Stow Lake | On Location Summer Favorite #632

Episode 1272a – Stow Lake | On Location Summer Favorite #632

 

[START OF RECORDING]

 

SCOOTER: Friends beyond the binary, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, it’s time for the podcaster who’s bringing you your summer favorites to put you to sleep. It’s time for Sleep With Me. If you’re new, this podcast is a bit different. We’re doing a little summer series looking back at episodes listeners really love. Believe it or not, we’ve been making the show ten years plus, over 1,200 episodes, and this show is a bit different. It does take some getting used to. We have a lot of varieties of styles of shows, but the real goal of the show is to take your mind off of stuff, to give you something else to listen to like a friend who’s rambling on and on and on, who keeps you company so that you could fall asleep, who makes the deep, dark night feel less lonely, but a silly friend, a goofy friend. So, I hope you like the show. I hope it can help you. It does take some getting used to. That’s what just most listeners say. So, give it a few tries. See how it goes.

 

What we got coming up is support so the show is free for everybody, then a long, meandering intro that’s meant to ease you into bedtime. If you prefer a show without a long, meandering intro, we now have bedtime stories from Sleep With Me available everywhere, and that’s just the story-only portion of episodes. But yeah, the meandering…long, meandering intro, for a lot of people, helps ease them into bedtime and getting ready for bed. Or, some people just love the intros 'cause they’re friendly and silly. Then there will be a bedtime story, about forty, fifty minutes. So, I’m glad you’re here, I appreciate you checking the show out, and here’s how we get to do it for you for free twice a week. Thanks for making the show possible, my bore-friends.

 

Alright everybody, this is Scoots here, and this episode is part of our Summer Favorites series. It’s a on-location episode, so just a heads up, it’s gonna be…sound a little bit different. There’s gonna be background noises, my voice will sound a little bit different, but these are episodes we used to do regularly. If you like them…as a part of Subscriber Summer I’m gonna be putting out a lot of on-location episodes. Then if you like them, let me know; support the show directly or send me a message through the contact form on our website and let me know, and we’ll try to do more of these in the future. But it will sound a bit different than a regular episode, but I hope you enjoy it. Yeah, these are really fun, really fun and really immersive to sleep to. Thanks, everybody.

 

INTRO: [INTRO MUSIC] Hey, are you up all night tossing, turning, mind racing? Trouble getting to sleep? Trouble staying asleep? 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, whether it’s thinking, feeling, travel. Whatever’s keeping you awake, I’d like to take your mind off of that.

 

Tonight we’re doing a on-location episode at Golden Gate Park, so this will be a shorter intro. But if you’re new here, welcome, and I hope you enjoy the show. This one’s on-location, so it’ll have some background noises, but if that doesn't work for you, all our archives are free, so go ahead and check that out. There’s plenty of other episodes. Yeah, this is a silly, little podcast to put you to sleep. So, I’m really glad you’re here. Thanks for coming by, and we’ll have new episodes Sunday and Wednesday in 2018. Thanks so much, and goodnight.

 

Hey, everyone. Thanks for tuning into this special episode of Sleep With Me podcast. I’ve arrived by bicycle, traveling by spoke, and as the wheels spin around Stow Lake here in San Francisco, I’ll try spinning you off into dreamland. A circular lake around a circular isle…somewhat ovular, ovular lake. Thanks for correcting me, geometry brain. Welcome. I’m gonna carry you on a little bit of a dreamy, meandering journey. Stow Lake is here in the heart of Golden Gate Park. It’s a manufactured lake but it really is…you hear the term ‘urban oasis’ or ‘jewel within the city’ thrown around a lot, but here you wouldn't know you’re in the heart of San Francisco. You wouldn't even know, really, you’re in Golden Gate Park. Stow Lake is literally a park within a park. It’s a ovular lake and at the center of it is Strawberry Hill.

 

We’ll take a walk up Strawberry Hill, we’ll visit with the ducks and birds. Maybe we’ll see some turtles. We’ll see couples rowing in row boats and paddling in paddle boats, water rippling, breezes flowing in the wind. I have a duck here at my feet listening in, wagging its tail, saying, hey. Right around the corner there’s another…are ducks a gaggle, or is…just geese travel in gaggles? I think a duck blind is what you use. But there’s one, two, three, four, five, six, six sleeping ducks. So, all you really need to do, if you’ve ever…never listened to an episode of Sleep With Me before, is just climb in bed, curl up in the covers, and…I won't be recording while I’m on my bike, but I’ll be traversing the lake and the island at the center of the lake. I’ll go over a few bridges.

 

This will be a journey that you can kinda listen to, but there won't be any riveting things like, oh, here’s some historical facts you won't be able to forget. This should be an enjoyable but forgettable journey, engaging but not overwhelming, calming in Sleep With Me…calming in…and I don't know what I was gonna say 'cause the ducks, they just…they said, hey, you woke us up with your chattering. Put us back to sleep. But a calming journey with superfluous details…and it should be enjoyable and calming and soothing. I’m glad you’re here and I really hope and I really yearn to give you an enjoyable journey. You can hear the ducks ducking away. They say, we’re ducking outta here.

 

Whether you need this to keep you company while you can't sleep, to lull and soothe you while you fall asleep, to distract you from whatever it is that’s keeping you awake or, you know, just to be…keep you company. If you’re watching paint dry or reading through lines of code or you’re stressed and you just need a little escape, that’s really what this park is here…with the glimmering water, the reflection of the blue sky, and the green shallows. Even though the lake itself is misty, I can see little fish swimming by, bird feathers flowing on the wind. So, I’m really glad you’re here, and I really hope I can either help you fall asleep or keep you company. Thanks for coming by, and I’m gonna hop on my bike here and head up to a bend in this lake that is also a little bit like a river, since it goes around this island in the center. Thanks for stopping by.

 

Hey everybody, here’s our first stop here at Stow Lake boathouse, where you can rent a boat, park your bike, get refreshments — I had a BLT here; it was delicious — to sustain me through this journey, and restrooms, which are always in a park, a huge benefit. Plenty of friendly workers, post cards, t-shirts. Smiles are free…and really a beautiful building to set the mood on your journey around Stow Lake. Enjoy.

