Top Ten Plus Seven Equals Top Seventeen Favorite Arcade Games

Playing video games in the arcade was a childhood moment. Playing arcade games on video game consoles was a childhood moment. The pure arcades are rare today. Computers, emulators, consoles, internet, and cell phones make playing classic arcade games accessible.

I was a below average arcade player. I can say I completed Blood Brothers and Area 51 in one coin without continuing. Moreover, Area 51 was the arcade game I played when I attended San Jose State University. Many of the seventeen arcade games relate to a life memory. Blood Brothers is number five. Area 51 is number two.

I recognize Ghost Squad as a favorite arcade game released in 2004. Ghost Squad was my first game I played at the Golfland weekend opening morning unlimited arcade game play. I'm one of the few players who prefer the shotgun. I also recognize Metal Slug 2 as a favorite arcade game released in 1998. The victory music at the end of every mission is great. Eri was my character.

Here are my top ten plus seven equals top seventeen favorite arcade games. These favorites are from my childhood to my young adult years attending San Jose State University.

17. Super Pac Man. I watched the game for the first timing confused when Pac Man became big he didn't chomp the ghosts. The first time I played I made it to level 3 without dying.

16. Super Mario Brothers. I played the game on the Nintendo Entertainment System. I didn't play the game at the arcade. I include the game because I completed the game without warping and without getting additional lives at World 3-1.

15. Rygar. I dedicate number fifteen to Arthur who was a friend to my brother and I. He always died at the last level.

14. 1943. A high school friend and I always died at the last level. No continues allowed. All strategies were used such as changing from Auto to 3-Way. Unsuccessful.

13. X-Men vs. Street Fighter. I was terrible at fighting games. It was entertaining watching people play. I played the game on a modified Sega Saturn. Cammy and Chun-Li were my fighters.

12. Street Fighter 2. Another fighting game I was terrible. My cousin introduced the game to my brother and I.

11. Frogger. I played the game at Marie Callender's restaurant in sixth grade. I continued completing level after level after level attracting a crowd.

10. Raiden 2. Use the cluster bombs for defense.

9. Time Pilot. I was the only student in my fifth grade class who made it to World War II when my class took a lunch field trip to Chuck E. Cheese.

8. Time Crisis 2. The only arcade game I played at anime conventions decades ago even though Time Crisis 2 was released in 1997.

7. Ikari Warriors. The first video game I played with the 360 degree knob on top of the joystick to rotate the character to shoot in eight directions. One of two video games defined my youth at arcades.

6. Twin Cobra. If the helicopter could fly faster and fewer power ups required for full firepower, then the game is a top three favorite. I used the colors of the helicopters red and blue and the word cobra as nicknames in high school: red cobra and blue cobra. I remember playing the game at Great America amusement park with the background music Got My Mind Set On You by George Harrison for the eighth grade graduation party.

5. Blood Brothers. I can win the game on one coin.

4. Midnight Resistance. Fire is the gun and nitro is the secondary weapon.

3. Cyberball 2072. The game is optimized for running plays. No passing plays.

2. Area 51. I mastered the video game in Fall Semester 1996 at San Jose State University. I admit I needed a partner; in particular, an art major I partnered multiple times. We never knew our names. We never talked afterwards. We never became friends. One game we thanked each other.

Honorable mentions: Aero Fighters 2, Dragon Spirit, Gauntlet, and Magic Sword.

1. Gauntlet 2. The second of the two video games defined my youth at arcades. The game was popular and was unpopular. The popular times the arcade set 1,000 health for one coin. The unpopular times the arcade set a multiplier when four coins were deposited at the same time for bonus health.

Throwback Blog: Washington Canada Trip Part 4 of 7

Blogger's Note: Throwback blogs are blogs from my past. I start posting past blogs reflecting what I wrote. It's like my "A Second Look" blogs for which I give myself feedback.

Today's throwback blog is titled Washington Canada Trip Part 4 of 7 written on Sep 24, 2005. The fourth day visiting Washington and Canda in Aug 2005 was Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Who knew I visited Vancouver for a business trip in Mar 2007. The Aug 2005 visited made Vancouver not a strange place in Mar 2007.

Half way there. Thanks for reading!

Tuesday August 30, 2005 at 9:00 A.M. Driving the Canadian Freeways

We woke up around 8:00 A.M. without eating breakfast. We choose to eat breakfast along the road. We needed to take a ferry to travel from Victoria to Vancouver. We drove on Highway 17 from downtown to Swartz Bay where the ferry is located. Steve kept a close watch of the speed because Canada uses the metric system and the speed signs are in km/h or kilometers per hour and the speeds changed many times. The maximum speed he drove was 50 miles per hour. And it was raining.

We stopped at McDonalds for breakfast in Saanichton. The McDonalds is the nicest and cleanest McDonalds we ever saw. The common areas has street light posts that acted as indoor lighting, indoor plants and TREES, a huge indoor playground for the kids, and the décor to simply explain is like a middle class home's living room. I should have visited the bathrooms. It's probably better than my bathrooms at home. I ordered the Sausage McGriddle and Steve ordered the pancakes.

Tuesday August 30, 2005 at 11:00 A.M. Entering the BCFerries

Before I go on, I forgot to mention all times are in Pacific Timezone. I didn't experience any jetlag or adjustments.

I purchased the ferry ticket at the BCFerries ticket booth. BCFerries is the company that runs the ferry system in British Columbia. The ticket booth is like a toll booth--drive up to an open ticket booth lane that issues tickets for Vancouver. After purchasing the ferry ticket, we lined up on the road along with the other cars waiting for the ferry to arrive. The destination from Victoria to Vancouver is from Swartz Bay on the Vancouver Island to Tsawwassen on the British Columbia mainland.

The ferry Steve and I rode is huge, huge, huge!!! There are three levels for automobiles, trucks, and buses, and people are allowed to stay in their cars if they choose. We parked in Deck 4 which is the upper level for automobiles. The common areas are two floors which included a cafeteria, three arcade areas, gift shop, workstations, play areas for children, and a formal buffet. I even looked at the Ferry schedule. Some destinations take 15 hours!!! My goodness. The cafeteria is big and busy. We could have eaten breakfast on the ferry.

