1197 – Cloud Wrangler Interviews Scooter

Trending Tuesday

 

On Cloud Shoes

https://www.yournextshoes.com/on-cloud-shoes/

https://blog.finishline.com/the-history-of-on-running/

https://www.outsideonline.com/health/running/on-running-brand-ipo/

 

Hallmark Movies

https://anhistorianabouttown.com/the-history-of-hallmark-christmas-movies/

https://www.thelist.com/114408/hallmark-channel-became-must-watch-television/

https://www.vox.com/culture/2017/12/14/16752012/hallmark-christmas-movies-explained

 

Outfit Montage in Movies

https://www.buzzfeed.com/ehisosifo1/best-fashion-makeover-movie-montages

https://popculturereferences.com/say-yes-to-these-trying-on-dresses-movie-montages/

https://www.racked.com/2017/12/28/16790280/mid-movie-fashion-show-great-depression

 

Steven Spielberg

https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/steven-spielberg-movies-filmmaking-style/

https://medium.com/cinemania/seven-times-steven-spielberg-changed-cinema-9afcfbaa91a6

https://www.andrewjohnsons.com/the-steven-spielberg-influence

 

DOWN TO BUSINESS

Rolling the 20 sided dice off to Dreamland

Are any dice made up of prime numbers?

 

Deep Dark Night United

Joe (Zocdoc)

 

PLUGS

WGA/SAG-AFTRA Strike Support; The Midnight Mission; Orlando Park Stop / Trevor Project; Patreon; SleepPhones; Emily Tat Artwork; NAPAWF; Anti-Racism Resources; Ukraine Relief; Crisis Textline; Annual Survey

 

SPONSORS

Odoo; Polysleep; Helix Sleep; Progressive; HelloFresh

 

INTRO

Ok, there’s that thought I’m thinking about

Toes immersed in puffy clouds

Does the cloud support my feet?

Let me introduce myself, I’m the Cloud Wrangler

Does Cloud Wrangler have the same number of syllables as “The Rambler”

A non-sentient cloud would be totally fine if it appeared in my bedroom

It would be nice if the cloud was a little dense

Tangible Physical Feedback

Is this what Zeus feels like?

A tiny bit of clouds between our toes

A Pocketful of Clouds

Somewhere else on planet Earth, someone can relate to what you’re going through

Only Cloud Enthusiasts pay attention to clouds

You can listen to this podcast like most people watch clouds

I guess this will be the Cloud Wrangler episode

 

STORY

Oh, this isn’t a tale, this is an interview

The Cloud Wrangler is on the line now

Let me think of some questions to ask you

Who’s in charge of wrangling clouds?

I’m most accurately a Cloud Coaxer

I work for Morpheus (not that one. Or the other one)

Shoutout to Cloud Tower

Cloud Wrangler is not a Cloud-Based Being

My head is in the clouds, only when I’m actually in the clouds

Tell us about your normal attire and out of the ordinary attire for you

Fortunately, CW is familiar with the human world

Technically, I am wrangling clouds without clothes on, but that’s not true for me

This is the second interview I’ve done

This is stumping Scooter in a good way

A Hypothetical Clothing Question

Rudolph is more popular on Cloud Tower than he is on Earth

If Morpheus sent CW down to Earth in human form, what would you look like?

Let’s sort out all the caveats for this hypothetical question

A Popular Film Sequence

A Joyous Montage of Wearing Outfits

Let’s roll through an extended slow-mo montage for this sleep podcast

Morpheus is aware of Scooter’s relationship to Scooter

Talking about Scooter’s shorts

He bought these shorts with his mother

5 or 6 years ago, and they’re still going strong

Scooter prefers 100% Cotton

CW would definitely wear those shorts, but not that shirt

A strange pronunciation of TJ Maxx

Scooter’s plans for a Galaxy Quest cinematic universe

This shirt is marketed towards exercise or very warm weather

This shirt has not aged as well

Who’s interviewing whom right now?

I thought this would be a montage!

Morpheus is probably playing pan flute somewhere right now for this montage

The other options would be pajama shirts

CW is looking for something comfy, breathable, and no static

Let’s talk about more of Scooter’s wardrobe

What about a shirt that’s open? That’s full control, Scooter!

Worries: Wrinkling, Constriction, & Mismatched Footwear

One time, I wanted a Waffle-Based Wardrobe 

And then I wanted Terry Cloth Clothing

Waffle Towels are great for me

Then I bought some of those clothes for SWM live shows

These shirts had some complicated closures

Sometimes, Scooter leaves clothes with family so he can wear them when he’s there

Hand Me Forwards

A bucket of clothes at my parents’ home

3 pairs of shorts, 3 pairs of socks, 4 or 5 t shirts, 1 or 2 button down shirts

Maybe even a pair of jeans?

The problem with the waffle shirts is that they’re not worn enough

When CW comes to Earth, he’s going to borrow Scooter’s under-utilized clothes

Great Montage, Scooter

Another question

Write a letter to your favorite author, musician, or business establishment. What do you like about them?

That doesn’t apply to CW

CW will follow Scooter’s example

CW is coaxing Scooter just like a cloud!

Let’s talk out a letter to Steven Spielberg

A seminal impact on Scooter

Raiders of the Lost Ark was impactful

A magic that I could only see

A special summer

Goonies, Back to the Future, and A View to a Kitten

The first time I could go to the movies by myself

The child matinee price was unbelievably low

I remember playing with toys and recreating A View to a Kitten

This love of movies was running through my blood

The moment I realized movies were made by people

I wanted to be the next Steven Spielberg

Returning to school after a heady summer

Heading into a particularly rough school year

Writing a report on my dream career

I don’t think my school library had any books about making movies

2 or 3 public libraries, too

I couldn’t find any books on directors and executive producers

I had really bad handwriting and wasn’t good at spelling

I couldn’t spell “Executive Producer / Director”

I wasn’t getting off to a good start with this director

I was a little too flashy without style or substance

I got an F on that paper

I probably thought a lot about it, but didn’t work really hard on it

I should’ve written you a letter then

I didn’t have an Internal Cloud Coaxer at the time

Oh, the Cloud Wrangler keeps things in flow

It took me time to coax the things that were holding me back

Unexpected Expectations

Maybe I’ll watch The Fablemans and then write you a real letter

I don’t know how to get back to you, but I’ll get back to you

Thanks, Cloud Coaxer

Holy Cow, what an interview

 

PATREON THANKS

Nicky, Lenora, Linda, Henrique, Aaron, Lizzie, Jennifer, Allison, Kristin, Wyatta, Megan, Adria, Ramon, Nova, Becca, Dax, Den, Laura, Caitlin, Joanne, Wendy

 

SUMMARY:

Episode: 1,197

Title: Cloud Wrangler Interviews Scooter | Trending Tuesday

Deep Dark Night United: Joe (Zocdoc)

Plugs: WGA/SAG-AFTRA Strike Support; The Midnight Mission; Orlando Park Stop / Trevor Project; Patreon; SleepPhones; Emily Tat Artwork; NAPAWF; Anti-Racism Resources; Ukraine Relief; Crisis Textline; Annual Survey

