Lost...Once Again

I just finished watching Lost for the fourth time. I think it's been four times now. It's such a mix bag for me as a television series. It starts out so strong. It immediately sucks you in and builds such rich characters that you just keep coming back.

Then it throws them away and you don't see them again until the very last episode.

They come back here and there throughout and it's nice when they do. But they get lost in the excessive use of so many new characters that come into play season to season. I'm sure it becomes difficult to write interesting things for the same set of characters over many seasons, but by season 6 when they are at the temple and the other friends of Jacobs and Widmore's people and OMG who are these people and why should I care????

Some of the new people work. Mr. Eko, Libbey, and Bernard were nice additions. So was Juliette. And I'd also include Miles and Daniel and Lapidus. And obviously Desmond, who doesn't really count as he was such an integral part to the entire story.

"I love you, Penn-ay!"

I remember first watching Season 2 with all of these new people and I was so excited to find out all about the tail section and thought it was such a cool storyline.

But by the fourth time through, when you know how frustratingly awful Ana Lucia is and how short of a stay Mr. Eko and Libbey's stays are and their completely unsatisfying endings...it becomes really hard to trudge through.

In Season Three, we meet all of The Others. Once again, most don't make it through the season. Just a bunch of filler people to kill off so that the main cast can stay in tact.

Not that they don't ever kill off the main cast, but really, the only one that comes to mind is Charlie. Everyone else came back to life. Jin and Sun, sure, but not until the end of Season 6. (I had to skip that scene this time as I knew I just couldn't take it and it's also very frustrating because, come ON, what about their kid? It's like neither gave a shit about her. It's amazed I cared about Sun's death at all as at this point in the storyline, Sun had been reduced to two lines: "Do you know where Jin is?" and "Can you help me find my husband?" Oh, and her brain injury storyline where she could only speak Korean but could understand English...so bad.)

But, really, even with all of those issues, I still very much enjoy the show as a whole. They are great characters. But the final season is very difficult - especially after many viewings - because you know that 90% of it is bullshit and unnecessary. The side story is filled with so much filler that I find I tune out for most of it.

But the finale...the finale I do enjoy. I think it's very well done. I enjoy the idea behind it, even though I'm not a religious person. I like seeing everyone remember each other. Charlie and Claire, Jin and Sun, and John with Jack make me lose it. I heavily sob with each one.

The worst one, though? Sayid and Shannon.

You spend the entire series watching Sayid pine for his childhood friend Nadia. He carries her picture with her everywhere. He was in Australia only to turn in his friend so the US government would tell him where Nadia is. He was only on the flight from Sydney to Los Angeles to get to Nadia. She was there when he returned home. They were married. She was killed suddenly. He went on a killing spree for Ben Linus to avenge her death....but he chooses to go to the afterlife with Shannon. A woman he met on an island for a few weeks. And in his purgatory time, he envisions Nadia married to his brother.

What? No. Just...no.

The one side story during Season Six that makes the whole thing worth watching, though, is John Locke's. They completely destroyed his "real time" character in the final season. Sure, it wasn't really John Locke killing everyone on the island. But it was his likeness and everyone called him Locke so you start to associate the two. The real John Locke's story was devastating enough. A real tragedy. I could live with his death, as depressing as it was, as it fit his story. Nothing ever went the way it was supposed to for John. But using him as the Smoke Monster was just too much. So it was nice to see sweet, smart John Locke in the side story going about a really nice life. He'd earned that.

But the real kicker in the finale. The scene that just fucking kills me and I have to mentally prepare for it every time because I know I will be a puddle of tears and even though it is so contrived and created to induce many tears, I still sob anyway:

Every. Single. Time. Even just the picture brings the sad face.

What a good dog Vincent was.

I had put off watching the finale for a week because I knew I would be a mess and nobody ever wants to be a mess. But I had time to waste last night and I went for it. And I was a mess.

