"It seems odd, doesn't it, that we have to lie to tell the truth better?" ~Kate Dicamillo
Monday, December 12, 2011
Dream Episode - Do not take the shortcut
Day of dream: last night
Scene 1:
It was a simple room, with a small simple desk in the middle. The desk was crowded with the lawyer, the bride, the groom, a parent (possibly father) of the bride, and a few other people. The groom's strong built (reminds me of Alec) fits him nicely into his tux. They were signing the papers. It was certain that there was attraction between the bride and the groom, but somehow it felt more like a business deal than a blissful union of two people.
The groom bought an expensive watch for the bride. It costs $5300++, about the cost of an estate (it was a long time ago, when money was worth much more than it does now). It came with a certificate of authenticity. It was then that someone (possibly the father of the bride) mentioned that the company that made the watch is in troubled waters. Upon hearing that, the groom read the certificate closely. It stated that their watches are top-notch quality, but any watches that are purchased after a certain date is not worth much. Since the groom purchased the watch after that date...
The lost of value of the watch did not bother the party for long. The party continued with its merriment. The groom (easily) lifted the bride and carried her around...
Scene 2:
I was outside a bar, looking in. A group of friends was celebrating someone's birthday. I went inside. The bar was plain, with concrete walls and floor. It looked as if a basement emerged from underground, invited a few people in, and called itself a bar. The birthday boy was standing against the farthest wall, facing all his friends. I knew the him: Cody. We would meet later, and we would fall in love.
I stood to the side between him and his friends. I stared at him, taking in his youth, his smile, and his every word. It was weird to see your love before he knew you. So blissfully weird. They raised their glasses and I raised mine, he turned and looked at me. I smiled. When we meet later, he would know me and I would not know him. He would say that he recognized my smile, and I would have no idea what he was talking about.
The party was over and everyone left. I left too. I needed to take a bus from Main street, but I don't know which direction to go. I turned right. After a few blocks, it did not seem right. I turned around and returned to the bar, stood around trying to figure out my way before giving in to ask for directions. Turned out I was walking in the opposite direction.
Scene 3:
Marriage with Cody was a wreck. We were in love, but something was wrong. He was dying...
I knew I shouldn't have interfered with the past. I shouldn't have visited him in the bar in the past. I shouldn't have let him recognize me. We fell in love faster. We took the shortcut. Now our time together was cut short as well.
I retraced my steps. I started with what I should not have done. I should not have talked to Cody. Standing in front of him, I will myself to not have done what I did in that past. With every will, I was moved backwards, and my footsteps on the carpet faded to undo my deeds.
He would not recognize my smile later in his life...
Scene 4:
At the marriage desk, the groom was sitting across from me. We were about to sign the papers at the witness of the lawyer, who is sitting at the head of the desk, and the best-man, who is sitting next to the groom. I took the pen, before I signed it, I looked up and saw that the best-man was Cody. Then I knew... And I signed the papers to marry my groom.
I knew that this marriage would fail. And when it does, Cody will be there for me. This was the way we were suppose to meet and fell in love. This was the correct way to begin our journey together.
Notes: I recently read the Time Traveler's Wife.
Scene 1:
It was a simple room, with a small simple desk in the middle. The desk was crowded with the lawyer, the bride, the groom, a parent (possibly father) of the bride, and a few other people. The groom's strong built (reminds me of Alec) fits him nicely into his tux. They were signing the papers. It was certain that there was attraction between the bride and the groom, but somehow it felt more like a business deal than a blissful union of two people.
The groom bought an expensive watch for the bride. It costs $5300++, about the cost of an estate (it was a long time ago, when money was worth much more than it does now). It came with a certificate of authenticity. It was then that someone (possibly the father of the bride) mentioned that the company that made the watch is in troubled waters. Upon hearing that, the groom read the certificate closely. It stated that their watches are top-notch quality, but any watches that are purchased after a certain date is not worth much. Since the groom purchased the watch after that date...
The lost of value of the watch did not bother the party for long. The party continued with its merriment. The groom (easily) lifted the bride and carried her around...
Scene 2:
I was outside a bar, looking in. A group of friends was celebrating someone's birthday. I went inside. The bar was plain, with concrete walls and floor. It looked as if a basement emerged from underground, invited a few people in, and called itself a bar. The birthday boy was standing against the farthest wall, facing all his friends. I knew the him: Cody. We would meet later, and we would fall in love.
I stood to the side between him and his friends. I stared at him, taking in his youth, his smile, and his every word. It was weird to see your love before he knew you. So blissfully weird. They raised their glasses and I raised mine, he turned and looked at me. I smiled. When we meet later, he would know me and I would not know him. He would say that he recognized my smile, and I would have no idea what he was talking about.
The party was over and everyone left. I left too. I needed to take a bus from Main street, but I don't know which direction to go. I turned right. After a few blocks, it did not seem right. I turned around and returned to the bar, stood around trying to figure out my way before giving in to ask for directions. Turned out I was walking in the opposite direction.
Scene 3:
Marriage with Cody was a wreck. We were in love, but something was wrong. He was dying...
I knew I shouldn't have interfered with the past. I shouldn't have visited him in the bar in the past. I shouldn't have let him recognize me. We fell in love faster. We took the shortcut. Now our time together was cut short as well.
I retraced my steps. I started with what I should not have done. I should not have talked to Cody. Standing in front of him, I will myself to not have done what I did in that past. With every will, I was moved backwards, and my footsteps on the carpet faded to undo my deeds.
He would not recognize my smile later in his life...
Scene 4:
At the marriage desk, the groom was sitting across from me. We were about to sign the papers at the witness of the lawyer, who is sitting at the head of the desk, and the best-man, who is sitting next to the groom. I took the pen, before I signed it, I looked up and saw that the best-man was Cody. Then I knew... And I signed the papers to marry my groom.
I knew that this marriage would fail. And when it does, Cody will be there for me. This was the way we were suppose to meet and fell in love. This was the correct way to begin our journey together.
Notes: I recently read the Time Traveler's Wife.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Dream Episode - Wedding Party
Day of Dream: last night
Like all my recent dreams, many parts of the dream are fuzzy. But this I remember...
