Relapse (Temporary)

Bill brining up food for me from our basement freezer - what would I do without Bill?

Late yesterday my flu symptoms (sneezing, aches, fatigue, congestion) came back with a vengeance.  

I had seven huge sneezes in the space of two minutes.  You know what that sneezing indicated don't you?  Your body trying to expel those germs (or virus) or whatever.  All I know was that I was feeling lousy again and I went back to bed after my first decent meal in two days, beef stew.  

The last two days I've eaten nothing but Campbell's and Progresso chicken soup.  I really feel the chicken soup consumption lessened my flu symptoms but man oh man, did they come back last night.

I didn't want to go to bed at 7 o'clock.  I wanted to watch a movie but wasn't in the mood for a bloody, revenge movie "Blue Ruin" (what I had on tap from my Netflix DVD) so I pulled up my saved DVR "Downton Abbey."  I needed some real escapist diversion.  I wasn't in the mood for guns and gore last night. I had no more "Judge Judy" and I wasn't in the mood for the plasticity of Patti Stanger and "Millionaire Matchmaker" (can only take so much of that Hollywood glitz and glamor phoniness of so-called millionaires).  

I had saved last season of "Downton Abbey" and was saving this season but to my dismay I saw that last season was gone.  I guess when my DVR saves a new season, the previous season is wiped out.  

So I watched it anyway, missing the whole of season four.  Guess what?  It only took me a few minutes to catch up that Lady Mary is involved in yet another pre wedlock affair, Thomas is still struggling with his homosexuality and still an unsympathetic character, Mr. Bates is still being hounded 

Les Misérables style, Daisy is still trying to better herself by book learning, Lord Grantham is still strutting around like a cock rooster and best of all, Dame Maggie Smith is still playing Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham. So many reasons to watch this wonderful show but Dame Maggie is the best.  I hear she probably won't be in next season (if there is) which is a shame because Dame Maggie "Weekend? What's a weekend"?" if Dame Maggie goes I fear there go the raison d'être for me watching this show.

Dame Maggie Smith as the Dowager Countess on "Downton Abbey". Superb!

So where am I going with this post?  It was supposed to be all about my convalescing and I get diverted off to the very talented Dame Maggie Smith.

Well folks, I feel a lot better this morning.  My flu like symptoms seem to be gone (finally) now.  

This morning was Shower Day.  Every third day I take off my leg brace and take a shower, an exhausting challenge for sure (try it sometime when you injure your leg).  

I still can't bend my knee nor lift my lower leg but I was able to get in and out of the shower (one little step up in and same out) easier than I have before.  

Of course sitting here at my computer desk is still very uncomfortable with my left leg extended out so I'm going to end this little missive shortly.  

The photo at the top is Bill coming upstairs (he lives in our finished basement), bringing me food (frozen beef stew in individual boiling bags) last night.  I cannot go up or downstairs.  Thank goodness again I decided to live on one floor when I moved to Delaware, in anticipation of getting old and immobilized like I am now.

I feel like I'm rambling so I will end but not before reminding one and all I have my appointment tomorrow at 2:40 PM with my orthopedic surgeon.  He has the results of my MRI that I had taken last Monday.  I'll find out what the extent of the damage is to my left leg and how long it will take to heal.  I'm hoping no surgery will be necessary.  What a mess this has been.  Again, I cannot stress enough, be very careful when walking about outside in icy and unsafe conditions.  You could end up like me.

Why I Love Downton Abbey

Dame Maggie Smith as the Dowager Countess, Violet Crawley

Oh let me count the ways.  "Downton Abbey" is like a treasure chest, precious jewels and gold,  An overflowing abundance of riches.  Which gem to I choose first?

Well folks, this is easy;  I LOVE "Downtown Abbey" because of Dame Maggie Smith. 

Watching an actress like Dame Maggie you forget she's acting.  There are very few actresses who can accomplish this feat so effortlessly and who are such joy to watch.  Bette Davis and Meryl Streep are two who come to my mind.  

