A Moment of Reflection
highs, lows, and ahas
Tuesday creative playing cards, yesterday lost and found friends, so you ask... what's on the docket for today?
We shall see. But, first the items with which our Taste of USA participants were working...
Tera and Funsies (a.k.a. Nicole)
Blue graduation sash, denoting study abroad and a lint roller
Their first suggestion... write about the lintiest country! A quick peek into cyberspace and I quickly learn the formal definition of "lint" is:
"particles and short fibers that fall from a textile product during the stresses of use."
Alright. Well, if that's the definition does anyone want to take a chance at guessing the lintiest country? I'm not sure, but I'm guessing it's got to be a place where more clothing, not less, is worn (cold climate) and where the clothing is more stressed by use, not less. The lines are open. Name me a country and I'll add it to my list of creative topics worth writing about.
Tera and Funsies, not quite sure where to go from there, decided to move on. They suggested writing about traveling "must-haves." We kind of did this when some of the readers of highlowaha engaged in a game of, "I'm going on a trip and I'm bringing..." In the true spirit of Highlowaha, we try never to repeat the same idea twice. Though... I do agree, a lint roller ranks right up there as a must-have item. Moving on...
Then came von Oech's Whack Pack card. Add to the mix a recent dream that either Tera or Funsies has had (see Tuesday 9/9 for full text). How could a recent dream help improve their idea for writing about lintiest country, must-haves? As it turns out, while other groups couldn't remember a single dream... Tera and Funsies both have recurring dreams! Interesting, right? First, no recollection of dreams and now... two recurring dreams.
Tera's recurring dream... getting bitten by a snake on the fleshy part of her hand, between the thumb and her pointer finger.
Funsies recurring dream... falling of a sidewalk.
You think I'm kidding. This is what I'm working with today... and it's not even 5:00 a.m. yet!
Who's working harder than I am right now? No one.
I have no choice. I'm going to the book of 10,000 dreams in desperate search of something I can sink my teeth into (other than Tera's hand... since, by the way, I am - according to the Chinese Zodiac - a snake).
First snakes. "To dream of snakes is a foreboding of evil in its various forms and stages. To dream of a bite also omens ill.". According to this crazy book... "...to dream of a bite implies a wish to undo work that is past undoing."
Don't know what that means, Tera... but I wish it sounded more promising.
Now Funsies. To dream of stepping on a curb denotes your rapid rise in business circles, and that you will be held in high esteem by your friends and public. For lovers to dream of stepping together on a curb, denotes an early marriage and consequent fidelity; but if in your dream you step or fall from a curb, your fortunes will be reversed.
Neither of their dreams sound great.
I have an idea. It seems we need to switch gears in an effort to get as far away from this gloom and doom as possible. Let's talk about traveling on a vacation. In fact... check this out.
It says:
Highlowaha Taste of USA 2009
It's Up To You
Stay Tuned!
We've been milling over an idea for next year's Taste of USA trip. This year's participants suggested that, instead of visiting the state whose residents cast the most votes, we would go to the place most people voted as their ideal vacation destination. So... live in New York, but always wanted to visit Montana? Vote Montana and, if enough people agree then Montana Kelly... here we come!
So... if you were to cast your vote, as of this very minute, where would you want to go? IMPORTANT: We are NOT voting for next year's destination. I am just desperately trying to get out from under this horrible "lintiest city-travel-must-have-bad recurring dreams"... nightmare that I'm in!
You might be interested to know... where ever we end up, we should travel by limousine to a ship, where we will be met by space aliens. According to my trusty book of dreams...
The dream of riding in a limousine, means that, "sudden good fortune will soon be imminent." Ships "foretell honor and unexpected elevation to ranks above your mode of life," and encountering space aliens means that "you will meet people whom you consider bizarre and strange. You will at first feel uncomfortable with them, but they will soon become very positive influences in your life."
Signing off until tomorrow... but not fast enough...
