Dreams

#1
I took Mariel and Donna to a race somewhere. All three of us were running. It was being held at some kids’ entertainment place [like Nifty Fifty’s maybe (I was there just yesterday, in Sicklerville)] A bunch of my friends were there – some from school [Bingo Bob & his kids] and some from The Bonnie-Verse [John The Parrothead and his daughter]. While Donna and Mare were checking in, Bob’s 1st grader, Mikey, zoomed a remote control car towards the register. I stuck my foot out to stop it, but the car jumped over it like a takeoff ramp and ended up on the T-shirt table. With its wheels spinning, the little car was throwing T-shirts everywhere. The volunteers were NOT pleased.

I got the girls registered and off to their starting place. For some reason, the girls’ race started before the guys’. At this point I said to Donna, “I forgot that I’m running. I didn’t bring my gear.”

“It’s your bag in the car. You have just about enough time to get changed.”

Their gun went off and they started.

I dug around in the bag to find my shirt, shorts, sox and running shoes. Black shirt, navy shorts, white sox and white sneakers with red and yellow trim [very expensive and fast looking] Donna must have borrowed the shoes though, because they were laced funny and not nearly tight enough [Donna’s feet are much smaller than mine, but when she does borrow my sneakers, they are always too loose when I get them back]

Now, between finding my gear, getting changed and struggling with my shoes, Bob said to me, “Dude, you’re half an hour behind; why don’t you just give up?”

“I think I can catch up.”

I don’t remember if I did or not.

#2
My first time back at Bally’s in, like, forever [truthfully, I haven’t been there in a couple of years, but now that my renewal is only $99 for this year, it may be time]

A girl was running on the track, as I was riding the stationary bike. Blonde with a black jog bra and blue capris; she had a tattoo of Texas on her arm. She smiled at me every time she came by. Eventually, she waved for me to join her. I got off the bike and realized that I had no shirt on [the 100 Push-up Challenge has produced some nice results] and that I had hiking boots on.

I went down to the locker room, to find that I had forgotten my running shoes. I cursed my stupidity and returned upstairs to the track to run with her anyway, but she was gone.

Running-ish Dreams are nothing new:

Monday, March 19, 2001

With my back hurting as much as it has been, I am now reduced to just dreaming about good runs. They say that when you are dreaming of running, you are either running to or running from something. I am definitely running to. In my dreams (like the one I had last night) I am very excited about the run. In my dreams, I'm either already moving or getting ready to run and there's a good feeling going on. Oddly, though, I'm usually someplace I've already been.

In my dream last night, I was getting my new shoes on, (very high tech affairs they were) and I took a little jog ... around my old college. I was "lacing them " up on the back step of my old dorm. I could almost remember the layout, too. I'll have to go to their website to see if everything is really where I thought it was, just to see if I remembered correctly. But that is just typical. I have dreams of running in my old neighborhoods in Philly, in Haddonfield.

However, I also have had dreams of places I've invented, in Colorado, San Diego, Providence, the beach in Maryland. Although I consider myself a triathlete, I only sometimes dream of biking or swimming. That's probably because it's been so long for either. I don't have the same anticipation for the next bike ride or swim.

What is it about losing shoes though? I know I need new ones, but haven’t had time to shop for the right ones.

Oh, I forgot to mention the recurring dream where, while doing a triathlon, I can’t find my shoes.

They are in a pile with everyone else’s shoes [one of those “let’s have fun” angles that triathlon directors throw in from time to time]. I meet a cute girl, searching for her sneakers and within seconds we’re smitten with each other.

It’s not long before we’re having sex in a Florida condo stairwell.

Wait a minute … was that a dream?

I'm Getting Close

Some people count 9 of something as "a collection," some say 10.

With the arrival of these lovely items

[Independent Trucks 30th Anniversary + Krooked Skateboards "El Pirata"]:



I am very close to a collection of beer glasses ...

Dirt Rag Magazine "20th Anniversary", Dirt Rag "Voodoo"


"Taste Victory" pint + the "No-Tip Converse Koozie"


"Big Sexxy" - a classy 20 oz'er


"The Kenzinger Cup" [front & back]


... 3 of these from Flying Fish [Cherry Hill, NJ] ...


