1175 – Moving Ant Farm | Make Great Pets E11
Rin gets close to the truth of helping humans as a collective pet in a place full of meandering paths to packing.
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Episode 1175 – Moving Ant Farm | Make Great Pets E11
[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, to take your mind off of stuff, whether you’re…whether you have pets or not, whether you’re…if you’re a fish and you’re listening or an ant or a puppy-poo, or what…if you’re listening or not, here…that’s the thing about the show; whether you’re listening or not, I’m here to keep you company and help you fall asleep. Believe it or not, there’s people listening all night long, so some people are already not listening, so…and I know a lot of you may be listening with partners that are so sound asleep. We’re so happy for them. The fish are doing those fish flips with joy for those partners who fall asleep as soon as their head hits the pillow.
Oh boy, this…for all of you that are with someone who’s…this episode goes out to all of you who are with someone who falls asleep as soon as their head hits the pillow, and then they say, you know what? I don't even need a pillow. Oh boy, do we love you so much. Really, we do, but we’re slight…we got a little FOMO. What can I say? We’re human, except for the pets who are listening, but if you’re a pet who is listening, you say, but I’m familiar with humanity. I may be a pet, but I have my humanity in my human nearby. Now, if you’re confused or flummoxed, oh boy, you’re in the right place, 'cause this is Sleep With Me, the podcast that’s here to put you to sleep, and it’s really here to keep you company.
The show is very different. It does take a few tries to get used to the show, but I’m glad you’re here. Give it a few tries. You really do deserve a good night’s sleep. If you never listen to the show again, don’t forget that. You could also check out sleepwithmepodcast.com/nothankyou, which has other sleepy stuff you could check out. But I’m glad you’re here. What we got coming up; we got support so the show can be free, then a long, meandering into. Don’t miss out on it. I don't even know what I’ll talk about, but it’ll be pretty non…it could be nonsensical.
If I could spell or define ‘non sequitur’, I would do that on the show, but then it would be a different podcast. It would be like the Coherence Cast, things interesting to people who are coherent and people with coherence. But it’s not…oh, no, that’d be Coherence Notes. But I guess…or…well, okay, so…oh, show…there will be a long, meandering intro meant to ease you into bedtime, and then eventually we’ll have a episode of our episodically modular series, Make Great Pets. But I’m glad you’re here. I really hope we can help you fall asleep. So, thanks for coming by. 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, thoughts you’re thinking about, thinking thoughts about the past, the present, the future.
So, thoughts, it could be feelings, anything coming up for you emotionally whether it’s related to those thoughts or feelings that are just there or that are coming up or that are making a…they say, right…just in time for bedtime, making an appearance; my feelings about the word ‘coherence’. I don't know. I say, wow, at least I got…at least you rhyme. Other parts of me…also, that sounds more like a thought than a feeling. No offense. You say, you’ve never felt an overwhelming dread about coherence? No, I didn’t say that. I probably have. But…if I have…probably multiple levels of it, about being coherent, about understand coherence if I ever had to write a report or do anything mostly probably related to…past, present, and future; you’re right.
So, I’d have the thoughts about coherence coming up or the many times in my life where I said, please let me…whatever…that part of your brain that says, whatever you do, don’t be yourself, that’s come up on Make Great Pets before. But so, it could be feelings related to that stuff. We smile at those parts of us on the show. That’s why I bring it up. So, thoughts, feelings, physical sensations, changes in time or temperature or routine. You could be going through something, you could have something going up, you could be a guest, you could have guests. Whatever it is, I’m here to keep you company and take your mind off of it so you could fall asleep because you deserve a good night’s sleep.
You deserve a place you could get some rest, the rest you need so your life is more manageable, so that you could be out there flourishing. That’s why I make the show, because I’ve been there and I know how it feels. That’s why I go through that stuff about thoughts, feelings, physical sensations, because while I might not know exactly what you’re going through, I can probably relate to how it feels or felt at some point or feels at different times. Or if I can’t, there’s someone listening who can, and they’re nodding along saying, yeah, I know how that feels. So, that’s why I make the show. You deserve a good night’s sleep, a bedtime you could say, well, at least I got that podcast guy.
I don't know what he’s gonna be…he doesn’t know…I know it won't be coherent, but that’s great because I don’t really have to pay attention anyway. He’s just there to keep me company. Okay, there’s another book; A Company…The Company of Coherence? In A Company of Coherence? Coherence Company. I don't know, that sounds like…reminds me of Three’s Company. But company…A Company of Coherence. No, none of those are…I mean, those are…we’re close to a imaginary book title. In the Company of Coherence. It would be someone…the irony would be, of course, that’s someone named Coherence. In the Company of…'cause there’s a lot of books with titles like that, but those have been written. This one’s only been proposed to be written in my imagination.
So…oh, the reason I go through that stuff is because you deserve a place you can get some rest, that…so your life is more manageable. That means your world’s gonna be a better place, that means our world’s gonna be a better place, and we know how it feels. What I propose to do here is send my voice across the deep, dark night. I’m gonna use lulling, soothing, creaky, dulcet tones, pointless meanders, superfluous tangents. So, I’ll go off topic, I’ll get mixed up, then I’ll forget what I was talking about, then I’ll say, wait a second, what was I talking about? Then I’ll say, oh, okay, well, I was talking about this one thing, then I thought of this other…those are pointless meanders and superfluous tangents. Creaky, dulcet tones is a way to describe my voice.
