Ahem...didn't I name this blog correctly? Isn't it a mad, mad world when something like this unexpectedly happens:

Tidal Waves Kill 23,700 in Nine Countries

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) - Rescuers piled up bodies along southern Asian coastlines devastated by tidal waves that obliterated seaside towns and killed more than 22,000 people in 10 countries, and officials indicated Monday that the death toll could climb far higher.

Hundreds of children were buried in mass graves in India, and morgues and hospitals struggled to cope with the catastrophe. Somalia reported hundreds of deaths, some 3,000 miles away from the earthquake that sent tsunamis raging across the Indian Ocean.

The International Red Cross reported 23,700 deaths and expressed concern about waterborne diseases like malaria and cholera. Jan Egeland, the U.N. Emergency Relief Coordinator, said millions of people were effected - by lost homes, polluted drinking water, destroyed sanitation - and that the cost of the damage would "probably be many billions of dollars."

Ya just never know what's lurking underground or out in space, do ya? In general, humans have short-lived memories and strong denial about the FACT that we could ALL be wiped out in the blink of an eye by an asteroid and/or comets, earthquakes, and other "natural" disasters. Guess if we dwell on it, we'd go nuts -- or (as I often think these days) realize humanity is probably doomed, either by our own destructiveness OR natural disaster eventually.

I'm not even going to mention what's lying dormant underneath Yellowstone National Park, and should it ever surface, the devastation it would bring to the USA. Do some research, you'll find out what I mean.

Had a ho-hum Christmas, nothing much to record. Mostly got cash, which I'll probably use over the coming months at various places.

I almost forgot: I watched two good movies over the past days, both with Halle Berry. Whew, that girl can ACT! "Gothica" was riveting, a scary ghost story with horror that will stand your hair on end. And then last night, on A&E, I saw "Monster's Ball"...excellent movie, but truly grim subject matter. Of course, grim is the word for literary/artistic, and this movie won lots of awards, and so did Halle Berry for her acting.

Brilliant sunshine today, but nippy -- in the high 40s. Tomorrow and Wednesday are going to be in the 60s, almost springlike weather again. Maybe I can get outdoors during that time, since DH may take those two days off.

I'm working on a list of New Year's resolutions, but one I'm certain of is that need to lose about ten pounds. Not going to be a picnic either.

Till later....I'll close with this quote from an email posted at CNN by survivors of the disaster:

There is a popular buddhist saying in sri lanka, life is no more than a dew drop balancing on the end of a blade of grass. The events of December 26, 2004 have shown just how precarious that balance can be. Paul Sussman, Sigiriya, Sri Lanka