The Monkey Dream

Dreams, and I don't mean those dreams we have for our future life, are strange messages sent by our subconcious minds in an attempt to communicate with our sleeping conscious minds. The problem is, our conscious minds don't speak the same language. But it does make dreaming an interesting experience, at the least.
I don't always remember my dreams, and even with some of the bizarre ones, I only have a somewhat fuzzy recollection of the events that took place. Take last night, for instance.
 I was being pursued by a couple of someones, whom I took to be some thugs of one kind or another. We ended up on a street bordered on one side by a forest of what must have been nut trees, I have no idea what kind. But suddenly, we, the thugs and I, are being pelted with nuts by a small army of tiny monkeys that are in the trees. The dream then goes a bit fuzzy, and the next thing I know, one of the thugs is holding a gun on me, and we are in some kind of a trailer, or a house shaped like a trailer. I then throw a couple of the tiny monkeys (where I got them, well, let's just say that part is also kind of fuzzy) at the thug, who proceeds to get quite distracted. One of the monkeys gets under his clothes, and he starts doing a very good impression of someone with a severe tiny monkey infestation about his person. Time is very subjective while dreaming, but let's say a minute or two later, the monkey climbs out of his mouth. After which, it seems I made my escape. Probably in the dream, but definitely from the dream, as I then woke up.
And so, what was my subconscious mind trying to tell me? When attacked by thugs I should look for the nearest tiny monkeys to throw? Or maybe, stay the hell away from any nut trees?
What was my subconscious mind doing while my conscious mind was learning English?!! Probably conceiving a plan to confuse and bewilder that rational part of my mind every night for my entire life. Sigh... 
#!@% dreams...but boring they ain't... 

Coming Soon to Your Town

A well-known line from an alien invasion movie (or was it a tv show?) was to watch the skies, keep watching the skies. (I know. Skies is a bit misleading since there is only one sky. I just like the sound of it.) And what does that have to do with the price of tea in China (an expression, friends, just an expression) ? Not a damn thing. But I've received warning that the future is close, and that future includes the flying of military drones within US borders. Just another reason to watch the skies. If you dance naked in front of your television set late at night, someone may be watching through a high tech camera flying well above you. Flying spy planes, and small ones at that. And remember, these little spy planes can carry missiles. Hmmm...How safe do you feel in your bed at night?
And yet, there's another reason to keep your eyes on the skies. Albert, whose been hibernating for a couple of months (he is a black bear, after all), became a bit restless recently. I think it's the weather. It hasn't been much of a winter. Anyway, he told me a story last night. It's a legend among the bears, that they originally came to this planet from space. The legend goes, that they were trying to escape from an extremely hostile race of aliens that were intent upon exterminating all other life forms wherever they found them. Most of the bears have forgotten this legend over time, according to Albert, who got it from an ancient bear he met down in Arkansas, or someplace down south. Because, of course, none of the original bears who escaped from their home planet are alive today. All that remains of the race of bears were born here, on this planet.
Dangerous times, my friends (as they all are, actually). If a drone doesn't shoot a missile into your living room because you flipped it off, it just might be possible that a homicidal race  of aliens could stumble across our planet and wipe out all earthly life.
So, I believe I have brightened your day enough for the time being. But it might be in your best interest to keep watching the wide open space above your head. And, the next time you look up at the stars at night, make sure that they are unmoving, as good stars should be.

Going South

For something to go south is NOT a good thing. Unless you happen to be going to Disney Land from further north. So, when I say my cold went south, it means it got worse. But having learned from experience, I made an appointment with my Doctor as quickly as I could, and started antibiotic treatment right after. With the help of some strong cough syrup, I am able to get enough sleep to survive. I won't be jogging for at least a few more days, maybe longer, but I will live. And that seems to be a good thing.
During this period of illness, I have managed to do some reading, and to watch the last Harry Potter movie, Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part II. Twice, in fact. Being laid up (recuperating) can make one (in this case, me) stir-crazy, but when one (again, me) doesn't feel well, and has no energy, going out to play is simply out of the question.
I did make it to the Library today, and had a truly marvelous time. Really. Although it took just about all the energy I had, I plan on doing it all over again tomorrow. God willing, and the creek don't rise (an expression). At least it's something to look forward to.
Anyhow, I reckon I'll live for another day. And when you come right down to it, what more can one ask? Ok, maybe a few good friends. And I have to tell you, without the wonderful friends I have (and probably don't deserve), life would be a much greater hardship.
To all my friends, thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Xin Nian Kuai Le! or, Happy New Year!