As for all of those unanswered questions and mysteries that everyone complains about on the internet, they were answered. I'm not going to go through them point by point, but the answers were there. They may not have been the answers you wanted, but they were answers. Really, the one big mystery that remained after the show was over was this:

Where did Ajira Flight 316 land when they returned and how did that not cause all sorts of issues? How does a large passenger plane suddenly reappear in the air with no explanation carrying one passenger from the famed Oceanic 6 and two other passengers from Oceanic Flight 815 that the Oceanic 6 person had already said died in the original crash and then two other people who weren't on either flights, including one who is over 200 years old?

How did they explain that to the world upon their return? I would like to see a two hour special on that.

Also, I wonder how many posts about this show I can have on this blog?

Frozen Shut(In)

As everyone knows, it's very fucking cold in Minnesota right now. It's cold in most places right now, but the coldest here so we get to complain the loudest.

As of noon today, I hadn't left the house since my trip to the grocery store Saturday morning. Work has been allowing us all to work from home - which is great - but I have no excuse to leave now. I did bundle myself, put the jacket on the dog, and we walked up to the end of the block and back. That's been the height of excitement around here. For all of us.

Robbie in his jacket.

Robbie is going stir crazy. Serious cabin fever happening. He is constantly getting into things he shouldn't be and chewing on things he shouldn't be. He's normally such a good boy. But he's just so bored. I feel so bad for him.

I have taken up video games again. I broke out Lost Oddysessy. It's a massive turn based RPG of sorts. 4 discs long. It's quite the undertaking. I got to disc 3 the last time I tried playing it and then stopped because I found other things to distract me. I'm on disc 2 now. Gonna try to stick it out.

Otherwise I have been doing nothing. Our offices actually closed due to the cold weather yesterday so I only worked on a couple of must get done things yesterday and then spent the rest of the day with the Xbox. Today, I worked from home which has helped pass the time and bring back into the real world.

As much as I like being home, I am so ready to get out of the house again. Things are having difficulty here. Namely, we are having plumbing problems again and I fear another massively expensive undertaking. It also makes me fearful of using any water in the house for fear it will end up on the basement floor.

I also just need to get out. I have eaten more food in the past week than I did at all through the holidays. Just eating and eating and eating because I'm so bored. It's terrible. I'm breaking out. Blech.

On the flip side, I have a show on Friday at Acadia. 9:30pm. A Friday night show and we play first. That doesn't happen very often. Really looking forward to it.

My song "Thursday" was played as the backdrop for a segment on Sunday's new episode of MN Original on TPT. So that was cool.

Sunday was also the premiere of Downton Abbey. I like Downton Abbey, but I also could not watch it anymore and be fine. It's just kind of there. So many characters and so little time to truly explore them all.

Community returned last Thursday and was awesome and I am so happy it was awesome.

And in two weeks Sherlock returns after two years of waiting. These last few weeks are torturous as it has already premiered in the UK and I have to work really hard at avoiding spoilers. Cannot wait.

We're supposed to hit 30 degrees on Friday. It's gonna feel tropical. I am very excited to take Robbie on all of the walks this weekend.

But, until then, I'll just keep shivering.

Things I Love Right Now

I woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning and everything I encounter is making me grumpier so I thought that this would be a good time to take a look at the things that I am actually enjoying right now - the things that are making me happy.

Focus on the positive, right?

1. My New Winter Coat
I finally got a winter coat a few weeks ago. I live in Minnesota and I haven't had a winter coat in two years. It is wonderful. It's from Old Navy - so it probably won't last past this winter - but it was only $40 so that's cool. It really is super warm and exactly what I wanted/needed.

2. Mazzy Star
Oh, it's been so nice to reacquaint myself with Mazzy Star again after seeing their show last month. They opened the show with the song "Look on Down From the Bridge" off of Among My Swan, which is an album I never got around to picking up back in the day, but this song is just lovely. Also, the first track off the new album, Seasons of Your Day, is pretty much the kind of song that I want to make a whole album of. Love it.


 
3. Trailers for the Return of My Two Favorite Shows Were Released
Facing the beginning of winter and knowing that there are still 6 months of this crap to go and you already can't stand it and feel like you're going crazy is difficult for everybody. So you have to try to find things that help you get through it. For me, I am super excited that January brings the return of both Community and Sherlock. I AM SO EXCITED!!! Also, Downton Abbey returns, and I will watch that, too, but with a bit less enthusiasm.

