Weird end of my year

I have been having dreams where I've been "at work" somewhere. My "jobs" in my dreams have ranged from working in a restaurant, working as a "guest" at the CNN Center, or working at some other media outlet I've never even heard of.

I am eager to get back to work again. In reality, I have spent over a month on the "sidelines." I will be a better worker moving forward once I get another chance to work again. I miss being a valuable part of an organization.

In reality, I have been out of work since November 11th. I don't know how many more dreams that I can endure without work.

Yet another dream about work

I had another dream where I got hired on an a computer worker with Turner Broadcasting. The workspace was set up like a college classroom complete with 1998 style PCs all over the room. I don't know what my job entailed, but I remember that I got hired on just two weeks after I got laid off from CNN.

In reality: I am still unemployed, and I am continuously on the search for a new job. I fully intend to get everything out of my severance package that I earned for 11 years of service to CNN. All I know is that I'm determined to find a new job or to find my true calling in life.

Dreaming of Phoenix and Tampa

For part of my dream, I was inside Phoenix International Raceway and I was driving my Mercedes Benz SLK 230 with the top down. After a while, I was inside racing my car without a seat belt. I felt very good about myself inside my car and I was racin'!!!!! After I was done 'racin', I was driving into downtown phoenix.

Last week, I had a dream that I was in Tampa during Super Bowl week. I saw an overhead image of the old Tampa Stadium on TV. I briefly remember highlights from Super Bowl XVIII which was played inside Tampa Stadium.

Before the undetermined super bowl game was played inside shiny Raymond James Stadium, I realized that my car was stolen. I didn't know how it happened. After a while, I find myself walking to a Jack in the Box restaurant that was shaped like a temporary trailer, and Matt Roper was sitting there eating dinner. I called the cops to get my car back. After a while, Matt told me that Michael Pollack took my car as a prank. I frantically called the cops to stop the search for my car and that Pollack would give my car back to me.

Somewhere in the dream, I was looking for parking for the Super Bowl just minutes before the game. After that, I woke up.

In reality: I haven't been to Phoenix since 2009, and I haven't been to Tampa in 2009 either. I have been to the parking space of Raymond James Stadium to see a spring training game at Legends Field back in 2006.

My first dream of work - post-CNN layoff

Sunday Morning, not even 48 hours after I got laid off from CNN, I had a weird dream about work. I dreamed that i was looking at ALL the CNN schedules for us editors. In the dream, I was looking for any overtime I could get my hands on. Later in the dream, I tried to get out of one of my overtime sessions after learning that I had the weekends off again.

In reality: I woke up and realized that I am no longer a CNN employee. I take on this challenge with enthusiasm and a sense of duty. I pray for the strength to continue on and pursue my dreams with a passion. At the very least, I want to do everything I can to support my family.

I'm somewhere on this video of the Atlanta Wheel of Fortune auditions

I'm somewhere on this video of the Atlanta Wheel of Fortune auditions

Scary driving dream at CNN Center

Yesterday, I had a dream where I was driving to work at CNN. On the way, i lost control of my legs while turning into the CNN parking deck which is across the street from Philips Arena. I almost crash into a police car. Thankfully, I was able to make a sharp left turn into the parking structure.

In reality, I haven't been in an auto accident in over 9 years. I have never been in an accident near CNN.

Dreaming of flying

I had a dream where I was on a United Airlines plane to Chicago. The funny thing was that in the dream, I had a layover at DIA (Denver International Airport) and I had a super quick connecting flight to Chicago. I mean, I had 5 minutes to get to one plane to another or else I had to wait until the next morning to board a flight to Chicago.

In the dream, I reunited with a long-time friend, Shane Self. I don't remember what we talked about. I think I calmed him down when there was a massive storm around our plane.

In reality, I have never flown on United Airlines. I flew earlier this month on American Airlines to and from Tulsa to visit my family. I also haven't talked to Shane Self since I moved to Atlanta back in 2000. I hope to try to reconnect with him on Facebook as a friend again.

Dreaming of another cruise

This morning, I dreamed that Kelly and I were heading towards our next cruise from Tampa. We were back and forth towards the boat. I was worried that I wasn't going to make the cruise ship on time. In the end of the dream, we somehow ended up on the boat.

In reality, Kelly and I are seven months away from getting on our next cruise. This time, we are cruising from Charleston, South Carolina.

San Diego Dream

This morning as I was listening to the Troy Davis clemency decision in my sleep, I was dreaming of being in San Diego. I was trying to get to a Padres game or somewhere else downtown.

Later on in the dream, I had to get across the street and across one of the freeway merging ramps to get to the Westbound 52. I got to the ramp of the Westbound 52, and I stopped. I went no further.

In reality, I haven't been to San Diego in 3 years. I hope to at least get back to California sometime next year. I will have worked hard enough to enjoy that part of the journey.

NBA dreams

I had a dream where the Hornets didn't leave Oklahoma City nor return to New Orleans. I also had a dream where the Seattle Supersonics never left the Emerald City.

In reality, the Seattle Supersonics left Seattle and migrated to Oklahoma City. I saw the Oklahoma City Thunder play the Phoenix Suns back in March 2011. The Hornets only played in Oklahoma City during the 2006-2007 seasons (for about 35 games a year), missing the playoffs both times.

The Sacramento Kings are playing at least one more year in California's Capitol City.

deaming of california again

Yesterday morning, I had a dream where I was back in California in November of 2009. It was interesting because I was traveling up the San Diego Freeway (I-405) in the San Fernando Valley and was on my way to a big house. I was on my way to Hugh Hefner's house (Not the playboy mansion). It was a regular 4-room home with a big ranch like backyard.

