Wednesday night
I was seated in the back of an auditorium, next to a coworker, one of the 20-somethings. The seats were pretty close together, so I was actually leaning on her. She sat to my left. She turned to me and said, "I have arthritis (in my shoulder)" so I apologised, and sat up straight. To my surprise, she leaned over and rested her head on my left shoulder. We struck up a conversation, and soon I found out that she was a fan of Bruce Springsteen. I told her that I was not only a fan, but that I knew Springsteen, and the last time he was in town, I'd had the opportunity to wander around the stage as the band was playing. A few minutes later, we were still waiting for the presentation (or whatever it was that we were there to see) to begin, so I wandered down to the front of the auditorium, and began playing an electric piano. The crowd was watching me, but I was mainly trying to impress my coworker. I began to play Springsteen's "Streets of Fire," from his album "Darkness on the Edge of Town," and I was considerably rusty, so I botched it.
Not long after that, I walked up to take my seat, only to find that a midget woman had taken my place. I was pretty p.o.'ed about it, but my coworker said, "She didn't mean it -- it must have been some kind of mistake." Eventually I found a seat several rows down, closer toward the center of the room. Later, at the end of the workday, I went home to my apartment, and passed a large, rolled-up Springsteen poster that I'd been meaning to get framed. It was printed in black and white, and featured an alternate photo from the "Born to Run" cover session. Both Bruce and Clarence were laughing and having a good time.
*****
"Darkness on the Edge of Town" is my favorite Springsteen album, and I did play "Streets of Fire" on the piano last night when I got home from work, but it was nothing to write home about. I was able to briefly meet Springsteen twice in one week in August of 1984, but he surely woudn't know who I am. Basically, I chased him down for autographs, once in the street near the Bayou Club in Georgetown, and once at his hotel in D.C. Photogrphaer Eric Meola recently published a book of photos from the "Born to Run" cover session, so the poster must have materialized from images I've seen in that book.
By the way, as far as the dream was concerned, I really had been on stage with the band in the past, and I was remembering it as I related the story to Ms. 20-something. I was showing off, but wasn't lying. No such thing ever happened in real life.
I have no idea whether the coworker in question likes Springsteen, but she's far too young to have arthritis. Now, I wouldn't be surprised if I have some arthritis in my shoulders...
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Money, Money, Money
Tuesday night
I was in an antique shop, and the proprietor, a woman in her 50s or 60s, was rolling back a set of Space Saver shelves to show me a collection of figurines, or porcelain statues. They were all encased in glass boxes, and there were rows and rows of them. They were pretty impressive, so I called my boss over. (She was in the store, too.) I said, "Hey, Jennie -- take a look at this!" She came down the aisle, had one look, and said, "We'll split the revenue on all of those."
*****
This dream probably wouldn't be funny to anyone but me. It mixes my interest in antiques (although I'm not really into little statues and stuff like that) with the stresses brought on by work. Part of my job is to track sales of all of our reps into certain special sections. Sometimes those sales are split between sales reps and account managers. It's Jennie's job to come up with new ideas to generate revenue. Therefore, the gist of this dream is that Jennie's always thinking about ways to drive revenue, even when she's in an antique shop; it never stops.
I was in an antique shop, and the proprietor, a woman in her 50s or 60s, was rolling back a set of Space Saver shelves to show me a collection of figurines, or porcelain statues. They were all encased in glass boxes, and there were rows and rows of them. They were pretty impressive, so I called my boss over. (She was in the store, too.) I said, "Hey, Jennie -- take a look at this!" She came down the aisle, had one look, and said, "We'll split the revenue on all of those."
*****
This dream probably wouldn't be funny to anyone but me. It mixes my interest in antiques (although I'm not really into little statues and stuff like that) with the stresses brought on by work. Part of my job is to track sales of all of our reps into certain special sections. Sometimes those sales are split between sales reps and account managers. It's Jennie's job to come up with new ideas to generate revenue. Therefore, the gist of this dream is that Jennie's always thinking about ways to drive revenue, even when she's in an antique shop; it never stops.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
New Dad Jitters
Monday night
My brother Jimmie and sister-in-law Dawn were expecting their first child, and Jimmie was nervous. He realized that with the big day coming soon, he only had a few weeks left before he had to crack down and be serious, so he went out and got a Mohawk haircut. It was high and thick and dyed jet black, and looked stunning; in the front, anyway. It stopped abruptly in the middle where his hair was thinning, but resumed on the back of his head.
Jimmie invited me to visit with him in the backyard of his house, and we were sitting on a patio in some metal chairs, next to a round table. He seemed agitated. He said, "I won't even be able to communicate with the baby for two years!" I told him that it was going to be fine. He said, "What will you say to the kid?" I said, "What do you mean?" He said, "You'd better be careful..." and motioned for me to follow him. He led me around the corner, where, to my surprise, I found that a long wall in the back of their house had been turned into a display of stores, resorts and individuals who had been sued by Dawn. There were examples of broken products, tales of broken promises, etc., all nicely mounted on a blue wall, surrounded by graphics in large white type. The bottom of the wall was nicely landscaped, with gravel separating the wall from the walkway. The implication was that I'd better watch what I say, or I could be the next exhibit.
*****
Wicked, but funny. For the record, I am unaware of thinning hair on the back of Jimmie's head, or of any litigious activities instigated by Dawn. They are expecting their first child, and I did speak with Jimmie last night. I think he does have a case of new-dad nerves, which is normal, but it's going to be OK.
My brother Jimmie and sister-in-law Dawn were expecting their first child, and Jimmie was nervous. He realized that with the big day coming soon, he only had a few weeks left before he had to crack down and be serious, so he went out and got a Mohawk haircut. It was high and thick and dyed jet black, and looked stunning; in the front, anyway. It stopped abruptly in the middle where his hair was thinning, but resumed on the back of his head.
Jimmie invited me to visit with him in the backyard of his house, and we were sitting on a patio in some metal chairs, next to a round table. He seemed agitated. He said, "I won't even be able to communicate with the baby for two years!" I told him that it was going to be fine. He said, "What will you say to the kid?" I said, "What do you mean?" He said, "You'd better be careful..." and motioned for me to follow him. He led me around the corner, where, to my surprise, I found that a long wall in the back of their house had been turned into a display of stores, resorts and individuals who had been sued by Dawn. There were examples of broken products, tales of broken promises, etc., all nicely mounted on a blue wall, surrounded by graphics in large white type. The bottom of the wall was nicely landscaped, with gravel separating the wall from the walkway. The implication was that I'd better watch what I say, or I could be the next exhibit.
*****
Wicked, but funny. For the record, I am unaware of thinning hair on the back of Jimmie's head, or of any litigious activities instigated by Dawn. They are expecting their first child, and I did speak with Jimmie last night. I think he does have a case of new-dad nerves, which is normal, but it's going to be OK.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
New Digs
Friday night
My wife and I decided to move back to Arlington, and found a nice big house back in the Country Club Hills section, a few blocks behind Washington Golf and Country Club. The new place was made of brick, but was several stories tall, and had a lot of wooden paneling inside.
Shortly after getting back to town, I found myself playing another board game, this time with Tom S.
*****
I must have board games on the brain this week. I knew one or two people who lived back in Country Club Hills when I was in elementary school. Even then, their parents would have had to be making the big bucks. Tom S. was, and presumably still is, a long-haired joker. He played baseball for Arlington Optimists for awhile, so he was my brother Andrew's teammate on at least one occasion. I vividly remember Tom and another long-haired fellow, Peter H., sitting behind me in my 4th grade class, calling out in a stage whisper, "Hey! (My name) -- What's a vagina?" Charming. I hadn't seen Tom for years when he showed up in Ocean City, MD during beach week following my high school graduation in 1980. I haven't seen him since. I wonder if he's a derelict, or a short-haired banker?
My wife and I decided to move back to Arlington, and found a nice big house back in the Country Club Hills section, a few blocks behind Washington Golf and Country Club. The new place was made of brick, but was several stories tall, and had a lot of wooden paneling inside.
Shortly after getting back to town, I found myself playing another board game, this time with Tom S.
*****
I must have board games on the brain this week. I knew one or two people who lived back in Country Club Hills when I was in elementary school. Even then, their parents would have had to be making the big bucks. Tom S. was, and presumably still is, a long-haired joker. He played baseball for Arlington Optimists for awhile, so he was my brother Andrew's teammate on at least one occasion. I vividly remember Tom and another long-haired fellow, Peter H., sitting behind me in my 4th grade class, calling out in a stage whisper, "Hey! (My name) -- What's a vagina?" Charming. I hadn't seen Tom for years when he showed up in Ocean City, MD during beach week following my high school graduation in 1980. I haven't seen him since. I wonder if he's a derelict, or a short-haired banker?
The Duel
Thursday night
My old friend Sam F. and I were the last players left in a game of Monopoly. Both of us had plenty of cash, but he owned Boardwalk and Park Place and had a hotel on one of them. I needed some luck as I was about to pass through that section of the board.
*****
I'll see Sam again soon when I travel up to VA to play in the first round of this year's poker tournament. He and I met in 3rd grade, in 1970.
Of course, one must build up houses and hotels equally on monopolies, so it wouldn't really be possible to have a hotel on just one of his properties.
My old friend Sam F. and I were the last players left in a game of Monopoly. Both of us had plenty of cash, but he owned Boardwalk and Park Place and had a hotel on one of them. I needed some luck as I was about to pass through that section of the board.
*****
I'll see Sam again soon when I travel up to VA to play in the first round of this year's poker tournament. He and I met in 3rd grade, in 1970.
