thought of losing him made her realize how much she does care for him?

Other random favorite scene - The look of the Countess' face when Lord Grantham joined in the singing at the concert.

Other random favorite quote - After the Crawley sisters sing for the first time, Edith says, "I wish we had a man." Mary replies, "Amen." (I could hear my single friends giggling.)

The previews for next's episode looks exciting. There looks like a lot more drama coming, especially from Vera Bates. (If this keeps up I'll have to go to confession for the anger I am feeling towards certain people and it is mighty embarrassing admitting that those people are not actually real. LOL ;-)

On a quick side note Julian Fellowes, the creator of Downton Abbey, is Catholic and he said that in Season 3 "Catholicism would be entering the storyline." That should be interesting. :-)

Feel free to leave your comments or join the discussion at By Sun and Candlelight's A Little Downtown Discussion.

Hosted by Jen at Conversion Diary.

Last week I mentioned that I was planning on purchasing the book The World of Downton Abbey. I did get it and I love it. The photography is beautiful and it is interesting to read about how the life and times were back then - from the society in general and the war to fashions and the protocol of romantic relationships. It is perfect reading while I m waiting for the next episode to air.

While I have been obsessing over Downton Andrew there is another obsession brewing in our house since I hear this song everyday, several times a day.

Andrew, my four year old, has replaced his love of Pixar's Cars with Spiderman. The other day I bought him a pair of Spiderman pajamas and I had no idea the drama I was inviting into the house because now the only thing he wants to wear are those pj's! He was really upset that he could not wear them to school (in the rain) and I finally convinced him that during the day he had to bundle up and be Peter Parker and keep his Spidey identity "secret." When he got home then he could change into his Spiderman outfit. He finally agreed. So now every day after preschool he runs through the door and whips off his regular clothes and jumps into his Spidey pj's. Great. (Did I also mention that I had to go back to the store and buy another pair of the pj's so I could wash them in between crime fighting?)

Hmmm...on top of it all, Spidey's mom needs to give him a haircut.

Well, living with a boy that dresses like Spiderman isn't really a big deal but I felt so sorry for the little guy the other day. He walked into the kitchen with a roll of masking tape. He wanted me to help him tapes his hands to the wall so he could climb it like Spiderman. I told him he was too heavy and that tape wouldn't hold him. He said okay and ran out of the room. He came back with a gluestick. Surely the double strength of masking tape and a glue stick would hold him. I again explained that it wouldn't work. After several renditions of "It won't work" and "Yeah it do, Mom" he finally got the message. Poor Spidey accepted defeat and went to his room with tears running down his face. He broke my heart so I set dinner aside to help him find a solution. Not having monkey bars in the house I told him to play Spiderman under his bunk bed. There are several rungs above his bed and under top bunk bed. He could grab one rung and pretend to swing while he grabbed another. He was overjoyed. So I'm temporarily in the clear until he decides to jump off the top bunk onto his brother/Dr. Octopus. (I am sure anyone with boys or spunky girls can relate.)

Well, besides all the in-house crime fighting it has been rather a slow week. The kids got sick last weekend with colds and while Bella and Andrew got over it in a day or two little Matthew is still sick and has been extra clingy - to the point where he screams his head off when I put him down for a minute. Ugh. I told Brian I am having a hard time getting my work done since he just wants to be held. He told me not to worry and just give him the TLC he needs. Okay, but I told Brian that if he runs out of clean clothes he'll have to borrow one of Andrew's Spidey outfits.

On the plus side I have been able to get online much more often than normal. (Even now I am doing the one-hand typing thing while Matthew is resting in my arms.) For this quick take I'll link up a few of my favorite articles/posts that I've read this week.

It seems that contentment, thriving where you are in life, and not putting yourself down when you feel like you are barely surviving life with little ones is a common theme this week.

Comparison Kills Contentment {Catholic Mothers Online Post} by Misty

Moms of Young Children: The Time to Thrive Is Now by Jennifer Fulwiler

Thriving! Who does God want you to be? by Arwen Mosher

Don't Carpe Diem by Glennon Melton

Lastly, if you didn't see my previous post already, check out the interview with Mark Wahlberg where he talks about his Catholic faith.

