Encounters: During a recent trip to my eye doctor, we were visiting and the subject of dreams came up after she confessed she thought she was neurotic. As an example she told about a reoccurring dream that mixed her job with her family life. The dream unfolds at a baby shower and she is showing two dresses for the recipient to choose from, as she does with lenses at her job. “Do you prefer dress number one,” she asks with a smile, “or dress number two.” “One,” she repeats, or two?” It turns into a nightmare as she continues to repeat the question and the guest of honor can not decide. We both laughed, and I conceded she might be a little neurotic.

Read: Because of a year-long project I have been involved in I have not been doing much reading, other than news on the internet and some magazines here and there. However, being a lifelong fan of comics and graphic novels I reread Blankets, By Craig Thompson. The final lines in the book read, as the main character (Craig) walks through the snow by himself: “How satisfying it is to leave a mark on a blank surface. To make a map of my movement, no matter how temporary.”

Observed: Very few migrating birds this fall. Where are they, or have I missed all those flyovers?

Website: Leftovers and Food Safety

Recipe: Baked Potato Soup