Maybe I'm Gravy

Dancing in the Fountain

Captured a classic NYC moment last night. I decided to ride through Washington Square Park on my way home from Half Pint. I heard clapping, which wasn't a big surprise as there is seemingly always some sort of performer doing his or her thing in the park. But tonight, a well-dressed couple was dancing in the fountain. It was a video shoot, and it was planned, but one thing the crew didn't expect at 11pm at night was a large gathering of onlookers cheering on the dancing. This moment is another piece of proof that every commute in NYC, no matter how short, has something amazing to offer if you look for it.

Dream Thinking for The 3six5 Project

Everyone has a unique story to tell, yet we all share comparable experiences. So, if a journal had a different author every day, what would the outcome be? How cohesive of a story would it tell? The 3six5 Project looks to answer that question. 

Every day for 365 days, a different person writes an entry about their experiences that day. Each post relates to what's happening in the world that day and how it relates to them. The goal is to create a snapshot of the entire year, told from the perspective of 365 individual voices. The site relies on volunteers, and finding peope to write guest posts has not been a problem.

Here is my post from July 13, 2011:

Did some think-dreaming again this morning. It’s the same routine almost every day since we moved into the new apartment. For whatever reason, I wake up way too early. So I start thinking about my day. Projects due, wedding planning, the food truck schedule, whatever. Then, without warning, my preferred sleep cycle kicks in and my subconscious takes over. My harmless preparatory thoughts become the most mundane dream I’ve ever had. Instead of planning my day, I’m living a completely non-productive, slightly skewed version of it.

It’s not like I think-dream about cool stuff. Making a mental note to drop off Netflix doesn’t end with me being beckoned from the stands to take over right field during the 6^th inning of the All-Star game. Nor does planning where to get coffee transition into me jamming with Cut Copy at Pitchfork despite the fact that real me can’t play bass.

Every think-dream is a sick joke by my subconscious. Not only do I have to do everything twice, but there is always something that’s a little off that gives the think-dream away. I’m chatting with a co-worker who’s eating a BLT but I know that’s wrong. He’s a vegetarian. I’m teaching class and the lecture is going fantastic. Until I notice my old college roommate nodding along. My subconscious tries to make things better but ends up screwing me over. I put together an awesome email to the team but it never really happened. Then the real email I have to write 4 hours later just can’t top it.

So my brain eventually picks up on the glitch in the matrix and moves down the to-do list. Pick up lemons. Email my aunt back. Pay the ConEd bill. It’s an endless cycle until I finally remove myself from bed and start doing all the things I had just been think-dreaming about. This time without the subconscious twist.

Dammit. Now I’m spending too much time thinking about think-dreaming. Which means I know exactly what my next think-dream is going to be about.

Here is my post on the 3six5 site. If you're interested in participanting, email the3six5@gmail.com.