Caged Bird Sings

Between this week and last week, Lost has not only proved to be one of the most innovative, interesting and emotionally charged/action packed television shows of all time….but it has been delivering in the best way possible, with consistency–something that was lacking in season 2 and part of season 3.

This season has rocked…and tonight’s episode (in addition to the last two weeks) could each win Emmys in their own right.

I am a bit hyped up because so many of my prophecies have come true…prophecies I have been chanting like a maniac while other people have said “yea yea Kass that is just not going to happen or he is gone or that storyline is over”….and VOILA…I have been proved right.

And if you know me, there is nothing more I love than to be proved right.

Tonight we got a flash forward story of the Oceanic 6.

We saw them on the rescue plane to Hawaii and the sad and sweet charged homecoming of the survivors. There is so much to discuss but the main things are that we finally get to hear what the “lie” the 6 have to tell the world. We still do not know why but at least we know what it is the rest of the world thinks.

We also know that Kate just gets prettier and prettier every year. Anyone who tells me I look like her, again I am flattered beyond belief. I WISH. Sweet jesus. Back to Lost.

Off the island:

Basically at a press conference they explain that the plane crashed into the ocean, most of the people on the plane died besides 8 who survived on rafts and with lifejackets, and those 8 made it to an island and were “rescued”. We still do not know about those 8 but we do know that Sun has been forced to lie and say that Jin died asap. We also find out that Kate has to say that Aaron is her baby and that she GAVE BIRTH ON THE ISLAND. WOWOWOW. Well that was a shocker.

A huge shocker.

Here I will go over the 6 quickly and what we discover for them in the immediate future after entering the real world:

We see that Hurley has reunited with his family and everything seemed to be going great (he has refused to use any of the lottery money) and as his parents are throwing him a big suprise birthday party in their lavish home (lottery or settlement money??), his father pulls him outside to show him the car he started for him before he went on the flight and Hurley sees that it is complete and beautiful and he is touched…

That is until he gets in the front seat and sees that the meter and mileage are SET to the lotto numbers. The island jinxed numbers!

He LOSES it in front of his dad and runs away from the party.

Then Jack. At his fathers wake, he meets up with a blonde Australian woman after his speech, who asks to speak with him. In that conversation, she tells Jack that he has a sister and that is why his father was in Australia. He was going to see her. She tells him the bittersweet irony: That she was on the plane but he probably never even met her because she died when the plane hit the water.

Then she tells him her name. Claire. He is not only shaken. He is shocked. Cut to him looking at Kate holding Aaron off to the side waiting for him. Phew.

Then Sun in the future. Wowza is Sun stronge and secure. With the settlement money she was given, she bought ownership in her father’s company and when he tries to condescend to her…she lets him know that she blames him and one “other person” for Jin’s death and that he must respect HER now. That is one strong girl. She tells him that she will have the baby and after, they will discuss the future of “our” company.

Muahahahaha I love Sun being strong and emotional simultaneously. You get him for fucking over Jin. Her dad is a dick.

Then Kate. We see she is taking care of Aaron and that no one was there to see her during the homecoming. We also see at the press conference that they know of her criminal past but that is all that is mentioned. Kate is more of the focal point in the island part of this episode.

And finally, Sayid. Sayid is told someone is waiting for him outside and there is a beautiful reconciliation scene between him and Nadia. She is quite lovely and obviously loves him and he is so in love with her and so suprised she found him when he has been searching for her for so long that it was and pretty amazing.

They come together to Hurley’s birthday party so we know they are together.

Then the island. Man, where to start. There is honestly so much here. First…Charlotte and Daniel DO know more than Frank and Miles…a theory I have been working on for the past few episodes. And it looks like Daniel is helping them as well…but I still do not know.

They find out through Daniel that everyone needs to get off the island asap because the military guys are coming and what they want is to kill everyone on the island. Daniel tells Charlotte in private that they are going to the “orchid”.

Jack and Kate say they are going to find the signal that was dropped and head off into the woods. They hit right into Miles, Sawyer holding baby Aaron. It is classic Jake-Sawyer banter but also a bit melancholy when Sawyer and Kate see each other and awkward big time between the three. They also see Frank and his plane. Sawyer tells them that Claire just got up in the middle of the night and left when they ask, and that they searched for her for a day and she is gone.

Frank then tells them that everyone needs to get off the island because they are heading to the Orchid to see find Ben.

Sawyer alarmed, asks what will happen to those with Ben. Frank says not anything good and Sawyer tells Jack that Hugo (Hurley) is with them. Jack is really upset and they know they must go get him fast. Sawyer and Jack go off into the woods while Kate and Miles and the baby head back to the beach…the minute baby Aaron is in Kate’s arms, he is calmed.

Meanwhile Sayid lands on the island on the motortube and is made aware of the situation and says that he will run and get Jack and Sawyer, taking Kate with him because she tells him that she is the only one that can track them effectively and efficiently.  She gives the baby to Sun and asks her to take care of him.

When Daniel offers to take them back himself, Sayid looks to Juliet for approval. She nods that she trusts him. Juliet has defiantely been more in charge lately.

