Nobel-winning novelist Mahfouz dies, aged 94

I do not normally dream about famous writers and judges. So I consider it a premonition that I dreamt about Mahfouz just two weeks ago. It was only after I sent the dream to my friend Raymond that I learned that Naguib Bey was in intensive care and might soon die.

Last night I stumbled into the lavatory at Grosvenor House, a hotel in Dubai. There was a flat-screen TV on the wall, turned down way low, tuned to CNN. I looked up and saw the words "Nobel" and "age 94" and pretty much knew immediately Mahfouz had died. I was certain when I saw pictures of the old man, and I was super certain when I saw the talking head being interviewed was none other than my friend Raymond.

I dreamt that I accompanied Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg -- looking suspiciously like an ex-girlfriend's mom -- to deliver her resignation. She included a special turn of phrase that indicated disapproval of George W. Bush's abuse of executive power. I asked if there was a precedent for this. Justice Ginsburg indicated there was not.

Shortly afterwards she started choking on a bread roll. She couldn't breathe at all so I whacked her on the back. A large, whole and seemingly unchewed bread roll came flying out of her mouth, but she still couldn't breathe. She started to gurgle, however, as a vomity fluid began flowing down her head from beneath her wide-brimmed hat.

I tried giving the Heimlich maneouver. Still nothing but gurgling. I tried and tried, but there was only gurgling and gurgling. The woman lay lifeless, still gurgling, as I awoke.