Saltwater Dream Journal

I

17 May, 2024 Day 11

I have a park notebook now. Being in the woods, at the campground, in my uniform, makes me feel very cute and right. Like the vibe is just exactly what it should be, I believe. It's all so far as I imagined and as I hoped. And I got paid almost $150 for today!

Things I've learned:

     The recycling all goes in the trash dumpster.

     Men's room toilet paper rolls are about four times bigger, for some reason.

There's tons of corny posters you'd expect about meth labs, predators, and what color your pee is/should be. As well as what to do if you overdose on fentanyl just from ingesting the air in the forest. Crazy.
     How to use some old gas power tools.

     I need to get a whole lot stronger for this job.

     I get a late bonus for my whole shift!

     There's a guy who serially poops in the showers.

     I have an "e-key" (everything key?) that unlocks every Parks lock.

     Parks is (seems) REALLY chill.

18 May, 2024 Day 12

I can't believe the kind of days we get paid to have here so far. Like low key where are these tax dollars even going.

Talked to D. She said she hates LA but loves Altadena. She can feel when she falls asleep. I miss feeling her fall asleep.

21 May, 2024 Day 15

Yesterday was my first day alone at the park. I saw the really great introspection in that, and the communing + connecting with the park part, but I also really felt the isolation, and when I got home, I was a little catatonic for a minute and I cried sort of a lot once I was on the phone with D. All the space yesterday was so valuable, but coming home to an empty house really got to me. Not much to eat, no one to eat with. And I was just tired. I was really tired. I moved this big branch yesterday that was probably above my pay grade and it almost really messed up my back. It was fine, I ended up just scooting it over.

It's really dreary and rainy today. It's nice.

"Suffering from a series of highly organized hallucinations comparable to an experience of actual life" Lynch on Lynch, xi
I've decided to take on the role of biologist. I spent awhile drawing a plant in my sketchbook, finally, and I've come to realize I'm going to be seeing a lot of the same stuff in the coming months over, and over, and over again. So I might as well try to understand what's around me. Or just document it, or really anything to pass the time. Ha ha. If the physical area won't get bigger, I'll have to get smaller and deepen my connection to the land.

There is also the role of the Shaman to be discussed. These days do feel like the ideal time to meditate, take in nature, and perhaps touch the other world. Who knows. Either way, being a part of this ecosystem for three months will definitely affect me.

22 May, 2024 Day 16

I dreamt of the plant I drew yesterday. I appreciated maybe touching consciousnesses with that plant.

2024 Day

II

Even more things I learned at the park:

   My job is my means of existing at the park, not what I actually am here.

   Camp hosts are always real characters.

   The newly renovated camp bathrooms have never been used.

   There is beef with maintenance.

   You could get into most parked park vehicles if you wanted to. They're unlocked, or the window's down, or they all take the same stick key.

   People jump off the bridges into the park a lot.

   A guy blew his brains out a few winters ago under the campground bridge.

III

Keep dreaming...

Fall 2024 Dream Journal

Saltwater Dream Journal

Fall 2023 - Spring 2024 Dream Journal