while i am not sleeping

today in the car on the way to tennis lessons (not mine), I was changing out the cd in the cd player, and between cds, the radio came on.  it came on to the christian talk radio station 91.3 at exactly the beginning of what I thought was a sermon.  It was clearly and african-american pastor, and as I deeply miss my home church and my favorite african-american Pastor, I stopped to listen.  What I heard was one of those move you to the core of your being sermons.  It was a man, the Reverend E.V. Hill giving a sermon at his wife's funeral.  I am putting a link to that broadcast here.  Not to be depressing, but to be inspiring.  His wife inspired me.  His faith inspired me.  Everything about it touched me.

So, if you are like me, and are always looking for things to listen to or watch while you do dishes and laundry and stuff, you will not regret listening to this.  You can listen to that when the kids are busy doing something else.  Actually all the boys listened to it with me, and frank talked about it later.  He didn't really know what it was all about, but he brought up 3 different parts of the story, and had heard every word.  they are watching everything we do...

 *****

And.  while i am talking about the things that I watch and listen to, here are some of my favorites from the past year.  You probably already saw them all, but just in case:

1.  Downton Abbey.  7 part mini-series for PBS Masterpiece Classics.  Oh yes, I am that nerdy, but when i saw it won all those Emmys, I checked it out.  So good.  you can stream it on Netflix or watch the first episode on PBS.org.  Apparently Season 2 begins in january.  it is worth your time if you like the A and E Pride and Prejudice.   

2.  Justified.  I have only seen season 1, but I love it.  I have a not-so-secret crush on Timothy Olyphant ever since my dirty favorite show, Deadwood.  And in this show, he does not disappoint.  He is even cuter without that ugly mustache from Deadwood.  and the other characters in this show are great as well. 

3.  Damages.  another FX show.  you can also stream this one on Netflix.  Glenn Close stars, and we were hooked pretty quick.  the second season wasn't quite as good as the first, but it got better.  now we are starting the third season, and I am hopeful.

4.  the Lincoln Lawyer.  i liked this movie.  first time I ever like Matthew Mchonaey (i don't know how to spell it, and i refuse to look it up)

5.  A Perfect Getaway.  not the greatest movie, but it kept us awake and entertained.  michael got it for me on a Friday night.  turned out it had Timothy Olyphant in it.  (He is also strangely in the second season of Damages.  it is weird how he keeps turning up in this list.)

6.  Biutiful.  i watched this one by myself.  it is very long.  took me a few days.  it is heavy and i did some crying if i remember correctly, but it was worth it to see Javier Bardem's acting.  save it for your rainy day blues. 

7.  American Experience: Lewis and Clark.  this may be my favorite.  it was 3 hours that made me feel proud to be an american.  so cheesy sounding, but it was so good.  the older i get, the more history i want to learn.

8.  Kill the Irishman.  a movie about a true story.  its got an irsh man.  i can't tell you much more than that, but it was good.  

i also liked Source Code and Cedar Rapids, and the Kennedys.  they were enjoyable movies.

Do you wonder when i have time to watch these things?  I don't know the answer, but we still only have about 5 tv channels and I like to stay up late.  so I watch my computer when i am exhausted and brain-dead, or doing dishes slowly while the boys are sitting on each other outside on the trampoline.