Of course, one must build up houses and hotels equally on monopolies, so it wouldn't really be possible to have a hotel on just one of his properties.
On Location / 2 Johnnys / Downturn / Poodle?
Wednesday night: a rare 4-dream bonanza
Dream 1: On Location
David Letterman was taping an episode outdoors, at some sort of festival, near the sea, or perhaps, a lake. Suddenly, word got 'round that the actor Heath Ledger had died unexpectedly, so a nighttime tribute concert was hastily planned. The camera focused in on former "Today Show" host Jane Pauley and Dave, who were earnestly playing a duet on acoustic guitars. Pauley was seated closer to the camera, with Letterman beside her, to her left. He had a tear rolling down his cheek. Later, Dave was back to his old antics, dressing in strange costumes, and making up funny bits while talking with beach-goers and vendors. At one point he seemed to be dressed in a navy blazer, a white sailor's cap, and white bell-bottom trousers with a psychedelic print.
Dream 2: 2 Johnnys
A 1960s-era Johnny Carson was standing on a stage in a small theater in the round, surrounded by a studio audience. He said, "If you go to the Grand Ol' Opry, this is what you're gonna' get." At that moment, Johnny Cash made his way through the crowd to great applause, and joined Carson on stage. Cash was carrying an acoustic guitar, and the two Johnnys played a duet, with Carson backing Cash by standing and playing an electric piano.
Dream 3: Downturn
My wife and I were in dire financial straits, so we decided that she would temporarily move in with her sister's family (in order to save money), and I would move back into the townhouse I used to share on Hyson Lane in Falls Church, VA. When I got there, the place was a mess. Oh, it was probably the same as it always was; the change was that after being married for several years, I could now tell the difference between a clean house and a messy one. I had a lot of work to do. Dust was everywhere, particularly on the kitchen counters and in the bathtub in the basement, which looked as if it hadn't been used since I left. I had lots of cabinets to move back into the rooms that I had once occupied. After that, I'd have to roll up my sleeves and get busy transforming the place.
Dream 4: Poodle?
My wife and I were vacationing in France, and were renting an apartment during our stay there. We were out shopping in an open market area, but we had an agreement that we would try to stick to our budget, and not go overboard. Before long she spent $400 on something, and I wasn't too pleased about it, but I kept quiet. A while later, we came upon two guys standing in a booth. They were selling chocolate-colored poodles. They weren't toy poodles; they were mixed with something else, so that they had wiry fur, but they would grow to be larger, about the size of a lab, with a somewhat-square head. The mother of the puppies was there, and seemed to be a very friendly dog. One of the men said that the adult dog was owned by his brother-in-law. Again, I thought that the dogs were friendly, but I've never much liked poodles, and I wasn't in the market for a dog anyway. My wife had other ideas. Before I knew it, she'd picked up one of the puppies and fallen in love with it. She stood behind their stand, holding the dog, and asked me to sign the ledger, sealing the deal. I was hesitant to do so, due to my ambivalence about the whole thing, but especially since the guys had seen how attached she was to the dog already; they began jacking up the price, adding this and that to the bill. Finally, one of the guys said that the total would be $457. I thought that that was just too much money, so I refused to go along with it. I turned to my wife and said, "That's a lot of money for buying something on a whim. You'd better sign this (if you really want this dog)." She did, and she was so happy to have her new puppy. We began walking back to our apartment, and soon, somehow, the new dog transformed from a puppy to a 6-year old French boy with dark hair. The vendors weren't selling dogs at all; they were selling children. At first, I was really put out by this turn of events. I said to my wife, "You realize that you just completely changed our lives. We'll have to figure out schools and everything." But as we walked a little further, I thought to myself, "We have transformed our lives... for the better!" I imagined calling friends and family to tell them that we're coming home with our new son. As we got closer to our apartment, we realized that the vendors must live in the same neighborhood. The boy was good-natured; he put both arms out at his sides with palms up and said (in French-accented English) "I thought I was going to America, but we're going back toward our apartment." I made sure that he understood that we were going back to pack up our things, then we'd all travel home, together. I said, "You'll like America. It's so big!"
*****
Dream 1: On Location
Both Jane Pauley and David Letterman are natives of Indianapolis, Indiana, and I've seen her on his show on several occasions, though not recently. Unfortunately, Heath Ledger did die last week, although I have heard of no tribute concerts in his honor. I've never seen or heard about Letterman playing the guitar. His replacement on NBC, Conan O'Brien, plays guitar on the air frequently.
I recently bought a DVD of "Some Like it Hot," which starred Marilyn Monroe, Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis. I'd forgotten just how funny it is. At one point Tony Curtis disguises himself as a millionaire playboy in order to win Marilyn's affections. She meets him as he sits in a chair at the beach, wearing a sailor's cap, dark blazer and white slacks. That's the outfit that Letterman wore at the end of Dream 1, save for the psychedelic design added to the pants.
Dream 2: 2 Johnnys
I watched bits of a series on PBS last week called "Pioneers of Television." The episode about talk show hosts was pretty interesting, if overly reverential. It featured some interesting film of Carson in his early days on "The Tonight Show."
Dream 3: Downturn
This dream came out of an "animated discussion" between my wife and me last week. She had wanted me to do something about setting up a savings plan at my current job (something I hadn't gotten around to doing in the first 10 months there, for various reasons, mainly having to do with not liking the plan provided at work) and she let me know that my lack of consistency in carrying out the chores that I've agreed to do is not appreciated. (I've just set up a Roth IRA with monthly contribution and stepped up in the chores department.) Anyway, the concept of this dream is a funny one -- the idea that I used to live in a squalor of "invisible" dust curls, but now that I'm married and know the difference, I notice the dust everywhere. "...Was blind, but now I see..."
Dream 4: Poodle?
I guess I saved the deepest, and strangest dream for last. We grew up at the corner of 34th and Dinwiddie Streets, and my friend Denis lived a few houses down on 34th. His parents were French and Canadian, and they had a poodle. I'm not a poodle fan. I suppose it's not the dog's fault that people shave their coats into such hideous designs. But more than that, the dogs are just too nervous and high strung for my tastes. About a week ago we saw the film "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly," which featured a man whose brain is perfectly fine, but he is trapped in an immobile body, save for one eyelid. I knew how he felt after being trapped in a theater enduring that depressing movie for two hours. Anyway, that story took place in France, and we saw a few flashbacks which showed some interaction between the main character and his kids. The boy in my dream may have been modeled after one of those children.
Dream 4:
Dream 1: On Location
David Letterman was taping an episode outdoors, at some sort of festival, near the sea, or perhaps, a lake. Suddenly, word got 'round that the actor Heath Ledger had died unexpectedly, so a nighttime tribute concert was hastily planned. The camera focused in on former "Today Show" host Jane Pauley and Dave, who were earnestly playing a duet on acoustic guitars. Pauley was seated closer to the camera, with Letterman beside her, to her left. He had a tear rolling down his cheek. Later, Dave was back to his old antics, dressing in strange costumes, and making up funny bits while talking with beach-goers and vendors. At one point he seemed to be dressed in a navy blazer, a white sailor's cap, and white bell-bottom trousers with a psychedelic print.
Dream 2: 2 Johnnys
A 1960s-era Johnny Carson was standing on a stage in a small theater in the round, surrounded by a studio audience. He said, "If you go to the Grand Ol' Opry, this is what you're gonna' get." At that moment, Johnny Cash made his way through the crowd to great applause, and joined Carson on stage. Cash was carrying an acoustic guitar, and the two Johnnys played a duet, with Carson backing Cash by standing and playing an electric piano.
Dream 3: Downturn
My wife and I were in dire financial straits, so we decided that she would temporarily move in with her sister's family (in order to save money), and I would move back into the townhouse I used to share on Hyson Lane in Falls Church, VA. When I got there, the place was a mess. Oh, it was probably the same as it always was; the change was that after being married for several years, I could now tell the difference between a clean house and a messy one. I had a lot of work to do. Dust was everywhere, particularly on the kitchen counters and in the bathtub in the basement, which looked as if it hadn't been used since I left. I had lots of cabinets to move back into the rooms that I had once occupied. After that, I'd have to roll up my sleeves and get busy transforming the place.
Dream 4: Poodle?
My wife and I were vacationing in France, and were renting an apartment during our stay there. We were out shopping in an open market area, but we had an agreement that we would try to stick to our budget, and not go overboard. Before long she spent $400 on something, and I wasn't too pleased about it, but I kept quiet. A while later, we came upon two guys standing in a booth. They were selling chocolate-colored poodles. They weren't toy poodles; they were mixed with something else, so that they had wiry fur, but they would grow to be larger, about the size of a lab, with a somewhat-square head. The mother of the puppies was there, and seemed to be a very friendly dog. One of the men said that the adult dog was owned by his brother-in-law. Again, I thought that the dogs were friendly, but I've never much liked poodles, and I wasn't in the market for a dog anyway. My wife had other ideas. Before I knew it, she'd picked up one of the puppies and fallen in love with it. She stood behind their stand, holding the dog, and asked me to sign the ledger, sealing the deal. I was hesitant to do so, due to my ambivalence about the whole thing, but especially since the guys had seen how attached she was to the dog already; they began jacking up the price, adding this and that to the bill. Finally, one of the guys said that the total would be $457. I thought that that was just too much money, so I refused to go along with it. I turned to my wife and said, "That's a lot of money for buying something on a whim. You'd better sign this (if you really want this dog)." She did, and she was so happy to have her new puppy. We began walking back to our apartment, and soon, somehow, the new dog transformed from a puppy to a 6-year old French boy with dark hair. The vendors weren't selling dogs at all; they were selling children. At first, I was really put out by this turn of events. I said to my wife, "You realize that you just completely changed our lives. We'll have to figure out schools and everything." But as we walked a little further, I thought to myself, "We have transformed our lives... for the better!" I imagined calling friends and family to tell them that we're coming home with our new son. As we got closer to our apartment, we realized that the vendors must live in the same neighborhood. The boy was good-natured; he put both arms out at his sides with palms up and said (in French-accented English) "I thought I was going to America, but we're going back toward our apartment." I made sure that he understood that we were going back to pack up our things, then we'd all travel home, together. I said, "You'll like America. It's so big!"