It’s not traditionally soothing but it’s the kind of voice you could sleep…you say, that’s the kind of voice I don't need to listen to. That’s the kind of voice that only gets my attention until if…and then it fades into the background. That’s kinda how you listen to the show, which is different. You just kinda barely listen. Some people listen during the day or some people pay attention, but you don’t have to pay attention in a way…you’re just barely humoring me. If you say, well, I really want to start listening to the show; what should I do? I say, well, just pretend…just imagine what I’m like in real life, listen to me talking, and say, well, I’d like him to feel…I’d like him to at least…I’d like to dial it in. I’d like to be friends with Scoots, but in a dial-it-in manner or phoning…what do they say?
‘Cause you don’t do any…either one of those anymore. You say, uh-huh, uh-huh. It’s easy. You say, oh boy, you’re right about that, Scoots. Holy cow, coherence is a word. You’re right, and non sequitur is a word. That must mean…you’re right, Scoots, that sec…if non sequitur is a word, then sequitur must be a word, and ‘non’ would be lacking sequiturs. So, you’re…oh boy, and I’m sure that…yeah, there’s…probably is some Latin root in ‘coherence’. That means ‘herent’ and…'cause there’s adherence. There’s adhesive, which has nothing to do with coherence. Is there reherence? That’s what I could go for. They’d say, finally I’ve reached some reherence. Never had coherence. Now I gotta look this up.
But what…so, pointless meanders and superfluous tangents…oh, you don’t need to listen to me; that’s what I was trying to explain. Also, the strange thing about the show is there’s no pressure to fall asleep. This is a podcast and the first sleep podcast that I really know about that’s not here to put you to sleep. I’m here to keep you company while you fall asleep, to be your bore-friend, your bore-bae, your bore-sib, your bore-bestie, your neigh-bore, your bore-bor, your bore-bud, your friend. I’m here whether you…that’s why the episodes are over an hour. There’s people who listen who can’t sleep or need a break during the day, and I’m here for them, but I’m also here for you even if you’re not listening to me. I’m just here to be your friend.
You say, well, yeah, I’d like you to call me every night and talk to me about something, but I’m not gonna pay attention. I’m gonna fall asleep during it. I’d say, okay, perfect. So, it’s a podcast that you don’t really listen to, doesn’t put you to sleep. Give us more good news. Well, this is a podcast most people don’t like on their first listen. I’m pretty sure it’s around a million people have said between reviews and e-mails and messages; yeah, I didn’t really like you on the first time I listened or the second time. It takes some people years and then they say, oh, wait a second, that show was never supposed to make sense? No, it was almost…it almost made sense. It makes no sense in the most perfect way. Well, not quite. But yeah, it’s a podcast that’s always going, never gets started.
Always going nowhere, but that’s where the…in the friendliest way that I know how to do it. So, it just takes a few tries to get used to, 'cause if you’re like me and a lot of other people listening, you probably tried a bunch of stuff to fall asleep. You might even be searching right now for something to put you to sleep, because it’s painful not being able to sleep, and it’s…trying different stuff and having it only work once or twice, for me, that’s been frustrating. So, to come to this show and have it be like, okay, I thought this was a sleep podcast…when’s the magic start? I’d say, well, I probably…I could open…there’s been episodes where I’ve opened magic tricks before. But yeah, the magic is always…it’s just disappeared.
I’m not…I’m both…I’m neither the rabbit nor the hat, but I’m also both, if I understood…coherence, though, by the way, according to the Cambridge Dictionary…situation where parts of something fit together in a natural or reasonable way. There was no coherence between the first and the second half of the movie. Essays will be graded for punctuation, grammar, and coherency. So, something fits together…I mean, I’d say this is reasonable for what it is. Coherence; a clear relationship between parts. Coherence results…that’s something else. I was hoping to see if there’s something called reherence. These are other things…words used in…so, yeah, that’s a little bit about coherence. So, I don't know if there is a word, reherence. I guess…let’s see, coherence would be words fitting together.
So, reherence would be the situation where words repeated…I don't…suddenly become reasonable and natural, suddenly make sense. Okay, so, just give the show a few tries and see how it goes. Sleepwithmepodcast.com/nothankyou has stuff if you never listen to the show again. Check some of those podcasts and sleepy audio out there. Okay, so, a podcast you don’t listen to, doesn’t put you to sleep, no…most people don’t…give us more good news, please. Well, I’m here to be your friend. That’s the actual real good news, and you deserve some sleep and some rest. But the structure of the show also throws people off at first. So, I’ll explain that to you and then you could kind of adjust how you listen to the show, or maybe having a idea of why it’s structured the way it is will help.
So, the show starts off with a greeting; friends beyond the binary, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, so you say, hey, I feel seen, I feel welcome. I got the idea from whatever you said up there about anthills or something and sequiturs that there’s a little bit of goofiness with the show. Okay, I could check it out. Then there’s support so the show could be free. Makes it easier to check out and makes it available to anyone at any time who wants it. So, the sponsors and the listeners…that make that possible. Then there’s a long, meandering intro meant to ease you into bedtime. So, the intro is separate from the support. It’s a show within a show, lasts anywhere from ten to twenty-five minutes long, where I try to explain where the podcast is and I go off topic, but it’s different every single time so your brain can’t quite adjust.