Sponsors: Odoo; Polysleep; Helix Sleep; Progressive; HelloFresh

Patreon Thanks: Nicky, Lenora, Linda, Henrique, Aaron, Lizzie, Jennifer, Allison, Kristin, Wyatta, Megan, Adria, Ramon, Nova, Becca, Dax, Den, Laura, Caitlin, Joanne, Wendy

Notable Language:

• Toes immersed in puffy clouds
• Cloud Wrangler
• Cloud Coaxer
• Tangible Physical Feedback
• Cloud-Based Universe (CBU)
• Cloud Coaxer
• Cloud-Based Beings (CBBs)
• Vaporous Being
• Non-Cotton Material
• Waffle-Based Wardrobe (WBW)
• Hand Me Forwards
• Microfiche
• F-E-A-R
• Unexpected Expectations

 

Notable Culture:

• • “The Rambler” song
  • Zeus
  • “A Pocketful of Sunshine” – Natasha Bedingfield

• The Sandman

• The Matrix

• • Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
  • Hallmark Channel
  • TJ Maxx

• Galaxy Quest 2

• Star Trek

• • Steven Spielberg
  • Raiders of the Lost Ark

• Goonies

• Back to the Future

• A View to a Kill

• • Onondoga County

• The Fablemans

 

Notable Talking Points:

• Ok, there’s that thought I’m thinking about
• Toes immersed in puffy clouds
• Does the cloud support my feet?
• Let me introduce myself, I’m the Cloud Wrangler
• Does Cloud Wrangler have the same number of syllables as “The Rambler”
• A non-sentient cloud would be totally fine if it appeared in my bedroom
• It would be nice if the cloud was a little dense
• Tangible Physical Feedback
• Is this what Zeus feels like?
• A tiny bit of clouds between our toes
• A Pocketful of Clouds
• Somewhere else on planet Earth, someone can relate to what you’re going through
• Only Cloud Enthusiasts pay attention to clouds
• You can listen to this podcast like most people watch clouds
• I guess this will be the Cloud Wrangler episode
• Oh, this isn’t a tale, this is an interview
• The Cloud Wrangler is on the line now
• Let me think of some questions to ask you
• Who’s in charge of wrangling clouds?
• I’m most accurately a Cloud Coaxer
• I work for Morpheus (not that one. Or the other one)
• Shoutout to Cloud Tower
• Cloud Wrangler is not a Cloud-Based Being
• My head is in the clouds, only when I’m actually in the clouds
• Tell us about your normal attire and out of the ordinary attire for you
• Fortunately, CW is familiar with the human world
• Technically, I am wrangling clouds without clothes on, but that’s not true for me
• This is the second interview I’ve done
• This is stumping Scooter in a good way
• A Hypothetical Clothing Question
• Rudolph is more popular on Cloud Tower than he is on Earth
• If Morpheus sent CW down to Earth in human form, what would you look like?
• Let’s sort out all the caveats for this hypothetical question
• A Popular Film Sequence
• A Joyous Montage of Wearing Outfits
• Let’s roll through an extended slow-mo montage for this sleep podcast
• Morpheus is aware of Scooter’s relationship to Scooter
• Talking about Scooter’s shorts
• He bought these shorts with his mother
• 5 or 6 years ago, and they’re still going strong
• Scooter prefers 100% Cotton
• CW would definitely wear those shorts, but not that shirt
• A strange pronunciation of TJ Maxx
• Scooter’s plans for a Galaxy Quest cinematic universe
• This shirt is marketed towards exercise or very warm weather
• This shirt has not aged as well
• Who’s interviewing whom right now?
• I thought this would be a montage!
• Morpheus is probably playing pan flute somewhere right now for this montage
• The other options would be pajama shirts
• CW is looking for something comfy, breathable, and no static
• Let’s talk about more of Scooter’s wardrobe
• What about a shirt that’s open? That’s full control, Scooter!
• Worries: Wrinkling, Constriction, & Mismatched Footwear
• One time, I wanted a Waffle-Based Wardrobe 
• And then I wanted Terry Cloth Clothing
• Waffle Towels are great for me
• Then I bought some of those clothes for SWM live shows
• These shirts had some complicated closures
• Sometimes, Scooter leaves clothes with family so he can wear them when he’s there
• Hand Me Forwards
• A bucket of clothes at my parents’ home
• 3 pairs of shorts, 3 pairs of socks, 4 or 5 t shirts, 1 or 2 button down shirts
• Maybe even a pair of jeans?
• The problem with the waffle shirts is that they’re not worn enough
• When CW comes to Earth, he’s going to borrow Scooter’s under-utilized clothes
• Great Montage, Scooter
• Another question
• Write a letter to your favorite author, musician, or business establishment. What do you like about them?
• That doesn’t apply to CW
• CW will follow Scooter’s example
• CW is coaxing Scooter just like a cloud!
• Let’s talk out a letter to Steven Spielberg
• A seminal impact on Scooter
• Raiders of the Lost Ark was impactful
• A magic that I could only see
• A special summer
• Goonies, Back to the Future, and A View to a Kitten
• The first time I could go to the movies by myself
• The child matinee price was unbelievably low
• I remember playing with toys and recreating A View to a Kitten
• This love of movies was running through my blood
• The moment I realized movies were made by people
• I wanted to be the next Steven Spielberg
• Returning to school after a heady summer
• Heading into a particularly rough school year
• Writing a report on my dream career
• I don’t think my school library had any books about making movies
• 2 or 3 public libraries, too
• I couldn’t find any books on directors and executive producers
• I had really bad handwriting and wasn’t good at spelling
• I couldn’t spell “Executive Producer / Director”
• I wasn’t getting off to a good start with this director
• I was a little too flashy without style or substance
• I got an F on that paper
• I probably thought a lot about it, but didn’t work really hard on it
• I should’ve written you a letter then
• I didn’t have an Internal Cloud Coaxer at the time
• Oh, the Cloud Wrangler keeps things in flow
• It took me time to coax the things that were holding me back
• Unexpected Expectations
• Maybe I’ll watch The Fablemans and then write you a real letter
• I don’t know how to get back to you, but I’ll get back to you
• Thanks, Cloud Coaxer
• Holy Cow, what an interview

Episode 1197 – Cloud Wrangler Interviews Scooter

 

[START OF RECORDING]

 

SCOOTER: Friends beyond the binary, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, it’s time for the podcaster who’s here to keep you company in the deep, dark night, to be your bore-friend, your bore-bae. This show is a bit different. I’m glad you’re here. Tonight we’re gonna be rolling the old twenty-sided dice off to dreamland. Actually, no dice will be rolled, though. If they are, they’ll be rolled off-mic. Sleep With Me, the only podcast that could involve dice being…actually, yeah, I guess dice still get rolled. I mean, I have a app where it shows the…is it a…it’s a die, right? Twenty-sided die, not…so, most of the time it’s just one die getting rolled.

