Mini

So that was brief. Seriously, how long did my post-vacation haze of well-rested contentment last? Five minutes?

Steve, Caroline and Edward have all been felled by colds. Caroline woke up from her nap yesterday with a fever over 104 (á la bum, but still - I could have baked a cookie on her forehead.) Edward woke up from a dead sleep at midnight and proceeded to cough his way into inconsolable hysterics for the next three hours. He finally fell asleep sitting bolt upright in bed next to me. It was weird to see, actually; he looked like a garden gnome, all hunched over with the nightlight casting a pointy hat shadow from the blanket. And Steve... hell, what is there left to say about my husband when he has a head cold? That he was beautiful and brilliant? That he loved Bach and the Beatles and me? Patrick is FINE and GREAT and has never felt better in his et cetera. He's the one that worries me, of course, because a) he is absolutely not to be trusted; and b) he is the family member most likely to have his lymph nodes explode. 

I guess the lesson here is that no good vacation goes unpunished or, alternately, you cannot rub your hands over every surface between Minnesota and Vermont without picking up a virus; nor can you then repeatedly cram your hands into your sister's mouth without giving that virus to her. Who knew, Edward, who knew?

My intention was to dedicate this evening to a long and chatty post but instead I am taking my rattling cough, my streaming nose and my mug of salt soup and I am going to bed. We have a one adult per illness rule around here and apparently it's not my turn to be sick, so I'd better sleep while I can.

In parting:

Panda ears two ways

 

And I remembered what I wanted to ask you. Netflix again. Series recommendations, again, please. We finally made our slow way through the first season of Mad Men and started on the Tudors. Although I like the Tudors in theory (and Steve brightened the first time a lady-in-waiting shed her kirtle - ah! history!) I am finding myself depressed by the fact that I know when and how everyone dies. I am like Cassandra, all, enjoy that peach, Thomas More, because... well. Tsk tsk.

For you, off the top of my head, we liked Slings and Arrows, Weeds, Deadwood, Rome, Arrested Development, Veronica Mars (sigh), Battlestar Galactica... what else? Oh that British series was very funny... Coupling. I loved Farcape but Steve says I need to stop admitting that, as if a fondness for cheesy SciFi makes me somehow uncool.

Cough cough. Damn it.

Comments

[L]

We love Chuck, House, The Wire (obviously, its the best show on television!), Friday Night Lights (really only seasons one and three), Freaks and Geeks...
They are not all created equal (some much more high brow than others) but all addictive and fun to watch.

[arabelladonn]

Californication, but not when there are children within several yards. Breaking Bad. Oh, Oh - have you seen Carnivale? There are only two seasons because HBO canceled it, but those two seasons are spectacular. Please, please see it.

(BTW, we've (myself and mine other) watched and enjoyed most of the series' on your list, thus, as a complete stranger, I now feel that I am an authority on television that you might enjoy. Which is why this lurker gleefully joined in and started banyding about series names like so many sharp, pointy objects.)

OK, my work is done. Back to lurkdom.

[Kathy W.]

Gilmore Girls (until the last season, when the writer/producers (Amy Sherman Palladino and Daniel Palladino) leave over a contract dispute). Literate & addictive.

Carnivale
The Wire
True Blood

(Sopranos you did, no?)

[arabelladonn]

I became so excited about the bandying about of series names that I forgot to include some simple human niceties.

I hope that your children (and husband) recover quickly and that you do not succumb.

[Pat]

http://www.foyleswar.com/

Foyles War got me and Tom through his broken neck; so it should work for colds

[Katie]

recently watched Party Down on netflix streaming, which was good. I second Friday Night Lights and Californication. Also, the IT Crowd is another British comedy. Or Little Britain.

[Amy]

I hope you've watched Dexter. We named our dog Dexter. It's that good. And, of course, a cute dog name. Hope you all feel much better very soon.

[SillyMama]

I have just recently gotten into Nip/Tuck and am now watching season 5. It is strange, medically gory and frequently naughty. As in "at least once every episode someone is being bent over something" naughty. But hey! You get to see numerous shots of Julian McMahon's bare ass and that's always a plus!

[melanie]

Mad Men Season 2 (out now on DVD)
Six Feet Under
The Wire (you MUST)
Firefly (fun sci-fi)

And I hear a lot of good stuff about Breaking Bad, but haven't actually watched it.