If I did the same intro every time or if it was short and packaged or something like that or I just went into the bedtime story, it’s my feeling and my experience from making the show for ten years…is that whatever part of us keeps us awake, it kind of adjusts to that stuff and wants to point things out. The fact…it just makes it a little bit…work a little bit better knowing the show’s over an hour, knowing I’m gonna ease you into bedtime, that you get a little bit of a transition period, and as you become a regular listener, ideally the…if…you could become the 2% of people that skip the intro, or about the same percentage of people that fall asleep really fast. But for most people, the intro is a part of their bedtime routine.
It’s integrated in it, and that could mean you’re listening while you’re getting ready for bed, while you’re in bed getting comfortable, or you’re doing some sort of other relaxing activity, even if it’s lying around or stretching or drawing or knitting or petting your pets, making your bed, writing notes from the day, or doing some sort of other kinda chill activity, relaxing activity. So, that’s why the intro goes on and on and on and why it’s kind of a show within a show, because…I say, okay, let me explain to you what to expect, but I’m not very good at that…but that’s good for the intro 'cause it gives you time to start to wind down. So, that’s the intro, then there’s support between the intro and the show, then tonight will be our episodically modular series, Make Great Pets.
It’s about how great pets can be, but it’s also a little bit more than that. But don't worry, you could sleep through it or you could listen during the day. One day…you say, one day I’d like to hear that. So, that’s the…and then there’s thank-yous at the end. So, that’s the structure of the show and that’s why I make the show. I’m really glad you’re here. I really appreciate you checking the podcast out and coming by, and I really hope I can help you fall asleep. Thanks again for coming by, and here’s how we’re able to do it for you for free twice a week.
Alright everybody, Scoots here. It’s time for our episodically modular series, Nuns in…no, it’s not. Holy moly. Even though this has come out well after Mrs. Davis came out…I guess I got nuns on the brain…that’s coming up. By the way, if you’re listening to this, this is not sponsored at all, but…and it’s late in the podcast, but talk about a deal, paying for Peacock. Mrs. Davis is coming up for me. Poker Face is on there already, and there…and most importantly, there’s a…so, this is the episodically modular, non-sponsored Peacock triple play, and the home run hitter is about to come up after…I’m laughing so hard because he’s so uncomfortable and he has to sit through me explaining what an episodically modular series is.
If you’re not in the US, you’ll have to see what services these are offered on, but there’s a show called Poker Face, there’s a show called Mrs. Davis, and then there’s a film, of course that I don’t know the name of, but I know the star of the film…an animated film. Do they call them animated films anymore or movies? But holy cow…so, welcome to our episodically modular series, Make Great Pets. I’m just so touched to be able to promote something, and it’s…with those three things alone, that’s worth a year…I mean, I’m not even kidding. So, that’s no joke. Also, another way to save money; if you have certain credit cards, you could also get a little bit of a discount on your thing, so it makes it an even better deal. But so…we’re so lucky to have this person.
But so, what’s episodically…what’s Make Great Pets, if you’re new, or what’s episodically modular mean? So, these are a ongoing series. I would say Poker…is Poker Face episodically modular? Does anybody know? No answer from the…but so, episodically modular means you can listen to them in any order. Each episode is somewhat contained, though there is somewhat of a ongoing narrative. So, you probably don’t…you could listen to Episode 12 first and then everything else would be considered a prequel, and you could watch those prequel…or listen to those prequels out of order. Ideally you’ll be snoozing during them anyway, but if you’re listening to them during the day or you’re just concerned, I want you to know your concern…this is why we designed episodically modular series, is because your concerns are valid.
You say, well, I don't know how I can listen to Episode 11 if I only listened to Episode 2 or if it’s my first one. I’ll explain everything, but that’s what episodically modular mostly means. This series needs less setup than most of our series because it’s particularly episodically modular, 'cause each episode is part of a training program. So, the person in the training program will explain a lot of stuff you would need to know to understand what’s going on, if it was comprehensible. So, there’s that. But what else do you need to know? Oh, so, Make Great Pets is a series about a training program that helps make pets…help pets make us make great choices. Or, not even great choices; just good choices, or pets help people at turning points in their lives.
Talk about sweet Puss in Boots, 'cause he’s not…never known as a sourpuss that I know of is our Hollywood announcer, part of the Peacock triple play that I’ve decided. When you talk about a feather in the peacock’s tail, you’d say, he’s the eye of the feather, man, because his name…while he plays Puss in Boots in…whatever. I don't know, I’m sorry, Antonio. But it’s the Puss in Boots movie. He’s here…he drives all the way from Los Angeles by electricity, and not just electric…his natural…believe it or not, he can’t charge his car with his natural electricity, but one day they may harness that, and that’ll be cool. But so, without further ado, our Hollywood announcer, Mr. Antonio Banderas. Thank you, Scooter. Thanks for that kind introduction. No promo necessary because I’m just here for the love of sleep and the love of the sleepless, your friend in the deep, dark night here to introduce Make Great Pets. Meow. Yeah. Thanks. That’s Mr. Antonio Banderas, and this is Make Great Pets, everybody.
Hey, this is Ren, and I’m recording these messages as a pet…pets…I’m not sure how to refer to this situation I’m in now as they rest. So, if you’re hearing this audio, it might be the first time you’re hearing this. This is not my first day, but this is part of my first series of pets I’ve been in. I’m not keeping great count, but I’m part of a post…I’m a post…okay, I don't know how much I need to explain, but just in case you’re hearing this and you don’t know…it all makes sense, but I think they did tell us to kind of explain it like this is your first time hearing it, but…assuming you’re part of the training program. But just in case you’re not; so, I’m a post-Earthly human named Ren, and I’m a part of a training program called Make Great Pets, which just is something that sounds good and is not a great descriptor of what we do, but it’s a part…so, once I was a Earthbound human.