*****
Dream 1: On Location
Both Jane Pauley and David Letterman are natives of Indianapolis, Indiana, and I've seen her on his show on several occasions, though not recently. Unfortunately, Heath Ledger did die last week, although I have heard of no tribute concerts in his honor. I've never seen or heard about Letterman playing the guitar. His replacement on NBC, Conan O'Brien, plays guitar on the air frequently.
I recently bought a DVD of "Some Like it Hot," which starred Marilyn Monroe, Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis. I'd forgotten just how funny it is. At one point Tony Curtis disguises himself as a millionaire playboy in order to win Marilyn's affections. She meets him as he sits in a chair at the beach, wearing a sailor's cap, dark blazer and white slacks. That's the outfit that Letterman wore at the end of Dream 1, save for the psychedelic design added to the pants.
Dream 2: 2 Johnnys
I watched bits of a series on PBS last week called "Pioneers of Television." The episode about talk show hosts was pretty interesting, if overly reverential. It featured some interesting film of Carson in his early days on "The Tonight Show."
Dream 3: Downturn
This dream came out of an "animated discussion" between my wife and me last week. She had wanted me to do something about setting up a savings plan at my current job (something I hadn't gotten around to doing in the first 10 months there, for various reasons, mainly having to do with not liking the plan provided at work) and she let me know that my lack of consistency in carrying out the chores that I've agreed to do is not appreciated. (I've just set up a Roth IRA with monthly contribution and stepped up in the chores department.) Anyway, the concept of this dream is a funny one -- the idea that I used to live in a squalor of "invisible" dust curls, but now that I'm married and know the difference, I notice the dust everywhere. "...Was blind, but now I see..."
Dream 4: Poodle?
I guess I saved the deepest, and strangest dream for last. We grew up at the corner of 34th and Dinwiddie Streets, and my friend Denis lived a few houses down on 34th. His parents were French and Canadian, and they had a poodle. I'm not a poodle fan. I suppose it's not the dog's fault that people shave their coats into such hideous designs. But more than that, the dogs are just too nervous and high strung for my tastes. About a week ago we saw the film "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly," which featured a man whose brain is perfectly fine, but he is trapped in an immobile body, save for one eyelid. I knew how he felt after being trapped in a theater enduring that depressing movie for two hours. Anyway, that story took place in France, and we saw a few flashbacks which showed some interaction between the main character and his kids. The boy in my dream may have been modeled after one of those children.
Dream 4:
Monday, January 21, 2008
Practice Makes Perfect / Champs
Sunday night
Dream 1: Practice Makes Perfect
A Japanese-American police officer sat in his cruiser on a hill about a block away from my old high school. He was probably near the bottom of Harrison Street, just before it crosses Little Falls Road, but somehow it looked a little different than it is in reality. Anyway, the cop was there for a reason. Ronald Reagan was visiting the school, and this officer was one of many who were positioned around the neighborhood to protect him. Reagan had no idea that he was there, of course, and wouldn't have been able to see him anyway, as a wooded children's park separated his side of the block from the school, and besides, he was parked down the hill. Reagan walked over to the school's baseball diamond, and paused at home plate. For no particular reason, he decided that that was a good place to practice his golf swing by hitting a bucket of balls. He was nothing if not consistent; his shots beat the shit out of that police car.
Dream 2: Champs
Two kids, a boy and a girl, each about 12 years of age, had just won a Ping-Pong championship, and were being interviewed on TV. They beamed as the sportscaster looked into the camera, holding a large microphone in one hand, and their weapons of choice in the other. He said, "And this is how they did it -- with sandpaper paddles!"
*****
Dream 1: Practice Makes Perfect
I recently drove around the ball fields at Yorktown in Arlington, and saw that they've been completely revamped. There's a new football field surrounded by a track, and there were two or maybe three baseball diamonds. You could certainly tell that folks in that area are well-off. I've never played a round of golf in my life, aside from Putt-Putt.
Dream 2: Champs
We played many, many games of Ping-Pong in the basement playroom at Mom and Dad's, and we had sandpaper paddles as well as more sophisticated rubber ones. I played a few games of Ping-Pong with the nieces and nephews over the Christmas break, and was surprised to see that they had the exact same 1968 table tennis set that we had; same goofy teenage guy showing off on the cover, same adoring teenage girlfriend in the background, complete with light blue headband and bobbed hairdo.
Dream 1: Practice Makes Perfect
A Japanese-American police officer sat in his cruiser on a hill about a block away from my old high school. He was probably near the bottom of Harrison Street, just before it crosses Little Falls Road, but somehow it looked a little different than it is in reality. Anyway, the cop was there for a reason. Ronald Reagan was visiting the school, and this officer was one of many who were positioned around the neighborhood to protect him. Reagan had no idea that he was there, of course, and wouldn't have been able to see him anyway, as a wooded children's park separated his side of the block from the school, and besides, he was parked down the hill. Reagan walked over to the school's baseball diamond, and paused at home plate. For no particular reason, he decided that that was a good place to practice his golf swing by hitting a bucket of balls. He was nothing if not consistent; his shots beat the shit out of that police car.
Dream 2: Champs
Two kids, a boy and a girl, each about 12 years of age, had just won a Ping-Pong championship, and were being interviewed on TV. They beamed as the sportscaster looked into the camera, holding a large microphone in one hand, and their weapons of choice in the other. He said, "And this is how they did it -- with sandpaper paddles!"
*****
Dream 1: Practice Makes Perfect
I recently drove around the ball fields at Yorktown in Arlington, and saw that they've been completely revamped. There's a new football field surrounded by a track, and there were two or maybe three baseball diamonds. You could certainly tell that folks in that area are well-off. I've never played a round of golf in my life, aside from Putt-Putt.
Dream 2: Champs
We played many, many games of Ping-Pong in the basement playroom at Mom and Dad's, and we had sandpaper paddles as well as more sophisticated rubber ones. I played a few games of Ping-Pong with the nieces and nephews over the Christmas break, and was surprised to see that they had the exact same 1968 table tennis set that we had; same goofy teenage guy showing off on the cover, same adoring teenage girlfriend in the background, complete with light blue headband and bobbed hairdo.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Disappearance
Friday night
My family, including my wife, my brothers and sisters-in-law, and my friend Gordon and his brothers, were sitting in a theater, waiting to watch a documentary. We were in the center section, about 3/4 of the way toward the screen. Suddenly several people opened up their laptop computers, blocking our view. Someone said, "What are they doing?" I replied, "They're going to copy the film." I got up and moved over to the unobstructed seats on the left, and soon the rest of our group followed. Gordy was reluctant to get up; he was settled with his popcorn, and liked his seat just fine, but he moved, as well. Not long after that, the lights went down, and the film started. On the screen we saw a very nice public park, with beautiful lush grass, big trees and a lake in the background. I was shown at the park, and my brother Jimmie and his wife, Dawn, were there, too. They were enjoying themselves, swimming not far from shore. A park ranger got ready to make an educational presentation, so a crowd (including many children) gathered 'round a picnic table where he set up his gear. He had a round contraption with him that looked like a plastic hat box, or maybe a cake saver. It was neither of those -- it was a bug trapper. One of his duties was to periodically monitor insect life in the park. He said, "I've been doing this for three years, but I've never gotten these results before." He opened the box and revealed the contents to the crowd: it was empty. He continued: "Something is killing the ladybugs. Do you know what it is?" Ever the comedian, I turned toward toward the kids and said, "I think it's WILDIBEEST!" It wasn't. The culprits turned out to be raccoons.
*****
One of the reasons I keep logging these dreams is that every so often my subconscious comes up with very strange stuff that my conscious mind would never conjure. The "wildibeest" line is another prime example.
I was flipping the channels between PBS and C-SPAN the other night, and came across Jeff Foxworthy's TV show, Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? This was celebrity week, so the current Miss America was taking part; she wasn't doing very well, and used up her "lifelines," or whatever they call it, pretty quickly. One of the questions they asked her was, "Are all ladybugs female?" I thing she got that one right.
My family, including my wife, my brothers and sisters-in-law, and my friend Gordon and his brothers, were sitting in a theater, waiting to watch a documentary. We were in the center section, about 3/4 of the way toward the screen. Suddenly several people opened up their laptop computers, blocking our view. Someone said, "What are they doing?" I replied, "They're going to copy the film." I got up and moved over to the unobstructed seats on the left, and soon the rest of our group followed. Gordy was reluctant to get up; he was settled with his popcorn, and liked his seat just fine, but he moved, as well. Not long after that, the lights went down, and the film started. On the screen we saw a very nice public park, with beautiful lush grass, big trees and a lake in the background. I was shown at the park, and my brother Jimmie and his wife, Dawn, were there, too. They were enjoying themselves, swimming not far from shore. A park ranger got ready to make an educational presentation, so a crowd (including many children) gathered 'round a picnic table where he set up his gear. He had a round contraption with him that looked like a plastic hat box, or maybe a cake saver. It was neither of those -- it was a bug trapper. One of his duties was to periodically monitor insect life in the park. He said, "I've been doing this for three years, but I've never gotten these results before." He opened the box and revealed the contents to the crowd: it was empty. He continued: "Something is killing the ladybugs. Do you know what it is?" Ever the comedian, I turned toward toward the kids and said, "I think it's WILDIBEEST!" It wasn't. The culprits turned out to be raccoons.