Okay, Matty is finally asleep so I am going to put him to bed and pray he sleeps long enough for me to load the dishwasher and get some laundry done. Spiderman needs some clean pj's.

Have a great weekend!

xoxo,
B.

There are so many crazy and sad stories about Hollywood actors these days that it is refreshing to see someone who is trying to take his faith seriously and trying to live it in their everyday life as best as they know how. I especially love when the story includes the person coming out of a very dark place and into the light of God's grace and mercy. Here's a snippet of an interview with Mark Wahlberg where he talks about his family, his faith and the importance of prayer in his life.

After that depressing Packers game yesterday, Brian and I were happy to sit down and lose ourselves into the world of Downton Abbey. I didn't use my twitter feed last night so instead I wrote my comments on the main characters this morning. Enjoy and share your own thoughts!

Mrs. Crawley - I loved Mrs. Crawley in Season One, especially when she went toe to toe with The Countess, but she always seemed to be bossing someone this episode. I know she is used to being in charge and doing what she feels is right but it is getting a bit overbearing. Although, she does have the grace to not cause a scene when she is reprimanded or overlooked.

Lord and Lady Grantham - I must give credit to Lord and Lady Grantham for opening their home. I know it seems as if they are being petty and selfish (even the worry over a footman seems a bit ridiculous) but I tried to imagine that happening in my own home. I don't know if I could do it. Perhaps if I was in charge and called the shots but to have someone else tell me what I could and could not do in my own home, I don't think I'd take it kindly. I guess I am more selfish than I'd like to admit. Although, I do wonder...the house of Downton Abbey looks HUGE from the outside. If the Granthams wanted their privacy, is there not another wing of the house they can use? Why do they seem so cramped?

Sybil - Her best line, "It is doing nothing that is the enemy."

O'Brien - O'Brien has shown a much softer side this season and as much as she's been scheming and pulling strings (is Cora completely blind?) it is nice to see that she feels remorse from her sins and is trying to make up for it by watching out for Lady Grantham. I still don't understand why she is so attached to Thomas? Will he land out being her son or related to her?

Thomas - Thomas wasn't that prominent this episode but the scenes he had did not change my views of him. He is still a pain in the arse.

Branson - I don't know what to think of him. He is so hell-bent on making his political statement that he seems blind to all else. Although, Brian and I got a laugh at how many people had to read the note before they actually got to Branson. Thank God he wasn't moving very quickly. The second laugh was the "gun" he was going to use. Thank God he was not planning anything worse!

Mary - I love the change I have seen in Mary. She was so selfish and self-centered in Season One. Now she has numerous opportunities to try and destroy Matthew's engagement but instead she is trying to be empathetic to Lavinia and can't bear to hurt Matthew, even if it means she has to suffer interior torture. Some may call her a needless martyr but I think it speaks of the depth of her true love of Matthew.

Matthew - He may not admit it, but he will never stop loving Mary. I do believe he cares for Lavinia and that she is a nice girl but she is still his second choice. Little things he does show that his mind turns to Mary before Lavinia. I think a telling act, although it was from last week's episode, was when he went out into the battlefield and the token of affection he placed in his pocket was not the photo of his fiancé but the little dog given to him by Mary.

Lang - I can feel nothing but pity for him, even when he foolishly reveals Mrs. Patmore's secret.

Daisy and William - I was so upset with Daisy when she blindly followed Thomas last season, but I chalked it up as a folly of youth. I don't quite understand why she is not in love with William. He is a good man and kind to her. It is not as if she knows many other men in her life. In her position it seems only natural that she'd fall in love with him. As to lying to him, couldn't she have just postponed the engagement?

Edith - Poor Edith seemed to vacillate between vindictiveness to stupidity to the Jan Brady syndrome. It is lovely to finally see that she has found her calling in serving others and bringing kindness to weary souls. I think as long as she does not fall for another married man she may truly find true happiness.

Ethel - Oh, boy. You can see the writing on the wall with that one. One look at the Rico Suave officer she is flirting with and you know exactly what he has in mind. Take care, foolish girl!

