Ok, so here goes...

Reality Checks:
- Checking Clocks to see if the time is weird or changes
- Finger/Palm
- Checking to see if I am wearing my glasses: I always see clearly in my dreams, but I don't think I am ever wearing my glasses...

Dream Signs:
- I figured one out today! There is a particular bayou/ocean/river area that keeps re-occurring in my dreams. The place does not exist in reality, but I have it pretty well laid out in my head - trails, camping areas, boating, lots of fun stuff actually.
- Strange machines. If the machine does not look like it should be working, I should do a reality check.

Short-Term Goals:
- Keep a dream journal, regardless of whether I remember anything.
- Have a lucid dream and stabilize it.

Long-Term Goals:
- Control lucid dreams - use it to see fun and funny things.
- Learn to pose questions to my inner self (ask the dream)
- If necessary, be able to work out problems, questions and ideas subconsciously while sleeping.

Lucid/Dream Recall History:
I am fairly certain that I have had lucid dreams in the past, but my dream recall as an adult has been terrible. I would go for weeks or months without recalling a dream. Since I started keeping a dream journal, I seem to be able to recall at least a snippet the majority of nights, and am able to recall something really vivid maybe 1-2 times per week. It is a lot of fun to read my dream journal.

I think that many nights where I have no recall is because I am sleeping too hard. I exercise quite a bit, and on bigger workout days, I sleep like a brick. Also, I periodically have to get up early for work, which messes with the best time for dreaming.

Current Technique:
- Keep a dream journal to establish a recall habit
- DILD, use reality checks if I see dream signs (or so I hope that I can be alert enough to see them)
- I am trying to focus on awareness during the day. You see a lot of crazy stuff in the real world too if you are paying attention. Some people do strange things...
- Mantra/meditation in the future after I get the recall down. For now, it is enough for me just to be able to remember what I am dreaming. I can be patient and step into this slowly.