Things I've Learned

More things I've learned.  If you want to see some of the other items on my list, go here.

1.  Plan for a re-entry day at the end of your vacations so you have a day at home before you have to head back to work.  Time to do laundry, get back on your normal schedules, put food in the fridge, etc.
2.  Coming home to a tidy house is much more pleasant than the alternative.  Put things away when you're done with them.  Hang your coat in the closet and not over the back of a chair.
3.  Always wear sunscreen.  Spending so many of my younger days on the beach without anything on taught me this well.  Now if I could just get my husband to learn this as well, but then I guess he has me to slather him up.
4. It's nice to look people in the eye.  Have you ever noticed how many of us go through the checkout lines or take a ticket without ever even looking up?  Look up.  Smile.  You'll probably get a smile in return, and it's nice to inject more niceness into your day.
5.  Keep all your important papers (birth certificates, car titles, insurance papers...) in a firesafe lockbox.  You never know.
6.  Which reminds me....back up your computer regularly and keep the backup drive in your firesafe lockbox. too.  Think about everything you have on your computer right now (pictures, music...) - wouldn't it suck to lose it all?
7.  Raising my voice to my son only makes things worse.  It never helps.
8.  It's awesome to be debt-free.  I remember my dad always telling me that you shouldn't buy anything you can't pay for.  If you can't buy it right now, save up for it until you can.  He even bought his cars outright.  Smart man.
9.  It's good to spend time by yourself.  That's the time when you learn how you really feel about things.  It's also okay to do things like eat in a restaurant or see a movie by yourself.
10.  Don't waste your time looking for the closest parking spot.  Park in the first spot you see and walk.