This is what will happen if you try to get someone caught up on LOST. Freaking hilarious.
The Best Damn Mexican Restaurant on the Planet
I make it a point to eat at the Red Igauna on the last day of January. If you've never eaten at the Red Igauna before, watch the below from Food Network's "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives" to see what you're missing out on. It's the best Mexican restaurant on the planet.
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And Happy Birthday wishes to Alice! Hope you have a good one!
My Super Bowl XLIII Prediction
I haven’t followed football as closely this season as I have in years past. Still, I was as floored as anyone when the Arizona Cardinals dumped the Falcons, Panthers, and Eagles on their way to the Super Bowl XLIII.
Everyone is touting the Cardinals as a sad-sack organization that won’t stand a chance against the vaulted Pittsburgh Steelers.
I don’t see it.
They have a starting quarterback who’s won the big game already and has plenty of weapons to throw too. Their defense had no problem stopping the best teams in the NFC. Yes, the Steelers have QB that's played in the big game but Roethlisberger's play hasn't been consistent. Watch for Arizona will find a way to stop them when they really need to.
The Steelers are a good team – don’t get me wrong. It’s just that the Cardinals have the intangible factors of momentum and underdog spirit that’s going to carry them past the Steelers and a victory in their very first Super Bowl appearance.
Look for the Cardinals to jump out to a large and early lead. The Steelers will rally in the second half and close the gap to a touchdown in the last five minutes of the fourth quarter but, unfortunately for them, Roethlisberger won’t be able to tie it before the clock runs out.
Final score: Arizona 31 Pittsburg 24
LOST: Jughead
*** Spoilers Follow***
Charles Widmore is an Other?!?!?!
That was seriously the best revelation LOST has given us in a long time and goes a long way to explaining why he wants to get back to the island. Maybe at one point Widmore was even the leader of the others before leaving/getting banished/transported off the island. I hope the writers are planning a Widmore-centric episode soon. That would be great to learn more about him, how he left the island, why he can’t get back, and see what’s really going on between him and Ben.
Here’s my theory as to who the Others (with the exception of Richard Alpert) really are. They’re survivors of the British trading ship, the Black Rock, that crashed on the island back in the mid-nineteenth century. This explains their British accents. My guess is that after they crashed, they were unable to get off the island and started their own society. They’ve been there long enough that they feel the island is theirs and don’t want to give it up.
Another thing about the Others I’m still trying to figure out: They don’t really seem to be into building places to live. They were living in the tents of the army people they killed in the 1954 flashback in this episode and moved into the Dharma Initiative homes once they eliminated all of them. I find it odd that they don’t really seem capable of building any kind of permanent settlements. I’m sure there’s a reason for this, I just haven’t figured it out yet. If anyone has a theory, feel free to throw it into the comments below.
Meanwhile it looks like Desmond, Penny, and their son are headed to Los Angeles. Fate is bringing everyone back together. It looks like Desmond is headed back to the island, no matter what kind of promises he made to Penny. It appears, at least in LOST’s universe, you really can’t mess with fate.
Dating a Widower Group on Facebook
I’ve created a Facebook group for those who are dating widowers. I thought it would be a great place for those who are dating a widower to post links and other resources, and be able to talk to others who are dealing with widower-related issues.
You can find the group here.
Anyone who’s in a relationship with a widower can join.
5 Signs a Widower Is Serious About Your Relationship
Dating a widower can be emotionally taxing. The last thing you want is to invest time and your heart with a man that may not be ready for the serious relationship you’re looking for. There are 5 signs that the widower is actually ready to have a serious relationship and not using you to fill the hole in his heart or simply warm his bed at night. It doesn’t matter if he’s been a widower 3 months or 3 years, if he’s ready to get serious with you, this is the way to know.
1. He has no problem introducing you to his family, friends, and social circle.
A widower who’s ready to date again isn’t embarrassed to let friends, family members, and others know about you. You won’t be excluded from family activities because “they aren’t ready to see me with someone else” or because they’re “still grieving.” He won’t care what others think about him dating again. All he’ll care about is whether or not you’re happy. If he’s putting the needs of others above you, he’s not ready. If he’s happy to be seen with you and isn’t afraid to let the whole world know about it, that’s a sign he’s serious about the relationship.
2. He won’t pressure you to jump into bed with him
It can be difficult to get intimate with a widower – especially when you’re unsure whether or not he wants to do it simply because he misses regular sex with the late wife. If you’re not ready to take that step, don’t hesitate to say “no” when it looks like things are heading to the bedroom. A widower who values you and the relationship won’t have a problem waiting until you’re ready to take that step. And after you’ve said no, he won’t continually pressure you to hop in the sack or become upset that you’re not sleeping with him. Instead he’ll wait until you’re comfortable taking the relationship to that level.
