WE HAVE A HOUSE!!! *collective sigh of relief from everyone that Renee interacts with on a daily basis and muttered prayers that she will no longer be such a stressed out lunatic*
It's on the north end, was a total God-thing, and it is *adorable*. I shall post pictures soon.
Oh, and we got a dog. She's a stinky little bugger of the baby basset persuasion. We call her Rosie. And Rose McGee. And Rosary. And Bad Dog. (Though, we only reserve that one for when there is pee, poop, barking, or, her new favorite thing, shredded toilet paper rolls.)
And my parent's house of 17 years sold. (Also, the Lord was involved in this in a BIG way.)
And I have a nephew. (Mr Awesome's sister and her husband.)
And Mr. Awesome now works in banking.
And we got a new car. (Which, the whole buying-it situation was something I would liken to the 3rd level of Hell.)
So as much as I feel like I should feel guilty for not updating my blog in an obscenely long amount of time--I don't.
I did miss ya'll though and now that there are only a few lingering boxes in the garage--oh, alright there's one in the office too--life should settle into something a little more...normal.
Ha, right, normal.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Thoughts on the Lost Finale
People have been asking me what I thought about the Lost finale. So here it is:
I have been bothered ever since it aired. We had a finale party at our house and right away everyone kept asking me what I thought about it when really, I just wanted them to leave me alone and let me think it over. I didn’t want to talk, I didn’t want to theorize, I just wanted to sit in silence.
Days later, I’m still very reserved in my emotions about it. I don’t want to say I hated it because I’ve been committed to this show for 6 years. Being there on September 22, 2004 has some serious significance, so I can’t say I hated the resolution to something I’ve been committed to for so long.
I will say this:
Going into the finale, I was afraid that they were going to give us “character resolution” but no real mythological answers. This fluttering fear started at the beginning of this season with the flash-sideways and matured into cold-sweats after “Across the Sea”. It’s really just “a light” Allison Janney? And it’s the source of life, death, and rebirth? Call me crazy, but from the finale, it just looked like the stone was corking up evil to keep it from escaping. There was nothing about the creepy “hell” scene that made me think of life or rebirth, just death.
I would be in raptures had they answered ONE of these questions:
WHAT IS THE LIGHT? I feel like their choice not to answer this was probably smart. This gets into the sticky world of religion and they’ve done a really good job of remaining religiously ambiguous. However, then I would have been able to say with a clear conscience “Yes, Virginia, they knew what they were writing.”
WHO FOUND THE LIGHT AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE? I wouldn’t have needed to know what the significance was, I just need to know that SOMEONE did. Jacob took on the role of the protector with nothing more than a wink and a shot of wine from a grubby looking bottle. He didn’t ask what or why but was willing to lay down his life, and the lives of others, for this heretofore unexplained light. And Jack? Don’t get me started about him. I think he took the job simply because he wanted to feel important. The writers allowing Jack to take the job without asking for an explanation weakened his character and perpetuated his off-putting “god complex” as Sawyer so accurately deemed it. He didn’t grow as a character from season 1 when he wanted to fix every living thing, he just finally found a “mission” that other people found important too.
THE NUMBERS? That’s all I have to say about that one.
HOW DID JACOB GET THEM ALL ON THE SAME PLANE? Does he have time-travel abilities? How in the world did he go visit them at different times in their lives and then get them all on the same plane? That’s really been a bee in my bonnet since the end of season 5 when Jacob got all touchy-feely.
HOW IN TARNATION DOES THE ISLAND MOVE? I mean, really? Not a word about electromagnetism connected to wormholes? Not even from Farriday? Oh wait—they killed him off before he could explain anything scientific. How convenient.
WHY DOESN’T ANYONE ASK QUESTIONS? Kate was moving in the right direction by “What They Died For”, but never really went for it. I would plagued them with questions.
WHAT ABOUT ALL THOSE EASTER EGGS? Over the course of the show I spent hours hypothesizing about their hidden numbers, symbols, and books. I relished the time. I guess that’s my bad for getting all obcessive.
From all this you may gather that I’m unhappy with the episode, but really, that’s not the case. At first I was REALLY angry with the “This is the place you all created so you could find each other” explanation of the flash-sideways, but the more I think about it, the more I like it.
Lost has always been a show that keeps people guessing, theorizing, and connecting with each other. It has always shocked me (like Juliet’s ex-husband being hit by a bus, or Sayid shooting young Ben) so I don’t know why I expected anything less from the finale. I guess I was expecting it to be a little less touchy-feely and religiously wishy-washy. But then again, they said we would get emotional fulfillment; they never promised answers…
Things I loved? The characters recognizing each other. Oh, man, were there water-works in my living room. To have Charlie, Claire and Aaron together again was almost moving enough to allow me to forget that Sun ended up with Charlie’s DS ring instead of Aaron. And Sawyer and Juliet’s moment was almost enough to banish the painful futility of “The Incident”.
As a side note, I must mention the acting that took place in this episode. I smell Emmys.
