Event-Filled Week

This past week has been jam-packed!

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I spent Tuesday cleaning the house and packing. My darling children all pitched in. Hubby, who's back was out, was assigned to lay in bed and hold the Baby Jim while we worked.

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Wednesday morning the kids and I loaded the van, helped Hubby wobble to his seat, and took off. First stop was respite for Miss Q. Surprise, surprise, the respite was at the home of her best friend. Hooray! We left Miss Q behind because she was attending YCL camp with our church Thursday & Friday.

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After dropping her off, we drove an hour to drop off Mr. J with his great-aunt. He was going to come with us for the weekend, but a last minute order from the court changed that plan. CPS thought this would be a great opportunity for bonding. We left him in the capable hands of his Auntie then drove on to Mesa, Arizona where our family adventure began!

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Wednesday Evening my darling baby was given a name and a blessing by his father. We gathered at Hubby's parents' home. His poor Mama is losing the battle with brain cancer. She was sent home last month with hospice services in place and at this time is unable to get out of bed. We opted to have the blessing at their house for two reasons:

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1) This was one of the things my Mother-in-Law used to get through chemo. Did you know that you administer chemo to yourself? I didn't. Each morning my MIL took one of those nasty pills that made her sick, sick, sick, in its attempt to kill the cancer. There were days when she just wanted to give up and not take the pills anymore. At those times one of the things that kept her going was the thought of attending her grandson's blessing. She'd think of the baby to come and swallow the nasty pill. What great courage!

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2) The Baby Jim is named after Hubby's father and that man is not leaving his wife's side.

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If they were to be included, we had to go to them. My family was wonderful about it. They, along with Hubby's siblings, cheerfully packed into my in-law's small condo.

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My Baby Boy

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Thursday was filled with wedding festivities and a court hearing.

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In the morning, my sister married her sweetie in the LDS Mesa Arizona Temple. It was a great ceremony. I enjoy attending weddings. They remind me of the covenants I made with my Hubby. As great as our wedding day was, it's nothing compared to the wonderful marriage we've shared for these many years.

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With Hubby's back still giving him trouble, I assigned him to take pictures while I managed the kids. I am slightly embarrassed to admit that neither of us did our jobs very well. My kids were so excited to be at the Temple with its sprawling lawns, beautiful gardens, and sparkling pools. They wanted to explore everything. Ey-yah! It was hard to reign them in!

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Meanwhile, Hubby tried to take pictures, but extra people kept popping up just as he snapped them. Or another picture-taker would divert the newlyweds' attention, so Hubby would end up with a shot of their backsides. Here are two of the best pictures he took:

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Our family at the Temple

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The Bride and Groom

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The wedding was followed by a lovely luncheon given by the Groom's family. Then we booked it to the reception hall so Hubby could set up his sound system. He was in charge of the music for the night. The kids and I hauled in his equipment and set it up per his instructions.

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Next we raced back to our hotel, got the kids set watching a movie, and called in to our town's juvenile court. We sat on hold for an HOUR! before being patched through to Mr. J's review and report hearing. Wow! What an intense hearing! I can't tell you what happened due to privacy issues, but let's just say it was Soap Opera worthy. The end result is that Mr. J is going to live with his great-aunt. The transition period begins today.

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Thursday evening was wedding reception held at Regency Gardens. It was a beautiful location. The decor reminded me of my own reception and of my sister-in-law's reception. We both had garden themes. We spent the evening playing with cousins, eating cake, and dancing. It was such fun to see all my siblings together in one place. I truly love my family!

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Grand & Grammy with all their grandchildren.

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The Bride & Groom with the Bride's nieces & nephews .

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Friday morning, after checking out of our hotel, we headed to Grammy's to swim and eat leftover wedding cake. Yum! In the afternoon we drove up to our Strawberry cabin. This part of our adventure was Hubby's Father's day gift. We used the remaining daylight to play, hike, and explore.

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Saturday hiked Tonto Natural Bridge. The bridge is one of my favorite places in Arizona. I have so many great memories of that place. All of the trails are "Steep and Strenuous". Hubby's back was doing better by this point, but with our kids young ages we stuck to the shorter trails.

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Hubby and his kids on the Waterfall Trail

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After the hike we drove into Payson. We got drinks from Sonic (a huge treat since this mom rarely allows soda) and headed to the rodeo grounds. We watched the Arizona Juniors compete. Those kids have such great skill!

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Enjoying the show and the drinks

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My cute baby sleeping in the shade .
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Team Roping

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It quickly grew hot, so we headed to the movies to see "Toy Story 3". It reminded me of "The Brave Little Toaster". The "Toy Story" storyline was much better.

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We drove back home Sunday which, after stopping to wish our Dads a good Father's Day and picking up the two foster kids, took ALL DAY!!! The Baby Jim was not a happy camper after all that travelling.

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Monday was the next big event...Court for Miss Q. We've told her and told her that she needs to be brave and speak up when the judge asks her opinion. She was brave a few months ago and her bravery set several things into motion. Court on Monday saw the fruition of her efforts. Miss Q is going to return to her Mother by the end of the summer. To say Miss Q is excited would be an understatement. The girl is practically vibrating with happiness. Her transition begins tomorrow.