The trip time is 1 hour and 35 minutes. The name of the BCFerries Steve and I rode is named "M.V. Spirit of Vancouver Island." I wonder what "M.V." stands for? I did the same activities and walk-arounds on the M.V. Coho Ferry from Port Angeles to Victoria: I walked around the entire ferry and took pictures of the outside scenery; unfortunately, the rain affected the ferry trip such that I really limited my time outside the ferry and the rain clouds and fog limited picture taking. Steve mostly read his book on Feudal Japan. In the gift shop, I purchased magnets and maps for souvenirs. The Canadians are really friendly. In one instance, I maneuvered around the magazine section, and I needed to say "Excuse Me" to pass by a worker. When I said "Excuse Me", six people around me moved. Talk about politeness. Doesn't happen in San Jose =__=

After getting off the ferry we drove on Highway 99. Parts of Highway 99 are sophisticated. One stretch of the road there are lane signals. Lane signals tell drivers which lanes are open and which lanes are closed. It appears during commute times, Highway 99 opens extra lanes to move traffic faster for commute traffic and close extra lanes for reverse commute traffic. The maximum speed Steve drove was 90 km/h or 55mph.

Tuesday August 30, 2005 at 1:00 P.M. City of Vancouver City Limits

We arrived at the city limits. The sky was grey and Vancouver rained during the drive and during the entire day. Steve played his James Bond Greatest Hits CD. Gas was never a problem because Steve filled up the gas tank at Port Angeles, and we were glad because it felt weird to get gas in liters . . . and Steve drove a Volkswagen Bug which has great gas mileage.

Our destination was Downtown Vancouver where the hotel is located. We needed to drive by Marpole, South Granville, Shaughnessy, and Fairview neighborhoods before reaching Downtown Vancouver. These areas are like Santa Barbara, California including the homes, neighborhoods, and the shopping districts; in addition, the area is diverse with many stores and restaurants representing different cultures and different sexual orientations (if you know what I mean *nudge, nudge*) The drive reminded me when I was 5 years old visiting my grandparents in Santa Barbara for which the surroundings, the grey skies, the homes, and neighborhoods were 100% authentic and represented my memory accurately.

When we crossed the Granville Street Bridge, I noticed a lot of development in Downtown Vancouver. It appears Vancouver is growing. Downtown Vancouver kinda reminded of Downtown San Jose; however, the buildings are unique--the looks of the buildings I never seen before. We checked in the hotel and choose to visit the Vancouver Aquarium in Stanley Park for the activity of the day and to eat lunch. And yes, the rain continued.

When we drove on Pacific Street and Beach Avenue and along English Bay and Sunset Beach to the Vancouver Aquarium, there are a lot small apartment buildings that looked like Santa Barbara again. The signal lights are simple like in Victoria.

Tuesday August 30, 2005 at 3:00 P.M. Vancouver Aquarium

Vancouver Aquarium is located in Stanley Park. We drove along the Stanley Park for 20 minutes. For me, it's the first time I drove around a park. The closest I drove in a park was Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, and me and my friends drove through just to get to Highway 1. No scenic tour. There is a public pool at Stanley Park, and there were people in the public pool despite the rain. I believe the pool is a wading pool where people just go to the pool to get wet and play around.

Vancouver Aquarium was really busy. I think the rain and that the kids' summer vacations being almost over were the reasons for the packed aquarium. Compared to the Monterey Bay Aquarium in Monterey, California, Vancouver Aquarium is really small. We entered the aquarium, paid admission, and the first stop was getting lunch. I like to tell everyone I donated $2.00 to the aquarium and I got a S.O.S. sticker which stands for Save Our Seals. Hee, hee, hee.

The rain kept pouring as we ate lunch. We saw the Belugas exhibit and they were swimming as we ate lunch. I ordered a burger and Steve ordered pizza. After lunch, we walked around the entire aquarium. We started viewing the outside attractions including seeing the sea lions, sea otters, and a dolphin show. The dolphin show was packed with spectators and their umbrellas. I was fortunate I got a spot and was able to see most of the show. I had to stand on my toes to view some of the acts.

After viewing the outside activities, the rest of the time, Steve and I walked around inside. We saw sharks, giant fishes, alligators, jellyfish, sting rays, seahorns, and entered the Amazon Rainforest. Man, the rainforest is really humid. I felt awkward viewing the maps of Canada on the displays and animal explanations. I'm used to viewing the California map when I visit the Monterey Aquarium, SeaWorld-San Diego, Disneyland, and other amusement attractions in California. The final stop was viewing the dolphins at the lower level of the aquarium. There is the Clownfish Cove where kids can touch the smaller sea animals. Kids, make sure your parents stick with you ^_^

Tuesday August 30, 2005 at 5:30 P.M. Dinner Time

We ate dinner at a high class, fancy restaurant named "The Crime Lab." There was nobody there and the food came pretty fast. After dinner, we walked around parts of Downtown Vancouver. Downtown reminded me of Downtown San Jose--quiet during the evening time. We visited a few stores. Most of the shops closed at 7:00 P.M. (for which, in my opinion, most retail shops should close around 7:00 P.M. because everyone needs to have leisure time).

We arrived back at the hotel around 8:00 P.M. and we channel surf. We saw the catastrophic damage Hurricane Katrina caused to New Orleans and part of Mississippi and Alabama.

Screwed Or Not Screwed

I ask questions about myself. I answer "screwed" or "not screwed" followed by an explanation. I choose no NSFW answer "fucked" or "not fucked." There is no 50/50 middle ground. If it's 51% screwed, then I'm screwed. If it's 51% not screwed, then I'm not screwed. Here are the self-analysis questions:

*Find a job: screwed. The unemployed readers know the truth. There are fewer job openings. There are too many unemployed seeking employment from the fewer job openings.

*Health: not screwed. I include physical fitness. I workout four days a week. I minimize eating processed foods. I sleep eight hours a night. I drink water when I'm thirsty.

*Money: screwed. All prices are going up. All costs are going up. All payments are going up.

*Job training: screwed. On the one hand, I finished my self job training on Apr 19, 2024 Self Job Training Graduation Analytics Research Technology. On the other hand, the continued job training remains too slow. There is too much to learn. There are good free learning resources. I'm skeptical on paid online training.

*Learning outside the job training: not screwed. Finding new life skills is slow and sure. An advantage being unemployed is plenty of time to learn. These skills can be useful tomorrow.

*Socialize with friends and family: not screwed. I started meeting my friends post pandemic. I started meeting new people post pandemic. I'm patient.

*COVID-19: not screwed. I wear masks. I'm updated on the latest vaccines. I never tested positive.

*Timing, luck, destiny, karma: screwed. The world has not been flowing in my favor for years.

*Time remaining to live life: screwed. My life is either paused or moving forward too slowly. I follow through everything I learned. Too many delays. Too many stalls.

*Happiness in the short term: not screwed. I wrote being a happy loser My Problems Are Nothing on Dec 27, 2024 compared to many people with bigger unhappy problems.