It was Mary Catherine's wedding, and we (some of my high school schoolmates) were all invited! I went into the first hall, a food hall with long tables and benches and chairs. It was crowded. I took a seat and looked around. Then I noticed Yuheng and Weichao was sitting about a table away from me. I moved over. I sat there for a bit while they ate.
Suddenly everyone was moving. We went over to the next hall, a rectangular hall with a pool that took up more than half the room. Some people slid into the pool while others stood and watch. I deliberated for a moment, and then went to the locker room next door to change into something that I didn't mind getting wet in. Like the pool room and the dining hall, the locker room was packed.
After changing, I returned to the pool room. A beautiful lady, dressed in the Victorian style, approached me and I could see her up close. Her delicate face was dotted with cream-colored pearls such that she looks like an upper class circus member.
I slid into the pool, and kept my head above the water, until I sank a little bit. The water was glistening. I dived a little and saw that the deep pool was dotted with pearls, like the Victorian lady. I stayed close to the edge of the pool. People commented on the glow of the pool water, and I told them about the pearls. More people jumped in to see for themselves. One of them took a camera to take pictures underwater. Upon seeing that, one dry person took out his/her camera and took a photo. I wanted to take a picture to but my camera cannot get wet. So I took my camera and made sure it's above the water (I was treading water such that most of my upper body is out of the water). I took several snapshots but they didn't look too great.
I gave up, passed the camera to a friend/stranger on the shore, and admired the pearls on the walls of the pool. There are big pearls and small pearls. One of the people close to the shore asked if there were really pearls. I picked one out for the soft pool wall to show it to them. It was a tiny black pearl. I immediately grew attached to it. Upon closer inspection, it is shaped like a camera. They passed it around. But I think they lost it eventually. It might be rolling around the floor and being crushed by a casual step...
Like all my recent dreams, many parts of the dream are fuzzy. But this I remember...
It was Mary Catherine's wedding, and we (some of my high school schoolmates) were all invited! I went into the first hall, a food hall with long tables and benches and chairs. It was crowded. I took a seat and looked around. Then I noticed Yuheng and Weichao was sitting about a table away from me. I moved over. I sat there for a bit while they ate.
Suddenly everyone was moving. We went over to the next hall, a rectangular hall with a pool that took up more than half the room. Some people slid into the pool while others stood and watch. I deliberated for a moment, and then went to the locker room next door to change into something that I didn't mind getting wet in. Like the pool room and the dining hall, the locker room was packed.
After changing, I returned to the pool room. A beautiful lady, dressed in the Victorian style, approached me and I could see her up close. Her delicate face was dotted with cream-colored pearls such that she looks like an upper class circus member.
I slid into the pool, and kept my head above the water, until I sank a little bit. The water was glistening. I dived a little and saw that the deep pool was dotted with pearls, like the Victorian lady. I stayed close to the edge of the pool. People commented on the glow of the pool water, and I told them about the pearls. More people jumped in to see for themselves. One of them took a camera to take pictures underwater. Upon seeing that, one dry person took out his/her camera and took a photo. I wanted to take a picture to but my camera cannot get wet. So I took my camera and made sure it's above the water (I was treading water such that most of my upper body is out of the water). I took several snapshots but they didn't look too great.
I gave up, passed the camera to a friend/stranger on the shore, and admired the pearls on the walls of the pool. There are big pearls and small pearls. One of the people close to the shore asked if there were really pearls. I picked one out for the soft pool wall to show it to them. It was a tiny black pearl. I immediately grew attached to it. Upon closer inspection, it is shaped like a camera. They passed it around. But I think they lost it eventually. It might be rolling around the floor and being crushed by a casual step...
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Dream Episosde - Kitten in the Maze
Day of dream - last night
A lot went on in this dream, but I only remembered this part:
I was in a laboratory. It looked like my room in Marianist Hall, only much bigger without furniture. The room was white and pale gray, with shallow grooves all over the floor. We were trying to solve a problem. We have a mouse-sphere thing and we are trying to separate them. We decided to put the mouse-sphere thing in one of the tunnel in the floor, let it roll to a cubic groove at the end. When the mouse-sphere is rolling, we will put a kitten to chase it down the tunnel. The kitten will then scratch on the mouse-sphere. Given enough scratches, the mouse and sphere will separate.
We tried it with a black kitten. But before the mouse can be separated from the sphere, the kitten scratch so much that both the mouse-sphere and the kitten are about to get out of the cubic groove. We tried it several times. Every time, the kitten behaved exactly like before. Each time the procedure failed, the mouse-sphere resets such that all previous efforts were wasted. We decided that we need another solution.
I thought the problem is that the groove is not deep enough to contain the cat and its scratching. So I found a box. I put a colored block in it to lure the kitten, then placed the mouse-sphere in it. Then i realized that I do not need the colored block, so I took it out. The box was ready.
I was about the grab the kitten, which is now clawed to the blinds. It seemed agitated, perhaps due to the multiple trials that we put it through...
A lot went on in this dream, but I only remembered this part:
I was in a laboratory. It looked like my room in Marianist Hall, only much bigger without furniture. The room was white and pale gray, with shallow grooves all over the floor. We were trying to solve a problem. We have a mouse-sphere thing and we are trying to separate them. We decided to put the mouse-sphere thing in one of the tunnel in the floor, let it roll to a cubic groove at the end. When the mouse-sphere is rolling, we will put a kitten to chase it down the tunnel. The kitten will then scratch on the mouse-sphere. Given enough scratches, the mouse and sphere will separate.
We tried it with a black kitten. But before the mouse can be separated from the sphere, the kitten scratch so much that both the mouse-sphere and the kitten are about to get out of the cubic groove. We tried it several times. Every time, the kitten behaved exactly like before. Each time the procedure failed, the mouse-sphere resets such that all previous efforts were wasted. We decided that we need another solution.
I thought the problem is that the groove is not deep enough to contain the cat and its scratching. So I found a box. I put a colored block in it to lure the kitten, then placed the mouse-sphere in it. Then i realized that I do not need the colored block, so I took it out. The box was ready.