3. He’s willing to talk about where the relationship is headed
Talking about where a relationship is going isn’t something men do a lot. However, when they meet the right person, they won’t have a problem discussing dating exclusively, getting engaged, or even brining up marriage.
The same goes for widowers. If he thinks there’s potential in your relationship he’ll let you know. If he avoids the subject, says he’s still grieving, or need more time, then there’s a good chance he’s not ready for a serious relationship.
4. He won’t let his grief get in the way
Believe it or not, there are widowers out there who will throw away the shrines to the late wife, sell their homes, and do whatever it takes to get over their grief as soon as the right person comes along. Instead of making excuses why the relationship can’t move forward, he’ll take the necessary steps to put the late wife to the side and make you the center of his universe. However, if he’s always telling you he’s still grieving, then it means he’s not ready. End the relationship and look for someone who can put his baggage aside because he wants to be with you.
5. His actions back up his words
Anyone can say “I love you” but not everyone can back up those words with actions. If he says that he loves you but is treating you like garbage, he’s not serious about the relationship. A widower who values you, will treat you like a queen. Don’t put up with behavior from a widower that you wouldn’t put up with from a single or divorced guy. Losing a spouse is no excuse for stringing you along. If he really loves you, he’ll treat you like he does. Don’t settle for anything less.
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LOST: The Lie
(Note: To read my review of the LOST season premier, scroll down or click here.)
I love Hurley-centric episodes because, out of all the main characters in LOST, he’s by far the most interesting. (Sawyer is a close #2.) The writers do a great job of creating an extremely sympathetic but believable character. The guy gets nothing but bag breaks in his life. Yet he’s the one that would be the easiest to put into a clichéd role as some crazy, fat guy. But the writers do their best to make the audience unsure of Hurly is really crazy or not.
They round out Hurley’s character very well mother and father. Again, it would be easy to treat them as instant millionaires who are out of their element. And we see some of that by their home, the way they dress, and the fact that his father puts caviar on his hamburgers. But the writers show that they’re real people with strong family bond. Hurley’s father agrees to protect him from the police and stands up for him when he talks to Jack. Hurley’s mother believes him when Hurley tells her what really happened to the plane.
I was surprised that most people at work didn’t realize who the old lady at the end was. This is probably a sign that I’ve watched past season’s too many times, but she was the old woman who didn’t want Desmond to buy an engagement ring (somewhere back in season 2 or 3). I’m glad they brought her back as she kept popping up in photographs and other places throughout the show. Apparently she and Ben have a little secret that they better share in the next couple episodes. I don’t want those writers dragging out the “we have 70 hours to get everyone together” for the rest of the season.
The folks on the island took a back seat in this episode. The flaming arrows were cool to watch and a brilliant way to think out all the extras that have been taking up space on the beach. (Especially that really annoying Neil guy. Admit it. You cheered when he was engulfed in flames.)
Looking forward to next week’s episode….
LOST: Because You Left
I’m so glad LOST is back. For the first time in months I was riveted to the TV for two hours last night enjoying every minute of both episodes. (The second episode will be reviewed in my next post.)
*** WARNING: Spoilers Abound ***
For the people on the mainland, we see that fate slowly bringing the survivors back together. I guess no matter how much of a fuss they put up, they’re destined to return to that island no matter what. The storyline of Syiad and Hurley was interesting but really was serving as a setup to the next episode.
The truly interesting part of the season premier was seeing what happened to those who were left on the island. Juliet and Sawyer have become the de facto leaders of the group trying to navigate them through the time shifting they’re experiencing. And I’m glad they’ve set Daniel Faraday up as more than just a science geek. Apparently he’s going to be the key to getting them out of their time shifting mess.
The writers are walking a tightrope with the time shifting/time travel part of the island. As a storytelling device, sending the survivors back in time on the island it’s a great way for the audience to learn more about the island, its history, and the Dharma Initiative. On the flip side, time travel has become such a cliché in book, movies, and television, the writers run the risk of making LOST lose its ability to be a fresh and entertaining show. So far they’ve handled the time shifting aspect of the show very well. I like the fact that Faraday tells them they can’t change anything. That constrains the writers from screwing around with the established storyline. (Phew!) I just hope they keep walking that tightrope.