*Happiness in the long term: screwed. Money is not a factor to become happy. However, money helps a person become happy. I don't know the future regarding money.

*Mental: not screwed. I separate physical health and mental health. I read books. I job training. I learn life skills. Never stop learning.

Take The Chances Being Alone

There are many articles published during the COVID-19 global pandemic more people are living alone. More people live with fewer friends. People come and go in our lives. However, it's harder to meet new people. It's harder to find friends. More people are choosing to live alone. More people are choosing to live with minimal friends. More people are choosing to minimize their time with family.

My unprofessional and unscientific reason more people take their chances of being alone is average intelligence declining. More people are getting dumb. There are fewer strong people. There are fewer smart people. The strong people don't want to be with weak people. The smart people don't want to be with dumb people. They don't want to waste their time with other people who drag themselves down. If a person is making them feel dumb, then the person is out. No idiots in our lives. No morons in our lives. These alone people take their chances by themselves. Rational people avoid crazy, uncomfortable, and rude people. Minor Moby Dick by Herman Melville spoiler alert: "Better sleep with a sober cannibal than a drunken Christian."

The common answers work, too much technology making more people anti-social, family responsibilities, and depression are valid. I add lack of strength to the list of common answers people are alone. I add weak goodness to the list of common answers people are alone. Be a good person--don't be a nice person.

There Is Truth Serum During COVID-19 And After COVID-19

Governments declared the COVID-19 global pandemic ended in 2023. However, the COVID-19 virus is clear and present indefinitely people need an annual vaccine like the annual flu vaccine.

Sodium pentothal or the truth serum was administered during the global pandemic. There is more sodium pentothal administered afterwards. Living a life with lies has been harder. Anyone lying maintaining the lies are difficult. Resilience faked during the pandemic is not faked afterwards. Calling out dishonestly has been easier. People waiting for the evidence to prove lies must be patient. It's impossible for 100% of the people globally their lives change for the better because life is unfair. There are winners. There are losers. The losers are identified. The percentage applies to me and everyone I know. The truth is coming soon from the lies I notice. The equalizer is coming soon for the appropriate situations or moments.

Social media is untrustworthy overall. I go with the information present. Lies? Maybe. Deceit? Maybe. Give them time. The lies and the deceit are exposed.

The truth serum is administered anywhere at anytime. It's given at the workplaces such as nurses and the hospitals, teachers and the schools, first responders and the stations, and postal employees and the post office. It's given at the supply chains. It's given in manufacturing. It's given in retail businesses. It's given in the public sector. It's given in governments. It's given in the banks. Money decreasing. Stress increasing. Respect decreasing.

Top Ten My Last Minute Choices Were Correct

The late Steve Jobs said, "You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something--your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever." I connected the dots for the following last minute choice moments. The choices were correct. Here are the top ten my last minute choices were correct.

10. Gilroy Gardens (Jul 23, 2022). My brother's family had two extra tickets to visit the small amusement park in Gilroy, CA. My dad and I went. I did my best to social distance. I initiated social distancing when I walked around the park. I wore my mask except eating. I felt relaxed. It was a good life break.

9. 1998 (Various Dates 1998). Honestly speaking, the opportunities appeared in front of me without effort. I was given no brainer choices.

*Emergency Dentist Filling (Jan 1998). My dentist at the time created an opening for a filling to charge my insurance as a procedure for the 1997 calendar year.
*Celine Dion (Jan). I purchased my first used CD Celine Dion-Celine Dion at a used media store.
*Fanime Con 1998 (Feb 15). I purchased three anime CDs from a dealer who wanted to sell as much inventory before leaving. I was short on cash. He accepted my amount. I didn't pay taxes.
*Cal Poly Open House (May). A friend invited me to visit him during the Cal Poly Open House weekend. The weekend vacation was my first solo vacation.
*Japantown-San Francisco (Jul or Aug). The same Cal Poly friend called me up for a last-minute trip to escape the record heat in San Jose, CA.
*Santa Barbara, CA Weekend Trip (Aug). My mom and I picked up my grandfather driving the Mercury Sable 1997 station wagon. It was the first time the car drove long distance. We listened to music on my portable CD player connected to the radio's cassette deck for the first time. We delivered a cage of birds to one of my aunts.

8. Coraline (Mar 14, 2009). I felt bad at a cosplay gathering in the Japanese garden Hakone Gardens in Saratoga, CA. I wanted to go home quickly. I contacted two friends to watch Coraline with me when I arrived home. Also, another friend organized a 3/14 pie dinner gathering. The three of us ate dinner at the pie dinner gathering. We watched the last showing of Coraline after dinner. I purchased the tickets on a friend's app because I feared the showing was sold out. The theater was dead. It was the first time and last time I purchased movie tickets outside the movie theater.

7. Anime Expo (AX) 2009 (Jul 2-5, 2009). I had no plans to attend AX due to the Great Recession. I changed my mind after Fanime Con 2009 in May 2009. I hung out with my friends. I called my friends. My friends called me. I met new people. I visited Japantown in Los Angeles for the first time afterwards.

6. Ranma 1/2 Season 1 On VHS (Dec 1996). A comic book store was going out of business. The owner sold five of the six VHS tapes in stock for $5 each. The retail price is $30 each. I was short on money at the time.

5. Fanime Con 2004 Midnight Marathon (May 30, 2004). I watched 17 episodes of Fullmetal Alchemist during the Midnight Marathon. I initially planned to watch four episodes. I stayed awake during the entire marathon. I said, "I'm going to cosplay Edward Elric" after episode 8. Fullmetal Alchemist saved me from quitting anime.

4. Washington Canada 2008 (Nov 15-20, 2008). The last minute timing was perfect to visit my friend. My contract at Cisco was terminated. I was lost. I was confused. I didn't know what to do with my life. I needed a break to refocus and reset. We visited Victoria, British Columbia, Canada; Hurricane Ridge; the Rock 'n Roll museum; gambled in a casino; visited Downtown Seattle; and shopped in used bookstores. We watched movies. We played board games. The trip saved me from years of therapy.

3. Shopped For Gym Equipment (Mar 16, 2020). CA Governor Gavin Newsom announced the state shut down on Mar 17, 2020 due to the COVID-19 global pandemic. I shopped the entire afternoon buying gym equipment for my home mini gym. I purchased a 45-pound plate and a 25-pound plate at a specialty fitness store. I purchased the exercise mat at Sports Basement. I continue my strength training at home. My cardio workout is jogging around the neighborhood.