It's a new year, and I don't know about you, but I'm still alive. Kind of amazing really. Anyway, nothing terribly exciting has been happening. Same ol', same ol'. Still never have enough time, what with taking Mandarin lessons from a pretty (and married) young Chinese woman in a laundromat, among other things. Yep, in a laundromat. That's what I said. The other things? Well, I'm still tutoring Esol (English as another language) at the Library 6 to 7 hours a week. And to quite a wild bunch of Chinese, Haitians, & South Americans.
And of course, there's Eddie, my wonderful cockatiel companion with a male pattern baldness problem. Not that he minds. His only real concerns are being fed, getting lots of head rubs, and yelling into the telephone whenever he gets the chance.
My other companion, Albert, who happens to be a black bear, is at this moment hibernating in one of my larger closets. Before the hibernating thing overtook him, he was busy traveling trying to scare and intimidate as many Republicans as he could through the South and West. But he finally called it quits, at least for the time being. He made some comment about it there being  too many of "those stupid idiots" for him to eat. That's the best I can do translating from bear language.
Anyroad, right now I'm suffering some type of cold virus, or sinus infection. Just been laying around the house the last couple of days, watching bad tv, drinking lots of herbal (and some green) tea, and sucking on Hall's cough drops. Can't really complain though, this is the first cold I've had this Winter season. If you can call this a Winter.
I hope y'all are doing just fine, and finding as much enjoyment in life as you are able. Remember, if the Mayans are right, the world ends this December 21st. So make a point of doing all those things you been wanting to, just in case.
No matter whether you celebrated the western New Year on January 1st, or the Chinese New Year on January 23rd, a very Happy New Year to you.

The Fat Guy In The Red Suit Ran Me Off The Road!

I know it may be very difficult to believe, but you're just going to have to take my word for it. I was driving home from my Mother's house on Christmas eve, keeping my eye out for pedestrians, deer, and other animals of smaller bulk (size), when a flock (a goup of reindeer would usually be called a herd, but since these were flying, I thought it more appropriate to call them a flock) of reindeer, pulling a sleigh, came flying right at me from the other direction. Well, not exactly right at me. They were coming towards me, but they were probably about ten feet off the ground. Which, as far as I'm concerned, is still way to low to be flying. Particularly when they were pulling a sleigh with crazy fat guy in a red suit yelling Ho! Ho Ho!
So, of course, I panicked, drove off the road and onto someone's lawn, where I managed to just miss a life size plastic Santa lawn ornament. I probably should have stopped and apologized for the tire tracks I left on the lawn, but I was quite perturbed at the time, and began ground pursuit of that UFO (unidentified flying object), as the Air Force would probably be calling it.
Anyhow, I chased the sight of them through a good part of New London County for most of the night, but I was never able to catch up to them. I finally had to give up and head on home. And just when I was maybe half a mile from my final destination, those damn reindeer found me. They snuck up from behind me, so I never saw them coming. I heard this explosive Ho! Ho! Ho!, and then suddenly it was raining reindeer poop. At least I had my windows up, but I have to tell you, windshield wipers just do not help in this particular situation.
I'll tell ya' this much, if I ever run into those reindeer again, I'm going to be eating venison for a reeeaaalllyyy long time. 
  

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You Very Much

There was an editorial in the local paper this morning about how important it is to be thankful for what we have, particularly in hard times (or when times are tough, if you prefer). It seems to me that it's easier to be concerned with what we don't have, than to be grateful for what we do have. And so, allow me to relate the following true story.
Some friends of mine, a young family, invited me to lunch. I met them at a Chinese restaurant, after I went to an appointment I had with my regular (family) doctor. When I arrived at the restaurant, they were already there, along with some friends of their's, another married couple with a couple of young children.
As I sat down at the table, I made one of my usual inane jokes, and said that the doctor told me I had a couple of more weeks to live. I forget sometimes, that death is taken more seriously in the Chinese culture, and not generally joked about. So, while silence set in around the table, the wife belonging to the other married couple said, "Congratulations! You have 2 more weeks!"
Now, she knew I was joking, and even though she was also joking (in fact, she was funnier than I was), her words made me think about the way most of us respond to things that happen to us. I believe that all things happen for a reason. If we can't see that reason, well, sometimes we just have to look harder.
Anyroad (anway, anyhow), wherever you are, whatever you are doing, and no matter what your situation is in life, try to remember all the things you have to be thankful for, and have the best Thanksgiving you possibly can.
May you have a truly happy one.

May I have This Dance?

Fall is beginning it's slow fade into Winter. Soon enough there will be snow on the ground, and the feeling of ice in the air. In another month or so, I will wish I had a fur coat like Albert's. I won't take his, however. He's rather attached to it. Of course, he prefers to live indoors, which is a bit unusual for a bear. But he was spoiled at a young age. I told that story a while back. You can find it somewhere back in this blog if you care to look for it. 
I've become quite used to having him around the house, even though there are moments when I would prefer he was a bearskin rug, rather than a live black bear. He tells me that I occasionally get on his nerves as well, and I should feel privileged that he hasn't eaten me. Yet. It might be a long Winter.
But my real trouble at the moment is with my immune system disorder, which is causing a rather serious sleep problem. Or, I should say, a serious lack of sleep problem. Which also means, most days recently I haven't been capable of exercising, which compounds the problem. But, nobody promised me a rose garden, to use a well known quote and expression.
I do complain, sometimes too much. But life goes on, nonetheless. Or, to put it another way, there is always music playing. Sometimes, fast, sometimes slow. At different times it can be sad, or happy, sedate, or wild and crazy. Whatever music we happen to be hearing, the best thing to do, is learn how to dance to it. It ain't always easy, but hey, it's not a job, it's an adventure. Can ya' dig it?
Anyroad, that being said, I have a book calling my name, a bird who needs some attention, as well as a foot to sleep on. And of course, a bear who wants me to stop annoying him by banging on these keys. If I don't see you, have a truly wonderful Thanksgiving, no matter where you happen to be.