The Box

I want to tell you about the things I've been watching on TV lately. Now, other than last week and the occasional comment about 'Dexter', I don't often talk about what I watch on TV. To be honest, I don't watch much. My list consists of the news, Dexter, South Park. Book TV if I'm in the mood to have my brain numbed with boredom. That's about the sum of my TV watching.

Recently, however, I've been concentrating on ways to be more disciplined about having non-writing time (because of my two worlds philosophy). As a result I've found myself in front of the box for several more hours a week looking for something interesting to engage my mind.

That's how I discovered my new obssession. It's on PBS Masterpiece Mystery and it's called 'Sherlock.' Have you been watching it? Have you? If you haven't then why not? What's wrong with you? 'Sherlock' (made by the BBC of course) is the new take on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's classic Sherlock Holmes series. Everything about this series is FANTASTIC. The razor sharp script. The London backdrop. The chemistry between Holmes and Watson. The irony. The brilliant villain. The editing. The design. The way Sherlock Holmes wears three nicotine patches at a time because they "help" him think. I could go on and on. Love it!

That's why I've been incredibly upset to find that there were only three episodes broadcast. Why? It's like dangling chocolate cake in front of a child and then telling the child she can't have any. It's cruel. It's wrong.

PBS, you meanie, put 'Sherlock' back on IMMEDIATELY! And if there aren't any other episodes then rerun the first three. I need to watch them again!

On the other hand, another series I've been watching is PBS's 'Nature'. Dude, it's just too good. If you don't watch this series then you've got to take a look. Did you know that they've been deciphering the language crows speak to each other? Did you know that crows actually have two languages? Did you know that crows learn things from their parents (who mate for life) like how to recognise faces and react towards them and that crows are one of the most intelligent species on the planet? I didn't until after I watched an episode of 'Nature'. Check this series out!

Then last Friday I watched something on NBC that blew me away. It was a documentary by Prince Charles called 'Harmony'. Did you see it? It was about how we are all interconnected on this planet and how we all can find ways to be more in harmony with nature and each other and ourselves. It was AMAZING. And I'm not just saying that because I'm a die hard fan of Prince Charles (for his wisdom and inspiring commitment to environmental causes). Really, this documentary was beautiful. And the timing was beautiful too!

If you've been reading my Mahabharat series the last few weeks, you'll know that one of the themes of my Never Fear story is about nature and the environment and our place in it. On Friday I posted the third (and last) part, and then, just a couple of hours later, I saw 'Harmony'. It was like I was in 'Harmony' with Prince Charles! He said everything I'd been writing about only with the added synergy of people all over the world who were saying the same thing. We are ALL connected.

My heart was full of love after I watched that program. If you haven't seen 'Harmony' then you must. I taped it because I knew it was going to be special. I wish I could invite you all to my house so we could eat yummy organic food as we watch it together.

That's the sum of my recent TV watching. To be honest with you, knowing that programming like this is available for people is heartwarming for me. Usually, I turn on the TV and get depressed by the lack of quality shows. And I turn it off again. Now I know that there is quality TV avaliable that contains humanity and wit and hope and education. Programming that enriches our lives. Since that's the kind of story I like to write, I love that it's also the kind of story I get to watch.

Check out this Harmony trailer: