Sailing the Noosphere

1. I go to see Swan Lake at Cincinnati's Music Hall with C.W. We pass a White Castle on the way there, and I remark how it's practically an outpost of my college with the clientele it gets. We arrive at the hall, and as we ascend the escalator we see Dr. L. and give him a salute. We get to the lobby and see a glorious buffet laid out before us; the ballet is already starting, and we hear a flautist fail her solo. I start eating and scarf down hashbrowns, vegetables, and a roll before a frumpy attendant starts asking me questions. I act suspicious and evade her questions, and she starts chasing me down. I run into the auditorium, where I find my family and sit by them. I don't escape the woman, though, and am kicked out.

2. I view a montage of Call of Duty matches, all taking place in some sort of museum. It's a hardcore assault on an elevator, and teams trade places between attack and defense. The terrorists almost win a match, letting only two of the good guys escape before time runs out. Once, when the elevator is nearing the attack stage, a string quartet forms and plays Metallica in the space.

1. I'm in a dorm at college, playing the newest Grand Theft Auto game. Eventually I get bored and return to my own room, which is full of frat boys from my study abroad trip. They're rifling through my stuff, and understandably I ask them to leave. When they don't I start to yell, then threaten to call campus police. They do leave, but slowly, and I threaten the last one out with a baseball bat. After a bit of peace, one of them calls me, but I ignore the ring. Suddenly, I realize that I'm late to class.

2. I'm watching some sort of Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure / Crossroads crossover movie. The main character, a guitar playing youngster, has a book of scales that he carries like a hymnal. He engages in a guitar duel with the Devil; as they play, the Devil's hands expand unrealistically to make jaw-dropping gaps, but the kid's hands do as well. After a bit of this, the kid breaks out a soulful ballad, saying he's "already used the Paganinni."

3. I'm in a swamp at my grad school, which is adorned with placards showing hunting spots for deer. It's a little before dusk, and I can't see any colors. As the sun sets, I realize that my feet are plagued with green tree frogs! I get out of there and call my parents, who say they've been in a concert the whole time.

4. I'm at the grad school rec center, watching some documentary about NCAA basketball. The players are described as "pistons in a well-oiled machine," not as people. Inspired by their fitness, I borrow a ball and start shooting (poorly). After a bit, a bunch of big guys gather around my court. It was reserved by them, and embarrassed I slink off to the elliptical room. My mom wanders into the room, saying she's been looking for me.

5. I'm at a concert with my brother and a random girl from college (A.H). The band is a rather classical one, with instruments of cello, recorder, and violin, but the players are dressed in odd anime-inspired costumes. After their set, one of the players jumps down and starts to mingle with us at a large table. He gives us snarky logic/math puzzles to solve, and I find I can't beat them. I'm embarrassed, but after the table has dissolved he comes up and apologizes to me. I say that I actually enjoyed the challenge.

1. I'm playing Unknown Armies with the usual suspects in a bedroom at my old college. As the session draws to a close, people are getting ready for bed. I unfortunately have to share a bed with K.R., who is quite a large fellow, while everyone else has separate sleeping arrangements. He has a scar on his back, and when I touch it in curiosity he screams out from sleep. M.G. and V.W. walk in to say goodnight; V. looks particularly attractive in a one-piece nightie. I can't sleep, so I go out into the night. I end up in a dorm that seems to be having a Homecoming party.

However, everything is in 19tth century military style, almost Napoleonic. H.B. is dressed in epaulets, playing odd military boardgames with people I don't recognize. The bathrooms are also odd, and I really need to use them. I end up avoiding the matter entirely and pissing on an inconspicuous wall looking out into a courtyard. Of course, a group of other friends, (Q., N.H., M.T.) take this opportunity to walk by (dressed in regular clothing). They look and laugh at me, and I turn away in shame.

I start to almost float, bouncing off the walls as I move down a different hallway (everyone is back to normal). There's a bunch of rowdy old alums making too much noise, and I get past them to a proper bathroom at the end of the hall. There are posters hanging across from the sinks for odd metal bands, including the real-life band "Bigelf." The venue, however, is the fictional "Redneck Mountain." As I look in the mirror, I realize that I look like another student, a Jacob E. I do a double take, and recognize that it's a reality check to go lucid. I start washing my hands, expecting the activity to stabilize me, and I do feel the sensations of running water and friction. However, at this point I've been dreaming for over 10 minutes and I can't hold on any longer.

2. Fragment of a dinner with my future grad school mentor and family. He stays quiet throughout the meal until we ask about his work. When he talks about genes that manage magnetic particles, I stand up in amazement.