Anyway, it's obvious that the only way for Community to continue is to do what they are doing with Jeff Winger, though I can't imagine how the rest of the gang factors in.

As for Sherlock, the first 3 weeks of January are going to be so difficult as the show returns in the UK on New Year's Day and everyone will know the answer to the big cliffhanger from the last season (that was 2 years ago!!!) and I will have to stay off the internet so as not to be spoiled. Sigh. Stupid internet.

 

4. My Husband's Awesome Cooking
My husband has taken up cooking and baking and he is very good at it and I am very lucky. He's started making banana bread and corn bread (two of my favorites) almost on a weekly basis. Last weekend he made eggplant lasagna and it was delicious! This weekend he is going to make a homemade pizza. I am excited for all of the foods to come.

The Office: Original UK Version

I recently finished watching the original UK version of The Office. Yes, I am very late to the party. I had started watching it many times. I've probably seen the first 4 episodes 5 times each. But I never got around to watching more even though we own the complete series on DVD. Something just never clicked with me.

Let me start by saying, I'm a big fan of British television and film. I love all things UK. I felt like I had found where I belong when I went to London.

But, The Office, just rubbed me the wrong way.

The only character I liked and genuinely felt for was Gareth - and I don't think that was supposed to be the case. It wasn't even that I liked him, I just felt that he was the most well-rounded, flushed out person. I understood why he is how he is. Everyone else just seemed positioned as they were to deliver the joke. Though the series is short, there are only 4 main characters. With just four, you would think you'd have a chance to get to know them better.

And those jokes...were they all either gay jokes or sexist jokes? I think they were. I'm not a prude when it comes to jokes by any means. But at least, with the US Office when Michael Scott would make a joke along those lines, the rest of the characters would show disapproval or shock. Pam Beasley never just sat there and took it when Michael would make some sexual comment. She would at least give a frustrated sigh. All the women on the UK Office just acted like, yep, this is how we're supposed to be treated in the work place. Punching bags for the men folk to leer at and make sexual suggestions to.

I understand this is a comedy and not an actual documentary of a work place. But it was just so constant that I couldn't tell what was the joke and what was the regular dialogue anymore. David Brent seems less over the top when everyone around him makes the same awkward humor.

And Tim and Dawn? Sigh. I might just be so used to Martin Freeman as Dr. John Watson now that I had a hard time with him as Tim. But I just didn't like him. At all. I didn't want them to get together at all. I didn't like her at all. She seemed...vacant...and not bright. The US version of Dawn, Pam Beasley, seemed quick and likeable. Same with Tim. He just felt so dull, unlikeable, and someone to root against instead of for. His US counterpart, Jim,who also seems to lack direction, actually seemed to realize he was at Dunder Mifflin and should have left a long time ago but got stuck because of a girl and knew he could be better and even got out and went to corporate for a while before being forced back. Tim refused a promotion because he didn't want to get stuck, then was still there 3 years later doing the same job - long after the girl had left. People get stuck at jobs all the time, yes. Been there. But I just felt like he should have moved on.

In the end, the series just left me with a bad vibe.

Some will say that it's more realistic. Not everyone in an office is likable, most people get stuck in dead end jobs....but then don't have a reoccurring character come into the office and not even subtly suggest the receptionist gives him a blow job in front of everyone without repercussions if it's supposed to be realistic. There has to be a middle ground. And I must say the US version nails it much better.

On Haircuts, Facebook, The Office, and Pearl Jam

(This is going to be incoherent and rambling and all over the place. Just a warning.)

I got a haircut last night. From Great Clips. You see, I don't really care about hair. I don't to be bothered with a fussy 'do requiring tons of upkeep and product. I am a wash and go kinda gal. Because of that, I could no longer justify spending $50 on a haircut. I can never afford that nor is it something I want to spend money on. So about 2 months ago I went to Great Clips because fuck it. It's cheap. How much damage could they do?

I got my most favorite haircut ever. LOVED IT. I was thrilled.