Daniel then offers to take the people on the island on runs, 6 at a time to the freighter. When Charlotte looks perplexed, his gives her a small reassurancing glance. Not sure what that means but he gathers people on the tube and three of them are Jin, Sun, and baby Aaron.

When they reach the freighter they are reconciled with Desmond and Michael, who they are shocked to see. When Sun asks him if he is working for Ben now, he says that he is doing all this to make up what he did to everyone and that all of this is FOR them.

Desmond goes to fix the engine but when him and the captain (awesome) go to start up…there is a problem. When he heads back down to check, they see that there are pounds and pounds of explosives on board. Oh shit. Sun looks perturbed and walks towards the edge of the freighter and we cut back to the island.

 Hurley, Locke and Ben make it to the Orchid, but not before Ben makes some kind of call into the wilderness, waits for something and then tells them its ok to proceed. When Locke asks who he called, Ben answers, “Guess who.” He is assuming Locke will assume he means Jacob and he is right. Only he does not mean Jacob and I knew the minute that he meant GUYLINER aka Richard and the rest of the Others who I have been curious about and nagging anyone that will listen about for months.

I knew that they all did not just disapear. And what do you know…in a matter of mere moments Jake, Kate and Sawyer are surrounded by THE OTHERS who we have not seen in ages all in the woods and Guyliner! He walks right up to Kate and asks for her gun. Wowowowowowooww. So all this time, Ben still can reach Guyliner. I knew they had a special bond (and secret).

Cut back to the cabin, where Ben points out to Locke that the military guys are already there. He then says that he will be going in and has a plan. Locke looks sort of suprised but not really.

In a beautiful succession of images we see Sun and the baby on the freighter, the guys looking at the explosives in fear, Kate and the boys being led by Richard and the Others towards what I am guessing is the Orchid and Ben walking into the Orchid.

Ben walks in, and stands in the center of this muddy area and puts his hands out and says gently,

“My name is Benjamin Linus and I believe you are looking for me.” to the military men that show up, including the main guy (what is his NAME?!).

To that, he looks at Ben with a weird look and knocks him out with his gun.

Whoa. Whoa. Whoa.

**Apologies for spelling mistakes or grammar mix ups, I am so busy tonight with packing for the weekend and exhausted but I HAD to recap this amazing episode.”

XO,

Kassy

(Fresh and Pretty–My ideal)

I think these days many men and women BOTH know a lot about products. And by products, I am including hair products, body products, face regimen products, makeup, and hair products.

For me, I am not a junkie but I am strangely knowledgeable about way too many brands, styling tools, and good antioxidant creams. I think it is because I read a lot of magazines and my brain just naturally sucks it all in like a sponge…the way it does with movies and music and fashion.

And after testing products and trying different regimens, I had it down pat. And then my skin started with being “sensitive to stress”. What the fuck is that?!

So I had to do some research and a lot of testing on myself to see what works and what does not work simultaneously, in good stress conditions and bad stress conditions.

As of right now, these are my results. Here is an all inclusive and semi exclusive look at the products I use to make my life easier and prettier. I am not into a lot of makeup or a lot of upkeep so while some of these products may seem expensive, it is only because they are the best and are worth their weight in gold….and time it saves me to get ready.

I believe there are quite a few items and sections on this list (with the exception of makeup) that work for men too. Here goes:

(One of the most coveted manes of hair–Beautiful!)

Hair:

In terms of high end Shampoo and Conditioner it is Kerastase Oleo Relax all the way. These products are just phenonenal in how they strengthen and make your hair magically look glossy and healthy.

Cheap but just as effective (well a teeny bit less but close close) are the Garnier Fructis Shampoos and Conditioners. I love the Sleek and Shine but they are all pretty awesome.

Then it comes to styling. For straightening hair–It is Kerastase Oleo Relax Elixir (please really only use a dime size–because it is really intense–in the best way). This gloss and styling potion makes my super thick, super long, super curly hair relax and look like it is not only naturally straight after a blowout, but also swingy and healthy and lustrous. Seriously.

My favorite product for styling my naturally curly hair is Paul Mitchell Super Cleaning Sculpting Gel–my tried and true since 8th grade. Nothing beats it for hold and flexibility (and no gross “crunchy hair” syndrome). But there are a few others that work well as well…the Garnier Fructis gels and the Pantene Pro V Gels work terrifically.

Skin:

I used to always use Neutrogena Deep Clean Cleansing Cream but lately I had to switch to something milder (the sensitive skin thing coming out of nowhere)….and I started with the Purpose Gentle Cleanser and I love it.

Now that my skin is back to normal, I made a concession between the two and I am using Neutrogena Fresh Foaming Facial Cleanser which makes my skin look fresh and clear.

I am using a new eye cream Icelandic Eye Relief Cream that I adore and right now I am contemplating trying their day and night creams and antioxidant cream. The brand is SKYN ICELAND made by Ole Henrikkson, one of the masters in high end skin care. So I will let you know how that goes but right now I am loving the eye cream.

When I am not able to splurge, Oil of Olay ALWAYS does the trick. They have advanced formulations but I love the basic old school cream. It is a throwback to when I was little and my mom used it, and I love it now.