Anna - I love Anna dearly and it was nice to see her looking so pretty for her fella. But I wish she would please stop asking Bates to live with her in sin. It is like watching Jane Eyre in reverse. She has the weakness of Rochester while Bates has the strength of Jane. I can't say that I blame her or that I wouldn't be tempted to do the same thing but that doesn't make it right.

Mr. Bates - I want to kiss him for being so gallant and gentlemanly to Anna when she is feeling weak. And I wholeheartedly want him and Anna to find happiness together. However, I do not think for a moment that Vera Bates will go without a fight. She seems like the type who would rather see someone dead than to have them happy with someone else, no matter how much money she was offered

Lastly, The Dowager Countess of Grantham - Is there anyone who does not love her? My favorite line of the night:
Mary : "So what? One knows lots of people in London."
Countess: "I don't know many people who threaten me behind the laurels."

Feel free to leave your own comments here or visit the discussion at By Sun and Candlelight: Let's Dish about Downton. I can't wait until next week!

Hosted by Jen at Conversion Diary.

I've been reading a lot on other blogs about resolutions. I hate resolutions because I'll do well for a day or two then go right back to where I started. Instead, I have a couple of work-in-process projects. I've been working on two areas specifically last year. One was to get my house more organized. For those who know me or have been reading my blog, you also know that my three sisters are neat and organized and I'm the one most likely to appears on "Hoarders: Buried Alive." Okay, maybe I'm not that bad but I could appear on the show "My Desk Is Covered with So Much Junk I Can't See My Computer Monitor" as seen here. That is why I started Operation Clean & Organize. I haven't done much since autumn with all the holiday busyness but things have settled down now and I can refocus.

The second work-in-progress is to eat healthier and move more. (Do you ever watch Good Luck Charlie on Disney? As the overweight Bob Duncan was told - "Less bacon and more shakin!") I already joined Weight Watchers and I've lost the baby weight but, again, once the holidays came everything stalled. I stopped keeping track. I kept what I lost off but I haven't made any progress on the still long road ahead. So that, too, must be refocused.

The last two are more mini-goals than projects. And they are more "fun." The first - don't be afraid to try some "feminine touches" in how I dress. When I was younger my favorite colors were navy blue, army green and burgundy. I wore either converse of doc martins. However, as I've gotten older, I have finally let go of that more "tomboy" mentality. I still hate wearing dresses or skirts and run from any shoe that has a heel more than ½ an inch but I can now say my favorite colors are red, orange and yellow - bright and happy colors. I like wearing pink and buying things that are less boyish and more cute. I think I have also been influenced by Betty Beguiles and have learned to better embrace the feminine side of myself. For example, when I see my sisters wearing pretty flowers in their hair or a really pretty accessory I think to myself - that looks great on them but I couldn't wear it. Well, Bobbi, why not? So I experimented with little things. For Christmas I wore a flower clip in my hair. I also love headbands so I wore this crocheted one I found that had a pretty crocheted flower on it.

I liked it and no one laughed at me. (Do we ever get over those negative junior high feelings that sometimes creep up on us?) And who knows, in the future I may even be blogging about the day I wore one of those cute dresses I pinned on Pinterest. After all, I do believe in miracles.

The other mini-goal is to watch a little less TV. Having cable TV and a DVR, I can pretty much record whatever I want and just watch it later, especially when I am up with the baby. However, it has gotten a bit out of hand. I have had to delete some shows that have just become time wasters. (Sorry, Mom, if I can't discuss the latest person voted off Biggest Loser or why I voted for so-and-so on American Idol.) I will still watch favorites with Brian in the evening and I will certainly still obsess over Downton Abbey (See, Mom, we can still discuss how much we can't stand Vera Bates and how we long for Mary and Matthew to finally get together.) but paring down on TV in general will give me more time to read a few of those books I wanted to get into and read some of the mom blogs I've wanted to follow.

Speaking of reading more, I have already started reading more on my new Kindle Fire. Yes, as I mentioned in last week's quick takes, I finally decided to use my Christmas money to buy one and I don't regret it! I love my iphone but reading on the kindle is so much easier. Plus, I can also read my magazines (did you see that the National Catholic Register is available on the Kindle?) and my Google Reader is a lot easier than on my phone. It is perfect for the evenings when I am trying to get the baby to sleep and have extra time to myself.

