The new year has been on for a week and nothing has really changed. I always expect something to happen, but nothing ever really does. It is boring that nothing really changes, but at the same time, it is good that there is continuity. I suppose it is good to know that life goes on and on, day after day, with little or no upset. This, of course, brings to stark relief the fact that so many have died and are still missing overseas. I guess the most obvious image of how much we do not really expect the unexpected are all the pictures and video of those people on the beaches watching the tsunami come and gawking, not realizing that their doom is upon them. Our lives are so very mundane (we may complain about the boredom and about how we don't get paid enough) so nothing ever prepares us. I suppose all we really can do is pray for those overseas and hope more survivors are found.