 

Now, if you’re wondering what is…what are you rolling, rolling, rolling on and on about, I’d say…'cause you sound like you’re something like a thirteen-sided die. I’d say, I roll about as evenly as that. Here’s a question I don't have the answer to; how many dice are made up of prime numbers? Any? I don't know. Probably not, but just a question that popped…oh, but I’m supposed to be introducing a sleep podcast. If you’re new and you’re here, this show’s very different. I’m glad you’re here. It’s meant to take your mind off of stuff and keep you company while you fall asleep. It does take a few tries to get used to, but we make the show because you deserve a good night’s sleep and you deserve to not feel…for the deep, dark night to not feel so lonely. So, I’m here to help.

 

What else do you need to know? Oh, structurally we got some support coming up so the show could be free for everybody, then there’s a long, meandering intro, and then there’ll be a bedtime story where some friends are working on designing their own roleplaying adventure and kinda playing through it and being friends. So, that’s really sleepy stuff. A lot of layers to…for me to go off-topic about, but I’m glad you’re here and I really hope this show can keep you company, take your mind off of stuff, and help you fall asleep. Thanks for coming by, and thanks for making it possible, my patron peeps.

 

INTRO: [INTRO MUSIC] Hey, are you up all night tossing, turning, mind racing? Trouble getting to sleep? Trouble staying asleep? Well, welcome. This is Sleep With Me, the podcast that puts you to sleep. We do it with a bedtime story. Alls you need to do is get in bed, turn out the lights, and press Play. I’m gonna do the rest. What I’m going to attempt to do is create a safe place where you could set aside whatever’s keeping you awake. It could be thoughts on your mind that you’re thinking about, like…you say, okay, there’s a thought I’m thinking about, and…or…I guess they say you can only think about one thing at once, which is kinda one of the theories behind this show.

 

But what they don’t say is normally it doesn’t feel that way, and the person saying it…then you say, well, I think you should keep your opinions to yourself. ‘Cause usually if someone says that at an inopportune time…they say, did you know you…so, if you’re thinking about your toes being immersed in puffy clouds, you won't be thinking about everything else on your mind. I say, well, I don't know if it works. Huh, my toes…my toe…I would rather have my feet…does the cloud support my feet? Well, I was just making a quick example. Okay, but I’m just more interested. Now that you’re bringing this up, I have thoughts about my thoughts being distracted by my toes…did you say my toes would be immersed in puffy clouds? Here’s a question; could I tickle the clouds with my toes? Would they giggle?

 

‘Cause I could kinda see that. That would be nice. I don't know…how much does this cloud machine you’re proposing…or how much does it cost to book your clouds? Well, I’m glad you asked. I’m actually a cloud…I’m the cloud wrangler. Really, you’re the cloud wrangler? I guess I thought the pod…tonight’s episode would be about our roleplaying friends, but this is definitely…so you wrangle clouds. Yeah, I’ll tell you more about it in the episode, apparently, but yeah, you could tickle our clouds. Do they call you the cloud wrangler 'cause you wrangle clouds around and around and around? I’m not sure I get your reference, but it is early in the podcast, so it’s probably fine for you to make a reference like that.

 

I don't know, it just popped in my head, 'cause if they called you the cloud wrangler…does cloud wrangler have the same number of syllables as the Rambler? Is that…? They call me the Rambler? Is that…? I don't know the actual…I’ve taken that song so many times when it’s popped in my head unrelated…that song’s lost all meaning to me. Sounds like you should have a puffy cloud in your life. Okay, I didn’t realize that clouds…puffy clouds is a business opportunity, but I’m interested in this seminar. So, okay…so, a cloud wrangler. I like it. There’s one thing that won't be wrangled by my methods, is a cloud. I mean, I could tell you that. So, that’s even more interesting. I would bet you’re more of a cloud coaxer, eh? Maybe you should write the episode later. Oh, thanks.

 

You’re right; I should probably introduce the podcast. So, thoughts on your mind about the past, present, the future, puffy clouds. It could be feelings, anything you’re feeling emotionally coming up for you related to those thoughts or feelings that are just there. It could be physical sensations, changes in time, temperature, routine. Whatever it is that’s keeping you awake, I’m here to take your mind off of stuff and keep you company so that you could fall asleep. For a lot of people, when you first get here, that can be very confusing, the whole idea of the show, whatever just happened.

 

What’s not confusing I think we could all agree on…I would not mind the image of me…now, I don't know if I’d be lying on clouds, but even if I was lying on my bed and I had a cloud appear…it wouldn’t even have to be a sentient cloud, though that’d be…if it’s just appearing at the foot of my bed…and then I tickle it with my toes and…tangibly or intangibly, that could…they say, holy cow, hey VR people, send me some money. You could do that on VR, but I was thinking if it had some sort of tangible aspect to it…with the cloud giggling but also that there’s some sort of density and physical feedback as I’m tickling the cloud with my toes. Nothing too intense. Not on the density of cotton balls. I don't want my toes getting caught in any clouds. That would be…I guess that’d be cool.

 

That’d be the closest it’d ever be to feeling like Zeus. They’d say, hey, what’s that between your toes? Hardy-har-har. Oh, that’s a cloud. No, it’s not. No, it actually is; I was tickling a cloud with my toes earlier. Hold on a second. What? Oh yeah, it’s a…it’s actually…this could be…well, it’s a business…well, it’s my business now. I sell cloud-dispersion units or something. I don't know. But yeah, it’s…oh yeah, that’s a…you could just walk around on the beach with a cloud stick…a tiny bit of cloud sticking out between your toes. Most people would just scoff, but you say, no, this is a cloud. Go ahead; take a look at it. Do you have any clouds that have not been between your toes?

 

Because I’d prefer…oh, actually, I do have…I also…to quote that song from the nineties that Scooter quotes…not the cloud wrangler but the…I’ve got a pocket full of clouds today on the beach. So, yeah, that’s…talk about a spin doctor. Yeah, this is…I’ve got a pocket full of clouds. I mean, not full, but…here; it’s a free sample. It’s a tiny cloud. Maybe I should…do you think I should charge for these, too? But yeah, go ahead; take it. By the way, yes, that was a cloud between my toes. It’s floated away…it’s already dispersed in the atmosphere. I don't know if it’s returning to whence it came, but I felt like I should say that 'cause it makes me feel enlightened. Okay, where were we, though?

 

Thoughts, feelings, physical sensations, any changes in time or temperature or routine or anything else physically going on with you or that you’re anticipating or traveling or your work schedule changed or you’re not on a normal work schedule. Whatever it is that’s going on, whatever’s keeping you awake, the reason I go through all those things…and the most important thing that I’ve learned particularly in the last few months of making this show is that we are alone together, together alone. I know this is a podcast and it’s strange, but it is the most important part of the show…is that it feels lonely in the deep, dark night for a lot of us. Maybe not for everybody, and that’s not easy. I want you to know there’s other people listening right now, and I may not know exactly what’s keeping you awake.