The problem, though, with Great Clips is that it is entirely a crapshoot who will be doing your hair when you walk in. The next time I went to get a trim, I got a new person. But she also nailed the cut. She almost made it better. Once again, I was thrilled. I had a haircut I liked that would just require minimal trimming trips to a cheap salon.

I went back in last night to get another trim. Just my bangs cut and to clean up the back a bit. NOTHING ELSE.

She chopped 3 inches off of my already short hair. I don't even know how it happened. I told her trim the bangs and clean up the back. The next thing I know, I have a completely different hairstyle.

I was livid.

Once again, I am not someone who really cares about her hair. I want to look nice, but I'm not going to put all of my energy into that. And I know hair grows back and I am totally cool with waiting for that to happen.

But not this time. Because she changed the style. The style I loved. And I don't know if I will ever get it back.              

Yeah, yeah, #firstworldproblems and all that. But I'm mad. Someone with my round face does not need this round hairstyle. Ugh. So upset. It's gonna be a long month before this grows out and I can get it fixed.

I miss you tendrils...

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A friend of mine posted an article on Facebook about the annoyances of Facebook posts and what types of posts are annoying and what you should say and shouldn't and holy shit who the fuck cares? It's a free social media website that you use to talk about what's going on with you and things you find interesting. If you don't like what someone posts, don't bother with it.

Why are people so weird about this?

As a musician who has to promote herself, it makes me feel like such an asshole - for lots of reasons. I suddenly feel like people see me post something related to what I do and roll their eyes and groan and say "god she is so annoying".

But what bothers me the most is that the people I am friends with on Facebook I consider to be friends. They have different levels of friendship. Either they are good friends I hang out with on a daily basis or maybe old friends from high school. Or co-worker friends. Or family. Or friendly musician folk who do they same self-promotion in their feeds. Either way, I don't see the difference in posting something on Facebook along the lines of "Hey! I got a new job! Yay me!" or "I just recorded this new song!" These are things going on in my life. Either I can post about it on Facebook, or when I see you in person, I can tell you then, which I will. But if it bothers you so much to see a sentence about it on Facebook, how do you think I'm going to feel the next time we are together chatting about our lives? What is the difference? I don't see one.

If everyone stopped posting on Facebook all of the things people bitch about, Facebook wouldn't exist. And if that's how you want it, then maybe you shouldn't be on Facebook.

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I've been watching the original UK version of The Office. It's good, obviously. I watched bits of it before but never finished the whole thing. But I'm just fascinated by Martin Freeman. I'm so obsessed with Sherlock and him as John Watson that it's hard to see him as Tim on The Office. But Tim also shares so many of Watson's characteristics - though I don't think that was intentional. I think that's just Martin Freeman coming through. It's also jarring because I am so use to Jim from the US The Office that I can't help compare. I kind of like Jim more. Also, they really made Jim look like Tim. Same haircut and outfit.

Also the UK one is so crude and really rude to women on a whole other level that I find it takes me out of things quite a bit. Michael Scott is terrible with women and says terrible things, too. But on the UK version, it comes from everywhere that I'm not sure if it's supposed to be a joke anymore. And the women do nothing back - whereas Pam and Angela would totally put someone in their place - or at the very least looked mad about it. It's just weird.

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This morning I heard the new Pearl Jam single for the first time. It gave me a great case of the sads, and not in a good way. It sounds like a song Diane Warren would have written for Keith Urban. What have they done? Why are they doing this? I don't understand. It's just awful. And not even in a oh, they are an aging rock band losing their edge kind of way. It's just a completely different sound and doesn't make any sense for them to go this way. It makes even less sense than Eddie Vedder's ukulele solo album - which I LOVED.

I'm not even going to post a video of it because it makes me so sad. You'll have to go find it for yourselves.

Things I Love Right Now

Hey, I've managed to keep this topic going for 3 months in a row!

