1426 – Cousin Cornball | A Succession of Restful Developments Ep 3

Episode 1426 – Cousin Cornball | A Succession of Restful Developments Ep 3

 

SCOOTER: Alright everybody, it’s…whoops. Interesting. This is the first time this has ever happened that I remember. But friends beyond the binary, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, I forgot…I was already starting…I guess I was starting the episode off, or I don't know what I was starting. But I’m here to start keeping you company and taking your mind off of stuff and…so that you could fall asleep. If you're new, welcome to Sleep With Me. If you're coming back, welcome. If you've been here all along, glad you're here. Welcome to the podcast that’s here to strive not just to take your mind off of stuff so you could fall asleep, but to bring you some sleepy joy and delight across the deep, dark night. This podcast is different. It’s for a friend, your bore-friend calling in, kind of, but you don't have to answer. No ring tones when I call on the pod phone. I’m just rambles across the deep, dark night, coming your way. Now, if you're new, give the show a few tries.

 

Coming up in a few minutes I’ll explain how everything works and how to find…if this show doesn't work for you, how to find something that does. So, just settle in. This show is meant to ease you into bedtime and then put you to sleep. Tonight will be A Restful Development, the succession of Restful Development. It’s kind of like a dream interpretation, TV-recap podcast that doesn’t…that could be listened to but doesn't need to. So anyway, I’m glad you're here. If you're new, you only listen to the show when you're having a tough time, you're just going through something right now, or you're not in a position to, we have you. This show is here for you. It’s available, but if this podcast changes your life night after night, makes your life better on a regular basis, we really could use your support. Like, that’s gonna be the difference between the show being here for you and everybody else, is if you…if the podcast has changed your life and continues to, if you could please consider supporting one of these sponsors or supporting the show directly, then we can be here for you and for all the other people that listen. Thanks.

 

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. That could be thoughts on your mind that you're thinking about, thoughts about the past, the present, the future, it could be feelings, anything coming up for you emotionally, feelings related to those thoughts or feelings that are just there, it could be physical sensations, changes in time, temperature, routine, you could be going through something, getting over something, in the middle of something, maybe you're travelling, maybe you have guests, maybe you're anticipating something or you work a different schedule or you're just having a tough time getting the sleep you desire, need, the sleep you want.

 

Whatever it is, I’m glad you're here. I mean, I wish…obviously I wish you didn't need a show like this, right? I mean, while it means a lot to me to make the show, I do hear from people that graduate from listening to the show and move on, 'cause they're sleeping well, and I hope I can help you out whether it’s on a regular basis or this show just helps you out during this tough time you're going through. The only reason I point out this sleep stuff and what’s getting in the way of it is so you know you're welcome. Maybe you feel seen, even if it’s in a indirect, safe way, and you feel like someone gets it. It might not even be me that gets it. I mean, I may get it, or at least the underlying feelings, 'cause…trouble getting to sleep, trouble staying asleep, trouble waking up, trouble getting back to sleep or…yeah, it’s…I have experience.

 

But there’s also enough people listening around the world that whatever it is that brought you here, whatever it is that’s getting in the way, or whatever it is that brought you here, there’s someone else listening right now in this moment who came because of a similar reason, and they're a regular listener. They probably support the show, even, and they're thinking of you fondly because they know what it’s like where you're at. They really do get it. There’s enough people listening, and they're not just doing it…they're doing it because they really understand and they really feel for you. They are sending you well wishes and hope across the deep, dark night, and hoping this show can help you out or that you can find something that can, because they've been there. This isn't something I’m making up. This is a real thing that happens every night with this podcast. It’s really the only magical part about the podcast, because it involves something way, way bigger than the podcast.

 

Yeah, it may be invisible, it may be hard to believe or imagine, but across the world right now, Sleep With Me listeners are sending each other comfort. Yeah, it may not…you may not feel it directly, but maybe one day you're the person sending the comfort, 'cause that’s when you really do feel it. It’s almost by sending it out as a regular listener and being a part of this thing that you get it back, too. But you really…it really feels good to know that there’s someone else out there, and maybe they're finally gonna find something that’s gonna help them fall asleep. But also there’s…there is some reassurance — and if you're new, you may not get reassurance from this — that there’s other people out there that really understand.

 

The thing is, the reason I make the show is because of that, but also because you deserve a bedtime where you could get the rest you need so your day tomorrow is more manageable and your life’s more manageable on a regular basis, that you don't have to have all this rigmarole around bedtime, and that you could just get the rest you need, right? If this podcast becomes a part of it or introduces you to something else or sets you off on a path or just helps you get through this tough time, you know, I’m here to help with that, to take your mind off of stuff, keep you company, and help you fall…so you could fall asleep — I guess it helps you fall asleep — and know you're not alone in this, that there’s other people, myself included, but people around the world that are a part of this thing and want the best for you. Yeah, this is a indirect way of doing it, but…that we care. Part of the reason we care is 'cause we’ve been there, but the other thing is there’s listeners who are out there…they listen to the show on a regular basis; they're flourishing and they want you to flourish, too.

 

I do 'cause I know if you're out there in the world flourishing, our world’s a better place to be in, and we could use you out there for sure. So, that’s why I make the show. The way it works is I send my voice across the deep, dark night. I use lulling, soothing, creaky, dulcet tones, pointless meanders, and superfluous tangents. So, I go off topic, I get mixed up, I forget what I was talking about, then I’ll talk about something, then I’ll get distracted again, and…a lot of filler words. This podcast, one of its many ineffective taglines is fill ‘er up with filler words. I love to imagine myself with a wagon full of filler words, overflowing, though usually anything in my presence is overflowing, because I just am not good at…I am good at spatial relations, but spatial nav…actual spatial navigation…not navigating in space; navigating objects through space within the Earth…within our Earthbound atmosphere. I think that’s a way of me saying I’m clumsy, and a little bit M-E-S-S-Y.

 

In fact, I used to be call…there was a time when teachers would just call you that. They even had a book about it. But so, usually…I mean, I guess the good thing about filler words is I could just put them back in the wagon, hopefully. At least in my imagination they are self-contained, just like a word; I pick it up, I put it back, maybe I pat it. I say, don't worry, ahh. I got you. I’m just gonna put you in the back of the wagon here ‘til we need you again. All the filler words are like, why would you fill a wagon up with filler words? First of all, it doesn't…couldn't you get one of those wagons with the sides? Like the wagon with a fence around it or one of those new wagons that’s kinda like a stroller, like a luxury stroller that’s called Wagon with pillows and you could put…? It’s got shade, a cup…we could probably use some cup-holders in here. But also, before we mentioned that, I said, what is this? Is this some sort of memo to me from the filler words? Yeah, it’s a list of requests we're making.

 

The first request is could you choose…? Please, if you're gonna move with us in a wagon, please choose a path that’s as flat…why would you take your filler words out on a rocky road? Well, it’s just in my…I just can't…it’s just in my imagination. Well, could you imagine something incredibly smooth? Believe it or not, it’s easier for me to…because my…I don't know if you heard earlier; I have trouble navigating space. Not outer space. Not inner space, either; just general space. A rocky road, believe it or not, with a little bit of an incline, with a lot of bumps, it’s pretty easy for me to walk on. Something smooth with a decline or flat…I could…I mean, I don't…I can't guarantee…the smoother it is for you…there’s…I think there’s some sort of filler…this may be a filler word paradox. Oh no, the word ‘paradox’ was in there. It just objected. Okay, could you…? So, your second…so, a smoother path; okay, check. Cup-holders; got that.

 

A different, better wagon…higher sides, less…well, I can't do less filler words. My job is to fill ‘er up with filler words. More…okay, well, I could get a different…pregnant pauses, are they…? They’re not considered a filler word, so maybe I could put the pregnant…just so you know, if there’s cup-holders, they’ll be filled with pregnant pauses, 'cause I think that’s a nice place for them to be. It’s circular, and I don't know why I assume pregnant pauses would be comfortable there, but I just…I think it’s safe to say. Oh, you want the cup-holders for you? I don't know. This is about…you know what? Being a filler word is about compromise. I mean, I’m not a filler word, so I’m just…yeah, I’m just making a distracting statement. You're right, filler words. Correct. I’m attempting to move on by placating you with…I guess words that mean nothing. Is that part of our paradox or is that irony? But I will take these under advisement. Oh, you got another one? Okay, just why I move around with you at all?