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So...both foster children will be gone by the end of the summer and both have started their transition periods. I love them both dearly and have enjoyed having them in my home, but I am greatly anticipating the day when it will just be me and my Blue children again.

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Well, that is it. My event-filled week. Now I've got to get a bag packed for Mr. J and help Miss Q get her things organized. The transition process has them both spending the weekend with their bio-families. It's nice to see the these two cases going this way, that both kids will end up with family members. Keep you fingers crossed that the transition goes smoothly!

A Day in My Life...

I have been super busy. There are so many topics I would like to post about, but free time is hard to come by these days. Please know that I will still be posting a couple of entries regarding the LOST finale. I'll probably have time to post all my notes and thoughts next week. Those posts will take more than a few minutes to type out and a few minutes is all I currently have. And with that in mind, I thought that I would share the events of my day with you. Although the events of each day vary, this list will give you a general idea of where my time is spent.

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4:00 am ~ Wake up with Baby Jim. He's a hungry little guy. Watch the World Cup match between "Holanda" and "Dinamarca" to stay awake. Laugh as the Danish team scores a point for their opponent. I thought that only happened on cartoons!

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5:00 am ~ Return to bed.

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7:06 am ~ Jolt awake when I sense a presence hovering inches from my face. No burglars. Just Hubby trying to see if Baby Jim was breathing. Baby Jim has had a hard few days so he slept in the crook of my arm last night. (And before you think I slept in until 7:00, please know that I didn't even get to bed until after 11:00 pm and then had to get up twice with the dear baby, each time staying awake for at least an hour.)

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7:10 am ~ Nurse the baby.

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7: 30 am ~ Feed the troops. All seven of them. Take my morning meds...Wait thirty minutes to feed myself.

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7:45 am ~ Get Mr. J ready for daycare while getting laundry started. (Mr. J attends daycare as part of his case plan...it's supposed to help him socialize better. Mostly it's just taught him how to say "mine" and how to bite and spit.)

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7:50 am ~ Fold laundry. Remind Miss Q of her orthodontic appointment.

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8:00 am ~ Wonder why Hubby hasn't left for work yet. He's supposed to take drop off Mr. J on his way...

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8:05 am ~ Search out Hubby. Not in the garage. Not in the backyard. Hmmm....

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8:07 am ~ Find Hubby in our room. He has changed back into his pajamas and is lying in bed!! Stand dumbfounded in the doorway for a couple of minutes.

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8:09 am ~ Ask Hubby what in the world he is doing in his pajamas lying in bed. Listen patiently as the decrepit old man explains that he has thrown out his back. He can't go into work or take Mr. J to day care.

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8:10 am ~ Refrain from killing Hubby. Remind him that he has known for eight years that he ought to take care of his back. Refrain from saying anything further on this subject as it will only lead to harsh words and murder.**

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8:15 am ~ Hand him Baby Jim, they can lay around together.

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8:20 am ~ Pair the kids off. Rose she is in charge of Mr. J, Anne is in charge of Cakes. Inform them that Dad is home, but is limited in his helping capacity. Drive Miss Q to her orthodontic appointment.

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8:30 am ~ Make my monthly payment ($$$) for Miss Q's braces while Miss Q gets her braces adjusted. Sit and wait while she is being seen. (I usually have the little boys with me during these appointments. It was nice to be by myself for once.)

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8:40 am ~ Remember that the Jim's pediatrician is in the same plaza and even though they don't answer their phones until 9:00 am, their doors open at 8:30!

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8:41 am ~ Briskly walk to their office.

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8:50 am ~ Make an appointment for Jim.

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9:00 am ~ Return to orthodontist office and wait for Miss Q.

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9:30 am ~ Appointment over, drive home.

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9:45 am ~ Check on Hubby. Rose took pity on him and brought him a drink and some meds. Call around to find a massage therapist who can see him ASAP.

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9:55 am ~ Load Mr. J and Jim into the van. Take Mr. J to day care first then head to the pediatrician's office. Order the children to have my kitchen and living room clean by the time I get home!

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10:15 am ~ Follow-up appointment for Jim. He was admitted to the hospital over the weekend for breathing problems. It was pretty scary for a few hours, but he's fine now. Breathing great!

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10:40 am ~ Return home to a clean kitchen and living room. Thank the kids.

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11:00 am ~ Eat lunch.

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11:20 am ~ Clean and organize house.

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1:00 pm ~ Load the van with Goodwill items

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1:30 pm ~ Swim Team for Joe, Rose and Anne. Drop them off at the pool and run to Goodwill to drop off donations, the bank to deposit a check, and Dillard's for wedding clothes.

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3:00 pm ~ Massage therapy appointment for Hubby...that I have to drive him to. The man can barely walk let alone drive himself. The poor decrepit old man! It took him about fifteen minutes to walk to the car.

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3:30 pm ~ Pick up kids from Swim Team. Pick up Mr. J from day care.

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4:00 pm ~ Pick up Hubby from his appointment. On our way home swing by the orthodontist's office to get paperwork for CPS then pick up Hubby's prescription for muscle relaxers.

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4:30 pm ~ Finally reach home! Chill out for a while and feed the baby. (Don't freak out thinking I haven't fed him since the morning. He eats every three hours. I just didn't feel like including all his feedings.)