[Lisa B in Seattle]

Hope you all get well soon, but in the meantime ... I second the nominations for Dexter, True Blood and Californication. And will add in Big Love. And since you liked Farscape, you should TiVo Primeval on the Sci-Fi channel. British SciFi. Dave refuses to watch it with me, but I am addicted. I'm really not sure why, but perhaps it's the cute men? :)

Oh, and Long Way Round, with Ewan McGregor (speaking of cute men) and pal (his name escapes me at the moment) who take off on their motorcycles from London across Europe and Russia to Alaska and the U.S. and home again. Very entertaining.

[Anna]

In the same way as Arrested Dev did subtle but hilarious, really fast moving witty dialogue - 30 Rock. We do not manage much post-children-in-bed TV, but were glued when loaned series 1.

Glad the colds all held off until you got home, but hope they are due for a vacation far from MN very soon.

[Lisa]

SIX FEET UNDER!!!!!!!!!!!! So incredibly amazing.

[Jennifer]

I'll add another vote for The Wire...this week I started watching the final season with my husband and got totally sucked in and now will probably make him re-watch all of the other seasons with me. He kept telling me it was probably the best show he'd ever seen, and I'm kicking myself for not believing him.

I'll second the votes for Firefly and Freaks & Geeks, too.

[Kelli]

Completely off topic - have you seen the movie posters for a new flick called "Julie & Julia?" It's a plain background with two eggs leaning against each other. I swear I stared at it for 10 minutes trying to decide if you and Julie had really made a movie together. I think it's the new one about Julia Child and some other woman who blogged about her recipe book. But still - If you and Julie ever do a movie together, you should totally steal their poster idea. It would have to be funnier and more personally relevant than the current offering.

[Deanna]

We're watching "The Wire" right now. It's dark, sure, and I think the Baltimore Tourism Office should write the former producers a stern letter, but there are lots of unexpected comic moments and it's very well-written.

[CJ Mac]

Sorry about the colds. My oldest son had his tonsils and adenoids out at 3. I might have commented about that? Anyway he went into surgery with no fever and the surgeon said the adenoids were completely infected. Spent the night on IV antibiotics. But! Very healthy since.

Is the serious Heroes something you might like? Great story telling, and a SciFi edge.

[Erin]

I second Firefly and add in Dr. Who. Dr. Who is British and an interesting blend of comedy and sci-fi. I'm more of a Bones/CSI fan, but we also watch House and Fringe in our house.

PS Isn't that terrible about the Tudors? I do that whenever I watch historical movies. Braveheart? Oh yes Mel..go to war, it will work out wonderfully for you I'm sure.

PPS I hope you all feel better soon!

[Alexis M.]

Dr. Who
Torchwood (dr. who spinoff)
Dead Like Me
Firefly (has Nathan Fillian!!)
Dexter (which i love love love)
Venture Bros (if you're into that)
Bones

[Michelle]

Firefly
Friday Night Lights
How I Met Your Mother

I hope you all feel better soon!

[Shannon]

House, Dexter, How I Met Your Mother (sigh!), 30 Rock, Psych, Freaks and Geeks, The Wire, Scrubs (not as much, but still good!), Monk. Get well soon!

[Gina]

Leverage, Burn Notice, Hex (British), In Plain Sight and Monarch of the Glen are all series that we really enjoyed...

Hope you're all feeling better soon!

[suz]

Sorry about everyone being sick. Hope everyone's back to good health soon!

Oooh, loved the series Coupling. Only 30 Rock and The Office make me laugh as hard. Try the British version of The Office, it's like Fawlty Towers in that it's almost painfully funny to watch.

Another vote for Firefly. I'm sure you've seen Dr. Horrible's Singalong Blog.

Also, Sports Night and NewsRadio (first few seasons) are older but good.

[Brenna]

I second Firefly and Dexter, and I'll add Eureka to the list. And how do you feel about vampires? How about Buffy? Or Angel? Or Buffy AND Angel?

[Kristin]

one word: FIREFLY

[tgsdmom]

Could it be you've not seen "Faulty Towers"?

Of your list I've seen (and loved): Rome, Arrested Development and Coupling. I've watched Battlestar Galactica episode 1 and had enough of that. Still I've lots to check out. So, thanks.

Glad you had a nice vacation and that Patrick is (or seems to be) well now and that he has some interesting educational prospects.

Sorry you are hosting some viruses (I too have a new nasty cold and it is too hot here to really enjoy a comforting cup of tea). Get well soon.

[Debby]

State of Play. The 2003 British version.

I loved it. I'm afraid to watch the American remake.

[akd]

I will add another vote for Dexter and Big Love.

[Hetty Fauxvert]

BBC "Jeeves and Wooster" will have you rolling if you like silly Brit stuff at all. I have to admit that I can't watch "House" now though, since I just can't see Bertie Wooster as the grumpy doctor! Fun, fun series, though the first couple of seasons are the best. And it's G rated, too.

