In Defense of Shannon and Sayid

If you're not a Lost fan, then you might want to skip this one.  If you are a Lost fan, odds are good you'll never see this post, but I still feel compelled to voice my opinion.

I've read a few blog posts about last night's finale.  Most of the frequent writers appear to have really enjoyed it.  The comments show a mixed bag of reactions.

There's no mixed bag here.  I loved it.  I found it to be very satisfying ending to a series I've really enjoyed over the years. While I've enjoyed the various stories, I'll admit that it's more about the characters for me.  These are characters I've come to love in all their human frailties. 

The one thing that everything I've read that everyone seems to agree on is the Sideways world ending for Shannon and Sayid.  They hate it.  Oh, where's poor Nadia?  Poor Nadia is where she's supposed to be as far as I'm concerned.

Don't get me wrong, I don't hate Nadia. I just don't feel that she was Sayid's one true love. Nadia was Sayid's childhood friend, his victim, and his wife. He idealized her, and he felt guilty about what he'd done to her when he worked as a torturer for the Iraqi Republican Guard.  He had Nadia on a huge pedestal built of childhood dreams and guilt.  As fun as it might be to pine for her, it's not real love.

Shannon's short tenure on the show showed a spoiled rich girl who expected everyone to wait on her and cater to every whim. To call her unlikeable is to be kind.  Then something unexpected happened, Shannon started growing up.  It was brief, too brief, but we saw Sayid and Shannon connect.  Each knew the worst of the other, yet love started to grow.  I hated Shannon at the beginning, but loved seeing this turnaround.  She was becoming a mature human being capable of putting another first, and then she was shot.

Sayid's true love was referenced often, and everyone assumed it was Nadia.  Seeing him married to her during his time back in the "real" world cemented that belief for many.  We didn't really see too much of their relationship with each other until sideways world.  Once again, Nadia was the dream, not his reality.  Would Nadia have married his brother if they were soulmates?  Would Nadia's first reactions be to send Sayid into harm's way to protect her way of life, if they were soulmates?  Would Nadia's first reactions be to question what Sayid had done after she sent him to fix things, if they were soulmates?  Wouldn't she believe in him? Trust him?  Wouldn't she know that he would only act in defense?  She would, if they were soulmates.

When FLocke aka Smokey offered Sayid the chance to have his wish come true, to be reunited with his love, everyone assumed Nadia.  I hoped for Shannon.

Sayid deserved a flawed love who knew, accepted, and loved him.  He did not deserve to be constantly tested and found wanting by his love on a pedestal.

The reunion that got to me the most was actually Sawyer and Juliet, but Sayid and Shannon was my close second.

Pieces & Parts

Did you watch?  Jamie Oliver's new show, Food Revolution, began last Friday.  I did, and I'm hooked.  It's no secret that school lunchs leave a lot to be desired.  It's time that everyone sees how unhealthy they truly are. 

I work in a school that has almost 70% of the students qualifying for free/reduced lunch.  This means they also get breakfast.  For far too many, these are their only two meals of the day.

Guess what they eat.  The favorite choice for breakfast is pop-tarts and for lunch, it's french fries.

We've been working on eating healthier at home.  Buying meat and eggs from a local butcher who only buys from local farmers.  He has a huge sign up in the store that none of their meat has any additives or hormones added.  I choose to believe. We buy regularly from the farmer's market when produce is in season here.  The pickings got light over the winter, but I canned a lot of our locally grown apples and froze bags and bags of fresh corn. Next year, I plan to preserve even more.

This year Jim is talking about putting in a garden as a project for him and Sera.  I told him you grow it, I'll cook or preserve it.

We're far from perfect with this, but we're trying.  Ice cream is much too regular a part of our diet and those Girl Scouts made a few bucks from us, but we're working hard to improve.  Too many children don't have these opportunities. 

Can you imagine a 5 or 6 year old child not being able to identify a tomato? I can see not knowing what a beet or an eggplant is, but a tomato, a mushroom, or a potato? That is one of the things this show highlights, and it's appalling.

We wonder why so many schools are struggling to educate our young?

Maybe their brains are starving from lack of nutrients?

Update:  Another link you may find interesting, Fed Up with Lunch:  The School Lunch Project.

And The Emmy Goes To...

Isn't he amazing? I'm already sad that the season is almost over.

Spherical, schmerical

It's Thursday, so it must be time to discuss Top Chef. I actually get excited when I realize it's Wednesday and I get to watch it. Then on Thursday, I surf all over reading what everyone has to say about the episode.

Bravo will show the episode practically daily, so there are plenty of opportunities for you to catch up. It was interesting to see Donatella venturing over from the Food Network as guest judge. She always seems like she really knows what she's talking about. The quickfire challenge was to create their own hot dog. The elimination challenge was to operate a restaurant with five appetizers, five entrees, and five desserts. One each for the 15 remaining chefs. The bottom two ended up being Ariane for the second week and Jill. With it being Ariane's second time in two episodes on the bottom, you'd think that she'd be eliminated. I wasn't surprised, however, when it was Jill.