Posts
35 comments:
Still at a loss for what to post? How about telling me about your last dream and I'll consult my book for its translation.
Or...
Take a crack at coming up with your own topic, using today's items.
I I had to guess at the lintiest city ... I'd have to pick ... someplace cold and dry ... perhaps someplace in the Alps?
This was a difficult combination of items on Saturday if I remember correctly!
And, I'm not one to remember many of my dreams at all.
The lintiest city could be somewhere where textiles are produced in large quantities. Or perhaps carpet. Dalton, Georgia, the carpet capital of the world, is probably seriously linty.
As for dreams, your book sounds far too complicated, CKB. Having done some dream work of my own in college and beyond (both academic and out of sheer curiosity), dreams can really only be deciphered with any certainty by the person having them. Many of us share similar ideas of what different symbols might represent, but unless the dreamer feels a sense of gloom and doom about a dream, it's probably not so bad. And recurring dreams tend to be our unconscious mind's way of trying to get us to pay attention to a message that we really, really need to get. Same goes for nightmares, which aren't really bad, but more like how our unconscious yells at us to get our attention.
What do snakes and snake bites mean to Tera? In archetypal dream terms, snakes often denote change or transition--since they shed their skin--nevermind original sin, of course. And a bite could simply represent pain. Change can certainly be painful, no? And as for the spot where Tera's being bitten, that spot between the thumb and forefinger happens to be a major acupressure point for relieving headaches, stress, tension, insomnia, and constipation, among other things, and many of us massage it for those purposes without even knowing why we're doing it. [Doula's Note: It can also bring on uterine contractions, so it shouldn't be messed with on pregnant women 'til they're ready to go into labor, at which point it becomes a good spot to massage in the hopes of making something happen.] So maybe the dream is just denoting the fact that change can be both painful and stressful... but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Tera, I'd be curious to know how you feel about the dream, or how you feel IN the dream? Are you in pain, or simply being bitten matter-of- factly? And if I remember correctly, didn't you recently get married? That can certainly be a stressful journey (good and bad stress)... from a wedding-planning perspective and beyond.
As for falling off a sidewalk, well... could it possibly be a representation of a predetermined path not necessarily being the best way to travel? Or that along the path, there will be trips and stumbles, but the destination can still be reached by staying the course? Who knows? Only Funsies can say what strikes a chord for her.
OK, I'm a dork. Sorry... but dreams are so fun! Lint, not so much, but dreams, yes. Have a happy day, everyone!
My last dream: I was at a beach with a random collection of people. It was a friend from childhood, a friend from middle school, a friend from high school, a friend from college, and a friend from grad school. At one point while we were sitting there laughing and sharing in old memories, I noticed a set of footprints out a bit in the sand and walked off to follow it. When I turned back, my friends were gone so I continued following the footprints. I woke up before I got to the end, though. So, anything in that book about sand, friends, and footprints?
Claudia- todays post cracks me up. I've been wondering where you would go with this.
Stacie- I love the dream interpretations. I have the recurring dream that exes steal from me and they're usually dating one of my girlfriends. The dreams are uncomfortable. Not scary but not happy either. What do you think?
I've been thinking over the - wait... you didn't actually unveil the complete idea we discussed for how we vote for where we go so I'll hold on to my comments. But the more I think about it, the more I like it.
The lintiest country...I originally said Sweden but I'm changing my answer to New Zealand. They have all those sheep.
Oh dream interpreter...
I worked at McDonald's from age 16-21... often I have the dream that I'm working there again, after having a long, long...long break... I'm doing pretty good, but because the menu has changed, I don't know how to work the register, and often no one helps me, it's normally late at night and the manager doesn't put me back on the work schedule, so I don't know when to come back to work.
The other work related one I have... I worked season ticket sales and the box office of our local community theatre (I have been in 6 plays)... and often I sneak back on stage during a production, or I find my way through a trap door under the seats and make my way up to the booth, or I'm working box office and doing a great job... but I never know where anything is!
