Getting Bad Days Out Of The Ways

Today sucked.

Woke up late, apparently with zero motivation to even try to find some motivation at all. And usually that would not be a problem, but today I woke up next to a woman who is ready to tackle a new-found perspective on homebodying and nesting, which apparently includes cleaning up this mess we worked so hard to make for the past month and then like, do stuff or something. Laura is excited to be home, in other words.

After a few meager attempts at organizing the new toy-load for processing and subject distribution throughout the house, Yuula's pleading for some sledding action grew louder from the background, which at first was dismissed in caution of her newly broken fever, but became insistent and isn't this supposed to be a day of celebration anyhow? I made the bold statement "We Are Going Sledding!" seemed to be met with mixed emotion. Joy from the little girl, begrudging acceptance from the big one. Sledding it was.

Now to find a hill.

Our fallback is always Dansbury, where the sunken soccer field creates quite the drop and it's fairly easy access, if you park wisely, which we did not. And the rising temperature was quickly creating and icewater like substance directly below the surface that I could tell was not going to lend itself well to the weight we were about to impose upon it.

I dragged Yuula across the field to the base of the great hill, of which she wanted to scale on her own, so I obliged to a certain degree, probably further than I should have. But she reached the top, with minimal assistance and then the real disappointment began.

After loading her into position and preparing to take my position in the rear of the vehicle, she began to protest and in quite a calm manner announced she would not be riding the sled anymore today. Not out of fear or out of exhaustion, but more out of indifference. So there it was. The time it took suiting up, the ride down the hill and into town, the second suiting up in the parking lot, and the journey to the very peak of excitement, all to bail at the last minute and leave me standing in the snow, wet and cold and still lacking any motivation today to fight it.  

So we went home. 

Then the day got worse when Judee disappeared.

Don't fret. She's back, but for a good 30 minutes of braving the elements and by braving I mean sliding all over the newly formed icy roadways caused by the perfect combination of warm sun during the day melting the snow then re-freezing the shit out it as the sun goes down... more than a few times I had to sit back and hope the skid would deliver me safely. But finally spotting the little turd in the Buttermilks backyard, and then chasing her home with the car, beeping my horn at her hoping she would int turn interpret that as me conveying my inability to properly steer the van out of her general direction so it might not be a good idea to stand in front of me like a literal dog-in-headlights. Aye.

I went back inside to see that yet another team I was rooting for had lost in the playoffs. They wouldn't be the last. I am 0 for 4.

But how bad could a day really be when this is served up to you  as you get within 4 episodes of finally closing the book on Weeds.

Blowouts, Baths & Burning Tongue

This was my day.

We spent the entire morning retracing Laura's steps from yesterday because she lost her check. Her very first live check after cancelling her direct deposit and it has disappeared. It could be at Nissan. It could be at the outlets. It could be in the kitchen somewhere. I think we'll never know. But that was a debacle.

Then in the last two twenty four hours both active sports teams I root for were demolished in heartbreaking and quite honestly, embarrassing losses. Mets by 9 to the Rockies last night and today the Knicks lost game one of the playoffs by 33 to Miami. This is going to sound like a bitter fan but LeBron James should be nominated for an Oscar. If that's how he has to do it to win, I hope he can convince himself it's legit.

So tonight I made some eggs and toast and gave Yuula a bath. I gooped on the new pepper jam I bought from Ross & Ross the other day. There should've been a "no-gooping" warning because I spent the next 15 minutes cooling my tongue with a glass of ice. Yuula had strawberry.

Now I wait for Laura to get home and we do it all over again.

The Keys Reappear

Tamana lost her keys during Yuula's birthday party. A large search was commissioned. There were not found. Until now...



We're holding them random.

Cleveland Is A Wash

Well, since we are running ahead of schedule after the Christmas Story house we thought we'd do a mini tour of Cleveland. So far we've gotten lost in a parking garage, gotten lost in a hotel, walked an empty albeit lovely European style mall and gotten stuck in a typhoon. So we are leaving Cleveland. Wet.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.5

Oh No Zasimo

Glory glory hallelujah! We thought we lost our little orange kitten Zasimo. I went out early this morning into some undiscovered woods and Laura did the same this afternoon all to no avail. We even interviewed the Hawaiians since their house was the last he'd been seen. Nothing.