Then there are body products. I am using Dial Antibacterial Soap/Panoxyl Bar Soap to keep my body skin clear and clean and then finally found a body lotion I can use that does not make me break out and it smells like heaven. (Well not as delicious as my perfume–Angel by Thierry Mugler that I have been wearing for a decade religiously) and yet still super yummy and coming a close second.

It is called “Grin and Bare It Skin Quenching Body Lotion” from True Blue Spa at Bath and Body Works. Love it. Their same brand hand cream called “Look Ma, New Hands is AMAZING”. Especially for someone who uses so much hand lotion. Hourly. These products smell fresh and soothing…like a mix of mild orange. MMMM.

I love this stuff. And my other stand bys are all Ahava Products which are made from Dead Sea Minerals and are also made by my Aunt’s Kibbutz at the Dead Sea. The products are just wonderful. Very decadent and very worth the money.

**Also I could never forget the best gradual self tanning lotion for face and body on the market. Jergens Daily Glow Moisterizer. The fair skin formulation is perfect for someone like me who is really pale and freckly and yearns for a natural looking glow and tan without looking fake or spending a fortune. It moisterizes, gives you a gradual tan and it does not streak. I love this stuff.

And finally…

MAKEUP:

(Easy Daytime Natural Makeup Look)

I do not wear a lot of makeup but I love makeup. So I have tried almost all of it.

I love high end makeup because for me it tends to last longer and work better….but I still love a lot of drugstore brands…it depends the specific thing you are using.

Because I do not wear foundation or powder, I depend on Chanel’s Pro Concealer to mask any redness or signs of a wild night the night before. I always, always wear a mix of bronzer and powder blush which gives me a natural and subtle, yet very pretty glow.

The best of the bunch (And I have literally tried THEM ALL) is NARS Laguna Bronzer and NARS Orgasm Blush. I have been wearing this combo for almost five years and have received so many compliments on the combo and given the tip to so many women…that last year (or the year before) they launched the combo compact of Laguna/Orgasm!!! I am so convinced that is because of me. Yes, ME.

Anyway…I am not picky with eyeliner or eye shadow as I do not wear them often but I love love Benefit’s Mr. Frosty White Shimmering eye pencil, which I use often instead of dark eyes during the day…at night I am more likely to play them up with darker liner.

And I always wear mascara because I have light eyelashes. The best for me? Lancome Definicils. I have tried them all and it is still my favorite. My runner up is Lancome Hypnose.

Then lips. I always wear chapstick. Always. I am so in awe and confusion when I see that some people are ok with dry lips. Maybe it is because I have big lips, but that is something I am adamant about. Chapstick ALWAYS.

When I am glamming it up…I will wear a light gloss or sometimes a punchy gloss. I love red lipstick but I feel like it looks kind of tarty on me…I need to find a good color. But my favorite glosses are Chanel Glossimer and Lip Fusion Lip Pumpers.

(Fun Nighttime Makeup Look)

I am definately into accentuating the lips but playing up the eyes.

And that is my rant and set of tips for products.

If you have any questions, let me know. I am going to start a weekly ask Kassy Post where I answer questions you have about products, health, beauty, fashion, etc.

Oh and a last tip–Sephora carries an amazing array of house brand products on the cheap. I love their eyebrow pencils and eyeliners. Cheap and gorgeous.

Happy weekend everyone!

xo

Kassy

Well, there is so much to discuss….to start….

In almost every single post I have written that has recapped the second half of Season 3 and the current Season 4 of Lost, I have mentioned that I want to see Guyliner aka Dr. Richard Alpert again.

I have been asking where he is…why we have not seen him lately and how integral to the show/the island/Ben he is.

I mean, he does not age and is basically the guy that taught Ben how to get rid of the Dharma Initiative and seems like he saw Ben’s “gift” and helped him hone it.

Wow, well he is back as a main character in a backstory…and this week it is Locke’s back back story.

This was quite a crazy episode, an INSANE last ten minutes!!

First, the back story: It gives us Locke as a baby and then a child and we are seeing that his mom was very young when she had him, was with a much older man and gave up Locke for adoption because she could not handle it…him being premature and just all of it.

Richard showed up in the hospital when Locke was in the incubator and shows up again to meet him when Locke is a little boy. We are not fully sure if Richard is the man that may be Locke’s father but it is super bizarre that Guyliner DOES NOT AGE.

He tells Locke that he is gifted and that he is there to help him. He sets a few things on the table, including a drawing he notices Locke has done, of a smoke “monster.” There is also a “Secret Island” comic book. Uh oh….

Then he asks Locke what thing on the table belongs to him of the things he has set out. After some deliberation about whether or not to pick it up but obviously innately drawn to it, Locke picks up a blade. Richard becomes agitated and tells him that is not his and leaves.

It is abrupt and strange especially since he came in and seems to think Locke WAS special.

We also see Locke as a teenager being picked on for being super smart. His teacher tells him that a man wants him to go to a camp for gifted children in sciene and academia…guess who the man is? Dr. Richard Alpert. Hmmmm.

