Today I Think I’ll Just Keep It Simple

Happy New Year!

(And if anyone ever gifts you one of those bottles sealed with a plastic cork, don’t repeat my mistake of trying to open the damn thing, and just throw it away.  Seriously.)

Something YOU Should Have Seen Coming

Author:  Bet you didn’t see that coming!

Me (As An Audience Member):  Well . . . no, I didn’t, because it makes no sense and throws away all the world building you’ve spent so much time carefully crafting, and all for a cheap shock that feels like an insult to anyone who loved what you had created.

Author:  But you didn’t see it coming, now did you?  Hey!  Where are you going?

Me:  To do something else.

Today’s Advice For My Son

Any way you slice it, kiddo, by the time someone tells you that they’re feeling a certain way (be it frustrated, angry, sad, afraid, or what have you), they’ve been feeling that way for some time before that.  Learning to recognize the signs of those feelings before someone feels the need to say something about them will save you a lot of time and hassle.

Today’s Piece Of Advice For My Son

Learn early the difference between the things you need to do, and the things that other people are only telling you that you need to do, so that you can better recognize the times that you still need to do something despite the fact that someone told you that you need to do it.

The Best Piece Of Advice I Ever Got From The Teacher I Hated The Most

“If you’re going to fall behind, do it sooner rather than later.  The earlier you fall behind in a race, the more time you have to catch up before the finish line.”

So I’m Really Not Goofing Off Today, I’m Resting

One of the best bits of advice I ever received was to never confuse recreation with rest.

These Days You Might Need To Drop That Percentage Even Further

Believe nothing you hear, and only one half that you see.

– Edgar Allan Poe, “The System of Dr. Tarr and Prof. Fether”

This Will Make More Sense To You Over Time, Kiddo

There’s always a cost, son.  Always.  Maybe you pay it right away or maybe you pay it later, but everything eventually comes due; and if you don’t end up paying the cost, it’s only because somebody else has.

I’ve Known People Like This In Real Life

One of the best character writing examples/advice I’ve ever been given is “He is indeed the villain of the story and destined to be the heroes’ personal nemesis, but he doesn’t know that.  As evil and cruel as he is, at the moment he’s enjoying a drink by the fire, is feeling jovial and in want of company, so he’s going to call our heroes over and ask them to join him.  Since he is also polite and witty, everyone will have a marvelous time unless the heroes do something to change this.”

Today’s Life Lesson From Fiction

If you ever get into one of those suspended animation pods, whatever you do, do not get into the one closest to the door because that’s the one that always malfunctions and has a skeleton in it when the explorers arrive.