tom's "be sure to" list

when you're an old man driving north on cretin avenue in saint paul at 7:50 in the morning in -20 degree weather be sure to look before pulling out of your lane in front of a 2002 mazda 626.

when the officer arrives at the scene of your newly formed accident be sure to flirt. yes, even if he's a man, he'll enjoy it.

when you work with a lot of people be sure to know their work phone extensions so you can call them in the case of an unplanned morning prediciment

when you're about to miss the bus be sure to drive a tad bit faster. if you don't, you'll most certainly miss it.

if you miss the bus be sure to bundle up.

when you are going to teach a class about the mainframe be sure to check the computers in the room first to see if they even have the mainframe on them.

when you schedule an important meeting in lotus notes be sure to look for a meeting acceptance, if there isn't one, chances are there is no meeting on their calendar.

when ordering chicken fingers at the minnesota life cafeteria be sure to check them before you eat them, they may be raw still.

when you get raw chicken fingers from the minnesota life cafeteria be sure to bring them back, they give you WAY more food than you can eat because they feel so bad that they almost killed you.

and the most important one:

when you're day is going shitty and nothing seems to be going right be sure to remember that it can get worse. keep smiling.

i've learned a very important lesson today, when you feel like breaking out in tears, try smiling and thinking of the good stuff. like i'm going home tomorrow to spend a week with my family. christmas is in 3 days. i have all my christmas shopping done. and amazingly so, this year i was able to keep my final christmas costs significantly lower than in previous years. and quite possibly the most important: only my car is bruised... i'm fine... and i still have the most important things to me; my friends, my family, and yes, my health.

merry christmas everyone! may the spirits bring you a most blessed holiday this year.