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4:40 pm ~ Return a call from CPS. Mr. J is not attending the wedding with us after all. Spend the next thirty minutes on the phone coordinating his stay.

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5:10 pm ~ Start dinner. Repeatedly get distracted.

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6:00 pm ~ Give a tour of my home and yard to the dear Young Man who graciously agreed to care of our dogs and trees while we attend my sister's wedding.

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6:30 pm ~ Finally serve dinner.

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7:00 pm ~ Realize that it's still light outside. Order the kids to throw on their swimsuits.

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7:10 pm ~ Wash the van and the truck. Rose, Anne, Joe, Miss Q, Cakes, and Mr. J all help.

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8:00 pm ~ File inside. Get little boys into their pajamas. Everyone else can do it themselves.

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8:10 pm ~ Prayers. Tell Rose and Anne to wait for you. Put boys to bed with a song.

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8:15 pm ~ Return a phone call from Miss Q's YCL leader. She's attending YCL camp this week!

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8:20 pm ~ Have Rose and Anne try on the wedding clothes you bought at Dillard's. Discuss which dress they like the most. Set them aside.

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8:40 pm ~ Put girls to bed.

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8:45 pm ~ Call bishopric member who is conducting church this week. We'll be gone, but I'll still have the bulletin ready if he would please print it out and make the copies.

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8:50 pm ~ Check on Hubby and Jim. Jim is asleep.

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8:54 pm ~ Start updating my blog.

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10:06 pm ~ SHEESH!! It took me more than an hour to type up the events of my day. Now this is why I don't update more often. I don't usually have an hour to type. I only have five minutes here and there. And now I've wasted a whole hour of Jim sleeping in which I could have also been sleeping. Alright. That is it. I am going to bed.

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Good Night!

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**I actually did pretty good about not getting mad or killing the man this time. I really wasn't too mad. Mostly I just laughed and told him that it served him right for not taking care of his decrepit old self.

LOST is Explaining Deaths

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***LOST Spoilers Ahead...Proceed With Caution***

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This was a terrific episode. I was sad to watch it though. This is the last episode before the finale. This is one of the few shows that I have watched to the end that managed to not fizzle out. The plot and writing have remained strong to the end.

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Be sure to tune in Sunday night for the Finale!

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1) The Concert!! That is going to be a big event. First we learned that David is going to be playing at the concert with Papa Jack planning on attending. I’m not sure if he will still make it to the concert on time, since Desmond has sent him looking for his Dad’s body. Other people we know will be attending include Charlotte, Miles, Miles’ Dad (sorry, I forgot his name), Desmond, and Kate. I’m not sure if Hurley and Sayid will attend be there. I’m kind of thinking that Desmond has other plans for those two. But if they do end up attending, I’m thinking that Libby might come as well.

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Miles said that it was a fundraiser for his Dad’s work. Do you think he is still working for the Dharma Initiative? How weird would that be to see a concert hall all done up with the Dharma insignia everywhere! Haha! I’m thinking that whatever project he is working on, he probably has Charles Whidmore or Eloise involved. You know we are going to see more of those two at some point during the finale. Actually, I’m thinking, more than anyone else, we need to see Eloise and Daniel. They both knew something was up in the Sideways timeline. Especially Eloise! I would like to see more of what she knows…

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2) Desmond is fabulous. I can’t believe he went after Ben like he did and how crazy that getting beat up by Desmond is what helped Ben to see. Then he goes to Sawyer to confess and gets thrown in prison with Sayid and Kate. I started cracking up when I saw that. However, I just thought that Desmond would try to talk to them both while in prison. I should have known that crafty and intelligent man had more up his sleeve. He is doing a superb job linking the Oceanic passengers to each other. Do you think Eloise is going to be mad at him? ;)

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I loved the prison break. I loved that Hurley was the accomplice and financer of the operation. And I loved that Hurley apologized to Desmond for bring him the Camaro. Haha! That was great!

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3) Jack needs his eyebrows trimmed and one particular eyebrow hair just needs to be plucked! When the scene opened up on his eye, all I could see was that one long, nasty looking eyebrow hair looping down over his pretty green eye. As someone who has to trim their own eyebrows, I understand that it’s not always easy to keep up with the maintenance. But come on! Jack has a whole team of make-up people who make sure the blood and scars are in the same place for each episode. Why couldn’t someone have watched out for the man’s eyebrows too?

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4) Benjamin Linus is a conundrum. I really like him, but he keeps doing bad, bad things on the Island. Remember when he almost died as a little boy and was saved at the temple. Kate was warned that he “would never be the same again”. Do you think the temple sucked out his conscious? Do you think it was the temple’s fault that he turned into such a self-serving, self-preserving-no-matter-who-gets-hurt kind of guy? Of course it didn’t. Ben has proved that he can be kind and loving. He proved that when he saved Alex and then as he raised her. He’s shown compassion when dealing with the Others. He can be the kindest, warmest man, then he’ll turn around and snap your neck. I just really don’t know what to think about him. I’ve been going through this for how many seasons know??? Ey-yah!