 

I find kinetic…believe it or not…you wouldn't believe this, 'cause I find kinetic motion essential…slow, kinetic motion essential to make a sleep podcast. I don't think…it’s not meant to be understood, but it’s like a theme park. If there’s some sort of slow kinetic motion like me moving through space with filler…a wagon full of filler words, even if that’s actually not happening, it is happening, and…you just gotta trust me on this one. I don't want to use the word ‘liminal space’, but I just did. Also as a distraction; you're right. Correct. But I do have to move on, filler words, but here’s the good news; we're moving on together. I mean, even if…I won't be singing Moving Right Along from the…one of the Muppet films, but you could all sing it off-mic. I think you probably got enough letters and stuff.  You could come up with it. Why don't you work on how you could collectively sing Move Right Along, and together we’ll move on with the intro to the podcast.

 

So, that was an accidental pointless meander, superfluous tangent combo. What a delight. I had not thought…I mean, I know I’ve had filler words in a wagon before, but we haven't had that extensive a conversation, where now I’m aware that my wagon…I mean, I think they brought this up before, but…I get what they're saying about the path, but I’m probably better off with a…'cause, you know, I could get better wheels, too. Also, the good news is this is all imaginary, so…so, anyway, what else do you need to know other than that I make the show and it’s very different? That’s the most important thing after that I’m glad you're here and I hope we can help. Is that…? The show just isn't for everybody, and if it isn't for you, alls I would say is whatever brought you here, give the show a few tries and see how it goes, 'cause most people when they get here are skeptical, doubtful, frustrated, fed up, tired, cranky, and they get here and they're like, what is this show? What is this dude trying to do?

 

That totally makes sense to me, because I would be like that as well. The thing is that…now I forgot what I was…believe it or not, my mind just went blank. I think I lost the wagon, or they hid the wagon on me, even though it doesn't have actual words. Oh, most people don't like the show when they get here. That’s normal. But after two or three tries, what regular listeners find, if it’s gonna work for them, the second time they're like, huh, there is a lot of filler words in this podcast. Then the third time they forget about that, and then they're like, I was picturing pulling a wagon around and then I woke up the next day, and I was wondering what would be the best wagon to fill with words, and…like-a…and then I woke up, and I slept great. So, just give it two or three tries and see how it goes. If the show doesn't work for you or you're certain now it doesn't work for you, don't worry, I have a website set up, sleepwithmepodcast.com/nothankyou.

 

It has other sleep podcasts and sleepy stuff on there, so you could discover something that’ll help you out. Yeah, just see how it goes. You got nothing to lose, right? But if you don't like me already strongly, just go to sleepwithmepodcast.com/nothankyou. Otherwise give it a few tries. Hopefully we can help you out. I mean, the show is very different. It’s a podcast you don't listen to, but you could listen to it. You just kinda barely listen, like a TV on in the other room or a show streaming under your pillow or a out-of-focus picture. It’s something you could kinda tune in and tune out of if you need to, or you could listen the whole time, or you could barely listen to me at all. The other thing is that this is a podcast…it’s a sleep podcast that I’ve been making over twelve years, and maybe even…wait a second, is it more than…? I don't even know. I guess a lot more than twelve years? Maybe…I don't even know. Fifteen…yeah. Anyway, not important.

 

The point is that…I don't even…I’ve been making it so long. But the thing is, this podcast, even though it’s a sleep podcast, I’m not here to put you to sleep. I’m here to keep you company while you fall asleep, not to put you to sleep. I’m here to be…there’s no pressure to fall asleep with the show, because there’s people listening who can't sleep at all, who need a break during the day, or need something mild to listen to, mildly enjoyable while they work or they do something else. So, I’m here throughout the show whether you're awake or asleep, whether you're listening to me or not.

 

That’s the reason the episodes are over an hour, so you don't have to worry about when you gotta fall asleep, and I’m gonna be here to the very end, because my job is to keep you company and take your mind off of stuff so you could fall asleep, to be a distraction and a friendly voice in the deep, dark night, to be your bore-friend, your bore-bae, your bore-sib, your bore-bud, your bore-bruh, your chairman of the boreds, your bore-bie, your bore-man, your best bore-friend f’eva, your Boris Borelaf, to just hang out with you, just like a friend and person would, and talk to you about almost nothing. But yeah, we’ll do a little TV recap of a couple things that might…may or might not be familiar, and I’ll be here for about an hour. The structure of the show is something I do like to explain, too, just in case you're new, so you know why we structure the show the way we do. But also, there’s a couple adjustments you could make.

 

But this free version of the show, which is really listener-supported and ad-supported, benefits the maximum amount of people it can, because there’s new listeners listening to this, there’s people that listen occasionally, people that are going through a tough time, and then people that prefer a free version of the podcast. It works better for them, and there’s over 600 episodes in this version of the show. So, the show starts off with a greeting; friends beyond the binary, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, so everybody feels seen and welcomed in. Then there’s support so that paying for the show is optional, and it really is optional for all those people I just mentioned. It really comes down to the people that listen every night, supporting it or not. It allows us to be here. Then after the support but totally separate from the support is a show within a show, which is the intro to the podcast. It’s fifteen to twenty minutes long, where I try to explain what the podcast is, and I go off topic about filler words or whatever it is.

 

Every intro is different but it follows a familiar structure. So, it has some familiar reassurance but it also has variety so that whatever it is that keeps me awake at night, it can't take any repetition. It needs something, some variety, something new, and something that feels like somebody put some effort in to crafting for me or making for me, that took some time to help me out. So, those are part of the reasons. That’s why the intro is new every time. Now, the reason the intro is fifteen to twenty minutes long is to ease you into bedtime. The intro is not meant to put you to sleep. If it does, please consider supporting the show directly. But for most people, they're getting in bed getting comfortable, they're getting ready for bed, or they're doing some sort of chill, wind-down activity while they're listening to the intro. So, it eases them into bedtime. It’s a buffer time. It’s the time we all hang out and laugh at my foibles, or like…I mean laugh at my…you say, how would I even spell foibles? Foibles.

 

It’s not foibles, but I was already trying to spell it. Maybe that’s the name of my wagon, the Foibles Flyer, full of…none of the filler words are foibles, but they do…my foibles do enable them to…where I gotta go back and retrace my steps. What happened to…? I gotta go find it. Yeah, do you want to come with me and look for…? So, what was I talking about? The intro goes on and on and on, but it’s to have a time in-between being awake and being asleep as a part of your wind-down routine. Whether you have other things as a part of your wind-down routine or this is it, that’s what really does work for me on a regular basis most of the time and what I’ve seen studies show work, having a wind-down time, to get eased into bedtime. So, that’s why the intro goes on and on and on. If you listen a lot and you only like the stories, you could check out the podcast Bedtime Stories from Sleep With Me in any podcast app. Or if you support the show on Sleep With Me+, you get a story-only podcast.

 

Either one of those just has the stories from the show. Yeah, but most people…this is like our community time, our hang time. It’s kinda nice to have all of us here together, thinking about me and my wagon and full of words. It’s a word wagon. Well, a filler-word wagon, but it can have space on that…foibles…filled with…foible filler something. Yeah. So, not the best time for a tongue twister 'cause we're at the end of the intro here. But that’s really it. If you're new, just see how it goes. If you're going through a tough time, I’m here to help. If you can't support the show, don't worry about it. I’m gonna ask the people that benefit the most to support it for you and for everybody else. So, if you do…if your pod…if your life has been changed by this podcast, if it has enabled you to flourish at all in the world, we do count on you supporting the podcast, the value the podcast has brought to your life back, so we can be here for you and everybody else, and here’s the ways you could do that; support a sponsor or support the show directly. Thanks.

 

Alright everybody, welcome to a succession of Restful Developments. This is a TV recap imagination podcast, and it’s…two characters kinda run the show. So, we’ll just be talking about someone’s dreams and their week and trying to interpret if it means anything at all, for your sleepy, joyous delight. I’m gonna turn things over to I guess Scoots and Michael, or someone that may or may not be my name Michael. Take it away.

