DJ works!..But, what's up with this?

Okay, keep in mind this is about my fifth DJ entry:

" I was talking to Cody, and he asked me if I were going to "Connie's Party". I said yeah. Before that, Marty, Jesse, Anton, Manual, and I were going to a department store across the street to use the "pullout money". After I talked to Cody, I I ran to my neighbor's front yard and got in a black car and started talking to Holly. It was at this point that I realized I was dreaming and immediately woke up. Haven't done reality check yet"

Okay, a coupple of things..First off, this was my first vivid and memorable dream since I can't remember. Secondly, there were a coupple of things I noticed about people that I had talked to and scenes in the environment that gave away I was dreaming...I specifically remember Cody being extremely nice to me ( He's usually a deuschebag..excuse the language?), and I thought of asking him if he were high on something or not. I remember him using a plactic bag with some powder in it (he dumped out the powder) and puting it on someone's broken tail light.. Something about the environment was different, too. It was familiar, but it wasn't. It was a different part of the state all together. I mean, a department store between my and my neighbor's house?
I also remember something about Holly. Usually she wouldn't even spare me the time of day, but in that dream she was being EXTREMELY (I'm not saying that lightly!) friendly. I also remember kissing her hand...Then I was like.."hey, what are you doing here? Why am I in a car in my neighbor's front yard? I must be dreaming!" and as soon as those words came into my head I woke up. Why did that happen? I realized I was dreaming, isn't that what lucidity is?? And, could all those differences in people and the environment be considered Dream Signs?

Also, another question...

Certain points throught the night (I had three memorable dreams, woke up within each one), while I woke up, I couldn't tell if I was still dreaming or not. Example: I did some reality checks, and it seemed like I was awake, but my thought pattern was still very irrational. I dunno how to explain it other than..uhm..I was thinking crazy. I couldn't tell if I were asleep or not.

So..
Can someone tell me some more effective reality checks? Perhaps some techniques of your own? Also, what's up with the lucidity and me waking up?! That's plain just not fair! :cry:

It's normal for you to wake up like that...you are experiencing something you've never really been familiar with before. You get so excited when you first realize that you are dreaming that you wake yourself up. With time, patience, and practice you will eventually be able to say..."wow maybe I'm dreaming" and instead of getting super excited and wake up...remain calm and do a reality check to confirm your lucid. Try to stick your finger through your palm. Or hold your nose closed and try to breathe in through it. Once you have confirmed, beyond a doubt...to your mind...that you are dreaming you should be able to remain lucid and enjoy it. There are also techniques once lucid for extending your lucidity that work for me every time. But that's getting ahead of ourselves I guess. ;)

It's great that you were able to realize that things were not right...and that you were dreaming. That is quite possibly the most difficult step. Yes, whenever something is "off" or just doesn't seem right...that is a great dream sign. That's usually how I have DILDs. As far as waking up and being uncertain about whether you are dreaming or not...just perform a reality check. Like one of the ones I mentioned before.

Good luck. :)

its pretty common to wake up right away the first few times you become lucid. don't be mad the lucidity was so short, be happy you became lucid at all ;) you know you can do it now, its just a matter of practicing.

aqua had some good pointers. personally, i stare at my hands when i become lucid to stabilize the dream, stay calm, and take it from there. stretching an index finger, or poking it through your palm is a good way to completely convince your mind you are dreaming...

Yep...staring at my hands always works for me to extend my lucidity. ;)

In response to your first question, here we often use the term "dream sign" as something that occurs repeatedly in one's dreams. Terminology aside, the mannerisms and environment changes are a good sign that you were dreaming and it was good that you picked up on that. The main focus of trying to lucid dreaming is to get your mind to constantly question your surroundings and see if there's anything unusual.

-Amé