Shirley's face says it all - as does Dame Maggie's - NO MATCH

Most actresses cannot come even close to Dame Maggie's excellence.  Recently the renown American actress Shirley MacLain made a much touted appearance on "Downtown Abbey" as a foil to match Dame Maggie's character, the Dowager Countess of Grantham.  Sorry Shirley, I love you babe but your stint opposite Dame Maggie just didn't work.  Poor Shirley looked like a drag queen dolled up in her vintage Twenties vintage costume.

Not working Shirley

Oh I was so hoping for a real match up with these two legendary actresses.  Regrettably it was not to be.  

Next week I will watch the next episode of "Downtown Abbey". 

• Will Thomas put the make on Jimmy?
• Can Jimmy be seduced?
• Will Bates ever get cleared and get out of prison (and end this BORING storyline?)  
• Will Lady Grantham let Lord Grantham in her bedroom again?  
• Will Ethel reclaim her virtue and become a good cook for Lady Crawley's household? 
• Will Lady Edith ever marry? 
• Will Mrs. Hughes find if she has cancer? 
• Will Mr. Carter ever have enough footmen? 
• Will Branson make up his mind if he's a member of the aristocracy or an Irish Rebel
• Will Daisy find true love?
• Will Mrs. Patmore get a microwave?

Just a few questions inquiring minds want to know folks. That last question wasn't serious, just testing you to make sure you're a true follower of "Downton Abbey."

The Dowager Countess with her granddaughters Lady Mary, Lady Edity and Lady Sybil

I'll write more about "Downton Abbey" in future blog posts.  

Sure, I know this is just an overhyped costume drama but I'm telling you folks, I love a show with great acting, great casting, lavish sets, and - this is important - no graphic violence and sex.  Oh what a relief it is not to see some pretty boy (or pretty girl) holding a gun with both hands shooting at somebody which much of American made movies (and TV) pass off for entertainment these days.  

Memo to American producers, take a tip and watch Dame Maggie Smith.  This is true entertainment.  

Love you Dame Maggie

Downton Abbey Season 3

Oh yes, I'm one of those "Downton Abbey" addicts.  

Last night season 3 of "Downton Abbey" began on my local PBS channel.  Oh my, oh my.  I am in heaven.

The staff of Downton Abbey

So why do I love "Downton Abbey" so much?

Well, I've always like costume dramas, especially English costume dramas since that is my ancestral background on both sides of my family (Tipton, Lewis, Hughes, Warrick, Bennett, Hadfield, Hickman, Hannum, Darlington, and Dutton).  There is no family surname in my ancestral tree that ends in a vowel. None. Nada.  

Susan Darlington Hannum - my great-great grandmother

But that's not to say that any of my English ancestors ever inhabited such a grand manse a Downton Abbey.  In fact, I doubt if any of my ancestors even were the servants.  But it is nice to fantasize that they did.  

Earl Granthom and Carson, the Butler

No, what I love about "Downton Abbey" is the human drama.  "Downton Abbey" to me is a metaphor for life in general.

Societal acceptance.  Survival.  Love. Rejection. Happiness.  Sadness. Disappointment.  Great joy. Success.  Failure.  Life. Death.  All of it.  

There is the Earl and Countess Grantham, lord and lady of Downton Abbey, a Yorkshire country house.  The series follows the lives of the aristocratic Crawley family and their servants during the reign of George V. 

The Countess of Granthom and her daughters

Just like real life, there are winners and losers,  saints and scoundrels.  And some who are a mixture of both.  There are the phonies and the legitimate. 

This series follows the lives of the "haves", who live upstairs (think of the old series "Upstairs, Downstairs" years ago which I also loved).  It also follows those who live "downstairs", the servants.  I you want a parallel to modern life think of the Mitt Romney family living in their California house with four car elevators and the servants to keep that 1% clan afloat in their privileged existence.  Oh wouldn't I love to see a series about the Romney family.  Hint, hint!

The Dowager Countess - Dame Maggie Smith

I would love to review all the characters and their story lines but this space is much to small for that here and besides, so many other writers are writing reviews much better than I ever could.  But what I did want to say is that perhaps my favorite character is the Dowager Countess, played by Maggie Smith.  Oh my, oh my.  She is a delight!  I just wish she had more time on the screen.  

