Selected Notes and Incomplete Thoughts from My Journal for 2012

This year I left my journal on a United Airlines flight from Washington to Brussels.  I thought I’d never see it again but was recently returned through UA lost and found.  Some selected notes of questionable sanity.

1.  Debate over the “Dream Act”.  Naming legislation has become more inane.  Laws and dreams don’t go together.   Imagine enforcement, "I’m sorry that’s not a dream -- it doesn’t conform to our statutory definition."  "Excuse me, that’s an illegal dream.  We’ll need to confiscate it."   New meaning to Cheap Trick's Dream Police. 

2.  Nature has now been installed with a username and password.

3.  Starbucks barista uses politeness as a weapon barking the phrase, “May HELP you!”

4.  My new least favorite phrase: “Go to our website.”

5.  Another band name for use: “Have They No Decency” and their first hit, “No Apparent Reason”.

6.  Joke idea: The psychologist said I need to develop some tools for self-examination so I installed lots of mirrors and closed circuit cameras in every room.

7.  Idea for book: the history and power of hats.  How did head gear begin?  Is it always equated with power: crowns, mitres, helmets, except maybe dunce caps.

8.  As dictator I would issue minor edicts.  One edict: all CEOs must use their own products.  E.g., open the plastic sheath inside a cereal box, or unpack the toys secured in plastic.  Second edict: re-education camps for joggers who insist on jogging on the busiest streets of the city at the busiest time of the day. 

9. The Global Restaurant: Chinese-Cuban restaurant’s specialty was the Chilean Sea-Bass cooked in a Dutch Oven with a side of French fries, Brussels sprouts with Columbian Coffee and German Chocolate cake.

10. One more sign of age: I’ve started admiring people in their 80’s as potential role models.

11. Returning after two weeks of vacation--the slow engagement of the working world rituals--business dress, commuting, the news.

12. On a plane leaving Santa Fe.  Airport control tower build in an adobe style framed by blue sky and mountain ridge lines.  The one gate airport had the best breakfast food ever for an airport.

13.  Nonsense Drive.  From Walla Walla to Ho Hokus to go to the WaWa.

14.  Write an essay called, “The Computer says No.”  With automated decision making are we losing the chance to be existential.  Less freedom with more decided for us.

15.  Fall seems the most beautiful and the most fleeting of all the seasons.

16.   Today is to die first tie die.  Ta da!