 

Hey. Can I call you Mike? Okay, I’ll take that as an answer. Why don't you sit down? Before we get to anything, I wanted to try to change things up this week. I was thinking, what if we went through your week first? ‘Cause holy cow, your week…now that you're filling out a daily journal and sending it to me and I’m able to follow up with your sib…I mean, mostly because of your access to your corporate moderating accounts, but also you're hearing from your siblings and parsing that information. Thanks for all the access you've given me. I hope we can use it to help you out this week. Yeah. I mean, one thing I want to note is that there’s…I guess it’s starting to make sense, your dreams…only in the sense that your day life is so dreamy. There is so much imagery in your journal and that I put together that was dream…that I feel like I may start dreaming I’m you at some point. Okay. So, do you want to start with your week and I can just kinda ask about the details?

 

Sure, but now that I know what you're looking for, I could try to give you the details. Yeah, so, it started out on Sunday, when I like to make cornballs for George Michael and I. Because we have mostly a lifetime supply of cornball mix and a cornballer, which is kinda like a…it’s a fried cornball. It is fun to say, and when things are…you do have to monitor the cornball machine. It was something my dad sold back in the seventies. Maybe that was one of the dreamy things you were referring to, that you worked with Richard Simmons briefly doing a infomercial, or that…I mean, you did point this out in our e-mail, that the image of…the cornball has a cartoon cornball on the cornball machine and the box that does look like a animated character named Meatwad, but I think the timing is different. My dad…this was…but yeah, it does look like that. So, it is dreamy.

 

The idea of my dad and Richard Simmons selling cornballers and then selling them also…being translated into Spanish…but yeah, I was looking for…I mean, to be honest, I was looking forward to eating some cornballs with my son, sitting down to a table full of cornballs. Maybe even my sib…I thought having some little things would…I thought they would change. Cornballs and change do go together, and normally we like to go on a bike ride to Balboa Island every Sunday. It’s another thing I like to…shared activities with George Michael. So, I was excited about it. Then my sister came in, and she was kind of in front of George Michael, setting his boundaries and setting a theme that I did talk about. I mean, I guess it’s always a theme with me. Family is important. But she was saying that I was telling George Michael what to do. This is something deep-seated in every parent, right? I like spending time with George Michael. She was saying he’s ready.

 

I say, you love cornballs and bike rides, right, bud? Then he said, well, actually, I have plans…he just kind of talks like that sleep podcaster did. Yeah. I said, what do you mean you can't go on the bike ride? He said, well, my bike needs a tune-up, or maybe…I don't know. I did take…I did give…I guess I pulled a parental, because then I started saying stuff about…just take responsibility and speak your mind. Then I bumped the cornballer, which gave me a little cornball buzz. He said, I’m gonna go. I said…so, and then I was…I mean, if I had any silence, then I would have thought, huh, what’s going on? But I had Lindsay there, and she wanted to offer her opinion and her advice about my parenting style and her son. I was…in my head I was also torn because I said, we're trying to really cut back. I’m trying to be austere. But if he needs a new bike so we can spend time together…maybe I should fix this, you know, with the new bike.

 

Also, my sister…I noticed it’s noted in your notes, so I’ll just…your notes are incorrect. She was not dressed like a Parisian, though I see how that would be confusing. She had on a hat that was not a beret, but it could have been taken as a beret. Maybe I did a sketch of it. I’m just not very good at sketching. I mean, she was dressed…this is just Lindsay. Lindsay kind of is stylish even in these ridiculous outfits. Also, they're usually very expensive. Then she had this clearly expensive dress that she bought with the company credit card. I said, no, no, no, you gotta return that. Okay, so then I’m already a little bit out of my element, and then Gob shows up. He was surprised. He doesn't even know that I have a Sunday tradition with George Michael eating cornballs. So, he’s like, a cornballer? Then I thought about…yeah, when…seeing the tapes of my dad translated with George…Richard Simmons; not George Simmons. Then I said, what’s going on with you, Gob?

 

He’s…basically said he had broke up with his current partner, who was a soap opera star. Somehow you also observed that an image or a picture of him with Marta and her two sons and Gob having this big frown on his face. But Gob said, I’m moving in here. I said, we don't have room for you, Gob. Then Lindsay said, oh yeah, no, it’s more about his son than him. She said, he needs space. He’s a teen. Then I said, oh yeah, maybe you know more about parenting than I do. Then Tobias comes in and wants to make…so, this is not going well already. Obviously I’m talking about it. Now, Tobias is Tobias, right? But he takes himself seriously, so he’s like, you know, I used to be a expert in these areas before I became a actor. His wife said, you're not an actor. He said, this is a normal part of life. Then he was kinda talking about how he’s distanced from his daughter and that she…they're not kind of as connected. But then his example didn't play out 'cause he said, where are you going?

 

She goes, to a audition for a play and…for high school. So, it’s not open auditions for actors. Tobias took that as a call for connection, that she’s acting; he’s acting. But it was incorrect. She had a crush on this guy, Steve Holt, and wanted to be in the play with him, to maybe hold hands with him. Now, the irony was that’s what George Michael was doing that same day, though I didn't know about it ‘til later. He was auditioning for the play because of…I guess it is dreamlike. He wants to hold hands with his cousin. I say, oh man…but I would only know about any of this 'cause of your narrator effect or whatever you call it. So, it was like this thing. They're all going out for this high-school play. Meanwhile, I go to get a new bike for him. By the way, I got…when I buy a bike, I gotta ride a bike to get a bike, 'cause that’s…I don't have a car. I’ve got a bike. So, it was quite a workout picking up my son’s new bike and then biking home with the box with the bike in it.

 

Now, Buster was also…he lives with my mom, and normally he goes away on these school trips even though he’s an adult, like graduate-school trips that my dad would pay for, the business would pay for. But because there’s no…he has to spend more time with my mom, and she was not happy about it. Also, he was chasing birds throughout the house when my mom does aqua-size or…how do you say aqua…? Is it waterobics? Oh, it’s not aquarobics? It’s waterobics. Which is water exercise classes. Buster is still there, and he jumps in the pool. He disrupts it. He said that the bird was on his pillow. So, I’m trying to talk to my mom, and she’s trying to tell me about Buster. Oh no, and this was…I’m sorry, Lindsay was talking to my mom. Then Lindsay’s like, oh, well, Michael made cornballs for everybody but Buster. My mom said, what do you mean? Why isn't Buster hanging out with you guys if you're all together?

 

So, then she was having a moment…the inverse of me, saying, well, maybe Buster should spend more time with his siblings. So, she gave me a speech about that and cornball corn holes, which is a game. I tried to explain that to her. I said, well, a cornball and the sand…it’s like a beanbag. The beanbag you sit in, she said? No, a beanbag you throw into a corn hole. Anyway, mom, what do you need? She said, well, you're having fun with everybody but Buster. I’m sending him over. You're in charge of him now. I said, well, he’s gonna have to work. So, he…first we were work…he’s working on the bike while we're…I’m trying to work. Which, I said, okay, maybe if he puts the bike together…then I had to deal with Gob, right? And he shows up in a bathrobe. Of course, Buster’s in a bathing suit or summer clothes. Gob’s not happy with his relationship with my mother. Also, yeah, Gob was shredding whole-wheat bread. I think that was one of things…you're like, are you sure you even dreamed that?

 

I said, no, my brother was doing that. He was putting whole-wheat bread in my shredder for work, or the company shredder. The reason he was in a robe is 'cause he slept in the boardroom. I said, well, I have nowhere to live. I said, well, you can't sleep in the boardroom. He said, why? I said, because I’m telling you you can't. Whatever, we go back and forth. So then, yeah, there’s the whole thing with George Michael, Maeby and Steve Holt, and George Michael auditioning, and Maeby being like, I’m surprised you're auditioning. She’s telling him, I’m just here to kiss Steve Holt or hold his hand. I think this…I don't know if this was after they got the roles, though, because George Michael is Steve Holt’s stand-in, so he’s not gonna be at practice, anyway. Then, yeah, I guess apparently Tobias somehow talked his way or begged his way into being the director of the high-school play, so he shows up. He whispers a surprise 'cause he thinks it’s 'cause Maeby wants to spend more time with him.

