Sleeping, Sleeping...

"Sleeping, sleeping. Dreaming, dreaming" from "Motherly Bluster" by Ghost.

Although the vocalist has some issues with "sleeping" and ends up saying "sreeping".  Let's not mock him for that.

I had an extended text conversation with a friend many miles away about dreams.  I made it into one of his dreams where he couldn't get into the house I was beckoning him into.  The same night I had a dream in which I was being chased and only narrowly escaped what was sure to be certain death.  We came to the conclusion that maybe we had had the same dream.  That I was running from him.  Had I known it was him, I wouldn't have been so damn concerned with my life.

But this leads me to consider all of my dreams.  As of late, say...the past few years at least...the majority of my dreams are frightening, terrifying, frustrating, malicious, bad, bad dreams.  I'm being chased all over the place, putting all my effort into running and feeling like I'm stuck in a foot of mud.  Or I'm attempting to complete a task and no matter what I do, my efforts are foiled.  Or, worst of all, I'm dying or soon to be dead.  A recent dream had me not only running for my life, but in the company of a friend who was able to see our future, and he informed me that we were goners. Dead. Kaput.  Nothing to be done about it.  In another dream I had been shot twice in the back and hit once in the spine.  I could feel the hot, thick blood soaking my clothes, I couldn't move and people were saying their goodbyes.  In yet another dream, I sacrificed myself to save my family from government terrorists.

What gives? Why all the bad dreams?

Just to end on a positive note, I had a "good" dream last night. I was with a friend in a foreign country in which I wasn't technically allowed, but somehow we had forged some documents for me, and as long as I smiled and didn't say a word, I would make it through border security just fine.  The border entrance was outside, our passports were bright red.  We made it through and the scene swiftly changed to take us to a celebration outside.  The ground was dusty brown, the trees had young bright green leaves on them.  My friend's grandparents were celebrating an anniversary, and we were arguing over who should take the photos as the grandparents were cutting their anniversary cake. Switch scenes to evening and an outdoor assembly place.  There is a large group of people surrounding a group of trained elephants and one trained giraffe.  The animals are in some sort of hypnotic state and the only way for them to become active is for all of us in the group of people to yell "All awake!" in unison.  We yelled once and it didn't work. The animal master scolded us for not believing in our words.  The infantile elephant looked like a large, fat 11-year-old human girl and she did all things girl-like except talk.  We all commented on how odd it was for young elephants to look like humans.

Then I awoke. And I consider that a good dream.

In Reality

I think I've realized that, at heart, I am really just a very silly little girl. This leads to many complications in adult life, and several frivolous tears.

Written on My Wall

I went away for a weekend, and I think my refrigerator wrote this.

Written on My Wall

We incubate lies together
like love or drunken dreams
then heave and pant
under ugly weakness

stop

rip it out please

say it --
not
in a whisper

Who will want you when it's over?

some say always.
not me.

07/28/07

Me gusta Astoria

I've finally realized that I like like my neighborhood.  Here are a few of the things that I like:

1) Astoria Park. Right under the Triboro and Hell Gate bridges, near the sight of the General Sloacum disaster.  Location of the Astoria swimming pool.   Lots of trees and squirrels.  Enough space so that, generally, people aren't annoying.

2) Little Egypt.  It is Ramadan right now and every night a few blocks of Steinway Street are packed with the local Muslim community coming together for the Iftar meal.  It is lively and celebratory.  I like it. Oh! And everyone is selling dates because Iftar traditionally begins with eating a date.  Sounds like a good way to break a fast to me.

3) All of the local butcher shops.  I saw a man walking down the street with an entire skinned lamb slung over his shoulder.  Now that is not something you see everyday.

4) The large abundance of authentic Greek restaurants.  Opa! Tony's Souvlaki is one of my favorites. The food is delicious, the service is good, and the hostess (who must also be owner or family) is great.  She comes around to each table and asks how we are doing, and every single time I've gone there I've gotten a plate of appetizers on the house.  She just loves to show off her Greek hospitality.

5) The fresh produce markets.  Okay.  So I don't shop at any of them.  I just like knowing that I can if I want to.

6) The N and W trains. No train is perfect, but the N and W are close.  They run regularly, they are usually clean and they don't break down too often.  They might not get me every place as quick or as close as I want them to, but riding the Broadway line definitely has it's advantages.

7) The fact that Astoria is located in Queens.  I like living in Queens.

8) The Tastee Corner diner.  Good chocolate chip pancakes. Good waffle fries. Good coffee. Great prices.

9) The history. Astoria was named for John Jacob Astor -- who never once set foot in Astoria.  It was originally known as Hallet's Cove, named for a family who owned some land in the area.  From swamp and rocky shores to the concrete and pavement it is now, the history of Astoria, with General Sloacum, Steinway & Sons, and everything else, is worth getting to know.  You can find more history on the area, events and opportunities to volunteer at http://www.astorialic.org/

10) And of course, I can't forget the Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden.  Who doesn't like a beer garden?  And in this case, it is the oldest continuously operated beer garden in the state.  Maybe I'll see you there.

I am so done with this day...

...but this day is not yet done with me. I was told that was a good line and that I should save it. I decided to use it instead.

This week was a good week. Lake last weekend. Margaritas on Monday. Culinary concoction on Tuesday. Hot Yoga on Wednesday. Project Runway on Thursday. And then we have today. An epically long day during which I came across one snag that really put a downer on my day. On any other Friday I'd be glad to have so many hours left in the day. But today, I just want it to be over.

I think I am supposed to be excited about the weekend. I think I am supposed to go out and prove to everyone what a good time I'm having. I think I'll pass on all that. Plus Hurricane Bill is in town.

And you know what comes next? Monday.

gonads

I'm eating a rice ball and thinking about how my eggs are getting older by the second. Irony.