I had two reasons for thinking Jill would be the one to go. One, they pretty much hated her dish, but they also hated Ariane's. The second was that she did very badly in the quickfire. Since Donatella was the guest judge for both and Padma always judges at both challenges, I could see how that could influence their final decision. Hosea, who was the third one on the bottom, did very well in the quickfire.

But in reading the blogs today, in particular Tom Colicchio's blog, I read what was probably one of the major factors in the decision. Tom wrote an extended piece explaining New American cuisine. The challenge last night was to prepare dishes in this style. While neither Ariane's nor Jill's dishes were successful, they felt that Ariane's followed the New American guidelines more than Jill's. I can buy that.

That being said, I don't think Ariane is long for the show. Not unless she can pull it together. I'm sure she's an excellent chef, but she seems to lack self-confidence. She was one hot mess at the end of this week's episode, and this is only week two! What's she going to be like another few weeks down the road when the stress and sleep deprivation really kick in?

But what, you ask, about the winner? Fabio did a very well received dish of carpaccio. The key to this dish is buying fresh high quality ingredients. Carpaccio is thinly sliced raw beef. He served it with an aged Parmagiana and an aged balsamic vinegar. I think it was the spherical olives that won it for him because the rest was a matter of slicing and plating. I'm sure it was delicious, but I was left underwhelmed.

It's Back!

Can I just say I love this show? I'm so happy it's back on.

The show got off to a great start last night. While sending someone home within the first 10 minutes, before they even got to unpack, was a little cruel, it certainly set a no-nonsense tone for the season.

The first challenge for the 17 contestants was to peel 15 apples using a paring knife. The first nine to finish to Tom's approval were safe. The remaining eight went on to the next challenge. This time they had to brunoise* two cups worth of the apples. Again to Tom's approval. The first four were safe. The remaining four then had 20 minutes to prepare a dish. The dish Tom liked least would go home.

The writing on the wall was there to let you know who was going home. It's the only one they did a backstory on during the segment. Lauren is a 24 year old married chef. Her husband is currently deployed. Within minutes of arriving, she found out that one of the other contestants was her good friend, Patrick. They were friends at the Culinary Institute of America, where Patrick, 21, is still a student. The mere fact they told us all of this within the first few minutes of the episode did not bode well for these two. Neither did the fact that they ended up in the bottom two of the quickfire.

In my opinion, they ended up there because they didn't cook. The other two grabbed a protein (pork and scallops) and prepared a dish. Both Lauren and Patrick made salads. Lauren ended up eliminated and the reunion was over before it even began.

The elimination challenge was also excellent. I had this whole review written in my head about the two who ended up in the bottom, and why I thought the right one went home. Then I went online and read Tom's blog about why they decided the way they did. He said everything I thought, but he was actually there and tasted the food. I was thrilled to see that my reasoning was right on target. On the other hand, his version has more credibility since he's an actual judge.

Be sure to catch one of the many repeats this week. I actually love that they show the episode multiple times. It's nice knowing that if I miss the Wednesday night premiere, I can always watch it on Thursday or over the weekend.

It's too early for me to pick a favorite yet as I like to watch them work and see their personalities. It does seem like they have some very talented people competing this season. I think it's going to be a fun ride!

*Brunoise is a method of food preparation in which the food item is first julienned and then turned 90° and diced again, producing cubes of a side length of about 3 mm on each side or less.

Reality

I was not a big fan of reality TV when it took off. In fact, I was quite vocally against it. I'd much rather watch a well-written series instead of the badly written (they do have screenwriters) overly dramatized series claiming to be "real".

Over the years, they've snuck up on me. First, it was American Idol. I hate the audition process where the main goal appears to involve humiliating as many people as possible. Once they've narrowed it down to their final group, I started watching. I missed the first year, but have seen it since. It's not must-see TV. If I'm doing something else, oh well, but I enjoy it.

Then I found Top Chef. I LOVE Top Chef, and cannot wait for the new season to begin on Wednesday. This was followed by Project Runway. Then to be really late on a bandwagon, I started watching Amazing Race last year. It's fun, but I mainly watch it because I'm doing laundry on Sunday evening, and there's nothing else I want to watch on. I was happy to see the catty divorceés come in last though. I consider that to be a karmic end.

The show that has really captured my attention recently, however, is The Chef Jeff Project on the Food Network. Chef Jeff is Jeff Henderson. He went to prison at the age of 24 for selling drugs. While in prison, he started working in the kitchen and found a love for cooking. After getting out of prison, he went to culinary school and then worked his way up the culinary ranks. He got out of that lifestyle because people helped him. He's now paying them back by reaching back and helping others.

