Jason isn’t back from his Tampa class yet, so I thought I’d give this another go before I fall asleep.

I’m listening to:

While it says super intelligence and memory, I’m about ready to just pass out.  It’s gently sapping my energy.

Recent impressions of the new year –

Retail.    Since I’m in a mall practically every day for one reason or another, two longstanding hair places have gone out – Mastercuts and Regis.  Both of them have been there for at least fifteen years.    It was kind of odd that they disappeared.

There’s actually a shoeshine kiosk.    I think it’s still there, but Jason swore that it’s gone.  And… that’s really it.

Considering how Simon Malls jack up their rent every year, I think only two disappearances are pretty good.

Stores I thought would disappear –
Yankee Candle
JC Penny
Candy Barrel

We all know Penny is hanging on by a thread and Yankee hasn’t kept its shelves fully stocked for over a year.    While I like candles, what they sell is definitely a luxury item that can be bought elsewhere cheaper.     It’s good to see them around, but no shock if they poof.

With the vacancy of Mastercuts and Regis, there are additional holes from a comic book store, Payless, Sprint, Subway…. and something else.  There’s a lot of holes, but somehow this mall keeps hanging on, quite unlike the mall in my home town.

Once busy and completely filled with stores, there’s just a Mexican and Chinese place there.    It’s completely empty otherwise.

The Florida mall really shows signs of struggling.
I think there are two massage places, three places for nails, and two $7.99 leggings stores.   There’s actually a used bookstore.     It’s quite nice and takes up a significant chunk of the main hall.  I can’t forget the lounge places that have popped up here and there.

But, any mall that has life left can’t survive on used books and leggings alone.
For those places to thrive, the rent had to be reduced, which equates to poor patronage.   If a lot of people shopped there, stores wouldn’t move out to make way for the little merchants.

The Florida mall is fading a bit, but it’s still trying, bless its consumeristic heart.

Other observations concerning the new year…

There wasn’t some sort of technological societal meltdown like there was in 2000.  No Y2K type of thing this trip.    There seemed to be an increase of UFO citings, but I’m willing to bet that’ll disappear in the coming month or so since we’ve switched calendars.

Fire seems to be the main theme…  Fires in California, Australia, and in the Amazon seem to go unabated, for the most part.  Earthquakes are showing up here and there, but the news is mostly about fire.

I’m guessing that the news is trying to connect fire to global warming while ignoring the 200 plus arsonists Australia has arrested and the faulty care of California electrical lines.

The American government continues to be guano crazy, but there was something today about Nancy actually digging the impeachment paperwork out of her purse.  Something must have happened to have allowed her to have her safe space and perhaps (not really) pull her head out of her butt.

Hopefully, this whole impeachment thing will be over soon.   It’s unnerving how much time, money, and effort has been wasted on this.  I simply don’t like to think about it at all.    It’s seriously upsetting.

The government news will, most assuredly, continue with Trump-bashing while, probably poorly, cover the Democratic Chosen One.  Jason tells me that Warren scares people, Mayor Pete doesn’t have the backing, and Biden is the best bet.

If that’s so, I don’t think it’s going to be an easy win for the Republicans.   Course, Bernie is the dark horse.  He really is a wild card in all this.

Um… my 15-week class begins tomorrow.
It’s occurred to me that I’ll carry this class back with me to Indiana in April.  My days in Florida are numbered.  That’s a whole other thing though.

Anyways…. super intelligence has effectively shut down my brain.

Nights.