ABCs of Me

There's much talk about the ABCs around our house, so I thought this was a good way to share some randomness about me ...

Animal: My favorites are the ones that aren't mine.
Advice: I often tell myself to slow down and enjoy the moment.
Album: "August and Everything After" by Counting Crows is one of my all-time favorites.

Best feeling in the world: Peace.
Best weather: I like that the weather changes, but I prefer sunshiny, warm days.
Band: I can't pick just one band. These days I'm liking Casting Crowns, Third Day and Sugarland.

Candy: I really love candy, but I'm trying not to eat much of eat these days.
Color: Cate would tell you purple, pink and blue are my favorites. She'd be right.
Continent to visit: I'd go back to New Zealand, which I believe isn't part of any continent.
Cheese: Colby Jack.

Drawing or painting: Neither. I like to write. And scrapbook.
Dog breed: Ones that belong to other people and that aren't yappy. Really.

Eyes: Mine are blue.
Everyone's got: Imperfections.
Ever failed a class: Nope.

First thoughts waking up: Did Ben sleep until 7?
Feeling: Right now I'm feeling tired yet peaceful.
Favorite Movie: "Valentine's Day," "Love Actually," "Return to Me," "27 Dresses," "Juno," "When Harry Met Sally," "Good Will Hunting," "The Holiday," "Serendipity," "You've Got Mail," and "Reality Bites" are ones I consider favorites.

Greatest Fear: Not being able to remember moments I want to treasure.
Goals: Raise kids who love God and people.
Good luck charm: No such thing.

Holiday: Christmas. And, really, the whole December season, not just Dec. 25.
How do you want to die: Naturally.
Hot or cold: Cold drinks. Warm weather.

Ice cream: I don't love ice cream, but a Reese's cup Blizzard from DQ is a wonderful treat.
Instrument: I can't play any.
Irrational fear: Having the bedroom closet door open. And more than fearing anything, it just bugs me.

Jewelry: I don't wear much. I love my wedding rings and Pandora bracelet.
Job: Full-time mom.
Jokes: I'm not very good at telling them.

Kids: I have two whom I love dearly.
Keep a journal: Sporadically. And I have this electronic journal, more often called a blog.

Love: It's a choice.
Laughed so hard you cried: Oh, yes.
Learned: I have much to learn.
Lost: One of the best TV shows ever, even though I didn't like the ending.

McDonald’s or Burger King: Between the two, McDonald's. I'd choose Wendy's or Culver's, though.
Marriage: I'm thankful for mine.
Musical: I don't really do musicals, but I liked "Man of La Mancha."

Number of siblings: Two plus six in-laws, counting my brother's girlfriend who he's officially marrying in May because she's been part of the family for quite awhile now.
Number: I like 3.
Nuts: Cashews and peanuts are the only nuts I'll eat.
Name that comes to mind first: Taylor.

One wish: The first one that comes to mind is that Katie would be my neighbor again one day.
One time I...: Bungy jumped. I'd do it again, too.
One word: Uno.

Perfect pizza: I had Mariachi Chicken (chicken, jalapenos, Roma tomatoes, chedder and provolone cheese, mariachi spice) with a side of sour cream at Donato's last week. It was delicious.
Pepsi or Coke: I really love Diet Dr Pepper.
Pet: I don't do pets. We had a fish, once.

Questions: I ask many of them.
Quit: I always say "I quit working at the Ledger when Cate was 4 months old ..." but that sounds like I gave up. It was more of a choice that was best for me and my family. And a good one it was.
Quiet: I like quiet.

Reason to cry: I typically don't need a deep reason.
Rude: I am rude sometimes.

Song: "Glorious Day" by Casting Crowns has been in my head often lately. My husband played it at church today too.
Sleep: I try to get eight hours a night. And I believe in sleep training my kids.
Salad dressing: Poppyseed is my favorite.
Slept outside: Yes, but I don't really like doing so.

Time for bed: 10 p.m.
Thunderstorms: I like them at night.

Unpredictable: It's true. I'm not in control, even though I sometimes try to be.
Uncool: My husband tucked in his long-sleeved MSU T-shirt last night and I told him that was uncool.

Vacation spot: I like vacations, especially beaches. But I'll take a city or the mountains. Really anywhere.
Voice: I don't think my voice sounds like my voice recorded and I don't sing for people.

Weakness: Perfectionism.
Worst feeling: Letting someone down.
Water or land: I like to be on land near water.