2. Zion National Park Walking Stick (Oct 3-4, 2015). I went backpacking for the first time. The party and I received information The Narrows Top Down backpacking trail is strenuous. I rented a walking stick which saved my ass walking in the river and navigating the rocks. I purchased a pair of trekking poles afterwards.

1. O'Connor Hospital Emergency Room (Apr 2-6, 2017). I thought I had the stomach flu. The pains were sharp like pins pinning my stomach. I went to the emergency room. I was diagnosed with Acute Gallstone Pancreatitis. I required two surgeries for the first time. The first surgery was Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio Pancreatography which removed gallstones. The second surgery was Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy which removed my gallbladder. I was a hospital in-patient for the first time.

Update On A Past Blog

I mentioned Fanime Con 2009 and AX 2009. Fanime Con 2009 is my all-time favorite anime conventions from the blog Top Ten Favorite Anime Conventions written on Oct 25, 2012. AX 2009 should be on the list because the last minute choice to attend was a good choice. AX 2009 is ranked fifth after Fanime Con 2009, Fanime Con 2010, AX 2006, and Fanime Con 2005.

Shelter In-Place COVID-19 Blog August 2024

California issued shelter in-place orders on Tue Mar 17, 2020. I have been logging the highlights and lowlights. The summer surge continued. The 2024 Paris Summer Olympics was completed. I see a tiny increase in people wearing masks. August was the fastest month of the year.

Tue Aug 6. Nassau County in New York passed the Mask Transparency Act into law. The act makes wearing a mask or face covering a crime. The misdemeanor offense is punishable by up to one year in jail or a $1,000 fine. Supporters say the law helps combat crime during protests and combat potential felons only. Opponents say the law gives police the legal authority to stop and question people wearing a mask when no crime is being committed.

Thur Aug 8. American sprinter Noah Lyles tested positive two days before he won a bronze medal for the 200 meter race. Lyles quarantined at a nearby hotel. He took Paxlovid. Trainers and medical staff attended Lyles who laid down on his back after the race. He was taken off the track on a wheelchair.

The Center For Disease Control (CDC) said the US overall death rate dropped to 6% in 2023. Heart disease, cancer, and unintentional injury including drug overdose were the leading causes of death. COVID-19 fell from 4th place in 2022 with 245,000 deaths to 10th place in 2023 with 76,000 deaths. Stroke is 4th place in 2023 with 750 deaths per 100,000 people. 799 deaths per 100,000 people due to stroke in 2022.

Sat Aug 10. Watched the fourth quarter of the Men's Olympic Gold Medal Round France vs. USA.

Sun Aug 11. Attended my first social event outside my residence or another family's house.

Mon Aug 12. The CDC said 27 states reported very high levels and 17 states reported high levels of wastewater data measuring COVID-19 activity. The western region was the highest levels. Emergency room COVID-19 cases increased. Death rates were unchanged at low rates.

The Food And Drug Administration (FDA) recommended the vaccine is based on the KP.2 strain for the updated vaccines available in the fall.

Wed Aug 21. The JAMA Psychiatry journal published a study people with a severe case of COVID-19 their chances of mental illnesses increased. They include depression, anxiety, PTSD, eating disorder, suicide, and bipolar disorder. Unvaccinated people who experience a mental illness are more severe than vaccinated people. In addition, unvaccinated people who are older aged and male their mental illness is more severe.

The study looked into long COVID-19 for children. The results indicated debilitating and long-term side effects which make children difficult to live their childhood lives in and out of their residences. The symptoms include headaches, loss of memory, trouble sleeping, and stomach pain. Teenagers with long COVID-19 experience children symptoms plus fatigue, dizziness, gastrointestinal problems, heart palpitations, and body pain.

Tur Aug 22. I went to an industrial company to drop off shoes for recycling. Nobody was available to receive the shoes. I went to Costco and Safeway afterwards. More people wore masks.

The FDA approved emergency authorization for the updated COVID-19 vaccines. The vaccine targets the KP.2 strain. The authorization applies to Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna. The vaccines are available in the coming weeks. People who got the COVID-19 vaccine recently should wait three months.

The CDC recommends people age 6 months and older receive the latest vaccine.

Fri Aug 23. The Federal Government restarted its free home COVID-19 tests program in Sep. The exact date next month is unknown. It's the 7th time in the President Joe Biden administration each household receives up to four free tests.

Thur Aug 29. Shopped at Target first thing in the morning.

Fri Aug 30. The FDA approved emergency authorization for the updated Novavax COVID-19 vaccine. The Novavax vaccine targets the JN.1 strain. People age 12 years and older may get the traditional protein-based updated vaccine.

The KP.3.1.1 strain dominated with a 42.2% of cases.

Sat Aug 31. Went to Sports Basement, Books, Inc., Chevron for gas, and Safeway.

Be Concern For The Future Human Relationships

My brother forgot to bring back his children's 2019 middle school yearbook when they visited. I looked at the yearbook. Two thoughts entered my mind. The first was COVID-19. The second was human relationships.

The following year 2020 began the COVID-19 global pandemic. Planet Earth shutdown. In particular, the schools in the United States. Students learned online at their residences. No human interaction between students and teachers. No human interaction between students and students. No classmates helping each other in schoolwork. No classmates talking to each other. No learning skills outside the textbooks. No physical activity; although, physical education teachers might assign home workouts plans.

Furthermore, no learning socializations. No meeting new people. No clubs. No lunch time activities. No after school sports where school teams play other school teams. No school sponsored events such as dances, recitals, and theatre. I wonder if yearbooks were issued.

Latter Generation Z Zoomers And All Generation Alpha Can't Relate With Each Other

I fear decades later humans have difficulty talking with other humans. The Generation Z Zoomers is people born between 1997 and 2012. The Generation Alpha is people born from 2013 to present. There is a chance the Generation Z born from 2009 to 2012 and all Generation Alpha fear being with other humans. The media reporting may be correct. COVID-19 has been a setback for school age children and teenagers learning how to win people professionally, personally, and socially. I hope these people catch up what they missed on human relations and human communications. It's possible they succeed. They need assistance. They need to work harder.

Generation Alpha May Be The Last Generation To Shop In Malls

Today's blog is an update on a past blog.

Update On A Past Blog

The biggest mall in San Francisco is closing due to sales decreasing and lower number of shoppers. The COVID-19 global pandemic, employees working at home, and inflation are factors, too. Popular stores such as Nordstrom, Banana Republic, Whole Foods, LuluLemon, Disney, Macy's, The North Face, J. Crew, and Old Navy announced in summer 2023 they leave the Westfield San Francisco Centre. The Century San Francisco 9 movie theater owned by Cinemark closed in Jun 2023. However, the mall stays open for new businesses renamed to Emporium Centre San Francisco at a later date. I wrote two blogs on malls. The first blog is SOMT: Fast Times At Ridgemont High written on Jan 20, 2018 and SOMT: A Few Malls Still Exists Today written on Mar 24, 2018. SOMT stands for Sign Of My Times, an occasional blog sharing my thoughts how time changes life from when I was young to today. The malls are a people get-together magnet. People gather to socialize.

