ABC releases a LOST Season 5 preview. I re-release my LOST obession.

The new year can't come soon enough.

Use Your $38K Imagination

The other day I stumbled upon a web site for a company specializing in luxury children's furniture called Posh Tots. Some of their signature items include elaborate handcrafted playhouses starting at about $5,000.00.

Out of all of them, my personal favorite has to be Sophie's Magical Windmill Playhouse. At only $38,000.00, this little number features:

"...a reading loft, charming windmill blades and an outdoor deck with hand rails. Interior flooring is maple wood vinyl and interior walls have wallpapered graphic panels. Exterior walls are a Douglas fir structural frame with bead board siding. The roof is made of Douglas fir structural trusses with exterior plywood sheeting and cedar shingles. Interior features include a loft with decorative hand railing, ladder, wood trims, operable windows, storage hideaways, concealed ventilation, bay window with reading bench, LED decorative lighting and upholstered cushions and pillows. Exterior features powder-coated metal planters, powder-coated metal flower motif and a second level deck with exterior hand railing."

The inevitable entitlement complex and lifetime of unfulfilled expectations are free.

I remember when outdoor playhouses were just that -- they were outdoors (meaning they didn't have central air), and they were for play (meaning they didn't require a mortgage).

Granted, I did have a playhouse growing up -- two, actually. The first was a treehouse built by my father. He spent the whole summer "handcrafting" it. Unfortunately, the result was three walls and a questionable floor that quickly forced it's condemnation before it could claim the life of one of my brothers.

The second was a Star Wars: Return of the Jedi Scout Walker Command Tower with Speeder Bike Ride. It wasn't much to look at, but I loved it. It didn't have LED decorative lighting or upholstered cushions and pillows, but if you thought real hard, you could chase Storm Troopers across the Moon of Endor to deactivate the shield generator.

Oh, and I'm sure it cost a little less than $38K.

Star Power

After years of waiting in a jealous rage of those across the Southwest that could enjoy the majesty of The Original Six Dollar Burger anytime they wanted, Carl's Jr. has finally arrived in Western Washington via two locations in Tacoma and Lacey.

Colleen and I made our inaugural visit last night in Lacey along with a virtual parade of loyal followers and those simply drawn to the power of the Star. We barely approached the drive-through window when the delicious memories of the best fast food on Earth came rushing back.

In an instant I recalled a time long ago, when Happy Star and his smoky delicious charbroiled burgers served as an oasis in the barren wasteland of three-days-long drives to Disneyland in the family van.

While the visit seemed like only a brief moment (we did, after all, go through the drive-through), it's the journey, not the destination at Carl's Jr. And, we will undoubtably continue to savor the flavor of ol' Carl's dream long after the glitz and glamour of his grand entrance to Western Washington fades into memory.

On the Hunt

Our church put on an Easter brunch and egg hunt for the kids this weekend. It was a little wet out, but not too bad for March in Western Washington. Jane had her new pink Easter basket (bucket, really) and was ready to go. Despite several reminders to gather as many eggs as possible, she continually found herself distracted by the allure of opening the eggs to discover the prize inside.

Little did I know that after the hunt, her dad emptied the candy from all of the eggs and stuffed it in her pockets. When I went looking for it later that afternoon, I discovered what little was left and was told it was to be a secret between the two of them.

A Day at The Pumpkin Palace

Fall is so fun! We went to the pumpkin patch today with our friend Margaret and her daughter, Amelia. Aptly named The Pumpkin Palace, it was the perfect spot to enjoy an October day. Jane loved the farm atmosphere and seeing the chickens, donkeys, sheep, pigs, goats, and turkeys. We even got to sit on a big tractor.

Best of all, the pumpkin patch was full of little pumpkins, just Jane's size. She got to pick her own to take home and decorate for Halloween.