I was well onto cleaning a ten foot phrase when Laura sent me a simple text message and photo. Found! He had been lured by our good neighbor up at the corner and sleeping one off. He was happy to be found. Til he undoubtedly gets lost again.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.5.8

Forcefed Answers

They took an entire final season and didn't answer anything and then this 12 minute video pops up and answers like 30 of them. I don't know how I feel about that. Watch with caution. I'm don't know that I'm happy I did.

Whisper Words Of Wisdom

I've never been a person who needed closure when it came to films and never been wrapped up in a series enough to care, so the fact that Lost didn't really tell us anything other than what we already kind of knew and instead raised a couple more questions, I was neither disappointed nor appeased by last night finale.

So they were dead. And the whole sideways universe thing was purgatory. We had kind of thought the island was limbo, so joke's on us I suppose. The island happened. The crash happened. I don't think they all died in the crash. I think everything that happened on the island, happened. Whatever happened, happened right?

I'm gonna say that the finale made it seem like the the show wasn't about some mystical island at all but instead these individuals and their private struggles with imperfections. While five out of six seasons focused heavily on the strange happenings on the island, around the island, leading people to the island, the island the island the island, the finale seemed not to be concerned with addressing that whatsoever, not explaining a thing. You'd think that the island was the background all along and that it could've been anything really. Almost as if they came up with two show ideas and just squished them together, using one to distract from the other. I dunno. This is giving me a headache.

I'm guessing the end scene happens in a timeless scenario, accepting that Kate & Sawyer and crew got off the island and probably died decades later, and then met up with their buddies in pre-purgatory psycho-sideways land in their island age selves. Hurley and Ben and maybe Desmond if he lived were left on the island to protect it from who knows what. That's why Hurley tells Ben he was a great #2. And then people like Michael & Ben & Mr. Eko, all those guys weren't ready to move on so, they didn't. They couldn't let go.

So credit is due for creating this elaborate ruse to throw everyone off the scent and have us all think there was a lot more going on. From the Dharma Initiative to the smoke monster to the whole Jacob/MIB thing, it seems like the more imaginative and therefore make believe part of the story is the stuff we are meatn to believe "really happened", while the sideways world, where people are living normal lives and going about their business is in fact the non-reality where everyone is dead and waiting to be woken up so they can let go. Another interesting twist that I guess we didn't see coming. It doesn't really explain why everyone was so mixed up in purgatory, Hurley was lucky, James was a cop, Locke felt guilty about his dad, Jack had a son. None of this was true in the real, island world, so that didn't really make any sense but.... I need not try and make sense.

In the end they tied up emotional loose ends, reconnecting all the loves with their special someones, having Locke die in a pretty awesome fight scene for TV, and kid of resolving the whole candidate thing. I knew it was gonna be Hurley but after last week when Jack stepped up I didn't wanna say anything. Still no idea what the island is or what's down that hole. Is it hell? Is it the essence of mankind? What does that mean? And it's held in place by a rock? But I guess a bunch of other questions were sorta of answered. Not really tho.

I got a text from my sister halfway thru the finale asking whether or not she could enjoy "The Ending" after never seeing a single episode and only viewing the two hour "catch up" episode prior to the big finish. I'd have to say yes, because apparently, these past six years, all those twists and mysteries, for the most part, had nothing to do with anything and was just meant to mislead and entertain and confuse. While this has infuriated a few people, I think the fact that the writers never intended on explaining these things gets them off. So while it may not have been as entertaining/frustrating/intense/confusing/thought-provoking had you not seen every second of every episode, the overall message can be understood after a quick catchup and watching the finale scene. Once again, maybe the message of everyone in the show "letting go" and moving on is more a message to us to let go and let it be. So whisper words of wisdom...

No Longer Lost For Long

Ok, here's what I wanna know....

What is the glowing light inside each of us?

How did the island disappear?

What exactly was the Dharma Initiative doing on the island?

What is MIB's name?

What's the deal with the Hurley bird?

What do the numbers really mean? They're everywhere!

What's Desmonds deal? Is he the new Jacob? Is he Jesus? Is he the island?

What happens is the smoke monster leaves the island?

