SHERLOCK SHERLOCK SHERLOCK SHERLOCK.
Yeah I was into other stuff too but SHERLOCK.
That is what I was INTO. January was essentially Sherlock Month in this house.
Sherlock is the BEST THING I’ve EVER WATCHED, you guys.
(Now, that might not be saying much, since I have watched exactly eight TV shows in the last eight years [three of which I abandoned after the second season because they were either too depressing or too sex-obsessed]; but the level of passion I feel for this show exceeds the rest by so much that I’m confident it would be the best if I’d watched 80 TV shows.)
It might also help to know that I have adored the Sherlock Holmes character since I first watched The Great Mouse Detective in 1991 at the age of six. I was so enamored with the eccentric genius that I became a mouse in my imaginary world (named Olivia, naturally) and married him at least a dozen times over the next three years.
So it’s no great surprise that I’m completely taken with this newest incarnation of Doyle’s famous sociopathic sleuth. It helps that the writing is superb, the characters are brilliant and the acting is unexcelled. Altogether, the show is magnificent. Just magnificent.
The final episode of season 2 blew me away last year. Martin Freeman’s performance — first in the therapist’s office and then at the grave — just knocked my socks off. Unforgettable. And that cliffhanger ending! How unbelievably brilliant and cruel! The wait was torture! This was me, for an entire year:
So you can bet I pretty much lost my mind when I discovered I could watch the new episode a few weeks early online. And it did NOT disappoint. It was everything I dreamed it would be and more. Freeman and Cumberbatch (aka John and Sherlock) have earned a permanent place together in my heart.
Ben and I re-watched the first two seasons, and then went on to see the rest of season 3. Episode 2 — The Sign of Three — was one of the most enjoyable things I’ve seen in my life.
Our Sherlock-viewing got so out of hand that Lydia started making deductions (Sniffing her half-eaten apple: “Must be an apple, John!”) and re-named her doll and kangaroo Sherlock and John. Confirming that Sherlock is, in fact, a girl’s name. (Folks who have seen His Last Vow will get the reference.)
Lydia, with Sherlock and John.
I think what I love MOST about this show is the running theme of the value of friendship. This is such an unexplored topic in Western media. It is so rare to see such an in-depth exploration of male friendship. You never hear the word love applied to any non-romantic relationship (outside of family), but especially between two men. This show dares to go there. And when it involved a character who generally fails to care about anyone? ALL THE FEELS.
ANYWAY. I could talk about Sherlock all day (I PRETTY MUCH DO ALREADY) but I’ll move on.
Books
I picked up The 4-Hour Chef by Tim Ferriss mostly because I spend so freaking much time in the kitchen, and I was hoping this book might offer some tips on how to cut down on cooking time without sacrificing quality and variety.
It didn’t offer that, but it’s a fascinating read nonetheless. Ferriss is an odd and interesting human being. And I learned a few nifty tips along the way.
I also read the wonderful Little House in the Suburbs: Backyard farming and home skills for self-sufficient living
Children’s Books
We found this Can You See What I See? book at the thrift store, and we bought it mostly for Ben (he loves that kind of thing), but it’s turned out to be awesome for Lydia, too. (It’s a picture puzzle book, kind of like Where’s Waldo, but with photographs). She just loves to pore over the detailed photos. It’s made for older kids, so she might not be able to find everything in the list on the sidebar; but it’s proven to be a fun book to explore together. We take turns saying, “Can you find the ___?” It’s excellent for building vocabulary, and practicing paying attention to detail. We love it.
Music
Ben got the Bastille album Bad Blood
(I don’t know how to talk about music, so I’ll leave it at that.)
In Other News . . .
I’m famous for not using toilet paper.
If you missed it on my Facebook page, I was interviewed not once, but TWICE this week . . . on the subject of reusable toilet paper.
Out of the blue, I got a tweet from someone from HuffPost Live, wondering if I’d be interested in talking about my experience without toilet paper. Since I’m insane, I agreed.
If you’re interested, you can watch the HuffPost Live interview here.
I wasn’t aware of it, but the next day Salon.com did a feature on that interview. My blog traffic went through the roof and I had no idea why.
Two days later, someone from AM640 called me and asked if I’d like to do a live radio interview for the Jeff McArthur show as well. And I said, Sure, why not? I’ve already crossed so many lines, talking publicly about my private bathroom behaviour.
That radio interview can be found here.
I can honestly say I never expected to become a spokesperson for cloth toilet paper. It’s quite bizarre. Please tell me this isn’t going to be my claim to fame.
So that was my month in a nutshell! Tell me: what have you been into?
