I went to an orthopedist yesterday. For the last couple of months my knees have had a slight cracking sensation when I’ve moved them in particular directions (although no pain), so I decided to see someone. After X-raying my knees, the doctor told me I had the best set of X-rays he’d seen in six months. It turns out the cracking sensation is from a weakness in a particular muscle on each knee. So he’s sending me to physical therapy for eight visits for (and I quote from the prescription) “quad strengthening exercises for min[or] patella subluxation.” I don’t need surgery (whew)!

Sigh… it’s always something with me. It really is.

We saw “Bad Education” this weekend. Wow. I love Pedro Almodóvar’s movies – though other than this one I’ve only seen “Talk to Her” and “All About My Mother.” The characters in his films are so dramatic, the plots so fanciful, the colors so brilliantly beautiful. This one was particularly haunting – the trying on of selves, of genders; the world refracted through the art of storytelling. It was reminiscent of “Vertigo,” in both plot and music. In fact, I loved the music so much that I’ve just ordered the soundtrack. The movie’s definitely worth seeing.

I’d been avoiding “Desperate Housewives.” When I first heard of the show in late October, it had already become a hit. Now, the surest way to keep me from watching a show is to tell me that all of America loves it. I watch too much TV as it is (it didn’t used to be that way, but when you have a TV-addicted boyfriend, it’s easy to slide into sloth – although my lack of protest might be telling), and I’m not about to let the great unwashed masses determine how I use the remainder of my valuable time. A couple of years ago I finally watched 10 minutes of “CSI.” I was at my parents’ house and they had it on. I can’t remember what I thought of the show; I was too busy feeling smug.

Snobbiness wasn’t the only reason I avoided “Desperate Housewives.” I’m hesitant to begin watching a show with complicated plotlines if I’ve missed several episodes. I hate jumping in mid-stream. I’m pop-culturally tone-deaf as it is, and not understanding the plot just makes things worse. That’s why it took me so long to start watching “Buffy.”

Then the whole Nicolette Sheridan/NFL thing happened, which shot “Desperate Housewives” into the pop-cultural stratosphere. My resentment at the show (and at myself) only increased. There was no way I’d begin watching now.

But a couple of weeks ago I was at my parents’ house and they were watching it. So I sat on the couch and, for the first time, I saw it. And I liked it. It was smartly-written, well-acted, and funny, and there are hot guys. How stupid I’d been!

Since then I’ve seen a couple of episodes. And now (sigh) I’m going to have to watch the rest of the season, including repeats. By May, I should be caught up enough to appreciate the season finale.

And then I can engage in conversation around the proverbial water cooler at work.

I guess just because America likes something doesn’t mean it sucks.

At least, not always.