Pop culture fail

So as much pop culture as I consume, there are still lots of things that pass me by. And then I get that look I usually give other people. The one that says: "What do you MEAN you haven't read/watch /heard [fill in the blank]?!" I know, I know. So for every person who doesn't recognize Dan Stevens from "Downton Abbey" in that pic from the last post, there are just as many times when I can be just as pop culture clueless. So here, things that I need to get into but haven't yet. Go ahead, be horrified -- but don't let your face stick like that.

Web series

With the except of "Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog," I don't watch web series. Which is ludicrous given how much time I spend with my laptop open. But I can't ever figure out their schedules, and the production quality isn't always up to snuff, which can drive me crazy. Plus, I have a total second-screen mentality, so what would I do if watching on my laptop? In truth, I can watch YouTube on my TV, but I'm going to blame my already busy TV-watching schedule for missing these two series especially: "The Lizzie Bennet Diaries" and "The Guild." Both seem right up my alley -- Pride & Prejudice! Geeks!  -- and yet, I can't sit down to watch them. Maybe it's that they seemingly have so many episodes already that, even though they're short, it'd be like me trying to watch all 10 seasons of, I dunno, "Smallville" or something.

Books

Y'all know I love my YA. Even before I rediscovered that genre, I generally read Austen paraliterature, mysteries and the occasional romance. As big a bookworm as I am, I just cannot deal with mainstream chick lit (inevitably the girl is late 30s, either divorced with a kid or longtime singleton and works in PR) or actual literary fiction (inevitably too depressing and/or Full of Meaning). So, no, I haven't read "Gone Girl" or classics like "The Catcher in the Rye." But I just finished Henry James's "Washington Square." And next on my list is the non-fiction World War I book "The Guns of August." They gotta count for something.

TV

This is the big one. The one that garners the biggest reaction when I confess: I've never seen "The Wire." Yes, I know it's amazing. Yes, I know it helped revolutionize television drama. Yes, I know it was filmed in Baltimore -- just up the road. I read somewhere that "The Wire" is like "War and Peace": Everyone says you should read/watch it, but hardly anyone actually follows through. I just don't know that I want to invest my time in several seasons of bleakness, so this one has moved down ... and down ... and down on my Netflix queue.

Three cool things

Well, I wouldn't go that far. But lots of fun things have happened in recent weeks. The top 3  awesome things, in order of awesomeness.

Holy shizz. Dan Stevens, y'all! Matthew Crawley! Edward Ferrars!
(Credit: I cannot even remember because I was so excited to put my arm around Dan)

First Place

I met Dan Stevens! That's right. He of "Downton Abbey" and the last TV adaptations of "Sense & Sensibility" and "Dracula"! (Er, actually I don't recommend "Dracula.") When we heard he was stateside doing a play, a couple of us met up in New York for a weekend. It was right after Hurricane Sandy, so probably not the best time to go. But the NY Historical Society was open, and we saw its fascinating "WWII & NYC" exhibit. Really cool to learn about why it's called the Manhattan Project and that the Met curators helped design armor/helmets by studying the armor in its collection.

That night we went to see "The Heiress" on Broadway. The play, based on Henry James's "Washington Square," stars Jessica Chastain as an awkward plain Jane who stands to inherit a good sum of money when her father (David Strathairn) dies. Dan -- because that's what I call him now, Dan -- plays her dashing suitor, who may or may not be after her money. Judith Ivey is the comic relief as the ridiculous aunt who encourages the young couple. As plays go, it was okay. I thought it was a little too obvious what was going on, and Chastain wasn't all that impressive (she does this weird "let me drop my voice an octave to show I'm emoting" thing). But Dan gamely played the dandy, and with a surprisingly good (albeit high-pitched) American accent.

After the show, we rushed to hang out at the stage door. We didn't have to wait long until Dan came out. He was very gracious and nice to sign autographs and take pictures with everyone who asked. And also handsome. He is totally dashing. Swoon. A friend must have popped by unexpectedly because when he greeted Dan, Dan was all: Omg, what are you doing here? And they shared a bro hug, which was cute, and then Dan went off with his friend into the night. Sans security to scare away any "Downton Abbey" stalkers. (We didn't stick around for Chastain; oops.) All in all, mission accomplished. I'm definitely ready for more British actors I love to come to Broadway now.

Second Place

My race bib. It was a twilight run
through a historic cemetery. Spooky! (Credit: Me)

I ran a 5K! I'm not a runner. Like at all. Never have been. Generally in the past, I've taken a "I don't run unless I'm being chased" stance. But I've been on a health kick the last year or so and decided to give it a go. I've been training for a few months now, mostly running on the treadmill. I ran outside only once and didn't do as well as I'd hoped. So lo and behold, how surprised I was when I beat my personal best on the treadmill (45 mins) by like 10 minutes -- and ran the entire 3.1 miles! Whoo-hoo! I attribute that to adrenaline and competitive spirit. I finished 250th out of 300, but, hey, I at least accomplished my goals, which were to just finish and not be last. So there's that. 

I also did a 5K running tour around town, which was fun, and I've signed up for another 5K right after Thanksgiving, because, let's face it: I'll totally need the exercise by then. I'd love to maybe try at 10K one day. But, to answer my mother's question,  no, I won't be doing a marathon. 

My sweater! With detail of owls, below.  (Credit: Me)

Third Place

I made a sweater! I knit a cardigan a long long time ago and hated it (I think I must donated it ages ago) because each part was knit separately, then sewn together. Frustrating! So it took me a long time to screw my courage to the sticking place one more time and try again. It's red and woolly and it has owls! Owls are probably passe by now, but I don't care. It's super cute and, if you're a knitter, the pattern is great: clear directions, keeps the sewing to a minimum, etc. Highly recommend!

It might take me a while before I feel like doing another sweater.... With the holidays coming up, I've got a lot of projects done, but a lot still before me. My poor little fingers will be tired right up until Christmas...