*****
One of the reasons I keep logging these dreams is that every so often my subconscious comes up with very strange stuff that my conscious mind would never conjure. The "wildibeest" line is another prime example.
I was flipping the channels between PBS and C-SPAN the other night, and came across Jeff Foxworthy's TV show, Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? This was celebrity week, so the current Miss America was taking part; she wasn't doing very well, and used up her "lifelines," or whatever they call it, pretty quickly. One of the questions they asked her was, "Are all ladybugs female?" I thing she got that one right.
Friday, January 18, 2008
Rescue
Thursday night
Several men were in a motorboat out in the ocean, when one accidentally fell into the water, which was freezing cold. One man jumped in to help him, followed by three more. The first rescuer swam toward the victim, but the other three realized quickly that they would have to turn back. One of them said to the others, "They're headed toward a whirlpool," and there was a real threat of hypothermia. The lone swimmer reached the man who had fallen, but he was in a bad way -- he was so cold that he could no longer swim and fight the strong current which was about to pull him down. This put his friend in a terrible position. He had two awful choices: he could stay and die with his friend, or leave him and feel guilty about it ever after. The rescuer implored his friend to swim, but it was no use. He held onto him with his right arm, but soon the two of them were underwater. Soon he'd have to make an awful decision. For a brief second he closed his eyes, and thought of his young daughter back home. He imagined her playfully touching his beard, as she sometimes did. He opened his eyes and to his surprise, found that he was actually being touched by his frozen friend, who had reached out to him in a last, Herculean effort to survive. The rescuer responded by finding strength that he didn't know he had; he held his friend fast and swam with all his might to get him back to safety.
*****
Yesterday afternoon I attended a memorial service here in Nashville for a young woman who lost a four-year battle with breast cancer last week. She was 27. I had the pleasure of talking with her on only a handfull of occasions; she and my wife were friends. She was so smart, so positive, so friendly, such a life force. She was vivacious. I'm sure that her spirit, and the fact that she never, ever gave up, infused this dream. This is a woman who, despite being afflicted with metasticed cancer, ran and completed last year's Music City Marathon, at a lenghth of 26.2 miles. What a special person she was.
Several men were in a motorboat out in the ocean, when one accidentally fell into the water, which was freezing cold. One man jumped in to help him, followed by three more. The first rescuer swam toward the victim, but the other three realized quickly that they would have to turn back. One of them said to the others, "They're headed toward a whirlpool," and there was a real threat of hypothermia. The lone swimmer reached the man who had fallen, but he was in a bad way -- he was so cold that he could no longer swim and fight the strong current which was about to pull him down. This put his friend in a terrible position. He had two awful choices: he could stay and die with his friend, or leave him and feel guilty about it ever after. The rescuer implored his friend to swim, but it was no use. He held onto him with his right arm, but soon the two of them were underwater. Soon he'd have to make an awful decision. For a brief second he closed his eyes, and thought of his young daughter back home. He imagined her playfully touching his beard, as she sometimes did. He opened his eyes and to his surprise, found that he was actually being touched by his frozen friend, who had reached out to him in a last, Herculean effort to survive. The rescuer responded by finding strength that he didn't know he had; he held his friend fast and swam with all his might to get him back to safety.
*****
Yesterday afternoon I attended a memorial service here in Nashville for a young woman who lost a four-year battle with breast cancer last week. She was 27. I had the pleasure of talking with her on only a handfull of occasions; she and my wife were friends. She was so smart, so positive, so friendly, such a life force. She was vivacious. I'm sure that her spirit, and the fact that she never, ever gave up, infused this dream. This is a woman who, despite being afflicted with metasticed cancer, ran and completed last year's Music City Marathon, at a lenghth of 26.2 miles. What a special person she was.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Report / The Artisan
Friday night
Dream 1: Report
I was in the Oval Office. President Bush asked me and a woman to lead a business task force that would produce a report with recommendations for the economy before the end of his term.
Dream 2: The Artisan
I loved the sound of Irish music played by flutes and recorders, and had come to the realization that their particular beauty came from the crafting of a small pea-shaped object inside them. I decided to seek out an expert in Irish crafts to learn how to make these tiny round pieces by hand, and then the instruments themselves. After discovering someone who could share these skills with me, I went to her studio, and walked down a long hallway that opened out into a very nice circular room with many windows. The artist was directly across from me, sitting in a chair against the wall. She was middle-aged, and was carefully working on a solid round piece of glass that she had made. It was about the size of a softball, and consisted of different colored stripes, each about an inch wide. She was using an extremely sharp knife which resembled the head of an ancient bronze ax; the blade was curved, and the part opposite the blade ended in a point, where it would have been fit into a wooden haft. She was using it to slice through the glass piece, separating the colored sections. I looked over to my right, and saw my boss, Jennie, sitting along that curve in the wall. She knew the instructor well, and by way of introduction, informed me that she (the teacher) was not only well versed in traditional Irish handicrafts, but she also really knew her Irish music. The artist overheard Jennie, and said with a mixture of amusement and sarcasm, "Hooray for Hogwarts" is based on [a traditional Irish song]."
*****
Dream 1: Report
I'm sure I'd have many recommendations for the Bush administration, not that they'd follow them.
Dream 2: The Artisan
"Hooray for Hogwarts"?! The teacher named the title of the song on which this cheer was based, but the title was in Gaelic, and I don't remember it. I was watching the Arts channel the other day, and saw a clip of some guy (who was not James Galway) playing beautiful Irish music on a flute as he stood atop a high green hill. On Friday night we came home from the market and my wife made a wonderful salmon dinner, but we realized that we'd forgotten to get more peppercorns for the grinder. I went back out to get some, and, having never bought whole peppercorns in my life, I studied the bottles carefully. (Who knew that there were so many varieties?) Anyway, the flautist and the peppercorns seem to have merged in my brain to create this dream. The bronze ax head is similar to many fantastic pieces that we saw at the Irish National Museum in Dublin. If you ever get the chance to see it, it's a must.
We were fortunate enough to visit Ireland a few years ago. I have fond memories of listening to Irish radio in the car. We first heard U2's song "Vertigo" while we were there, and every so often we heard the news reported in Gaelic. That was pretty wild.
By the way, after describing this one to my wife, she said, "Ugh. That dream makes me tired."
Dream 1: Report
I was in the Oval Office. President Bush asked me and a woman to lead a business task force that would produce a report with recommendations for the economy before the end of his term.
Dream 2: The Artisan
I loved the sound of Irish music played by flutes and recorders, and had come to the realization that their particular beauty came from the crafting of a small pea-shaped object inside them. I decided to seek out an expert in Irish crafts to learn how to make these tiny round pieces by hand, and then the instruments themselves. After discovering someone who could share these skills with me, I went to her studio, and walked down a long hallway that opened out into a very nice circular room with many windows. The artist was directly across from me, sitting in a chair against the wall. She was middle-aged, and was carefully working on a solid round piece of glass that she had made. It was about the size of a softball, and consisted of different colored stripes, each about an inch wide. She was using an extremely sharp knife which resembled the head of an ancient bronze ax; the blade was curved, and the part opposite the blade ended in a point, where it would have been fit into a wooden haft. She was using it to slice through the glass piece, separating the colored sections. I looked over to my right, and saw my boss, Jennie, sitting along that curve in the wall. She knew the instructor well, and by way of introduction, informed me that she (the teacher) was not only well versed in traditional Irish handicrafts, but she also really knew her Irish music. The artist overheard Jennie, and said with a mixture of amusement and sarcasm, "Hooray for Hogwarts" is based on [a traditional Irish song]."
*****
Dream 1: Report
I'm sure I'd have many recommendations for the Bush administration, not that they'd follow them.
Dream 2: The Artisan
"Hooray for Hogwarts"?! The teacher named the title of the song on which this cheer was based, but the title was in Gaelic, and I don't remember it. I was watching the Arts channel the other day, and saw a clip of some guy (who was not James Galway) playing beautiful Irish music on a flute as he stood atop a high green hill. On Friday night we came home from the market and my wife made a wonderful salmon dinner, but we realized that we'd forgotten to get more peppercorns for the grinder. I went back out to get some, and, having never bought whole peppercorns in my life, I studied the bottles carefully. (Who knew that there were so many varieties?) Anyway, the flautist and the peppercorns seem to have merged in my brain to create this dream. The bronze ax head is similar to many fantastic pieces that we saw at the Irish National Museum in Dublin. If you ever get the chance to see it, it's a must.
We were fortunate enough to visit Ireland a few years ago. I have fond memories of listening to Irish radio in the car. We first heard U2's song "Vertigo" while we were there, and every so often we heard the news reported in Gaelic. That was pretty wild.
By the way, after describing this one to my wife, she said, "Ugh. That dream makes me tired."