And speaking of mom blogs, I first came across By Sun and Candlelight when I was reading a post about Downton Abbey. (Great comments in the com box. btw!) I started browsing around and I am really enjoying Dawn's posts. You should check it out.

Lastly, Dawn (from above) also mentioned that she got the book The World of Downton Abbey for her birthday. I browsed through the pages they had on Amazon and it looks so pretty and informative. It's the kind of book a Downton geek would love. (It is available on Kindle but a book like that, you have to hold it in your hands and feel the paper.)

And I do happen to have a few dollars of my Christmas money left...and it is burning a hole in my pocket...and who wants to bet that for next week's {pretty, happy, funny, real} you are going to see a photo of that book sitting on my desk. I'm just saying... ;-)

LOL! Have a great weekend!

xoxo,
b.

Since I didn't get to see the new Downton Abbey until last night, I missed the Twitter party on Sunday night. Yet, I had plenty to say when I did watch it so here is my unpublished twitter feed while watching Downton Abbey. Feel free to share your thoughts!

BTW, if you missed the show you can watch it online here.

UPDATE:Brian just got home from work. He was talking to a coworker from the UK. She has already seen the entire season. She said there is even more drama and turmoil coming and that Vera Bates gets even nastier. After this season there is/was a Downton Abbey Christmas special that wrapped up many of Season 2's conflicts, yet leads into new stories in the upcoming Season 3. Something to look forward to!

The kids are asleep. The lights are dimmed. I am so ready for Downton Abbey! #DowntonPBS

Laura Linney looks as excited as we are.

How did anyone make it out of there alive? #war

That's why we love Downton, Michael. "Seems like another world." (Yet, we can always relate to the human nature.)

Ethel is a cheeky little thing.

The best lines are always from Lady Dowager. #whatisaweekend?

Brian, "What kind of name is Lavinia??" #villianousname

Dearest, Sybil. I just want to hug you.

No one eavesdrops like O'Brien.

Wow, I wasn't expecting Cousin Isobel and Lady Dowager to be agreeing on something.

Aw, Bates. I've loved your character in the last three movies/series I've seen you in. (Downton, North & South and Lark Rise to Candleford.)

Will those two sisters ever stop being nasty to each other?

Poor Mary. Nothing like regret.

Of course Lavinia looks sweet but we'll not stop wishing Mary and Matthew come to their senses.

Poor William. He needs a hug too.

Lord Grantham/Papa always seems to be the last to know.

Oh, no! Mrs. Vera Bates is in the picture now? I thought she was dead or long divorced. Noooo! The writing is on the wall...

BTW, Bates, what kind of proposal was that?

How many times have I said that to Brian, "I'd give you a smack if I didn't want to kiss you so much."

Oh, no an Anna/Bates kiss to tug at our hearts before it is broken.

Quotable: "My my. You are very well placed if you are ever in trouble with the law."

O'Brien the Cat has a new mouse to tease.

Oh, yes, Matthew. Mary is so pleased to be "friends."

Anna and Bates are making plans. Anna is blissfully happy. This can only mean one thing. Disaster is right around the corner.

Mary and Matthew, you are breaking my heart.

There it is. The bombshell. And a nasty piece of work she is. #paininthearse

I can physically feel my blood boiling. Why can't she be thrown on the battlefield in the line of fire?

Mrs. Hughes! You shock me. I thought O'Brien was the master eavesdropper. #nosybodiesunite

No, dearest Anna. Don't be willing to live in sin with him. Think of Jane Eyre. If it is meant to be it will work out in the end.

Oh, Anna. Your tears have brought me to tears. #heartbreak

Daisy, that's one way to cheer William up but be careful, little one!

Hmm, Daisy. Was that look saying, "Oh, yes!" or "Oh, no!"?

How do people live in such conditions? #war

Lovely. First Vera. Now Thomas is back.

Quotable, "If I was a gentleman, I wouldn't want to know." "But you're not." "Fortunately."

Quotable: "Flattered is a word posh people use when they are getting ready to say no."

Be patient, Branson. She may come around.

Oh, God. I guess that bullet had his name on it. #irony #war

Poor Papa. I smell another major let down.

And there it is. An honorary position.

