Kid Nation

Watch very interesting show on television last night called Kid Nation. Had previously read about reality show, which puts 30 kids in the desert for a month, where they are expected to organize their own society. Articles about show mostly dealt with the aftermath of the show--parents have complained that the the show violated child labor laws and the children were put in dangerous situations (think, but am not certain that there was a bleach drinking incident.) These all valid reasons to be upset, but do feel that the parents might have considered what they were doing before they sent their kids off to the desert--not that children should be blamed for their parents' greed/lust for fame. So watch show with some measure of guilt, but since guilt is nearly constant companion, we sit very companionably on sofa with Dave and Jenny and watch the kids compete to see who will be in the Upper Class, and who will be a member of the Merchant Class, the Cooks, and the Laborers. Show not entirely unlike something called Endurance--a Survivor rip off that showed (shows?) on Saturday mornings. Redhead host JD Roth--as the title suggests--had kids compete in various tasks, i.e. hanging on to greased pole for as long as possible, or perhaps solving riddle. In episodes that I saw, this took place in gorgeous tropical places, which would have loved to go to when that age, living with the other kids, and making friends with the girls--could very easily imagine self making alliances (a la Survivor) with fellow contestants. Kid Nation also appeals because the kids are to remake a Frontier Town. Can only say that had very involved fantasies based on the Laura Ingalls Wilder books, so this is naturally very appealing as well. Own parents never would have allowed me to go, but can only too well imagine myself begging. Kids are actually like kids--there are two rowdy older boys, 15, who terrorize the younger kids, one girl when she sees the bunk house says, Everything is in disarray! And one kid, named Jimmy, spends most of episode sobbing and telling everybody who will listen that he is Too Young. I'm only in third grade, he says, wiping the tears from his eyes as more tears fall. At the end of the episode, Jimmy is thankfully allowed to go home, which means that I get to watch again next week. (It really would have been too cruel to keep him on.) Somehow the competitive spirit invades dreams, and when see Dave nonchalantly catching football and joining touch football game in park, despite extreme trepidation, don't want to be left out, so I too join in game despite proven lack of aptitude for catching, probably because am and always will be Afraid of ball. Fear does not evaporate even though am dreaming, just as it didn't go away when any number of coaches urged me to put myself in harm's way. In dream, successfully manage to not have anybody Pass me the ball, but do identify opportunity to help team when see opponent holding ball and charging toward goal line. Put out hands and lunge toward him, and make contact! Wake up to see that have hit wall with hands and on the way, clipped the non-football playing, until seconds ago sleeping, Dave on the side of the head. He is naturally confused and upset. I was playing touch football in my dream, I say, as he frowns in a worried way and then rolls over and away from me. Have talked aloud while sleeping, but think this is the first instance in which have ever moved while dreaming. Sincerely hope that it doesn't foretell new penchant for sleep walking, sleep eating, etc. Have any readers ever sleep walked or eaten?