Green Jello

Lost :: There's no Place Like Home (Part I)

I can't believe this season is almost over. What am I going to do without Lost? This episode seemed like a scattered preview; things they had to tell us before the 2 hour finale. Let's discuss:

1. Ben always has a plan. Does he want everyone dead but the others? Is he using Locke?

2. How many times have they "moved" the island?

3. Moving the island is "dangerous and unpredictable." I think we can guess that moving the island will do something to time - but how? Is it possible that they move the island and time so that the plane really does crash into the ocean? Is this why Hurley said, "we are all dead?" I know, this makes no sense, but they didn't bring the time difference into the story for our amusement - remember the doctor washed up on shore dead before he was even dead on the freighter.

4. Why does the Orchid station scare Daniel? I have to go back and see if I can find the Orchid orientation video.

5. I love the scene with Sun putting her father in his place and that she bought an ownership interest in his company..."No, you will respect me!" She blames two people for Jin's death; her father and who else?

6. Why are there explosives on the freighter? Is that why Keemy had the device on his arm or did Michael do this?

7. Why the rabbit's feet? (Hurley/man on Coast Guard plane) Is this another Alice and Wonderland reference?

8. Hurley was wearing the ace of spades on his shirt; the death card.

9. It was creepy to see the numbers on Hurley's car.

10. Sun said that Jin died on the plane, which means he is not one of the 8 who "survived" the crash. So, two are going to die. I think the helicopter is going to crash and Sun is going to find them in a little boat. I command that the following characters do not die; Desmond, Locke, Sawyer and Daniel. They can kill off; Michael, Charlotte, Rose or her husband.

11. Does anyone remember how Jack's dad died? I can't remember that episode.

So, two more weeks and then the season finale. Anyone planning a Lost party? I can't wait to see how they leave us hanging this season; I don't think it's going to be pleasant judging from the look on the faces of the six who return.

Hoarding Mushrooms

My cousin sent me this link so I could see the vintage mushrooms she bought. I forced myself to not look at them, but then I dreamed about little mushrooms on the Christmas tree, and now I am a mushroom hoarder. Consider yourself warned, go to D. Blumchen and you will buy something. Sorry.

Quick, look at this leaf that looks like a heart for distraction:

Fug is a Bad Word

I know I've posted about this school issue too much, but that is what is occupying my mind lately, so please bear with me, and I also find your comments helpful. I spent time in a Kindergarten class at the school my son may attend this Fall on Tuesday. The school is good, I really like the Principal, and the teachers are nice, but as I sat there I couldn't help but feel uncomfortable as I watched the kids squirm in circle time and try to come up with words that end in "ug." One boy called out "fug" and the teacher said, "that's not really a word," but another child said, "yes it is, it's a bad word." I tried not to laugh, but the whole exercise seemed so tedious. I was hoping for a Sound of Music environment, with children laughing and singing Do, Re, Mi in cute little matching pinafores. Not, "let's get in the control zone," or the chart of marks for "quality Kindergarten behavior." Am I expecting too much? Have I read too many anti-establishment books? I'm not saying I could come up with anything better - there are 20 children and there has to be some order, but the bright charts and pocket hanging things made my head spin; I can only imagine what it does to a 5 year old.

The only thing that the kids were excited about was recess, which is normal. I got to witness children being reprimanded for pulling hair, being aggressive and saying inappropriate things. All normal behavior, but I still wanted to see the sweet pinafore wearing kids who make rings of dandelions, not talk about High School Musical and who is boyfriend and girlfriend. Yes, these are 5-6 year old kids. I asked the teacher if she felt that things such as reading in Kindergarten put too much pressure on kids this age. She felt that it did, but said her hands are tied because they have to cover the curriculum. It's frustrating that learning has become nothing more than memorizing enough to pass a test. He will survive public school, I did. My school experience was mediocre; a lot of memorization, some good and bad teachers and waiting for summer break. But, I want more for my kids and I hope that I can at least inspire them at home if this is what school will be like for them.

