Re: Things I\'ve learned the hard way . . .
1) The stuff you have packed and carried for an annual event for years, but never used, when left behind because you never have used it, will be "mission critical" because you left it behind.
2) Duct tape will repair almost everything... but not quite. There are reasons those doctors went to school for all those years.
3) The go-to, ultimate backup, use-only-when-your-life-depends-on-it light will be dead when you need it because someone in your family found it in your secret hiding place, and had to go past at least 10 other lights (Yes, at least 10. We're flashaholics, remember?), to make the glow in the dark stars on their ceiling glow a teeny bit brighter. And that is why you riped the living snot off your knuckles in the dark. (see #2)
4) The go-to, ultimate backup, use-only-when-your-life-depends-on-it knife will be dull when you need it because someone in your family found it in your secret hiding place, and had to go past at least 10 other knives (Yes, at least 10. I'm a knife guy, remember?), to scrape paint off a $2 desk they got at a garage (garbage?) sale -- and it was no bargain at that price. And that is why you sliced your thumb when you went to cut that rope. (see #2 again)
5) The latest computer you bought cost 1/4 of your first 8086 machine (and 1/1000th of the IBM 360 you used to punch cards for), is faster by factors -- not just multiples, and does not weigh even a tenth as much (not to mention the size of the 360). But the keyboard sucks! Gimme that old click response of the early PC keyboards.
6) The first thing to go when you get old is, um..., what a minute, uh..., what was I talking about?
7) The size of your "nose goblin" (that you have not noticed but they have) is directly proportional to their level of hottie-ness when you are trying to make a first impression. Well, Buck-o, you made a first impression, alright!
But if you still can get her to hang out with you, you are not only a god but more importantly she is most definitely a keeper.