I'm number one! I'm number one!

I watched one episode of "Lost" a couple of weeks ago (the one with the peanut butter and people being stuck in a hole). Good title though, because I was completely lost. Someday someone will have to catch me up, or I can add it to my Netflix queue. I'm still on season one of "Six Feet Under"....

In a word, yes-- I can believe they did that to you-know-who. They needed to hear that something they were told, and so now that they had it, they could be let go. I think the island is like purgatory or somethings. But in that weird Hollywood way. Like, "Oh! Now I have 7 pairs of Uggs! One for every day of the week!! I can die happy!!" You know?

Lelah -- I like your theory a lot... but what about John Locke? He's seemed to reach his zen state and yet still, there's John Locke on the island, you know?

Dude, I missed all but the last 10 minutes of the dang show, so I don't know what's going on, but I did see that SOMEONE did SOMETHING...stupid boys and their stupid making plans on LOST night...like me planning day trips on Saturdays in the fall. Stupid football.

What was I talking about again?

I dunno, Laurie, I think the writers are all excited about how popular the show was last year and are now cramming too much into it. There are way too many characters and no one character gets enough screen time (IMHO) I was pretty unhappy with you-know-what happening to you-know-who...arrgh.

But I do like one of the new characters alot. Mr. Eko. He's pretty cool.

And Drew is only on Season One of Six Feet Under? Boy is he in for a great show!

Laurie! I thought of you last night when I found out - you aren't going to believe this - that my brother-in-law (who I loathe) has - yes, indeed - contracted WEST NILE VIRUS!!!

Oh and speaking of HBO shows...have you seen Rome yet?

Lots of shirtlessness and hunkyness and gore and history to boot!

I've never seen LOST and feel so lost!

Tootles~

Avian flu perhaps? I'm picturing Evian flu as more of a clean and pure water fountain type thing.

There are several lose threads in the Lost plot. I want to pick at them like a would if it were an actual lose thread. But I shal resist.

Lelah ~ forgive my latecoming, but I have a question for you about your longorama scarf that you were talking/posting about in June (I was lookingup "basketweave scarf patterns" and happened upon your blog! :-) It's beautiful! (so are your kitties!) Can you tell me what the weight of your yarn was for the scarf? I want to make one just like it for a dear friend, but I want the right yarn weight. Also, what size needle did you use? Thanks so much for your help!

what did walt say when he was in the tent? i wish i spoke "backwards".
g

I know! I couldn't believe they did you know what to you know who either!

Is the cleaning book really that helpful? I could really use some decluttering! I started a bit today by organizing my underwear drawer. Terribly exciting and a HUGE amount of work (not) but a start none-the-less! I could use some direction. I found a "cleaning method" online a while ago, but I don't think I can be quite that anal.

Sayid with no shirt, mmmm! Was there anything else in the episode? I got terribly distracted while watching.

Kristy -- you have a real family member with WEST NILE?? Oh. Man. Do you get to call in sick by proxy?

Mary -- No Rome here, I already have waaaay too much TV on my Tivo list LOL. But I agree that Lost is dragging. I love it, but waaaay too many plotlines.

We don't know what's going on with the hatch, no Kate and Doc at all, and I really want to see them have a survival-related episode, like a big crazy storm comes to the island or something, so we see them actually living on the island and having less weird hatch/aliens/others/dinosaurs/polarbears stuff. Or do some cast-away-ish cool Robinson Crusoe tricks using ordinary items from the luggage in odd ways. But now it seems everyone gets so little storytime that they're just becoming stereotypes of themselves. Like... we know Sawyer has more going on inside, but he has been reduced to a few rote surly/snappy comebacks.

I hope the writers go back to the character-driven pacing that made last year so good!

Major History Nerd here too. Give me some wine and a night of the History Channel (or one of the many History Channels - gotta love satellite tv~) and I am a happy woman. Oh, and my knitting of course. I *can* knit and watch tv.

As for your knitting draught...go stop by the local yarn store (the one with the *good* stuff). That'll cure that!!

LOST. I don't get it. If it wasn't for Matthew Fox, I wouldn't even have watched the 2 episodes I've ever watched.