 

Here we are on another stop on our Stow Lake bicycle tour, and I’m at a nice overhanging of pine boughs here at the corner of a lake at a shady spot in a…it’s like a duck pond within a lake. There’s ducks swimming in the water, there’s tails shaking, there’s bills dipping. I don't know if they’re drinking or tasting the water. Wow, a duck is really just shaking their tail feathers. You’ve heard that song before; something, something, shake your tail feather. But this duck is actually changing…not changing; shaking its tail feather. There’s a goose here in the midst of it, one Canadian goose, alone, a chill Canadian geese…goose, probably the calmest Canadian goose I’ve ever seen. Canada geese, actually. It’s not Canadian. It’s a Canada goose, I think…I believe is the correct terminology.

 

We have some…I have a couple of the ducks with the green heads. I don't know if they’re mallards. Oh, did you just hear that? Water’s splashing. They were doing a little chasey-poo, saying, can't catch me. Whatever the equivalent of the Candy Man is, I’m that, or the gingerbread man. We have ducks dipping, we have dogs walking, people enjoying this lovely day here at Golden Gate Park as I tour around the beautiful spots at Stow Lake where you could take a boat or you could take a walk, you could park your bike at the Stow Lake lakehouse…or, boathouse; excuse me. You’re right, lake brain…and just enjoy the day.

 

I’m here at the first bridge where I’m gonna cross over from one side of Stow Lake to the other and begin my climb up Strawberry Hill. I’m gonna leave my bike behind and climb the slopes, the sleepy, sleepy slopes of Strawberry Hill, an island at the center of Stow Lake, and at the peak, we’ll have a beautiful view of San Francisco on this lovely day. There’s rippling water beneath me as I stand at the pinnacle of this bridge, which is called the Roman Bridge. I can see the Stow Lake boathouse not far off in one direction. I can see the cypress trees and the pine trees, and I can see the families and the bicycles touring by, people with pets, people holding hands, people jogging, people walking, people talking, and me, people-watching here with you. Let’s proceed.

 

Here I am part of the way up Strawberry Hill. You know, Blueberry Hill was another song. But this is Strawberry Hill, and there’s a bench here carved with names of old lovers and lovers new, celebrating the love of EZ and SR, of MUN and KAT, of HE and XD, of VD and TKS. Of course, TK-40…TK-421 and BB-88, I just carved that here. KV and AC…if I didn’t just carve something Star Wars related, I’d carve U and ME. Even at this distance down to Stow Lake I can see seagulls, and at this distance, they look lovely. They look majestic against the green, green water. In the sunlight, the water of Stow Lake, it looks like an olive green, and a really lovely olive green. It’s rippling. It has some blue reflections of the sky, the gentle motion, and also the sky peeking through the branches of the trees. It really is an olive green like you’d see on camo. It’s really nice and really relaxing, looking down at it from here.

 

You really can't beat rippling and floating birds for peacefulness. One, two, three, four, five gulls, five gulls floating like ducks, five or six ducks between them. I don't know, there’s a tree in my way. It looks like the way the ducks deal with it is just to flap their wings and say, hey, give us some space, seagulls. But let’s continue on. I’ll meet you in a second as I’ve left my bicycle behind and I’ve moved to foot power up Strawberry Hill. You and I, we’ll find our nighttime thrills that are more sleepy than the other kind of nighttime thrills at the peak of Strawberry Hill instead of Blueberry Hill, which I think I know from Happy Days. Richie Cunningham sang that song. Maybe he was lip-syncing, though. Ron Howard, I don't know if you’re listening, but I hope…my best to you. I’m not gonna…anyway, I better keep walking instead of addressing. I mean, I’d like a Han Solo update if I could get one. I am the person that carved ‘BB-88 loves TK-421’. Yes, I know that’s BB-8, but I prefer 88 'cause it has a nicer sound to it.

 

Okay, I’m here on a nice foot bridge. This is a human-made lake. I don't know, maybe it’s a reservoir as well. I know there’s some reservoirs awaiting us at the peak of Strawberry Hill, but now I’m on a foot bridge over a made waterfall, a manufactured waterfall…? Is there any bands called Manufactured Waterfalls? I guess ‘manufactured’ is a hard word for me to say the first time. But right now the waterfall and the stream is not running, maybe 'cause California, we’re conserving water. Maybe because it’s a late afternoon on a weekday and they’re saving it for the weekend…the waterfall that works for weekends. But I’m here; I can see the top of the California Academy of Sciences, the living roof at the California Academy of Sciences. It has little port holes or sun holes or windows, as some may call them.

 

I can see this western…no, east…southeastern side of Stow Lake, southeastern Stow Lake. From here it’s changed from an olive color…wow, what would I call this color? Oxidized rust or oxidized copper color…it shares its color with the Lady of Liberty and pennies that we’ve…that…I don't know, I haven't seen any. Did they change the consistency of pennies? ‘Cause I can't think of the last time I’ve seen a green petty…penny. I’ve seen people green with envy, not green with petty, though I guess you’d say if you’re envious…we’re only here to enjoy the different trees around me. There’s evergreen trees, there’s trees with kinda the…leaves like a maple, there’s a bush right here with yellow flowers that looks pretty nice — you’re doing a great job, bush — overlooking this waterfall, this manufactured waterfall, where water does not flow.

 

Into my purview is a squirrel, maybe looking for a nut, maybe…yep, it just picked something up. I don't know if it was a nut or…I don't know, can squirrels eat paper? Is there any nutritional value in paper? Maybe you can even hear the rustling of the autumn wind in the leaves around me, the call of geese on the wind as they say, hey, we’re in California; do we still need to go south for the winter or should we just go where that person dropped the popcorn? But I’m gonna continue on this path and head to the pinnacle of Strawberry Hill. I’m glad you’re here with me, resting like the clouds on the horizon, the blue sky above me…but laying on that horizon are puffy, pillowy clouds sitting in their softness just for you as you drift there, and nary a rustle other than the comforting rustle of the wind to help you sleep.

 

Here I am just a few steps away at the edge of the reservoir, and there’s still more hill to climb. But here I am; I’m sitting on a stump, resting. The wind is making the trees slowly roll in the breeze, and I’m here overlooking the reservoir that not just feeds the waterfall but keeps the pressure…according to Wikipedia, it keeps the pressure strong, the water pressure strong, for when they need it here in the park. Gravity plus water equal…they knew what they were doing when they put water at the top of hills. To my north, across the Golden Gate, I can see the peak of…the pinnacle of Mount Tamalpais or Tamalpas that looks like a sleeping figure if you look at it the right way. I can only see the peak of it, but it looks lovely, a dark green-brown, and framed by the trees of Golden Gate Park. That’s off my left side.