 

I may not have been through the same thing. I think I can relate to how it feels, but if I can’t, I can tell you there’s somebody listening right now somewhere on planet Earth…let’s not even get into…there could be cloud-based universes. I don't know if they have Sleep With Me there. But there’s someone else listening who can relate to what you’re going through and who says, hey, that’s tough. I’m glad you’re here. I hope this podcast can help, just like Scooter says, because it’s not easy. The other thing is you deserve a good night’s sleep. You deserve a place you could rest, a bedtime you don’t have to dread, a bedtime without rigmarole most of the time, that you could say, well, at least I got this sleep podcast to look forward to or this incredibly elaborate cloud-based machine that I get to tickle…tickling clouds; I can imagine to do that with Scooter.

 

Or whatever podcast…like I said…well, I haven’t said it yet. If you loathe me already, if you’re like, I’m never gonna listen to this show again…and I’ve heard…I hear from those people on a regular basis. I have a website set up for you. I’m not even saying this in a snarky way. Sleepwithmepodcast.com/nothankyou. I hear from so many people that loathe me over the past ten years, I made a website for it because you still deserve a good night’s sleep. So, check that out. It’s got other sleep podcasts on there, other sleepy stuff, 'cause maybe you’ll find something that’ll help you, because we’re in this together. So, that’s why I make the show, and if you get the sleep you need, your life’s gonna be better. It’s gonna be more manageable and maybe you can be out there flourishing, living your life.

 

That means the world’s a better place to be in. So, that’s what I do. What I do is I send my voice across the deep, dark night. I’m gonna use lulling, soothing, creaky, dulcet tones, pointless meanders, and superfluous tangents…and go off-topic, I’ll get mixed up, then I’ll forget…we’ve already seen quite a few of those; pointless meanders and superfluous tangents. The show also can be tough because it’s a podcast you don’t really listen to, but you could listen. You kinda just barely listen, just like looking at a cloud. Let’s be honest, unless you’re a cloud enthusiast, you look at a cloud; you say, it might be nice, or somebody says that looks like, I don't know, a turtle. You say, huh, I don't know. Looks more like this to me. Anyway, well, that cloud’s puffy. Huh, I wonder what that cloud’s doing. Is it moving?

 

How do clouds get flat bottoms? Those are the kind of things that go…but then you move on or the cloud dissipates. This podcast is…kind of dissipates sometimes. So, that just takes some getting used to, kinda like looking at something out-of-focus or a cloud. Also, this podcast, it’s a sleep podcast. It was kinda the first sleep podcast out there, but it doesn’t put you to sleep. I’m here to keep you company while you fall asleep, to take your mind off of stuff and not to put you to sleep. You just fall asleep. I take your mind off of stuff and be a little bit of a distraction, a distraction that you don’t have any investment or stakes in, that you can kinda listen to externally, but you don’t have to pay attention to it, but you could pay attention to it. There’s no pressure to fall asleep.

 

These shows are over an hour so you don’t have to worry about when the episode’s gonna end or if you can’t sleep you have something to listen to, because there’s people who are listening who can’t sleep or who have a tough day and they need a break. So, the podcast is here whether you’re awake or asleep, whether you’re listening or not. It does take a few tries to get used to, and…'cause most people get here skeptical, doubtful, tired, frustrated. So, give it a few tries. That’s just what most listeners have said; hey, it took two or three tries for me to realize, oh, okay, this podcast doesn’t make any sense or whatever. So, that’s that part, structurally…oh, what else throws people off? Me, the style of the show, it doesn’t put you to sleep, you don’t listen to it…structure of the show also throws people off.

 

So, the show structurally is…it starts off with a greeting; friends beyond the binary, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, so you feel seen and welcome and you say, I could check that podcast out. Then there’s support so the show could be free for anybody that wants to listen, which I’ve learned is very important. So, I’m proud to be able to offer the show for free. Then there’s an intro which is a long, meandering intro meant to ease you into bedtime. For some people…for some reason, when people dislike the support strongly, they lump the intro in with it, and I don’t want you to miss out on the intro. If you want a ad-free experience, you could pay for it, but otherwise just…the intro is a show within a show meant to ease you into bedtime.

 

It’s different every single time so that for you or a regular listener, like…yeah, you can’t quite adjust. You never know what I’m gonna talk about, but you know it’s gonna follow a similar amount of time and structure. But that way, you could also listen while you’re getting ready for bed or you’re getting comfortable in bed or you’re doing some other wind-down activity, because that’s just what’s been shown to work, is having a wind-down routine. There are people out there and a lot of people are in bed with somebody who just puts their head on the pillow and they fall asleep, and that’s great for them, and maybe it doesn’t feel great for us, but having a bedtime routine can make bedtime a little bit nicer. It does for me and it works most of the time. So, that’s what the intro does.

 

There is a small percentage of people that fall asleep during the intro or that skip the intro, but if you’re new, see how it goes. I mean, when else are we gonna talk about puffy clouds? Or you’ll kinda see how we make the show and say, okay, I was supposed to record one style of show, but now I’m gonna do a different style of show 'cause this cloud wrangler came up. So, that’s the intro, then there’s support again so the show could be free, then there’s a story. Tonight apparently it’ll be Cloud Wrangler, and that’ll be about forty-five, fifty minutes or so, and then there’s some thank-yous at the end.

 

So, that’s the structure of the show, why I make the show, and I’m so glad you’re here. I really work really hard. I yearn and I strive. So do a bunch of other people. A bunch of people work really hard on this show. Couldn’t do it without them, but I couldn’t do it without you, either. I’m so glad we get to help you fall asleep. I really yearn and I strive to do so. I’m really glad you’re here. Thanks for coming by, and here’s a couple ways I’m able to do it for you for free twice a week.

 

Alright everybody. Hey, it’s Scoots here. This is a episode, The Cloud Wrangler, which is a…one of those great, untold tales. Or is it a interview? Oh, it’s a interview. No one let me know about that. One second; let me get prepared. Okay, hey everybody, Scoots here. You didn’t hear a delay, but I had to…I didn’t realize we…we do have them on the line now, the cloud wrangler. Apparently this is a interview, so, so glad to have you on the show. I guess you didn’t know you’d end up being interviewed, either. So, let me think about some questions to ask you. So, you’re a cloud wrangler. I guess that means you wrangle clouds. Why don’t you tell me a little bit about…what is…who do you work for or who’s in charge of wrangling clouds? Tell me…yeah, tell me a little bit more about that, if you want.

 

Okay, hi, my name’s…yeah, you could call me the cloud wrangler. Technically I don’t wrangle clouds. I more…that’s just a term…that’s a earthbound term. I’m not saying that in a way of judgement. It just is not a term we use. I know you like to say, do I move clouds around and around and around? I wouldn’t say I’m a cloud-gatherer, either. I’m a cloud…cloud coaxer is probably the best term. I do work for Morpheus. Not the Morpheus that you’re familiar with or people that watched movies in the early aughts are familiar with, but I think there’s a new Morph…there’s a Morpheus that existed before that Morpheus in comic books that some people may be thinking of. Not that Morpheus, either.

