Friday, August 30, 2013

What I'm Into (August 2013 Edition)

Linking over to her for the 2nd time this week, Leigh Kramer does a monthly "What I'm Into" and I thought that might be fun!

What I'm Into at HopefulLeigh


Read and Reading:
I've been truly delinquent on reading this summer, which is really unusual for me.  I guess I'm just in a different rhythm this year.  I did read one book this month, Cleo: The Cat Who Mended a Family, by Helen Brown.  It's a heartbreaking and touching story about, well, a cat who mends a family.  As a recently (1.5 years, but it still feels new) cat person, I really loved it.  She has a second book that is next on my pile!

TV:
Currently airing shows for the summer I got in to: Celebrity Game Night (it's like they're inside my head), the return of Guiliana & Bill (I'm convinced we'd be friends) and newly added love: BREAKING BAD!!!

I watched the whole series this summer and am SO GLAD I DID, not only because it's a great show, but it's really fun to be a part of all the excitement of the final 8 episodes. (and the coolest thing ever happened to me yesterday, see below).

On Netflix, I've been inspired to rewatch Prison Break, after Wentworth Miller being back in the news.  It's as intruiging as it was the first time, I thought I'd remember all the twists and turns, but it's been so long I'm just as captivated as I was the first time (and Wentworth is just as smoldering as he was back in 2005 as well).

Movies:
I saw no new movies this month, but did decide that I wanted to finally see the full Dark Knight trilogy.  I had seen Batman Begins when it came out, but for various reasons hadn't seen the 2nd two.  I bought them for a steal at Target this summer.  My plan for last weekend was to hit all three (I love a trilogy weekend), but got called into work so only was able to watch the first.  Maybe this weekend I'll finally complete the series.

In the vein of nostalgia, I bought Mall Rats on dvd this month and watched it for the first time in years.  Just as good, if not better, than the first time I saw it in 1998.  (bit of trivia, it was one of the first two VHS tapes I bought as I was heading to college)

Music:
I've spent a lot of time this summer getting back into music.  Saw a few concerts in June & July (The National, fun., My Morning Jacket, & Wilco)
Been really enjoying Dawes this month, and am hoping to see them when they come to town in September.




What I love:
  • Number one thing I love?  Oh, you know, just getting a direct tweet from Aaron Paul yesterday after I responded to one of his tweets. (I totally geeked out).  Here is why he is my favorite right now:  He is one of the hottest actors on probably THE hottest show right now, and yet doesn't seem to let it go to his head.  He seems truly in awe of all the fans and support he's gotten.  It's really touching. I mean, who else does this kind of stuff?!



  • Really been getting into Podcasts, a nice way to break up my commute and laugh and learn. Current favorite: "By The Way" with Jeff Garlin.  Hilarious, and really has some great guests.

August was a busy month with a lot of highlights.

  • I coordinated a wedding that was maybe the craziest I have ever done in the 7 years I've been doing this.  I live tweeted the weekend, it was super nuts.  Feel free to scroll back to my twitter for Aug 2-3 if you want to see some of the crazy.(@beckeye)
  • My family took a beach vacation to Rehoboth for the first time in 3 years (and the only 3 years of my life we hadn't gone).  I was only able to get away for the weekend, but it was fun to be back and to see my cousin who lives in Texas with his two boys, who weirdly are turning in to great young men.

  • I spent a day in Central PA with some very old friends, and remembered how good that girl time with people who've known you for years can be.

  • I returned to working in the cupcake store for the first time in close to 3 months.  At first I felt like a fish out of water, but was surprised how quickly it all came back.

  • I took on some more responsibility at my day job last month, and am getting to know my responsibilities and starting to find my groove.  It feels good.

In the Blogosphere:
Don't have a great way to organize my thoughts on what I'm loving out there, but will work on that for next time.


On The Blog:     
I'm back on my blog after a nearly 2 year break.  So far it's fun.  I've written about coming back, my neighborhood, and my favorite shows of all time.

Thanks, Leigh, for the "What I'm Into" Inspiration!  

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

My 15 Favorite TV Shows of All Time

As I mentioned last week, while I have become a terrible blog-writer, I have consistently been an avid blog-reader.  I always enjoy reading what others have to say, and then I always ignore ideas/suggestions put out there by other writers to contribute my own thoughts.  So, today, that changes.  Inspired by Leigh Kramer's post on her 20 favorite TV shows of all time, I have decided to craft my own.  I write (and think) more about TV than anything else (I have other posts on it in the works, both that will relate heavily to this topic), so why not add some more.

I've decided to follow Leigh's criteria (as follows) to see what I come up with. 
"... how on earth do you figure out a top 15? I suppose my criteria is this: if a rerun is on, would I stop to watch it? Does it come up regularly in conversation? Did I cry at some point- out of laughter or sadness- while it aired? Did I watch every season?
Out of fairness, no reality TV or series currently airing will be included. Nor have I included shows that merely make me nostalgic- I'm looking at you, Saved by the Bell and any TGIF show."

Additional criteria I considered:  
Did I watch them when they were currently airing (or at least in that general time period, not years later)?
Did I record it on VHS if I wasn't available to watch it, and did I save those tapes?  (I was cataloging episodes of tv long before they were available for purchase) 
Did my weekly viewing of the show involve a gathering of friends?

FRIENDS
 

Seinfeld
 Seinfeld cast

30 Rock



Alias 



Felicity
 

Sisters
 

Brothers & Sisters
 

The Office
 

Prison Break 
(obviously I had to use this photo.  I mean, come on!)
 

Smallville
 

Sex and the City 
 

The OC

LOST

Ed
Ed

Mad About You 


 

My honorable mentions: Will & Grace, Ally McBeal, ER, Scrubs, Friday Night Lights, Alf, Cosby Show, Little House on the Prairie, Star Trek: TNG

Still currently airing favs:  The Good Wife, Parks & Rec, The Big Bang Theory, New Girl, The Mindy Project, Modern Family, Breaking Ba, House of Cards, The Americans 

What are your favorites, and what did I miss??