Friday, January 11, 2008
The Precipice
Thursday night
My coworkers and I were on a field trip. We arrived at our destination, some type of large banquet hall that was doubling as a theater for the evening, and I was one of the last people to enter the building. I could see that almost all of the seats were taken, and I was faced with climbing atop a long, thin shelf in order to get to some balcony seats. I thought, "I have to do that? It won't support my weight!" I decided not to do it, so I backtracked, and finally found a seat in the very back row on the ground level. I ended up sitting next to one of the 20-somethings, who was to my right, dressed in a white sweater and white slacks. As soon as the lights went down, she leaned into me and began nibbling on my right ear. I was surprised and a bit flattered by the attention, but I gently pushed her away and motioned for her to behave. I leaned over and whispered in her left ear, "I love my wife." She responded, "SO?"
*****
Nothing like this has ever really happened; it's just an old-guy fantasy. I did walk out to the parking lot with this person last night. We talked about work.
Yesterday I did take part in a work-related field trip. Two buses took my coworkers and me to my former employer, where we saw a musical presentation about the First Amendment. It was a great program, and I got to see some people that I wanted to see, while avoiding those that I didn't want to see again. It exorcised a few demons for me, and hopefully will allow me to finally close that chapter of my life on a more positive note.
My coworkers and I were on a field trip. We arrived at our destination, some type of large banquet hall that was doubling as a theater for the evening, and I was one of the last people to enter the building. I could see that almost all of the seats were taken, and I was faced with climbing atop a long, thin shelf in order to get to some balcony seats. I thought, "I have to do that? It won't support my weight!" I decided not to do it, so I backtracked, and finally found a seat in the very back row on the ground level. I ended up sitting next to one of the 20-somethings, who was to my right, dressed in a white sweater and white slacks. As soon as the lights went down, she leaned into me and began nibbling on my right ear. I was surprised and a bit flattered by the attention, but I gently pushed her away and motioned for her to behave. I leaned over and whispered in her left ear, "I love my wife." She responded, "SO?"
*****
Nothing like this has ever really happened; it's just an old-guy fantasy. I did walk out to the parking lot with this person last night. We talked about work.
Yesterday I did take part in a work-related field trip. Two buses took my coworkers and me to my former employer, where we saw a musical presentation about the First Amendment. It was a great program, and I got to see some people that I wanted to see, while avoiding those that I didn't want to see again. It exorcised a few demons for me, and hopefully will allow me to finally close that chapter of my life on a more positive note.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Nation's Finest
Wednesday night
I had joined a U.S. Air Force flight school, and walked up to a long rectangular table where I sat down and was introduced to my new training buddy. Instinctively, we both enthusiastically called out "Yeah!", made fists and banged our knuckles together. It didn't work out as we planned. My partner yelled "Ow!" and shook his hand; I had rammed my big high school ring into his finger. Soon, our instructor walked up and said, "Gentlemen, these are your weapons." He proceeded to lay rifles on the table; they were made of chocolate.
*****
At first I thought this was a goofy "Top Gun" parody, but my wife thinks that there's more to it. She says that the chocolate rifle represents the foods that could eventually kill me if I don't keep my cholesterol in check. Interesting. By the way, I was turning the channels around last night, and watched a few minutes of Howie Mandel's game show, "Deal or No Deal." Mandel is a germaphobe, and won't shake hands with contestants, so he touches knuckles with them instead. I'm not sure how that's much different than shaking their hands. Incidentally, I haven't seen that high school ring in years. I remember wearing it while preparing chicken at Gino's. I got flour in the grooves, and it never really looked the same after that. It must be around here somewhere.
I had joined a U.S. Air Force flight school, and walked up to a long rectangular table where I sat down and was introduced to my new training buddy. Instinctively, we both enthusiastically called out "Yeah!", made fists and banged our knuckles together. It didn't work out as we planned. My partner yelled "Ow!" and shook his hand; I had rammed my big high school ring into his finger. Soon, our instructor walked up and said, "Gentlemen, these are your weapons." He proceeded to lay rifles on the table; they were made of chocolate.
*****
At first I thought this was a goofy "Top Gun" parody, but my wife thinks that there's more to it. She says that the chocolate rifle represents the foods that could eventually kill me if I don't keep my cholesterol in check. Interesting. By the way, I was turning the channels around last night, and watched a few minutes of Howie Mandel's game show, "Deal or No Deal." Mandel is a germaphobe, and won't shake hands with contestants, so he touches knuckles with them instead. I'm not sure how that's much different than shaking their hands. Incidentally, I haven't seen that high school ring in years. I remember wearing it while preparing chicken at Gino's. I got flour in the grooves, and it never really looked the same after that. It must be around here somewhere.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
F Bombs / Surprise
Sunday night
Dream 1: F Bombs
I was visiting a shop where a craftsman specialized in using "the old ways" to manufacture items from many years ago; even centuries past. When I got there he had perfected a process of forming round, flat, heavy rocks, gray in color and about the diameter of dinner plates, which could be flung on a catapult-like contraption. Each was emblazoned with a capital letter F.
Dream 2: Surprise
I was back at Mom and Dad's house on Dinwiddie Street, but there was a difference in the backyard. Instead of having a side patio, they now had a large square one just behind the family room / playroom addition. Three empty shopping carts were lined up on the bricks, and each was topped with a large stack of freshly-cut firewood. (The wood was not in the carts, but was balanced on top of them.) I happened to look out the back window, and saw two large, dark birds perched on the cords. I hurried out the front door and around the 34th Street side of the house in order to get a better look. As soon as I got to the back of the house I was in for a shock: a large black bear was staring me in the face. I kept my gaze on him, but slowly backed away, retracing my steps.
*****
Dream 1: F Bombs
I was visiting a shop where a craftsman specialized in using "the old ways" to manufacture items from many years ago; even centuries past. When I got there he had perfected a process of forming round, flat, heavy rocks, gray in color and about the diameter of dinner plates, which could be flung on a catapult-like contraption. Each was emblazoned with a capital letter F.
Dream 2: Surprise
I was back at Mom and Dad's house on Dinwiddie Street, but there was a difference in the backyard. Instead of having a side patio, they now had a large square one just behind the family room / playroom addition. Three empty shopping carts were lined up on the bricks, and each was topped with a large stack of freshly-cut firewood. (The wood was not in the carts, but was balanced on top of them.) I happened to look out the back window, and saw two large, dark birds perched on the cords. I hurried out the front door and around the 34th Street side of the house in order to get a better look. As soon as I got to the back of the house I was in for a shock: a large black bear was staring me in the face. I kept my gaze on him, but slowly backed away, retracing my steps.
*****
Antique Shop
Saturday night
I was attending a symposium on antiques, and the speaker was a black man, apparently in his early 30s. After his presentation, he was seated at a desk, and I walked up to meet him. I told him that there was a great antique store right downtown in Nashville, although the prices were a little high. He seemed puzzled, and asked me where it was. Suddenly, I couldn't remember the name of the street. I said, "You know, it's on the main drag; there's a Safeway on the left, and it's in a row of shops on the right, near a Baskin-Robbin's."
*****
No wonder I was making no sense; I was describing Harrison Street in Arlington. There's no antique shop there, either, by the way.
I was attending a symposium on antiques, and the speaker was a black man, apparently in his early 30s. After his presentation, he was seated at a desk, and I walked up to meet him. I told him that there was a great antique store right downtown in Nashville, although the prices were a little high. He seemed puzzled, and asked me where it was. Suddenly, I couldn't remember the name of the street. I said, "You know, it's on the main drag; there's a Safeway on the left, and it's in a row of shops on the right, near a Baskin-Robbin's."
*****
No wonder I was making no sense; I was describing Harrison Street in Arlington. There's no antique shop there, either, by the way.
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Love, Love, Love
Friday night
The Cars decided to re-form, but they looked as they did 20 years ago. They were performing their new single in a TV studio, and the band was set up on three risers. Ric Ocasek was driving the rhythm with his guitar at the lower left, while the drummer, David Robinson, was sitting at the top level. Not only did he have his normal drum kit, but he also had several other cymbals on stands set up to his left. Bass player and lead singer Ben Orr was standing on the top level as the song began, and dramatically hit several of the cymbals with a drum stick as he made his way down to the lower stage level. At the same time, lead guitarist Elliot Easton walked in from the lower left and picked up his guitar, which had been lying against an amp. They continued the intro, coalescing into a tight groove, and seemed to be singing the word "Love" over and over.
*****
I certainly loved the Cars, a band which existed between 1978 and 1987. My favorite member was probably Ben Orr. He had a great voice, and sang their hits "Just What I Needed,""Let's Go" and "Drive," among many other memorable tracks. Unfortunately, he died of pancreatic cancer at his home in Atlanta on 10/3/2000. He was 53.
The Cars decided to re-form, but they looked as they did 20 years ago. They were performing their new single in a TV studio, and the band was set up on three risers. Ric Ocasek was driving the rhythm with his guitar at the lower left, while the drummer, David Robinson, was sitting at the top level. Not only did he have his normal drum kit, but he also had several other cymbals on stands set up to his left. Bass player and lead singer Ben Orr was standing on the top level as the song began, and dramatically hit several of the cymbals with a drum stick as he made his way down to the lower stage level. At the same time, lead guitarist Elliot Easton walked in from the lower left and picked up his guitar, which had been lying against an amp. They continued the intro, coalescing into a tight groove, and seemed to be singing the word "Love" over and over.
*****
I certainly loved the Cars, a band which existed between 1978 and 1987. My favorite member was probably Ben Orr. He had a great voice, and sang their hits "Just What I Needed,""Let's Go" and "Drive," among many other memorable tracks. Unfortunately, he died of pancreatic cancer at his home in Atlanta on 10/3/2000. He was 53.