Over all, I feel emotionally fulfilled and mentally bullied. Which is why when people ask me if I liked the finale, I kind of just want to cry.
I have been bothered ever since it aired. We had a finale party at our house and right away everyone kept asking me what I thought about it when really, I just wanted them to leave me alone and let me think it over. I didn’t want to talk, I didn’t want to theorize, I just wanted to sit in silence.
Days later, I’m still very reserved in my emotions about it. I don’t want to say I hated it because I’ve been committed to this show for 6 years. Being there on September 22, 2004 has some serious significance, so I can’t say I hated the resolution to something I’ve been committed to for so long.
I will say this:
Going into the finale, I was afraid that they were going to give us “character resolution” but no real mythological answers. This fluttering fear started at the beginning of this season with the flash-sideways and matured into cold-sweats after “Across the Sea”. It’s really just “a light” Allison Janney? And it’s the source of life, death, and rebirth? Call me crazy, but from the finale, it just looked like the stone was corking up evil to keep it from escaping. There was nothing about the creepy “hell” scene that made me think of life or rebirth, just death.
I would be in raptures had they answered ONE of these questions:
WHAT IS THE LIGHT? I feel like their choice not to answer this was probably smart. This gets into the sticky world of religion and they’ve done a really good job of remaining religiously ambiguous. However, then I would have been able to say with a clear conscience “Yes, Virginia, they knew what they were writing.”
WHO FOUND THE LIGHT AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE? I wouldn’t have needed to know what the significance was, I just need to know that SOMEONE did. Jacob took on the role of the protector with nothing more than a wink and a shot of wine from a grubby looking bottle. He didn’t ask what or why but was willing to lay down his life, and the lives of others, for this heretofore unexplained light. And Jack? Don’t get me started about him. I think he took the job simply because he wanted to feel important. The writers allowing Jack to take the job without asking for an explanation weakened his character and perpetuated his off-putting “god complex” as Sawyer so accurately deemed it. He didn’t grow as a character from season 1 when he wanted to fix every living thing, he just finally found a “mission” that other people found important too.
THE NUMBERS? That’s all I have to say about that one.
HOW DID JACOB GET THEM ALL ON THE SAME PLANE? Does he have time-travel abilities? How in the world did he go visit them at different times in their lives and then get them all on the same plane? That’s really been a bee in my bonnet since the end of season 5 when Jacob got all touchy-feely.
HOW IN TARNATION DOES THE ISLAND MOVE? I mean, really? Not a word about electromagnetism connected to wormholes? Not even from Farriday? Oh wait—they killed him off before he could explain anything scientific. How convenient.
WHY DOESN’T ANYONE ASK QUESTIONS? Kate was moving in the right direction by “What They Died For”, but never really went for it. I would plagued them with questions.
WHAT ABOUT ALL THOSE EASTER EGGS? Over the course of the show I spent hours hypothesizing about their hidden numbers, symbols, and books. I relished the time. I guess that’s my bad for getting all obcessive.
From all this you may gather that I’m unhappy with the episode, but really, that’s not the case. At first I was REALLY angry with the “This is the place you all created so you could find each other” explanation of the flash-sideways, but the more I think about it, the more I like it.
Lost has always been a show that keeps people guessing, theorizing, and connecting with each other. It has always shocked me (like Juliet’s ex-husband being hit by a bus, or Sayid shooting young Ben) so I don’t know why I expected anything less from the finale. I guess I was expecting it to be a little less touchy-feely and religiously wishy-washy. But then again, they said we would get emotional fulfillment; they never promised answers…
Things I loved? The characters recognizing each other. Oh, man, were there water-works in my living room. To have Charlie, Claire and Aaron together again was almost moving enough to allow me to forget that Sun ended up with Charlie’s DS ring instead of Aaron. And Sawyer and Juliet’s moment was almost enough to banish the painful futility of “The Incident”.
As a side note, I must mention the acting that took place in this episode. I smell Emmys.
Over all, I feel emotionally fulfilled and mentally bullied. Which is why when people ask me if I liked the finale, I kind of just want to cry.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Beware the Goals of March
Every year I make 3 New Year's resolutions. (yes, I know it's March, keep reading) They are always the same. Have been for about 5 years now. Maybe 7. They will probably be the the same for the next 25 years. Maybe 27.
1. Read through the entire Bible in a year.
2. Read a book a week (for all you non-mathematicians out there, that's 52 in a year)
3. Lose 15 pounds.
(Clearly, keeping my blog up-to-date is NOT one of my resolutions)
Regarding #1: I've read through the whole Bible before. That's good. I call myself a Christian and feel like if you've believed in the same God your whole life, you should probably have read His whole Bible. I just have never read it cover-to-cover in one year. I'm doing ok this year, not great, but ok. (As in, unless I lock myself in a cabin for 5 days with nothing to do but drink coffee and read my Bible, I will probably be playing catch-up all year. And it's not even 1/4 over yet.)