Oh dream interpreter, is there hope for me????
All...sorry for the crazy array of ideas for today's blog!
Stacie...hi!
I like what you have to say. I've been having this dream for years, but haven't had it for quite some time. When I do have the dream, I'm bitten pretty matter of fact-ly. No real pain. The snake doesn't let go...then I usually wake up.
There's always change in my life. IN 2005 I graduated from college then left for grad school. During grad school it was a whirlwind of change. I then moved to Erie last year and then moved agian this summer along with a wedding.
I had a CRAZY nightmare last night. School shooting...while watching football (Browns v. Dolphins)...pepople from the past...total chaos. I woke up and Treye was already in the shower getting ready for work...I thought they got him too.
sorry i did not get a chance to check in yesteday. Maureen and I have been friends for 33 years and i couldn't ask for a better friend. We have been through so much together good times and sad times. She is a friend/"sister".
So for those of you who have a childhood friend and are still close do not lose that because like it is said "You can chose your friends, but not your family." That friend will always be there for you if even you make bad decisions, although you knew what the right one was to make just to keep peace in the family. But, Maureen knows how much i appreciate her friendship and she knows how close i hold this friendship in my heart.
Ok Claudia, I won't even go there about the snake thing I look at them I cringe. And for the lint rollers I always keep them on hand my boys could go through them in a less then a week. Probably even less then that now that school started. We have 4 cats and if there is even a cat hair on their shirts they roll it right off. I even keep one in the car (that definitely caomes in handy).
Oh- my other recurring dream is about being in the band. I can't find my instrument, I don't know the routine, or the notes to play. Most of the time it's just confusing and I feel a little stressed but sometimes I just laugh about it.
I say the lintiest country is China just because there are so many people.
My latest dream involves Ty Pennington, oh, but you probably don't mean those kind of dreams...
I have had a recurring dream since I was 7 about tornadoes. I have this dream at least a few times per month.
So I'm a day off....blogging from yesterday's post:
Nice portrait of me Treye, thanks! You were a great partner with whom to work on this particular project.
It's always been challenging for me to make friends. I have many acquaintances in my life and just a small handful of people I consider friends, true friends. The other challenge is staying in touch, especially if it's mostly one sided and one person is doing most of the work in keeping up the contact. So in staying true to myself, my own best friend, the friendships I've established, especially over the past 5-10 years of my life, have been vastly different than those before. These very special girlfriends I call my "Heart Sisters" b/c they are so near and dear to my heart and the friendship is so balanced that I know they share my sentiments about what a friend is.
Thanks for the 09/11 photo and remembering what this date in history now signifies.
Let us always remember!
There are 3 or 4 states I've always wanted to visit, but have never been to:
1. Texas
2. Maine
3. Alaska
4. Rhode Island (just 'cause it's so small!)
I'm horrible at remembering my dreams....
I never understood how people can remember whether they dream in color or not. Dreams for me seem like real life at the time, so I'm assuming they are in color. That question always boggles my mind when it's asked of me.
The places my head goes when thinking of my lint roller....dust bunnies, my former cats (Henry and Charles, who gave me lots of fond memories and heightened my allergies!) wool slacks, colder and dryer weather, etc.
Now the lintiest country?? Seems I have my own country of lint, at times, right in my bedroom! I'd name that country "Heid-the-lint"
Get it?? Ha-ha...couldn't resist!
Where do I come up with these things?!?!
Have a great day everyone!
Wow! Where do I start? It's what I love about you readers. You keep me on my toes. I write about a topic thinking I'm hitting it out of the ballpark and virtually no response. Days or weeks later... actually scared to hit "post blog" and the comments come rolling in.
It is part of what keeps this whole experience so interesting.
Next, Stacie... where else can you go and meet a group of people so eclectic and so knowledgeable about so many things! Stacie... you very able interpretation of Tera's dream, I dare say, is better than anything printed in this crazy book of mine.