I was about the grab the kitten, which is now clawed to the blinds. It seemed agitated, perhaps due to the multiple trials that we put it through...
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Dream Episode - What happens in the Dojo
Day of dream: this afternoon (during a long nap)
We were at the dojo practicing our martial arts moves. There was a guy and a couple of girls. I didn't know any of them. The girls were practicing their forms and the guy decided to challenge me to sparring. I agreed. Junbi, Sejak! He seemed really aggressive and I was suddenly afraid. I turned and ran. There was a zen garden in the dojo, with huge smooth stones forming a small mountain. I ran up the mountain and decided that I am too slow. So I turned around and faced him.
I think there might be a dragonfly somewhere.
After training, we went to our open lockers to get changed and pack up. Everyone was chatting. The guy told us that his family name was Japanese. The character is "忍" with "刺" (he meant the left side of that word). I didn't know what that word was but I though I have seen it before. (I don't think that word exists.)
We were at the dojo practicing our martial arts moves. There was a guy and a couple of girls. I didn't know any of them. The girls were practicing their forms and the guy decided to challenge me to sparring. I agreed. Junbi, Sejak! He seemed really aggressive and I was suddenly afraid. I turned and ran. There was a zen garden in the dojo, with huge smooth stones forming a small mountain. I ran up the mountain and decided that I am too slow. So I turned around and faced him.
I think there might be a dragonfly somewhere.
After training, we went to our open lockers to get changed and pack up. Everyone was chatting. The guy told us that his family name was Japanese. The character is "忍" with "刺" (he meant the left side of that word). I didn't know what that word was but I though I have seen it before. (I don't think that word exists.)
Friday, November 25, 2011
Dream Episode - Northward to Canada!
Day of dream: last night
Elaine Phua and her mother were visiting. We decided to pack and bags and visit Canada. A good guy friend of mine came with us.
At the international customs, me and my friend got through the customs first. Elaine and her mother went together. Waiting on the other side of the border, we watched as Elaine's mother was stopped and warned that she cannot return to the US once she crossed the border because she does not have the necessary visa. It then occurred to me that I forgot to bring my I-90 (or similar document that allows me to re-enter the US). I was worried for a minute and then immediately decided that there's nothing much to be done then. Elaine's mother decided to cross the border anyway and will figure out where to go from there...
Part 2 of the dream:
I was on a big long bridge (one of those bridges in the city), and I saw John and Erhan Justice. I waved to them and we exclaimed at the life chances. I said how coincidental to meet them on the bridge when I have yet been able to visit them in Cleveland.
Elaine Phua and her mother were visiting. We decided to pack and bags and visit Canada. A good guy friend of mine came with us.
At the international customs, me and my friend got through the customs first. Elaine and her mother went together. Waiting on the other side of the border, we watched as Elaine's mother was stopped and warned that she cannot return to the US once she crossed the border because she does not have the necessary visa. It then occurred to me that I forgot to bring my I-90 (or similar document that allows me to re-enter the US). I was worried for a minute and then immediately decided that there's nothing much to be done then. Elaine's mother decided to cross the border anyway and will figure out where to go from there...
Part 2 of the dream:
I was on a big long bridge (one of those bridges in the city), and I saw John and Erhan Justice. I waved to them and we exclaimed at the life chances. I said how coincidental to meet them on the bridge when I have yet been able to visit them in Cleveland.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Dream Episode - Mistress of Innocence
Day of dream: last night
A young girl of around 13 or 14 years old. A beautiful mixed blood, the daughter of a Caucasian father and an Asian mother. She lived her mother in a mansion. They lived high up on the cliffs that overseas the land, although the weather was always too foggy to see beyond a few kilometers. The closest neighbor they have was a rich Caucasian man. He was a huge man of around 40 years old, and he lived at a lower altitude on the same hill.
This day, the girl was out with her servant, exploring the cliffs. One must always remember to tread with care when approaching the cliffs, for one misstep can mean a long fatal fall. The family just got news that their nasty neighbor had invited them over to his house. To get to his mansion, each person would have to brave the cliffs, climbing steadily and skillfully. The girl tried climbing down, trying to get a feel of what it would be like to climb the cliffs to her neighbor's house. It proved difficult. She almost slipped and fell if her bodyguard had not caught her. Her bodyguard, a person trained for physical fitness, tried climbing, and that proved to be difficult for him. They stood there wondering what it would be like to climb it.
The nasty man was sitting on a huge rock at the edge of the cliff. He greeted them pleasantly. His servant woman who came with him told them that there was a huge rock like the one the man was sitting on at the cliffs outside the man's mansion...
The mother decided that it would be too dangerous for her daughter to go for the physical challenge that the trip presented, and the sexual desire that the neighbor had for the young girl. The neighbor was furious for his plans to take the girl was disrupted. He organized an army with his servants to ravage the girl's mansion and take her by force. The girl's mother and servant hid her in the closet, a closet that can barely close properly while their servants tried to ward off the intruders. The nasty man and his servants broke through and attacked the room where they were hiding. The roof started falling...
Reality check: The young girl reminded me of Annelise from This Earth of Mankind by Toer.
A young girl of around 13 or 14 years old. A beautiful mixed blood, the daughter of a Caucasian father and an Asian mother. She lived her mother in a mansion. They lived high up on the cliffs that overseas the land, although the weather was always too foggy to see beyond a few kilometers. The closest neighbor they have was a rich Caucasian man. He was a huge man of around 40 years old, and he lived at a lower altitude on the same hill.
This day, the girl was out with her servant, exploring the cliffs. One must always remember to tread with care when approaching the cliffs, for one misstep can mean a long fatal fall. The family just got news that their nasty neighbor had invited them over to his house. To get to his mansion, each person would have to brave the cliffs, climbing steadily and skillfully. The girl tried climbing down, trying to get a feel of what it would be like to climb the cliffs to her neighbor's house. It proved difficult. She almost slipped and fell if her bodyguard had not caught her. Her bodyguard, a person trained for physical fitness, tried climbing, and that proved to be difficult for him. They stood there wondering what it would be like to climb it.
