Valet Cafe and the Speedy Lizard

MORNING OF FEBRUARY 22, 2010

I had just seen a movie with the Movie Meetup group from real life. We had gone for our usual post-movie dinner, this time at some fictional, greasy spoon cafe on the side of the road. I remember we were all standing outside talking. An Asian girl was there with our group, and she was obviously drunk. She kept flirting with every guy, including me.

It got later and later as we stood out there. One by one, people began to leave. I remember saying goodbye to Lisa. As she drove off, I wondered if it wasn't time for me to go as well. Then I realized I had to get my car back from the valet--yes, valet--at this greasy spoon cafe! It took forever for them to bring my car around. Eventually I saw them pulling up with it--only to realize it wasn't my car at all, but some celebrity's car, as the valet explained to me (I can't remember whose). He began filling it with said star's luggage.

I must have finally gotten my car, because I next remember being at home. I was talking to Lisa on the phone. I kept hearing a skittering, scratching noise and hoped I didn't have a mouse in the house. Suddenly, a huge lizard came scurrying out from behind the couch. I called it "a gecko", but it looked more like an iguana. Only it moved insanely fast, almost like the movements of a squirrel!

I've got nothing against lizards, but having a super-fast, largish one careening through my apartment was a bit unsettling. I opened my front door and tried to move the lizard toward the exit. Every time it got near the open door it would pause, as if considering leaving, but then would turn and continue running about the place.

First Day of School

MORNING OF JANUARY 16, 2010

I was going back to high school again, though I remained my current age. I remember driving to the school for my first day of class early one morning. In the car I was listening to the Dixie Chicks "Wide Open Spaces" album, specifically "Am I the Only One (Who's Ever Felt This Way)". Though I haven't played that album in years, the song in question did rotate through in iPod shuffle the other day, so I guess that explains this part. (And a note for those who are curious, no I don't primarily listen to country music, though the iPod does have an eclectic bit of most everything residing inside.)

Once I arrived at school I had to report to homeroom. I assumed it would be the same homeroom I'd had senior year, so I went looking for it. The interior of the school had changed a lot, though it remained largely recognizable. On my way to class I saw a big sign posted on the wall that specified which homeroom you had, and it confirmed I'd been correct in my guess.

Arriving at my homeroom classroom, I was greeted by the teacher, who was the same one I really had my senior year. I was surprised that she was still there. Instead of desks, the room was laid out with long tables, with students sitting in chairs along the length of one side of the table.

Being one of the first to arrive in the classroom, I picked one of the many empty seats and waited. As the room began to fill up I realized that I had not brought a single book, notebook, or other supply with me to school! My decision to do so had been deliberate, as I assumed there would be nothing to do on the first day--but now I began to realize how silly that notion had been.

To compound the silliness of things, the one item I had bothered to bring to school was a plastic Simpsons diorama! It was built on a flat, gray base, about 2' x 3'. On this base a variety of small figurines of Simpsons characters were placed. Now that I'd realized I had it with me, I couldn't remember for the life of my why!

Now homeroom was about to begin and I was debating whether or not to ask the girl beside me if I could borrow some paper and a pencil to at least take any important notes.

Car Damage

MORNING OF JANUARY 4, 2009

I was in my apartment. It was early one morning and other people, I assume some of my friends, were here with me. Someone mentioned in passing that my car had been damaged overnight. I was shocked that they informed me with such nonchalance.

Moments later we were outside in the parking lot, which was very much bigger than it actually is. My parked car had obviously been rear-ended to the extent that it completely crumbled the trunk. The person who had done this obviously had just driven off, because there was no sign of them.

The remainder of the dream was just standing around in the parking lot talking to people, trying to figure out what I was going to do. I do recall at one point looking at my car again, and the damage wasn't quite as bad as it had previously looked.