Locke does not want to go…he wants to be normal…athletic. When his teacher tells him he will never be the quarterback Locke responds with his adult trademark line,

“Don’t tell me what I cannot do.” I got chills.

 Then we have Locke as an adult going through physical therapy after his father threw him out of the window and broke his back. At the center, the man taking care of him as an “orderly” is none other than Naomi’s boss…the mysterious man. He is telling Locke not to give up and that he is very special.

He is the one who tells Locke to go to the Walk-About in Australia. Whoa.

 Cut to the two things happening simultanously on the island.

First, Martin the Military Guy has gone bonkers, found out Michael was leaking information to Ben and is seemingly calling the shots. He has also tried to kill Michael and sees that Michael cannot die.

The Captain we met before on the freighter is having enough with him, and helps Sayid and Desmond get off the freighter and back to the island for the purpose of bringing more people to the freighter.

But that ends when Desmond decides to stay on the ship, Frank the pilot tells Martin he is not taking him and the rest of the military guys to the island because his orders were to take just Scientists. Martin kills the doctor to prove his point and then when the Captain comes out to stop him, Martin kills the Captain! AHHH.

Frank quickly decides he will take them to the island.

Second is that Locke, Ben and Hurley trying to find Jacob’s cabin. Along the way Locke has a dream with a dead Dharma guy in it and he tells him to “find” him and that Jacob has been waiting for Locke for a very long time. OOooh weeeee ooooooh. They find the mass pit where all the Dharma people were dropped, where Ben shot Locke.

Hurley is in shock and asks who did it. Who killed all these people? Locke says Ben but Ben says no…that he was not in charge at all times and the other leaders decided to kill the Dharma people. He means the others aka Richard.

Hmmm.

Also, Hurley finds the cabin!

Meanwhile Frank has left a coded message on the phone to Jack to let him know where they are location wise. Jack and Juliet think that means they have to go find them.

And at Jacob’s cabin, Locke is fulfilling destiny by going inside…alone.

Ben wishes him luck omniously but it also seems genuine. And who is in the cabin?
JACK’S DAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CHRISTIAN SHEPHARD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Locke asks him if he knows why he is there.

Christian says, “Yeah, do you?”

Locke, “Because I am chosen to be.”

Christian, “That is absolutely right.”

And then Claire is there in the cabin too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

When Lockes asks her what she is doing there…she tells him not to worry about that for now. Lockes asks them how to save the island and we cut to Hurley and Ben sitting outside sharing a candy bar. Locke comes back out and he knows what he is supposed to do, you can tell in his eyes and his walk. When Ben asks him if Jacob told him what they need to do, Locke answers,

“He wants us to move the island.”

WHOA WHOA WHOA WHOA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Discuss.

The five weekends of set plans start this weekend and while I have been hyping it in my head for so long as something that was/would be a major stressor for me…it turns out as the events approach…I am actually not stressed at all about the slew of events. I am excited!

Just to round up:

Starting this weekend, I have The Cuteness’s 30th Bday in NYC, then another close friend’s 30th Bday Bash in Maryland, a semi-going away out night that same weekend, a wedding I am a bridesmaid in the following weekend in Baltimore, and two weekends in a row of 30th birthday parties in NYC after that.

A lot. Yes.

But you know what? Work stress and not living in the same city as any of my girls is making me long for the connection of being with friends. I am a supremely independent person who can easily entertain herself…but I miss my friends. I miss being in close proximity to them.

Yes, it is a lot of money and travel, but it is also a lot of quality time with my best friends, drinks and dancing. How can I possibly complain about that? Especially when I am paying off my debt (slowly but surely).

Also, two of my best friends in the world are moving from DC to different parts of the country. I am still in a bit of shock because they are both such consistent, supportive, important friends to me, that having them so physically far will be an adjustment. I am so excited for them and their new opportunities, just as they were for me when I decided I was moving to Nashville, scratched it and decided I was moving to New Jersey.

These two have been there for me in every way and never judged me in some of my craziest moments. I can truly be myself around them, a thing not everyone, even some of my other best friends can say.

So I am sad in a way and already nostalgic for all of our good times in the city, carving out new lives together in a city that started out feeling foreign and ended up feeling like home. But, on the other hand, I will now have easy excuses to go to the South and California for vacations and visits.

Yep–The Cuteness and The Body are leaving the DC area, but they will never leave my life.

And so, with all these events comes new, fresh pictures…and I am sorry I have been so slack in uploading but I really have not have any new ones to really show you guys (not all my friends allow me to showcase them on the blog).

Wish me luck and I will try blog more, just need to find the time.

**I added better quality clips just now so you can really see the movement**

I present this entertainment of hotness and skill, in honor of one of my favorite shows returning to the air in a few weeks. With this super sexy, super hot, super fun set of clips (two are insanely delicious Latin ballroom dances, one is hip hop and one is an amazing West Coast Swing), I give you pure, unadulterated lusciousness. These are four of my favorite routines from the show.

And I made sure to pick my four favorite upbeat routines. I have a few other slower ones I love (a few modern and one smooth waltz) but I have a feeling you guys will really enjoy these.

If you thought you were watching dance competitions in other shows, you would be wrong. The real competition and fun is on So You Think You Can Dance.