How did MIB become the smoke monster? I know he went down into the light, but what happened down there?

Why can't the smoke monster cross ash?

Since when does Jack have a teenage son?

How come the island heals some people and lets others die?

Where is Juliet in the sideways world? (I betcha she's jack's ex-wife)

Who's that chick who raised Jacob & MIB?

What's the deal with the Tawaret statue and who knocked it down?

Why can't women give birth, except for Claire?

What did Jacob make Jack drink?

Who the hell is Pierre Chang really?

Why is the island hidden & how does it move & how did Eloise Hawking find a way back?

Do Rose & Bernard still have a part to play out?

Who asked Locke for help in Jacob's cabin?

Who's eye did Hurley see in Jacob's cabin?

Why don't I give a crap about Kate?

What's the reality of the parallel universe? The island underwater... how?

What was up with the hatch and all those Egyptian symbols that popped up when no one pressed the button? And why was it 108 minutes?

What's Daniel Faraday doing these days?

What happened to Walt? They made him seem so important.

Who is Annie, Ben's childhood friend? Does she become someone else?

What's with the dog painting in Jacob's cabin?

What's going on up in that lighthouse?

Why does the smoke monster make a sound like a rattling chain?

I thought Sayid was "claimed" by the smoke monster so why'd he save everyone from the bomb in the submarine?

What's up with Jack's tattoos?

Where'd Vincent go?

Why polar bears?

Is this as simple as good versus evil?

Considering that there is no way in hell they will be able to answer all of these questions tonight I'm just gonna sit back and enjoy the show and hope they answer at least one, and I hope it's not where Vincent's been all this time.

Ate Seven Sick Fire For Tree Too Won

This is the best time of the week. I punched out. I deposited and printed receipt with check images. I drove home to unintentional hot weather music by Cap'n Jazz, an album I haven't called on since I lived in Boston in 2000, and listened to it way too loud. I devoured an orange on the ride with no consideration for the lack of napkins in the truck. I showered and napped and applied fresh linens. Now I have time. The most time I'll have all week, of any week. And this weekend is gonna need it. I'd show you my to-do list, but I haven't made it yet.

First thing on the list is this subway series, the first of which is halfway thru the first inning. First time starter Hisanori Takahashi going for this home team, so that should be interesting. Good matchups the rest of the weekend too. Pelfrey/Hughes tomorrow and Santana/Sabathia Sunday. Will probably miss that one tho, due to the 5 hours set aside that evening for us to either revel or resent the all too ambitious ending of Lost.

I have been kind of obsessed with this lately. Mainly because the fact that I doubt I'll get involved with another show after this, at least of this ilk. The ilk, that is, of the insane amount of dedication it's taken to actually be able to follow the storyline thru 121 mind-bending, maze-like episodes. We tied together the first 4 seasons thru self-regiment on DVD. The waiting week to week and scheduling a sit down may be easy for most, but we just forget. And you who know, know that missing an episode is not wise. But the point I'm trying to get to is that I've rather enjoyed the mystery of the whole shebang. I've come to the decision that i don't really care is the ending, if there even is one, is disappointing to the masses. I can't imagine them wrapping this into a nice neat package, what with time travel, mysterious light, smoke monsters, polar bears, Egyptian Gods, adverse realities, communicating with the dead, magical healing powers, electromagnetic immunity, whispering woods, birthing deaths, donkey wheels cause the islands disappearing... is that enough? There's so much to have had to keep track of... I don't know that we're gonna be able to make sense of it all. Like, for instance, do you remember who Campbell Wallace is? How about Mr. Eko & Walt? They seemed to make a pretty big deal about Walt, and nothing ever came of it. What's up with Jack's tattoos? What's up with that dog painting? What's the significance of the Hurley Bird? Is Annie really someone else? Have no idea what I'm talking about? That's what I mean. I could go on all weekend. But that's just it. We only got 48 hours now. 52 and it'll be over. And I'm just gonna say I had a nice time not knowing. Being Lost. Very clever.

In my spare time, I still got the letter J to contend with, some patches to plant grass, and some flatrock to steal from neighbors. Wish me luck. Time is ticking.