In the dream, we were about to eat some dinner. I was going to fix me a plate of barbecue and one of the staffers said that someone else will serve you your dinner. I was about to eat, then I woke up.

In reality, I haven't been to California since 2008. I haven't been out west since 2009 in May when Kelly and I went to Arizona. Oklahoma and DFW Airport are the furthest west I've been since May 2009.

Hopefully next year, Kelly and I will return to travel to California.

Dreams of working for Good Morning America

This morning, I had a dream where I was a field producer for Good Morning America. My assignment was to travel from New York to Salt Lake City for an undetermined story. I was going to work with former CNN Correspondent and current ABC News correspondent Abbie Boudreau.

In reality, I woke up to watching Good Morning America on TV this morning. I watched it until 8:30 in the morning. I didn't get out of bed until 9am. Now I'm ready to get my day started and work in my current job, Editor/Producer with CNN.

dreaming of 98.7 FM from Los Angeles

When I was visiting my family in Oklahoma in the last week, I had this dream that 98.7 FM had a format change again. It changed from a Hard Rock station to an unknown format. Instead of the logo having black or silver lettering, it had a yellow-orange lettring/numbering to it.

In reality, I looked up 987fm.com online, and it is still a Hard Rock format. The logo remains the same, complete with the gothic looking black logo. I'm going to listen to it tomorrow at the L.A. Fitness before I go to work.

Darn dreams of soda and good dream of Tulsa

Thursday Morning, I had a dream where I drank a can of coke at a car dealership with my wife, and I loved it. I also regretted breaking my streak of 109 days with drinking a coke or coffee. Later in that same dream, I saw a free soda fountain of Code Red Mountain Dew. I could have had all the red soda that I wanted, but I didn't take it.

IN REALITY: I haven't had a soda or coffee in 110 days. I'm thinking about having one with my mom when I visit her in Oklahoma in September.

This morning: I had a dream where I was in Tulsa, and it felt like I was in a riverwalk there. I was staying with my family one minute, and the next minute I was floating away. From a distance, I found myself looking at my mom's house from afar.

IN REALITY: I woke up this morning 11 days away from visiting my family in Locust Grove, Depew, and Tulsa, Oklahoma. Here I come TULSA!!!!!!

Oh no! The Diet Pepsi temptation!

Saturday Morning, I had a dream where I went right for the old light blue Diet Pepsi can and drank it. At that point, I didn't care how bad I wanted one. I just wanted some soda, some yummy and tasty soda. After I drank it, I realized I jeopardized my no caffeine streak again.

In reality, I haven't been tempted by soda in over three months. I will drink Gatorade or water in place of a soft drink. It doesn't bother me that other people drink soda in front of me. I welcome that challenge.

In August, when I visit my family in Oklahoma, my dream is to have one Pepsi with my mom. That would be the most special drink I'll ever have.

Dreaing of soda again

I my latest dream, I don't know where I am when I'm in front of a cup of soda. This time, I am seduced by it and start drinking sip after sip after sip. Oh oh oh it tasted so good. After a while, I started feeling guilty again and blew my long held streak of not having any soda.

In reality, I have not had a soda since May 1, 2011. I am working really hard to make it at least 100 days without drinking soda. I will be so proud of myself when I achieve this milestone. I need to keep drinking my water so that I stay healthy and hydrated.

In reality, I did good by not being tempted by a sprite at a birthday party today. I admit I got to thinking about having a sprite without any caffeine. Tempting indeed.

Dreaming of Coffee Again

In my latest dream, I am at work in the cnn.com break room. In this dream, I've done what I used to do a lot in real life: Get a cup of coffee and pour cream and artificial sweetener in the cup.

This dream was a little different again. I take a sip of coffee and I like it. It tasted good to me. Just after I did that, I had a "what have I done" moment. I immediately regret drinking that sip of coffee. It was then that I realized that I blew my streak of 87 days of not drinking coffee, soda, or caffeine of any kind.

In reality, Since May 1st, 2011, I have NOT had a sip of coke, pepsi, coffee, or caffeine of any kind. I'm at DAY 88 of my impressive streak. I have not had this long of a stretch without even a sip of soda since High School or when I was 8 years old.

Another dream of coca-cola and McDonald's

For the second time in the past week, I had a dream where I was at a Mesa, Arizona McDonald's and I had an extra value meal with a coca-cola cup in my hand.

I can't remember if I ate a big mac or a quarter pounder with cheese. Both of those sandwiches are good and tasty. I was feeling good about myself, and so I start drinking some coke. It tasted good. Before you know it, I felt guilty because I ruined my streak of 80+ days without drinking soda or caffeine.

Also in this dream, I was returning to work in that McDonald's as a second job. It was a place I worked for over 7 months in 1994 and 1995. I was worried about juggling my main job with that secondary job at the McDonalds in Mesa.

In reality, I only eat McDonalds every once in a blue moon. Today, a big mac extra value meal costs almost $6. Right now, I don't drink coke, pepsi, coffee, or caffeine anymore. Today is Day #88 without any caffeine in me. I don't remember going this long without soda since either high school or when I was a little kid.

Combo work, school, cooking dream

I had a dream where my school assignment was to grill and pan fry chicken legs and flat pieces of chicken and edit two packages.

I was reading a manual on editing and I had two grills of chicken going on at the same time. It was crazy that I would even begin multi-tasking when I'm not great at it in real life.

In my dream, I've also yet to begin editing my two packages. It's equivalent to me falling behind in my previous school dreams.

Near the end of my dream, I get good at cooking up chicken legs and chicken breasts. I even brushed some barbecue sauce on both grills of chicken.

In reality, I work as a video editor for CNN, and I have been out of school for over 11 years. I don't see myself going back to school for anything.