The nasty man was sitting on a huge rock at the edge of the cliff. He greeted them pleasantly. His servant woman who came with him told them that there was a huge rock like the one the man was sitting on at the cliffs outside the man's mansion...
The mother decided that it would be too dangerous for her daughter to go for the physical challenge that the trip presented, and the sexual desire that the neighbor had for the young girl. The neighbor was furious for his plans to take the girl was disrupted. He organized an army with his servants to ravage the girl's mansion and take her by force. The girl's mother and servant hid her in the closet, a closet that can barely close properly while their servants tried to ward off the intruders. The nasty man and his servants broke through and attacked the room where they were hiding. The roof started falling...
Reality check: The young girl reminded me of Annelise from This Earth of Mankind by Toer.
Tuesday, October 04, 2011
Dream Episode - Mama Shop Time Passage
Day of dream: a long time ago
There was an Indian Mama Shop, its gray cement interior colored only with shelves of goods, from spices to cheap clothes. This particular Mama Shop has two exits: each at an angle a certain distant away from the other. Other than the shelves crammed with goods, there is a 5 year difference between the exits.
My Mom and I were at the exit where it was 5 years ago (a present time relatively to us) and my father and brother lives on the other side of the shop 5 years later. To visit them, I will have to weave my way through the narrow alleys, turn slightly left, and exit into a different time. Whenever I return to my time, 5 years would have passed.
This was not a problem, since I only age according to my biological clock. The time traveling does not affect my aging. The only bother was time was flying. It is important to note that the system is closed in this dream, meaning that it only concerns me and my family, friends and other people are not in this dream at all (not even the Mama Shop-keeper).
However it became tiring to travel back and forth between times and I thought it might be a better idea to settle down in one time, my Dad's time since he has his work there. The make the matter more urgent, I found out that with each travel that we make, we cause a little disturbance, rip if you will, in the fabric of reality...
Reality:
Mama Shops are small shops that sells anything and everything.
The "rip in reality" may be related to the rip that Phillip Pullman mentioned in his Golden Compass trilogy.
There was an Indian Mama Shop, its gray cement interior colored only with shelves of goods, from spices to cheap clothes. This particular Mama Shop has two exits: each at an angle a certain distant away from the other. Other than the shelves crammed with goods, there is a 5 year difference between the exits.
My Mom and I were at the exit where it was 5 years ago (a present time relatively to us) and my father and brother lives on the other side of the shop 5 years later. To visit them, I will have to weave my way through the narrow alleys, turn slightly left, and exit into a different time. Whenever I return to my time, 5 years would have passed.
This was not a problem, since I only age according to my biological clock. The time traveling does not affect my aging. The only bother was time was flying. It is important to note that the system is closed in this dream, meaning that it only concerns me and my family, friends and other people are not in this dream at all (not even the Mama Shop-keeper).
However it became tiring to travel back and forth between times and I thought it might be a better idea to settle down in one time, my Dad's time since he has his work there. The make the matter more urgent, I found out that with each travel that we make, we cause a little disturbance, rip if you will, in the fabric of reality...
Reality:
Mama Shops are small shops that sells anything and everything.
The "rip in reality" may be related to the rip that Phillip Pullman mentioned in his Golden Compass trilogy.
Tuesday, September 06, 2011
Dream Episode - Chinese Communist Monks
Day of dream - last week
[Something happened but I can't remember much since it was so long ago...] We were running up the pagoda. Running away from the monks. The inside of the pagoda was dusty and old, bare of furniture other than the forgotten that are left to rot. Even those are sparse.We ran up the stairs, higher and higher. The way between two of the floors were cut off. It would take them some time to figure out a way to get up here. We have a bit more time.
Finally we were on the top floor, light from the day lit up the space much more than on the lower floors. It was in the small space of the top floor that it became apparent that we did not think anything through. We were trapped and it was a matter of time before the monks caught up with us. The adjacent building was so close that we can almost jump across. It was time for a risk. To reduce the danger of falling, we picked out an old mattress that was lying around among the other old stuff abandoned in that small space, and made a bridge out of it.
One by one, we began to jump across. The distance seemed smaller while I was jumping across. It was as if the buildings were next to each other.
Safe on the other side, we ran down the stairs for more escape options. Unfortunately the monks were one step ahead of us. They were waiting for us as we descended the stairs. It was too late to turn back as there were monks on the other building cutting off our exit route.
We followed the monks to the balcony-bridge. They lined us up. The monks stood tall in the sun light. The lush plants on the balcony highlighted the monks' dull gray (or is it black?) uniforms (like those in the Chinese communist era).
I stood staring at them, and it occurred to me that someone among us had betrayed us to the monks, for they would not have been able to predict and react so quickly to our escape to the adjacent building. However I did not sense sinister intent from the monks. They were just strict and abide faithfully by the law.
[Something happened but I can't remember much since it was so long ago...] We were running up the pagoda. Running away from the monks. The inside of the pagoda was dusty and old, bare of furniture other than the forgotten that are left to rot. Even those are sparse.We ran up the stairs, higher and higher. The way between two of the floors were cut off. It would take them some time to figure out a way to get up here. We have a bit more time.
Finally we were on the top floor, light from the day lit up the space much more than on the lower floors. It was in the small space of the top floor that it became apparent that we did not think anything through. We were trapped and it was a matter of time before the monks caught up with us. The adjacent building was so close that we can almost jump across. It was time for a risk. To reduce the danger of falling, we picked out an old mattress that was lying around among the other old stuff abandoned in that small space, and made a bridge out of it.
One by one, we began to jump across. The distance seemed smaller while I was jumping across. It was as if the buildings were next to each other.
Safe on the other side, we ran down the stairs for more escape options. Unfortunately the monks were one step ahead of us. They were waiting for us as we descended the stairs. It was too late to turn back as there were monks on the other building cutting off our exit route.
We followed the monks to the balcony-bridge. They lined us up. The monks stood tall in the sun light. The lush plants on the balcony highlighted the monks' dull gray (or is it black?) uniforms (like those in the Chinese communist era).
