3 posts tagged “dreams”

Last night I had a dream, the second of a new theme. In this dream my grandma (who died of cancer in 1983) has come back to life or reappeared from wherever she'd been hiding. I conjectured perhaps she had been in an induced coma all this time, until they finally cured her. And when she comes back home, my grandpa gets his mind back. This is the new recurring theme. Grandpa Frank has alzheimer's and every time I see him there's a bit less of him there. But in my dream world he goes back to his old grumpy yet good-humored and almost entirely sane self. When grandma comes home.

Their house is the childhood home base that my dreams seem to seek out by default. I never feel safe or happy there in my dreams. There are often problems with the plumbing and the lock on the bathroom door. The main plot point in this particular dream is the appearance of Adolf, one of grandma's long-dead cats. I look out the kitchen window and see him sitting in the middle of the dirt yard where grandpa now keeps his backhoe. I recognize his crooked Hitler mustache. He is bigger and rounder than any non-dream housecat. I announce to grandma that Adolf came home and open the door for him. He rushes inside out of the bitter cold and I sit on the kitchen floor where he uncharacteristically snuggles up on my lap (he was a weird, unfriendly cat). I realize with  low-level concern that he is way older than cats are supposed to live. I ask grandma, "When was Adolf born?" She tells me, "45 weeks after your cousin." Even in dream math I realize this is simply not possible. My cousin was born in 1973.... which would make this dream cat over 30 years old. This reasoning launches me toward consciousness, where grandma is still dead and grandpa will never be sane again.

Another theme often found in my dreams: Moving in with my mom in some unfamiliar place that always has complex architecture and more rooms than one would think. The last dream like this was last week, and she and I had moved into an apartment complex much like the one I live in now. In this dream the multitude of rooms we share are spread over two units on opposite sides of the hall (and yet it is still somehow one apartment). It dawns on me that if we divide the space it could be almost like having my own apartment, and I go down the hall to suggest this plan. I find mom has gone insane and is making a variety of loud cat noises. This is not altogether improbable in real life. I try to talk to her quietly and rationally, but she continues to make cat noises. There are a bunch of young women neighbors who come over to help her (wearing fuzzy slippers and pink bathrobes). I decide I can be of no help and lock myself in the other apartment.

Last night I dreamt that my boss and I drove to the Eastside in his Mercedes for a Microsoft meeting.  The client had requested that we meet at his "club" instead of the Microsoft campus.  The club was exclusive and we had to sign a few things to be allowed in.  My boss went to find our client while a staff member led me upstairs to my room on the third floor.  The place was a multi-storied fancy restaurant with carpeted stairs that spiraled up through the floor. Every table was occupied - it seemed to be lunchtime.  My room was a suite with a small kitchen, and my parrot had already been installed near the window overlooking the street.  I had a large suitcase and some boxes of work related things.  Evidently I would be there for some time.

Out of the window I could see a few low buildings across the street with a crowded bus stop in front of them.  Beyond that the landscape was completely desolate and deserted.  I noticed the architecture of the building was ornately baroque, so I started taking photos of bits of my room that were especially decorative.  Meanwhile the staff had ironed and folded all of the clothes from the suitcase  and stacked them neatly on the bed.  I wondered how I was supposed to dress for dinner.

After that it gets a bit blurry, but I do remember going outside to the bus stop to try to figure out how I could get home, and then climbing back up the steep carpeted stairs with a great effort.

The goods:

1. Lots of sleep over the weekend, replete with vivid dreams.  Last night I was doing algebra in my sleep, and I'm pretty sure I was doing it correctly!
2. I gorged myself on the world's best cupcakes Saturday night at the Trophy Cupcakes opening gala and drank fizzy apple juice instead of champagne.  It was much like a 3rd grade birthday party.  This was my first party as a non-drinker and I did well.
3. Today is yoga day.  I like yoga so much I am considering going up to 3x weekly instead of 2.
4. Beatrice has been spending more and more time hanging upside down from the cieling of her cage.  This is endlessly amusing to both of us.
5. Coffee from Bauhaus.  Sometimes it's worth walking a block for decent espresso.
6. In a couple of months I will have my Bachelor's degree.
7. I've been spending a lot of time in my excellent bathtub and my excellent bed lately.  Two of the most excellent places on earth.  My tub is the best tub I've ever had.
8. I bought some drawing stuff at U-Books yesterday.  I miss my artistic side.
9. Flaubert's Parrot by Julian Barnes.
10. False Spring is here!  These sunny February days are so fresh and lovely.
    

1. My car is leaky.  3 oil leaks = $650; 2 transmission leaks = $130; 1 power steering fluid leak = $40.  And then I will sell it for $600.  1985 Toyota Camry, anyone?
2. I owe more taxes for 2006.  How did that happen?  And the IRS is getting pissy about the $2,000 I still owe from 2005.  Can I ask for a deferral until there's an administration I agree with?
3. I'd forgotten how much dust birds make.  As if my apartment weren't frightful enough already.  I may hire professional cleaners as part of my Spring cleaning.
4. I've forgotten to pay 2 parking tickets for so long I am going to have to pay the late charge.
5. I have to have a call with a client who cancelled an open project because it is no longer needed.  Unfortunately they've already paid for part of it.
6. Two good friends have had bike crashes recently.  Be careful out there.
7. I'm falling way behind in my online class.  It's hard  to find time to spend several hours reading and writing about fairy tales.