Check out the videos–They may look long but I will tell you where the dancing starts in each clip’s description so you can just go straight to the impressive dancing and not worry about the rest–each dance is under 1.50 minutes and SO worth the time.

The shorter videos are terrible quality and you cannot see the movements etc. so I uploaded the better versions.

The first clip is Lacey and Danny. Lacey is my favorite all time female dancer on the show and Danny’s solo in the finale was probably one of the most outstandingly gorgeous dances I have ever seen. Love them together. You can start it right at 1.00, if just from the beginning. Lacey is absolutely amazing here–this clip makes me DREAM I could dance like that. Technical but sexy. Love it.

**Dmitri from the previous season choreographed and you can see it has his stamp all over it. In a good way**

The second clip is of Pasha and Anya during their audition and it is HOT HOT…Pasha was my favorite male dancer on the show (he is in three clips doing completely different styles of dance all amazingly) and Anya my second favorite girl–tied with Sara, the B Girl turned dance phenom. After 1.20 minutes it goes to the judges so you can click off then.

The third video is of Lacey and Pasha doing one of the cutest, most unique hip hop routines. I love this dance and you can really see how versatile they both are in this dance…Lacey is a West Coast Swing Champion and Pasha is a ballroom champion and I love seeing them do hip hop.

And the last video is of Sara and Pasha doing the West Coast Swing. You can start it at 3.00 minutes in–that’s when the dancing starts. Watch the whole thing because it gets INSANE once the song gets fast…I mean INSANELY good.

**Benji and Heidi-cousins and Benji the winner last year AND Lacey’s brother choreographed this routine and as with the first–you can see their stamp of finesse and fun all over this clip. In a good way**

ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, well…I have been gushing about this entire season, but I think there is no way in the world any episode besides maybe three in the past four seasons, can even TOUCH this past week’s episode.

“Wowza” as I am apt to say, can describe this episode singularly. What a mindblower this past hour was.

This was amazing stuff of legends Lost: old school, beautiful, haunting, sad, timely, bittersweet (*A*–that was for you!!)

I am not going to do a usual recap of everything detail, but instead really discuss the things that struck me as the most interesting and shocking and go from there.

On the island:

Jack is sick, tries to hide it, but Juliet sees that he needs his appendix out. Juliet is going to perform the surgery while Jack is awake and Kate holds a mirror so he can watch the surgery upon his own request. Bernard performs the “anesthesia” and Jack cannot take the pain like he thought he could, starts freaking out and Kate is forced out (he begs her to stay and not let them medicate him) while Bernard and Juliet give him chloroform. They knocked him out so he will no longer bear the pain and I was SO HAPPY they did that.

Kate cries out of confusion because she wants to stay and do what Jack wants but she also cannot bear to see him in pain. There is an especially touching moment when Juliet tells her that Jack kissed her…and she knew it was because he was proving to himself that he was not in love with someone else…meaning Kate. Which he is. It was a really special moment…and I knew that we would see Jack was awake but pretending to sleep–I just did not think Juliet would see it too.

The future:

We get a flash-forward episode for Jack that shows us that he and Kate got together in the future. After the trial they got together and while I am forever a Kate/Sawyer fan….I loved Kate and Jack in the future–at first. They were sweet and kind and loving and even sexy! When she emerges from the shower and we see who it is, it is pretty huge.

We see that after the trial, they get together, are in love and taking care of Aaron (Claire’s baby) together. They are really sweet, loving custodial parents and I really enjoyed seeing the maternal and paternal side of both of them come out in full force.

Before long though, Kate is acting strange, like she may be cheating or something and Jack is slowly losing it and goes to visit Hurley. Hurley is in the institution, talks to him about spending time with Charlie (OOOH lawdy) and that he has a message for Jack.

“Charlie wanted me to tell you that someone will be visiting you soon.”

That someone turns out to be Jack’s dad, Christian, who shows up a couple of times in some jarring scenes but they do not actually talk…each time Jack is interrupted by a co-worker. She is the one who gives him an Rx when he asks for it and we get to see how his escalade into pills and booze starts. He is freaked about losing Kate and about being off the island and seeing the ghost (??) of his dad.

The scene when he is drunk and gets home from work early and Kate is out was REALLY intense.

When she gets back, he badgers her about where she was and when she asks him to trust her and just let it go…he cannot.

She tells him she was just doing something for “him”.

That thing was something she promised Sawyer she would do and Jack FLIPS out. He starts saying how Sawyer made his choice and Jack is there with her and he came back and he is the one that SAVED her. You can see he is drunk and you can see he is deeply jealous of Sawyer…even off the island.

Speaking of Sawyer, back on the island…he is leading the Claire-Aaron-Miles brigade back to the beach and they see Frank. He tells them to hide…because “he” is coming. He means the military men…the lead blonde guy in particular. They do and are ok. I love Frank, he is so good. We are seeing slowly that Charlotte and Daniel may be the only ones who really know what they got into…and even then I am not so sure.

While camping out, Miles shows mild interest in Claire and Sawyer protectively guards her, letting him no in NO uncertain terms that he is the protector of Claire and Aaron. I love Sawyer as the flawed hero. His unshaven face, his gruff low voice. Yummy.

