Berlin-

Had a great time in Berlin over the weekend, but… wow, was it ever packed with tourists. It’s the first time I’ve felt claustrophobic hanging out downtown. I guess sometimes I take for granted how historic Berlin is and what a mecca it can be. Still, we managed to get our big city fix and then happily came home to our multiple portable air conditioners… oy, is it hot and miserable outside! I’m mourning the loss of our gray, rainy summer.

——————————————————————————————————————————————-

Babies-

While in Berlin I also had the opportunity to hang out with Blythe and (more importantly!) the oh-so-cute and always smiley Theo! Seriously, the entire time I was around them he grinned and cooed and didn’t cry once. My first sentence when I saw Jim again was: “if I could somehow be guaranteed a baby that happy and smiley each time… I’d want 4 or 5 more”. From now on I refuse to believe Blythe if/when she claims Theo’s being fussy.

———————————————————————————————————————————————

Milfweed-

Finally, last night we finished the second season of Weeds and I can’t wait until next month when it’s back on. My favorite characters, hands down, is Celia Hodes (played with eerie conviction by Elizabeth Perkins). I love the fact that the writers/producers have so far resisted the urge to put chinks in her armor (with the exception of when they gave her cancer in the first season… they were totally trying to make her more likable and vulnerable then. Fortunately they seemed to realize the error of their ways fairly quickly and course-correct). She’s at her best when she’s saying and doing completely vile things with the same laisser-faire attitude that you or I would use to describe our day.

Least favorite is the loser brother-in-law Andy Botwin (Justin Kirk), primarily because I think he’s more a cliché than a fleshed-out, believable character. I actually liked him much better when he was first introduced and seemed to have no redeeming value. Since then he’s become this farcical stoner-with-heart-of-gold lucy ricardo wannabe that every woman wants to fuck.

And enough can’t be said for the the two boys that play the Botwin sons. Shane Botwin (Alexander Gould) has the cuteness & mouths-of-babes factor going for him, but my personal favorite is the older brother, Silas (Hunter Parrish), who’s sure to play a big part in season 3.

Tonight we start Grey’s Anatomy which should (hopefully) keep us busy and entertained through when we leave for Spain…