 

Off my right side is the steeples of…I think the cathedral at the University of San Francisco, and the Transamerica Pyramid, the Bank of America building, the Salesforce building that they’re building up, and beyond that, the east bay hills. As I sit here on a stump, I say, I still have yet a path to walk to reach the top of Strawberry Hill here on our journey via spoke around Lake Stow. Okay, and here I am. I think I’ve reached the peak here. I’m sitting on something that looks like it was once built…I see concrete and brick and stone together. But whatever it is, it’s worn away. Maybe it was another reservoir here at the peak of the hill. I have a view of the west and the south. Mostly the south is blocked by Sutro Tower.

 

Those of you that have visited San Francisco and have…holy cow, a raptor just took flight — wow, was it nice — right at the tree above me, and it made a lulling, swooping loop. I see another one off to my right there…wow, soaring. I think it’s…I don't think it’s an eagle, so I can't say it’s soaring on eagle’s wings, but it is floating on the thermals above San Francisco, over the Sunset District. But yeah, looking over to my left is Sutro Tower, a giant radio tower that just looks really cool. I remember the first time I came here; it was in maybe 1999, and I saw the fog and this strange radio television tower poking through the trees at the top of a hill in the mist. I said, wow, man, that is cool. I’m not even sure what that thing is, but it looks like you could talk to space with that. I still think it looks pretty cool.

 

To some people it might be an eyesore, but to me, I guess in a weird way, it’s probably still functional and maybe at some point…maybe I don't even know what I’m talking about about what it does, but it’s a cool thing from a bygone era that’s still relevant. I mean, that’s probably what this tower would say to me. What if I became a radio tower therapist? Would you listen to those sessions if I got permission from my clients to record them and broadcast them? Pardon the pun? They say, what, are you a repair radio…? No, I speak to them. I speak with them, actually. I let them speak to me and talk about their relevancy and explore the resiliency and plasticity of the existence of radio towers. Mostly we just surf radio waves, man.

 

Speaking of surfing waves; to my right, just in a gap in the trees, I can see the mighty Pacific Ocean. I can see little foaming ripples and beyond it, I can't see much. I can see the horizon and a few misty clouds on the horizon…a really mellow day. I mean, if you could nap in a moment, you could nap here with me. It’s just…the trees dancing and swaying gently. You may be able to hear some light noise. But this is where traffic’s soothing. A thousand feet away is where I’d like to be when there’s traffic. It’s so nice, just a gentle, pink noise, and the wind supplementing that noise through the branches and through the leaves. Here on Strawberry Hill, it’s a place where you and I chill. I’ll walk around a little more. I’ll be right back.

 

Here’s a sign, the first sign I’ve encountered here on Strawberry Hill, that says it’s a destination for butterflies, like the mourning cloak, the American painted lady, the gray hairstreak, acmon blue or…A-C-M-O-N blue; like, come on, blue…the common buckeye…and any time they label something ‘the common’…like ‘the common antelope’ or something, there’s nothing common about it. It’s beautiful. The West Coast painted lady, the satyr angel…anglewing; excuse me…the common checkered skipper; nothing common about you, skipper…the umber skipper; those are…those were once loyal to the north, then not loyal to the north, then loyal to the north once again. The red admiral, the pipe vine swallowtail, the monarch butterfly…how about this one? The best-tasting butterfly; the anise swallowtail. Have it with butter. Believe me. Don’t eat butterflies, kids. That was a joke.

 

The western tiger swallowtail…and the butterflies up here, they have a behavior called hill-topping that occurs almost every day of the year here on Strawberry Hill. Hill-topping is an instinct, according to this sign from San Francisco Parks and Recreation and San Francisco Parks Trust, that brings butterflies to the summets of the nearest hill to search for mates. Butterflies seek mates in midair by exchanging pheromones, a chemical substance. The sunny afternoon here will reveal various butterfly species dancing about in this behavior. I’m gonna keep my eyes open for the butterflies and more sleepy stuff here at the…on the slopes of Butterfly and Strawberry Hill. Strawberry Butterfly…I can see some raptors flying. They’re saying, hey, I could use a mate. How about me? I’d say, hey, me too, but I don't mate with butterflies or birds or much of anything, but I’m glad you’re here. I’m glad I can help you fall asleep. Thanks for coming by, and we’ll continue our trail, 'cause I got…I just got another great view of the Golden Gate.

 

I’m standing here looking just about due west. I can see the ocean. I can see the low-lying buildings of the Sunset…you can hear the sounds of traffic. As I look right back at the breadth and width of Golden Gate Park and beyond it Ocean Beach, I can see the foaming waves of the Pacific letting us know they’re here. The wind’s…I can't see any fog, though. I can see some mist and I don't know if it’s saying, hey, we’ll get foggy later, man. Right now, enjoy the sun, enjoy the lake, and enjoy the tour that you’re along on carrying you off into dreamland. I’m glad you’re here, and let’s keep going. I stopped here. I’m on a nice, leisurely path slowly winding down Strawberry Hill. Something called to my olfactory senses, and it was the smell of sap.

 

Don’t let me get sappy here, but I’m standing in-between three trees, and that rich scent, that’s really sleepy. I don't know how else you’d describe sap smelling other than of sap. It smells like the outdoors. It smells a little bit like Christmas back when you’d get a live Christmas tree, and maybe there’d be sap at the middle depending on the tree…or out on a hike or out on a farm or out in the woods. Sun-warmed…I think really to get good sap smells, you need a warm summer or spring or autumn sun to warm that sap and release its smells. It’s really relaxing me. I don't know if you can hear…feel me slowly rolling like sap, man, but…yeah. My shoulders feel relaxed. I don't know if yours do…rolling off of my neck like sap, slowly stretching and relaxing as I look out over San Francisco. There’s snap…sap on the wind.

 

There’s a snap in my step, though, a real slow snap. I don't know if you could have a slow snap, but I’m sure you can. I can see a couple now in one of the paddle boats on Lake Snow…or Lake Stow. Stow Lake, actually, is where I am, but…there’s plenty of lakes in my mind, and once I get sap on the nose, I get sap in my mouth, I guess. But yeah, I’m here…they’re leaving a gentle wake behind them. I could see someone running their hands through their hair and laughing. So, you know that first date’s going well, or it’s two friends out enjoying themselves, and what better way to enjoy themselves than a leisurely foot-paddle?