 

He rolls on stage. This is all very dreamy, too, I know, even the idea of him begging the principal. Yeah, and then working with Buster was very challenging. He’s not aware of…so, he’s yawning in front of clients, falling asleep, work…talking about personal stuff in the boardroom, working on the bike in the boardroom, and really, really challenging. And then I didn't even realize; should I really be allowing Buster to work on a bike my son’s gonna ride? Meanwhile, yeah, I heard about the play. Tobias is over-complicating things. Maeby leaves the play. Then I show up there, and…or maybe quit, I guess after I showed up to the play. Like, I heard about it. I say, we’ll get you a new bike. I say, why didn't you tell me about this? He goes, oh, well, it’s not a big deal. I’m just a stand-in. I left work early so we could hang. He’s like, well…he got awkward, right? He’s like, well, I can't go for a bike ride right now. Then I guess I was a little dismissive. I said, well, you're just a stand-in. Let’s go for a bike ride.

 

He had other stuff going on. I wasn't avail…I guess in that moment…and he said to me, I can't go on a million bike rides with you just whenever you want. I said, is this about something else, like a romantic attraction or something? Or is Lindsay right? Then he left, and I was talking to Tobias about it. I said, maybe this is…maybe the son’s growing out of hanging out with me. Also, yeah, another dreamy thing that I did notice after…I pretended to leave, but I noticed Tobias really liked the taste of his pencil or pen. I said, is that like some sort of flavored pen or a scented pen? So, then Tobias is recasting the play and recasting it. It became kinda one of those things that kept self-fulfilling, changing roles…George Michael and Steve Holt. Eventually it would end up Steve Holt and Maeby again reversed roles. Then I went to see my dad, and he just said…he was talking about himself and playing card games. He said, well, think about your brother Buster. I wasn't really involved in his life.

 

I was involved in yours, but he’s closer with your mother. I guess I didn't give him everything I needed. I wasn't aware of him. Meanwhile Buster was with us, but he was reading a book and not paying attention. Buster’s like, I gotta go home and take a nap. Lindsay’s trying to hide the dress she’s supposed to return. Ironically, Tobias ends up finding it and using it as a costume for Steve Holt. Gob tries to move in with my mom, singing to her, and at first they share that they can be critical of people, but other than that, they don't really have anything in common. She’s like, you could live here for three days. Then I said, well, Buster could be my new friend. So, we stretched and got ready for a bike ride. Then Buster…we were kind of giving each other a hard time. Then Buster was doing imitations of my mom. Gob was also reading a book when he was living with my mom, and then he moved out.

 

But Buster, even when he was imitating my mom, he doesn't really…he’s really…doesn't know how to communicate well. But yeah, he goes back and forth whether he wants to be independent of my mom or not. George Michael quit the play eventually when it was just him and Steve, 'cause Maeby wasn't there, and then when he quit, Maeby went back to the play. Then my mom was…realized she was jealous of me. Once she knew that Buster was becoming independent, she wanted to win Buster back, so she won Buster back with a candy bar. Also…oh, Buster and I went for a bike ride, and that did not go well. He said he was just trying to fit in, but he was like, I want to sit in the front seat from now on. This also all happened in the boardroom in front of everybody else.

 

Then in the end, George Michael said, dad, what if we make some cornballs together? We kinda learned, hey, you were gonna try to be independent; I’m gonna try to be independent. He made little, tiny cornballs, and I did not criticize the size of the cornballs. Then I had to imagine what next week was gonna be like, but I guess it’s not accurate of Tobias getting reviews of his play and not being happy, and Buster being back with things. So, yeah, that’s it from my…that was what my week was like. I guess we could discuss more right now, huh?

 

Alright, I’m glad we took that little break there, and I do want to get to your dream. I really consider it a series of dreams, and I took some time to kinda break it out. So, instead of me…you running through your dream, I wanted to kinda talk about some of the parts of the dream, 'cause you kinda wrote it almost like a story, which I appreciate. It did help me, and it really…so, is that okay with you? Yeah, that’s fine. Alright, so, I wanted to start with Greg. Not Craig; Greg, Greg with a G. He kinda became…I don't know if he was Cousin Greg before this or if this is the dream where he became Cousin Greg or started getting called Cousin Greg, because we talked about Greg before. Yeah, I don't know. I mean, Greg's…in the dream he’s the cousin. Yeah, so…but in this…the story you told me about your dream or the dream you had, Greg…there was a dream with Greg, right? Yeah, I had a dream with Cousin Greg.

 

And it was kinda like Greg was on this quest to go get slippers, and then he was on a quest to get papers, then he was on a quest to not get papers, or I think before that, to get a sweater, a sweater of Logan’s for Roman. Yeah, I don't know if you're explaining it that great. So…well, another thing I forgot to say — and I’m not sure if this is me or the dream — Marcia became Marsha. Or, people…I could have sworn my dream…but everybody’s calling her Marsha now. Well, I do remember; the last conversations we had, you were referring to her as Marcia, but that was what you were referring to her as. Okay. Well, she’s Marsha now in the dream. Same woman, married to my father. She was in the dream a lot, too. Yeah, and she did seem like a very stable presence in the dream. There was just a lot of parts of the dream that you gave me that were a little bit obvious? I don't know, that you could probably look at as your own.

 

Like, hey, Marsha, formally Marcia, maybe this…maybe your role changed. But she does seem like someone to look up to, and a very…she’s not…she’s a good partner in this dream, and I feel like to herself and…but she’s the first one that gives Greg a quest. Right, because he’s being a P-E-S-T she gives him a quest, and she sends him to go get slippers. But it’s more like…and I don't know if you noted this, but there’s a theme in my dream of people being sent away because they're not part of the family or not trusted. Yeah, I mean, I did notice that, but I thought that was for you to look at, too, since we only have a limited amount of time together. So, go ahead. Yeah, so, Marsha sends Greg to get slippers. Checked…I can't even remember now because it was so confusing, but checked slippers with a…slippers with a checked pattern on it. It seems like Logan has…in the dream he had a lot of slippers, a variety of slippers.

 

I didn't realize that…he just never…when you've described him before, I would have never thought slippers. Yeah, I guess that’s a part of the dream? Huh, interesting. I don't know if we analyzed that, my partner and I, but…yeah, slippers are comfort. In this reassurance…but this is more about Greg. So, go ahead. Yeah, so, he goes…he gets ready to set out on his quest to get the slippers. Then Roman says, hey, by the way, while you're there, can you get these papers for me? He doesn't really help Greg at all. He just…what papers? I was surprised in the dream Greg found any papers at all. Then I’m not sure the order anymore, like you said, but I think then Roman says, also, can you get a sweater of my dad’s? Oh, which sweater? It doesn't matter, as long as it’s used and smells like my dad. It would be nice for him and it would remind…anyway, I don't…I don’t want to talk about it; kind of a Roman thing. So, that’s another layer. Then Shiv says, don't bring the papers back, Cousin Greg.

 

In the dream there’s all these sibling rivalries, which I guess you're saying is pretty obvious. Okay, what happens next to Greg? He takes a cab, but he doesn't have money to pay for the cab, so he asked the doorman to pay for the cab, and the doorman doesn't recognize him. It becomes a thing. I thought that was very dreamy, right? There’s the gatekeeper or whatever…and even his mode of transport, and he’s kinda stuck for a while until Mrs. Roy calls, or Marsha. Okay, and then what happens? Then Greg's not very successful at doing anything, so he has to call his mom. But I don't know it’s just incompetence, because you're going to some person’s house you've never been to before…I can't even believe he was supposed to be looking for stuff. Then he’s supposed to find slippers and papers and a sweater. He doesn't even know where the laundry would be. Also, he has the two different things. Shiv says, don't bring the papers. Roman says, bring the papers.