1. Beverly Hills, 90210 (original series)

I got the first season of the original (can’t believe I even have to clarify that) Beverly Hills, 90210 for Christmas and while I’ve been sick this past week, I’ve watched the whole thing. My goodness, that’s some fine entertainment. The trip down early 90s memory lane is so much fun. The outfits are just insane. So much neon and biker shorts. I was trying to remember ever wearing anything like that. But then I remembered my first day of school in 5^th grade (which would have been 1990, the same year as the first year of 90210). I got a new outfit: Blue shiny spandex leggings, a multi-colored geometric shape filled shirt and a big cardigan which I wore with white scrunchy socks and my LA Gear high top sneakers. And I LOVED that outfit. So, yeah. The clothes on Beverly Hills, 90210 are accurate for the times.

Anyway, it’s such a fun show. And such a fun show to make fun of. Nobody looks like they are in high school, except maybe David Silver. Donna Martin could possibly pass. Steve Sanders looks like he could be everyone’s father. Dylan and his forehead creases are way too aging. And Andrea…oh, Andrea. You old, lady. These people are supposed to be Juniors in high school. 16-17 years old. That is so not the case.

And I know I grow to hate Kelly (A few years ago I spent an entire summer watching the entire series replayed on SoapNet), like really really hate Kelly. But right now she is so much more enjoyable than Brenda and her pursed lips. God her mouth must be so sore from doing that all of the time. I much prefer when Valerie takes her spot.

2. My Job

My job has changed a lot since I was laid off in November2011. This is the third job I’ve had since then. And I love it. It really is proof that things happen for a reason. I was devastated when I was laid off because I loved where I worked. But this job, this job I really really like. And I like where I work. They’ve been very good to me. It’s nice to like where you go every day.

3. Amanda Palmer’s song “Olly Olly Oxen Free”

Remember how for the past few months all I could talk about was Joanna Newsom’s “Good Intentions Paving Company”? Well, this song is my new obsession. It’s so loud and fun and makes me want to jump around and sing along and play air drums. Seriously, the drums on this track are insane. And, it has great lyrics. 99% of the time that I’m in the car, I throw this song on at top volume. Even if I’m just running to the grocery store.

4. My Husband

I know that sounds weird. Like I’m only loving him right now or something. Of course I love him all the time. But I’ve been sick for the past week and he has taken such good care of me and I just feel so incredibly lucky that he is my husband. He’s awesome.

5. The Bloggess

After reading her book, Jenny Lawson (aka The Bloggess) is my new hero. Which, if you’ve read the book, seems crazy. But sometimes it’s just nice to read that other people have the same thoughts and fears that you do.

6. Prissy Clerks

Prissy Clerks debut album, Bruise or Be Bruised, came out just one day after I wrote my Favorite Albums of 2012 post. If it would have come out the day before or if I would have held off posting, this would definitely had made my top 10. Clara Salyer’s voice is so sweet and so cool. Really, she has such a great voice. The music is reminiscent of early 90s bands like Belly, which I love. Seriously great album. Go get it.

 

 7. Soup with Ritz Crackers

While sick, I ate many bowls of Progresso Vegetable Soup with Noodles and instead of putting saltines or oyster crackers in it, I used Ritz Crackers. O My God. So. Good.

Five

Here's five things that are, will be and have been happening:

1. I have a lot of songs ready to go and so I thought it would be fun to record an EP for a release this spring - and the recording has begun! Shawn has a 4 track player and we are going to make a 4-5 song EP. Total do-it-yourself mode completely recorded at his house. I'm going to make the album art and burn the discs myself, though it will most likely be mainly a digital download. I'm super excited. Here's the first song we've done. It's called "A Story":



2. I'm performing at The Cedar Cultural Center this Tuesday for the Prairie Fire Lady Choir end of season show. As you may or may not know, I've been a part of the choir for about two years now. I'll be singing some songs with the choir as well as some songs of my own on my own. Should be a super fun night!

3. I saw The Chalice perform again at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts Third Thursday event. These ladies are the real deal. Check them out!

4. My friends, The Broken Bicycles, have revamped their sound. They've gone electric! And they've done it well! No more ukuleles. Lead singer, Turkeyes' voice was made for singing like this. Love it. I took some video at the debut performance of their new sound.