I remember a conversation with a group of friends back in my college years. It was a Friday night. We were bored. There was a suggestion we go to the mall. One disagreed admirably. He didn't believe in going to the mall to hang out. My opinion on malls is unchanged. Malls are a great place for gatherings. People are present. Human interaction. Face to face socializing. People spend money for the local economy.

Unfortunately, online commerce is another reason malls close. The generation alpha people born from 2013 to present may be the malls' final customers. There are people still shopping at malls at all ages; in particular, generation alpha's grandparents representing the baby boomer generation. The best malls remain. Winning malls stay open. Losing malls close.

Nobody Weaker Than Me Kicked My Ass

I thought about the people weaker than me throughout my life from junior high school to my 30s. There were reasons why the weaker people I knew were weaker than me. I feared the weaker people become stronger than me. I feared the weaker people become better than me. I hated the weaker people whether they were my friends, co-workers, acquaintances, classmates, and family. I didn't want them to be in my presence.

What was my mistake? The fear should have motivated me to get stronger. The fear should have motivated me to get better. I should have worked to be a better child, better teenager, better student, and better young adult. I worked less than half-assed to prevent the weaker people becoming better than me. The end result was either the weaker people remained weak or the weaker people improved to match me. There was nothing to fear. Nobody overcame me.

The motivation to get stronger continues today. I include the motivation to get smarter and wiser. Physical fitness workouts improve indefinitely. Eight hours of sleep is required. Financial education is nonstop. I make a note to learn something every time I encounter a better person than me.

Merry Unmotivational Christmas

Bad Christmas. Sad Christmas. Depressed Christmas. There was no joy. The Christmas flow went against you. Expectations unfulfilled. The plan backfired. You're not alone.

There were multiple reasons some people were unhappy on Christmas Day. Some reasons could be controlled. Some reasons couldn't be controlled. I share my below expectations family Christmas. There was no desire for a good Christmas. Some family members didn't check their personal problems at the door. A few family members worked to make a happy Christmas. A few family members put in the time and effort to create a good Christmas. Few successes. Many failures. Everyone contributed to a less stellar family Christmas regardless of working or not working. I admit I contributed to a less stellar family Christmas. I should have been stronger. I should have been courageous.

All leisure activities including birthdays and holidays require planning. It's an oxymoron work and effort must be completed for play and fun moments. Chaos is the result without work and effort. Chaotic leisure is not leisure. The rewards pay off after the work and effort are completed sincerely and satisfactory.

Dec 26

Dec 25 is another bad day at the office. Everyone experiences bad days. Blame life, destiny, karma, timing, and luck a bad day happened on Christmas Day.

Life moves forward. The bad Christmas doesn't matter next year. Correct the mistakes. Hope the next Christmas is better. A suggestion to overcome a bad Christmas is go back to the basics. Follow the common wisdoms sincerely. Sleep well. Eat well. It's okay to splurge processed foods. Get to work. Be busy.

Normal Adolescents At Chipotle

I ate a late lunch at Chipotle at the 3:00pm hour on Fri Dec 8, 2023 because of shopping. A nearby middle school ended the school day. Students walked home. A few of the students congregated at a small retail strip mall. The fast food restaurant was 90% occupied with students. A few seats were unoccupied. The restaurant workers were prepared. The front end was fully staffed. The cooks were preparing the food. It was loud inside.

Witnessing the middle school students was no different when I attended middle school. Students socialized. There were no parents; although, I saw a couple of parents picking up students in the parking lot. Cell phones were prevalent; however, nobody was individually silent self-occupied with their own phone. They used their phones for conversation topics. They used their phones to pay for their orders. They used their phones calling their parents. The students acted and behaved like normal adolescents. Their parents taught them well. Their parents trusted them and their circle of friends. I didn't have cell phones in school. Socializing and friendships are the same today and the same yesterday regardless of the trends or technology.

Rename Past Blogs Titles Because The Original Title Are Incorrect Or Misleading

I rename 26 past blogs because the title is deceptive. The title doesn't explain the blog content. The title relating to the text makes no sense. 15 of the 26 or 58.70% blogs are between 2007 and 2009. 18 of the 26 or 69.2% blogs are between 2007 and 2010. Four blogs reference cooking. Three blogs reference taking life for granted. Technically speaking, these past blogs are updates on a past blog.

Update On A Past Blog

Original Title: Free Bird
Date Written: Apr 15, 2007
Renamed Title: Cooking Solves The Problem Being Stressed And Do Something Solves The Problem Being Bored
Explanation: I posted two life tips still valid today. The first tip is cooking destresses a person. Cooking is an activity to take a break. Cooking minimizes eating processed foods. The second tip is avoid being bored doing something out of the ordinary. For instance, I became sick in Apr 2022. I relaxed such as catching up writing blogs, watching old DVDs, and listening to old CDs to recover.

Further, I wrote, "Do something, anything, . . ." which became a life motto when I realized I must grow up on Sat Oct 4, 2008.

Original Title: A Lesson On Life Yesterday
Date Written: May 5, 2007
Renamed Title: Practice Personal Responsibility
Explanation: I learned personal responsibility on my second month working at Cisco. Nobody was going to help me with my assignments. I was responsible to learn what I didn't know. Asking for help was the last resort.

Original Title: A Moment Being Selfish
Date Written: Jul 12, 2007
Renamed Title: My Dream Home
Explanation: I thought how I live life owning a home. I cook my meals, park my car in the garage, and invite friends and family for social activities. The last paragraph is true today: . . . I think about the millions of people who can't afford a home. It's sad, yet life is unfair.

Original Title: Something New To Me
Date Written: Aug 6, 2007
Renamed Title: People Thanking Me Is New To Me
Explanation: The first time in my life people thanked me. The first time in my life people helped me. The first time in my life people appreciated my presence. Beforehand, I thank other people, I helped other people, and I appreciated other people.

Original Title: One Lunch Day In 2000
Date Written: Aug 9, 2007
Renamed Title: I Saw A Homeless Person One Lunch Day In 2000
Explanation: The specific lunch day I saw a homeless person with a sign saying all hope is loss. I should have purchased a sandwich for the homeless person.

