For the 80s and 90s kids.

Let’s talk about Downton Abbey. Did you watch the two hour opening?
I must confess…I was bored. I have a simple brain. There’s a reason I read People magazine and not the Wall Street Journal. There are too many dang storylines and people in Downton.  It probably didn’t help that I watched it on my bedroom TV, which is roughly the size of your palm, which hangs from my ceiling on the opposite side of the room, and as usual, I refused to put on my spectacles. So every male under the age of 4o started looking like Matthew. (Why’s he working in the kitchen now?)  But even with 20/20 vision, I’d still think there are TOO MANY PLAYERS ON STAGE!!!

Side note: Elizabeth McGovern has been living in England for the last 20 years. She says it’s because she got married. I say that’s where folks go to escape the sorrows of not being 80s cool. Madonna Louise Cicconi, I’m talking to you.

There will be at least a Downton Abbey part 3, right? So I’m forecasting here, and I’m saying that either/both Matthew or Mary will marry. Then whenever this thing is truly wrapped up, they will be reunited. Right now they have no chemistry, and that worries me. They had Season One chemistry. Maybe they don’t have any Season Two Tinglies because they are too busy following the cast flow chart. It’s hard to give sizzling looks when you’re constantly playing Six Degrees of Mr. Banks.

I do appreciate how they’ve upped the dry witted lines of Dame Maggie Smith. She is a little less serious and sour this season, and now is more the comic relief in the guise of being a curmudgeon. It’s a break from the true DA1 character, but it’s so freakin’ good, I don’t care. I pretty much live for anything she says. Plus when I see her, I know she’s definitely not Matthew.
That’s granny.

And letting Thomas back in the house again? To OVERSEE it? Do they not have their glasses on either? Are they nuts?

If Cook doesn’t keep pushing Daisy into deceptively being engaged with William, I think Cook should have to marry him herself.  William and Cook. Lovely couple.

I’m not a fan of Mr. Banks being for real married. I seem to have missed out on that fact in Season One. Or was that an end of season reveal?
In last Sunday’s episode he told Anna that he had proof his wife was cheating on him. He reported this information while in a clandestine meeting with the woman he’s pledged his love to. Cheeky, Mr. Bates. Cheeky.

I still love Downton. Really digging Sybil. She has moxie. And glad Edith got some atta girls Sunday night. She normally gets treated like she was found on the doorstep with a note that said, “Please care for her. Signed, Jeffrey Dahmer.”

What do you think of Downton? What’s your favorite?

Jason Mraz. Love his new single. Even love the video. Pardon the opening commercial.

What’s a song you’re loving lately?

Did you guys watch Downton Abbey? I can’t tell you how unfulfilled my life has been without it. We shall discuss later.

First of all the winner (one single winner, as I did not get snow) of Circle Maker by Mark Batterson is Emily K. Emily, email me your addy, girl. For those of you who listen to podcasts, Batterson just started a Circle Maker series at his home church. (Search itunes for National Community Church.)

Second, let’s talk book covers. Like many of you, I always have my eye out for some good book coverings. I so appreciate blogs dedicated to the art like ThatCoverGirl.com. Here are some faves of late. Note: A few of them are kinda old. Years old. A few I stole from Natalie Lloyd. Two from Sew Technicolor. Thank you for supporting my pirating.

I’m a horrible collage maker. It took me exactly 4 million hours to create that. And I cut off poor Steve Earle’s book. I did not do it justice, so look it up and view it all by itself. It deserves that. Some of these are old, like the Lucado book. But I still like it. It still catches my eye after a few years. Love the font on Gettysburg. Love the folky chaos of Earle’s.  Ebert’s is so simple, but it fits him. Fits his passion for all things cinema. Classy. Understated, yet the font makes it. Redefining Beautiful cashed in on a trendy color that has yet to detrend. Plus the accent of black is always cool. I like how simple it is. I assume it’s for teen girls, yet it doesn’t say, “Hey, we think you’re really ten.” Great job on that.

Next up, some fiction.

None of these fit together. Further evidence of my collage-creating-suckiness.
I love the cover by David C. Cook publishing of Don Reid’s O Little Town. That would be the Don Reid from the Statler Brothers. Love the colors on that, again the pop of trendy blue, and the vintage station wagon. Very homey and vintage and cozy.

I stole the Little Women from Sew Technicolor, but I love that one! Great pink on pink. Jo March would hate it, but she can stuff it.

I’m usually not drawn to Debbie Macomber’s covers because they’re a little too blah for me. But I’m hoping the cover for Out of the Rain means they’re moving in a new direction, like publishers have recently (finally) done for Nora Roberts. This one reminds me of something you’d see from Marisa de Los Santos, who usually wins the cover jackpot.