I’m assuming you were as well, but you could be from another planet. That’s why I say, well, what…okay, you’re right. Now, I didn’t get a chance to find all that stuff out, and I guess if I could go back, I’d say, could I see the entire vastness of the universe first before I enroll in this training program? But I didn’t think to raise that objection. But so, I was offered a opportunity to be part of this program where you get to help Earthbound humans via their pets at a turning point in their lives. That’s probably the best description I’ve ever made of the program. Now, we don’t have total control over the pets, but we can influence them and therefore influence the person we’re there to help, which we don’t have any…as far as I know, at the current stage of the program, I just become conscious within the pet, I guess after they wake up.
I don't even know. So, there’s no…I don't know what pet I’m going into next, and…but I can record these at the end of each day. So, kind of like a debrief, though today is not…this mission, not accomplished. What else do you need to know? Oh, why…just in case you say, okay, well, a post-Earthly human…does that mean what I think it means? Yes, I think it does. I’ve heard of programs like this before, but never one involving pets. I say, yeah, there were other programs you may have been aware of throughout Earthbound human history. Guardian angels is the most popular one, and then there was the Sears/Besos/Penny incidents, which ended that program. That program was replaced with a program spearheaded by Besos/Penny/Sears, which took people that made not-great choices in their life and sent them to Earth to help people make better choices in their lives.
That program worked not good…well at all. It worked less…it didn’t work. It did the opposite. Then at some point there was other attempts, including some sort of Besos utopia. That was Earthbound, but there was another guardian angel program. Also, Besos/Penny/Sears was involved in that, and that was ended. You might be…this might be like, okay, this is news to me because I thought…and I say, you know, just because you leave Earth doesn’t mean you leave your humanity behind. So, that’s just…and that’s an important thing to remember as a part of this program. I don't know if it’s a easy thing to forget, because it’s just within me. The human within me, even…I’m not human anymore, but I’m still…I still have my humanity. Maybe; I don't know. So, okay, so where was I? Okay, I think that’s everything.
Oh, so we…you awake in a pet and then you try to help…you try to figure out…who, what, where, when, why is usually your starting point, which I’ll start off here by example, but also helps you…and I think part of the…recording these debriefs is helping us process things. ‘Cause during the day, you’re kind of…especially your first day in any new pet, particularly this one, just in case you’ve never been a community of pets…which I don’t understand. I have found the less you try to understand and you just go with it and then you try to stay…I guess other…focused on who am I here to help. The pets…'cause the good thing is since we don’t have total control of the pets, they can take care of their needs. Does that all make sense? I don't know if it does. That’s the other thing.
You say, I don't know if it does make sense, but I know I’m here…I know what I’m here to do; figure out who I’m here to help and then try to help them. You probably already know this, but this is a program of helping them make…at the turning point, make a decision that’s gonna be beneficial to them in the long term and to their well-being and growth, and kind of enriching and help them flourish. Now, I have been becoming more and more aware, and I don't know if should point this out, but I think there’s another program also being tested. It comes in and out, but that there’s someone else here also, sometimes, that…I don't know, but…it could just be my imagination, but maybe it helps me focus. So, maybe it’s just a trick of my mind. I don't have any evidence.
So, let’s just say that one thing I imagine is that there’s another Earth…post-Earthbound human in a human being there also working towards a similar goal, to help the person at the same decision…they’re looking for the same person and the same turning point, but they’re gonna try to help them make a decision that just gets them the feelings they want now and fixes things and gets them the most…but without any long-term additive benefits. They could have some long-term benefits, but that’s not additive and doesn’t necessarily contribute to their flourishing. A lot of people say, well, how do you know…? I say, well, you know it when you…you know a flourish when you see it. Remember that…Antonio Banderas; that’s a flourish, you know? Okay, so let’s get down to the who, what, where, when, and why.
Who; now, this is interesting. I’m at a home or apart…I mean, it’s a home but it’s not a house. It’s an apartment. I guess…say, who am I first. Oh, I’m Ren. I think I mentioned that. Right now I’m an ant…I’m ants in a…we consider it an ant farm, but I guess this is more of my…our ant home. I’m pretty sure I’m all the ants, but I may only be one ant. No, I’m all the ants. Somehow we’re all interlinked. I do know that there’s three people involved, but I’m not sure who I’m here to help exactly yet. We are told we’re there to help someone at a decision…turning point in their lives where they’re making some sort of decision or choice or whatever, but I’m still not sure…so, I’m pretty…so, there’s three people I’ve come…humans I’ve come across.
There’s Vic, who is a father, there’s Cray who is his son, and then there’s Cindra who’s their godmother? I think Vic’s godmother. Vic and Cray are getting ready to move, and Cindra’s there to help them with the move, like packing and stuff like that. So, where are we? We’re at their apartment that…they’re getting ready to move in a few days. Who, what, where, when…now; they’re moving in a couple days. So, some of these…you say, okay, I don't get…just answer all the questions to the best of your ability. Who, what, where, when, why. I guess the ‘why’ can mean a lot of things. Why are they moving? They need to move. Why is it a turning point? No one’s happy about moving, but Vic is kinda happy about it, but Cray is not happy about it at all, and Cindra’s there to help them. Why; so then, why am I here to…why am I here?
