Empathy of Dreams

Hello friends and followers.  

I have something new that I have been working on, and I believe I am ready to announce it. 

See.... when I sleep, I dream. And I mean I dream CRAZY dreams. And I have always wanted to record them down somehow, but every time I started to write down dreams in a journal, I lost interest. 

SO.....

I am recording some of my dreams in my new blog Empathy of Dreams.

The dreams are written in short story format, and they are all real dreams that I have had. 

I am excited to write this blog because: 

1. It will help improve my writing skillz.

2. I can record my dreams in a fun and interesting way.

3. I can finally share my dreams without nagging people to listen, and then getting blank and confused stares in return. :D

So HERE is the link to my new blog:

http://empathyofdreams.blogspot.com/

NOW for some fun sleep facts to get you in-ze-mood:

1. The average person in my age group (19-55) needs 8 hours of sleep. I get like 10 every night. 

2. Dreaming is perfectly normal! People who don't have dreams usually have personality disorders. 

3. 1 in 4 married couples sleep in separate beds. 

4. You will die from sleep deprivation before food deprivation. You can go 2 weeks before starving to death, but you can only go 10 days without sleep. 

5. Within 5 minutes of waking up, 50% of your dream is forgotten. Within 10 minutes, 90% is gone. I believe this is not the case for me. I remember my dreams days after I have them. Sometimes even weeks/years. 

6. When we sleep, our cells repair themselves, our brain recharges, and our body releases important hormones.

7. When dolphins sleep, only have their brain shuts down so they can continue breathing cycles. 

8. People who are blind can see in their dreams. 

9. 12% of people dream only in black and white. My only dream that is in black and white is my reoccurring dream. 

10. Men have dreams of other men 70% of the time, but women dream about men and women equally.

11. We can ONLY dream of faces we have already seen, whether or not we actively remember them. 

12. Koalas sleep 22 hours a day. Giraffes sleep 1.9 hours a day. 

Now come and join me through my journey of dreams....... 

The Best Of....

No, not the best of The High Tide, but the best of Kassie Amber Stewart(Kleifgen)'s life.

(me)

No, i'm not jumping off the edge of the earth, or dying or anything, 

But there were a lot of great times that were had before this blog was born, and I believe some credit is due.

 These memories have shaped me

(warning, there are a lot of pictures)

I challenge you to listen to this amazing song while reading...

go ahead and skip to 0:17

Some of my fondest memories....

My first dog, Buffy

My first dance recital, with a woman who ended up being like my 2nd mom, RIP Bev

Back when I played sports (Jr high-ish, fourth in from the left)

The most epic Disneyland trip of all time (high school choir trip)- 3 days of complete freedom and fun

My adorable niece and nephew

Great times with good friends

Meeting/dating the love of my life

My amazing dance company, Encore

Getting Engaged

Graduation

Our little baby

ANDDD the happiest day of my life

Looking through these photos was like a timeline of my most treasured moments in life. There are many more moments that I think of frequently, and always bring a smile to my face, like these ones, that I left out. 

Consider this an electronic photo album of my life up until now. 

I will never forget these memories.

And I can't wait to see the memories that are in store for the future!

<3

What are your happiest times?

Hello, cruel world

it's an "I hate everyone" type of day,

which is a build up from the last few weeks.

Do you ever have those days, weeks, months, where everything is going wrong.

You find yourself saying "Seriously...SERIOUSLY?!?! one.thing.after.a-freaking-nother." (even if they are just little things)
And its not just one of those 'drive around in my Altima, with the windows down, blasting John Denver, or Bob Marley and everything is all better' sort of days, which usually cures anything.
No, today is a pull my hair out and scream kind'o day.

which is fine....gotta let it out sometime, right?


And let me just tell you, when I say "everyone" I really just mean most people, there are a select few that are on the good list (the hubby included).

But to people like Barry Bonds and his steroids, and the guy who stiffed me on my tip for no good reason (ALWAYS tip your servers people-karma's a bitch), and the multiple insurance pain-in-the-rear people....

"go fuck ya'selves"

because I'm over it.

Alright, now on to hard work, determination, sweaty shoes (??), and good times, because IT WILL pay off.
It will.

How do you deal with your not so fantastic days??

Roseanne

Wait one second, let me take you back............

Ah, wasn't that nice?

Now, I said "let me take you back" because for most people, hearing that oh so familiar harmonica tune brings back memories from the late 80's-early 90's.

I, on the other hand, just completed the last episode of the last season, TODAY after watching the entire Roseanne series in order for the last month or so.
[yes....that is what I do with my free time]

Now, I get caught up in shows fairly easily I suppose, but this show truly was great.
The humor, satire, empathy, and....pure envy totally sucked me in.
NOT TO MENTION the very talented individuals that were casted in the show the whole series! (except for becky...which is a story of it's own)
[but they're Beckys, nearly identical Beckys all the way....do do do]

I mean Mr. John Goodman to play Dan Conner? Best idea ever.

And the musicality of the show is just amazing. I mean, every person who grew up in that era doesn't think of Roseanne whenever they hear the blues for nothing.

Let's face it, its legendary.

It's a time capsule of the 90's.

It's "blue collar" genius. And I loved every minute of it...and trust me, my head is still spinning from the ending.

