Tuesday, May 25, 2010

My thoughts on LOST

The best word to describe my feelings after watching the LOST finale is ... wait for it ... satisfied. I have to admit I'm glad it's over but it was truly an incredible journey that successfully distracted me from reality and completely grasped my full attention both during the show as well as times after the show where I tried to sift through the ambiguity of it all for something concrete I could grab on to. For me, LOST did what every good story does and that's allow me to get absorbed in a different reality and rejuvenate a little, not focusing on the worries and problems that my own always seems to be so full of. Say what you will but the writers put me on the island and gave me a relationship with the characters, without all the sand in my pants and between my toes - I absolutely hate that by the way!

So with all that being said ... it's over. It's finally over and I'm so very glad it is. I still have questions but unfortunately there will never be answers to them and I'm ok with that. A lady said to me yesterday that she hated the ending and feels like she's wasted 6 years of her life, to which I respond, most certainly not madam! While you may not be satisfied with the way things turned out you can't sit here and tell me you didn't enjoy being lost! Sure it was emotionally draining at times, frustrating even, but still enjoyable and ... just plain fun! So the way this is going to go is I'm going to give my thoughts on the epic ending and then ask some questions that probably don't have answers. Ready ... ?

So the whole flash sideways thing just worked for some reason. I feel like it fit the rest of the show and paralleled the previous shows structure perfectly. Now with that being said I don't know why Desmond's job was to open everyone's eyes but he always seemed to be the sort of wise old hermit character so I guess it worked. Plus who doesn't like to see Ben get his ass handed to him. I get the whole reality created by the souls / spirits / memories of the survivors of the plane crash thing they were going for and how it wasn't necessarily reality but was real nonetheless. But if that's the case why was it different for some then rather if the plane had just landed normally rather than crashed on the island? Like why was Sawyer a cop now but Kate was still a felon? I did love how they later connected everyone before Desmond and Hugo ended up forcing everyone together. But I have to say I did like the reference to the previous love-quadrangle making Jack and Juliette ex's and putting Jack and Kate semi-together in the end, it needed to happen let's be honest. But poor David Shepard, he didn't really exist and he didn't even know it. I don't think they did well on developing his and Jack's relationship, it seemed like one day they were distant and awkward around each other and then the next episode they were inseparable. But all that doesn't take away from the final moments which were clutch! I mean man's best friend, laying down next to dying-Jack, then eye closing which perfectly wraps up the beginning eye opening scene...got em! I applaud that. And what would lost be without being mystic but I do think they made it a point not to step on any toes with the whole religious-esk ending. I mean if you're going spiritual then you have to realize when a group of people have different religions with conflicting ideas, then everyone can't win and someone has to be wrong. So maybe the statement was it doesn't really matter and if you're a good person then you'll get to the light...I don't know. But all-in-all after I sat and thought about it and read some other people's interpretations, I'll give all parties involved in LOST's creation an attaboy and a good-game.

So at the end I was satisfied. I didn't want them to explain it all because the name of the show still was LOST, I don't expect to be completely filled-in and I honestly don't want to. I don't want to know why Desmond could withstand electromagnetism and what the light actually was. I don't want to know why Jacob had magical powers or who built the temple, but there are things I think they could have answered. But that's up next. Final words I liked it and think think it was a very appropriate ending. Not wonderful or awe-inspiring, just appropriate.

Now to the unanswered questions...
Gimme something more with the numbers! I mean they were EVERYWHERE and were such an integral part just to kind of ignore them at the end. I mean they were completely dropped after Jack flipped his shit and smashed the mirrors. Someone ask freaking Jacob why he chose those dadgum numbers please!!!

Why polar bears Dharma? It's a tropical island. Even if your doing a test at least get a more regular bear!

Why could the island and sometimes it's inhabitants time travel? I think that part could have been completely left out and was just a way to further separate Jin and Sun. They never really dealt with it and I don't feel like when smokey and his boys installed the handy wheel in the side of the wall, it was intended for time travel.

Why can't everyone just be with their kids? I mean Jin never got to meet his freaking daughter for crying out loud!

Was the black smoke really Jacob's brother or was it just some evil on the island that could look like whoever had died? And since Jacob had killed his brother, which he shouldn't have been allowed to do anyways right?, was he just inhabiting his brother's body. And if they could hurt each other why didn't he just throw Jacob into a tree periodically if he was so pissed. I kind of feel like he got the short end of the stick there being murdered by his brother and betrayed by his mom and everything.

