Sunday night
Preston W. and I were walking in a wooded area near a creek, and the ground was littered with brown leaves; it was fall. I was telling him that I'd seen a lot of snakes lately, when I stopped and said, "There's one now." I stepped down into a slight ravine and pointed out a fairly thick snake that was gray, with some reddish markings. I said, "That's a corn snake." Preston was still on higher ground, but bent down for a better view. I touched the snake and he wriggled away, into a hole. Having a quick look around, I said, there's two more." These were smaller and thinner snakes, both black, though one had white stripes. I reached out and touched them, too, before they quickly hid themselves. None of the snakes were poisonous.
A short time later, I was walking through the same area when I came upon an older gentleman with white hair who owned a home nearby. I told him about the snakes we'd seen, particularly the large gray one. The man said, "Oh, my dog knows that one. The two of them are friends."
Later, my wife and I were walking along the same path in springtime, and we were looking at bird's nests. She found one in an unusual location -- in the base of a rose bush that was growing in a red clay pot, left along the path. She said, "Look; I think I've found something here." I had a look for myself, and could see three tiny, fluffy gray birds, almost unrecognizable, because they were only about an inch or two long, and were huddled together. I said "Why do you think they made their nest here, in this exposed place? Maybe they thought the thorns would protect them." I stood up and looked into a nearby tree and said, "I've got one, too." A robin was perched on a branch close to her nest. She was eyeing me warily. I said, "You're OK. [I'm not here to hurt you]." Just then, one of her neighbors, a black and white woodpecker with red markings on its head, came along her branch and bumped into her by mistake.
*****
I think that this particular wooded path is based on a bend in the trail that I used to take from my neighborhood down to the creek. It's in the area down below Old Dominion Drive, between my parents' home in Arlington and the Chesterbrook Shopping Center in McLean.
It's springtime, and the backyard has come to life; the cherry tree is in full bloom, the dogwoods are about to pop, and the birds are out and about. I was fortunate enough to see a rare visitor a few days ago; a yellow bellied sapsucker flew into our elm tree.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Blocked
Saturday night
I had found out about an interesting job opening where I work, and decided that I was going to apply for it, but first I had to tell my current boss. I went into her office and sat down and explained that I was applying to be the editor of three magazines, and would be responsible for some layout duties, as well. She said that she'd prevent me from doing so; she didn't think I was qualified.
*****
This is not a real situation, but it shows that I'm still thinking about the job review that I had on Friday. I hate job reviews; it always feels like I'm walking to the firing squad.
I had found out about an interesting job opening where I work, and decided that I was going to apply for it, but first I had to tell my current boss. I went into her office and sat down and explained that I was applying to be the editor of three magazines, and would be responsible for some layout duties, as well. She said that she'd prevent me from doing so; she didn't think I was qualified.
*****
This is not a real situation, but it shows that I'm still thinking about the job review that I had on Friday. I hate job reviews; it always feels like I'm walking to the firing squad.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Didn't Need to See That
Thursday night
I was standing in my parents' bedroom on Dinwiddie Street, sorting through a stack of clean laundry that I'd dumped on the bed. My aunt (Dad's sister -- "Sis") was there too, standing next to me. As I sorted through the white clothes I came across a T-shirt that I'd had printed up for a birthday party my brother Andrew and I had thrown for each other some years before. It featured a large black and white blowup of a photo taken of Drew and me on our fourth birthday, in 1966. Sis saw the shirt. Not only did she decide that she had to have it; she had to try it on then and there. She took off her shirt in my presence, and put on the T-shirt. It didn't fit right, so the neckline was stretched, and it "stuck out" in places. I turned away and said, "TOO MUCH INFORMATION!"
*****
Those T-shirts did exist; we only made two of them. I haven't thought of them in years.
I was standing in my parents' bedroom on Dinwiddie Street, sorting through a stack of clean laundry that I'd dumped on the bed. My aunt (Dad's sister -- "Sis") was there too, standing next to me. As I sorted through the white clothes I came across a T-shirt that I'd had printed up for a birthday party my brother Andrew and I had thrown for each other some years before. It featured a large black and white blowup of a photo taken of Drew and me on our fourth birthday, in 1966. Sis saw the shirt. Not only did she decide that she had to have it; she had to try it on then and there. She took off her shirt in my presence, and put on the T-shirt. It didn't fit right, so the neckline was stretched, and it "stuck out" in places. I turned away and said, "TOO MUCH INFORMATION!"