 

But Morpheus is a…I don't know, this stuff may be a bit…so, there’s a thing up in the…in our world, Cloud Tower, which that has been featured on the podcast before. Now, not a lot is known about Cloud Tower other than that’s…Cloud Tower…I guess it’s the guidance system for when…so, Cloud Tower is where someone works and they…they’re different than me 'cause they’re dealing with traffic from outside CBBs, cloud-based beings. Now, you may say, am I a cloud-based being? I’d say no, but I work in the clouds. You could say my head’s in the clouds, but that would only be accurate at the times my head is actually in the clouds, which is not at all times. But so, that…does that explain…does that answer your questions? It doesn’t, but I’m trying to find questions to ask you, 'cause I’m not sure what kind of interview this is.

 

So, I want you to imagine something you would wear that’s different from your normal attire, but you could tell us about your normal attire first. Then I want you to imagine you were wearing that non…something out of the ordinary for you and going through the public each day, which maybe means something different to you, too. How do you feel about it or how would you imagine you feel about it? Okay, well, the good news is I can try to answer this question because I am familiar with your world and your terminology, though I’m trying to find a way to describe what I would wear when I don’t…our ideas of clothing are just much different than yours. I’m sorry, so are you saying you’re up in the sky wrangling clouds with no clothing on?

 

Well, technically by your terminology, I would be, but that’s not true for me because I’m not…hm. I mean, I’m not wearing clothes but I can…I’m trying to come up with a conception that you would understand, because you don’t…when I say I’m not wearing clothes…are you not wearing clothes right now? Right now I am wearing clothes, but this is gonna be…right now I’m associated with you. That’s how we’re doing the interview. Oh, boy. Yeah, maybe you shouldn’t have…wait a second. So, you’re wearing my clothes? Technically…I mean, we’re wearing the same clothes at the same time. Okay. Alright. But you wouldn’t always be wearing my clothes. You’re only wearing my clothes because of this interview, and that’s…so, that’s a little bit…yeah, interesting, but that’s…I wish…okay, well…so, okay, well, this helps me.

 

So, let me try to…can I rephrase the question before you answer it even though you started answering it and it confused me and maybe gave me a better conception of…? Yeah, well, I don’t do a lot of interviews. The good news is this is the second interview I can recall doing as me, and the last time I did a interview I was stumped many times, too. So, this is great that you’re…but I think the other times I was stumping the interviewee where you’re stumping the interviewer. I feel like that’s good content. Okay, so, normally you’re a being that doesn’t wear clothes because you don’t wear clothes. So, that doesn’t really apply to you.

 

But in this particularly circumstance today, you’re here with me and we’re clothed together, and as I say it, I’m trying to develop some level of acceptance of all these things and some calmness, which I think I’m achieving. So, what if there was a world where you were wearing clothes which…so, any outfit, in some sense, would be different than your normal outfit. How would you feel wearing…? If you were a person…so, let’s just keep it Earth-based because I know…'cause here’s the thing; from what my experience is with Cloud Tower, Earth-based beings and…or humans; let’s just go with humans. I know there’s humans and other…I know there’s other things.

 

I think there was a giant thing of pencil erasers or something that visited Cloud Tower, or tap shoes, so I know there’s other things that happen there that I don’t…that I have a conception of. Every time I think of Cloud Tower, I think of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and I don't know why that is. I think…oh, Rudolph’s the…yeah, Rudolph’s the guest of Cloud Tower quite a bit. Very popular. I know…maybe…here’s the thing; Rudolph’s more popular up here at Cloud Tower than on Earth. Okay. So, if you were wearing clothes…if you had a need to wear clothes because you…okay, let’s just say this; let’s say Morpheus said, cloud wrangler, I need you to go down to Earth. I’m gonna do some sort of mystical, magical-type stuff. You’re gonna take on human form, but please take on human form.

 

I don't need…I just want to give another caveat that even though we’re wearing my clothes together and I’m comfortable with it because I’m pretty sure it’s cool because I’m pretty sure you’re some sort of vaporous being or whatever…it’s just for this interview. I don't need you taking…I’ve been reading…I read a lot of comic books particularly lately, so I don't need to be in…and then I’m also working on a series that takes place in a roleplaying game and I’m looking up a lot of spell stuff. So, I don't need any of that stuff…I need…I barely have any control over my life anyway, or my decisions. My thoughts and my feelings, you know, those are way out of my control.

 

So, in this example that is only a thought experiment, please let the thought experiment…and if it turns out to be anything real, that it’s just you going down to Earth in human form as an illusion through the power of Morpheus…and as you’re getting ready to do that or before you do that, you would don clothing. Or what we could do…there’s a popular sequence in films. It sounds like you’re pretty familiar with human pop culture. Typically happens in…can happen in teen comedies, rom-coms, other films where there’s a sequence and it’s usually a joyous montage of…happens…I don't want to point fingers, but I think every film on the greeting card channel may contain this sequence that I’ve watched when my mom’s not watching the news and I’m visiting her…I’ve seen a lot of these sequences…that happens.

 

So, maybe we could do a montage of you wearing outfits and you telling me…we could just walk through it. I forget the original question. You’re headed to Earth not as me and not becoming me or taking me over, but in your own human form. We’re setting aside any thought experiments of…we’re just focusing on the outfit. What would…tell me about some outfits or thought…let’s roll through a extended slow-moving montage for a sleep podcast of you coming out of the dressing room in outfits, and we do…I could be that person that’s sitting there. My legs are already crossed and I’m in a chair. That’s the great news. Let’s take it from there, cloud wrangler. Okay, well, the first thoughts I had was what am I gonna…what’s gonna make me feel the most comfort…?

 

Well, I have two different…I have two competing thoughts, but I’ll start with that one. Maybe it’s the way you’re dressed, even though I know I’m taking on another form, but right now you seem to be dressed comfortably. Also, I have access to your…well, I shouldn’t have said that, but I do have access to your memories. I also am aware…we keep an eye…Morpheus…taking a liking is probably the wrong way to describe how Morpheus feels about you, but that might be the easiest way for you to hear and understand it. So, Morpheus kinda knows your relationship with clothing and things like that.

 

Morpheus and I both know that the shorts you’re wearing now…interesting enough that you brought up your mother, because I think you were either with your mother when you bought these shorts or you said…when you were buying the shorts you’re wearing now, you said, oh, I remember when we went shopping with grandma’ to your daughter…and you’re buying them at a place that’s associated with kind of fast clothing, but I know you’ve had these shorts for at least five to six years and they don’t really look that tired, we’ll say.

 

But they’re also casual shorts you mostly wear around the house and they’re…waist…elastic waistband drawstring, some sort of material like linen that’s not linen that is the right thickness for you; very soft and…but not too soft 'cause I know you don’t like those clothings that are too soft…and 100% cotton, I’m guessing, which I know you have a preference for, and…most of the time. Interestingly enough, your shirt I guess I wouldn’t wear because your…so, I would wear those shorts you’re wearing now. I would not wear the shirt you’re wearing now. Even though you seem pretty comfortable in it, I know you have a ongoing, unsure relationship with non…what are these manufactured clothed…manufactured clothing things.