I stood staring at them, and it occurred to me that someone among us had betrayed us to the monks, for they would not have been able to predict and react so quickly to our escape to the adjacent building. However I did not sense sinister intent from the monks. They were just strict and abide faithfully by the law.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Dream Episode - Mind Gobblers
Day of dream - a long time ago
It seemed like a Doctor Who setting. While the Doctor was busy exploring something else somewhere else, I was walking down the sidewalk alone. It was a broad sidewalk, with buildings to my left. A lamp post would pass by periodically to my left, and occasionally, there would be a bench. These benches were curious, for they are barred off with a chain, regardless of it being occupied.
When I was passing by this one bench, two young children at the bench, a boy and a girl, invited me to join them behind the chains. Although they were moving around a lot, they seemed harmless enough. I nodded, and took a step toward them. They lifted the chain to let me in. Once I was behind the chains, they started climbing on me. Everything happened so quickly that I did not have time to react. One of them stood on the bench, and attached his/her wide-opened mouth in an attempt to swallow my head. I felt my head getting spacier and lighter.
[something must have happened in between, of which I cannot recall]
No harm was done to me in the previous incident. We learned that they are a species of aliens who feed on people's minds, including their memory and intellect. In other words, these aliens feed on people's lives. The young do so by attaching their mouths to the head to absorb the contents of the mind. Adults can absorb by contact with any part of the body. They can eat off the lives of their species as well. Mind-absorbing is a natural process upon contact, however conscious efforts can counter it. Still, little was known about the mind-gobblers and there were much legends surrounding these creatures.
For some reason, either as a condition in the peace-pack for the mind-gobblers to prove that they can live among humans, or as a spy for the Doctor to observe them, I was sent to live with a family of mind-gobblers for an undefined period of time. The family four members, and a mind-gobbler guardian to make sure I don't run away. consisted of During which, I was in constant unease, feeling that I am the only target in the house should they lose their control. Being in their vicinity made me light-headed. The uncertainty of the end of my term only served to make me nervous with every passing day.
One day, either in the afternoon or the evening, the family gathered and tried embracing. They must have seen it practiced among humans. I turned around from my corner to watch them. It started off slowly awkwardly, as the mind-gobblers have to exercise extreme control to avoid gobbling during contact. The members touched, held for no more than a while, and broke off. The brief experience of the comforts of a human embrace was a exhilarating one for every member. It pleased them to understand love, if it was from a different perspective.
The explosion of emotions affected me, as I was affected when in their vicinity. I felt the desperate need for fresh air. The enclosed space of the house was suffocating. Lightheaded, I rushed out of the house and my body gave way. I laid on my side in the fetal position, with both hands trying to hold my mind together and to prevent anything from seeping away. My guardian rushed to the door, and stared helplessly at me. I asked him/her to not get any closer, for I fear that the mind-gobblers can create a reverse force field that sucks in mind contents without contact.
My head felt spacier and lighter, and I prayed desperately that the Doctor would come and take me away at that instant. Yet despite the raging concern for my life, I felt for the mind-gobblers. They wanted so much to love and to touch, but it is so difficult for them because of what they are...
It seemed like a Doctor Who setting. While the Doctor was busy exploring something else somewhere else, I was walking down the sidewalk alone. It was a broad sidewalk, with buildings to my left. A lamp post would pass by periodically to my left, and occasionally, there would be a bench. These benches were curious, for they are barred off with a chain, regardless of it being occupied.
When I was passing by this one bench, two young children at the bench, a boy and a girl, invited me to join them behind the chains. Although they were moving around a lot, they seemed harmless enough. I nodded, and took a step toward them. They lifted the chain to let me in. Once I was behind the chains, they started climbing on me. Everything happened so quickly that I did not have time to react. One of them stood on the bench, and attached his/her wide-opened mouth in an attempt to swallow my head. I felt my head getting spacier and lighter.
[something must have happened in between, of which I cannot recall]
No harm was done to me in the previous incident. We learned that they are a species of aliens who feed on people's minds, including their memory and intellect. In other words, these aliens feed on people's lives. The young do so by attaching their mouths to the head to absorb the contents of the mind. Adults can absorb by contact with any part of the body. They can eat off the lives of their species as well. Mind-absorbing is a natural process upon contact, however conscious efforts can counter it. Still, little was known about the mind-gobblers and there were much legends surrounding these creatures.
For some reason, either as a condition in the peace-pack for the mind-gobblers to prove that they can live among humans, or as a spy for the Doctor to observe them, I was sent to live with a family of mind-gobblers for an undefined period of time. The family four members, and a mind-gobbler guardian to make sure I don't run away. consisted of During which, I was in constant unease, feeling that I am the only target in the house should they lose their control. Being in their vicinity made me light-headed. The uncertainty of the end of my term only served to make me nervous with every passing day.
One day, either in the afternoon or the evening, the family gathered and tried embracing. They must have seen it practiced among humans. I turned around from my corner to watch them. It started off slowly awkwardly, as the mind-gobblers have to exercise extreme control to avoid gobbling during contact. The members touched, held for no more than a while, and broke off. The brief experience of the comforts of a human embrace was a exhilarating one for every member. It pleased them to understand love, if it was from a different perspective.
The explosion of emotions affected me, as I was affected when in their vicinity. I felt the desperate need for fresh air. The enclosed space of the house was suffocating. Lightheaded, I rushed out of the house and my body gave way. I laid on my side in the fetal position, with both hands trying to hold my mind together and to prevent anything from seeping away. My guardian rushed to the door, and stared helplessly at me. I asked him/her to not get any closer, for I fear that the mind-gobblers can create a reverse force field that sucks in mind contents without contact.
My head felt spacier and lighter, and I prayed desperately that the Doctor would come and take me away at that instant. Yet despite the raging concern for my life, I felt for the mind-gobblers. They wanted so much to love and to touch, but it is so difficult for them because of what they are...
Friday, August 05, 2011
Dream Episode - Rose and Violet
Day of dream: a long time ago (recorded a day after the dream)
Two sisters, one mild and gentle (let's call her Rose) and the other dark and little rebellious (Violet).
Violet (accidentally?) killed a person. She is going to be caught, but of course she did not want to. Rose knew about the murder/manslaughter too, and advised her to go with the guards peacefully.