I welcome any other interpretations you want to offer other readers who posted key words. I'll take a shot at a few and then do a few more later today.
Kaite... sand, friends, and footprints... Believe it or not... I've got virtually nothing. Nothing on footprints. Little on friends, but mostly if you see them wearing red, a white cloth, and other craziness. As for sand... according to the book of gloom and doom... "To dream of sand is indicative of famine and losses."
BUT, on a brighter Stacie note... it could be the loss of old insecurities, habits, worries, etc... I'm putting my money on that.
Okay Katie- Here's what my dream source says verbatim:
Sand
To see sand in your dream, signifies a shift in perspective or a change in your attitude. Consider also the familiar phrase, "the sands of time" in which it may be suggesting that you are wasting your time or letting time pass you by.
To see wet sand in your dream, indicates that you are lacking a sense of balance in your life.
Okay but you were at the beach:
Beach
To see the beach in your dream, symbolizes the meeting between your two states of mind. The sand is symbolic of the rational and mental processes while the water signifies the irrational, unsteady, and emotional aspects of yourself. It is a place of transition between the physical/material and the spiritual.
To dream that you are on the beach and looking out toward the ocean, indicates unknown and major changes that are occurring in your life. Consider the state of the ocean, whether it is calm, pleasant, forbidding, etc.
To dream that you are looking toward the beach, suggests that you are returning to what is familiar to you. Alternatively, you may be adapting or accepting to the changes and circumstances in your life.
To dream that you are relaxing on a beach, signifies that the coming weeks will be calm and tranquil for you. Your stress will be alleviated and you will find peace of mind.
To dream that you are working on the beach, signifies a business project that will consume most of your time.
Footprints
To see footprints in your dream, symbolize pride. and heritage. It may also suggest that you are following someone else's footsteps and hint toward your lack of originality and initiative. Alternatively, footprints indicate something or someone you have missed. Perhaps someone is never quite there for you.
And lastly, you dreamed of friends.
Friend
To see your friends in your dream, signifies aspects of your personality that you have rejected, but are ready to integrate these rejected part of yourself. The relationships you have with those around you are important in learning about yourself. Additionally, this symbol foretells of happy tidings from them and the arrival of good news.
To see your childhood friend in your dream, signifies regression into your past where you had no responsibilities and things were much simpler and carefree. You may be wanting to escape the the pressures and stresses of adulthood. Consider the relationship you had with this friend and the lessons that were learned. Alternatively, the childhood friend may be suggesting that you have been acting in a childish manner and you need to start acting like an adult.
You are always welcome to come to Montana! However as a native Montanan, I would love to see New York.
when I first saw the items for todays topis- graduation sash and lint roller the idea or thought in my mind related more to ending one journey in life and beginning another- rolling off the old and ready to tackle the new... corny I know but that was my first thought until I read more.
I have never read much about what dreams can mean but my recurring dream as a child was a fire around my house- never catching the house on fire and a bear walking around the perimeter of the fire- my protector maybe??? Ironic that I attended the Univ. of Montana and our mascot is the Grizzlies!
Kelly... My aha for the day... dreams vary depending on geography. This New York City girl has never had a dream where a BEAR appeared.
Love it.
I would interpret your dream, but I am feeling wholly inept. Here's my attempt and then I'll let the more qualified Stacie or Cheryl fill in!
Finally some good news... "Fire is favorable to the dreamer if he or she does not get burned. Fire expeienced in dreams brings continued prosperity to seamen and voyagers, as well as to those on land. As for the bear... "A bear is significant of overwhelming competition in pursuits of every kind." Uh oh... here comes the catch... "A young woman who dreams of a bear will have a threatening rival or some misfortune."
I'm going to make an executive decision that since fire can kill bear that the good news trumps the bad. You know... "rock, paper, scissors..."
THanks for the translation Claudia- it made me laugh!
