- Never keep your drink next to your paint water.
- Don’t try to argue or counter what people say about you. Quietly hold on to your truth and you will discover who your true friends are.
- Don’t settle. If you know in your heart that it’s not 100% right, don’t do it. Trust that the right thing will eventually come to you.
- Tomorrow is not guaranteed to anyone. You can earn more money later. Don’t pass up fun, life enhancing opportunities. Learn to say yes and just buy the fucking shoes.
- It’s ok to shed the people who do not love you for who you are, and who don’t support your dreams and crazy ideas. Hang on dearly and tightly to the people who love and support you.
Monday, August 5, 2019
50 years, 5 thoughts: one for each decade
Friday, July 12, 2019
Putting in a zipper back cocktail dress by yourself. Or, “Why is she taking so long? Part 1”
Put on all of your makeup except mascara. This is very important.
Do your hair except for the finishing touches. Put it up temporarily if it’s long. Just get it out of your way.
Put on the Spanx. Yeah, we all wear them.
Grab the wire coat hangar or twine. Loop it through the zipper head. Realize this zipper head doesn’t have a loop. Try not to cry (hence, no mascara, yet).
Turn the air conditioner on full blast. Stand in front of it. Slip on the dress.
Zip dress up as far as you can with arms behind you. Grab the back collar of the dress and try to make the two sides meet so you can zip it up the rest of the way.
Realize that no matter how much yoga you do, you’re NEVER going to reach the zipper head. Try not to cry again.
Pull your arms through the sleeves and allow the dress to flop around your waist. Try to spin the dress sideways without also making your Spanx all crooked. Use your favorite swear words.
Get the zipper to move up to where you think you might be able to grab it. Carefully spin it back around. Carefully put your arms back in and try to zip it up again. Swear loudly because you didn’t quite get it. Strand in front of the air conditioner for a minute and try not to cry again.
Repeat until you can reach that *%@$ zipper head. Success!
Realize you now have to pee. Try not to cry. It’s only the Spanx that have to move this time. Do your business. Smooth out the Spanx again so people have to wonder whether you’re wearing any.
Put on your mascara.
Thursday, July 4, 2019
Getting out of awkward social situations: Honesty without compromising your relationships
Culturally, we often feel obligated to accept an invitation just because someone was thoughtful enough to extend one. Twice this week I was almost put into uncomfortable or unpleasant social situations, and each time, I was able to duck out of them politely without causing hurt feelings.
When invited to spend time with a friend from out-of-state, she suggested we meet up with acquaintances from school, as she had been invited to a gathering of theirs. It's not like I do not like the people from school; I just hardly knew them then, and hardly know them now, but know them enough to know we have nothing in common. But, I only see my friend about once a year, so I became conflicted.
My first inclination was to agree to meet my friend at the gathering as she suggested. Seeing her there would be better than not at all, I reasoned. But, the more I thought about spending time awkwardly in the presence of near strangers, the more uncomfortable I became. There would be little time to spend with my dear friend, as I would politely share my attention with the half a dozen others at the gathering, make conversation, and an honest effort to show interest in their interests. This was starting to sound like a lot of work and not much fun at all.
So, I decided to take a chance and be open and honest with my friend about my feelings. I kept the focus on me.
I told my friend I would rather spend time with her and maybe one other close friend instead, and that I would not be comfortable going to the gathering.
Turns out, she really didn't want to go to the gathering, either, and was glad I declined. It solidified her decision to decline as well. We made plans for three of us, who are close, to meet instead. Now, I get to look forward to spending time with people I care about instead of trying to shoehorn myself into an awkward situation.
Phew!
I'm fortunate to have the kind of friends I can be plain spoken with. But, there have been times that I have been invited to events by people with whom I like but am not close with, and needed to politely decline without providing details. I have discovered that I can do this with appreciation for the invitation and honesty.
How to politely and honestly decline an invitation: "Thank you for inviting me, but I'm just not going to be able to make it." Don't elaborate. You showed gratitude for the host's kindness, and you politely declined. That's all that is needed. And, it's an honest answer. You do not have to give a reason.
Maybe you're not feeling well, but don't want to reveal the fact and have more questions asked. Maybe you need some time to contemplate a major life decision. Maybe you can't stand the host's girlfriend and would rather stick a hot poker in your eye than spend several hours in her company. There are an infinite number of possibilities, all of which are good enough reasons to avoid being social and don't need to be shared.