Okay, that’s a better question. Okay, to help them with this move. But am I here to more…I guess I always go, okay, well, I could try to help them both for now. Who, what, where, when, why, how. Oh boy, I don't know the answer to that at all. How am I gonna help them? I’m not sure. How am I gonna help them as a ant farm? No idea, but I’ll hopefully find things out. Now, the good thing is that Cindra got here today, too, so it really helped me learn a lot of what was going on. So, let me kinda run through some of the day. Okay, let me see. I’ll go through…I’m not sure of the order. Let me go through…'cause there was something that sticks out to me. But so…okay, so, not long ago we had dinner and it was the second-to-last day of school for Cray.
At dinner…so, it was Cindra, Vic, and Cray eating dinner, and there was a pecan flicked about Cray eating Cray’s peas. It kinda went like…Cray didn’t want to eat the peas and then it’s…I think it’s more difficult…I mean, they don’t know I’m watching 'cause they’re used to me, but having Cindra there…and the dad said, eat your peas. Then Cray said that peas taste like pee. Then Cray said, I worked hard to make these peas. Then Cray said, they’re frozen peas; you just heated them up in a pot with water because they were left…we had to clear out everything in the freezer and that’s why we’re having the peas. The dad said, I worked hard to buy these peas. Please eat your peas. Then Cray refused and then said, eat one pea.
Then they went back and forth about these peas, and then finally the dad said, just go get ready for bed, please. The dad sighed and Cindra was just watching the whole thing. Didn’t really say anything or make any noises, but you could feel the presence. But let me see. Let me back up first because…before we get to the bedtime, 'cause now I’m asleep. Did I explain that at the beginning? You wake up when the pets go to…I don't know if ants sleep. It might be some sort of proverbial sleep, but…okay, so, before that, Cindra arrived before dinner…not that before dinner to help them move, because…said, yeah, moving’s hard. That’s why your godmother’s here to help. Before that, Cray was still at school. The nice thing is the dad carries me around from room to room.
Or, not all the time, but the dad was helping getting things moved and then went into Cray’s room, and it was not in order at all. The dad was home alone at that point, and got really irritable because the room was such a mess, and went on a tangent and stuff like that. Now, before that I was asleep, and then I woke up and I was very discombobulated because I’ve never been a community pet before. So, sometimes you settle into your body first. They talk…I hope they train you in that kind of stuff. Be in your body, breathing, become aware of your body. So, it was very hard becoming…it just took me a while to adjust and then I was able…now, the good thing was the dad was just home, and then the dad eventually picked up the ant farm and carried it around. So, then I was able to kinda pay more attention and say, oh, okay.
Okay, but where did I leave off? So, the dad had sent Cray to bed, very irritable. Then the dad paced around, then came back and started cleaning up, and then Cindra said, I’ll pick up the dishes. Why don’t you sit down for a second and take a breath? The dad said…and then Cindra said, you know he’s not getting ready for bed, right? The dad’s…just kinda groaned. She said, this is about the move, obviously. The dad just groaned again. Then Cindra said, what stories do you remember from your childhood? The dad was kinda lost for a second, then he said, about you? I’m sorry, I’m just thinking about something else. I don't have…sorry, I don't have a story about you that comes to mind. It’s just stress. She goes, no, no, no, I don't mean stories about memories. I mean stories that children get told. He goes, stories children get told?
Like bedtime stories? She goes, yeah, like folktales. He goes, I don't know. She goes, what’s the first one that pops in your head? He goes, I guess that one about the kids and the candy house and that lady. Cindra laughed and she goes, yeah, Hansel and Gretel, you mean? He goes, no, no, no, the other one. He was joking, though. So, then they both had a laugh. He goes, yeah, yeah, I remember Hansel and Gretel. She goes, well, what was that story teaching you? The dad kinda paused and Vic said, well, candy houses are too good to be true. Cindra gave a kinda nod, like uh-huh. I’m at the dinner table, believe it or not. I’m the first pet on the dinner table without any trouble. She said, what else did it teach you? He goes, well…he goes, maybe don’t trust people that own candy houses, either.
Don’t trust their…question their motives, 'cause they probably want something and it’s probably…you probably…it’s…you’re better off not going to the candy house. She goes, and what else did it teach you? He goes, okay, well, if you go to the candy house and then you eat the candy house…but then the person that…the woman that lives in the candy house uses…you have to outsmart them in the end. You have to trick them or work as a team and trick them, because they’re probably an adult. So, you have to outsmart authority figures sometimes. Cindra said, that’s good, that’s good. Great. Then Vic said, what’s the point of that? Cindra just sat there, not in judgement; just sat there quietly. Vic kind of was like…in his calm way…and then Vic was like, I…what?
Then she goes, can you get the point from the way I’m looking at you? He goes, um…don’t make a can…don’t move to a candy house or don’t get excited about moving…? We’re not moving to a candy house, but I shouldn’t be…I’m excited about moving. She goes, no. He goes, okay, beware…? No. He goes…she goes, the story…not for you. He goes, huh? She goes, why don’t you go tell your son a bedtime story? He goes, oh. He goes, I don't think I should tell him that one. I didn’t like that story. She goes, you tell him a story about whatever you want, but…she goes, what did the story do for you? She goes, maybe you could help him learn to eat his peas, right? Or whatever. He’s like, oh, okay, okay.
