Miscellaneous Rambling
I saw a headline link about Pope Francis' New Year Day Mass, so I clicked on it. I liked what I saw: "Pope Francis on Monday recommended jettisoning life's 'useless baggage' in 2018, including what he called 'empty chatter' and banal consumerism, and focusing instead on building a peaceful and welcoming world . . .". Good, good, good, I thought to myself. And then, "particularly for refugees and migrants." Dang, politics again. I don't think I've ever heard him say anything that doesn't devolve into a political message. I'm sure he has, but I haven't seen it.
"Colgate frozen beef lasagna (1982); Harley-Davidson “Hot Road” Eau de Toilette (1996-2005); “Rejuvenique” (1999), an electricity-zapping facial mask, hawked by Dynasty star Linda Evans, which looked exactly like the one worn by the mad doctor's hideously disfigured daughter in the 1960 horror classic Eyes Without a Face." What are those things? Actual products that (for obvious reasons) failed miserably. They're also on display in a new museum dedicated to failure.
My holidays went well, though, to be honest, I'm glad the overt celebration part is finished. I find it exhausting, especially the trip to Detroit. I'm blessed with great in-laws, but the travel, bad roads, extreme cold, over-consumption of alcohol, and other things really take their toll on me. I also wasn't shocked to learn that Detroit is the most sleep-deprived city in America. It matches my experience with Detroit folk. I suspect I meant to live out west: "The best sleep levels were recorded in Colorado Springs, Sioux Falls and Boise."