X-rays: The ones they took of my teeth at my last cleaning appointment were really high-tech.
Ex's: Part of how I got here.

Year it is now: 2011. Crazy.
Yellow: Our kitchen and bedroom are yellow. The same yellow, which was also the color of our bedroom at our old house. Yes, I like it.

Zoo animals: Way better than pets.

LOST: The End

If you haven't watched the "Lost" finale, which aired last night, you may want to stop reading ...

But, wait, I still have questions ...

Why didn't Mr. Eko join the reunion party in the church? [And there were others missing, too.]

And why can't we learn more about Eloise?

What was the leadership combination of Hurley and Ben like on the island?

How/when does Hurley die? And Kate?

I was happy to see Rose and Bernard -- and Vincent! -- during the episode. They were happily living their live in who knows when. And then there was Shannon's reunion with Sayid and Juliet's with Sawyer. Both were sweet, and worth waiting for.

The irony of Jack trying to save Locke in the flash-sideways and trying to kill Fake Locke on the island was good tension.

The best line of the night: "I don't believe in a lot of things, but I believe in duct tape." Nice, Miles.

Shannon and Sayid. Kate and Claire. Kate and Jack. Juliet and Sawyer. Clarie and Charlie. Charlotte and Daniel. When they are with the people they are supposed to be with in the flash-sideways their souls find peace. Meanwhile, what happened on the island happened.

And they don't get it until they're ready. Ready to move on. Like the flash-sideways were purgatory moments of waiting ... and deciding. [I did like learning Juliet was David's mom in the flash-sideways, as I suspected. And I loved the parallels between the realities with the candy bar at the vending machine and Clarie giving birth to Aaron with Kate by her side.]

"There is no now here. ... This is the place you all made together so you could find one another. ... Nobody does it alone, Jack." Thanks, Christian Shepherd for that explanation. Sort of.

Were you satisfied? What did you like learning? What do you still want to know?

LOST: Almost The End

Only one night of "Lost" left. Seriously. We got some answers last night in "What They Died For," but we have plenty of questions left.

But before we jump right in, if you haven't watched the latest episode, you may want to stop reading. Until then, if you need us, we'll be running through the jungle. Right, Miles?

Meanwhile, Desmond in flash-sideways is intense. And Ben seems to remember something from the island. But supposedly Desmond just wanted to help Locke to let go.

And then there was the Widmore/Linus reunion, which was intense in its own right, especially since Ben ends up ending Widmore. But are we really done with him? Seems like there is a little more of that story to be told ...

Jacob! And Kate, Sawyer and Jack can see him too. Hurley, buddy, you're not alone this time. Jacob even answers some questions! He wanted them to have a choice [free will, if you will ...] about deciding to protect the island. He assumed Kate didn't want the job since she became a mom. Yet, Sun wasn't eliminated in Jacob's mind, maybe because she was partnered with Jin.

Sawyer asks Jacob what gives him right to mess with their lives. Jacob has an answer! "You were all flawed. I chose you because you were like me. ... You needed this place as much as it needed you."

Jack wasted no time assuming responsibility of protecting the light. "This is why I am here. This is what I am supposed to do." The responsibility was passed like a torch ... er, a cup. [The communion symbolize continues for me!] Jacob tells Jack, "Drink this. ... Now you are like me."

The great lines abounded this week, maybe even more than usual. I guess those writers just wanted to show off before the show ended:

"I lived in these houses 30 years before you. Otherwise known as last week." [Miles to Ben]

"We are very close to the end, Hugo." Really? Thanks, Jacob.

"If you need us, we'll be running through the jungle." [Miles]

"We insist, even if we have to kidnap you." Danielle Rousseau to Dr. Linus. Then Alex's mom tells him: "You are the closest thing to a father she has ever had." Oh, the irony.

"I think you are mistaking coincidence for fate." Nice one, Jack.

And speaking of fate. Fake Locke wants to destroy the island. Not just leave it. We'll see, there are only 2 1/2 hours left. I have no doubt we'll be oohed and ahhed and surprised. And I'm still waiting to see if Juliet is David's mom in the flash-sideways. Oh, and these flash-sideways, surely they're going to make sense ... soon.

What do you think? What do you want to know in these final 2 1/2 hours? What do you expect?

LOST across the sea

Seriously, there are only 3 1/2 hours of "Lost" left. And, boy, are there still many questions. I find it surprising at this point I was sucked into last night's episode, "Across the Sea," which featured three characters, two of whom don't even have names. And the only island friends [Kate, Jack and Locke] who made an appearance did so in a flashback.

