Thursday, November 6, 2003

I had a strange and scary dream last night. I dreamt I was in a Spanish coastal town with Tina and Patrick. We were walking around looking at the shops and restaurants and we got separated somehow—someone wandered to investigate a restaurant while the others each wandered their own ways too. After some time I was worried because I couldn't find either of them. I thought I'd keep walking and looking through restaurants hoping to see Tina eating, but I didn't find her. I thought of calling Patrick's cellphone, but I didn't see a public phone anywhere. In the course of further wandering, I found beautiful views of the sea that reminded me a lot of Barcelona and Collioure. Usually the places I saw had outdoor dining set up so that diners could enjoy the view as well. I walked back through the shops and restaurants after reaching the end of it and came to a grassy street median where I saw several hot air balloons flying over the town and through a nearby canyon. It was very picturesque, like an oil painting. Then, a helicoptor swooped overhead—very low to the ground for a helicopter. It pulled up from its arc and came back—this time, upside-down. It looked like it was performing acrobatics, and seemed to do fine for the first pass. It was painted some solid color I can't remember now and I was thinking it was either a fire or police copter. It flew upside-down underneath power and telephone lines—everyone was shocked and amazed. It then started to look like it was getting out of control. Another swoop or two later it crashed into a telephone pole where it stuck like a magnet instead of falling to the ground. Instead of an explosion it spewed out fluorescent yellow liquid which everyone believed to be gasoline. An old man who was also watching the hot air balloons got doused completely with the liquid. I turned to look around me and I saw a man close by holding a gun-like object, the end of which looked hot or smoking—a torch-gun like Ripley used in the Ridley Scott film called Alien. He threatened, jokingly I think, to turn it on. I immediately turned and tried to run, but my shirt was caught on something. I unhooked it, and that's when I woke up.—Chatted with Sharon on the bus. Abs workout. Patrick made rolled biscuits for breakfast. Cleaned up dirt particles spewed out of the air circulation vent. Chatted with my sister a few minutes by telephone. Coded pages for Marie Parfitt Pattie—she wants photos of Homecoming up as soon as possible. Met with Steve and our electrician Bill regarding some outlets we found we needed after our move. Uploaded photos to ofoto.com for Marie. Helped Chris with trouble printing. Late lunch: Panda Express at desk. The office held a surprise birthday party for me. Cindy brought in pumpkin cheesecake and Martinelli's cider from Andronico's—very delicious! My birthday card was a dog sitting on the roof of a doghouse (Snoopy-style). The dog sat up on its hind legs and wore a yellow scarf and aviator goggles. Blurring in Photoshop made it appear as though the dog were flying. Fixed 11 broken links to the Office of Admission and Registrar site. Told the post office we were going on vacation using usps.gov for the first time—we'll see if it works.