Is Lord Grantham ever going to find out about the scandal?

Checking for vapors? Classic, O'Brien.

Edith, don't be so annoying. Leave Mary to her praying. #pest

I love how the love of a good man can change a selfish heart. I'm rooting for you, Mary.

We're seeing a whole other side of Thomas. Is he going to be less hateful now? #hopeful

Well, that's one way to get off the battlefield. Ouch.

Lang seems like a decent chap. I like the look of his eyes. I hope I am not disappointed.

Is Ethel into Lang? I'm not used to O'Brien being nice.

With a single look O'Brien says, "Give it up. Mosley. It's never going to happen."

Edith, you never looked so good as you do on that tractor! Good for you.

I guess Thomas isn't turning over a new leaf. He's as nasty as ever. #dashedhopes

Don't even think about it, Ethel.

Why does Sir Richard look so familiar?

"Her uncle and I are old friends..." Oh, no. I smell another scandal.

And the longing glances continue. #maryandmatthew

Dear Carson. Don't you dare die on us.

Never mind the blasted dress, Edith! #pest

Another showing of O'Brien's softer side. #newleaf?

Sir Richard...Sir Richard...what do I know you from? I can see you...but it's hazy in my mind...younger...threatening someone...grabbing her by the wrist...that voice...

I can't stand it. Must look him up quickly... That's it. Mr. Preston from Wives and Daughters. Now I can see the scene clearly. #imdb

Is that why you are so nasty, Thomas? Lack of real love?

Sir Richard/Mr. Preston has the same MO. Grabbing a young lady by the wrist and threatening her.

At first I thought the farmers were brother and sister. Then I thought, how sweet. Edith is falling in love with a farmer.

Brian just informed me that he is the sick farmer from Season 1. What? They better stop flirting with each other! #thatsnotyourwife

Oh, no. The poor soldier. Brian wants to know if Thomas gave him the razor as an "act of mercy." I don't think so but who knows?

Oh, Sir Richard you are just bursting with romantic notions, aren't you. I've seen more sentimentality from a block of cheese. #dumphim

Branson is getting hopeful again with Sybil.

Mary can't bring herself to tell Matthew what's on her heart. A letter, Mary. Pouring out your heart is traditionally done in a letter.

I liked Mr. Molesley in Season 1 but he is like a pesky gnat in Season 2. #shooflyshoo

I guess it's not only the posh that say "I'm flattered but..." #rejection

Oh, Edith, I finally started liking you and now you are a blasted homewrecker. And you, Mr. Cheeky Pig, your life was not spared so you can cheat on your faithful wife. Zip it up and get back to your house.

Quotable: "What then? Amputation in the dining room? Resuscitation in the pantry?" #ladydowager

Quotable: "Now come and give me a kiss!" "We'll have none of that!" There are many others that should have been told that!

Daisy, I guess that previous look was "Oh, no."

Of course you shouldn't accept him, Mary. He stinks to high heaven. #dumphim

Read between the lines, Edith. "Get your nasty hands off my man."

Noooo...it can't be two hours already. Blasted. Now I have to wait another week. Oh, well. Let me know what you think! #downtonwithdrawal

Hosted by Jen at Conversion Diary.

Happy feast of the Epiphany! I hope you all had a lovely Christmas and New Year's. We have been out of town last week and I am still catching up on unpacking the suitcases and packing up the Christmas décor. I think that is why I am so reluctant to clean everything up...I don't want to box up my favorite time of the year. (Well, truth be told, I'm actually a procrastinating messcat but the other scenario sounds so much more romantic...)

For Christmas I bought Brian a Kindle Fire. Anyone who knows me also knows that I am always the first one to get an electronic toy and then later Brian joins the bandwagon. However, I wanted to get him something special and being a book lover I thought this would be a nice match. He was very excited and has been using it frequently.

I have been holding off buying one myself because I have been saving up for an ipad instead. However, the more I think about it; maybe I should get myself a laptop - one of those sleek, thin ones that you can carry in your bag. It may make more sense than an ipad. However, it will take me awhile to save up extra money for that so I may just use some gift money I have saved up and get a kindle for me as well. Brian said that I could have his Kindle Fire and he could get one of the basic Kindles since he mostly uses it just for his books. Tempting, but I don't know. Doesn't it seem like I am taking back the very gift I gave him? I'll have to think about it.