Anyway…in keeping with the Jack-centric tone of the episode, Claire wakes up in the middle of the night to see that Aaron is missing. Sawyer and Miles are sleeping and she freaks out only to look up and see that CHRISTIAN SHEPHARD IS HOLDING THE BABY. That would be Jack’s dad…and Claire’s dad.

And now we know that Claire knows him because she looks at him and says, “Dad?!” Whoaaaaa baby.

That would also be the connector to the line where Jack responds to Kate saying she does not want the baby to hear them fighting in the future.

We then get to really see little Aaron. He is adorable. A picture perfect little boy male version of Claire. Jack says viciously,

“You aren’t even related to him.”

Kate cries those amazing perfectly believeable, but understated Kate tears and holds Aaron.

The episode ends with Sawyer and Miles realizing Claire is gone but seeing that Aaron has been left!! Sawyer starts yelling for Claire…at first just tentatively and then loud and distraught.

And that is how we end this week’s episode. Kate and Jack in love in the future…Kate and Jack in love on the island. Sawyer protecting Claire and Aaron.

Oh and lest we forget, Miles can “see dead people” and has flashbacks of Danielle and Carl being shot and starts digging up the ground and we see their dead corpses. Yeesh.

So Jack is now a drunk. Hurley is off his meds and almost catatonic and Kate and Juliet have this bizarre connection.

Oh yes, and Jin. Jin can see that Charlotte speaks Korean because he is AWESOME and confronts her, threatening to break every one of Frank’s bones if she lies to him about understanding his language. He then tells her that she only has to do ONE thing for him. Get Sun off the island.

Jin is a true hero. This is his chance at redemption for his flawed past.

Charlotte agrees.

I cannot wait to see how this all goes down. What will happen when they all cross paths and the people on the freighter, the Others, the Losties, the newbies, Whitmore/Christian all fall into each other?

Um and one last thing…where is Guyliner? I want me some Richard. I know Ben was absent from this episode but I want to see how Richard started the Others, harnessed Ben’s “power”, etc.

Bravo Lost!

I am forever fascinated by the people I have met who have never done drugs.

I am not a druggie, nor have I partaken in illegal activities in quite some time, but still…I am always shocked by the hilarity of some of the more low key stories of drug use (not ABUSE–honestly that is never funny)…and conversely intrigued by those who have NO experience experimenting.

Because let’s be honest for one second…unless you have never had a drink…you HAVE done a drug. As someone with Ahem, experience,…I can say that besides maybe Acid, drinking makes me ten times more out of control than any drug I have taken…and not in a good way. X makes me feel out of body but never out of control…man, its been years since I rolled. I feel like an old person.

And so….I give you this forum today–discuss your most fun/interesting drug story…and if you have never done a drug….explain why.

Oh one stipulation. No high and mighty crap here…like I said–if you have ever got drunk…you are in my pool of people who have used drugs.

I will share with you as my Friday post, my most interesting drug story.

Enjoy.

**Prescript–I wanted to say this before anything…people are going to assume I am talking about specific bloggers here and I am not. I am giving a broad generalization of whiny guys on and OFF the blogs. But that being said…this post was inspired by my friend Vk’s post today which pushed me to rediscover the real Kassy: the one who says what she feels and writes the things that she finds important. And I wanted to thank him for writing it and helping me find myself again.** Enjoy!

Hey guys…its me! You know, the Kassy who used to write hardcore life shit but then crawled in a shell because she was scared of all the psycho stalkers, people exposing her private information, and just general nuttiness of many of her commenters?

Well….

I am back. While the job is kicking my ass, I figured I would at least give you something savory to settle in with until I can come up with a schedule that allows for more blogging and less stressing.

Here goes:

I am sick of guys whining.

Seriously. If I hear one more guy whine about girls or the world or ANYTHING, I swear to the heavens I will come to their door and shove a hard boot up their ass (you know they want it like that anyway).

For centuries, women sucked it up and played the hand of cards we were dealt. Almost everything was worse for us and the opportunity to BE anything other than a mother was not only unheard of, but laughed about! We were bought and sold (still are in some parts of the world), uneducated and were generally thought of as a lesser form of human being. We were nothing…or at least many women felt that way and were treated as such.

I think guys that bitch about feminists are really complaining about the wrong thing. If you want a world where women are still treated like garbage and not allowed to do or be anything, then go to some backwards country and leave us modern women alone.

Guys STILL have it better than we do.

For one, you DO NOT GET PERIODS. You do not bleed from your INSIDES once a month and suffer all the pain and shit that comes with it.

You are not constantly worried about getting raped or kidnapped or stalked or hurt.

Men still have that innate strength to not even contemplate that stuff that most women would kill for…only we do not have the luxury of having it because we are ingrained to fear.

And to be nice.

Be this. Be that. Make them happy. Make them comfortable.Love your man. Look perfect. Get a good job! Take care of your children! Don’t get old! DO IT ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nowadays, men do not have to do shit like we do.

So stop complaining.

Try a year in our shoes…you will scarred for life and know how much easier you have always had it.