It is my theory that the writers never truly expected to have a hit and didn't plan anything resembling an actual plot past the first 10 episodes or so, and have been flying by the seat of their pants ever since. (Pun intended.) I suspect they smoke crack and drink margaritas before each writing session. But it's like a train wreck and you just can't look away because there's always that 1 in 100 chance of seeing Sayid climbing shirtless from the wreckage.

And now, starting next week, we get to backtrack to the beginning and see what happened to the tail section passengers during Season 1 while Sawyer was snarling, and Kate was staring at the horizon, and Jack was being boringly noble, and Locke was wigging out, and Sayid was being impossibly hot. Goody!

And about what happened to you-know-who last night...you just KNEW that as soon as one certain person told another certain person an Emotionally Significant Thing that one of them was toast. It's a TV Drama Rule. I'm just glad it wasn't the other one.

Malia: see this one for the Evian exlanation LOL:
http://www.crazyauntpurl.com/archives/2005/10/i_hope_anderson.php

Also be forewarned that I tend to make up my own words on the internets. And in life. I might be autistic?

Ck-- I like the book a lot! I think she has some good suggestions and it "frames" the whole clutter issue as ... "Listen, this is your life. You want to spend it dusting? I didn't think so..." which was helpful for me.

suzanna-- did you mean me? with the nine-foot-noro? I used size 10.5 straight needles and worsted-to-bulky weight (Noro fluctuates) but you can use any yarn and get great results.

Mindy -- SAYID. ZIPPING UP PANTS. Aaarrrrrrrrhhhh.

Oh...just in case you're interested in the anal cleaning/organize site: http://www.flylady.net/ If I could make myself do just a few of those things it would probably help!

re: what Walt said

I quote from Chase's website (http://www.sptimes.com/blogs/tv/)

"Okay, according to www.lost-tv.com message boards, which has some pretty obsessed fans on it ... Soaking-wet Walt is again speaking backwards, when he appears to [spoiler edited by Laurie], he's saying 'They're coming, and they're close.' "

Go visit chase's site, too, for some HEE-larious recaplet stick figure drawings!!

Lelah-7 pair of uggs-die happy comment was too funny!! I think you just described my step-brother!

I've never watched Lost, but had to chime in to say that history nerds are hot dates, I'll have you know. Err, at least I hope so, as I spend an inordinate amount of time watching the History International channel.

"Oh...just in case you're interested in the anal cleaning/organize site:"

Boy Laurie you are going to get some interesting hits for "anal cleaning"--isn't that an enema????
ick...

Sayid...no shirt...zipping... anyone have a copy they can send me????? Rrrrrrr.....

Laurie ~ oy ~ yes, I apologize. I did mean you, which I realized too late. Thank you so much for sharing the pattern for the scarf. I'm going to the yarn store tonight and am going to pick out some lovely yarn for this scarf. Joy!

Ooh, thanks for the plug, Purl ... Too Busy To Care tells me you may be coming to visit, I'll get the Kumquat Queen to introduce us ...

Indeed, that Walt Backward speak and the stuff about the DeGroot guy is pretty intriguing .. The show's creators insist they have a clear vision of where they are going and how stuff fits together ... already last night's episode puts DeGroot/Jack/(spoiler alert character)/ and Desmond in the same city at the same time ... A tangled web ..

Have faith ... as Locke would say ...

Not a Lost fan, but a major, major history fan. Right now I'm reading The Widow of the South by Robert Hicks, a fictionalized version of actual events during and after the Civil War. Good stuff!

I taped it last night, just in case I fell asleep (ha ha ha, no chance of that!!!). I've been trying to contain myself over the whole Sayid thing. It's not working. My husband shot me glaring looks through the whole episode. Now reading all these comments has me in a hot tizzy again - I think I'll have to go home and watch the tape again!!! Anyone care to join me????

Although I'd like to see some of the Robinson Crusoe/Castaway creativity, too - I have to confess, at least some of the weirdness is what keeps me intrigued...and well, Sayid,& Doc, & Sawyer... (history/religion/science geek here + the cats, the OCD & ADD & the hoarding of clutter - Gawd, my husband's a brave man - don't tell him about the Sayid/Doc, thing ok?)
Has Charlie actually used any of the you-know-what he's been carrying around with him? Or is it just his "in case of emergency, break glass" stash?