Original Title: A 12 Year Mistake
Date Written: Aug 12, 2007
Renamed Title: Making No New Friends Was A 12 Year Mistake
Explanation: The renamed title is self-explanatory. I failed to make new friends from college to beginning cosplaying at anime conventions.

Original Title: I Wake Up, Now What
Date Written: Jan 5, 2008
Renamed Title: What Am I Doing In My Life?
Explanation: The renamed title is self-explanatory. I questioned how I lived my present life. I worked at Cisco, I lived at home with my parents, I watched anime, I worked out at the gym, and I read books. Marriage and moving out of the house were afterthoughts.

Original Title: Runners Stop And Walk
Date Written: May 31, 2008
Renamed Title: Run To Get One Done Or Walk To Get Them All Done
Explanation: Physical fitness is irrelevant. I paraphrase the last paragraph: Two choices. The first choice is run completing tasks hastily increasing the chances for errors. The second choice is walk completing tasks one at a time decreasing the chances for errors.

Original Title: Straight From My Gut
Date Written: Oct 18, 2008
Renamed Title: Straight From My Gut Trust Intuition
Explanation: I realized my intuition helped me through fearful moments. I realized my intuition saved me from tough situations.

Original Title: Point A to Point B. Where's Point C, D, E, F, G, . . .
Date Written: Oct 26, 2008
Renamed Title: Don't Take Life For Granted
Explanation: I shared past moments I took life for granted. Never stop improving. Never stop learning. Never stop innovating. Innovate infinitely.

Original Title: How Do They Do It? How Do They Do It?
Date Written: Jun 4, 2009
Renamed Title: Some People Have The Charisma, Good Vibes, And Good Looks
Explanation: There are people who attracts other people to them. I questioned my charisma, good vibes, and good looks.

In particular, one friend attracts people at anime conventions. High school educated, worked in retail, overweight, talked slowly, learns slowly, and a standard geek. I saw him conversing with new groups of people most of the time I saw him. The same friend watched an anime convention masquerade from the side stage because he got a press pass.

Original Title: My Solution To Solve Problems
Date Written: Jun 20, 2009
Renamed Title: Cooking Skill Can Solve Some Problems
Explanation: Cooking may not solve world problems. Cooking can solve some personal problems. One less personal problem is one less problem the world deals with.

Original Title: I'm Keeping The Door Closed
Date Written: Dec 27, 2009
Renamed Title: I Say No To Death
Explanation: I'm not ready to die.

Original Title: Gratitude
Date Written: Dec 28, 2009
Renamed Title: No More Taking Life For Granted
Explanation: Another reminder don't take life for granted.

Original Title: Riding On Bad Luck
Date Written: Dec 31, 2009
Renamed Title: Riding My Car's Tire On Bad Luck
Explanation: I shared past moments I had a flat tire.

Original Title: A Lesson Learned Tonight
Date Written: Feb 2, 2010
Renamed Title: There Are No Guarantees In Life
Explanation: I learned the life lesson when Conan O'Brien agreed to a $45 million settlement to leave "The Tonight Show," with $33 million to O'Brien and the staff receiving $12 million from NBC. The Jay Leno Show and O'Brien hosting The Tonight Show were failures.

Original Title: Dumb and Dumber
Date Written: Mar 28, 2010
Renamed Title: Don't Spend Time With Dumb People
Explanation: You may become dumb if you spend time with dumb people. I repeat, "[Don't] lower yourself to get along with the friend or group. Whether you continue to spend time with the friend or group is another discussion.

Original Title: A Frozen Dinner
Date Written: Jul 9, 2010
Renamed Title: Try Eating New Foods
Explanation: Eating new foods can add a little excitement. Eating a new junk food is approved.

Original Title: 23 Is Too Short
Date Written: Jan 28, 2011
Renamed Title: A Friend Died At Age 23. 23 Is Too Short.
Explanation: A friend died from sickness complications at age 23. I blogged what my life was at age 23.

Original Title: I Know It Lifestyle
Date Written: Dec 9, 2011
Renamed Title: A Dynamic Life Or A Predictable Life
Explanation: There's no right way or wrong way to live life. Either choose a predictable and routine life or a dynamic and "on the fly" life.

Original Title: Ice, Ice, And More Ice, Baby
Date Written: Mar 13, 2013
Renamed Title: Ice Is Important In A Residence
Explanation: Every freezer must have ice.

Original Title: What Is Wrong With This Picture?
Date Written: Apr 4, 2013
Renamed Title: What Is Wrong With The 2003 Raymond Mar In This Picture?
Explanation: This picture refers to me. I critically analyzed my appearance in 2003. The short answer is I looked pathetic.

Original Title: What Happened?
Date Written: Jul 28, 2013
Renamed Title: Connect The Dots Backwards Life From Mar 2007 To Jul 2013
Explanation: I looked back at in my life from Mar 2007 to Jul 2013. There were mistakes including taking life for granted, failing to earn my successes, and being weak. I corrected a few. The mistakes I failed to correct continued to affect me.

Original Title: Frustrating, Adjusting, Taking Action, Changing
Date Written: Aug 13, 2013
Renamed Title: The 2013 San Francisco Giants Adjustments
Explanation: I wrote my opinions how the Giants took action to adjust and to change.

Original Title: Bringing Home Meals
Date Written: Oct 30, 2014
Renamed Title: Meal Preparation Describes A Person Or Family
Explanation: Pay attention to the meals when people meet other people for the first time and families meet other families for the first time inside their residence. The meals are signs how the person or people live their daily lives. People or families who cook are more happier. People or families who don't cook are less happier.

Original Title: There's An A In Overachieving
Date Written: Oct 11, 2020
Renamed Title: The Oakland A's Are Overachievers
Explanation: The professional baseball team lost 10 of its past 11 postseason series on Oct 2020 when the A's lost to the Houston Astros. Management trades its star players at the prime of their careers; in other words, sell high, buy low for which buy low is acquire young baseball talent at low salaries or old veterans at the end of their careers. Ownership is cheap.

I also wrote 1+1+1=3 which is one superstar plus good coaching plus good management or good ownership equals a championship.

Too Many 5's And 6's Dice Rolls Playing Axis & Allies

Axis & Allies made by Milton Bradley Company was a board game I played in high school. I sucked. I remember there was a chance I win one game. There were five of us. I teamed up with a straight A student friend who was like the late Steve Jobs without charisma. He knew how to play the game. We were the Axis. I played Germany. He played Japan. The other three friends were the Allies Russia, Great Britain, and United States.