I’m a sucker for dress covers. I especially like it when they don’t busy it up and let the dress be the focus. The cover for What Alice Forgot is interesting because that’s the UK version, and it’s so much prettier than the US version, which seems to be reaching out to a different audience. That version would’ve made me cry. And move to Britain.

Finally, a few more. A better collage, if I do say so myself.

Love the dress in The Selection (thanks to Natalie Lloyd for pointing that out.) Love the Lisa Dale book. For Passing Love, I like the dark dress with the contrast of the pink belt, though I don’t love the tulip. Maybe that’s significant, like her Eiffel Tower bracelet? I like the top half of the Art of Saying Goodbye, which reminds me of a Sarah Addison Allen, someone who has to be the luckiest of the lucky when it comes to cover creation.  Joshilyn Jackson also has some nice ones. Love the green gingham on A Grown-up Kind of Pretty.

I like this cover of To Kill a Mockingbird.

I liked it even more when I saw what Kristin from Sew Technicolor had done. Check this out.
Can you believe that talent? So cool.

For album covers, my favorite this year was this one.

Probably the snow and the pop of red. I’m not a Buble fanatic, and I don’t really care for Christmas music, but I liked this cover.

I thought this article from Publisher’s Weekly was interesting. It’s about how they gave Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book (YA, juvie lit) a new cover and sold it to adults. Have to admit, I like the adult cover better.

Some interesting thoughts on dead girls on YA book covers. I’ve never had that. Farm animals? Yes. Dead chicks? Nah.

Another good article by PW about the cover-sales connection, and how you’re sunk if your book is wrapped in unnecessary ugly or if it doesn’t stand out because it looks like all the rest. So good.

Any favorite covers out there? Dish!

Don’t forget I’m giving away at least one copy of The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson. You can enter HERE.

Have you seen this aerial photo of a river’s path on the desert?

“Just bought a 3d Kindle…..also known as a book” (SydneyD)

So the police were sent to shake up a five year old about her overdue library books. That is awful. And slightly funny. You don’t mess with librarians. Poor kid’s gonna hate cops for the rest of her life. Hope she doesn’t grow up to be a serial killer. All because she didn’t return Goodnight Moon.

It’s that time once again when I share funny tweets. Written by other people. Other people who don’t know I stole them. (Credit given in parenthesis. Sorta.)

Refusing to go to school tomorrow. Who needs it? It’s called Pinterest… #soleplaceoflearning  (Elliott)

THERE IS NO REASON THE PICKLE JAR LID SHOULD BE ON THIS TIGHT. PICKLE THEFT IS NOT ONE OF SOCIETY’S MAIN PROBLEMS! (Allie)

That awkward moment when you start talking to a cute guy who looks like he’s your age, but he’s really only 13. #cougar (Ashley, tweet one)
Marinating in shame, if you were wondering. (Ashley, tweet two)

12yr old gave 7yr old a lecture: don’t judge things by how they look on the outside. It’s whats inside that counts. All wasted on a banana. (cupcakegirly)

While shopping, 6 y.o. daughter said “You are denim, I am sequins!” (GeorgianaD)

The Baby has a new flair for mixed… idioms, I guess. “Oh my cow!” and “Holy stars!” and “For crying out Pete!” and “For loud’s sake!” (SavannahB)

Not sure which is scarier…my mom’s driving or the fact that she knows almost all the words to Selena Gomez’s “Love Song” (Ashley)

That awkward moment when you find out that all the scenery in White Christmas is fake. #lifeshattering (Karly)

Everything you say can and will be used against you in the court of mom. (SydneyA)

Taking a conference call on a horse! (SteamyKitchen)

Just discovered that twelve novella collections exist about matchmaking regency kittens. TWELVE. This makes my evening much more exciting. (the_authoress)

As a general rule, anyone driving slower than me is wrong, and anyone driving faster than me is illegal. (Courtney)

Funny people at yoga. During a 5 minute chair pose the girl next to me said, “I don’t want to be fit. I just didn’t know til right now” (BrendaAKeller)

The feds are acquiring everything we’ve written on Twitter. Luckily for me, I usually tweet about diarrhea. (KatyMcKenna)

WHY ARE HARD BOILED EGGS SO HARD TO MAKE? I am going to have to get these down if I want to be a top-notch trophy wife. (SydneyA)

“Duty is beautiful” -Professor Allen.
Giggle, giggle (Karly)

People who’ve written/are being paid to write books: Tyra Banks, Pippa Middleton, and that Snooki thing. People who won’t finish writing: me (SavannahB)

My parents lack of Harry Potter knowledge is revolting. (Karly)

Charlie, my four year old brother, told us the chicken we had for dinner tonight was “sexy awesome” (Elliott)

Just write “I’m good. I’m the best. I’m the smartest.” on all of your applications and call it good. -My grandpa’s advice. (SydneyD)

A little part of my soul dies every time I get passed by a Prius on the highway. #embarrassing (SydneyA)

Have a great rest of the week!