 

It’s some sort of non-cotton material and it’s a shirt…the funny thing is that shirt probably was…this was a shirt you got at TJ Maxx. You say, really, TJ Maxx? That’s funny how you…TJ Maxx…yeah, you almost say it like a computer. That’s fine; I’m not making fun of you. I just never heard…TJ Maxx. TJ Maxx…but that’s fine, 'cause I just watched Galaxy Quest; I guess that’s…made me think of it. Oh yeah, yeah, I know you were thinking of making Galaxy Quest II in your imagination, Scooter. Morpheus and I had a laugh at that. Well, yeah, we had Galaxy Quest…it was actually called Return to Galaxy Quest. Then we said, well, maybe we should look up the other original Star Trek movies and then come up with a title based on that.

 

Then we said, what if we just took Galaxy Quest and applied it to another popular property even though we’d never get the rights to that? Then we kinda said, well, maybe StarKid already did that. So, yeah, and there’s other movies like Galaxy Quest, but now I can’t think of them. Okay, Scooter. So, I wouldn’t wear the shirt you’re wearing because…oh, so you bought it at TJ Maxx; I know that, and I know that it probably was a good deal but not…you wouldn’t have considered it fast fashion and it’s a shirt that you’re…normally is marketed towards exercise or warm, warm weather. I know that you were strongly encouraged to purchase this shirt by a sibling who loves these style shirts and that you have four different versions of the shirt. You’ve probably possessed the shirt not as long as the shorts.

 

The shirt is definitely not aged as well as the shorts because it went from being a shirt you could wear at other places to now being a shirt that can only remain within your home. So, yeah. So, we have that. So, those things are…but it’s also that…I don't know. One, you got the static issue with the shirt, but I don't know…I don't know…I know that otherwise you wear cotton shirts as your pajama…who’s interviewing who right now? Whom? Scooter, I’m just postulating on what shirt I would wear, but I thought the whole thing was that you were…I thought this was gonna be a montage. Right, a slow-moving montage, Scooter. There’s probably some sort…somewhere in another…Morpheus is probably playing the pan flute. I don't know if I’ve ever seen a clothing-try-on montage with a pan flute before.

 

You don’t know how that would…Scooter, I’m just try…I don't know if I’ve heard the pan flute played slowly, either, but I guess…I mean, I could hear the up notes when you come out of the thing. Okay, so you would not wear the shirt I’m wearing now. Now I’m starting to think about the shirt. Yeah, I’m just postulating, Scooter. So, the other options would be your other shirts that you call pajama shirts, which are just t-shirts that are either one size too large for you or have too many grease stains for you to wear outside of the house or have, as you would say, too much going on on the shirt. I say, well…huh. I know you wear a lot of those because you work from home some days and…but I don't know, I’m not feeling those shirts, either.

 

Okay, now I feel like I’m getting to know you, because your having preference is different than me. This is good. So, we’d have the same shorts on. So, what are you looking for in a shirt? That’s a great question. I guess in this circumstance I’m looking for something comfortable, breathable, no static. I don't know, I don't think these shorts would feel good as a shirt. Scooter, could I ask you this question? You could. Okay, so how would you feel…I guess this…if I was wearing a shirt that was…now, can we get into some of your other wardrobe and maybe you could even do a try on, not for me, but for yourself later? Oh boy, I think I know where you’re going with this. Yeah, so, I was thinking…and if I was in your situation…so, I know you have to walk the dog, so that…I guess this is where the objection would come in.

 

But you have shirts that you’re feeling…you’re 80% about. Some shirts like the one you’re wearing now; maybe you’re at 65%, and…but you…what about shirts that are open, like a button shirt? So, then you have full control over the breatheability of the shirt when you’re alone and it’s appropriate, you could button it up when you leave the house, and you have a little more material choice. Now, okay…oh, Scooter, by the way, I can read your mind. I forgot to…I’m within your…you understand that I’m a vapor-based being, you know? Yeah, I thought you said you weren’t made of clouds, but anyway…so, yeah, I would worry about wrinkling, constriction, and people…when I leave the house with these shorts on, usually my footwear is whichever footwear I’ve left by the door that I could put on without…that I can just use to walk the dog.

 

So, I know the shirts…the initial shirts you were thinking of I think I’ve talked about on the podcast before, and please don’t bring up the short-shorts. I did say…sometimes I do search for stuff based on intros, and I know on a intro I said I wanted to have a waffle-based wardrobe based on waffle…I was waffling on waffle clothing. I said to myself, huh, I wonder what would happen if I had waffle…can you buy waffle-based clothing? Really that was 'cause I wanted Terry cloth clothing, and…but that kind of…I wanted…I’d like to wear Terry cloth-based clothing, but that was harder to find, and then I got a…I had a waffle robe and some waffle towels. Now, the interesting thing is the waffle robe is a little thick 'cause it’s two layers of waffle.

 

The waffle towels are perfect because they’re just one layer of waffle, very thin, and they’re for quick drying, and they’re not too soft. I guess some people would say they’re a little bit…not soft enough, but I find them great. But so, then I went online and I searched for waffle-based clothing, and eventually I found some sort of obscure site that sold waffle-based clothing, and seemed like it was for people that were a little bit…their lifestyle was a little bit cooler than mine or something. Also, it was incredibly low-priced, so I think it was all on clearance. Yeah, I bought…I said, for the live shows, these would be cool. So, I bought a baby blue set of shirt and shorts and then a purple of the color of Sleep With Me shirt and shorts. Now, they were almost from the future.

 

Now, the…I guess in the future I’ll be wearing short-shorts because they were very short shorts. I also bought a polo shirt and lounge pants or sweatpants. Those were great. I mean, I wouldn’t wear them out of the house, but they’re lounge pants for the winter. Then the black polo shirt…I haven’t really worn it, but I probably could. So, the other two shirts, though, are non…they’re from the future. They kind of go together like…they’re complicated closures, something like a Starfleet uniform. Just to give an example, the bottom button…I would have to take my right hand, reach it under my left armpit towards my hip to button the shirt. Then I think the next button is on my…below my chest on my right side with my left hand. So, I don't know about…I could…I’m willing to try. Okay, Scooter.

 

Yeah, the other thing I…I think that sometimes you’ve boughten dress shirts on…what do you call that place? TJ Maxx. I know some of those you’ve left behind in other places where you have…where your parents and your brother live so then you don’t have to bring as much clothes, so then you just wear old clothes. It’s like you’re…you wear your hand-me-forwards. They’re not hand-me-downs; they’re hand-me-forwards. Yeah, that always creates a few days of…I’m from a large family and I’m a complicated person, but yeah, I had an idea at some point three, four, five years ago; why not have…I mean, I didn’t call them hand-me-forwards. That’s a great term.