PS–To all you non whiny guys who realize how easy you have it…thank you. You give me hope. I love you all.

Well, the return episode of Lost after a short hiatus was no disapointment. What an episode. We learned so much and there was so much action and emotion that I am going to have to take it piece by piece.

I know I did not recap the last episode but we left off with Michael’s story, his undercover mission on the boat and the story of the boat in general in relation to Michael and his future. What he is depressed and watching him continously attempting suicide before finding a bizarre semi-forced solution was really sad.

Oh and that total asshole guy from the Others on the mainland is…gay? Who say THAT one coming? That was awesome.

We were also seeing that Ben and Charles Witmore are true rivals and almost everyone is a pawn in their game. Danielle and Carl were killed on the island, leaving Alex alone and vulnerable.

We picked up this week with a Ben flash forward story. I think Ben can time travel. That is my official semi-professional Lost fan position on Ben. Besides all of his other resources and powers, he can time travel.

But first, the island. There was chaos on the island as Alex was captured by the Marines from the boat who jumped ship to the island and those same Marines killed a few randoms…all while wanting to provoke Ben to come out.

Through a phone call Alex made with a second code, Sawyer and Locke found that it was a HELP call from Alex and Ben immediatly sprung into action. Everyone barracaded themselves in the cabin but Claire was napping and Sawyer went out to get her.

In the midst of that, there was tons of gunfire, killing those two mentioned earlier and Sawyer risked his life (Sawyer the hero!!) to get Claire, and her HOUSE was blown up. Thankfully, he found her semi unconscious and brought her to the barracaded home and they all sat and waited. He saved her life and it was beautiful. I love you Sawyer.

Ben was provoked to come out by the Marine having Alex outside and threatening her life. Alex is single handledly the ONLY human on the entire island or off that Ben genuinely loves. He would do anything for her and to protect her. Except when the Marine told him to come out of the house or he would kill Alex, Ben made the mistake of playing by the rules “Jacob” had told him…when in reality the “rules” (no idea) had changed.

He does not surrender but offers that they leave.  Ben tells him to do it, that Alex has been just a pawn, and not his real daughter. This is all a bluff, because Ben does not really meant any of it. AND THE MARINE KILLS ALEX!!

Ben is not only in shock, but he is angry and traumatized. He tells them they must leave and go to see Jacob. But before they go, he goes into his secret room and CALLS the smoke monster to distract and kill the Marine and his guys and we see that Ben has control over it…even after he told Locke he did not know what it was. Locke is not happy.

But Ben is devastated about Alex.

He needs Jacob to tell them what to do and Locke and Hurley are the only other people who can find the cabin or hear Jacob. They head there, confrontation ensues when Sawyer questions Ben again, who he rightfully distrusts, and while he wants Hurley to come with…Hurley is forced to make the choice and stays with Ben and Locke because he knows they need him.

Sawyer, Claire, Miles and the baby head back to the beach to see Jack and Kate.

Meanwhile on the beach, Jack is sick. Really sick. Kate is taking care of him but he is not admitting to how sick he is. We have no clue what it is….and a body washes upshore and it is the doctor from the boat, dead and with his throat slit.

To make a long story short, Frank calls someone and tells them that the doctor is ok…and we know this because he lies to us about what the morse code said and Bernard explains what he REALLY said.

Jack gets agitated…and we see the doctor they may be talking about is Jack and not the dead doctor who washed up the shore.

Again, Juliet and Kate look so good in HD….flawless skin those two.

But, back to the story. The flash forward story this time.

Ben lands in the Sahara Desert post Oceanic rescue and sees on a television news show (after kicking the asses of two border guys that want to search him) that Sayid is mourning the death of his wife.

They eventually meet up when Ben goes to Iraq and they talk about how Ben knows who killed Sayid’s wife and we see that the wife was his LADY, Nadia ! Nadia, his love, who he has been searching for for years. He gets out of the island, finds her after YEARS and marrys her and then she is gunned down.

Awful! But together Ben shows Sayid where to find the killer because the killer is an assasin of Charles Witmore and now we know how Ben and Sayid ended up working together. Ben came to him but Sayid told him HE wanted to work together.

That was quite an intriguing way for it to go down. Sayid bent on vengeance for Nadia and himself and Ben willing to help because it will take him closer to hunting Charles, hiding from Charles, and getting to Charles.

We also see in the future that Ben finds the assasin who killed her and the guy has Ben at gunpoint when Sayid shows up and guns him down. He really just keeps shooting. And after that, he is even more bent on vengeance.

Wow.

An episode that incorporates Ben, Sayid, Locke and Sawyer all with big parts is the kind of juicy episode I adore.

Ben is one complex character huh? What is up with him and where is Guyliner?

The show ends with Ben getting into Charles Witmore’s hotel penthouse in London (he has the key–no idea how) and wakes Charles up in bed. Ben has a billion identities that give him access normal people do not have–passports, official documents, etc.

They banter a bit about their issues–and we see that Ben for some reason cannot kill Charles (he says so) and that Charles wants Ben to go down because Ben apparently stole A LOT of his money. Ben is there then because he blames him for Alex’s death. Saying that he killed her. And Charles tells him that BEN killed her and to move on.