The law of the land allowed each person to commit a number of crimes, each of which will be recorded on the body as a bruise or a scar. The more serious ones were marked in more prominently. When the number of "second chances" ran out, the person will be executed.
Violet had caused enough trouble in the past, and she foresaw causing more trouble ahead. Besides, she was attracted to a guy, and Rose was a possible competitor to his affections. Violet was thinking about Rose's suggestion to willing submission. Then she looked at Rose, the good law-abiding Rose, everyone's favorite Rose. Nobody would blame Rose heavily even if anyone believed that Rose actually killed. Violet looked at her, thinking about having Rose take the rap for her. Rose caught a glance at the look, and suddenly became very defensive about her position, even aggressive against Violet. Violet tried to calm her down, claiming that it was just a thought.
Rose's wand was nearby, in the wand box. Although magic was seldom used, some people can be given a wand and be encouraged to pick up and refine the skill. Rose got the wand when she was a teen, but Violet did not, because people trusted the gentle Rose with a wand to practice magic.
In the heat of the argument, they moved quickly for the wand. While they were struggling for the wand, the wand made up its own mind, and drew a hangman bruise across Rose's neck. The hangman bruise was a mark of capital offenses. The following capital offenses committed by one with the mark means death.
Rose was furious. Violet did not know how it happened. She thought the wand was Rose's, so it should be helping Rose instead of working against her owner. Rose explained (grudgingly) that it was because Violet was staring at the wand (in envy) so much, spending more time with the wand that Rose did, so that her thoughts influenced and changed the wand. In a way, the wand behaved like Violet would, with a little envy and jealousy toward Rose.
When the guards came, Rose struggled and insisted that she was not the one. But the guards saw her hangman bruise and took her away.
Violet felt guilty for having gotten innocent Rose into so much trouble. She felt like an unworthy and evil sister for perhaps unconsciously wishing Rose harm (as acted out by the wand). It was almost certain that Rose would be hung. Violet was determined to save her. She was ready to leave her love to run away with Rose and live as outcasts.
The next day, when Rose was resisting in vain as she was dragged onto the hanging platform, Violet came and snatched her away from the guards. Rose was not any happier with her sister. Although an outcast's life and her magical hangman's bruise tainted her life, it is a better option than death. While they were running, with Rose following closely behind the more active Violet, Rose said, "you might have stolen my life, but I had stolen the heart of your love. I slept with him the night before they took me away!"
Two sisters, one mild and gentle (let's call her Rose) and the other dark and little rebellious (Violet).
Violet (accidentally?) killed a person. She is going to be caught, but of course she did not want to. Rose knew about the murder/manslaughter too, and advised her to go with the guards peacefully.
The law of the land allowed each person to commit a number of crimes, each of which will be recorded on the body as a bruise or a scar. The more serious ones were marked in more prominently. When the number of "second chances" ran out, the person will be executed.
Violet had caused enough trouble in the past, and she foresaw causing more trouble ahead. Besides, she was attracted to a guy, and Rose was a possible competitor to his affections. Violet was thinking about Rose's suggestion to willing submission. Then she looked at Rose, the good law-abiding Rose, everyone's favorite Rose. Nobody would blame Rose heavily even if anyone believed that Rose actually killed. Violet looked at her, thinking about having Rose take the rap for her. Rose caught a glance at the look, and suddenly became very defensive about her position, even aggressive against Violet. Violet tried to calm her down, claiming that it was just a thought.
Rose's wand was nearby, in the wand box. Although magic was seldom used, some people can be given a wand and be encouraged to pick up and refine the skill. Rose got the wand when she was a teen, but Violet did not, because people trusted the gentle Rose with a wand to practice magic.
In the heat of the argument, they moved quickly for the wand. While they were struggling for the wand, the wand made up its own mind, and drew a hangman bruise across Rose's neck. The hangman bruise was a mark of capital offenses. The following capital offenses committed by one with the mark means death.
Rose was furious. Violet did not know how it happened. She thought the wand was Rose's, so it should be helping Rose instead of working against her owner. Rose explained (grudgingly) that it was because Violet was staring at the wand (in envy) so much, spending more time with the wand that Rose did, so that her thoughts influenced and changed the wand. In a way, the wand behaved like Violet would, with a little envy and jealousy toward Rose.
When the guards came, Rose struggled and insisted that she was not the one. But the guards saw her hangman bruise and took her away.
Violet felt guilty for having gotten innocent Rose into so much trouble. She felt like an unworthy and evil sister for perhaps unconsciously wishing Rose harm (as acted out by the wand). It was almost certain that Rose would be hung. Violet was determined to save her. She was ready to leave her love to run away with Rose and live as outcasts.
The next day, when Rose was resisting in vain as she was dragged onto the hanging platform, Violet came and snatched her away from the guards. Rose was not any happier with her sister. Although an outcast's life and her magical hangman's bruise tainted her life, it is a better option than death. While they were running, with Rose following closely behind the more active Violet, Rose said, "you might have stolen my life, but I had stolen the heart of your love. I slept with him the night before they took me away!"
Dream Episode - The Dark Side of Friends
Day of Dream: Overnight train from (Prague-) Germany to Switzerland (recorded immediately after the dream)
Scene 1:
A few friends and I were doing silly things together: trying to trap pigeons with an elaborate series of food that eventually leads to a rope-and-stick controlled trap. We were filming the process.
Scene 2:
One of our friends, the big (because "fat" is politically impolite) one returned to his apartment (alone), and upon finding something amiss, went violent about his room. It might have been some blackmail material that he was holding over a (female) singer/artist. He was furious, and nothing like the "gentle giant" we knew.
He went out of his apartment and down the stairs, where his neighbors were quarreling. one of them saw him, and was suddenly reminded of some of his misgivings, and started targeting her displeasure at him. He calmly sent the other lady neighbor away, assuring the quarrelsome one that he would listen to her complaints against himself. When the other lady left, he picked up an abandoned mattress and pressed it against the wall with his neighbor sandwiched in between, despite the presence of a fortune-teller in the vicinity. (The fortune-teller is as real a person as everyone else, but he/she has a ghost-like quality. Maybe our friendly giant did not think that anyone would take the fortune-teller's witness seriously, and thus the fortune-teller would not bother telling others.) Only when the other neighbor return, did he release the pressure, leaving the poor quarrelsome woman cursing him in between breaks while gasping for air. He feigned innocence, gently asking others to trust his character, claiming the fortune-teller as his witness. Once the calming neighbor left, he resumed to his previous task, suffocating the cursing neighbor before she had swallowed another gulp of air. The fortune-teller did not seem to care.
