I Think This About Sums It Up

So, it's taken me a week to really figure out where I stand on the series finale of Lost, and I'm in a pretty good spot now. I'll admit I've been taking some serious so-called "wiki walks" through Lostpedia all week, and seriously want to watch the whole thing over again as soon as it comes out on Blu-ray come August. (Come on, employment!) I was a little upset on Sunday night, but now I'm back to being, as they say, "all-in" with this show.

That said, and even though I'm not now, nor was I ever, in the "I demand answers to EVERYTHING" camp, I only really wanted TWO answers, this is pretty good stuff right here from CollegeHumor.com:

Thanks to my buddy Wes for hipping me to this on Facebook.

Will They REALLY Be Throwbacks This Time?

So, the news became all officially official today that the Washington Capitals will play in the next installment of the now annual Winter Classic on new year's day in 2011.

While those who know me know that I will most likely not be in attendance, there's one piece of information from Team President and Owner Dick Patrick that really piqued my interest:

“I think it’s very cool for them, I think it’s cool for everyone,” says Patrick. “The Reebok people have been down [to Washington] with the league people to go over thoughts on creating a jersey just for this game for the Washington Capitals. It will be a throwback; it will be reminiscent of the early days of the Caps. I am not sure if the pants will be white or red or blue, but they will be different.”

Me, being the kind of person who, let's say, enjoys his fair share of merchandise from time to time, finds this to be a pretty cool piece of news. That said, it doesn't come without at least a shred of concern.

To be blunt, I hope the folks at Reebok and the Capitals are working to make this an honest-to-goodness "throwback" sweater, complete with individually sewn letters for the logo on the front and the word "WASHINGTON" embroidered separately above over the left half of the team name. And most certainly NOT the replica-looking things, with the whole logo contained in a tiny applique, that Reebok has been trying to pass off as "Vintage" the last few years.

Or, to put it the way I did in a recent message board post, "Please let them do this up right. I'm still 99.99999999999999991% never setting buttock in Pittsburgh for a hockey game again, but I will be a total merch-whore if these things are done right."

Original images from me (left) and the Washington Capitals (right).

Is Lost Island Actually Kamp Krusty?

Over the last six seasons of TV, I have avoided about 98% of the discussion involving Lost, both off and online. I am absolutely enthralled with the show, but never felt like I needed anyone else's input on it to enjoy the living hell out of it. I'd rather just let the show do its thing. I was one of those people that actually loved every answer leading to more questions, so I avoided all manner of spoilers and speculation. I didn't need to engage in any of that as I was sure, especially after the finite schedule for ending the show had been released, that it would all get taken care of.

After the final season premiere aired, I admit that I peeked at a couple of forums to see what the general buzz was. (BAD Goat!) I was kind of amazed that there were people upset that all of the island's mysteries hadn't been resolved after one night. "These people just don't get it," I thought, as I resolved to keep my optimism in place that all would be revealed in due time.

Answers Are Coming… Answers Are Coming… Answers ARE Coming…

Sure, I was a little concerned that the show had introduced an entirely new set of characters, and even an entirely new reality. Yes, there were only so many episodes left. And yes, the next few episodes dealt WAY more with the "Altverse" than I, or anyone else, would have liked. Still, I remained confident that the layers of the onion would start coming off at a furious pace at some point.

Right?

Now, with just two and a half hours of TV left for Lost to tell me a story (which will probably be more like 90 minutes of actual show), I have to admit that I'm a little concerned. There have, as usual, been a lot of answers that beget questions over the last few weeks, but isn't it about time to start answering questions with, well, answers? I'm not looking for super hardcore, midichlorian-type explanations of things that we shouldn't necessarily understand. I just want some gaps filled in. Is that so wrong?

In all honesty, the only two items I have left on my own personal "MUST BE ANSWERED OR I WILL BE PISSED" checklist are:

• What about the Dharma Initiative?
• WTF with Walt?

The entire "History" episodes over the last few weeks have been amazing, in my opinion. In fact, a few more of those throughout the season, and I think everybody would be a lot happier (especially in place of ANOTHER episode demonstrating how Kate thinks of herself first all the time).

I'm still sitting in the corner repeating my mantra, and looking forward to the big blowout on Sunday night, hoping that at least a whole bunch will be revealed. I'm just hoping that when the answers do show up, they're a little bit more satisfying than Damon Lindelof introducing Carlton Cuse in a makeshift clown costume.

You didn't actually think you'd get REAL answers, did you?

Please, TV, don't let me down!