Happenstance

“I can’t believe you’ve lost your horsey. You expect me to go back in there and find it?” a tired looking blonde yelled a little bit too loudly at her little girl.

“I need Sergeant. He’s my only friend.” the little girl in pigtails whined.

“Don’t be ridiculous, you have plenty other stuffed animals.”

“But Daddy got me Sergeant.” With that, the little girl burst into tears.




James stood in front of the Piggly Wiggly half watching the drama unfold, while waiting for his cousin Kevin to park his bike and catch up with him. Kevin marched up to James, looking hot and sweaty, but mostly mad; and punched him in the arm.

“Ow, what was that for Grumpy?” James inquired rubbing his arm.

“Cheating. You went through the Jackson’s field again, even though Dad told you not to.” Kevin accused.

“Yeah, well, he’s your dad, only my uncle, and I won’t even be here in a couple weeks when school starts again anyway. So there.”

“Good, cause you’re always mean to me.”

James took Kevin’s shoulders and steered him into the store. “Am not. Look, I let you carry the grocery list and money Aunt Arlene gave us. Now let’s see what’s on that list so we can get home and cool off in the creek.”




After getting the bread, James was heading down the cereal aisle contemplating what Aunt Arlene would do if he came home with Lucky Charms, instead of the listed corn flakes. Scanning the shelves to see which cereal was offering the best prize; James noticed a dark object on the bottom shelf, half way behind the Cocoa Puffs. His curiosity getting the best of him, James cautiously reached for the object. As he was pulling out a well loved black horse with one eye, Kevin arrived with the milk and butter.

“Ew, what’s that?” Kevin asked, peering over James’ shoulder.

“Looks like a black horse to me.” James said turning it over in his hand.

“Just leave it there James and let’s go. It has nothing to do with us.”

“Did you notice the Lucky Charms have a 3D puzzle inside?” James pointed out to Kevin while handing him the bread. “Get the cereal and go to checkout. I’ll catch up with you.”





James ran out the door to the parking lot. The blonde lady and her little girl were walking toward an older brown pickup truck; the back loaded with all sorts of odd shapes and covered with a tarp making it look like a modern art sculpture.

“Excuse me.” James said approaching the duo. They turned around and James squatted to speak to the little girl. Her green eyes were still puffy from crying. She reminded James of Cindy Brady, except with brown pigtails. He almost called her Cindy Brady, but at the last minute noticed her cheeks and nose were sprinkled with freckles.

“Do you know this horse, Freckles?” James asked as he pulled the stuffed animal out from behind his back. The little girl squealed loudly and was clutching Sergeant to her chest as quickly as James let the toy go.

“Why, thank you, young man. Losing Sergeant while passing through Tennessee here was going to make our trip to Iowa much longer for the both of us. You did a good thing. Katie, thank the young man.”

“Thank you mister.” Katie mumbled shyly.

James stood up and nodded at them. He went back inside to see what cereal Kevin had picked out and if he was ready to check out yet. After all, James had to get the head start on Kevin so he could cut through the Jackson’s field and beat Kevin home.

Laura and Dolan's 2008-2009 school picture

Laura, my beautiful 6th grader.




Dolan, my handsome 8th grader.

Lost Count Down

Shaun's Senior Pictures

Here's my handsome senior class president.

Shaun started the harp in 6th grade.

Shaun picked up the tuba a couple years ago at his band teachers request.

Shaun has been playing piano since second grade.

Open Letter to Executive Producers of Lost about Eggtown

Dear Sir,
After nine months of waiting, I was so excited when Lost returned. TBOTE was a terrific episode with Jorge Garcia doing an excellent job of serious acting, not just comedy relief. CD was another homerun, introducing interesting characters I already care about. TE provided a jaw dropping start and finish with a satisfying on island action in between. Eggtown was a devastating disappointment, compounded by the fact it was a Kate (one of my favorite characters) centric episode.

Alternate universes are a Lost theory discussed on Lost forums across the internet. Never have subscribed to that theory, although that was how I felt watching Eggtown.

Sun and Jin had a conversation about my baby, our baby. Is the previously retired Jae Lee plot or, God forbid, possible Michael/Sun romance being foreshadowed by that conversation? Or was that conversation showing us that Jin has a new found, excellent grasp of the use of pronouns when he speaks English now?

Haven’t we already seen the Locke/Ben conversation? And I did notice the supposedly subterranean concrete basement wall move when Locke threw the tray and plate against it.

Claire is perky and happy although Charlie died 3 or 4 days prior. Would it have been that much trouble to add Kate, Sawyer, or Hurley putting a hand on Claire’s shoulder and ask her how she is doing, and offering, “If you want to talk about Charlie, I’m here for you.”?

Kate, who delivered Aaron, 60 days ago, doesn’t want to pick him up because she’s not good with babies?

The trial, with the good Dr. Jack coming to the rescue, made blood shoot out of my ears, seriously.

Kate says she doesn’t trust Sawyer; yet pulls a con with him 12 hours later?

Kate and Sawyer talk pregnancy. Kate asks “Would it be the worse thing in the world if I were pregnant?” knowing that pregnancy equals death on the island? Maybe Miles should talk to Sabine or Annie and get their opinion for Kate.

I find myself wishing for the good old days of Season 3 with Nikki and Paulo, who I actually defended online; or even Season 2 with Ana Lucia and the tailies.

I don’t know who is responsible for this fiasco. In the future, Elizabeth Sarnoff episodes will be watched with much fear and trepidation. Gregg Nations needs to stick to baiting and trolling on the Fuse. Sirs, you are the head writers and I assume signed off on this episode. I guess the writers strike was looming and that took precedence over this episode. With only 44 episodes left, I hope a rotten Eggtown is never laid again.

Thank you for your time,