He's chosen six young people who've had their share of problems. They've battled drug addictions, gangs, been to prison, or kicked out of their family homes. The main thing they all have in common is their desire to leave their past behind and get a new start.

This is an unusual "reality" show in that it's not a contest. They've already won. All they have to do to get a full scholarship to culinary school is make it through Chef Jeff's program. They've been responsible for catering events each week mixed in with some life lessons. You can see them growing, maturing, and making better choices.

I think what I like about the show is that those well balanced six -- three female, three male, two Hispanic, two African-American, and two Caucasian -- remind me of my students. I like that they're being taught how to come together as a team instead of competing to beat the other. I like that this show truly appears to be about giving someone a hand up and out. I'm not naive. I know that the show is about ratings and profit, but if it also helping six people who had been on the wrong path change their lives, then I can live with that.

Confession

To show how shallow I can be, I am a little upset that tonight's debate is taking place at the same time as the season finale on Project Runway.

Stop The Boycott!

Congratulations, Stephanie! The Internet community can now continue to watch Top Chef without imploding.

Another Confession

Yes, I have another confession for you. This is a risky one. One that may mean I have to turn in my girl card. I'm not going to see Sex and the City.

Nope, have no interest. I don't begrudge any one who is excited. In fact, I'm a little jealous, but that's okay. When the series started, we didn't have HBO. Even after we got HBO, I never really tuned in to the show. I saw a few episodes, and I liked them. It just never seemed to come on when I was looking for something to watch.

Because of this, I never really got emotionally invested in these four ladies.

I hope all of you who went last night or plan to go soon have a wonderful experience.Don't forget to sign up for my Popcorn Giveaway!

Freaky Coincidence or Conspiracy!!

In order to put forth my conspiracy theory, I have to make a confession. I started watching a really bad reality show over the last few months. I had not seen it in the past, but happened upon a marathon of last year's episodes. It's like watching a train wreck. I can't help myself. Every Tuesday at 9:00pm EST, I turn to Hell's Kitchen. It's awful. Gordon Ramsey spends the majority of the time yelling and just short of having a stroke. The contestants are uniformly unqualified to be in a professional kitchen. It's at the opposite end of the spectrum when compared to Top Chef.

Except for this...

Two weeks ago on Top Chef, Nikki was told to pack her knives and go home. The following episode of Hell's Kitchen had Nikki's doppelganger, Rosann was eliminated.

Last week on Top Chef, the only Asian chef, Dale, was eliminated. Last night on Hell's Kitchen, the only Asian chef, Louross, was eliminated.

::cue Twilight Zone music::

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Say It Ain't So, Padma!

A terrible reality show injustice has occurred. Slimy Spike and Prune-faced Lisa are still in the competion, and Dale, inarguably one of the top three chefs in the competition, is gone?

Now I give you that he had a bad night, but he's been one of the top, if not the top, winner of the challenges to date. Yes, he's volatile. Yes, he's passionate. Yes, he can be a self-described jerk. (Okay, he called himself worse, but this is a G-rated blog.) People complain that he doesn't work well with others. That's not true. He was great with Richard and Stephanie. He just can't work well with incompetant, arrogant people who make mistakes and shout sabotage. People who focus more on hurting their competitor than proving themselves capable. People who have no business being on that show still. I'd take Nikki over Spike and Lisa any day of the week.

Spike has hidden in the middle of the pack the entire competition. His only concern is covering his butt and not being held responsible for anything. Lisa has been on the bottom three for the last eight (correct me if I'm wrong) challenges. She is terrible. She also refuses to ever take responsibility for making a bad dish or a bad choice. It is always someone else's fault.

I do think that the judging should take into account their previous performances. If it ended up as a toss up between Lisa and Dale. Dale's successes (one just last week, and he came in 2nd in the quickfire) should have given him the edge. Lisa has had one success the entire competition and that was so long ago. Neither she nor Spike deserve to be in the final four. I think this came about because two of the regular judges were not there.

Good luck, Dale! You were robbed.

And on another reality show note, good for David C. Now, someone please do an intervention for David A. and let him have some normal kid time. Please?

Now for a more serious comment.

Deepest condolences to the Steven Curtis Chapman family whose 5-year-old daughter, Maria, was killed in a tragic accident. Maria was one of three children adopted from China by the Chapman family.

AI Finale

Another season is wrapping up, and you know what I realized?

I want them both to lose. Impossible, I know, but I do.

Why? You ask.

David C. is ready to go right now. He could record an album and hit the concert road. He doesn't need the controlling aspect of being THE American Idol.

David A., poor poor David A. He's like a lost little puppy dog trying to please his master. His voice is amazing, but he needs life experience, preferably away from his father. He looks so miserable and beaten down. He will be eaten alive by the industry. He will be turned and twisted and marketed every way possible. His dad will sell him to the highest bidder, and then he'll end up in rehab or worse.

This is only my opinion, and I hope I'm wrong.