That's all I got for now. I'm sure I'll have some more questions and I'll be sure to write them here when I come up with them.

Thursday, May 20, 2010

The life and times of David Awalt the Great

So it's graduation season ... yep ... it's been almost exactly a year since I accepted Dan Reneau's congrats along with that much coveted diploma. So naturally I've been reflecting on my life since that fateful day and I feel like this past year has been slightly nuts.
I mean a lot has happened in my life since the beginning of last summer, which was slow and boring enough to make me think the year would follow suit. Then the restlessness set in and it felt like I just couldn't sit still anymore, so I ran away.
I ended up making my way to Austin, which is when things seemed to really hit the proverbial fan. Even though I had run away from it all, everything just seemed to catch right back up to me. Through a lot of hurt and frustration, some of which still exists today, some friendships were truly tested and the ones that had ever been worth anything withstood the trials. Others just faded into the drama and chaos surrounding my life. Friendships I had thought were solid enough turned out to not be what I thought, which actually turned out to be an eye-opener about the time and effort I had put into things so temporary. This opening led to a spectrum of emotions that I am still going through.
But Austin itself also gave me a little insight into what the real world was actually like outside the little bubble that is college and even the little town of Ruston. I loved my time there and don't regret anything about it because at the end of the day I can say I tried, and while it might not seem like much ... it really is something.
And everyday I feel like I'm learning more about people's priorities in the workplace and in everyday life. As I struggle to make end's meat over a job that I'm not that fond of, I can't help but feel bitter and taken advantage of. I am forced to focus on things I've never wanted to worry about, like not having health insurance and making sure I have enough saved to pay back my monthly student loan payments.
So here's my advice ... the real world is tough and don't underestimate it. But it's a necessary step for everyone to take, when they're ready. just be prepared to learn a lot about yourself and what's important to you. So to all my friends who've stuck with me and value what we have above the things that could have gotten in the way, I owe you all a high-five and a good-game. To the others ... have fun growing up.
With all of that being said I have no regrets and I'm still excited to see how this turns out. Life's an adventure and I'm just getting started. So I'll face the second star to the right and do my best to fly straight on till morning.

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Broadcasting...sheesh

So if you would have told me when I was 7 that I would have no clue what I wanted to do when I "grew up" I would have literally scoffed at you...that's right...a full-fledged scoff. Well scoff away past-David because I have no clue what I want to do, but I'm pretty sure it has nothing to do with broadcasting.
Early, early mornings on weekends put me in bed around 8 starting Wednesday night, which does wonders for my social life. Now I realize the concept of working your way up in the industry but this job is just a transitional, get-experience-under-your-belt type of job rather than a pursuit of a career. So where's the point that it becomes worth it to just say, "ef it!" I'd rather be miserable at work and have my nights and weekends free to pursue my social life than be miserable at work and not have my nights and weekends free to pursue my social life?
So as of 5:18am on Thursday, May 6, 2010...my plan is to (drumrole...drumrole)...I have no idea!
Gotcha!
But really I think if I'm still doing this stupid shift in 6 months, am addicted to over-the-counter pain-reliever pills with a PM attached to the end and am in serious need of a new kidney but still don't have health insurance ... I think I'll become a teacher. Hey good benefits and summers off right?!?
At the risk of sounding like I'm complaining too much I'll say that I do like being on the up-and-up of what's going on in the world and in the Arklatex...that last one was kind of a joke...and I do like dreaming about being part of the face-change of local news.
But the hours are bad and the pay is low, two major major cons against this lovely industry, but every once in a while something will happen that makes it all seem worth it.
the other day we had a meeting for work in which we discussed revolutionizing the news industry and my mind started racing. I got legitimately excited about the things I could do to change the industry but then got a crash of reality as I realized that my position as a weekend morning producer wouldn't allow me to creatively produce the content that I dream of producing. I really do think I would like this job if it didn't start at 3 in the morning on weekends and completely ruin any chance I had of spending some quality time with my buddies and lovely girl friend, but I am filling a need so I guess the lesson here is suck it up and take it like a man David.
So during my time writing this I have come to the conclusion that I'll do this as long as I can take it and if I really start to see my life and general mood suffer then I'll make sure my priorities are right. If everything seems to be in line but I still hate everything...then maybe it'll be time for a change. But for now let's just take things as they come and maybe I can figure out a way to sleep and have a social life, not one or the other.
In close if I ever saw my 7-year-old self scoffing at me I would politely punch him in the face and tell myself to get ready to face reality cause it's truly a bitch.