 

So, he’s not sure who to choose to be loyal to. Also…oh, also he had given twenty bucks to Shiv earlier. That was his last $20. That’s why he couldn't pay for the cab. Okay, and then what happens? After calling his mom, maybe even more than once, and not being able…oh, he knocks over a bell. I think some sort of…I would incorrectly say it was a Tibetan bell, but I don't know anything about bells. Then he rings it and then knocks it over, and then one of the people that works in the house comes by, and he goes, oh, I’m sorry, I didn't mean to summon you or whatever. It was a mistake. Then eventually he returns without the papers but with the sweater and the slippers. I’m not sure if he got the right slippers or not, but it wasn’t a real quest anyway. Then he’s able to deflect because he has the sweater which Roman asked for, but…so, he kinda does choose Shiv versus Roman. Okay, so, yeah, we worked on this. Now, the first one is…it could be some sort of displacement ritual.

 

This is what my…I told my assistant to find the most out-there ideas. Now, this is meaningless or conflicting errands, and in this case, to absorb chaos. Okay. Greg's being set up, obviously, or possibly. Like in the dream, you know? So, he gets sent away, then Roman tries to take authority, then Shiv puts him in a double bind. This will come up again, the old double bind. Then there’s this essence of Logan with the smell of the sweater, and that’s kind of a conflicting thing, too, I notice, is that I’m having trouble — and maybe you could just process it — saying, was this a heartfelt thing by Roman or showing some sort of deeper part of Roman, or some true love of his father or something else happening? Also, Greg doesn't get the resources to complete his task. He’s not recognized or being seen as a legitimate quester. Then he regresses on his quest, and he calls…he says, I don't know what to do with this…the double-bind or even which slippers might be best to choose from.

 

Now, is this an initiation or just something else? Again, you gotta think about how you feel about any of this with you and your family. So, then the other thing could be this double bind, that Greg's tasks are not compatible and there’s no good action that he can see, though he does try to make the best action he can. I think in the end of the dream you say, well, maybe in the end he made the most of it. He managed to deflect, he managed to return with two quest items, or in a sense, the lack of the third quest item was a successful quest item. He chose…I don't know if that’s the right way to say it. I think choosing…who would I more likely get…return or would remember I did something for them? But again, how much is this structured like your life? Responsibility, but you don't have the cab money. You're not recognized, but you're supposed to be in opposition of authority, but the authority doesn't recognize you, and you're supposed to smell sweaters of a person you don't even really know, and find their used sweaters.

 

That seems a bit absurd, you know? Not out of character for this dream Roman you have. Now, again, going along, this could be a relic quest, a failed relic quest, or maybe not failed. Like, these are relics of…Logan-related relics. The papers are related to Logan’s wishes. They're his slippers, which again could symbolize anything. I think they do symbolize some sort of authority, though, because not only does he have so many slippers; they sound pretty nice. I don't know, I guess I’m having trouble wrapping around how deep to go on the slippers. Then there’s the essence of Logan embodied in the sweater, but there’s contradictions there. Who sent you on the quest? All of a sudden you…and again, I think there’s a later thing with Frank saying something about that he’s not meant to be up front. He’s just a liege lord or something. But in this sense, Greg doesn't even have a lord to liege to, or a queen to liege to, and he’s very unprepared.

 

So, it’s almost like he’s sent on a quest, and impressively, he succeeds. Then I wanted to talk about the bell, if it is a Tibetan bell or some sort of symbolic, spiritual-based bell…spiritual-based…SBB, spiritual-based bell? Spiritually…SUB, spiritually-used bell? Bell used…BUS? Bell used in spiritual sit…BUSS, bell used in spiritual situations? ‘Cause bells bring you…your attention and your awareness to them. They're a part of awakening or entering with a meditative state or coming out of an…to bring you out of an illusion you're lost in. But Greg also drops the bell, and he’s playing with the bell. So, what does that mean to you? I don't know. He doesn't seem like he’s having…well, I guess he loses himself with the bell, but then immediately has consequences. What are those consequences?

 

He drops the bell, then he’s embarrassed, and then he gets…I mean, not only is he embarrassed internally but externally…well, right when he had his guard down to play with the bell. Okay, that’s pretty good. I like that. But in a sense, his ability to be playful, maybe, made the quest…I think we could say it’s successful, and he definitely made the most of a tough situation without ever saying…you know what I mean? Yeah, he never said ‘uh’. No, I more mean he didn't ever…in the dream he didn't really show how he reached his conclusions. But I will say maybe it has to do with your individuation? Are you familiar with that? Yeah, I mean, it does keep coming up with us. Okay, so what if it’s some sort of simulation, like a status simulation that didn't work out? Almost like your dream, your subconscious is running a situation about your status in the family or your status in society, and what if it’s being reduced?

 

‘Cause you have no recognition, no money, no authority, nowhere to turn to. You're trying to get help from a parental figure, and that’s not working, even, and you don't know what to do in the dream. Could that be some part of you rehearsing to try to figure out how to move forward? Like, some sort of…is there anything in you that feels like you could be existentially irrelevant? What do you mean? Well, you always present in our discussions as someone competent. You want to be…or you don't…you're the head of the family whether you like it or not. You try to be responsible as possible. What would happen if you were in Greg's shoes, or do you feel like you're in Greg's shoes? Like you’re at the whims of…? Like, alls you can do is make the best at the whims of others? Yeah, okay. What about the next part? Okay, this is one…my assistant is artificially intelligent, so they like to do one about…if everything’s in a simulation.

 

So, what if this is a cognitive process but it’s a decision model that’s not working for some reason? The input is, Greg, do this for the family. But then there’s some sort of contradictory constraint, and that means the data training the model is not offering stability or authority, so there’s gonna be some regression or looping or hesitation. It’s a over-constrained system. It can't choose, can't prioritize, can't optimize. It calls back to something, the mother in this dream situation. Then even the bell…it drops the bell. That was some sort of object…focus object or something to keep the model from having this mistake in its simulation. So, what would happen to you if you were…you had a system that you were trying to train or be trained in, but everything else was a little bit chaotic? What kind of authority do you…or power do you have in that situation? Okay, it gives me a lot to think about. But I do have a lot of…I got a lot of responsibility to really focus on.

 

Okay, let’s go to Tom next, 'cause I thought that this whole thing with Tom was interesting to me. I said, how does Tom and Michael relate? Did you have a poem about Tom? I didn't write one, but Tom, you proposed to propose an inopportune…and then your grand, romantic gesture is not really grand or romantic at all, Tom. You eat cake. You page through magazines. What’s going on while you do these things? Will you be Greg's ally or not, Tom? Okay, thank you. Thank you for that. Okay, so, let’s see what…do you want to give me a quick rundown of Tom’s…? Well, he just can't fit in still. He doesn't know where he stands 'cause…is he a part of the family or not? Is he trusted or not? Then he can't decide…he really wants to fix everything, and he’s not able…he’s never…his ideas for fixing things are not the right things, and then he has no awareness of anyone else. So, he’s trying to ask about the proposal without really seeing a way…he’s just…just has no real awareness.

 

Yeah, my assistant pointed out something called appeasement bonding. I don't know if you can relate to that. You're anticipating needs that aren't even asked for. You're volunteering to be put down. You're clinging, you're being obedient before you're even given commands, and your loyalty is replacing your identity, in a sense. Compliance theatre; that’s another thing my assistant called it. Huh, I don't know…I mean, I think that might be…well, I guess it’s a dream, but I would say that Tom’s also doing his best. Even though he doesn't have a quest, he’s inventing quests for himself. Okay, maybe this will resonate with you; what if it’s a masculinity mirror maze, and he’s worried about his status, almost like a status at a watering hole? He doesn't know how to hold himself physically in space, he doesn't know the right thing to say, he’s not sure when to assert things correctly or to defer things correctly, and he always has to base things on…well, Shiv, at least, and maybe this…I don't want to point out anything for you, but…he’s useful but not respected.

 

I don't know, I mean, I guess he’s useful on some level. Present for all the…a lot of the events that are unfolding, but he’s not a part of it, really. Again, like a lot of the other smaller parts of your dreams where it’s introducing these other outsiders that maybe you'll keep dreaming about. So, there’s almost these layers or circles of outsiders, and it’s almost like it’s next to this more recent layer with Gerri or Frank in particular, that they're almost comfortable on this…not the further out…this third circle or whatever they're in, where Tom is in this second circle, and that’s almost like the worst place to be. I mean, the dignity of Tom is something I wonder about, you know? Now, what about if it’s an initiation, like a rite of passage? I mean, I guess in some sense this is a rite of passage or a cultural…getting married or proposing or whatever it is. But he’s not even able to do that, and then even though he does it, it doesn't work out. He has no mentor or anyone to see him through, anyone at all.