Linking up with Leigh Kramer! Go find more music, books, movies and TV shows to enjoy!
*Disclaimer: post contains affiliate links.
Yes to all things Sherlock! A million times yes to male friendships on the show.
This toilet paper thing has me intrigued. I just got into sewing and also looking on ways to save money. I think this could work.
Amy recently posted..What I’m Into – January 2014
I finally got to watch the HuffPost interview! I love it! I’m definitely not going to start using cloth TP anytime soon but I still think it’s a cool thing to promote. Although it’s interesting that the interviewer mentioned the way people in the Middle East clean up after using the bathroom. When I lived in Morocco I DID learn how to go without TP of any kind, I’m kind of proud of that. And I’m using cloth wipes with our cloth diapers! Speaking of which, Kathleen, can you tell me your recipe for cloth wipe solution? I’ve been having trouble figuring out a good solution, I was using solution with olive oil and castille soap but it gave him a rash. :/ Anyways, yay for Sherlock! When we have a chance Brian and I are excited to get caught up on Season 3.
Thanks for the encouragement, Emily! Unfortunately, my cloth wipes solution also uses olive oil and castile soap, so I guess I’m not much help there. Other popular recipes use baby shampoo and baby oil, which obviously I don’t recommend . . . I guess check out Pinterest? Someone’s sure to have a good recipe!
Thank you! I’ve decided it’s my DIAPERS that are causing the rash … so, that’s fun. Anyways didn’t mean to hijack the post. Thanks!
I have to say, I finally made the switch over to cloth TP this month! We’ve been at it for two week right now and I love it. I used to get raw skin or even a rash with normal TP and I never get that now. I too wash it separately from my clothes and other laundry because I normally wash everything in cold water but for my cloth wipes I do hot water so they’re separate. I’m actually getting a post together about it right now for my blog. It should be up in a day or two!
Joslyn recently posted..New Year, New Ideas
Awesome, Joslyn! There are other crazy people out there. :) Glad to hear you’ve appreciated the switch.
I am all Sherlock, all the time this month, too! My daughter has already watched all three episodes, and she has been warned repeatedly about not spoiling it for me. I thought about watching them early, but I am really enjoying waiting to watch them on Sunday night. Of course, I’ve had a hard time falling asleep afterwards, and Monday mornings have been even more challenging, but it’s so worth it!
How neat that you’re now famous. :) still not someplace I’m willing to go just yet. I won’t say never but… Yeah. Still, I think it’s pretty cool you got to spread the word in that way.
Michele recently posted..Motherhood with a Toddler, while Expecting
Ah, cloth toilet paper. I would totally go there, but that is where my husband draws the line. I figure since he has willingly and even enthusiastically gone alone with cloth paper towels, cloth diapers, my Diva cup and homemade toiletries, I can let the man have his TP.
There’s not much more I can say regarding Sherlock, other than join you in the enthusiasm. This season keeps blowing my mind! I didn’t know it was possible for it to be any more amazing than it already was. I forgot about The Great Mouse Detective! Congrats on the HuffPost live deal and all the other exposure. Enjoy the ride! :)
Leigh Kramer recently posted..What I’m Into (January 2014 Edition)
Yay for you! I found your blog a couple of weeks ago, and I seriously just read through all of your posts. I’m so glad others are finding you! Love your blog! And I’m not gonna lie, I got out the sewing machine and started making some cloth wipes. . . haven’t used them yet, but we’ll see (husband said NO WAY, but I’m going to give them a shot). Thanks for the info on Sherlock! I will have to look for it online, since we don’t get any programming on our TV, and I have also been waiting impatiently for season 3.
Hi Karen! Thanks so much for the kind words! It’s so funny — it’s usually the husbands who protest. We don’t get any programming on TV, either, so we have to watch everything online. It’s usually not very good quality but it does the job. :)
We are totally obsessed with Sherlock too! Hands down one of the best shows that has been on for a long time. Great writing and superb acting. My husband and I “discovered” it last summer via Netflix, watched every episode from seasons 1 and 2, and could not wait for the new season to start.
Rachel recently posted..A Minty Valentine
I LOVE your discussion of Sherlock. YES to the male friendship aspect – it’s so refreshing! And I love how they take on the assumptions of absolutely everyone that they must be homosexual since they clearly love one another. I read a quote from show creator Steven Moffat the other day, something along the lines that he doesn’t see why love has to imply sex – you can care about someone without fancying them. So refreshing in our sex-obsessed culture!
Also, your daughter making deductions is one of the cutest things I’ve heard this year.
Katy recently posted..What I’m Into {January 2014 Edition}