Oh, so the lesson…so, then Vic grabbed…stood up and then took my ant farm, and then went into Cray’s room and then put me down on the dresser, and then sat down. Cray was already in bed, a little bit frowny-faced. Vic sat on the bed and turned out the light and said, did you brush your teeth? Then Clay…Cray sat up and breathed in dad’s face and said, no. I have pea breath. The dad kinda looked at him. He said, not from the pea…not from pee but from the peas, 'cause peas smell like pee. The dad said, okay, let me try again. Then they breathed a couple times and kinda giggled. Said, okay, let’s not worry about your teeth. Then Cray said, ever? The dad said, no, no; tonight, since you’re already in bed. I want you to imagine…close your eyes and imagine your pillow’s filled with frozen peas.
Cray said, do frozen peas come in a frozen pod? Or they come in a bag; they’re already…do they…are they…do they start in a pod? The dad said, I don't know. Said, do you think someone…Cray said, do you think someone takes them out of the pod? The peas…takes the peas out of the pod? Do you think they do that before they’re…? The dad said, I don't know, Cray. Close your eyes. But I do know because once upon a time, there was…and the dad had never done this before. The dad said, once upon a time, there was…the peas all…there was only one giant pea pod and the peas all lived there. The dad looked at the ant farm…and they all lived together in the pea pod. But the pea pod…you don’t know…because you could never see through the pod, you didn’t know what it was like in the pea pod.
Then Cray said, pea pod, pea pod…the dad said, yeah, a pea pod; a pod full of peas. Cray was getting tired but kinda giggled and guffawed. The dad said, there were all these channels where the peas were and they said, the pea…the peas said that we love…because we’re so nutritious, we loved…we’re part of the cycle of life and we’re here to spread our nutrition to people. But because of the way the channels within…and Cray said, dad, I’ve opened…and he said, no, this is a different kind of pea pod, different than the ones you’ve seen. But the peas, they wanted to get out. This was a cosmic pea pod, Cray, before pea pod…the first pea pod. They said, we want to get out and help kids grow and get everything out of the freezer, but not throw it away. We don’t…we feel like that’s not…that’s…kids just hold it against us.
Everybody cheered because they knew that was a noble cause for them to help kids be their best. They all chanted; help kids be their best, help kids be their best, everyone in the pea pod. But then they got stuck in there because there were so many channels. But someone heard them chanting and they said, is there somebody chanting in this pea pod? The peas said, yeah, we want to get out of here and help kids be our best, but because we’re organic and somewhat mushy, we’re not able to roll around in here. The person said, well, I’m the frost…I’m Froster, the Queen of Winter, and I’ll freeze you all in there and then you will be able to roll right out of there. They said, great idea, Froster. Froster…as Froster blew her cold winds on the pea pod, it actually shrunk the pea pod and froze the peas.
Then the peas popped right out of the pea pod, and that’s how we’ve got…that’s how the peas today are…and Cray was asleep at that point. Now, we hadn’t fallen asleep; I was almost asleep, but I was kinda interested 'cause I said, that’s kinda like us. We’re a part of the story, 'cause I could tell that Vic was looking at us. Then Vic got up and kissed Cray and tucked him in. He went out, picked…first forgot us, but I could hear him in the other room talking briefly to…and I thought, oh, we’re gonna stay with Cray. But then after talking to Cindra, just — I could only hear it as murmurings — grabbed us and then took us into Cray’s bedroom and went to bed, which I thought was interesting 'cause I never…but so, then we fell…Vic’s…fell asleep and we fell asleep. So, I don't know.
We’ll see how things go tomorrow, but I’m not sure. You say, am I supposed to help…? I don't know. So, we’ll see tomorrow. Okay, hey everybody, this is Ren again and it’s tomorrow night. I’ll just run through today in order; I’ll try. So, it started with breakfast. I was on the breakfast table and there was the smells of baking in the room. It was breakfast time and Cray was going…getting…slow getting ready. Then dad said, sit down and eat your breakfast. But the dad had woken Cray up early, anticipating this, but even then, Cray was like, I don't want to go to school today. The dad said, it’s your last day. Don’t you want to say…we made cupcakes. Don’t you want to say goodbye to your friends? Cray said, I should be getting cupcakes and not be giving cupcakes. I’m the one leaving.
That’s when Cinda spoke for the first time in a…she said, well, this is a chance for you to say goodbye, and giving them…will be a reminder of you. It’s important to have reminders. The dad said, I’ll tell you what; I’ll give you a ride to school, and on the way I’ll tell you a story. I didn’t get to go. So, the dad started telling the story. Cray said, okay, okay. The dad said, you know, I could always…it’s gonna be fine. It’s your last day of school, and I gotta go get more boxes and stuff like that, so it…so, whatever. Then the day…I kinda started telling a story, like ‘once upon a time’. But I don't know what the story was 'cause I didn’t hear it, 'cause they went out the front door to go to school.
The weird thing was that Cinda just kinda sat there at the table, kind of in some sort of…I think Cinda was asleep or something, but also looking at me as the ants. Now, the good thing is the ants are still moving around, so I didn’t have to pretend…but I was also like, man, who…I’m still confused. I was still confused at this point, in the morning. But then the phone rang and Cinda was there and was kind of like, oh, okay…answered the phone and said, oh, okay, okay. Then not that long after the phone rang, the dad came home. Cinda said, you’re gonna have to go back to school and pick him up. They called and asked you to come get him. Dad said, what happened? Said, well, he went…he pee…he didn’t pee himself, but he peed on the playground during recess, and they said to come get him.