But, wait, if you haven't watched "Across the Sea," stop reading, if you don't want to hear anymore ... So, remember, I had this whole format of writing the same number of observations as there were hours left? Well, yeah, "Lost" producers went an added 30 minutes to the finale, so that kind of throws me off, in a good way. And I have more than 3 1/2 things that need to be said.

In no particular order ...

* I kept thinking about the story of Jacob and Esau. I don't know if there are legitimate parallels, but I keep thinking about Jacob disguising himself as Esau to mislead Isaac and steal his twin brother's birthright. Jacob was also loyal to his mother, Rebecca, while Esau was rough and tough.

* We don't know Mother's name, yet we know Claudia was the name of Jacob and the Boy in Black's birth mother. Surely, the fact Mother and Brother don't have names will become meaningful, right?!

* The Boy in Black becomes the Man in Black and he sets out to prove his mother wrong by finding a way to leave the island. Was he stripped of his soul when he went into the light? Did Brother's soul become the Smoke Monster? [And Mother's description of the precious light is worth noting: "Life. Death. Rebirth. It's the source. It's the heart of the island."] So is that where the temple was built?

* Jacob drank from the cup Mother presented him as a sign of accepting responsibility for guarding the light. Seems symbolic of communion to me. Of course, Jesus isn't as forceful as Mother.

* A friend raised the question today when we were talking about the episode: When Oceanic 815 initially crashed [I know, that's so long ago in "Lost" time!], maybe when Locke got up and walked, no longer needing his wheelchair, he was actually dead and already possessed by the Man in Black, who we now know is the male body in the "Adam and Eve" scene in the cave with Kate, Jack and Locke.

* Claudia is the third woman [that we know of!] who came to the island, shipwrecked and pregnant, and whose child [children, in this case] were raised by someone else. Think Claire and Danielle Rousseau. Think Aaron and Alex. Think Kate and Ben. [Side note: I just typed "Kate and Ben" and my adoptive children are Cate and Ben. And here Kate and Ben are the adoptive parents. Whoa.]

I think that's enough to think about it. What do you think? Where is this going? What are we going to learn in the coming 3 1/2 hours? What questions do you still have?

Have we LOST the candidate?

I didn't like "Lost" taking a one-week break. Nope. Not one bit. Thankfully, the drama, mystery and questions continue with last night's airing of "The Candidate." If you haven't watched it, stop reading. Now.

Sadly, we only have four hours left with our island friends and the friends/enemies they've made along the way. Keeping with my format to honor the bittersweet countdown to the end of the series, let's get going ...

1. While Jack and Locke's interaction in the flash-sideways didn't leave either of them making island connections, it does seem like Jack is close to realizing something happened on Oceanic 815. At the beginning of the episode when Jack said to Locke, "I think you're a candidate." I had to chuckle. I also realized how much island Jack has changed. He spent much of the series being the leader, protecting his people, believing his people and creating hope that they would one day get off the island. Then last night he said to Fake Locke, "They aren't my people and I'm not leaving the island."

2. Jack and Claire don't know the significance of their father giving her the music box, but I'm pretty sure (after my husband pointed it out ...) that it plays the same song she sang to Aaron and when she was in the hole in the ground at the temple. Catch a falling star and put it in your pocket. Never let it fade away ...

3. I'm not surprised Fake Locke tricked his "friends." I thought he was going to do it on the plane, but, hey, why not the submarine? It's an even more compact space with nowhere to go. And that leads me to Sun and Jin ... At first I was (in my head) telling Jin to go. Their daughter needs him. But then I couldn't help but the think about the journey they had come on, as a couple. Their marriage was in shambles at the beginning and now they are holding hands as they drown. Sad. Sad. Sad. But at least they found each other first.

4. Sayid. I still have questions. What was possessing him and how did he change back into the hero for his friends? I'm glad to know for sure (as sure as anything is on "Lost") that Desmond isn't dead. Did Desmond bring Sayid back? Will we find out more of his story these last few episodes?

Other questions remain: What happened to Frank Lapidus? Why did the Smoke Monster kill Mr. Eko? (That one is courtesy my husband!) Where are Richard, Ben and Miles? And, dang it, how are these flash-sideways going to work with the realities already established in their off-island lives?

Your turn? What do you think? What are you hoping for these last few episodes?