 

I could tell you what a better way is; to lay a picnic near sap but not in sap. Being close to sap but not having it on you is delightful, unless I later find out that I’ve got sap on me, and then I’ll deal with it. It’ll be nothing new. But man, it smells good. I don't know if you can almost smell it. It’s a little bit piney. It’s a little bit earthy. It almost smells like wisdom a little bit, 'cause trees…yeah, tree, I’m pandering…I’m pandering to you, trees. Trees are wise. If it wasn’t for sap, I don't think we’d have Jurassic Park. So, another thing we have to thank for sap. I think that was amber, but…I don't know, is amber sap? I don't know. No, amber, I’m not calling you sap.

 

I’m just asking…I just want to say thank you and pander to the trees. Thank you for these smells. Thank you for rocking and rolling in the breeze. Thank you for being here for me, making me weak in the knees, and thanks for the sap smells. Also, on behalf of Chris Pratt and Jeff Goldblum, everybody else that was in the rest of the movies who’s…everybody; Sam, everybody else, I’d like to thank you and say great job. If sap’s responsible for that, too, my entertainment and reading and…I don't know, I guess I’ve run out of my pandering to trees, but I really love you. I don't need to pander. Trees, you’re great. So, I’m gonna keep going on this path, and I hope you’re rolling and drifting, molasses-like, off to dreamland, too.

 

Here I am. I don't know if you can hear it in my voice, but I’m sitting down and I’m resting. I’m looking across the Golden Gate…Golden Gate…across Golden Gate Park and the Golden Gate to the Marin Headlands, just seeing tiny reflections of cars making their way out the headlands to another beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean. I’m sitting here at the fountainhead of the waterfall of Stow Lake, and I’d like to do a quick interview here. It’s a fountain and I’m here representing spoke and Sleep With Me podcast, and I wanted to say even though you’re not flowing today, I respect whatever your reasons are, conservation or resting your pumps or whatever it is. I think you’ve been doing a great job and I’m proud to sit at your fountainhead or your fall-head, at your spring or where the water…where you flow out of. Your mouth, I guess.

 

You’re awful quiet though, but I want to say I think you’re doing a great job. I don't know if you heard; I just did a soliloquy about sap and…so, I’m kinda outta compliments, to be honest. I guess I should have stopped by here earlier. But on behalf of manufactured waterfalls anywhere, why don’t you tell us about your next album? What’s it called and where can we pick it up? Okay, there’s…yeah, but it’s a great album, Manufactured Waterfalls. I think it was called the Algae album. That was my favorite, and I know that you’re the one that made birds sing and you made the wind blow. I know those are grandiose things, but I think you worked those into your album. What’s it like here sitting with this view? It’s a beautiful view. It’s probably changed over the years. I don't know what’s changed more, you or the view.

 

Oh, you don’t have an answer for that. Well, I think that’s wisdom, the wisdom of sap quietly flowing. I’m sure that when things are really moving that you probably have a lot to say. So, probably on your day off you say, hey man, it’s my day off. Music’s my private project and that’s what I’m really passionate about. I don't know; if I’m just speaking for you and I’m not being accurate, please let me know. But that’s it. Check out Manufactured Waterfalls wherever you purchase waterfall-made albums, in imaginary stores anywhere. Here at the top of Strawberry Hill, thank you for giving us some time, waterfall. I don't know, maybe one day you’ll be named after someone, or maybe you are and I just don’t know it.

 

I don't know, have…do you ever think about getting ahold of Ron Howard and seeing if you could collaborate on a Strawberry Hill/Blueberry Hill crossover? What about Lauryn Hill? What about Benny…? I don't know if Benny Hill is still with us. Have you heard…? You probably…do you know who Benny Hill is? Well, those are the Hills that I know of. I’m probably…sure there’s a lot more. Hillary Duff; that’s not exactly a Hill, but didn’t she…? She used to have two names. It was Hillary Duff and…or was that someone else? Hannah Montana? Am I mixing up my metaphors? That’s not a metaphor. Well, thank you, thank you. It’s been great spending time with you. That’s the Strawberry Hill stoic waterfall, everyone, and I’m gonna head on on this little journey. Thanks for being here.

 

Okay, so, I’m here. I just found some bluebirds and a squirrel. The squirrel is coming up to me and begging me, it seems like. No, I don’t…I’m sorry, I don't have any food. I don't have anything to give you. I stopped 'cause there was two bluebirds in a bush. Oh, hi, hi. Yeah, hi, squirrel. Oh, you have a nut there. Is that a natural nut or someone…something that somebody left behind? You don’t know. You’re nice. I think these are bluebirds. I’m not sure if they’re Steller jays or bluebirds. I don't know the difference between the hair. I think Steller birds have a sleeker head and bluebirds have a cardinal-like head…haircut? Oh, the birds just said, we don’t have haircuts. One of the birds has a nut now. Where’d you get that nut? Is that a…?

 

Oh, I’m…the birds are saying that I’m nuts, that I’ve been…the nuts are just falling out of my mouth, huh? Well, that’s great. Wow, are these birds beautiful. They have about fifteen different shades of blue on them, maybe 50,000 shades of blue, from a navy…I never know what cerulean blue is. It’s a beautiful word. They have sky blue, they have turquoise, they have misty mountain blue, they have deep blue. Really…holy moly. If you’re Oscar…a ball-gown designer…these birds are eating it up, by the way. Hi, birds. Yeah, I’m just complimenting you. I interviewed a waterfall; that didn’t go well. I talked about sap. I think that went pretty good. But wow, look at the tail.

 

I think there’s even…can blue be iridescent? If I lived in just a blue world that was based on the colors of your feathers, I’d be doing just fine. Next time I’m feeling blue, I’ll say to myself, which shade of bluebird blue are you feeling? Maybe I’ll giggle at that or maybe I’ll say, be quiet. I’m in a bad mood; that’s why I’m feeling blue. Oh, you have another nut there. I think that’s just a peanut shell. No offense. I’m not a nut expert. I know you called me nuts earlier. But, yeah, so here we are in the park. Bluebirds and squirrels…you can't really go wrong. Let’s keep going.