*****
Those T-shirts did exist; we only made two of them. I haven't thought of them in years.
No Guts, No Glory
Monday night
My wife and I were at an amusement park that featured a large roller coaster constructed of metal beams painted black. She eagerly hopped into the last car and waited to take a ride, but I held back. The owner of the coaster walked up and introduced himself; his first name was the same as mine. He said that this was his first roller coaster. (He'd never owned one before.) The cars began to move, and I had to make a quick decision whether to get over my fear and join in the fun. There was one more open seat in front of my wife...
*****
I'm scared of three things: lightning storms, roller coasters, and the dentist. Well, four, counting cancer ("the bullet"). I'm working hard at taking better care of myself, so I'll be in good health in my retirement. I'm trying to learn from my dad's experience. He's been retired for over 20 years now, but I think he would probably have enjoyed it more had he kept his weight down and gotten more exercise.
The dentist isn't so bad these days. Most of my teeth problems were fixed some time ago.
Sure hope I can dodge that bullet as I get older.
My wife and I were at an amusement park that featured a large roller coaster constructed of metal beams painted black. She eagerly hopped into the last car and waited to take a ride, but I held back. The owner of the coaster walked up and introduced himself; his first name was the same as mine. He said that this was his first roller coaster. (He'd never owned one before.) The cars began to move, and I had to make a quick decision whether to get over my fear and join in the fun. There was one more open seat in front of my wife...
*****
I'm scared of three things: lightning storms, roller coasters, and the dentist. Well, four, counting cancer ("the bullet"). I'm working hard at taking better care of myself, so I'll be in good health in my retirement. I'm trying to learn from my dad's experience. He's been retired for over 20 years now, but I think he would probably have enjoyed it more had he kept his weight down and gotten more exercise.
The dentist isn't so bad these days. Most of my teeth problems were fixed some time ago.
Sure hope I can dodge that bullet as I get older.
Moon Museum
Sunday night
I was hanging onto a metal railing protruding from the bottom of a small satellite that was floating in space. Well, it wasn't really a satellite; it was a small round building, big enough to hold a handfull of people and a few exhibits. It was a moon museum, designed to get people interested in taking a trip there. Anyway, I was hanging off of this railing, untethered, and it was pretty scary, but I was able to clamber back inside all right. Once I had gotten back to safety, I found myself in a cramped hallway, looking at large, seemingly identical black and white photographs of mountains that were hanging on opposite walls. Visitors were supposed to guess which of these peaks were on the earth, and which were on the moon. I had no idea. They looked identical to me. I asked one of the guides, "Will we be able to breathe there [on the moon]?
*****
The bit about hanging from the railing at the bottom of the floating orb may have been taken from "The Empire Strikes Back," after Han Solo had the unfortunate meeting with his daddy.
I was hanging onto a metal railing protruding from the bottom of a small satellite that was floating in space. Well, it wasn't really a satellite; it was a small round building, big enough to hold a handfull of people and a few exhibits. It was a moon museum, designed to get people interested in taking a trip there. Anyway, I was hanging off of this railing, untethered, and it was pretty scary, but I was able to clamber back inside all right. Once I had gotten back to safety, I found myself in a cramped hallway, looking at large, seemingly identical black and white photographs of mountains that were hanging on opposite walls. Visitors were supposed to guess which of these peaks were on the earth, and which were on the moon. I had no idea. They looked identical to me. I asked one of the guides, "Will we be able to breathe there [on the moon]?
*****
The bit about hanging from the railing at the bottom of the floating orb may have been taken from "The Empire Strikes Back," after Han Solo had the unfortunate meeting with his daddy.
That's My Bug!
Saturday night
I was upstairs in my old bedroom on Dinwiddie Street when I heard a commotion outside. I peered out of the window down to the street below, and saw three cars parked in the middle of the road, in front of the house; all three cars seemed to have come from different directions, and were facing each other, forming a triangle. One of the cars had been abandoned with its hood open, and the area under the hood had been strewn with some dirty rags and debris. What was even worse was that the car with the hood open was my new VW Beetle. It turned out that my old friend Brud H. had borrowed it to give his own car a jump start, and then left it where it was.
*****
I've never owned a VW Beetle, but Brud had a light blue one when we were in high school. He went through a period when he was drawing pictures of VW Bugs all the time.
The old VW Bugs had their engines in the back; presumably the batteries were in the front. I have no idea how the newer ones were designed.