And then Ben tells him that he will now do what Charles did to him, and go after his OWN daughter. Penelope. Because he wants Charles to know how it feels.

I gasped.

Charles tells him he will never find her.

And Ben tells him he will never find the island.

Wow.

What an intense episide. Emotional, action packed and with quite a few questions answers.

What did you guys think? I am sure I missed a lot but I could not possibly recap all we saw.

But I will say that Ben can kick ass both manipulatively and physically. Whoa that was unexpected when he kicked the asses of those Tunisians and Alex dying was really quite horrible.

Discuss!

I am going to proclaim Forgetting Sarah Marshall as one of the funniest films I have ever seen. All the more so because I had heard it was good, but was not expecting much.

Wow, was I off in my expectations! It was really laugh out loud funny and touching in its exploration of a man attempting to get over a broken heart. Although it is produced by Judd Apatow, this is the movie for people who love AND hate Apatow films…because this movie is completely unique and original and also while super funny…it is in a class all its own with a slightly different take than those other movies.

Here is my review–no spoilers, just fun! Starts with the who (the stars, then the what (plot), and all peppered throughout…the why (so many reasons). My movie reviews have been few and far between so if I am taking the time out, it is worth your time to read and then view said movie. Promise.

The gold medal goes simultaneously to Jason Segel (How I Met Your Mother), the star and writer of the movie who plays funny everyman Peter Bretter perfectly. You laugh with him, at him and mostly, you really care about him and identify with him…and the director, Nicolas Stoller, who really breathes life into the “dumped guy with a broken heart who has to move on” movie.

While there are two of the usual suspects in bit but worthy parts (Paul Rudd as Kuna/Chuck and Jonah Hill as Matthew the waiter-both terrific), this movie has familiar faces from other tv shows and movies.

There is Mila Kunis as spunky and never prettier Rachel Jansen, the new love interest, Kristen Bell as Sarah Marshall the heartbreaker ex he cannot get over (she was wonderful!), Russell Brand as Aldous Snow a rock star with a huge personality who had some of the best lines and delivered them pitch perfect, Bill Hader as Brian, Peter’s logical but still hysterical stepbrother, Jack McBrayar (aka Kennetth from 30 Rock) as Darald, a honeymooner having issues with sex and religion and many more.

And the stoner humor works especially well when the main character is not a stoner himself…it becomes back burner humor, not running the film and there is way more sexual humor…so while there is some dirty/pot humor, it is way less apparent than in 40 year old Virgin or Knocked Up.

Jason Segel is completely hilarious in that way that is so not annoying. He is big and oafy and yes, he does have nude scenes (FRONTAL NUDITY PEOPLE and his “member” is quite nice even flaccid) that are played for laughs at first, and then become quite sad, but his comic genuis is not just in his timing, both subtle and obvious depending on the scene…but in his absolutely BRILLIANT cultural references and the way you feel like you know him.

The way he deals with his breakup, INSANE, but so relatable…he runs the gamut of “ways to deal.”

I did not know much about the movie going in, just the Jason has been with his famous tv star girlfriend Sarah Marshall for five years (he writes the music score to her hit show) she dumps him for a rock gd out of nowhere, and he tries to recover via every measure possible. He is absolutely broken.

He ends up being convinced to go to Hawaii to get over her by his best friend Brian (seriously Bill Hader is so funny its criminal at times–see him on SNL) and turns out….she is there! With her new rock star man. Russell Brand plays Aldous with so much British charisma and charm but yet so dirty and oversexed that you cannot help but both laugh at him and love him at the same time. He is an amazing character. Hilarious (I know I keep using that word but it is).

Antics ensue at the resort–both funny, sad and touching and the majority of the movie ends up playing out in Hawaii.

Jason meets someone, the lovely concierge Rachel and things spiral in every which way.

The best parts of the movie are the various flashback montages, the cultural references, the kooky antics that seem so realistic, the bizarre coincidences, the comic timing on all parts and the writing that kicks most other comedies I have seen in the past DECADE out of the water.

Look out for the line when he mocks Sex and the City wasted or the Project Runway flashback.

The cuts of scenes from the show Sarah works on, in which Jason writes the score for the music, are so funny, you might wet yourself. The show is a CSI style crime drama and the way she plays the sexy CSI cop and Billy Baldwin flat out impersonates a mix of David Caruso from CSI MIAMI and Jack from Without a Trace is classic. CLASSIC.

Brilliant.

Oh, did I mention there is a subplot with Jason writing a rock opera about Dracula? Yeah. Fantastic!

This movie is up there….I have high, high standards for my comedies–I want them fresh, original and to throw me off with how hard I am laughing. And this movie did that and more. All without being cutesy or pretentious. And it is sweet…not in a “ugh shoving it down my throat sweet”…but a “I get that feeling!” sweet.

GO SEE IT.

I just went to IMDB and it has already received an 8.3 rating. That is SO rare…I guarantee by the end of the weekend, it gets even higher.

Just read 99% of the comments. People love this movie because it surprises you with its laugh out loud moments, UNPREDICTABILITY and a real heart.

ENJOY.