Friday, January 4, 2008
Call Center / I Hate Maryland
Thursday night
Dream 1: Call Center
It was the end of the year, and The Washington Post published an article lauding people who had done good works; particularly those who had shone a light on others, instead of themselves. My brother Andrew was one of those people. He ran a call center, and when he heard that the center was going to be dissolved, and that the staff would lose their jobs, he wrote in to the Post to tell them what a great bunch of workers they'd been, and extolled them by name.
Dream 2: I Hate Maryland
I was in Maryland, and was driving in a very busy town that was unfamiliar to me. I had somewhere that I had to be, and had no directions, or knowledge of which direction in which I should point my car. As I pulled out of a busy mall parking lot, I basically threw up my hands and turned left, hoping that eventually something would be familiar, and give me a clue. Everything was too big, too busy, too congested, and it was stressing me out. I said out loud to no one in particular, "I Hate Maryland!" I continued traveling through a very busy city, surrounded by glittering shops, tall buildings, and tons of traffic. The highway system was making me nervous; I would rather have been on a smaller road, where at least I could get my bearings without people honking and edging up on me from behind. Finally, the traffic was less oppressive, and after awhile I seemed to leave it behind. I looked to my left, and saw the ocean. "I must be coming to a seaside town," I thought. I pulled over and walked into a bar, to ask directions. I approached a table where a handful of folks were speaking with Irish accents.
*****
Dream 1: Call Center
We've all heard of people losing their jobs at call centers. My employer eliminated a customer service center shortly after I arrived, and laid off a number of people. (They consolidated operations in the Midwest somewhere. I don't think they've packed it up and sent it to India yet.) My brother Drew is a boss, and I have no doubt that he's a good and fair one. He's always told me that it's very important not to criticize someone or their work in front of their fellow workers. I've had some real jerk bosses in my lifetime, some who scarred me for years. I'd like to work for a guy like my brother before I retire, if I ever do.
Dream 2: I Hate Maryland
I don't really hate Maryland. In fact, I've had some good times in Ocean City, Annapolis, and record shopping in Rockville and other places whose names I've forgotten. I really hate driving in unfamiliar places. It really stresses me out -- particularly huge highway systems that continually split off and throw me where I don't know where I'm going, from whence I may not be able to return. For my money, the whole stupid world should be laid out like Old Town Alexandria. Make everywhere a grid; Numbered streets go this way, Lettered streets or named streets go that way, all in alphabetical order. I was visiting with my friends Gordy, Ed and their wives in Springfield, VA over the Christmas break, and had to travel through the "Mixing Bowl;" or, should I say, the new, "improved" version. Traffic moved quicker, I'll give it that, but I still had no idea where to turn to get to my destination, and had to backtrack. Everything is so complicated. I don't know how in the world some idiots convinced the powers that be that it should be that way. Why is there I-95, 395 and 495? Why not, "You're on Blue Street, now you're getting onto Red Street; soon you will merge onto Yellow Street." Oh, well. Enough of that.
I guess it's pretty obvious that my antidote to stress is the sea, and Ireland. Oh, how I love Ireland. Can't wait to go back there someday. In fact, I'm wearing my wonderful Irish sweater as I type this wee message to yas.
*****
By the way, in case you're interested, I've added a yearly 2007 Dream Roundup to the end of the previous post (12/31/07). Who knew that all of those crazy people were walking around in my head?
Dream 1: Call Center
It was the end of the year, and The Washington Post published an article lauding people who had done good works; particularly those who had shone a light on others, instead of themselves. My brother Andrew was one of those people. He ran a call center, and when he heard that the center was going to be dissolved, and that the staff would lose their jobs, he wrote in to the Post to tell them what a great bunch of workers they'd been, and extolled them by name.
Dream 2: I Hate Maryland
I was in Maryland, and was driving in a very busy town that was unfamiliar to me. I had somewhere that I had to be, and had no directions, or knowledge of which direction in which I should point my car. As I pulled out of a busy mall parking lot, I basically threw up my hands and turned left, hoping that eventually something would be familiar, and give me a clue. Everything was too big, too busy, too congested, and it was stressing me out. I said out loud to no one in particular, "I Hate Maryland!" I continued traveling through a very busy city, surrounded by glittering shops, tall buildings, and tons of traffic. The highway system was making me nervous; I would rather have been on a smaller road, where at least I could get my bearings without people honking and edging up on me from behind. Finally, the traffic was less oppressive, and after awhile I seemed to leave it behind. I looked to my left, and saw the ocean. "I must be coming to a seaside town," I thought. I pulled over and walked into a bar, to ask directions. I approached a table where a handful of folks were speaking with Irish accents.
*****
Dream 1: Call Center
We've all heard of people losing their jobs at call centers. My employer eliminated a customer service center shortly after I arrived, and laid off a number of people. (They consolidated operations in the Midwest somewhere. I don't think they've packed it up and sent it to India yet.) My brother Drew is a boss, and I have no doubt that he's a good and fair one. He's always told me that it's very important not to criticize someone or their work in front of their fellow workers. I've had some real jerk bosses in my lifetime, some who scarred me for years. I'd like to work for a guy like my brother before I retire, if I ever do.
Dream 2: I Hate Maryland
I don't really hate Maryland. In fact, I've had some good times in Ocean City, Annapolis, and record shopping in Rockville and other places whose names I've forgotten. I really hate driving in unfamiliar places. It really stresses me out -- particularly huge highway systems that continually split off and throw me where I don't know where I'm going, from whence I may not be able to return. For my money, the whole stupid world should be laid out like Old Town Alexandria. Make everywhere a grid; Numbered streets go this way, Lettered streets or named streets go that way, all in alphabetical order. I was visiting with my friends Gordy, Ed and their wives in Springfield, VA over the Christmas break, and had to travel through the "Mixing Bowl;" or, should I say, the new, "improved" version. Traffic moved quicker, I'll give it that, but I still had no idea where to turn to get to my destination, and had to backtrack. Everything is so complicated. I don't know how in the world some idiots convinced the powers that be that it should be that way. Why is there I-95, 395 and 495? Why not, "You're on Blue Street, now you're getting onto Red Street; soon you will merge onto Yellow Street." Oh, well. Enough of that.
I guess it's pretty obvious that my antidote to stress is the sea, and Ireland. Oh, how I love Ireland. Can't wait to go back there someday. In fact, I'm wearing my wonderful Irish sweater as I type this wee message to yas.
*****
By the way, in case you're interested, I've added a yearly 2007 Dream Roundup to the end of the previous post (12/31/07). Who knew that all of those crazy people were walking around in my head?
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Tater Fight / Body Surfing / Conga!
Monday night (12/31/07)
Dream 1: Tater Fight
My wife made dinner for us and brought it into the family room at my parents' house. (We were the only ones there.) As she handed me my plate, she said, "I hope you like [sour] cream," meaning that she'd used it to make the mashed potatoes. (She knew full well that I didn't like it.) I got frowny, and got up from my chair, and turned my back toward her, as I began stacking boxes of CDs that I'd made on the floor. She said, "What, you're going to ignore me now?" I said, "Well, it's just that you know that I don't like sour cream, and you put it in there deliberately... and then you topped it with [stinky] cheese!" (Horror of horrors.) I was being a jerk.
Dream 2: Body Surfing
I was having dinner with my family, presumably at 3374, and told them that I wanted to move away. Andrew said, "Move away?! Why would you want to do that?" I said, "I want to be closer to the beach." The next thing I knew, Jimmie and I were in a seaside resort town, walking on sidewalks covered with white sand. We were making our way toward the beach, and I was also scoping out places where I might live. We walked next to a small group of wooden houses on our left, which faced an intersection that we were about to cross. I said, "This would be nice, except that it's on a busy street." Eventually we got to the ocean, and we walked out into the water, along with many other tourists that were already there. The tide was strangely low at that point, and we ventured out quite a ways before the water even got up to our knees. I noticed some large, beautiful red rocks that had had been worn smooth and low over thousands of years in the surf. Finally, Jimmie saw what we were looking for; a huge wave was building in the distance, and was coming our way. He said, "This is it!" We turned our backs to it, and pointed ourselves toward shore. We timed it just right, and as the wave got to us, we dove out front and rode it all the way in.
Dream 3: Conga!
I was in a variety show that was being staged by my employer, apparently at my old elementary school in Arlington. I was standing on stage at the far left as my division did it's thing. I wasn't really sure what I was supposed to be doing, but I was loose, dancing along with the music, and enjoying myself. A large black woman was to my right. After awhile, it was time for another member of our team to take the spotlight, and everyone else cleared the stage. She was also black, but tall and thin, and wore a head scarf, similar to Erykah Badu. (It could have been her, for all I know.) Anyway, there was a rectangular area that was cordoned off in the middle of the audience, and I assumed that that's where the soundboard was. In fact, that area did not contain sound equipment; it contained a bunch of instruments. The large woman walked over there and found some bongos, and started playing an intoxicating rhythm. The woman on the stage began singing, and we were all knocked out. She was unbelievably funky -- the whole place was grooving, and she sounded like a pro. She walked down into the audience as she continued to sing (thanks to her cordless mic) and the crowd spontaneously formed a conga line behind her. I raced up to join them, and noticed that I was about the sixth person in line. Unfortunately, the previous five were all guys, and I wasn't too keen about grabbing onto some dude's swaying hips. I turned around and called out, "We need some more women in here!" Soon, my coworker Pat H. joined in, and I followed after her. The line got larger and larger, and soon the singer led us outside, in the dark, and we kicked and swayed for blocks, and then miles. Eventually, we got up near People's Drug Store. We were coming up the small side street to the right of the row of shops, which face Lee Highway, when several of us saw our boss, Jennie S. Someone called out, "Do you want to join us?" She said, "NO," and that pretty much took the wind out of our sails. The line broke up, and folks began to wander back down the street. I decided that I'd walk into People's, as long as I was there, but suddenly I realized that someone was holding onto my left arm. It was a young woman with glasses, wearing a black coat and skirt, and a white blouse. She had been behind me in the conga line, and now she refused to let go. I wasn't really interested in her, and tried to be polite about it, but she didn't catch my drift, or didn't want to. I said, "Uh, I'm gonna' go into this store." She said, "Good. I'll go, too!" She held onto my arm even tighter. I sorta dragged her with me into the drug store, only to find that the front of the shop was completely dark. It was lit in the back, but closed for renovations. "Great," I thought. It was bad enough that the store was closed, but I had another problem. I was aroused, and the last thing I wanted was for this chick to find out about it. It was not easy to try to shift things around down there with her hanging on me. After all, she didn't get me in that condition -- it was the music.
