This Morning's Reader-Inspired Post

paigemom says: You never talk much about house/relationship dynamics.

Let me illustrate by example. This morning, cuyahogarvr took some frozen chicken breasts out of the freezer to thaw for dinner tonight. kent4str sees them on the kitchen counter.

kent4str: Hey! There's something cold & dead on the counter!

bjarvis: My hopes & dreams?

kent4str: If it was that, you'd hear stomping sounds!

cuyahogarvr: Behave yourselves, you two.

This Morning's Reader-Inspired Post

paigemom says: You never talk much about house/relationship dynamics.

Let me illustrate by example. This morning, cuyahogarvr took some frozen chicken breasts out of the freezer to thaw for dinner tonight. kent4str sees them on the kitchen counter.

kent4str: Hey! There's something cold & dead on the counter!

bjarvis: My hopes & dreams?

kent4str: If it was that, you'd hear stomping sounds!

cuyahogarvr: Behave yourselves, you two.

And Don't Forget to Trim That Hedge, Missy!

Canton, Ohio, is getting serious on mowing one's lawn...

And Don't Forget to Trim That Hedge, Missy!

Canton, Ohio, is getting serious on mowing one's lawn...

Mantras

bigfundrew posted here about personal mantras. Thinking more about them, I've composed my own list:

• Details are important: ignore them at your peril.
  
• Plan your future but be flexible about it.
  
• There are no fairy godmothers: if you want something to happen, make it happen.
  
• Be open to opportunity and new experiences.
  
• Forgive if you wish, but never forget. This isn't about keeping score, it's about not making the same mistake twice.
  
• Never make the same mistake twice but make allowances for new ones periodically... there's value even in failing.
  
• Don't automatically ascribe maliciousness to the actions of others. Cluelessness is usually the cause.
  
• Once is cluelessness, twice is coincidence but three times is license to burn their village to the ground. I'm still working on this one, okay?
  
• Stop & smell the roses, but remember to watch for thorns and bees.
  
• Don't get upset about the thorns and bees... they were here before you and they have a purpose as much as you do.
  
• Winning the race doesn't mean setting new speed records: it merely means moving faster than the others. Just be sure it's worthwhile first. And don't gloat.
  
• Cheating sucks. Don't do it.
  
• Learn from others, both their failures and successes.
  
• The world is 95% followers and 5% leaders. Sticking your neck out periodically will earn you vastly more friends than rivals or detractors.
  
• Retreating periodically for personal time is fine.
  
• Someone else's goals and priorities may not be yours. Help where you can, but remember to tend to your own.
  
• You can fix stupid, but only if it's your own. Work on that daily.
  
• Be the example you wish you had when you were a kid.
  

Mantras

bigfundrew posted here about personal mantras. Thinking more about them, I've composed my own list:

• Details are important: ignore them at your peril.
  
• Plan your future but be flexible about it.
  
• There are no fairy godmothers: if you want something to happen, make it happen.
  
• Be open to opportunity and new experiences.
  
• Forgive if you wish, but never forget. This isn't about keeping score, it's about not making the same mistake twice.
  
• Never make the same mistake twice but make allowances for new ones periodically... there's value even in failing.
  
• Don't automatically ascribe maliciousness to the actions of others. Cluelessness is usually the cause.
  
• Once is cluelessness, twice is coincidence but three times is license to burn their village to the ground. I'm still working on this one, okay?
  
• Stop & smell the roses, but remember to watch for thorns and bees.
  
• Don't get upset about the thorns and bees... they were here before you and they have a purpose as much as you do.
  
• Winning the race doesn't mean setting new speed records: it merely means moving faster than the others. Just be sure it's worthwhile first. And don't gloat.
  
• Cheating sucks. Don't do it.
  
• Learn from others, both their failures and successes.
  
• The world is 95% followers and 5% leaders. Sticking your neck out periodically will earn you vastly more friends than rivals or detractors.
  
• Retreating periodically for personal time is fine.
  
• Someone else's goals and priorities may not be yours. Help where you can, but remember to tend to your own.
  
• You can fix stupid, but only if it's your own. Work on that daily.
  
• Be the example you wish you had when you were a kid.