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Sideways Ben is nice through and through. He started to get a little power hungry when dealing with the principle, but pulled back for Alex. How great was it to see Sideways Ben meet Danielle! My goodness, did you see the sparks? I certainly did. I also don’t think it was onions that made Ben tear up. Neither did Danielle. She was very sweet when she played along with Ben’s excuse and promised to use less onions the next time. It was a tender moment when she told him that Alex saw him as a father-figure. I said it before and I’ll say it again, I want to see Sideways Ben happy and settled down with a wife. I kind of played around with the idea of Danielle because Island Ben loved Alex so much, but I never thought it would really happen. That’s one of the things I love about this show…they keep throwing me for a loop, but in such a way that it makes sense and I totally buy it!

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5) Back to the beginning. Jack and John are again arguing Fate versus Coincidence. But both are now mature enough to agree to disagree politely. Or maybe the politeness comes from the fact that they aren’t all stuck on an Island and majorly stressing out. It was interesting to watch their exchange in Jack’s office. John and Jack both have not yet flashed, but they are definitely benefiting from lessons they learned on the Island. I wonder what will finally make them both “see”…

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6) If Whidmore is always three steps ahead of Ben then:

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A - Why didn’t he sink the boat before he headed to the houses? Why didn’t he just stash his equipment into some bushes and sink the stinking boat!

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B - Why in the world did he think that Ben would actually keep his hiding spot secret?

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C – How did he not see it coming that Ben would want revenge for Alex’s death?

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D – Why would he think that BSM would actually spare his daughter’s life if he gave up the info regarding Desmond?

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E – How did he not see it coming that Ben would go a little nuts and kill him?

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Sorry to tell you this Charles, but you are definitely NOT three steps ahead of Ben. L

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7) Richard can’t die. BSM threw him hard, but the man can’t die. I am wondering how Richard will figure in to the season finale. Also, where is Miles? Do you think he will run into Jack and the others? Or do you think the BSM will bet to him first? I’m thinking that the Lost writers will have Miles first run in to somebody so that his death will make more of an impact. The Lost writers don’t seem to kill off anybody quietly or without someone watching.

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8) Ben agreed to help BSM in exchange for the Island. At the end of the episode, BSM told Ben he planned to blow up the whole Island…the very thing he’d told Ben he could have. With this newfound info, I’m thinking that Ben won’t be as loyal to BSM as he might otherwise have been. Although, I don’t think Ben was loyal to BSM at any point. Ben kind of seems to just be in pure survival mode. He is doing whatever he can to stay alive. Do you think he will be the Gollum of this story? A twisted creature who unwittingly helps to overcome the evil. Or do you think he will be more like the Darth Vader? A man who at the very end recognizes the good and sacrifices his own life to defeat the evil. At this point, I’m thinking it will be one of these two. And yes, in both my scenarios Ben dies. I really can’t see the Lost writers letting him live. I will be quite surprised if he survives the finale.

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9) Why did BSM leave Claire alone on the other Island? I say alone because I am sure that BSM killed everyone else before he left. I don’t know what is going to happen to her. Also, now that Jack is the replacement, what is going to happen to Kate, Sawyer, and Hurley? Since they are no longer candidates, I am thinking that the BSM will be free to kill them. Watch out guys!!!

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10) Jack is the Replacement!!! Wow! I thought it would be him. I like that Jacob let them volunteer. I half-expected Sawyer, after hearing Jack volunteer, to jump up and insist that he be the one instead, just to outdo Jack. Haha. I’m glad that he kept his head cool in that moment. I think it will be a good job for Jack. It will give purpose and meaning to his life, he will be serving and helping. It was good to see Jack be sure of himself too. Confidence in himself is something that Jack has continuously struggled with. Even as he volunteered, he was almost asking Jacob if that was the right choice. I’m glad that Jacob called him on that. “Is that a question Jack?” I was happy when Jack answered more confidently that it was not. Good job Jack. Now go protect the light.

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Wasn’t it interesting to learn some of the reasons behind why Jacob chose the people he did?

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And, how do you think they will finally kill the BSM? I just had a totally weird and random thought!!! Hahahaha!! My kids, for that last few months, have really been in to watching the “Ernest” movies. In the Halloween Ernest, there are monster trolls who are defeated by milk. But one of the trolls has grown so large that the only way left for Ernest to destroy it is by loving it and giving it a great big kiss! Hahahaha!! If the Lost writers go anywhere near the plot line of killing the BSM with love or kindness I am going to have an asthma attack from laughing too hard! Hahaha!!!

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11) Do you notice Jack’s face as he drank the water? His eyes fluttered and then opened with such a look of understanding and enlightenment. That was some good acting! I had wondered how Jack would know how to protect the light. I had wondered how Jacob knew, since his Fake Momma hadn’t had time to explain everything. After watching Jack’s eyes after drinking the water, I have decided that when a person becomes the Protector, they just know how to do the job. I wonder how long Jack will last. BSM was unable to hurt Jacob or his candidates, but will the deal extend to the new protector? And do you think Jack has any powers now? Jacob didn’t seem to have any, but how cool would it be if Jack could find some way to harness the light within himself and cast the BSM back down into the hole. Yeah! That would be great!

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To close things out, I am going to list my favorite lines from this episode.

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Favorite Lines:

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1) Miles to Ben: “I loved in those houses 30 years before you did. Otherwise known as last week.”

