The Oh-So Deep and Philosophical Meaning Behind the Title of My Blog

"Nate-dog, the title of your blog is weird. What does it mean?"

Well, I'm glad you asked...It's an allusion to "bog mummies," of course. Bog mummies are preserved human remains found in swampy marshes mostly in the U.K., Ireland, and other parts of northern Europe. It's just like that sequence in Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers when Gollum, Sam, and Frodo are trudging through the Dead Marshes. They see the bodies of soldiers long dead, well-preserved just below the surface of the water. It seems that certain bogs have a particular pH level and mineral content perfect for the preservation of organic matter. It's kind of like natural formaldehyde.

Similarly, my blog is a place for random thoughts and rants to fall out of my head and be preserved electronically by the good folks at blogger.com. Perhaps, many years in the future, some web-surfers will stumble upon my blogs with their 10th generation iPads and stop for a moment to learn what life was like in early 21st century L.A.

Since many of the posts deal specifically with life in the Los Angeles area or the entertainment industry, I thought it appropriate to include the word "Hollywoodland."

Did you know the "Hollywood" sign used to say "Hollywoodland"? Yeah. Then like the last four letters fell over in an earthquake or some gang tagged them all with graffiti or some rich fool tried to build a house there or some such calamity befell them...and they just left it "Hollywood" after that. "Hollywoodland" sounds more...mythical...a good place for blog mummies to pause for rest, and be crystallized in time for posterity.

I originally titled this blog "The Father of Modern Bloggetry." It was an homage to Robert Goddard, "The Father of Modern Rocketry," who was instrumental in developing the technologies we now use to launch spacecraft and satellites into orbit. He was a fellow sci-fi geek, and he really did a lot to make what was once science fiction a reality. I changed the name of the blog because "Father of Modern Bloggetry" sounds even more pretentious than "Blog Mummies."

Dharma Sharks in Lala Land

It's been a while since I've written, but now, after much anticipation, I bring you the return of Nate-dog's Blogs.

(I'm not really that full of myself. I know you could care less. But thanks for reading anyway.)

So I'm blogging about similarities between L.A. and the island in Lost. It seems to me in both cases, people have certain demons that brought them where they are. Everyone who has moved to L.A. has certain issues they are trying to run from, just like the people in Lost. And I've talked to a great many people that moved to L.A. not wanting to stay here really -- not wanting to rent an apartment and live in a crazy, dysfunctional, non-family oriented town for the rest of their lives. Many people planned on returning to the suburban paradises from which they originated. And of course the people on the island didn't expect to stay there as long as they have. They thought it was just a little detour. But people seem to get stuck in both places. A lot of people think they'll just come to L.A., make it big, and then move somewhere else -- returning to L.A. just for work once in a while.

But people in both cases are forced to work out their demons in ways they didn't expect. They may have had certain dreams -- and they aren't playing out the way they were supposed to.

But, sometimes a loser in a small-minded small town can be crippled in some way. Suddenly, he finds himself in L.A. or on the island, and he is a leader -- and a hunter -- his disability is gone, miraculously. Hunting wild boar...or hot L.A. women -- or just helping his fellow man through the jungles.

People see crazy things they weren't expecting to see along the way. Polar bears on a tropical island, wild horses, dead relatives...or men dressed up like devils or giant rabbits, transvestites, super-heroes.

But, you know, I've felt like the show has been stuck lately -- stuck in a rut. The main characters have been captured by the Others up to this point in the third season, and it looks to me like the writers haven't quite figured out what they're gonna do. Well, my "Others" have me hemmed up in a rut, too. Where is the story going?

Sadly, I have come to the realization that I am the writer of my story. Even Almighty God doesn't have as much control over my story as I do -- because He has given me free will. I just need to think "What do I want out of life?" No matter what it is, if I give it to God, dedicate it to Him, He'll bless it ... whatever it is, as long as it's aligned with His Word.

So I guess it's time to write myself out of a corner. I must free myself from my "Others."

But the question is...how do I get back to the main island?

It's a two-mile swim through shark-infested waters...

Places

so i just got back from the east coast. it was humid.

walking out of the airport was like climbing from a refreshing pool into a 105 degree hot tub.

i miss the culture and history. Philly is amazing. independence hall. the liberty bell. the constitution museum. different churches and temples over 200 years old. i miss the people. some will complain that the city of brotherly love doesn't live up to its name. but if you compare it side by side with los angeles, it passes with flying colors.

next to L.A., the residents of Philadelphia are kinder, more helpful, more polite, more aware of what's going on around them, they drive better, use their horns less. even New Yorkers seem more compassionate than Angelenos.

i feel like if a New Yorker were honking his horn at another driver, and then were given the opportunity to do anything he wanted to that driver -- he might smack him in the face and say something like "Whaddaya doin' ya friggin' idiot!" and i feel like if the same opportunity were given to an Angeleno, he might club the other driver violently and leave him in the street for dead. but that's just me. that's the vibe i get.

I love New York. everything about L.A. seems pretentious, while NYC seems authentic. the people there are a little less 'polished'. but i mean that in a good way.

i went from the rich history of Philadelphia to the simple country living of smalltown central Pennsylvania to the mecca of modern culture and society of New York City to the affluent suburbs of New Jersey.

being among old college friends felt like being among family. for a minute i remembered who i was back then. i felt a joy i haven't felt for a long time. and though the vast majority of them are married and some have children -- many own houses -- i don't envy that like i thought i would. i mean i'm deeply happy for them -- but i just know that's not where i'm supposed to be right now.

worshipping with my old college church friends at this wedding -- after years of being apart -- was awesome. it's like we never stopped. those wednesday nights in the frizzel room in eisenhower chapel on the Penn State campus in State College in the middle of Pennsylvania -- they just flowed right into last saturday. and last saturday will flow right into this sunday at Oasis . . . in a --(i'd use the word "bittersweet" if it weren't so melodramatic)-- way.

--nmr