Scene 3:
We were reviewing the video of our bird trap adventures. when we realized that we had filmed the gentle giant without his knowledge. He exhibited violent behavior toward the pigeons that we never thought he was capable of...
Scene 4:
I was returning home, an apartment in the same building as the gentle giant, with a mind to confront him about the video, when I ran into him in his violent act (of suffocating his neighbor). he let go immediately upon sighting me. The calmer neighbor entered immediately after. The cursing neighbor is surprisingly still alive. Though cursing and gasping for air, she seemed to enjoy the violent treatment, and tried to encourage more.
Seeing his violent act confirmed my suspicion. Failing to be bought over by his lies, I threatened to tell the others. He was furious, and stormed out of the semi-basement.
I walked upstairs with the calm neighbor, discussing the gentle giant and his darker side. When I reached my floor, I realized that I did not have my keys with me. The thought that he might have taken them haunted me...
My nightmare was confirmed when I found my door unlocked. he left my army-green monk bag on the floor, and a set of instructions, which lead to a video on the computer. It's a Chinese music video: ...用心去品尝一个人的思念... (I think that was what it was in the dream. It has quite a nice melody, although I could not remember it to save my life.) I supposed it meant that he would keep haunting me with the uncertainty of when he would return to my house and strike until I find his blackmail material for him... And that video was all I had to start on.
Scene 1:
A few friends and I were doing silly things together: trying to trap pigeons with an elaborate series of food that eventually leads to a rope-and-stick controlled trap. We were filming the process.
Scene 2:
One of our friends, the big (because "fat" is politically impolite) one returned to his apartment (alone), and upon finding something amiss, went violent about his room. It might have been some blackmail material that he was holding over a (female) singer/artist. He was furious, and nothing like the "gentle giant" we knew.
He went out of his apartment and down the stairs, where his neighbors were quarreling. one of them saw him, and was suddenly reminded of some of his misgivings, and started targeting her displeasure at him. He calmly sent the other lady neighbor away, assuring the quarrelsome one that he would listen to her complaints against himself. When the other lady left, he picked up an abandoned mattress and pressed it against the wall with his neighbor sandwiched in between, despite the presence of a fortune-teller in the vicinity. (The fortune-teller is as real a person as everyone else, but he/she has a ghost-like quality. Maybe our friendly giant did not think that anyone would take the fortune-teller's witness seriously, and thus the fortune-teller would not bother telling others.) Only when the other neighbor return, did he release the pressure, leaving the poor quarrelsome woman cursing him in between breaks while gasping for air. He feigned innocence, gently asking others to trust his character, claiming the fortune-teller as his witness. Once the calming neighbor left, he resumed to his previous task, suffocating the cursing neighbor before she had swallowed another gulp of air. The fortune-teller did not seem to care.
Scene 3:
We were reviewing the video of our bird trap adventures. when we realized that we had filmed the gentle giant without his knowledge. He exhibited violent behavior toward the pigeons that we never thought he was capable of...
Scene 4:
I was returning home, an apartment in the same building as the gentle giant, with a mind to confront him about the video, when I ran into him in his violent act (of suffocating his neighbor). he let go immediately upon sighting me. The calmer neighbor entered immediately after. The cursing neighbor is surprisingly still alive. Though cursing and gasping for air, she seemed to enjoy the violent treatment, and tried to encourage more.
Seeing his violent act confirmed my suspicion. Failing to be bought over by his lies, I threatened to tell the others. He was furious, and stormed out of the semi-basement.
I walked upstairs with the calm neighbor, discussing the gentle giant and his darker side. When I reached my floor, I realized that I did not have my keys with me. The thought that he might have taken them haunted me...
My nightmare was confirmed when I found my door unlocked. he left my army-green monk bag on the floor, and a set of instructions, which lead to a video on the computer. It's a Chinese music video: ...用心去品尝一个人的思念... (I think that was what it was in the dream. It has quite a nice melody, although I could not remember it to save my life.) I supposed it meant that he would keep haunting me with the uncertainty of when he would return to my house and strike until I find his blackmail material for him... And that video was all I had to start on.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Dream Episode - Supermarket Clinic
Day of dream: a nap long sometime in November or December 2010 (recorded the day after the dream)
At a supermarket-like place that was suppose to be the clinic... Two aisles separated by a tall shelf, I was on the medicine side and Weihao was on the consultation side. I refused to talk to him because somehow it was awkward. I had to move to the consultation aisle to do something... While I was at the consultation aisle, Weihao asked me to stop acting awkward and join other staff, nurses and doctors.
A patient came in wanting to collect 6 "Gui Hua Gao" (from E.excel in real life). I did not know where they were, so I asked around. No one else knows either. I went up a flight of grand staircase as Someone had instructed me to, and knocked on May's door. A tanned hunk opened the door and stood topless at the door frame. It was clear that May was having an extramarital affair. May came to the door me detailed instructions. The rest of the staff caught up and they found out about May's affair. They were discussing what to do about this new-found knowledge. I decided that that was May's personal life, and said, "Ms. May was alone in her room."
There was also something about a picture puzzle, the type with fragmented picture and a sticky surface. Weihao may have bullied me and asked me to finish it... (Justin bullied me into carrying the kayak the day before).
At a supermarket-like place that was suppose to be the clinic... Two aisles separated by a tall shelf, I was on the medicine side and Weihao was on the consultation side. I refused to talk to him because somehow it was awkward. I had to move to the consultation aisle to do something... While I was at the consultation aisle, Weihao asked me to stop acting awkward and join other staff, nurses and doctors.