Just remember to be kind in your response.
Every once in a while, someone will ask why you can't make it (which is terribly inconsiderate). Simply reply, "It's just not possible," and intentionally look a little awkward. For all they know, you could have a doctor's appointment to discuss a delicate health matter or a meeting in a dark alley to pay off the guy you hired for an assassination. It's truly none of the host's business.
And, perhaps you should reconsider ever spending time with someone who would not respect a simple and polite "no."
When invited to spend time with a friend from out-of-state, she suggested we meet up with acquaintances from school, as she had been invited to a gathering of theirs. It's not like I do not like the people from school; I just hardly knew them then, and hardly know them now, but know them enough to know we have nothing in common. But, I only see my friend about once a year, so I became conflicted.
My first inclination was to agree to meet my friend at the gathering as she suggested. Seeing her there would be better than not at all, I reasoned. But, the more I thought about spending time awkwardly in the presence of near strangers, the more uncomfortable I became. There would be little time to spend with my dear friend, as I would politely share my attention with the half a dozen others at the gathering, make conversation, and an honest effort to show interest in their interests. This was starting to sound like a lot of work and not much fun at all.
So, I decided to take a chance and be open and honest with my friend about my feelings. I kept the focus on me.
I told my friend I would rather spend time with her and maybe one other close friend instead, and that I would not be comfortable going to the gathering.
Turns out, she really didn't want to go to the gathering, either, and was glad I declined. It solidified her decision to decline as well. We made plans for three of us, who are close, to meet instead. Now, I get to look forward to spending time with people I care about instead of trying to shoehorn myself into an awkward situation.
Phew!
I'm fortunate to have the kind of friends I can be plain spoken with. But, there have been times that I have been invited to events by people with whom I like but am not close with, and needed to politely decline without providing details. I have discovered that I can do this with appreciation for the invitation and honesty.
How to politely and honestly decline an invitation: "Thank you for inviting me, but I'm just not going to be able to make it." Don't elaborate. You showed gratitude for the host's kindness, and you politely declined. That's all that is needed. And, it's an honest answer. You do not have to give a reason.
Maybe you're not feeling well, but don't want to reveal the fact and have more questions asked. Maybe you need some time to contemplate a major life decision. Maybe you can't stand the host's girlfriend and would rather stick a hot poker in your eye than spend several hours in her company. There are an infinite number of possibilities, all of which are good enough reasons to avoid being social and don't need to be shared.
Just remember to be kind in your response.
Every once in a while, someone will ask why you can't make it (which is terribly inconsiderate). Simply reply, "It's just not possible," and intentionally look a little awkward. For all they know, you could have a doctor's appointment to discuss a delicate health matter or a meeting in a dark alley to pay off the guy you hired for an assassination. It's truly none of the host's business.
And, perhaps you should reconsider ever spending time with someone who would not respect a simple and polite "no."
Tuesday, June 18, 2019
Satellite Launch Platform for Sale
Yes, we all know by now that Stratolaunch, the vulgarly huge mothership that was designed to launch a rocket carrying a full-size satellite to orbit, is for sale.
A price tag of $400 million seems like a steal - until you consider the operating costs. Maintenance, engineering, fuel, oil, repairs, and personnel to perform and manage these things are necessary, too. And, don’t forget regulatory requirements. A company has to get permission to operate such a platform, and the addition of a rocket provides even more complications. Safety, security for the explody bits, and transportation of hazardous materials are things that also have to be managed.
But, is an operation this big and expensive worth it?
In my opinion, yes. Definitely. Commercial space is the industry that is going to boost our world’s economy.
In the near future, people will be working in space, and not just scientists.
Consider this scenario: People will be managing asteroid mining operations from bases on the moon. Someone has to build those bases first, though. Someone has to ship supplies up to the moon in order to build the bases. Someone has to figure out how to launch cargo inexpensively into space and navigate it to the moon.
Consider this scenario: People will be managing asteroid mining operations from bases on the moon. Someone has to build those bases first, though. Someone has to ship supplies up to the moon in order to build the bases. Someone has to figure out how to launch cargo inexpensively into space and navigate it to the moon.
Stratolaunch could be that platform. With the right owners and investors, this project could be the start of something great.
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