 

Okay, I’m here, and I don't know if you can feel this now, but I’m leaning on a tree. I was gonna climb into the tree and sit in it, but then I realized this wasn’t a comedy podcast and when I fell out of the tree or dropped all my equipment, you wouldn't be here and it wouldn't make much of a difference. So, I didn’t do that. But I’m here leaning on a tree. A lot more bird activity. I’m close to the water and I’m on this long branch. It’s just thick enough to support me but just enough that it has a little bit of the motion of the wind. I don't know with those bluebirds…if it’s just the fact that people feed these birds, but the ducks are coming over to see me, the ducks that we talked to earlier. What is your name? Randy? Did I…I don't think I named you earlier.

 

Randy is one of the brown ducks coming right up on shore to see me, then one of the ducks I would call a mallard, but I don't really know anything…oh, the two ducks that like chasing each other are back. They’re saying, are you the one that interviews bluebirds, where bluebirds can then make a joke at your expense? ‘Cause we could really use…I said, yeah, that’s what I’m here for. I’m here…I’m a servicer of mother nature. I’m a foil for mother nature, as we all are, but I got a good look at Stow Lake as it winds around Strawberry Hill. There’s a blue boat and a couple in the blue boat, and what they’re doing is floating with the wind at their back, just enough to move their boat at a gentle pace as they…there’s actually a couple geese escorting them, just cruising on the sides of their boat.

 

The sun on them…I’m sure it’s just warm enough here. The birds are chirping, the autumn breeze is blowing, and the ducks, they seem all-knowing. If it was night, maybe there’d be a duck that’s glowing. But they’re really saying, yeah, we’d only glow…that’s…what’s your name? Francine? Great. I love meeting ducks. Yeah, I’m here…no, I do a sleep podcast, a podcast to put you to sleep. Sleep With Me, believe it or not; that’s what it’s called. No, I don't want…I don't sleep with ducks. Yeah, there you go, I gave you…yep, that look was at my expense. Thanks, Francine. Oh, you didn’t say it’s Sleep With Me anyway. Okay, you don’t need to overindulge in…but yeah, I’m glad to be here.

 

Oh, here’s another duck, a little bit mallard-like — it just took a little sip of water — cruising the shallows, looking around maybe for something to snack on. I don't know if any of you birds have seen any turtles lately. I’ll tell you what, birds; if I could just see seagulls in Stow Lake, I would have an entirely different opinion of them if I didn’t see them at picnic grounds. Oh, the seagulls are hearing me. I think they’re really wondering if I have food. Oh, here comes a little boat, a red-bottomed boat. A little bit closer…number 46. Someone’s on their phone and someone’s paddling, and I can just barely maybe make out the churning sound. These paddle boats, they do seem to be efficient. They seem to have a under-water paddle. Don't worry, I’m talking very quietly so I’m not infringing on the paddle sound, probably.

 

My voice is just droning anyway, droning on and on here with you, riding around the shores on Stow Lake. I’m gonna climb back on my bike here and make my way to another bridge. But now there’s the circular motion of…pumping of…what do you call that? Pedaling; that’s what they call it, of a yellow boat. I don't know what the steering situation is. No offence to this couple, but they’re going left and right and left and right, but maybe it’s 'cause they’re…there’s a big smile on that boat. I love big smiles and I think the ducks do, too. Oh no, the ducks said they love food. But yeah, here we are on the shores of Stow Lake. I’m glad you’re here with me, and let’s head towards the rustic stone bridge and cross over it. What do you say?

 

Here I am right at the water’s edge, and I wanted to take a few minutes 'cause I didn’t…I wasn’t on turtle watch. Oh, one of our duck friends is coming up to see if I have food, which I do not. I’m sorry. I wasn’t on turtle watch but I was hoping for a turtle sighting, and here we have it in the sun across Stow Lake from me. I stand at the foot of Strawberry Hill. Holy cow, a flock of pigeons just went by, about thirty-five pigeons. I think they’re a tandem pigeon flying team or synchronized pigeon flying, 'cause they just flew…then they flew back again, all in synchronicity. Then they landed on a tree above me, and they’re a flock of pigeons in a tree above me. Again, if you want to re-appreciate what some people could call nuisance birds, your opinion may change here at Stow Lake and Strawberry Hill.

 

But what I was really here to tell you is I see turtles on a log and they’re bathing in the sun. They’re sun-bathing, one, two, three, four, on the log across from the lake from me. Then at a further distance I see another log sticking out of the water, and that’s a little bit further away. I don't have any binoculars but I’d say there’s one, two, three, four, five, six, or seven on that log just chilling, turtles sitting. Their heads…some of them seem like their heads are out; some of them seem like their heads are in. But they’re saying, hey, I’m cold-blooded but that doesn't mean I gotta be cold-blooded. Warm it up. As Chris used to say, warm it up. They’re doing that and they got the right idea, 'cause here in San Francisco, the difference between shade and sun on a day like today is about twenty, twenty-five degrees. So, let’s see what other turtles and sights we can see here around the corner.

 

Okay, I’m here at the foot of the stone and rustic bridge. Two arches to ride over the water. A bridge over calm water, a really nice bridge. So, two tunnels you could ride your paddle boat through. Stone and brick and masonry and square stuff…really picturesque, really picturesque, and I don't think you could find a more relaxing place to cross a bridge over a nice, calm lake. So, I’m gonna get on that bridge and I’m gonna report back to you in just moments, where I’ll refresh our turtle count and see what other things we can spy.

 

Here I am on the bridge. It’s a bit breezy on the bridge, as if nature wanted natural elimination for me. In a reedy patch just off the bridge, I see a bird house. A bird house has been built. Not to put too fine a pine on it, as they say. Bird houses are the soul of the home of the birds that live there or that mate there or that are…come into the world there. So, I think they might be giants…right when they said those things. I can see my turtle logs from here, but if I had a turtle log to update, I wouldn't be able to update it 'cause this view…I guess they’re almost camoflaged. They look — like with the shadow from the view I have — almost like bumps on a log. A bunch of turtles that are bumps on a log; I don't know if that…I just saw someone running after a seagull, a grown fifty-to-sixty-year-old man.