A patient came in wanting to collect 6 "Gui Hua Gao" (from E.excel in real life). I did not know where they were, so I asked around. No one else knows either. I went up a flight of grand staircase as Someone had instructed me to, and knocked on May's door. A tanned hunk opened the door and stood topless at the door frame. It was clear that May was having an extramarital affair. May came to the door me detailed instructions. The rest of the staff caught up and they found out about May's affair. They were discussing what to do about this new-found knowledge. I decided that that was May's personal life, and said, "Ms. May was alone in her room."
There was also something about a picture puzzle, the type with fragmented picture and a sticky surface. Weihao may have bullied me and asked me to finish it... (Justin bullied me into carrying the kayak the day before).
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Dream Episode - Sheldon in ballet class
Day of dream: some days back
There were more before this, but I simply cannot remember...
It appears that I was Sheldon Cooper from sitcom The Big Bang Theory, and I was in a ballet class. We learned the 2 basic hand positions: the first and second positions. Sheldon/I tried the positions, a little stiffly, and slightly awkward due to Sheldon's height. Deciding that it was satisfactory, Sheldon/I gave one firm head nod, and stepped forward into the class, ready to take up anything with the 2 basic hand positions.
There were more before this, but I simply cannot remember...
It appears that I was Sheldon Cooper from sitcom The Big Bang Theory, and I was in a ballet class. We learned the 2 basic hand positions: the first and second positions. Sheldon/I tried the positions, a little stiffly, and slightly awkward due to Sheldon's height. Deciding that it was satisfactory, Sheldon/I gave one firm head nod, and stepped forward into the class, ready to take up anything with the 2 basic hand positions.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Dream Episode - Family dinner feud
Day of dream: last night
Reunion with family and friends is a must when I go home. We picked a restaurant in Singapore/Malaysia and invited friends to join us. The restaurant is very much like those in Malaysia, where the shop is not big enough to accommodate the numerous customers, and as such there is a long-term lease on the tent and open space outside.
We met the twins (Shao Suan and Shao Yin) first, under the tent. After they left, we needed to meet up with the family. I went into the restaurant to request for a table for our anticipated guests (probably relatives). One of the two hosts was Dai Yang Tian (戴阳天 from Mediacorp). I thought he looked familiar, and so I asked him. He admitted it. He was complimenting my looks. I wanted to tell him that he looks very much like my canoe polo coach, HengFu, but I was so flattered that I thought I would let that pass.
My family and I got a table outside the restaurant, beyond the tent. I gathered chairs from other tables, and being temporarily satisfied with my accomplishment, I took my seat. Next to our table, there was a huge, seemingly rich, family. The children (most of them around age 20) of the family already took their seats, while the parents are busy arranging seats. The oldest man of the family arrived, helped by a maid-servant. He must have been in his 80s or 90s. He was furious at his descendants incompetence to arrange seats correctly, yet he did not offer direct instructions. His children were at a lost, although the answer seemed very apparent to me. In two seconds, I took a quick low stride toward that table, moved the chairs while muttering "sorry" under my breath, and moved back to my seat. (As my mother was grumpy the entire day, I avoided sitting next to her and took a seat at the other side of the table, next to my father.) The entire family was shocked to silence. My mother, being exceeding grumpy in this dream, whispered accusations, "这么多事干吗？他过来骂你的话，你就知道!" (Why are you so busybody? What are you going to do when he comes over and scolds you?")
I ignored her rants while stealing glances at the neighboring table. After recovering from the initial shock, the old man walked over with slow determined steps. My heart pounded hard with each step he took. I was so afraid that my mother was right. I was so afraid that she was right about my failures.
In three slow steps, he reached our table. He punched his fist, missing my nose by a few inches, with his wrinkly thumb held high, and exclaimed but one word, "Good!" He then turned around and made his way back to his satisfied seat. I whispered under my breath to my dad, just loud enough so that my mom can hear, "我很怕他会骂我"Good!"呢！" (I was so afraid he would reprimand me "Good!")
Reunion with family and friends is a must when I go home. We picked a restaurant in Singapore/Malaysia and invited friends to join us. The restaurant is very much like those in Malaysia, where the shop is not big enough to accommodate the numerous customers, and as such there is a long-term lease on the tent and open space outside.
We met the twins (Shao Suan and Shao Yin) first, under the tent. After they left, we needed to meet up with the family. I went into the restaurant to request for a table for our anticipated guests (probably relatives). One of the two hosts was Dai Yang Tian (戴阳天 from Mediacorp). I thought he looked familiar, and so I asked him. He admitted it. He was complimenting my looks. I wanted to tell him that he looks very much like my canoe polo coach, HengFu, but I was so flattered that I thought I would let that pass.
My family and I got a table outside the restaurant, beyond the tent. I gathered chairs from other tables, and being temporarily satisfied with my accomplishment, I took my seat. Next to our table, there was a huge, seemingly rich, family. The children (most of them around age 20) of the family already took their seats, while the parents are busy arranging seats. The oldest man of the family arrived, helped by a maid-servant. He must have been in his 80s or 90s. He was furious at his descendants incompetence to arrange seats correctly, yet he did not offer direct instructions. His children were at a lost, although the answer seemed very apparent to me. In two seconds, I took a quick low stride toward that table, moved the chairs while muttering "sorry" under my breath, and moved back to my seat. (As my mother was grumpy the entire day, I avoided sitting next to her and took a seat at the other side of the table, next to my father.) The entire family was shocked to silence. My mother, being exceeding grumpy in this dream, whispered accusations, "这么多事干吗？他过来骂你的话，你就知道!" (Why are you so busybody? What are you going to do when he comes over and scolds you?")
I ignored her rants while stealing glances at the neighboring table. After recovering from the initial shock, the old man walked over with slow determined steps. My heart pounded hard with each step he took. I was so afraid that my mother was right. I was so afraid that she was right about my failures.
In three slow steps, he reached our table. He punched his fist, missing my nose by a few inches, with his wrinkly thumb held high, and exclaimed but one word, "Good!" He then turned around and made his way back to his satisfied seat. I whispered under my breath to my dad, just loud enough so that my mom can hear, "我很怕他会骂我"Good!"呢！" (I was so afraid he would reprimand me "Good!")
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