I was upstairs in my old bedroom on Dinwiddie Street when I heard a commotion outside. I peered out of the window down to the street below, and saw three cars parked in the middle of the road, in front of the house; all three cars seemed to have come from different directions, and were facing each other, forming a triangle. One of the cars had been abandoned with its hood open, and the area under the hood had been strewn with some dirty rags and debris. What was even worse was that the car with the hood open was my new VW Beetle. It turned out that my old friend Brud H. had borrowed it to give his own car a jump start, and then left it where it was.
*****
I've never owned a VW Beetle, but Brud had a light blue one when we were in high school. He went through a period when he was drawing pictures of VW Bugs all the time.
The old VW Bugs had their engines in the back; presumably the batteries were in the front. I have no idea how the newer ones were designed.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Southwest Style
Friday night
My wife and I were in a big bar or honky tonk somewhere in Texas, soaking up the atmosphere. The music was pretty good; it was flavored with Mexican accents, and the joint was jumpin'. I said, "This is the type of country music I like; it's got some spice to it." Just then, we noticed two serious-looking cowboys face off in a duel, of sorts, that had nothing to do with guns. Each wore a black cowboy hat, and both had dark mustaches. They faced each other, and each stood in the same odd pose; one that seemed to be copied from Charlie Chaplin's "Little Tramp" character, or maybe from a talented ballet dancer. Each man's heels touched each other, but their feet were facing in opposite directions. The two men were about to dance together, but it wasn't a gay thing, it was a very macho display, to convince the ladies in attendance which one was the better man. Suddenly one of the participants raised his right foot, then stamped it down, followed by his left foot doing the same, and his right foot again; BAM! BAM! BAM! His face was deadly serious, and he looked right in his rival's eye, as he mirrored every step. Next, he did the same sequence again, only starting with his left foot. These series of movements continued until the dream ended: right-left-right, left-right-left, right-left-right...
*****
The "left-right-left" sequence could refer to military marches, but I don't really think that that had anything to do with it. More than anything else, these two fellas reminded me of rival birds dancing to impress their mates in the "Planet Earth" documentary.
Last night, my wife made a fantastic dinner that consisted of a nice piece of halibut covered with a topping made of some fresh green veggies of some sort, mixed with red pepper, olive oil, garlic and various other things that I can't recall. It was hot enough to make my nose run, but it was incredibly tasty. I remember her saying, "Did you ever think you'd like something this spicy?" I said that I never knew about this type of thing when I was younger; we didn't eat really spicy food in our house when we were growing up, but I've learned to love it now. Anyway, I suspect that that conversation about dinner is why we were discussing spicy music in this dream. I'll take a little Tejano music over straight country any day.
My wife and I were in a big bar or honky tonk somewhere in Texas, soaking up the atmosphere. The music was pretty good; it was flavored with Mexican accents, and the joint was jumpin'. I said, "This is the type of country music I like; it's got some spice to it." Just then, we noticed two serious-looking cowboys face off in a duel, of sorts, that had nothing to do with guns. Each wore a black cowboy hat, and both had dark mustaches. They faced each other, and each stood in the same odd pose; one that seemed to be copied from Charlie Chaplin's "Little Tramp" character, or maybe from a talented ballet dancer. Each man's heels touched each other, but their feet were facing in opposite directions. The two men were about to dance together, but it wasn't a gay thing, it was a very macho display, to convince the ladies in attendance which one was the better man. Suddenly one of the participants raised his right foot, then stamped it down, followed by his left foot doing the same, and his right foot again; BAM! BAM! BAM! His face was deadly serious, and he looked right in his rival's eye, as he mirrored every step. Next, he did the same sequence again, only starting with his left foot. These series of movements continued until the dream ended: right-left-right, left-right-left, right-left-right...
*****
The "left-right-left" sequence could refer to military marches, but I don't really think that that had anything to do with it. More than anything else, these two fellas reminded me of rival birds dancing to impress their mates in the "Planet Earth" documentary.
Last night, my wife made a fantastic dinner that consisted of a nice piece of halibut covered with a topping made of some fresh green veggies of some sort, mixed with red pepper, olive oil, garlic and various other things that I can't recall. It was hot enough to make my nose run, but it was incredibly tasty. I remember her saying, "Did you ever think you'd like something this spicy?" I said that I never knew about this type of thing when I was younger; we didn't eat really spicy food in our house when we were growing up, but I've learned to love it now. Anyway, I suspect that that conversation about dinner is why we were discussing spicy music in this dream. I'll take a little Tejano music over straight country any day.
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