*****
Dream 1: Tater Fight
My culinary tastes have broadened a great deal since I've been married, but I do keep a famous running list of the ingredients that I do not like, which include sour cream and smelly cheeses. Every now and then, cooks who are "in the know" try to slip said ingredients past the goalie. When my sister-in-law Liz was here over Thanksgiving, she and my wife made mashed potatoes with sour cream, and didn't tell me about it until I'd had some already. Of course, they asked me first, "Did you like it?" Very clever. Back at Lizzie's place, over Xmas, she handed me some cookie bars. I asked her what was in them, and she told me every ingredient... except the part about the cheese. Sneaky.
Dream 2: Body Surfing
I do miss the ocean; I haven't seen it in years. My dad taught me to body surf when I was very young. He's blind as a bat, so he used to stand in the water wearing a brownish checked bathing suit and big Buddy Holly glasses. Once a wave knocked his glasses off, and he was helpless. Another wave came along, and put them right back in his hand. He claims that that is one of many miracles he's experienced in his lifetime. Who knows? Maybe he's onto something there.
Dream 3: Conga!
Pat H. and Jennie S. are real coworkers; the rest of the people in this dream are fictitious. The show took place in the Jamestown Elementary Multi-Purpose Room, the sight of many variety shows and piano performances of my youth. My most painful variety show memory is not one which involved a performance of mine -- rather, it was the sight of Dominic Puglisi pounding a snare drum to a recording of "The Little Drummer Boy." God, I thought it would never end.
Anway, in retrospect, that young woman with the glasses wasn't so bad. Maybe we should have gone for a cuppa Joe (& a hot chocolate for me).
*****
December 2007 Dream Roundup
Family & Friends:
My wife
Andrew C.
Dominic E.
Ed B.
Jim E.
Jimmie C.
Liz E.
Stuart R.
Susan W.
Coworkers & Acquaintances:
Duncan S.
Gene P.
Habib
Jeff D.
Jennie S.
Pat H.
Pat S. (Her house was featured in "Heron")
Rod S. (")
Susan B. (Someone mentioned her in "Christmas Spirit")
Celebrities:
Andy Gibb
Barack Obama (I heard he'd passed away in "Hopes Crushed")
Barry Gibb
Bill Clinton (Seen in a photo in Andrew's book in "The Author")
Bowie Kuhn
Bruce Springsteen
Charlie Rose
Clarence Clemons (Seen in BTR cover image on a jersey in "Ya Just Gotta Hear It")
Erykah Badu
Hillary Clinton (Mentioned in "Hopes Crushed")
Joe DiMaggio
Meryl Streep
Norman Schwarzkoph
The Simpsons (They were mentioned in "The Sky is Falling")
Steely Dan (I sang their song "Dirty Work" in "Fire")
Steve Van Zandt
Strong Bad (His voice was heard in "The Sky is Falling")
*****
2007 Yearly (OK, Half Yearly) Dream Roundup
After putting this together, it offers a pretty good snapshot of who and what was running around in my head in the last six months of 2007: family, old friends, actors, musicians, presidents, and wanna-be-presidents. It occurs to me that if I have a look at this list three or four years from now, I won’t remember many of the coworkers that I’ve listed. I’m like that, though; coworkers don’t mean nearly as much to me as my family and core group of friends that I'll carry throughout my life.
Family & Friends:
My wife
My father-in-law
Andrew C. (brother)
Ann R.
Becky H. U.
Brent L.
Brud H.
Dad C.
David C. (cousin)
Dawn C. (sister-in-law)
Denis G.
Denise V.F.P.
Dominic E. (brother- & sister-in-law’s son)
Ed B.
Eddie M.
Eric M.
Gordon S.
Greg S.
Jeff V.
Jenni H.
Jim B.
Jim E. (brother-in-law)
Jimmie C. (brother)
Kels K.
Kevin W.
Kyle N.
Laura M.
Liz E. (sister-in-law)
MaMa (Dad’s mom, my grandmother)
Margaret S.
Mari-Jane W.
Mark F.
Maurice F.
Mindy S.
Mom C.
Polly D.
Preston W.
Ray B.
"Sis" (Dad's sister; my aunt)
Steve W.
Stuart R.
Susan F.
Susan W. (sister-in-law)
Wendy G.
Wingard C. (cousin)
Coworkers & Acquaintances:
Ashley S.
Christy S.
Connie P.
Darrell B.
Dasha T.
Duncan S.
Eden F.
Eric T.
Erik B.
Frank A.
Gene P.
Habib
Harriet T.
Isaiah M.
Jamie P.
Jeff D.
Jennie S.
Kahata M.
Ken P.
Max C.
Melissa F.
Melissa L.
Michelle L.
Pat H.
Pat S.
Rod S.
Sally C.
Shannon F.
Suzanne B.
Celebrities:
ABBA
Aida Torturro (as Janice Soprano)
Al Gore
Alex Van Halen
Alison Krauss
Andy Gibb
The Banana Splits
Barack Obama
Barry Gibb
The Beatles
Belinda Carlisle
Bill Clinton
Bob Dylan
Bowie Kuhn
Brian Wilson
Britney Spears
Bruce Springsteen
The Byrds
The Cars
Cerphe Colwell
Charlie Rose
Cher
Chris Matthews
Clarence Clemons
Conan O'Brien
Dan Akyroyd
Danny & the Juniors
David Lee Roth
DeForest Kelly
Dick Van Dyke
Don Henley
The Eagles
Eddie Van Halen
Ellen Degeneres
Elvis Costello
Elvis Presley
Erykah Badu
The Everly Brothers
Francis Bavier (as "Aunt Bee")
Frank Sinatra
George Lucas
George Takei
Gilbert Godfried
The Go-Go's
Hillary Clinton
Jackie Cooper
James Doohan
James Gandolfini (as Tony Soprano)
Jennifer Aniston
Jerry Seinfeld
Joe DiMaggio
John Cleese
John Lennon
John Seigenthaler
John Travolta
Jonathan Cain
Leonard Nimoy
Linda Hunt
Lucille Ball
Martha Stewart
Matt Damon (as Jason Bourne)
Matt Lauer
Matt Servitto
Meryl Streep
Mick Jagger
Mike Wallace
The Monkees
Mike Myers
Nichelle Nichols
Norman Schwarzkoph
The Osmonds
Pat Benatar
Paul McCartney
Paul Simon
Pete Townshend
Peter MacNicol
Peter Vaughan
Player (The band)
Prince
Roger Daltrey
Roy Orbison
Rudy Giuliani
Sally Field
Sheryl Crow
The Simpsons
Spike Lee
Steely Dan
Steve Van Zandt
Stevie Nicks
Strong Bad (cartoon character from homestarrunner.com)
Styx
Ted Kennedy
Theodore Roosevelt
Tim Daly (as J.T. Dolan)
Tom Snyder
Tony Sirico (as Paulie Walnuts)
Ulysses S. Grant
Walter Koenig
William Shatner
Wolfgang Van Halen
*******
Dream 1: Tater Fight
My wife made dinner for us and brought it into the family room at my parents' house. (We were the only ones there.) As she handed me my plate, she said, "I hope you like [sour] cream," meaning that she'd used it to make the mashed potatoes. (She knew full well that I didn't like it.) I got frowny, and got up from my chair, and turned my back toward her, as I began stacking boxes of CDs that I'd made on the floor. She said, "What, you're going to ignore me now?" I said, "Well, it's just that you know that I don't like sour cream, and you put it in there deliberately... and then you topped it with [stinky] cheese!" (Horror of horrors.) I was being a jerk.
Dream 2: Body Surfing
I was having dinner with my family, presumably at 3374, and told them that I wanted to move away. Andrew said, "Move away?! Why would you want to do that?" I said, "I want to be closer to the beach." The next thing I knew, Jimmie and I were in a seaside resort town, walking on sidewalks covered with white sand. We were making our way toward the beach, and I was also scoping out places where I might live. We walked next to a small group of wooden houses on our left, which faced an intersection that we were about to cross. I said, "This would be nice, except that it's on a busy street." Eventually we got to the ocean, and we walked out into the water, along with many other tourists that were already there. The tide was strangely low at that point, and we ventured out quite a ways before the water even got up to our knees. I noticed some large, beautiful red rocks that had had been worn smooth and low over thousands of years in the surf. Finally, Jimmie saw what we were looking for; a huge wave was building in the distance, and was coming our way. He said, "This is it!" We turned our backs to it, and pointed ourselves toward shore. We timed it just right, and as the wave got to us, we dove out front and rode it all the way in.