Charlie hasn't broken Mary - Yet. But clearly that will be an issue in FIVE MONTHS or whenever they get back to the front of the plane. I have to admit, tho; I will be interested to find out why Ana Lucia is such a BEEEEEEEEEEEEEYOTCH.

But I luuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuv me some Locke. And Sawyer. And Sayed. And Jin. :)

Speaking of books, I just bought "Wicked" at a book fair. I'm hoping its the story on which the play was based, since I wasn't lucky enough to get tix when it was at the Pantages. Anybody know?

My theories on Locke are complicated. First off, I think he's supposed to be there- Mister Eko is his "other". There's a theory on the internets that each essential character is in this purgatory to meet themselves. Supposedly only 15 people at a time can meet themselves in one place. The theory is based on some way weird metaphysical mumbo jumbo: http://www.ou.edu/cas/ouphil/students/randy/mind.htm check the 2nd paragraph under #1. And who is a philosopher involved in this sort of identity stuff? JOHN LOCKE.

Oh, one other question - Ana Lucia is right-handed. Just after the supposed one shot was shot, the picture showd someone holding a gun with their *left* hand. And then it cut to Ana and her crowd. Kate is left-handed. . .

MonkeyGurrrrl,

If it's the book by Gregory Maguire, yes it's the book the musical is based on.

You wouldn't have ruined it for me....The Dell page that is my homepage at work did THAT! ARGH!

And now I want to go back and watch all the other flashback sequences, to scan for important characters in the background. In one of the verrrrrry first episodes of the first season, there was a scene with a TV on in the background, and Hurley was on it! I was like, "huh?" but now I'm like, "ohhhhhh. huh?" I love this show but it drives me craaaaaazy.

YES! I have been wondering the same thing...about the grand plan. Like, i have a feeling they intend for this show to run for lets say the standard good TV run of 7-10 years...over the time which all of the characters will be ****** except for maybe J*** and K***? Or maybe even L**** - b/c he is the weirdest of them all!

But also, I thought that there was poor planning in the writing dept - that finally there is a hanky-panky scene, without contracetpives, which could obviously lead towards a plot line of pregnancy and another baby on the island. I really think the writers ruined a great opportunity here.

And for those TiVo watches, Lost is one of those shows that you must make the exception for. B/C of the conversations that MUST happen the next day. I, a TiVo user myself, will stay up an hour later or arise and hour earlier just so that I can participate in and not be spoiled by the conversations of Lost....

those are my thoughts...

Hurley was on the TV for winning the lottery - his flashback was one of my favorite episodes...

Even though Sayid, Jack & Sawyer weren't even prominently featured in the Hurley flashback - now I don't feel quite so shallow... I do watch it for other reasons than just seeing Sayid without his shirt, Sawyer looking sultry & Jack looking heroic, or Locke's man of power and mystery look....

I just think the writer's don't like you-know-who's family since they did that to you-know-who and the other thing to you-also-know-who. I was glad to see you-also-know-who in the flashbacks last night. Great eyes!

I want to see the chart that the writers must have on the wall to keep all of the backstories and inter-relations between the characters straight. It's a great show!

Ok...I skipped right over all the comments..so pardon if I'm repeating anything....

WTF Lost writers?? Here's a bit of happiness...then slam...here's a whole pile of sadness?? I cannot believe they did that to you-know-who!

I love the list of books! (I love lists period.) I love me some Bobby Flay too!! Also, I would love Tyler Florence to come to my house for Food 911...I don't need any help cooking...but I'll fake it for Tyler! I'm such a Food TV whore. Sigh.

Evian flu? As long as it doesn't mutate into the "Poland Springs" or "Aquafina" or "beer" flu I should be OK.

I am lost on Lost. Then again I never watched The X-Files or Seinfeld or Survivor either.

"Do you think the writers of Lost have a grand plan, or do you think they're just flying by the seat of their pants?"

On the ABC podcast yesterday, the writers stated that they know where they're going with the show, but aren't quite sure how they'll get there.

And Sayid? Shirtless. My god. I needed to take an ice cold shower after I watched the show. That man is fine. Damn fine.

Hey Purl!

I love you and I read your blog all the time but this my first comment. No, I didn't comment on the Uma Thurmon post that made me cry or the disaster kit posts that make me laugh, it is Sayid that moves me to post. Ha!