 

He has no anchor other than Shiv, and she does kinda…even when she’s pleased, she gets pleased with him almost like a pet or something. He doesn't actually ever go anywhere or do anything, and I don't know if this is actually a part of…my assistant said it is part of the myth; the eternal novice. Then, okay, what if it’s related to attachment therapy 'cause of the clinging, the constantly mis-monitoring the emotions, not being able to talk or not over-talk or say too much or say nothing at all, but also trying to manage impressions, not standing up for himself, but then…? It’s confusing and it’s almost like he can't find his usefulness, either, other than in a servile nature. Not just to Shiv but to whatever structures or traditions he thinks he’s supposed to do that will fix everything. He’s not even doing it out of purpose other than to make…to say, I just want to make everything okay, and didn't know what to do. Another idea would be that he’s a court jester, an unofficial court jester.

 

My assistant said that’s very important because he’s not a true jester, because true jesters have security, immunity, they're official, and they're kind of looked after by the king or the mentor, traditionally, in stories, at least. I mean, some stories. So, he’s a jester without a job, or he’s a unofficial jester, which is not a good place to be in. That’s a non…he’s not a sanctioned entity or identity. I don't know if you relate to that at all, Michael. I may, I may. Okay, it could also be AI. If we're all in this and the AI is doing it, the calibration for this simulation was miscalibrated cognitively, because it’s…there’s a feedback. There’s feedback coming in with Tom and it’s causing the processing not to work. Maybe showing that good nature is maladaptive…if it’s not true good nature. Like, when people smile and sigh and try to make the best of it even though…are you talking about me? I could be. Let’s finish up with…well, there’s a little bit about watches and magazines that came up, and who controls the watches?

 

Are the watches being wound? Clocks, times…I just thought of Roman…you said Roman was winding a watch or looking at it. But who actually is the center of time is probably Logan, right? Maybe that’s how you feel about your father, and maybe that you don't have a controlled watch. But also, 'cause Roman wasn’t even wearing a watch. I think he might have said there was other watches, but there’s also magazines…I think to Tom’s cake-eating, but there’s paging through magazines while waiting, and I just think that kinda symbolizes…maybe there’s a part of you that is concerned with appearance and your private family versus your public family, your role in the…your role…like your public-facing role, even with your family and the other people that are in your family’s business versus who you really are. The last one I want to talk about…there was stuff with the orchids. That was, I think, important. My assistant said, okay, whoa, wait a second.

 

Orchids are curated, so they need exact temperature, light, constant attention, probably a artificial environment at least to thrive. So, that’s interesting. They're beautiful but they're also fragile, and they really do need…they say, huh, who could that be? I’m not saying it’s you. I’m just saying, who could that be? Even in the dream. But then there was this thing you pointed out that I actually fix…like, I don't know if you're familiar with the TV show South Park. I am. Okay, in a good way? Oh yeah, in a good way. Okay, so there was the Kenny meme that you said Roman was watching, but then later I noted that you said in the dream — I believe it was Frank, who was kind of a father figure — called Kendall Kenny, or someone did. I said, huh, that couldn't be accidental at all, I don't think, because Kenny is…Kenny was a meme, but Kenny is almost already a meme, right? We all know what happens to Kenny every episode.

 

We all know that Cartman’s gonna say something about it, or someone is, and we all know that it’s usually very…Kenny’s trip across the rainbow bridge causes laughter. It’s constant repetition. Kenny’s in a loop, you know? Usually no…just like Tom or Greg in this situation, or Kendall or anyone…Marsha’s the main authority here, but she’s not a parental authority of any of these siblings or the next loop of people. So, like Kenny, no one’s…everyone’s always aware of it after it happens for Kenny, or while it’s happening. It’s played for humor. There’s not a lot of empathy or compassion. There’s usually just surprise, and it’s done for entertainment, right? It’s repeated and not ever resolved. Then the fact that Kendall is told this…doesn't this say to Kendall…isn’t Frank saying to Kendall that…this is not gonna stop, Kendall. I don't want to be a part of this right now, because I’ve realized something about myself. I mean, this…and then…but Kendall can’t quite hear it.

 

It’s like, hey, don't…you don't want to beat Kenny, Kendall. So, I’m gonna call you Kenny just to let you know that…or maybe Frank is a true parental figure in a sense that there…I don't know if there…maybe…I’d have to re-read your dream and write…your journal. But was Frank being empathetic or was he almost empathetic in the sense of like…? Almost like there’s this level of fiction within fiction where he’s meeting Kenny outside of a South Park episode before he returns to South Park knowing forever. He’s saying to Kendall, oof, buddy…I don't know, why would your dreams speak that to you, you know, Michael? I get it. Thank you. I think I get it. Yeah, I guess the only other thing would be that then everybody goes to sleep at the end. That was pretty nice. Like, we see everybody sleeping except for Logan, who wakes up like a sweet prince in his beddy-bye. We see Marsha go to sleep, Tom and Shiv, Kendall…I don't know if we see anyone else. Oh, Greg's sleeping in the chapel. Yeah, they all get comfortable and drift off into dreamland, eh? Okay, so, I guess we’ll do that, too, huh? Yeah, let’s do that. Goodnight, Michael. Goodnight, everybody. Goodnight, Kenny. Goodnight.

 

[End of recording]

Transcription performed by LeahTranscribes

A Succession of Restful Developments / TV Recap

 

Radio Flyer Wagon

https://www.radioflyer.com/pages/radio-flyer-history?srsltid=AfmBOoqzEeTyiokGBdP9vAMqB_jklx1VcBk8w7_Tr4stQWE-7XqKqa-X

https://www.mentalfloss.com/fun/toys/why-it-called-radio-flyer

https://www.chicagohistory.org/radioflyer/

 

Religious Relics

https://www.coraevans.com/blog/article/the-history-of-relics-and-why-they-matter

https://www.metmuseum.org/essays/relics-and-reliquaries-in-medieval-christianity

https://cswr.hds.harvard.edu/news/2025/03/31/early-christian-relics-commodity-culture

 

Kenny / South Park

https://screenrant.com/kenny-south-park-trivia-facts/

https://www.looper.com/885058/the-odd-real-life-inspiration-behind-kenny-on-south-park/

https://www.cracked.com/article_47895_south-park-fans-mourn-how-the-show-has-seemingly-forgotten-about-kenny.html

 

S1 E3 (Arrested Development); S1 E2 (Succession)

https://deconstructingad.com/2018/11/17/season-1-episode-3-bringing-up-buster/

https://screenspeck.com/2023/02/16/succession-recap-1-2/

https://www.avclub.com/succession-invites-us-into-the-war-room-in-its-overwhel-1836321593

 

DOWN TO BUSINESS

Whoops, I’ve never made that mistake before

I don’t know what I was starting

Striving to bring you sleepy joy and delight

Your borefriend, calling in

No ringtones when I call on the pod phone

Kind of like a dream interpretation TV recap podcast

 

PLUGS

Sleep With Me Plus; SleepPhones; Story Only Feed; Rusty Biscuit Links; Emily Tat Artwork; Crisis Textline; Referral Program

 

SPONSORS

Helix Sleep; Zocdoc; Progressive; Coyuchi

 

INTRO

You could be in the middle of something

A tough time getting the sleep you want

I wish you didn’t need a show like this

I do hear from people that graduate from listening to the show

You’re welcome here

Maybe I don’t get it, but someone will

They’re sending you well wishes and hope across the Deep Dark Night

The only magical part of the podcast

Sending the comfort is when you feel it most

If you're out there flourishing, the world is a better place to be in

Fill ‘er up with filler words

Anything in my presence is usually overflowing

Actual Spatial Navigation is not a strength

There was a time when teachers would just call you M-E-S-S-Y

Don’t worry, filler word, I’ll put you back in the wagon

A luxury stroller that’s called a wagon nowadays

Why would you take a wagon out on a rocky road?

I have trouble navigating space. Not outer or inner space. Just space.