Speaking of electronic toys, a few months ago Brian and I both needed to replace our old iphones that weren't working. We bought the new 4s and I love mine! (Should I admit that I even sleep with it? Hmmm. No, I better not.) I happen to also like the new Siri and I'm always telling her to set up reminders or asking her to read me new texts when I'm busy. I showed Brian how to use Siri and he swears his iphone is defective. He asks her a question and she almost always responds, "I'm sorry. I do not understand what you are saying." I don't know if he is speaking too close or talking too robotic but he insists it is not his fault. To prove to him that his phone was fine I used it and asked Siri a number of questions. She always gave me the correct information. So I don't know what it is. He thinks it's a conspiracy. You know, the same conspiracy/evil plot that allows things to be hidden from his sight. Yet, when I walk into the room to look for the hidden object it is always right there in plain sight. (Yes, Siri and I have it all worked out.)

The one thing I do not like about the iphone is how delicate it can be in the hands of young ones. I bought a cute decorative case cover for my iphone and I loved the personal touch but it gave no protection whatsoever. If I was the only one using it, that would be fine. However, the kids will often use my phone to play games or watch videos, especially in a long line at the market. (One lady at Costco was amazed because I handed my phone to John-Paul and at the age of two he was able to zip through pages and folders and open up his games. It's second nature.) So my cute but worthless cover had to be replaced. My brother suggested that I get one of those ToughSkin rugged rubberized tread cases or one of those military grade ones made out of tires but that seemed a bit extreme.

Instead I settled on the Marware SoftGrip Core Case, available in black, white and pink. I like that it has a protective silicone skin, textured dimples on back to minimize impact shock and extra coverage around the display. It makes the phone slightly bulkier and it doesn't slide easily into my pocket - I have to shove it in because of the silicone traction - but it is sturdy enough to handle the drops it has received so far.

Okay but enough talk about the electronic gadgets. How about a quick take about sewing something crafty and beautiful? (Obviously, not something I did.) My sister-in-law Maria is not only an incredible artist as you can see from this painting she gave us a couple years back...

... but she is also gifted at the sewing machine. Look at some of this handiwork!

She even made her own gift tags, gift bags and bows. And did I ever post what she gave me for my birthday last year?

A card with one of her sketches and matching magnets. So pretty! I'm trying to get her to open her own etsy shop and maybe when she gets over the tough first year of having a newborn, she will. I'll keep you posted. ;-)

I could make my last quick take about the cute aprons my other crafty sister EL made but she may want to post about that herself. Besides, all this sewing talk is depressing me. (I'm getting flashbacks of when I hemmed my pants with duct tape.) So instead I'll put one last plug for Downton Abbey, Season 2 coming Sunday night. Jen mentioned it on her Quick Takes and I was elated to see others are as smitten as I am. Brian and I will still quote lines from it to each other. ("What is a weekend?" hahahaha! Love it.) Okay, here are some closing photos for all you on Team Mr. Bates & Anna. ;-)

Okay that is it for now. I'm meeting up with some local Catholic moms this afternoon - something I've been sorely missing! Have a great weekend! xoxo

Each week, Catholic personalities Danielle Bean, Rachel Balducci and Carolee McGrath host The Gist. They discuss topics such as abortion, raising teens in the faith and confession. Along with guests such as Martin Sheen, Emilio Estevez, Lino Rulli and others, they will give Catholic women the gist on everything from faith and the Church to exercising, make-up and how to stay sane. Tune in every Wednesday morning for a new show at 10:30 with rebroadcasts Thursday at 8:30 p.m., Friday at 4 p.m., Saturday at 6:30 a.m., Monday at 8 a.m. and Tuesday at 10 p.m. (all times Eastern).

I missed the first show since it is on at 7:30 AM in Cali and I'm usually in the middle of getting kids off to school. However, it is rebroadcast during the week and available to view online. If you missed it, I've added it here. Below I've also added my own comments about the show.

It was wonderful to watch these great Catholic women and moms. I feel like I already "know" them from reading their blogs and columns. There was a lot to be learned and here are a few things that struck a cord with me.