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2) Exchange between Ben & Richard while getting the C-4

Ben: Richard, it’s your idea. Are we looking to cripple the plane or blow it to hell?

Richard: Blow it to hell.

Ben: Then we better take it all.

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3) Desmond to Sawyer: “I’m the suspect.”

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4) Sideways Ben explaining his injuries to Alex: “I found myself confronting someone who had a bit of a temper.”

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5) Jacob responding to Kate’s question: “It’s just a line of chalk in a cave. The job is yours if you want it Kate.”

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6) Sawyer while watching Jack’s initiation: “And I thought that guy had a God complex before.”

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I'll be waiting Monday Morning to hear what you thought of the Finale!!! Be sure to let me know your thoughts and opinions. :)

LOST in a Flashback

Cakes is asleep on my couch. Jim is asleep in his bassinet. Mr. J is at preschool. And I have twenty minutes to myself before I pick up Joe from Kindergarten. Since the babe was born I have been using any time to myself to catch up on sleep. But twenty minutes is only enough time for me to fall asleep and wake up with a killer headache. So instead of sleeping, I will finally post my thoughts regarding last week's episode of LOST.

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***Lost Spoilers Ahead...Proceed With Caution***

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What a fabulous episode! The Lost writers really are putting out strong and focused stories, for which I am deeply grateful.

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1) As soon as Jacob's Spanish-speaking Bio-Momma pushed him out, I turned to Hubby and said: "Look at her stomach! It's still full. The special effects people must not have ever seen a real woman's tummy after the baby came out." Hubby just laughed. Having just given birth a mere three weeks ago, we remembered quite well that a new momma's tummy is like a big old deflated balloon after giving birth.

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Turns out that the Lost writers had something else up their sleeves. I was a little surprised to see a twin follow Jacob. Last year I, and a few friends, had toyed with the idea of a Jacob & Esau type of relationship for Jacob and the Man in Black. But we pretty much concluded that we were reaching too far and let the idea go. I was surprised that we were so close in our musings!

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2) What is with Jacob's brother not getting a name? Sheesh! Poor little guy. I do know two other guys who are only known as Brother. One is Jared's Brother, but he had a name...it was just too hard for some people to say. The other guy is Brother on the Berenstein Bears, but at least his parents were fair about it and named his little sister Sister.

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I think it has a deeper meaning that Brother was called only Brother. I just don't quite know what that meaning it yet...

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3) I was pleasantly surprised by Fake Momma's kindness to Bio-Momma when she first washed up on the Island. I thought she might be taken in and cared for by Fake Momma. After the initial kindness I was shocked when Fake Momma reached for the rock! The duplicity was stunning! I mean, the woman had just given birth! To Twins!

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Duplicity in characters has been a common theme in Lost. Characters are nice and calm with loved ones, and crazy-psycho-killers to anyone who poses a threat. I think most people have that duplicity in them. I know I do. Well, I'm not a crazy-psycho killer, but I will fight you if you try to mess with my kids!!! ;)

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It was interesting when Fake Momma explained that the Island brought Jacob and Brother to her to replace her in watching the light. She was so loving to both boys. When Jacob ratted out Brother regarding the game, I thought for sure the poor guy was going to be in a heap of trouble. Instead, we learned that Fake Momma was the one who had supplied the game. It was also interesting to learn that Jacob is incapable of lying, unlike Brother.

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4) How cool was the Light in the Cave! Fake Momma described it as the warmest, brightest light ever. She said it encompassed life and death. Did you see the boys' faces when Fake Momma said that one of them would take her place guarding the light? Brother's face lit up at the thought of guarding the light. He was excited and eager to be the guard. Jacob's face remained the same as it had been before. Just calm. I got the feeling that he was much more naive than Brother..much less aware...

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5) Brother is like Hurley! They both are visited by dead people. Young Brother is convinced that he needs to rejoin his people. Fake Momma warns him that they are bad, but he doesn't believe her anymore. Adult Brother learns that the people are bad. He doesn't see any redeeming qualities in them. But he remains with them in his attempt to leave the Island.

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Young Jacob accepted Fake Momma's decree that the other people were bad, but Older Jacob sees redeeming qualities in them. Isn't it interesting how the two brothers' opinions changed over time?

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I liked seeing that even though Brother left, Jacob still kept up contact with him. They would still play the game and talk.

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6) Jacob's loyalty is intense! When his Brother tells him the truth about their Bio-Momma, Jacob just can't believe it and beats poor Brother down. Jacob remains with Fake Momma, even though he knows she loves Brother best. And Jacob became the guardian of the light at his mom's insistence, even though he knew she would have preferred Brother to be the guardian.

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However, I did not expect Jacob to kill his brother. I know Brother had just murdered Fake Momma, but she** had just destroyed the entire village... And I certainly did not expect Jacob to throw his Brother down into the light. His Momma had told him never to go down there...that it was worse than death. And knowing that he still threw Brother into the light. Yowser!!! That boy does not deal well with negative emotions!

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7) Brother was responsible for the wheel that transports people off the Island. Cool!!! I know that the well was covered up, but I am assuming that Brother just instructed others in how to finish what he had started.