He said, I’m…said, be free and pee or something. Free pees. What stories…what story did you tell him? I don't think you’re…do you understand…the purpose of the story, like you said…why didn’t you just use a story like Hansel and Gretel or something to teach him? You just change it around a little bit and make it about the move and how there…can’t…why…she goes, you’re not doing a very good job, and maybe…if you can’t tell bedtime stories right…you need him onboard for this move because it’s…he needs to realize it’s what’s best for him. If he keeps having these strong feelings and acting on them, it’s gonna make the move miserable for you and for him. The sooner he adjusts and resigns himself to the fact you’re moving…'cause she goes, actually, you have actual logistics to accomplish.
She was staring at the ant farm the whole time. But so, then he was…Vic was not happy, and he turn…he…she was staring at the ant farm, and Vic flipped our ant farm over. Now, it does have one of those things…'cause you can turn it over and over. So, we’re in a big frame, but it’s also a frame that you could rotate. But he took the non…he put the thing on its head and…I guess 'cause that’s how he felt. It did cause quite a disruption in our home. Now, I’m realizing that some of this material is prefabricated and then some is dirt. So, the dirt was redistributed, and I guess instinctually we rested during this period. So, maybe I even fell asleep? But I don't remember falling asleep. Alls I know is that at some point, dad and Cray came home.
The dad’s…there was a lot of disagreement and can’t you understand, and then I realized okay, now I think I know who we’re here to help. Holy cow. But then also we were dealing with our own situation as a community, because…that I was watching a natural adjustment to. But I said, oh, the prefabricated pathways are all clogged, so we don’t have free movement, and also it’s flipped over, so the distribution of our ant feed is not what it normally would be. I guess this is where I was paying attention, because…at first I said, okay, everybody just keep resting. Cinda had actually moved to start packing stuff, and the dad sat down at the kitchen table. I guess Cray was in Cray’s room…supposed to be packing and cleaning at this point.
The dad kinda just watching us…and I said, oh, okay…and I said, well, here’s what we’re here to do, is clear out these blockages, anyway. I said, do it with a flourish. How would Antonio Banderas as an ant clear out blockages? That’s the only thing I tried to put in our heads. But maybe it was just projection. But I said, really put…let’s put our effort in clearing these blockages. What I noticed was eventually…they were pretty tough 'cause the little tunnels we have, some of them are only wide enough for one or two of us, and there was one blockage we couldn’t get through. I said, well, we’re gonna have to get through to the other side and work on it from two sides together. I knew we were being watched, so this was somewhat performative, but it was also instinctual at the same time.
The dad was just watching as we cleared it out, cleared it out, cleared it out. But we didn’t get it clear; we were just working on it. It was actually really tiring. At some point we got moved to another room, I think…I guess the living room, but everything was mostly packed in there. Cinda was packing. So, actually, at some point we just fell asleep and I kinda lost track of everybody. So, we fell asleep. So, that’s my latest update. But I think I’m trying to help the dad, and this is just…I don't know. This story idea or trying to control things…I don't know, I got a general sense of that. I don't know, that’s kinda what we’re…that’s all I know, is that we’re trying to help with that and maybe it’s just by being ourselves, but with a flourish. I don't know. This is where it’s confusing to do this job. Okay, hey, it’s me. It’s Ren again.
This is the third day. I’ll just run through the day. So, I woke up at the breakfast table again, and…no school today, so there was kind of a little bit calmer of a mood, 'cause eventually Cray just got up and came into the kitchen out of hunger, and then sat down. Then the dad got cereal and milk; that’s what they had left. It was cereal in a self-contained bowl with a plastic spoon. Like, one of those where you pull the top off the bowl. The dad said, hey, look at this, look at this. Then Cray said, the ant thing’s upside-down. The dad said, yeah, I’m gonna turn it back. I said, oh, great. The dad turned it back over to our originally…I mean, I guess we could have been turned again through the panel on the thing, but the dad did it and then everything moved again.
Then Cray said, oh, I didn’t realize that some of the tunnels are like plastic, like prefabricated tunnels, and some aren’t, but now they’re blocked up. The dad said, yeah; watch the ants while you eat your breakfast and just enjoy the show. It’s kinda slow. Cray was kinda watching us and then we kinda…I said, okay, show time. Be yourselves. Let’s clear these blockages out. At first, Cray said this is too…dad, they’re not doing anything. The dad said, they’re working, they’re working. Just watch. I guess we’re slower than for…kid’s like, and…'cause then Cray finished the breakfast and said, you know, dad…the dad said, just keep watching the ants. Cray said, I think I’d rather start packing my room, 'cause this is so boring. The dad said, well, why don’t you take the ants in your room with you and watch them?
Maybe you could go at the same pace as the ants, 'cause they’re gonna clear out all those blockages. Make it a game. Then Cray said, well, can you come…can we do it together? Then the dad said, okay, and then they started packing. Well, first they had to pick up stuff and then pack it, but that was kinda the same thing, and they were doing both at the same time. It was very slow but it was slow for us, too, because it was…we had just readjusted. Then about halfway through, Cray said, well, what if…what would happen if they were just in a thing just with sand without the tunnels? The dad said, I don't know. Then Cray said, what about just…how come we can’t have…? Can we have a ant farm with sand and dirt and mud? The dad said, I don't know. Keep packing and I’ll do some research on my phone.