 

But my parents…now, their place is pretty small, so I’ve only been able to…so, those clothes where my parents live at their condo, those are more universally-left clothes. But hopefully the ones that my parents don’t return like sweatshirts, towels, socks…which I know everybody…but if you wash socks, it’s like, come on. Maybe a couple pairs of shorts and shirts, but their place is so small. Now, my childhood home is in a transitory state, but sometimes it’s rented out, but not always. So, I do have a container of clothes, 'cause normally I only visit there or I’ll just stop there even if it was rented out, because it should be near the garage, though I used to hide it at their cabin. But then people would be…I guess from my point…wow, this is getting deep.

 

This is a serious interview, huh? You’re doing great, Scooter. Just keep answering the questions. So, normally what would happen is…so, it’s one of those plastic bins. Not super big, but…so, yeah, I probably have three pairs of shorts, three or four pairs of socks, four or five t-shirts, and then one or two or three button-down or casual form…shirts I could wear out to lunch or something, but clothes that I didn’t necessarily wear here or that became…have some sort of stains on them where if I’m on vacation sharing a cabin with my family that I don't really mind wearing. So, clothes you’re comfortable in when you’re in a comfortable place. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You could…there’s two pairs of the exact same grey shorts that are faded from…and maybe even a pair of jeans.

 

Yeah, Scooter, and there’s…yeah, there’s even…you have a couple long-sleeve shirts there in case it gets chilly, maybe even a sweatshirt. Yeah, I do, but what was your point? So, I was just thinking, 'cause you have some of those type of shirts along with these waffle clothes. The problem with your waffle shirts, Scooter, is you don’t wear…they’re never gonna…I guess they could be your show shirts, your live show shirts, but that’s kind of a very specific…and only could wear them at a certain temperature that…so, only…that’d be only one or two live shows a year. So, if they don’t get worn in, I just wonder what will happen to them, you know? Yeah, no, I hear you.

 

So, I would say those shirts…and then there’s a couple shirts that either you actually took back from your summer clothes, your cabin clothes, or that you liked so much or that are very similar to your cabin clothes. I know even one shirt you did put into rotation recently that…yeah. Yeah, so, what…? Wait, are you saying you want to borrow…when you come to Earth, you’re gonna borrow my clothes? I guess so, Scooter. I mean, these are the only clothes I’ve ever known, but I’m gonna borrow your…some of your clothes that you’re not wear…you’re not utilizing fully, and I’m suggesting maybe you do the same. Okay, this means you’re probably not gonna try on any more clothes, though, for the montage. No, I think that’s it, Scooter. That’s a good…that was a good montage. Okay, here’s another interview question.

 

Scooter, where are you getting these questions? Oh, random…I grabbed four books that were sitting on my couch and then I’m going through them. Okay, Scooter. This one is…I want you to write a letter to one of your…your favorite author, musician, actor, or business establishment. What is it that you admire about each of them? Okay. Scooter, again, I don't have a frame of reference for this kind of…I have your frame of reference and then Earth’s frame of reference, but we don’t have…so, we do have authors, musicians, actors, so, creative people coming to Cloud Tower, and businesses…yeah, I guess we do have those things, but I don't know, I think of it in a different way. So, why don’t you talk about some…one of those things that sticks out to you that…and then maybe I could use that as a frame of reference yet again?

 

Maybe even something you’ve talked about before but it’s been a while. Wait a second. Yeah, Scooter? I’m seeing you working now. What do you mean, Scooter? So, this is your cloud-wrangling skills. You could be an interviewer 'cause you’re…what did you say you do? Cloud coaxing. You’re trying to…you’re coaxing me. Scooter, I didn’t know I was doing that. I don't know if I believe you. Like, 'cause you want me to talk about Steven Spielberg, right? Wow, that would be…what about Steven Spielberg did you…came up for you, Scooter, that maybe you haven’t talked about in a while? Maybe this could be a framework. Maybe, Scooter, you could actually do this. We could talk out a letter, then you could send it to Steven Spielberg.

 

Because, let’s be honest, you’re not…you don’t want to hand-write the letter because your handwriting is just hard to read, though you could hand-write it and send it with a typed copy. Then you could…let’s just talk it out because I think there’s enough people listening to the show now that haven’t listened in a long…that didn’t listen early on, and they might not know about any of this. Okay, you’ve coaxed it right out. Okay, so you want me to…? Dear Steven Spielberg, I just wanted to let you know that you changed my life, and I wanted to say thank you. Now, some of this I would edit because I’m not…Dear Steven, a lot of this is based on my childhood perceptions of you, though I know that’s just my childhood perceptions.

 

But sometimes I think that childhood appreciation is more powerful than reality and the fantasy you’ve created. I don't want to sound…I guess I’m doing a little performative, but try…I’m trying to be honest and performative at the same time. Okay, Scooter, yeah, this is just the first draft. So, I don't know…you probably didn’t know this, Steven, but there’s a couple seminal moments in my life, some of which may be familiar to even current listeners, and I just wanted to talk about them, leading up to the most seminal moment, an eye-opening moment in my life. But I can remember the day I fully fell in love with movies…was the first time I saw Raiders of the Lost Ark, which I don't think Steven Spielberg had anything to do with.

 

Well, Scooter…so, okay, I think the audience knows that, that you’ve talked about that somewhat recently, so you could move on from that one just in case, because I think that you should probably look that up. So, just leave that as…because you have other ones, right? Right, but then when I fell in love with Raiders of the Lost Ark, it was something outside of me and something magical but untouchable, an untouchable, unaccessible kind of magic that I could only see. Then a special summer came, the summer of whatever year it was when two separate movies came out within a time frame. Scooter, I’m not…Scooter, yeah…I guess this is all good because…oh, it leads into…yeah, can…thanks, thanks for your coaxing. You’re just trying to coax me to keep going. You’re doing great, Scooter.

 

Okay, so, that was the summer that Goonies and Back to the Future came out, and, by the way, A View to a Kitten, which was a James Bond movie. I think those all came out the same summer, and they came out on my radar 'cause I can remember…I think about hearing and talking about Back to the Future before it came out in a car on a hot day going somewhere I didn’t want to go with somebody else’s family, but with one of my friends. I can remember that I don’t know which movie came out first. I think Goonies came out first, and I can remember this was the first time I was able to go to the movies by myself. There was a movie theatre within walking and biking distance of where I lived even though it was pretty…it was far for a kid.

 

It wasn’t too far, and it was definitely…the price, especially for a child matinee, was unbelievably low. I’m pretty sure I had my paper route, so I had a little bit of cash on hand, and I remember seeing that movie over and over and over again. Then I found out that there was a movie with more hype coming out after that called Back to the Future. Somewhere in there I also saw View to a Kitten, a Roger Moore/James Bond film, a bunch of times as well. Then this other movie came out called Back to the Future; not A Back to the Future. Now, I may be remembering these in the wrong order, but I don't think I am. I said, there’s a movie that’s getting better reviews than Goonies and is more…even more…expected to be more popular. Not the James Bond movie, but the other two movies were in my head, associated with executive director producer, Steven Spielberg.