My favorite Episodes:
3. Season 8, Episode 17 "We're going to Disney World"- The Conner's get a large sum of money, and decide to take their first family vacation. They are overwhelmed with the "Ritz life" of Disney hotels, and fine dining.
2. The episode (cant find season/episode at the moment, i think season 8 or 7) where John Popper, from the Blues Traveler, Dan's now famous old band mate, comes to town to play and invites Dan to come up and sing. He does a stunning job.
You can hear Dan sing here  (skip to 0:35)
I highly suggest you check it out.
Plus, what better ending is there than this.... (skip to 0:35) He is so amazing!

Annnndd my very most favorite episode, because it is absolutely HILARIOUS is....
1. Season 6 "A Stash from the Past" where Dan and Roseanne Conner find their old weed from the 70's. They smoke the stash and proceed to trip out in their bathroom. It is so very funny.

Oh Roseanne, you have brought more joy than words can explain
and you have helped me find my inner "woman power" haha
And if you happen to be a Roseanne hater out there.....well then, as Roseanne Conner, said

"I'll snap your spine like a potato chip, Bitch!" 

I am also proud to put another show, that I have watched every single episode of, under my belt.
Other show's I have completed:
Wild Boys
Prison Break
Weeds (to current)
Dexter (to current)
LOST
Breaking Bad (to current)
John & Kate Plus 8
Secret Life of the American Teenager (to current) [i know i know, don't judge]
Little People Big World
Dead Like Me (super amazing btw)
My Name is Earl (priceless)

**Disclaimer** Jason has never admitted to, or hinted at enjoying all of these shows at any point and time.

Facebook.

Let's just say I procrastinated writing this because of Facebook, and I don't know how I feel about that.

I have struggled with a "love/hate" relationship with Facebook every since I signed up for the nation sweeping life sucking social networking program. I find myself hating Facebook and everyone on it, but just not enough to let it go and delete everything. I often make the excuse that my pictures are on there, and not all of those pictures are on my computer, or in my possession at all, so I can't get rid of it. I've also tried use the "keeping in touch with friends and family members" one, but really the only people I write with on Facebook are in my phone anyway. But yet I just can't bring myself to do it. Why is this?

Even knowing that I spend so much energy and time in a little thing like Facebook (like writing a blog about it...hmm...) makes me hate/love it even more.....I mean, IT'S JUST FACEBOOK!
but it's not...just Facebook now, is it....

I tried doing things to lessen my hate for "teh facebooks" like, delete people I'm not really great friends with (but they found a way back on my page anyway), or not check it as much that way its a pleasant surprise to check it out every few days (but it was slightly overwhelming....and crept back into my daily life again).

Facebook went from a simple way to pass the time now and then and check notifications, to a life sucking trend that people of all ages can't simply live without. I see this happening to many people.

How often do you complete a task on the inter-webs/computer and immediately type "f" in your web browser bar and then key "enter" and it automatically sends you to Facebook. Or maybe you have it under your "favorites" in the customized bar up top. OR MAYBE you simply open up a tab because Facebook is your home page. Why not?? you go there everyday anyway, right? It's a sort of reward, "finish this paper, and then I can go on Facebook for a bit.."

It's gone from bumper stickers and college students, to people of all ages, support groups, and games.

Games that are so addicting and consuming that people neglect their families and Infants over.

The business world has taken Facebook in it's clutch and moved forward like they were taking over the world. Advertisements on the side are on par with things you are "interested in" or things that you google. Businesses not only have their own webpages that you can "like" but they have their employees notify "friends" of their specials, and why they should come to their place of employment. I can't even tell you how many times I see feeds similar to this "Half price tattoos guy's, come on down!" or "Happy Hour 3-6, come see me!!" "VIP tickets to tonights event, text me!" or "50 cut and color at our shop, fix those roots ladies".

People use Facebook to spy on one another, and others use Facebook to gossip about their lives leaving personal information in status updates or info boxes.

Some use it straight up for attention, posting new pictures daily, status updates every few hours (or minutes....) stating exactly what they are doing/thinking, etc., etc.

You know it's bad when the 60 year old gentleman at the bar has been checking his Facebook all night, or when a new phone is coming out...a Facebook phone.

Facebook, like everything else, changes and evolves and changes.

And I despise it, so...
Why can't I let it go?

Anyone else have these similar feelings? Or am I crazy?

I think the next "cool trend" will be deleting Facebook.
girls in high school :  "Oh no, I deleted my Facebook. I have better things to do"

The good people in the world.....

I am a people observer.....or just an observer in general really.

and I love to sit back and watch people, animals, etc. and how they react to situations or complete simple everyday tasks. 

In doing this, I constantly find myself saying "the good people in the world today are   ___________" (the blank being whatever it might be that day that I found interesting and special)

So I decided, why not blog about it. 

Sometimes I am included in the good-people-in-the-world group....but mostly not. And that's okay. 

So on this bright and shiny San Diego morning....okay afternoon...

The good people in the world are cleaning their windshield while filling their tanks with gas. 

(kind of lame, I know. But sometimes they are more interesting)

I am not included in this group today. Maybe because I am not going to fill up my tank.

or maybe because I never do that. 

Maybe I should start.

Stay tuned for more good people in the world tasks.

Progress!

I have made progress on the blog!

As you can see, I picked a background that somewhat resembled the high tide with the ocean and the moon. This wasn't just a layout that I just picked and copy-pasted the code into the thingy either. I actually some-what customized it! Sqeeeee!

I couldn't be more happy with how it turned out.

Now I have to find some widgets, maybe add some pictures, and maybe somehow customize the title of the blog. But who knows....I might just leave that the same.

Once again, advice on those things would be great! What widgets do you use? How do you like them??