Eyes: Takahashi vs. Vazquez
Ears: Cap'n Jazz - In The Clear

Temple Of The Winds

A plague of prophecy. The red moon will bring the firestorm. Wielding the sword of truth Rahl has battled death itself and come to the defense of the O'Haran people....

Ha! I'm just kidding. That ain't my book. But those are my biscoffs. Have em everyday. Easy day today. Early in/early out. Got things to do on the homefront and and need the time to do it. Moving the computer downstairs so I can multitask between my files and my shows. Guarantee that at 10pm I'm either asleep or pissed. You're this close Lost (holds pointer and thumb close together).

This fridge is on high. My salad is frozen!

A Lull In The Goings

Hey! Hi. Remember me? Yeah me neither. We've had a bit of a turn-around kind of month so far this February. I've been working long hours and Laura's been eating and apparently sleeping for two. You'd think she could sleep for both at the same time but she assures me they each need their separate and individual 8 hours. Who am I to say?

I am gonna try to get this thing back on track. Early mornings, long days and commutes will not defeat this once mighty memoir. People need to know that I ripped my pants at work last Wednesday and continued to work for 7 more hours or that Laura made guinea hens Thursday night while we struggled to stay awake thru Lost or that Alps' scars have finally healed over and he'll let me pet him again. This is vital information that must be disclosed to the greater public! I have a job to do here people. Let me do it.





I will attempt to write up a few tidbits about the previous week and trickle them out to you over the next couple days so you can once again wake every morning with the expectation of a hot cup of coffee, our Cheerios and sit down to enjoy some delight unwitted banter from yours truly.

Does anybody really do that? Besides my dad? Hey Dad!

I'd Repeat February 2nd

I've still never been able to sit thru Groundhog Day. Not by choice, just scheduling conflicts. Yesterday I almost made it but right about where Bill Murray decides to accept his repetitive fate, it was feeding time and I had to help out in the kitchen because Laura was trying a new dish. Long story short; it didn't turn out well. Little bland by her own admission. She tried ripping the page out of the cookbook for Pete's sake. They can't all be masterpieces. But the real celebration of the day was finally seeing the first episode of the last season of Lost. They promise to answer questions this season yet all the 2 hour premiere did was raise new ones and introduce and seemingly brand new group of inhabitants that live in "the temple". Every episode better be two hours because I don't think they're gonna have enough time to tie it all together otherwise.

And what's with John Locke being the smoke monster!?



Good day. Wish I could repeat it.

Yes, Lost

Okay so I can confess now.

For the past week Fran & I have been spending every free second watching this show entitled Lost. You may be familiar, it's been on TV for a few years now, dunno what channel. And it's not that we've been avoiding it or ignoring that it existed, it's just the dedication it takes to tune in every week, to have the patience to wait a whole 7 days to find out what will happen next, those are qualities we just do not posses. So now that we have our Netflix up and running again, we just have the DVDs delivered to the front door and cozy on in. We just finished season 1. Michael, Jin, Walt & Sawyer headed out on the boat to find a rescue party only to have Walt kidnapped by some scummy looking sailors, Locke, Kate, Jack & Hurley blew open the hatch, and the rest of the characters were headed into the jungle to hide from "the Others" the crazy French lady warned them of. I cannot even think to guess at what's gonna happen next. I was informed by Daniel Riley I would not be disappointed tho. First disc of season 2 should be here today or tomorrow. Don't call us. We won't answer.

Closing Stadiums

Last night was the last night a game will be played at Yankee Stadium. I didn't really think much of it, not being a huge Yankee fan myself (I still like to see them beat the Red Sox) so I didn't plan on watching, and just as well because we had a lot of catching up to do with our latest obsession.....


Anyhow, I caught the highlights of the evening on this mornings' Sportscenter. It seemed like a pretty special nite and it was done with a modicum of hoopla and seemingly, a lotta love. It's a sadder day than I had expected.


Shea starts it's final homestand tonight. Lucky us, we'll be there. This will be our view.


Rally towel night. I'm kinda over the fact that the Mets have been playing themselves into oblivion again. They're hanging by a thread, but I'm not gonna let it bother me one bit. Just gonna show up tonight, root for whoever really, and just hope it's a good game. Go Mets. Go Cubs. And go home.