[cee]

Dexter! If you don't mind a bit of blood and gore. Keep watching Mad Men too because season two is excellent.

[Shauna McGlynn]

WEEDS!!! Amazingly clever and wicked writing! I would recommend it for after kiddos are in bed for both language and visual :) I am addicted and have been known to sit through 5 episodes in a row.

[Sam]

I have watched every episode of Farscape because my husband make me. It might have been enjoyable but I'm not telling.

[Julia]

Breaking Bad. Only the first season is available and it's a short season, but it's so worth getting into. And have you seen 30 Rock?

[Natalie]

Definitely "Firefly" and "The 4400."

[Alison S]

Please do not think I am an internet diagnostician, but is there a possibility it could be swine flu? Lots ill at once, nasty cough and high fever... my daughter and husband had it a couple of weeks ago (they weren't lab confirmed, but some of my daughter's school mates were, and there is lots of it in the area around London) and I am sure your holiday venue would have been a delightful melting pot for all sorts of viruses...
I hope you all feel better soon : ( I apologise for scaremongering.

[Laurie]

For an interesting series try Dexter. It's strangely entertaining. My husband actually chose it. He liked John Adams too.

[Katerina]

The Sopranos

It's oddly missing from all the recommendations so I'm not sure if there's an issue with the violence but it's a brilliant, brilliant series. Brilliant.

[Amelia Sprout]

Wonderfalls? I'm partial because I know the shrink in it, old family friend, and he's married to the director and I love it.

Sorry about the illness. That sucks.

[Chris]

Try SPACED (BBC series/Simon Pegg), revisit LOST before the last season, Big Love (my poor husband can'y have anything. I cut off HBO to save $10). He is watching Freaks and Geeks right now. If you don't own the seasons of Kids in the Hall, try a little of that. Arrested Development is always a repeat as well.

[Laura]

Six Feet Under
How I Met Your Mother
Dexter
30 Rock
Season 2 of Mad Men is on Netflix too now!

[Stacey]

The Sopranos and Big Love! I love them both!

[Toni]

Dexter (another vote)
Big Bang Theory
Lie to Me
Bones

Feel better soon!!!

[Michelle]

Definitely Dexter! That show rocks. Mistresses is good, it's a BBC show. Californication is a bit odd, but also good. If you can get it and like a good mystery, Harper's Island just finished on CBS and was awesome.

[Lisselle]

Hi. :) I hope you are all well soon!

Have you seen 'A League of Gentlemen'? It can be a bit confronting. :p

Also 'The Office' (British not US) ' The Fast Show' 'Frontline' (Aussie.)

Ive just stared watching 'Torchwood' and it seems good. I liked series 1 and 2 of 'Heroes'.

[TheLuckyGal]

Flight of the Conchords! And 30 Rock. Did you like Mad Men? I thought I was going to, but I tried to get into it on a long overseas flight and it just depressed me (and made me feel like I had emphysema).

[Reba]

I recommend Dexter - what a creepy lovely series. I heart MC Hall :D.

If you want something silly and light I really like the Canadian sitcom Corner Gas. I dunno why, it just really makes me laugh out loud even when I am totally alone at least once an episode.

[Allison]

My husband and I are currently obesessed with Dr. Who and are trying to squeeze the DVDs for Torchwood out of some friends! Dexter is awesome but somewhat disturbing. I also vote for Firefly - its one of my favorites.

[Megan]

I eighth Firefly and fourth Freaks and Geeks. Both are wonderful series that saw their ends far too soon (which is sad but means that you won't have to spend forever getting through them).

[Stephanie]

Fist off I also loved Farscape. Ben Browder in those leather pants...yum!

Firefly
Torchwood
Dr. Who
Stargate (if you need an Ben Browder-Claudia Black fix)
Big Love
How I Met Your Mother
Big Bang Theory

Also funny but somewhat old is a British sci-fi comedy called Red Dwarf, also Black Adder if that is more your thing.

Hope everyone feels better very soon!

[Kristin]

Dr.Who
Torchwood

And, I hope everyone feels better soon.

[Allisone]

Hope everyone feels better soon! Remember, every cold the twinks get now means one less when they start school. Of course that isn't really true at all, but it smacks of faux science and made me feels just better enough to keep my sanity when my kiddo was their age.

Off of your list I also liked Slings and Arrows, Arrested Development, Rome, and Veronica Mars (haven't seen the rest).

I would suggest:
Firefly
Pushing Daisies
Dr Who (with David Tennant as the Dr)
and Torchwood