A Dream, A Chuckle

As I think I've mentioned before, I don't dream (or remember my dreams) very often.  However I woke from one on Saturday morning, my first day of spring break, that made me laugh.  I'm not sure of the context, which is usually the case when I dream, but for what seemed like several minutes I listened to someone say, "business" over and over and over again.  But rather than annunciate the three syllables in the word it was said emphasizing the many "s" sounds in the word.  It was more like, "bisssss nisssss, bisssss nisssss".  I remember thinking, "Why do they keep saying that?" feeling irritated.  Then I woke myself up, and it was only about 6:00 am.  That's when I remembered that my bedroom window was open, and I heard a bird whistling in the same two beats the "person" was saying "business" in my dream.  With eyes still closed, I got up, closed the window and fell back into bed.  I wasn't going to let this bird interrupt my sleep or invade my dreams that early on the first day of break.

Saturday 9

This week's song link is Asia's Heat of the Moment...

1) What's something you did or said "in the heat of the moment?"   Most of my life “mouth” has gotten me in a bit of trouble in all sorts of moments.  Now that I’m old older, it’s no longer worth the aggravation that it causes me vs. the point I’m trying to make.  C’est la vie

2) Asia's founder and bass player, John Wetton, passed away in January. One of his bandmates remembered him as a reliable performer who made everyone around him look better. Do you enjoy being the center of attention? Or would you, like Mr. Wetton, prefer to play a supporting role?  No, I do not like being the center of attention and would prefer to play a supporting role.
3)  When were you in the car for than an hour?  Most of my hour car rides are for a drive that is, by mileage, quite short.  The traffic here is atrocious most of the time, so none of my hour car rides are exciting adventures...just trying to get from one side of town to the other usually.  Today, we are going wild flower hunting though.  So we will probably be in the car for a longer, adventurous drive!
4) The song refers to disco hot spots, which apparently, by 1982, no one wanted to go to anymore. Let's make that negative into a positive. Describe your perfect night out with friends. Where would you go?  These days, my living room’s couch sounds like a nice place to hang out with friends.  But if we’re feeling motivated, I evening out to the theater or one of the museums for an interesting speaker.  Add in a nice meal, and it sounds like a fun evening to me!

5) In 1982, the year this song was popular, someone laced bottles of Tylenol with cyanide. That's why we now have tamper-proof caps on many products. Have you used anything in a tamper-proof bottle yet today?  I remember the Tylenol scare as a kid!  I have not.  It’s the first day of spring break so there are NO aches and pains.
6) In 1982, Time Magazine's Person of the Year wasn't a person at all, it was "the computer." What do you use your computer for most often?  There is very little these days I DON’T use the computer for. 
7) 1982 also saw the premiere of The Weather Channel. Where do you learn the day's weather forecast? (Watching the local news on TV, checking your phone, looking out the window ...)  The Weather Bug and Accu Weather apps on my phone. Although, my phone has phantom photos on it that are taking up storage but aren’t actually there.  I have had to delete a whole bunch of apps, just to use my phone until I can hook it up to the computer and wipe those photos from it. 

8) In 1982, Arnold Schwarzenegger's movie, Conan the Barbarian, was a hit in theaters. When you settle down to watch a movie, is it usually a fantasy, like Conan? Or do you prefer another genre?  My preferred genre of movie/show is drama/suspense/thriller and if its about detectives or spies that’s even better.  I also like comedy, if not too slapticky, romance comedy, if not too sappy, and action if there is some semblance of a realistic story in it.  Fantasy or pretend is not a genre I tend to watch at all, but I have seen all the X-Men/Wolverine films, and do like those! 
9) Random question: What is something you try to avoid?  Mayonnaise (listening to it, seeing it, or eating it) and having my picture taken.

A Treasure. A Benign Post.

My level of frustration with our federal government's new administration is on red alert, and if I were blogging about that, I'd have plenty to say.  Trying to bite my tongue and stay away from posting about politics has felt a little stifling which has led to me not really wanting to write about anything.  Writing benign posts feels mostly uninspiring...but I think I've got one today!  :)
My dad spent part of the 60s in the navy.

Part of his enlisted time was spent in Korea and the rest he spent in Japan.
Growing up, I vividly remember a tea set that he had brought back from his time in Japan for his mom (my grandma), who then gave it to my mom.  The delicate pot and tiny cups were white, decorated with a red and gold dragon.  I have vivid memories of getting this tea set out every-so-often and playing with it, because what made it so special and fun to a little kid was that when the tea cups were tipped up towards the light, there was a shadow of a Geisha.  You would have no idea it was there unless it was in the right light.  I found them so fascinating.
The set was housed in my mom's china hutch.  But sadly, in the 1994 Northridge earthquake, that china hutch fell over and most items in it were destroyed, including the tea set.  We don't have a lot of family treasures or mementos, but I would have considered that one so it was sad when it was gone.
Fast forward to earlier this year.  I was visiting with family at my aunt's (dad's sister) house.  Before I left, she told me she had something for me.  She went behind the bar and came out with a bag.  Inside the bag was a Japanese saki set with the same red and gold dragon design.  Come to find out, my dad had also brought back this saki set for my aunt and uncle.  My mom and aunt had somehow touched on the subject of it the last time they were together, and my mom mentioned how special I found the tea set.  My aunt decided to give me the saki set.  That just warmed my heart and made me sentimental over it.  The best part of the set...the little cups also have the geisha shadow in it.

Since I'm even less of a saki drinker than I am a tea drink - I rarely drink tea - this set is residing in  my sideboard which is much less top heavy than a hutch.  Hopefully, it will remain safe there.