Thread: 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!