 

So, maybe seagulls are…maybe the seagull was creating a nuisance. I’m not sure exactly. I have a nice view of Strawberry Hill here. Some parts are dry, but some of the bushes are looking pretty good. I don't know if that’s a sage bush that I’m looking at or some cypresses and some other trees, but the sun…we’re facing west, so we got good sun coverage here, and it’s nice. It’s nice and warm. I’m leaning against a stone, just chilling, and people are walking and talking and filled with joy. Also, you see the beauty of being in a city…there’s diversity of cultures and languages and ages, and now a butterfly is flying right by me. The wind is picking up.

 

Some more people are coming by and heading towards the path where you have to walk your bike here on the bridge, and they’re doing it, conscientious people sharing a park, sharing a jewel. Everybody’s getting quality time, even these butterflies. I’m watching these two people with their bikes, and they’re parking their bikes. They’re saying, hey, let’s sit on this log in the sun and let’s either rekindle this romance or keep it kindled. I’m just talking about sitting side-by-side in the sun. I’m not even talking about the stuff that the ducks were giving me a hard time about. The pigeons, they just left their roost and headed off in a coordinated effort to…I mean, maybe all the birds here are restoring…while we restore wildlife habitat or create a pseudo-habitat, whatever you want to call this area, maybe they’re saying, hey, let’s get our reputation back. Let’s take this word ‘pigeon’ back.

 

So, I’m back here on the path, a little bit out of breath from pedaling or paddling and circling the lake. I have another distant view…a different angle of the turtles and their shells as they chill. Also, I don't know, a very…I don't know, I think cross-world thing where you have water fowl and benches. You have a person on the bench feeding bread or things to the birds, a common thing. There’s a man; he’s tossing the bread to the birds. He’s the bird man today, the bird person, friend to the bird. I mean, maybe he’s reinforcing a bad habit, but I don't know. I’m not here to judge. I’m just here to look at…there’s ducks, there’s geese, seagulls, all spinning around, jumping and moving, probably aerating the water a little bit, maybe polluting it, too. I don't know, it’s just such a thing, people throwing things to birds on benches.

 

It’s nice to watch. I don't know if it can get more relaxing than watching someone enjoy the birds. I mean, the closer you get, the less relaxing it gets. I know that for a fact. So, I won't tune in when I get there. Oh, a little puppy’s going by, or a little dog, and it didn’t…it seems…oh, it said, hey birds, I’m a dog. Watch me run over here and make you all fly. But now the dog is moving on. It just wanted to have a little…say, hey, I’m interested in birds. What can I say? One day I…as a dog, I aspire to be a dog that sits on a bench and feeds birds. Oh, no, feeds on birds? That’s not funny, dog. Only jokes at my expense here at Sleep With Me podcast. So, let’s finish up our journey here. Let’s walk around to my bike, and I’ll bike a little bit further and hop off and be back before you know it.

 

Okay, I’m here sitting on a bench. Maybe you can tell my countenance; it’s a warm…sun-warmed bench, warm on my bottom, and so nice. Maybe you could just hear the laughter being carried on the breeze as I watch a tandem boat going by, a boat built for six or five. So, two rows of paddling on this paddle boat. So, four paddlers and one paddlee. Like, one person in the backward-facing seat, a father looking dapper in a tweed cap, plaid or red plaid. I don't know what you call that, a tartan plaid cap? I guess that’s different than tweed, but it starts with a T. Children in preservers paddling away, and another adult, a mother looking back out at the ducks and the birds…the ducks are coming to see me. They say, is that a microphone or a sourdough loaf? I say, no, it’s a microphone, yeah. So, keep moving.

 

As the paddlers are moving…and they’re really actually kicking up a churn. You get four paddlers; you get some nice bubbles behind the boat, some nice aeration. Again, I guess I’m coming around. I see another seagull. I spy with my little eye a seagull spying me, questioning if I have a loaf of bread. A serious look on this one, kinda like Sam the Eagle from the Muppets. I guess Sam the Eagle is more stern than serious. But these are some serious seagulls. I haven't seen seagulls swim this much in my entire life. Usually I either see them sitting or flying. So, maybe these aren’t seagulls. Maybe these are some other gull, like a lake gull. Excuse me, could I ask you a question? Are you a lake gull? Are you a seagull? Forgive me for asking this so directly; do you consider yourself a nuisance bird?

 

Oh, the bird just looked right…I can never tell if the bird’s looking at me when it looks at me or when it turns its head to look away. It’s confusing. You really could make…maybe that’s why people consider you a nuisance bird. You could make it easier to make eye contact. It just swam away. I guess it didn’t like what I was saying, and I’m not here to point any fingers. Oh, I got another one walking. This one looks very proud. It has a red dot on the bottom of its beak. It’s almost majestic. Yeah, I’m saying it. I’m saying you’re…you may be a seagull. I see webbed feet, and I’m also saying you look pretty darn majestic. You’re white, you’re grey, your beak is yellow and orange with a little red. The synchronized pigeon flying team just flew by.

 

The sun is in the sky, and what could be more resting than finishing up your day here with me, the breeze rippling, Stow Lake, my bottom…you can bet your bottom dollar my bottom is warm, warm on a green, sun-warmed bench. A family enjoying a tandem boat, a bird house, turtles, a climb up Strawberry Hill, a sleeping waterfall, a manufactured waterfall, to the top of the hill where there were butterflies, and we interviewed birds and squirrels somewhat and stood by sap. I’m glad you’ve been here with me. I hope you’ve been resting as the wheels of the spoke have been turning on this very special sleepy episode, with the rippling waves and the moving of people walking and paddling, of birds flying, of turtles resting.

 

Why don’t you rest now like a turtle on a log, a sun-warmed log, seeping in the relaxation…your blankets, your shell…maybe your pillow…maybe you’re a new-fangled turtle with a pillowy shell and you’re resting. You’re descending, you’re sleeping as the water drifts beneath you, the olive-colored water of Stow Lake here in San Francisco, of Strawberry Hill, of paddle boats paddling through your dreams. Thank you for testing out the show. Thank you for being here. But I’m more touched I can be here with you and you could be here with me enjoying the park, enjoying the sun, enjoying the breeze, and all this here. Really, I wouldn't be here if I wasn’t here to help you get some sleep. Goodnight.

