more dreams

This morning I had a dream that our housekeeper for the Chapel was in our office talking to my boss. Then, her sister came in and said something in another language. In real life, she speaks Spanish, but in my dream, she was Israeli, and she asked us to pray for her family who was in a city in Israel that had just gotten hit by another bombing. She held up a TV or something to show us the news, and it said that the US had just sided with Israel and declared war on Lebanon. And I got really creeped out and started crying.

Other recent dreams have been about the piñata that I've been working on crumbling or an awkward high school reunion where every seat was saved for someone else when I tried to sit down. And now, my first semi-political dream. Weird.

this all happened very fast

1.

2.

3.

4.

4.5 I guess

5.

oooohhh the po po

I have only been pulled over once in my life. It was three and a half years ago, and I was going 78 in a 55. So I guess I deserved it, but they didn't have to go and make me take a class called Positive Alternatives to Dangerous and Destructive Decisions...that was a step too far. But I digress. My point is that ever since then, I have been good about going just 10 over the speed limit, and I get a queasy and/or angry feeling whenever I see a cop while I'm driving.

And then tonight...
I was driving that stretch of 29 from Silver Spring to Columbia. I was going 65, but I didn't know exactly what the speed limit was, and everyone else was going slower. And then I noticed him, even through my blurred vision (I need new glasses), a cop car. The cop was tailing me, so I figured I should probably slow down. But then, I didn't want to seem all suspicious, so I kinda sped up a little I guess. Between being tired, unable to see clearly, and freaked out that a cop was following me, I may have been wavering between 50 and 65 miles an hour. That had to look a little suspect. Then I noticed, of course, that the speed was actually 50.

I was done for, and I knew it. Sure enough, on went the flashy red and blue lights.

Ah crap. I pulled over all shakily and fumbled to roll down the window when the cop walked up.

him: How are you doing tonight?
me: Oh I'm alright. You don't have to be so snide about it. Would you be happy if you got pulled over?
him: Oh, there's no need for that. (as he saw me pulling out my license) Your center brake light is out. So just get a bulb for that and put it in.
me: Oh, okay. Thank you.
him: You have a good night.

Whatever, that's not why you pulled me over. It's okay, if I was a cop, I'd do that too. You see someone speeding a little, follow them to make them nervous and watch them step on the brakes, scared out of their minds. Then just pull them over to freak em out and make them look silly.

I'm onto your little games.

Massachusetts - the early years

the lake

There it is...Stiles Reservoir. My home. Look at the bottom half of the lake. At the point furthest left on that half, there is a kind of rectangular piece of water cutting into the land. To the right of that and through the trees sits our cottage. The speck on the water in front of that house is our dock. The big island is Ropeswing Island, and the little islands on the right are the Blueberry Islands.



the sibs

my brudder and me on our deck

Who had more style:

Brita...

...or Kirsten?

the landmarks

me and my second-cousin-not-so-once-removed Bethany in the hammock

Jan going off the ropeswing...I like how this one looks like a painting

One time my dad woke me up really early to watch the sunrise. He put a mattress, blankets, and cocoa in the canoe. If you look closely, you can see my happy morning face.

me

And this is what brings me back every year - just the lake itself. I'm only two or three in this picture, but that's who I am. That's everything you need to know. Floating on my back in the lake in my little orange swimmy, forever.

sweet dreams are made of these

My subconscious is random. A few of the elements of my dreams lately:

• Everyone was riding camels and llamas around.
• Wendy’s, the fast food restaurant, was having a huge gala. Julie really wanted us to go. Brita had free tickets.
• Curve was sending out samples of a new scent called “Grad Student.” What exactly does that smell like?

it was good while it lasted, Japanese Pan Noodles

I got caught. It was one of the most horrifying emails ever.


You see, last semester, I signed up for Noodlegrams - these lovely promotional emails that occasionally include the offer of a free meal at Noodles, one of my favorite dining establishments. Well after awhile, I got tired of waiting for more free dishes and decided I should just create another account with another email address. After all, they don't have my SS#, and who's to say there aren't 2 people with my name in College Park? (You have to use your real name because you are technically supposed to show ID when you pick up your meal.)

It worked well for awhile. I got another free dish, and I was looking forward to many more years of random Noodlegrams, birthday platters, and whatever surprises awaited me on my Noodlegram anniversaries! And then I received this email...

**************************************************************
Noodlegram Membership
**************************************************************
Dear Anna,

Our security system has identified you as having more than one Noodlegram membership or having redeemed an offer more than once. As a result, our email system has terminated all of your memberships.

If you feel that this is an error, please email guestrelationssupport@fishbowl.com

Sincerely,
Noodles & Company Customer Service

**************************************************************

That was a blow. How could I have been so stupid? It was too late to go back, so I figured I had a few options. Either forget the whole thing and kiss my Noodlegrams goodbye, try to convince them that they have no proof that I am in fact the same Anna, or put a little faith in the sense of humor and kindness of the good people at Noodles.
I chose option #3.

Dear Noodles & Company,

I sincerely apologize for my abuse of your system. I did indeed receive Noodlegrams at 2 separate email addresses. Although it is no excuse, it was my extreme love of Noodles dishes that drove me to such behavior.

I have always been a fan of your superb cuisine, excellent service, and wonderful promotions. (I was, in fact, one of the People's Choices for Asparagus Queen in May 2005. I am now thankful that I did not win the competition, as creating duplicate Noodlegram memberships while in office would have brought dishonor to the title of Asparagus Queen.)

It was wrong of me to take advantage of the generosity your company provides. I now humbly ask forgiveness and the chance to renew one Noodlegram membership. Whether or not you grant me this request, I shall always remain a faithful customer and Noodle Lover.

With many apologies,
Anna
Former Noodle Fraud

Keep your fingers crossed. And go sign up for Noodlegrams. Once.

**UPDATE** I got another Noodlegram!!! No email in response though. I wonder if they appreciated my apology. Hurray!

price of everything, value of nothing

Tomorrow I will go to see the sequel to a movie I didn't really like but everyone else raves about, just so that I can spend time with people I like. I think this is a big step for me. In the past, I have been known to boycott movies that everyone loves just because they're too popular. Instead of simply not watching them, I avoid them religiously. I can't help it. I have this strange addiction to being opposed to things. During conversations about popular TV shows, I always feel the need to throw in that I don't watch them or don't like them. Then I realize that no one really cares what I don't do and I should just keep my mouth shut.

I am anti-stuff.

I'm starting to think maybe this isn't an entirely good thing. Who really cares if I hate certain movies, shows, or bands? The problem is that it extends to more important things too. I tend to define myself by what I'm against. It's easier that way. Maybe if I can tell everyone what I don't believe, I can remain confused about what I do believe. If I let everyone know what I'm against, I guess I don't really have to be for anything. That is horrible. I've always thought I was just picky, but maybe that's not exactly the case.

Do I just know what I like...or do I have absolutely no clue?

random 4th

• When I was little, I always thought I was supposed to have a deep sense of pride and awe for our flag and felt a little guilty that I never did.
• Fireworks put me in almost the same mood as bonfires and Coldplay concerts. (almost)
• When I was maybe 8 years old I wrote a poem on the 4th of July:

  The moon is a crescent, and sometimes round
  It's up in the sky, not under the ground

  Actually, it was a rap. And there was beatboxing involved.
• The next year (maybe), the fireworks were delayed for a few hours because or the rain, and my mom made me wear a trashbag, with a hole in the corner for my face.
• Boats are one of my top favorite things in the world. All kinds of boats. I could(n't) care less about cars. Give me a boat.