From the Inside Out

Two of the most notable female politicians joined forces last night to speak out against an important issue.  In a brave move, they stood together delivering a “non-partisan” message against sexism. 

Well…almost.  

That’s it! I’ve had it. Normally, I’m a “live and let live” kind of person. I don’t enjoy killing things, even bugs and spiders. I always feel guilty when I’m forced to stomp on a bug. After all, it’s one of God’s creatures, and it’s just trying find a safe place to live.

Since building our pool last year, we have been attracting my most hated nemesis, the wasp. I hate wasps. I don’t know why, but they’ve always been able to scare me. The sting doesn’t hurt that bad, but still, wasps scare me. Even last weekend, I had a wasp come after me on the boat. It landed on me and wouldn’t come off. I ran through the boat and jumped into the water (screaming like a frightened child). Yeah, can’t stand ‘em.

I’ve been trying to ignore the wasps at our pool, but our house is becoming the popular hang out spot for them now. They are building a nest under the siding and partying in our pool. Gary got stung a couple weeks ago. Today I was trying to swim, and they were dive bombing me. Argh, they think they own the place!

I tried to co-exist with them peacefully. Really, I did. I tried to ignore them, tried not to be scared of them, but I can’t take it anymore. They are taking over and I can’t tolerate it any more. It’s time for war.

Gary came outside armed today. We went straight for their camp and then ambushed them as they tried to escape. It was a brilliant strategy, and the tide of the war started to turn. The wasps were dropping like flies. The body count was staggering with no casualties on our side. At the end of the afternoon, it was:

Gary and Laura = 12

Wasps = 0

Victory achieved!

Larry Niven states that “everything starts as somebody’s daydream.” Yet many people view daydreaming as an unproductive waste of time. I heartily disagree with their assessment. Daydreams inspire creativity. They also provide a relaxing escape, a “mini-vacation” of sorts where you can release your tensions.

According to an article on WebMD, psychologists estimate that we daydream for one-third to one-half of our waking hours, although a single daydream lasts only a few minutes. These short daydreams offer many benefits. Happy couples tend to daydream about each other when they are apart. This mental connection helps couples maintain their relationships. Daydreams can also help curb anxiety when dealing with conflict. Have you ever replayed an argument in your mind? Oftentimes, we go back and respond differently in our daydreams, playing the argument over and over again. According to the experts cited in the article, this type of daydream enables you to improve your effectiveness in dealing with the person in the future, and it reduces knee-jerk reactions.

Some experts even state that you can decode your daydreams to better understand your mindset and pinpoint needs that you may be neglecting. For example, if you daydream about winning American Idol, you may feel undervalued and desire recognition. If you daydream about a romantic situation, you may desire your significant other to be more attentive or you may be subconsciously mulling the traits you seek in your next partner. Those who daydream about quitting their jobs to become beach bums tend to be bored and desire new creative opportunities. Their “escape” dreams are triggers that something be missing in their lives.

I tend to daydream about the things I want to accomplish. I envision it happening and visualize how I will overcome the obstacles standing in my way. I truly believe these daydreams help me achieve my goals. Remember, “everything starts as somebody’s daydream.” Even the dramas that have been penned by my hand all started as daydreams. It’s like watching television — all I have to do is write it down as the scenes play out in my head.

I also have to admit that I have the “escape” dreams. I’m not sure what that says about me. I don’t think I’m bored. Maybe I am missing something, or maybe I simply want to escape from the stress and find a place where I can do the things I am passionate about, the things that enable me to use my creative skills. Or maybe I need professional help? Who knows?

The next time you daydream, don’t feel guilty about it. Indulge those dreams. You may actually be doing something incredibly healthy for your mind, and you may gain some insight into your deepest wants and needs.

To quote Aerosmith…dream on!

For one week only, you can watch Joss Whedon’s latest project online for free. Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog is a humorous musical story of a low-rent super-villain, a hero who is completely infatuated with himself, and a cute girl from the laundromat.

This Internet miniseries event stars Neil Patrick Harris, Nathan Fillion and Felicia Day. The characters, story, and songs are well-crafted (not that you would expect anything less from Joss Whedon). For those Buffy fans out there, the musical elements are reminiscent of the “With Feeling” episode he did on that show. If you are a fan of Joss Whedon, you’ve got to see this. If you’re not, check it out anyway. It starts a little slow, but keep watching. It’s hilarious.

Act one and two are available for viewing now. The final act will be posted on Saturday, July 19th. Don’t delay because these episodes will be removed at midnight on Sunday, July 20th.

Click here to watch now

View the trailer

And now for something completely…funny!  With the weekend coming to an end and Monday quickly approaching, I wanted to share a good laugh.  I’m doing research for Saturday Night Life at ALC, and I ran across this sketch.  It’s features one of my favorite Amy Poehler characters, Kaitlin, with her stepdad at the mall.  Check it out….love it! :)