Have you ever heard him speak IRL? It totally blows the hottness. He's got a nasal cockney accent. I swear.

your friend in Seattle,
Jenny

PEOPLE! Laurie was making a joke when she called it the Evian flu. Jeesh.

We closet history buffs are scorned by socitey. I just found your blog....very funny!

Hey Purl,

I loved Lost, and I couldn't believe that crazy ending. On another note, I've started knitting a hat, but I'm really using needles that are too small for my yarn, and the whole thing is too tight and not really hanging right. Just like I hate to start a new book before I've finished a book I've already started, I can't stand the thought of abandonning this knitting project, but it's all wrong because I'm using size 9 needles with extra bulky yarn that really requires 10.5 needles. This is what I get for being cheap and trying to use some of my extra yarn. What would you do?

MY PEOPLE!! I knew there was a reason I liked you so well. Not only am I owned by multiple cats and OCD as hell (my children refer to me as the OCD fairy) but... yeah. History major.

Because nothing prepares you for a lifetime of asking, "Do ya want fries with that." like a degree in History. Except maybe, English Lit.

Daximus -- is it a natural fiber, like wool? If so, it could *easily* be blocked into shape. I love the magic of blocking!!!

Laurie, I swear we were separated at birth. I too rented the French Diet book from the downtown Library (I was the one who brought it back late, in case you were waiting for it). And my ex and I used to watch The History Channel (He called it the Hitler Channel because of all the WW2 documentaries) all the time.

I knit on the bus when I have elbow room and am not trying to avoid the homeless guy with the two giant duffle bags that take up the whole back seat (and he gets mighty uppity when you don't let him have said back seat--geez).
And my dream vacation is also to visit the city On Fire. I say go. You live in LA. If you survived the Lakers winning the championship, you're ready for that. Just stay out of the suburbs.

Maybe I'll make it to the Farmer's Market one of these days. (seeing that it's 7:37 and I'm still at work, I doubt it will happen this week). I'm going to try your roll-brim hat though, so I may need help.

As for Lost....I really hated seeing you-know-who with Dreamy McSexy anyway. And I disagree with Jenny. Naveen is on Jonesy's Jukebox all the time (Indie 103.1 in LA from 12--2pm and on the web) and his real voice is not nasal. British yes, but not nasal. In fact, he was on Monday with Cliff Richards and played guitar...oh God, sexy, and plays guitar. (I need a drink)

Did that french diet book mention anything about eating disorders? Because I was on jury duty last year (in Pasadena), and there was a older french lady (may have been french canadian, I didn't ask) on our jury. She may have weighed about 100 lbs soaking wet. One of the days after lunch she mentioned how she had been skipping eating lunch all week because she was getting too fat.

My question is, if you're so concerned with your vanity, why on earth don't you learn to put on deodorant when it's pushing 100 degrees? The rest of us on the jury would prefer a pudge to a stinker.

Sayid with no shirt....the suspense will kill me - we don't get those episodes until next Feb!

Aunt Purl, you are my new hero.

Also--Lost. I can't believe they did that either. But, aside from the major events, I really have no idea what was going on. I saw shirtless Sayid and my brain just sorta stopped working for a while there.

AAAAARG! i missed LOST on wed. pm. and i DON'T have TiVo, and i don't know what happened!
please stop talking in code and tell me what happened!!!!!

For all you Shirtless Sayid fans:

http://www.lost-media.com/modules.php?name=coppermine&file=displayimagepopup&pid=50073&fullsize=1

and

http://www.lost-media.com/modules.php?name=coppermine&file=displayimagepopup&pid=50074&fullsize=1

And for the Boone fans (does he not look like Hugh Grant in this screen shot or what???)

http://www.lost-media.com/modules.php?name=coppermine&file=displayimagepopup&pid=50322&fullsize=1

And if the writers want to really throw everyone for a loop, they should have S******** S**** kill A**-L****. At the end of the ep, he looked like he could strangle her. It they started the next ep with him actually killing her, then the Lostaways would have to deal with having a murderer in their midst. As long as they didn't ruin it with a bunch of ads and hype beforehand.

Laurie I've commented rather frequently on your blog and also talked about your blog often on mine because I just adore your humor, strength and writing style.

I have a little request and want to ask your permission first. Our area was hit by a very bad tornado on Sunday morning and the yarn shop I work at part time is located just down the road from the areas hit the hardest.