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I was really glad that the Lost writers didn't get into the nitty-gritty of how the light and water combined were capable of transporting people off the Island for two reasons. First, I am just too tired to hear a bunch of scientific explanations. And Second, at some point I will no longer be tired and would have actually research whatever explanation the writers had come up with to verify the accuracy and plausibility of their explanation and would have most likely been either greatly disappointed or greatly appalled by said explanation. And yes, I really would have researched the explanation because I am a big nerd. :P

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I am curious to know how Brother came up with his idea. He said that He was Special. That comment makes me think that Dead people might have told him the idea. Or is he special in other ways besides the ability of talking to dead people? It could be either one.

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8) Did you notice that Jacob became the guardian without a full understanding of the light or his role in protecting it? I wonder if that will come up later. Also, I wonder how the next guardian will do. Fake Momma had Jacob drink something as she spoke an incantation of some sort. Who will do that for the next guardian? And who will instruct the next guardian in their duties? Right now Hurley, Jack, and Sawyer all think the job is to guard the Island, when the real job is to guard the light.

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9) Why do you think Fake Momma thanked Brother for killing her? Is she like Richard? I don' think so. She definitely looked older in the scenes with adult Jacob & Brother. She must be like Jacob, living on and on. I wonder how old she really was? And along this line of thought, I start wondering about how Jacob died. I thought that Ben had to be the one to kill Jacob because Ben was the leader of the others. But now I don't know.

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OR do you think Fake Momma was saying thank you for something else? And if yes, what is she grateful for?

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10) The drink that Jacob took to become the guardian...Isn't that the same bottle that Jacob gave to the Man in Black? The bottle that the Man in Black broke? Spilling the entire contents over the rocks? How is the next person going to become the guardian without the drink?

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11) So we now know that Adam and Eve are really Fake Momma and Brother. It's nice to have one mystery explained. I started to type "Fully Explained" but had to delete the "Fully". I still have some questions regarding those two...

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12) And finally, why is it that Jacob can leave the Island, but his Brother could not? I think I know why he can't leave know...I think it's because he is tied in with the Light and the BSM which must both remain on the Island. But why is it that Brother could not leave the Island when he was still a man? And why can Jacob leave? Did his Fake Momma leave the Island? What is that all about?

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And that is it for me. My time to myself is long gone. Let me know what you thought about this episode. I am always curious as to others hypotheses. :)
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**My Friend CrunchyConMommy thinks that Fake Momma might have used the Black Smoke Monster to destroy the village instead of doing it herself. She thinks that the BSM can be tapped into and used like that. She cites Ben using it against the mercenaries as evidence. Sounds like a great hypothesis to me!

LOST Tragedy

***LOST Spoilers Ahead...Proceed With Caution***

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1) This evening my daughter Rose was working on her homework. She needed some help with one of the assignments. She was supposed to write a 7-up sentence using the word "Tragedy". A 7-up sentence is a sentence with seven words.

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When I think of the word tragedy my mind turns to Shakespeare. We played around with different sentences using Shakespeare as our reference point. Rose ended up using "The play Hamlet is a great tragedy." A pretty straightforward statement, but it met the 7-up requirements.

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Tonight's episode of LOST could also be called a tragedy. Let's see if I can come up with a 7-up sentence to describe what I mean..."The Kwans' death is an epic tragedy." or how about "The Kwans' death was a foreseeable tragedy." I think that one might fit better.

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We all knew that either Jin or Sun were going to die. We knew it. I was thrilled last episode that Jin and Sun were both alive and healthy at their reunion. I had been so worried that the Lost writers would have the reunion be at the deathbed of one of them or that they would only be reunited after the death of the other spouse. It was wonderful to see them reunited happy and whole. But their deaths at the end of this episode....Whoa. That was just...Whoa.

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I loved that Jin didn't leave her. He had said before that if he ever found Sun, he would never leave her side again. He kept that vow. It was heart-wrenching to see. Especially the final scene with their previously clasped hands slowly drifting apart in the water. Holy buckets! That was hard to watch.

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I watched this episode while holding my new babe and I kept thinking about the Kwan's little girl. I kind of hoped that Jin would leave so he could raise his little girl. Of course, there was no guarantee that he would have made it off the Island, however I still kind of hoped. But his refusing to leave, Whoa. The love and commitment was astounding. Sun and Jin's relationship has been all over the place during their time on the Island and the three years apart. It was great to see it blossom into a true and deep and abiding love. What??? A lasting love??? Cue the Lost writers to destroy it! Those guys and gals just can't seem to stand watching anyone happy and in love. Do you think any of them are in happy and loving relationships? I sure hope at least one of them is. Of course, if there is one writer happily married they are probably married to someone with only three months to live. Sheesh!

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2) Hooray for Bernard! It was nice to see him. (Please note he is happily married...to a woman who is dying.) He gave Jack the name "Anthony Cooper" then said "I hope you find what you're looking for." Oh! That line sounded familiar. I wonder why? Haha! Probably because it has been said a few times before. It doesn't seem like anyone on the Island is finding what they are looking for without meeting some tragic end. But Sideways people seem to be finding what they are looking for without too much tragedy. At least, not yet...