5. I started watching Homeland last weekend. I'm not sure about this one. Claire Danes is so over the top. It occurred to me I haven't seen anything she's done since My So Called Life. This character feels like exactly who Angela Chase grew up to be. I will say that I am intrigued by the show's main mystery. Just not sure I care about much else - including the characters.

Things I Love Right Now

I just had this idea for a new reoccurring blog topic that will - like all of my reoccurring blog topics (see: Music Mondays, Favorite Songs Ever, Sunday Lists as examples) just die a quick death. But, whatever.

So I think - for now - I might make the first blog post of each month be about things I'm really loving at the moment. Things I'm really loving in all areas of all things.

So here goes (in no particular order)...

1. My black jeans.

I'm not saying I look super awesome in them or anything. It's just that I don't buy jeans because I don't find them all that comfortable. And the last time I tried to wear these I must have been super bloated or I've dropped a few pounds recently because they were one of the most uncomfortable things I've ever dressed my body in. But the other day I was in a pinch and needed something to wear and I put them on and they felt like sweatpants. So I've worn them pretty much every day since. So I should probably give them their props now because next week they most likely won't fit so well again and I will go back to hating them.


2. The Walking Dead

This show is quite the roller coaster, isn't it? And I don't just mean the intensity of each episode, but I mean how it can go from being a pretty good show to sucking so horribly to suddenly being ridiculously amazing. Three episodes into the third season and it seems to have finally figured itself out. But there's still a lot to go, so we'll see if it can hold up. (There I go. Always the pessimist).


3. "Good Intentions Paving Company" by Joanna Newsom



I've been in love with this song for a couple of months now. A week ago I had a show in Duluth and, driving home that night, I listened to this song 3 times in a row. I would have listened more, but I didn't want to be ridiculous. My goal is to write a song like this.


4. This dog.

The husband and I are totally ready to get a dog again. We still cry for Murray way more than is probably normal, but we are ready to have a dog in the house again. Unfortunately, the timing is just not that great right now. But I don't know. I've got it bad for this guy. If he's still available to adopt in a week...


5. Mashed Potatoes

OMG I could eat mashed potatoes for every meal and be so happy. Right now my favorite meal consists of a heaping helping of mashed potatoes, which I pick up from the Byerlys' hot dish meal deli section, fake bbq riblets, and corn. It's so good. Such comfort food.

Lost...Again

 

I’m currently rewatching season one of Lost. It’s absolutely fascinating to watch now, having seen how the whole thing plays out. All the clues to everything that happens in future seasons seems to be there. At least, it’s easy to pick things out that could be clues as to what’s to come – which then makes it really seem like the writers had some sort of idea of what they wanted to do – time travel and all.

Rose even says, upon first hearing what we know to be the Smoke Monster out in the jungle: “This all sounds so familiar.”

I also find that I’m just waiting for writer/continuity screw ups – and some do appear. For example, they’ve just discovered “Adam & Eve” in the caves. Jack examines them and determines that they are a man and a woman (correct), but then says the bodies are at least “40 to 50 years old” due to the condition their clothing is in. Obviously, we find out later they are much older than that. But, then again, what does Jack know? Not much. As even from the beginning he refused to take in any knew information or ask any questions. Kate wants to tell him what she did to be on the run from a Federal Marshall, but Jack says he doesn’t want to know. Really? Why not? Weirdo.

I also think the writers did a lot of retro-active storyline fitting.

Other things I’d forgotten about:

• Boone is borderline Forrest Gump levels of stupid.
• John Locke was once so cool and mysterious.
• Kate wasn’t always super annoying and ruining everything.
• Michael was always super annoying and ruining things, though I will say he might just be the best actor on the show (for real) But the constant “Waaaaaaaaaaaalt” gets old really quick.
• It’s so much fun to watch Charlie and Hurley’s friendship bloom – and so sad to think about what’s to come.
• Sayid might be the best character.
• Vincent makes everything better (and I’m still bitter we never got a Vincent-centric episode).
• Remember how creepy it was when Jack finds his dad’s coffin and it’s empty!
• This show was really good. And now I want to watch the whole series again.

Also, I recapped Lost during the 5th and 6th seasons. You can read those here, if you'd like.