 

[END OF RECORDING]

(Transcription performed by LeahTranscribes)

On Location

 

Stow Lake

https://sfrecpark.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1696

https://www.kqed.org/news/11894010/the-lady-of-stow-lake-a-haunted-tale-of-tragedy-in-golden-gate-park

https://www.sfgate.com/sfhistory/article/san-francisco-ghost-stories-white-lady-stow-lake-12247189.php

 

Hill-Topping Butterflies

https://rcannon992.com/2020/02/29/love-in-high-place-hilltopping-butterflies/

https://imagewildlife.com/what-is-hilltopping/

https://malcolmtattersall.com.au/wp/2017/04/butterflies-hilltopping/

 

Olfactory Terms in Perfume

https://wildveilperfume.com/pages/lexicon-of-smell

https://www.emotion-master-studentproject.eu/post/the-language-of-perfume

https://phlur.com/blogs/perfumery-dictionary/what-does-olfactory-mean-in-perfumery

 

Tartan

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/scotland-tartan-plaid-real-history

https://www.lochcarron.co.uk/our-journal/history-of-tartan/

https://www.scotlandmag.com/history-of-tartan/

 

DOWN TO BUSINESS

 

Deep Dark Night United

n/a

 

PLUGS

Orlando Park Stop Fundraiser; Sleep With Me Plus; SleepPhones; Rusty Biscuit Links; Emily Tat Artwork; NAPAWF; Anti-Racism Resources; Ukraine Relief; Crisis Textline

 

SPONSORS

Claritin; Dusker; Helix Sleep; Odoo; Air Doctor Pro; AquaTru; Zocdoc; Progressive

 

INTRO

Brought to you by Spoke, traveling by spoke aka bicycle

Around Stow Lake in SF

A somewhat ovular lake

A park within a park

Urban Oasis

I have a duck here at my feet

Do only geese travel in gaggles?

I won’t record while I’m on my bike

An enjoyable but forgettable journey

These ducks are ducking away

We’re ducking out of here

Bird feathers flow on the wind

 

STORY

First stop: Stow Lake Boathouse

I got a refreshing BLT here

And the bathroom is great

Here we are on another stop

A nice overhang of pine boughs

A duck pond within a lake

Tails shaking, ducks swimming

That duck is really shaking its tail feathers

The calmest Canadian goose I’ve ever seen

Are those green-headed ducks called mallards?

Climbing the sleepy slopes of Strawberry Hill

The pinnacle of the Roman Bridge

People holding hands, people jogging

A bench carved with the names of lovers

Those seagulls look so majestic here

A really lovely olive green, rippling

You really can’t beat rippling, floating birds for peacefulness

Ducks have no problem asking for personal space

Headed to the peak of Strawberry Hill

“BB88 <3 TK$1”

Is there a band called Manufactured Waterfalls?

They’re conserving water at the waterfall right now

The living roof of the California Academy of Sciences

Sun Port Holes

Oxidized Copper Color

I can’t remember the last time I saw a green penny

All kinds of trees around me

A squirrel comes into my purview

Can squirrels eat paper? Should they?

The call of geese on the wind

Resting like the clouds on the horizon

A few steps away from the reservoir

Gravity + Water = Water Pressure

The steeples of the cathedral of University of San Francisco

I still have yet a path to walk

Ok, I think I’ve reached the peak

Holy cow, a raptor just took flight

Wow, was that nice

Floating on the thermals above SF

Sutro Tower is off to my left

No lie, this tower just looks cool

It’s no eyesore to me

Radio Tower Therapist

I can see the mighty Pacific through a gap in the trees

Traffic is merely a gentle pink noise here

This is the destination for butterflies

The Common Buckeye Butterfly, there’s nothing common about you

Don’t eat butterflies, please

Hill Topping, a butterfly instinct

I could use a mate too, but that’s beside the point

The low lying buildings of the Sunset District

Slowly winding down Strawberry Hill

The smell of sap

Don’t let me get sappy here

Sun-Warmed Sap

Man, that smell is relaxing

A snap in my step and sap on the wind

I see a couple in a paddleboat

I hope I don’t get sap on me, but I do love that smell

Pandering to Trees

If it weren’t for sap, we wouldn’t have Jurassic Park

I’m now resting, looking out at the Golden Gate

The fountainhead of the waterfall of Stow Lake

Interviewing the Fountainhead

You’re doing a great job, even if you’re pretty quiet

Sap Soliloquy

This beautiful view has surely changed over the years

Maybe this waterfall is named after someone

Maybe we could make a movie about this waterfall

A squirrel is coming up to me

I’m sorry I don’t have any food

2 Blue Birds in a Bush

Is that a natural nut you have, squirrel?

Wow, are these birds beautiful

50,000 shades of blue

Make a ballgown out of these shades of blue

Can blue be iridescent?

I won't’ be climbing up into that tree

This branch is just thick enough to support me

The ducks are coming over to see me

Are they expecting food?

I’m Mother Nature’s foil

I love meeting ducks

No, I don’t sleep with ducks

Have you birds seen any turtles lately?

If I only ever saw gulls in Stow Lake, I’d have a very different opinion of them

These paddle boats seem to be very efficient

Holy cow, a flock of pigeons!

Synchronized Pigeon Flying Team!

Changing Opinions about Nuisance Birds

Turtles on a log, sunbathing

I’m cold-blooded, but that doesn’t mean I have to be cold-blooded, y’know?

A Bridge over Calm Water

I’ll report back from this bridge soon

A Bit Breezy on the Bridge

A bunch of turtle bumps on a log

I just saw a 50 year old man running after a seagull

The beauty of diversity in this city

Conscientious Sharing of the Park

Back on the path, out of breath from peddling

A cross cultural thing of feeding bread to birds from a park bench

That’s just such a thing

Hey Birds, I’m a dog!

Let’s finishg up our journey with a little more biking

Sun-Warmed Bench

A boat built for five or six

A dapper father in a tartan plaid cap

Is that a microphone or a sourdough loaf?

Some nice bubbles from all that paddling

I’ve never seen this many seagulls swimming before

Are you a Lake Gull?

Do gulls consider themselves nuisance birds?

