Critically lauded by many as the best portrayal of marriage on television because of its realistic rendering of what it means to love someone for better and for worse, Eric and Tami Taylor, as played by the Emmy-nominated duo of Kyle Chandler and Britton, have managed to capture the many dichotomous moments in the life of a marriage. Where other TV series tend to focus either on the bickering or the saccharine, "Friday Night Lights" has thrived on nuance, creating domestic moments that simultaneously reflect adoration and frustration; tenderness and sarcasm; respect and fatigue.

I pulled the above quote from a pretty good LA Times article on FNL that focuses on the Taylor marriage.  I've written before about this aspect of the show and how it has inspired me to think about my own relationship with David, the birth of our son Lev, and the kind of wife/mother/friend I want to be.  Someone remarked that FNL brings out from me these personal reflections in a way that few other things do.  I'll make no apologies or excuses for this.  It's a credit, I think, to the stellar writing and acting that has shaped these characters.  Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton insisted early on that the writers steer clear of the common dramas that befall TV families: "Connie and I didn't want them to get divorced or have alcohol problems or sleep with other people because when that happens in the story of a marriage, you're limited. Once that trust and faith is broken, the magic is gone, and the audience doesn't care."  But don't these things happen in marriages?  Sure, but marriages also weather, every single day, all sorts of tensions and fractures.  It is constant (sometimes, exhausting) work, and I appreciated that this show was willing to show the Taylors go through a typical day experiencing the very real highs and lows of a life together.  And doing so through compromise and negotiation, with love and restraint.

If you live life on the edge, like we do, then you'll probably just got a text, phone call or email inviting you to a Superbowl Party. If you cook at home quite a bit, I'll bet you have nearly everything you need for this, if not, I'll bet your corner bodega has the rest. For us, football only recently has had meaning in life. Sorry to all the long-time fans & a healthy, 'you really are missing out' for our friends that are grumpalumps about football.

Friday Night Lights the TV show is partly to blame for our new found interest. Super bowl parties come down to a few things, that for us, parallel pretty well with the meaning of life. Sharing good times, heartbreak in upset, joy in success, tasty food, and all in the company of friends. The game doesn't make or break it, but it takes a lot of bullshit out of pretenses for getting together.

2 Thai Bird Chilis, whole
1 1/2 Cups Jacob's Cattle, Dried Bean
1 Cup Pink Beans
12 g Salt
1tsp Cumin
Water

First, pick through the beans real quick, best accomplished on a wide surface (sheet pan) and then rinse them well. Then, combine ( yes salt included) and cook until very tender. No soaking method, cover with twice as much water as beans ( at least) and put it all on high and reduce to simmer once up. Cooks for about 1 1/2 hours, depending on your beans ( don't blame me for your old goods; ).
Puree beans reserve cooking liquid. add as needed to desired consistency. I use all of it.

Season/ Finish with:
Juice of 5 Limes
Juice of 1 Lemon
1 tsp Paprika
1/4 tsp Cayenne Pepper
1 Serrano Chili w/ seeds, minced to paste ( knife skills yo)
2Tbsps Olive Oil ( or Fat of your dreams, maybe excluding butter

Make it Purty:
Cilantro, Fine mince, sprinkle over dip & serve cold
Or top with the herb or spice of your choice. Smoked pimento is nice.

(via @angrywayne )

As the credit music played after this recent episode of FNL, I remarked to David that it's incredible how Tami and Eric's trajectory parallels, in many ways, our own life.  I am referring specifically to the dynamic of their marriage and how it has weathered, for better or for worse, significant changes in this, and past, seasons.  This season begins with the (agonizingly slow) departure of Julie, leaving Gracie Belle at home, at a time when Eric and Tami where probably expecting (and maybe even hoping) to be empty-nesters.  We had Lev this summer and still feel pretty overwhelmed with the sudden transformation of our life from one that was pretty self-centered to one that, well, just doesn't center around us anymore.  We're also at a professional crossroads, trying to figure out how to balance a fulfilling and ambitious professional life with the responsibilities and demands of parenthood.  Also, having Lev really has underscored how crucial it is to develop and continue to work on a strong foundation as a couple.  Marriage is constantly evolving but it's not always clear where it's headed.  The question of boundaries came up again this season with Epic and Vince.  Both Tami and Eric take their work personally but when it shows up at their home in the middle of the night, you can see them struggle with space and availability.  Where do you draw the line?  Work, partner, kid--it's a lot to keep in balance while also keeping yourself intact.  In the end, I think, I am talking about integrity.  What Coach Taylor says about football applies to home: "a celebration of teamwork and cooperation when executed properly."  (spoiler after jump)

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