Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can't Stop.

So, we went away for Passover, and now we're back, and I never want to see another piece of matzah again, ever. Or at least until next year. Whatever. Let's talk about what's really important, which is my present Friday Night Lights fixation. As I mentioned in a prior post, I recently started the series from the beginning, during my journey to and from Seattle a few weeks back. It was so good that I stopped after a few episodes, realizing that J would love it, too. And lo, I got him hooked and now we're both obsessed. I am the Nancy to his Sid, only without all the heroin and murder.

The thing is, the show started, like, five years ago, and we keep having these in-depth discussions like the damn thing premiered last week. This has manifested itself in a number of embarrassing ways, not the least of which is my reverting to some sort of giggly, flushed adolescent whenever Tim Riggins appears onscreen. He is clearly the lovechild of Tom Brady and Jordan Catalano, and I'm basically about five steps away from redecorating with a taped-together magazine shrine of his visage, as I was wont to do with my crushes, circa late-'90s:

Another weird thing happening is that --by osmosis -- I'm immersing myself in the culture of fictional Dillon, Texas, where the show is based. I do not live in an area of the country where fancy cowboy boots are A Thing, but this show is making me think I not only need them, but can make them work flawlessly with a pantsuit. I have had actual dreams about such boots. Beautiful, haunting dreams.

I'm also quite taken with all things Coach Taylor, and want him to come to all my meetings from this day forward. I think he can really get people motivated to do literally anything. Maybe even to wash my car! Who knows? The possibilities are endless! Suck it, skydivers-holding-hands TEAMWORK POSTER. No one needs you anymore!

We've grown EMOTIONALLY INVESTED in the show, is what I'm saying, only we are VERY MANY YEARS too late to the party, and cannot plow through the episodes fast enough. Will Smash make it? What will be with Tim? How do I get Tami Taylor's hair? When will I stop despising Buddy Garrity? (People keep saying it's coming, but WHEN?) What in the name of all that is holy is up with Jason Street's weird vampire mask smile, and can they stop focusing on it so much because it makes me uncomfortable and I'm genuinely scared he's going to break though my TV, The Ring-style, and kill me in my sleep?

Clearly, I'm in need of help, having just devoted an entire blog post to a TV show that -- once again -- is...not new. So, let me just say this: if you haven't yet seen Friday Night Lights, watch it, obviously, and if you have, well, let's talk about it. And the purchase of the cowboy boots.

When...

...I leave this fair city one day, it will be kicking and screaming.

Not for the food, not for the buildings, and not for the nightlife.

(Though all those things are great.)

But rather, because this glorious city is one where a man can wander around with a damned cat atop his head like so:

10 Things I Learned In Seattle

(This past weekend, I visited Seattle for the first time ever, for the Nintendo Brand Ambassador Summit, to check out the Nintendo 3DS.)

1. Upon in-depth discussion with Y and Sam, the myriad magical thinking-filled steps I make myself take before and during a plane flight are perhaps a subject of their own post. Or cause for psychological evaluation. Perhaps both.

2. On the bright side, my lengthy plane trips over the weekend enabled me to start (and promptly fall in love with) Friday Night Lights. CALL ME, FAKE TV CHARACTER TIM RIGGINS. I'M FEELING VERY JORDAN CATALANO CIRCA 1995 ABOUT THIS WHOLE THING.

3. The Nintendo 3DS is mind-bogglingly cool, has an easy-to-use interface, amazing games (the Augmented Reality features will make your jaw drop), and I am incredibly thankful to both Nintendo and Brand About Town for the opportunity to fly out to Nintendo HQ and see the device in action, along with my own to take back home.

The trip was fantastic, and every detail was thought of and covered (down to Brand About Town accommodating my Sabbath Issues, and booking me on a late night, post-Sabbath flight home on Saturday). I was thrilled to go, and thrilled to come back home and show off the Nintendo 3DS to my family; I can't put it down! No, seriously, I can't, because then I won't get it back from my husband and son. (My son, btw, is under 6, so I just slide the 3D toggle down to 2D when he plays with it. Easy peasy.)

4. I just love my blog friends. (Not really something new learned in Seattle, but they were THERE in Seattle, so let's just go with it.)

 

                                                          This picture stolen from Y.

 5. I am terrible at Zumba!

6. I love Zumba! (Thanks for taking me, Jen, Kerri, Sizzle, and Terrell!) I am signing up for a class here, like, yesterday, despite the aforementioned terribleness.

7. Nearly every man I saw in Seattle looked like the lovechild of Kurt Cobain and Sam Beam: NOTE: I AM NOT COMPLAINING. JUST OBSERVING.

8. Frasier's house is so pretty!



9. There is LITERALLY a grumpy old troll who lives under a bridge. Well, live and learn. Sorry for everything I said about you, Dora!

10. Seattle is magical, and I can't wait to go back.

Thanks again to Nintendo and Brand About Town for a fantastic weekend!