Thomas - gentleman's valet (and closeted gay man)

One other character I want to mention is Thomas, the valet.  Thomas is a closeted gay and is he ever a nasty, vile bitch.  I'm not sure what to think about this portrayal of a gay character.  While I didn't think a "Jack" type character (think "Will and Grace") would be appropriate on a Masterpiece Theater series, I'm not sure if I appreciate a gay character such as Thomas.  Of course I've known gay men like Thomas; bitchy, selfish, predatory and evil but still.  Of course it's no new flash that not all gay men are heroes or saints but.....I would like to see a touch of humanity in Thomas.  After all, no one is totally bad....or good.  And that is what I like about "Downton Abbey", it generally presents all of its characters with all of their strengths and weaknesses and how they survive and seek happiness.  And after all, isn't that what we all seek to do?  Survive and find happiness?

Can Thomas be redeemed? Stay tuned.

Back to Normal?

Dame Maggie Smith as the Dowager Countess in "Downton Abbey."  

Can we get back to normal again?  Okay, we had another mass shooting and the subsequent wall to wall coverage.  Yet again another renewal of the gun control policy which will go nowhere because none of our politicians have the courage to outlaw automatic weapons.  This discussion is going nowhere folks except now that movie goers will probably have increased security for the midnight showings of violent movies like Batman.  That's our culture folks, learn to accept it.

For me, last night I watched the eight episodes of "Downton Abbey."  OMG!  Is that ever a great show!  No gratuitous violence or sex.  Yet still very interesting story lines that keep me glued to my 60 inch Sharp flat screen surround sound TV system in my personal theater bedroom.  And by the way, I don't have to worry about some nutcase bursting into my bedroom spraying me with automatic weapons just because he got rejected by his friends, school and/or lover.  Just this morning I was talking to my friend Bill P. and we can't figure out why someone would want to take out innocent people just because he has problems.  What is with that?

By the way, can we dispense with the following every time we have one of these shootings?

Saying "Our thought and prayers are with you."  That doesn't do any good, their loved one are still dead.  Just say you're very sorry.  Prayers aren't going to help now folks.

Stop with the self congratulations of the police department on the scene.  Everyone one of these scenes, almost the first thing out of the police spokesperson's mouth is "What a wonderful job our police department did."  This isn't the Academy Awards folks.  This is a tragedy.  Stop with the self congratulations.  If the police department did a good job (which many times they do and sometimes they don't) THAT IS THEIR JOB!  That's like me congratulating myself on what a wonderful front desk clerk I am because I check in guest to their right room and get them that extra towel when they ask for it.  IT'S MY JOB FOLKS!  I turn of the sound every time one of these police chiefs of spokesmen begins a press conference thanking his fellow policemen for an "outstanding job."  Enough already.

Forget about even discussing gun control.  It's a waste of time and going nowhere because gun control isn't going to happen because the NRA OWNS our legislators.  Most of them anyway, there are a few exceptions.

And again, stop with the PRAYERS.  Too late.  So empty.

And oh, one more thing,  this to the TV people, when you interview any of the on the scene witnesses try to avoid the ones who can't complete a sentence (every second or third word punctuated by an "um" or an "ah" or and this is the worst - "like").  Our education system today is a failure because so many young people CANNOT TALK.

Now I'm not being totally heartless.  Here is what I say when someone loses a loved one.  "I am sorry for your loss.  If I can do anything to help you, let me know."  There, I've said it.  Sure, if someone gets comfort from praying, let them make that decision.  Why are you going to pray for them?  Pray that it didn't happen?  Pray that they handle their loss?  Tell them that you care and offer your help.

So now we'll get back to normal or what passes for normal anyway.  Life goes on.  The Human Drama continues.  We'll have another tragedy like this in the future.  It is a shame but it will happen.  Evil exists in the world.

Be careful and don't be hating.  Hate is what caused this tragedy.  Enjoy life.  Make every day count.

Watch "Downton Abbey."