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3) I totally did not see it coming that John would be responsible for his Dad's vegetable state. John spoke of his Father with love and respect. He wanted his Dad to be the first he flew with. Wow! So, let me get this straight...John and Anthony had a good relationship? Really??? How do you think that all works since we know that Anthony still had a hand in the demise of James' parents? Do you think Anthony was a conman? Maybe he actually had a line this time...I mean a line that he wouldn't cross. Like maybe he was okay conning others, but he would never con his own son... Like that was a line he just wouldn't cross... I really just don't know what to think there.

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In the meantime, John is punishing himself for the accident and his Dad's vegetable state. That's so sad.

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4) Island Jack keeps leaving Claire behind! I know this time he didn't do it knowingly, but still. Come on big brother! Look out for your little sis. I appreciated Sideways Jack telling Claire that they are family and offering her a place at his home.

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5) Sayid told Jack where Desmond was and declared that he knew Jack would be the one chosen...unless I heard that wrong. :(

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I think Sayid showed that he still had good in him when he grabbed the bomb and ran to the other side of the sub. Whether Sayid is right about Jack, there are only three candidates left. BSM is doing a good job getting rid of them. Sayid is dead now. And both the Kwans. I wonder if we'll ever find out which Kwan Jacob meant. I still think it was Jin, just because all the other candidates are male. Anyhoo, we're down to three: Jack, James, and Hurley. As much as I like Sawyer, I'm leaning towards either Jack or Hurley as the replacement.

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6) Frank is dead. I liked him and now he is dead. :(

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I think Jack is right, BSM can't kill the candidates. Hopefully, James and Hurley will listen to him and they can stand up to BSM together and take that smokey monster down!!! For now, the BSM is marching off to Whidmore's camp to "finish what he started". Do you think anyone from Whidmore's team will still be alive for the next episode?? I assume that at least Whidmore will survive.

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7) So things to look forward to in the next episode:

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*Desmond being pulled from the well.

*A little more from Whidmore and his camp.

*Hurley, Jack, Sawyer, and Kate forming a plan to take out BSM.

*Richard, Ben, and Miles doing something or other. Not sure that they will blow up the plane, but they still have a part to play. The Island isn't done with them yet.

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What do you think is going to happen next???

My New Baby

My baby boy has finally arrived!

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The birth details:
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1) He was born three days after his due date.
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2) He weighed in at 10 pounds even.
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3) He was 22 1/2 inches long. That is one tall guy! He had a Dr. appointment this morning and they say he has already grown a 1/4 inch more. Yowser!
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4) He is perfect and lovely in every way.
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5) I chose a beautiful name for him, with a tiny bit of help from Hubby. I would tell you, but that's not how this blog works. My kids have pseudonyms here. My new baby's blog name is Jim.
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And now for some pictures:
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Thirty Minutes Old

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10 Hours Old ~ Thinking things over

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13 Hours Old ~ Top of the Mornin' to Ya!

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37 Hours Old & Home from the Hospital

LOST is coming together

**Lost Spoilers Ahead...Proceed With Caution**
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How great was this last episode! All the characters are coming together. All the story lines are intersecting. Everything is moving forward at such a nice pace. I've been worried that the LOST writers wouldn't be able to pull everything together by the end, but it looks like they will after all! Hooray! Although, the exact satisfaction of the ending is yet to be seen. ;)

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1) It is so interesting to me that BSM Locke singled out Jack to talk to. I appreciate that Jack asked Hurley for permission first, that he still respected Hurley as a leader. Good job Jack. Why do you think BSM is singling out Jack? Hurley and Sun (maybe) are candidates too. You would think BSM would want to talk with them as well. It looks like Jack might be the front runner! Haha! I also thought it was an interesting conversation because John and Jack had often combated in regards to what the survivors ought to be doing. And here they are again (sort of).

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2) Claire's statement that letting BSM talk to you means you are already on his side is Bull...in my opinion. I know Jack talked with BSM, but that does not mean he is siding with him. I think it's pretty obvious from Jack's statements on the Island and later on the boat that Jack is against BSM and will do whatever it takes to keep him in check. It was pretty gutsy of Jack to jump off the boat like he did. He is usually so worried about everyone else's well-being. I'm glad that he took into account how he felt when he left the Island the first time. I think he made a good choice. Of course, now he has a bit of hearing impairment and BSM thinks Jack has chosen his team. Can't wait to see what happens there. I seriously doubt Jack will do as Sawyer and pretend to go along. Jack is too mouthy for that. Haha!

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3) Sun and Jin have a Happy Ending!!! In Sideways and on the Island!!! Well, not really an ending, but whatever. They are having a happy moment. In Sideways, Sun and the baby are saved. Miles told James that Jin was a "Witness" not a suspect. Hooray! They are together and happy. Of course, they'll have to watch out for Sun's Dad. That guy is crazy!

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And back on the Island, Sun and Jin are reunited and they are both still alive and well. Hooray!! I was so happy seeing their reunion. It was wonderful. I loved Jin's statement: We'll never be apart again. They only thing they have to deal with is Whidmore, but I don't think he will be too much against Jin and Sun. He has been pretty polite to Jin so far. I think that will carry over to his wife.

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Did you all see Sawyer's face as he watched Sun and Jin's reunion? He looked so sad. It seemed to me that he was remembering Juliet and wishing it was himself having a great reunion. Sorry Sawyer. But you still have Sideways...

