I had an awesome post planned for this morning, but when I went to access the site for the photos and story that would have been certain to knock you out, I found that the site is down. After repeated tries over an hour-long wait, I must bag it till another day. Rats.

Instead, I shall ramble at random.

1. Speaking of rats…I like them when they’re cartoony and cute and cuddly; you know, like me, up there to your left, with the John Lennons, turtleneck, pencil and music notes. (Again, bigtime thanks to talented Andy Nortnik, who drew her so nicely. I get a lot of my retro art and fonts from him, and you should, too.) But the kind that run across my classroom floor when I’m sitting at my desk? Notsamuch. Well, good news: they caught the little varmint, but just in case he went out and had a quick family, oversized traps (eww) still grace the nether regions of the choir room.
2. Today is Mother’s Day. I always miss my mom on this day, more so than usual. I hope all the moms reading this are having a relaxing Sunday, where everyone in your family waits on you and makes you feel like the royalty you are.
3. Know what I hate? All those clickbait video links on Facebook that say things like, “He knew his dad was coming home, but you won’t believe what actually happened” — or, “The last 30 seconds made me laugh so hard, I fell off my chair.”  They’re getting out of hand, people. “I thought nothing could change my life. Then I saw this.”  Seriously? Boot to the head.
4. I am older than handsome John Slattery. (And I must admit, I’m becoming partial to that silver hair look — more on that later.)
5. There are 16 days of school left. The busiest 16 of the year, but 16 nonetheless. I will get through it.

What do you feel you need to ramble about today? The weather? Your mom? Your house? I think I’ll ramble on into the kitchen and make another espresso. That’s the kind of party animal I am.

FO

As is my wont (for the past eleven times, although I never noticed until this morning that I mentioned ZergNet twice), every so often I like to warn my fiends about the potential dangers of getting lost in the forest: the forest of links, that is.

Whether you’re a casual trivia buff or a full-out philomath, you can be drawn in unawares, at which point all your minutes are belong to them for a while. Each time you try to break away, you’re drawn back in by clicking just one more link. It’s like an endless loop — or, you know, this. 

Today’s DNGH is among the silliest I’ve posted. Still, don’t say I didn’t warn you.

J’ever notice how certain people really look like other people (and, on occasion, things)? Yeah, there’s a whole site about that. Funny stuff.

Know what’s not funny? Seeing a huge rat run across my classroom carpet. That was awesome.

Calgon…

Yeah, there needs to be a set of rules. Or at least a set of suggestions. This isn’t one of those vague, passive-aggressive posts that are so popular on social media right now. It’s just that I’ve observed several situations lately where simple kindness could have spared people hurt feelings, second thoughts about their self-worth, and basic humiliation.

I’m not saying I hit it out of the park all the time — nor do I think people should be smiling robot punching bags for others. I just think there are ways to communicate disagreement or amusement without trashing someone else’s belief system or reality. It really is about balance. Aren’t many things in life?

I try to live by these rules. I hope it’s why, in part, a few people think I’m basically a nice person. Feel free to add to the list.

1. Empathy counts. Put yourself in the other person’s place before you speak.
2. Look at people when they talk to you; if you can’t be genuinely interested in what they have to say, pretend for a few minutes. Nothing lasts forever.
3. Never laugh at someone’s dreams, no matter how silly you think they are. For good or ill, people’s feelings are real to them. If you’ve ever shared something very personal and special, only to be greeted with baffled looks and incredulous laughter, you know what I mean.
4. Resist the temptation to always give advice. Eight times out of ten, it’s not your job. and not what the other person is seeking.
5. Speak to others as you’d have them speak to you. If it’s not with kindness and *gasp!* occasional deference, they’re hanging with the wrong people.
6. Do nice things for others without expecting repayment or recognition.
7. Resist the temptation to be “that guy” — the one whose job it is to pick apart every comment or find fault in every opinion. Don’t get me wrong: you’re entitled. But it makes you look like a jerk.
8. Learn how to disagree or question without malice. No one has to be a “yes man,” or pretend to agree when he doesn’t. But there’s a way, and there’s a way, feel me? Remember: words can hit harder than any fist.
9. Actually listen — not just wait your turn to speak. Let stuff sink in before you react.
10. This is the hardest one for me: When someone hurts you, don’t react like a wounded animal. Striking back is usually our first defense, and most often the least wise. Don’t repay aggression with aggression. If the aggressor doesn’t have a sparring partner, there’s no point in continuing the barrage. If he does continue, it’s your job to remove yourself from the situation. Life’s too short to constantly be in the position of defending yourself. (That gets old really fast, believe me.) If you choose it, that’s fine, but no one should be backed into that corner against his will.

Those are my ten. Any to add?