Dream 3: Conga!
I was in a variety show that was being staged by my employer, apparently at my old elementary school in Arlington. I was standing on stage at the far left as my division did it's thing. I wasn't really sure what I was supposed to be doing, but I was loose, dancing along with the music, and enjoying myself. A large black woman was to my right. After awhile, it was time for another member of our team to take the spotlight, and everyone else cleared the stage. She was also black, but tall and thin, and wore a head scarf, similar to Erykah Badu. (It could have been her, for all I know.) Anyway, there was a rectangular area that was cordoned off in the middle of the audience, and I assumed that that's where the soundboard was. In fact, that area did not contain sound equipment; it contained a bunch of instruments. The large woman walked over there and found some bongos, and started playing an intoxicating rhythm. The woman on the stage began singing, and we were all knocked out. She was unbelievably funky -- the whole place was grooving, and she sounded like a pro. She walked down into the audience as she continued to sing (thanks to her cordless mic) and the crowd spontaneously formed a conga line behind her. I raced up to join them, and noticed that I was about the sixth person in line. Unfortunately, the previous five were all guys, and I wasn't too keen about grabbing onto some dude's swaying hips. I turned around and called out, "We need some more women in here!" Soon, my coworker Pat H. joined in, and I followed after her. The line got larger and larger, and soon the singer led us outside, in the dark, and we kicked and swayed for blocks, and then miles. Eventually, we got up near People's Drug Store. We were coming up the small side street to the right of the row of shops, which face Lee Highway, when several of us saw our boss, Jennie S. Someone called out, "Do you want to join us?" She said, "NO," and that pretty much took the wind out of our sails. The line broke up, and folks began to wander back down the street. I decided that I'd walk into People's, as long as I was there, but suddenly I realized that someone was holding onto my left arm. It was a young woman with glasses, wearing a black coat and skirt, and a white blouse. She had been behind me in the conga line, and now she refused to let go. I wasn't really interested in her, and tried to be polite about it, but she didn't catch my drift, or didn't want to. I said, "Uh, I'm gonna' go into this store." She said, "Good. I'll go, too!" She held onto my arm even tighter. I sorta dragged her with me into the drug store, only to find that the front of the shop was completely dark. It was lit in the back, but closed for renovations. "Great," I thought. It was bad enough that the store was closed, but I had another problem. I was aroused, and the last thing I wanted was for this chick to find out about it. It was not easy to try to shift things around down there with her hanging on me. After all, she didn't get me in that condition -- it was the music.
*****
Dream 1: Tater Fight
My culinary tastes have broadened a great deal since I've been married, but I do keep a famous running list of the ingredients that I do not like, which include sour cream and smelly cheeses. Every now and then, cooks who are "in the know" try to slip said ingredients past the goalie. When my sister-in-law Liz was here over Thanksgiving, she and my wife made mashed potatoes with sour cream, and didn't tell me about it until I'd had some already. Of course, they asked me first, "Did you like it?" Very clever. Back at Lizzie's place, over Xmas, she handed me some cookie bars. I asked her what was in them, and she told me every ingredient... except the part about the cheese. Sneaky.
Dream 2: Body Surfing
I do miss the ocean; I haven't seen it in years. My dad taught me to body surf when I was very young. He's blind as a bat, so he used to stand in the water wearing a brownish checked bathing suit and big Buddy Holly glasses. Once a wave knocked his glasses off, and he was helpless. Another wave came along, and put them right back in his hand. He claims that that is one of many miracles he's experienced in his lifetime. Who knows? Maybe he's onto something there.
Dream 3: Conga!
Pat H. and Jennie S. are real coworkers; the rest of the people in this dream are fictitious. The show took place in the Jamestown Elementary Multi-Purpose Room, the sight of many variety shows and piano performances of my youth. My most painful variety show memory is not one which involved a performance of mine -- rather, it was the sight of Dominic Puglisi pounding a snare drum to a recording of "The Little Drummer Boy." God, I thought it would never end.
Anway, in retrospect, that young woman with the glasses wasn't so bad. Maybe we should have gone for a cuppa Joe (& a hot chocolate for me).
*****
December 2007 Dream Roundup
Family & Friends:
My wife
Andrew C.
Dominic E.
Ed B.
Jim E.
Jimmie C.
Liz E.
Stuart R.
Susan W.
Coworkers & Acquaintances:
Duncan S.
Gene P.
Habib
Jeff D.
Jennie S.
Pat H.
Pat S. (Her house was featured in "Heron")
Rod S. (")
Susan B. (Someone mentioned her in "Christmas Spirit")
Celebrities:
Andy Gibb
Barack Obama (I heard he'd passed away in "Hopes Crushed")
Barry Gibb
Bill Clinton (Seen in a photo in Andrew's book in "The Author")
Bowie Kuhn
Bruce Springsteen
Charlie Rose
Clarence Clemons (Seen in BTR cover image on a jersey in "Ya Just Gotta Hear It")
Erykah Badu
Hillary Clinton (Mentioned in "Hopes Crushed")
Joe DiMaggio
Meryl Streep
Norman Schwarzkoph
The Simpsons (They were mentioned in "The Sky is Falling")
Steely Dan (I sang their song "Dirty Work" in "Fire")
Steve Van Zandt
Strong Bad (His voice was heard in "The Sky is Falling")
*****
2007 Yearly (OK, Half Yearly) Dream Roundup
After putting this together, it offers a pretty good snapshot of who and what was running around in my head in the last six months of 2007: family, old friends, actors, musicians, presidents, and wanna-be-presidents. It occurs to me that if I have a look at this list three or four years from now, I won’t remember many of the coworkers that I’ve listed. I’m like that, though; coworkers don’t mean nearly as much to me as my family and core group of friends that I'll carry throughout my life.
Family & Friends:
My wife
My father-in-law
Andrew C. (brother)
Ann R.
Becky H. U.
Brent L.
Brud H.
Dad C.
David C. (cousin)
Dawn C. (sister-in-law)
Denis G.
Denise V.F.P.
Dominic E. (brother- & sister-in-law’s son)
Ed B.
Eddie M.
Eric M.
Gordon S.
Greg S.
Jeff V.
Jenni H.
Jim B.
Jim E. (brother-in-law)
Jimmie C. (brother)
Kels K.
Kevin W.
Kyle N.
Laura M.
Liz E. (sister-in-law)
MaMa (Dad’s mom, my grandmother)
Margaret S.
Mari-Jane W.
Mark F.
Maurice F.
Mindy S.
Mom C.
Polly D.
Preston W.
Ray B.
"Sis" (Dad's sister; my aunt)
Steve W.
Stuart R.
Susan F.
Susan W. (sister-in-law)
Wendy G.
Wingard C. (cousin)
Coworkers & Acquaintances:
Ashley S.
Christy S.
Connie P.
Darrell B.
Dasha T.
Duncan S.
Eden F.
Eric T.
Erik B.
Frank A.
Gene P.
Habib
Harriet T.
Isaiah M.
Jamie P.
Jeff D.
Jennie S.
Kahata M.
Ken P.
Max C.
Melissa F.
Melissa L.
Michelle L.
Pat H.
Pat S.
Rod S.
Sally C.
Shannon F.
Suzanne B.
Celebrities:
ABBA
Aida Torturro (as Janice Soprano)
Al Gore
Alex Van Halen
Alison Krauss
Andy Gibb
The Banana Splits
Barack Obama
Barry Gibb
The Beatles
Belinda Carlisle
Bill Clinton
Bob Dylan
Bowie Kuhn
Brian Wilson
Britney Spears
Bruce Springsteen
The Byrds
The Cars
Cerphe Colwell
Charlie Rose
Cher
Chris Matthews
Clarence Clemons
Conan O'Brien
Dan Akyroyd
Danny & the Juniors
David Lee Roth
DeForest Kelly
Dick Van Dyke
Don Henley
The Eagles
Eddie Van Halen
Ellen Degeneres
Elvis Costello
Elvis Presley
Erykah Badu
The Everly Brothers
Francis Bavier (as "Aunt Bee")
Frank Sinatra
George Lucas
George Takei
Gilbert Godfried
The Go-Go's
Hillary Clinton
Jackie Cooper
James Doohan
James Gandolfini (as Tony Soprano)
Jennifer Aniston
Jerry Seinfeld
Joe DiMaggio
John Cleese
John Lennon
John Seigenthaler
John Travolta
Jonathan Cain
Leonard Nimoy
Linda Hunt
Lucille Ball
Martha Stewart
Matt Damon (as Jason Bourne)
Matt Lauer
Matt Servitto
Meryl Streep
Mick Jagger
Mike Wallace
The Monkees
Mike Myers
Nichelle Nichols
Norman Schwarzkoph
The Osmonds
Pat Benatar
Paul McCartney
Paul Simon
Pete Townshend
Peter MacNicol
Peter Vaughan
Player (The band)
Prince
Roger Daltrey
Roy Orbison
Rudy Giuliani
Sally Field
Sheryl Crow
The Simpsons
Spike Lee
Steely Dan
Steve Van Zandt
Stevie Nicks
Strong Bad (cartoon character from homestarrunner.com)
Styx
Ted Kennedy
Theodore Roosevelt
Tim Daly (as J.T. Dolan)
Tom Snyder
Tony Sirico (as Paulie Walnuts)
Ulysses S. Grant
Walter Koenig
William Shatner
Wolfgang Van Halen
*******
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