My son's preschool teachers think he is ready for Kindergarten. He is ready, but another year would give him a little more maturity and perhaps more tolerance for, "quality Kindergarten behavior." I also thought another year would give me more time to obsess about this, form a militia with other parents and take over the school, or maybe we would win the lottery and could send him to any school we wanted. If he does attend this Fall, I will be involved with the school. Not in an annoying way (I hope), but in a helpful, good way. I'm curious to hear your school experience. How do your kids spend their day in school? Do they really like school? How do you inspire them at home if they aren't getting it in school? Is this a public school problem or are private schools the same? Am I being ridiculous?

Mom Found in Store Without Children

On Friday my husband said he couldn't think of a present to buy me for Mother's Day, but thought I might enjoy a day off from the kids instead. My lip started to quiver and I thought, "You had me at day off." When Saturday arrived I was frantic; should I go shopping, thrifting, sew, take a bath, call my friends, or run through the streets naked? I decided to start with shopping. I walked into a department store and they handed me a Godiva chocolate bar and I won a $10 gift card. I wondered if I was on Candid Camera, but kept going. I tried on clothes in a fitting room without a giant red shopping cart and hearing children snicker, "I see Mommy's underpants." It was so nice and would have been even better if I had dropped a size or two.

Then I went to a thrift store and craft store without hearing whining or "This store is so booooring." It was a glorious day and I missed the boys, but only for a few seconds. If any men are reading this...I know diamonds are supposed to be a girl's best friend, but all we want is a little time off to recharge our Mommy brains, and all it costs is a little bit of your sanity. To the woman who rushed across the grocery store when she heard my kids crying with a frazzled Dad clutching the cart and handed them each a lollipop, thank you. I hope all of you had a nice Mother's Day.

Mother's Day

Mother's Day, originally uploaded by Green Jello.

1. Frederico e Gracia, 2. motherhood, 3. Dude, I don't think were in Tatooine anymore, 4. Love is all you need, 5. Mud, mud, glorious mud... 365 Day 99, 6. Black Hmong woman and baby, rice planting, Sapa Vietnam, 7. pregnant shadow with pigtails, 8. Umbrella Mama, 9. Mom

This is an old photo of my Mom holding my brother (we were 11 months apart). Her face says it all; she must have been so overwhelmed with two kids that close in age. Half of the picture is missing, which is driving me insane, but I was sitting on the counter holding a balloon or something. Now I will have to tear apart the house looking for the other half. The arrows on the photo were drawn by her sister; laughing at their plight I guess. Looking at this photo now that I am a mother, I appreciate the things she did for us and if she were still here, we would have a good laugh at this. Happy Mother's Day!

Lost :: Cabin Fever

What the?

1. Locke is my favorite character, so I loved this episode. I feel for him and his struggle to want to be someone he is not. I think Locke is teetering on the edge of making things right or choosing the wrong path and creating something awful.

2. Ben's comment, "destiny is a fickle bitch," is important.

3. I believe Richard Alpert is traveling back in time. It doesn't make sense that he is someone who doesn't age, unless he is dead. Maybe Richard is Jacob. I think he wanted Locke to choose the Book of Laws; when Locke chooses the knife he is either ignoring his destiny or showing Richard a future that he doesn't want. The cover of the comic book was interesting (you can view it here), the city above another in the sky. Some say that Richard was giving Locke a test that strongly resembles the Tibetan Buddhist ritual used to confirm a reincarnated Dalai Lama.

4. Richard and Abaddon know that Locke has to get to the island, but they want him there for different reasons. Now Locke owes Abaddon a favor.

5. Did you catch the Geronimo Jackson picture in Locke's locker?

6. I liked the scene where Hurley shares a candy bar with Ben.

7. Is Ben still in charge and using Locke?

8. Is Claire dead or possessed? Why the creepy smile when Locke asked about saving the island?

9. Was Horace's nose bleed a sign he was traveling to the future?

10. Does the island prevent Keamy from shooting Michael?

11. How does one move an island? Is he moving it back or forward in time? Is this why only 6 leave; Sayid can only fit so many in the boat and when he comes back the island is gone? What if they can move the island to a different space in time - is that how the plane ends up on the bottom of the ocean? This makes my head hurt.