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4) Isn't it great that as powerful as BSM is, he doesn't know everything. He doesn't see everything or understand the true nature of people. It enabled Sawyer to get the boat and get himself, Kate, Claire, Frank, Sun, and Hurley to the other island. It enabled Sayid to look BSM in the eye and tell him he killed Desmond. No one really thinks he did, do they? If so, let me set you straight. Sayid TOTALLY did NOT kill Desmond. How could he? Sayid, with all the bad things he has done, was usually only doing those things to protect people he loved and cared about...not just out of sheer badness. When Desmond asked Sayid what he was going to tell Nadia when she asked what Sayid had done to get her back, I knew Desmond had him. Sayid may be able to look the BSM in the eye and lie, but he could never look Nadia in the eye and do it and he could also never look her in the eye and tell her that he shot a man in cold blood just to get her back. The Nadia that he loves would not stand for that kind of action. And that is why I believe Desmond is still alive. Now, if he is still in the well is another question altogether. I don't know if Sayid would have helped him out of the well or just left him there. I will just have to wait and see.

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5) Claire went with Kate. Holy Cow! I didn't see that coming. I thought she was completely lost. And her face when Jack took off with the others after she had just told him the only reason that she stayed with BSM is because he was the only one who hadn't abandoned her...CRAZY! I thought she was going to kill Jack for ditching her. I'm glad Kate was able to convince her that they truly did care about her and wanted her back with them and with Aaron. Hurley seems to have been right about both Claire and Sayid...nobody is All Evil. Everyone can be brought back...Just like Anakin. Haha! How funny was it that when Hurley made a Star Wars reference Sawyer had no idea what he was talking about. Hahaha!!! Sorry Hurley. Sawyer was too busy watching Little House on the Prairie to go see Star Wars. Haha!!!

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6) Desmond in Sideways is awesome! He is bringing everyone together. John getting hit by the car has brought him to Jack in the operating room. I love Jack's confidence when looking at the x-rays and scan pictures: "I got this," he states. Nice!! It sounds like John might not be in a wheelchair for much longer. :)

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Now the way Desmond approached Claire was a bit stalkerish and kind of creepy in my opinion. I'm glad Claire viewed it as just a caring stranger trying to help her out, but it was making me uncomfortable to watch. The way he kept following her and trying to engage her in conversation. It was just a bit off. Oh well. I still love Desmond. Did I mention I thought about naming this baby after him?? Hubby still thinks that is a good idea. I guess we will just have to wait and see what the kid looks like.

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Anyhoo, Desmond brought Claire to Ilana the Lawyer who in turn introduced her to Jack her brother. Awkward! Jack did not make a good impression. The way his whole face fell then he turned away from her. Claire probably thinks that she is the problem and that Jack hates her, when in reality Jack is probably just shocked and ticked at his stupid Dad. I was happy to see that Jack and his son David are in a better place relationship-wise.

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7) I appreciated the interaction between John and Ben in the ambulance. Ben was kind and compassionate. I loved when he told John that he would still marry Helen. Ben was being a comfort! It was such an interesting role to see him play. Again, I have to say that I love Sideways Ben. He is just a great man. Good morals and compassionate.

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8) I am eager to see what Whidmore's plans are for the newest arrivals to his island. I don't know exactly what he has planned, but I really don't see him killing them...even though they are all currently on their knees with guns pointed at their heads. That gal who is his second-in-command is a gutsy lady. I want to know how much she knows about the Island, Jacob, the BSM, and everything else. Do you think all those people know what is going on? Or do you think that Whidmore is just paying them really well? I'm kind of thinking it must be a combination. Can't wait to see!

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9) There are only four more episodes left before the Series Finale on Sunday, May 23. I am super-excited! How about you? Hubby and I have a bunch of different theories, as do most of our friends. It will be so fun to see how everything plays out. I'm sure, despite every one's best guesses, there will be reveals that none of us imagined possible. That is one of the things I love about Lost...even when you think you have it figured out, they can throw you a curve ball. The Lost writers aren't afraid of making bold, decisive moves. And they aren't afraid of killing of characters. It will be so interesting to see how this all turns out in the ends.

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Cross your fingers that it will be a fully satisfying ending!

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BTW...Today is my due date. It is now 8:30 pm. There are no signs this baby is coming tonight. Or anytime soon for that matter. I'll let you know when the babe finally does decide to come. At this point I'm thinking that between being rear-ended and the earthquake, the boy is afraid to come out. Haha! Hopefully, he'll feel safe soon and make his grand entrance.

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In the meantime, Hubby is making me do all sorts of weird things to try and induce labor. Today he has made me eat Pineapple (he read online that it started labor in some ladies), eat a very spicy lunch, he pushed on some pressure point in my ankle (spleen 6)--that one hurt, when I told that to Hubby he said Good, that meant it was working. Aargh! Then he put pressure on the Hoku point in my hand. That one felt pretty good. Oh well. The man spent the morning helping me take care of a sick Mr. J and making strawberry jam, so I can be a good sport as he tries to help me out. And he really is trying to help me. He remembers how hard it was for me to deliver those big babies. Haha! Maybe I'll get lucky and this kid will just be a seven pounder. I mean, a girl can dream can't she. ;)

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Good Night!