Science fiction, fantasy, mystery and what-not
I was a young man in this dream — which sounds like it could be the title of something, doesn’t it? — and working in some office. I don’t recall any work details other than I was happy and productive, respected and appreciated by management and my co-workers. A standard variation of the U.S. office space served as setting.
One of my bosses came by and said, “Have you heard of the Pinkerton deal?” I answered that I knew who or what the Pinkertons are, and he replied, “You haven’t heard then. But you will.” He later came by and said, “The Pinkertons have made you an offer, but they want you to move to Austin, Texas. Let me know if you’re interested because we’ll better their offer and move you to Austin. We’d love to have you in Austin.”
I replied, “I’m not interested in moving to Austin so I probably won’t take the deal.”
I received the Pinkerton deal later. I didn’t immediately turn them down because it was a great offer, and I was flattered and impressed. I told them that and they replied that they’d give me the same deal without the need for me to move because they really wanted me to join them.
The same boss as before came by. I told him of the new offer and said I was going to accept it. He said that they wanted to keep me so they would match any offer, and to make sure I spoke with them before I accepted any offers.
Astonished — and again flattered — I agreed. That’s where the dream left it.
We lined it up and took our shot, which landed on Thursday, August 25, 2022. It’s a good day to celebrate and rejoice, endure and persist, recover and comeback. Aren’t they all, to one person or another? Yes, depends on where everything aligns on the spectrum of the moment that day for that individual.
Our alignments bring us sunrise and sunset at 6:29 AM and 7:56 PM, respectively. Our air temp is 20 C but it feels warmer. Asking why, I realize that my cool mountain air seems to be AWOL because everything was too heated yesterday to properly cool down over night, and much of the snow that helped generate that cooling effect has melted away into the streams, rivers, and cisterns. Today’s alignments of pressure systems, rotation, revolution, and sunny influence will take us to 97 F in our valley.
The nearest fire is Rum Creek, northwest of us by some distance. Favorable winds are keeping us happy as kittens as our air quality is lushly green, but those in other areas must bear the smoke and particles. Fingers crossed for the people of Galice and that region’s plant and animal life that the fire’s destruction is limited.
The Neurons are playing “Uptown Girl” by Billy Joel. The song came out in 1983 and was quickly a ubiquitous song, heard on AM, FM, and TV so frequently, one was soon reaching to change the channel when it came on as the overexposure began grating nerves. Inspired by his girlfriend, Elle McPherson, Whitney Houston, and the woman who became his GF and then his wife, Christie Brinkley – a story told frequently back then — who were hanging out that day, the song has a definite throwback sound to an earlier rock and roll era. The Neurons selected it today because I glanced at a headline, Billy Joel Welcomes Olivia Rodrigo for ‘Deja Vu,’ ‘Uptown Girl’ at Madison Square Garden.
Sunbeam to moonbeam
He stretches out north to south
And takes his leisure
The sign said, “Welcome back to our new store.”
He wondered if he could be welcomed back to a place which was new.
I was in a small and modern well-lit office, relaxing in a black office chair with my feet up on a desk, a cup of coffee at hand. A computer was on the desk behind me.
I began telling people things that were going to happen, doing so in an offhand way to a close circle of friends and family. I don’t recall details of what I said but they were supposed to happen within a few days to a week. Friends returned and told me that they’d mentioned it to other people who believed these and accepted them as prophecies, surprising me. I laughed about it and then thought, well, I should be doing this via more than just comments made to others, so I began sending texts and emails. I thought of it as a lark, but yet more people were said to believe what I said, and that my following was growing. Friends began suggesting that I start doing things on Youtube, IG, or other social media. I made different jokes about that and then thought, what if I started sending the emails out in the past. As I began doing this, going back and sending emails from a day or two before, I wondered how I was doing that. As it worked though, I thought, can I go further back in time and send emails from yet further back to warn people about things? I tested that idea by going back two to three days at a time at first. Mind you, I wasn’t time traveling, but using a computer that could send emails out from the past. Taking a leap of faith, I decided to try going all the way back to when I first became familiar with email, in 1991.
My computer screen had been white with black sans-serif letters. When I went back in time in the email system, the screen became black with green block letters. I laughed when I saw that, because that’s how I remember the screens being then. I discovered then that how far back I went dictated how far ahead I could predict things. Going back to 1991 allowed me to make predictions for thirty years ahead. I also started learning that I could predict for specific places and people.
All of this continued to take place with me in that office, feet up on my desk, a cup of coffee at hand.
Floof-in-waiting (floofinition) – 1. (archaic) An animal who helps humans cope with or overcome issues, now often called a ‘service animal’ or ‘therapy animal’.
In use: “Gypsy was Sara’s floof-in-waiting, warning Sara when an attack was imminent and raising the alarm so that others would come and help her people friend.”
2. An animal waiting for something to happen.
In use: “Trouble knew her second daily walk came after dinner at six thirty, and would usually take up station at the door, leash in mouth, at six twenty-five, and sit, a perfect floof-in-waiting.”
We’re into the middle band of the rainbow of days, a prism that never ends. That’s right, it’s Wednesday. We’re also into the final seven days of August, this being the 24th, and over halfway through the memorable year of 2022.
It’s 71 F right now and we expect to be in the upper nineties by day’s end, although we’re not anticipating passing 100. Not in the cards today, fingers crossed. Air quality isn’t bad today. It’s gone up and down by the hour in the last two days as the winds ebbed and flowed. Nighthold was broken at 6:28 this morning, but the darkness will be restored after sunset at 7:58 PM. “Night is coming,” people whisper. They’re talking about the long night. Others mock them, but those who understand these things are preparing for the long night.
“Lay Lady Lay” by Bob Dylan from 1969 has won the morning mental music stream over. The Neurons allowed me to see the progression made from thought to song today. It involved some writing so I’ll not say anything else. It’s a superstition of mine. The song was a favorite of mine for a bit. It came out when I was thirteen. There was a girl in school who showed interest in me. Sweet Vicky loved this song, so when she asked me about it, I loved it, too! We held hands, went to dances, malls, and movies, necking in secret for a few months, before going toward different lights. I have good memories of her and this song.
Stay positive, test negative, and take care of yourself, family, and community. I’ve had my coffee, thanks. Feel free to have some yerself. Here’s the music. Cheers
Michael Seidel, writer 