Here's a fun writing exercise: create a livejournal or other blog for a fictional character, and write a journal in that person's voice. I decided to do that today and just see where it takes me. I know a lot of people on LJ have "side" journals that are anonymous where they are more free to be big ol exhibitionists/perverts (heh). And that there are also numerous fictional journals too -- people playing a character. I look at it as a writing exercise though. I'm not going to publicize it, but if someone stumbles upon it, hopefully they will also stumble upon the fine print disclaimer.

I had vivid dreams this morning. In one, I got out of bed, and was fully aware that I was dreaming. I walked into the kitchen and looked at the back door, which was covered with plywood. Again, totally lucid, which made me realize the control I had, that I could bring whatever I wanted to life. I opened the door and decided there would be horses outside. But then I woke up goddammit.

Tags: book, dreams

I dreamed that I was riding in a car on a twisty, climbing road. There were trees on both sides. I was lost, and my friend and I looked for a road sign. Finally I saw one, it read "FELL". I figured if we went that way, we would eventually get back downtown.

We turned and followed Fell, but the road narrowed and suddenly we found ourselves turning the car into a deserted parking garage. The road had ended. I cursed and got out. I walked over some rocks and was surrounded by groups of people, kids and parents, all heading toward the viewing area for a waterfall. I could see the water splashing down over a huge flat rock, high up on a mountain. It was twilight, and very dim.

I was searching for Alex. I told my friend I had to find him before it got dark. I couldn't call out to him; he is deaf and wouldn't be able to hear me. I threaded through the crowd, searching for an unrecognizable face. I figured I would know him when I saw him. But I never did, and then I woke up.

Tags: book, dreams

Woke up at 4:44 in the morning because the bed was shaking. I listened, frozen, and could hear objects in the room rattling. I was not awake enough to think about what to do, only waited for it to stop, and it did. I went back to sleep thinking about how Seattle has had a bigger earthquake while I've lived in CA than I have ever felt here.

Then I dreamed about the boy from my book again. In this dream he was nineteen, with a mop of thick black hair on his head. He was not wearing a shirt (thank you, subconscious) and I was examining the tattoos that covered his skin. They were all very fine and delicate and pale blue lines, like tiny street maps on his chest. I called him by his first name, and then I left. I was late to something. Then I was with Brian, walking down some street, he was holding a child, but I don't think it was ours. I don't know where we were. The whole thing is slipping away faster than I can write it.

Tags: dreams, earthquakes

+ when we were in Gladwin, where Brian's mom lives, we briefly drove behind a pickup truck whose back window was completely covered by a piece of artwork depicting the old New York City skyline sitting in front of a massive American flag. Yes I took a picture.

+ This weekend I set foot inside a Wal-Mart store for the first time in twelve years. But I only stayed for about a minute and a half.

+ Last night I dreamed about a fictional character of my creation. It was very odd. We were sitting together on the grass, and he leaned against me and asked me what I was doing. I said that I was watching the ocean, and the swans. Sure enough, the waves in the distance were filled with big white swans. I couldn't see his face. I put my arm around him.

+ Here in Chicago it is hot. I washed my hair then went to get iced coffee. My hair is already almost dry. I'm going to put on sunblock before we leave. The funniest thing about this is that it's supposed to rain today, while remaining eighty degrees. I hope the game isn't rained out. Even if it is I will still get a chance to walk around the ballpark.

+ And now we are off to the El.

Tags: chicago, dreams

I dreamed that I was acting as the casting consultant for the film adaptation of my novel. I watched someone's audition and looked down at the script. The director asked me what I thought, was the actor right for the part? I don't remember what I said, or much else.

I would gripe about how our landlady just raised our rent for the third consecutive year without making a single improvement to our unit -- while also buying herself a new and modern kitchen -- but it would just anger me again and we are leaving soon enough anyway. So.

It's always so cold in San Francisco. We don't get seasons here.

Tags: book, dreams, wah

I had a dream this morning that I was in Alaska, and it was snowing. Yet it was spring. I went outside and looked up at the sky. A black ring of clouds was turning a clockwise circle above, and the wind was picking up.

So I walked toward a tall white house in the distance. The roof was bending and shaking like it was made of leaves. I walked inside, and found myself on the top floor.

The house had no interior support, it seemed hollowed out. The floors were connected by ladders that looked more like narrow white slides. I carefully stepped down from the doorway to a square of floorboard. I was in a kitchen type of room, but there were no appliances, only cupboards. It was as though I had been taken back in time a hundred years.

I gazed down the nearest ladder to the floors that yawned below me. Then I was suddenly gripped by vertigo, and turned to look up instead, finding the door that I had come through. I tried to get back up, and when I did, I went outside again, to the front porch, where a strange woman was sitting, looking out at the approaching storm, eating an apple.

Have fun analyzing that.

Tags: dreams