Topic - Working moms.

My take - Danielle said it best, "All moms are working moms." Being a SAHM, I say, "Amen, sister!"

Topic - Comparing ourselves to others.

I loved Rachel's comment, "The only people you can truly analyze is yourself and your situation..."

My take - It is so easy to look at other moms and see how much they are doing and think, how do they do it? It will sometimes make me feel guilty that I am not doing enough. But I have to remember that we are each in different situations and have our own unique vocation as a wife and mother. As long as we are open to God, He will direct us to exactly where we need to be. He'll often challenge us but He won't overwhelm us. If we are overwhelmed we may need to ask, "Am I doing more than I should be and spreading myself too thin?" If not, then ask, "Am I relying on God for my strength or on myself?" (Sigh. Been there. Done that.)

Topic - How do you do it all?

When Danielle asked guest speaker Lisa Hendey, "How do you do it all?" Lisa replied, "If I think about everything that I do in a day, it's too overwhelming. So I start my day with prayer...and that's a key component throughout the day. Praying just for the grace and the energy and the strength to do it all and really, I just do my best with whatever pot that is burning right in front of me...managing the priorities, looking at how I can be of help to other people and most importantly serving my parish and my family."

My take - Prayer, Priorities, Serving family first but not forgetting others. Enough said!

Topic - Lisa talked about saints being role models, intercessors and heroes of our family.

My take - Often when I hear about the saints I wonder how I can relate to them because, well, they are saints. But really, they weren't born with halos on their head. They had the same kind of human struggles we do. They had to fight their personal demons and rely on God to give them the strength to live holy lives. I can certainly learn from that! (Side note; I am in the middle of reading Lisa's book The Handbook for Catholic Moms: Nurturing Your Heart, Mind, Body, and Soul and I am eager to also check out her new book A Book of Saints for Catholic Moms: 52 Companions for Your Heart, Mind, Body, and Soul.)

Topic - Prayer

In the next topic they ladies spoke about the importance of prayer in our daily lives and I love what Rachel said, "Right off the bat, establishing that our prayer life is the most important thing and I think as moms we can so easily justify and rationale away taking time to pray because laundry needs to be done, and lunches need to be made and children need to be cared for, but really, personal holiness and a relationship with God is the most important gift we can give our families."

My take - I am guilty of this all too often! There is always something that needs to be done and although there are times when I can pray as I work, there also needs to be time when I quiet myself and simply focus on God. Some days it may only be for a few minutes but I must be willing to make the effort and establish the priority. Certainly if I have to time to post on my blog, pin an idea on Pinterest or watch a favorite tv show, then I certainly have time to shut it all down and give God a little silence.

Topic - The rosary and adoration.

My take - I love Carolee's comparison of the rosary and exercise. Both are things we tend to want to put off yet both are important to our health (physical and spiritual) and we'll feel better after we are done! And Danielle's thought on Adoration reminded me that just as I ask Brian to watch the kids so I can run to the market alone, I can ask Brian to watch the kids so I can stop at the chapel and speak to God in his presence alone. (And I know he is more than wiling to do it!)

Topic - Family prayer.

My take - This should be a show topic itself! I already commented on this briefly in another post but a number of families I know pray the rosary every night with their kids. I commend them! For us, it has not worked out very well, but rather than forget the whole thing, we've adjusted it to our family needs. Instead, we try to say the rosary but with only one decade. Some nights we're lucky just to gather us all together for a quick night prayer but we do what we can. Each family is different and their needs change as the family grows. The main thing is to be doing something.

Last Thoughts

With that said, I really recommend that you watch the show yourself. At first I was a little reluctant to devote time to it since the topic was on working moms but that was just a small portion of it. There were many topics discussed. On the one hand, it seemed like too many topics. Maybe there could have been less topics and more time spent on one or two subjects. (It seems like the saints, personal prayer or family prayer could have been their own shows.) On the other hand, the flow of conversation carried into many different topics and they commented accordingly. Either way, I really enjoyed the show and actually watched it twice. The second time around is when God impressed certain things on my heart and for that I am thankful.

So thanks, Gist Girls. I look forward to watching you again next week!