TDTVS

Jumping The Octopus

Several weeks ago my Instagram feed was inundated with ads for a patina garden sculpture of an octopus (sometimes labeled as a squid.) I was intrigued, it might look nice in the spot in the patio where the raggedy rose bush was. But they wanted over $40 for ’em. I poked around on Amazon and found one for $20.

It arrived yesterday, and after moving the arms around to a look I liked, it seemed a little dwarfed in the spot. The one I bought has a head size of about 16″ x 16″ and Amazon has some that are $45 that are 22″ x 22″. So, now I’m thinking I buy the bigger set and use it’s larger head and that set’s 4 more arms. Or should I just not waste the money and put the smaller one in a smaller area? I’m on the fence.

Instead of stopping the rewatch of LOST, I’ve just accelerated my viewing. Between yesterday and today I have burned through the last 10 episodes of Season five. I have “just” the 18 episodes of season six to finish and I might just go ahead and delete my digital copy of the show. This IMDb featured review of the show says it all.

Red Sox chances of making the Wild Card round in the 2026 playoffs: 7.2%

 

Jumping The Shark

I’m continuing with my rewatch of LOST, although I don’t know why. I am in Season Five now, and 6 episodes in. On a show that was loose with reality from the get go, there have been several chances to say the LOST had jumped the shark, but for me it was the third episode of season five, 89th overall, entitled “Jughead.”

No, it isn’t a crossover with the Archie comic books, but some reason the island are “heroes” are on has become unstuck in time. This plot device represents the Fonz putting on the water skis, the shark jumping part occurs during one of the time jumps. The characters are dropped in with some military types in 1954 and they find a twenty ton hydrogen bomb:

Red Sox chances of making the Wild Card round in the 2026 playoffs: 7.6%

 

No Car Day

Daguerretype Miata


 
When I said “no car day,” I meant I didn’t drive a car today, not no car content day. The photo above was from yesterday morning’s walk. When I finished my loop, I noticed that I had parked in the same spot as the GTI from last Saturday morning. So I gave the Miata the same “photoshop” treatment as I did for the GTI.

Instead of driving to get my morning latte, I walked for it. I’ve done this about 3 or 4 times, and every time I get back, I swear I won’t do it again. Two-thirds of the trip is on fairly busy roads, and along most of that, there are zero sidewalks. Plus, the traffic makes it very noisy for listening to podcasts. This time when I got back, I didn’t swear I’d never do it again, so maybe this will flip the switch, and I just not do it again.

Red Sox chances of making the Wild Card round in the 2026 playoffs: 35.5%

 

Sunday, Sunday, Sunday

Today was jam-packed.

Started with my go-to weekend bicycle ride. I changed it up a little in the beginning to try a different bike path heading east. It really didn’t improve anything, and it actually was a downgrade because it is less traveled and as well-kept as the Ch’ak Ch’ak trail. It was a bit chillier of a ride because of yesterday’s rain, and it was still overcast. So instead of my usual dining outside at Stomping Grounds, I sat inside for my latte and muffin.

Sunday is laundry day, when I wash the sheets and towels as one load and then a second one for the clothes that have accumulated since Wednesday. While doing the washing I was watching the Red Sox lose to the Braves 8-0. This afternoon I washed both cars and changed their driveway order. The Miata is up front now because it is supposed to be a mostly sunny week with highs in the 70s. After the car washings I watched the last two episodes of season two of LOST.

My new toy/impulse buy showed up via FedEx, the widescreen FlightWall. After setting it up on the side table and getting it dialed in, I just let it run. I was going to wait until tomorrow to mount it in its permanent spot when I got the flat extension cord from Amazon but couldn’t help myself.

Along in there, I had time to break down the completed jigsaw puzzle and start a new one. plus watch several episodes of The Charismatic Voice. She really breaks down the singing and, to a certain extent, the sound as to how they are so good. I knew these songs were good, but she helped me understand why they are.

Red Sox chances of making the Wild Card round in the 2026 playoffs: 38.5%

 

Haven’t Forgotten About LOST

It dawned cool, cloudy, and drizzly, so I immediately thought, I have no place I need to go, so after my 45-minute spin around Bavaria on the exercise bike, I changed into my loungewear and have been dressed that way ever since.

I farted around on YouTube, finished a jigsaw puzzle, and watched two episodes of LOST, then watched the Red Sox, much to my surprise, win a baseball game. After this I may go watch a movie, or read some more of the book I have going, or just zone out listening to Radio Paradise while watching their slideshow.

I’m three-quarters of the way through season two, watching 2 episodes a day. If you thought the first season was jam-packed, so far in the first 18 episodes of season two, the reveals and new stuff have been more of an avalanche. I have to admit that I almost pulled the plug at episode ten. Never been a fan of any of the Charlie episodes, but this one is the worst, IMHO. But I shouldered on.

Red Sox chances of making the Wild Card round in the 2026 playoffs: 35.3%

 

Man of Science Fiction, Man of No Faith

Saturday was another “date night” with my neighbor. After last month’s surprise dancing incident, we just went out for a meal. There is a place I have been driving by a couple times a week to get to one of my go-to walking paths. There are always a lot of cars parked there, and on summer nights they have outdoor concerts with B-list bands that pack ’em in. There are several restaurants/bars on the property, and we went to the Power Station Pub. We split a Grateful Veg Mezza because the place was busy, and we were warned that our meals would be longer than a 30-minute wait. She ordered the Aztec Salad with chicken, and I had the Dockside Fish Soft Tacos. One blackberry seltzer each, so there was to be zero dancing.

This morning was a bicycle ride ending at Stomping Grounds for a latte and a muffin. Afterwards, I yanked the dead weeds I sprayed with killer a couple days ago. The afternoon was spent watching the last two episodes of season one of LOST. In the last one Locke tells Jack that he is a man of faith and Jack is a man of science. The title of episode one of season two is “Man of Science, Man of Faith.” I’ll start with that one tomorrow.

Red Sox chances of making the Wild Card round in the 2026 playoffs: 31.1%

 

Back Home I’m Worth $149 Million

Mega Lotto Jackpot

Since Tuesday’s Little Toy Airplane post I have chewed through seven more episodes and only have the final 2 episode of Season 1 left. The only other LOST action figure bonus item that I have is Hurley’s Mega Lotto Jackpot ticket. He used the numbers 4, 8, 15, 16, 23 and 42 that frequently recurred in LOST and winning brought him nothing but bad luck.

You can still get that full 6-figure set of the McFarland Series 1 action figures on eBay for $210.00. I’m hoping that one of my thousands of readers will buy them, so I can’t.

Red Sox chances of making the Wild Card round in the 2026 playoffs: 36.6%