Filler Word Paradox

Cupholders filled with pregnant pauses

I don’t know why I assume that’s the right place for them

I’m trying to placate filler words with words that mean nothing

Believe it or not, I find slow kinetic motion an essential part of making a sleep podcast

I don’t want to use the phrase “liminal space” but I just did

Singing “Movin’ Right Along” from The Muppets

What a tangent that was, huh?

Give the show a few tries and see how it goes

I guess I lost my thought in that wagon of filler of words

sleepwithmepodcast.com/nothankyou

How long have I been making this show?

I’m here to be your borefriend

Explaining the show structure

How would I even spell foibles?

My wagon, the Foibles Flyer

It’s nice to just hang and think my wagon full of words

A Foibles Flyer full of filler words

 

STORY

Welcome to A Succession of Restful Developments

TV Recap Dream Imagination Podcast

Talking about dreams and trying to interpret them

Let’s dive in

Hey Mike, how’s it going?

Let’s change things up this week

Let’s go through your week first

Thanks for the access to your corporate accounts

Your daylife is so dreamy

Started on Sunday when I like to make cornballs for George Michael

The Cornballer

You do have to monitor the cornball machine

My dad worked with Richard Simmons briefly

Cornball does look an animated character named Meatwad

I was looking forward to some cornballs with my son

Cornballs and change go together

We like to ride bikes to Balboa Island every Sunday

My sister came in to talk about boundaries

She says I’m telling George Michael what to do

GM already has plans for today

I pulled a parental

I got a cornball buzz

GM heads out

Lindsay offers parenting advice

Maybe I can fix this with a new bike

Lindsay had a hat that is kind of a beret but not quite

Lindsay is stylish, even in these ridiculous outfits

She bought her dress with the company card

Gob shows up

Gob broke up with his current partner who’s a soap opera star

Gob is moving in, but we don’t have room

Tobias comes in

Tobias offers his professional opinion

He’s distanced from Maeby

She’s auditioning for a high school play

Maeby has a crush on Steve Holt

But GM is also auditioning

He wants to hold hands with his cousin

Your Narrator Effect

I gotta ride a bike to get a bike

Buster lives with my mom

Normally he goes on graduate school trips

But now he has to spend more time with mom

Mom does aquarobics? Water-robics?

Buster is chasing birds

Lindsay discusses Buster with Mom

Why are we excluding Buster?

Cornball vs Cornhole

Buster can stay with me, but he has to work

Gob shows up in a bathrobe

Gob is shredding whole wheat bread

He slept in the business boardroom

A whole thing with GM, Maeby and Steve Holt

Was this after they got cast?

Tobias has talked his way into being the director of the high school play

Working with Buster is very challenging

He’s falling asleep in front of clients

Should I allow Buster to work on a bike my son’s going to ride

Tobias is over complicating the play

Maeby quits

I show up with GM’s new bike

GM can’t go on a million bike rides whenever I want

Is this about something else?

I consult with Tobias

I noticed that Tobias liked the flavor of his pen

Eventually Steve Holt and GM are playing lovers in the play

I went to visit my Dad

He’s talking about himself

Dad wasn’t really involved with Buster’s upbringing

Buster is there, btw

Tobias uses Lindsay’s dress as a costume for Steve Holt

Gob wants to move in with Mom

They can both be critical people

Buster is doing imitations of Mom

GM quits the play, but then Maeby returns to it

My mom is jealous of me because Buster is with me

She wins Buster back with a candy bar

GM offers to make cornballs with me

I did not criticize the size of his cornballs

Then I had a vision of next week

Tobiais is unhappy with his play reviews

So that was my week

Let’s take a break

And then let’s talk about your dream

Your wrote your dream out like a story

Starting with Greg

Has he always been Cousin Greg?

Greg is on a quest to get slippers and papers and a sweater

Getting Logan’s sweater for Roman

I could’ve sworn Marcia used to be called Mar-see-a

But that might’ve just been me

She’s a stable presence for my father

Marcia is a good partner in this dream

She gives Greg a quest because he’s being a P-E-S-T

A theme of being sent away for not being trusted

Slippers with a checked pattern

Logan has a variety of slippers

Roman piles on requests

Shiv tells Greg not to bring the papers back

A lot of obvious sibling rivalries

Greg can’t pay for the cab, and the doorman doesn’t recognize him

Greg is stuck until Marcia calls

Greg calls his Mom because he’s overwhelmed

I can’t believe he’d find anything

He doesn’t know who to be loyal to

He knocks over a bell. Tibetan, perhaps?

He accidentally summons some help

His quest wasn’t even real

He has the sweater but not the papers

He chose Shiv over Roman

Maybe this is a displacement ritual?

Meaningless errands to absorb chaos

The old double bind

Was Roman heartfelt or not?

Greg is not seen as a legitimate quester

Is this initiation or something else?

Maybe Greg did make the most of this whole thing

A successful quest item

This forced responsibility reminds me of you

Failed Relic Quest

Logan-Related Relics

Maybe these slippers represent authority

Essence of Logan, embodied in sweater

Greg doesn’t have a lord to liege to

Impressively, Greg succeeds

Let’s examine that Tibetan bell

Spiritual-Based Bell (SBB)

Bell Used in Spiritual Situations (BUSS)

What does it mean that Greg is playing with the bell

Immediate consequences for bell-playing

Letting your guard down, then immediately getting embarrassed

Are you familiar with Individuation?

What if it’s a family status simulation?

No recognition, no money, no authority

No help from a parental figure

Rehearsing for how to move forward

Is there any part of you that might feel existentially irrelevant?

What would happen if you were in Greg’s shoes

Making the best of the whims of others

A cognitive process of a decision model that’s not working for some reason

Some sort of cognitive restraint

An Overconstrained System

Let’s go to Tom next

Didn’t you have a poem about Tom?

A poem for Tom

Tom just can’t fit in, family-wise

His ideas for fixing things aren’t the right things

No real awareness

Appeasement Bonding

Being obedient before being given commands

Compliance Theatre

Tom invents quests for himself

Masculinity Mirror Maze

Circles of Outsiders

I wonder about the dignity of Tom

Rites of passage

His only anchor is Shiv

Pleased with him like a pet

The Eternal Novice

Unofficial Court Jester

True jesters have security. Tom does not.

A miscalibrated AI simulation

Who controls the watches? Are the watches being wound?

Who’s at the center of time? Probably the father figure

I didn’t get to Tom’s cake eating

A lot of talk about appearance

Orchids must be curated

A fragile, artificial environment for survival

Could that be you?

Recurrences of Kenny from South Park

We all know what happens to Kenny every episode

Kenny’s stuck in a loop

Repeated but never revolved

Frank doesn’t want to be stuck in this loop

Don’t be Kenny, Kendall

Is Frank a true parental figure?

Is this real empathy from Frank?

Then everyone is sleeping except Logan

He awakes like a sweet prince

We’ll all drift off and end this for now

 

SUMMARY:

Episode: 1426 

Title: Cousin Cornball | A Succession of Restful Developments Ep 3

Plugs: Sleep With Me Plus; SleepPhones; Story Only Feed; Rusty Biscuit Links; Emily Tat Artwork; Crisis Textline; Referral Program

Sponsors: Helix Sleep; Zocdoc; Progressive; Coyuchi

Notable Language:

• Actual Spatial Navigation
• M-E-S-S-Y
• Filler Word Paradox
• Slow Kinetic Motion
• Liminal Space
• Foibles Flyer
• A Foibles Flyer full of filler words
• TV Recap Dream Imagination Podcast
• I pulled a parental
• Your Narrator Effect
• Aquarobics
• P-E-S-T
• A variety of slippers
• Double Bind
• Failed Relic Quest
• Logan-Related Relics
• Essence of Logan
• Spiritual-Based Bell (SBB)
• Bell Used in Spiritual Situations (BUSS)
• Individuation
• Existentially Irrelevant
• An Overconstrained System
• Appeasement Bonding
• Compliance Theatre
• Masculinity Mirror Maze
• The Eternal Novice
• Unofficial Court Jester

 

Notable Culture:

• Arrested Development

• Succession

• • “Movin’ Right Along” song

• The Muppets

• • sleepwithmepodcast.com/nothankyou
  • Foibles Flyer, a wagon company

• A Succession of Restful Developments

• • Richard Simmons

• Aqua Teen Hunger Force

• South Park

 