Okay, Kelly. Here's my info:
Fire
Depending on the context of your dream, to see fire in your dream can symbolizes destruction, passion, desire, illumination, transformation, enlightenment, or anger. It may suggest that something old is passing and something new is entering your life. Your thoughts and views are changing. In particular, if the fire is under control or contained in one area, it is a metaphor of your own internal fire and inner transformation. It also represents your drive and motivation.
To dream of that you are being burned by fire, indicates that your temper is getting out of control. Some issue or situation is burning you up inside.
To dream that a house is on fire, indicates that you need to undergo some transformation. If you have recurring dreams of your family house on fire, then it suggests that you are still not ready for the change or that you are fighting against the change. Alternatively, it highlights passion and the love of those around you.
To dream that you put out a fire, signifies that you will overcome your obstacles in your life through much work and effort.
Bear
To dream that you are being pursued or attacked by a bear, denotes aggression, overwhelming obstacles and competition. You may find yourself in a threatening situation. Alternatively, bears symbolize the cycle of life and death and renewal. It may signal of period of introspection and thinking. The dream may also be a pun on "bare". Perhaps you need to bare your soul and let everything out into the open.
It sounds like the fire is keeping the bear out of your dream... You're obviously fighting against change because you fear some type of aggression against you or your family.
That'll be $100.
:)HA!
Thanks, Cheryl!
So much to think about in what seemed like just a simple dream! This is what I love about HLA!
i hardly ever remember my dreams. but one the occurs a lot for me (but one that i havent had in a while) is that airplanes crash land in my front yard, or neighbor's yards. sometimes i am in the while its crashing, but i wake up before it does. other times the plane just crashes in my yard. how bout that one stacie or cheryl?!
oh, and i have always wanted to go to hawaii. but so far im saving it for my honeymoon (someday!). also, i do want to go to new york city really bad. ive never been.
I would think the lintiest country would be Ireland. With all that wool!!! Or maybe Australia......
I would love to go to either San Francisco, or Vegas. I however refuse to be on a plane that long and still be in the USA.
I have a re-occuring dream that my ex-boyfriend and my husband are best of friends.
I also have a re-occuring dream that I am in public and I am naked......
I dont know which one is worse?
Cassie- the crashing part doesn't sound so good.
Airplane
To see an airplane in your dream, indicates that you will overcome your obstacles and rise above to a new level of prominence and status. You may experience a higher consciousness, new-found freedom and greater awareness.
To dream that you transfer planes, implies an important transitional phase in your life which will take you away from your intended path. Changes will occur in your life which will take you to new directions and new heights of status and recognition.
To dream that a plane crashes, suggests that you have set overly high and unrealistic goals for yourself. Your goals may be too high and are impossible to realize. You are in danger of having it come crashing down. Alternatively, your lack of confidence, self-defeating attitude and self-doubt toward the goals you have set for yourself is represented by the crashing airplane; you do not believe in your ability to attain those goals. Loss of power and uncertainty in achieving your goals are also signified.
To dream that an airplane is hijacked, signifies disturbing feelings and past emotions in your unconscious mind.
Maureen-
Naked:
So you are going about your normal routine - going to work, waiting for the bus, or just walking down the street when you suddenly realize that you are stark naked. Dreaming that you are completely or partially naked is very common.�Nudity symbolizes a variety of things depending on your real life situation.
Becoming mortified at the realization that you are walking around naked in public, is often a reflection of your vulnerability or shamefulness. You may be hiding something and are afraid that others can nevertheless see right through you. Metaphorically clothes are a means of concealment. With clothes, you can hide your identity or be someone else. But without them, everything is hanging out for all to see. You are left without any defenses.�The dream may telling you that you are trying to be something that you really are not. �Or that you are fearful of being ridiculed and disgraced. If you are in a new relationship, you may have some fears or apprehension in revealing your true feelings.
Nudity also symbolizes being caught off guard. Finding yourself naked at work or in a classroom, suggests that you are unprepared for a project at work or school. You may be uninformed in making a well-formed decision. With all eyes on you, you have this fear of having some deed brought to public attention. You fear that people will see through your true self and you will be exposed as a fraud or a phony.