We at The Village Knitter (www.thevillageknitter.com) are going to do a charity knit and have people knit hats and scarves to help comfort some of those families who were effected by this destruction.

Could I please use your hat pattern to give to new knitters for a resource to knit their hats in this endeavor? I think this will encourage more people to take up the scary hat knit :) Thank you in advance for consideration.

PS I tried to email you but it was returned :( So that's why I'm posting in the comments. I know ya respond to comments LOL

where were you last night?

you missed me starting my project over for the THIRD time!

and also, ice cream.

Laurie, I am also a big history nerd, so 1) reading a book about the Poles under German occupation does not strike me as odd at all, and 2) it sounds good, I'm going to look for it. I'm reading "Touching the Void," because I am also an armchair mountaineer (I'd never get up a mountain IRL, believe me). And while I'm not a big Bobby Flay fan, I do have a life-threatening crush on Anthony Bourdain. :)

I don't need a blog; I tell my life story through the comment sections of other people's blogs. Sorry about that.

Whaaaa! My bowling league (talk about nerds!) changed to Thursday nights and I can't watch Lost anymore! I have a High-Def TV so I need a High-Def Tivo to record anything, and they are still $1000! No Tivo! No tape! I missed Topless Sayid!

Thanks to Linda L. for giving us web shots to see, but it's almost black on my screen. Nothin' but teasin' today!

History nerd? Another excellent and quick read is "Hiroshima" by Hersey. I can't tell you how good this book is. Be prepared to cry... a lot! As if you haven't had enough of that lately. But perhaps this book will re-arrange your Pathos.

Lost is on Wednesday nights ....

What? Wednesday? And just what alternate reality am I from?

No, seriously. I forgot that fact and must now blame my husband for insisting on a different program schedule on Wednesday nights. (Blush blush)

I'm a history nerd too! First I went through an ancient Egypt period, then Civil War. And now it's Hitler. Oh, and that whole WWII thing too. But mostly Hitler. Try putting that on your resume!

(No, I don't LIKE Hitler. And I'm not a Nazi or nuthin. I just can't believe how he got all those people to follow him. It's nuts!)

Kat, if the Evian flu evolves into the Beer Flu, I'll take it. Sounds like my kind of flu! :)

I think I am probably one of the biggest Lost fans out there. Sayid doesn't quite do it for me (I'm more of a Sawyer girl), but I must say he came off as quite the hottie this episode (slight pun intended). I wouldn't kick him out of my jerry-rigged jungle tent.

I agree with you that the writers may have HAD a grand plan, but weren't quite ready for the phenomenon it has become. Let's remember, Lost technically qualifies as a sci-fi show, although not your typical Star Trek-Battlestar-Galactica faire that attracts more of a niche audience. The show's producers definitely thought they were taking a huge risk putting this in front of prime-time mainstream American eyeballs.

Hence the cocktease this season is turning out to be. They spend what seems like the first 10 minutes of each episode rehashing the already-seen events leading up to what we are all screaming at the television to tell us (WHO THE #@&*&% are THE OTHERS? WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THOSE RANDOM NUMBERS? WHY IS HURLEY STILL FAT?). And then they never really tell us anything.

Of course I love they mystery of it, but I hate it too. Thank god for the beefcake like Sayid and Sawyer to distract us every once in a while.

Great books - reserved the Declutter book...my life goal is to have a clean house...yea, right

Oh, those writers are so flying by the seat of their pants. And, no, I can't believe they ****** *******. I think ***** is going to make somebody pay dearly.

Glad to know there are other history nerds around. I'll have to check out Forgotten Holocaust.

I have the feeling it's jumping the shark. I don't WANT to get into the characters on the other side of the island! I DON'T WANT TO! I want MORE SAYID! And I really LIKED Shannon. Does this have to happen? WHYYYYYYYY!???

And this is why I keep reading you! Your book list is along the lines of what I would pick out, History Nerd book included. :D

Yay! Also, people should be required to watch Lost right when it is on, so that we don't have to clam up about it.

Mmmmmm, Sayid . . . . I have to say, though, that I think I like him better with his shirt on (the tank top, that is) . . . I think I expected him to be less hairy or more defined or something.

Still, I'm not complaining.

Wellcome more info...