…heh, I only *wish* I had a T-bird. Do they even make them anymore? [Well well, it appears that they do. Let it be known that for my __th birthday in August, I want a new car. Milestone age deserves milestone wheels.]

But I plan on having some fun at rehearsals this week — maybe not as much fun as balancing on my head while juggling on a swing, as pictured at left — but fun nevertheless. The show has now passed the “dear-God-what-have-I-done” stage, which is always nice. Granted, it passed it *just* a bit later than I would have liked, but it’s getting there. Lots of loose ends to tie up, though. Lots.

Today’s RNF is a bit of a self-flagellation. Come on, you know I deserve it. I harangue and rant all over this space, and you shew forth all longsuffering as a shining example to me. Therefore, I admit that there is reason for me to back off, chill out, relax, breathe, and not kill people.

Behold: some perspective.

Things That Are OK After All

1. Delayed gratification. You can’t always get what you want (but if you try sometimes…). I want to pass these tests the first time around. I want Kay to be here. I want all my students — not just some — to step up to the plate in choir. I want a new car. I want to write articles and books for a living, and compose and arrange and teach on the side — not the other way around. I want mo’ money and no stress. And the list goes on…but it’s all good, because I have a job I love, a great family, and spectacular friends. Too many folks in this world don’t have those things. I am fortunate, so I concede.
2. Unkind people. They’re everywhere, let’s face it. And in order for them to upset you, you have to give them permission. I think they were put on the earth to test our ability to resist doing that. That’s a good thing. Builds character. They get a pass.
3. Stupid, ridiculous, unfair, asinine rules that favor the few and flog the rest. But hey, I’m not bitter. Makes life interesting.
4. Hideously moronic laws. Like, say, putting a new tax on cigarettes and not on booze and junk food. The CDC lists alcohol as the third-highest cause of preventable death in the US — behind smoking and poor diet, which run almost neck and neck. So, only smoking gets smoked? Why not Twinkies and Tanqueray as well? It’s obvious by now that the only way to keep Americans from killing themselves voluntarily is to tax their vices so sky high that they can’t afford them anymore. It’s OK, though. Life balances out. Moronic laws that make no sense: pass.
5. General snarkiness. Have you noticed that sometimes you feel better after a snark attack? I do. I’m also noticing that this nice list is leaning ever-so-slightly to the right on the SnarkMeter, so I think I’ll quit.

All right. Time to continue working on yesterday’s list. I’m still on #3, but I’m determined!

Happy Sunday.

Fink out.