Many times, when you realize that you are naked in your dream, no one else seems to notice. Everyone else in the dream is going about their business without giving a second look at your nakedness. This implies that your fears are unfounded; no one will notice except you. You may be magnifying the situation and making an issue of nothing. On the other hand, such dreams may mean your desire (or failure) to get noticed.
For a small percentage of you, dreaming that you are proud of your nakedness and show no embarrassment or shame, then it symbolizes your unrestricted freedom. You have nothing to hide and are proud of who you are. The dream is about a new sense of honesty, openness, and a carefree nature
Okay, I've been thinking about where I would like to go for the next Taste of USA trip. I want to go somewhere with a whacky name. Like:
Kalamazoo, MI.
Ideal, GA. or
Happy Camp, CA.
dear Taste of USA tour:
My package arrived today. Thank you so much for everything in. Some things are new to me and some I have heard of before. Do not know if I can wear the temple shirt around KY. Loved everything. Who ever made the earrings and turtles please let me know. I would love to see what else you have. I already know who made the note card. Thank you again the only thing that was missing was the cupcake and the philly steak sandwich.
Nice acknowledgement of your fun Random Acts of Kindness package Sue. Yes, the Taste of USA participants enjoyed putting it together.
The beautiful beaded jewelry is compliments of our very own Heidi.
So, inquiring minds want to know... did you smile a little longer because your name was spelled out in fun stickers?
I would also like to say thank you to HLA for my package today- my own cupcake stand- I love it!
Yes I was smiling the whole way through opening my package. I never knew what was coming out next. Just wanted to remind everyone that I need everything for the basket by the end of next week.
Sue-
I am going to send you a framed drawing of mine. Not sure what yet but I will get something together this weekend and in the mail to you. Will you post your address in the comment section here so I don't have to dig for it? Thanks!!!
Hello HLA!
Sorry I have been absent all week. It's been a rough one with time, energy and everything and I just haven't made time to post --though I've been following I promise.
Here goes a quick attempt to catch up..
Friends: Moving around alot as a child I didn't really get the chance to keep alot of really close friends however I'm lucky to have come across a few amazing friends over the last 10 years that I don't know if I could live without...
Lintiest country? Hmmmm I think I like best Stacie's idea about Dalton Georgia being the lintiest city but I don't know about country.
Dreams: The only thing I know is I dream ALOT and they are very vivid and very real and typically about bugs or some other pest (squirrels) being in my bedroom. I'm a sleep walker and a sleep talker and I drive Bal batty with it sometimes.
Where would I go on a "dream vacation" for next year's Taste of USA? I've never really been to the west coast so that would be a dream vacation but I'd ideally like it to be someplace I could afford to go so I'll say New Orleans since I could drive that in a day.
I hope everyone is well...I've missed you guys this week.
Hello!
I'm so sad I checked so late, because I have a lot to catch up on from today.
1. I'm thinking the taste of USA might need to branch out to taste of the Caribbean. I hear Jamaica is lovely in September.
2. The lintiest country. I have no idea. I want to say Djibouti (pernounced ja-booty), but thats only because I love saying Djibouti. But i do know this: you cannot find the answer by googleing "linties country." But HLA is the first hit on that search!
3. My ominous dream. OK. So if I'm being perfectly honest, I can't even remember the last time I had the falling off the curb dream. I think I had it a lot during high school. I might have had it as a freshman in college. But here's my theory. To be walking on a sidewalk means you'll be held in high esteem by your friends, and to fall off means to reverse it. This dream is probably all about a funsies of high school past, who was waaaaaay too worried about what friends and classmates thought of her. Whon whon. But on the bright side at least I haven't had it in a while!
Annnnnd... the novel that is this post is now complete!
Goodnight HLA!
Cheryl:
Here is the address
sue kolkmeier
4074 circlewood drive
erlanger, ky 41018
thank you for the frame.
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