The LOST Recruits

The thing about my bittersweet countdown is the closer we get to the end, the more I have to say. Yet I'm counting down, meaning my self-imposed structure of "Lost" blogging is backfiring somewhat. I guess I had hoped I would get questions answered, thus have less to say. But that's not how it's working. We have gotten some questions answered [like, yes, the Man in Black/Smoke Monster did indeed inhabit Christian Shepherd's body], but the answers always make me thing about things, thus making me want to say more.

I should stop here to warn you: If you've not watch last night's episode, "The Last Recruit," stop reading my babbling now. Unless you don't care about plot talk.

And, so, with only four episodes [rather five hours ...] left, I'll confess, I am packing each point with many related observations and thoughts. It's not cheating. It's just making the most out of my formatting ...

1. Fake Locke said because Jacob chose them [Jack, Kate, Sawyer, et. al.] they were trapped on the island until Jacob died. Hmmm ... OK. Then later Jack goes into a sentimental moment about how John Locke believe in the island and its power. Despite being in Locke's dead body, Smokey doesn't buy it: "John Locke wasn't a believer; he was a sucker."

2. Off the island, Locke sure has some traumatic injuries that don't kill him. [His dad pushed him from a building window and Desmond plowed him down with a car. The first incident put him in a wheelchair. Will the second one, and Jack's surgery, take him back out of the wheelchair?]

3. Speaking of Jack operating on Locke [which I saw coming, but it still was a nice intersection!], I love how these characters lives are intertwining in the flash-sideways world. Sun even seemed to recognize Locke as they both were being wheeled into the ER. And then there's Desmond, who was really freaking me out. Apparently he was spooking Claire too. Then Ilana shows up as an attorney, who has been looking for Claire because she was mentioned in Christian Shepherd's will. Speaking of the Shepherds, Claire and Jack sibling moments both on and off the island were great. [I especially loved Claire's matter-of-fact explanation to her brother about being with Fake Locke now: "You decided the moment you let him talk to you. Just like the rest of us."] The other flash-sideways intersection moment I loved was Sawyer arresting Sayid. What a move, tripping him as he ran out the back door! And Sawyer told Kate, the fugitive, "It's like someone is trying to put us together." Seems like it!

4. Oh, Sun. You finally found Jin. And after his embrace -- which I thought was going to come amidst a shock from the electric fence, despite Zoe's request to turn it off -- your language issue was corrected. You know, after her encounter with Fake Locke that left her only speaking Chinese, I'm wondering if recognizing Locke's body off the island in the flash-sideways had anything to do with her being able to speak English again on the island.

5. Poor Kate has watched both men she loves jump from a moving vehicle that was supposedly their initial transportation away from the island. First Sawyer jumps out of the helicopter to lighten the weight. Now Jack goes overboard because he has doubts. Speaking of Kate, I realized her name is a lot like my daughter's name. Katherine Anne. Catherine Anna.

What moments did you love? Are you -- like me -- thinking Sayid didn't really kill Desmond? Where do you see all this going? Surely it's going to all come together ... somehow ... somewhere ... right?

Everybody seems LOST

Two friends texted me last night about how great they thought "Lost" was. I had just finished watching and was a little disappointed. "Everybody Loves Hugo" just didn't live up to the previous three episodes for me. It seemed choppy and like the writers were trying to do too much. Now, with that said, there were some great moments, especially with Desmond.

Consider yourself warned right now. If you haven't seen the most recent episode of "Lost," which aired last night, stop reading. Now. On to my bittersweet countdown. Sadly, there are only six hours of "Lost" left. But I'm oh-so anxious to see how it ends.

1. The theme of love continues with Hurley's mom trying to set him up. But then he meets Libby (again) and really falls in love. And then they finally get their picnic ... on the beach, which Libby describes as familiar. [Speaking of familiar, nice to see you, Dr. Chang. And you too, Michael.]

2. "If I tell you, you'll think I am crazy. " Don't worry, Libby. Hurley knows crazy. And then later Hurley realizes she's indeed not crazy. "Whoa. Dude. I think I am remembering stuff." Like love makes the island world surface in the flash-sideways reality.

3. Ilana says she has been trying her whole life to protect these people. "Nothing is more important than this." Then she dies. But maybe, just maybe, that doesn't matter, especially to Hurley, who says: "Dead people are more reliable than the live ones."

4. The whispers. Michael is stuck on the island because of what he did. He and the other whispers can't move on. Makes the island seem like purgatory.