 

I can remember the moment I was playing with my toys, I think looking forward to seeing Back to the Future and with the thrill of seeing…again, as a child or whatever, yeah, I definitely was not even pre-pubescent. Or maybe I was pre-pubescent, but as a child who played with toys…so, whatever, nineteen? I don't know. Scooter, that’s a good age for being self-depricating, so yeah, I appreciate it. So, yeah, I can remember playing with these toys and realizing as I was re-enacting scenes mostly from A View to a Kitten, but with that anticipation of Back to the Future and the thrill of A View to a Kitten and Goonies running through my bloodstream, that movies were made by people, which was the people who make movies…was the episode I talked about this.

 

I don't know how many years ago it came out; maybe five or six years ago. I can remember it because I said, wait a second, it’s people’s jobs to make movies, and that’s when I decided what I wanted to do with my life, was become the next Steven Spielberg. Now, a couple things you should know, Steven. I didn’t have the greatest…I was not a good student. I was not a very disciplined child. I was very good at daydreaming…consuming, reading, daydreaming, consuming things that would encourage my daydreaming like books and movies, and playing. So, I had those down, those three things, along with other shades of fantasizing, unrealistic expectations on both sides of the coin. None of this is your fault, by the way, just in case you think…thought it was, but this is the first draft of a letter, anyway.

 

Then what happened, Steven, was I returned to school after this heady summer, which may have not just been the summer but I’m associating with the summer because that’s how I remember it. I returned to school and that door didn’t totally close, but it felt closed a little bit, right? I felt like I was back in the old airlock and I’d…this was a particularly rough school year. This happened just like in the movies where finally one day the teacher said, I want you to write a report on what you want to be when you grow up or something like that, your future career, your dream career, and it has to be…whatever…we were learning how to use a book for this kind of thing. Maybe it was on a break.

 

I’m presuming it was on a break because that was when I definitely wouldn’t get any schoolwork done, because I’d be too busy imagining, Steven. Maybe that’s familiar. So, what happened is that well, one, at my school library which was very small…there was not any books…I don't even know if there’s any books about movies. There was a great book about people who rode the seven seas and the pirates. I could say that, and one about dinosaurs. Those were the main ones I checked out most of the time, and I can’t even remember checking out any other books. Then I went to my regular library. There’s two branches, by the way; Monday branch and the Hazard branch, maybe even a third, 'cause I had three libraries. I can’t think of the third library’s name.

 

It’s on Genesee Street, or maybe that was Hazard. [Inaudible] Hill? Is that the other one? Was that [inaudible] Hill and then Hazard? These are Onondaga County libraries, Steven, just for your future notation. Now, I think I probably even asked for help. I couldn’t find any books on executive producer directors. This was back when there was no internet or…there’s probably microfiche. I mean, honestly, Steven, this was also seminal in the sense of this became something I actually enjoyed for…this was one of the few student activities later in life I would be good at if there was a open-ended assignment and we had to search it, because of databases. It’s…became a older student. But at the time, I kinda was just defeated and I said, well, I’m just gonna write this paper from my heart. Also, I have really bad handwriting.

 

I had stuff happen to my arm when I was even younger, so I also got very tired very fast writing. This had to be handwritten. It probably had to be six or seven or four pages. I don't know how many pages. I realized, also I’m not good at spelling. Executive producer director; I…this one…this is how you start off on the wrong foot. After I wrote it the first time, I put a notation in a kids’ paper that said, from here forward, I’m just gonna refer to executive…EPD or something, or EXPD instead of writing out…so, that was already starting me off on the wrong foot with this teacher who I was already not having a great relationship with. To say we didn’t get along would be a understatement. But there I was, saying in this paper, one day I’m gonna be like Steven Spielberg.

 

Now, the funny thing was, I didn’t really know what you did or how you did it. I just knew the result and how it made me feel, where it took me, and what the after-effects were, or what the excitement leading up to it was, how when the lights would go down, everything would go away, and how I’d be changed and how it would stay with me and how it was something that I hadn’t imagined that I was watching unfold in front of me, and…but I was just a kid. I didn’t know how to translate any of that into words, but I probably tried. I probably gave it a pretty good try. A little too flashy and a lot of…neither style nor substance, but a lot of honest excitement.

 

Just like in the movies, that paper was returned to me with an F, and probably not a lot…and in the teacher’s defense, not following the instructions, and I probably…I know I probably did two drafts, but probably not a lot of effort, either. The effort happened in-between it, but the effort was mostly based on thoughts and feelings and imaginings. So, I don't know. I guess at the time…maybe if I could go back, I would say, what if you wrote a letter and said, hey, what…I want to understand how you do this. What are the steps you take? What’s it like? How do you get through those times when you feel like it’s not going good? How did you get there? What would you tell me? What do you wish you knew back then? I know you say, watch The Fabelmans. How about that?

 

I’d say, okay, I’ll bring that with me in my time…also, do you have access to a time machine? But anyway, so, I did get a F. Maybe I got a D, but I was already not a great…it didn’t hurt my grades very much. Now, what happened though, unfortunately for me, was that I started to develop the wrong organs. I didn’t have a cloud-coaxer, an internal cloud-coaxer, at the time. I didn’t realize how important that was until this moment right now where I was coaxed into the fact of saying, oh, a…that’s what a cloud coaxer does, a cloud wrangler.

 

It helps keep things in flow, because my flow got blocked by the letters F to the E to the A to the R…and kind of maybe buying too much into that all-or-nothing thinking that I was talking about that was so powerful, it took me a long time to figure out how to coax that stuff and direct it a little bit, but also to celebrate those things that you taught me through being swept away, being excited for it. I guess what you showed me was that this is the best place. The consumption of books or films or music or whatever is the best place to experience unexpected and unfulfilled and un…expectations. Unexpected expectations sounds strange, but I don't know what I was trying to say.

 

Unreal…you don’t need realistic expectations when you’re there consuming stuff, but I just needed that cloud coaxer or to get in touch with that part of me that could coax those clouds to say, okay, okay…and maybe that…I don't know. So, yeah, what I’ll do I’ll watch The Fabelmans with my younger self and maybe with this cloud coaxer, and then see how it goes, and then maybe write your…maybe write the letter after, to get notes for my kid, and then to just…yeah. So, yeah, I’ll get…by the way, this is a draft, so I won't get back to you, but in case you’re reading this draft somehow, it’s just a draft and I’ll get back to you.

 

Don’t know how to get ahold of you, but I don't think that’s the important part of this exercise, 'cause originally the intention of this exercise was because I didn’t know I was gonna be interviewing a cloud coaxer and I wanted to have questions to ask the cloud coaxer that would result in meanders. So, in that sense it worked out great for helping people realize they’re not alone with this stuff, right? That’s maybe what a cloud coaxer does, too. But by the way, it’s just a draft, just in case. So, thanks, cloud coaxer. I guess…could we have you on again? Because that was only two questions that got answered, but holy cow, was it. Another surprise, different than my other interview I conducted with Genny the Username Generator, but just as delightful. So, thanks for coming on, and I hope that the cloud coaxer’s out there to coax you into a deep dreamland where you know all will be well. Goodnight, everybody.

 

[END OF RECORDING]

(Transcribed by Leah Hervoly)