Regarding #2: I don't know why I even tell myself I'm going to do this anymore. I don't have the discipline to read a full book a week. Notice I didn't say I don't have the time. I know that I don't HAVE to watch Chuck on Monday nights, or Community on Thursday, or The Tool Academy....ever. But I do. Every week. Also, progressing in #2 is sometimes inhibited by my lack of completing #1 for the day. I feel guilty picking up a novel when I have yet to touch my Bible.
Regarding #3: This is the only variable in my resolutions. Sometimes it's 10 pounds, sometimes it's 20, but it's always something. I, being an American woman that does not struggle with an eating disorder and really likes pizza, french fries, and red wine, will probably always have some qualm about the way I look.
You may be thinking: Why, Renee, are you indulgently complaining about your New Year's resolutions in MARCH. You should be writing about Julius Caesar or Cadbury Chocolate Eggs right now.
2 reasons.
1. I'm actually excited about where my resolutions have taken me this year. I haven't read a book a week, but I've read more than I would have otherwise. I haven't lost 15 pounds, but I have lost 4 and I'm hitting the gym at least 3 times a week (wayyyyyyyyyyyyy more times per week than in '09). And I have been spending more time in the Word that I did before. So though technically I'm "failing" at my resolutions, I'm rather happy about the journey.
2. I'm adding another resolution. Can you call it a resolution if you make it in March or is that a once a year thing? Is it called a goal any other time of year? It sounds much weightier if it's a resolution. But, then again, it feels like it doesn't belong. It's kind of like peppermint. I hate peppermint gum, toothpaste or candy unless it's that blessed time of year between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
And, trust me, this has nothing to do with peppermint.
Ok, so we're calling it a goal.
Goal #4: I'm going to write a novel.
Now this has been a life-goal for a very long time.
Very.
Long.
Time.
Like, since I was 7.
But, my other resolutions clipping along so well have been encouraging. Like, "Hey, maybe I can actually DO something I set my mind to!" Sort of. With the way my other resolutions are going, it will probably be a novella, but hey, it's better than nothing, right? Now I just have to come up with a plot-line that I don't hate.
Any ideas?
I may post scenes if I like the ideas. :)
1. Read through the entire Bible in a year.
2. Read a book a week (for all you non-mathematicians out there, that's 52 in a year)
3. Lose 15 pounds.
(Clearly, keeping my blog up-to-date is NOT one of my resolutions)
Regarding #1: I've read through the whole Bible before. That's good. I call myself a Christian and feel like if you've believed in the same God your whole life, you should probably have read His whole Bible. I just have never read it cover-to-cover in one year. I'm doing ok this year, not great, but ok. (As in, unless I lock myself in a cabin for 5 days with nothing to do but drink coffee and read my Bible, I will probably be playing catch-up all year. And it's not even 1/4 over yet.)
Regarding #2: I don't know why I even tell myself I'm going to do this anymore. I don't have the discipline to read a full book a week. Notice I didn't say I don't have the time. I know that I don't HAVE to watch Chuck on Monday nights, or Community on Thursday, or The Tool Academy....ever. But I do. Every week. Also, progressing in #2 is sometimes inhibited by my lack of completing #1 for the day. I feel guilty picking up a novel when I have yet to touch my Bible.
Regarding #3: This is the only variable in my resolutions. Sometimes it's 10 pounds, sometimes it's 20, but it's always something. I, being an American woman that does not struggle with an eating disorder and really likes pizza, french fries, and red wine, will probably always have some qualm about the way I look.
You may be thinking: Why, Renee, are you indulgently complaining about your New Year's resolutions in MARCH. You should be writing about Julius Caesar or Cadbury Chocolate Eggs right now.
2 reasons.
1. I'm actually excited about where my resolutions have taken me this year. I haven't read a book a week, but I've read more than I would have otherwise. I haven't lost 15 pounds, but I have lost 4 and I'm hitting the gym at least 3 times a week (wayyyyyyyyyyyyy more times per week than in '09). And I have been spending more time in the Word that I did before. So though technically I'm "failing" at my resolutions, I'm rather happy about the journey.
2. I'm adding another resolution. Can you call it a resolution if you make it in March or is that a once a year thing? Is it called a goal any other time of year? It sounds much weightier if it's a resolution. But, then again, it feels like it doesn't belong. It's kind of like peppermint. I hate peppermint gum, toothpaste or candy unless it's that blessed time of year between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
And, trust me, this has nothing to do with peppermint.
Ok, so we're calling it a goal.
Goal #4: I'm going to write a novel.
Now this has been a life-goal for a very long time.
Very.
Long.
Time.
Like, since I was 7.
But, my other resolutions clipping along so well have been encouraging. Like, "Hey, maybe I can actually DO something I set my mind to!" Sort of. With the way my other resolutions are going, it will probably be a novella, but hey, it's better than nothing, right? Now I just have to come up with a plot-line that I don't hate.
Any ideas?
I may post scenes if I like the ideas. :)
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