Winter round-up: It's February?

The only things I remember from this whirlwind of a winter are a trip to NYC (for a Communications Executive Council conference and Paul Rudd), buying my first home, and ringing in what’s shaping up to be a pretty sweet year.

Somewhere in between, I did some writing:

• NBC may not have any faith in “Parenthood,” but I sure do – my Houston Press post from last year outlines why I think it’s the best family show on TV.

• Back in December, I got to interview Sugar Land’s own Katie Armiger for both Country Universe and Houston magazine. She’s a neat one – confident, composed and snarky in the best way.

• Speaking of Houston magazine, I loved interviewing this fabulous entrepreneur for the “Best of the City” issue. She’s as hilarious as she is inspiring – and talented, to boot.

• Around the first of the year, the Country Universe staff compiled our 2012 lists of top singles and albums, our most diverse sets to date. Have I mentioned how lucky I am to collaborate with these folks?

• Season 12 of “American Idol” is ridiculous, but it’s also fresh, engaging and — at least for now — ripe with talent. Last month, I covered the Houston sneak peek of the premiere for CultureMap, and I’ll be popping in here and there throughout the season.

I hope to be back in writing mode as soon as I figure out this whole homeownership thing. In the meantime, I’ll leave you with:

• This invitation to visit Houston.

• This quote. 

• This lyric:

“Happiness don’t drag its feet.”

• This new hairstyle.

• This old beauty:

• This new (to the U.S.) beauty:

And this overdramatic but partially true New York Times post on the end of dating. Funny and sad, no?

“Parenthood”: The next generation of (embarrassment-free) family television

Happy holidays, y’all. In between the food, festivities and chaos, I’m holding myself to two weeks of long overdue writing – starting with this Houston Press post:

"Parenthood": Five reasons to watch

5. Awkward humor. It's the best kind, no?

4. Firecracker chemistry. The ad-lib style of dialogue might drive some viewers crazy, but I think it’s a perfect fit for this ensemble cast, whose chemistry is sparkling in almost any combination. There’s something wonderfully (and appropriately) organic about the interactions between the characters.

3. Careful, creative music selection. (Ray LaMontagne? Yes, please.)

2. Lauren Graham. Ok, so maybe Sarah Braverman isn’t nearly as intricate nor as compelling a character as Lorelai Gilmore, and maybe the more multi-faceted characters on the show –like Adam and Crosby– shine a little brighter. But in any context, Graham is a superb actress, unwavering in her commitment to her craft – and she’s long overdue for some accolades.

1. Striking depiction of family. “Parenthood” does what few other shows have been able to do: it slices through the glamour of marriage and parenthood without sacrificing the appeal of marriage and parenthood. The relationships on the show are revealed as raw, messy and flawed – but they’re also deep, resilient and meaningful. And while it’s fun to idolize TV characters, it’s more rewarding to be able to connect with them on a very real level, by grabbing onto and wrestling with their very real issues.

If you’re not watching “Parenthood” on Tuesdays, you should be.