My friend guided me where to put my soldiers, tanks, and planes. My friend suggested where to attack, where to place my armaments, and when to save money. He wanted to win. He wanted me to win. He cared. We lost. What happened? The answer was I rolled too many 5's and 6's. I rolled too few low numbers to attack and to defend. I rolled too few low numbers to win battles. Pathetic. My friend suggested a different method to roll the dice. Unsuccessful. My fault? Yes. Bad luck? Yes.

Two of the three friends playing the Allies were smart students. They enrolled in advanced classes. One of them could bowl a 200 score. The other friend was fluent in English and Spanish.

Tabletop Gaming Curse

If there is a term for bad luck playing tabletop games, then give me the term; otherwise, I assign myself the tabletop gaming curse. I realize connecting the dots backwards bad luck factored in my losses. All games involving luck include dice rolling, drawing cards, drawing tiles in Mahjong, and spinning I experience more bad luck than good luck. The odds are in favor of my opponents. The over 50% probability are in favor of my opponents.

Likewise for my present life. I lost count the number of times I was the second choice for a job hire. There were job hires cancelled due to a director overriding the hiring manager, budget cuts, and breech of procedures not my fault. Curses are meant to be broken. I don't know how to break a bad luck curse.

Keep In Touch On Social Media

Everyone knows social media. Even people who live under a rock know social media. Facebook, Twitter or X, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube, TikTok, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Reddit, and Yelp are popular social media websites. Give it time for the people who don't have social media. They participate in time. Social media is present. People use social media to communicate. People use social media to search.

A negative social media common knowledge is some people become depressed. A common knowledge solution is take a break from social media or deactivate their social media accounts. I'm in the minority. Never take a break from social media. Never deactivate social media accounts. It's okay to reduce time on social media. You never know when you need to contact a friend, family member, or co-worker from a past job. Do your best to keep in touch.

Don't feel jealous when someone gets married, finds a new job, travels on a dream vacation, gets promoted, or purchases a new car. Jealously is poor self-esteem. Poor self-esteem becomes depression. The person earns their happy moment thru hard work, destiny, life, karma, or luck. Like or comment. On the other hand, if you got married, found a new job, traveled on your dream vacation, got promoted, or purchased a new car, then you want likes and comments. You earned your happy moment thru hard work, destiny, life, karma, or luck. It goes both ways.

Update On A Past Blog

I add another sports lesson to the Top Ten Life Lessons I Learned Watching Sports written on Nov 5, 2016. Winning solves problems. A professional sports team wins a championship. The problems are solved. The problems are forgotten. The problems are forgiven. Likewise in life. Winning is a factor to forgive. Forgiving is easier when the person or the party forgiving is winning. Forgiving is easier when the person or the party forgiving is successful.

Throwback Blog: Top Ten Wisdom Acquired In 2006 I Failed To Follow

Blogger's Note: Throwback blogs are blogs from my past. I start posting past blogs reflecting what I wrote. It's like my "A Second Look" blogs for which I give myself feedback.

Today's throwback blog is titled Top Ten Wisdom Acquired In 2006 I Failed To Follow written on Nov 16, 2019. Today is a good day to review the 2006 wisdom. I continue to follow the ten wisdoms.

2006 was a good year. 2007 was one of my two worst years. The 2007 highlights working at Cisco and buying my first car overshadowed the many lowlights. What if I followed through my 2006 wisdom acquired in 2007? There could have been fewer lowlights.

I reacquired, relearned, and rediscovered my 2006 wisdom years later. They started on the day I realized I must grow up on Sat Oct 4, 2008. I never forget these top ten wisdom. I practice them daily. Today's top ten is another reminder how I live a good life.

I blogged one dream titled Philosophy 98: Innovating Life on Mar 12, 2006. I dreamed I taught a philosophy class at a junior college. Students were required to read Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki and How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie. Rich Dad Poor Dad teaches how the rich people become rich. How to Win Friends and Influence People teaches human relations skills. I dreamed Philosophy 98: Innovating Life for the second time replacing How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie with Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell. Outliers argues timing and luck are the reasons why some people succeed. I approved my second dream using Rich Dad Poor Dad and Outliers as the required reading.

Here are the top ten wisdom acquired in 2006 I failed to follow. I followed them years later.

10. Life Sucks? Why Live? on Mar 16, 2006 and I Wonder on Aug 24, 2006. Timing is everything. I remind myself the two blogs. I'm alone, unemployed, and without money. I continue fighting the struggles. Doing nothing solves no problems. I might as well keep going. The I Wonder blog said maybe the next big break comes tomorrow, next week, or next month. I keep going hoping for the next big break.

9. Whoever Though Of The Word “Rush” Lived A Short Life on Jun 11, 2006. Don't rush success. Take it slow. Increment.

8. Do You Want To Be My Friend? on Apr 15, 2006. The last paragraph is the wisdom acquired. There are some people I don't get along with. There are some people I don't have a connection. I don't waste my time with these people. I stay away from these people.

7. Nothing Lasts Forever Which Includes Curses and Bad Luck on Jan 2, 2006. Nothing lasts forever. Curses are meant to be broken. Hope for the best. On the other hand, some people live life with many bad breaks and bad timing. It's life. Some people have lots of good luck. Some people have lots of bad luck.

6. Find The Misinformation and Misunderstandings First on Sep 27, 2006. Don't stress out on the person with the misinformation. Don't get angry over a misunderstanding. Misinformation happens. Misunderstandings happen. Seek first to understand. Correct the source. I'm angry when people don't correct the problem.

5. Second Blog Entry: Going With The Flow On A Bad Work Day on Jan 7, 2006. Go with the flow. I rediscovered the wisdom during Winter Quarter 2010 at De Anza College.

4. Full Circle on Mar 6, 2006. Life goes full circle. Whatever you do today affects you tomorrow. Life finds a way to reward you tomorrow when doing something good today. Life finds a way to punish you tomorrow when doing something bad today. For example, I failed to refresh my job skills during my down time at one of my contract jobs. I watched YouTube videos. Life punishes me today being unemployed taking additional self-training time refreshing my skills instead of learning new skills. Job searching is a full-time job. I learn new skills such as Python and Power BI. I refresh my existing skills such as Excel and SQL.

3. Keep Fun In Check on Feb 26, 2006. Something bad happens when I have too much fun. I lose my sense of awareness. I lose my clear thinking. Control everything as much as possible work, rest, and play.

2. Breakfast Is The Most Important Meal Of The Day on May 17, 2006. What if I ate a proper breakfast in 2007 and before Sat Oct 4, 2008 daily? The obvious answers are more focused, learned more, less chances getting sick, more gym workouts, and never unemployed.

1. Time Will Tell on Jan 28, 2006. The late Steve Jobs said it best, "You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something--your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life."