Notable Talking Points:

• You could be in the middle of something
• A tough time getting the sleep you want
• I wish you didn’t need a show like this
• I do hear from people that graduate from listening to the show
• You’re welcome here
• Maybe I don’t get it, but someone will
• They’re sending you well wishes and hope across the Deep Dark Night
• The only magical part of the podcast
• Sending the comfort is when you feel it most
• If you're out there flourishing, the world is a better place to be in
• Fill ‘er up with filler words
• Anything in my presence is usually overflowing
• Actual Spatial Navigation is not a strength
• There was a time when teachers would just call you M-E-S-S-Y
• Don’t worry, filler word, I’ll put you back in the wagon
• A luxury stroller that’s called a wagon nowadays
• Why would you take a wagon out on a rocky road?
• I have trouble navigating space. Not outer or inner space. Just space.
• Filler Word Paradox
• Cupholders filled with pregnant pauses
• I don’t know why I assume that’s the right place for them
• I’m trying to placate filler words with words that mean nothing
• Believe it or not, I find slow kinetic motion an essential part of making a sleep podcast
• I don’t want to use the phrase “liminal space” but I just did
• Singing “Movin’ Right Along” from The Muppets
• What a tangent that was, huh?
• Give the show a few tries and see how it goes
• I guess I lost my thought in that wagon of filler of words
• sleepwithmepodcast.com/nothankyou
• How long have I been making this show?
• I’m here to be your borefriend
• Explaining the show structure
• How would I even spell foibles?
• My wagon, the Foibles Flyer
• It’s nice to just hang and think my wagon full of words
• A Foibles Flyer full of filler words
• Welcome to A Succession of Restful Developments
• TV Recap Dream Imagination Podcast
• Talking about dreams and trying to interpret them
• Let’s dive in
• Hey Mike, how’s it going?
• Let’s change things up this week
• Let’s go through your week first
• Thanks for the access to your corporate accounts
• Your daylife is so dreamy
• Started on Sunday when I like to make cornballs for George Michael
• The Cornballer
• You do have to monitor the cornball machine
• My dad worked with Richard Simmons briefly
• Cornball does look an animated character named Meatwad
• I was looking forward to some cornballs with my son
• Cornballs and change go together
• We like to ride bikes to Balboa Island every Sunday
• My sister came in to talk about boundaries
• She says I’m telling George Michael what to do
• GM already has plans for today
• I pulled a parental
• I got a cornball buzz
• GM heads out
• Lindsay offers parenting advice
• Maybe I can fix this with a new bike
• Lindsay had a hat that is kind of a beret but not quite
• Lindsay is stylish, even in these ridiculous outfits
• She bought her dress with the company card
• Gob shows up
• Gob broke up with his current partner who’s a soap opera star
• Gob is moving in, but we don’t have room
• Tobias comes in
• Tobias offers his professional opinion
• He’s distanced from Maeby
• She’s auditioning for a high school play
• Maeby has a crush on Steve Holt
• But GM is also auditioning
• He wants to hold hands with his cousin
• Your Narrator Effect
• I gotta ride a bike to get a bike
• Buster lives with my mom
• Normally he goes on graduate school trips
• But now he has to spend more time with mom
• Mom does aquarobics? Water-robics?
• Buster is chasing birds
• Lindsay discusses Buster with Mom
• Why are we excluding Buster?
• Cornball vs Cornhole
• Buster can stay with me, but he has to work
• Gob shows up in a bathrobe
• Gob is shredding whole wheat bread
• He slept in the business boardroom
• A whole thing with GM, Maeby and Steve Holt
• Was this after they got cast?
• Tobias has talked his way into being the director of the high school play
• Working with Buster is very challenging
• He’s falling asleep in front of clients
• Should I allow Buster to work on a bike my son’s going to ride
• Tobias is over complicating the play
• Maeby quits
• I show up with GM’s new bike
• GM can’t go on a million bike rides whenever I want
• Is this about something else?
• I consult with Tobias
• I noticed that Tobias liked the flavor of his pen
• Eventually Steve Holt and GM are playing lovers in the play
• I went to visit my Dad
• He’s talking about himself
• Dad wasn’t really involved with Buster’s upbringing
• Buster is there, btw
• Tobias uses Lindsay’s dress as a costume for Steve Holt
• Gob wants to move in with Mom
• They can both be critical people
• Buster is doing imitations of Mom
• GM quits the play, but then Maeby returns to it
• My mom is jealous of me because Buster is with me
• She wins Buster back with a candy bar
• GM offers to make cornballs with me
• I did not criticize the size of his cornballs
• Then I had a vision of next week
• Tobiais is unhappy with his play reviews
• So that was my week
• Let’s take a break
• And then let’s talk about your dream
• Your wrote your dream out like a story
• Starting with Greg
• Has he always been Cousin Greg?
• Greg is on a quest to get slippers and papers and a sweater
• Getting Logan’s sweater for Roman
• I could’ve sworn Marcia used to be called Mar-see-a
• But that might’ve just been me
• She’s a stable presence for my father
• Marcia is a good partner in this dream
• She gives Greg a quest because he’s being a P-E-S-T
• A theme of being sent away for not being trusted
• Slippers with a checked pattern
• Logan has a variety of slippers
• Roman piles on requests
• Shiv tells Greg not to bring the papers back
• A lot of obvious sibling rivalries
• Greg can’t pay for the cab, and the doorman doesn’t recognize him
• Greg is stuck until Marcia calls
• Greg calls his Mom because he’s overwhelmed
• I can’t believe he’d find anything
• He doesn’t know who to be loyal to
• He knocks over a bell. Tibetan, perhaps?
• He accidentally summons some help
• His quest wasn’t even real
• He has the sweater but not the papers
• He chose Shiv over Roman
• Maybe this is a displacement ritual?
• Meaningless errands to absorb chaos
• The old double bind
• Was Roman heartfelt or not?
• Greg is not seen as a legitimate quester
• Is this initiation or something else?
• Maybe Greg did make the most of this whole thing
• A successful quest item
• This forced responsibility reminds me of you
• Failed Relic Quest
• Logan-Related Relics
• Maybe these slippers represent authority
• Essence of Logan, embodied in sweater
• Greg doesn’t have a lord to liege to
• Impressively, Greg succeeds
• Let’s examine that Tibetan bell
• Spiritual-Based Bell (SBB)
• Bell Used in Spiritual Situations (BUSS)
• What does it mean that Greg is playing with the bell
• Immediate consequences for bell-playing
• Letting your guard down, then immediately getting embarrassed
• Are you familiar with Individuation?
• What if it’s a family status simulation?
• No recognition, no money, no authority
• No help from a parental figure
• Rehearsing for how to move forward
• Is there any part of you that might feel existentially irrelevant?
• What would happen if you were in Greg’s shoes
• Making the best of the whims of others
• A cognitive process of a decision model that’s not working for some reason
• Some sort of cognitive restraint
• An Overconstrained System
• Let’s go to Tom next
• Didn’t you have a poem about Tom?
• A poem for Tom
• Tom just can’t fit in, family-wise
• His ideas for fixing things aren’t the right things
• No real awareness
• Appeasement Bonding
• Being obedient before being given commands
• Compliance Theatre
• Tom invents quests for himself
• Masculinity Mirror Maze
• Circles of Outsiders
• I wonder about the dignity of Tom
• Rites of passage
• His only anchor is Shiv
• Pleased with him like a pet
• The Eternal Novice
• Unofficial Court Jester
• True jesters have security. Tom does not.
• A miscalibrated AI simulation
• Who controls the watches? Are the watches being wound?
• Who’s at the center of time? Probably the father figure
• I didn’t get to Tom’s cake eating
• A lot of talk about appearance
• Orchids must be curated
• A fragile, artificial environment for survival
• Could that be you?
• Recurrences of Kenny from South Park
• We all know what happens to Kenny every episode
• Kenny’s stuck in a loop
• Repeated but never revolved
• Frank doesn’t want to be stuck in this loop
• Don’t be Kenny, Kendall
• Is Frank a true parental figure?
• Is this real empathy from Frank?
• Then everyone is sleeping except Logan
• He awakes like a sweet prince
• We’ll all drift off and end this for now