The dad found out the safe…I don't know, 'cause I was…we were also still clearing the blockages out. The dad said, yeah…he goes, huh, this is…yeah, this is…he goes, we could build…what if we designed…and they started working in-between packing, and while they were packing, drawing on the boxes. Designs for future ant farms for us to…some deluxe ones, and experiments that they were…say, hey…but within researched, safe ant environments for our type of ants, which I don't even know, 'cause I wasn’t…I was too busy clearing out blockages. The dad said, it’s weird; we’re doing a little bit at a time and so are the ants. We’re keeping in pace with one another. Wish I would have thought of this earlier, the dad said, instead of having to do a big, dramatic prep for this move.
Then Cray said, well, I don't know if I would have wanted to do it a little bit at a time, 'cause it’s tough, you know? I didn’t really want…I don't really want to move. Now I know we’re moving, so I feel a little bit different about it, but that’s only because today, now I realize it. But I’m still probably gonna have some feelings about it later, dad. The dad said, well, that’s interesting, too. Maybe that could be…maybe we could…he goes, actually, you can relocate ants to non-ant farms…he goes, so they’ll move with us. He goes, they’ll be moving to their new place and we can watch them move at the same time, and wonder…and then we…then Cray said, and then talk about how the ants feel so we don’t have to talk about how we feel? The dad said, exactly.
We could talk about how we feel, but if we can’t talk about how we feel, we could talk about…or we could just watch the ants and then we’ll be so incredibly bored, maybe then we’ll talk about how we feel. Then Cray said, I can tell you one thing I feel like; don’t tell me more weird stories, dad. No offense, but your stories, they’re pretty obvious they were trying to get me to just pack my stuff and move, or eat my peas. I’d prefer a story that’s just weird or doesn’t…I don't like…I could see right through it. Then they started…the dad…then they were bringing stuff into the room from the dad’s room, and they started…and then the dad said, oh, this is all these pic…these…what are these? They were discussing it the whole time, but this really stuck out to me, is they started going through box…as they were going through stuff.
But this one, it was pictures, like old, printed pictures. The dad said, huh, these are all…and then they were kinda going through the ones that were…needed to be put into envelopes and stuff. There was some family functions and the dad said, there’s non of Cindra. There’s no pictures of Cindra. It’s so weird. I don't even remember her being at this one or this one or this one. But then anyway, they…even…they were just so busy that…it’s just a brief moment, and the only reason the moment sticks out to me is that they got everything packed, the day went on, they had ordered out…ordered dinner for delivery. I don't even remember lunch. Then they had packed up everything 'cause there was movers coming for the furniture.
But then Cray was gonna…Cray and dad were gonna…they cleared out Cray’s bed and every…I mean, all the bedding and stuff, and packed it. They just stayed in the dad’s room, but they kept me in…they left…this time they left me in the kitchen but they kinda forgot, which kinda bothered me a little bit. But I was tired, too, from going…the stuff out. They were kinda…they were…whatever, I could hear them mumbling. Then Cindra came down and started looking at us again. Eventually Cindra was like…we were getting tired and getting ready to rest, too, and then Cindra was kinda tapping on the glass. She said, I see you in there. Yeah, I see what you did there, and I see you. I don't know, then we…I was like…then Cindra turned out the lights and I fell…we fell asleep. But I think we were successful.
Again, I don't understand it…if it’s just having…I don't understand how this program works. I’m just a part of the program. But I say, oh, okay, so we just are there to kinda help them. That’s the difference between the guardian projects, right? We’re not doing any actual active…we’re not doing any major changes. I don't know. I always get mixed up. Are we there to just watch it unfold…in our presence is enough? Like, being…wow, that’s hard to be both Vic and Cray. Then as Cindra…is that…was that just a motivator for me? Or does Cindra say…is that just in my head or was Cindra really there? But I say, well, I’m seeing a theme, but maybe it’s just a theme I’m imagining. I guess it would be like, was Cindra ever really there? But yeah, I think so, 'cause the dad talked…but so…I don't know. I’m asleep now.
I’m presuming I’ll wake up tomorrow in another pet and I’ll have another presentation of where things are going. But I don't know if this is…it’d be good if we had some sort of big debrief to be like, okay, this is what you’re supposed to be doing or this is why you’re here to help. ‘Cause it’s like, I’m learning how to help, maybe, but was I actually helping them? Did it make a difference that I was there or not? Because the ants would have cleared out the blockage anyway. But did…were we supposed to be there with a flourish? Were…I supposed to be there watching and kinda…I cared. I don't know.
These are questions that are unanswered 'cause it’s a training program, I guess. Making Great Pets…what am I…? I don't know, but I’m here and I’m happy to be here because it’s interesting. I didn’t realize I opened my mind to say, well, it’d be nice to know all the mysteries of the universe, but I’m in a mystery and I get to figure out what it feels like to be a ant farm, so that was fun. So, yeah, I guess I’m gonna rest, and goodnight everybody out there. You need your rest, too, trainees. Take care.
[END OF RECORDING]
(Transcribed by Leah Hervoly)
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Notable Language:
- Reherence
- Be Free & Pee
- Prefabricated Pathways
Notable Culture:
- Mrs. Davis
- Three’s Company
- Hansel & Gretel
Notable Talking Points:
- In the Company of Coherence
- A Frozen Pea Bedtime Story
- It’s showtime, Ants!