In my words, time is the ultimate judge.

Summary

10. Keep fighting the struggles. There's nothing else to do.
9. Take your time. Increment.
8. Spend time with good people. Avoid bad people.
7. Nothing lasts forever.
6. Focus on correcting misinformation and misunderstandings themselves.
5. Go with the flow.
4. Life goes full circle. What you do today affects you tomorrow.
3. Keep fun in check. Stay focus even while having fun.
2. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.
1. Trust what you do today is good tomorrow. Time is the ultimate judge.

A Melancholy 2022 Thanksgiving Holiday

Chances are many people experienced a rusty 2022 Thanksgiving weekend. The expectations were high. The holiday was an underachievement. People wanted a Thanksgiving miracle all is better. Many people forgot how to behave. Many people either forgot what Thanksgiving meant or thought about something else.

There was too much on many people's minds they couldn't stop thinking. There were too many worries. There were too many problems. They thought there was not enough time. There was not enough time to relax. Break time was too little. The holiday went by too fast. The time feeling didn't slow down. People needed more time to take a breath.

People felt unsatisfactory during the final hours of Sun Nov 27, 2022. The holiday failed to meet expectations. There were disappointments. A minority of people shopped successfully on Black Friday. Learn from the mistakes for the 2022 Christmas holiday. Make adjustments for the 2022 Christmas holiday. Don't take the next holiday for granted.

Update On A Past Blog

I remember my first week of the Winter 2010 Quarter at De Anza College. I wrote, "Many students and even my teachers were tired and continued to be in adjust mode after the holidays" from De Anza Week Jan 4, 2010 written on Jan 7, 2010. I remember many students including myself and many teachers were unsatisfied with the 2009 Christmas holiday. 2009 was a year during the Great Recession. Nobody wanted to be at school.

I Owe The World By Making A Difference

Today's blog is an update on a past blog.

Update On A Past Blog

I thought about all my past friends and my past co-workers. 95% of them got my backs if anything bad happened. Good people support good people. Good friends support good friends. I failed to realize all 95% supported me. My past friends go as far back as junior high school.

I questioned did I make a difference to the 95% from the blog Did I Make A Difference? written on Jul 7, 2015. I said the 95% made a difference to me. "They made my life better. I'm a better person today."

I failed to be a difference maker to the 95%. I could have been and I should have been a better friend. I have no excuses. I owe the 95% something in return. I don't know what is the something. My feeling tells me the something must be multiple permanent life changers big or small.

I can't explain what I did correctly to earn their friendships. I thank my intuition. Was it I showed up? Was it I listened well? Was it I smiled when they needed a smile? I hope my self-pity didn't attract people.

The minimum owing back the 95% is become stronger. Don't be a jerk. The world needs one less bad person. I assure the 95% and the world I practice personal responsibility. I wrote I Owe The World on Apr 8, 2018 I take care of myself in a positive way such as working hard to earn freedom, stay healthy, and never stop learning.

Yes To Intuition

I dreamed last night I was at the platform of an overground public subway station. I conversed with a robotics engineer friend. I told him I was down on my luck. I told him I needed a break. He listened. He supported me. A couple ascended the stairs. The woman was happy. The man was worried. She said life is going to be good. She continued saying she's going to get pregnant and start a family. The man stopped ascending when the woman arrived on top of the platform.

The next scene I was at a security line like airport security lines on the first floor of an office high-rise building. I carried a silver color laptop without a laptop bag. There were multiple security checkpoints represented by color. I was in the blue checkpoint checking three or more items. The nearby green checkpoint checked one item. I must leave the security lines. A conga-like line formed a bee line to an authorized personnel only exit. I rushed to the line. A security guard held the door open. I exited the blue checkpoint. I walked to the outside observation deck.

The dream shifted to another timeline. The sun was setting on a summer day. I found a job. It was the end of my first day. I walked around my office building in an office park feeling optimistic. I asked myself where am I going to park for the night? I was employed. I wore normal clothes. I was homeless.

The dream shifted back to the original timeline. I met three women on the observation deck. The four of us exited the office high-rise building. We walked to the parking garage a short distance away. The women invited me to attend a concert. I declined. We separated in front of the parking garage.

I entered the parking garage ascending the stairs to my parking garage floor. I saw a sign saying metal detectors. I emptied my pocket change consisting of eight quarters. I emptied my car keys. I waited in line with the quarters and car keys on top of my laptop. I misread the sign. The metal detectors were for the copiers and scanners. The line was the cashier line. I exited the line. I walked to a map which looked like the subway map. I thought about whether I should attend an anime event nearby. I woke up.

Two Intuition Scenes

The point of my dream was intuition. The man in the couple used his intuition. The man felt something in his gut when he stopped on the stairs. He was apprehensive. He felt uneasy. The man felt the relationship is not long-term. Couples must listen to their intuition.

The second intuition was declining the invitation to watch a concert with the three women. My intuition told me I'm not going to have fun with the three women. My gut feeling said I take my chances at an anime event than take my chances with these three women I just met minutes ago. At least one of the three women gave me a bad vibe.

Third Party Dream

Three dreams last night. I was the third-party perspective watching from above like a camera drone hovering above in the first dream and the second dream. I was a participant for the third dream.

The first dream. There were two houses next to each other. An old man lived in one house. He was an army veteran. He was late on his rent. He was one month away from being evicted. He dated an old woman who was a Harry Potter fan or Potterhead. The old man became a Potterhead. She helped pay his rent. They played Harry Potter trivia outside the front yard. The neighbor befriended the old man who was also a Potterhead. The neighbor helped the old man in Harry Potter trivia against his girlfriend.

The second dream. There was an apartment complex in a lower-class neighborhood. Colors were brownish tone. The complex was multi-floor. There was no fenced backyard for all first-floor units. One unit had a family of three consisting of the father, mother, and son around four years old. The father became a dead-beat dad leaving the apartment unit. The son didn't know what happened. The mother didn't appear in my dream.

The third dream. I was a rookie business journalist. My editor boss was the Michael Keaton character from the movie Spotlight. My first assignment was finding winning stocks to recommend. I worked hard. I made mistakes. Keaton approved my stocks. My article was printed. The song The Middle by Jimmy Eat World played in my mind. I continued writing good business articles.

There was a brief fourth dream. I walked on my neighborhood street on the opposite side of my house towards the apartments. I saw my dad driving his old white Honda Civic 4-speed manual transmission hatchback towards me.

Two More 1990s Songs

I mention two songs from the movie Empire Records. The first song is Til I Hear From You by Gin Blossoms. The second song is Liar by The Cranberries.