5. Despite nearing the end, the troops are still splitting. This time it's Richard vs. Hurley. Should be interesting.

6. Just before Locke pushed Desmond down the very old well, I thought, "Fake Locke is going to push Desmond down there." So I wasn't surprised. But, still, it was quite a moment, especially after coming on the heels of their conversation about fear. [Locke asks Desmond why he isn't afraid. His response? "What is the point of being afraid?"] Back in L.A., courtesy more flash-sideways, Desmond seems to have more control ... especially when he ran over Locke!

Now you. What do you think about Hurley? Desmond? Locke? Any of our island friends?

Happily LOST

[I'm taking a mental and emotional break from looking through pictures of my father-in-law to bring you my delayed thoughts on this week's episode of "Lost." You can see past observations, thoughts and questions I have about the show here.]

In bittersweet honoring of the seven remaining hours of the show, here are some thoughts. Don't read them if you haven't watched "Happily Ever After," which confirms Desmond is a special guy.

1. Sacrifice. Charles Widmore tries to convince Desmond to trust him using what is most important to him. Seems like God did that to Abraham, with his son Isaac.

2. In L.A., Widmore calls his employee, Desmond, "indespensible." Seems like he feels like that about Desmond regardless of where they are.

3. Charlie's return was strange. But, not surprisingly, he's always loved Claire, even in this flash-sideways that is bound to make sense sometime. And, speaking of the return of characters we've not seen in awhile: Eloise Widmore. Daniel Widmore. Such a happy family off the island. And Daniel still loves red-headed Charlotte.

4. Desmond's philosophy seems like a crucial theme of the whole show: "There is always a choice, brother."

5. Whoa. Charlie and Desmond under the water again. And Charlie's hand. And the thought Penny! [I just read online that her name in the episode is mentioned as Penelope Milton. Seems like this could be important ... right?]

6. Daniel: "What if this wasn't supposed to be our life? What if we had some other life and for some reason we changed things? I don't want to set off a nuclear bomb. I think I already did." Am I supposed to make sense of this? Eventually, maybe ...

7. And another scene for Desmond at the stadium. I think that's the third (the second with Penny and another with Jack earlier in the series).

Any thoughts from you, dear readers?

What's in the LOST package?

Welcome to my third "Lost" post as we countdown to the bittersweet finale of what's the most intriguing show I've watched. And I've watched much TV ...

Alright, folks, six episodes until the finale. Island-speak translation: Eight hours to learn if Fake Locke/Smoke Monster/Man in Black finds a way off the island; if Jin and Sun are reunited; if Clarie and Aaron are united; if Charlie is going to make an appearance; if Kate is ever going to choose a love of her life; what Charles Widmore really is about and whose side he's really on; what's gotten into [literally?] Sayid; and ... well, lots more questions need answered in these coming eight hours.

Now, back to "The Package," which aired tonight. If you haven't watched, don't read anymore, unless plot talk won't bother you.

1. Jin and Sun aren't married in the flash-sideways? [And later in the episode...] Oh, so, they weren't supposed to be involved, according to her father. These flash-sideways are like a whole new show.

2. Sun tells Jin: "No one is watching us." Um, actually, Sun, I am not so sure that is true. One of you is a candidate. That must mean something. To someone.

3. I watched an episode of "Party of Five" earlier today from 1994. Matthew Fox is the "leader" of the family of five kids on that drama. In some ways, he seems the same now ... 16 years later. I am glad he managed a haircut in the last decade and a half.

4. Sun is running on the island from Locke and hopefully to Jin [although she just ends up back at the beach] and then in the flash-sideways she proposes running away with Jin.

5. Richard to the beach survivors: "Pack your bags; we're leaving." Right. Because decisions like that on the island are that simple.

6. The hotel bathroom. Room 23. The fridge. Poor Jin was locked [by emotional or physical force] in many small rooms. I did love Jin seeing his daughter for the first time ... on a camera while he was in a room with Widmore.

7. Jin shot Mikhail [who was supposedly dead in the island world] in the right eye. In the past, he wore a patch over his right eye. See, these flash-sideways seem to be the present but with the past included and sometimes changed.

8. I liked Widmore's description of the Smoke Monster, etc.: "That thing masquerading as John Locke." Oh, and a bonus for you, while thinking about Widmore: Desmond! I guess maybe he's his father-in-law's secret weapon.

It's your turn. What do you think? About tonight's episode? About the show in general?