... and 2 of these [front & back]


[NOTE: Failed attempt at a DFH :60 + Stone Bitter Chocolate Oatmeal Stout > Black & Tan ... I couldn't make the "waterline" WHA!!!]

Notice ... Nothing from DFH, Flying Dog, Brooklyn or Stone ... Clearly more shopping/teasing to be done

On This Date

... And right about this time, ten years ago, we were on our way to the airport for a week in St. Thomas [hoping to beat the Valentine's Day crowds].

Okay, I'll Play Along

... Reluctantly, of course.

I'm sure y'all have seen the deal - Facebook's viral "25 Random Things About Me"

To spare everyone the Karmic commotion of being tagged, and the "should I or shouldn't I?" pondering that comes with any chain letter ... Without further adieu:

1. I was born in St. Louis; birthplace of Vincent Price and TS Eliot
2. I had Scarlet Fever at age four
3. I learned to drive my Grandpop’s fishing boat at age ten, because I was the only one who could be counted on to remain sober enough to dock it
4. My first job was as a paperboy; my second was in a bike shop
5. As a kid I wanted to be a fighter pilot. I applied to the Air Force Academy, but was told my eyesight was not even close to good enough to get in. Grades were fine, though.
6. I spent two weeks on the road following The Dead in High School. I would have been at the tragic Who concert in Cincinnati, if I’d gotten a ride.
7. I’m afraid of heights, but used to go up the Empire State Building and the World Trade Center with my cousin, all the time [he passed away in 1986; Donna never got to meet him]
8. No one in my family has ever seen me surf
9. I lived without a car in Philly for 7 years; after moving back to NJ, I still didn’t drive for 4 more.
10. I’ve lived in my house here in NJ longer than any one place in my whole life. We are the original owners; it is NOT haunted – I kinda wish it was, since I’ve lived in 3 haunted houses [One was a very bad spirit who hung himself in the garage; he would open and close doors, windows and drawers]
11. I’ve broken pretty much everything except my neck, my back and my hip. I think there’s no more than a 6” gap between scars, head to toe.
12. I’ve never eaten Funnel Cake and I have never attempted a Sudoku puzzle.
13. I make up my own words appropriatationally
14. I have all of my Grandpop Walt’s paintings and some of his sketchbooks. I also have some very old books from his library including turn-of-the-century volumes of Alexandre Dumas, Charles Dickens and Mark Twain. There's also a collection of science books from 1910, in which a ton of the "facts" are no longer current.
15. I have never been to DisneyWorld and have no desire to go, myself. Although Grandpa Farrell was great friends with the man I was privileged to call “Uncle Walt” … I have been to DisneyLand, though, and will take the girls to Orlando, eventually
16. I would love to learn to weld. Failing that, I’d like to create in glass. I’d love to build a hot rod, if there weren’t so damn many parts.
17. I have no tattoos, which surprises everyone I know
18. I first pierced my ear myself on December 31, 1978, just before midnight … the next day my Mom said, “Um, okay. If you’re going to wear an earring …” and we spent ½ an hour picking one out [we went with a black diamond]
19. I curse too fucking much
20. When I go to Confession [at least once during Lent and once during Advent], I don’t go to my own parish
21. I am the oldest of four brothers; the tiniest by 4” and 50 lbs. I’m also the only one who doesn’t play golf
22. I love to watch polo. Donna and I spent 3 summers following a team here in South Jersey [Hidden Pond Polo Club] before they folded in 1996. Oddly enough, I pass by that field at least 3 times a week and it’s still a horse farm – not bulldozed and developed, thank goodness.
23. I had a script written and my buddy MTB Mark were set to shoot an audition video for Survivor Australia; but I bailed when I realized I’d have been in OZ for my daughter’s first birthday. To this day, I’ll eat bugs if requested, just to entertain my kid.
24. I did stand-up once and was awful. I auditioned for QVC and was awful at that, too.
25. I prefer electric, but would like to learn to play ukulele and banjo

FWIW: My friend Alexis is exactly 4 times as random as me ... She did 100 Things about herself!!! You're awesome, kid!!!