There is one aspect of the show that is starting to grate on me a little, however. Why do they have to keep hiding the faces of characters to build up suspense? In the opening scene, why not show that it’s Pierre Chang who gets out of bed to get the kid instead of waiting until he sits down to shoot the instructional tape that we realize who it is? Why not show Faraday’s face as soon as Chang bumps into him on the way out. There are certain rules and reasons when you hide the faces of characters. However, hiding the faces of Chang and Faraday served no purpose that to confuse the audience. They could have had the same amount of suspense if the first thing we saw was Chang’s face and were trying to figure out why they were showing him.
But hiding the faces is a minor complaint. Overall, it was a great episode. I’m glad there’s finally something good to watch on TV again.
Why Gran Torino is the Best Movie of the Year
Note: Thanks to Sylvia for reminding me I need to write this.
When I posted my Best of 2008 list I got a few emails from readers who were surprised that I picked Gran Torino as the best move of the year over The Dark Knight since they knew what a big Batman fan I am and how much I raved about the movie.
Yes, I loved The Dark Knight. It had everything you want as far as good writing, great special effects, wonderful acting, and a wicked plot. However, it lacked the personal intimacy of Grand Torino. And though both movies had themes of redemption, atonement, and salvation, Gran Torino did it on a more personal and, therefore, more powerful way.
In Gran Torino, Clint Eastwood starts as a grumpy, racist, Korean War vet named Walt. The Detroit neighborhood he lives in is falling apart, controlled by gangs, and inhabited by Asian people who Walt despises. To top it off, he has a strained relationship with his two sons, a catholic priest, and has a bunch of spoiled grandkids.
The movie revolves around Walt’s relationship with the Lors – a Hmong family that lives next door. As part of his initiation into a Hmong gang, the neighbor kid named Thao (Bee Vang) breaks into Walts’s garage to steal his vintage Gran Torino. As a result he inadvertently ends up getting involved in the lives of Thoa and his older sister Sue (Ahney Her) and defending them against violent intimidation.
Slowly we see Walt’s toughness melt away as the kindness from the Lors makes him realize that they’re just like anyone else. This is where the movie could have run down the path of being your typical Can’t-We-Just-All-Get-Along movie. But the movie doesn’t focus on Walt’s acceptance of the Lors (thought that happens). Instead it focuses on Walt and what’s makes him one of the most complex characters in recent cinema history.
What really makes the movie, however, is the ending. No, I’m not going to spoil it for you, but it’s an extremely moving ending that has surprised everyone that’s seen it. It makes the movie and gives the movie a deeply satisfying conclusion.
Gran Torino isn’t a perfect movie. Some of the acting from Vang and Her is far from perfect. But the best movies are the ones with the best special effects and well-known actors. Instead they’re the ones that show real, complex characters trying to make the best in the world we live in.
Grand Torino wasn’t a movie I expected to like. I have a love hate relationship with Clint Eastwood movies. Some have been great while others have been plain awful. I’ve never really forgiven Eastwood for royally screwing up Mystic River. Eastwood, however, redeemed himself with a realistic movie that shows the audience that not one is beyond redemption. Best of all, the film reminds us what the true definition if love really is.
One word of warning. Gran Torino contains a lot of foul and racist language. If you’re uncomfortable with that, don’t see it. But if you can look past that, you’ll see a moving story of atonement and salvation that makes it the best film I’ve seen in a long, long time.
Gran Torino **** stars (out of 4).
Things You Forget About Babies
Thanks to everyone for their comments and emails about the new baby. Both Marathon Girl and Brennan are home and doing very well. From my point of view, even though it’s been just over two years since our previous child was born, it’s amazing how much I’ve forgotten about how much attention a baby needs.
Like getting up 2-3 times a night. After my third trip to retrieve the baby for Marathon Girl last night, I realized our other kids cried just as much during all hours of the night and we both had to get up just as much with them as we did with the new one. There’s probably a good reason those memories got pushed to the side when we decided to have another kid.
Other things I forgot: Babies need constant changing and care. They spit up a lot. And unlike our other kids, they can’t tell you what’s bothering them. There’s a lot of guesswork trying to figure it out why he’s crying.
But there are a lot of positive things too that also skipped my mind. Like taking a screaming baby into your arms and having him instantly calm down. That’s very rewarding. And being able to just hold him without all the wiggling or squirming. Having him open his eyes and sort of give a half smile and then go back to sleep. Seeing his brothers and sister become excited at the prospect of holding him.
All good stuff.
All worth it.
Now I just need to catch up on my sleep.