LOST in the cork

In its second week, my commitment to blog about the final episodes of "Lost" continues. So, if you haven't watched last night's episode, STOP READING, unless you don't mind some plot talk.

Oh, Ricardo, you had much to tell us. And here we are, nine hours from the end [that's eight weeks, but who's counting ...], and we had no idea your story was going to go like that. Well, at least I had no idea!

1. 1867 in the Canary Islands was a long time ago. I guess that makes the episode's title, "Ab Aeterno" appropriate because it translates to mean "from eternity." [Thanks, Lostpedia!]

2. Richard came to the island on the Black Rock and he went to the remains of the Black Rock to die. But he couldn't die, thanks presumably to Jacob's touch.

3. Did you notice scruffy Ricardo looking like Jesus? I mean, if Jacob is supposed to symbolize God, does Richard fulfill the role of Jesus, the one who became man and has relationships with people on the behalf of his Father?

4. Jacob dunked Richard. And Richard admitted he wanted to live. Although it didn't start of his own choosing, it's like Richard committed his life through baptism.

5. Jacob told Richard about the statue: "No one cones in unless I invite them in." Reminds me of only the priests being allowed to enter the holy of holies in the tabernacle.

6. The only thing Jacob could offer Richard was eternal life.

7. The temptation to return to our old life is always there. Just ask Richard, who buried his wife's necklace. We can bury anything. But it is there to dig back up, if we change our minds. Ah, free will ...

8. On another note, how does Ilana know Jacob? It's clear when he visited up his bandaged friend in the hospital, they had some existing relationship.

9. Sun declared herself [not Jin] a candidate. How does she know this? And what happened to other candidates, leaving only the ones we befriended on the island?

I'm Lost ...

When Cate was born, we watched the first few seasons of "Lost" on DVD, and we were hooked. Well, really, we were hooked after about the fourth episode. We have since watched the last half of the series as it airs on Tuesdays. [Although it used to be Wednesdays and one season it was Thursdays. See, what I mean, "Lost" has the kind of audience that will jump to whatever day ABC says.]

I've mentioned "Lost" in posts before, but I've never really blogged about "Lost." Are you lost yet?

Anyway, ABC keeps telling me how many episodes there are until the finale, which is really two epsidoes. Yeah, seriously, only the creators of "Lost" can be confusing about just how many episodes are left. Let me clarify. After last night's episode, there are 10 hours of "Lost" left. In other words, that's eight episodes until the finale, which is two hours.

In honor of this bittersweet countdown, I thought I would share 10 things I noticed or thought about last night's Sawyer-centric episode, appropriately titled "Recon." I should add that I don't read a lot of "Lost" stuff online. I used to read Doc Jensen's recap on EW.com, but it started hurting my head more than the actual show, so I stopped reading. A blogger I happened upon through a parenting Web site likes to write about "Lost," so I do read her stuff regularly. When my "Lost"-obsessed friend Jodi e-mails me something, I read it as long as she keeps the spoilers away. And I often skim "Lostpedia."

On that note, if you haven't watched Sawyer with his shirt off lately [Yes, that's a reference to "Recon," the most recent episode.], then I advise you to stop reading. Consider that your warning.

In no particularly order ...

1. Sawyer must not like wearing shirts.

2. Being a cop seems to fit Jim. [Even though the name doesn't ...] And Miles is the perfect sidekick.

3. Claire is a great name. But she's nuts. Although if someone took my kid, I think I'd go nuts too. But she seems a little brain-washed crazy.

4. Isn't it a little late in the season to introduce new characters? Welcome, Zoe. Although, I don't really think you and the rest of Widmore's gang are really welcome.

5. Ah, wisdom from "Little House on the Praire," which Sawyer watches while eating a TV dinner, the only thing in his fridge. "If you live you life based on what's going to happen, before you know it your life is over. ... It's hard not being afraid, Pa."

6. Sawyer left the sunflower for Charlotte outside her door when she wouldn't take him back, but he took the beer with him.

7. Fate. Destiny. Predestination. I get that theme. But, really, how are the island timeline and the flash-sideways going to work together?

8. Liam Pace wasn't who I expected to see. Apparently he's looking for her brother Charlie just like I am.

9. It made me sad that Sayid [one of my favorite characters] just watched Claire attack Kate. Further proof he's not himself. So, then, who is he?

10. So, back to Sawyer being a cop. Given his profession, why did he let Kate, who was in handcuffs, go free when he saw her at LAX?

Thoughts? Theories? What are you most wanting to know? How do you think this is all going to work out?