In the Backyard

Soule Mama is posting a week of Spring photos, so I am joining in today because I can't think of a thing to say. Tulips are one of my favorite flowers. I would rather receive a bunch of tulips than roses; and they are much cheaper. I guess that makes me a cheap date.

This is a bloom from my weeping cherry tree that needs some type of fertilizer because it isn't blooming like it used to. Does anyone know what I can do to help this tree?

Is anyone else bothered by Rush Limbaugh's operation chaos?  I know many of our politicians are a joke, but I thought we were better than making a mockery out of our right to vote. I hope the meatheads who voted as Rush told them to are proud of themselves.

What gift would you like to receive for Mother's Day? What gift are your giving?

I think the best gift would be time off to recharge; maybe sew a little or just sleep.

Going Out in Style

Remember Avian Flu? Why are they not making us worry about it anymore? I bought cans of Spam and rolls of duct tape for our family emergency supply kit and nothing happened. In case you are interested, a triage list has been established for who gets a ventilator in a pandemic. Lovely.

In case you are not lucky enough to get on the triage list, you can go in style like this gentleman, in his Pabst Blue Ribbon coffin. I swear, most of us in Illinois are normal.

All the talk of elections, gas prices and triage sent me on a spending binge for fabric, because I am a sewing maniac; Heather Ross rabbits & race cars and this owl print; which is probably going to be my new favorite fabric.

Down on the Farm

This weekend we went to the Green Earth Institute Fair, which is an organic farm surrounded by suburban homes. The land was donated to the Green Earth Institute, so it can't be developed. When we moved to this area it was all farmland and dirt roads, before the suburban sprawl arrived. One day my Mom told me to take a picture of a certain farm because they would all be gone soon. I didn't believe her, but she was right, most of them are gone.

This was a low key fair; some seminars on organic lawn care, composting and curing ADD naturally. The kids enjoyed the music and tubs of bugs:

There was a bird exhibit:

Then I took weird photos; compost bags!

My son found this toad and begged me to take him home, but I said no. I should have let him, but his environment was so nice, it didn't seem right.

We had a good time and the weather was perfect. Now the kids are sleeping sound because they are so tired, which is always a good thing.

Lost :: Something Nice Back Home

This episode left me scratching my head;

1. There is another Alice's Adventures in Wonderland reference when Jack is reading the story to Aaron. There is a list here of past references to this story. Is Ben the white rabbit, holding a clock (the odd black time travel stick) or is he the Mad Hatter? Remember the weird breakfast he had with Kate on the beach - was this the Mad Hatter Tea Party? I have to go back and look at this book. It could provide some insight, or its another way the writers send us down a rabbit hole.

2. Does the smoke monster take over the bodies of the dead people on the island or is it a collection of them? Is this why the smoke detector went off when Jack's dad appeared?

3. Hurley's comment, "We are all dead" was interesting.

4. Does anyone know what Jack's new back tattoo is?

5. Why does Jack not want to be put under for his surgery? Can Juliet be trusted? I know this is a stretch, but is it possible Jack is going back and forth between the past and present? Does he fear being put under because he knows he will go back? The eye opening scenes at the beginning of each episode have always made me wonder if what we are seeing is Jack's "replay" of events on the island; his attempt to correct what went wrong. Where is his scar in the flash forward? They didn't show him walking around with his shirt off so we could see some eye candy.

6. Where do you think Claire went? Why does Miles seem so interested in her and Aaron?

7. Are they trying to make us believe Kate is talking to Sawyer, so when something happens to him it will be more shocking? I will not be happy if Sawyer dies.

7. Next week it looks like Locke bloodies the nose of a dead person.

"Who in the world am I? Ah, that's the great puzzle."