You can bet your bottom dollar my bottom is warmed by this bench

I’m glad you’ve been here with me

A new-fangled turtle with a pillowy shell

Paddle boats paddling through your dreams

 

SWM+ THANKS

n/a

 

SUMMARY:

Episode: 1272a / 632

Title: Stow Lake | On Location Summer Favorite #632

Deep Dark Night United: n/a

Plugs: Orlando Park Stop Fundraiser; Sleep With Me Plus; SleepPhones; Rusty Biscuit Links; Emily Tat Artwork; NAPAWF; Anti-Racism Resources; Ukraine Relief; Crisis Textline

Sponsors: Claritin; Dusker; Helix Sleep; Odoo; Air Doctor Pro; AquaTru; Zocdoc; Progressive

SWM+ Thanks: n/a

Notable Language:

• Urban Oasis
• Ducking Away
• Mallard
• Spoke
• “BB88 <3 TK$1”
• Manufactured Waterfalls
• Sun Port Holes
• Oxidized Copper Color
• Radio Tower Therapist
• The Common Buckeye 
• Hill Topping
• Sap
• Sun-Warmed Sap
• Sap Soliloquy
• Waterfall-Made Albums (WMAs)
• Cerulean 
• Changing Opinions about Nuisance Birds
• Sun-Warmed Bench
• Lake Gull
•  

 

Notable Culture:

• • Stow Lake
  • “Blueberry Hill” song

• Star Wars

• Happy Days

• Ron Howard
• Jurassic Park
• Chris Pratt
• Jeff Goldblum
• Sam Neill
• Lauryn Hill
• Benny Hill
• Hilary Duff
• Hannah Montana / Miley Cyrus
• They Might Be Giants
• Sam The Eagle / The Muppets
•  

 

Notable Talking Points:

• Brought to you by Spoke, traveling by spoke aka bicycle
• Around Stow Lake in SF
• A somewhat ovular lake
• A park within a park
• Urban Oasis
• I have a duck here at my feet
• Do only geese travel in gaggles?
• I won’t record while I’m on my bike
• An enjoyable but forgettable journey
• These ducks are ducking away
• We’re ducking out of here
• Bird feathers flow on the wind
• First stop: Stow Lake Boathouse
• I got a refreshing BLT here
• And the bathroom is great
• Here we are on another stop
• A nice overhang of pine boughs
• A duck pond within a lake
• Tails shaking, ducks swimming
• That duck is really shaking its tail feathers
• The calmest Canadian goose I’ve ever seen
• Are those green-headed ducks called mallards?
• Climbing the sleepy slopes of Strawberry Hill
• The pinnacle of the Roman Bridge
• People holding hands, people jogging
• A bench carved with the names of lovers
• Those seagulls look so majestic here
• A really lovely olive green, rippling
• You really can’t beat rippling, floating birds for peacefulness
• Ducks have no problem asking for personal space
• Headed to the peak of Strawberry Hill
• “BB88 <3 TK$1”
• Is there a band called Manufactured Waterfalls?
• They’re conserving water at the waterfall right now
• The living roof of the California Academy of Sciences
• Sun Port Holes
• Oxidized Copper Color
• I can’t remember the last time I saw a green penny
• All kinds of trees around me
• A squirrel comes into my purview
• Can squirrels eat paper? Should they?
• The call of geese on the wind
• Resting like the clouds on the horizon
• A few steps away from the reservoir
• Gravity + Water = Water Pressure
• The steeples of the cathedral of University of San Francisco
• I still have yet a path to walk
• Ok, I think I’ve reached the peak
• Holy cow, a raptor just took flight
• Wow, was that nice
• Floating on the thermals above SF
• Sutro Tower is off to my left
• No lie, this tower just looks cool
• It’s no eyesore to me
• Radio Tower Therapist
• I can see the mighty Pacific through a gap in the trees
• Traffic is merely a gentle pink noise here
• This is the destination for butterflies
• The Common Buckeye Butterfly, there’s nothing common about you
• Don’t eat butterflies, please
• Hill Topping, a butterfly instinct
• I could use a mate too, but that’s beside the point
• The low lying buildings of the Sunset District
• Slowly winding down Strawberry Hill
• The smell of sap
• Don’t let me get sappy here
• Sun-Warmed Sap
• Man, that smell is relaxing
• A snap in my step and sap on the wind
• I see a couple in a paddleboat
• I hope I don’t get sap on me, but I do love that smell
• Pandering to Trees
• If it weren’t for sap, we wouldn’t have Jurassic Park
• I’m now resting, looking out at the Golden Gate
• The fountainhead of the waterfall of Stow Lake
• Interviewing the Fountainhead
• You’re doing a great job, even if you’re pretty quiet
• Sap Soliloquy
• This beautiful view has surely changed over the years
• Maybe this waterfall is named after someone
• Maybe we could make a movie about this waterfall
• A squirrel is coming up to me
• I’m sorry I don’t have any food
• 2 Blue Birds in a Bush
• Is that a natural nut you have, squirrel?
• Wow, are these birds beautiful
• 50,000 shades of blue
• Make a ballgown out of these shades of blue
• Can blue be iridescent?
• I won't’ be climbing up into that tree
• This branch is just thick enough to support me
• The ducks are coming over to see me
• Are they expecting food?
• I’m Mother Nature’s foil
• I love meeting ducks
• No, I don’t sleep with ducks
• Have you birds seen any turtles lately?
• If I only ever saw gulls in Stow Lake, I’d have a very different opinion of them
• These paddle boats seem to be very efficient
• Holy cow, a flock of pigeons!
• Synchronized Pigeon Flying Team!
• Changing Opinions about Nuisance Birds
• Turtles on a log, sunbathing
• I’m cold-blooded, but that doesn’t mean I have to be cold-blooded, y’know?
• A Bridge over Calm Water
• I’ll report back from this bridge soon
• A Bit Breezy on the Bridge
• A bunch of turtle bumps on a log
• I just saw a 50 year old man running after a seagull
• The beauty of diversity in this city
• Conscientious Sharing of the Park
• Back on the path, out of breath from peddling
• A cross cultural thing of feeding bread to birds from a park bench
• That’s just such a thing
• Hey Birds, I’m a dog!
• Let’s finishg up our journey with a little more biking
• Sun-Warmed Bench
• A boat built for five or six
• A dapper father in a tartan plaid cap
• Is that a microphone or a sourdough loaf?
• Some nice bubbles from all that paddling
• I’ve never seen this many seagulls swimming before
• Are you a Lake Gull?
• Do gulls consider themselves nuisance birds?
• You can bet your bottom dollar my bottom is warmed by this bench
• I’m glad you’ve been here with me
• A new-fangled turtle with a pillowy shell
• Paddle boats paddling through your dreams